bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Experimental Study on Some Thermophysical Characteristics of CuO-Water Nanofluid
Authors: Hacisalihoğlu Mustafa Suat , Çuhadaroğlu Burhan
Published: April 2024

This study presents the effects of the volume fraction of nanoparticles (0.15% ≤ Φ ≤ 0.74%) with ascorbic acid additive on some thermophysical characteristics of water based CuO nanofluids, such as thermal conductivity and viscosity, as well as agglomeration by analyzing
microstructure, adhesion and precipitation time. The CuO nanofluids have been prepared and examined for five different volume fractions by using appropriate mixers. The microstructure of the samples, which are prepared with ascorbic acid additive in order to prevent the agglomeration of CuO
nanoparticles and to ensure a homogeneous distribution, has been analyzed on the SEM images. In the adhesion experiments, an observational test was performed for 0.23% CuO-water sample. The samples prepared have been kept about 100 hours for observational examination of precipitation similar
to the adhesion test. Thermal conductivity measurements have been conducted in a standard experimental set-up and a correlation equation has been proposed based on data acquired. The viscosity measurements have been carried out using a calibrated “falling-piston viscometer” and
a correlation equation was also defined for thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity measurements of the study have been compared to experiments given in the literature and a good agreement has been obtained at low volume fractions (less than 0.5%).
Sensitivities of the West Greenland Current to Greenland Ice Sheet Meltwater in a Mesoscale Ocean/Sea Ice Model
Authors: Morrison Theresa J. , McClean Julie L. , Gille Sarah T. , Maltrud Mathew E. , Ivanova Detelina P. , Craig Anthony P.
Published: April 2024

Meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet can alter the continental shelf/slope circulation and cross-shelf freshwater fluxes and limit deep convection in adjacent basins through surface freshening. We explore the impacts on the West Greenland Current and eastern Labrador Sea with different vertical distributions of the meltwater forcing. In this study, we present the results from global coupled ocean/sea ice simulations, forced with atmospheric reanalysis, that are mesoscale eddy-active (∼2–3-km horizontal spacing) and eddy-permitting (∼6–7-km horizontal spacing) in the study region. We compare the West Greenland Current in mesoscale eddy-active and eddy-permitting without meltwater to highlight the role of small-scale features. The mesoscale eddy-active configuration is then used to assess the change in the eastern Labrador Sea when meltwater is added to the surface or vertically distributed to account for mixing within fjords. In both simulations with meltwater, the West Greenland and West Greenland Coastal Currents are faster than in the simulation with no meltwater; their mean surface speeds are the highest in the vertical distribution case. In the latter case, there is enhanced baroclinic conversion at the shelf break compared to the simulation with no meltwater. When meltwater is vertically distributed, there is an increase in baroclinic conversion at the shelf break associated with increased eddy kinetic energy. In addition, in the eastern Labrador Sea, the salinity is lower and the meltwater volume is greater when meltwater is vertically distributed. Therefore, the West Greenland Current is sensitive to how meltwater is added to the ocean with implications for the freshening of the Labrador Sea.

Significance Statement

Our goal is to understand how the flux of freshwater across the West Greenland continental slope into the Labrador Sea is modified by meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet. We compare the simulations of the ocean that capture key dynamics along the West Greenland continental slope that have no meltwater, meltwater added to the ocean surface, and meltwater distributed vertically to represent the mixing within fjords. When meltwater is added, the currents along the continental slope are faster, with the greatest increase when meltwater is vertically distributed. In that case, there is enhanced freshening of the Labrador Sea because modified density gradients generate more eddies. Proper representation of the vertical structure of meltwater is important for projecting the impact of freshwater on the subpolar North Atlantic.
Eddy Detection Inverted from Argo Profiles to Surface Altimetry
Authors: Chen Xiaoyan , Quartly Graham D. , Chen Ge
Published: April 2024

Argo floats are widely used to characterize vertical structures of ocean eddies, yet their capability to invert sea surface features of eddies, especially those overlooked by available altimeters, has not been explored. In this paper, we propose an “interior-to-surface” inversion algorithm to effectively expand the capacity of eddy detection by estimating altimeter-missed eddies’ surface attributes from their Argo-derived potential density anomaly profiles, given that the interior property and surface signature of eddies are highly correlated. An altimeter-calibrated machine learning ensemble is employed for the inversion training based on the joint altimeter–Argo eddy data and shows promising performance with mean absolute errors of 5.4 km, 0.5 cm, and 14.3 cm2 s−2 for eddy radius, amplitude, and kinetic energy, respectively. Then, the trained ensemble model is applied to independently invert the properties of eddies captured by an Argo-alone detection scheme, which yields high spatiotemporal consistency with their altimeter-captured counterparts. In particular, a portion of Argo-alone eddies is ∼25% smaller than altimeter-derived ones, indicating Argo’s unique capability of profiling weaker submesoscale eddies. Sea surface temperature and chlorophyll data are further applied to validate the reliability of eddies identified and characterized by the Argo-only algorithm. This new methodology effectively complements that of altimetry in eddy detection and can be expanded to estimate other physical/biochemical eddy variables from a variety of in situ observations.

