bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Composition of the rumen archaeal community of growing camels fed different concentrate levels
Authors: Rabee Alaa Emara , Askar Ahmed R. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractUnderstanding the rumen fermentation and methanogenic community in camels fed intensively is critical for optimizing rumen fermentation, improving feed efficiency, and lowering methane emissions. Using Illumina MiSeq sequencing, quantitative real-time PCR, and high-performance liquid chromatography, this study evaluates the influence of different concentrate supplement levels in the diet on rumen fermentation as well as the diversity and structure of the rumen methanogenic community for growing dromedary camels. Twelve growing camels were divided into three groups and given three levels of concentrate supplement, 0.7% (C1), 1% (C2), and 1.3% (C3) based on their body weight. All animals were fed alfalfa hay ad libitum. The levels of total volatile fatty acid, rumen ammonia, and methanogen copy number were unaffected by the supplementation level. Increasing the concentrate supplement level increased the proportion of propionic acid while decreasing the proportion of acetic acid. Increasing the level of concentrate in the diet had no effect on alpha diversity metrics or beta diversity of rumen methanogens. Methanobrevibacter and Methanosphaera predominated the methanogenic community and were declined as concentrate supplement level increased. This study sheds new light on the effect of concentrate supplement level in growing camels’ diet on rumen fermentation and methanogenic community, which could help in the development of a strategy that aimed to reduce methane emissions and enhance feed efficiency.
Exploring the impact of authentic learning activities on school students’ epistemic beliefs in the social sciences and humanities
Authors: Nachtigall Valentina , Firstein Angelina 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe present two studies investigated whether students’ development of epistemic beliefs about the educational sciences (study A; N = 152) and linguistics (study B; N = 150) can be affected by authentic learning activities in an out-of-school lab (OSL). OSLs aim to engage students in authentic activities that attempt to simulate the ways how scientists gather new knowledge, making an impact on students’ epistemic beliefs likely. To test this assumption, the two (quasi-)experimental studies each compared a highly authentic with a less authentic activity and assessed students’ epistemic beliefs before and after the students’ visit to the OSL. We also analyzed how students’ epistemic beliefs relate to their perceived authenticity of the learning activity, their situational interest, and their knowledge acquisition. The findings suggest that authentic activities in OSLs have no effect on students’ epistemic beliefs, as students in both conditions either developed more sophisticated beliefs (study A) or changed their beliefs in the less authentic condition only (study B). Correlational analyses further show that students’ epistemic beliefs about the texture of knowledge are negatively associated with both their perceived authenticity of the learning activity (studies A and B) and their situational interest (study A only). In contrast, students’ epistemic beliefs about the variability of knowledge are positively correlated with their perceived authenticity and their knowledge acquisition (both in study A only). The findings are discussed in light of previous research on both students’ epistemic beliefs and authentic learning in OSLs.
Academic engagement and management of personalised active learning in higher education digital ecosystems
Authors: Alé-Ruiz Rafael , Martínez-Abad Fernando , del Moral-Marcos María Teresa 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe flexible, changing, and uncertain nature of present-day society requires its citizens have new personal, professional, and social competences which exceed the traditional knowledge-based, academic skills imparted in higher education. This study aims to identify those factors associated with active methodologies that predict university students’ learning achievements in a digital ecosystem and thus, optimize the learning-teaching process. The teaching management tool Learning Analytics in Higher Education (LAHE) has been applied to a 200-student non-probabilistic incidental sample spread over 5 different university courses, enabling a personalized learning-teaching process tailored to the needs of each group and /or student. Based on a pre-experimental design without a control group, an analysis through decision trees based on educational data mining has been undertaken on the predictive potential of the active methodologies employed, and their effects on students’ learning achievements. The criterion variable of the study was the final exam grade, and the explanatory variables included student characteristics, indicators of the teaching–learning process and non-cognitive factors. Results show that factors associated with active methodologies correctly predict a significant portion of the learning achieved by students. More specifically, the factors that have the greatest impact on learning are those related to academic engagement and to a student continuous learning process.
A encoder-decoder deblurring network combined with high-frequency a priori
Authors: Wang Meihua , Xu Jiajie , Ke Fanhui , Liao Lei 
Published: December 2023

