bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of Subcutaneous Islet Transplant Performance by Collagen 1 Gel
Authors: French Anna , Hollister-Lock Jennifer , Sullivan Brooke A. , Stas Eline , Hwa Albert J. , Weir Gordon C. , Bonner-Weir Susan
Published: October 2024

Human islets can be transplanted into the portal vein for T1 diabetes, and a similar procedure is being used in a clinical trial for stem cell–derived beta-like cells. Efforts have been underway to find an alternative transplant site that will foster better islet cell survival and function. Although conceptually attractive, the subcutaneous (SC) site has yielded disappointing results, in spite of some improvements resulting from more attention paid to vascularization and differentiation factors, including collagen. We developed a method to transplant rat islets in a disk of type 1 collagen gel and found improved efficacy of these transplants. Survival of islets following transplantation (tx) was determined by comparing insulin content of the graft to that of the pre-transplant islets from the same isolation. At 14 days after transplantation, grafts of the disks had more than double the recovered insulin than islets transplanted in ungelled collagen. SC grafts of disks had similar insulin content to grafts in a kidney site and in epididymal fat pads. In vivo disks underwent contraction to 10% of initial volume within 24 h but the islets remained healthy and well distributed. Whole mount imaging showed that residual donor vascular cells within the islets expanded and connected to ingrowing host blood vessels. Islets (400 rat islet equivalents (IEQ)) in the collagen disks transplanted into an SC site of NOD scid IL2R gammanull (NSG) mice reversed streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes within 10 days as effectively as transplants in the kidney site. Thus, a simple change of placing islets into a gel of collagen 1 prior to transplantation allowed a prompt reversal of STZ-induced diabetes using SC site.
Stimulation of Youth Interest in Agribusiness for Employability
Authors: Aruleba Tomisin James
Published: October 2024

Despite the great potential of agribusiness that can lead to job creation employment and economic prosperity, the majority of the youths seem to have jettison the economic opportunities. Specifically, the study objectives are to ascertain the components that motivate Nigerian youths to set out into agribusiness in rural communities, examine the challenges of Nigerian youths’ employability skills in agribusiness of the rural communities in southwest Nigeria, and assess the mechanisms to confront the challenges being faced by Nigerian youths’ employability skills in agribusiness of the rural communities in southwest Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. A questionnaire was used to collect adequate data from the target respondents (youths in agribusiness), with a sample size of 100. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to sample the rural communities and the respondents. The study reveals that the inability to get a job pushed youths into agribusiness (71 per cent); lack of insurance policy towards agribusiness (88 per cent) and regular training towards incubation purposes is good leverage for youth employability (78 per cent). It, therefore, recommends that relevant stakeholders should further make agribusiness more lucrative by coming up with policies that will entice youths to venture into agribusiness. Also, relevant stakeholders should work towards the complete eradication of the impediments.
Link Between Customer Perception and Financial Inclusion: An Empirical Analysis with Reference to Urban Low-income Households in Sri Lanka
Authors: Werake Senani Kumarihami , Dharmadasa Champika Sriyani
Published: October 2024

The aim of this article is to examine the link between customers’ perceptions and financial inclusion of low-income families in urban Sri Lanka. This article conceptualized financial inclusion under six supply-side variables, namely, outreach, penetration, availability, accessibility, technology and trust, and the conceptual framework is designed based on the theory of planned behaviour. Individuals’ attitudes towards the existing condition of financial inclusion representations considers as perception and was measured using a Likert scale. Primary data were collected through a sample survey utilizing a semi-structured questionnaire, which consists of 64 questions. The sample covers 383 low-income households in the Colombo and Kolonnawa divisional secretariat in Sri Lanka. The survey will be conducted in July and August 2022. Data were analyzed using a partial least square structural equation model. The results have revealed that the link between customers’ perception and accessibility, availability, penetration and trust is positive and significant. Among the significant variables, the link between customer perception and accessibility is strong while the second and third influencing variables were trust and availability, and the last was penetration. Findings emphasize the importance for the government to raise awareness of financial products, advocating for policies that promote financial knowledge and visual promotions in urban areas so that potential customers can adopt the required financial products and services.
Using Photovoice to Explore Students’ Experiences With a Hydroponic Shipping Container Farm
Authors: Edwards Gabrielle
Published: October 2024

Background: Hydroponic shipping container farms (HSCFs) are an emerging tool being used in schools to educate and feed students. Purpose: This research explored students’ perceptions of HSCFs as an educational tool. Methodology/Approach: This research utilized a photovoice methodology whereby Canadian students aged 12–15 took photos of aspects of the HSCF, both positive and negative, that they found to be significant. A class presentation and discussion followed the photo taking process where students collaboratively identified common themes. Findings/Conclusions: This research found that students had difficulty engaging with the HSCF due, primarily, to the small size of the HSCF and design features that limited students’ ability to properly use and maintain the HSCF. The nature-like and high-tech appearance of the HSCF increased student engagement but there were also safety concerns highlighted by students in their photos and comments. Implications: The design of the HSCF appeared to be one that was built for efficiency and profit and the physical design did not encourage student usage. Significant redesign in consultation with teachers and students is needed if HSCFs are to be used effectively as an educational tool for students.
Career Adaptability and Parental Career Support: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Leung S. Alvin , Zhou Sili
Published: October 2024

