bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Herbacetin Attenuates Oxidative Stress via Activating Nrf2/HO‐1 Signaling Pathway in RAW 264.7 Cells and Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Wang Wei , Luo Jia-Qi , Lv Bing-Yi , Dong Zhan-Wei , Zhai Chong-Shuo , Hu Yu-Han , Jin Zhen , Du Dan , Tang You-Zhi
Published: November 2024

Flavonoids have long been used as food additives due to their antioxidant properties. To discover bioactive natural flavonoids, the antioxidant capabilities of a range of natural flavonoids were investigated in RAW 264.7 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans induced by H2O2. Chemical antioxidant activity of a range of flavonoids was performed by DPPH and ABTS+ radicals scavenging assays. Then, the cellular antioxidant activity assays were employed to detect the antioxidant mechanisms by flow cytometry and qRT‐PCR analyses. The underlying antioxidant mechanisms were explored by western blotting, small interfering RNA (siRNA), molecular docking, and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). Next, the antioxidant potential of active compounds was verified in H2O2‐induced Caenorhabditis elegans. Our studies showed herbacetin exhibited the most pronounced DPPH and ABTS + radicals scavenging capacity among all the tested flavonoids. And herbacetin also showed improved antioxidant activity against H2O2‐induced oxidative stress in RAW 264.7 cells compared to quercetin and Trolox. The structure‐activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that hydroxyl groups at the 7′ and 8′ positions on the A‐ring of herbacetin played a crucial role in inhibiting H2O2‐induced cellular oxidative stress. Interestingly, herbacetin’s activation of HO‐1 was closely associated with its binding to Keap1. Notably, in vivo assays demonstrated that herbacetin protected Caenorhabditis elegans from H2O2‐induced oxidative stress. This study screens and elucidates the excellent antioxidant capacity of herbacetin both in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that herbacetin holds promise as a natural agent for antioxidant therapy.
Optimization of Hemp Seed Milk Production Using Response Surface Methodology: Enhancing Nutritional Quality and Reducing Antinutrients
Authors: Thakur Akriti , Morya Sonia , Alsulami Tawfiq , Brennan Charles , Nayik Gulzar Ahmad
Published: November 2024

Plant‐based milk is becoming an increasingly important component in developing new food items. Hemp seed has anti‐inflammatory effects and a high protein content, which gives health advantages. Hemp milk is a suitable alternative for those with allergies to milk protein and lactose or concerns about cholesterol. However, optimal extraction conditions for hemp milk are not well documented. This study utilized a response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Central composite rotatable design (CCRD) to optimize the variables of soaking time (A), heating time (B), and temperature (C) for hemp milk production. The study measured levels of antinutrients such as phytic acid, tannins, and saponins, as well as nutrients like fat and protein. Regression models were developed to analyze these factors, and their effectiveness was evaluated using a lack of fit test and the coefficient of variation (R2). The study found that soaking duration, extraction time, and temperature had a substantial (p < 0.05) influence on responses. The optimal soaking period, extraction time, and temperature for best hemp seed milk production are as follows: soaking period of approximately 9 h, heating time in a water bath for almost 60 min, and heating temperature of 48°C. The experimental findings confirmed the accuracy of the predicted models within a satisfactory response range. Additionally, the results suggest that the formulated model is effective for enhancing milk production and achieving consistent quality.
Patient‐Reported Experience Measures in Adult Inpatient Settings: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kang Yichen , Guan Tingyu , Chen Xiao , Zhang Yuxia
Published: November 2024

Background: Patient‐centered ideas have become the key indicator of medical service quality, and patient‐reported experience measures are ways to measure how well this idea is being implemented. There are currently numerous adult inpatient experience instruments available, and it is necessary to conduct such systematic reviews to discover any new instruments and help policymakers and researchers increase the likelihood of hearing true patients’ voices through appropriate selection of these instruments.

Objective: To identify existing adult inpatient experience measures and to critically appraise their development design and psychometric testing results.

Methods: EMBASE, PUBMED, Cochrane, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO, and ProQuest were searched from inception to March 2023. A comprehensive review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted. Studies were identified via specific search terms and inclusion criteria. The methodological quality assessment was evaluated according to the COnsensus‐based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist.

Results: A total of 29 articles reporting on 23 instruments were included. Each instrument demonstrated both satisfaction and disappointment during the development process and psychometric testing with the recommended criteria of the COSMIN checklist. Pilot tests and cognitive interviews were ignored or not reported in 9 studies. Only 5 studies evaluated the content validity. Among all measurement properties, internal consistency and structural validity were the two most frequently measured attributes. None of the 29 included studies assessed the responsiveness or measurement error of the scales.

