bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grave Dancing on the Right: Conservative Hegemony and the Death of The Weekly Standard
Authors: Speakman Burton , Funk Marcus
Published: August 2024

Abstract: The Weekly Standard was one of the few "Never Trump" magazines yet still stated it was conservative when it closed late in 2018. This article examines how conservative and mainstream media framed the closing and investigates the Twitter conversation surrounding the closure. The article engages in a mixed method approach. The findings suggest that conservatives both in the media and on Twitter (now X) took pleasure in the closure of a contrarian conservative publication. This suggests that publications that step outside of the present acceptable conservative frames stand to be punished and ridiculed from within through a form of forced rhetorical hegemony.
The Global Reach of a Regional Journal: A Look at Who is Reading the Southeastern Geographer
Authors: Graves William , Alderman Derek H.
Published: August 2024

highlights: • The Southeastern Geographer has long been marginalized as merely regional, but recent data shows it is a truly international journal. • SEG readership is split 57% within region and 43% outside region. A quarter of SEG readership is in universities that lack a geography (or geography adjacent) program. • The experience of authors suggests that papers in the SEG generate more engagement with people outside our discipline than papers in more specialized journals. • We speculate that the regional nature of the SEG makes it well suited for public engagement. abstract: The Southeastern Geographer has long been recognized within geography as one of the most respected regional journals. Unfortunately, those outside our discipline tended to view the journal as parochial due to its regional focus. This work presents recent digital readership data for the Southeastern Geographer which shows that 43% of readership is outside our region, and more than 13% of readership is international. The data also indicate that the Southeastern Geographer is widely read outside our discipline as well. Author experience is shared which suggests that the regional nature of the Southeastern Geographer increases reader engagement and papers appearing in the journal are more widely read than more specialized publications. We conclude that the Southeastern Geographer should be considered a model for modern scientific communication and make a case that efforts to marginalize the journal as regional are misplaced.
Broadband laser output by application of stimulated rotational Raman scattering during high-intensity propagation of laser pulses with modified spectral profiles
Authors: Kehne David , Weaver James , Lehmberg Robert , Wolford Matthew , Obenschain Stephen
Published: August 2024

Research at the Naval Research Laboratory pursues advanced laser
technologies that can mitigate laser
plasma instabilities (LPI) in
applications such as inertial confinement fusion. Increased laser
bandwidth is currently being developed as a strategy to suppress LPI.
In particular, stimulated rotational Raman scattering (SRRS) has
been demonstrated using the
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser facility as a viable method for
enhancing bandwidth. The technique is applicable to other large laser
facilities. Through a combination of high-intensity propagation and
optimization of the laser spectrum in the low-energy stages of the
laser, the output spectrum of Nike has been broadened with SRRS from
its standard operating value of 1 THz full width at half-maximum
(FWHM) bandwidth to span a range greater than 4.5 THz. This amount of
bandwidth has been shown in simulations to be effective for mitigation
of slow-growth laser plasma instabilities, such as cross-beam energy
transport (CBET).
CCD detector performance of the space-borne Doppler wind lidar ALADIN during the Aeolus mission
Authors: Lux Oliver , Reichert Robert , Lemmerz Christian , Masoumzadeh Nafiseh , Wernham Denny , Candra Krisna Trismono , Marchais Denis , Bell Ray , Parrinello Tommaso , Reitebuch Oliver
Published: August 2024

The Aeolus mission, launched by the European Space Agency in August
2018, was a landmark in Earth observation by providing global wind
profiles in near-real time using the first Doppler wind lidar in
space: the Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument (ALADIN). Despite
challenges such as systematic errors affecting data quality at the
beginning of the mission, Aeolus surpassed its planned lifetime of
three years and proved invaluable for weather prediction and
scientific research until its conclusion in July 2023. A permanent
challenge throughout the mission involved mitigating the impact of hot
pixels on the ALADIN charge-coupled device (CCD) detectors on the wind
data. The related dark current anomalies, which manifested as random
telegraph signal noise and sporadic shifts in median dark current
signal, necessitated the development of dedicated calibration
techniques to minimize the induced systematic wind speed errors. The
regular dark current calibrations of up to eight times per day yielded
a comprehensive dataset that was used to categorize the hot pixels
according to their characteristics and to derive statistical
parameters that are of relevance for the reprocessing of the Aeolus
data products. Following the end of the operational mission in April
2023, a series of specialized in-orbit tests, referred to as
end-of-life (EOL) activities, provided valuable insights into the
temperature dependence of the dark currents, shedding light on
potential root causes of the hot pixels. Additionally, the EOL tests
revealed other detector anomalies that had caused significant wind
biases in certain altitudes following strong cosmic ray events in
2022. This work summarizes the performance of the ALADIN detectors
during the Aeolus mission, with a focus on hot pixel characterization
and mitigation strategies. Furthermore, it highlights findings from
the EOL activities that are relevant for future space lidar missions
and other satellite missions using CCD detectors.
Numerical simulation and experiments of nano-second pulsed laser cleaning titanium alloy oxide film
Authors: Li Zhichao , Yun Qingwen , Mao Yingkun , Wang Zhaolin , Mi Nan , Chen Jing , Jia Ziqi , Yang Sana , Hao Gangning , Zhang Donghe , Xu Jie
Published: August 2024

