bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pluralizing archives for histories of extraction in Africa
Authors: Peša Iva , Ndaba Tholithemba Lorenzo , Shaba Jabulani , Jack Jackson Tamunosaki 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWith which sources can we write environmental histories of mining and oil drilling in Africa? Paradoxically, the pollution and environmental disruption caused by extractive industries are at once omnipresent and difficult to trace. In documentary evidence, multinational companies are hesitant to disclose the full extent of their polluting activities. In order to understand how people living around sites of extraction make sense of polluted rivers or suffocating smoke, we argue that archives need to be pluralized. State and company archives can fruitfully be paired with newspaper collections, oral history interviews, cultural production (songs, poems and literary works) and photography. Using examples from Johannesburg, Mazowe, the Central African Copperbelt and the Niger Delta, we map sources and methodologies that might be employed to grasp people’s lived experiences of environmental change in localities of resource extraction.
Evaluating racial and ethnic disparities in antibiotic treatment for pneumonia patients in a major academic health system
Authors: Evans David , Fortin-Leung Kingsley , Kumar Vishnu Ravi , Ma Yanru , Asrani Radhika Prakash , Wiley Zanthia , Fridkin Scott K. ,   CDC Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Objective:
Examine the relationship between patients’ race and prescriber antibiotic choice while accounting for differences in underlying illness and infection severity.

Design:
Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting:
Acute care facilities within an academic healthcare system.

Patients:
Adult inpatients from January 2019 through June 2022 discharged from the Hospital Medicine Service with an ICD-10 Code for Pneumonia.

Methods:
We describe variability in days of therapy of antimicrobials with activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (anti-Pseudomonas agents) or against MRSA (anti-MRSA agents), by patient’s race and ethnicity. We estimated the likelihood of receipt of any anti-Pseudomonas agents by race and modeled the effect of race on rate of use, adjusting for age, severity, and indication.

Results:
5,820 patients with 6,700 encounters were included. After adjusting for broad indication, severity, underlying illness, and age, use of anti-Pseudomonas agents were less likely among non-Hispanic Black patients than other race groups, although this effect was limited to younger patients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29, 0.70), and not older ones (aOR 0.98; 95% CI 0.85, 1.13); use of anti-MRSA agents were similar between groups. Among patients receiving any anti-Pseudomonas agents, Black patients received them for relatively lower proportion of their inpatient stay (incidence rate ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.87, 0.96).

Conclusions:
We found difference in use of anti-Pseudomonas agents between non-Hispanic Black patients and other patients that could not be easily explained by indications or underlying illness, suggesting unmeasured factors may be playing a role in treatment decisions.
US and Canadian cat caregiver’s ratings of cat-cat interactions: A video-based survey
Authors: Khoddami Sherry , Kiser Makayla C. , Moody Carly M. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
US and Canadian caregivers (n = 6,529) of two domestic cats (Felis catus) were recruited to participate in an online cross-sectional questionnaire to assess: (1) knowledge of inter-cat behaviour; (2) the frequency of positive and negative cat-cat interactions in the home; and (3) factors associated with positive and negative cat-cat interactions in the home. The questionnaire included ten videos (five negatively valenced, five positively valenced), in which participants scored: the overall cat-cat interaction; cat 1’s experience; and cat 2’s experience, using a Likert scale. Participants were also asked to report how often they see each interaction in their own two cats. Cat behaviour experts (n = 5) were recruited to rate their interpretations of the videos using the same Likert scale as the cat caregiver participants. Overall, our results suggest that overt positive interactions (allo-grooming, co-sleeping) were more likely reported if cat dyads were related or spent more time living together, were neutered males, indoor-only, and/or had a single feeding area. Overt negative interactions (fighting, striking) were more likely reported if dyads were older or had a larger age gap, showed animal-directed aggression, were declawed, and/or had a single litter-box. Participant versus expert ratings of the videos were similar, however caregivers reported certain affiliative behaviours more positively than experts. Caregivers appeared to have a good understanding of their cats’ overall relationship, as this aligned with reported cat-cat interactions. These results increase our understanding of the cat-cat relationship in two-cat households, which may be used to inform cat adoption strategies, in-home management, and promote a positive cat-cat relationship.
Securing a peaceful, sustainable, and humane future through an international data-based systems agency (IDA) at the UN
Authors: Kirchschlaeger Peter G. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The international community, and the UN in particular, is in urgent need of wise policies, and a regulatory institution to put data-based systems, notably AI, to positive use and guard against their abuse. Digital transformation and “artificial intelligence (AI)”—which can more adequately be called “data-based systems (DS)”—present ethical opportunities and risks. Helping humans and the planet to flourish sustainably in peace and guaranteeing globally that human dignity is respected not only offline but also online, in the digital sphere, and the domain of DS requires two policy measures: (1) human rights-based data-based systems (HRBDS) and (2) an International Data-Based Systems Agency (IDA): IDA should be established at the UN as a platform for cooperation in the field of digital transformation and DS, fostering human rights, security, and peaceful uses of DS.
COVID-19 Epidemiology in Fragile Contexts: A Descriptive Analysis of COVID-19 in Host Communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh During the First Year of the Pandemic
Authors: Salem-Bango Lindsay , Hasan Md. Abul , Agbogan Jogie Abucejo , Miah Lalan , Antoine Caroline , Tonon Brigitte , Spiegel Paul , Altare Chiara 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Objectives
In 2020, COVID-19 modeling studies predicted rapid epidemic growth and quickly overwhelmed health systems in humanitarian and fragile settings due to preexisting vulnerabilities and limited resources. Despite the growing evidence from Bangladesh, no study has examined the epidemiology of COVID-19 in out-of-camp settings in Cox’s Bazar during the first year of the pandemic (March 2020-March 2021). This paper aims to fill this gap.