Conclusion: Among a variety of adult inpatient experience instruments, only a limited number of studies were methodologically sound. Further research still needs to be conducted for the development and validation of patient‐reported experience measures. New quality assessments, such as instrument utility, also should be implemented to provide a more complete evaluation of instruments in the information era.
Exploring the Antimalarial Potential of Gnetum gnemon Leaf Extract Against Plasmodium berghei in Mice
Authors: Ounjaijean Sakaewan , Somsak Voravuth
Published: November 2024

Malaria remains a critical global health issue, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The disease, caused by Plasmodium parasites, is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes and can lead to severe complications and death if untreated. The emergence of drug‐resistant strains highlights the urgent need for new antimalarial agents. Gnetum gnemon, a plant native to Southeast Asia, has shown promise due to its rich bioactive compounds. This study aims to evaluate the suppressive, curative, and prophylactic antimalarial potential of Gnetum gnemon leaf extract (GGE) against Plasmodium berghei in mice. GGE was prepared using a combination of hot water extraction and microwave‐assisted heating. Acute toxicity tests revealed no significant adverse effects at a dose of 3000 mg/kg. The doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg were selected based on preliminary toxicity assessments to systematically investigate the dose‐dependent antimalarial efficacy of the extract. Suppressive tests showed that GGE at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg significantly reduced parasitemia levels, with the highest dose achieving a 63.97% inhibition. In these tests, GGE also increased the mean survival time (MST) of treated mice compared to untreated controls. However, GGE did not exhibit significant curative effects, as parasitemia levels in the treated groups were similar to the untreated control group. Prophylactic tests indicated that GGE pretreatment did not significantly reduce parasitemia levels or improve MST compared to controls, unlike chloroquine (CQ), which demonstrated potent prophylactic efficacy with a significant increase in MST. These findings suggest that while GGE has notable suppressive antimalarial activity, it does not exhibit strong curative or prophylactic effects at the tested doses. This study contributes to the understanding of plant‐based antimalarial agents and underscores the importance of continued exploration of natural products for malaria treatment.
Self‐Powered Sensor Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Landslide Displacement Measurement
Authors: Chen JinGuo , Zou Hao , Pan Guangzhi , Mao Shuai , Chen Bing , Wu Chuan
Published: November 2024

Landslides are a severe geological disaster that can cause casualties and property damage. Surface deformation displacement monitoring plays a crucial role in landslide monitoring and early warning systems. However, the shortage of power supply at landslide monitoring sites limits the widespread installation of automated landslide displacement monitoring sensors. In this research, we propose a self‐powered sensor (displacement monitoring sensor‐triboelectric nanogenerator [DIS‐TENG]) for monitoring landslide displacement based on the TENG. The DIS‐TENG utilizes the principle of frictional electrification and electrostatic induction to convert landslide displacement into voltage signal output, thereby achieving the monitoring of landslide displacement. Test results show that the output voltage of the DIS‐TENG is directly proportional to the landslide displacement, and the maximum output voltage is 26.98 V. The measurement range is 1–12 cm, the measurement errors are below 5%, the maximum output power is 9.02 µW with an external load resistance of 107 Ω, and the sensor operates reliably within a temperature range of 5°C to 85°C and a humidity range of 10%–80%. Compared to traditional landslide displacement monitoring sensors, the DIS‐TENG possesses the distinct advantage of not requiring an external power supply. Given the absence of reliable power sources in outdoor working environments, a self‐powered sensor is undeniably more suitable for such conditions.
Reference ranges for preductal oxygen saturation and heart rate in moderate and late preterm infants with deferred cord clamping.
Authors: Valles-Murcia Nerea , Solaz-García Álvaro , Pinilla-González Alejandro , Torrejón-Rodriguez Laura , Gormaz María , Escrig-Fernández Raquel , González-Timoneda Alba , Cernada María , Vento Maximo
Published: November 2024

Introduction. Moderate and late preterm (MLPT) infants represent a substantial percentage of all preterm infants and frequently need support in the delivery room (DR). Deferring cord clamping (DCC) improves SpO2 and heart rate (HR) stabilization in term infants. However, data on MLPT infants are limited.
Methods. Prospective observational study collecting SpO2 and HR by pulse-oximetry (PO) in healthy MLPT infants with DDC to construct percentile graphs for the first 10 minutes after birth.
Results. 96 MLPT infants were monitored for preductal SpO2 and HR, and percentiles were calculated. SpO2 mean was significantly lower for MLPT than for term infants during the first six minutes after birth, and 15% didn’t achieve SpO2 > 85% in the first five minutes after birth. HR was significantly lower in MLPT infants in the first 4 minutes after birth; however, HR consistently remained above bradycardic values (> 100 bpm). NICU admission and postnatal complications were not different between MLPT achieving SpO2 > 85% or not.
Conclusions. MLPT infants with DCC achieved stable SpO2 and HR significantly later, 6 min and 4 min, respectively than term infants. In addition, 15% of MLPT infants didn’t achieve SpO2  85% at five minutes after birth. However, admission to the NICU and clinical evolution didn’t differ from newborns with SpO2 85% at 5 minutes. Larger studies including long-term follow-up are needed to assess if lower SpO2 in the first five minutes has clinical consequences in non-resuscitated MLPT.
Promotor Hypomethylation Mediated Upregulation of VCAN Targets Twist1 to Promote EndMT in Hypoxia‐Induced Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Yu Jinyan , Hong Shanchao , Yang Lingjia , Ye Shugao , Yu Zhen , Zhang Zheming , Wang Ziteng , Huang Shulun , Chen Yuan , Bian Tao , Wu Yan
Published: November 2024

Background

Hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a severe vascular disorder that is characterized by the involvement of endothelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in its pathogenesis. Our previous research has suggested that the gene versican may have a crucial role in the development of HPH. However, the exact function of versican in HPH requires further investigation.