Nanosecond pulse laser cleaning is a highly promising cleaner technology. A finite element model (FEM) was established by introducing ablation heat flux. The surface temperature of oxide film first rises and then decreases, as well as the oxide film removal depth; both are completed within an extreme time (about 5 µm) during a single laser pulse loading. The oxide film removal depth increases in a step manner as the laser pulse numbers increase. The surface oxide film can be removed with a laser fluence of 3.82−6.37J/cm2. When the laser fluence is 1.27J/cm2, the surface temperature reaches the oxide film melting point, and the oxide film melts. The laser fluence accumulates severely, and the substrate is damaged with 8.92J/cm2. The laser cleaning experimental quantity is simplified by introducing the laser fluence and spot overlap rate as experimental variables. By analyzing the material's morphology before and after laser cleaning, the cleaning and damage thresholds of nanosecond laser cleaning titanium alloy oxide film were defined, and then the laser cleaning process window was also determined. The FEM results are consistent with the experiment results by comparing and analyzing. The FEM has important application prospects in laser cleaning titanium oxide film technology.
Three-dimensional computer holography based on two hybrid constraint iterative angular spectrum algorithms
Authors: Ding Shanting , Chen Daizhe , Xie Boya , Zeng Zhen , Li Qinyang , Zhai Zhongsheng
Published: August 2024

A method for three-dimensional holographic image calculation based on angular spectrum layering is presented, which significantly reduces the noise resulting from image overlap during hologram reconstruction. In order to enhance the reconstruction quality, we proposed a two-hybrid constraint algorithm, which employs two parallel processing frameworks to allocate multiple plane images effectively. Additionally, by applying two different hybrid constraint factors, spatial resource allocation is utilized efficiently to mitigate the impact of axial inter-layer crosstalk noise. The numerical simulations and optical experiment results demonstrated that our method has successfully improved the reconstruction quality of holograms and proved its effectiveness and feasibility.
Introduction to the GLOBECOM 2023 Optical Networks and Systems Symposium Special Issue
Authors: Andriolli Nicola , Domżał Jerzy , Wong Elaine
Published: August 2024

This Special Issue contains a collection of invitation-only extensions based on papers presented at the Optical Networks and Systems Symposium at IEEE GLOBECOM held 4–8 December 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We present a brief introduction followed by an overview of each of the papers.
Three-directional digital shearography based on SLM using a honeycomb-like pattern
Authors: Yao Yanfeng , Wang Yonghong , Wang Zhuoyan , Li Junrui
Published: August 2024

The possibility of utilizing a honeycomb-like modulation pattern in a spatial light modulator (SLM) for multi-directional synchronous digital shearography measurements has been investigated. Each modulation pixel in the honeycomb-like pattern modulates the shearing amount in different directions, thus avoiding the resolution loss associated with previous methods where a single pixel could only modulate a specific shearing direction. It was demonstrated that high-quality phase maps for different shearing directions can be simultaneously obtained with a single exposure.
Bifocal lenses with adjustable intensities enabled by bilayer liquid crystal structures
Authors: Zhou Yingjie , Ye Xianglin , Li Zhu , Tang Dongliang , Fan Fan
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we propose bifocal lenses based on bilayer structures composed of a liquid crystal (LC) cell and LC polymer, and the relative intensity of two foci can be adjusted arbitrarily through applying an external voltage. Two LC layers have different light modulation functions: when circularly polarized light passes through the first layer, part of the outgoing light is converted with PB phase modulation and another part is not converted; followed by the second layer, PB modulation of these two parts would be simultaneously realized but with opposite signs; thus the transmitted left- and right-handed circularly polarized (LCP and RCP) light can be independently controlled. As proof-of-concept examples, longitudinal and transverse bifocal lenses are designed to split an incident LCP light into two convergent beams with orthogonal helicity, and the position of the two foci can be flexibly arranged. Benefitting from the electrically controlled polarization conversion efficiency (PCE) of the LC cell, the relative intensity of the two foci can be adjusted arbitrarily. Experimental results agree well with theoretical calculations. Besides, a broadband polarization and an edge imaging system based on the proposed bifocal LC lenses have also been demonstrated. This paper presents a simple method to design a functional multilayer LC device and the proposed bifocal lenses may have potentials in the optical interconnection, biological imaging, and optical computing.
Arl2 GTPase associates with the centrosomal protein Cdk5rap2 to regulate cortical development via microtubule organization
Authors: Ma Dongliang , Lin Kun-Yang , Suresh Divya , Lin Jiaen , Gujar Mahekta R. , Aung Htet Yamin , Tan Ye Sing , Gao Yang , Vincent Anselm S. , Chen Teng , Wang Hongyan
Published: August 2024

