bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dangerous data: Analytics and information behaviour in the commercial world
Authors: Tredinnick Luke
Published: March 2023

Data has become an increasingly important component in contemporary business operations, epitomised by the rise of the Business Intelligence system, data analytics, and data visualisations. It has been associated with increased productivity and the development of new business opportunities. But the use of data is sometimes also associated with poor decision-making, either because of the quality of the data on which decisions are made, or because of the ways in which that data is used. This paper explores the problem of dangerous data in commercial contexts: those situations where the use of data contributes to worse outcomes.t
Manipulation of iron status on cerebral blood flow at high altitude in lowlanders and adapted highlanders
Authors: Patrician Alexander , Willie Christopher , Hoiland Ryan L , Gasho Christopher , Subedi Prajan , Anholm James D , Tymko Michael M , Ainslie Philip N
Published: March 2023

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) increases during hypoxia to counteract the reduction in arterial oxygen content. The onset of tissue hypoxemia coincides with the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and transcription of downstream HIF-mediated processes. It has yet to be determined, whether HIF down- or upregulation can modulate hypoxic vasodilation of the cerebral vasculature. Therefore, we examined whether: 1) CBF would increase with iron depletion (via chelation) and decrease with repletion (via iron infusion) at high-altitude, and 2) explore whether genotypic advantages of highlanders extend to HIF-mediated regulation of CBF. In a double-blinded and block-randomized design, CBF was assessed in 82 healthy participants (38 lowlanders, 20 Sherpas and 24 Andeans), before and after the infusion of either: iron(III)-hydroxide sucrose, desferrioxamine or saline. Across both lowlanders and highlanders, baseline iron levels contributed to the variability in cerebral hypoxic reactivity at high altitude (R2 = 0.174, P < 0.001). At 5,050 m, CBF in lowlanders and Sherpa were unaltered by desferrioxamine or iron. At 4,300 m, iron infusion led to 4 ± 10% reduction in CBF (main effect of time p = 0.043) in lowlanders and Andeans. Iron status may provide a novel, albeit subtle, influence on CBF that is potentially dependent on the severity and length-of-stay at high altitude.
RNA profiling of sEV (small extracellular vesicles)/exosomes reveals biomarkers and vascular endothelial dysplasia with moyamoya disease
Authors: He Shihao , Liang Jianfeng , Xue Guifeng , Wang Yanru , Zhao Yahui , Liu Ziqi , Hao Xiaokuan , Wei Yanchang , Chen Xiaolin , Wang Hao , Kang Shuai , Wang Rong , Zhao Yuanli , Ye Xun
Published: March 2023

The association of exosomal RNA profiling and pathogenesis of moyamoya disease (MMD) and intracranial Atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is unknown. In this study, we investigated the RNA profiles of sEV (small extracellular vesicles)/exosomes in patients with MMD and ICAD. Whole blood samples were collected from 30 individuals, including 10 patients with MMD, 10 patients with ICAD, and 10 healthy individuals. Whole transcriptome analysis was performed using the GeneChip WT Pico Reagent kit. Transcriptional correlation was verified using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The association between functional dysregulation and candidate RNAs was studied in vitro. In total, 1,486 downregulated and 2,405 upregulated RNAs differed significantly between patients with MMD and healthy controls. Differential expression of six circRNAs was detected using qPCR. Among these significantly differentially expressed RNAs, IPO11 and PRMT1 circRNAs were upregulated, whereas CACNA1F circRNA was downregulated. This is the first study showing that the differential expression of exosomal RNAs associated with MMD pathogenesis, such as overexpression of IPO11 and PRMT1 circRNAs, may be related to angiogenesis in MMD. The downregulation of CACNA1F circRNA may be related to vascular occlusion. These results propose the utility of exosomal RNAs as biological markers in MMD.
Occupational Activism and the New Labor Activism: Illustrations from the Education Sector and an Agenda for Future Research
Authors: Coley Jonathan S. , Schachle Jessica L.
Published: March 2023

The United States is currently witnessing a surge in labor activism that will likely embolden many workers to engage in occupational activism and thus enact their jobs in socially transformative ways. We illustrate this argument through a case study of K-12 educators who participated in a teachers’ walkout and subsequently became engaged in efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their schools. We then outline an agenda for future research on occupational activism.
Stop Discounting Retail Workers
Authors: Walters Kyla , Misra Joya
Published: March 2023

Retail workers are strong in numbers, but union density is weak. Transformation of the retail sector is possible. Returning stability to these jobs would change the lives of millions of workers and their families. The retail labor process provides multiple points for resistance and mobilization to occur. Leveraging relationships between workers and with consumers are crucial tactics to help curb employers’ power.
A Framework for Developing a Multidisciplinary Approach to Prone Positioning in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Gohar Ahmed , Kirupaharan Pradhab , Amaral Valentina , Kokoczka Lynne , Mireles-Cabodevila Eduardo , Mucha Simon , Duggal Abhijit
Published: March 2023

