bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Sustainable Business Networks on the Environmentally Sound Management of Chemicals in Zimbabwe
Authors: Muzamwese Tawanda Collins 
Published: November 2023

AbstractDespite the formulation of policy frameworks and awareness on hazardous chemical management, practical implementation at organisational level remains a challenge in Zimbabwe. Participation in inter-organisational networks has been shown to have a catalytic role in some contexts. Sustainable business networks such as the Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe (BCSDZ) have undertaken programmes to promote safe chemical management and chemical leasing. This research paper assesses the effects of sustainable business networks on circular economy (CE) through implementation of safe chemical management and chemical leasing programmes in Zimbabwe. The research paper is based on forty (40) companies drawn from the industrial, manufacturing and mining sectors in Zimbabwe. A total of 50% of the companies assessed were selected because they participated in the safe chemical management programme called responsible production toolkit training and chemical leasing training during the period of 2018 to 2023, whilst the other 50% selected were not participants in any chemical management initiative to provide a comparison group to enable causal inferences. The study employed direct observation of chemical management practices, interviews with key informants and content analysis. Barriers and challenges identified included high chemical intensity, higher proportion of chemical accidents, inadequate provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of clear policies on chemical management, lack of adequate technical capacity on chemical management, use of foreign languages in some material safety data sheets (MSDS), incompatible chemical storage practices, lack of proper labelling of chemicals, inadequate implementation of chemical compatibility charts and inadequate documentation of successful case studies. Implementation of chemical risk assessment increased from 20 to 70% due to network participation. Chemical inventorying implementation increased from 15 to 50% amongst firms that participated in safe chemical management programmes. Chemical labelling practices increased from 55 to 85% due to increased participation in network-induced chemical management programmes. Chemical leasing implementation remained largely unchanged even with access to training. We conclude that network participation enhanced chemical management practices due to the implementation of the responsible production toolkit. However, the impact of network participation on adoption of chemical leasing is low in Zimbabwe due to external contextual factors such as policy, perception, legal and financial barriers.
Know, comply, and live: the implications of protocols for COVID-19 management in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Amoah Anthony 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe aim of this study is to examine the factors influencing compliance with COVID-19 preventive management strategies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To address the lack of national data associated with this study, a comprehensive cross-sectional panel dataset by GeoPoll, encompassing 12 SSA countries, is used. The study employs a novel index and a cross-sectional pooled logit econometric regression with predicted margins to identify the determinants of behavioural responses to COVID-19 management strategies. The findings reveal that demographic factors, institutional measures, and country-specific characteristics significantly impact compliance with COVID-19 management strategies in SSA. Additionally, a gender analysis of disaggregated COVID-19 pandemic management protocols revealed that females exhibit different compliance behaviours compared to males, specifically in relation to public transport, hygiene practices, handwashing, and social distancing. However, no significant gender differences are observed in behaviours such as avoiding public places and working from home. Surprisingly, the composite index, which measures overall compliance with all protocols, does not demonstrate any gender differences. Based on the findings, policies aimed at enhancing compliance should consider demographic, institutional, and country-specific factors while also accounting for gender differences in specific compliance behaviours.
Evaluating associations between late intensive care admission and mortality, intensive care days, and organ dysfunctions: a secondary analysis of data from the EPOCH cluster randomized trial
Authors: Joffe Ari R. , Dryden-Palmer Karen , Shadkowski Leah , Frndova Helena , Nadkarni Vinay , Tomlinson George , Parshuram Christopher ,   for the EPOCH Investigators
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To determine whether late admission to pediatric intensive care (ICU) from hospital wards is associated with patient outcomes.

Methods
Secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from an international multicenter cluster-randomized trial. Clinical deterioration events with urgent ICU admission were defined as late if the Children’s Resuscitation Intensity Scale was > 2 (indicating critical care interventions started from 12 h pre- to 1 h post-urgent ICU admission). The association of late admission with primary outcomes (ICU and hospital mortality) was estimated using logistically generalized estimating equation models adjusted for PIM2 probability of death.

