bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Friendships, Fidelities and Sufi Imaginaries: Theorizing Islamic Feminism
Authors: Shaikh Sa’diyya
Published: August 2023

This article theorizes Islamic feminism as a form of ‘friendship with/in tradition’, drawing creatively on Sufism. It unpacks these feminist friendships as forms of ‘radical, critical fidelity’ which includes commitments and loyalties to tradition while simultaneously engaging critically with sexism, patriarchy, and homophobia. Core epistemological and ethical concerns are explored, including the nature of relationships to tradition; analytical methods for engaging with Muslim tradition from a gendered lens; religious authority and authoritarianism; and most significantly, engaging with emancipatory horizons of imagination that are attentive to the contemporary axes of power and privilege. The paper turns to rethinking approaches to hierarchy and possibilities for abuse, focusing on the shaykh–murīd and broader teacher–student relationships. It presents a nuanced approach to engaging with hierarchies as a serious analytical category that requires attention. Positing fluidity, transparency, and accountability as central to cultivating responsible hierarchical practices, the article suggests that friendship as a modality of relationships can contribute to such positive transformations. This article, emerging from a project on Muslim feminist ethics, presents creative theorizations of Islamic feminism as a liberatory project of human and divine friendships, inspired by Sufi ideas of walāya.
Impacts of Aerosol Chemical Composition on Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) Activity during Wintertime in Beijing, China
Authors: Liu Quan , Shen Xiaojing , Li Lei , Sun Junying , Liu Zirui , Zhu Weibin , Zhong Junting , Zhang Yangmei , Hu Xinyao , Liu Shuo , Che Huizheng , Zhang Xiaoye
Published: August 2023

The cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity and aerosol chemical composition were concurrently measured via a scanning mobility CCN analyzer (SMCA) and an Aerodyne Time-of-Flight Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM), respectively, during wintertime 2022 in Beijing, China. During the observation period, the mean CCN number concentrations ranged from 1345 ± 1270 cm−3 at SS = 0.1% to 3267 ± 2325 cm−3 at SS = 0.3%. The mean critical activation diameters (D50) at SS = 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% were 172 ± 13 nm, 102 ± 8 nm, and 84 ± 7 nm, corresponding to the average hygroscopicity parameters (κCCN) of 0.34, 0.33, and 0.26, respectively. The diurnal variations in D50 suggested that the local primary emissions significantly enhanced D50 at SS = 0.2% and 0.3%, but had less influence on D50 at SS = 0.1% due to the limited size (<150 nm) of particles emitted from primary sources. As PM2.5 concentration increases, the dominant driver of CCN activity transitions from sulfate to nitrate. At a specific SS, D50 decreased with increases in the degree of internal mixing, implying that the elevated internal mixing degree during atmospheric aging was beneficial to CCN activation. In this study, the commonly used f44 (or O:C) was weakly correlated with κorg and failed to describe the variations in κorg. Instead, the variations in κorg can be well parameterized with the Org/BC ratio. The correlation between κ derived from bulk chemical compositions and CCN measurements was substantially improved when this κorg scheme was adopted, emphasizing the importance of considering κorg variations on deriving κchem from aerosol chemical composition.
Quantitative Characterization of Coastal Cliff Retreat and Landslide Processes at Portonovo–Trave Cliffs (Conero, Ancona, Italy) Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Fullin Nicola , Duo Enrico , Fabbri Stefano , Francioni Mirko , Ghirotti Monica , Ciavola Paolo
Published: August 2023

The integration of multiple data sources, including satellite imagery, aerial photography, and ground-based measurements, represents an important development in the study of landslide processes. The combination of different data sources can be very important in improving our understanding of geological phenomena, especially in cases of inaccessible areas. In this context, the study of coastal areas represents a real challenge for the research community, both for the inaccessibility of coastal slopes and for the numerous drivers that can control coastal processes (subaerial, marine, or endogenic). In this work, we present a case study of the Conero Regional Park (Northern Adriatic Sea, Ancona, Italy) cliff-top retreat, characterized by Neogenic soft rocks (flysch, molasse). In particular, the study is focused in the area between the beach of Portonovo and Trave (south of Ancona), which has been studied using aerial orthophoto acquired between 1978 and 2021, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photographs (and extracted photogrammetric model) surveyed in September 2021 and 2012 LiDAR data. Aerial orthophotos were analyzed through the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) tool Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) to identify and estimate the top-cliff erosion. The results were supported by the analysis of wave data and rainfall from the correspondent period. It has been found that for the northernmost sector (Trave), in the examined period of 40 years, an erosion up to 40 m occurred. Furthermore, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of Difference (DoD) between a 2012 Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and a UAV Digital Surface Model (DSM) was implemented to corroborate the DSAS results, revealing a good agreement between the retreat areas, identified by DSAS, and the section of coast characterized by a high value of DoD.
Annual Field-Scale Maps of Tall and Short Crops at the Global Scale Using GEDI and Sentinel-2
Authors: Di Tommaso Stefania , Wang Sherrie , Vajipey Vivek , Gorelick Noel , Strey Rob , Lobell David B.
Published: August 2023