Prone position ventilation (PPV) is one of the few interventions with a proven mortality benefit in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), yet it is underutilized as demonstrated by multiple large observational studies. Significant barriers to its consistent application have been identified and studied. But the complex interplay of a multidisciplinary team makes its consistent application challenging. We present a framework of multidisciplinary collaboration that identifies the appropriate patients for this intervention and discuss our institutional experience applying a multidisciplinary team to implement prone position (PP) leading up to and through the current COVID-19 pandemic. We also highlight the role of such multidisciplinary teams in the effective implementation of prone positioning in ARDS throughout a large health care system. We emphasize the importance of proper selection of patients and provide guidance on how a protocolized approach can be utilized for proper patient selection.
Meshing evaluation method for rocker-pin jointed silent chain transmission system based on the multi-factor coupling characteristic
Authors: An Lichi , Cheng Yabing , Li Jiabao , Xu Weilong
Published: March 2023

Due to the multi-factor coupling characteristic, the meshing performance of rocker-pin jointed silent chain transmission system cannot be evaluated by conventional design method, and the design effectiveness and feasibility cannot be assured. In this study, the influence of the relations between the contact point and the involute meshing limitation on the system meshing is analyzed. Through building the polygonal action model for the transitional meshing state, the algorithms to calculate the fluctuation value of chain in different directions are obtained. Based on the classical testing system, the methods to analyze the fluctuations in the system tension side and loose side are proposed. Combined with a set of specific examples, the system meshing performances are evaluated by coupling method. Dynamics experiment results show that the real meshing performances of rocker-pin jointed silent chain transmission system are matched with the evaluation results. This study not only improves the effectiveness and feasibility of rocker-pin jointed silent chain design, but also provides a direction to optimize the system parameters.
Effect of tool pin geometry and multi-pass intermittent friction stir processing on the surface properties of aerospace grade aluminium 7075 alloy
Authors: Girish G.
Published: March 2023

Multiple pass intermittent friction stir processing was conducted on the surface of an aerospace grade AA7075 alloy using pentagonal and hexagonal profiled pins and its microstructural evolution and mechanical properties were investigated. Results showed a defect-free cross-section with better material mixing for the specimens processed using pentagonal pin. Application of 6 intermittent friction stir processing passes reduced average grain size to 2.32 μm as a result of dynamic recrystallization. Texture index improved after 6 intermittent friction stir processing passes with a higher volume of deformation textures. Microhardness and tensile strength of the alloy increased to 125.5 HV, and 476 ± 10 MPa after 6 intermittent friction stir processing passes due to precipitation strengthening, grain refinement, and dislocation density. Fracture surface investigation revealed an intergranular mode of failure.
Time-varying modeling and intelligent compensation control of singletendon-sheath structure of surgical robot
Authors: Liang Ke , Tang Yu , Jiang Xianbao , Wang Shuo , Li Jing , Wang Yupeng , Pan Mingzhang
Published: March 2023

The inaccurate force and position control of tendon sheath system (TSS) due to nonlinear friction during surgery seriously hinders its development in the field of precision surgical robots. To this end, this paper proposes a time-varying bending angle estimation method under the state of sensorless offline identification combined with robot kinematics by analyzing the friction of the TSS and the deformation of the robot during the movement, and establishes a force and position transfer model with time-varying path trajectory (SJM model). The model uses B-spline curve to fit tendon-sheath trajectory. In order to further improve the control accuracy of force and position, a new intelligent feedforward control strategy that integrates the SJM model and a neural network algorithm is proposed. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of the transmission process of force and position and to demonstrate the validity of the SJM model, an experimental platform for the TSS was built. A feedforward control system under the MATLAB environment was built with the aim of verifying the accuracy of the intelligent feedforward control strategy. The system innovatively combines the SJM model with BP and RBF neural networks, respectively. The experimental results showed that the correlation coefficients (R2) of force and position transfer are above 99.10% and 99.48%, respectively. Ultimately, we compared the intelligent feedforward and intelligent control strategy under a single neural network, and observed that the intelligent feedforward control strategy has a better effect.
Robust control and recursive modelling approach for hexarotor manipulator
Authors: Zamoum Housseyn , Bouzid Yasser , Guiatni Mohamed
Published: March 2023