Methods and Results

The expression of versican and markers of EndMT was assessed using Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with HPH and mice were evaluated through hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's staining, and hemodynamic measurements. Protein interactions were validated using co‐immunoprecipitation, and the DNA methylation level of versican was examined using methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction. Compared with the control, EndMT was observed in patients with HPH, HPH mouse models, and hypoxia‐treated human pulmonary artery endothelial cells, accompanied by a significant increase of versican. Endothelium‐specific knockdown of versican reversed HPH progression and effectively prevented EndMT in mouse models and human pulmonary artery endothelial cells. We further confirmed that versican participated in EndMT by targeting the key transcription factor Twist1. Additionally, the upregulation of versican may be attributed to promoter hypomethylation, which was mediated by reduced DNA methyltransferases activity under hypoxic conditions.

Conclusions

This study provides the initial evidence showcasing the role of promoter hypomethylation‐mediated versican upregulation in promoting EndMT by targeting Twist1, which facilitates vascular remodeling and the progression of HPH. These findings offer a promising new target for the treatment of HPH.
A Short Appendix to Richard Lavenham’s Tractatus terminorum naturalium
Authors: Hanke Miroslav
Published: November 2024

Continuing the tradition of Oxford Calculatorial physics, the late fourteenth-century British Carmelite Richard Lavenham authored an amplification of the popular short textbook commonly referred to as Termini naturales. A copy of this amplification, preserved in a late fourteenth-century manuscript (Venezia, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, ms Lat. Z. 300 [= 1872]), is followed by a short series of notes and comments on some of the principles introduced in Lavenham’s treatise (drawn from the first four books of Aristotle’s Physics). The present article offers an edition of the text, and analyses its content and relationship with fourteenth-century physics, especially with the physical doctrines of Richard Lavenham.
Efficacy of banana fibre paper for the management of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, on potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Kenya
Authors: Kamau Dorris W. , Waceke Wanjohi , Cortada Laura , Mwaura Onesmus , Pirzada Tahira , Sit Tim L. , Davis Eric , Guenther Dick , Mathew Reny , Pal Lokendra , Khan Saad , Haukeland Solveig , Kisaakye James , Opperman Charles , Coyne Danny
Published: November 2024

Globally, potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a key staple food crop. In Kenya, it is the second most important food crop after maize. Among the various constraints to potato production are plant-parasitic nematodes. In particular, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are a significant impediment to potato production, suppressing yield and reducing the quality of harvested tubers. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a lignocellulose fibre matrix (banana paper) either impregnated with a chemical or drenched with a biologically-based nematicide for the management of root-knot nematodes on potatoes, in Kenya. The experiment was conducted in both field and pot trials over two consecutive cropping seasons. Wrapping seed potatoes in banana paper impregnated with abamectin or drenched with Trichoderma asperellum (Real Trichoderma®) led to suppression of soil Meloidogyne incognita densities by 87% and 68% in the field, and 86% and 40% in pots, respectively, which led to a 3.3- and 3.7-fold increase in yield in the field. This novel technology, also referred to as ‘Wrap & Plant’, presents a practical option for nematode management in potato under the resource-limited conditions of sub-Saharan Africa and offers potential for the targeted management of other soil-borne diseases.
The first record of hyperparasitism in mermithid nematodes
Authors: Fujimori Yuta , Kanzaki Natsumi , Shinya Ryoji
Published: November 2024

The Mermithidae are primarily simple parasitoids of insects. In this study, we report the first observation of hyperparasitism by mermithid nematodes. Two Mermithidae individuals emerged from a specimen of the parasitoid wasp Coleocentrus incertus collected in Hokkaido, Japan. Although the nematodes were in the juvenile stage and many morphological characteristics were underdeveloped, we were able to observe cross fibre layers on the cuticles. A molecular sequence analysis of the 18S ribosomal DNA suggested that the nematode belonged to the genus Hexamermis, which was supported by the presence of the cross fibre layers. The phylogenetic analysis also suggested a close relationship between our specimens and ‘Mermithidae sp. NM1’, a taxon found in bumblebees, as differences between the sequences of the two taxa were minimal; however, further research is required to confirm the species’ identity. Hyperparasitism by nematodes is rare and is typically unsuccessful in non-host species, yet the nematodes in this study successfully parasitised a parasitoid wasp. Our study is the first to demonstrate that mermithid nematodes can exhibit hyperparasitism in addition to their known parasitic behaviour. The parasitic strategies of Mermithidae nematodes appear to be more flexible than previously assumed, indicating a high degree of adaptability as parasites.
Silver Gorgoneion from the Cult Place at Eklizi-Burun (Mountain Crimea)
Authors: Lysenko Aleksandr , Mordvintseva Valentina
Published: November 2024