Methods
Secondary data analyses were conducted on case and testing data from the World Health Organization and the national health information system via the District Health Information Software 2.

Results
COVID-19 in Cox’s Bazar was characterized by a large peak in June 2020, followed by a smaller wave in August/September and a new wave from March 2021. Males were more likely to be tested than females (68% vs. 32%, P < 0.001) and had higher incidence rates (305.29/100 000 males vs. 114.90/100 000 female, P < 0.001). Mortality was significantly associated with age (OR: 87.3; 95% CI: 21.03-350.16, P < 0.001) but not sex. Disparities existed in testing and incidence rates among upazilas.

Conclusions
Incidence was lower than expected, with indicators comparable to national-level data. These findings are likely influenced by the younger population age, high isolation rates, and low testing capacity. With testing extremely limited, true incidence and mortality rates are likely higher, highlighting the importance of improving disease surveillance in fragile settings. Data incompleteness and fragmentation were the main study limitations.
Hyperelliptic Gorenstein curves and logarithmic differentials
Authors: Battistella Luca , Bozlee Sebastian 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
We produce a flexible tool for contracting subcurves of logarithmic hyperelliptic curves, which is local around the subcurve and commutes with arbitrary base-change. As an application, we prove that a hyperelliptic multiscale differential determines a sequence of Gorenstein contractions of the underlying nodal curve, such that each meromorphic piece of the differential descends to generate the dualising bundle of one of the Gorenstein contractions. This is the first piece of evidence for a more general conjecture about limits of meromorphic differentials.
Cashing out pension savings: An appropriate response to “temporary” income shortfalls?
Authors: Casey Bernard H. , Mustafa Artan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This article examines premature withdrawals from pension funds that were initiated as responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It looks at withdrawal programmes both in emerging market and in advanced economies. Although measures might have been expedient in countries where social protection systems (social assistance and job furlough schemes) are relatively underdeveloped, they could also be regressive. Furthermore, they undermined the concept of pension funds as retirement income resources and, in some cases, they might threaten people’s living standards once they became old. The paper also suggests that such withdrawal programmes have a populist flavour.
TEMPORAL STABILITY OF CLIMATIC SIGNAL RECORDED BY STABLE CARBON ISOTOPE COMPOSITION OF TREE RINGS α-CELLULOSE—A CASE STUDY FOR SUWAŁKI REGION
Authors: Pawełczyk Sławomira , Pazdur Anna , Benisiewicz Barbara 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTInvestigations of stable carbon isotope composition in α-cellulose extracted from tree rings of pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in the unpolluted Suwałki region, northeastern part of Poland, are undertaken. The presented carbon isotope record covers the period of 1931–2003. Values of δ13C measured in the tree ring α-cellulose are compared to meteorological data. These δ13C values in tree ring cellulose respond to summer temperature, insolation, relative humidity, and precipitation. The best correlation is observed between relative humidity and carbon isotope data. The August relative humidity is found more influential on δ13C values than relative humidity for any other month or combination of months (r = –0.65). Relations between isotopic and meteorological data demonstrate that precipitation influences the stable carbon isotopic ratios to a lower extent than humidity. The intensity and duration of summer rainfall events can determine this effect. The temporal stability of climate-proxy connections is an important issue in paleoclimatic reconstruction. Therefore, the temporal stability of climatic signals recorded by stable carbon isotopes is analyzed in this research using the moving correlation function for moving intervals with a 25-year window. Based on those investigations the highest time stability of correlation was found for the carbon isotope and the August relative humidity. More variability is observed for the correlation of δ13C values with precipitation.
Ideology and Legitimacy in Global Governance
Authors: Ecker-Ehrhardt Matthias , Dellmuth Lisa , Tallberg Jonas 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWhile many scholars expect people's ideological orientations to drive their beliefs regarding the legitimacy of international organizations (IOs), research has found surprisingly limited support for this common assumption. In this article we resolve this puzzle by introducing the perceived ideological profile of IOs as a critical factor shaping the relationship between ideological orientation and such beliefs. Theoretically, we argue that citizens accord IOs greater legitimacy when they perceive these organizations as ideologically more congruent with their own orientations. Empirically, we evaluate this expectation by combining observational and experimental analyses of new survey evidence from four countries: Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, and the United States. We find that citizens indeed perceive IOs as having particular ideological profiles and that those perceptions systematically moderate the relationship between people's ideological orientations and their sense of IOs’ legitimacy. These findings suggest that political ideology is a more powerful driver of legitimacy beliefs in global governance than previously understood.
The Evolution of Umbrella Clauses and the Interpretation of Chinese Concession Loan Agreements in Nigeria
