bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical pathology and sustainable development: international landscape and prospects
Authors: Vergara Rémi , Théate Ivan , Boor Peter , Gordon Ilyssa O , West Jonathan , Abdelmoula Selma , Tilmant Cyprien , Wiseman Pinto Roque Gabriel , Gaillot-Durand Lucie , Scott Sheri , Trecourt Alexis , Rullier Anne
Published: December 2024

The healthcare sector significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, with surgical pathology (SP) playing a notable role. This review explores the ecological transformation of SP, offering a global overview of existing challenges and sustainable initiatives worldwide.

While some countries, such as the UK and France, have developed national strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare, including SP, many regions remain at an early stage of implementing green practices. Several studies have assessed the carbon footprint of SP, focusing on key aspects such as laboratory operations, pathology procedures and functional units, highlighting materials and transportation as major contributors to emissions. The integration of digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI) presents opportunities to enhance efficiency and address medical deserts but also poses challenges due to the associated energy consumption.

Local initiatives such as the ‘Transformation Ecologique en Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques’ (Ecological transformation in SP) or TEAP collective in France, Belgium’s ‘Green Team’ and sustainable practices in Tunisia and New Zealand demonstrate the global effort to reduce the environmental impact of SP. Key strategies discussed include ecodesign of care, circular economy practices, green AI and partnerships with industry. However, achieving meaningful reductions in SP’s environmental impact requires international cooperation and support from national health policies. This review emphasises the importance of collaborative efforts to implement sustainable solutions without compromising the quality and safety of healthcare services.
Ecological preferences and patient autonomy
Authors: Salloch Sabine
Published: December 2024

Healthcare systems contribute considerably to worldwide carbon emissions and therefore reinforce the negative health impacts of climate change. Significant attempts to reduce emissions have been made on the macro level of politics and on the institutional level. Less attention has been paid so far to decisions that take place at the micro level of immediate doctor–patient contact. Current bioethical debates discuss potential tensions between ‘Green Healthcare’ and an orientation towards ethical principles such as promoting patient welfare or respect for patient autonomy. The article addresses this debate from a different angle starting from the premise that at least some patients might have a preference to reduce carbon outputs that are often deeply rooted in their personal value system. Taking different accounts of patient autonomy as a starting point, the article analyses whether such preferences must be respected as being part of patient autonomy. The analysis comes to a positive conclusion but highlights that certain factors such as misinterpretation, lack of understanding or pressure must be carefully considered. In addition, a patient’s climate-related preference does not per se justify the choice of treatment but must be integrated into shared decision-making and reconciled with the healthcare professional’s expert judgement on the intervention being a legitimate and promising way for reaching certain treatment goals. As a recommendation, empirical research on stakeholders’ attitudes, knowledge and practice regarding ecological sustainability in clinical decision-making is needed together with further ethical analyses.
Association between automatic AI-based quantification of airway-occlusive mucus plugs and all-cause mortality in patients with COPD
Authors: van der Veer Tjeerd , Andrinopoulou Eleni-Rosalina , Braunstahl Gert-Jan , Charbonnier Jean Paul , Kim Victor , Latisenko Rudolfs , Lynch David A , Tiddens Harm
Published: December 2024

In this cohort study involving 9399 current and former smokers from the Genetic Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease study, we assessed the relationship between artificial intelligence-quantified mucus plugs on chest CTs and all-cause mortality. Our results revealed a significant positive association, particularly for those with COPD GOLD stages 1–4, with HRs of 1.18 for 1–2 mucus-obstructed bronchial segments and 1.27 for ≥3 obstructed segments. This corroborates previous visual mucus plug counting research and demonstrates the relevance of mucus plugs in COPD pathology and as a marker for risk assessment. Automated mucus plug quantification methods may provide an efficient tool for both clinical evaluations and research.
$$\gamma $$-Ray spectroscopy above the 9$$^+$$ isomeric state in the N = Z nucleus $$^{66}$$As
Authors: Joukainen Henna , Ruotsalainen Panu , Sarén Jan , Srivastava Praveen C. , Patel Deepak , Julin Rauno , Auranen Kalle , Ge Zhuang , Grahn Tuomas , Greenlees Paul , Illana Andres , Jutila Henri , Leino Matti , Louko Jussi , Luoma Minna , Ojala Joonas , Pakarinen Janne , Rahkila Panu , Sandzelius Mikael , Tann Holly , Uusitalo Juha , Zimba George L.
Published: December 2024