This article presents the design, realization, modelling, and control of an aerial manipulator robot capable of performing tasks considered difficult and dangerous for humans. We propose a manipulation system that consists of two subsystems: an aerial platform represented by a hexacopter and a 3 degree-of-freedom manipulator arm that is light and easy to integrate into our hexacopter. The modelling approach of our aerial manipulation system is inspired by the dynamics of floating base systems with tree structures. This type of system presents many control challenges due to system asymmetry, continuous change of inertia, the centre of gravity, manipulator arm effects, and so on. For these reasons, a robust control technique based on a sliding mode controller is proposed to achieve a three-dimensional trajectory-tracking objective. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, numerical simulations have been performed in many scenarios.
Engaging Business Customers Through Online Experiences in Different Cultures
Authors: Weiger Welf H.
Published: March 2023

Engaging customers online through effective customer experience design is critical, as practitioners and researchers agree that engaged customers contribute value to firms. However, in the multinational business-to-business context—due to its complex decision-making processes, which involve various stakeholders—global marketers face challenges in their attempts to localize (vs. standardize) the online experience across their regional websites to meet customer needs, which vary across cultures. Although standardization entails cost benefits, localization provides more culturally relevant customer experiences. Accordingly, to help global marketers solve this dilemma, this study examines how culture shapes the effectiveness of online customer experiences with regard to driving psychological and behavioral customer engagement in a business-to-business context. The study draws on survey and observed data collected from the business customers of a multinational firm who were located in 79 countries to demonstrate when global marketers should fine-tune such experiences in accordance with between-country cultural differences. The results show that different cultural factors can enhance or hamper engagement responses to cognitive and social online customer experiences and thus have actionable practical implications for prioritizing distinct localization strategies.
Political Solutions or user Responsibilization? How Politicians understand Problems Connected to Digital Overload
Authors: Enli Gunn , Fast Karin
Published: March 2023

Politicians are decision-makers responsible for policy and opinion leaders with unique powers to construct challenges and problems as political. An emerging problematic issue pertains to users’ experiences of digital overload and invasive media (Syvertsen 2020; Lomborg and Ytre-Arne, 2021). Existing studies report that users struggle to self-regulate their digital media use – or ‘disconnect’. This relates to how connectivity platforms develop increasingly advanced techniques to keep them from logging off (Karppi 2018; Zuboff, 2019; Ytre-Arne et al., 2020).

This article aims to unpack how politicians understand problems about digital overload and invasive media and to what degree they regard digital disconnection as a potential political issue. We have selected Norway as our case country because of the population’s level of digital connectivity and the tradition of media regulation in the Nordic region (Syvertsen et al., 2014). Based on 16 research interviews with politicians and think-thank experts and a document analysis of official party-political platforms, we ask to what degree the politicians experience digital overload and invasive media as problematic, and if so, whom they believe is responsible for causing and solving the problems, and what specific solutions they suggest to the issues. In addition to digital disconnection literature, we draw on theoretical perspectives from media policy, political theory, and responsibilization.

Key findings indicate that politicians regard digital overload and invasive media as highly problematic. However, they are reluctant to suggest political interventions as solutions to these problems but rather place responsibility on the users and the platform industries. The politicians struggle to imagine political interventions that could help users disconnect while respecting personal authority and are doubtful about their power vis-à-vis the global tech companies. The article concludes with a critical discussion about the politicians’ acceptance of the neoliberal idea of responsibilization. This ultimately produces a reluctance to discuss disconnection as a political issue, not just an individual challenge.
Post-fire nonlinear vehicle–bridge interaction analysis considering hysteretic material behavior
Authors: Piao Xingyue , Kim Robin Eunju
Published: March 2023

Deteriorating bridges and potential vulnerabilities are crucial in the structural assessment of railroad bridges. Among various hazards that a bridge may encounter, evaluating the bridge after a fire is important because it may change the behavior of the bridge. More specifically, the post-fire bridge exhibits structural stiffness degradation, residual stress accumulation, and residual deflection. Due to those residual responses further affecting the dynamics of the bridge, analyzing the post-fire behavior of a bridge subject to normal traffic usage becomes important. Thus, this paper proposes a framework that assesses the dynamic behavior of a post-fire bridge considering the material hysteresis due to thermal loads and vehicle-bridge interaction (VBI). The proposed model is different from previous approaches in that the nonlinear VBI analysis is analyzed in an integrated system equation. So far, most related works exchange the data between separate finite element analysis software and in-house codes, intrinsically facing convergence problems. Instead, by adopting the augmented representation approach, the proposed framework becomes computationally efficient. Herein, nonlinear structural fire analysis is performed to obtain post-fire responses of the bridge. Then, the dynamic analysis is realized by incorporating material hysteretic behavior and VBI systems. The proposed framework is validated against the linear VBI model under gravity load. Subsequently, parametric studies are presented to represent various fire scenarios and long-term serviceability. The results demonstrate that the proposed model provides an effective tool for evaluating post-fire bridge dynamics by including material hysteresis under cyclic traffic loads. Moreover, the proposed framework can easily accommodate various types of hazards as well that cause the nonlinear behavior of the system.
Where does the true value of a frame analysis approach lie? A Reply to van Dijk
Authors: Skillington Tracey
Published: March 2023