Significance Statement

Despite thousands of eddies being routinely identified on a daily basis, it has been recognized that a substantial portion of eddies may still be missed due to inadequate sampling of altimeter constellations. Taking advantage of eddy’s correlation between surface and interior, a considerable number of eddies are discovered for the first time through an Argo-based eddy identification scheme. Here, we propose a new methodology to independently infer these recaptured eddies’ surface properties from their vertical signals through an “interior-to-surface” inversion process. The inferred eddy properties are verified by the spatiotemporal consistency with those derived from altimetry. Since Argo is capable of profiling smaller and weaker eddies, the proposed methodology significantly complements and expands that of altimetry in eddy observation.
Evidence in Practice: How Structural and Programmatic Scaffolds Enable Collaboration in International Development
Authors: Canales Rodrigo , Bradbury Mikaela , Sheldon Anthony , Cannon Charlie
Published: April 2024

This inductive study of eight international development interventions analyzes mechanisms that enable integration of evidence in practice, a perennial challenge of learning and collaboration across occupational and organizational boundaries. We demonstrate how structural and programmatic scaffolding practices enabled actors from an array of organizations and communities of practice to collaborate and learn despite the uncertainty and complexity inherent in the international development context. These modular scaffolding practices offered temporary stabilization and support that fostered the counter-normative behaviors and mindsets required for continuous learning and adaptive coordination. Through 226 in-depth interviews with international development experts, including practitioners in eight matched interventions in India, Mexico, South Africa, and Ghana, we identified and analyzed mechanisms that explain the varying effectiveness with which evidence was integrated in each case. Our findings have implications for interorganizational innovation and collaboration under conditions of complexity and uncertainty and for dynamic interactions among individuals, their organizations, and their communities of practice when they are attempting to bring about systemic change.
Motherhood and Women’s Migration: Evidence from Foreign Domestic Workers in Hong Kong
Authors: Song Jing , Lai Weiwen , Fong Eric
Published: April 2024

Female domestic workers often take on multiple roles in different settings, such as that of mothers and migrants. This study focuses on women’s diverse trajectories in timing motherhood and migration from a temporal perspective. Despite the continuities between their paid work for their employers and unpaid care for their own families, both of which are highly feminized, migrant women often face tensions and conflicts between the two; it is difficult to be a good worker and a good mother at the same time. Drawing on the Survey of Foreign Domestic Workers in Hong Kong, this study provides a quantitative picture of how some women decide to move before becoming mothers and some afterward, as well as their different long-term mobility tendencies. The findings lend support to a selectivity process that highly educated women are more likely to be non-mother migrants; they are more likely to move at a younger age and when they are unmarried. However, over time, migrants who were mothers at the time of their first migration are more likely to conduct multiple moves. Such mixed findings suggest that women’s migration is interrelated with motherhood in complex ways, which may reflect the need of repeated migration by mothers on the one hand, and the gender beliefs that continue to regard migrant women as neglecting their families and deviating from feminine domesticity on the other.
Evaluating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Wellbeing services: A collective case study in Far North Queensland
Authors: Furst Mary Anne , McDonald Tina , McCalman Janya , Salinas-Perez Jose , Fagan Ruth , Lee Hong Anita , Nona Merrissa , Saunders Vicki , Salvador-Carulla Luis
Published: April 2024

Background:

Access to a coordinated range of strengths-based, culturally appropriate community-led primary mental health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing services is critical to the mental health and wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and is a policy commitment of the Australian government. However, complex and fragmented service networks and a lack of standardised service data are barriers in identifying what services are available and what care they provide.

Method:

A standardised service classification tool was used to assess the availability and characteristics of Social and Emotional Wellbeing services for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in two regions in Queensland, Australia.

Results:

We identified a complex pattern of service availability and gaps in service provision. Non-Indigenous non-governmental organisations provided a significant proportion of services, particularly ‘upstream’ support, while Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations were more likely to provide ‘downstream’ crisis type care. Most services provided by the public sector were through Child Safety and Youth Justice departments.