Crop type maps are critical for tracking agricultural land use and estimating crop production. Remote sensing has proven an efficient and reliable tool for creating these maps in regions with abundant ground labels for model training, yet these labels remain difficult to obtain for many regions and years. NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) spaceborne LiDAR instrument, originally designed for forest monitoring, has shown promise for distinguishing tall and short crops. In the current study, we leverage GEDI to develop wall-to-wall maps of short vs. tall crops on a global scale at 10 m resolution for 2019–2021. Specifically, we show that (i) GEDI returns can reliably be classified into tall and short crops after removing shots with extreme view angles or topographic slope, (ii) the frequency of tall crops over time can be used to identify months when tall crops are at their peak height, and (iii) GEDI shots in these months can then be used to train random forest models that use Sentinel-2 time series to accurately predict short vs. tall crops. Independent reference data from around the world are then used to evaluate these GEDI-S2 maps. We find that GEDI-S2 performed nearly as well as models trained on thousands of local reference training points, with accuracies of at least 87% and often above 90% throughout the Americas, Europe, and East Asia. A systematic underestimation of tall crop area was observed in regions where crops frequently exhibit low biomass, namely Africa and South Asia, and further work is needed in these systems. Although the GEDI-S2 approach only differentiates tall from short crops, in many landscapes this distinction is sufficient to map individual crop types (e.g., maize vs. soy, sugarcane vs. rice). The combination of GEDI and Sentinel-2 thus presents a very promising path towards global crop mapping with minimal reliance on ground data.
Using ChatGPT in Education: Human Reflection on ChatGPT’s Self-Reflection
Authors: Loos Eugène , Gröpler Johanna , Goudeau Marie-Louise Sophie
Published: August 2023

ChatGPT is a fascinating AI text generator tool. It is a language model developed by OpenAI, a research and deployment company with the mission, according to OpenAI’s website: “to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity”. ChatGPT is able to generate human-like texts. But how does it work? What about the quality of the texts it provides? And is it capable of being self-reflective? Information sources must be efficient, effective and reliable in education, in order to enhance students’ learning process. For this reason, we started a dialogue with ChatGPT-3 while using, among others, a SWOT analysis it generated about its own functioning in an educational setting. This enabled us, as human authors, to analyze the extent to which this AI system is able to practice self-reflection. Finally, the paper sketches implications for education and future research.
“A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words”: Youth Migration Narratives in a Photovoice
Authors: Roman Monica , Roșca Vlad I. , Cimpoeru Smaranda , Prada Elena-Maria , Manafi Ioana
Published: August 2023

This study focuses on the integration facilitators of young migrants in Romania, as resulting from the information gathered through a Photovoice participatory action research method. Young third country nationals were asked to take photos which they thought best summed up their migration experiences. Next to the photos, the migrants were also asked to submit short texts describing the captured images and the meanings that these had for them, thus adding richness and nuance to the data. The evidence gathered reveals that several factors, such as access to education, interacting with a new culture, and with new places and people, are perceived as opportunities and positive migration outcomes. Therefore, human and social capital, as well as the natural or urban environment in the host country, contribute to the enhancement of integration opportunities for young migrants. The paper sets out to analyze how such factors which can facilitate integration are captured in a PAR. Research results show that young migrants perceive their experiences in Romania as enhanced by some factors through which they advance in their integration paths.
Experimental Study on Pore Pressure Variation and Erosion Stability of Sandy Slope Model under Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation
Authors: Huang Mingjuan , Zhang Youliang , Hu Jinning , Hei Yunpeng , Xu Zikun , Su Jinchen
Published: August 2023

With the development of a free trade port on Hainan Island, the construction of tourist roads around the island is currently underway. However, the weather conditions on Hainan Island, which include strong typhoons and rainstorms, pose challenges for the construction of highway-cutting slopes on the coastal weak sandy terraces. These slopes are susceptible to sand loss and erosion from rainfall. To address this issue, MICP green spray irrigation solidification technology is used to strengthen the sandy cutting, and pore water pressure monitoring is carried out on the slope model during MICP solidification and rainfall scour. Combined with the model pore water pressure and flow slip failure pattern, a dynamic analysis was conducted. The results show that MICP sprinkler irrigation technology can solidify the surface of the slope model in a short time, and after three sets of rotation reinforcement, the model achieved a cementation depth of 4 cm, with a well-reinforced surface and closely connected sand samples. Under the erosion effect of simulated rainfall intensity, the sand loss of the slope was weakened, without damage to the sand binding, and the integrity was enhanced. The cementation between the sand grains facilitated the conversion of most of the rainfall into runoff. However, despite these efforts, the slope eventually slid after 150 s. During the sliding process, the leading edge of the slope model lost sand and became unloaded, and the failure mode was graded a creep slip failure. Finally, the slope was divided into several blocks due to the continuous expansion of cracks following the slope failure. The erosion stability of the sandy slope under heavy rains was optimized and the sand loss was prevented effectively. This study proposes a new method of MICP remediation techniques that serve as a new test basis for the practical application of MICP technology in engineering projects.
The Impact of Proactive Resilience Strategies on Organizational Performance: Role of Ambidextrous and Dynamic Capabilities of SMEs in Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Pertheban Thillai Raja , Thurasamy Ramayah , Marimuthu Anbalagan , Venkatachalam Kumara Rajah , Annamalah Sanmugam , Paraman Pradeep , Hoo Wong Chee
Published: August 2023