This paper addresses arguments raised by van Dijk in his critical appraisal of framing approaches to social movement research. In particular, the claim that frame analysis does not give sufficient attention to the intricate details of the interpretive process. In making this argument, van Dijk leans heavily on Goffman’s first category of frames (as individual acts of interpretation) at the expense of his second (relating more to inter-subjectively shared classes of schemata) used reflexively, for instance, by movements to embed a message of protest in wider value systems in the hope that it resonates sufficiently with the grounded experiences, grievances, beliefs, and cultural orientations of publics. This paper highlights how social movement frame research accounts for both categories of frames to illustrate how movements communicate across multiple levels of social interaction to maximize the societal impact of their message. When interpreted in these broader terms, the ‘how’ of interpretation, it will argue, is explained effectively by this research, contrary to van Dijk’s claim.
Small encounters, big experiences – on the significance of tourists’ passing encounters with residents
Authors: Jørgensen Matias Thuen , Larsen Jonas
Published: March 2023

This research note introduces the concept of ‘small encounters’ and highlights its importance for the tourist experience. Defined as situations where tourists briefly encounter residents, small encounters are temporally brief, physically distanced, cursory in terms of involvement and often revolve around everyday situations. The concept is developed and elaborated in a dialogue between our own empirical findings from a larger study of Chinese tourists visiting Copenhagen, Denmark, and the literature on social contact, gazing, and mundane tourism experiences.
Are women of all age groups equally affected by the shadow of sexual assault? Evidence from Germany
Authors: Hirtenlehner Helmut , Farrall Stephen , Groß Eva
Published: March 2023

Ample evidence suggests that women are more fearful of crime than men. The ‘shadow of sexual assault hypothesis’ offers a possible explanation for this gender gap: in patriarchal societies females are more afraid of sexual violence, which, in turn, drives their fear of other types of criminal victimization. Although the shadow hypothesis has received some empirical support, knowledge on the role of age in this context has remained scant. Therefore, the present study examines whether fear of sexual assault translates into fear of other offenses in all age segments of the female population, and whether the magnitude of this shadow effect varies with age. Statistical analyses are based on a large-scale random sample of women living in Germany. The findings suggest that although the proportion of women who are fearful of sexual assault declines with age, a shadow effect of this fear can be observed in all age groups. The ‘radiation effect’ of fear of sexual violence on fear of other crimes increases slightly with age. We interpret this interaction as result of older women's heightened vulnerability to many sorts of harm.
The ‘officer effect’ in risk assessment for domestic abuse: Findings from a mixed methods study in England and Wales
Authors: Myhill Andy , Hohl Katrin , Johnson Kelly
Published: March 2023

Research on risk assessment for domestic abuse has focused primarily on the predictive validity of specific tools; less attention has been paid to implementation of risk tools by practitioners. This paper presents findings from a mixed methods study in England and Wales. Multi-level modelling reveals an ‘officer effect’ whereby victims’ responses to the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour-Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment are influenced by the specific officer that completes the assessment. Specifically, this officer effect is strongest in relation to questions intended to capture elements of controlling and coercive behaviour, and least apparent in relation to identifying physical injuries. We further present findings from field observations and interviews with first response officers that corroborate and help explain the officer effect. We discuss implications for the design of primary risk assessments, victim safeguarding, and the use of police data for predictive modelling.
More house on an ever-shakier foundation: An administrator’s perspective on institutional reforms in the context of Christopher Martin’s ideal Right to Higher Education
Authors: Pulvermacher Andrew
Published: March 2023

In this paper version of the response I offered to Christopher Marin as part of the symposium on The Right to Higher Education at the 2022 North American Association for Philosophy & Education Conference, I present some practical challenges of post-secondary reforms in the context of Martin’s theory of the right to higher education. Specifically, I address Martin’s three jointly necessary distributive conditions – non-exclusion, adequate options and full public funding – as necessary conditions and significant constraints on meaningful reform toward his ideal of higher education within individual institutions in light of resource constraints in the nonideal, real world. I argue that we ought to aim toward fully realizing adults’ right to higher education yet to do so requires restructuring and reprioritizing post-secondary education on systemic scale.
Replaying Wartime Résistance? Studying Ludic Memory-Making in the Open World Game The Saboteur
Authors: Van den Heede Pieter J.B.J.
Published: March 2023