Conclusions:

Our findings demonstrate the complexity of current networks, and show that non-Indigenous organisations are disproportionately influential in the care received by young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, despite community goals of self-determination, and government commitment to increasing capacity of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to support their local communities. These findings can be used to support decision making and planning.
Economic Policy Uncertainty and Household Consumer Confidence: Evidence from Indian Household Data
Authors: Rooj Debasis , Banerjee Anurag , Sengupta Reshmi
Published: April 2024

This article aims to analyse how economic policy uncertainty (EPU) affects consumer confidence in India. The study uses unit-level observations on consumer confidence from the Reserve Bank of India’s Consumer Confidence Survey from June 2016 to May 2021. Exploring the variations in consumer confidence across several cities in India, the regression exercise shows how India-specific EPU and global EPU impact consumer confidence. Findings from the study show that EPU has a negative and significant impact on consumers’ perceptions and outlook about the economy. The results also show that the effect of global EPU is stronger, compared to India-specific EPU. A disaggregated analysis is also conducted to analyse the impact of EPU on several consumer confidence indicators, such as the perception and the outlook on household income, spending, employment and general price levels. Contrary to the current literature, this study uses individual-level responses on consumer confidence from survey data and examines the role of EPU on consumer sentiments. Overall, the findings suggest that news-based economic policy-related uncertainty shocks negatively affect households’ sentiments. Moreover, a disaggregated analysis is also conducted for several consumer confidence indicators such as perception and outlook on household income, spending, employment and general price levels.

JEL Codes: E66, E71, H31
Linguistic Genocide of Minority and Mother Tongue Languages: Unravelling International Implications on Indian Laws Through a Critical Discourse
Authors: Ghose Anuttama , Bharadwaj Sanjana , Ali S. M. Aamir
Published: April 2024

Language is an inherent and intrinsic form of human communication, and India is renowned for its extensive range of languages. Nevertheless, the languages that are spoken in India, which play a crucial role in fostering this diverse cultural landscape, have encountered obstacles stemming from the forces of globalisation and domestic prejudice over an extended period of time. This paper underscores the concerning phenomenon of language attrition throughout history, wherein numerous languages have become extinct, resulting in fragmented remnants of cultural heritage. The majority of extinct languages were of Indigenous origin, suggesting a discernible racial bias in their eradication. Many linguists see the current situation as linguistic genocide, the intentional destruction of languages to achieve cultural unity. This study assesses the laws and policies pertaining to minority languages in India and examines their compatibility with international standards. This paper examines the difficulties associated with the implementation of language preservation legislation and explores the potential consequences of linguistic genocide on cultural identity, social cohesion and human rights within the context of India.
Railing through reality: Trains and mobility in Victorian ghost stories
Authors: Barnes Alicia
Published: April 2024

This paper explores the multifaceted cultural history of ghost trains in Victorian fiction by situating three little-known ghost stories in the publishing and social history of the second half of the nineteenth century. The figure of the ghost train offers a route into the entangled history of publishing and railways by contextualising the anxieties presented in railway ghost stories with the real-world experiences of passengers. Taking ideas of mobility as a focal point, this paper brings together discussions of virtual travel and the supernatural to demonstrate some of the impact railways had on reading and writing about train travel. More so than tales of other haunted transport technologies, it is the ghost train's unnatural capacity for movement that disturbs both passengers and readers. By both enhancing and warping reality, railways are ripe source material for Victorian ghost stories to entertain and demand questions of spatio-temporal experience from their reading passengers.
Recent advances on pH-responsive polymers integrated with nature colorants: from preparation to applications
Authors: Yang Lan , Yuan Qian-Yu , Lou Ching-Wen , Lin Jia-Horng , Li Ting-Ting
Published: April 2024

This review covers the progress in recent years on pH-responsive polymers integrated with natural colorants. The classification of various natural colorants, including anthocyanin, curcumin, and alizarin, and the pigments’ structural changes at different pH are introduced. Subsequently, the latest research in substrates for immobilizing natural colorants is discussed. Moreover, their applications on wound dressing for bacterial infections monitoring, smart package for food quality monitoring, and textile dyeing, are outlined. Finally, this study was summarized by emphasizing the current challenges and future opportunities in the field of pH-responsive polymers.
Integration of the multivariate statistical control chart and machine learning to identify faults in the quality characteristics for polylactic acid with glass fiber composites in injection molding
Authors: Chen Bo-Shen , Huang Chang-Chiun , Liao Ting-Wei , Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey
Published: April 2024

Complex processing parameters need to be adjusted for expected qualities in injection molding processing. Once the process is abnormal, it is essential to spend time and human work on fault diagnosis. In this study, we focus on fault diagnosis of injection molding processing parameters for polylactic acid/glass fiber composites. The injection molding processing parameters include the melt temperature, injection speed, packing pressure, packing time, and cooling time. The qualities include tensile strength, hardness, impact strength, and flexure strength. When processing parameters deviate from the optimal process condition, the multivariate statistical control chart monitors downgraded qualities. The machine is operated at the optimal process conditions to generate normal samples and the corresponding four qualities of data are chosen as the historical data. Hotelling’s T2 is used to calculate the upper control limit (UCL) from the historical data to detect abnormal samples. If the T2 value exceeds the UCL, the corresponding sample is considered abnormal. Then, the residuals of qualities for abnormal samples are obtained by a residual control chart. They are chosen as the feature values for the backpropagation neural network (BPNN) to identify the abnormal processing parameters. The experimental results proved that the BPNN can achieve a 100% recognition rate for single-factor abnormal samples. For the single-/double-factor mixture, the accuracy rate of double-factor classification can reach 97.44%. This proposed study has the advantage of high stability, being non-destructive, high precision, and low cost, and can be widely promoted in injection molding industries.
Episodic populist backlashes against urban climate actions
Authors: Yazar Mahir
Published: April 2024

