bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer’s genes in microglia: a risk worth investigating
Authors: Sudwarts Ari , Thinakaran Gopal
Published: November 2023

Despite expressing many key risk genes, the role of microglia in late-onset Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology is somewhat ambiguous, with various phenotypes reported to be either harmful or protective. Herein, we review some key findings from clinical and animal model investigations, discussing the role of microglial genetics in mediating perturbations from homeostasis. We note that impairment to protective phenotypes may include prolonged or insufficient microglial activation, resulting in dysregulated metabolomic (notably lipid-related) processes, compounded by age-related inflexibility in dynamic responses. Insufficiencies of mouse genetics and aggressive transgenic modelling imply severe limitations in applying current methodologies for aetiological investigations. Despite the shortcomings, widely used amyloidosis and tauopathy models of the disease have proven invaluable in dissecting microglial functional responses to AD pathophysiology. Some recent advances have brought modelling tools closer to human genetics, increasing the validity of both aetiological and translational endeavours.
Follicular reconstruction and neo-oogenesis in xenotransplantation of human ovarian isolated cells derived from chemotherapy-induced POF patients
Authors: Khaleghi Sara , Eivazkhani Farideh , Tavana Somayeh , Moini Ashraf , Novin Marefat Ghaffari , Stoyan Petkov , Nazarian Hamid , Fathi Rouhollah
Published: November 2023

Background

Developing new strategies to restore fertility in patients with chemotherapy-induced Premature Ovarian Failure (Chemo-POF) is important. We aimed to construct an Artificial Ovary (AO) by seeding Human Ovarian Cortical Cells (HOCCs) into Human ovarian Decellularized Cortical Tissue (DCT). We assessed the AO’s ability to produce new ovarian follicles following xenotransplantation to NMRI mice.

Material and methods

The DCTs were prepared, and cell removal was confirmed through DNA content, MTT assay, DAPI and H&E staining. Next, HOCCs were isolated from both Chemo-POF and Trans (as a control group) ovarian patients. The HOCCs were characterized using immunostaining (FRAGILIS, Vimentin, and Inhibin α) and real time PCR (DDX4, STELLA, FRAGILIS, Vimentin, FSH-R, KI67) assays. The HOCCs were then seeded into the DCTs and cultured for one week to construct an AO, which was subsequently xenotransplanted into the mice. The existence of active follicles within the AO was studied with H&E and immunofluorescence (GDF9) staining, Real-time PCR (GDF9, ZP3) and hormone analysis (Estradiol, FSH and AMH).

Results

The results of gene expression and immunostaining showed that 85–86% of the isolated cells from both Trans and Chemo-POF groups were positive for vimentin, while 2–5% were granulosa cells and OSCs were less than 3%. After xenotransplantation, histological study confirmed the presence of morphologically healthy reconstructed human ovarian follicles. Additionally, immunofluorescence staining of GDF9 and hormonal assay confirmed the presence of secretory-active follicles on the AO.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that an artificial ovary produced by seeding HOCCs on DCT can support HOCCs proliferation as well as neo-oogenesis, and enable sex hormone secretion following xenotransplantation.
The IBD-FITT study — moderate-intensity exercise for patients with inflammatory bowel disease with moderate disease activity: an open-label randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lund Ken , Knudsen Torben , Kjeldsen Jens , Nielsen Rasmus Gaardskær , Juhl Carsten Bogh , Nørgård Bente Mertz
Published: November 2023

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis are chronic autoimmune lifelong diseases with fluctuating activity over time. The treatment includes medical therapy and surgery, however, there is no definite cure. Therefore, the quest for new and supplementary treatment options is imperative to improve patients’ general health and quality of life.

Physical activity and exercise have been suggested to be elements in both the prevention and supplementary treatment of IBD; however, this is based on limited underpowered trials. Thus, the role of exercise as a treatment option still has to be settled.

We aim to investigate the effect of a 12-week exercise intervention in adult patients with moderately active IBD on three categories of outcomes (1) disease-specific health-related quality of life (IBDQ); (2) general health status of the patients, i.e., waist circumference, disease activity by clinical scorings systems (Harvey Bradshaw Index, Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index), blood pressure, blood lipids, and non-disease specific quality of life (EQ5D) scores; and (3) explorative outcomes on biomarkers (C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin) plus different biomarkers of immunology (cytokine panel).

Methods

We will apply a superiority design in this open-label randomized clinical trial including 150 patients equally allocated to intervention and usual care. The intervention will be based on a 12-week aerobic exercise program and will include two supervised exercise sessions of 60 min per week, combined with one weekly home training session. We have defined a moderate exercise level as 60–80% of patients’ maximum heart rate. The patients in the intervention group will also be offered an online video lesson of 15–25 min on lifestyle guidance, and the same online video lesson will be offered in the comparator group. Questionnaires on quality of life will be forwarded electronically both at inclusion and at the end of the study, and the patients will have blood samples, and fecal samples for calprotectin at baseline, weeks 4 and 8, as well as after 12 weeks (study end).