How social and environmental support influences the career adaptability process has been largely understudied. Drawing from the career adaptability framework (Savickas, 2021), this study examined the effects of parental career support on the adaptability resources and adaptation results of senior high school students in Hong Kong (4,664 girls and 4,120 boys). We conceptualized parental career support as an interactive process with a perceived action dimension and a recipient satisfaction dimension. We adopted meaning in life as a measure of adaptation results. Findings from the latent moderated structural equation showed that perceived parental career support action has a positive effect on the career adaptability resources of students, and the effect was moderated by the levels of adolescents’ satisfaction with parental career support. The test of moderated mediation suggested that the conditional indirect effects estimate from parental career support action to meaning in life were significant, with satisfaction toward parental support serving as the moderator and adaptability resources as the mediator. Results underscored the importance of environmental support in strengthening the self-regulation competencies of adolescents and helping them to gain clarity toward their life meaning and purposes. Implications for theory, research, and parent education interventions are discussed.
Super twisting and hierarchical sliding mode anti-swing control of boom crane
Authors: Chen Zhimei , Geng Jiahao , Wang Zhenyan , Zhou Liangliang , Sun Laiqing , Shao Xuejuan
Published: October 2024

When the multiple mechanisms such as the slewing, luffing, and hoisting mechanisms work together, the boom crane has the strong coupling and underactuated characteristics which make it difficult to prevent the load swing. In this paper, a new dynamic model is established for the boom crane with the cooperative motion, where the kinetic energy and potential energy of the boom pitching motion are added to the Lagrange equation to calculate the driving torque of the luffing cylinder and the rotary mechanism. A super-twisting hierarchical sliding mode control method is proposed. The equivalent control law is obtained by a second-order sliding mode surface constructed with the driving and underactuated part, and the switching control law is designed by a second-order super-twisting sliding mode algorithm to suppress the chattering. The stability of the system is proved by Lyapunov function. The simulation and experiment results show that accurate anti-swing and strong robustness are achieved, and the system performance is significantly improved.
Identifying the ways in which tobacco cessation interventions have been tailored for sexual and gender minority individuals: A systematic review
Authors: Fogarty Justin J , Fertig Madison R , Gulbicki Lauren , Ashar Devisi , O’Cleirigh Conall , Stanton Amelia M
Published: October 2024

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals smoke at higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. SGM persons, especially transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals, face unique, adverse health effects associated with smoking. As such, SGM individuals may benefit from smoking cessation interventions that are tailored to meet their needs. This systematic review aims to describe the ways in which these interventions have been tailored for SGM individuals and summarize available acceptability and efficacy data. Four databases were searched to identify smoking cessation interventions adapted for SGM populations. Thirteen articles were identified, with tailored aspects focusing on culturally tailored references, SGM-specific psychoeducation, and intra-community support strategies. No clear patterns of efficacy were identified, and only one study included bioverified abstinence. Preliminary evidence suggests that smoking cessation interventions can be acceptably tailored to SGM individuals, however, additional research is needed to determine if SGM-tailored interventions are more efficacious than non-tailored approaches.
‘Eko; Eko; Azarak’: Witchcraft, medieval gibberish and queer untranslatability in High Magic’s Aid
Authors: Lewis Liam
Published: October 2024

The literature of neopaganism often evokes an indigenous medieval past to resist social and religious convention and assert a queer identity in the present. Using theories of untranslatability, this article shows how a medieval incantation mobilizes queer language and forms communities in the novel High Magic’s Aid by Gerald B. Gardner. This novel outlines the keys to the religion Gardner sought to promote in the 1940s: pagan witchcraft. It features an initiation incantation spoken by a High Priestess, beginning: ‘Eko; Eko; Azarak’, which is a cobbling together of a ‘sorcerer’s cry’ and a gibberish passage from a medieval French play. This chant, which is linguistically meaningless, nevertheless acts as a microcosm of modern witchcraft ideology, and enables practitioners of the Craft to establish a cultural contact with a transtemporal medieval past (identified by indigenous mythologising and the ability to summon demonic spirits), thus unsettling linguistic and temporal hegemony through untranslatability. In this way, High Magic’s Aid depicts a modern witchcraft continuously rediscovering itself as a queer religion resistant to cultural translation, even as its untranslatable aspects are adapted into mainstream contexts in ways that counter this agenda.
Materializing storyworld, battles of transmedia storytelling: Trans-fandom cultures of The King's Avatar on Chinese social media platform
Authors: Xie Zhuoxiao , Yin Yiyi , Ni Mengya
Published: October 2024

