bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive Value of PHRI for Recurrence within One Year after UC Treatment: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Zhang Kun , Xie Jianlan , Zhao Jianmin , Jia Mei
Published: October 2024

Aims/Background Accurate prediction of recurrence after treatment is crucial for controlling the progression and improving the prognosis of active ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Previous studies have evaluated the therapeutic response in UC patients by assessing mucosal healing, using measures such as the Paddington International Virtual ChromoendoScopy Score (PICaSSO) and the PICaSSO Histological Remission Index (PHRI). The PHRI is effective for evaluating treatment response and disease control in UC patients, but its predictive value for short-term recurrence has not been reported in the literature. Therefore, this retrospective analysis of clinical data aims to explore the predictive value of the PHRI and provide a reference for improving the prognosis of UC patients.

Methods Clinical data of UC patients in clinical remission admitted to our hospital from June 2017 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group, based on whether they experienced recurrence during the one-year follow-up. Clinical data, laboratory test results, and PHRI scores were collected. Variables that showed statistically significant differences between groups in univariate analysis were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis. The predictive value of PHRI was analyzed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results One hundred and two UC patients in the clinical remission stage were included in this study, and there were no cases of loss to follow-up. Among them, 36 patients (35.29%) experienced recurrence within the one-year follow-up, whereas 66 patients (64.71%) did not. Compared with the non-recurrence group, the recurrence group had a more number of cases with lesions in the left-sided colon and extensive colon, higher percentages of cases that were moderate or severe, and a significantly higher colonoscopy score (p < 0.05). Compared with the non-recurrence group, the PHRI score of the recurrence group was significantly higher (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that that the lesion range (OR = 4.127, p = 0.005), disease severity (OR = 3.889, p = 0.019), colonoscopy score (OR = 6.128, p < 0.001), and PHRI score (OR = 5.466, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for recurrence in UC patients. The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of the PHRI score in predicting the recurrence of UC patients was 0.838 (95% CI: 0.760–0.916). When the optimal cut-off value was 1 point, the sensitivity and specificity were the highest, which were 89.58% and 65.58%, respectively, indicating that PHRI score had good predictive value.

Conclusion The lesion extent, disease severity, endoscopic score, and PHRI score are associated with recurrence within one year in UC patients in the clinical remission stage, and the PHRI score has good predictive value.
Hybrid framework for correcting water-to-air image sequences
Authors: Cao Yiqian , Cai Chengtao , Meng Haiyang
Published: October 2024

When an underwater camera captures aerial targets, the received light undergoes refraction at the water-air interface. In particular, the calm water compresses the image, while turbulent water causes nonlinear distortion in the captured images. However, existing methods for correcting water-to-air distortion often cause images with distortion or overall shifts. To address the above issue, we propose a multi-strategy hybrid framework to process image sequences effectively, particularly for high-precision applications. Our framework includes a spatiotemporal crossover block to transform and merge features, effectively addressing the template-free problem. Additionally, we introduce an enhancement network to produce a high-quality template in the first stage and a histogram template method to maintain high chromaticity and reduce template noise in the correction stage. Furthermore, our framework incorporates a new registration scheme to facilitate sequence transfer and processing. Compared to existing algorithms, our approach achieves a high restoration level in terms of morphology and color for publicly available image sequences.
Ultra-wide-angle peripheral refraction using a laser-scanning instrument
Authors: Sager Santiago , Vicente-Jaen Arturo , Lin Zhenghua , Prieto Pedro M. , Yang Zhikuang , Lan Weizhong , Artal Pablo
Published: October 2024

We compared the peripheral refractive measurements of a recently proposed laser-scanning instrument with an established peripheral refractor. Two-dimensional refractive maps were obtained using both instruments for 18 young subjects with differing values of central refraction. The comparison shows a strong correlation between devices in the overlapping measurement area, with the new device extending the range of the explored retinal area to a 100-degree-diameter circular patch, compared to the 60°x35° rectangular area of the older peripheral refractor. Larger refractive maps exhibit trends that cannot be easily predicted from narrower scans. These results demonstrate that the new instrument can be a useful tool for assessing wide-angle peripheral optical data in the human eye.
Optimal violation of a Bell inequality in two-dimensional state spaces for an asymmetric orbital angular momentum system
Authors: Yan Sijin , Zhang Dongkai , Chen Lixiang
Published: October 2024

The symmetric orbital angular momentum (OAM) entanglement in the subspace of { ± ℓ} has been extensively exploited in quantum information science. Here we investigate instead the Bell inequalities for the two-dimensional subspace spanned by asymmetric OAM modes of ℓ1 and ℓ2, usually corresponding to the quantum property of nonmaximal entanglement. We demonstrate, both theoretically and experimentally, the optimal violation of a suitable Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt Bell inequality for the asymmetric OAM modes, thus manifesting the entanglement for asymmetric OAM states space.
Interaction between CD244 and SHP2 regulates inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via targeting the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Gao Xiaobing , Shao Suhua , Zhang Xi , Li Changjie , Jiang Qianqian , Li Bo
Published: October 2024

