bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formation of the Tibetan Plateau during the India-Eurasia Convergence: Insight from 3-D Multi-Terrane Thermomechanical Modeling
Authors: Chen Jile , Zhu Peimin , Yuan Yuefeng , Chen Guifan
Published: February 2024

Various models exist to explain the formation of the Tibetan Plateau, including “tectonic escape”, “pure shear thickening”, “convective removal of the lithospheric mantle”, and “lower crustal flow” model. The first two models are primarily constructed on pure mechanical models but are unable to reasonably explain the tension and shear phenomena inside the plateau. The latter two are rheological dynamic models based on deep geophysical observations. However, the spatial range of the lower crustal flow and its role in the plateau formation/uplift remain controversial. Five multi-terrane viscoplastic thermomechanical models were constructed to simulate the uplift and lithospheric structure change of the Tibetan Plateau during the post-collision stage (since 35 Ma) under the convergence of the Indian Plate. Results show that the plateau’s formation begins with crustal thickening, blocked by strong terranes at the northern plateau, and expanded laterally to the east. The lithosphere thickens gradually and experiences delamination at its base, elevating temperature within the crust and forming partial melting layers in the central plateau. As convergence persists on the southern side, the northern plateau’s lithosphere bends downward and undergoes delamination, further heating the crust and promoting the northward and eastward flow of partial melting layers, leading to secondary uplift around the plateau.
Invasiveness of previous treatment for peripheral arterial disease and risk of adverse cardiac events after coronary stenting
Authors: Pinxterhuis Tineke H. , von Birgelen Clemens , Geelkerken Robert H. , Doggen Carine J. M. , Menting Theo P. , van Houwelingen K. Gert , Linssen Gerard C. M. , Ploumen Eline H.
Published: February 2024

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PADs), undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), have higher adverse event risks. The effect of invasiveness of PADs treatment on PCI outcome is unknown. This study assessed the impact of the invasiveness of previous PADs treatment (invasive or non-invasive) on event risks after PCI with contemporary drug-eluting stents. This post-hoc analysis pooled 3-year patient-level data of PCI all-comer patients living in the eastern Netherlands, previously treated for PADs. PADs included symptomatic atherosclerotic lesion in the lower or upper extremities; carotid or vertebral arteries; mesenteric arteries or aorta. Invasive PADs treatment comprised endarterectomy, bypass surgery, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, stenting or amputation; non-invasive treatment consisted of medication and participation in exercise programs. Primary endpoint was (coronary) target vessel failure: composite of cardiac mortality, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, or clinically indicated target vessel revascularization. Of 461 PCI patients with PADs, information on PADs treatment was available in 357 (77.4%) patients; 249 (69.7%) were treated invasively and 108 (30.3%) non-invasively. Baseline and PCI procedural characteristics showed no between-group difference. Invasiveness of PADs treatment was not associated with adverse event risks, including target vessel failure (20.5% vs. 16.0%; HR: 1.30, 95%-CI 0.75–2.26, p = 0.35), major adverse cardiac events (23.3% vs. 20.4%; HR: 1.16, 95%-CI 0.71–1.90, p = 0.55), and all-cause mortality (12.1% vs. 8.3%; HR: 1.48, 95%-CI 0.70–3.13, p = 0.30). In PADs patients participating in PCI trials, we found no significant relation between the invasiveness of previous PADs treatment and 3-year outcome after PCI. Consequently, high-risk PCI patients can be identified by consulting medical records, searching for PADs, irrespective of the invasiveness of PADs treatment.

Graphical abstract

Comparison of patients with non-invasive and invasive PADs treatment. PADs peripheral arterial disease, PCI percutaneous coronary intervention.
Energy Consumption and Human Capital: Does Human Capital Stimulate Renewable Energy? The Case of Greece
Authors: Pegkas Panagiotis
Published: February 2024

This paper aims to empirically examine the relationship between energy consumption and human capital in Greece, using annual data from 1990 to 2021. Due to the availability of the data, we use the autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) approach, which is more reliable for studies with small samples. The results indicate that human capital substantially negatively affects energy consumption in the long and short run. When splitting aggregate energy consumption into renewable and non-renewable our findings suggest that human capital stimulates renewable energy consumption and reduces non-renewable energy consumption. Moreover, we find that a higher level of human capital arises from increasing the share of the advanced-educated population, and technological progress reduces non-renewable energy consumption and increases renewable energy consumption. Policymakers in Greece should consider that investing in human capital could be the key for the country to reduce energy consumption and achieve a sustainable growth level by replacing polluting fuels with clean energy sources in the energy mix.
Conceptualizing Supply Chain Resilience in Exogenous Crisis Times: Toward a Holistic Definition
Authors: Faggioni Francesca , Rossi Marco Valerio , Sestino Andrea
Published: February 2024