Results
There were 2979 clinical deterioration events in 2502 patients, including 620 (20.8%) late ICU admissions. ICU mortality of the last urgent ICU admission was 15.4% for late compared to 4.5% for non-late ICU admission (PIM-adjusted OR (95%CI) 1.63 (1.14, 2.33), p < 0.01). Hospital mortality was 19.7% in late compared to 6.0% for non-late urgent ICU admission (PIM-adjusted OR 1.56 (1.12, 2.16), p < 0.01). Late ICU admissions accounted for 20.9% of clinical deterioration events, and 90/179 (50.2.0%) of ICU and 103/222 (46.4%) of hospital deaths after clinical deterioration events. Secondary outcomes associated with late ICU admission included longer ICU stay (2.3 days, p = 0.02), more ventilation days (407/1000 ICU days, p < 0.0001), and more frequent treatment with dialysis, inhaled nitric oxide, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (p < 0.01).

Conclusion
Late ICU admission from hospital wards was associated with higher ICU and hospital mortality, greater use of ICU technologies, and longer ICU stays. How to prevent late ICU admission and its consequences requires further study.
Antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship in South Africa: a survey of healthcare workers in academic and nonacademic hospitals
Authors: Reddy Kessendri , Ramsamy Yogandree , Swe Swe-Han Khine , Nana Trusha , Black Marianne , Kolojane Molebogeng , Chibabhai Vindana 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Objective:
Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) facilitate appropriate antimicrobial use and require contextualization for optimal functioning. We aimed to investigate perceptions of and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and ASPs among healthcare workers in academic and nonacademic hospitals.

Design:
Cross-sectional survey.

Setting:
Three academic (Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic, Inkosi Albert Luthuli, Tygerberg) and three nonacademic hospitals (Leratong, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial, and Paarl) in South Africa from January to June 2022.

Participants:
Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

Methods:
Voluntary questionnaire using Google Forms, encompassing AMR, ASPs, and selected discipline-specific components.

Results:
Participants comprised 79 doctors (50 academic), 178 nurses (169 academic), and 21 pharmacists (18 academic) and were female predominant. AMR was a problem in academic hospitals (74.7% vs 51.2%, p 0.004); 73.5% overall reported inappropriate antimicrobial use as a major contributor. Adequate education on antimicrobials occurred in only 36.4% overall. Microbiological testing guided therapy more often in nonacademic settings (80.0% vs 50.2%, p <0.001). In both settings, antimicrobial availability drove selection in 48.2%. Overall, ASPs improved patient care (89.8%) and reduced antimicrobial use (86.9%), although felt to override prescriber autonomy in academic settings (29.4% vs 7.5%, p 0.007), mainly among nurses. Only 50.2% reported successful local ASPs. A minority of pharmacists (20.0%) reported sufficient hospital support for ASPs. Education, involvement of infection control staff, and inclusion of nurses in ASPs were most impactful on AMR.

Conclusion:
Selected healthcare worker perspectives differ by category and setting and can be targeted to improve ASPs. Further studies should target a higher number of clinical staff in both settings.
Households’ readiness and community-based organisations’ role in flood management: The case of Freetown City’s coastal area
Authors: Turay Bashiru , Gbetuwa Sheku , Turay Alieu 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Flooding is a well-known extreme climate event affecting coastal settlements around the world. It is the principal climate-related disaster encountered by residents of Portee and Rukupa, coastal slums in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The impacts of floods in these slums have been exacerbated by the lack of effective control measures to address the disaster. One reason for this ineffectiveness is a lack of information about how households are ready to manage floods and the roles of community-based organisations (CBOs) in these events. Given this concern, this study examines household readiness and CBOs’ roles in flood management in Portee and Rokupa using observation, purposive, and snowball sampling techniques to study 204 households and 12 CBOs. The results show that flood-related information in the community is mostly shared verbally among residents. In addition, most households claimed not to have received support amidst flood events, whereas CBOs within the area claimed the opposite. As such, we recommend that future studies look at household perceptions of vulnerability and willingness to take risk-reduction actions. This study encourages community members to strengthen inter-community and organisational learning, feedback, and support systems and adopt a “no wait on the government principle” for flood management.
Encoding the Enforcement of Safety Standards into Smart Robots to Harness Their Computing Sophistication and Collaborative Potential: A Legal Risk Assessment for European Union Policymakers
Authors: Vecellio Segate Riccardo , Daly Angela 
Published: November 2023