During a survey on the territory of the Eklizi-Burun cult complex, a repeatedly densely folded fragment of a silver sheet was discovered. When unfolded during the restoration process, it turned out to be part of an art object depicting the mask of Medusa Gorgon. The size and shape of the item suggest its purpose as part of Roman military equipment (presumably part of the umbo or a knee guard). The stylistic features of the image give grounds to attribute it to the late Roman period.
Notes on a Glass Assemblage and Associated Wick-Holders from Machkhomeri (Khobi Municipality – Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Western Georgia)
Authors: Intagliata Emanuele E.
Published: November 2024

The 2018–2019 excavation of the basilica church at Machkhomeri yielded a rich assemblage of glass vessels, most of which are believed to belong to 6th century AD lamps. These were dumped into an annexed funerary chapel when the church was restructured to become a single-hall building. Glass lamps are well-known occurrences in late antique contexts across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. However, the finds from the southwest Caucasus have often been neglected. The scope of this contribution is to present the glass finds from Machkhomeri. A collection of wick-holders for glass lamps retrieved in close stratigraphic proximity to the glass assemblage will also be described.
Towards an Archaeological Appraisal of the Central Zagros in the Achaemenid Period
Authors: Bahadori Ali
Published: November 2024

Located in the great satrapy of Media, during the Achaemenid period central Zagros was a crucial region throughout this era in western Iran, but archaeologically it has not so far been analyzed because of lacking material evidence. However, a putative reconstruction may be presented on the basis of current documentation. On this ground and as historical geography interpretations suggest, the central, southern and eastern parts of this region were more important, while the western and northern parts are still waiting for further explorations. Ecbatana, Nush-i Jan and Godin formed most significant centers in the eastern part, but the present paper argues that it was Bisotun in the central part that echoed Achaemenid power on various administrative, economic, military and ceremonial levels.
Détourner un héritage stylistique. Du bon usage des stylèmes galants dans l’Histoire d’une Grecque moderne de Prévost d’Exiles
Authors: de Courson Clara
Published: November 2024

Dans l’Histoire d’une Grecque moderne de Prévost (1740), plusieurs traits de style apparentent l’écriture romanesque à la galanterie littéraire, emblématisée au siècle précédent par Racine ou Lafayette ; c’est le cas en particulier de l’association à l’article indéfini des expressions qui désignent le personnage féminin. Trait de genre (la nouvelle historique et galante), mais aussi d’époque (le long XVIIe siècle), ce tour devient sous la plume de Prévost un marqueur de son style d’auteur. Toutefois, sous l’apparence de la continuité, la valeur et le sens de ce legs stylistique se voient reconfigurés de fond en comble : Prévost orchestre un véritable détournement du style galant. En récupérant l’un des traits par lesquels la langue galante signalait sa littérarité et en l’accommodant à ses propres enjeux romanesques, au risque d’en modifier la signification en profondeur, Prévost offre un cas d’école pour s’interroger sur la propriété des faits de style.
Fascism, Anti-Liberalism and Liberalism in Italy
Authors: Bianchi Alvaro
Published: November 2024

Anti-liberalism is often highlighted as central to interpretations of fascism. This article discusses the existence of a liberal-fascist current in Italian Fascism. Very active during the first years of the Fascist government, this current was expressed in the pages of the journals La Nuova Politica Liberale, which brought together disciples of the philosopher Giovanni Gentile, and Critica Fascista, an organ of the revisionists led by Giuseppe Bottai. Anti-individualist, anti-naturalist and anti-democratic, this current asserted that the rights of the nation preceded individual rights, that freedom would not exist in a supposed state of nature and would be the creation of a political society. It rejected the opposition between freedom and authority, stating that only a strong and orderly state would allow freedom to occur. Although the existence of a liberal-fascist current does not impugn the predominantly anti-liberal character of Italian Fascism, bringing it to light contributes to a more complex assessment of Italian Fascism, underlining the existence of different intellectual currents, ideological clashes, and political antagonism within the movement.
Saumyendranath Tagore and the Nazi Seizure of Power
Authors: Ortiz Michael
Published: November 2024

This article examines the Nazi seizure of power from the perspective of Indian communist Saumyendranath Tagore (1901–1974). In the Weimar era, Berlin developed into a hub of transnational anti-colonial activism. After seizing power, the Nazis forcibly dismantled these networks and terrorized several leading members of the Indian diasporic community. In April 1933, Tagore was arrested for allegedly planning the assassination of Hitler. After fleeing Berlin, Tagore publicly urged progressive forces from around the world to confront the Nazi menace. Like many global anti-fascists, he argued that anti-colonialism encompassed anti-Nazism (as well as vice-versa). Hitler, Tagore argued, could not fathom the emancipation of India, nor the collapse of European imperial hegemony. He would sooner preside over a German Raj than support the self-determination of India.
‘Wake Up—John’
Authors: Jackson Paul
Published: November 2024