This study delved into the interplay betweenCD244andSrc Homology 2 Domain Containing Phosphatase-2(SHP2) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis, focusing on apoptosis and inflammation in cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. Analysis of the GSE100153 dataset identified 290 up-regulated and 344 down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) highlighted the turquoise module had the highest correlation with COPD samples. Functional enrichment analysis linked these DEGs to critical COPD processes and pathways like neutrophil degranulation, protein kinase B activity, and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Observations on CD244 expression revealed its upregulation with increasing CSE concentrations, suggesting a dose-dependent relationship with inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α). CD244 knockdown mitigated CSE-induced apoptosis and inflammation, while overexpression exacerbated these responses. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) confirmed the physical interaction between CD244 and SHP2, emphasizing their regulatory connection. Analysis of Concurrently, the Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways showed that modulating CD244 expression impacted key pathway components (p-JNK, p-IKKβ, p-ERK, p-P38, p-lkBα, p-P65), an effect reversed upon SHP2 knockdown. These findings underscore the pivotal role of the CD244/SHP2 axis in regulating inflammatory and apoptotic responses in CSE-exposed HBE cells, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target in COPD treatment strategies.
‘Nostalgia for the sacred’: Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Theorem
Authors: James Marie-Louise
Published: October 2024

As a pervasive term in Pier Paolo Pasolini’s work, ‘nostalgia’ remains theoretically enigmatic and often politically contradictory. This article argues for the critical potential of nostalgia in Pasolini’s political aesthetics through a seemingly unlikely subject: his 1968 film and novel Teorema (Theorem). Set in post-war Milan, Theorem depicts the transformative encounter between a godlike visitor and five archetypes of the bourgeois household. After he leaves, they must reckon with his departure. I suggest that Pasolini’s formal and theoretical interest in nostalgia is crucial to understanding Theorem’s aesthetic invocation of the sacred, which the film stages through an interplay of presence and absence in bodies, spaces and temporalities. Unpacking the etymological roots algos (‘pain’) and nostos (‘return’), my reading forges intertextual connections within Pasolini’s oeuvre while also suggesting that Pasolini’s oblique, materially rooted nostalgia encourages a re-evaluation of the critical productivity of this term more broadly.
Liliana Cavani at the fourth edition of the Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies conference, Re-examining the Past and Envisioning the Future of Italian Cinema and Media, The American University of Rome, 13–15 June 2024
Authors: Bonnici Glen
Published: October 2024

Liliana Cavani accepted the invitation to participate in the fourth edition of the Journal of Italian Cinema & Media (JICMS) studies conference, held at the American University of Rome from 13–15 June 2024. Cavani attended a panel dedicated to her depictions of St Francis before taking the podium for an interview that was moderated by Flavia Laviosa (Wellesley College), the co-organizer of the conference and principal editor of JICMS, and Gaetana Marrone-Puglia (Princeton University), a leading scholar on Cavani’s body of work from Princeton University. Cavani reflected on her enduring fascination with St Francis despite her upbringing in a secular household, discussed many of her other films, and shared her opinions on the current state of affairs in Italy and beyond. At the end of the session, after Cavani hinted at her plans for the future, the moderators and Catherine Ramsey-Portolano (The American University of Rome), who co-organized the conference with Laviosa, presented the director with a plaque in recognition of her Inimitable Contribution to World Cinema.
Disproportionately Increasing Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Female Patients and the Elderly: An Update Analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors: Danpanichkul Pojsakorn , Duangsonk Kwanjit , Ho Agnes H.Y. , Laoveeravat Passisd , Vuthithammee Chawinthorn , Dejvajara Disatorn , Prasitsumrit Vitchapong , Auttapracha Thanida , Songtanin Busara , Wetwittayakhlang Panu , Lui Rashid N. , Kochhar Gursimran Singh , Ng Siew C. , Farraye Francis A. , Wijarnpreecha Karn
Published: October 2024

INTRODUCTION:

To update the global burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021.

METHODS:

Data from Global Burden of Disease 2021 were analyzed to assess the IBD burden.

RESULTS:

In 2021, there were 375,140 new cases and 3.83 million total cases of IBD. Elderly onset IBD accounted for 11% of incidences. 167 countries increased IBD incidence rate, with rates rising in female patients (APC: +0.06%) and the elderly (APC: +0.14%) but stable in male patients and the overall population.

DISCUSSION:

Although the global burden of IBD has decreased overall, it has increased in female patients and the elderly.
Four-Dimensional Impedance Manometry in Esophageal Motility Disorders
Authors: Goudie Eric , Kou Wenjun , Pandolfino John E. , Araujo Isis K. , Pitisuttithum Panyavee , Halder Sourav , Kahrilas Peter J. , Carlson Dustin A.
Published: October 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Four-dimensional high-resolution impedance manometry (4D HRM) uses impedance to estimate esophageal luminal cross-sectional area and track nadir impedance to measure intrabolus pressure (IBP). We aimed to determine whether 4D HRM metrics could define abnormal esophagogastric junction (EGJ) opening between Chicago Classification version 4.0 motility disorders and compare 4D HRM with functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) metrics.