The challenges of the global business environment foster small medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to continuously improve their performance in the level of vulnerability to possible impacts and interruptions in their operations that may affect their sustainability. Resilience strategies and ambidextrous capabilities have become important determinants of organizational performance, which has developed as an emerging area of interest in supply chain management in recent years. SMEs are one of the major contributing sectors to the Malaysian economy. Therefore, SMEs have been forced to survive in the current market situation to ensure higher economic growth and competitiveness. The resilience strategies and ambidexterity capabilities are important determinants of SMEs’ performance. As such, this study aims to examine the relationship between proactive resilience strategies, ambidextrous capabilities, and the performance of SMEs in the manufacturing sector, drawing on the dynamic capabilities perspective. A quantitative research design is adopted, a structured survey questionnaire is used, and data are collected from 351 SMEs in the manufacturing sector. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), Smart PLS 3.0 is used to test both direct and mediating results. The findings of this study suggested that proactive resilience strategies may have a significant influence on organizational performance of SMEs. Ambidextrous capabilities also act as a strong mediator between proactive resilience strategies and organizational performance. These findings contribute to the dynamic capabilities literature by highlighting the importance of proactive resilience strategies and ambidextrous capabilities in enhancing the positive impact on organizational performance in SMEs. This study provides a plausible explanation of two important management mechanisms for enhancing organizational performance sustainability. The relationships between proactive resilience strategies, ambidextrous capabilities, and organizational performance are malleable. This study also suggests that fostering formal and informal relationships might hold the key to the sustainable performance of SMEs in the long term. This study’s practical contributions are improving the knowledge and performance of supply chain systems for SMEs in the manufacturing sector and enhancing their competitive power in domestic and international markets.
Sustainable and Secure Transport: Achieving Environmental Impact Reductions by Optimizing Pallet-Package Strength Interactions during Transport
Authors: Kim Saewhan , Horvath Laszlo , Russell Jennifer D. , Park Jonghun
Published: August 2023

Increasing quantities of products are being transported across widely distributed supply networks; the sustainability of the packaging used to transport these goods, or unit loads, presents an area of potential concern. The most common type of unit load in the U.S. is wooden pallets supporting various configurations of stacked corrugated boxes. Research into unit load cost optimization revealed that increasing the stiffness of a pallet’s top deck can significantly affect the strength of the assembled, stacked corrugated boxes and provides opportunities to reduce the board grade required for accompanying corrugated boxes. However, there remains a knowledge gap regarding the environmental implications of this type of unit load optimization method. To address this, we conducted a life cycle analysis (LCA) to investigate the environmental implications of optimizing a unit load using this method. The environmental impacts of paired (pallet and box) unit load design scenarios (n = 108) were investigated using varied wood species, pallet top deck thicknesses, corrugated boxes sizes, corrugated flutes, and board grades. Initial and optimized unit load scenarios ensured that the unit loads offered equivalent performance. LCA results indicate that optimizing the unit load can reduce environmental impacts by up to 23%, with benefits accruing across most impact categories primarily due to the reduction in corrugated material used. Ozone depletion, the exception, was mainly affected by the increase in the amount of required pallet materials. This study provides minimum required conditions as preliminary guidance for determining the usefulness of unit load specific analysis, and a sensitivity analysis confirmed these values remain unchanged even with different transportation distances. Through the unit load optimization method, this study demonstrates that an effective way to reduce the overall environmental impact and cost of transported unit loads involves increasing the stiffness of the top decks and reducing the corrugated board grade.
Calcium Leaching of 3D-Printed Cement Paste Exposed to Ammonium Chloride Solutions
Authors: Yang Huashan , Che Yujun , Luo Jie
Published: August 2023

Understanding the degradation of 3D-printed cement paste (3DPC) is essential to evaluate changes in the long-term durability of concrete structures subjected to aggressive water. However, the degradation mechanism of 3DPC has yet to be reported, as the microstructure and pore characteristics of 3DPC are very different from those of its cast counterparts. This work studies the performance anisotropy of 3DPC due to calcium leaching to investigate the degradation mechanism. Samples with aggregate micro fines (AMF) and fly ash (FA) were prepared. A 6 mol/L NH4Cl solution was used in the accelerated experiment. At specific leaching durations, performances were tested on the samples in different leaching directions. The performance anisotropy of 3DPC exposed to aggressive water was investigated by comparing the changes in bulk density, water absorption, leaching depths, and compressive strength in different leaching directions. X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal gravity-thermogravimetric (DTG−TG), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) were used to characterize the changes in hydration products and pore structure in different leaching directions. The results show that the performances of 3DPC in aggressive water have a significant anisotropic behavior. The evolution of pore defects and hydration products mainly governs the performance anisotropy of degraded 3DPC. The remaining hydration products of the surface of 3DPC leached in the Z direction are fewer than the other two directions because calcium ions leached in the Z direction are difficult to compensate through weak interfaces between layers. The test results clearly show that the calcium leaching mechanism of 3DPC in aggressive water is directly influenced by the hydration products, such as portlandite (CH) and C-S-H, and the pores. The current study may help us understand the degradation mechanism of 3DPC to assess its durability performance anisotropy.
GIS-Based Scientific Workflows for Automated Spatially Driven Sea Level Rise Modeling
Authors: Tang Wenwu , Hearne Heidi S. , Slocum Zachery , Chen Tianyang
Published: August 2023