Excited states above the

$$9^+$$

9
+

isomer in the odd-odd N = Z nucleus

$$^{66}$$

66

As were studied by employing the

$$^{40}$$

40

Ca(

$$^{28}$$

28

Si, pn) fusion-evaporation reaction at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. A key method in this study was the use of conversion electrons emitted in the de-excitation of the isomeric state in

$$^{66}$$

66

As as a tag for prompt

$$\gamma $$

γ

rays. Several new states have been added to the

$$^{66}$$

66

As level scheme, which was extended up to a tentative spin of 23

$$\hbar $$

ħ

. The previously reported even-spin yrast band has been reassigned to have odd spin values. The odd-spin states above the

$$9^+$$

9
+

isomer are compared with shell-model calculations using the jj44b and JUN45 interactions. Additionally, the recoil-

$$\beta $$

β

tagging efficiency of the recently developed scintillator detector named Tuike has been determined experimentally for the first time.
Exploring thermal characteristics of Carreau-hybrid nanofluid (Ag–CuO/EG) in curved channels with convective boundaries
Authors: Iqbal Zafar , Ahmad Imtiaz , Khan Sami Ullah
Published: December 2024

The transport phenomenon in the presence of magnetic field has diverse application in living structures, biotechnology and chemical and environmental engineering. Biomedical applications include the examples of computational biology, replacement of tissue, drug delivery, advance medical imaging, repairing of bones, complex liver and heart surgeries and kidney transplant. Motivated by the applications of magnetic in human physiology, peristaltic transport of Carreau-hybrid nanomaterial through a curved channel is studied. The hybrid nanofluid is supported with silver [Formula: see text] and copper oxide [Formula: see text] nanoparticles subject to ethylene glycol [Formula: see text]-based liquid. The complex wavy nature of physiological duct inspired to model the problem in complex wavy channel. The basic governing laws are utilized for mathematical modeling and dimensionless variables are used for the dimensionless formulation. The simplified pattern of governing problem has been revealed to the assumptions of long wavelength as well as creeping flow constricts. The computations are obtained by implanting the Newton–Dirichlet Solve (ND) algorithm. Comparative thermal observations are predicted for nanofluid [Formula: see text] and hybrid nanofluid (Ag–CuO/EG). The different flow and heat transfer features are plotted against the several involved parameters are presented graphically.
ISOAcc: In-situ Shift Operation-based Accelerator For Efficient in-SRAM Multiplication
Authors: Zhao Gaoyang , Shen Junzhong , Lin Rongzhen , Li Hua , Wang Yaohua
Published: December 2024

Digital SRAM-based CIM architectures must balance three critical factors: quantized neural network bitwidth, accuracy loss, and computational efficiency, each crucial to optimizing performance and efficiency. In Domain Specific Accelerators (DSAs), flexible and specific hardware design, when incorporated with tailored Power-of-2 (P-2) quantization schemes, addresses this issue. However, in CIMs, the absence of flexible and specific hardware to support dynamic switching between general and tailored quantization schemes hinders the adoption of efficient quantization methods. In this article, we propose the
I
n-situ
S
hift
O
peration based
Acc
elerator (
ISOAcc
) for efficient SRAM-based multiplication. The key idea is to introduce transmission gates near the SRAM array to enable the selection of bits from either the same or the neighbor line when data flows from one row to another. This functionally equals a shift operation. By configuring the transmission gates array in a cascade manner, ISOAcc can support 0 to 15-bit shift with a negligible overhead. The ISOAcc can directly leverage P-2 quantization schemes in hardware, thereby greatly reducing multiplication cycles. We have chosen five well-known neural networks to evaluate ISOAcc. The evaluations show that ISOAcc achieves an average performance improvement of 3.24× and an energy reduction of 75%, compared with the state-of-the-art (SOTA) SRAM-based CIM design, Bit-Parallel.
LiDAR-Based Place Recognition For Autonomous Driving: A Survey
Authors: Zhang Yongjun , Shi Pengcheng , Li Jiayuan
Published: December 2024

LiDAR has gained popularity in autonomous driving due to advantages like long measurement distance, rich three-dimensional information, and stability in harsh environments. Place Recognition (PR) enables vehicles to identify previously visited locations despite variations in appearance, weather, and viewpoints, even determining their global location within prior maps. This capability is crucial for accurate localization in autonomous driving. Consequently, LiDAR-based Place Recognition (LPR) has emerged as a research hotspot in robotics. However, existing reviews predominantly concentrate on Visual Place Recognition, leaving a gap in systematic reviews on LPR. This article bridges this gap by providing a comprehensive review of LPR methods, thus facilitating and encouraging further research. We commence by exploring the relationship between PR and autonomous driving components. Then, we delve into the problem formulation of LPR, challenges, and relations to previous surveys. Subsequently, we conduct an in-depth review of related research, which offers detailed classifications, strengths and weaknesses, and architectures. Finally, we summarize existing datasets and evaluation metrics and envision promising future directions. This article can serve as a valuable tutorial for newcomers entering the field of place recognition. We plan to maintain an up-to-date project on
https://github.com/ShiPC-AI/LPR-Survey
.
A Rare Case of Autoimmune Pancreatitis in a 9‐Year‐Old Male Patient: A Comprehensive Diagnosis and Successful Treatment
Authors: Farhat Hadi , Dib Christie , Tlaiss Yehya , Tabcheh Ayman , Hani Pierre
Published: December 2024