METHODS:

Symptomatic adult patients who completed high-resolution impedance manometry and FLIP were included and compared with an asymptomatic control group. 4D HRM analysis used custom-built software to measure IBP, maximum EGJ diameter, and distensibility index on supine test swallows. 4D HRM metrics were compared with FLIP EGJ metrics.

RESULTS:

Ninety patients (31 normal motility, 16 ineffective esophageal manometry, 9 absent contractility, 8 conclusive EGJ outflow obstruction [EGJOO], 12 type I achalasia, 14 type II achalasia, 12 type III achalasia, and 34 asymptomatic controls) were included. Phase 2 and 3 IBP was higher in type II and III achalasia compared with controls and normal motility groups (P < 0.03). Maximum EGJ diameter and EGJ-distensibility index in the conclusive EGJOO and achalasia groups were significantly lower than in controls and normal motility groups (P < 0.03). 4D HRM identified 37 of 44 (84%) subjects with normal EGJ opening and 29 of 39 (74%) subjects with reduced EGJ opening on FLIP.

DISCUSSION:

4D HRM metrics correlated with expected clinical observations across a spectrum of esophageal motility disorders and defined EGJ obstruction. 4D HRM metrics may have value in defining EGJ obstruction in equivocal cases related to EGJOO or absent peristalsis.
Introduction
Authors: Spill Frédérique
Published: October 2024

The introduction establishes how idiocy is rooted in the very beginnings of Faulknerian fiction, although its treatment radically transformed between “The Kingdom of God” and The Sound and the Fury. To grasp the centrality of idiocy and the importance given to idiot characters in the work of Faulkner, the introduction conducts a brief survey of Faulkner’s biography, along with definitions of “idiot” and “idiocy” to establish context for a “Faulknerian idiot.”
Is the Idiot a Monster?
Authors: Spill Frédérique
Published: October 2024

This brief chapter conceptualizes the potential significance of the Faulknerian idiot’s physicality and how it relates to certain definitions of “monster” or “monstrosity.”
Faulknerian Idiotisms
Authors: Spill Frédérique
Published: October 2024

This chapter begins by exploring the relationship between memory and time revealed in Benjy’s narration in The Sound and the Fury. The chapter then turns to examine various repetitions in Faulkner’s work and how Faulknerian idiots may be better understood and studied through an analysis of these repetitions.
Fiction of Origin and the Origin of Fiction
Authors: Spill Frédérique
Published: October 2024

The conclusion cements the importance of Faulkner’s use of idiots in his writing and how it exemplifies Faulkner’s revolutionary and unique mastery of writing.
Výstava Labyrintem normalizace. Židovská obec jako zrcadlo většinové společnosti
Authors: Doležalová Hana
Published: October 2024

Nová krátkodobá výstava Židovského muzea v Praze, která vznikla ve spolupráci s Ústavem pro studium totalitních režimů a Archivem bezpečnostních složek, představuje u příležitosti čtyřicátého výročí vzniku Charty 77 mikrosvět židovské komunity v letech 1969–89. Výstava a stejnojmenný katalog v české i anglické verzi předkládá návštěvníkům i badatelům z řad odborné veřejnosti konkrétní případy působení státních orgánů proti židovské komunitě na základě málo známých archivních dokumentů. Ty jsou doplněny fotografiemi i několika artefakty ze soukromých sbírek.
“Pop-rurality”
Authors: Novotná Hedvika , Bittnerová Dana , Heřmanský Martin
Published: October 2024

The Village of the Year in the Czech Republic is a national competition held since 1995, announced annually by the Ministry of Regional Development. Its aim is to promote the “restoration” and “development” of the Czech countryside through communal projects carried out by villagers themselves. Each year hundreds of Czech and Moravian villages enter the competition. Being focused on the countryside, the notion of rurality is one of the competition’s defining features. But what kind of rurality is it? What are its constituents? How it is performed in the village competition projects? And what are the sources of the forms it takes? Our analysis of media representations by village competitors (web sites, video presentations, etc.), alongside materials provided for competitors by the Ministry and other participating organizations (competition rules, official documents, etc.) and various media representations of the competition (television reports, etc.), reveals how the discourses involved operate and how they create a certain “ideal” village that is to be seen as a model to be followed. We argue that the several discourses of rurality interwoven in the representations of villages within the competition (those of experts/academics, public/media, villagers, and policymakers) form an interdiscourse of “poprurality”, which is a rurality deterritorialized, enriched with shared global (pop‑cultural) elements, and re-territorialized again, to then float freely in public (especially virtual) space.
Proměny městské části Zábrdovice v Brně – možnosti integrace v procesu gentrifikace
Authors: Brožovičová Klára
Published: October 2024