Populism is multilayered and involves two main dimensions – ideology and strategy – which are employed within and beyond political parties. These dimensions can result in sometimes overlapping but generally divergent backlashes, targeting specific climate and sustainability interventions in cities. This critical commentary presents episodic populist backlashes against urban climate actions by exploring how they create their own political landscapes across the political spectrum in cities against progressive urban climate agendas. Specifically, the article examines how episodic populist backlashes manifest on an urban scale and highlights the need for urban scholars to pay more attention to the phenomenon. The article proposes two complementary explanations for why populism precedes urban climate actions in episodic and thematic ways. These explanations include policy backlashes against diffused global climate norms in cities, and counter-movements and rhetoric against climate justice and what it entails, such as inclusion in decision-making and intersectionality. The article then concludes by offering a research agenda on the episodic populist backlashes against urban climate actions, which highlights the need for a better understanding of how episodic populist movements might emerge into global climate policy diffusion, and climate justice coupled with intersectionality in cities of the Global North and Global South.
Prevalence of Protozoan Pathogens Among Diarrheic Children Under 5 Years in Public Hospital of Ethiopia During the Global COVID 19 Pandemic
Authors: Gobena Tesfaye , Belina Dinaol , Hald Tine , Pires Sara M.
Published: April 2024

Acute childhood diarrhea is one of the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan African countries. Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia are the common cause of childhood diarrhea in the region. However, there are only few studies on protozoa causing diarrhea in sub-Saharan African countries. This study was conducted to investigate the relative prevalence and explore risk factors of E. histolytica and G. lamblia among diarrheic children of under 5 years in a public hospital of Ethiopia. A retrospective study was conducted among diarrheic children at Hiwot Fana hospital, Ethiopia. Records of all diarrheic children less than 5 years who had sought medical treatment in the hospital from September 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 were included. Data were collected from 1257 medical records of the children using a structured data-collection format. Data were entered into an Excel sheet and exported into SPSS version 22 for data processing and analysis. Descriptive statistical tests, Chi-square, and logistic region analysis were applied to determine predictors of protozoa infections. Of the 1257 cases, 962 (76.5%) had watery diarrhea and the remaining 239 (19.0%) had dysentery. The combined prevalence of E. histolytica and G. lamblia among diarrheic children was 11.8% (95% CI: 9.6-13.4). As the age of children increased, the frequency of these two protozoan infections was significantly increased compared to children with other causes. There were more diarrhea cases during the summer season including those associated with E. histolytica and G. lamblia. This study revealed that 1 in 10 causes of diarhhea among young children in the study area was likely caused by E. histolytica and G. lamblia. These findings call for community-based safe water and food safety interventions in order to reduce childhood diarrhea caused by protozoan infections in resource-poor settings.
‘Be Here Now’: feminist futures as present
Authors: Timperley Claire
Published: April 2024