Supply chain resilience has become increasingly crucial in today’s scenario in response to major disruptions that generated huge exogenous crises. This paper investigates the current SCR-related academic literature related to SCR to develop a new holistic definition. A total amount of 214 scientific contributions the last 5 years (i.e., between 2018 and 2022) have been analyzed. Findings revealed four important issues to achieve SCR, i.e., Key resilience attributes, Technology-aided visible SC, Sustainable and measurable SCR practices, and Relationship between SC partners. Leveraging insights gleaned from these critical issues, we have meticulously crafted an updated and comprehensive definition of SCR, by considering the multi-faceted facets that contribute to its holistic understanding. In light of our emerging insights, we suggest a novel approach to fortify organizational supply chain resilience, emphasizing a more holistic perspective. Our recommendations for future research include (1) exploring the integration of emerging technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence for real-time monitoring to enhance adaptive decision-making in post-COVID-19 supply chains, (2) investigating the strategic role of collaborative networks and information sharing among supply chain partners to enhance agility and responsiveness amidst post-pandemic uncertainties, and (3) analyzing the impact of sustainable and circular supply chain practices on resilience. Findings of the paper and the new holistic definition of SCR have several implications for both academics and managers that are listed at the end of the paper along with limitations of the study and future research avenues.
Considering Culture and Countering Mistrust: Organisation Perspectives for Adapting Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Ghana
Authors: Chubb L. A. , Adewale D. , Jarvis K. , Jackson S. , Naseer B.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is heralded as an effective solution to reduce acute sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues, particularly for young people. In Ghana, from 2019 to 2020, a co-ordinated campaign against implementing revisions to the CSE curriculum by national and international parties generated a polarising debate resulting in government pull-back from actioning the revisions. Whilst mainstream reporting predominantly focuses on political voices that either promote or discredit the CSE curriculum, formally documented perspectives of those working within service delivery are limited in Ghana.

Methods

To address this gap, in February 2020, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted using 16 key-informant semistructured interviews with practitioners from organisations delivering SRH in Accra, Ghana, to answer the question: In what ways might CSE be adapted to enhance SRH education delivery for young people in Ghana? Participants were asked their perspectives on the barriers and enablers of CSE implementation in Ghana.

Results

Utilising a rights-based approach as a theoretical frame for analysis, a hybrid thematic analysis approach revealed three overarching themes: (1) “It’s not anything strange”: The need to normalise young people’s sexual wellness; (2) cultural considerations and countering mistrust; and (3) suggested adaptations.

Conclusions and Policy Implications

Key informants described seeing the need for CSE in Ghana alongside cultural resistance to content within the curriculum. They called for CSE implementations to consider engaging multiple stakeholders in training to develop content clarity and suggested pathways for incremental delivery and adaptations at government and community levels to continue addressing issues of sexual wellness for the country’s growing youth population.
Human-Centered Explanations: Lessons Learned from Image Classification for Medical and Clinical Decision Making
Authors: Finzel Bettina
Published: February 2024

To date, there is no universal explanatory method for making decisions of an AI-based system transparent to human decision makers. This is because, depending on the application domain, data modality, and classification model, the requirements for the expressiveness of explanations vary. Explainees, whether experts or novices (e.g., in medical and clinical diagnosis) or developers, have different information needs. To address the explanation gap, we motivate human-centered explanations and demonstrate the need for combined and expressive approaches based on two image classification use cases: digital pathology and clinical pain detection using facial expressions. Various explanatory approaches that have emerged or been applied in the three-year research project “Transparent Medical Expert Companion” are shortly reviewed and categorized in expressiveness according to their modality and scope. Their suitability for different contexts of explanation is assessed with regard to the explainees’ need for information. The article highlights open challenges and suggests future directions for integrative explanation frameworks.
HIV-1 mRNA knockdown with CRISPR/CAS9 enhances neurocognitive function
Authors: McLaurin Kristen A. , Li Hailong , Khalili Kamel , Mactutus Charles F. , Booze Rosemarie M.
Published: February 2024

Mixed glia are infiltrated with HIV-1 virus early in the course of infection leading to the development of a persistent viral reservoir in the central nervous system. Modification of the HIV-1 genome using gene editing techniques, including CRISPR/Cas9, has shown great promise towards eliminating HIV-1 viral reservoirs; whether these techniques are capable of removing HIV-1 viral proteins from mixed glia, however, has not been systematically evaluated. Herein, the efficacy of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing for eliminating HIV-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) from cortical mixed glia was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, a within-subjects experimental design was utilized to treat mixed glia isolated from neonatal HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rats with varying doses (0, 0.9, 1.8, 2.7, 3.6, 4.5, or 5.4 µL corresponding to a physical titer of 0, 4.23 × 109, 8.46 × 109, 1.269 × 1010, 1.692 × 1010, 2.115 × 1010, and 2.538 × 1010 gc/µL) of CRISPR/Cas9 for 72 h. Dose-dependent decreases in the number of HIV-1 mRNA, quantified using an innovative in situ hybridization technique, were observed in a subset (i.e., n = 5 out of 8) of primary mixed glia. In vivo, HIV-1 Tg rats were retro-orbitally inoculated with CRISPR/Cas9 for two weeks, whereby treatment resulted in profound excision (i.e., approximately 53.2%) of HIV-1 mRNA from the medial prefrontal cortex. Given incomplete excision of the HIV-1 viral genome, the clinical relevance of HIV-1 mRNA knockdown for eliminating neurocognitive impairments was evaluated via examination of temporal processing, a putative neurobehavioral mechanism underlying HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Indeed, treatment with CRISPR/Cas9 protractedly, albeit not permanently, restored the developmental trajectory of temporal processing. Proof-of-concept studies, therefore, support the susceptibility of mixed glia to gene editing and the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 to serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for HAND, even in the absence of full viral eradication.
Online learning environment and student engagement: the mediating role of expectancy and task value beliefs
Authors: Vo Hoi , Ho Hang
Published: February 2024