The aim of this article is to explain the process of the current gentrification in this socially excluded urban area in Brno, Czech Republic. The article summarizes the findings of long-term research conducted in the years 2008–2015. The text briefly describes the history of this city locality in the 19 th and 20 th centuries, and the circumstances of its current gentrification. Furthermore, the article analyses the past gentrification processes and their trigger factors. The so-called “actor-centered approach” was chosen as a suitable method of analyzing the current gentrification process. According to this approach, four interest groups active in the development of the area were identified: (1) the original populace of the location, (2) the “gentrifies” – newcomer residents, (3) NGOs active in the area, and finally (4) the authorities of the city of Brno. The social process of gentrification has been analyzed through the goals and strategies of each of the four interest groups, and their respective impacts on the processes of the integration or the exclusion of local socially disadvantaged inhabitants.
Stanislav Balík – Lukáš Fasora – Jiří Hanuš – Marek Vlha: Český antiklerikalismus. Zdroje, témata a podoba českého antiklerikalismu v letech 1848–1938.
Authors: Havlíček Jakub
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Stanislav Balík, Lukáš Fasora, Jiří Hanuš and Marek Vlha.
Jozef Tancer: Rozviazané jazyky. Ako sme hovorili v starej Bratislave
Authors: Jílková Lucie
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Jozef Tancer.
„Vy jste dole, my nahoře!“
Authors: Vorlíček Radek
Published: October 2024

The article explores the dynamics of social marginality and dominance in educational settings. Special attention is paid to the role of schools in the process of boundary constructions. The article deals with social distance dynamics among pupils in elementary school, and observes how these dynamics strengthen or weaken their position in the hierarchy. The text describes social interaction in a group of children, and records the context in which the inclusion or exclusion of those who are seen as the bearers of an identity other than the group dominant identity takes place, and whether it has the character of ethnic or social class. The article is based on long-term, qualitative, inductive, and ethnographic fieldwork. The central method of the fieldwork was ethnographic observation. To large degree, the research was conducted in the framework of interactionism. The article sheds light on many aspects of social exclusion in educational settings and on the obstacles of educational research.
Kristina Krügerová: Řády a kláštery. 2000 let křesťanského umění a kultury
Authors: Kružík Josef
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Kristina Krügerová.
Kritika islámu na českém internetu – možnosti interpretace
Authors: Havlíček Jakub
Published: October 2024

This paper is a case study of the criticism of Islam and Muslims in the Czech lands, as shown on the example of the Facebook page Islám v České republice nechceme (“We do not want Islam in the Czech Republic”). Even though the number of Muslims in the Czech Republic is relatively small (probably not exceeding 11,000 individuals), the topic of Islam and Muslims is widely discussed in the public sphere of the Czech society. This paper aims at answering the following questions connected to Islam entering public sphere: what is the context of criticism of Islam in the Czech society? What theoretical tools of social sciences can be applied in analysing, explaining and understanding this criticism of Islam in the Czech environment? The paper provides a brief analysis of posts on the Facebook page Islám v České republice nechceme. It describes and analyses the content and visual aspects of the posts. The administrators of the page are identified as “opinion leaders”. The role of opinion leaders is based on their involvement in a social categorical relationship shared with their followers, connected to the process of defining Czech national identity. This identity is formulated in contrast with “Islam” and “Muslims”. Their characteristics and values are generally presented as contradictory to “Czech cultural values”. The criticism of Islam is interpreted as a case of “moral panics”, and, for its connection to the process of defining Czech national identity, it is also endowed with considerable political potential. The criticism of Islam in the process of defining Czech national identity is connected to the imagery of Muslims in the collective memory of the Czech society.
Využití konceptů míst v antropologii a příbuzných vědách
Authors: Okénková Věra
Published: October 2024

In the last few decades of the 20th century, the social sciences and the humanities were influenced by an emergence of geographical terms – place and space. This change in the paradigm, known as the spatial turn, represents a very popular approach in contemporary history, sociology, philosophy and anthropology, as well. But does anthropological research sufficiently profit from the concepts of place and space? Focusing on place, this article shows that these concepts allow anthropology to analyse not only material, functional or symbolic meaning, but they also enable one to treat the overlaps to broader and more abstract research questions stemming from different subdisciplines. The aim of this article is not to give an exhaustive overview of all of the theories and publications pursuing the term space, but rather to provide a possible insight to this issue and to show how appropriate it can be for anthropological research.
Jiří Pešek – Oliver Rathkolb a kol.: Soudobé dějiny v pohybu. Rakouský výzkum dějin 20. století.
Authors: Šebek Jaroslav
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Jiří Pešek and Oliver Rathkolb.
12. kongres Evropské sociologické asociace – Diference, nerovnosti a sociologická imaginace.
Authors: Nešporová Olga , Nešpor Zdeněk R.
Published: October 2024