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare and complex condition that can be difficult to identify due to its resemblance to malignancies. This case report presents a unique instance of AIP in a 9‐year‐old male patient who presented with painless jaundice and elevated liver function test results. His symptoms were persistent even after previous common bile duct stent placement, requiring additional investigation. The possibility of AIP was raised by further serological tests and imaging examinations. The diagnosis was then confirmed by multiple characteristic findings revealed through history, imaging, clinical examination, histology, and lab results. Treatment was initiated with corticosteroids, which resulted in a complete resolution of symptoms and remarkable recovery. This case emphasizes the significance of including AIP in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic disorders, even in pediatric patients.
Hybrid Maghemite (γ‐Fe2O3) Nanoparticle/Graphene Nanosheet Nanocomposite for Terahertz‐Shielding Applications
Authors: Toledo Samuel Augustus D. , Tapia Alvin Karlo G. , Santos Gil Nonato C.
Published: December 2024

Terahertz (THz)‐integrated technology experienced explosive growth and shows excellent potential across many industries. Hence, developing shielding materials is crucial to safeguard waveguides and sensitive devices from unwanted external electromagnetic sources. To date, there is a gap in current research regarding the conclusive use of maghemite nanoparticle (γ−Fe2O3 NP) as an effective nanofiller for THz‐shielding material while utilizing the inherent properties of graphene nanosheets (GNS) to create a hybrid polymer nanocomposite. Therefore, for the first time, this study developed a novel hybrid γ−Fe2O3/GNS nanocomposite while assessing the potential role of γ−Fe2O3 nanoparticles for THz‐shielding applications. A one‐step direct chemical exfoliation method synthesized the GNS. On the other hand, a straightforward thermal decomposition method synthesized the γ−Fe2O3 NP. The nanomaterials were then loaded to poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), with different ratios of γ−Fe2O3 NP (w% = 0, 5, 10, and 15) to fabricate thin films by the evaporative casting technique. The scanning electron microscopy results with elemental dispersive X‐ray (SEM‐EDX) display the morphological traits of GNS as loosely stacked flat‐shaped sheets. The γ−Fe2O3 has predominantly homogeneous spherical‐shaped morphology measuring 30–60 nm. At the same time, the films retained some of the distinct features of the polymer matrix and GNS with localized clusters of the magnetic nanoparticles. Results from the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis complemented the results of SEM and ATR‐FTIR analysis, supporting the existence of pure γ−Fe2O3 NP. Furthermore, the time‐domain spectroscopy (TDS) analyzes the THz electromagnetic interference‐shielding effectiveness (EMI‐SE) at 0.6–1.6 THz of the nanocomposite with 15% of γ−Fe2O3, revealing an SE of ≤20 dB (99.00% wave attenuation) and calculated specific shielding effectiveness (SSE) of ∼30 dB∗cm3/g. These demonstrated improved SE by introducing γ−Fe2O3 NP as an additive magnetic filler. Conclusively, the fabricated hybrid γ−Fe2O3/GNS nanocomposites were considered facile, effective, and comparable THz EMI‐shielding materials.
Epidemiology of Multidrug‐Resistant Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi Isolated From Stool Culture
Authors: Ndima Etouke Tito Aloys , Ful Kuh Georges , Djoumsie Gomseu Boris Emmanuel , Nzesseu Vanessa Linda , Tamokou Jean-De-Dieu , Dzoyem Jean Paul
Published: December 2024

Enteric fever is a significant health problem in developing countries caused by Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi. Unfortunately, the burden of the disease remains high not only because of the complications related to the disease but also, especially, because of the spread of the strains of Salmonella resistant to antibiotics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi clinical isolates as well as the risk factors associated with infection. This cross‐sectional study was conducted from June 2020 to September 2021. One thousand and seventy‐six patients in the age range (1− ≥ 50 years) were recruited including 423 (39.31%) infected with S. Typhi, 115 (10.68%) infected with S. Paratyphi, and 538 (50%) noninfected after obtaining their informed consent using a face‐to‐face interview and questionnaire. The stool samples were collected in clean and sterile boxes reserved for this purpose and were cultured. Demographic parameters such as sex, age, occupation, water source, level of education, as well as clinical signs and symptoms were obtained. The resistance profile determination was carried out by the disk diffusion method. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with infection. Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed positive and significant associations (OR > 1; p < 0.05) between enteric fever and women among the age groups: 1–10 years, 11–20 years, and 21–30 years. These positive associations were also noted in patients who ate shellfish, salads, fruits, and vegetables; in patients who consumed ice cubes; as well as those who consumed food and drinks offered by ambulant merchants. This indicated that they are more likely to be infected by S. enterica than others. The level of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) S. enterica to first‐line antimicrobial agents ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and co‐trimoxazole was high and selectively distributed according to age groups, marital status, profession, level of education, source of water, and lifestyle. The results highlighted the emergence of MDR S. enterica isolated in the study population, demonstrating resistance to first‐line drugs, fluoroquinolones, and third‐generation cephalosporins. Further studies with large‐scale samples are needed to validate the present results and to monitor MDR S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi serovars in other parts of Cameroon.
Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells‐Derived Exosomes Promote the Repair of Endometrial Injury via the miR‐21‐5p/PTEN/AKT Axis
Authors: Li Ziwei , Ding Hao , Dong Liu , Jiang Xiaohua , Xu Xuan , Yu Zhen , Xing Qiong , Tang Heng , Wei Zhaolian , Wang Jianye
Published: December 2024