Discussion

This will be a clinical trial investigating the effect of exercise on patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This trial will add to the evidence on the possible effect of exercise and might clarify whether exercise can benefit as a supplementary treatment addendum. Thus, the trial may provide a new patient-active disease management approach.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04816812. Date of first registration: March 23, 2021.
Exploring the thalamus: a crucial hub for brain function and communication in patients with bulimia nervosa
Authors: Wang Jiani , Wu Guowei , Wang Miao , Li Weihua , Wang Yiling , Ren Xiaodan , Wei Xuan , Yang Zhenghan , Li Zhanjiang , Wang Zhenchang , Chen Qian , Zhang Peng , Tang Lirong
Published: November 2023

Background

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating and compensatory behaviors. The thalamus plays a crucial role in the neural circuitry related to eating behavior and needs to be further explored in BN.

Methods

In this study, 49 BN patients and 44 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. We applied the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation to investigate regional brain activity in the thalamus and functional connectivity (FC) to examine the synchronization of activity between thalamic subregions and other brain regions in both groups. All results underwent false discovery rate (p < 0.05, FDR correction) correction. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the patients’ abnormal clinical performance and the thalamic alterations (p < 0.05, FDR correction).

Results

We found no significant differences in neural activity between BN patients and HCs in the sixteen thalamic subregions. However, compared to the HCs, the individuals with BN showed decreased FC between the thalamic subregions and several regions, including the bilateral prefrontal cortex, right inferior parietal lobule, right supplementary motor area, right insula, cingulate gyrus and vermis. Additionally, BN patients showed increased FC between the thalamic subregions and visual association regions, primary sensorimotor cortex, and left cerebellum. These altered FC patterns in the thalamus were found to be correlated with clinical variables (the frequency of binge eating/purging per week and external eating behavior scale scores) in the BN group. All results have passed FDR correction.

Conclusions

Our study provides evidence that there is disrupted FC between thalamic subregions and other brain regions in BN patients during resting state. These regions are primarily located within the frontoparietal network, default mode network, somatosensory, and visual network. These findings elucidate the neural activity characteristics underlying BN and suggest that thalamic subregions have potential as targets for future neuromodulation interventions.
“Boy, what are we all doing? We are crazy, really crazy”: a qualitative study of psychosocial processes around an atypical one-time smoking cessation course
Authors: Meeuwsen E. G. , de Kleijn M. J. J. , de Boer E. M. , Koçak A. F. , Chavannes N. H. , Meijer E.
Published: November 2023

Background

Smoking prevalence is still high, which requires effective interventions that help many people who smoke at once in addition to time-consuming individual interventions. ‘I Quit’ is a large-scale smoking cessation course in The Netherlands. This qualitative study explored I Quit participants’ experiences during and after the course, and perceptions of whether and how the course may have altered their smoking behavior.

Methods

We performed individual semi-structured interviews with course participants (N = 21) who had either quit successfully, attempted to quit but relapsed, or had continued to smoke after ‘I Quit’. Shortly after qualitative data collection was completed, Foundation I Quit was accused in the media of a number of misbehaviors. Although unplanned, this provided a unique opportunity to explore participants’ views on alleged fraud in a second round of interviews (N = 16). Data were collected from 2016 to 2018.

Results

Qualitative findings showed two psychosocial processes that may explain smoking cessation after course attendance. First, the confrontation with a large group of people who smoke, of whom some had already developed smoking-related complaints, triggered identity processes both towards and away from quitting smoking. Unorthodox methods used in the course appeared to trigger identity processes. Second, social support after the course from participants’ own social network facilitated maintenance of successful quitting. The study also found that interview participants’ opinions on I Quit did not change much after allegations of fraud in the media.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that a one-time course might initiate psychosocial processes that could help certain smokers to gain motivation to quit, requiring a minimum of resources. Identity processes triggered by the course seem tricky as people have different ways of dealing with identity threat, some of which can be counterproductive and even result in more difficulty quitting. More research is needed to examine who can benefit from a one-time course, and who needs more support in order to quit successfully.
Bisdemethoxycurcumin alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury via activating AMPKα pathway
Authors: Li Huifang , Zou Qi , Wang Xueming
Published: November 2023

Objective

Inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI), and subsequently result in rapid deterioration in health. Considering the indispensable role of bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) in inflammation and oxidative stress, the present study aims to examine the effect of BDMC on sepsis-related ALI.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice were administered with BDMC (100 mg/kg) or an equal volume of vehicle, and then injected with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to induce ALI. We assessed the parameters of lung injury, inflammatory response and oxidative stress in lung tissues. Consistently, the macrophages with or without BDMC treatment were exposed to LPS to verify the effect of BDMC in vitro.

Results

BDMC suppressed LPS-induced lung injury, inflammation and oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, BDMC increased the phosphorylation of AMPKα in response to LPS stimulation, and AMPK inhibition with Compound C almost completely blunted the protective effect of BDMC in LPS-treated mice and macrophages. Moreover, we demonstrated that BDMC activated AMPKα via the cAMP/Epac pathway.