AbstractUntil robots and humans mostly worked in fast-paced and yet separate environments, occupational health and safety (OHS) rules could address workers’ safety largely independently from robotic conduct. This is no longer the case: collaborative robots (cobots) working alongside humans warrant the design of policies ensuring the safety of both humans and robots at once, within shared spaces and upon delivery of cooperative workflows. Within the European Union (EU), the applicable regulatory framework stands at the intersection between international industry standards and legislation at the EU as well as Member State level. Not only do current standards and laws fail to satisfactorily attend to the physical and mental health challenges prompted by human–robot interaction (HRI), but they exhibit important gaps in relation to smart cobots (“SmaCobs”) more specifically. In fact, SmaCobs combine the black-box unforeseeability afforded by machine learning with more general HRI-associated risks, towards increasingly complex, mobile and interconnected operational interfaces and production chains. Against this backdrop, based on productivity and health motivations, we urge the encoding of the enforcement of OHS policies directly into SmaCobs. First, SmaCobs could harness the sophistication of quantum computing to adapt a tangled normative architecture in a responsive manner to the contingent needs of each situation. Second, entrusting them with OHS enforcement vis-à-vis both themselves and humans may paradoxically prove safer as well as more cost-effective than for humans to do so. This scenario raises profound legal, ethical and somewhat philosophical concerns around SmaCobs’ legal personality, the apportionment of liability and algorithmic explainability. The first systematic proposal to tackle such questions is henceforth formulated. For the EU, we propose that this is achieved through a new binding OHS Regulation aimed at the SmaCobs age.
The ethics of species extinctions
Authors: Wienhues Anna , Baard Patrik , Donoso Alfonso , Oksanen Markku 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis review provides an overview of the ethics of extinctions with a focus on the Western analytical environmental ethics literature. It thereby gives special attention to the possible philosophical grounds for Michael Soulé’s assertion that the untimely ‘extinction of populations and species is bad’. Illustrating such debates in environmental ethics, the guiding question for this review concerns why – or when – anthropogenic extinctions are bad or wrong, which also includes the question of when that might not be the case (i.e. which extinctions are even desirable). After providing an explanation of the disciplinary perspective taken (section “Introduction”), the concept of extinction and its history within that literature are introduced (section “Understanding extinction”). Then, in section “Why (or when) might anthropogenic extinctions be morally problematic?”, different reasons for why anthropogenic extinctions might be morally problematic are presented based on the loss of species’ value, harm to nonhuman individuals, the loss of valuable biological variety and duties to future generations. This section concludes by also considering cases where anthropogenic extinctions might be justified. Section “How to respond to extinctions?” then addresses a selection of topics concerning risks and de-extinction technologies. Finally, the section on “Extinction studies” introduces other viewpoints on the ethics of extinction from the extinction studies literature, followed by the “Conclusion”.
Hydrogen gas and the gut microbiota are potential biomarkers for the development of experimental colitis in mice
Authors: Fujiki Yuta , Tanaka Takahisa , Yakabe Kyosuke , Seki Natsumi , Akiyama Masahiro , Uchida Ken , Kim Yun-Gi 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease characterised by repeated relapses and remissions and a high recurrence rate even after symptom resolution. The primary method for IBD diagnosis is endoscopy; however, this method is expensive, invasive, and cumbersome to use serially. Therefore, more convenient and non-invasive methods for IBD diagnosis are needed. In this study, we aimed to identify biological gas markers for the development of gut inflammation. Using dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse models, five biological gases were analysed to identify predictive markers for the development of gut inflammation. Additionally, the correlation between the changes in gas composition, gut microbiota, and inflammatory markers was assessed. The hydrogen (H2) level was found to be negatively correlated with the level of lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a gut inflammation biomarker, and weight loss due to DSS-induced colitis. Furthermore, gut microbes belonging to the Rikenellaceae and Akkermansiaceae families were positively correlated with LCN2 levels and weight loss, whereas Tannerellaceae abundance was negatively correlated with LCN2 level and weight loss and positively correlated with H2 levels. This study provides new insights for IBD diagnosis; the H2 levels in biological gases are a potential biomarker for intestinal inflammation, and specific gut microbes are associated with H2 level changes.
A little less conversation: How existing governance can strengthen the future global plastics treaty
Authors: Maes Thomas , Wienrich Nicole , Weiand Laura , Cowan Emily 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The growing plastic production, the lack of their waste management, and fragmented regulatory responses have increased their abundance in the environment. Plastic pollution has created significant environmental concerns leading to planetary boundary threats. As a result, an increasing number of governments and non-state actors have begun negotiations on a legally binding treaty to cover the full-life-cycle of plastics by 2024. While the negotiations were mandated at the United Nations Environment Assembly 5.2 in March of 2022, how the new agreement would link to existing governance bodies addressing plastic pollution at the global, regional, national and local levels requires careful consideration. This analysis examines the main multi-level governance structures in place to govern plastics while highlighting their principal roles as well as shortcomings and gaps. It then explores ways a new global agreement could complement existing governance structures without imposing and duplicating the work of previous agreements.
THE DIFFERENCE ANALOGUE OF THE TUMURA–HAYMAN–CLUNIE THEOREM
Authors: FANG MINGLIANG , LI HUI , YAO XIAO 
Published: November 2023