This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of student engagement in online learning by exploring the effects of salient online learning environment conditions on student engagement and the motivational pathways through which they affect engagement. Survey data were collected from 351 undergraduate students enrolled in various online undergraduate programs at a large open university in Vietnam. Results of structural equation modelling revealed that course clarity and task relevance had significant indirect effects on students’ behavioural, cognitive, and affective engagement via their expectancy and task value beliefs. Teacher support was found to have indirect effect on student engagement only via expectancy beliefs whereas student connectedness predicted neither students’ motivation nor engagement in online learning. Results of the study are discussed in light of existing theoretical and empirical evidence on the intricate relationships between learning environment, motivation, and student engagement. Implications for practice are also offered to help create an online learning environment that has potential to foster student engagement and alleviate disengagement and dropout.
On Ribet’s lemma for GL$$_2$$ modulo prime powers
Authors: Ophir Amit , Weiss Ariel
Published: February 2024

Let $$\rho :G\rightarrow {{\,\textrm{GL}\,}}_2(K)$$

ρ
:
G
→

GL

2

(
K
)

be a continuous representation of a compact group G over a complete discretely valued field K with ring of integers $$\mathcal {O}$$
O
and uniformiser $$\pi $$
π
. We prove that $${{\,\textrm{tr}\,}}\rho $$

tr

ρ

is reducible modulo $$\pi ^n$$

π
n

if and only if $$\rho $$
ρ
is reducible modulo $$\pi ^n$$

π
n

. More precisely, there exist characters $$\chi _1,\chi _2 :G\rightarrow (\mathcal {O}/\pi ^n\mathcal {O})^\times $$

χ
1

,

χ
2

:
G
→

(
O
/

π
n

O
)

×

such that $$\det (t - \rho (g))\equiv (t-\chi _1(g))(t-\chi _2(g))\pmod {\pi ^n}$$

det

(
t
-
ρ

(
g
)

)

≡

(
t
-

χ
1

(
g
)

)

(
t
-

χ
2

(
g
)

)

(
mod

π
n

)

for all $$g\in G$$

g
∈
G

, if and only if there exists a G-stable lattice $$\Lambda \subseteq K^2$$

Λ
⊆

K
2

such that $$\Lambda /\pi ^n\Lambda $$

Λ
/

π
n

Λ

contains a G-invariant, free, rank one $$\mathcal {O}/\pi ^n\mathcal {O}$$

O
/

π
n

O

-submodule. Our result applies in the case that $$\rho $$
ρ
is not residually multiplicity-free, in which case it answers a question of Bellaïche and Chenevier (J Algebra 410:501–525, 2014, pp. 524). As an application, we prove an optimal version of Ribet’s lemma, which gives a condition for the existence of a G-stable lattice $$\Lambda $$
Λ
that realises a non-split extension of $$\chi _2$$

χ
2

by $$\chi _1$$

χ
1

.
Why have Liberal-Progressive Philosophies of Education Caused Little Liberation or Progression for Māori?
Authors: Hetaraka Maia
Published: February 2024

There is much to celebrate about the liberal-progressive approach championed by New Zealand, which continues to be a prized feature of New Zealand education. Many liberal-progressive practices developed in New Zealand and contextualised for New Zealand students that sought to expand and enrich education were borrowed from Native Schools, Māori teachers, and Pākeha perceptions of preferred Māori pedagogies, giving rise to the perception that New Zealand education is bi-cultural in nature. This article offers critique of the key philosophies that have underpinned New Zealand education for the past 100 years to consider some of the challenges of liberal-progressive education for Māori. The philosophical foundations of a cutting-edge, creative, student-centred schooling system remain problematic for Māori and have been largely unsuccessful in expanding or enriching schooling for many Māori. A te ao Māori perspective of the foundational education philosophies highlights that the negative socio-political and educational positioning of Māori in New Zealand has been purposeful and well-coordinated.
Fast autonomous exploration with sparse topological graphs in large-scale environments
Authors: Wei Changyun , Wu Jianbin , Xia Yu , Ji Ze
Published: February 2024