Ever since the emergence of digital gaming as a popular pastime, the Second World War has been one of its major sources of inspiration. This article contributes to the study of the memory-making potential of historical digital entertainment games, by offering an analysis of The Saboteur, an American game that is set in France during the Second World War and that offers a depiction of an explorable open game world occupied by the Nazi regime. Through an analysis of a game's paratextual positioning, its ludic social discourse, and instances of perceived ludonarrative dissonance from a historical and cultural memory perspective, the article concludes that the game offers a romanticized representation of male violent resistance against the Nazi occupier who is depicted as Manichaeistically evil and a-historically violent. This representation equally reconfirms the dominant cultural memory narratives formulated in France and the United States during and immediately after the war.
Interpreting Dwarf Fortress: Finitude, Absurdity, and Narrative
Authors: Cartlidge James
Published: March 2023

This article interprets the influential colony management simulator “Dwarf Fortress” existentially, in terms of finitude, absurdity, and narrative. It applies Aarseth/Möring's proposed method of game interpretation, adopting their definition of “cybermedia” as a generalized game ontology, then providing a specialized ontology of “Dwarf Fortress” which describes its genre and salient gameplay features, incorporating Ian Bogost's concept of “procedural rhetoric.” It then gives an existentialist interpretation of “Dwarf Fortress” which centers on “finitude,” “absurdity,” and “narrative,” showing that “Dwarf Fortress” is a game about the existential tensions involved in being human. We live knowing our lives and civilizations are finite, that there are radical limits on what we can know and do. There is no meaning inherent in the world, or in history, so it is up to us to create our own, and one of our most powerful ways of doing this is narrative.
Developing Shared Ways of Seeing Data: The Perils and Possibilities of Achieving Intercoder Agreement
Authors: Clarke Sherice N. , Sushil S , Dennis Katherine , Lee Ung-Sang , Gomoll Andrea , Gates Zaynab
Published: March 2023

All research, e.g., qualitative or quantitative, is concerned with the extent to which analyses can adequately describe the phenomena it seeks to describe. In qualitative research, we use internal validity checks like intercoder agreement to measure the extent to which independent researchers observe the same phenomena in data. Researchers report indices of agreement to serve as evidence of consistency and dependability of interpretations, and we do so to make claims about the trustworthiness of our research accounts. However, few studies report the methods of how multiple analysts developed alignment in their interpretation of data, a process that undergirds accounts of consistency, dependability, and trustworthiness. In this article, we review the issues and options around achieving intercoder agreement. Drawing on our experience from a longitudinal, team-based research project that required rapid cycles of qualitative data analysis, we reflect on the challenges we had achieving high intercoder agreement (which refer to as the perils). It was through these challenges that we developed a method that helps to foster shared ways of seeing data, and thus alignment in our interpretations of phenomena in data. In this article, we present this method as a tool for dyadic and team-based qualitative data analysis to facilitate reliable and consistent high-inference interpretations of data with multiple analysts.
Uncovering the Voices of Marginalized Minorities in Public Policy Research - A Critical Review of the Image and Text-Based Vignette Method
Authors: Cheah Chee Wei , Koay Kian Yeik , Xiang KeHeng
Published: March 2023

The voices of the marginalized and vulnerable groups, i.e., the sexual minorities, the underprivileged, and the victims of abusive/unfair treatment, are often neglected and understudied in policy research due to their social sensitiveness. Researchers may face difficulties accessing the data. Thus, they are unable to uncover the hidden truth. This qualitative study protocol suggests using images or text-based vignettes in social science research, which enable researchers to collect participants’ confidential thoughts and help participants feel safe enough to share their untold stories. We showcase how to effectively design a real-life vignette, recruit potential participants, and gather and report diverse respondents’ views by protecting their identity, in essence, internal and external confidentiality. The vignette method contributes to public policy study by addressing the common issues of marginalized and vulnerable groups, such as insufficient data for further analysis.
A study of the impact damages detection and dynamic responses of RC bridge piers based on a frequency domain correlation method
Authors: Zhou Xiwu , Liu Jingdong , Deng Xiaolu , Wang Bo , Zhou Ming , Wu Benying
Published: March 2023

The applicability potential of correlation methods (damage correlation indexes) based on frequency domains in the impact damage detection fields of reinforced concrete columns were examined in the present study. In the current study’s experiments, four reinforced concrete bridge pier members of reduced scale were impacted by a new type of ultra-high drop hammer experiment system in order to simulate the processes of medium-sized trucks impacting bridge piers. The frequency response functions of the members before and after damages occurred were measured using an acceleration acquisition system. The experimental results revealed that the damage correlation indexes (DCI) taken into account the multi-order modal frequencies could be used to accurately identify the degrees of damage to the piers. In addition, an impact finite element model and a modal analysis method were matched with the experiments and were established using the commercial program LS-DYNA. Finally, the setting of the finite element parameters matching the experimental results was applied for the purpose of simulating the impact processes between the medium-sized trucks and the reinforced concrete piers. In order to meet the structural design requirements, a peak impact force (PIF) formula under vehicle impact conditions was proposed based on the damage indexes.
Echoes of famine: Effects of the embodied memories of the Spanish Hunger Years (1939–1952) on survivors’ subsequent food practices and attitudes
Authors: Román Ruiz Gloria
Published: March 2023