Transmedia storytelling and the storyworld are intersubjective communicative constructs imagined and shaped collaboratively by multiple authors and readers, independent of any specific medium. However, social media have not only interconnected transmedia storytelling and its associated fandoms, forming a collective intelligence with a shared narrative worldview, but also given rise to a discourse shaped by platformized participation that introduces intricate and sometimes conflicting modes of engagement. This research examines the emerging constructs and practices of transmedia storytelling by analyzing the interactions and conflicts among three intersecting online fandoms related to the intellectual property of The King's Avatar (全职高手): fans of the original novel; fans of the television series based on the novel; and fans participating in self-organized role-playing games on social media platforms. We argue that within the Chinese digital context, the storyworld is not solely the outcome of collective or alternative narrative creation; it is also molded by complex transfandom interactions facilitated by the settings of social media platforms.
Research on input parameter optimization for NOx deep learning prediction model
Authors: Qiu Tao , Liu Zedu , Lei Yan , Ma Xuejian , Chen Zexun , Li Ning , Fu Jun
Published: October 2024

Optimizing the input parameters for NOx prediction model is instrumental in enhancing the precision and efficacy of the prediction model. This paper focuses on the input variables of the data-driven diesel engine NOx prediction model. According to the diesel engine NOx generation mechanism, at first relevant variables are selected, then the similarity method and parameter sensitivity method are compared to optimize the input variables. Firstly, this paper conducted a real-road emission test of a heavy-duty diesel vehicle, and proposed a data-driven deep learning model for predicting diesel engine NOx emissions based on the experimental data. The experimental data were processed using an Attention-Mechanism based Convolutional Neural Networks-Long Short-Term Memory (AM-CNN-LSTM) model. Subsequently, input parameters were selected according to the sensitivity weights assigned to each parameter in the preliminary model. This approach refined the modeling data and excluded variables not pertinent to NOx emission prediction. The AM-CNN-LSTM model prediction performance has been improved with 2% increase of model R2 as well as the model training time is reduced by 23%, and the types of parameters required to train the model are reduced by 50%. It accomplished this by effectively reducing data dimensions, discarding non-essential variables for NOx prediction, and diminishing computational complexity. Six input parameters were identified as pivotal in reconstructing the modeling data for accurate NOx prediction: engine speed, torque, EGR valve position, exhaust flow rate, air mass flow rate, and oil temperature. In optimizing the NOx prediction model, it is crucial to determine an optimal number of input parameters. Excessive parameters do not enhance model accuracy, while an insufficient number impairs the model’s ability to precisely emulate the NOx generation process, leading to diminished predictive accuracy.
“Something Has Changed” – observations of contemporary studio learners and implications for pedagogy
Authors: Nyboer Jody , Winters Tara , Faragallah Riham Nady
Published: October 2024

The landscape of higher education is currently undergoing extraordinary change. Critical to informing fundamental shifts in how institutions operate and educate is an understanding of today’s learners. In the wake of recent global events, the authors have observed that ‘something has changed’ about their students. They seem to bring different attitudes, expectations, and preparation to the studio classroom. The purpose of this study was to capture university teacher observations toward a deeper understanding of contemporary design and fine arts students and draw conclusions that may be useful for informing pedagogical change. With limited literature available addressing this topic, our research used an online survey to collect anecdotal data from teachers across studio-based disciplines ( n = 64), inquiring about the nature of both pre-pandemic and contemporary learners. The findings reveal two major shifts: a perceived decline in engagement and a change in motivation. Considering the findings, the authors suggest that studio teachers re-evaluate their pedagogical approach, and that the broader educational community examines how higher education can maximise opportunities for today’s learners.
Development of Liver Cancer Organoids: Reproducing Tumor Microenvironment and Advancing Research for Liver Cancer Treatment
Authors: Li Kangkang , Ren Kuiwu , Du Sen , Gao Xiang , Yu Jiangtao
Published: October 2024