Responding to bell hooks’ call to ‘Be Here Now’, I argue that paying close attention to the present enables us to render visible the ways in which we are implicated in systemic injustices. I explore how refusal is a promising frame through which to enact worlds that feminists want to live in, showing how everyday acts of refusal have the potential to bring alternative worlds into being. To make this argument, I identify four distinct modes of refusal that might serve to positively construct feminist futures in the now: 1) social and affiliative refusal, 2) embodied refusal, 3) slow refusal and 4) imaginative refusal. While these four forms are not an exhaustive account of the different forms of refusal, they are each powerful in the context of feminist futures, drawing on central concepts of feminist thought: care and relationships, situated knowledge and bodies, time as a feminist concern and the importance and value of wonder as central to feminist thought. I argue that in the context of patriarchal, capitalist and colonial systems, systems that serve the interests of few and dominate the majority, these modes of refusal serve to puncture the settled status quo, simultaneously offering a glimpse into feminist futures while enacting them in the present. I conclude by reiterating that feminist futures benefit from being closely attuned to our present, and that a politics of refusal might enable us to penetrate colonial, patriarchal and capitalist systems by reimagining and acting on alternative visions in the now.
strategies to promote dignified and feminist academia: some collaborative reflections from Chile
Authors: Ortiz Francisca , Mendoza-Horvitz Manuela , Sepúlveda Denisse , Cubillos Julia , González Madariaga Valentina , Jofré Poblete Natalia , Moyano Dávila Camila , Rodríguez-Garrido Pía , Samit Oroz Shirley , Soto Francisca , Vásquez Isidora
Published: April 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, scholars around the world warned about increasing gender inequalities within academia. In this context, we created Red Feminista de las Ciencias Sociales to support initiatives among women researchers in Chile. Our objective is to appeal for gender equality in academia and to promote structural changes that guarantee dignified feminist academia in the social sciences. This article draws on various self-training and discussion activities developed by the Red Feminista between mid-2021 and mid-2022 to discuss the role of women in academia, with implications for other marginalised groups in Chile and possibly other countries where inequality in academia is also a reality. Based on our discussions, we propose strategies to promote a decentralised, decolonised and feminist social science academia that guarantees gender equality as a fundamental human right and as a crosscutting axis in producing knowledge and access to it. We organise these strategies into four pillars: 1) equity and justice in the production of knowledge, 2) dignified work conditions in the production of knowledge, 3) a work environment free from harassment and 4) the democratisation of access to knowledge. Whilst these aspects have been studied in other countries, this article addresses the specific context of Chile. We argue that it is possible to reflect on feminisms (in plural) within academia and propose practical strategies for establishing new dynamics through collaborative work.
Quasi-synchronization of complex dynamical networks with switched coupling strengths based on a generalized Halanay’s inequality
Authors: Bao Baizeng , Hu Hongxiao , Xu Liguang
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates the exponential quasi-synchronization problem of complex dynamical networks with switched coupling strengths. First, a generalized Halanay’s inequality has been established, which further extends the existing result in Mazenc et al. This inequality not only allows the gain to surpass the decay rate but also helps to cope with quasi-synchronization of complex dynamical networks with switched coupling strengths. Then, in virtue of the obtained inequality, Lyapunov function, and some other important inequalities, sufficient criteria ensuring the quasi-synchronization for the considered system are derived analytically. A numerical example is provided to verify the feasibility of the results.
Dual Language Education and Academic Growth
Authors: Johnson Angela
Published: April 2024

Background or Context:

Dual language education aims to foster the development of bilingualism, biliteracy, sociocultural competence, and academic skills in all school subjects. Early correlational research suggests that participation in dual language education is associated with higher achievement. Recent studies leveraged more comprehensive sets of baseline characteristics and found that dual language students improved their achievement status more than other students. A major limitation to these studies is their lack of ability to model within-student growth. Thus, we lack evidence on the relationship between dual language education and growth trajectories within and across grades.

Purpose:

This paper reports academic achievement and growth in grades 2 through 8 for Hispanic participants and nonparticipants of a Spanish–English dual language program. It extends the literature by providing novel evidence on seasonal patterns of learning for multilingual students across the elementary and middle grades.

Research Design:

Applying a piecewise multilevel model to rich assessment data on a large sample of Hispanic students in a district in the Midwest, I compare the math and English reading growth rates of participants to nonparticipants of a dual language (DL) program. By separately specifying growth terms for each school year and summer, I test whether any differences in growth rates between DL and non-DL students expand, stay the same, or diminish across grade levels.

Conclusion:

Dual language participants started second grade with lower achievement than nonparticipants. In math, dual language participants grew more than nonparticipants during each year in grades 2 to 5 but lost more learning during summers. In English reading, dual language participants grew more during some school years. These findings suggest summer learning opportunities are crucial for addressing achievement disparities.
The Politics of Amphibiousness: Shifting Coastal Management in the Netherlands
Authors: Meesters Marieke , Pauwelussen Annet , Turnhout Esther
Published: April 2024

This paper explores the consequences of a shift in Dutch coastal management. The management approach transitioned from aiming to keep the sea at bay toward the stimulation of dynamic sea-land relations. This shift toward “dynamic management” can be seen as part of wider trends in both ecological and science, technology, and society thinking on coasts as amphibious more-than-human entanglements. We draw on a case study of the Wadden Sea barrier island Ameland to develop the notion of amphibious response-ability. We show that while dynamic management enabled amphibiousness in the land–sea interface, it limited other types of amphibiousness, with consequences for the possibilities to respond to coastal changes. These consequences for amphibious response-abilities became critical when rapid coastal erosion threatened and partially destroyed a gas platform. Our case shows that even when coastal management regimes are amphibious because they unleash and build on natural processes, they can still have harmful consequences, and they can in fact limit the possibilities for integrated responses to coastal change. We conclude by suggesting that heterogeneous knowledge alliances are needed to expose and work with the politics of (amphibious) coastal management regimes.
Scientists’ behaviour towards information disorder: A systematic review
Authors: Revez Jorge , Corujo Luís
Published: April 2024

