bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reliability and Validation of the PFIQ-7 and PFDI-20 in the Luganda Language
Authors: Jensen JaNiese Elizabeth , Ngobi Michael Derrick , Kiweewa Flavia Matovu , Fleecs Julia Diane , Vemulapalli Ramya , Steffen Haley Alaine , Wendt Linder Hagstrom , Jackson Jay Brooks , Kenne Kimberly Ann 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Introduction and Hypothesis
Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) impact women worldwide and are assessed using instruments such as the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7). There are no known valid PFD instruments in Uganda. This study’s purpose was to translate and test the reliability and validity of the PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 in Luganda. It was predicted that these instruments would be reliable and valid to assess the presence and impact of PFD in parous Luganda-speaking women.

Methods
The translated PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 were administered to parous Luganda-speaking women and readministered 4–8 months after. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) examination determined the presence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and a cough-stress test (CST) measured urinary leakage. Analysis was completed using Cronbach’s α co-efficient for internal consistency and Spearman’s correlation coefficients and Wilcoxon rank sum tests for construct validity.

Results
Of the 159 participants, 93 (58.3%) had stage II POP or higher. The PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 demonstrated minimal bother and impact on activities of daily living respectively. The Urinary Distress Inventory 6 (UDI-6) scores on the PFDI-20 showed a strong positive association with the presence of urinary incontinence. When PFD was defined by responses to symptom assessment, the translated PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 could differentiate between individuals with and without PFD.

Conclusions
The UDI-6 section of the PFDI-20 was found to be valid in Luganda. The PFIQ-7 and the entirety of the PFDI-20 were not found to be reliable or valid, likely because of the low prevalence of PFDs in the study population.
Women’s Pornography Use Patterns and Sexuality Education in U.S. Public Schools
Authors: Fraumeni-McBride Julie , Willoughby Brian J. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis study investigated the relationship between sexuality education in U.S. public schools and women's pornography use. Utilizing quantitative methods, we examined a sample of women attending U.S. public schools who reported regular pornography use. Results revealed that, regardless of the type of sexuality education received, women exhibited similar rates of pornography use, with 60% reporting its use. A substantial portion (69%) of the women began using pornography during childhood or adolescence. Women who received abstinence only sexuality education reported higher frequencies of pornography use compared to their comprehensive sexuality education counterparts. About 79% of women using pornography perceived it as a source of sexuality learning, especially regarding sexual pleasure. However, they expressed reluctance in using pornography for sexual education and did not consider it a preferred method for learning about sexuality. The findings suggest the need for comprehensive sexuality education that addresses essential topics, such as sexual pleasure and sexual script development, to cater to women’s diverse learning needs, ideally taught by parents or primary caregivers, but may be necessary for public education in the absence of parental instruction. Policymakers and educators should bridge these gaps to develop more effective sexuality education curricula. This study contributes valuable insights, highlighting the importance of an inclusive approach to sexuality education in U.S. public schools. Future research should explore the implications of different sexuality education approaches on women's sexual development and well-being, emphasizing comprehensive education to foster healthy sexual behaviors among women.
Does montane meadow restoration influence the mineral association and stability of soil carbon?
Authors: Bagcilar Seren H. , Reed Cody C. , Poulson Simon R. , Verburg Paul S. J. , Sullivan Benjamin W. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractSoil carbon (C) stability is an important consideration for management that aims to increase long-term C storage. The fraction of soil C allocated to physico-chemically protected mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) is a common soil C stability benchmark. However, the reality of soil C persistence is more complex than MAOM content alone—particularly in ecosystems such as meadows with high rates of belowground C inputs that can stimulate MAOM decomposition. Here, we combined three metrics of soil C persistence to characterize soil C stability across a meadow restoration chronosequence averaging belowground C gains of 330 g C m−2 y−1 for ~20 y. The metrics were: (1) the fraction of soil C in MAOM and particulate organic matter (POM), (2) the susceptibility of soil C to decomposition under varying temperatures, and (3) the utilization of MAOM-C by microbes. Two metrics suggested soil C stability may increase following montane meadow restoration. As soil C concentration increased with restoration, C storage in MAOM, but not POM, increased (metric 1). The susceptibility of MAOM-C to decomposition (microbial respiration relative to MAOM-C) decreased with increasing soil C concentration across temperatures (metric 2). Stable isotope results could not definitively determine the source of carbon dioxide efflux (metric 3) but generate hypotheses for future research to address. We posit that C sequestered following montane meadow restoration could be stable, with implications for regional C storage objectives. Further, our data point toward complex mineral-associated C dynamics including the potential importance of plant inputs for MAOM formation in meadow soils.
Initial Validation of the Self Experiences Questionnaire-2 in People with Chronic Pain
Authors: Yu Lin , Kioskli Kitty , McCracken Lance M. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The struggle with sense of self has a fundamental impact on health and wellbeing in people with chronic pain. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) particularly includes a process related to sense of self, called self-as-context (SAC). A measure of SAC, called the Self Experiences Questionnaire-8 (SEQ-8) has been developed in people with chronic pain. A brief version of the SEQ can facilitate more efficient assessment in clinical settings, and further research using intensive assessment to produce situation and time-sensitive information on SAC. The aim of the study was to establish a two-item version of the SEQ.