AbstractConvolutional neural network based methods have been proposed to address blind deblurring. Aiming at the difficulty of reconstructing high-frequency features of images with existing network models, this paper proposes a two-stage convolution-based encoder-decoder for fusing high-frequency a prior. In the first stage, both blurred and high-frequency images are input, and the image features extracted by the network and the high-frequency features are fused. In the second stage, the fused features are further refined and recovered as potentially clear images, and the reconstruction ability of the model for high-frequency features is enhanced. In addition, this paper proposes a deep feature reorganization module that integrates multi-layer semantic information in the encoder-decoder and targets the encoder semantics to further enhance the feature characterization capability of the model. Comprehensive experimental results show that our method achieves 0.9085 structural similarity index (SSIM) and 30.66db peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) on the GoPro dataset. Meanwhile, our method achieves 0.8514 SSIM and 27.39db PSNR on the Lai dataset.
Explainable artificial intelligence for the automated assessment of the retinal vascular tortuosity
Authors: Hervella Álvaro S. , Ramos Lucía , Rouco José , Novo Jorge , Ortega Marcos 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Retinal vascular tortuosity is an excessive bending and twisting of the blood vessels in the retina that is associated with numerous health conditions. We propose a novel methodology for the automated assessment of the retinal vascular tortuosity from color fundus images. Our methodology takes into consideration several anatomical factors to weigh the importance of each individual blood vessel. First, we use deep neural networks to produce a robust extraction of the different anatomical structures. Then, the weighting coefficients that are required for the integration of the different anatomical factors are adjusted using evolutionary computation. Finally, the proposed methodology also provides visual representations that explain the contribution of each individual blood vessel to the predicted tortuosity, hence allowing us to understand the decisions of the model. We validate our proposal in a dataset of color fundus images providing a consensus ground truth as well as the annotations of five clinical experts. Our proposal outperforms previous automated methods and offers a performance that is comparable to that of the clinical experts. Therefore, our methodology demonstrates to be a viable alternative for the assessment of the retinal vascular tortuosity. This could facilitate the use of this biomarker in clinical practice and medical research.

Graphical abstract
Women’s underrepresentation in business-to-business sales: Reasons, contingencies, and solutions
Authors: Lanzrath Aline Isabelle , Homburg Christian , Ruhnau Robin-Christopher M. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSales faces the second-largest gender gap of any corporate function, with women’s underrepresentation even more pronounced in business-to-business (B2B) sales and at higher hierarchical levels. Concurrently, the call for a more gender-diverse sales force is gaining momentum for social and economic reasons, moving the question of how to attract and promote women in B2B sales to the top of sales managers’ agenda. Using an inductive approach, we uncover male-centricity of communication and job structures in B2B sales as the underlying reasons deterring women from entering and advancing in B2B sales. Specifically, male-centricity implies a misfit between B2B sales and women’s self-conception and needs. By deriving contingencies of these relationships, we offer solutions to women’s underrepresentation in B2B sales by showing, for example, which sales positions are less prone to signal or create a misfit to women and what gender-inclusive resources sales departments can provide and saleswomen can build.
Emerging strategies and developments in oxygen reduction reaction using high-performance platinum-based electrocatalysts
Authors: Ali Asad , Laaksonen Aatto , Huang Guo , Hussain Shahid , Luo Shuiping , Chen Wen , Shen Pei Kang , Zhu Jinliang , Ji Xiaoyan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe global practical implementation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) heavily relies on the advancement of highly effective platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). To achieve high ORR performance, electrocatalysts with highly accessible reactive surfaces are needed to promote the uncovering of active positions for easy mass transportation. In this critical review, we introduce different approaches for the emerging development of effective ORR electrocatalysts, which offer high activity and durability. The strategies, including morphological engineering, geometric configuration modification via supporting materials, alloys regulation, core-shell, and confinement engineering of single atom electrocatalysts (SAEs), are discussed in line with the goals and requirements of ORR performance enhancement. We review the ongoing development of Pt electrocatalysts based on the syntheses, nanoarchitecture, electrochemical performances, and stability. We eventually explore the obstacles and research directions on further developing more effective electrocatalysts.
Developing policy-ready digital dashboards of geospatial access to emergency obstetric care: a survey of policymakers and researchers in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Wang Jia , Wong Kerry L. M. , Olubodun Tope , Gwacham-Anisiobi Uchenna , Ogunyemi Olakunmi , Afolabi Bosede B. , Macharia Peter M. , Makanga Prestige Tatenda , Abejirinde Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade , Beňová Lenka , Banke-Thomas Aduragbemi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Dashboards are increasingly being used in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to support health policymaking and governance. However, their use has been mostly limited to routine care, not emergency services like emergency obstetric care (EmOC). To ensure a fit-for-purpose dashboard, we conducted an online survey with policymakers and researchers to understand key considerations needed for developing a policy-ready dashboard of geospatial access to EmOC in SSA.