How are scientists coping with misinformation and disinformation? Focusing on the triangle scientists/mis-disinformation/behaviour, this study aims to systematically review the literature to answer three research questions: What are the main approaches described in the literature concerning scientists’ behaviour towards mis-disinformation? Which techniques or strategies are discussed to tackle information disorder? Is there a research gap in including scientists as subjects of research projects concerning information disorder tackling strategies? Following PRISMA 2020 statement, a checklist and flow diagram for reporting systematic reviews, a set of 14 documents was analysed. Findings revealed that the literature might be interpreted following Wilson and Maceviciute’s model as creation, acceptance and dissemination categories. Crossing over these categories, we advanced three standing points to analyse scientists’ positions towards mis-disinformation: inside, inside-out and outside-in. The stage ‘Creation/facilitation’ was the least present in our sample, but ‘Use/rejection/acceptance’ and ‘Dissemination’ were depicted in the literature retrieved. Most of the literature approaches were about inside-out perspectives, meaning that the topic is mainly studied concerning communication issues. Regarding the strategies against the information disorder, findings suggest that preventive and reactive strategies are simultaneously used. A strong appeal to a multidisciplinary effort against mis-disinformation is widely present, but there is a gap in including scientists as subjects of research projects.
“I one-hundred thousand percent blame it on QAnon”: The impact of QAnon belief on interpersonal relationships
Authors: Mastroni Lauren , Mooney Robyn
Published: April 2024

Conspiracy beliefs have been found to have negative real-world consequences that can impact interpersonal relationships; however, this remains an under-researched area. With the current popularity of conspiracy movements such as QAnon, more research into these phenomena is necessary. The present research therefore aimed to explore the impact of QAnon belief on interpersonal relationships. Fifteen participants aged 21–54 (M = 41) with a QAnon-affiliated loved one were interviewed about how QAnon has changed their relationship. Using thematic analysis, four main themes were identified: Malignant Q, Distance, Qonflict, and Attempts at Healing. Participants characterized QAnon as a malignant force in their relationships and communicated with their loved ones less as a result. Although QAnon was a source of conflict and tension for all participants, they were motivated to understand their loved ones. Most participants who still had relationships with their loved ones were motivated to heal or maintain their relationships, while those who no longer did had previously tried many different strategies to save their relationships. These findings provide greater insight into how QAnon can impact relationships, offering fruitful directions for future research examining how individuals can heal from QAnon-afflicted relationships.
All Roads Lead to Rome? Pope Pius XII and Non-Confessional Internationalism During and After the Second World War (1944–1948)
Authors: Lesti Sante
Published: April 2024

Religion is the great absentee in the history of internationalism. Earlier studies have begun to highlight the critical role played by religious internationalism in the making of the modern world, but the relations between non-confessional internationalism and religious actors have, to date, been completely overlooked. This article explores the relationship between non-confessional internationalism and Catholicism, with the intention of enriching both the history of internationalism and that of Catholicism in the twentieth century. Specifically, it focuses on the relationship between a number of non-confessional internationalist actors – from the Paneuropean Union and other world and European federalist movements to war refugees – and Pope Pius XII, between 1944 and 1948. Based on the recently opened Vatican archives, the following pages address three fundamental issues: (1) What did the Pope represent in the internationalist imagination? (2) Why did non-confessional internationalists seek contact with him? (3) How did the Pope respond to the requests for support that he received? As a whole, the requests for support examined in this paper clearly show the centrality of Pius XII in the imagination – and strategies – of non-confessional internationalism in the 1940s, including popular internationalism. Between 1944 and 1948, all roads really seemed to lead to Rome.
The First Tourist Encounters in Mallorca (1837–1842): Colonial Denationalization and Local Resistance in Music and Dance Performance
Authors: Vives Riera Antoni
Published: April 2024

Although tourist performance of local identity has been regarded as an instrument of everyday nation-building from below, this article describes the opposite phenomenon as Mallorca became a tourist destination in the nineteenth century. The island's identity embodied through tourist dance performances, led to denationalization and subaltern silencing in the production process of a Mediterranean and insular exotic otherness of colonial nature. In this respect, this article explains how the host population refused to assume a denationalized local identity, as well as to perform a colonial stereotype through dance.
Effects of spraying power on Fe-based amorphous coatings
Authors: Wang Chao , Jiang Bo , Ren Jianping , Song Renguo
Published: April 2024

