bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Core funding and the performance of international organizations: Evidence from UNDP projects
Authors: Heinzel Mirko , Reinsberg Bernhard , Zaccaria Giuseppe 
Published: October 2024

AbstractScholarship on the administration of international organizations (IOs) has extensively discussed how autonomy influences their performance. While some argue that autonomy increases performance through greater adaptability, others warn that it may increase the risk of agency slack. Authors typically distinguish between three types of performance: output, outcome, and impact performance. We focus on core funding as a key source of IO autonomy and argue that projects with more core funding show decreased output performance but an increased outcome and impact performance. Our empirical analysis relies on results from data on up to 3590 development projects run by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 128 recipient countries between 2004 and 2020. Subsequently, we test the impact of more core funding on project volumes (output performance), objectives achieved in individual projects (outcome performance), and their effects on sub‐national human development in project regions (impact performance). Our findings suggest that, although reliance on core resources is associated with lower output performance (less funding), it may result in stronger outcome and impact performance, as reflected by more objectives achieved and a higher sub‐national HDI where UNDP projects are implemented. Our findings have important implications for debates on the effectiveness of global governance.
Dynamic modeling of human error in industrial maintenance through structural analysis and system dynamics
Authors: Bafandegan Emroozi Vahideh , Kazemi Mostafa , Pooya Alireza , Doostparast Mahdi 
Published: October 2024

AbstractHuman error constitutes a significant cause of accidents across diverse industries, leading to adverse consequences and heightened disruptions in maintenance operations. Organizations can enhance their decision‐making process by quantifying human errors and identifying the underlying influencing factors, thereby mitigating their repercussions. Consequently, it becomes crucial to examine the value of human error probability (HEP) during these activities. The objective of this paper is to determine and simulate HEP in maintenance tasks at a cement factory, utilizing performance shaping factors (PSFs). The research employs the cross‐impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis method to evaluate the dependencies, impacts, and relationships among the factors influencing human error. This approach classifies and assesses the dependencies and impacts of different factors on HEP, occupational accidents, and related costs. The study also underscores that PSFs can dynamically change under the influence of other variables, emphasizing the necessity to forecast the behavior of human error over time. Therefore, this paper utilizes the MICMAC method to analyze the interdependencies, relationships, and impact levels among different variables. These relationships are then utilized to optimize the implementation of the system dynamics (SD) method. An SD model is employed to forecast the system's behavior, and multiple scenarios are presented. By considering the HEP value, managers can adjust organizational conditions and personnel to ensure acceptability. The paper also presents various scenarios related to HEP to assist managers in making informed decisions.
Risk communication and public response to potential radiation emergencies in New York City
Authors: Gupta Kuhika , Ripberger Joseph , Fox Andrew , Maiello Mark , Peach Katie , Jenkins‐Smith Hank 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPublic knowledge and awareness about radiation (both natural and manmade) tend to be low, while perceived risk of radiation tends to be high. High perceptions of risk associated with radiation have been linked to the affect heuristic and general feelings of dread, which are often not proportionate to actual risk. For example, studies routinely show that members of the public rate the risk of radiation from nuclear power plants as significantly higher (and riskier) than radiation from medical X‐rays. This disconnect can have implications for adoption of protective actions during a potential radiation emergency and the perceived efficacy of these actions. This study explores how risk communication efforts influence public risk perceptions, intended protective action, and perceived efficacy of those actions. Using unique