Liver cancer a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, yet understanding of its development mechanism remains limited, and treatment barriers present substantial challenges. Owing to the heterogeneity of tumors, traditional 2D culture models are inadequate for capturing the complexity and diversity of tumor biology and understanding of the disease. Organoids have garnered considerable attention because of their ability to self-renew and develop functional structures in vitro that closely resemble those of human organs. This review explores the history of liver organoids, their cellular origins, techniques of constructing tumor microenvironments that recapitulate liver cancer organoids, and the biological and clinical applications of liver and liver cancer organoids and explores the current challenges related to liver cancer organoid applications and potentially valuable solutions, with the aim of facilitating the construction of in vitro clinical models of liver cancer therapeutic research.
A Nomogram for Predicting Infertility Risk in Patients With Varicocele Using Inflammatory Markers
Authors: Wang Lihong , Zheng Lei , Jiang Hui , Jiang Tao
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this study was to develop a nomogram using hemogram inflammatory markers to predict the risk of infertility in patients with varicocele (VC). Patients with VC from March 2022 to June 2024 were retrospectively investigated. We divided the patients into two groups based on their fertility status. A total of 162 patients were enrolled: 81 in the infertile group and 81 in the fertile group. Statistical differences were observed between the two groups in lymphocyte, monocyte, erythrocyte, red cell distribution width (RDW), mean erythrocyte volume (MCV), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), MPV/platelet ratio (MPVPR), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) ( p < .05). The 162 patients were divided into a modeling cohort and a validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. A predictive nomogram was constructed based on independent influencing factors identified through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis were used to assess the model’s performance. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that erythrocyte count, PDW, NLR, and SIRI were independent influencing factors. The area under the curve for the nomogram predicting the risk of infertility in patients with VC was 0.869 in the validation cohort. The nomogram demonstrated good predictive performance. In this study, we developed an effective predictive nomogram for assessing the risk of infertility in VC patients using inflammatory markers. However, further external validation is crucial.
Physician-modified funnel-shaped covered stent for selective false lumen exclusion in chronic type B aortic dissection
Authors: Torri Lorenzo , Nana Petroula , Panuccio Giuseppe , Torrealba José Ignacio , Yousef el Sarhan Daour , Kölbel Tilo
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To describe the technique of off-centering a balloon-expandable covered stent for selective occlusion of a distal entry tear (ET) in a patient, conservatively treated for chronic type B aortic dissection (cTBAD), presenting FL expansion.

Technique

A 63-year-old male, with conservatively managed cTBAD, presented at follow-up with FL partial thrombosis and expansion (thoracic aorta FL from 21 mm to 27 mm and abdominal aorta FL from 11 mm to 15 mm in 6 months). No proximal ET was identifiable. Distal FL perfusion was caused by an ET in the abdominal aorta feeding a 2 mm accessory renal artery (ARA). As the aortic diameter was below the threshold for endovascular repair, a selective occlusion of the distal ET and ARA was planned. A balloon-expandable covered stent was modified by off-centering the covered stent proximally and resulting in a funnel-shape occluder after deployment across the ET into the ARA. To prevent type Ic endoleak due to possible FL expansion caused by an intra-operatively detected phrenic artery (PA), coils were deployed into the lumen of the modified stent and the ARA. The pre-discharge computed tomography angiography showed exclusion of both the ARA and ET and a type 2 endoleak from the PA.

Conclusion

A balloon-expandable covered stent can be modified by off-centering the covered stent resulting in a funnel shape to adapt to different diameter requirements.
Efficacy and safety of camrelizumab-based comprehensive treatment for non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Maimaitiyiming Nuerbiyamu , Li Yue , Cao Yunfeng , Li Yanwei
Published: October 2024

Background:

Many studies show that camrelizumab combination therapy can significantly improve progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the time of camrelizumab to market is short, and there is no systematic evaluation of camrelizumab-based comprehensive treatment of NSCLC.

Objectives:

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab in comprehensively treating NSCLC.

Design:

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources and methods:

Databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane, were searched by computer before August 2023 based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, and reports on the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab-based treatment for NSCLC were collected, and RevMan 5.4 software was employed for meta-analysis finally.

Results:

Totally, 5 RCTs, 2 cohort studies, and 12 single-arm studies were included. The meta-analysis results revealed that, compared with the treatment without camrelizumab, the camrelizumab-based combination treatment considerably extended the OS (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): (0.44–0.82), p < 0.01), PFS (HR = 0.42, 95% CI: (0.28–0.63), p < 0.01), and event-free survival (EFS) (HR = 0.55, 95% CI: (0.44–0.68), p < 0.01). The median objective response rate in single-arm studies was 41% (95% CI: 28%–53%), and the disease control rate was 84% (95% CI: 78%–89%). Furthermore, in terms of the occurrence of grades 3–5 adverse events, the incidence of neutropenia was lower in the camrelizumab combination group than in the control group, while the incidence of leukopenia and rash was higher than in the combination group, and no significant difference was revealed in the incidence of other adverse events. Among single-arm studies, the incidence of grades 3–5 adverse events did not exceed 10%.

Conclusion:

Treatment combined with camrelizumab can effectively prolong OS, PFS, and EFS in NSCLC patients with good safety, camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy is an effective treatment option for NSCLC patients.
Combining freedom and flexibility with security: Translating platform workers’ desires into law. The case of food delivery riders in the Netherlands
Authors: Zeng Jiaqi , Eleveld Anja
Published: October 2024

This article intends to show the added value of an interdisciplinary approach to researching the protection of on-location platform workers in producing a more fruitful understanding of the current socio-legal problems regarding the classification of these platform workers and their possible solutions. It explores how food delivery platform workers in Amsterdam experience their social rights, the conditions under which they would wish to change their situation, and the legal reforms needed to realise the changes. The empirical findings suggest that not only solo self-employed but also employed riders appreciate the ability to decide when and whether to accept an assignment. In addition, both types of food delivery riders express the desire to be protected under labour and social security law. The legal analysis highlights various obstacles to meeting the demands of the platform workers. It concludes that it is worthwhile rethinking the dichotomy of the employed and self-employed, both at the EU and national levels, and to offer platform workers (some) employment and social security protection.
A disproportionality analysis for assessing the safety of FLT3 inhibitors using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)
Authors: Zhou Jie , Zhang Jinping , Wang Qiaoyun , Peng Miaoxin , Qian Yun , Wu Fang , Rao Qi , DanZhen Laji , Yang Yonggong , Wang Siliang , Liu Mengying
Published: October 2024