Sea level rise (SLR) poses a significant threat to shorelines and the environment in terms of flooding densely populated areas and associated coastal ecosystems. Scenario analysis is often used to investigate potential SLR consequences, which can help stakeholders make informed decisions on climate change mitigation policies or guidelines. However, SLR scenario analysis requires considerable geospatial data analytics and repetitive execution of SLR models for alternative scenarios. Having to run SLR models many times for scenario analysis studies leads to heavy computational needs as well as a large investment of time and effort. This study explores the benefits of incorporating cyberinfrastructure technologies, represented by scientific workflows and high-performance computing, into spatially explicit SLR modeling. We propose a scientific workflow-driven approach to modeling the potential loss of marshland in response to different SLR scenarios. Our study area is the central South Carolina coastal region, USA. The scientific workflow approach allows for automating the geospatial data processing for SLR modeling, while repetitive modeling and data analytics are accelerated by leveraging high-performance and parallel computing. With support from automation and acceleration, this scientific workflow-driven approach allows us to conduct computationally intensive scenario analysis experiments to evaluate the impact of SLR on alternative land cover types including marshes and tidal flats as well as their spatial characteristics.
Unmet Healthcare Needs among the Elderly Korean Population: Before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Roh Hyo Lyun , Kim Sang Dol
Published: August 2023

Unmet healthcare needs (UHN) are an important indicator in healthcare management and require sustainable healthcare systems. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to identify differences in UHN among the elderly Korean population before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data (N = 3371) from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2020), specifically focusing on adults aged 65 years and older, were analyzed. The overall prevalence of UHN decreased from 8.2% in 2019 to 7.6% in 2020, but there was no statistical significance (p > 0.05). The leading reasons for UHN were cost burden and mild symptoms in 2020 and cost burden in 2019 (p < 0.05). Compared to 2019, the cost burden in 2020 was lower in men than in women (odds ratio [OR] = 0.287, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.113–0.726, p < 0.05), and in the economically active group than in the non-economically active one as to mild symptoms (OR = 0.161, 95% CI: 0.054–0.478, p < 0.05) in multiple logistic regression analyses. In conclusion, these findings imply that sustainable healthcare policies and systems should be tailored to address the targeted population’s healthcare needs, even beyond the COVID-19 era.
TiO2-Photocatalyst-Induced Degradation of Dog and Cat Allergens under Wet and Dry Conditions Causes a Loss in Their Allergenicity
Authors: Matsuura Ryosuke , Kawamura Arisa , Ota Rizo , Fukushima Takashi , Fujimoto Kazuhiro , Kozaki Masato , Yamashiro Misaki , Somei Junichi , Matsumoto Yasunobu , Aida Yoko
Published: August 2023

Allergies to dogs and cats can cause enormous damage to human health and the economy. Dog and cat allergens are mainly found in dog and cat dander and are present in small particles in the air and in carpets in homes with dogs and cats. Cleaning houses and washing pets are the main methods for reducing allergens in homes; however, it is difficult to eliminate them completely. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether a TiO2 photocatalyst could degrade dog and cat allergens. Under wet conditions, exposure to the TiO2 photocatalyst for 24 h degraded Can f1, which is a major dog allergen extracted from dog dander, by 98.3%, and Fel d1, which is a major cat allergen extracted from cat dander, by 93.6–94.4%. Furthermore, under dry conditions, the TiO2 photocatalyst degraded Can f1 and Fel d1 by 92.8% and 59.2–68.4%, respectively. The TiO2 photocatalyst abolished the binding of dog and cat allergens to human IgE by 104.6% and 108.6%, respectively. The results indicated that the TiO2 photocatalyst degraded dog and cat allergens, causing a loss in their allergenicity. Our results suggest that TiO2 photocatalysis can be useful for removing indoor pet allergens and improving the partnership between humans and pets.
Assessing the Intense Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Epidemic and Vaccine Effectiveness in the Post-COVID Season in the Russian Federation
Authors: Sominina Anna , Danilenko Daria , Komissarov Andrey B. , Pisareva Maria , Fadeev Artem , Konovalova Nadezhda , Eropkin Mikhail , Petrova Polina , Zheltukhina Alyona , Musaeva Tamila , Eder Veronika , Ivanova Anna , Komissarova Kseniya , Stolyarov Kirill , Karpova Ludmila , Smorodintseva Elizaveta , Dorosh Anna , Krivitskaya Vera , Kuznetzova Elena , Majorova Victoria , Petrova Ekaterina , Boyarintseva Anastassia , Ksenafontov Andrey , Shtro Anna , Nikolaeva Julia , Bakaev Mikhail , Burtseva Elena , Lioznov Dmitry
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on influenza activity worldwide. However, as the pandemic progressed, influenza activity resumed. Here, we describe the influenza epidemic of high intensity of the 2022–2023 season. The epidemic had an early start and peaked in week 51.2022. The extremely high intensity of the epidemic may have been due to a significant decrease in herd immunity. The results of PCR-testing of 220,067 clinical samples revealed that the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus dominated, causing 56.4% of positive cases, while A(H3N2) influenza subtype accounted for only 0.6%, and influenza B of Victoria lineage—for 34.3%. The influenza vaccine was found to be highly effective, with an estimated effectiveness of 92.7% in preventing admission with laboratory-confirmed influenza severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases and 54.7% in preventing influenza-like illness/acute respiratory illness (ILI/ARI) cases due to antigenic matching of circulated viruses with influenza vaccine strains for the season. Full genome next-generation sequencing of 1723 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses showed that all of them fell within clade 6B.1A.5.a2; nine of them possessed H275Y substitution in the NA gene, a genetic marker of oseltamivir resistance. Influenza A(H3N2) viruses belonged to subclade 3C.2a1b.2a.2 with the genetic group 2b being dominant. All 433 influenza B viruses belonged to subclade V1A.3a.2 encoding HA1 substitutions A127T, P144L, and K203R, which could be further divided into two subgroups. None of the influenza A(H3N2) and B viruses sequenced had markers of resistance to NA inhibitors. Thus, despite the continuing circulation of Omicron descendant lineages, influenza activity has resumed in full force, raising concerns about the intensity of fore coming seasonal epidemics.
Efficacy of Rubella Vaccination after Co-Inoculation with Rhogam
Authors: Brunton Joshua , Theiler Regan , Mehta Ramila , Branda Megan , Enninga Elizabeth , Torbenson Vanessa
Published: August 2023