ADP ribosylation factor-like GTPase 2 (Arl2) is crucial for controlling mitochondrial fusion and microtubule assembly in various organisms. Arl2 regulates the asymmetric division of neural stem cells in Drosophila via microtubule growth. However, the function of mammalian Arl2 during cortical development was unknown. Here, we demonstrate that mouse Arl2 plays a new role in corticogenesis via regulating microtubule growth, but not mitochondria functions. Arl2 knockdown (KD) leads to impaired proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neuronal migration. Arl2 KD in mouse NPCs significantly diminishes centrosomal microtubule growth and delocalization of centrosomal proteins Cdk5rap2 and γ-tubulin. Moreover, Arl2 physically associates with Cdk5rap2 by in silico prediction using AlphaFold multimer, which was validated by co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay. Remarkably, Cdk5rap2 overexpression significantly rescues the neurogenesis defects caused by Arl2 KD. Therefore, Arl2 plays an important role in mouse cortical development through microtubule growth via the centrosomal protein Cdk5rap2.
Leprosy and lymphatic filariasis-related disability and psychosocial burden in northern Mozambique
Authors: van Wijk Robin , Raimundo Litos , Nicala Domingos , Stakteas Yuki , Cumbane Adelaide , Muquingue Humberto , Cliff Julie , van Brakel Wim , Muloliwa Artur Manuel
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF) are among the most disabling neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect the citizens of Mozambique, especially in the Northern provinces. The irreversible impairments caused by these NTDs often lead to psychosocial consequences, including poor mental wellbeing, stigma and reduced social participation. Limited data on these consequences are available for Mozambique, which are urgently needed to better understand the true disease burden and support advocacy for scaling up interventions.

Methods

A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted. Mental distress was assessed with the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), participation restriction was assessed with the Participation Scale Short (PSS) and perceived stigma was assessed with the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue affected persons stigma scale (EMIC-AP). Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with persons affected by leprosy or LF.

Results

In total, 127 persons affected by leprosy and 184 persons affected by LF were included in the quantitative portion of the study. For the qualitative portion, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted. In both disease groups, mental distress was found in 70% of participants. Moreover, 80% of persons affected by leprosy and 90% of persons affected by LF perceived stigma. Moderate to extreme participation restriction was found in approximately 43% of persons affected by leprosy and in 26% of the persons affected by LF. Persons affected by leprosy and LF felt excluded from society and experienced financial problems. More severe disabilities were associated with more severe outcomes for mental wellbeing, participation restriction and stigma. By contrast, participation in a self-care group was suggested to have a positive impact on these outcomes.

Conclusion

The findings provide evidence that persons affected by leprosy and LF must not only confront physical impairments but also experience significant disability in the psychosocial domain, including mental distress, participation restriction and stigma. These challenges must be urgently addressed by NTD programmes to promote the inclusion and wellbeing of persons affected by NTDs.
Effect of enforcement of the national referral guidelines on patterns of orthopedic admissions to Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya: Pre-post intervention study
Authors: Omondi Maxwell Philip , Mwangi Chege Joseph , Ong’ang’o Herbert , Sitati Fred Chuma
Published: August 2024

Background

Inappropriate utilization of higher-level health facilities and ineffective management of referral processes in resource-limited settings are becoming increasingly a concern in health care management in developing countries. This is characterized by self-referral and frequent bypassing of the nearest health facilities coupled with low formal referral mechanisms. This scenario lends itself to a situation where uncomplicated medical conditions are unnecessarily managed in a high-cost health facility. On July 1, 2021, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) enforced the Kenya Health Sector Referral Implementation Guidelines, 2014, which required patients to receive approval from the KNH referral office and a formal referral letter to be admitted at KNH to reduce the number of walk-ins and allow KNH to function as a referral facility as envisioned by the Kenya 2010 Constitution and KNH legal statue of 1987.

Objective

To determine the effect of enforcing the national referral guidelines on patterns of orthopaedic admissions to the KNH. This was a pre-post intervention study. Data abstraction was done for 459 and 446 charts before and after the enforcement of the national referral guidelines, respectively.

Results

Enforcement of the national referral guidelines reduced the proportion of walk-in admissions from 54.9% to 45.1%, while the proportion of facility referrals increased from 46.6% to 53.4% (p = 0.013). The percentage of non-trauma orthopaedic admissions doubled from 12.0% to 22.4% (p<0.001). There was also an increase in admissions through the Outpatient Clinic and Corporate Outpatient Clinic. The proportion of emergency admissions declined, while that of elective admissions increased. The increase in elective cases was mainly driven by the increase in female admissions with active insurance cover, tertiary education, non-trauma-related conditions and older age groups. However, the use of official formal written referral letters did not change despite the enforcement of the national referral guidelines.