Background: Endometrial injury contributes to the reduction of endometrial receptivity and is widely recognized as a critical factor in implantation failure. Increasing evidence suggests that the therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) mainly depend on their capacity to secrete paracrine factors specifically MSC‐derived exosomes (MSC‐Exos), which are regulated by exosomal miRNA. In this study, we investigated the effects of human umbilical cord MSC‐Exos (hUCMSC‐Exos) on injured endometrium and the potential mechanisms.

Methods: To observe the distribution of exosomes in vivo, DIR‐labeled hUCMSC‐Exos were injected into the tail vein of endometrium‐injured mice. The recovery of mice damaged endometrium after exosome treatment was detected by hematoxylin–eosin (HE), TUNEL staining, and immunohistochemistry. Then, western blot measured the expression of Bcl‐2, Bax, and cleaved caspase‐3. The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) was evaluated by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). Furthermore, miR‐21‐5p was checked in mifepristone‐injured endometrial stromal cells (EndoSC) after the hUCMSC‐Exos addition. The cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN)/serine/threonine kinase (AKT) pathway were confirmed with hUCMSC‐Exos transfected the miR‐21‐5p.

Results: hUCMSC‐Exos migrated to the damaged endometrium, and the endometrial thickness, the number of glands as well as embryo implantation rate were significantly increased (p < 0.05). hUCMSC‐Exos could inhibit apoptosis in our mouse endometrial injury model. Besides, the expression of Ki67 and cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) was significantly increased (p < 0.05). The VEGF and IGF‐1 expression was significantly upregulated in the exosome group (p < 0.05). The repair effect of exosomes on damaged cells was further enhanced after transfection with miR‐21‐5p mimics and counteracted after transfection with inhibitors. The repair of damaged cells is related to decreased PTEN level and activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusion: hUCMSC‐Exos ameliorated the damaged uterus, increased the number of glands and embryo implantation rates, suppressed apoptosis, and improved the cell proliferation in the mouse injured endometrium model. Exosomal miR‐21‐5p positively regulated the repair of endometrial injury and enhances the therapeutic effect of hUCMSC‐Exos by activate the PTEN/AKT signaling pathways.
Potential Synergistic Effect between Niraparib and Statins in Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trials
Authors: Zhang Hailei , Rutkowska Anna , González-Martín Antonio , Mirza Mansoor R. , Monk Bradley J. , Vergote Ignace , Pothuri Bhavana , Graybill Whitney A. Spannuth , Goessel Carsten , Barbash Olena , Bergamini Giovanna , Feng Bin
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the potential clinical synergy between the PARP inhibitor niraparib (Zejula) and concomitant statins, exploring their combined effects on progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with ovarian cancer. We retrospectively analyzed niraparib registrational clinical trials in ovarian cancer to investigate potential interactions between niraparib and statins. In the PRIMA trial, patients receiving niraparib demonstrated improved PFS compared with those on placebo (HR = 0.62; P < 0.001; median PFS 13.8 vs. 8.2 months). The post hoc analysis revealed that patients receiving maintenance niraparib who reported concomitant use of statins exhibited significantly improved PFS compared with those on placebo with concomitant statins (HR = 0.34; P < 0.001; median PFS 18.2 vs. 6.0 months). Notably, the improved efficacy in the two-arm comparison of concomitant statin patients was much better than that in the two-arm comparison of those patients without statin, as reflected in the niraparib–statin interaction (P = 0.005). These findings suggest novel opportunities in oncology for the use of statins in combination therapies with PARP inhibitors and emphasize the need for further investigation.

Significance:

The presented retrospective analysis suggests, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, a potential significant interaction between statins and niraparib in clinical settings. Nevertheless, further investigations are required to gain a better understanding of the potential clinical benefit.
Platelet-Specific Deletion of TGF-β1 Impairs Septic Thrombosis in Mice—Brief Report
Authors: Li Yingying , Jiang Huimin , Li Xinyi , Zhu Hui , Dai Yue , Zhang Jie , Sun Yueyue , Chu Xiang , Ju Wen , Xu Mengdi , Li Zhenyu , Zeng Lingyu , Xu Kailin , Qiao Jianlin
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:

Sepsis is featured as a systemic inflammation and thrombosis induced by infection. TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) 1 is mainly secreted from platelets and plays a role in immune response and inflammation. Whether platelet-derived TGF-β1 participates in sepsis remains unclear. This study intends to investigate its role in sepsis in mice.