Congenital rubella syndrome is a constellation of birth defects that can have devastating consequences, impacting approximately 100,000 births worldwide each year. The incidence is much lower in countries that routinely vaccinate their population. In the US, postnatal immunization of susceptible women is an important epidemiological strategy for the prevention of rubella as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend administering this vaccine during pregnancy due to its nature as a live attenuated virus vaccine. However, concerns that the co-administration of rubella vaccine with other immunoglobins (i.e., Rhogam) could compromise vaccine efficacy has produced warnings that can delay the administration of rubella vaccination postpartum, leaving women susceptible to the disease in subsequent pregnancies. We aimed to address whether the co-administration of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and Rhogam decreased antibody responses compared to those receiving only MMR vaccination. This retrospective cohort study utilized clinical data from 78 subjects who received the MMR vaccine and Rhogam after delivery and 45 subjects who received the MMR vaccine alone. Maternal demographics, pregnancy complications and rubella status at the start of a subsequent pregnancy were recorded for analysis. Overall, the two cohorts had similar baseline characteristics; however, lower parity was noted in the participants that received both MMR vaccination and Rhogam. Making assessments based on maternal antibody IgG index for rubella during the next pregnancy, we observed that 88% of the Rhogam + MMR vaccine group had positive serology scores, which was not significantly different from the 80% rate in the MMR-vaccine-only cohort (p = 0.2). In conclusion, no differences were observed in rubella immunity status in subsequent pregnancies in those mothers given both the MMR vaccine and Rhogam concurrently. Given these findings, warnings against co-administration of vaccines in combination with Rhogam appear unwarranted.
Advances in Adjuvanted Influenza Vaccines
Authors: Shichinohe Shintaro , Watanabe Tokiko
Published: August 2023

The numerous influenza infections that occur every year present a major public health problem. Influenza vaccines are important for the prevention of the disease; however, their effectiveness against infection can be suboptimal. Particularly in the elderly, immune induction can be insufficient, and the vaccine efficacy against infection is usually lower than that in young adults. Vaccine efficacy can be improved by the addition of adjuvants, and an influenza vaccine with an oil-in-water adjuvant MF59, FLUAD, has been recently licensed in the United States and other countries for persons aged 65 years and older. Although the adverse effects of adjuvanted vaccines have been a concern, many adverse effects of currently approved adjuvanted influenza vaccines are mild and acceptable, given the overriding benefits of the vaccine. Since sufficient immunity can be induced with a small amount of vaccine antigen in the presence of an adjuvant, adjuvanted vaccines promote dose sparing and the prompt preparation of vaccines for pandemic influenza. Adjuvants not only enhance the immune response to antigens but can also be effective against antigenically different viruses. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of influenza vaccines, both past and present, before presenting a discussion of adjuvanted influenza vaccines and their future.
Intention to Vaccinate against COVID-19 in Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tan Shyn Yi , Oka Prawira , Tan Ngiap Chuan
Published: August 2023