Conclusion

The enforcement of the national referral guidelines reduced the proportion of walk-ins’ admissions to KNH. While the enforcement of the national referral guidelines had no effect on the use of official formal written referral letters, it did limit access and utilization of inpatient orthopedic services for young male patients with no active insurance cover and in need of emergency orthopedic care.
Exploring the relationship between the food environment and preferences among schoolchildren in a low socioeconomic community in Sri Lanka: A GIS-based assessment
Authors: Senevirathne Chamil Priyanka , Katulanda Prasad , de Silva Padmal , Prashadika Dilini , Senarathne Lalith , Fernando Manoj
Published: August 2024

The food environment in school neighborhoods plays a crucial role in manipulating the food choices of schoolchildren. This study investigated the relationship between the food environment in neighborhoods and the dietary practices of government school students in a low socioeconomic setting in Sri Lanka. This cross-sectional study surveyed the neighborhood food environment of selected schools (n = 30) in the Monaragala District, Sri Lanka, using geographical information system (GIS) data and collected dietary information from a representative sample of schoolchildren (n = 603). Chi-square and Spearman correlation tests were performed using SPSS version 23.0 to estimate the associations between the food environment and BMI, while ArcGIS 10.4.1 was used to analyze the GIS data. The majority of the students (35.5%) were 15 years old, and approximately 51% were females. The mean BMI of the study participants was 18.14 (±3.28). More than 90% of outlets within proximity sold unhealthy foods. Consumption of confectionaries was 72.3% of the students, whereas healthy food choices ranged from 5% to 12%. A positive correlation between consuming unhealthy food and distance to outlets from school was observed (p<0.05). The risk of consuming low-nutrition food doubled (OR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.52–3.89) among the students studying in schools where a larger proportion of energy-dense food was sold in closer proximity. In conclusion, the density and proximity of outlets that sell food with low nutrients in the school neighborhood environment were positively associated with students’ unhealthy food item choices.
Factors influencing integrated disease surveillance and response system in selected districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana
Authors: Twene Paul , Sarfo Bismark , Yawson Alfred A. E. , Otoo John Ekow , Asraku Annette
Published: August 2024

Background

Ghana adopted the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system, which is an integration of the various programs in the surveillance system and can contain disease outbreaks and pandemics. Implementation of the IDSR is influenced by several factors which can affect its functionality and ability to contain disease outbreaks. This study assessed the factors influencing the IDSR system in selected districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted between February-March, 2022 in Fanteakwa North, Abuakwa South and New Juaben South districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana among health care workers who are involved in IDRS activities. Both primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis at 0.05 significant level with 95% confidence interval.

Results

Three hundred and forty-seven (347) health care workers participated in the study with 56.2% (195/347) indicating that rumor registers were available at the health facilities. Most of the respondents (64.8%, 225/347) had means of transport for disease surveillance activities while majority (61.9%, 215/347) had case-based forms for case investigation. About half (51.9%, 180/347) of the participants revealed that they did not receive any feedback from the next higher level in the past year. Availability of transport for IDSR activities was almost 3.4 times more likely to contribute positively to IDSR system compared to facilities without transport (AOR = 3.36; 95% CI = 1.44–7.83; p = 0.005). Respondents who have the capacity to apply case definition are 2 times more likely to contribute to an effective IDSR system compared to health workers who cannot apply case definition (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.17–3.21; p = 0.013). Respondents who did not receive feedback from the next higher level were 52% less likely to have an effective IDSR system compared to respondents who received feedback from the next higher level (AOR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.23–1.00; p = 0.05).

Conclusion

Effective operation of IDSR is affected by the application of case definition and means of transport at health facilities. In addition, the capacity of health care workers to provide feedback can influence the smooth operation of the IDSR in the studied area in Ghana.
Mechanism of action and synergistic effect of Eugenia uniflora extract in Candida spp.
Authors: Souza Luanda B. F. C. , de Oliveira Bento Aurélio , Lourenço Estela M. G. , Ferreira Magda R. A. , Oliveira Wogenes N. , Soares Luiz Alberto L. , G. Barbosa Euzébio , Rocha Hugo A. O. , Chaves Guilherme Maranhão
Published: August 2024

The limited arsenal of antifungal drugs have prompted the search for novel molecules with biological activity. This study aimed to characterize the antifungal mechanism of action of Eugenia uniflora extract and its synergistic activity with commercially available antifungal drugs on the following Candida species: C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis and C. dubliniensis. In silico analysis was performed to predict antifungal activity of the major compounds present in the extract. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined in the presence of exogenous ergosterol and sorbitol. Yeast cells were grown in the presence of stressors. The loss of membrane integrity was assessed using propidium iodide staining (fluorescence emission). Synergism between the extract and antifungal compounds (in addition to time kill-curves) was determined. Molecular docking revealed possible interactions between myricitrin and acid gallic and enzymes involved in ergosterol and cell wall biosynthesis. Candida cells grown in the presence of the extract with addition of exogenous ergosterol and sorbitol showed 2 to 8-fold increased MICs. Strains treated with the extract revealed greater loss of membrane integrity when compared to their Fluconazole counterparts, but this effect was less pronounced than the membrane damage caused by Amphotericin B. The extract also made the strains more susceptible to Congo red and Calcofluor white. A synergistic action of the extract with Fluconazole and Micafungin was observed. The E. uniflora extract may be a viable option for the treatment of Candida infections.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK parents’ attitudes towards routine childhood vaccines: A mixed-methods study
Authors: Skirrow Helen , Lewis Celine , Haque Habiba , Choundary-Salter Lena , Foley Kim , Whittaker Elizabeth , Costelloe Ceire , Bedford Helen , Saxena Sonia
Published: August 2024

Background

COVID-19 vaccines were key to controlling the pandemic and vaccination has been discussed extensively by the media and the public since 2020. We aimed to explore parents’ attitudes towards routine childhood vaccination since COVID-19 and how the pandemic impacted their experiences of getting their child vaccinated.