METHODS:

Platelet-specific TGF-β1 knockout mice received cecal ligation and puncture surgery to induce sepsis followed by the analysis of survival time, platelets number, pathology changes of lung and liver, liver function, the recruitment of platelets, neutrophils and monocytes, and neutrophil extracellular traps’ formation. In addition, adoptive transfer of wild-type platelets into platelet-specific TGF-β1 knockout mice was performed to further evaluate the role of TGF-β1 in the pathogenesis of sepsis.

RESULTS:

TGF-β1 level was gradually increased in the lung during the progress of sepsis, and platelets are the major source of the elevated TGF-β1 level in the lung after sepsis. Deficiency of platelet-derived TGF-β1 prolonged the survival of sepsis mice, inhibited the drop of platelet number and bacterial growth, impaired the thrombus formation in the lung and liver, and improved liver function. In addition, platelet TGF-β1 deficiency also decreased the recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes to the lung and impaired neutrophil extracellular trap formation. However, the adoptive transfer of normal platelets to platelet-specific TGF-β1 knockout mice significantly reduced the number of circulating platelets, increased thrombosis in the lung and liver, and promoted the neutrophil extracellular trap formation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Deficiency of platelet-derived TGF-β1 inhibits septic thrombosis and prolongs survival time, indicating that it might be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of sepsis.
The Memorisation of Verbal and Nonverbal Serial Information by Children 9–11 Years Old
Authors: Korneev Aleksei A. , Lomakin Dmitry I. , Kurgansky Andrei V. , Machinskaya Regina I.
Published: December 2024

Background. The mechanisms of serial information retention in working memory (WM) in children are an important and debated topic. It is related to both general theoretical ideas about memory and practical issues of learning organization. Despite numerous studies of WM regarding the retention of verbal and non-verbal sequences as well as differently presented sequences (as static or dynamic objects), there are virtually no studies that consider both the factor of modality and the way of sequence presentation.
Objective. The aim of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of delayed reproduction of verbal and non-verbal sequences by children aged 9–11 years.
Study Participants. Typically developing children (n = 19, mean age 10.75±0.57)
Methods. Subjects were asked to remember and recall the sequences of letters, digits, and segments that formed a broken curve. In the experiment, we varied length, retention time, and presentation mode (static or dynamic). Accuracy and reaction time were analyzed.
Results. Analysis of accuracy showed that numerical sequences were best remembered, and letter sequences were worst remembered, static information was remembered better than dynamic, accuracy decreased with time and with increasing length of a sequence. Also, the analysis revealed dependence of accuracy of broken curve reproduction on the presentation mode and retention time, but these factors showed no effect on the reproduction of verbal sequences. Reaction time significantly decreased with increasing retention time for nonverbal sequences.
Conclusion. Verbal and nonverbal sequences presented statically and dynamically are stored differently in children's WM. Apparently, verbal stimuli are remembered as a sequence in any presentation mode, while numerical sequences can be stored as multidigit numbers, and nonverbal sequences as a single object when presented statically and as a sequence when presented dynamically. During the retention of sequences in WM, the representations of non-verbal information are more mutable than the representations of verbal information.
Actors’ Behaviour in Stressful Situations: The Experience of Psychological Research
Authors: Petrakova Anastasiya V. , Yakovleva Marina A. , Lykova Tatyana A.
Published: December 2024

Background. The personality of the actor, according to various studies, is characterized by increased sensitivity and receptivity, emotional mobility, openness, rich imagination. At the same time, the profession of an actor is associated with a large number of stressful situations related to the instability of professional employment and income, high competition, actors' sensitivity to situations of uncertainty. Taken together, this determines the need to study coping strategies and behaviour of actors in stressful situations
Objective. The study focuses on the identification of interrelationships between personality characteristics, coping strategies and reactions to frustration in representatives of the acting profession.
Study Participants. The study involved 27 theater and film actors (18 women, 11 men), aged 22 to 57 years. The length of service in the profession ranged from 1 to 35 years.
Methods. Techniques of psychodiagnostics were used in the study, including Kettell 16 PF questionnaire, Folkman and Lazarus coping strategies questionnaire adapted by T.L. Kryukova, “Frustration Reactions Test” by S. Rosenzweig. On the basis of correlation analysis, the interrelations of personal characteristics, coping strategies used by respondents and types of behaviour in frustrating situations were revealed.
Results. Correlations of types of behaviour in frustrating situations and coping strategies with communicative and emotional properties of personality, as well as with anxiety were revealed. It is shown that emotional sensitivity is positively related to extrapunitive direction of reactions to frustration (r = 0.42, p = 0.05) and negatively related to turning to others to solve the problem (r = –0.53, p = 0.01). The characteristic of “suspiciousness”, peculiar to the study sample, is negatively associated with aggressive self-protective type of stress behaviour (r = –0.47, p = 0.05).
Conclusions. The analysis of the set of obtained correlations revealed that specific personality traits: high emotional sensitivity and suspiciousness, determine the actors' behaviour in stress mainly as fixation on the obstacle. Comparison of the results obtained in the study with the data of similar works of previous years allowed to fix the special role of the complex of personality characteristics “suspiciousness” in the context of reactions to stressful situations. The theme of difference in the actors' management of their emotional state in situations of professional activity and everyday life is outlined.
Effect of Deficit Irrigation at Different Growth Stages on the Yield and Water Productivity of Tomato at Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center
Authors: Ambomsa Anbese , Shelemew Zelalem , Husen Dulo , Jalde Ayub
Published: December 2024