Exploring large-scale environments autonomously poses a significant challenge. As the size of environments increases, the computational cost becomes a hindrance to real-time operation. Additionally, while frontier-based exploration planning provides convenient access to environment frontiers, it suffers from slow global exploration speed. On the other hand, sampling-based methods can effectively explore individual regions but fail to cover the entire environment. To overcome these limitations, we present a hierarchical exploration approach that integrates frontier-based and sampling-based methods. It assesses the informational gain of sampling points by considering the quantity of frontiers in the vicinity, and effectively enhances exploration efficiency by utilizing a utility function that takes account of the direction of advancement for the purpose of selecting targets. To improve the search speed of global topological graph in large-scale environments, this paper introduces a method for constructing a sparse topological graph. It incrementally constructs a three-dimensional sparse topological graph by dynamically capturing the spatial structure of free space through uniform sampling. In various challenging simulated environments, the proposed approach demonstrates comparable exploration performance in comparison with the state-of-the-art approaches. Notably, in terms of computational efficiency, the single iteration time of our approach is less than one-tenth of that required by the recent advances in autonomous exploration.
Deep Learning-Based Detection of Defects in Wafer Buffer Zone During Semiconductor Packaging Process
Authors: Kim Tae-Yeon , Park Sunjae , Lim Chang-Kue , Choi Jae-Hyuk , An Chang-Hyun , Song Lak-Hyun , Kim Do-Nyun
Published: February 2024

Effectively detecting defects in wafer buffer zones is crucial in semiconductor manufacturing processes. If defects are not detected in the middle of the semiconductor manufacturing process, the semiconductor eventually becomes a defective product after all processes are completed. To solve this problem, rule-based vision algorithms have been used to identify defects in the wafer buffer zone. After photographing the wafer buffer zone using a high-speed camera, defects are detected using the pixel values of the images. However, because of the resin bleed in the wafer, which is an epoxy compound, it is difficult to detect defects. Therefore, we introduced a deep learning method for semiconductor inspection and created a high-performance semiconductor inspection algorithm. The defects in the wafer buffer zone should be detected accurately and quickly. Furthermore, the approximate size of the defects must be extracted. We modified the Xception model to fit the wafer data characteristics considering both accuracy and speed. We proposed to extract the size of the defect using class activation mapping (CAM). We obtained an accuracy of 96.9% from the actual wafer dataset through this framework, and then managed to extract the size of the defect through CAM.
Interval Type-2 Mutual Subsethood Cauchy Fuzzy Neural Inference System (IT2MSCFuNIS)
Authors: Hefny Hesham A. , Amer Nelly S.
Published: February 2024

An interval type-2 (IT2) mutual subsethood Cauchy fuzzy neural inference system has been proposed in this paper. The network architecture consists of 3-layers with all connection weights being IT2 Cauchy fuzzy membership functions (CMFs). The crisp inputs to the system are fuzzified into IT2CMFs with fixed centers and uncertain spreads. The hidden layer represents the rule-based knowledge. The firing degree of the antecedent part of each rule at the hidden layer is computed by aggregating the product of the mutual subsethood similarity measures between the inputs and the connection weights. A volume defuzzification is used to compute the numeric output. A gradient descent back-propagation algorithm is used to train the model. The novelty of the proposed model is threefold. First, is enriching the theory of the mutual subsethood fuzzy neural models by adopting the Cauchy membership function (CMF) as another powerful fuzzy basis function (FBF) rather than the classical choice of Gaussian fuzzy membership functions (GMFs). Second, is the success of computing the mutual subsethood similarity measure between the IT2CMFs and all the model parameters’ updating equations in analytic closed-form formulas, not numerically or approximately. Third, is the ability to extract the type-1 (T1) mutual subsethood Cauchy fuzzy neural inference system (T1MSCFuNIS) with all its analytic closed-form formulas directly as a special case from the general formulas of IT2MSCFuNIS model. Such a novelty makes the proposed model a concrete and effective development of the theory of mutual subsethood fuzzy neural models. Both IT2MSCFuNIS and T1MSCFuNIS models have been tested using different examples from the domains of function approximation, classification, and prediction. The results ensure the efficacy of both models compared with other models reported in the literature.
Epidemiology of Osteoporosis in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Taiwan
Authors: Liao Kuang-Ming , Shen Chuan-Wei , Chiu Kai-Lin , Lu Chun-Hui , Fang Chih-Wun , Chen Chung-Yu
Published: February 2024

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable chronic condition characterized by progressive, partially reversible airflow obstruction. Osteoporosis represents a significant comorbidity in individuals with COPD. However, the incidence and prevalence of osteoporosis among the COPD population remain unclear in Taiwan. Therefore, our objective is to investigate the incidence and prevalence of osteoporosis in patients with COPD.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled a COPD population retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) spanning the years 2003 to 2016. Osteoporosis patients were identified using diagnosis codes. The study included newly diagnosed COPD patients from 2003 to 2016. The case group comprised patients who developed osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures after their COPD diagnosis. We calculated the prevalence and incidence of osteoporosis in individuals with COPD and conducted trend tests.

Results

A total of 1,297,579 COPD patients were identified during the period from 2003 to 2016, with 275,233 of them in the osteoporosis group. The average prevalence of osteoporosis among individuals with COPD was 21.21% from 2003 to 2016 in Taiwan. The number of osteoporosis cases increased from 6,727 in 2003 to 24,184 in 2016. The prevalence of osteoporosis among COPD patients increased from 3.62% in 2003 to 18.72% in 2016. The number of osteoporosis cases among individuals with COPD continued to rise over the years, reaching its highest point in 2016 with 24,184 new cases. The incidence of osteoporosis fluctuated during the study period but generally remained around 3,000 cases per 100,000 person-years. Notably, there was a significant upward trend in incidence from 2003 to 2006, after which the trend stabilized and remained relatively constant.