This article examines the published literatures of the British proto-fascist group the British Fascists (BF). It argues that, while failing to develop a ‘fully-fledged’ fascist ideology, the organisation’s materials fostered an emotionology, or instructions on how to think and feel, that contained some fascist qualities, especially profound anxieties over the nation facing an existential threat. It draws on conceptual framings from the history of emotions to assess how the BF promoted a variegated range of views, united by deep worry and fear over Communism and profound concern over its potential to influence the future of Britain and its empire, as well as corrupting a future generation through influencing the minds of children. While the BF’s solutions often lacked the fully palingenetic vision typical of fascists, the BF helped to foster a fascist-style emotional refuge and developed this through ideological instruction as well as providing social opportunities and in principle empowerment. Finally, it concludes that the study of such emotionologies allows for deeper consideration of the overlapping political spaces of the right and processes of fascistisation.
Fascism in Peru
Authors: Gayozzo Piero
Published: November 2024

Contemporary fascism is an understudied phenomenon in Latin America. As a contribution to this understudied area, this article analyzes the evolution of fascist thought in Peru from its interwar history to the twenty-first century. Following Roger Griffin’s influential ‘new consensus’ approach to fascism studies based on a fascist minimum, this study explores Peruvian fascism and will argue that fascism developed new expressions in the years after 1945. It will develop the terms ‘neo-fascism’ and ‘post-fascism’, based on Griffin’s fascist minimum, to clarify the nature of the fascist movements to be analyzed. It will conclude that historically Peruvian fascism was exemplified by the Partido Unión Revolucionaria [Revolutionary Union Party], while in the postwar period, it took two parallel directions: the uniquely Peruvian neo-fascism of Acción Legionaria [Legionary Action] and the ethnocacerist or Andean post-fascism of Antauro Humala.
Determination of microplastics in reared black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) using polarised light optical microscopy
Authors: Dam N.L. , van der Borg G. , Hosseini A. , van Raamsdonk L.W.D. , Zheng R. , Schmitt E. , Hedemann J.B.G.M. , Ruis S. , van Bemmel G. , Meijer N.
Published: November 2024

Microplastics have become ubiquitous in the environment and are increasingly found in a variety of matrices, including in animal feed. At the same time, the presence of plastics from packaging materials in animal feed is still prohibited in the European Union. This is a major barrier preventing certain organic waste streams from being repurposed as feed. However, issues associated with the presence of plastic particles in feed for ‘conventional’ livestock such as poultry and pigs (e.g. accumulation in stomach/other tissues) may not pose a problem to reared insects such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). In the hypothetical absence of such transfer, insects reared on feed contaminated with plastics could potentially be repurposed as feed. Such reuse would be a major opportunity for a more circular food chain. The aim of this exploratory study was to develop a method to determine the potential transfer of microplastics from the substrate to biomass of reared BSFL. Tested plastics consisted of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) of three different sizes, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); to mimic the types of synthetic polymers commonly used for food packaging. The results showed no significant effects of dietary exposure of tested (micro-)plastics on larval yield and survival. We benchmarked fluorescence microscopy through Nile Red staining against a newly developed technique utilizing polarised light optical microscopy to identify plastic particles in BSFL. Tested LDPE particles were virtually absent from the post-exposure larvae. PET was recovered from the larvae, although it is unclear what the exact mechanism for this transfer was. More research is needed to validate these experimental findings with plastics of different types and particle sizes.
Free or Enslaved Labor
Authors: Rönnbäck Klas
Published: November 2024

Slavery was a dominant institution in labor markets for thousands of years. While nowadays illegal around the world, modern slavery still exists in various forms. This paper is an attempt to understand why slavery has been such a persistent institution. The model outlined is based on the theory of reservation wages, and proposes that slavery is an institution resorted to in contexts where the reservation wages for engaging free workers are high. Factors that contribute to such a scenario include the outside opportunities available to free workers, and the disamenities associated with the particular tasks to be undertaken. This paper argues that all key predictions from the model fit well with what is known about historical slavery, and for many of the dominant forms of modern slavery. The model can also be used to generate policy recommendations to better combat surviving forms of modern slavery.
Voluntary Slavery and the Meaning of Slavery
Authors: Spicksley Judith M.
Published: November 2024

For most scholars of slavery, the pairing of the terms ‘voluntary’ and ‘slavery’ remains problematic. The dominant model of slavery defines it as an involuntary status, in which people—according to the liberal model of ownership—were reduced to ‘things’, able to be used, abused and even killed at will. However, this involuntary model is a modern creation, developed by abolitionists from the eighteenth century. Prior to this, being owned did not necessarily involve being reduced to a ‘thing’; as a result, the decision to enter ownership voluntarily did not carry the same weight of contradiction. In this article I show that as the idea of slavery as involuntary was consolidated, so the rhetorical and critical value of ‘voluntary slavery’ as the ultimate oxymoron rose to the fore. In the process, however, the exploitation of those who agreed to submit themselves to others was downplayed.
National Growth Models and Global Capitalism: a Critique of Comparative Political Economy
Authors: Pauls Robert , Kalinowski Thomas
Published: November 2024