Conclusion

Our study identifies the protective effect of BDMC against LPS-induced ALI, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the activation of cAMP/Epac/AMPKα signaling pathway.
Validation study on a prediction formula to estimate the weight of children & adolescents with special needs aged 2–18 years old
Authors: Ibrahim Nurul Huda , Kassim Norasimah , Othman Salimah , Omar Azahadi , Shaari Norsuhaila , Awiskarni Anis Aslah , Abdul Patah Norafidza Ashiquin , Mohamed Nezuri Nabila , Zulfifli Maizatul Naqiah , Awang Mohd Nadzrul Anuar , Sani Muhamad Farid , Abdul Rashad Noorfadzlina , Mesbah Siti Farhana
Published: November 2023

Background

This study aims to validate two predictive formulas of weight estimating strategies in children with special needs, namely the Cattermole formula and the Mercy formula.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study with a universal sampling of children and adolescents with special needs aged 2–18 years old, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, down syndrome, autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was conducted at Community-Based Rehabilitation in Central Zone Malaysia. Socio-demographic data were obtained from files, and medical reports and anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, humeral length, and mid-upper arm circumference) were collected using standard procedures. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 26. The accuracy of the formula was determined by intraclass correlation, prediction at 20% of actual body weight, residual error (RE) and root mean square error (RMSE).

Result

A total of 502 children with a median age of 7 (6) years were enrolled in this study. The results showed that the Mercy formula demonstrated a smaller degree of bias than the Cattermole formula (PE = 1.97 ± 15.99% and 21.13 ± 27.76%, respectively). The Mercy formula showed the highest intraclass correlation coefficient (0.936 vs. 0.858) and predicted weight within 20% of the actual value in the largest proportion of participants (84% vs. 48%). The Mercy formula also demonstrated lower RE (0.3 vs. 3.6) and RMSE (3.84 vs. 6.56) compared to the Cattermole formula. Mercy offered the best option for weight estimation in children with special needs in our study population.
RESnet: 3D direct-current resistivity simulation using the equivalent resistor network circuit
Authors: Yang Dikun
Published: November 2023

Thin and highly conductive objects are challenging to model in 3D direct-current (DC) problems because they often require excessive mesh refinement that leads to a significant increase in computational costs. RESistor network (RESnet) is a novel algorithm that converts any 3D geo-electric simulation to solving an equivalent 3D resistor network circuit. Two features of RESnet make it an attractive choice in the DC modeling of thin and conductive objects. First, in addition to the conductivity with units of Siemens per meter (S/m) defined at the cell centers (cell conductivity), RESnet allows conductive properties defined on mesh faces and edges as face conductivity with units of S and edge conductivity with units of S·m, respectively. Face conductivity is the thickness-integrated conductivity, which preserves the electric effect of sheet-like conductors without an explicit statement in the mesh. Similarly, edge conductivity is the product of the cross-sectional area and the intrinsic conductivity of a line-like conductive object. Modeling thin objects using face and edge conductivity can avoid extremely small mesh grids if the DC problem concerns electric field responses at a much larger scale. Second, once the original simulation is transformed into an equivalent resistor network, certain types of infrastructure, similar to above-ground metallic pipes, can be conveniently modeled by directly connecting the circuit nodes, which cannot interact with each other in conventional modeling programs. Bilingually implemented in MATLAB and Python, the algorithm has been made open source to promote wide use in academia and industry. Three examples are provided to validate its numerical accuracy, demonstrate its capability in modeling steel well casings, and indicate how it can be used to simulate the effect of complex metallic infrastructure on DC resistivity data.
Professor David Skuse: a gentleman and a scholar
Authors: Malhi Gin S.
Published: November 2023

Stepping down after a decade of service as editor of this journal, this brief testimonial recognises the pivotal contributions made by Professor David Skuse and highlights his stellar career achievements as an academic.
Burden of Morbidity and Mortality in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Authors: Armenian Saro H. , Chao Chun
Published: November 2023

There are an estimated 650,00 survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers in the United States, a number that is expected to markedly increase in the coming decades. The recognition of the potential for some cancer treatments to affect the health of patients for many years after the initial diagnosis has prompted investigators to examine the evolving burden of late morbidity and mortality in AYAs with cancer after treatment completion. Studies in large international cohorts of AYA cancer survivors have now shown that the burden of late effects in survivors treated during the past four decades is substantial, affecting the health and well-being of the survivor, health systems' preparedness to meet their health care needs in the future, and societal economic costs that are largely affected by loss of productivity. We highlight the unique considerations for AYA cancer survivors, identify gaps in knowledge for future research, and provide an overview of emerging efforts to mitigate late effects in these survivors. Ongoing multidisciplinary bench-to-bedside collaborations are critical to understanding the biology of late effects in AYA cancer survivors and to developing personalized interventions to mitigate them. The growing population of AYA cancer survivors makes it imperative that these efforts extend across the cancer care continuum, which will allow survivors to ultimately live to their fullest potential.
Approach to the Patient With Raised Thyroid Hormones and Nonsuppressed TSH
Authors: Moran Carla , Schoenmakers Nadia , Halsall David , Oddy Susan , Lyons Greta , van den Berg Sjoerd , Gurnell Mark , Chatterjee Krishna
Published: November 2023