Nutno konstatovat, že naše mater urbium není přes svoji nezpochybnitelnou přitažlivost i relativně snadnou dostupnost právě častým místem konání velkých mezinárodních vědeckých kongresů, konferencí či sympozií. Tím spíš je třeba se radovat, když občas podobná akce nastane, protože je jak svátkem pro českou vědu, tak – přihlédneme-li k celkovým nákladům – nikoli zcela zanedbatelným přínosem k národnímu HDP, o slávě a reputaci přitom v případě  úspěšnosti nemluvě. Máločetné se přitom stalo skutkem, Evropská sociologická asociace si pro svůj v pořadí již dvanáctý kongres vybrala právě Prahu, přičemž organizace se ujal Sociologický ústav Akademie věd. Zatímco v zahraničí organizují podobné akce učené společnosti, Masarykova česká sociologická společnost by si vzhledem ke svému rozsahu i organizaci nic podobného dovolit nemohla, a proto nejen v tomto případě akademický ústav plnil kromě badatelských rovněž infrastrukturní úkoly, pro fungování (české) vědy zcela zásadní.
Vizualita národní identity v Mexiku
Authors: Koháková Haakenstad Magdalena
Published: October 2024

During the last two decades, some sections of the academic world have shown doubts concerning the validit y of the modernisation paradigm in nationalism studies in general, as well as of the applicabilit y of the “classic modernist” theories of nationalism for the analysis of nationhood outside of Western Europe. Among the suggested new approaches, which seem to be particularly fruitful in the case of Mexican nationalism, is the investigation of nationhood through its representations in visual language. Whereas both verbal and written forms of language were a key aspect in the shaping of the identit y of Western and Central European nations, visual language articulated in the public space (i.e. through murals), with its characteristic symbols and semiotic references, played a crucial role during the process of the homogenization of Mexican masses, especially at the beginning of the 20th century. This period was essential for the formation of the “vocabulary” and the content of Mexican national identity. Although the muralist movement was partially repressed for several decades (the 1950s–1980s), since the 1990s, public art has once again gained strength and has again become an important agent in the negotiation and the articulation of national identity all throughout Mexico. This paper analyses the role of visual communication in the process of the negotiation and of the shaping of specific versions of national identity, and that in the historical perspective and at present. I build on the long-term field research I carried out in Mexico during the past two years, on the study of nationalism theories and of national identity, and on the methodology of visual and interpretative anthropology.
Jak se děje ájurvéda
Authors: Wolfová Alžběta
Published: October 2024

Despite the favourite approach of the social sciences, I do not intend to discuss Ayurveda in terms of the distance between its traditional and modern (globalised) v ersion. For an almost complete absence of standardisation of Ayurveda in the Euro-American regions, I have assumed a high plurality of its forms. I have drawn upon ethnographic research based in an Ayurvedic institution in the Czech Republic, which serves as a school for future Ayurvedic practitioners, as a consultation and healthcare centre, as a community centre, and as a shop with Ayurvedic medicines. The aim of this paper is to show how a specific Ayurveda “is done” in the local socialnatural environment. To reach this point, I discuss the main actors and practices involved in the process of the enactment of Ayurveda. Inspired by several Latourian thoughts, I have attempted to work symmetrically – to pay the same attention to the material, the social, and the discursive aspect of this phenomenon. In this case, Ayurveda has been formed by teaching, studying, recovering and expanding through its community, by organising a daily regime in the terms of food, yoga and breathing exercises, and also by defining its medicines through legislative processes. Crucial roles in this process are played by the Teacher, the Doctrine, and the Space of the Ayurveda Institution itself – its schedule and regulations, its community –, by the food, physical exercises and medicines.
Ožívání městského společenství
Authors: Mikovcová Markéta
Published: October 2024

This paper empirically examines the role of community in the community gardens of Prague. The goal is to determine whether the community is truly established, and whether it influences the public space. The case study of community gardens in Prague was conducted using the methods of semi-structured interviews and participant observations. Since community gardens are on the rise as bottom-up initiatives which react to the degree of individualisation in the city, they could be comprehended also as an activation of civic society. Although community gardens mutually differ, every one of them influences their geographic and social space to some extent. Regardless the way they are organised, there is a developed in-group sense among the gardeners which confirms the existence of community. The fact that community gardens seek to develop the space they are located in and that they engage in activities with local entrepreneurs and civic associations, but also that they associate people with an interest in gardening who would have not met without the existence of community gardens, leads to the conclusion that they develop space-based communities as well as interest-based ones.
Helena Nosková: Pražské ozvěny. Minulost a současnost Slováků v českých zemích
Authors: Sulitka Andrej
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Helena Nosková.
Colour-Coding Aegean Elites: Status and Cultural Identities in Linear B Dyed Textiles and Late Bronze Age Socio-Political Changes
Authors: Pierini Rachele
Published: October 2024

This paper analyses the dyed textiles that are recorded in Linear B tablets and explores their role within the changes that the Late Bronze Age Aegean socio-cultural and economic scenario underwent. Additionally, it addresses how Aegean elites visually conveyed cultural messages on power and identities through colours and coloured textiles. As such, this paper (i) hypothesises new associations between red-dyed textiles, the chronology of Linear B tablets from Knossos, and the socio-political and cultural development of the Late Bronze Age; (ii) contributes new insights into the cultivation of plants producing red dyes throughout the period of the Knossos tablets use; (iii) challenges the interpretation of terms referring to the red natural colour of the wool; (iv) critically reviews the interpretation of terms referring to the grey natural colour of the wool; (v) hypothesises a new interpretation of how green-dyed textiles were obtained.
Reforming the IMF Surcharge Rate Policy to Avoid Procyclical Lending
Authors: Gallagher Kevin , Guzman Martin , Stiglitz Joseph , Uy Marilou
Published: October 2024