AbstractWe prove a difference analogue of the celebrated Tumura–Hayman–Clunie theorem. Let f be a transcendental entire function, let c be a nonzero constant and let n be a positive integer. If f and
$\Delta _c^n f$
omit zero in the whole complex plane, then either
$f(z)=\exp (h_1(z)+C_1 z)$
, where
$h_1$
is an entire function of period c and
$\exp (C_1 c)\neq 1$
, or
$f(z)=\exp (h_2(z)+C_2 z)$
, where
$h_2$
is an entire function of period
$2c$
and
$C_2$
satisfies
$$ \begin{align*} \bigg(\frac{1+\exp(C_2c)}{1-\exp(C_2 c)}\bigg)^{2n}=1. \end{align*} $$
AN ALGEBRAIC INTERPRETATION OF THE SUPER CATALAN NUMBERS
Authors: LIMANTA KEVIN 
Published: November 2023

AbstractWe extend the notion of polynomial integration over an arbitrary circle C in the Euclidean geometry over general fields
$\mathbb {F}$
of characteristic zero as a normalised
$\mathbb {F}$
-linear functional on
$\mathbb {F}[\alpha _1, \alpha _2]$
that maps polynomials that evaluate to zero on C to zero and is
$\mathrm {SO}(2,\mathbb {F})$
-invariant. This allows us to not only build a purely algebraic integration theory in an elementary way, but also give the super Catalan numbers
$$ \begin{align*} S(m,n) = \frac{(2m)!(2n)!}{m!n!(m+n)!} \end{align*} $$
an algebraic interpretation in terms of values of this algebraic integral over some circle applied to the monomials
$\alpha _1^{2m}\alpha _2^{2n}$
.
Causal effects of dietary habits on COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalisation and severity: a comprehensive Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Li Xiaoping , Wang Ningning , Wang Congjie , Chen Xiaoqing , Chen Sai , Jiang Wei 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the causal effect of dietary habits on COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalisation and severity. We used data from a large-scale diet dataset and the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative to estimate causal relationships using Mendelian randomisation. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the main analysis. For COVID-19 susceptibility, IVW estimates indicated that milk (OR: 0·82; 95 % CI (0·68, 0·98); P = 0·032), unsalted peanut (OR: 0·53; 95 % CI (0·35, 0·82); P = 0·004), beef (OR: 0·59; 95 % CI (0·41, 0·84); P = 0·004), pork (OR: 0·63; 95 % CI (0·42, 0·93); P = 0·022) and processed meat (OR: 0·76; 95 % CI (0·63, 0·92); P = 0·005) were causally associated with reduced COVID-19 susceptibility, while coffee (OR: 1·23; 95 % CI (1·04, 1·45); P = 0·017) and tea (OR: 1·17; 95 % CI (1·05, 1·31); P = 0·006) were causally associated with increased risk. For COVID-19 hospitalisation, beef (OR: 0·51; 95 % CI (0·26, 0·98); P = 0·042) showed negative correlations, while tea (OR: 1·54; 95 % CI (1·16, 2·04); P = 0·003), dried fruit (OR: 2·08; 95 % CI (1·37, 3·15); P = 0·001) and red wine (OR: 2·35; 95 % CI (1·29, 4·27); P = 0·005) showed positive correlations. For COVID-19 severity, coffee (OR: 2·16; 95 % CI (1·25, 3·76); P = 0·006), dried fruit (OR: 1·98; 95 % CI (1·16, 3·37); P = 0·012) and red wine (OR: 2·84; 95 % CI (1·21, 6·68); P = 0·017) showed an increased risk. These findings were confirmed to be robust through sensitivity analyses. Our findings established a causal relationship between dietary habits and COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalisation and severity.