To avoid the corrosion damage caused by cavitation and sediment erosion on the turbine blades, Fe-based amorphous coatings were deposited on steel of hydraulic turbine blades using plasma spraying with various spraying power. The effects of spraying power on the microstructure, electrochemical corrosion and wear resistance were systematically studied. Results show that the coatings have remarkable corrosion resistance and wear resistance compared with the substrate. Porosity is the most critical factor influencing the corrosion resistance of coatings. The anti-corrosion performance increases and the wear rate decreases as the spraying power increases. The coatings prepared at 25 kW has excellent corrosion resistance and wear resistance, with a corrosion rate of 0.011 mm·a−1, and a wear rate of only 5.91 mm3·N−1·m−1.
Is ultrafiltration volume a predictor of postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass?
Authors: Gerami Hamid , Sajedianfard Javad , Ghasemzadeh Bahram , AnsariLari Maryam
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Intraoperative ultrafiltration (UF) is a procedure used during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to reduce haemodilution and prevent excessive blood transfusion. However, the effect of UF volume on acute kidney injury (AKI) is not well established, and the results are conflicting. Additionally, there are no set indications for applying UF during CPB.

Methods

This retrospective study analysed 641 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery with CPB. Perioperative parameters were extracted from the patients’ records, and the UF volume was recorded. Acute Kidney Injury Network classification was used to define AKI. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to predict AKI while controlling for confounding factors.

Results

The study enrolled patients with a mean age of 58.8 ± 11.1 years, 39.2% of whom were female. AKI occurred in 22.5% of patients, with 16.1% (103) experiencing stage I and 6.4% (41) experiencing stage II. The results showed a significant association between UF volume and the risk of developing AKI, with higher UF volumes associated with a higher risk of AKI. In the multivariable analysis, the other predictors of AKI included age, lowest mean arterial pressure (MAP), and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion during CPB.

Conclusion

The predictors of postoperative AKI in coronary CABG patients were the volume of UF, age, MAP, and blood transfusion during CPB.
Comparison of Blood Flow Restriction Interventions to Standard Rehabilitation After an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review
Authors: Colombo Valentina , Valenčič Tamara , Steiner Kat , Škarabot Jakob , Folland Jonathan , O’Sullivan Oliver , Kluzek Stefan
Published: April 2024

Background:

Blood flow restriction training (BFR-t) data are heterogeneous. It is unclear whether rehabilitation with BFR-t after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is more effective in improving muscle strength and muscle size than standard rehabilitation.

Purpose:

To review outcomes after an ACL injury and subsequent reconstruction in studies comparing rehabilitation with and without BFR-t.

Study Design:

Systematic review. Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A search of English-language human clinical studies published in the past 20 years (2002-2022) was carried out in 5 health sciences databases, involving participants aged 18-65 undergoing rehabilitation for an ACL injury. Outcomes associated with muscle strength, muscle size, and knee-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were extracted from studies meeting inclusion criteria and compared.

Results:

The literature search identified 279 studies, of which 5 met the selection criteria. Two studies suggested that BFR-t rehabilitation after an ACL injury improved knee or thigh muscle strength and muscle size compared with rehabilitation consisting of comparable and higher load resistance training, with two studies suggesting the opposite. The single study measuring PROMs showed improvement compared to traditional rehabilitation, with no difference in muscle strength or size.

Conclusion:

BFR-t after an ACL injury seems to benefit muscle strength, muscle size, and PROM scores compared with standard rehabilitation alone. However, only 1 large study included all these outcomes, which has yet to be replicated in other settings. Further studies utilizing similar methods with a common set of outcome measures are required to confirm the effects of BFR-t on ACL rehabilitation.
Outcomes of Flexibility Sport Athletes With Borderline Hip Dysplasia After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Propensity-Matched Analysis at Minimum 2-Year Follow-up
Authors: Jan Kyleen , Vogel Michael J. , Alvero Alexander B. , Wright-Chisem Joshua , Nho Shane J.
Published: April 2024

Background:

Hip arthroscopy has proved successful in treating femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in patients with and without borderline hip dysplasia (BHD). Despite a high prevalence of BHD in patients who participate in sports with high flexibility requirements, a paucity of literature evaluates the efficacy of hip arthroscopy in treating FAIS in flexibility sport athletes with BHD.

Purpose:

To compare minimum 2-year patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and achievement of clinically significant outcomes in flexibility sport athletes with BHD undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS with capsular plication with results in flexibility sport athletes without dysplasia.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Data were prospectively collected for patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS with BHD, defined as a lateral center-edge angle of 18° to 25°, who reported participation in a sport with a high flexibility requirement, including dance, gymnastics, figure skating, yoga, cheerleading, and martial arts, according to previous literature. These patients were matched 1:2 to flexibility sport athletes without dysplasia, controlling for age, sex, and body mass index. Preoperative and minimum 2-year postoperative PROs were collected and compared between groups. Cohort-specific minimal clinically important difference and patient acceptable symptom state achievement was compared between groups.