This theoretical article offers a critical perspective on the stagnationist and methodologically nationalist foundations of the growth model approach in comparative political economy. Going back to Bhaduri and Marglin’s foundational work, we examine its stagnationist roots, focusing on the causal mechanisms that link national aggregate demand, profit, and investment, which create a congruence between capitalist accumulation and national economic growth. We contrast these stagnationist assumptions with recent research on the transnational accumulation strategies of firms, which escape the stagnationist logic. Subsequently, we show how the growth model approach, more implicitly than explicitly, adopts many of the stagnationist assumptions of the Neo-Kaleckian model in its creation of a typology based on national aggregate demand components, thereby also subscribing to a methodological nationalism that inadequately captures contemporary global accumulation dynamics. Consequently, we argue that comparative political economy studies need to emphasize the theorization of the changing logic of capitalist accumulation.
Disrespect and Coercion: Unpacking Variations in China’s Sanctions Rhetoric
Authors: Gloria Enrico V.
Published: November 2024

Under what conditions does China openly acknowledge the use of unilateral sanctions against other countries? China is notorious for maintaining an official position that it is against using unilateral sanctions on the international stage. Yet, as recent events have also indicated, China has grown more proactive and obvious in its reliance on these unilateral measures. By considering China’s changing approach to publicly acknowledging its use of sanctions, this paper recognizes that China’s sanctions practice appears to be more complicated. It also recognizes that the seemingly contradictory practices of relying on vagueness and explicitly acknowledging sanctions coexist, forming China’s complex sanctions behavior. This paper turns to the concept of disrespect to explain China’s complex sanctions acknowledgement rhetoric. When China feels that it has been gravely disrespected, China tends to be more explicit in publicly acknowledging the use of sanctions. To test this hypothesis, this paper looks at the cases of China’s use of sanctions towards targeted actors during (1) Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022, (2) Japan’s nationalization of the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands in 2012, and (3) the Standoff between the Philippines and China at the Huangyan Dao/Scarborough Shoal in 2012. In the first two cases where conditions for salient disrespect were met, China’s sanctions use was explicit and discernible. The Philippines’ case, on the other hand, shows that China’s vague rhetoric coincides with relatively moderate perceptions that it was disrespected. This paper highlights the importance of status, emotions, and constructed meanings in shaping China’s foreign policy by underscoring disrespect as a possible explanatory variable to China’s changing sanctions rhetoric.
Individual and socio-psychological characteristics as predictors of physical activity among men living with overweight and obesity taking part in the Aussie Fans in Training weight management behaviour change programme
Authors: Smith Brendan J , McVeigh Joanne , Kwasnicka Dominika , Riddell Hugh , Quested Eleanor
Published: November 2024

Background:

Sufficient physical activity (PA) is important to reduce the risk of men developing chronic diseases and to improve mental health. The effectiveness of PA programmes can vary, however, among men. Individual and socio-psychological characteristics may affect the level of men’s PA before starting a behaviour change programme as well as changes in PA during the programme.

Aims:

The primary objective of this study was to examine the role of individual and socio-psychological characteristics in predicting men’s (a) accelerometer-assessed PA (step count and moderate to vigorous PA [MVPA]) upon presentation to a behaviour change programme and (b) changes in PA (step count and MVPA) during a behaviour change programme.

Methods:

A total of 109 men (mean age = 45.5 years, SD = 7.8 years, mean body mass index = 34.5 kg/m2, SD = 5.1 kg/m2) who participated in the Australian Fans in Training 3-month PA and dietary behaviour change programme in 2018 participated in this study. Before and after completing the 12-week programme, men completed assessments including individual (age, weight) and socio-psychological (psychological needs support, psychological needs satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect) characteristics. We used regression analysis to examine the relationship between these variables and PA.

Results:

At baseline, men’s weight (β = –.36, p < .001) and positive affect (β = .29, p < .01) were significant predictors of step count. At baseline, men’s weight (β = –.21, p < .05) and negative affect (β = .23, p < .05) were significant predictors of MVPA, though the overall model did not display statistical significance. The overall regression models did not significantly predict changes in either step count or MVPA pre- to post-programme.