Methods

We used a mixed-methods approach—involving a questionnaire survey followed by focus groups. We partnered with The Mosaic Community Trust, an ethnic minority women’s group based in a deprived area of North-West London, United Kingdom (UK) with historically low childhood vaccine uptake. Descriptive findings from the questionnaires were reported and chi-square analyses performed to examine differences by ethnicity. Thematic analysis of the free-text questionnaire responses and focus groups was undertaken, guided by the COM-B model of Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation.

Results

Between Jun-Oct 2022, 518 parents completed the questionnaire (25% from ethnic minorities). Between March-May 2023 we held four focus groups with 22 parents (45% from ethnic minorities). Most parents (>90%) thought routine childhood vaccines for children were important. Over a third (38%) of all parents reported having more questions about childhood vaccines since COVID-19, though among parents belonging to an ethnicity group other than white, 59% said they had more questions compared to those of any white ethnicity group (30%, (p = <0.0001)). Difficulties accessing vaccine appointments were commoner reasons for children’s vaccinations being delayed than parents increased concerns about vaccines. Since COVID-19 some parents felt vaccinations were even more important, and a very small minority felt the pandemic had made them mistrust vaccinations.

Conclusion

Following COVID-19, we found parents remain confident in childhood vaccines. However, some parents, particularly from ethnic minority groups may have more questions about childhood vaccines than pre-pandemic. Post COVID-19, to address declining vaccine uptake, parents need easy access to healthcare professionals to answer questions about childhood vaccinations.
Biotic and abiotic factors affecting Atlantic ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata) spatiotemporal activity at an important shorebird nesting site in Virginia
Authors: Call Mikayla N. , Pongnon Rasheed S. , Wails Christy N. , Karpanty Sarah M. , Lapenta Kristy C. , Wilke Alexandra L. , Boettcher Ruth , Alvino Camille R. , Fraser James D.
Published: August 2024

Atlantic ghost crabs (Ocypode quadrata) are predators of beach-nesting shorebird nests and chicks on the United States’ Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Ghost crabs may also disturb birds, altering foraging, habitat use, or nest and brood attendance patterns. Shorebird conservation strategies often involve predator and disturbance management to improve reproductive success, but efforts rarely target ghost crabs. Despite the threat to shorebird reproductive success, ghost crabs are a poorly understood part of the beach ecosystem and additional knowledge about ghost crab habitat selection is needed to inform shorebird conservation. We monitored ghost crab activity, defined as burrow abundance, throughout the shorebird breeding season on Metompkin Island, Virginia, an important breeding site for piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) and American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus). We counted burrows at shorebird nests and random locations throughout the breeding season and investigated whether ghost crab activity was greater at nest sites relative to random locations without shorebird nests. While we observed burrows at all nest sites (n = 63 nests), we found that burrow counts were lower at piping plover nests with shell cover, relative to random locations with no shell cover. Ghost crabs may avoid piping plover nest sites due to anti-predator behaviors from incubating adults or differences in microhabitat characteristics selected by piping plovers. We also investigated the effects of habitat type, date, and air temperature on the abundance of ghost crab burrows. We found that while crab burrows were present across the barrier island landscape, there were more burrows in sandy, undisturbed habitats behind the dunes, relative to wave-disturbed beach. Additionally, ghost crab activity increased later in the shorebird breeding season. Understanding when and where ghost crabs are most likely to be active in the landscape can aid decision-making to benefit imperiled shorebird populations.
The forgotten p-versine and p-coversine family of functions revisited
Authors: Alibrahim Ali Hamzah , Das Saptarshi
Published: August 2024

This study delves into special class of generalized p-trigonometric functions, examining their connection to the established counterparts like p-cosine and p-sine functions. We here explore the new class of functions called the p-versine, p-coversine, p-haversine, and p-hacovercosine, by providing comprehensive definitions and properties. Grounded in the characteristics of p-cosine and p-sine functions, the newly proposed functions offer unique mathematical insights. Our work contributes towards a thorough understanding of these new special functions, showcasing their potential applications in diverse scientific domains, from mathematical analysis to physics and engineering. This paper contributes as a valuable resource for future applied mathematics researchers, engaging with these new mathematical functions, enhancing the ability to model complex patterns from diverse real-world applications.
Is educational attainment associated with the onset and outcomes of low back pain? a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lawan Aliyu , Aubertin Alex , Mical Jane , Hum Joanne , Graf Michelle L. , Marley Peter , Bolton Zachary , Walton David M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading global cause of years lived with disability. Of the biopsychosocial domains of health, social determinants of LBP remain under-researched. Socioeconomic status (SES) may be associated with the onset of new LBP or outcomes of acute LBP, with educational attainment (EA) being a key component of SES. The association between EA and LBP has yet to be the subject of a dedicated review and meta-analysis.