Carotenoids in maternal and cord blood, breast milk and their association with maternal dietary intake: a longitudinal study in Shanghai, China
Authors: Sun Anran , Tian Luojia , Xiong Xiaoying , Kuchan Matthew , Dai Xinyao , Sun Hanxiao , Wang He , Li Xiang , Zhang Lishi , Zhao Yanrong , Chen Jinyao , Mao Yingyi , Li Xiaomeng 
Published: November 2023

AbstractCarotenoids are important bioactive substances in breast milk, the profile of which is seldom studied. This study aimed to explore the profile of carotenoids in breast milk and maternal/cord plasma of healthy mother–neonate pairs in Shanghai, China, and their correlation with dietary intake. Maternal blood, umbilical cord blood and breast milk samples from five lactation stages (colostrum, transitional milk and early-, mid- and late-term mature milk) were collected. Carotenoid levels were analysed by HPLC. Carotenoid levels in breast milk changed as lactation progressed (P< 0·001).β-Carotene was the primary carotenoid in colostrum. Lutein accounted for approximately 50 % of total carotenoids in transitional milk, mature milk and cord blood. Positive correlations were observed between five carotenoids in umbilical cord blood and maternal blood (Pall < 0·001).β-Carotene levels were also correlated between maternal plasma and three stages of breast milk (r= 0·605,P< 0·001;r= 0·456,P= 0·011,r= 0·446;P= 0·013, respectively). Dietary carotenoid intakes of lactating mothers also differed across lactation stages, although no correlation with breast milk concentrations was found. These findings suggest the importance of exploring the transport mechanism of carotenoids between mothers and infants and help guide the development of formulas for Chinese infants as well as the nutritional diets of lactating mothers.
HELLENISTIC WAR-ELEPHANTS AND THE USE OF ALCOHOL BEFORE BATTLE
Authors: Gerrard Silvannen R. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis article assesses whether Hellenistic war-elephants were given alcohol before battle. First recorded in 1 Maccabees’ account of the battle of Beth-Zechariah (162b.c.e.), this unusual detail is supported by the later comments of Aelian and Philes of Ephesus. The idea also recalls a failed Ptolemaic attempt to punish the Jews in 3 Maccabees and in Josephus, and resonates with a longstanding association of elephants and alcohol in popular thought. Unfortunately, despite the recent rise in scholarly interest on war-elephants, this issue remains overlooked. This article reassesses the complexities of our sources and the practicalities of Hellenistic battles. Adopting a comparative approach to contemporary Indian material for this practice, it considers the prevalence of elephants in musth in the Indian epics, alongside the etymological link between this condition and Sanskrit concepts of drunkenness. It argues that this connection may have prompted the idea of giving elephants alcohol before battle, despite its unlikeliness as a standard feature of elephant warfare.