This article explores the echoes that resonate in the present of the embodied memories of the Spanish Hunger Years (1939–1952) during the post-war period of Franco’s dictatorship. More specifically, it analyses both the bodily and mental effects of those traumatic memories on the survivors’ subsequent dietary practices and their perceptions of the socio-political reality. For this purpose, the study relies on the first-hand personal memories of those who were children during the 1940s. It is argued that there are continuities between these embodied memories and the eating habits of the survivors and their attitudes towards subsequent periods of prosperity and crisis.
The state of play-based learning in Queensland schools
Authors: Whitlock Belinda , Eivers Areana , Walker Susan
Published: March 2023

The literature on play and learning attests many developmental benefits for children. The Australian curriculum endorses play-based learning (PBL) as an age-appropriate teaching pedagogy. However, what enables or prevents PBL in the classroom is not well documented. The present study examined the responses of 334 teachers currently employed in Queensland Primary schools (Prep-6) in order to investigate knowledge, practices, beliefs, confidence and perspectives on matters pertaining to PBL. Findings highlighted organisational issues (space, time, resources), lack of support from leadership and curriculum issues such as assessment and reporting as barriers to PBL. Qualifications and/or experience in Early Childhood Education (ECE) resulted in greater confidence in PBL and therefore enabled PBL. Overall teachers recognised the importance of PBL, that it benefited children right across the primary school grades (Prep-6) and that there should be more PBL than what there is currently. Recommendations based on these findings have been suggested.
Berberine Inhibits Endothelial Cell Proliferation via Repressing ERK1/2 Pathway
Authors: Wen Xiaoqing , Zhou Xia , Guo Ling
Published: March 2023

Abnormal angiogenesis plays a key role in cancer progression. In recent years, anti-angiogenic therapy has attracted increasing attention. Berberine (BBR), the main component extracted from Coptis (Ranunculaceae) rhizome, has an anti-angiogenic effect. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Endothelial cell proliferation is a pivotal process in angiogenesis. In our research, we observed that BBR specifically downregulated the expression of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) protein in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The role of BBR in HUVEC proliferation was then assessed using methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide and cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. The effect of BBR on the ERK1/2 signaling pathway was evaluated using Western blotting. BBR decreased HUVEC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited the expression of phospho-ERK1/2 in HUVECs. PD98059, a specific inhibitor of ERK1/2 signaling, attenuated the BBR-induced decrease in the proliferation of HUVECs. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a natural activator of ERK1/2 signaling, did not alter BBR-induced proliferation. In conclusion, BBR inhibited endothelial cell proliferation by suppressing ERK1/2 signaling. These findings may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for suppressing tumor growth.
Antioxidant Effect of Jatropha dioica Extract on Immunoreactivity of Claudin 2 in the Kidney of Rats with Induced Diabetes
Authors: Ramírez-Moreno Agustina , García Garza Rubén , Pedroza Escobar David , Soto Dominguez Adolfo , Flores-Loyola Erika , Castillo Maldonado Irais , Keita Hady , Núñez Ibrahim Sharara , Delgadillo Guzmán Dealmy
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Diabetes is related to different complications, such as nephropathy. In kidneys, the tight junctions (TJ) regulate the paracellular transport of solutes and water. The claudins are the most significant component in the TJ and are expressed throughout the epithelium and modulated permeability.

Objective

To evaluate the antioxidant effect of Jatropha dioica (JD) extract and claudin 2 (CLDN 2) in the kidney of rats with induced diabetes.

Methods

It is an experimental, explanatory, prospective, longitudinal, and analytical study. The effect of hydro-alcoholic extract from JD root on the presence of CLDN 2 in rats with induced diabetes was evaluated. The experiment lasting 21 days, treated 40 rats with and without induced diabetes by an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of alloxan. The study groups were exposed to JD extract at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg. There was no significant morphological difference in the renal tissue morphology of the treated and control groups.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that JD extract at 50 mg/kg ameliorated the tubular damage induced by diabetes, and the mechanism might be related to the CLDN2 expression. Finally, JD could also increase total antioxidant capacity to protect the kidney from oxidative stress.
Co-treatment with Fexofenadine and Budesonide Increases FoxP3 Gene Expression in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Bagherinia Elham , Falahi Sara , Mortazavi Seyed Hamidreza , Salari Farhad , Rezaiemanesh Alireza , Karaji Ali Gorgin
Published: March 2023

Background

T helper type 2 (Th2), Th17, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) play essential roles in the pathogenesis and control of allergic rhinitis (AR). Fexofenadine and budesonide are first-line treatments for AR. This study aimed to investigate the effect of co-treatment with fexofenadine and budesonide on the expression of Th2, Th17, and Treg-specific transcription factors (GATA-binding protein 3 [GATA-3], RAR-related orphan receptor gamma [RORγt], and forkhead box P3 [FoxP3], respectively) in AR patients.