Methods
This study used secondary analyses of data from 453 people with chronic pain.

Results
The newly validated SEQ-2 demonstrated acceptable reliability, Cronbach’s α = 0.77, and performed well in assessing SAC, with 88.6% of the variance in the SEQ-8 explained by the SEQ-2. The construct validity of the SEQ-2 was supported by its associations with other theoretically-specified processes, r = .25-0.51, p < .001. and measures of functioning, |r|=0.18-0.40, p < .001. The incremental validity of the SEQ-2 was relatively limited, |β|=0.08-0.34. Conclusions: The SEQ-2 appears to be an acceptable measure of SAC. The brief version of the SEQ can facilitate the application of individualised research methods and personalised pain treatments, informed by intensive assessment.
Exploring Overlaps of Cultural Property Crime with Organised Crime in EU Policy Documents
Authors: Faraldo Cabana Patricia 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn recent years the interrelation of the trafficking of cultural property with other forms of organised crime has gained prominence in EU policies on the protection of cultural heritage. This article analyses how the EU has conceptualized and operationalized this overlap in terms of describing the phenomenon and designing countermeasures. Through a content analysis, we evaluate the articulation and use of this connection in EU policy documents published from 1993 to 2023 that include both organised crime and trafficking of cultural property or similar terms (n = 58). The analysis demonstrates conceptual and organizational deficits and a correspondingly weak foundation for EU policy. Misunderstandings related to the organised nature of trafficking of cultural property and its overlaps with other forms of organised crime, particularly the financing of terrorism, may result in misguided policies with the potential to undermine law enforcement efforts. Conversely, the addition to the list of obliged entities and persons in the anti-money laundering framework of persons trading or acting as intermediaries in the trade of works of art opens new opportunities to disrupt the illicit financial flow in the art and antiquities market.
Building and communicating territorial brand values: The case of Destination British Columbia
Authors: F. J. Cristòfol Francisco Javier Cristofol. , Zamarreño-Aramendia Gorka , Cruz-Ruiz Elena , de San Egenio-Vela Jordi 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn today's interconnected world, effectively communicating territorial values is paramount for regions seeking to distinguish themselves globally. Effective destination branding requires carefully synthesizing cultural, historical, natural, and socioeconomic elements to create an enticing identity for tourists, investors, and locals. How a region communicates its unique attributes is crucial in shaping its perception and attractiveness in a highly competitive global market. British Columbia is a prime example of successful destination branding, thanks to its remarkable cultural diversity and breathtaking natural landscapes. BC has effectively conveyed its values and appeal to a worldwide audience through various innovative strategies and platforms. This paper explores BC's communication efforts through its website and social media, analyzing how it conveys its essence to a diverse audience and positions itself on the world stage. Ultimately, BC's success in this domain highlights the critical role of effective territorial value communication in today's globalized world.
The Determinants of Countercyclical Job Satisfaction in the Public Sector
Authors: Ravid Oded 
Published: July 2024

AbstractJob satisfaction is sensitive to economic fluctuations; it rises during economic growth and falls in recessions. Job satisfaction also depends on relative comparisons. For workers less affected by business cycles-as is typical in the public sector-job satisfaction may thus be countercyclical due to comparisons with other sectors. Previous laboratory results confirm this countercyclical trend. This study reports new results from the German Socio-Economic Panel confirming the overall countercyclical job satisfaction trend but also revealing this trend is present only among men, not women. We consider three possible drivers of this gender gap. Competitiveness and pro-sociality differ between men and women both in the laboratory and in the field and plausibly interact with job satisfaction countercyclicality. Another potential explanation of countercyclicality is that men are more commonly the primary household providers. We conducted an experiment to explore these three channels. The experiment replicated the countercyclical job satisfaction trend. While identifying a significant gender gap in competitiveness, pro-sociality, and job satisfaction, we found no difference in job satisfaction cyclicality between men and women, nor a correlation with these traits. Our findings suggest that the fundamental gender differences we identified in the laboratory do not drive the gender differences observed in the survey data.
Organic carbon-based amendments effectively reclaim post-tin mining site via modified soil organic carbon characteristics
Authors: Sae-Tun Orracha , Maftukhah Rizki , Susanto Sahid , Ngadisih Ngadisih , Murtiningrum Murtiningrum , Hood-Nowotny Rebecca , Mentler Axel , Bodner Gernot , Keiblinger Katharina M. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The complex process of post-mining land reclamation poses a great challenge in combatting land degradation and food insecurity. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different soil amendments on soil organic carbon (SOC) characteristics and plant biomass to reclaim a highly degraded soil after tin-mining.