data from a survey of New York City adults, we analyze how information provision using different formats—no information, an infographic, an informational video—impact perceptions and response to a hypothetical radiation emergency. We hypothesize that respondents who receive some information, either through the infographic or the video, will have higher perceived efficacy and are more likely to take protective action. Findings suggest that providing information about what to do during a radiation emergency has a statistically significant impact on both perceived efficacy and adoption of protective action. Respondents who saw the informational video were most likely to say that they would take the correct protective actions and had the highest perceived efficacy, followed by those who saw the infographic.
A simple activity to introduce matched pairs and learning effect
Authors: Davidson Allison 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis paper describes an in‐class activity to introduce random assignment, paired data, and learning effect. The activity requires minimal materials, can be completed in a single class period, and is suitable for those using technology to conduct data exploration but can also be adapted for use in a technology‐free classroom. The activity consists of students filling in two lines of circles, one using their dominant and the other using their nondominant hand. The difference in time to fill in the circles is compared. Results typically show a significant difference in time to fill in circles with the nondominant hand taking significantly longer, a significant learning effect, and a difference in time to fill in circles using a pencil compared to pen.
Special applets for elucidating the difference between prediction intervals and confidence intervals—Why are arising ovals actually ellipses?
Authors: Humenberger Hans 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn the last years special “ovals” appear increasingly often in diagrams and applets for discussing crucial items of statistical inference (when dealing with confidence intervals for an unknown probability p; approximation of the binomial distribution by the normal distribution; especially in German literature, see e.g. [Meyer, Stochastik in der Schule 2011; 31:18–22] or [Riemer, Statistik unterrichten. Eine handlungsorientierte Didaktik der Stochastik; 2023, p. 69ff]). These applets concerning confidence intervals aim at illustrating vividly the crucial differences (as we know, often vague for students) and connections between confidence intervals and prediction intervals. In English literature such applets seem to be not so well known, thus at the beginning, we describe how they work and highlight their high potential for teaching and learning. The fact that the mentioned ovals are, actually, ellipses is not important for stochastic purposes which is probably the reason why one can hardly find related explanations in the literature. Another aim of this paper is to explain the ellipse shape in a preferably elementary manner involving geometry, even spatial geometry.
Antimicrobial activity of novel symmetrical antimicrobial peptides centered on a hydrophilic motif against resistant clinical isolates:
in vitro
and
in vivo
analyses
Authors: Zhang Chaoqun , Fu Le , Zhu Yuan , Chen Qigui , Chen Zetong , Chang Yung-Fu , Li Yide , Yao Mengjing , Huang Xinyi , Jin Li , Gao Xue , Zhang Yiyu , Jin Biao , Chou Shuli , Luo Liang 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant public health threat worldwide. The rise in antibiotic resistance and the sharp decline in effective antibiotics necessitate the development of innovative antibacterial agents. Based on the central symmetric structure of glycine–serine–glycine, combined with tryptophan and arginine, we designed a range of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Notably, AMP W
5
demonstrated a rapid and effective sterilization against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA), displaying both a minimum inhibitory concentration and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 8 µM. Mechanistic studies revealed that AMP W
5
killed bacterial cells by disrupting the cytoplasmic membrane integrity, triggering leakage of cell contents. AMP W
5
also exhibited excellent biocompatibility in both
in vitro
and
in vivo
safety evaluations. AMP W
5
treatment significantly reduced skin bacterial load in our murine skin infection model. In conclusion, we designed a novel centrosymmetric AMP representing a promising medical alternative to conventional antibiotics for treating MRSA infections.