Methods

In this study, 29 AR patients were co-treated with fexofenadine and budesonide for 1 month. Blood was collected from AR patients before and after 1 month of treatment. The gene expression levels of GATA-3, RORγt, and FoxP3 transcription factors in blood samples were measured. In addition, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and eosinophil percentages in blood samples were determined.

Findings

The expression level of FoxP3 increased significantly after treatment compared with that before treatment ( P < .001). In contrast, GATA-3 and RORγt expression levels did not show any noticeable changes. In addition, the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils significantly decreased ( P < .01). Serum IgE levels decreased compared with those before treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, the clinical symptoms of the patients improved compared with those before treatment.

Conclusion

Our results showed that combined treatment with fexofenadine and budesonide increased the expression level of the FoxP3 gene, decreased the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils, and improved the clinical symptoms of AR patients. This regimen appears to improve disease symptoms, at least in part by increasing the Treg population and decreasing the eosinophil population.
Study on the Mechanism of Allergic Rhinitis Based on the Expression of FIB, PCT, hs-CRP, and Th17/Treg-IL10/IL-17 Axis Balance
Authors: Yu, MM Yafang , Yan, MM Jianwen
Published: March 2023

Background

The pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) is ambiguous, while it is clear that various immune cells and cytokines play crucial roles in its occurrence and development.

Aim

To investigate the effect of exogenous interleukin-10 (IL-10) on the expression of fibrinogen (FIB), procalcitonin (PCT), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and Th17/Treg-IL10/IL-17 axis balance in the nasal mucosa of rats with AR.

Method

In this study, 48 female-specific pathogen-free Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: blank control group, AR group, and IL-10 intervention group. The AR model was established in the AR group and IL-10 group. The rats in the control group were treated with normal saline; the rats in the AR group were given 20 μL of saline containing 50 μg of ovalbumin (OVA) every day. The rats in the IL-10 intervention group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of 40 pg/kg IL-10 and provided with OVA. The IL-10 intervention group was composed of mice with AR that received IL-10. The behavior of nasal allergic symptoms (such as nasal itching, sneezing, and runny nose) and the hematoxylin and eosin staining of nasal mucosa were observed. The levels of FIB, PCT, hs-CRP, IgE, and OVA sIgE in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of Treg and Th17 cells in serum were detected by flow cytometry. The protein levels of TGF-β, IL-10, and IL-17 in nasal mucosa were detected by the Western-blot method.

Results

The scores of snots, nasal itching, and sneezing in the AR group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the scores of the above symptoms in the IL-10 intervention group were lower than those in the AR group. The levels of FIB, PCT, hs-CRP, IgE, and OVA sIgE in serum and the protein levels of IL-10 and IL-17 in the nasal mucosa in the AR group were higher than those in the blank control group. Meanwhile, the levels of FIB, PCT, hs-CRP, IgE, and OVA sIgE in serum and IL-10 and IL-17 protein in the nasal mucosa in the IL-10 group were lower than those in the AR group.

Conclusion

IL-10 can relieve the allergy of AR rats by affecting the expression of FIB, PCT, and hs-CRP, as well as the balance of the Th17/Treg-IL10/IL-17 axis in the nasal mucosa of AR rats.
Hepatic Fibrosis Risk Factors in Extracardiac-Fontan Patients: Observations From a Single Center
Authors: Evans William N , Acherman Ruben J , Galindo Alvaro , Rothman Abraham , Ciccolo Michael L , Lehoux Juan , Restrepo Humberto
Published: March 2023

Objective: We reviewed our experience with transvenous liver biopsy-derived hepatic fibrosis scores and possible associated risk factors in those postextracardiac Fontan patients. Methods: We identified extracardiac-Fontan patients with postoperative durations <20 years who underwent cardiac catheterizations with transvenous hepatic biopsies between April 2012 and July 2022. If a patient underwent two liver biopsies, we averaged the two total fibrosis scores and concurrent time, pressure, and oxygen saturation data. We grouped patients by the following factors: (1) sex, (2) venovenous collaterals, and (3) type of functionally univentricular heart. We identified potential hepatic fibrosis risk factors as the following: female, presence of venovenous collaterals, and a functional univentricle of right-ventricular type. For statistical analysis, we used Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric testing. Results: We identified 127 patients who underwent 165 transvenous biopsies, with 38 patients undergoing 2 biopsies. We found that females with two additional risk factors had the highest median total fibrosis scores, 4 (1-8); males with <2 risk factors had the lowest median total fibrosis scores, 2 (0-5); and females with <2 additional risk factors and males with two risk factors were in the middle, median total fibrosis score 3 (0-6), P =.002; and there were no statistical differences for the other demographic or hemodynamic variables. Conclusions: For extracardiac-Fontan patients with similar demographic and hemodynamic variables, identifiable risk factors are associated with the degree of hepatic fibrosis.
Near-Peer Teaching in Radiology Symposia: A Success Story in Residents as Teachers
Authors: Oldan Jorge D , Jordan Sheryl G , Wallace Joshua , Campbell John , Fordham Lynn A , Beck Dallaghan Gary L
Published: March 2023

