bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heavy Users, Mobile Gamers, and Social Networkers: Patterns of Objective Smartphone Use in Parents of Infants and Associations With Parent Depression, Sleep, Parenting, and Problematic Phone Use
Authors: McDaniel Brandon T. , Radesky Jenny , Pater Jessica , Galovan Adam M. , Harrison Annalise , Cornet Victor , Reining Lauren , Schaller Alexandria , Drouin Michelle
Published: September 2024

Smartphone use during parenting is common, which may lead to distraction (also known as technoference). However, it is likely that some phone activities are less disruptive to parents and children. In this study, we explored smartphone use (via passive sensing across 8 days) within 264 parents of infants, measuring parents’ application use on their phone (e.g., messaging, social media, mobile gaming, video chat) and phone use across contexts (e.g., during feeding and at bedtime). We utilized latent profile analysis to identify profiles of users, revealing five user types: Moderate User Social Networkers (37%), followed by Moderate User Gamers (20%), Moderate User Video Chatters (17%), Low Users (15%), and Heavy Users (11%). Parents varied in their use, from Low Users, who used their phone approximately 2.4 h each day, spent only 13% of their child time on their phone, and used their phone for about 18 min at bedtime, to Heavy Users, who spent approximately 8 h a day, about 50% of their child time on their phone, and about 1 h at bedtime. Heavy Users showed higher depressive symptoms and poorer sleep (although not poorer sleep than Moderate User Gamers). Surprisingly, we found no differences between groups in perceptions of parenting stress, responsiveness to their infant, or problematic phone use and distraction. We also explored demographic differences across groups. We call for future work to examine parent phone use more comprehensively and holistically and to view specific phone use activities as simultaneously interconnected with other types of use activities.
Symmetry Analysis and Wave Solutions of Time Fractional Kupershmidt Equation
Authors: Saini Shalu , Kumar Rajeev , Kumar Kamal
Published: September 2024

This study employs the Lie symmetry technique to explore the symmetry features of the time fractional Kupershmidt equation. Specifically, we use the Lie symmetry technique to derive the symmetry generators for this equation, which incorporates a conformal fractional derivative. We use the symmetry generators to transform the fractional partial differential equation into a fractional ordinary differential equation, thereby simplifying the analysis. The obtained reduced equation is of fourth order nonlinear ordinary differential equation. To find the wave solutions, F/G‐expansion process has been used to obatin different types of solutions of the time‐fractional Kuperschmidt equation. The obtained wave solutions are hyperbolic and trigonometric in nature. We then use Maple software to visually depict these wave solutions for specific parameter values, providing insights into the behaviour of the system under investigation. Peak and kink wave solutions are achieved for the given problem.
An Improved Machine Learning‐Based Model for Detecting and Classifying PQDs with High Noise Immunity in Renewable‐Integrated Microgrids
Authors: Channa Irfan Ali , Li Dazi , Koondhar Mohsin Ali , Dahri Fida Hussain , Mahariq Ibrahim
Published: September 2024

Recently, renewable energy sources integrated with microgrid (MG) networks have provided safe, secure, and reliable power supply to both utility and industrial purposes. Power quality disturbances (PQDs) seriously affect the performance of MG networks and reduce the lifecycle of numerous sensitive devices in MG networks. Hence, this paper presents a new approach to detect and classify the PQDs using discrete wavelet transform, multiresolution analysis, and optimized‐kernel support vector machine. The obtained unique features from DWT‐MRA are fed to train the well‐known intelligent classifiers. In the optimized‐kernel SVM model, computing power is enhanced for classifying multiple PQ events based on the local density and leave‐one‐out (LOO) algorithm. To get higher separation in feature space, the kernel width of each sample is estimated based on the local density. By using the LOO method, an improved grid search strategy is implemented to get the penalty parameter to achieve satisfactory results. Moreover, a typical MG network is simulated in MATLAB software considering the validation of the proposed technique to address the power quality issues in MG networks, and the results of the proposed method are compared with other conventional ML classifiers. The simulation results confirm that the proposed method is more effective and accurate than other intelligent classifiers.
Pensiones, ¿la rentabilidad dónde está?
Authors: Ortiz Rodrigo
Published: September 2024

Este artículo analiza la importancia de la rentabilidad de los fondos de pensiones en Chile para garantizar pensiones dignas. Discute la propuesta gubernamental de aumentar la cotización y examina el rendimiento histórico de los diferentes tipos de fondos de pensiones durante distintos períodos presidenciales. Enfatiza que, más allá del porcentaje de cotización, es crucial que los fondos donde se capitaliza el dinero tengan una buena rentabilidad para asegurar pensiones adecuadas. El artículo concluye resaltando la necesidad de políticas que promuevan el crecimiento económico para mejorar las expectativas de rentabilidad de los fondos de pensiones.
Supplementary Figure S2 from Netrin-1 and UNC5B Cooperate with Integrins to Mediate YAP-Driven Cytostasis
Authors: Pearson Joel D. , Huang Katherine , Dela Pena Louis G. , Ducarouge Benjamin , Mehlen Patrick , Bremner Rod
Published: September 2024