Conclusion:

The influence of weight and positive and negative affect in predicting PA outcomes suggests that tailoring men’s health behaviour change interventions to individual circumstances and needs could enhance their effectiveness for some men.
Humidity and immersion based hygrothermal aging of pultruded GFRP composites: Moisture uptake and diffusion
Authors: Svetlik-Haley Stephanie , Karbhari Vistasp M
Published: November 2024

Pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites are used extensively in civil, marine, and offshore infrastructure applications. These components can be exposed to long periods of humidity or immersion with long-term performance characteristics being influenced by the rate and level of moisture uptake and its consequent effects. This paper reports on the moisture uptake response and kinetics of a pultruded GFRP composite exposed to a range of relative humidity levels and immersion over a range of temperatures below the glass transition. Four models for diffusion are used to assess the range of uptake responses. It is seen that humidity and temperatures have a significant effect on both rate of uptake and maximum apparent uptake level with there being a significant difference between effects of 99% RH and immersion emphasizing that immersion, as is often used in durability testing, cannot be directly used as a substitute for accelerating effects of humidity even at high levels. The two-stage structural modification model which considers both an initial diffusion dominated regime and a second relaxation/deterioration dominated regime is seen to best model the range of uptake regimes and characteristics while the simple Fickian model is shown to be deficient in modeling most of the regimes accurately.
Is the spiritual not religious? Some caveats concerning religious diversity
Authors: Davari-Torshizi Mehdi
Published: November 2024

Religious diversity occupies a special place in our understanding of religion. Fundamentally, the related literature shows that today many individuals especially young people are both spiritual and religious, may or may not believe in God, and mostly self-identify as ‘not-religious’. This empirical reality thus de-emphasises the use of binaries (e.g. the religious and spiritual, this-worldly and otherworldly) for understanding the contemporary religious scene. However, this area of research is not without shortcomings. In fact, the empirical reality about religious diversity is partly based on a definition of religion and spirituality which is not specified in the related research. This article mainly focuses on this issue and shows how it can reinforce the unhelpful notion of the opposition between or the binary of religion and the secular and therefore downgrade an important theme in the literature which examines the religiosity of the secular.
The Pursuit of Approval: Social Media Users’ Decreased Posting Latency Following Online Exclusion as a Form of Acknowledgment-Seeking Behavior
Authors: Kenntemich Christoph , Büttner Christiane M. , Rudert Selma C.
Published: November 2024

How do individuals behave after the sting of social exclusion on social media? Previous theorizing predicts that, after experiencing exclusion, individuals either engage in activities that reconnect them with others, or, they withdraw from the context. We analyzed data from Twitter ( k = 47,399 posts; N = 2,000 users) and Reddit ( k = 58,442 posts; N = 2,000 users), using relative (un)popularity of users’ own posts (i.e., receiving fewer Likes/upvotes than usual) as an indicator of social exclusion. Both studies found no general increase or decrease in posting latency following exclusion. However, the latency of behaviors aimed at connecting with many others decreased (i.e., posting again quickly), and the latency of behaviors aimed at connecting with specific others increased (i.e., commenting or mentioning others less quickly). Our findings speak in favor of acknowledgment-seeking behavior as a reaction to social exclusion that may be specific to social media contexts.
Non-intensive care unit feasibility for ambulatory veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients
Authors: Shah Aakash , Stachnik Stephen , Leibowitz Joshua L. , Ramadan Leena , Ejimogu Jason , Singireddy Shreya , Naselsky Warren , Grazioli Alison , Rabin Joseph , Wu Zhongjun J. , Griffith Bartley P.
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has increasingly been utilized to support patients in respiratory failure as a bridge to recovery or lung transplantation. As patients progress from cannulation to recovery or transplantation, it has been shown that physical therapy and ambulation are possible and beneficial for patient outcomes.

Methods

We sought to evaluate the feasibility of managing these ambulatory VV-ECMO patients in a non-ICU setting by conducting a single-center, retrospective cohort study to characterize the daily data collection (i.e., CXRs, blood draws, etc.) and ICU and ECMO interventions and events (i.e., oxygenator/cannula exchange, sweep or flow adjustments, etc.).

Results

A total of 28 ECMO runs from patients ≥18 years of age who ambulated ≥100 feet while on VV ECMO between 2014 and 2020 were included for analysis. Patients were supported on ECMO a median of 33 [18-79.5] days with a mean of 4.0 (3.8,4.1) data collections per day. There was a mean of 1.1 (1.0,1.2) anticoagulation changes, 1.5 (1.4,1.6) ECMO interventions, and 0.40 (0.34,0.46) ICU interventions per day. There were very few instances of cannula repositioning or oxygenator exchanges - 0.05 (CI 0.04, 0.06) per day.

Conclusion

Our data suggests that ambulatory VV-ECMO patients may tolerate less than ICU level of care and may even progress to outpatient management as ECMO technology continues to advance.
Q-Fever endocarditis: Prosthetic valve infection in the absence of zoonotic exposure
Authors: Mohamed Walid , Dihmis Omar , Thirukumaran David , Luthra Suvitesh
Published: November 2024

Background: Q-Fever is a rare condition with an often insidious presentation. Endocarditis is a serious complication of up to 5% of Q-Fever cases, with a higher incidence and mortality in patients with prosthetic valves.