INTRODUCTION

Peer learning and near-peer teaching have been described in many specialties, less so in Radiology. We present near-peer teaching whereby residents present a series of didactic sessions at the course outset in the form of “symposia” and perform a scholarly activity in the form of teaching. We aim to demonstrate how near-peer teaching in symposia front-loaded within an introductory radiology course can improve medical student satisfaction.

METHOD

A total of 169 students were enrolled over a period of 3 years, 55 before (2017-2018) and 114 (2018-2020) after the introduction of the symposium. Anonymous course evaluations were collected from all students. In addition, 240 fourth-year medical students who also attended symposium lectures received satisfaction surveys in 2019 and 2020.

RESULTS

All (169/169, 100%) students taking the course evaluated it. Overall evaluation scores rose from 8.3/10 to 9.0/10 post-symposia. Among student satisfaction surveys, 89/240 (37%) specifically commented on symposia; 91% (80/89) of those found symposia very or extremely informative. 29/71 (41%) of all residents were able to participate in the symposia, 20/29 in multiple years throughout residency, allowing them to fulfill the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education interpersonal and communication skills core competencies and meet scholarly activity requirements.

CONCLUSION

Near-peer teaching in the form of resident-taught interactive didactics grouped in symposia can have a positive outcome on medical student satisfaction.
Unruly spaces, unsettling transformations: Nature connection, neoforaging, and unmediated encounters with others in Israel/Palestine
Authors: Appel Ariel
Published: March 2023

This article explores the potential of unruly wild spaces and foraging practices to enable unmediated encounters and unsettling transformations, through the ethnography of neoforaging praxis and its emphasis on seeking direct “connection.” In pursuit of connection with nature through foraging practices, neoforagers regularly encounter both non-human and human others at the unruly edges and seams of cultivated space. Neoforagers associate the unruliness and immediacy of such encounters with “true connection” and pursue practices that are considered both “connective” and “transformative,” capable of subverting hegemonic narratives and consumerist dependencies. Through the case of Israeli neoforagers in the troubled context of Israel/Palestine, I revisit power and categorical relations in the nation-state from neoforagers’ connection-oriented perspective, making salient ongoing processes in which micro-scale encounters are continuously disrupted by the mediating affects of macro-politics, social categories, cultural schemes and such, making salient that in the nation-state unruly situations and unmediated encounters are all too scarce.
A pilot, randomized, feasibility study to improve health self-management behaviors in older adults with multiple chronic conditions and functional limitations: Protocol for the Behavioral Activation and Occupational Therapy Trial (BA+OT)
Authors: Klinedinst Tara C , Ciro Carrie A , Kendzor Darla E
Published: March 2023

Background

Approximately 45% of older adults in the U.S. have 2 or more chronic health conditions (e.g., arthritis, hypertension, diabetes) in addition to functional limitations that prevent performance of health self-management activities. Self-management continues to be the gold standard for managing MCC, but functional limitations create difficulty with these activities (e.g., physical activity, symptom monitoring). Restricted self-management accelerates the downward spiral of disability and accumulating chronic conditions which, in turn, increases rates of institutionalization and death by 5-fold. Currently, there are no tested interventions designed to improve independence in health self-management activities in older adults with MCC and functional limitations. Research suggests that older adults are more likely to change behavior with interventions that assist with planning health-promoting daily activities, especially when contending with complex medical regimens and functional limitations. Our team asserts that combining occupational therapy (OT) and behavioral activation (BA) shows promise to improve health self-management in populations with chronic conditions and/or functional limitations. This innovative combination uses the goal setting, scheduling/monitoring activities, and problem-solving components of the BA approach as well as the environmental modification, activity adaptation, and focus on daily routines from OT practice.

Objectives

We will test the effect of this combined approach in a Stage I, randomized controlled pilot feasibility study compared to enhanced usual care. We will recruit 40 older adults with MCC and functional limitation and randomize 20 to the PI- delivered BA-OT protocol. This research will inform modification and larger-scale testing of this novel intervention.