Methods
Questionnaires targeting both stakeholder groups were pre-tested and disseminated in English, French, and Portuguese across SSA. We collected data on participants’ awareness of concern areas for geographic accessibility of EmOC and existing technological resources used for planning of EmOC services, the dynamic dashboard features preferences, and the dashboard's potential to tackle lack of geographic access to EmOC. Questions were asked as multiple-choice, Likert-scale, or open-ended. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise findings using frequencies or proportions. Free-text responses were recoded into themes where applicable.

Results
Among the 206 participants (88 policymakers and 118 researchers), 90% reported that rural areas and 23% that urban areas in their countries were affected by issues of geographic accessibility to EmOC. Five percent of policymakers and 38% of researchers were aware of the use of maps of EmOC facilities to guide planning of EmOC facility location. Regarding dashboard design, most visual components such as location of EmOC facilities had almost universal desirability; however, there were some exceptions. Nearly 70% of policymakers considered the socio-economic status of the population and households relevant to the dashboard. The desirability for a heatmap showing travel time to care was lower among policymakers (53%) than researchers (72%). Nearly 90% of participants considered three to four data updates per year or less frequent updates adequate for the dashboard. The potential usability of a dynamic dashboard was high amongst both policymakers (60%) and researchers (82%).

Conclusion
This study provides key considerations for developing a policy-ready dashboard for EmOC geographical accessibility in SSA. Efforts should now be targeted at establishing robust estimation of geographical accessibility metrics, integrated with existing health system data, and developing and maintaining the dashboard with up-to-date data to maximise impact in these settings.
Brittleness index evaluation of gas-bearing sandstone under triaxial compression conditions
Authors: Wang Jun , Du Jiahui , Li Wenpu , Chen Xianhui , Zhang Huan , Wang Tao , Li Zhu , Hao Ruiqing 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBrittleness is a critical property in gas-bearing rock excavation and reservoir fracturing. This paper analyzes the three types of brittleness indices in detail, proposes new indices, and conducts relevant conventional triaxial tests for analysis. A stress–strain curve-based brittleness index would be appropriate for the evaluation of brittleness if the parameters represented unique and certain stress–strain curves. Therefore, a new brittleness index is proposed. It consists of two components: the stress variation index and the strain variation index, which reflects the strain ratio of the stress drop and the relationship between elastic and post-peak strains, combining the stress variation and strain variation in the pre- and post-peak phases. Triaxial compression tests of sandstone under different confining pressures and gas pressures were conducted, and specific stress and strain parameters were collected. Based on the comparison and analysis of various brittleness indices, it is found that the newly proposed brittleness index can be a good measure of the brittle evolution of sandstones under different confining pressures and gas pressures, and it can provide a more accurate estimate of rock brittleness than the existing indices. The index is also used to further investigate the relationship between rock brittleness and confining and gas pressures. This has important implications for the assessment of rock brittleness in practical engineering.
First report of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium in pet reptiles in private household of Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Khan Hajrah A. , Neyaz Leena A. , Organji Sameer R. , Neyaz Marwah Sobhan , Almalki Meshal H. K. , Elbanna Khaled , Abulreesh Hussein H. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPet reptiles are gaining popularity among Saudi citizens but owners lack public health-associated awareness. Generally, the pet shops do not properly guide about reptile handling and health precautions. This study features molecular characterization of Salmonella isolates from pet reptiles to detect potential human pathogenic serovars. Previously identified five Salmonella sp. isolates from pet reptiles in private households were subjected to PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Sequencing confirmed all five isolates as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium. Different strains shared a common ancestor but were divided into different clades in various host species (snakes and lizards). All reptiles could be a potential source of zoonotic Salmonella spp. and multidrug resistance (MDR) of Salmonella can further worsen the situation. The feed, confined shared living spaces of multiple animals, environmental conditions, and pets’ interaction with wild animals could enhance the probability of Salmonella spp. occurrence in pet reptiles. This study necessitates the pet owners’ awareness regarding Salmonella spp. transmission routes and associated human health repercussions while keeping pet reptiles.
The well-living paradigm: reimagining quality of life in our turbulent world
Authors: Hosseini S. A. Hamed 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis article introduces the concept of ‘well-living’ as a transformative framework for reimagining quality of life in the face of current global socio-ecological challenges. Through a reflexive theoretical meta-analysis, it critically examines mainstream and reformist well-being discourses while drawing inspiration from transformative perspectives found in recent post-capitalist and indigenous movements. ‘Well-living’ is portrayed as both a civilizational endeavor and a multifaceted imperative, encompassing dimensions of creativity, liveability, conviviality, and alterity across various scales from individual to international contexts. Central to the ‘well-living’ paradigm are nine key qualities, including harmonious coexistence, aspirational foresight and purposefulness, solidarity, autonomy, authenticity, and integrity, thereby promoting an integrated approach to living in balance with oneself, others, and the natural world. Embracing ‘well-living’ as a goal and process can empower individuals and communities to challenge prevailing global capitalist paradigms, re-establish connections with the interconnected web of life, and strive for a more just, regenerative, and diverse world, accommodating multiple perspectives. Lastly, employing a 'commonist' perspective, the article outlines essential institutional and legislative-policy changes required to actualize the vision of 'well-living.'
Global Forces, Rural Radicalism, and the Dual Transformation of Urban and Rural Protest in Africa
Authors: Mampilly Zachariah Cherian 
Published: December 2023