Measurement of free thyroid hormones (THs) and thyrotropin (TSH) using automated immunoassays is central to the diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction. Using illustrative cases, we describe a diagnostic approach to discordant thyroid function tests, focusing on entities causing elevated free thyroxine and/or free triiodothyronine measurements with nonsuppressed TSH levels. Different types of analytical interference (eg, abnormal thyroid hormone binding proteins, antibodies to iodothyronines or TSH, heterophile antibodies, biotin) or disorders (eg, resistance to thyroid hormone β or α, monocarboxylate transporter 8 or selenoprotein deficiency, TSH-secreting pituitary tumor) that can cause this biochemical pattern will be considered. We show that a structured approach, combining clinical assessment with additional laboratory investigations to exclude assay artifact, followed by genetic testing or specialized imaging, can establish a correct diagnosis, potentially preventing unnecessary investigation or inappropriate therapy.
Reconnecting the Hand and Arm to the Brain: Efficacy of Neural Interfaces for Sensorimotor Restoration After Tetraplegia
Authors: Herring Eric Z. , Graczyk Emily L. , Memberg William D. , Adams Robert , Fernandez Baca-Vaca Gaudalupe , Hutchison Brianna C. , Krall John T. , Alexander Benjamin J. , Conlan Emily C. , Alfaro Kenya E. , Bhat Preethisiri , Ketting-Olivier Aaron B. , Haddix Chase A. , Taylor Dawn M. , Tyler Dustin J. , Sweet Jennifer A. , Kirsch Robert F. , Ajiboye A. Bolu , Miller Jonathan P.
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Paralysis after spinal cord injury involves damage to pathways that connect neurons in the brain to peripheral nerves in the limbs. Re-establishing this communication using neural interfaces has the potential to bridge the gap and restore upper extremity function to people with high tetraplegia. We report a novel approach for restoring upper extremity function using selective peripheral nerve stimulation controlled by intracortical microelectrode recordings from sensorimotor networks, along with restoration of tactile sensation of the hand using intracortical microstimulation.

METHODS:

A 27-year-old right-handed man with AIS-B (motor-complete, sensory-incomplete) C3–C4 tetraplegia was enrolled into the clinical trial. Six 64-channel intracortical microelectrode arrays were implanted into left hemisphere regions involved in upper extremity function, including primary motor and sensory cortices, inferior frontal gyrus, and anterior intraparietal area. Nine 16-channel extraneural peripheral nerve electrodes were implanted to allow targeted stimulation of right median, ulnar (2), radial, axillary, musculocutaneous, suprascapular, lateral pectoral, and long thoracic nerves, to produce selective muscle contractions on demand. Proof-of-concept studies were performed to demonstrate feasibility of using a brain-machine interface to read from and write to the brain for restoring motor and sensory functions of the participant's own arm and hand.

RESULTS:

Multiunit neural activity that correlated with intended motor action was successfully recorded from intracortical arrays. Microstimulation of electrodes in somatosensory cortex produced repeatable sensory percepts of individual fingers for restoration of touch sensation. Selective electrical activation of peripheral nerves produced antigravity muscle contractions, resulting in functional movements that the participant was able to command under brain control to perform virtual and actual arm and hand movements. The system was well tolerated with no operative complications.

CONCLUSION:

The combination of implanted cortical electrodes and nerve cuff electrodes has the potential to create bidirectional restoration of motor and sensory functions of the arm and hand after neurological injury.
H κλιματική κρίση ως «φαύλο» πρόβλημα και μαθησιακό αντικείμενο. Θεωρητικές, ερευνητικές και διδακτικές επισημάνσεις με άξονα την εκπαίδευση για την κλιματική αλλαγή
Authors: Δασκολιά Μαρία
Published: November 2023

Όλοι οι τομείς δράσης για την αντιμετώπιση της σύγχρονης κλιματικής κρίσης απαιτούν την υιοθέτηση μετασχηματιστικών προοπτικών με όραμα την αειφορία. Η εκπαίδευση ειδικότερα αναγνωρίζεται ως κεντρικός παράγοντας στην ανάληψη και καλλιέργεια ενός τέτοιου προσανατολισμού, μέσα από την εννοιολόγηση της κλιματικής κρίσης και των προκλήσεων που εμπεριέχει και την ενεργοποίηση και ενδυνάμωση ατόμων και κοινοτήτων απέναντι σε αυτή. Αξιοποιώντας και προεκτείνοντας τη θεωρία και την πράξη της Περιβαλλοντικής Εκπαίδευσης και της Εκπαίδευσης για την Αειφόρο Ανάπτυξη, στους κόλπους των οποίων γεννήθηκε και εντάσσεται η εκπαίδευση για την κλιματική αλλαγή, θεωρούμε ότι μπορεί να μπορεί να συμβάλλει σε μια ανανέωση της προβληματικής τους και παράλληλα να προσφέρει νέα πεδία εστίασης στην εκπαιδευτική θεωρία, έρευνα, πολιτική και πρακτική. Στο παρόν άρθρο προσεγγίζουμε την κλιματική αλλαγή ως ένα ιδιαίτερο κοινωνικο-περιβαλλοντικό ζήτημα και μαθησιακό αντικείμενο με τα χαρακτηριστικά του «φαύλου» προβλήματος, η αντίληψη, γνωστική και συναισθηματική διαχείριση του οποίου προσκρούει σε μια σειρά από εσωτερικούς ψυχολογικούς μηχανισμούς και εμπόδια. Χρησιμοποιούμε τη θεωρητική ανάλυση και την ερευνητική μαρτυρία για να φωτίσουμε πλευρές και διαστάσεις της ανθρώπινης εμπλοκής με τις προκλήσεις που θέτει η κλιματική αλλαγή ως ένα τέτοιο «φαύλο» πρόβλημα. Τέλος, προτείνουμε ένα πλαίσιο διδακτικών όρων σε επίπεδο εκπαιδευτικού σχεδιασμού και μεθοδολογικών επιλογών, που διασφαλίζει συμβατές και κατάλληλες παιδαγωγικές προσεγγίσεις και πιο αυθεντικές μαθησιακές εμπειρίες, για μια περιβαλλοντική εκπαίδευση με στόχο την αειφορία και θεματική επικέντρωση την κλιματική αλλαγή.
H απομάγευση του φυσικού κόσμου και η υπόσχεση της ενσυνειδητότητας στο πλαίσιο της παιδαγωγικής πράξης
Authors: Τσεβρένη Ίριδα
Published: November 2023