Results:

In total, 52 flexibility sport athletes with BHD were matched to 104 flexibility sport athletes without BHD. Both groups showed similar sport participation ( P = .874) and a similar level of competition ( P = .877). Preoperative lateral center-edge angle (22.2°± 1.6° vs 31.5°± 3.9°; P < .001) and Tönnis angle (10.9°± 3.7° vs 5.8°± 4.4°; P < .001) differed between groups. Capsular plication was performed in all cases. Both groups achieved significant improvement in all PROs ( P < .001) with no differences in postoperative PROs between groups ( P≥ .147). High minimal clinically important difference (BHD group: 95.7%; control group: 94.8%) and patient acceptable symptom state (BHD group: 71.7%; control group: 72.2%) achievement for any PRO was observed with no differences between groups ( P≥ .835).

Conclusion:

Flexibility sport athletes with BHD achieved similar outcomes as those of flexibility sport athletes without BHD after hip arthroscopy for FAIS with capsular plication.
Gender associations between phthalate exposure and biomarkers of oxidative stress: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Jian-Qing , Li Zhi-Juan , Gao Hui , Sheng Jie , Liang Chun-Mei , Hu Ya-Bin , Xia Xun , Huang Kun , Wang Su-Fang , Zhu Peng , Hao Jia-Hu , Tao Fang-Biao
Published: April 2024

Previous epidemiologic research has shown that phthalate exposure in pregnant women is related to adverse birth outcomes in a sex-specific manner. However, the biological mechanism of phthalate exposure that causes these birth outcomes remains poorly defined. In this research, we investigated the association between phthalate exposure and placental oxidative stress in a large population-based cohort study, aiming to initially explore the relationship between phthalate exposure and gene expression in placental oxidative stress in a sex-specific manner. Quantitative PCR was performed to measure the expression of placental inflammatory mRNAs (HO-1, HIF1α, and GRP78) in 2469 placentae. The multiple linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between mRNA and urinary phthalate monoesters. Phthalate metabolites monomethyl phthalate (MMP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) were positively correlated with higher HIF1α expression in placentae of male fetuses ( p < .05). Mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) increased the expression of HO-1, HIF1α, and GRP78 in placentae of male fetuses, and mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) up-regulated the expression of HIF1α and GRP78. Additionally, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) was negatively correlated with HO-1, HIF1α, and GRP78 in placentae of female fetuses. Maternal phthalate exposure was associated with oxidative stress variations in placental tissues. The associations were closer in the placentas of male fetuses than in that of female ones. The placenta oxidative stress is worth further investigation as a potential mediator of maternal exposure-induced disease risk in children.
Navigating Dating Violence: An Intersectional Analysis of Agency Among Young Iranian Immigrant Women
Authors: Rahmatizadeh Masoumeh
Published: April 2024

Women's agency in resisting violence and control within intimate relationships manifests in diverse forms, shaped by various social divisions and the socio-cultural contexts in which gender relations evolve. This research explores first-generation young Iranian immigrant women's responses to violence and control within their dating relationships in Canada. Employing an intersectional analysis, it delves into the multifaceted agency demonstrated by these women when confronting dating violence (DV). By contextualizing their agency within Collins's matrix of oppression, the study unveils how systems of oppression interlock to shape their agency. The findings underscored the substantial agency displayed by young women in asserting their self-determination and self-definition. This was evident in their ability to recognize the aggressor's controlling behaviors within their relationships and their outspoken critique of the deeply entrenched patriarchal and gendered norms prevailing in the dominant discourse within the Iranian community. The results underscore the pressing need for culturally sensitive interventions and education programs that move beyond mere DV awareness.
The Role of Childhood Violence in Adult Victimization Among Women Experiencing Homelessness in Spain
Authors: Vázquez José Juan , Lenta Malena , Cabrera Adrian , Panadero Sonia
Published: April 2024

Persons experiencing homelessness represent one of the principal manifestations of the phenomenon of social exclusion, with homeless women constituting a group in a particularly vulnerable situation. The article analyzed the experience of violence in childhood and adolescence, and its implications in terms of violence experienced as an adult, in a sample of women experiencing homelessness in Madrid (Spain) ( n = 138). All participants were of legal age and had spent the night before the interview in a shelter or other facility for the homeless, on the street, in public spaces or in places not suitable for sleeping. Information was gathered through a structured interview. The results show that the interviewees had experienced a high percentage of physical, psychological, and/or sexual violence, both in their childhood and adolescence and throughout their lives, with a strong correlation between the experience of violence in childhood and the experience of violence in adulthood, particularly sexual assaults, intimate partner violence, and sex work. The experience of childhood sexual abuse among women experiencing homelessness appears to have had particularly negative consequences in adulthood. Public policies, prevention programs, and care mechanisms with a gendered perspective must be implemented, aimed at reducing the number and intensity of situations of violence experienced by women and girls at risk of social exclusion or in a homeless situation.