Conclusions

Our study highlights an increase in both the prevalence and incidence of osteoporosis in individuals with COPD. Given the significant medical, economic, and social implications associated with osteoporosis, a comprehensive and robust assessment of its healthcare burden can offer valuable insights for healthcare system planning and policymaking.
Dynamics of Malaria Incidence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: Unveiling Rapid Growth Patterns and Forecasting Future Trends
Authors: Khan Muhammad Imran , Qureshi Humera , Bae Suk Joo , Shah Adil , Ahmad Naveed , Ahmad Sadique , Asim Muhammad
Published: February 2024

Background

Malaria remains a formidable worldwide health challenge, with approximately half of the global population at high risk of catching the infection. This research study aimed to address the pressing public health issue of malaria’s escalating prevalence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistan, and endeavors to estimate the trend for the future growth of the infection.

Methods

The data were collected from the IDSRS of KP, covering a period of 5 years from 2018 to 2022. We proposed a hybrid model that integrated Prophet and TBATS methods, allowing us to efficiently capture the complications of the malaria data and improve forecasting accuracy. To ensure an inclusive assessment, we compared the prediction performance of the proposed hybrid model with other widely used time series models, such as ARIMA, ETS, and ANN. The models were developed through R-statistical software (version 4.2.2).

Results

For the prediction of malaria incidence, the suggested hybrid model (Prophet and TBATS) surpassed commonly used time series approaches (ARIMA, ETS, and ANN). Hybrid model assessment metrics portrayed higher accuracy and reliability with lower MAE (8913.9), RMSE (3850.2), and MAPE (0.301) values. According to our forecasts, malaria infections were predicted to spread around 99,301 by December 2023.

Conclusions

We found the hybrid model (Prophet and TBATS) outperformed common time series approaches for forecasting malaria. By December 2023, KP’s malaria incidence is expected to be around 99,301, making future incidence forecasts important. Policymakers will be able to use these findings to curb disease and implement efficient policies for malaria control.
The Archaeology of the Pampas and Patagonia
Authors: Politis Gustavo G. , Borrero Luis A.
Published: February 2024

In this book, Gustavo G. Politis and Luis A. Borrero explore the archaeology and ethnography of the indigenous people who inhabited Argentina's Pampas and the Patagonia region from the end of the Pleistocene until the 20th century. Offering a history of the nomadic foragers living in the harsh habitats of the South America's Southern Cone, they provide detailed account of human adaptations to a range of environmental and social conditions. The authors show how the region's earliest inhabitants interacted with now-extinct animals as they explored and settled the vast open prairies and steppes of the region until they occupied most of its available habitats. They also trace technological advances, including the development of pottery, the use of bows and arrows, and horticulture. Making new research and data available for the first time, Politis and Borrero's volume demonstrates how geographical variation in the Southern Cone generated diverse adaptation strategies.
Climate Change Education, Globalisation and the Nation State: A Commentary on Ghana’s Science Curriculum
Authors: Asante Christian Konadu , Yalley Edward , Amissah Gideon
Published: February 2024

In this paper, we offer a commentary on the climate change content in Ghana’s primary and junior high school science curriculum. Since 2019, the government of Ghana has mandated climate change education at multiple levels of the school system. However, there is very little analysis of these curricula. This paper fills an important gap by critically reviewing the climate change content in the science curriculum in a country with a complex and tenuous past regarding capitalist and colonialist expansion and exploitation. We note that while the curriculum attends to technical details of greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts, it elides the larger global context that has led to the rise in carbon emissions and anthropogenic climate change. We make the case for a climate change curriculum that integrates culture, language and histories, and tackles the complexities of globalisation.
The Path to Judicial Management in Malaysia is Paved with Obstacles: Lessons from Singapore and the United Kingdom
Authors: Chen Thim Wai , Azmi Ruzita , Abdul-Rahman Rohana
Published: February 2024

In embracing corporate rescue, Malaysia introduced Judicial Management (JM) into its company law framework on 1 March 2018. The mechanism was modelled on Singapore's Judicial Management, which itself was based on the United Kingdom (UK) Administration Procedure. Despite its laudable objective of facilitating the rescue of financially distressed companies, the path to JM is paved with obstacles. This article identifies some of these obstacles and examines the issues that give rise to them. At the same time, the article proposes legislative reforms, drawing on comparative laws in Singapore and the UK. For the purposes of this article, three obstacles are examined: first, the power of a secured creditor or debenture holder to veto the JM application; second, the stringent and prohibitive burden imposed on an applicant company caused by the judicial interpretation, at times conflicting, of the provisions governing the application of a JM order; and third, the higher threshold imposed by legislative requirements on creditors’ meeting to approve the JM proposal. These obstacles are encountered at three stages of a JM application: first, at the initial stage of the application; second, in considering the merits of the JM; and third, when the creditors vote to approve the application.
The impact of badmouthing of medical specialities to medical students
Authors: Viani Walsh Dylan , Murphy Niamh , Evans Shane , Murphy Kieran C. , Guerandel Allys , Doherty Anne M. , Hallahan Brian , Lally John
Published: February 2024

Objectives:

This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of Irish medical students exposed to ‘badmouthing’ of different specialities and to ascertain: the degree of criticism of specialities based on the seniority of clinical or academic members of staff; if ‘badmouthing’ influenced student career choice in psychiatry; and attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry as a speciality and career choice.