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) levies ‘surcharges’ or extra fees beyond the normal borrowing costs on member countries that either draw “sufficiently large” amounts of IMF credit to mitigate balance of payments constraints, or that maintain their credit exposure with the institution for “sufficiently long” periods of time. Such surcharges have become increasingly important: 10 countries paid surcharges in 2020. Now, 22 countries are subject to IMF surcharges, and revenues from surcharges between 2020 and 2023 have reached about $6.4 billion, just as countries are struggling to recover from their balance of payments issues amidst multiple shocks, such as COVID-19, climate change, war, and advanced economy interest rate changes. Reportedly designed to discourage the overuse of Fund resources and to ensure the financial soundness of the IMF’s own balance sheet, in recent years surcharges have come under scrutiny for two reasons. First, such surcharges are inherently pro-cyclical as they increase the burden of debt payments at exactly the time when a member country needs counter-cyclical and low-cost financing, contravening the very rationale of the IMF. Secondly, IMF surcharges have now become among the largest sources of revenue for the IMF, creating a perverse situation whereby the most economically disadvantaged member countries are a major source of income for Fund operations. This paper reviews the rationale for IMF surcharges, evaluates their impacts on member country economies and on the IMF business model, and presents and evaluates various proposals for IMF surcharge reform.
Obesity and risk of placenta accreta spectrum: A meta-analysis
Authors: Jenabi Ensiyeh , Najafi-Vosough Roya , Nazari Arshia
Published: October 2024

Background

Some studies have indicated a notable association between obesity and placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), while others have not reported. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to explore the association between obesity and the risk of PAS.

Methods

To explore the association between obesity and PAS through observational studies, we conducted a systematic search across PubMed, Web of Science, Google scholar, and Scopus databases up to March 30, 2024. The meta-analysis utilized a random-effect model, with the quality of included studies assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant using Stata software, version 14 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA).

Results

The association between obesity and PAS risk in crude studies showed significance (1.51 [95% CI: 1.19, 1.82; I
2 = 0.0%]). However, in adjusted studies, the association was not significant (1.25 [95% CI: 0.45, 2.05; I
2 = 52.0%]).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that obesity has been proposed as potentially associated with a higher risk of PAS, particularly evident in crude studies. However, it is imperative to conduct prospective cohort studies with a large sample size and meticulous control of confounding variables to further elucidate this relationship.
Economic education of people with disabilities as a tool supporting social inclusion
Authors:   Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poland, Banaś Dawid
Published: October 2024

Economic education is becoming increasingly essential for modern societies to function. It consists of three aspects: knowledge, skills and attitudes, and if such aspects remain at a low level, the people it concerns are susceptible to financial exclusion. Due to dynamic changes occurring in financial markets, knowledge quickly becomes outdated and needs to be frequently updated. People with disabilities fall into this group of people at risk of social exclusion, usually displaying lower participation in the educational system (although this has been changing) and facing greater difficulties in the labour market. A hypothesis has been posed that economic education may contribute to the social inclusion of people with disabilities, and the determined goal was to demonstrate the existence of the need for financial education targeted at people with disabilities to make them less susceptible to the risk of social and financial exclusion. This goal was achieved through critical analysis of the literature on the subject, and by way of deduction. The author’s research demonstrated that economic education is a tool that contributes to reducing the risk of social and financial exclusion, and therefore economic education should be primarily targeted at the groups most susceptible to the risk of exclusion, including, among others, people with disabilities. The paper demonstrates that Poland also lacks measures that would contribute to the level of economic knowledge of that social group.
Using artificial intelligence in business: the example of ChatGPT in management
Authors:   Krakow University of Economics, Poland, Bajak Maria , Spendel Łukasz ,   Krakow University of Economics, Poland
Published: October 2024

Generative artificial intelligence is used to create new content and solutions through its ability to discover relationships in raw data, thus simulating the human thinking process. One particularly popular tool of this type is ChatGPT, which generates text and helps to solve a variety of problems. Consequently, it can also support company management by helping in the performance of various functions. By automating routine tasks, for example, it allows employees to focus on more strategic activities, while the use of data to identify trends supports informed decision-making, which enhances a company’s competitiveness and efficiency. The primary objective of the presented paper was to identify the key areas of application of ChatGPT in management. Accordingly, a quantitative and qualitative bibliometric analysis of the literature on this subject from the Web of Science and Scopus databases was undertaken, with a targeted selection of examples for case studies made based on the main research areas identified through bibliometric mapping. The article not only outlines the general trends related to the growth of the literature on ChatGPT in the field of management and quality sciences, but also specifies the main ways in which this tool supports management. It was noted that due to its ability to generate, automate, analyse and optimise, ChatGPT in management practice primarily supports (internal and external) communication, data use and problem solving.
Decision making aided by Artificial Intelligence
Authors:   SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland, Łabędzki Rafał
Published: October 2024