Background: Multiple COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use in adolescents; these vaccines play a critical role in limiting the transmission and impact of COVID-19. This systematic review aims to summarize the willingness of adolescents aged 10 to 19 years to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and the factors influencing their decision. Methods: A search of literature published between January 2018 and August 2022 was performed in Medline©, EMBASE©. and CINAHL© electronic databases. Studies published in English that assessed adolescents’ intentions to receive the COVID-19 vaccine were included. Qualitative studies and those unrelated to the COVID-19 vaccine were excluded. The study was conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines. Results: Of the 1074 articles retrieved, 13 were included in the final review. Most studies were conducted in the US (n = 3) and China (n = 3). The pooled prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among adolescents was 63% (95% CI: 52–73%). Factors influencing intent to vaccinate were divided into five categories: “Socio-demographic determinants”; “Communication about COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination”; “COVID-19 vaccine and related issues”; “COVID-19 infection and related issues” and “Other determinants”. The enablers were sociodemographic factors including older age, higher education level, good health perception, and parental norms in terms of parental vaccination acceptance; perceived vaccine effectiveness and safety; a desire to protect themselves and others; recent vaccination; and anxiety. The barriers were concerns over vaccine effectiveness, safety, and long-term side effects; low perceived necessity and risk of infection; and needle phobia. Conclusions: This review highlighted that adolescents’ intent to vaccinate is driven by a desire to protect themselves and others. However, concerns over vaccine effectiveness, safety, and long-term side effects hinder COVID-19 vaccine uptake. To improve vaccination acceptance, policymakers should address adolescents’ concerns via more targeted public health messaging, while schools should leverage peer norms to positively influence vaccination intent.
Immunogenicity and Cross-Protective Efficacy Induced by an Inactivated Recombinant Avian Influenza A/H5N1 (Clade 2.3.4.4b) Vaccine against Co-Circulating Influenza A/H5Nx Viruses
Authors: Mahmoud Sara H. , Khalil Ahmed A. , Abo Shama Noura M. , El Sayed Marwa F. , Soliman Reem A. , Hagag Naglaa M. , Yehia Nahed , Naguib Mahmoud M. , Arafa Abdel-Sattar , Ali Mohamed A. , El-Safty Mounir M. , Mostafa Ahmed
Published: August 2023

Controlling avian influenza viruses (AIVs) is mainly based on culling of the infected bird flocks or via the implementation of inactivated vaccines in countries where AIVs are considered to be endemic. Over the last decade, several avian influenza virus subtypes, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.2.1.2, H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b and the recent H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, have been reported among poultry populations in Egypt. This demanded the utilization of a nationwide routine vaccination program in the poultry sector. Antigenic differences between available avian influenza vaccines and the currently circulating H5Nx strains were reported, calling for an updated vaccine for homogenous strains. In this study, three H5Nx vaccines were generated by utilizing the reverse genetic system: rgH5N1_2.3.4.4, rgH5N8_2.3.4.4 and rgH5N1_2.2.1.2. Further, the immunogenicity and the cross-reactivity of the generated inactivated vaccines were assessed in the chicken model against a panel of homologous and heterologous H5Nx HPAIVs. Interestingly, the rgH5N1_2.3.4.4 induced high immunogenicity in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken and could efficiently protect immunized chickens against challenge infection with HPAIV H5N1_2.3.4.4, H5N8_2.3.4.4 and H5N1_2.2.1.2. In parallel, the rgH5N1_2.2.1.2 could partially protect SPF chickens against infection with HPAIV H5N1_2.3.4.4 and H5N8_2.3.4.4. Conversely, the raised antibodies to rgH5N1_2.3.4.4 could provide full protection against HPAIV H5N1_2.3.4.4 and HPAIV H5N8_2.3.4.4, and partial protection (60%) against HPAIV H5N1_2.2.1.2. Compared to rgH5N8_2.3.4.4 and rgH5N1_2.2.1.2 vaccines, chickens vaccinated with rgH5N1_2.3.4.4 showed lower viral shedding following challenge infection with the predefined HPAIVs. These data emphasize the superior immunogenicity and cross-protective efficacy of the rgH5N1_2.3.4.4 in comparison to rgH5N8_2.3.4.4 and rgH5N1_2.2.1.2.
Anti-S and Anti-N Antibody Responses of COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients
Authors: Al-Shudifat Abdel-Ellah , Al-Tamimi Mohammad , Dawoud Rand , Alkhateeb Mohammad , Mryyian Amel , Alahmad Anas , Abbas Manal M , Qaqish Arwa
Published: August 2023