Objectives:

This pharmacovigilance analysis was conducted to assess the safety signals of FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitors in a real-world setting using the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

Design:

We analyzed adverse event (AE) reports related to FLT3 inhibitors submitted to the FAERS database from the first quarter of 2015 to the fourth quarter of 2022. Disproportionality analysis was used to identify AEs of FLT3 inhibitors in the FAERS database.

Results:

A total of 55,393 AE reports were identified, of which 5938, 44,013, and 5442 were attributed to midostaurin, sorafenib, and gilteritinib, respectively, as primary suspects. Compared to the full database, significant safety signals at the system organ class level were observed for midostaurin (blood and lymphatic system disorders and hepatobiliary disorders), sorafenib (skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders and hepatobiliary disorders), and gilteritinib (investigations, blood and lymphatic system disorders, infections and infestations, and hepatobiliary disorders). All the drugs studied were associated with hepatobiliary disorders. The most prominent AEs associated with midostaurin, sorafenib, and gilteritinib were cytopenia, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, and increased blast cell count, respectively. Compared with chemotherapy, midostaurin and gilteritinib showed a higher risk of electrocardiogram QT prolongation, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage, and increased white blood cell count. Gilteritinib had the highest overall death percentage (30.28%), whereas sorafenib had the lowest (23.06%).

Conclusion:

Mining AE signals using the FAERS database provides a method for analyzing the safety of FLT3 inhibitors in post-marketing. We found several significant AE signals that corresponded to previous studies; however, some AE signals were not mentioned in the drug instructions. Our study could provide a direction for follow-up real-world studies to verify the results further.
Increase in T helper type 17 cells in children with Kawasaki disease is NR4A2 dependent
Authors: Zhang Kuo , Li Zhengmin , Li Meng , Zhang Yingqi , Wu Shouzhen , Chen Chao
Published: October 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between T helper type 17 (Th17) cells and Kawasaki disease (KD). Flow cytometry results showed that the number of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of KD patients was significantly elevated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that the serum concentrations of two Th17 cytokines, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-6, were significantly increased in KD patients. In addition, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results showed that the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of two molecules related to Th17 cell differentiation, retinoic acid–related orphan receptor C (RORC) and NR4A2, was upregulated in the CD4+ T cells of KD patients. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusion significantly reduced the proportion of Th17 cells, decreased serum concentrations of IL-7 and IL-6, and lowered the mRNA levels of RORC and NR4A2 in IVIG treatment–sensitive KD patients. Finally, the results of a Pearson’s correlation analysis illustrated that IL-17 mRNA levels in CD4+ T cells of KD patients were positively correlated with NR4A2 but not RORC mRNA expression. Our results demonstrate that Th17 cells play an important role in KD development and IVIG treatment and that Th17 cells and IL-17 may be used as markers for the occurrence of KD or as treatment targets for KD therapies. In addition, our results suggest that the underlying mechanism of IL-17 production in KD is NR4A2 dependent.
Historical Origin, Practical Approach, and Enlightenment of Transcultural Education in German Universities
Authors: Zheng (郑承军) Chengjun , Chen (陈正) Zheng , Ren (任平) Ping , Song (宋紫珍) Zizhen
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study analyzed the developmental history and specific practical approaches of transcultural education in German universities and summarized its experiences to provide meaningful suggestions for transcultural education in Chinese universities.

Design/Approach/Methods

This study systematically reviewed and analyzed the historical origins and practical approaches to transcultural education in German universities through policy interpretation and case analysis.

Findings

Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, German universities have effectively promoted integration and communication among communities with diverse cultural backgrounds through various forms and types of transcultural education. They launched curricula and lecture models characterized by university styles, fostering the integration and solidarity of individuals from multicultural backgrounds.

Originality/Value

It is of immediate significance for both the theoretical understanding and practical exploration of transcultural education with Chinese characteristics to conduct a systemic analysis of the specific practical approach of transcultural education in German universities.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Feasibility, Reliability, and Validity Tests of the Chinese Version of Ankle Ligament Reconstruction-Return to Sport After Injury Scale
Authors: Feng Pengpeng , Li Shuxian , Shi Xiuxiu , Mu Jiedan , Xu Ying , Fan Chen , Dong Jige , Li Xiao
Published: October 2024

Background:

The Ankle Ligament Reconstruction-Return to Sport After Injury (ALR-RSI) scale can be utilized for assessing patients who have previously sustained lateral ankle ligament injury before returning to sport. Given its original development for use in different languages, it is essential to translate and validate this scale for application to the Chinese population.