Purpose

To review evidence of the association between EA and a) onset or b) outcomes of acute and subacute LBP in the adult general population and to conduct statistical pooling of data where possible.

Methods

An electronic search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and ProQuest from inception to 2nd November 2023 including reference lists to identify relevant prospective studies. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool. Where adequate data were available, estimates were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. Overall evidence for each outcome was graded using an adapted GRADE.

Results

After screening 8498 studies, 29 were included in the review. Study confounding and attrition were common biases. Data from 19 studies were statistically pooled to explore EA as a predictor of new LBP onset or as prognostic for outcomes of acute or subacute LBP. Pooled results showed no association between EA and the onset of new LBP (OR: 0.927, 95%CI: 0.747 to 1.150; I2 = 0%). For predicting outcomes of acute LBP, compared to those with no more than secondary-level education, post-secondary education or higher was associated with better outcomes of pain (OR: 0.538, 95%CI: 0.432 to 0.671; I2 = 35%) or disability (OR: 0.565, 95%CI: 0.420 to 0.759; I2 = 44%). High heterogeneity (I2>80%) prevented meaningful pooling of estimates for subacute LBP outcomes.

Conclusion

We found no consistent evidence that lower EA increases the risk of LBP onset. Lower EA shows a consistent association with worse LBP outcomes measured at least 3 months later after acute onset with inconclusive findings in subacute LBP. Causation cannot be supported owing to study designs. High-quality research is needed on potential mechanisms to explain these effects.
The relationship between fear of COVID-19 and food choice motives in the Iranian population
Authors: Hoseinean Seyyed-Ali , Rahmani Bita , Alizadeh Ahad , Javadi Maryam , Nooripour Roghieh , Razzazi Atieh , Shiri-Shahsavar Mohammad Reza
Published: August 2024

Background and aim

The long-term impact of COVID-19 on nutrition and community health is inevitably noticeable. These effects can change the nutritional behavior and lifestyle of survivors. Due to the COVID consequential fear and anxiety, the pandemic can alter the motivations for choosing, buying, and consuming food. The relationship between nutritional behavior and COVID-19 fear is the primary purpose of this research.

Materials & methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted via online and face-to-face surveys. Accessing participants was through health centers of Qazvin, Iran, and the selected centers were sampled by cluster sampling method. The study population included 331 adults aged 18 to 65. Data were collected in three sections using valid questionnaires. The Demographic Questionnaire, FCV-19S, and FCQ were used to gather demographic information, the level of fear caused by COVID-19, and food choice motivations, respectively. The statistical analyzes were performed using R software. Analysis of variance and linear regression methods were used to determine the effect of independent variables on dependent variables (p = 0.05).

Results

The mean score of fear of COVID-19 in the study population was 15.25 ± 5.78. Price, Mood, Natural content, Familiarity, Convenience, and Ethical concerns were significantly and positively associated with fear of COVID-19 (p<0.05). The only food motive significantly different than before during COVID-19 was Health, which was increased (p = 0.02). Sensory appeal and Health were the most important motivations for food choices before and during COVID-19. The Ethical concern was considered the least important food motivation.

Discussion and conclusion

Some food motivations were associated with fear of COVID-19, possibly due to their psychological nature. The increasing importance of the Health factor and Natural content motivations can relate to the advice of experts on the importance of eating healthy food to counteract COVID-19 and indicate people’s preference for this training.
Impact of feralization on evolutionary trajectories in the genomes of feral cat island populations
Authors: Nieto-Blázquez María Esther , Gómez-Suárez Manuela , Pfenninger Markus , Koch Katrin
Published: August 2024

Feralization is the process of domesticated animals returning to the wild and it is considered the counterpart of domestication. Molecular genetic changes are well documented in domesticated organisms but understudied in feral populations. In this study, the genetic differentiation between domestic and feral cats was inferred by analysing whole-genome sequencing data of two geographically distant feral cat island populations, Dirk Hartog Island (Australia) and Kaho’olawe (Hawaii) as well as domestic cats and European wildcats. The study investigated population structure, genetic differentiation, genetic diversity, highly differentiated genes, and recombination rates. Genetic structure analyses linked both feral cat populations to North American domestic and European cat populations. Recombination rates in feral cats were lower than in domestic cats but higher than in wildcats. For Australian and Hawaiian feral cats, 105 and 94 highly differentiated genes compared to domestic cats respectively, were identified. Annotated genes had similar functions, with almost 30% of the divergent genes related to nervous system development in both feral groups. Twenty mutually highly differentiated genes were found in both feral populations. Evolution of highly differentiated genes was likely driven by specific demographic histories, the relaxation of the selective pressures associated with domestication, and adaptation to novel environments to a minor extent. Random drift was the prevailing force driving highly divergent regions, with relaxed selection in feral populations also playing a significant role in differentiation from domestic cats. The study demonstrates that feralization is an independent process that brings feral cats on a unique evolutionary trajectory.
Ecological comparison of native (Apis mellifera mellifera) and hybrid (Buckfast) honeybee drones in southwestern Sweden indicates local adaptation
Authors: Schaumann Finja , Norrström Niclas , Niklasson Mats , Leidenberger Sonja
Published: August 2024