The long-term immunoglobulin responses of COVID-19 vaccinations is important to determine the efficacy of these vaccinations. This study aimed to investigate and compare the long-term immunoglobulin response of COVID-19 vaccination recipients, using anti-S IgG, anti-N IgG, and IgM titer levels. This study included 267 participants, comprising individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 through PCR testing (n = 125), and those who received the Pfizer (n = 133), Sinopharm (n = 112), AstraZeneca (n = 20), or Sputnik (n = 2) vaccines. Female participants comprised the largest share of this study (n = 147, 55.1%). This study found that most participants had positive IgG antibodies, with 96.3% having anti-S IgG and 75.7% having anti-N IgG. Most participants (90.3%) tested negative for anti-N IgM antibodies. Sinopharm-vaccinated individuals exhibited a notably lower rate of positive anti-S IgG (93.8%) and a significantly higher rate of positive anti-N IgG antibodies (91%). Anti-N IgG levels were significantly correlated with the number of prior COVID-19 infections (p = 0.015). Specifically, individuals with a history of four COVID-19 infections had higher anti-N IgG titers (14.1 ± 1.4) than those with only one experience of COVID-19 infection (9.4 ± 7.2). Individuals who were infected with COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine demonstrated higher levels of anti-N IgG, exhibiting a 25% increase in mean titer levels compared to those who were infected prior to vaccination. There was a statistically significant association between anti-N IgG positivity with age (p = 0.034), and smoking status (p = 0.006) of participants. Participants younger than 20 and older than 60 showed the highest positivity rate of anti-N (>90%). Smokers had a low positivity rate of anti-N (68.8%) compared to nonsmokers (83.6%). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that most COVID-19 vaccination recipients had positive IgG antibodies, with differences in the long-term immunoglobulin response depending on the type of vaccine administered and occurrence of COVID-19 infection.
A Qualitative Analysis of Social-Ecological Factors Shaping Childhood Immunisation Hesitancy and Delay in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alabadi Marwa , Pitt Victoria , Aldawood Zakariya
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: Immunisation is a crucial and effective method for preventing infectious diseases, with its success dependent on high immunisation rates to protect under-immunised individuals and promote herd immunity. This qualitative descriptive study is part of a larger explanatory sequential mixed method design that aims to explore factors influencing parents’ decision making to complete childhood immunisation in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, a country experiencing disparities in immunisation coverage across its population. (2) Methods: The sample consisted of a subset of participants from the initial quantitative phase, which included a survey on the immunisation attitudes of parents living in Qatif. This initial phase included n = 350 participants, who were over 18, had access to one of the 27 Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres in Qatif, and had a child under 24 months. This paper presents the qualitative–descriptive phase, which used a qualitative survey to gain open-ended responses from parents (n = 20) and analysed using thematic analysis. (3) Results: Participants identified certain vaccines, particularly MMR, as influencing their immunisation practices. Specific factors identified as deterring parents from immunising their children included fear of autism and other developmental delays, concerns about risks and side effects, mistrust in vaccine efficacy, and discouraging information from the media. Parents’ immunisation decisions were evidently affected by policy compliance, family and friends, and social networking sites. These factors are explained through the socio-ecological model. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic influenced parents’ decisions on vaccine completion in terms of perceived barriers, perceived benefits, and perceived trust. (4) Conclusions: By examining the social–ecological factors shaping parents’ decisions to immunise their children in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, this research contributes to the literature and informs the Saudi National Childhood Immunisation Programme about factors contributing to childhood immunisation hesitancy, helping to address a critical healthcare issue.
Experimental Study on Submerged Horizontal Perforated Plates under Irregular Wave Conditions
Authors: Zheng Yanna , Zhou Yifan , Jin Ruijia , Mu Yingna , He Ming , Zhao Lingxiao
Published: August 2023

This study presents novel analytical solutions for analyzing wave dissipation effect and bottom flow field characteristics of permeable submerged horizontal plates through physical model trials. The experimental results show that a solid submerged horizontal plate effectively attenuates wave cycles, with a greater periodic attenuation effect at smaller submerged depths. However, this attenuation effect becomes reduced or less pronounced after a certain threshold. Selecting an optimal opening ratio becomes key to achieving the desired cycle attenuation. When the inundation depth of the horizontal plate is large, the wave dissipation effect is weak. Reducing the opening rate can improve the wave dissipation effect, but only to a certain extent. Under irregular wave actions, the velocity field of the submerged horizontal plate is uniformly distributed. The relative submerged depth has minimal effect on the maximum flow velocity and root mean square flow velocity. Increasing the wave height and increasing the open holes on a plate can improve the flow velocity at the bottom of the plate. However, increasing the opening ratio also leads to insignificant changes in flow velocity. A correlation between the transmission coefficient of the open plate and the maximum flow velocity has also been determined. The findings of this paper serve as a research foundation for the implementation of submerged horizontal plate wave dissipation structures in engineering.
Islamic Calligraphy in the Special Collections of the Romanian Academy Library in Cluj-Napoca / La calligraphie islamique dans les collections speciales de la Bibliotheque de l’Academie Roumaine de Cluj-Napoca
Authors:   Library of the Romanian Academy, Cluj-Napoca, Fărcășan Simona
Published: August 2023

Minor art in the West, calligraphy was revered in the Islamic world, developing in amazingly diverse and original ways and revealing the aspiration to devise a radically non-mimetic visual construction to exalt and spread the Divine Word in a culture that frowns on making an image of the divine and its creation. Paper and the emergence of bureaucratic elite prompted the development of sophisticated calligraphic styles with six standardized cursive scripts, the nature of the text or the prospective readers determining the type of writing employed for literary, religious, or administrative works. The Islamic manuscripts and books in the Romanian Academy Library of Cluj-Napoca, the legacy of the celebrated scholar Timotei Cipariu, illustrate a wide repertoire of styles, once again demonstrating the inherent potential of Islamic calligraphy for developing a variety of versatile ornamental forms, while remaining true to its key role to communicate facts and express thoughts and feelings.
Transylvanian Prints in the Collections of the Bucharest Metropolitan Library (16th-17th Centuries)
Authors:   The National Union Museum, Alba Iulia, Bogdan Florin
Published: August 2023