Purposes:

To translate and culturally adapt the ALR-RSI scale into a Chinese version and assess its reliability and validity.

Study Design:

Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

The procedure of translation and cross-cultural adaptation was performed following the recommended guidelines and the Chinese version of ALR-RSI (ALR-RSI-CHN) was conducted in patients with lateral ankle ligament surgery. Feasibility was assessed by floor/ceiling effects. Reliability was assessed by using Cronbach α as a measure to analyze internal consistency, while the intraclass correlation coefficient was utilized to examine test-retest reliability. Validity was assessed by using Spearman coefficients to analyze the correlations between ALR-RSI-CHN, the Karlsson scale, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale.

Results:

A total of 66 participants were included. The ALR-RSI-CHN scale showed good feasibility with no floor/ceiling effects. The internal consistency of the scale was adequate with a Cronbach α of 0.93, and test-retest reliability was excellent with an interclass correlation coefficient of 0.97 (95% CI, 0.92-0.99). The ALR-RSI-CHN scale demonstrated moderate correlation with the Karlsson scale ( r = 0.48 [range, 0.26-0.65]) and strong correlation with the AOFAS scale ( r = 0.55 [range, 0.35-0.71]). A significant difference in ALR-RSI-CHN scores was observed between patients who returned to sports and those who did not, with respective scores of 53.60 (range, 44.50-62.69) and 42.25 (range, 35.51-49) ( P = .04).

Conclusion:

The study demonstrated that the ALR-RSI-CHN scale had satisfactory psychometric properties, rendering it a feasible, reliable, and valid instrument for evaluating patients who have lateral ligament surgery in China.
Improving Pediatric Critical Care Nurses’ Practice in Implementing the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Coma Scale
Authors: Elbilgahy Amal Ahmed , Sliman Amina Mohamed Abdel Fatah , El-Asmy Mohamed Mohamed , Mohammed Boshra Attia
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Clinical estimation of consciousness is the most fundamental and crucial component of neurological examinations for pediatric patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The full outline of unresponsiveness (FOUR) Coma Scale assesses four variables: eye response, motor response, brainstem reflexes, and respiratory pattern. A score of 0 represents non-function in each category, whereas a score of 4 indicates normal functioning. The FOUR Coma Scale is easy to apply and is currently the most widely used scale for assessing consciousness, particularly in intubated children.

Objectives

This study aimed to improve pediatric critical care nurses’ practice in implementing the FOUR Coma Scale.

Methods

A quasi-experimental research design (pre/post-test design) was employed on a convenience sample composed of 45 male and female nurses who participated in the study and provided direct care for critically ill children at the Medical Pediatric Intensive Care Unit affiliated with the Mansoura University Children's Hospital, Mansoura University, Egypt. All the participants completed the FOUR Coma Scale knowledge and practice assessment questionnaire.

Results

Majority of the nurses were females and had bachelors’ degrees in nursing (94.6% and 71.1%, respectively). Moray Coma Scale was used to assess level of consciousness (LOC) by more than half the number of nurses (55.6%) in the PICU. All PICU nurses had poor knowledge and practice scores in the pre-intervention phase, and this percentage statistically significantly improved in the post-intervention phase ( P = .001).

Conclusion

The mean score of nurses’ knowledge and practice on the FOUR Coma Scale significantly improved after the implementation of instructional intervention.
Juvenile Fibroadenoma in Toddlers: A Case Report with Review of Literature
Authors: Kamboj Meenakshi , Gupta Gurudutt , Sharma Anila , Pasricha Sunil , Durga Garima
Published: October 2024

Palpable breast mass is rare in infants and toddlers, which are mostly fibroadenoma (FA). As per English literature, to the best of our knowledge, only three cases of juvenile FA in toddlers have been reported (at ages 13, 16, and 17 months). We present a case of a 16-month-old female child, with a unilateral breast mass of size 5 × 5 cm2, diagnosed as juvenile fibroadenoma (JFA) with micropapillary hyperplasia, exhibiting gynecomastoid morphology. JFA are known to depict an immunoprofile similar to that seen in gynecomastia, with typical three-layered ductal lining (two basal layers and one luminal layer). Giant JFA must be distinguished from phyllodes tumors, virginal hypertrophy, and malignancy. Treatment of JFA includes either excision or observation; large-sized FA may require reconstructive techniques to maintain symmetrical breasts.
Exploring the Digital Undertow: How generative AI impacts social categorizations in creative work
Authors: Hsu Greta , Bechky Beth A.
Published: October 2024