Honeybee drones’ only known task is to mate with a virgin queen. Apart from their mating behaviour, their ecology has been little studied, especially in comparison to honeybee females. Previous knowledge is primarily based on short-term direct observations at single experimental hives, rarely, if ever, addressing the effect of drones’ genetic origin. Here, Radio Frequency Identification Technology was utilised to gather drone and worker bee lifetime data of Apis mellifera mellifera and Apis mellifera x (hybrid Buckfast) colonies over one mating season (spring and summer) with the ultimate goal to investigate differences at subspecies level. This technique enabled continuous monitoring of tagged bees at the hive entrance and recording of individuals’ movement directions. The results confirmed that spring-born drones survive longer than summer-born drones and that they generally live longer than worker bees. Drones’ peak activity occurred in the afternoon while worker bees showed more even activity levels throughout the day. Earlier orientation flights than usually reported for drones were observed. In summer, mating flights were practiced before reaching sexual maturity (at 12 days of age). Differences were found between Apis m. mellifera and Buckfast drones, where Apis m. mellifera showed later drone production in spring, but significantly earlier first activities outside the hive in summer and a later peak in diurnal activity. Additionally, Apis m. mellifera flew more in higher light intensities and windy conditions and performed significantly longer flights than Buckfast drones. The observed differences in drone ecology indicate the existence of a local adaptation of the native subspecies Apis m. mellifera to environmental conditions in southwestern Sweden.
A Pitch-Controlled End-to-End Voice Conversion System for Brazilian Portuguese
Authors:   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Vitor P. da Costa , Sergio L. Netto , Luiz Wagner P Biscainho , Ranniery Maia ,   Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
Published: August 2024

Speech conversion is a technique that modifies the identity of the voice in a speech signal without changing the spoken content. Accurate pitch conversion is a requirement the best speech conversion systems must address, as this characteristic is essential to the correct identification of the target speaker. This work proposes a pitch-controlled end-to-end voice conversion model that combines state-of-the-art ideas from both speaking and singing voice conversion with a novel cost function to ensure artifact-free pitch tracking. The model is trained in Brazilian Portuguese, overcoming the lack of high-quality data by improving a large but flawed dataset with filtering operation. Our model mostly outperforms other popular open source models in both listening tests and objective measurements. In particular, on a 5-point MOS, we obtained the highest speaker similarity score (4.05), and a naturalness score of 3.48, second only to a system whose similarity score was 2.62.
Innovative Strategies for Enhancing School Safety Capacity through Safety Education: Focusing on the Improvement of Resilience and Practical Experience of Elementary School Students
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Jang Sung Kyu , Lee Jae Eun
Published: August 2024

This study aims to present innovative strategies for enhancing school safety capacity in order to nurture elementary school students in South Korea into individuals capable of taking appropriate actions before incurring harm in various crises, thereby protecting not only themselves but also others. To achieve the research objectives, the study analyzed the background of safety education currently conducted in elementary schools and identified areas for improvement by analyzing the issues experienced in actual educational settings. The study suggests the following strategies for innovating safety education in elementary schools: First, efforts are needed to enhance the resilience of elementary school students in the safety education conducted in schools. Second, for substantive education, it is necessary to develop safety education materials considering the local characteristics of the students' living areas and to establish a system for enhancing the capabilities of instructors. Third, the development of student safety experience centers linked with local communities and schools is required.
A Case Study on the Living Experience of People at Risk of Lonely Deaths by Life Cycle: Focus on Urban and Rural Areas
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Yong Tae Hee , Bae Eun Kyung
Published: August 2024

Recently, the rapidly increasing number of lonely deaths in Korea has emerged as a serious social problem. Approximately 1% of all deaths each year are found to be lonely deaths. The purpose of this study is to understand the living experiences of people at risk of lonely deaths by life cycle, focusing on urban and rural areas. To achieve this goal, the data were collected with seven young, middle-aged, and elderly people at risk of lonely deaths and analyzed using a qualitative case study approach. The analysis revealed that the living experiences of those at risk of lonely deaths by life cycle were organized into four categories(reasons for living alone in the area, difficulties in everyday life, effort for daily life, suggestions for preventing social isolation) and 23 subcategories. Based on the major results, policy and practical recommendations were made to prevent social isolation and improve the quality of life of those at risk of lonely deaths. The proposal was presented in terms of five needs of people at high risk of lonely death: employment, social relationships, care, physical and mental health, housing, and safety.
EVALUATION OF COVID-19 TAX INCENTIVE POLICIES: INCOME TAX ARTICLE 25 AND INCOME TAX ARTICLE 22 IMPORT
Authors: Chairunnisa Nadillah , Nuryanah Siti
Published: August 2024