Improving irrigation water management and increasing water productivity are critical to address future water scarcity in arid and semi-arid areas. A promising strategy is to maximize water productivity by exposing crops to a certain level of water stress. The experiment was conducted on-site at the Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center to study the effect of deficit irrigation at different growth stages on agronomic parameters as well as yield and yield components as well as water productivity of tomato plants. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of full and three-deficit irrigation with four plant growth stages. The results showed that the interaction effect between deficit irrigation and different plant growth stages significantly affected plant height, fruit height, fruit diameter, fruit yield and water productivity. The highest plant height (75.23 cm), fruit length (84.56 mm), fruit diameter (77.10 mm), marketable fruit yield (48.64 t/ha) and total fruit yield (50.09 t/ha) were obtained under continuous full irrigation achieves levels. While the lowest plant height (54.43 cm), fruit length (55.92 mm), fruit diameter (50.04 mm), marketable yield (22.51 tons/ha) and total yield (28.14 tons/ha) at 60% Etc achieved in the middle were stage treatment. The highest water productivity of 7.85 kg/ha was achieved with the application of 80% ETc in the late season, while the lowest (4.61 kg/ha) was achieved with 60% ETc in the middle treatment phase. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that applying 80% ETc deficit irrigation in the late season stage is the best solution for water conservation without affecting tomato yield while improving water productivity under water-stressed conditions.
One client, four votes: Ethnopolitical clientelism and its socioeconomic consequences during state capture in Montenegro
Authors: Bešić Miloš , Baća Bojan
Published: December 2024

Drawing on insights from political sociology and political economy, this article examines the socioeconomic consequences of entrenched ethnopolitical clientelism in postsocialist Montenegro. As a country that experienced its first electoral transfer of power in 2020, Montenegro's political transition was marked by state capture by the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), a dominant party that structured the national economy to serve its political interests and support its clients. Throughout its three decades of dominance, the DPS not only developed effective clientelist mechanisms to secure popular support but also employed populist rhetoric to justify these and other undemocratic practices as necessary defenses against the “ethnonational other”, portrayed as intent on undermining Montenegro's statehood. This rhetoric deepened ethnonational antagonisms and strategically inhibited alliance-building across ethnopolitical cleavages that could have threatened DPS rule. Using multivariate analysis on a unique longitudinal dataset spanning 2007 to 2020 (N = 33,889), this study provides empirical evidence that DPS supporters were more likely to secure employment ( mass clientelism) and advance to higher income categories ( elite clientelism). The findings also indicate that Serbs faced discrimination not due to their ethnicity per se, but because they were the only ethnonational group overwhelmingly and consistently opposed to the DPS regime and its policies following Montenegro’s independence in 2006.
Australia's right to disconnect from work: Beyond rhetoric and towards implementation
Authors: Josserand Emmanuel , Boersma Martijn
Published: December 2024

Amendments to the Fair Work Act now allow workers in Australia a right to disconnect. The implementation of this right precipitated a polarised public debate that was not consistently evidence-based, encompassing the often-contradictory perspectives of unions, employers, business lobbies and politicians. This study offers a more nuanced and evidence-based understanding of the right to disconnect, its benefits and challenges and the possible impact on Australian employment practices and relations. It provides an international comparative analysis; it explores the literature on related topics such as work–life balance, occupational stress, management practices and productivity; and it proposes a model of the consequences of technology-enabled flexible work. The comparative analysis and literature review are supplemented with themes identified in Australian media coverage through a Leximancer analysis. The findings discuss the advantages and limitations of diverse top-down legislative or self-regulatory pathways experienced overseas by early adopters. While the right to disconnect can improve work–life balance, health and well-being and productivity, its implementation requires careful consideration of industry-specific contexts, clear policies and cultural shifts in workplaces to mitigate the risks associated with hyperconnectivity. These insights are useful for Australia as it enters the implementation phase of the right to disconnect.
Explaining the Narrowing Gender Gap in Partisan Participation: Women’s Empowerment or Men’s Disengagement?
Authors: Scarrow Susan E. , Suh JeongKyu , Wright Jamie M.
Published: December 2024