Case-history: A 67-year-old man presented with a 6-weeks history of breathlessness on a background of previous bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement in 2018. Subsequent echocardiograms showed severe eccentric aortic regurgitation, a 2 cm vegetation, and severely impaired biventricular function. Routine blood cultures were negative, but later PCR testing for non-culturable microorganisms, performed due to the high probability of endocarditis, was positive for Coxiella Burnetii. The patient denied any recent constitutional symptoms and previous exposure to animal reservoirs. He underwent a successful urgent redo sternotomy and aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis. Prosthetic valve PCR testing was positive for Coxiella Burnetii, and he completed a long antibiotic course with follow-up serology to guide therapy. Clinic follow-up 3 months later showed good recovery with no complications.

Conclusions: This case emphasises the high index of suspicion and routine screening needed in culture-negative cases to diagnose Q-Fever endocarditis, especially in the absence of acute symptoms and exposure to known sources of transmission. The complexities in management and timing of surgery are discussed.
Association between admission hyperglycaemia with in-hospital mortality rate in patients with hypertension and acute aortic dissection
Authors: Mutailifu Saimire , Zhu Qing , Cai Xintian , Heizhati Mulalibieke , Liu Shasha , Dang Yujie , Wu Ting , Hong Jing , Lin Yue , Li Nanfang
Published: November 2024

Objective

Admission hyperglycaemia is recognized as a contributor to poor outcomes in patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the association between admission hyperglycaemia and in-hospital mortality in patients with hypertension and acute aortic dissection (AAD).

Methods

Patients diagnosed with hypertension and AAD between 1 January 2010 and 1 March 2023 were enrolled into this retrospective observational study, and divided into two groups based on admission blood glucose levels (BGA): normoglycemia (BGA < 7.8 mmol/L) and hyperglycaemia (BGA ≥ 7.8 mmol/L). The outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality, which was analysed using logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

In total, 1239 patients were included (comprising 954 [77%] male patients; mean age, 53.0 years; and median BGA, 6.1 mmol/L). Logistic regression analysis showed that in-hospital mortality was 2.53 times greater for patients with hyperglycaemia versus the normoglycaemia group (95% CI 1.68, 3.80). This significant association persisted after adjustments for potential confounders (adjusted OR 2.45 [95% CI 1.58, 3.85]). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed that the relationship between BGA and mortality reached statistical significance at BGA > 6.1 mmol/L. Stratified analysis and sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this relationship.

Conclusion

Admission hyperglycaemia correlated with an elevated risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with hypertension and AAD, particularly BGA > 6.1 mmol/L, indicating that BGA level may be useful in identifying patients who are at an elevated risk of all-cause mortality.
Predictive ability of anthropometric indices for risk of developing metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chaquila José A. , Ramirez-Jeri Gianella , Miranda-Torvisco Fresia , Baquerizo-Sedano Luis , Aparco Juan Pablo
Published: November 2024

Objective

To determine the discriminatory ability of different anthropometric indicators of body fat percentage for diagnosing metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a Peruvian sample.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, non-experimental, diagnostic accuracy study. Anthropometric and biochemical data for 948 participants were analyzed. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index, relative fat mass (RFM), conicity index, body roundness index (BRI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and A Body Shape Index were assessed for their MetS discriminatory ability. The National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used to diagnose MetS. Receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve (AUC) were used to determine the predictive power of each anthropometric measurement to diagnose MetS.

Results

In both sexes, RFM, BRI, and WHtR showed the same predictive ability to diagnose MetS. In women, indicators incorporating WC showed high discriminatory ability: RFM, BRI, and WHtR (all AUC: 0.869, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.828–0.910). In men, WC had the highest AUC (0.829, 95% CI: 0.793–0.866).

Conclusions

In both sexes, RFM, WC, BRI, and WHtR were the best predictors of MetS diagnosis. This is the first study to identify RFM as a potentially useful clinical predictor of MetS in a Peruvian sample of educational workers.
A qualitative exploration of how adoptive parents experience the direct and indirect trauma of their child’s early maltreatment
Authors: Duncan Morvwen , Fearon Pasco , Woolgar Matt
Published: November 2024

Adoptive parents face the emotional impact of parenting a child with adverse and often traumatic early experiences. The current qualitative study explores the experiences of adoptive parents who display heightened trauma symptoms relating to their child’s previous experiences and challenging current behaviours. In total, 10 adoptive parents reporting high levels of trauma symptoms on a quantitative screening measure, the revised Impact of Events Scale (IES-R), were interviewed by telephone to explore their experiences of being an adoptive parent. From the thematic analysis, four main themes were generated: direct trauma, the emotional impact of parenting, support network and sense of self as a parent. The findings suggested that how the parents experience their child’s early trauma, the current parenting demands, including child-to-parent violence, and the presence of lack of support are important factors in the adoptive parents’ trauma response, which all draw together to influence the parents’ sense of self. The clinical implications of the findings about the trauma experience of adoptive parents, and importantly their relevance for addressing child-to-parent violence, are discussed along with factors, such as parents’ support networks, that determine their evaluations of their competence and sense of self as a parent. The limitations of this study and recommendations for further research are also discussed.