Supplementary Figure S2: Blocking Netrin does not affect YAP levels or YAP target gene induction
Data from Netrin-1 and UNC5B Cooperate with Integrins to Mediate YAP-Driven Cytostasis
Authors: Pearson Joel D. , Huang Katherine , Dela Pena Louis G. , Ducarouge Benjamin , Mehlen Patrick , Bremner Rod
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Opposite expression and pro- or anti-cancer function of YAP and its paralog TAZ/WWTR1 stratify cancers into binary YAPon and YAPoff classes. These transcriptional coactivators are oncogenic in YAPon cancers. In contrast, YAP/TAZ are silenced epigenetically along with their integrin and extracellular matrix adhesion target genes in neural and neuroendocrine YAPoff cancers (e.g., small cell lung cancer, retinoblastoma). Forced YAP/TAZ expression induces these targets, causing cytostasis in part through Integrin-αV/β5, independent of the integrin-binding RGD ligand. Other effectors of this anticancer YAP function are unknown. Here, using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screens, we link the Netrin receptor UNC5B to YAP-induced cytostasis in YAPoff cancers. Forced YAP expression induces UNC5B through TEAD DNA-binding partners, as either TEAD1/4-loss or a YAP mutation that disrupts TEAD-binding (S94A) blocks, whereas a TEAD-activator fusion (TEAD(DBD)-VP64) promotes UNC5B induction. Ectopic YAP expression also upregulates UNC5B relatives and their netrin ligands in YAPoff cancers. Netrins are considered protumorigenic, but knockout and peptide/decoy receptor blocking assays reveal that in YAPoff cancers, UNC5B and Netrin-1 can cooperate with integrin-αV/β5 to mediate YAP-induced cytostasis. These data pinpoint an unsuspected Netrin-1/UNC5B/integrin-αV/β5 axis as a critical effector of YAP tumor suppressor activity.
Significance:
Netrins are widely perceived as procancer proteins; however, we uncover an anticancer function for Netrin-1 and its receptor UNC5B.
Efficacy of Methotrexate Microinfusion in Scalp Lesions of Patients with Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Prospective Controlled Trial
Authors: Pitlovanciv Tatiane Elen de Souza , Skare Thelma Larocca , Medeiros Karina Bittencourt , Fabri Andréa Buosi
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Topical and systemic drugs, as methotrexate (MTX), do not control the frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) activity in most of the cases showing the need for new therapies. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MTX microinfusion in FFA. Methods: Prospective, controlled clinical trial, carried out with 17 volunteers with clinical and histological diagnosis of FFA. Applications of MTX by MMP® (microinfusion of drugs into the skin method) were made every 30 days, in a total of 03 applications, in the right half of the alopecia area; the other half served as a control. Results: There was a significant reduction in frontal-glabella and frontal temporoparietal measurements at treated site while in the untreated site the FFA increased. Patient’s referred improvement of pruritus and desquamation but not in hair loss and local erythema. Analysis of the dermoscopic photos and the LPPAI calculation did not show relevant changes. About 95% of the participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the results and none of them had alteration in the laboratory test results. Conclusion: The MTX application by MMP® improved symptoms associated with FFA, and the frontal-glabella and frontal temporoparietal measurements. This technique proved to be safe and well tolerated.
Overview of the Caucasian Perla Geoffroy, 1762 (Plecoptera: Perlidae) based on morphological and molecular data with description of two new species
Authors: TESLENKO VALENTINA A. , PALATOV DMITRY M. , SEMENCHENKO ALEXANDER A.
Published: September 2024

Six species of Caucasian Perla are reviewed, and diagnostic morphological characteristics of all stages of development (where possible) are described, supplemented, and illustrated in detail with comparative light microscope and scanning electron microscopy images. The DNA barcoding of five species is presented. Two new morphologically and genetically distinct species, Perla schapsugica sp. nov. and Perla palatovi sp. nov., are described for both sexes and all life stages in the North Caucasus, Russia, Krasnodar Kray. Reinstatement of Perla persica Zwick, 1975, as a valid species distinct from P. caucasica Guérin-Méneville, 1843, is proposed. A new record of P. persica is reported for the Greater Caucasus, Russia, North-Ossetia-Alania for the first time. Morphologically, these two latter species can be separated in male adults by the shape of the hemitergal hook on terga X, an additional ventral brush on the penis of P. caucasica, wing length, and color.
Two new Veraphis species in China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)
Authors: JAŁOSZYŃSKI PAWEŁ
Published: September 2024

Two new species of Veraphis Casey are described, based on specimens collected in China: V. shaanxiana sp. nov., and V. dabashana sp. nov. These discoveries increase the number of Chinese Veraphis species to eight. A distribution of Veraphis in China and comparison of aedeagi of all species are given to facilitate identifications.
Opsiini leafhopper genus Libengaia Linnavuori (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) in Africa and India with description of one new subgenus and six new species
Authors: VIRAKTAMATH C.A. , WEBB M. D. , YESHWANTH H.M.
Published: September 2024