The aim of the paper is to present how machine learning can support managers in the decision-making process. Analysis of the issue presented in this elaboration includes a review of the relevant literature on decision theory and utility as well as machine learning methods. The paper discusses possibilities of supporting managers through artificial intelligence in the context of stages of the decision-making process. It has been demonstrated that – thanks to artificial intelligence – it is possible to better estimate the expected utility of the alternatives that decision-maker choose from. Additionally, the paper presents an argument indicating that the use of machine learning makes the manager's decision-making process closer to the normative approach.
Growth and characterization of tin disulphide thin film by spray pyrolysis technique
Authors:   Department of Physics, Sengunthar Engineering College, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India, Sudha M. , Madhan A. B. ,   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr.Navalar Nedunchezhiyan college of Engineering, Tholudur, Tamil Nadu, India, Revathi M. ,   Department of Physics, Excel Engineering College, Komarapalayam, Tamil Nadu, India, Thangaraj N. ,   Department of Physics, Velalar College of Engineering and Technology, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
Published: October 2024

An inexpensive spray pyrolysis process has been used to create thin layer of tin disulphide. The concentration, flow rate, and nozzle to substrate distance were tuned as deposition parameters to produce high-quality thin films. Temperature is varied in the range 200˚C to 350˚C. Through physical research, properties such as the structural, electrical and optical were examined. The films generated are SnS2 with a hexagonal structure, as revealed by X-ray diffraction. EDAX analysis confirms SnS2 thin films. Scanning electron microscopy indicated uniform stacking and material adherence to the glass substrate. A 2.22 eV straight band gap was found. Two peaks in the photoluminescence spectrum were indicative of the emission of green and yellow fluorescence, respectively. Electrical properties reveal that resistivity decreases from 3.18 x 10-2 Ω cm to 3.06 x 10-3 Ω cm, carrier concentration & mobility increases to 1.4 x 1020/ cm3 to 1.8 x 1020/ cm3 , 1.92 cm2 /Vs to 5.3 cm2 /Vs respectively with increases in temperature.
Sustainable degradation of AZO dyes using green synthesized lead nanoparticles and solar energy
Authors:   DMI - St.Eugene University, Chibombo, Zambia, Ramalakshmi C. , Shibila S. ,   Department of Biotechnology, Meenaakshi Ramasamy Arts and Science College, Thathanur -621804, Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu, India, Mariselvam R. ,   Saraswathi Institute of Lifescience, Alangulam Main Road, Terkkumadathur, Tenkai -627423, Tamil Nadu, India, Vijayarani G. , Parameshwari V. T. ,   Tamil Institute of Technology, Seeniyapuram, Tenkasi-627423, Tamil Nadu, India, Krishnamoorthy R. ,   Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Gatasheh M. K. ,   Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O.Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
Published: October 2024

This study explores the green synthesis of lead nanoparticles and their application in degrading the AZO dye Nicoracine under solar irradiation. UV-Visible spectroscopy confirmed nanoparticle formation with a peak at 248 nm, indicating SPR. FTIR revealed functional groups from plant extracts aiding stabilization. XRD analysis showed a crystalline structure, while SEM and AFM indicated irregular shape and rough surface. The nanoparticles exhibited significant catalytic activity, enhancing Nicoracine degradation via solar light, facilitated by ROS generation. Kinetic analysis suggested a pseudo-first-order reaction model. This green synthesis method offers a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment and industrial pollution mitigation.
Investigation of electrochemical performance of gadolinium trichloride in asymmetric supercapacitor applications
Authors:   Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Anna University,Chennai-600 025, Tamilnadu, India, Shanmugha Soundare S. , Ariponnammal S. ,   Department of Physics, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed To Be University, Gandhigram-624 302,Dindigul District, Tamilnadu, India, Jayavel R. ,   Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Anna University,Chennai-600 025, Tamilnadu, India
Published: October 2024

The commercial Gadolinium tri chloride (GdCl3) electrode material exhibits high specific capacitance of 207.52Fg−1 in three electrode system at 1A/g with potential window 1.0 V. The GdCl3//Activated carbon (AC) asymmetric supercapacitor device in two electrode system achieves 188.14Fg−1 specific capacitance at 1 A/g with high potential window 1.7V. It possess high energy density 75.51Wh/kg, power density 850W/kg. and electrochemical stability of 92% of its initial capacitance after 5000 cycles. These demonstrate GdCl3 as an useful material for electrochemical energy storage devices. Further, electron paramagnetic resonance study on GdCl3 reveals g-factor 1.98 and line width ΔH = 221.8mT.
Lithuanian Agriculture during the Nazis Occuption
Authors: Braslauskas Justinas
Published: October 2024