Authors: Okpe Felix O 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This article proposes that, based on the evolution of international investment law and investment arbitration, umbrella clauses are substantially implicated in the interpretation of Chinese concession loan agreements in Nigeria. So far, the outcome of the oversight functions of the National Assembly of Nigeria indicates that umbrella clauses have not been considered a significant legal issue in the negotiation of these agreements. With the growing use of Chinese concession loan agreements in Nigeria, this article offers a historical analysis that should be a guide to organs of government, policy advisers and others charged with the sourcing and negotiation of concession loans for development projects in Nigeria. The article makes the case that a proper understanding of the evolution of umbrella clauses is germane to the negotiation and interpretation of these agreements, compared to standard immunity clauses that appear to have overtaken in the debate about these loans in Nigeria.
Association of Strongyloides stercoralis infection with the development of diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis
Authors: Tiongco R.E. , Flores J.A. , Castro E.J. , Dayrit S.A. , Dominguez M.J. , Manahan E. , Pineda-Cortel M.R. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Previous studies have shown that helminth infection protects against the development of diabetes mellitus (DM), possibly related to the hygiene hypothesis. However, studies involving Stronglyoides stercoralis and its possible association with DM are scarce and have shown contradicting results, prompting us to perform this meta-analysis to obtain more precise estimates. Related studies were searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library until 1 August 2024. Data on the occurrence of DM in patients positive and negative for S. stercoralis were obtained. All analyses were done using Review Manager 5.4. The initial search yielded a total of 1725 studies, and after thorough screening and exclusion, only five articles involving 2106 participants (536 cases and 1570 controls) were included in the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed, and outlier studies were excluded using a funnel plot. Results showed a significant association of S. stercoralis infection with DM, suggesting that those with the infection are less likely to develop DM. Overall, the results suggest that S. stercoralis infection may decrease the likelihood of developing DM, potentially supporting the hygiene hypothesis.
Design of an intelligent simulator ANN and ANFIS model in the prediction of milling performance (QCE) of alloy 2017A
Authors: Bousnina Kamel , Hamza Anis , Yahia Noureddine Ben 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFISs) are machine learning techniques that enable modeling and prediction of various properties in the milling process of alloy 2017A, including quality, cost, and energy consumption (QCE). To utilize ANNs or ANFIS for QCE prediction, researchers must gather a dataset consisting of input–output pairs that establish the relationship between QCE and various input variables such as machining parameters, tool properties, and material characteristics. Subsequently, this dataset can be employed to train a machine learning model using techniques like backpropagation or gradient descent. Once the model has been trained, predictions can be made on new input data by providing the desired input variables, resulting in predicted QCE values as output. This study comprehensively examines and identifies the scientific contributions of strategies, machining sequences, and cutting parameters on surface quality, machining cost, and energy consumption using artificial intelligence (ANN and ANFIS). The findings indicate that the optimal neural architecture for ANNs, utilizing the Bayesian regularization (BR) algorithm, is a {3-10-3} architecture with an overall mean square error (MSE) of 2.74 × 10−3. Similarly, for ANFIS, the optimal structure yielding better error and correlation for the three output variables (Etot, Ctot, and Ra) is a {2, 2, 2} structure. The results demonstrate that using the BR algorithm with a multi-criteria output response yields favorable outcomes compared to the ANFIS.
The effects of offshoring on the gender hours gap in the US
Authors: Jo Kangchul 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This paper examines the role of offshoring in the flattening of the ratio of female to male hours worked in the US since the early 1990s. The observed flattening coincides with a decline in the share of occupations with high offshoring potential in women’s hours worked and an increase in service offshoring. I propose a two-gender, two-sector model with a continuum of occupations. Given the higher female intensity in the service sector, the gender hours ratio declines as service offshoring increases. Quantitatively, the service offshoring plays an important role in explaining the plateau in the gender hours ratio since the 1990s.
A model of safe asset shortage and property taxes in China
Authors: Lei Wenni , Luo Yuwei , Mei Dongzhou 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Real estate is a major component of China’s national wealth, serving as a key store of value. Property taxes potentially influence households’ belief in the stability of the housing market, resulting in varying effects of such taxes. This paper constructs an equilibrium model of stores of value to examine these effects under diverse beliefs. The results show that property taxes can constrain the growth of housing prices if households maintain their belief in the future stability of housing values. However, damaging this belief would lead to a safety trap with a decline in output. The paper also demonstrates that using tax revenue to finance government bond issuance can be an effective way to lower housing prices and increase output.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam: insights from the SEANUTS II study
Authors: Geurts Jan , Singh-Povel Cécile , Lee Shoo Thien , Sekartini Rini , Poh Bee Koon , Rojroongwasinkul Nipa , Tran Nga Thuy , Kekalih Aria , Wong Jyh Eiin , Vongvimetee Nawarat , Tran Van Khanh , Khouw Ilse 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Objective:
To describe the economic, lifestyle and nutritional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents, guardians and children in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Design:
Data from the SEANUTS II cohort were used. Questionnaires, including a COVID-19 questionnaire, were used to study the impact of the pandemic on parents/guardians and their children with respect to work status, household expenditures and children’s dietary intake and lifestyle behaviours.