Methods:

Medical students in three Irish universities were invited to complete an online survey to determine the frequency and effect of non-constructive criticism on choice of medical specialty. The online questionnaire was distributed to Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), University of Galway (UoG) and University College Dublin (UCD) in the academic year 2020–2021.

Results:

General practice (69%), surgery (65%) and psychiatry (50%) were the most criticised specialties. Criticism was most likely to be heard from medical students. 46% of students reported reconsidering a career in psychiatry due to criticism from junior doctors. There was a positive perception of psychiatry with 27% of respondents considering psychiatry as a first-choice specialty.

Conclusions:

Criticism of psychiatry by doctors, academics and student peers negatively influences students’ career choice, which could be contributing to recruitment difficulties in psychiatry.
COVID-19-induced neuropsychiatric symptoms can persist long after acute infection: a 2-year prospective study of biobehavioral risk factors and psychometric outcomes
Authors: Colizzi Marco , Comacchio Carla , De Martino Maria , Peghin Maddalena , Bontempo Giulia , Chiappinotto Stefania , Fonda Federico , Isola Miriam , Tascini Carlo , Balestrieri Matteo , Palese Alvisa
Published: February 2024

Objectives:

To assess the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms 2 years after the COVID-19 acute phase and to identify biobehavioral risk factors.

Methods:

This 2-year prospective study assessed adult individuals with COVID-19 via face-to-face interview and laboratory testing at onset, and via telephone interview at 2-year follow-up. Data collected included COVID-19 severity and management at onset, as well as depression, anxiety, insomnia, cognitive failure, and fatigue at follow-up using standardized assessment tools.

Results:

Out of 1,067 screened COVID-19 patients, 230 completed the 2-year follow-up (female, 53.5%; aged>40, 80.9%; native Italian, 94.9%; medical comorbidity, 53.5%; chronic medication, 46.3%; moderate to severe COVID-19, 24.9%; hospital admission, 28.7%; ICU, 5.2%). At follow-up, 9.1% had anxiety, 11.3% depression, 9.1% insomnia, 18.3% cognitive failure, and 39.1% fatigue, of clinical relevance. Headache (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.01–6.16, p = 0.048), dyspnea (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.03–6.31, p = 0.043), and number of symptoms (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01–1.51, p = 0.047) at onset were associated with anxiety at follow-up; dyspnea at onset was associated with depression at follow-up (OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.22–6.41, p = 0.015); number of comorbidities at onset was associated with insomnia at follow-up (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.06–2.08, p = 0.022); female gender (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.14–5.00, p = 0.020) and number of symptoms (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.02–1.42, p = 0.026) at onset was associated with cognitive failure at follow-up; number of comorbidities (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.03–1.73, p = 0.029) and symptoms (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.04-1.37, p = 0.013) and raised interleukin 6 levels (OR = 4.02, 95% CI = 1.42–11.36, p = 0.009) at onset was associated with fatigue at follow-up.

Conclusions:

COVID-19 survivors, especially if female, with preexisting health problems, and with a more severe acute phase, may present with long-lasting neuropsychiatric sequalae, urging interventions to sustain recovery particularly in these higher risk individuals.
Anti-trafficking Chains: Analyzing the Impact of Transparency Legislation in the UK Construction Sector
Authors: Barkay Tamar , Davies Jonathan , Pietropaoli Irene , Shamir Hila
Published: February 2024

A recurring conundrum lies at the heart of current anti-trafficking law and policy. Despite enormous efforts by civil society organizations, corporations, and governments to reduce human trafficking in supply chains, and the introduction of legislation in various countries that requires corporations to take active actions in this field, there is wide agreement that, so far, the desired change has not occurred. This article addresses this puzzle through studying the vibrant anti-trafficking activity in the UK construction sector that emerged following the enactment of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA). Applying socio-legal methods, the article unpacks the structural dynamics that shape the implementation of the MSA in the construction sector. We find that the Act exacerbates the imbalanced power relations between firms and anti-trafficking initiatives, positioning the latter as suppliers of modern slavery risk solutions that are dependent on corporate will and funding. The article demonstrates that anti-trafficking initiatives in the construction sector largely follow a “supply chain logic” that significantly limits their capacities to transform corporate behavior. We develop the notion of “anti-trafficking chains” to describe the dynamics of anti-trafficking activities in supply chains and to problematize the entanglement of anti-trafficking actors in supply chain power structure and logic.
Finno-Ugric Identity in Estonia: Visual and Discursive Analysis
Authors: Makarychev Andrey , Terry George Spencer , Siva Sami
Published: February 2024