The genus Libengaia Linnavuori is redescribed along with one new subgenus Libengaia (Nandiana) subgen. nov. (type species: Litura bharatiensis Malhotra & Sharma) and one new species, L. (Nandiana) ramamurthyi sp. nov. (India: Jarkhand). In addition, five new species of the genus from West Africa, L. (Libengaia) brevistylus sp. nov. (Cameroon), L. (L.) deemingi sp. nov. (Nigeria), L. (L.) immaculata sp. nov. (Cameroon), L. (L.) longistylus sp. nov. (Cameroon) and L. (L) trifida sp. nov. (Nigeria) are described and illustrated. Cestius terminaliae Viraktamath syn. nov. is treated as a junior synonym of Libengaia (Nandiana) bharatiensis (Malhotra & Sharma). L. (L.) deemingi breeds on Terminalia avicennioides Guill. & Perr. and is attended by an ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). L. (N.) bharatiensis also breeds on Terminalia arjuna (Roxb., Wight & Arn.) (Conbretaceae) and shows considerable colour variation.
Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Gryllacrididae (Orthoptera: Ensifera: Stenopelmatoidea) XXV: Six new species from Hainan Province and one new synonym
Authors: PANG SIYU , LUO HAIYU , BIAN XUN
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we report six new species from Hainan Province, China: Radigryllacris mingzheni sp. nov., Metriogryllacris (Metriogryllacris) prunulis sp. nov., Metriogryllacris (Metriogryllacris) triquetris sp. nov., Metriogryllacris (Metriogryllacris) spinulosa sp. nov., Ocellarnaca hainanensis sp. nov. and Sinagryllacris biprocera sp. nov.. Meanwhile, one new synonym (Ocellarnaca virida Su, Zhang & Shi, 2024 syn. nov. = Radigryllacris forficata (Pang, Zhang & Bian, 2023)) is proposed. All the type specimens are deposited in Guangxi Normal University.
Preparing Early Education Leaders: An Analysis of UCEA Principal Preparation Programs
Authors: Little Michael H. , Drake Timothy , Chapman Kathryn , Gragson Austin
Published: September 2024

Purpose: Recently, a confluence of factors has focused elementary school leaders on early education. One factor is that nearly 60 percent of all public elementary schools in the U.S. today have a Pre-K program in the building. Yet, prior research reveals that leaders are often not prepared to effectively lead early education programs. This study assesses the current state of early education leadership preparation among UCEA-affiliated programs. Method: Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, our study draws on survey data from 232 principal preparation faculty members at UCEA-affiliated programs, follow-up interviews with 20 purposively sampled survey respondents, and content analysis of 113 program web pages. Findings: We found that preparation programs currently afford little attention to early education leadership coursework and content, despite faculty expressing it as an important goal. Only four percent of faculty from the survey reported that their program required a course focused on child development and/or early education—a finding corroborated by the website analysis. Last, our interviews reveal reasons for the limited engagement with early education leadership, including time constraints, limited faculty experience, and licensure and accreditation requirements. Implications: Policymakers aiming to improve early education leadership may revise principal certification requirements that could prompt revisions in principal preparation programs. Principal preparation programs, similarly, could revise their programming to intentionally expose principal candidates to key topics in early education leadership. A bi-directional and concerted reform effort is likely needed to meaningfully advance change in this area.
Orphans of Matobo: Comparing BaKalanga Displacement From and Animals Displacement to Chipangali Animal Orphanage
Authors: Bvurire Simon
Published: September 2024

In 1926, the colonial Rhodesian state created Matobo National Park on whose shoulders Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage was established in 1974. That was followed by displacements of BaKalanga communities. By comparing livelihoods of marginalized human and animal orphans, this article provides new lens for analyzing the displacement discourse. It captures BaKalanga struggles against exclusion as orphanhood. Through ethnographically gathered narratives and animal orphan observations, it contributes to scholarship by investigating longitudinal impacts of displacement on human and animal orphan livelihoods, thereby offering a more than human displacement history. “Orphans of Matobo” captures BaKalanga characterization of their livelihoods outside ancestral land.
The Association Between Immigration-Related Stress, COVID-19 Impact, and Drinking Motives Among US-Born Latinos During the Pandemic
Authors: Scott Gabrielle N. , Montero-Zamora Pablo , Vazquez Christian E. , Pinedo Miguel
Published: September 2024