Η εργασία αυτή επιχειρεί να αναδείξει την ανάγκη επαναπροσδιορισμού της σχέσης μας με τον φυσικό κόσμο στο πλαίσιο της περιβαλλοντικής εκπαίδευσης μέσα από μία ενσώματη και πνευματική προσέγγιση. Σε αυτό το άρθρο θα συζητήσουμε για τη χαμένη πνευματικότητα στη σχέση μας με τον υπόλοιπο φυσικό κόσμο, αλλά και για την ανάγκη της συμπερίληψης του σώματος και του πνεύματος στην παιδαγωγική πράξη. Στο μονοπάτι αυτό, θα αξιοποιήσουμε αρχές και μεθόδους της πνευματικής οικολογίας και της στοχαστικής ή περισυλλογιστικής παιδαγωγικής. Θα παρουσιάσουμε πώς μπορεί να συμβάλει η ενσυνειδητότητα στη θεραπεία της απομάγευσης του φυσικού κόσμου, αλλά και στην οικοκεντρική προσέγγιση της παιδαγωγικής πράξης. Τέλος, θα κάνουμε πιο απτή την πρόταση για την ενσωμάτωση της ενσυνειδητότητας στην περιβαλλοντική εκπαίδευση μέσα από τη σκιαγράφηση βασικών κατευθύνσεων που μπορούν να αποτελέσουν πεδίο παιδαγωγικής έρευνας και πράξης με επίκεντρο τη διαμόρφωση ενσώματης, πνευματικής ενσυναίσθησης για τον μη ανθρώπινο κόσμο και την οικοκεντρική επανατοποθέτησή μας στο περιβάλλον.
The Role of Local Communities in the Process of Siting of the Unwanted Facilities within the Rural Areas in Poland
Authors: Bednarek-Szczepańska Maria
Published: November 2023

The subject of this study is the activity of rural communities in the face of plans of locating unwanted projects within their locations of residence, and the influence of the activity on the decision makers and, ultimately, on the final fate of the envisaged projects. The participation of inhabitants and decisions of the authorities, taken in response to these activities, and concerning the respective projects, were analysed on a basis of a questionnaire-based survey which was undertaken in the municipalities, in which conflicts have taken place. In-depth investigations were also carried out in five municipalities. The following activities: preparing a collective petition to decision-maker, organizing local meetings, taking part in meetings organised by the authorities or investor, filing of proposals and remarks to the projects of decisions and documents, entering into cooperation with actors from outside of the municipality were undertaken by groups of residents in more than 65% cases of conflicts. The activity of inhabitants generally exerted an influence on the final outcome from the respective conflicts. In the majority of cases, the unwanted projects, for which the decision making body was the local authority, either were not realised, or were realised with modifications, resulting from the social protests.
Horizontal Integration in the Agricultural Sector as a Factor Increasing Its Competitiveness – Experience from Poland
Authors: Pawlak Karolina , Kołodziejczak Małgorzata , Xie Yumei
Published: November 2023

The aim of this article is to present the process of the development of horizontal integration in the agricultural sector in Poland in relation to the increase in its competitiveness. The article uses the data of the National Cooperative Council in Poland, The Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture, as well as Central Statistical Office in Poland. The process of formation of agricultural producer groups accelerated considerably when Poland joined the EU, especially due to the possibility to receive support from public funds. In 2013, at the end of the first full financial framework 2007–2013, there were almost 1300 agricultural producer groups in Poland. The most of them functioned in central, western and north-western regions, where larger and specialised farms are prevalent and where farmers understand the need for joint activity and want to gain a possibility to generate both technological and cost and price advantages and to increase the profitability of production. So far Polish producers of cereals, oilseeds, pigs and poultry have been relatively best organised. In 2017 about 45% of all registered groups of agricultural producers had the status of cooperatives. In pigs and beef cattle production the share of cooperatives in the total number of registered groups was even higher and amounted to 70% and 83%, respectively. Such groups are capable of helping farmers to solve the problems of how to sell their products, to ensure the appropriate quality of those products and to increase the cost-effectiveness of production. Cooperatives are often involved in social, educational and cultural activities provided to their members and rural community. Therefore, it can be said that very presence of cooperatives favours the development of agriculture in a particular region and in the entire country.
The Environmental and Educational Topics in Agricultural TV Broadcasts
Authors: Šarkovic Aleksandra , Matić Jovanka , Bogdanov Natalija
Published: November 2023