This paper examines generative AI’s broader implications for the social construction of categories. Building on the Orlikowski and Scott’s concept of the ‘digital undertow’, we consider how generative AI’s influence will likely extend beyond immediate technological benefits and lead to deeper shifts in the societal structures and occupational identities constituting conventional categories. We extrapolate from emerging findings that suggest that, while generative AI improves efficiency and the average quality of a creative product, it also tends to reduce the advantages of expertise and induce a homogenization of what is creatively produced as outputs. We consider how such dynamics might play out in the specific case of the changing roles of screenwriters and studio executives within the television and film industries. With this focused thought experiment, our overall aim is to draw attention to the broader implications of change brought forth by this technological innovation.
Hazard, exposure, fragility, and damage state homogenization of a virtual oil refinery testbed for seismic risk assessment
Authors: Melissianos Vasileios E , Karaferis Nikolaos D , Bakalis Konstantinos , Kazantzi Athanasia K , Vamvatsikos Dimitrios
Published: October 2024

A virtual mid-size oil refinery, located in a high-seismicity region of Greece, is offered as a testbed for developing and testing system-level assessment methods due to direct impact from seismic shaking and without considering geohazards, such as liquefaction and surface faulting. Its characterization is offered in a dedicated repository ( https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11419659 ) and it comprises (a) a comprehensive probabilistic treatment of seismic hazard tied to an open-source seismological model; (b) a hazard-consistent set of ground motion records; (c) a full geolocated exposure model with all pertinent critical assets, namely tanks, pressure vessels, process towers, chimneys, equipment-supporting buildings, and a flare; (d) the corresponding record-wise asset demands and summarized fragilities derived via nonlinear dynamic analyses on reduced-order numerical models. Background information is provided on all refinery assets to delineate their role in the refining process. Furthermore, an explicit homogenization of the damage states is proposed, translating them from the asset level to the refinery system level considering the importance of each asset on the overall operational and structural integrity of the refinery. The results can form the basis of any follow-up study that seeks to characterize the effects of cascading failures (fires, explosions), mitigation measures, seismic sequences, and operational constraints on the functionality, risk, and resilience of refining facilities.
NEW APPROACHES IN POLYMER SURFACE MODIFICATION
Authors: Bergbreiter D. E. , Srinivas B. , Xu G.-F. , Gray H. N. , Bandella A.
Published: October 2024

Synthetic and analytical procedures for preparation of surface functionalized polyolefins are described within the general context of polymer surface functionalization. Graft chemistry leading to surfaces with different solvent-polymer interactions specific to the graft microstructure and to temperature are described.
The common VTE-protective G haplotype of F5 increases factor V-short, TFPI function, and risk of bleeding
Authors: Sims Matthew C. , Gierula Magdalena , Stephens Jonathan C. , Tokolyi Alex , Stefanucci Luca , Persyn Elodie , Sun Luanluan , Collins Janine H. , Davenport Emma E. , Di Angelantonio Emanuele , Downes Kate , Inouye Michael , Paul Dirk S. , Thomas Will , Tolios Alexander , Ouwehand Willem H. , Gleadall Nicholas S. , Crawley James T. B. , Butterworth Adam S. , Frontini Mattia , Ahnström Josefin
Published: October 2024

The G haplotype is a group of co-inherited single nucleotide variants in the F5 gene that reduce venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. Although 7% of the population is homozygous for the G haplotype (F5-G/G), the underlying mechanism of VTE protection is poorly understood. Using RNA sequencing data from 4651 blood donors in the INTERVAL study, we detected a rare excision event at the factor V (FV)-short splice sites in 5% of F5-G/Gs carriers as compared with 2.16% of homozygotes for the F5 reference sequence (F5-ref; P = .003). Highly elevated (∼10-fold) FV-short, a FV isoform that lacks most of the B-domain, has been linked with increased tissue factor inhibitor α (TFPIα) levels in rare hemorrhagic diathesis, including East Texas bleeding disorder. To ascertain whether the enhanced FV-short splicing seen in F5-G/G INTERVAL participants translated to increased plasma FV-short levels, we analyzed plasma samples from 7 F5-G/G and 13 F5-ref individuals in a recall-by-genotype study. A ∼2.2-fold higher amount of FV-short was found in a plasma pool from F5-G/G participants when compared with the pool of F5-refs (P = .029), but there was no difference in the total FV levels. Although no significant difference in TFPI levels were found, F5-G/Gs showed a ∼1.4-fold TFPI-dependent increase in lag time to thrombin generation than F5-refs (P = .0085). Finally, in an analysis of 117 699 UK Biobank participants, we discovered that, although being protective against VTE, the G haplotype also confers an increase in bleeding episodes (P = .011). Our study provides evidence that the effect of the common G haplotype is mediated by the FV-short/TFPI pathway.
Bibliometric analysis of depression in post-stroke patients
Authors: Zheng Dehao , Vaughn Sydney , Gould Murdoc , Ganti Latha
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Stroke is a life-threatening condition that increasingly damages cerebral tissue over time and can lead to serious post-effects, including depression, which can hinder a patient’s recovery from stroke and reduce quality of life. This paper aims to analyze the global research landscape of post-stroke depression (PSD) between the years 1900 to 2024 using bibliometric analysis.

Methods

The data used in this analysis was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). An advanced search was performed using the keywords, “stroke” and “depression,” on July 8th, 2024. From the Web of Science, bibliometric data was then extracted and analyzed in VOSviewer through four categories: countries, number of publications, keywords, and journals.