Objective: The objective of the present study was to identify factors associated with increased alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of drinkers and heavy drinkers US-born Latino adults. Methods: Hierarchal logistic regression modelling was employed to evaluate associations between the increased use of alcohol during the pandemic and potential risk factors. Results: Participants in the medium and high adverse COVID-19 impact classes reported higher odds (AOR: 7.63, 95 % CI: 2.34–24.84) of increasing their alcohol use during the pandemic. Higher education (AOR: 7.63, 95 % CI: 2.34–24.84), immigration stress (AOR: 2.53, 95 % CI: 1.35–4.75), and drinking to cope (AOR: 1.13, 95 % CI: 1.06–1.19) were positively associated with increased alcohol use during the pandemic. Conclusion: Stressors stemming from adverse consequences resulting from the pandemic may negatively influence the alcohol use behaviors of US-born Latinos, which may potentially exacerbate existing racial/ethnic alcohol-related disparities.
Teachers’ Special Education Referrals for Younger Children Does It Vary by School Type
Authors: Fletcher Tina L. , Kim Phil H. , Gottfried Michael A. , Le Vi-Nhuan
Published: September 2024

The prevalence of disability diagnoses among young children has risen significantly over recent decades. This growth has prompted inquiries into the identification processes, notably focusing on teachers who are the primary sources of referrals. While some studies have examined child age as a relevant predictor of disability referral, minimal attention has been paid to relative age—namely, if children are younger than their classmates. In this study, we examine whether teachers refer children differently based on relative classroom age. We do so for traditional public schools versus magnet schools, as each type has been shown to serve different student populations. Results show no significant association between classroom age composition and referral rates in either school type. However, in traditional public schools, a higher proportion of younger children in classrooms correlated with a higher proportion of referrals for younger children, whereas magnet schools showed no such trend. Policy implications are discussed.
Power to the People? How Participatory Budgets Affect Citizens’ Populist Attitudes
Authors: Theuwis Marie-Isabel
Published: September 2024

So-called populist citizens feel excluded from political decision-making, which in their eyes is dominated by an unresponsive political elite. While democratic innovation scholars suggest that empowering citizens in the decision-making process can affect populist sentiments, this article addresses the lack of theorization and empirical research on the mechanisms behind such effects as well as the scarcity of qualitative research regarding populist attitudes. It generates a theory that accounts for changes in participants’ populist attitudes and tests this theory in a most-likely case study. An analysis of pre–post survey data and 35 semi-structured interviews from three participatory budgeting events in the Netherlands shows that for populist citizens, the inclusion of politically marginalised groups and the empowerment of citizens can explain populist attitudes change. On the contrary, the representativeness of the participants and the ability to have deeper discussions are drivers of populist attitudes change for non-populist citizens.
The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience in the Relationship of Adverse Childhood Experiences With Academic Achievement
Authors: Erduran Tekin Özge
Published: September 2024

In this study, the mediating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between negative childhood experiences and academic achievement was examined. The sample of the study consists of 405 participants who graduated from state universities in Turkey in the spring semester of 2022–2023. In the study, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale, the Brief Psychological Resilience Scale, and the general weighted grade point average in the university graduation transcripts of the participants were used as data collection tools. The relationships between variables were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis using Process Macro (Model 4). In the regression analysis, mediation was tested with the Bootstrap technique. According to the results, there were significant negative relationships between adverse childhood experiences and academic achievement and psychological resilience, while there were significant positive relationships between psychological resilience and academic achievement. In addition, adverse childhood experiences are a predictor of academic achievement, and psychological resilience has a partial mediating role in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and academic achievement. It is thought that the results obtained may contribute to the field within the scope of preventive and intervention guidance services to increase the academic achievement of university students with adverse childhood experiences.
Beauty from brokenness: Witness and wonder as God works through all bodies
Authors: Opie Andrew K.
Published: September 2024

This article draws on personal narrative and art along with disability and the Bible to challenge who is able to witness. Disability creates barriers in how people imagine witness to God taking place. Personal narrative paints a picture of this reality. Yet the gospel flips expectations with ultimate beauty as Jesus on the cross. Accordingly, a damaged body points to God working through brokenness to bring blessing. In light of frailty, brokenness, and troubles in this world, this article intersects art, disability and Christian mission to demonstrate how art subverts norms of human strength, and highlights how beauty flows through brokenness. With Paul’s weakness language in 2 Corinthians, disability becomes the showplace for God’s glory.
Re-Examining Richard Bauckham’s Argument from Name Popularity in Light of Apocryphal and Talmudic Evidence
Authors: Gregor Kamil , Blais Brian
Published: September 2024

This article re-examines the argument from name popularity appearing in the ‘Palestinian Jewish Names’ chapter of Richard Bauckham’s Jesus and the Eyewitnesses in light of patterns of the name popularity found in extra-biblical texts. Bauckham postulates that if Gospels-Acts contained named characters invented in the process of anonymous community transmission, the statistical distribution of name popularity in Gospels-Acts would not align well with the distribution in the ancient Palestinian Jewish population, particularly if the invention took place in the Diaspora. We test this by analyzing the name popularity in two corpora of texts that contain many recognizably fictitious first-century Palestinian Jewish characters, namely a corpus of Christian extra-biblical works consisting of the Clementine Homilies, the Acts of Pilate, and Solomon of Bosra’s Book of the Bee, and the corpus of the Babylonian Talmud. Contra Bauckham, name popularity distributions in these two corpora do not correspond to the distribution among first-century Palestinian Jews statistically significantly worse than the distribution in Gospels-Acts. Moreover, the two corpora paradoxically align better in some respects because they do not exhibit a disproportional representation of specific names observed in Gospels-Acts.
Disrupting Durabilities of Colonial Logics in the Field of Special Education: Toward Abolitionist Futures
Authors: Handy Tamara
Published: September 2024