The sustainable use and efficient management of natural resources are reflected in the introduction of modern production practices and agro-ecological measures. The new challenges facing farmers require new approaches to the transfer of agricultural knowledge, technologies and information. Television is an important medium for providing timely information and communication with farmers in developing countries, where other sources of information are less available. Therefore, television represents one of the most relevant sources of raising public awareness and concern for the environment. This paper seeks to investigate whether and to what extent specialised TV programmes for farmers of four national TV networks in Serbia cover topics related to the agro-environment. Content analysis was employed to determine the differences in the offer of environmental and educational contents of agricultural TV programmes broadcast by public and commercial television stations in Serbia. Research results reveal significant differences between public and commercial broadcasters in terms of the topics covered, which are especially evident with regard to environmentally and educationally related contents. As the educational value of the content is determined by the choice of subjects, a difference in the frequency with which certain groups of subjects are shown speaking in broadcasts is also noted.
Libraries as Facilitators of Digital Inclusion for Sustainable Development: The Nigerian Experience
Authors: Igbinovia Magnus , Aiyebelehin Afebuameh James
Published: November 2023

Background: Inclusive access and use of technology are germane to sustainable development as contained in the United Nations’ transformation agenda. As such, the need to bridge the digital gap through digital inclusion has become a critical goal for developmental institutions like libraries.
Purpose: This article seeks to theoretically explore how libraries can facilitate digital inclusion for sustainable development, from the Nigerian perspective.
Method: The study’s theoretical assumption hinges on the resources and appropriation theory of the diffusion, acceptance and adoption of new technologies by van Dijk (2013). The conceptualisation was based on the critical dimensions of digital inclusion (acceptance, literacy and accessibility); upon which the specific objectives of the study were structured. The opinions of the authors were situated in the context of relevant literature.
Result: The study established libraries as facilitators of digital inclusion across the lines of digital acceptance, literacy and accessibility. This invariably impacts on the digital equality for sustainable development of all and sundry.
Conclusion: Libraries in Nigeria, especially those attached to academic institutions are at the forefront of championing the course for digital inclusion which is a vehicle to achieving sustainable development.
Máté Tóth, A könyvtárak társadalmi szerepei empirikus kutatási adatok tükrében, Szentendre, Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár 2022, ss. 193 ISBN 978-963-7521-91-1
Authors: Szabó Dóra
Published: November 2023

The article is a discussion of the Hungarian book by Máté Tóth, a researcher and librarian in Hungary: ”Social Roles of Libraries in the Light of empirical research data” (Szentendre, Hamvas Béla Pest Megyei Könyvtár, 2022), in which he draws attention to the social roles of libraries. The author substantiates the raison of this role with his empirical research. The book is a broad overview of one of the most exciting and much-discussed matters of today's Hungarian culture, the world and role of reading, books, the press, electronic media, mobile phones, the Internet, and comprehensively Hungarian reading culture. The author attempts to prove the legitimacy and social role of libraries based on the statistics, library sociology measurements and empirical research of recent decades.
Report on the international scientific conference Relevance and listening: communicating the Christian message in the plurality of contemporary voices, organised by the Department of Institutional Social Communication of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, May 2-4, 2023
Authors: Leśniczak Rafał
Published: November 2023

From 2 to 4 May 2023 an international scientific conference entitled “Relevance and listening: communicating the Christian message in the plurality of contemporary voices” was held in Rome. The meeting was organised by the Department of Institutional Social Communication of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. The aim of the conference was to analyse the challenges related to the proper understanding and implementation of institutional communication processes of ecclesiastical institutions in the perspective of the contemporary socio-political and cultural context. The conference’s main speakers were, among others, Prof. Jim Macnamara (University of Technology of Sydney), Prof. José María La Porte (Pontificia Università della Santa Croce), Prof. Benedetto Ippolito (Università Roma Tre) and Prof. Lorenzo Cantoni (Università della Svizzera Italiana).
Postulates and Proposals of Members of the Polish Government-in-Exile for Poland’s Economic Security in the Context of the Reconstruction of the State in 1944–1945: Selected Examples
Authors: Landmann Tomasz , Olbrycht Paweł
Published: November 2023

The article aims to indicate selected, postulated directions of Poland’s economic recovery in the early years after World War II, considering the contribution made by the Polish Government-in-Exile (Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile). The analysis includes a query of archival documents from 1944–1945 and a review of scientific literature.
The thesis has been put forward that the substantive developments from the years 1944–1945 prepared by the Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile may constitute a valuable cognitive source for the analysis of possible directions of reconstruction and development of the Polish economy after the destruction caused by the events of World War II.
It has been shown that the Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile created numerous studies on the economic recovery of the country after World War II, even before the armed conflict formally ended. Many of the valuable guidelines referred to the reconstruction and development of the coal mining industry, oil industry, and forest management.
American Perspective on the Quality of Democracy in Poland
Authors: Jureńczyk Łukasz
Published: November 2023