This article investigates the causes of decreasing gender gaps in grassroots party participation, asking which of multiple explanations for these changes seems best supported by patterns of behavioral change. We answer this question by examining longitudinal changes in survey reports about who is participating in party activities. Two sets of surveys using slightly different measures of activism consistently show that women comprise a growing share of active partisans, but they fail to support many common explanations about why such shifts are occurring, such as the argument that it is driven by generational changes. More surprisingly, they show that some of the closing of the participation gender gap reflects changes in men’s behavior more than women’s growing partisan empowerment, with men disproportionately withdrawing from party activism. These findings suggest that party efforts to (re)activate their grassroots might benefit from pursuing different engagement strategies for women and men supporters.
International Education for Low-Income Students: Virtual Exchange and the Academic Success Among Pell-Recipient Community College Students
Authors: Whatley Melissa , Labs Kristin , Wood Dawn R.
Published: December 2024

Objective/Research Question: This study explores the potential for virtual international exchange to serve as a high impact practice that improves academic outcomes, defined credential completion, and GPA among low-income students enrolled at two community colleges in the U.S. Southeast. Specifically, we ask: What is the relationship between participation in virtual international exchange and two key indicators of students’ academic success, last-recorded cumulative GPA and credential completion, among community college students who receive Pell funding compared to those who do not? We adopt a capability approach to frame our work, which focuses attention on what low-income students are able to achieve when provided with opportunity rather than a lack of social status or financial means. Methods: Drawing data from 26,748 students, we use propensity score weighting to account for observed differences in virtual exchange participants and non-participants prior to estimating a series of linear regression models predicting a student’s credential completion and last-recorded GPA. Results: Our findings suggest that virtual exchange participation has a positive relationship with both measures of students’ academic success, credential completion and GPA. Conclusions/Contributions: Our results highlight the success that students are capable of when provided with the opportunity to engage with a high impact practice on their home campuses and have implications for both community college international educators and administrators.
Blocks and Overflows of Care: Territorialization and Marine Conservation in the Balearic Sea
Authors: Cañada Jose A.
Published: December 2024

The article expands upon care theory in Science and Technology Studies by attending to marine spaces and practices for conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems. Examining the case of efforts to protect the Mediterranean-endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica, which the European Union declared a priority habitat in 1992, the article evaluates the concrete impact of a 2018 decree from the Government of the Balearic Islands intended to protect the species in the Balearic Sea. In contrast to the strictly established boundaries that predominate in area-based approaches for marine governance, I analyze two care configurations around Posidonia which allow us to rethink the territorialization of marine space: care “blocks” characterize occasions in which the species-specific emphasis keeps attention away from other systems or species, while care “overflows” denote care spilling over to other systems and species. By thinking these concepts in relation to area-based and species-centered approaches to marine conservation, the article contributes to develop care scholarship, enriching its conceptual repertoire and providing tools to better understand the effects of species-centric environmental policies.
Programmable politics in the aftermaths of the pandemic
Authors: Lindgren Simon , Kaun Anne
Published: December 2024

This Crosscurrent contribution presents programmable politics as an emerging keyword for understanding the complex interplay between technology, society and politics in the 21st century. Programmable politics has gained heightened importance in the aftermath of the pandemic that has sped up digitalisation processes that are the preconditions for programmable politics to emerge. Turning increasingly to engagement online, the pandemic constitutes a catalyst for programmable politics. The concept highlights both the potential for enhancing democratic engagement, and the risks of undermining it through the centralisation of control and manipulation of information flows. We discuss the transition from digital politics, characterised by the integration of the internet and social media into political discourse and action, to programmable politics, a concept that highlights the impact of platform architectures, algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) and non-human agency on the political landscape. In doing so, we call for a critical examination of how current digital technology reshapes the dynamics of power, control and resistance within the political domain.
Assessing the Effect of Negative Externalities of Urban Transport on Travel Satisfaction for Work Trips
Authors: Saxena Aditya , Krishna Rao K.V. , Sethi Virendra
Published: December 2024

Research on the importance and performance of work trip attributes for users of different transportation modes—such as public transit, two-wheelers, and four-wheelers—and their impact on travel satisfaction remains limited. This gap is particularly evident when considering the influence of negative externalities of urban transport on travel satisfaction in developing countries. This study seeks to fill this gap by performing an importance-performance analysis of work trip attributes and evaluating the impact of these attributes on travel satisfaction through the use of an ordered hybrid choice model. Findings underscore the significant impact of negative externalities on work trip-related travel satisfaction across all mode users. Additionally, a higher travel cost is negatively associated while a lower travel time is positively associated with travel satisfaction. Higher-income individuals and four-wheeler users exhibit relatively high travel satisfaction compared with two-wheeler and public transit users. Furthermore, the analysis of work trip attributes reveals that the most crucial factors are the access time for public transit users, travel time reliability and travel time delay for four-wheeler users, and the risk of road crashes for two-wheeler users. The study's findings offer insights for policymakers and planners when prioritizing strategies within the urban transport sector in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). On a global research scale, the study advocates for the inclusion of negative externalities in travel satisfaction research, emphasizing their pivotal role in shaping the travel experience.
Pedagogical Emphases on the Mystery of God: The Apophatic Predicament in Emerging Adult Faith Formation
Authors: Baker Sam E.
Published: December 2024