Methods
Quantity and quality of SOC, annual plant biomass, and their relationships were determined over four years in post-tin mining soil that had been treated with six different soil amendments: control, dolomite, compost, charcoal, charcoal with compost and charcoal with sawdust.

Results
Charcoal-compost application led to the highest increase in SOC stocks, followed by compost application. It enhanced annual plant biomass to twice that of the control treatment. In contrast to organic soil amendments, dolomite tended to cause SOC stock losses over time. Dissolved organic carbon exhibited a highly dynamic pattern, with a tendency to decrease over time. Dolomite and charcoal application induced SOC chemical composition changes distinct from other treatments. The potential interactions between amendment materials and time as well as crop species were observed for SOC characterization.

Conclusions
Charcoal-compost combination with regular compost application was recommended to reclaim the soil for promoting SOC accumulation whilst sustaining crop production.
Chirped gray and singular optical solitons with generalized quadratic-cubic law of self-phase modulation and nonlinear chromatic dispersion
Authors: Al-Ghafri Khalil S. , Biswas Anjan , Alshomrani Ali Saleh 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe objective of this study to investigate chirped gray and singular optical solitons with nonlinear chromatic dispersion. The proposed nonlinear effect is in the form of generalized quadratic-cubic (QC) of nonlinear refractive index. The temporal evolution of propagating pulses in the optical medium has a generalized expression. Based on an efficient mathematical technique, various structures of both gray and singular solitons are created with the existence conditions. The modulation instability of the discussed model is diagnosed by means of the linear stability analysis. The influence of generalized QC on the soliton evolutions is reported and it is noted that it enhances the amplitude of the gain spectrum.
Development of an acoustic fault diagnosis system for UAV propeller blades
Authors: Steinhoff Leon , Koschlik Ann-Kathrin , Arts Emy , Soria-Gomez Maria , Raddatz Florian , Kunz Veit Dominik 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWith the rapid growth in demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), novel maintenance technologies are essential for ensuring automatic, safe, and reliable operations. This study compares two fault detection systems that utilize the acoustic signature of UAV propeller blades for classifying their health state. By employing an acoustic camera with 112 microphones for spatial resolution of sound sources, datasets of acoustic images are generated in three differently reverberating environments for the third octave frequency bands of 6300 Hz, 8000 Hz, 10,000 Hz and 12,500 Hz. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is trained and evaluated with maximum F1-scores of 0.9962 and 0.9745 for two and three propeller health classes, respectively. Furthermore, we propose a second approach based on a linear classification (LC), which utilizes a rotating beamformer for comparison. This approach uses only two sound sources that are identified after the acoustic beamforming of a two-bladed propeller. In comparison, this algorithm detects propeller tip damages without applying a machine learning algorithm and reaches a slightly lower F1-score of 0.9441.
Heavy metal bioaccumulation in fish: ımplications for human health risk assessment in ten commercial fish species from Konya, Türkiye
Authors: Almafrachi H. A. A. , Gümüş N. E. , Çorak Öcal İ. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
In this study, the concentrations of 9 elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se and Zn) in the muscle tissue of 10 different fish species consisting of sea and freshwater fish of certain origin in local markets and the fish market in Konya were determined. According to the findings of the study, the highest mean concentrations of Al, Fe and Cr were found in Flathead grey mullet, As and Se in Gilthead seabream, Mn and Zn in European pilchard, Cd and Ni in Mediterranean horse mackerel. The estimated daily intake, target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI) and cancer risk (CR) risk values for inorganic arsenic were determined using human health risk assessment methods based on metal levels in muscle tissue of fish. THQ and HI results revealed that non-carcinogenic health effects from the intake of individual or combined metals in fish species are not expected for consumers. This situation indicates that there are no non-cancer health risks. However, consumption of red mullet and European anchovy fish exposes individuals to inorganic arsenic, increasing the risk of cancer as their CR values were found not to be in acceptable ranges. The results were compared with limit values specified in national and international quality criteria. Only the average Cd concentrations in Carp, European barracuda and Mediterranean horse mackerel were found above the limit values of MHPRC (MHPRC (2013) National food safety standard, maximum levels of contaminants in foods), TFC (2011) and EC (Commission regulation no. 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Official Journal of European Union, 20.12.2006).
When borders close: Social networks, resilience and food security among informal cross-border fish traders on the Ghana-Togo border
Authors: Rouillé Maïlys , Overå Ragnhild , Atter Amy 
Published: July 2024