The American model of democracy is identified with liberal democracy, which in the West is usually considered a democracy of the highest quality standards. The illiberal authorities in Poland criticize this model of democracy, introducing a number of legal changes which, in their opinion, are to lead to an improvement in the quality of democracy. American researchers quite unequivocally criticize the changes, especially those taking place in the area of independence of the judiciary, freedom of the media and women’s rights. They also criticize the attitude of the Polish authorities towards minorities, including LGBTQ+ communities. Criticism also appeared from the American authorities, although in this case we were dealing with a large variation in the approach of individual administrations. The aim of the article is to analyze and evaluate the American perspective on the quality of democracy in Poland. During the research, scientists and experts from research institutions in Washington, D.C. and New York were interviewed.
Between Trauma and Nostalgia: Second Generation Memory of the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Wasiak Katarzyna
Published: November 2023

In this article, the author set out to analyze the war narratives of the Bosniak second generation – the generation that de facto did not experience the war, and base their stories on the experiences of their loved ones. The author shows how family narratives about the war affect the contemporary lives of those born after the war, and most importantly, how they affect contemporary ethnic relations in Bosnia.
Multiple cylindrically symmetric solutions of nonlinear Maxwell equations
Authors: Wen Yanyun , Zhao Peihao
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we study the following nonlinear time-harmonic Maxwell equations
\begin{equation}\label{equation 0.1}
\nabla\times(\nabla \times E)-\omega^2\varepsilon(x)E
=P(x)|E|^{p-2}E+Q(x)|E|^{q-2}E,
\end{equation}
where $\varepsilon(x)$ is the permittivity of the material, $x\in\mathbb{R}^{3}$,
$1< q< {p}/({p-1})< 2< p< 6$, $P(x),Q(x)\in C\left(\mathbb{R}^{3},\mathbb{R}\right)$.
Under some special cylindrical symmetric conditions for $\varepsilon(x)$, $P(x)$
and $Q(x)$,
we obtain infinite many cylindrically symmetric solutions of \eqref{equation 0.1}
by using variational method and fountain theorems without $\tau$-upper semi-continuity.
Psychological support after stroke: unmet needs and workforce requirements of clinical neuropsychological provision for optimal rehabilitation outcomes
Authors: Griffiths Mark , Kontou Eirini , Ford Catherine
Published: November 2023

Stroke services must detect and manage psychological and neuropsychological problems that occur after stroke, such as cognitive and language impairments, post-stroke apathy, post-stroke emotionalism, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality changes and suicidality. Stroke neuropsychology plays a key role in the assessment, understanding and management of these consequences of stroke, as well as contributing to complex case management, staff supervision and training. Where these provisions are absent from the stroke rehabilitation pathway, this significantly limits potential rehabilitation outcomes. To manage the scale of psychological and neuropsychological needs post stroke, clinical guidance recommends the use of a matched care system, in which these needs are triaged and matched with corresponding levels of support. Recent workforce guidelines provide clear professional recommendations for psychological staffing skill mix and threshold requirements for clinical oversight and clinical governance assurances.
Editorial: Harnessing the Power of Large Language Models in Agricultural Safety & Health
Authors: Shutske John M.
Published: November 2023

Highlights

Generative artificial intelligence will play a major role in the daily work of agricultural safety and health professionals.

Properly trained large language models can assist educators, researchers, and clinicians in responding to agricultural safety and health questions.

Numerous issues and obstacles must be overcome to use LLMs in these settings, including accuracy and completeness of responses, bias, and intellectual property concerns.

Keywords: Agricultural safety, Artificial intelligence, Bias, ChatGPT, Consultation, Extension, Generative AI, Health, Education, Intellectual Property, Large language models, LLM, Teaching.
Improved Demand Forecasting of a Retail Store Using a Hybrid Machine Learning Model
Authors: Taparia Vinit , Mishra Piyush , Gupta Nitik , Kumar Devesh
Published: November 2023

Accurate demand forecasting is a competitive advantage for all supply chain components, including retailers. Approaches like naïve, moving average, weighted average, and exponential smoothing are commonly used to forecast demand. However, these simple approaches may lead to higher inventory and lost sales costs when the trend in demand is non-linear. Additionally, price strongly influences demand, and we can’t neglect the impact of price on demand. Similarly, the demand for a stock keeping unit (SKU) depends on the price of the competitor for the same SKU and the price of the competitive SKU. We thus propose a demand prediction model that considers historical demand data and the SKU price to forecast the demand. Our approach uses different machine-learning regressor algorithms and identifies the best machine-learning algorithm for the SKU with the lowest forecasting error. We further extend the forecasting model by training a hybrid model from the best two regression algorithms individually for each SKU. Forecasting error minimisation is the driving criterion for our literature. We evaluated the approach on 1000 SKUs, and the result showed that the Random Forest is the best-performing regressor algorithm with the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 8%. Furthermore, the hybrid model resulted in a lower inventory and lost sales cost with a MAPE of 7.74%. Overall, our proposed hybrid demand forecasting model can help retailers make informed decisions about inventory management, leading to improved operational efficiency and profitability.
Microplastics in sediment of Indonesia waters : A systematic review of occurrence, monitoring and potential environmental risks
Authors: Akbar Said Ali , Afriani Sari , Nuzlia Cut , Nazlia Suraiya , Agustina Sri
Published: November 2023