Background:

The field of special education (SPED) has struggled with persistent equity problems in providing meaningful learning opportunities for students of color. These inequities are experienced by students who are navigating the intersection of race and disability, marginalizing and harming them. Critical scholars urge SPED to carefully consider its epistemic investments when attempting to address these injustices.

Purpose:

This article demonstrates the connections between persistent equity issues in SPED and the colonial logics of placement and sorting. By drawing parallels between the epistemes that organize SPED and colonial logics, this article argues that addressing equity issues in SPED, the field must seriously consider its entanglements with colonial durabilities.

Research Design:

This is an essay.

Recommendations:

This article urges the SPED field to consider abolitionist praxis as a way of disrupting the persistent inequities faced by multiply marginalized students of color. Abolitionist praxis provides the necessary tools to dismantle the durability of colonial logics.
Eco-Political Conflict and Communal Environmentalism in the Struggle of Atenco Against the Construction of a New International Airport in Mexico City
Authors: Pineda César Enrique
Published: September 2024

This essay explores, from an eco-political perspective, the popular mobilization led by peasants in the municipality of Atenco against Mexico City’s new international airport. It provides a case study of the dramatic worldwide changes brought about by the construction of mega-infrastructure, the intimate link between peasant communities’ social and cultural values, the lake and agricultural land put at risk by the airport construction project, and the subsequent struggle in defense of the lake and land affected by this project. Finally, it narrates the experience of the #YoPrefieroElLago (Hashtag I prefer the lake) campaign, which, amidst the presidential transition in Mexico, resulted in the airport’s cancellation, a victory for the People’s Front in Defense of Land.
Does Information Improve the Experience of Pursuing Labor Migration? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Pakistan
Authors: Karell Daniel , Malik Rabia , Najam Shah Syed Kasim
Published: September 2024

A large literature on international labor migration explores how to improve low-skilled migrants’ experience of pursuing and obtaining overseas employment. Much of this scholarship focuses on describing and mitigating difficult, and sometimes exploitative, conditions in the host country. Scholars have paid less attention to factors in home countries that may affect aspiring migrants’ experience of looking for overseas work. We help address this gap by conducting a field experiment in the high out-migration country of Pakistan to examine whether receiving new information about employment brokers and overseas opportunities improves aspiring migrants’ subjective and objective experience of the job-seeking process. After analyzing the effects of information on those who lack alternative sources of information, we report mixed findings. These highlight the need to think carefully about ways to improve aspiring migrants’ job-seeking experiences, especially with regard to the common assumption that if low-skilled migrants simply “knew more” — that is, had more relevant and accurate information — they would not allow themselves to have negative migration experiences; our findings suggest this is not necessarily always the case.
Synthesis, characterization, and application of novel reusable clay-based magnetic nanocomposite for the removal of organic dyes from water
Authors: Amari Abdelfattah , Alsaiari Norah Salem , Ali Naim Ben , Ismail Mohamed A , Tahoon Mohamed A
Published: September 2024

In this study, a new synthesized magnetic nanocomposite was used as an adsorbent for the removal of toxic cationic dye methylene blue (MB). The adsorbent incorporated three components to produce a nanocomposite named Fe3O4/GO/natural clay. The characterization techniques were used to study the physical and chemical properties of nanocomposite and approve the successful synthesis. XRD of the Fe3O4/GO/natural clay nanocomposite indicated the crystalline structure with the appearance of characteristic peaks of each component. Also, the FT-IR of Fe3O4/GO/clay nanocomposite showed a significant change in the peak intensity of natural clay after the addition of GO and magnetic NPs which attributed to the successful interaction between GO and magnetic NPs with the functional groups on the surface of clay. The TEM and SEM images of the nanocomposite showed that the magnetic NPs, clay, and GO excellently interacted in one appropriate structure with the deposition of clay and magnetic NPs on the GO surface which serves as a matrix holding them. The MB adsorption system was optimized by varying several parameters, including pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, starting concentration, ionic strength, and competing ions. Furthermore, the adsorption isotherm showed that the highest adsorption capacities of 999.34 and 1108.54 mg/g for the Fe3O4/GO/natural clay and Fe3O4/natural clay nanocomposites, respectively, followed the Langmuir isotherm. Additionally, the kinetic analysis showed that a pseudo-second-order model better explained the adsorption on both nanocomposites. The nanocomposite can be reused for multiple cycles with a little drop in its initial performance, according to reusability research conducted up to six times using ethyl alcohol as the eluent. As a result, this reasonably priced adsorbent might be employed as a beneficial and effective dye adsorbent for the removal of MB from water while maintaining the safety of the water quality.
Incidence, outcomes, and predictors of new heart failure in syrian conflict-affected population following hospitalization for atrial fibrillation: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Antoun Ibrahim , Alkhayer Alkassem , Aljabal Majed , Mahfoud Yaman , Alkhayer Alamer , Kotb Ahmed I , Barker Joseph , Somani Riyaz , Ng G André , Zakkar Mustafa
Published: September 2024