Setting:
Data were collected in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam between May 2019 and April 2021.

Participants:
In total, 9203 children, aged 0·5–12·9 years, including their parents/guardians.

Results:
Children and their families were significantly affected by the pandemic. Although the impact of lockdown measures on children’s food intake has been relatively mild in all countries, food security was negatively impacted, especially in Indonesia. Surprisingly, in Malaysia, lockdown resulted in overall healthier dietary patterns with more basic food groups and less discretionary foods. Consumption of milk/dairy products, however, decreased. In the other countries, intake of most food groups did not change much during lockdown for households based on self-reporting. Only in rural Thailand, some marginal decreases in food intakes during lockdown persisted after lockdown. Physical activity of children, monthly household income and job security of the parents/guardians were negatively affected in all countries due to the pandemic.

Conclusion:
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted societies in South-East Asia. To counteract negative effects, economic measures should be combined with strategies to promote physical activity and eating nutrient-adequate diets to increase resilience of the population.
Community pharmacist involvement in social prescribing for mental health: a qualitative study
Authors: Taylor Denise A. , Taylor Andrea D.J. , Jones Matthew , Family Hannah E. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Aim:
We aimed to explore participant perspectives on social prescribing (SP) for mental health and well-being and the acceptability of community pharmacists (CP) as members of SP pathways that support people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.

Background:
SP aims to support people with poor health related to socio-demographic determinants. Positive effects of SP on self-belief, mood, well-being, and health are well documented, including a return to work for long-term unemployed.

Methods:
The study was set in a city in southwest England with diverse cultural and socio-demographics. We recruited SP stakeholders, including CP, to either one of 17 interviews or a focus group with nine members of the public.

Findings:
An inductive iterative approach to thematic analysis produced four superordinate themes: (1) offering choice a non-pharmacological option, (2) supporting pharmacy communities – ‘it is an extension of what we do’, (3) stakeholder perspectives – pharmacists are very busy and their expertise unknown by some, and (4) potential for pharmacy in primary care.
Stakeholders viewed CP as local to and accessible by their community. Pharmacists perceived referral to SP services as part of their current role. General practitioner participants considered pharmacy involvement could reduce their workload and expand the primary healthcare team. Importantly, general practitioners and CP viewed SP as a non-pharmacological alternative to prescribing unnecessary antidepressants and reduce associated adverse effects. All participants voiced concerns about pharmacy dispensing busyness as a potential barrier to involvement and pharmacists requesting mental health training updates.
Key findings suggest CP offer a potential alternative to the general practitioner for people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety seeking access to support and health information. However, CP need appropriately commissioned and funded involvement in SP, including backfill for ongoing dispensing, medicines optimization, and mental health first aid training.