This article seeks to discover how this contemporary Finno-Ugric identity has been politically instrumentalized and negotiated in Estonia. First, we look at how the Estonian state engages with the concept of Finno-Ugric world and inscribes it into Estonia’s foreign policy goals. Then, we delve into the role of Finno-Ugric traditionalism in Estonian populist and far-right discourses. Third, we discuss how local identity constitutes and cements community building initiatives and projects in the Seto region known for its local specificity and cultural peculiarity.
How Does Labor Mobility Affect Corporate Leverage and Investment?
Authors: Sanati Ali
Published: February 2024

I develop a dynamic model to investigate how labor mobility impacts firms’ decisions. In the model, firms make investment and financing decisions, hire labor with different skill and mobility levels, and set wages through bargaining. The model predicts that, in response to an increase in labor mobility, high-skill firms operate with lower financial leverage, become less responsive to investment opportunities, and invest at lower rates, while low-skill firms remain unaffected. I confirm these predictions in the data using shocks to workers’ mobility across firms. The results are useful in understanding the effects of labor mobility changes driven by government policies or technological shocks, such as the rise of remote work.
The development of postverbal subjects in L2 Italian: A multifactorial corpus analysis
Authors: Listanti Andrea , Torregrossa Jacopo
Published: February 2024

Most studies on the acquisition of postverbal subjects (VS) in L2 Italian focus on a limited number of linguistic factors that tend to be associated with the production of VS in L1 (e.g., verb class and subject discourse status). Moreover, they analyze homogeneous groups of learners in terms of proficiency, mostly through controlled experiments. In this paper, we present a cross-sectional corpus study based on a multifactorial analysis of the L2 use of VS structures in semi-spontaneous speech. We analyze the production of VSs by learners of different levels of proficiency (A1-C2), considering linguistic factors that trigger the production of VS in L1, but have been unaccounted for in L2 studies (e.g., agentivity of the subject, syntactic configuration of the sentence, contrastive focus). We use a cumulative link mixed model to show how the features of verbs and subjects in VS structures change across proficiency levels. The results indicate learners’ progressive mastery of the mechanisms of assignment of the subject function to the postverbal constituent and increasing sensitivity to contrastive focus as a feature relevant for the use of VS. Furthermore, we observe that psychological verbs associated with the use of VS are produced from the earliest stages of L2 acquisition.
The role of cross-language orthography and phonology in translation recognition: an ERP study with Chinese–English bilinguals
Authors: Zhang Er-Hu , Cao Hong-Wen
Published: February 2024

This study investigated the electrophysiological correlates of cross-language orthographic and phonological processing in unbalanced Chinese (L1)–English (L2) bilinguals using a translation recognition task. The critical L1-L2 word pairs were incorrect translation equivalents but orthographically or phonologically related through translation (orthographic or phonological translation neighbor). Compared with the unrelated control, the recognition of L2 words showed comparable reaction time and accuracies when coupled with L1 orthographic or phonological translation neighbors. However, both orthographic and phonological translation neighbors elicited more negative event-related potential (ERP) waveforms in the bulk of the N400 component (300-600 ms) than the unrelated control. These findings were interpreted in the framework of the Bilingual Interactive Activation Plus model (BIA+ model), according to which cross-language orthographic and phonological representations were non-selectively accessed during the recognition of the L2 words, and top-down inhibitory control mechanism impacted the cross-language lexical competition and confliction between the two languages.
Predicting naming scores from language history: A little immersion goes a long way, and self-rated proficiency matters more than percent use
Authors: Neveu Anne , Gollan Tamar H.
Published: February 2024

Language proficiency is a critically important factor in research on bilingualism, but researchers disagree on its measurement. Validated objective measures exist, but investigators often rely exclusively on subjective measures. We investigated if combining multiple self-report measures improves prediction of objective naming test scores in 36 English-dominant versus 32 Spanish-dominant older bilinguals (Experiment 1), and in 41 older Spanish–English bilinguals versus 41 proficiency-matched young bilinguals (Experiment 2). Self-rated proficiency was a powerful but sometimes inaccurate predictor and better predicted naming accuracy when combined with years of immersion, while percent use explained little or no unique variance. Spanish-dominant bilinguals rated themselves more strictly than English-dominant bilinguals at the same objectively measured proficiency level. Immersion affected young more than older bilinguals, and non-immersed (English-dominant) more than immersed (Spanish-dominant) bilinguals. Self-reported proficiency ratings can produce spurious results, but predictive power improves when combined with self-report questions that might be less affected by subjective judgements.
Exploring the nutritional potentials of wild Vigna legume species for neo-domestication prospects
Authors: Harouna Difo Voukang , Ndakidemi Patrick Alois , Venkataramana Pavithravani , Matemu Athanasia O.
Published: February 2024