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide. Data regarding readmission for new congestive heart failure (CHF) following index admission for AF in the developing world are poorly described.

Objectives

The study aimed to assess the rate, predictors, and outcomes of 120-day CHF readmission after index admission for AF in Syria.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study collected all adult patients without known CHF who had an index admission with AF to Latakia’s tertiary center between June 2021-December 2023. Data were taken from patients’ medical notes. The primary outcome included readmission with incident CHF within 120 of index discharge, and secondary outcomes included predictors and outcomes of these CHF readmissions.

Results

A total of 660 patients were included in the final analysis, of which 69 (11.7%) were readmitted with new CHF within 120 days of index discharge. Readmitted patients had higher median age (58 vs 70 years, p < .001). Factors that independently increased 120-day CHF incidence were age ≥60 years (HR: 9.8, 95% CI: 4.8-23.6, p < .001), diabetes mellitus (DM) (HR:2.9, 95% CI:1.7-4.9, p < .001), valvular heart disease (VHD) (HR:1.7, 95% CI:1.04-2.78, p = .047), and hypertension (HR:2.5, 95% CI:1.5-4, p < .001). Inpatient mortality occurred in six readmitted patients (9%). LVEF <40% (HR:6.7, 95% CI: 24.31, p = .01) and DM (HR:7.2, 95% CI: 1.9-33, p = .004) were independently associated with inpatient mortality.

Conclusion

Hospitalization for new CHF was common in Syrian patients discharged with AF. The clinical predictors of incident CHF emphasize the importance of integrated management of lifestyle risk factors and common comorbidities in AF patients to optimize outcomes in resource-depleted communities.
Prospective on applying machine learning in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of metallurgical reactors
Authors: Liu Yuhong , Zhang Jiangshan , Yang Shufeng , Li Jingshe , Liu Qing
Published: September 2024

Metallurgical reactors, especially in ironmaking/steelmaking process, characterise with high-temperature turbulence, multiphase flow, mass/heat transfer and reactions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation-based design and optimisation are of significance for efficient metallurgical performance. However, the difficulty and cost to numerically solve the nonlinear controlling equations combined with data pre/post-processing make the whole CFD simulation process time-consuming, which makes it challenging to provide in-time feedback for industrial practices. The popularisation and prosperous development of machine learning bring new opportunities for promoting CFD performance. Discussion has been made on the current research progress of applying machine learning in the whole CFD workflow including pre-processing, solving, and post-processing. Among them, the time consumed by manual pre-processing exceeds 50% of CFD tasks in general. The machine learning or parametric modelling methods can reduce pre-processing time by three orders in the estimate. The solving step is expected to be accelerated by 5 to 1000 times using machine learning. A brief review of machine learning coupled CFD is provided, as is a prospective on its development. Discussion is presented on the main functions, challenges, typical techniques and future directions of applying machine learning in CFD simulation of metallurgical reactors, for the purpose of making CFD faster, more accurate, and better visualised based on the metallurgical practices.
Empire, redux: Towards a new political geography of race war
Authors: Attewell Wesley
Published: September 2024

This essay revisits geographical debates on empire to clarify how broader geopolitical economies of power and violence have always been experienced at the scale of the everyday as an intimate politics of relation- and difference-making. It is guided by two questions that promise to stretch geographical writing on empire in new ways. They are: how has empire always been a racial project? And how has imperial race-making historically gone hand-in-hand with imperial place-making? Both questions force us to reckon with empire as a multi-scalar project that entangles the foreign and the domestic, the intimate and the global, and so on.
A simplified approach for predicting last ply failure load of VO-notched laminated composite components
Authors: Amirinia Mohammad Sadegh , Haghighi-Yazdi Mojtaba , Safarabadi Majid
Published: September 2024