IMPORTANCE

Increasing antibiotic resistance and the paucity of effective antibiotics necessitate innovative antibacterial agents. Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) is a major pathogen causing bacterial infections with high incidence and mortality rates, showing increasing resistance to clinical drugs. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit significant potential as alternatives to traditional antibiotics. This study designed a novel series of AMPs, characterized by a glycine–serine–glycine-centered symmetrical structure, and our results indicated that AMP W5 exhibited a rapid and effective bactericidal effect against MRSA. AMP W5 also demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and a bactericidal mechanism that disrupted membrane integrity, leading to leakage of cellular contents. The notable reduction in skin bacterial load observed in mouse models reinforced the clinical applicability of AMP W5. This study provides a promising solution for addressing the increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and heralds new prospects for clinical applications.
Altitudinal variation in rhizosphere microbial communities of the endangered plant
Lilium tsingtauense
and the environmental factors driving this variation
Authors: Liu Boda , Yang Jinming , Lu Wanpei , Wang Hai , Song Xuebin , Yu Shaobo , Liu Qingchao , Sun Yingkun , Jiang Xinqiang 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT

The rhizosphere soil properties and microbial communities of
Lilium tsingtauense
, an endangered wild plant, have not been examined in previous studies. Here, we characterized spatial variation in soil properties and microbial communities in the rhizosphere of
L. tsingtauense
. We measured the abundance of
L. tsingtauense
at different altitudes and collected rhizosphere and bulk soils at three representative altitudes. The results showed that
L. tsingtauense
was more abundant, and the rhizosphere soil was richer in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, water content, and organic matter and more acidic at high altitudes than at lower altitudes. The diversity and richness of rhizosphere bacteria and fungi increased with altitude and were higher in rhizosphere soil than in bulk soil. In addition, ectomycorrhizal fungi, endophytic fungi, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria were more abundant, and plant-pathogenic fungi were less abundant at high altitudes. Co-occurrence network analysis identified four key phyla (Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota) in the microbial communities. We identified a series of microbial taxa (Acidobacteriales, Xanthobacteraceae, and Chaetomiaceae) and rhizosphere soil metabolites (phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine) that are crucial for the survival of
L. tsingtauense
. Correlation analysis and random forest analysis showed that some environmental factors were closely related to the rhizosphere soil microbial community and played an important role in predicting the distribution and growth status of
L. tsingtauense
. In sum, the results of this study revealed altitudinal variation in the rhizosphere microbial communities of
L. tsingtauense
and the factors driving this variation. Our findings also have implications for habitat restoration and the conservation of this species.

IMPORTANCE

Our study highlighted the importance of the rhizosphere microbial community of the endangered plant
L. tsingtauense
. We found that soil pH plays an important role in the survival of
L. tsingtauense
. Our results demonstrated that a series of microbial taxa (Acidobacteriales, Xanthobacteraceae, Aspergillaceae, and Chaetomiaceae) and soil metabolites (phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine) could be essential indicators for
L. tsingtauense
habitat. We also found that some environmental factors play an important role in shaping rhizosphere microbial community structure. Collectively, these results provided new insights into the altitudinal distribution of
L. tsingtauense
and highlight the importance of microbial communities in their growth.
Understanding the barriers and facilitators related to never treatment during mass drug administration among mobile and migrant populations in Mali: a qualitative exploratory study
Authors: Sangare Moussa , Diabate Abdoul Fatao , Coulibaly Yaya Ibrahim , Tanapo Diadje , Thera Sekou Oumarou , Dolo Housseini , Dicko Ilo , Coulibaly Oumar , Sall Binta , Traore Fatoumata , Doumbia Seydou , Kulkarni Manisha A , Nutman Thomas B , Krentel Alison 
Published: October 2024

IntroductionFive of the neglected tropical diseases use a strategy of preventative chemotherapy distributed via mass drug administration (MDA) for all eligible people living in endemic areas. To be successful, high coverage must be sustained over multiple rounds. Therefore, it will be difficult to reach elimination as a public health problem using MDA if there remain clusters of people who have never been treated. The study aims to explore the reasons why people with high mobility report being never treated during MDA and to provide evidence to support the development of standardised questions for data collection using qualitative research tools.MethodsWe conducted an exploratory study using qualitative methods among displaced people, nomads/transhumants and economic migrants who self-reported that they had never been treated during MDA in the health districts of Tominian and Kalabancoro in Mali. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions. Nvivo V.14 software was used for data management and analysis.ResultsThe main reasons reported for never treatment included: geographical mobility, lack of awareness/information, negative rumours, fear of side effects, conflict and insecurity and logistical difficulties faced in reaching these populations. Proposed solutions included involving communities in the MDA, increasing awareness and information campaigns, effectively managing side effects, and designing and implementing flexible and effective interventions.ConclusionThis study highlights that there are people with high mobility who may never have been treated during any round of MDA. The reasons for never treatment highlight the challenges faced when reaching particular groups during MDA activities/interventions. Suggested remedies will require programmes to implement more flexible and tailored interventions. Customised approaches based on the context are essential to guarantee fair access to preventive chemotherapy. Effective interventions must consider the supply and demand side in crafting interventions. This research adds to the evidence base to understand never treatment, particularly among highly mobile population groups and in schistosomiasis elimination programmes.
Efficacy of 100% autologous platelet-rich plasma and 100% autologous serum in dry eye disease: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Jongkhajornpong Passara , Lekhanont Kaevalin , Rattanasiri Sasivimol , Numthavaj Pawin , McKay Gareth , Attia John , Thakkinstian Ammarin 
Published: October 2024