Projected increases in human population suggest that 70% more food will be needed in the near future, this makes it imperative to search for alternative food and feed sources for human and animal nutrition to feed the exponentially growing human population. According to the FAO 2019 report, the immense challenge of achieving the Zero Hunger target by 2030 is persistent. Exploring the unexplored, refining unrefined traits, cultivating the uncultivated, and popularizing the unpopular remain the most adequate steps proposed by researchers to achieve the domestication of the undomesticated for food and nutrition security. In that line of thought, this study explored the proximate composition of 87 accessions of four wild unexplored Vigna species (V. racemosa, V. ambacensis, V. reticulata, V. vexillata) in order to reveal information leading to their future domestication and utilization. Standard procedures and methods approved by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists were used in carrying out the proximate composition (%protein, %lipid, %fibre, %ash and % moisture and % carbohydrate) of the wild Vigna legumes. The study revealed that the wild Vigna species possess a large variation range of nutrient characteristics which could be exploited in the improvement of domesticated species or guide their domestication. It was also found that some individual wild accessions have higher nutrient, content as compared with domesticated ones which could be advantageous for bio-fortification or domestication. Indications relating to the candidate accessions favourable for domestication, based on the nutrient characteristics were revealed.
Predictors of Spiritual Well-being in the Episcopal Church during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Village Andrew , Francis Leslie J.
Published: February 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have caused both declines in psychological well-being and increases in spirituality and religious coping. This paper explores the relationships of spiritual and psychological well-being in a sample of 3,403 Anglicans from the Episcopal Church (USA) who completed an online survey in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spiritual well-being improved more among women than among men, among older than younger people, among Black or African Americans than among other ethnicities, among those who lived alone and among clergy than among lay people. Positive change in spiritual well-being was also associated with psychological type preferences for extraversion, intuition and feeling. Emotional volatility was associated with more negative changes in spiritual well-being. Multiple regression suggested that spiritual well-being was more closely associated with positive, rather than negative, psychological affect.
The Joint Role of Focused and Molar Climates and Eudaemonic Well-being as Mediators of the Relationship between Flexible Telework and Scientific Productivity in Spanish ERC-Granted Teams
Authors: Martinolli Guido , Posada Alejandro Sanín , Belli Simone , Tomás Inés , Tordera Núria
Published: February 2024

Flexible work arrangements, such as teleworking, have gained massive and unprecedented usage for creating work environments that foster well-being and productivity. Yet empirical evidence is still scant and not much is known about the role of organizational climate(s) in this process. Accordingly, the present study was set out to investigate the mediating mechanisms linking flexible teleworking to scientific productivity by considering climate for well-being dimensions, the climates for excellence and for innovation, and eudaemonic well-being as mediating constructs. Data were collected from 358 members of 48 Spanish European Research Council (ERC) granted teams and analyses were conducted both at the individual and team level, after checking for the relevant aggregation indexes. Relevant and significant relations were found within the hypothesized statistical model both at the individual and team level of analysis. The climate dimension of team support and the climate for innovation, together with eudaimonic well-being, resulted to be linked by significant relationships suggesting a potential mediating path. Also, empirical evidence supported considering gender as a control variable for the relationship between flexible teleworking and the climate dimension of work-life balance. In conclusion, climate variables and eudaimonic well-being represent relevant variables for the explanation of the relationship between flexible teleworking and scientific productivity. Practical and theoretical implications, and limitations are further discussed in the article.
Implementierung des KOMMA-Ansatzes zur Unterstützung von Angehörigen in der häuslichen Palliativversorgung
Authors: Kreyer Christiane , Pleschberger Sabine
Published: February 2024

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Die Unterstützung der Angehörigen in der ambulanten Hospizarbeit und Palliativversorgung erfolgt meist wenig systematisch. In einem dreijährigen Modellprojekt wurde mit der Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool-Intervention (CSNAT-I; dt. KOMMA-Ansatz) ein evidenzbasierter personenzentrierter Ansatz zur Unterstützung von Angehörigen in drei Projektregionen in Nordrhein-Westfalen umgesetzt und evaluiert. Ziel: Den Implementierungsprozess und Faktoren, die auf diesen Einfluss hatten, darzustellen. Methoden: Der für den deutschsprachigen Raum adaptierte KOMMA-Ansatz wurde mithilfe von Multiplikatorinnen in sechs ambulanten Hospizdiensten und Teams der spezialisierten ambulanten Palliativversorgung (SAPV) umgesetzt. Die Evaluation erfolgte anhand der Normalization Process Theory (NPT) mittels eines Mixed-Methods-Evaluations-Designs. Ergebnisse: Der KOMMA-Ansatz wurde dienstübergreifend erprobt, eine routinehafte Umsetzung konnte im eher kurzen Implementierungszeitraum aber nicht vollständig erreicht werden. Die Mitarbeiter_innen waren von der Sinnhaftigkeit des Ansatzes überzeugt, das Feedback der Angehörigen positiv oder unspezifisch. Die Praxis der Angehörigenarbeit veränderte sich, und das Thema Angehörige erhielt mehr Aufmerksamkeit. Barrieren zeigten sich bei der personenzentrierten Gesprächsführung mit Angehörigen sowie in organisationalen Routinen. Schlussfolgerungen: Der personenzentrierte KOMMA-Ansatz hat Potenzial, die Angehörigenarbeit in den Strukturen der Palliativversorgung im deutschsprachigen Raum zu professionalisieren. In den Diensten benötigt es dafür einen Kulturwandel.