In this study, the last ply failure (LPF) load of composite laminates with VO-notches under pure mode I and mixed mode I/II was investigated experimentally, analytically, and numerically. The efficiency of the virtual isotropic material concept (VIMC) in combination with a new combined failure criterion was also evaluated. The J-integral and average strain energy density failure criteria were combined with VIMC. Using analytical expressions for the J-integral and the average strain energy density (ASED), the prediction of the fracture load of notched components was simplified and expedited. The experimental fracture loads of notched specimens were determined for quasi-isotropic and cross-ply laminates under mode I and mixed mode I/II. The fracture loads were predicted using analytical expressions for the J-integral and ASED, combined with VIMC. The VIMC-ASED and VIMC-J-integral failure criteria demonstrated good accuracy in predicting the LPF, with the highest accuracy for mode I, slightly reduced accuracy for mixed mode I/II. VIMC, in combination with energy-based failure criteria, effectively predicts the fracture load. The use of analytical expressions further simplified and expedited the prediction process without losing accuracy, making it a practical approach for engineering applications. Additionally, this approach significantly reduces the time and cost associated with extensive experimental testing.
Forecasting medical waste in Istanbul using a novel nonlinear grey Bernoulli model optimized by firefly algorithm
Authors: Konyalıoğlu Aziz Kemal , Ozcan Tuncay , Bereketli Ilke
Published: September 2024

Waste management has gained global importance, aligning with the escalating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated concerns regarding medical waste, which poses threats to public health and environmental sustainability. In Istanbul, medical waste is considered a significant concern due to the rising volume of this waste, along with challenges in collection, incineration and storage. At this juncture, precise estimation of the waste volume is crucial for resource planning and allocation. This study, thus, aims to estimate the volume of medical waste in Istanbul using the nonlinear grey Bernoulli model (NGBM(1,1)) and the firefly algorithm (FA). In other words, this study introduces a novel hybrid model, termed as FA-NGBM(1,1), for predicting waste amount in Istanbul. Within this model, prediction accuracy is enhanced through a rolling mechanism and parameter optimization. The effectiveness of this model is compared with the classical GM(1,1) model, the GM(1,1) model optimized with the FA (FA-GM(1,1)), the fractional grey model optimized with the FA (FA-FGM(1,1)) and linear regression. Numerical results indicate that the proposed FA-NGBM(1,1) hybrid model yields lower prediction error with a mean absolute percentage error value 3.47% and 2.57%, respectively, for both testing and validation data compared to other prediction algorithms. The uniqueness of this study is rooted in the process of initially optimizing the parameters for the NGBM(1,1) algorithm using the FA for medical waste estimation in Istanbul. This study also forecasts the amount of medical waste in Istanbul for the next 3 years, indicating a dramatic increase. This suggests that new policies should be promptly considered by decision-makers and practitioners.
Linguistic Diversity and Public Servants’ Turnover Intentions: Theory and Analysis From a Multilingual State
Authors: Cooper Christopher A. , Turgeon Luc
Published: September 2024

Although approximately a quarter of the world’s countries are officially bilingual or multilingual, the relationship between linguistic diversity and human resource management has largely been overlooked. This article advances research by theoretically considering, and empirically investigating, whether public servants’ ability to use their official language of choice at work is related to their turnover intentions, and whether this relationship is moderated by one’s linguistic minority status. Analysis of survey data from Canada’s full-time permanent public service shows a statistically significant and substantive relationship between public servants’ ability to use their official language of choice at work and their internal and external turnover intentions. Moreover, the results from various hierarchical sequential multivariate models, which build-up to control for employees’ personal characteristics and work environment, suggest that the relationship language of use has with turnover intention is important regardless of whether one is a linguistic minority or a linguistic majority.
Declaring crisis? Temporal constructions of climate change on Wikipedia
Authors: Steiert Olivia
Published: September 2024

On Wikipedia, editors daily negotiate edits to an entry that summarizes climate change to a global audience. The outcome of their efforts is an encyclopedic entry with a conspicuous lack of temporal clarity that circumvents the question of whether climate change is an immediate crisis or merely a potential future phenomenon. This qualitative discourse analysis of editors’ debates around climate change on Wikipedia argues that their hesitancy to “declare crisis” is not a conscious editorial choice as much as an outcome of a friction between the folk philosophy of science Wikipedia is built upon, editors’ own sense of urgency, and their anticipations about audience uptake of their writing. This friction shapes a group style that fosters temporal ambiguity. Hence, the findings suggest that in the Wikipedia entry on climate change, platform affordances and contestation of expertise foreclose a declaration of climate crisis.
Contrasting the Efficacy of the Type of Influencer to the Type of Product: The Mediating Effect of Perceived Authenticity
Authors: Abdelsattar Wesam Osman , Shamma Hamed , Amr Mariam
Published: September 2024