AbstractCross-border fish trade contributes to regional food security and is a source of income for informal traders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the activities of cross-border traders were severely affected. Lockdowns and border closures limited the movement of people and goods, hindering regional trade. The study builds on a survey using semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews conducted in Ghana in 2021 and examines the impacts of the Ghana-Togo border closure on informal cross-border female fish traders’ livelihoods and food security. The findings demonstrate that despite traders’ great efforts to keep their businesses afloat, the border closure affected the traders’ mobility, trade routes, trade volumes, and incomes, which in turn negatively affected the variety and quality of their households’ diets. However, the study also documents how traders were able to implement different strategies to cope with the difficult situation by activating and extending trust-based social networks crucial for trade. The authors therefore conclude that the social embeddedness of fish traders’ informal economic activities was decisive for the resilience of the cross-border trade system during the pandemic, which at least to some degree mitigated the negative effects on traders’ livelihoods and food security.
Exploring the impact of entrepreneurial experience on future entrepreneurship aspirations
Authors: Bozward David , Rogers-Draycott Matthew 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis paper evaluates how different types of direct and vicarious experience in entrepreneurship determine the perceived entrepreneurial intention in short, medium, and long-term horizons. The paper concludes with a discussion of the importance of considering both personal experiences and social influences in designing curriculum. A survey was conducted on four types of entrepreneurial experience and four intention horizons. Two of the experiences were direct experiences: current and previous, whilst two were vicarious: family and knowing someone. The four intention horizons were now, short-term, long-term and no intention. The study looks at 679 agricultural students from universities in both China and the United Kingdom. The paper uses the integrated model of entrepreneurial intentions together with a temporal horizon model of intention as the theoretical underpinning for this approach. The study’s results reinforce the positive relationship between family experience and long-term intentions, thus supporting the idea that familial exposure to entrepreneurship can shape individuals’ long-term entrepreneurial aspirations. The lack of a significant association between current direct experience and long-term intentions deviates from previous research and may be attributed to other factors influencing individuals’ long-term intentions, such as changing circumstances or evolving entrepreneurial opportunities. The cohorts available, whilst from China and UK, as participants were limited which presents several opportunities to expand upon this work and challenge its central premise. An understanding of the role of family in shaping long-term entrepreneurial intention has widespread social implications. The discovery that individuals with entrepreneurial experience, be it direct or through vicarious means, generally show heightened entrepreneurial intentions, coupled with the insight that knowing an entrepreneur correlates with shorter-term intention horizons, whereas family-influenced experiences align with longer-term venture creation ambitions, offers valuable new perspectives for those involved in entrepreneurial education and support.
Spent coffee grounds enhanced compressive strength of cement mortar: an optimization study
Authors: Yee Jia Jun , Khong Sheh Ching , Tee Kong Fah , Jolius Gimbun , Chin Siew Choo 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis paper presents an optimization study of spent coffee grounds (SCG) as cement mortar additives to enhance mortar strength. In recent years, sustainable materials have begun finding their way into cement mortar, with SCG being one. There is limited optimization study on the SCG addition in mortars, hence this study was performed to optimize the curing time and SCG addition in cement mortar to achieve the highest compressive strength through response surface methodology. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characterization was carried out on the SCG particles to identify their physical properties. An Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was carried out to identify its chemical properties. Simultaneously, a workability test, the flow table test, is conducted to study the effect of SCG on the flowability of the cement mortar mixes. The synergistic effect between SCG content in cement mortar mixes and the curing period was statistically studied and analyzed. Both parameters were then optimized to obtain the best performance mix of SCG in cement mortar. It was found that 1.1% SCG and a curing day of 68 days produced the highest compressive strength (33.4MPa) of cement mortar. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM)-optimized cement mortar mix presented at least a 12.62% improvement in compressive strength from control cement mortar without SCG additives (28.77MPa). Experimental validation of the optimum condition showed a good agreement with a deviation of 3.12% in three replicates, thus indicating that the optimum model in this work can be used to model the compressive strength of the SCG-cement mortar mixture.