The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 caused the state tax revenue target to not be achieved. Covid-19 Tax Incentives PPh Article 25 and PPh Article 22 Import in 2022 are still being provided by the government because the Covid-19 pandemic has not ended and has had an impact on the economy. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the covid-19 tax incentive policy PPh Article 25 and PPh Article 22 Import from the perception of taxpayers based on The Four Maxims and evaluate the application of the two tax incentive policies at the ABC Tax Office. This research method is mixed, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The data in this study were obtained from questionnaires to taxpayers and interviews with tax authorities and taxpayers. The results of the study show that taxpayers' perceptions of tax incentive policies have fulfilled The Four Maxims, but there are still constraints from the web system. The implementation of the Covid-19 tax incentive policy at KPP ABC has been effective, but monitoring, evaluation, and assessment of taxpayer satisfaction have not been carried out as a whole regarding the tax incentive policy.
Roman Pollak. Portret wykładowcy uniwersyteckiego, czyli co można wyczytać z notatek studentki Zofii Muszyńskiej… i nie tylko
Authors: Gromadzka Beata
Published: August 2024

The article characterises the didactic work of professor Roman Pollak and offers a reconstruction of the concept for teaching Polish studies which is based on his published papers on didactics, handwritten notes for seminars and lectures, texts of speeches, lectures to the Polish studies club and letters to his fellows. The image of the professor is complemented by the notes from lectures on the history of Old Polish literature taken by professor Zofia Trojanowiczowa (née Muszyńska) when she was a student of his and by the recollections of his students. The analysis of the subject material results in a portrait of a remarkable expert in literature who devoted much of his attention to thinking about university didactics and who was aware of both his own skills and his mission.
Adubação nitrogenada e fosfatada na produção e no crescimento de mudas de Euterpe precatoria Mart.
Authors: De Araújo Jamayra Conceição , Bandeira Rufino Conceição Paula , de Carvalho Andrade Neto Romeu , Maria Pereira Lunz Aureny , Pacca Luna Mattar Eduardo , Ferreira Frade Junior Elizio , Maia Guilherme João Paulo , De Melo Miranda Elias , De Lima Barbosa Jennyfer Tamara
Published: August 2024

O açaizeiro solteiro é uma palmeira com excelente potencial para expansão de cultivos comerciais. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito das doses de nitrogênio e fósforo na produção e no crescimento de mudas de Euterpe precatoria Mart. O experimento foi instalado em delineamento de blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 5 x 5, com 25 tratamentos (0, 15, 30, 45 e 60 mg dm-3 de (N) ureia e 0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 mg dm-3 de (P) superfosfato simples). O nitrogênio foi aplicado parcelado (20, 40 e 40% através de três adubações de cobertura de 40, 100 e 160 dias) e o superfosfato simples dose única misturado ao substrato. Aos 334 dias, após a repicagem foram avaliadas a altura da muda, diâmetro do coleto, massas secas da raiz, da parte aérea e total, Índice de Qualidade de Dickson, teores de macro e micronutrientes nas folhas e no solo. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e, quando significativos, foi realizada a superfície de resposta. Na ausência de interação entre as doses o efeito delas foi analisado através de regressão. As características químicas e físicas do substrato, biométricas das mudas e os teores de macro e micronutrientes foliares foram avaliados através da correlação de Pearson. As características biométricas das mudas de Euterpe precatoria são influenciadas pelas doses de nitrogênio e fósforo. As doses de 60 mg dm-3 de nitrogênio e 200 mg dm-3 de fósforo destacaram-se como as mais eficazes, resultando nos melhores desempenhos para a maioria dos parâmetros avaliados.
Changes in lipid composition during the development of avocado fruits
Authors: Pereira Fagundes Miria Cristina , De Oliveira Adelson Francisco , Nunes Cleiton Antônio , Ramos José Darlan , Rufini José Carlos Moraes , Melo Júlio Onésio Ferreira
Published: August 2024

The fruits of the avocado tree (Persea americana Mill.) have high levels of lipids that can be important raw material for the extraction of oil for the food industry. In addition, avocado has several cultivars with different oil contents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the total lipid content and the fatty acid profile of different avocado cultivars during the maturation period. In this study, Breda, Fortuna, Hass, Margarida, Ouro Verde and Quintal avocado cultivars were used. Oil was obtained by extraction with hot solvent (Soxhlet) and after esterification, samples were injected in gas chromatograph. The highest total lipid contents were obtained by Breda, Hass and Margarida cultivars, with oleic fatty acid showing the greatest amount, ranging from 60% to 66%. Breda, Hass and Margarida cultivars are an alternative to the extraction of oil with great commercial potential to be exploited, avoiding wastes and increasing farmers' income.