Microplastics, or plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are a growing ecotoxicological problem for both human health and aquatic habitats. Even though microplastic pollution affects the air, water, and land widely, these habitats are often viewed as distinct from one another while in fact they are tightly related. The purpose of this work is to review the body of scientific literature on microplastic studies in Indonesian watershed sediment. Google Scholar has identified around 57 papers about microplastic pollution that were published between 2017 and 2023. Papers about sediment for rivers, lakes, marine, and estuaries are categorized further based on (i) their occurrence and characterization, (ii) their intake by and effects on species, and (iii) their fate and transport issues. Even at low concentrations of 10 μg/mL, microplastics cause harmful effects for people and animals, including cytotoxicity, immunological response, oxidative stress, barrier characteristics, and genotoxicity. When marine animals eat microplastics, their gastrointestinal tract physiology changes, and they also experience immune system depression, oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, differential gene expression, and growth inhibition. In addition, the bioaccumulation of microplastics in aquatic creatures' tissues may harm the aquatic ecosystem and may spread to people and birds. Through behavioural changes and policy changes, such imposing taxes, bans, or price increases on plastic carrier bags, plastic usage has been dramatically decreased to 8–85% in many different nations across the globe. The strategy for minimizing microplastics is structured like an upside-down pyramid: prevention is at the top, then reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, and, as the least desirable alternative, disposal.Keywords:MicroplasticsSedimentIndonesia WatersEnvironmental RiskPollutant Aquatic
Impact of laser phase noise on the ranging accuracy of a cooperative MIMO FMCW photonic radar system
Authors: Kumari Annapurna , Kumar Amitesh
Published: November 2023

In this paper, a FMCW-based cooperative 2×2 MIMO photonic radar system using heterodyne detection is presented. The proposed system consists of two separate sensor nodes that use a linear frequency modulated continuous wave signal, which allows simultaneous monostatic and bistatic radar measurement, where the target range and angle of arrival information are extracted. The additional bistatic information enhances the target detection and estimation capabilities with improved accuracy. This accuracy in practicality is affected by the laser phase noise, which degrades the overall system performance. Here, the analytical laser phase noise model for the MIMO system is derived and implemented to analyze its impact on the ranging accuracy of the proposed system. Under the impact of standard white Gaussian laser phase noise assumption, the monostatic and bistatic response of the detected signal is measured and compared using statistics of measurement error. Further, the signal-to-noise ratio and SSB laser phase noise of the monostatic and bistatic response are measured and compared at different target ranges. At last, the phase-noise-limited ranging accuracy of the system is evaluated and analyzed. The concept shown in this work paves the way for advanced photonic radar system applications such as modern radar systems, electronic warfare systems, metrology, and automotive vehicle radar with multiperspective coherent detection.
Simultaneous detection of urea and lactate in sweat based on a wearable sweat biosensor
Authors: Yang Haifan , Ji Yangyang , Shen Kang , Qian Yayun , Ye Chenchen
Published: November 2023

Urea and lactate are biomarkers in sweat that is closely associated with human health. This study introduces portable, rapid, sensitive, stable, and high-throughput wearable sweat biosensors utilizing Au-Ag nanoshuttles (Au-Ag NSs) for the simultaneous detection of sweat urea and lactate. The Au-Ag NSs arrays within the biosensor's microfluidic cavity provide a substantial surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement effect. The limit of detection (LOD) for urea and lactate are 2.35 × 10−6 and 8.66 × 10−7 mol/L, respectively. This wearable sweat biosensor demonstrates high resistance to compression bending, repeatability, and stability and can be securely attached to various body parts. Real-time sweat analysis of volunteers wearing the biosensors during exercise demonstrated the method's practicality. This wearable sweat biosensor holds significant potential for monitoring sweat dynamics and serves as a valuable tool for assessing bioinformation in sweat.
Scalability of the differential-(quadrature)-phase-shift quantum digital signature
Authors: Inoue Kyo , Honjo Toshimori
Published: November 2023

The quantum digital signature (QDS) is a quantum communication technology that distributes authentication keys to candidates of message recipients who will confirm if a message received afterward is the legitimate one, referring to the authentication keys. Although accommodating many recipients may be one of the significant QDS system performances, conventional QDS protocols seem indifferent to this issue. In this study, we investigate the number of accommodable recipients in recently proposed differential-phase-shift (DPS) QDS and differential-quadrature-phase-shift (DQPS) QDS systems. They are unique QDS protocols in which quantum signals are broadcasted to all recipients simultaneously, and there is no post data-processing between the sender and recipients, which is favorable to accommodate a large number of recipients. We analyze the system conditions required to satisfy the QDS criteria, and evaluate the maximum number of recipients. The results indicate that around 100 recipients can be accommodated in a 100-km transmission system.