For years Christian institutions in the West have observably supported and maintained kataphatic approaches to faith formation. Respectively, many schools have neglected apophatic considerations when teaching principles and approaches within emerging adult faith formation. Layered into this predicament is the strong inclination of predominantly kataphatic learning contexts to use increasing digital forms of instruction. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating reliance on digital technology in college classrooms has only exacerbated this dilemma. As a result, apophatic attentions, which tend to move away from trending pedagogical approaches and subsequent outcomes, remain formidable. The following paper employs a 14-year case review of students’ spiritual type similarities and differences at a private Christian university in the U.S. The review's theoretical and phenomenological framework utilizes spiritual typologies associated with apophatic and kataphatic nomenclature found in the “Circle of Sensibility” and espoused by spiritual type theorists. The data supports the theory of a general dividing line between approaches to Christian spirituality between apophatic and kataphatic taxonomical constructs. Additionally, perhaps most notably, this paper looks at digital distraction in current academic, spiritual formation contexts as a critical explanation for the lack of apophatic emphases. Digital distraction, in other words, undercuts the power of apophatic teaching. Based on the findings, recommendations for incorporating complementary kataphatic and apophatic approaches in spiritual formation coursework are offered.
Lacosamide as an Adjunctive Therapy in the Management of Refractory Neonatal Seizures: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Sah Jeetendra Prasad , Javarayee Pradeep , Jain Siddharth , Karia Samir , Karakas Cemal
Published: December 2024

Objective

Neonatal seizures present significant treatment challenges, often requiring adjunctive antiseizure medications. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lacosamide as an adjunctive antiseizure medication in managing refractory neonatal seizures.

Methods

The study included neonates up to 44 weeks of corrected gestational age who received lacosamide treatment at a level 4 neonatal intensive care unit between January 2015 and December 2023. The collected data encompassed demographic features, birth history, perinatal/postnatal complications, seizure characteristics, and treatment details. The primary outcome was the response to lacosamide, assessed by changes in total seizure burden on electroencephalography (EEG). The cohort characteristics were compared between nonresponders and responders.

Results

The final analysis was conducted on 18 neonates with available EEG data. Of all patients, 72% showed a favorable response to lacosamide treatment, as evidenced by a reduced seizure burden on EEG. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the neonates varied, including a range of seizure etiologies. Responder and nonresponder groups had no differences in clinical characteristics.

Conclusion

This study suggests that lacosamide may be an effective adjunctive antiseizure medication in treating refractory neonatal seizures. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore the long-term outcomes and safety profile of lacosamide in this vulnerable patient group.
Extracorporeal-CPR Versus Conventional-CPR for Adult Patients in Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest– Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Reddy Swetha , Garcia Samuel , Hostetter Logan J. , Finch Alexander S. , Bellolio Fernanda , Guru Pramod , Gerberi Danielle J. , Smischney Nathan J.
Published: December 2024

Objective

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) utilizes veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in cardiac arrest patients to reduce the risk of mortality and multiorgan dysfunction from systemic hypoperfusion. We aimed to compare clinical outcomes of patients receiving ECPR versus conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR) for refractory cardiac arrest.

Data Sources

This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. A librarian searched the main databases, Ovid MEDLINE (including epub ahead of print, in-process & other non-indexed citations), Ovid EMBASE and Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception through July 2024.

Study Selection

We included randomized controlled trials and observational studies that compared the outcomes of ECPR to CCPR in cardiac arrest patients. Primary outcomes were neurological sequelae and survival.

Data Extraction

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data on selected articles and performed risk of bias assessments using ROBINS-I for non-randomized controlled trials and the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials with disagreements settled by a third independent reviewer.

Data Synthesis

Out of 3458 studies identified and screened, 28 studies including 304,360 cardiac arrest patients met eligibility criteria and were included. Survival at hospital discharge was 20% for ECPR versus 3.3% for CCPR (OR 0.48 [CI 0.27, 0.84]). Favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge was 11.8% for ECPR versus 1.9% for CCPR (OR 0.41 [CI 0.17, 1.01]). Complications from bleeding were ten times higher in the ECPR group (35.3% vs 3.7%; OR 0.08 [0.03, 0.24]).

Conclusions

ECPR appeared to be superior to CCPR for improved neurological outcome and survival in cardiac arrest patients, although bleeding was increased. There was large heterogeneity in the included studies and outcomes reported. Future prospective studies may improve the identification of subgroups of patients that will benefit most from ECPR. Systematic review and meta-analysis registration: PROSPERO - CRD42023394128.