ObjectiveThe 0bjective is to compare treatment effects between undiluted autologous platelet-rich plasma (APRP) and autologous serum (AS) in patients with moderate-to-severe dry eye disease (DED).Methods and analysisA single-centre, randomised, double-masked, non-inferiority clinical trial was conducted. 96 adult DED patients with an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) Score of ≥23 and/or Oxford staining grade of ≥2 were randomised to receive either 100% APRP (n=48) or 100% AS (n=48) for 4 weeks. Primary outcomes included OSDI Score and ocular surface staining measured by Oxford grading scale at 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes included fluorescein tear break-up time, Schirmer’s test, meibum quality and expressibility, and adverse events. The 95% CI for the mean difference in OSDI scores between groups was estimated to assess non-inferiority of the OSDI score at a prespecified margin of 4.18 points.ResultsAt week 4, there was no significant difference in decreased OSDI scores between groups, with the mean difference (100% APRP−100% AS) of 1.41 (95% CI −1.26, 4.08, p=0.299). The upper limit was less than the prespecified margin, indicating non-inferiority of 100% APRP vs 100% AS. The probabilities of achieving an Oxford grade 0–1 after treatment were not significantly different between groups, with an OR of 0.61 (95% CI 0.25, 1.52, p=0.288). No significant differences in secondary outcomes were observed between groups.ConclusionIn the short-term, 100% APRP was not inferior to 100% AS in reducing dry eye symptoms and ocular surface staining in moderate-to-severe DED.Trial registration numberNCT04683796.
Maternal perceived safety and parenting practices with young children: a cross-sectional analysis from 15 low-income and middle-income countries
Authors: Ramos de Oliveira Clariana Vitória , Neves Paulo , Coll Carolina V N , Palombo Cláudia Nery Teixeira , Jeong Joshua 
Published: October 2024

IntroductionSocial environments can influence parents’ caregiving capacities and the quality of nurturing care provided to children. These links, in turn, can shape children’s developmental outcomes over the life course. We aimed to examine the relationship between maternal perceived safety at home and in the neighbourhood and maternal parenting practices in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodWe combined cross-sectional data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in 15 LMICs (2018–2019). Mothers of children aged 36–59 months were included in the sample. We assessed maternal perceived safety at home and in the neighbourhood and two parenting outcomes of maternal stimulation and discipline. We used multiple logistic regression models to estimate the associations while adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and maternal well-being in the pooled sample. Also, analyses were performed for each country separately.ResultsAfter adjusting for covariates, maternal perceived safety at home was associated with increased odds of high maternal stimulation (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01; 1.32) and lower odds of aggressive psychological discipline (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77; 0.98). Maternal perception of safety in the neighbourhood was associated with lower odds of aggressive psychological discipline (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.71; 0.88), aggressive physical discipline (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77; 0.98) and non-violent discipline (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63; 0.95).ConclusionMaternal perceived safety at home and in the neighbourhood was positively associated with improved parenting behaviours with young children in LMICs. Interventions that address safety and security at home and across communities may have the potential to enhance maternal well-being and parenting practices to promote integral child development.
Early non-compliance to ERAS in gynecological open surgery for malignancies, and post-operative complications: a multicenter, prospective, observational, cohort study
Authors: Ferrari Federico , Bizzarri Nicolò , Fagotti Anna , Scambia Giovanni , Gozzini Elisa , Soleymani Majd Hooman , Rota Matteo , Odicino Franco 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundOpen surgical procedures for gynecological malignancies have a potential risk of post-operative complications and hence prolonged hospitalization, despite adherence to an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol.Primary ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between non-compliance to an ERAS protocol in the post-operative setting and the rate of post-operative complications, in women who underwent open surgery for gynecological malignancies.Study HypothesisEarly non-compliance with the ERAS protocol increases the risk of post-operative complications.Trial DesignMulticenter, prospective, observational, cohort study.Major Inclusion CriteriaPatients with histologically proven gynecological cancer (endometrial, uterine, tubo-ovarian, and cervical) undergoing elective open surgery and managed according to ERAS guidelines.Exclusion CriteriaPatients with post-operative recovery in an intensive care unit, undergoing anterior or total pelvic exenteration or intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Previous radiotherapy or previous non-gynecological major abdominal surgery.Primary EndpointAssociation of non-compliance with the ERAS protocol using five selected indicators on post-operative day 2 with the rate of 30-day post-operative complications.Sample Size600 patients will be enrolled in the study.Estimated Dates for Completing Accrual and Presenting ResultsAt present, 106 patients have been recruited. Based on this, the accrual should be completed in 2025. Results should be presented at the end of 2025.Trial RegistrationNCT05738902