With advent of artificial intelligence applications, managers and policymakers are challenged to incorporate such transformative technology into their practices. Drawing upon the match-up hypothesis, this article aims to examine how consumers respond to utilitarian (food), symbolic (Gucci bag) or stigmatized (cigarettes) products endorsed by artificial intelligence influencer compared to human influencer. The phenomenon by which utilitarian/hedonic attributes trade-offs determine preference for, or resistance to, artificial intelligence-based recommendations in comparison to human influencer’s product recommendations. Research sheds light on social media’s dark side by investigating the effectiveness of influencer marketing in endorsing stigmatized product type. A ‘web-based between-subjects’ experiment was conducted on 236 Egyptian female samples with an equal exposure to artificial intelligence ( n = 118) and human influencers ( n = 118). After validating the designed scenarios and measurement model, structural equation modelling was employed to test the hypotheses. Results show that there is no significant difference between artificial intelligence and human influencers for symbolic product recommendations. Compared to artificial intelligence, human influencers are more effective at making recommendations for utilitarian products, while artificial intelligence influencers are more effective at making recommendations for stigmatized products. Moreover, perceived authenticity leads to variation between human and artificial intelligence influencer effectiveness for symbolic product recommendations.
Book review: ShailjaTandon, Sexuality Reimagined: MSM in Modern India
Authors: Jena Asima
Published: September 2024

Shailja Tandon, Sexuality Reimagined: MSM in Modern India. New Delhi: Ane Books, 2023, 157 pp.
Experiences of Male Indonesian Migrant Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Post-Pandemic Period in Taiwan: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Asri  , Hou Wen-Li , Puji Priyanti Ratna , Mundakir  , Lee Bih-O
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

The challenges faced by male migrant workers during the pandemic have not been fully understood. This study aimed to explore the experiences of male Indonesian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan.

Methodology:

This study used an interpretive phenomenological design. Twenty male Indonesian migrant workers in southern Taiwan were individually interviewed. Data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis.

Results:

The migrant workers had conflicting emotions during the pandemic, faced challenges during self-quarantine, lived on board ships, and experienced restrictions on social and religious activities. The workers prioritized maintaining their health to ensure that they would not be easily infected while working. COVID-19 vaccines were made available to migrant workers in Taiwan. The workers had many hopes that they would achieve a better and more prosperous life by working in Taiwan than in their home country.

Discussion:

Although the 3-year COVID-19 period was difficult for Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan, Taiwan’s policies provided hope for them to endure the pandemic. The results have implications for Taiwan’s health care system, labor development, and transcultural health care.
A facile method to fabricate auxetic polymer foams
Authors: Sharifi Dowlatabadi Javad , Jafari Nedoushan Reza , Kabiri Ataabadi Abdulreza , Farzin Mahmood , Yu Woong-Ryeol
Published: September 2024

This paper presents a new efficient method for manufacturing auxetic foams, a subcategory of metamaterials with intriguing mechanical properties. Unlike previous methods that require two steps involving heating or the use of a chemical solvent, the present method involves compressing the foam during the manufacturing process after cells have been formed in the die, but while the material remains soft. This one-step process is more time-efficient, energy-efficient, and flexible; it also requires fewer facilities and materials. After the manufacturing process, various mechanical properties of the auxetic foams were evaluated by compression tests (energy absorption, mean force, and maximum force) and indentation tests (stiffness, absorbed energy, and hysteresis energy). The results confirmed that the auxetic foams exhibited superior behavior compared with conventional foam at the same density. To further investigate the foam microstructures and deformation mechanisms, in situ compression tests were conducted; the macro behaviors of the foams were explained based on these observations. Overall, this paper presents a promising approach for the manufacturing of auxetic foams with improved mechanical properties that can be used in applications typically dominated by conventional foams.
Expanding Accessibility in Cleft Care: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Improving Literacy of Alveolar Bone Grafting Information
Authors: Manasyan Artur , Lasky Sasha , Jolibois Marah , Moshal Tayla , Roohani Idean , Munabi Naikhoba , Urata Mark M. , Hammoudeh Jeffrey A.
Published: September 2024

Objective

The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends patient education materials (PEMs) be written at or below a sixth grade reading level. This study seeks to determine the quality, readability, and content of available alveolar bone grafting (ABG) PEMs and determine if artificial intelligence can improve PEM readability.

Design

Review of free online PEMs.

Setting

Online ABG PEMs were retrieved from different authoring body types (hospital/academic center, medical society, or private practice).

Patients, Participants

None

Interventions

Content was assessed by screening PEMs for specific ABG-related topics. Quality was evaluated with the Patient Education Material Assessment Tool (PEMAT), which has measures of understandability and actionability. Open-access readability software (WebFX) determined readability with Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, and Gunning-Fog Index. PEMs were rewritten with ChatGPT, and readability metrics were reassessed.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Quality, readability, and content of ABG PEMs

Results

34 PEMs were analyzed. Regarding quality, the average PEMAT-understandability score was 67.0 ± 16.2%, almost at the minimum acceptable score of 70.0% (p = 0.281). The average PEMAT-actionability score was low at 33.0 ± 24.1%. Regarding readability, the average Flesch Reading Ease score was 64.6 ± 12.8, categorized as “standard/plain English.” The average Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level was 8.0 ± 2.3, significantly higher than AMA recommendations (p < 0.0001). PEM rewriting with ChatGPT improved Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level to 6.1 ± 1.3 (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Available ABG PEMs are above the recommended reading level, yet ChatGPT can improve PEM readability. Future studies should improve areas of ABG PEMs that are most lacking, such as actionability.