There are several hundred old Romanian and foreign books in the Bucharest Metropolitan Library collections, especially in “Nicolaus Olahus” heritage repository of “Octavian Goga” Cultural Centre. Among the copies of old books, there are also ten volumes of the so-called Transylvanian book - transylvanica -, works printed in Transylvania or abroad yet having Transylvanian authors and/or about Transylvania. The ten identified volumes in the collection were printed in four typographical centres, Zürich, Amsterdam [Rouen], Venice and Sibiu, between 1546 and 1793. The list of works includes Johannes Honterus, Rudimenta cosmographica (Tiguri [Zürich], 1546) and Wolfgang Bethlen, Historia de rebus Transsylvanicis, vol. I-VI (Sibiu, 1782-1793). Even if the number of Transylvanian volumes is small in comparison with the foreign and Romanian prints, interest in them is justified by the novelty of the collection, the copies in the Metropolitan Library being unknown in specialised bibliographies.
The Library of the Metropolitan Palace from Iași at the Revoking of Metropolitan Sofronie Miclescu of Moldavia
Authors:   National Archives of Romania, Iași Branch, Bodale Arcadie , Bodale Suzana ,   National Archives of Romania, Iași Branch
Published: August 2023

Metropolitan Sofronie Miclescu was dismissed on the 7th of November 1860 by Alexandru Ioan Cuza because he opposed the secularization of the Church’s wealth. Immediately after this removal, the government of the United Romanian Principalities began preparing the inventory of all the assets of the highest religious institution of Moldavia. Thus, not only the vestments, furniture and tools of the Metropolitan of Moldavia and Suceava were inventoried but also the cultural heritage of this institution, consisted in liturgical accessories and vestments, old books and documents as well as portraits of the country’s hierarchs and lords. The listing proves that the Metropolitan of Moldavia had a large library, which consisted of several hundred volumes, written in Romanian, Greek, Russian, German, Latin and French, held in several rooms of the Metropolitan Palace, together with the old archive of the institution. Many items were lost during the secularization procedure as well as during the two World Wars, so the inventory kept at the National Archives of Iași is the only evidence of the cultural heritage that existed in 1860.
Forging a Precedent: the Purpose and Legacy of The “Laws of Edward and Guthrum”
Authors:   “Babeș-Bolyai” University, Faculty of Letters, Cluj-Napoca, Crișan Ioan-Andrei
Published: August 2023

To properly understand the intricate workings of Wulfstan’s intimidating legislative corpus, one should look more keenly into its genesis. The law code titled “The Laws of Edward and Guthrum” has largely been ignored and our understanding of the archbishop’s purpose and methodology is perhaps the poorer for it: in its current form, the code represents Wulfstan’s earliest attempt at legislation. It survives in two manuscripts: Cambridge Corpus Christi College 383 (B) and Strood, Medway Archive and Local Studies Centre, MS DRc/R1 (H), also known as Textus Roffensis. The present paper aims at elucidating how the provisions first mentioned here helped shape many of Wulfstan’s later laws, and that the text itself should not be interpreted as merely one’s first attempt at legislation. Quite the opposite, “The Laws of Edward and Guthrum” should be perceived as an invaluable key through which much of the later Anglo-Saxon legislation can be understood.
The Library of Mavrocordatos Family
Authors:   University of Oxford, Ene Drăghici-Vasilescu Elena
Published: August 2023

This article is about the library set up by the Mavrocordatos family. It refers to all three of its branches: Constantinople, Chios and Văcăreşti, but focuses especially on the latter. The library in the monastery near Bucharest was one of the most complete of its days, and was well known even in the West. Some of its content is presented in my text, including its various catalogues; the scholars who worked on these compilations will also be mentioned. A project similar in its scope – the reconstitution of a library – has accomplished in the library of Peter Mohyla in Kiev.
Note sur la notion de "pôle de croissance"
Authors: Perroux François
Published: August 2023

Note on the concept of “growth poles”.

Models of the stationary economy and of equally diffused growth of an economy do not correspond to observed facts. Economic growth originates in certain zones and proceeds with unequal intensity. It is diffused throughout a system by various channels and affects diversely the whole of the economy. The process of economic growth may be studied in relation to a progressive industry or firm, a group of complementary industries, and the growth of national economies.

The growth of a progressive industry in relation to its environment brings out the nature of “external economies”. The relationships observed go beyond those stated in terms of prices only. The contribution of the growth of the firm to the growth of the economy as a whole may be measured by the firm's own net contribution to gross national product and by the growth induced in other sectors.

This type of analysis leads to a consideration of industrial centres where key industries and their environment, and the relations between large firms, together generate expansive forces. The great centres of economic activity have repercussions throughout the whole of the national economy whose fate is largely linked to their growth.

The concept of growth poles thus makes necessary a reconsideration of the growth of national economies in terms of the inter-relations between the active centres of growth and the rest of the environment. The economic waste engendered by the association between growth poles and national states focuses attention upon an aspect of the nature of balanced growth of the world economy.