AbstractStudies of protest in contemporary Africa often fail to address three related dynamics. First, rural radicalism has long been more central to African political struggles, even urban ones, than is commonly recognized. Second, the ongoing transformation of rural political economies links them to those of urban areas and has changed struggles over land and resources. Finally, these changes have reduced the power of traditional authorities and increased the appeal of nonviolent protest, as well as shifting protest toward a more national mode in which rural populations are increasingly central. Mampilly elaborates on these propositions, which are derived from brief examinations of both historical and contemporary examples of rural protest across Africa, before applying them to a deep analysis of LUCHA, a social movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Statewide Patient Load Balancing Work of Washington State’s Medical Operations Coordination Center
Authors: Mitchell Steven H. , Taylor Mark J. , Paulsen Maria , Morris Stephen C. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objectives:
Load balancing of constrained healthcare resources has become a critical aspect of assuring access to care during periods of pandemic related surge. These impacts include patient surges, staffing shortages, and limited access to specialty resources. This research focuses on the creation and work of a novel statewide coordination center, the Washington Medical Coordination Center (WMCC), whose primary goal is the load balancing of patients across the healthcare continuum of Washington State.

Methods:
This article discusses the origins, development, and operations of the WMCC including key partners, cooperative agreements, and structure necessary to create a patient load balancing system on a statewide level.

Results:
As of April 21, 2022, the WMCC received 3821 requests from Washington State hospitals. Nearly 90% were received during the pandemic surge. Nearly 75% originated from rural hospitals that are most often limited in their ability to transfer patients when referral centers are also overwhelmed.

Conclusions:
The WMCC served as an effective tool to carry out patient load balancing activities during the COVID-19 pandemic surge in Washington State. It (the WMCC) has been shown to be an equity enhancing, cost effective means of managing healthcare surge events across a broad geographic region.
A Glocal History of Post-independence Singapore’s First Sex Education Curriculum, 1966-1973
Authors: Goh Benjamin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractMost studies of sex education center on local Anglo-Euro-American contexts, tracing the origin of sex education to a coordinated response to the spread of venereal diseases. These neglect the circumstances in which sex education developed in the developing world between the 1950s and 1980s: a growing collective anxiety about rising birth rates that culminated in the adoption of population control measures. This paper examines the “glocal” history of population-centered sex education in the developing world in the 1960s and 1970s, through the case study of Singapore. Examining the emergence of the first sex education curriculum in post-independence Singapore between 1966 and 1973, I argue that population-centered sex education that emerged in Singapore was intimately connected with global population politics. Analysis of how the policy was formulated shows that the Singapore state reacted to both domestic and global concerns. In connecting local developments to global contexts, this paper gestures toward the possibilities of studying the global history of population-centered sex education.
Determinants of social norms I – the role of geography
Authors: Voigt Stefan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIt is now abundantly clear that social norms channel behaviour and impact economic development. This insight leads to the question: How do social norms evolve? This survey examines research that relies on geography to explain the development of social norms. It turns out that many social norms are either directly or indirectly determined by geography broadly conceived and can, hence, be considered largely time invariant. Given that successful economic development presupposes the congruence between formal institutions and social norms, this insight is highly relevant for all policy interventions designed to foster economic development. In a companion paper, the role of religion and family organization as potential mediators between geography and social norms assumes centre stage.