Results

The bibliometric analysis resulted in 2,289 publications from the year 1900 to 2024. A gradual increase in the number of publications on post-stroke depression over the study period was observed. China was found to be the leading country for publications and funding on PSD, with the United States following in second. The top keywords included: “stroke,” “depression,” and “poststroke depression.” The Journal of Stroke had the highest number of publications on depression in post-stroke patients.

Conclusion

This study provides an overview of the current trends in articles published on PSD. Depression is an important topic to be considered in post-stroke patients due to its negative effects on post-stroke recovery and reduced quality of life, necessitating a call to attention and support for future research in this field. With continued research efforts led by the United States and China, improved treatments for patients with post-stroke depression can be implemented.
The development of a dietary nutrient density educational tool and the investigation of its acceptance by Chinese residents from Henan province
Authors: Zhai Junya , Zhang Xu , Khatun Pipasha , Wang Saiqi , Cong Minghua , Liang Rui , Yao Fangfang , Liu Huan , Qin Jin , Guo Lijun , Kong Yongxia , Wu Hongbo , Ma Baihui
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Helping residents select nutrient-dense foods is a strategy to improve their diet quality. However, communication based on the nutrient-dense foods as a positive attribute has not been widely used in nutritional education. This study aimed to develop an educational tool based on the picture and guidance of “Chinese food guide pagoda (2022) “, extend it with the concept of nutrient density, and investigate its acceptance by Chinese residents from Henan province.

Methods

Three examples (one-day diet with high, medium, and low nutrient-rich food (NRF) 9.2 score, an indicator for evaluating dietary nutrient density) were designed for developing a dietary nutrient density educational tool. A self-designed questionnaire was conducted to investigate the acceptance of the “dietary nutrient density educational tool” among college students from Henan province on the basis of the theory of planned behavior.

Results

Among the three one-day diets used in the tool, with the decrease in the NRF9.2 score, the energy intake increased from 1686 kcal to 2363 kcal, the dietary fat-to-energy ratio increased from 28 to 42%, and the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) decreased from 0.97 to 0.87. A total of 851 college students completed the acceptance questionnaire. The average score of the acceptance was 4.07, with a total score of 5. This study showed that resident’s intention to use the tool was correlated with family residence, perceptual behavior control, and subjective norms. These three factors accounted for 83.5% of the variation in behavior intention.

Conclusion

To encourage residents choosing healthier foods, a dietary nutrient density educational tool was developed to expanding the current instructional tool—the Chinese food guide pagoda (2022). The acceptance questionnaire survey revealed that residents had good acceptance of the tool, and family residence, perceptual behavior control, subjective norms may strongly contribute to their acceptance and the intention to use of the tool.
Accuracy of robotic arm-assisted versus computed tomography-based navigation in total hip arthroplasty using the direct anterior approach: a retrospective study
Authors: Okazaki Tomoya , Imagama Takashi , Matsuki Yuta , Tanaka Hiroshi , Shiigi Eiichi , Kaneoka Takehiro , Kawakami Takehiro , Yamazaki Kazuhiro , Sakai Takashi
Published: October 2024

Background

A robotic arm-assisted and a computed tomography (CT)- based navigation system have been reported to improve the accuracy of component positioning in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, no study has compared robotic arm-assisted THA (rTHA) to CT-based navigated THA (nTHA) concerning accuracy of cup placement and acetabular fractures using the direct anterior approach (DAA). This study aimed to compare the accuracy of cup placement and the presence of intraoperative acetabular fractures between rTHA and nTHA using DAA in the supine position.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 209 hips of 188 patients who underwent rTHA or nTHA using DAA (rTHA using the Mako system: 85 hips of 79 patients; nTHA: 124 hips of 109 patients). After propensity score matching for age and sex, each group consisted of 73 hips. We evaluated clinical and radiographic outcomes, comparing postoperative cup orientation and position, measured using a three-dimensional templating software, to preoperative CT planning. Additionally, we investigated the prevalence of occult acetabular fracture.

Results

Clinical outcomes were not significantly different between the groups at 1 year postoperatively. The mean absolute error of cup orientation was significantly smaller in the rTHA group than in nTHA (inclination: 1.4° ± 1.2° vs. 2.7° ± 2.2°, respectively; p = 0.0001, anteversion: 1.5° ± 1.3° vs. 2.2° ± 1.7°, respectively; p = 0.007). The cases within an absolute error of 5 degrees in both RI and RA were significantly higher in the rTHA (97.3%) than in nTHA group (82.2%) (p = 0.003). The absolute error of the cup position was not significantly different between the two groups. The prevalence of occult acetabular fracture did not differ significantly between the two groups (rTHA: n = 0 [0%] vs. nTHA: n = 1 [1.4%]).

Conclusion

Cup placement using DAA in the supine position in rTHA was more accurate with fewer outliers compared to nTHA. Therefore, rTHA performed via DAA in a supine position would be useful for accurate cup placement.