After Bolsheviks had been banished out of Lithuania and the life in the country had normalized, in Lithuania occupied by the Nazis, owing to the initiative of the local Lithuanian authorities, the agricultural production and culture development which had been started during the period of independence of Lithuania and then neglected during the period of Bolshevism was resumed, including the improvement of breeds of domestic fowl and cattle, the draining and cultivating of soil, the organization of land exploitation, the classifying of land, the agricultural research and education, etc. The German civil authorities regarded Lithuania as a country to be annexed in the nearest future and, therefore, they did not hamper and even stimulated the initiative of officers of the Lithuanian authorities taken in the above-mentioned fields. Nevertheless, the main goals of the Nazi regime in the sphere of agriculture in Lithuania were to exploit and plunder the country's farmers in order to improve the provision of the German army and its population with foodstuffs. The Nazis issued a lot of orders implying various obligatory deliveries of agricultural produce levied on the Lithuanian farmers.  The quota of obligatory deliveries levied on Lithuania constituted the important part of gross agricultural output of Lithuania. In spite of various repressive measures, the set deliveries quota was not executed in full during any economic year. However, only in the form of obligatory deliveries (excluding requisitions by the army, etc.) the invaders succeeded in taking great quantities of various food products from the Lithuanian farmers. It goes without saying that such a policy of the invaders ruined the agriculture of Lithuania and did not contribute to the development of production. Moreover, during the period of German occupation, the agriculture in Lithuania faced the following problems: the lack of agricultural machinery and equipment, seeds, fertilizers, drafters, agricultural workers, as well as the low prices on agricultural produce, etc. In such unfavorable wartime conditions, the area under crops decreased, the land lay fallow, the cultivation and fertility of the soil was poor, the field crops production fell down, and the number of domestic fowl and cattle decreased. At the end of the war, the agriculture in Lithuania was even more exhausted by the actions of war.
Rimantas Vėbra (1931 11 25 - 1999 04 15)
Authors: Pivoras Saulius
Published: October 2024

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Webometric analysis of the visibility, reach and impact of food science research publications: institute of agricultural research and training, ibadan (1972-2023)
Authors: SA Oluranti , EC Omenna , HO Abubakar , D Afekhiku
Published: October 2024

This study evaluated the visibility, reach and impact of Food Science research publications from the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) in Ibadan, Nigeria, over the period 1972-2023. Utilizing webometric analysis, data were collected from Google Scholar, Research Gate, and Scopus, focusing on citation metrics, article counts, and online engagement. A total of 745 scholarly articles across various food science disciplines, including Food Microbiology, Human Nutrition, Meat Science, Nutritional Biochemistry, and Food Science Technology and Biotechnology, were analyzed. The study incorporated log file data from the 14 food scientists’ profiles, examining a total of 9,392 cited works. These citations were derived from materials indexed by Google Scholar (5,221 citations), Research Gate (3,358 citations) and Scopus (813 citations). Findings revealed that Food Science Technology and Biotechnology had the highest number of articles and citations, with 257 articles (64.4% of total) on Google Scholar and 3,108 citations (60% of total). Research Gate showed 171 articles (65% of total) with 2,249 citations (67% of total), while Scopus recorded 52 articles (63% of total) with 449 citations (55.2% of total). A paired t-test measuring the evolution of access and growth in published works indicated a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) across all specializations in Food Science. Citations for Food Science/Technology and Biotechnology rose from 19 (1%) in 1972-1997 to 3,089 (99%) in 1998-2023, highlighting substantial growth in visibility and usage. The geographical distribution analysis showed that Africa had the highest citation metrics, followed by Europe, North America with Asia and South America having relatively lower impact. The study underscores the critical role of digital platforms in enhancing research impact and suggested that improved dissemination strategies are needed, particularly for areas with lower reach such as food Microbiology. These findings provided valuable insights for researchers aiming to enhance the visibility and impact of scientific research in food Science.
Sarcoma sinovial de rodilla: reporte de un caso
Authors: Tálamo Francisco , Varaona José María , Jorge Fernando , Muzzio Alberto
Published: October 2024

Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 22 años con dolor crónico medial en la rodilla izquierda que inicialmente fue interpretado como un síndrome meniscal y, luego de diversos estudios, se diagnosticó como un sarcoma sinovial intrarticular. La resonancia magnética realizada en el momento de la consulta mostraba una masa homogénea bien circunscrita y de características inespecíficas dentro del compartimento interno de la rodilla. En el examen histológico posterior, se informó que dicha lesión se correspondía a un sarcoma sinovial que surgía de la membrana sinovial de esa articulación. Tras presentar el caso en un ateneomultidisciplinario, se procedió a la resección amplia de la lesión como único tratamiento y a la posterior reconstrucción ligamentaria y capsular. El sarcoma sinovial es un tumor mesenquimatoso raro que representa <10% de los sarcomas de partes blandas. Las características inespecíficas de la resonancia magnética, así como sus manifestaciones clínicas plantean un desafío en el diagnóstico precoz. Este cuadro debe considerarse dentro de los diagnósticos diferenciales ante dolores articulares inespecíficos y cuando las imágenes no son características de otras enfermedades.