bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of disruptions in O RhD negative donations in Colombia on increasing maternal mortality ratio from haemorrhage
Authors: Bermúdez‐Forero María‐Isabel , Delgado‐López Diana‐Carolina , Anzola‐Samudio Diego‐Alexander , Palomino Fernando , Garcia‐Otalora Michel‐Andres
Published: December 2023

Objective

The aim of this work was to evaluate the relationship of the maternal mortality ratio due to obstetric haemorrhage (MMROH) with the national blood donations, particularly O RhD negative (Oneg) before and during COVID‐19 pandemic.

Background

The maternal mortality ratio is increasing in Colombia, yet little is known regarding the relationship between blood donations and maternal mortality due to obstetric haemorrhage.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cross‐sectional study between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021, was performed, to assess MMROH compared to the blood donations notified to the Colombian National Haemovigilance System, through non‐parametric methods. Because a relationship between blood donations and MMROH was identified, the analysis was expanded from 2009 to 2017.

Results

In 2020, Colombia increased the MMROH by 32% compared to 2019 which coincided with the lockdown period to contain COVID‐19. An inversed relationship (SumD2 = 631.0; rs = −0.7335; p 0.01) between blood donations, particularly Oneg (SumD2 = 652.0; rs = −0.7912; p 0.002) and MMROH was identified. For the years 2015–2019 and 2021, the annual mean MMROH was 8.5 ± 0.5 per 100 000 live births when the annual mean blood donations was 18.2 ± 0.4 donations per 1000 people and the Oneg was 1.0 ± 0.0 donations per 1000 people. In contrast, the years 2009–2014 and 2020 displayed an annual MMROH of 12.6 ± 0.8, when the annual collection of blood was 16.4 ± 0.8 donations and the Oneg was 0.9 ± 0.0, p < 0.001.

Conclusion

There was an inverse relationship between blood donation, mainly Oneg, and maternal mortality from obstetric haemorrhage. However, we recognise these deaths could be related to other reasons, especially when they occurred in rural areas with limited access to medical services.
Fatigue Studies of Welded Stainless Steel 304L: Effect of Manufacturability and Weld Type, Choice of Fatigue Model, and Comparison to Pristine Material
Authors: Whiteside Gregory T. , Kumar Pankaj , Khraishi Tariq A. , Siddique Abu-Bakar , Brink Adam
Published: December 2023

This study investigates fatigue life and fracture in welded stainless steel 304L (SS 304L) resulting from load-controlled fatigue. This was done for specimens from two welding manufacturers. Mechanical testing was carried out using an MTS test frame in uniaxial tension. Specimens fabricated in three weld configurations (butt, lap, and butt-with-backer) were cycled at stress ratio R = 0.1, frequency f = 5 Hz, and experienced varying mean tensile stress. A comparison of the fatigue life of welded and unwelded (or pristine) specimens determined that the fatigue life of welded specimens is considerably shorter. The microstructure in the parent material (PM), heat-affected (HAZ), and fusion zones (FZ) was analyzed using SEM, and results suggest that, for a limited number of specimens (backer welds), fracture in the (FZ) was primarily the result of Zener–Stroh cracks. Most welded specimens fractured at the weld-HAZ interface (weld toe), and we postulate that stress concentrations primarily due to abrupt geometrical change at the weld interface led to crack initiation there. Additional stress concentrations at welding-induced defects (resulting from high temperature) such as second-phase particles, fatigue-induced defects, and preexisting impurities are responsible for crack initiation, crack growth, and eventual fracture. Comparison of unwelded and welded SN curve data using numerical curve-fitting methods reveals that the fatigue life of pristine SS 304L follows the expected sigmoid shape found in literature (specifically the Chandran fatigue model), while that of welded SS 304L deviates considerably in low cycle fatigue (LCF) and follows the Basquin power law equation.
Enhancement of Contact Acoustic Nonlinearity Effect in a Concrete Beam Using Ambient Vibrations
Authors: Wang Yikuan , Mukherjee Abhijit
Published: December 2023

Contact acoustic nonlinearity (CAN) is generated when oscillating crack faces open and close while a wave passes through it. However, reliably assessing the nonlinear effect due to micro-scale defects is challenging, especially in concrete structures, due to their large size, high attenuation, and low signal-to-noise ratio. However, concrete facilities vibrate due to ambient excitations such as vehicle movement, wind, and water flow. These ambient vibrations can be utilized in amplifying CAN. For example, a vehicle can be moved at a particular velocity over a bridge to amplify a particular natural mode of vibration. This paper illustrates a method of enhancing contact acoustic nonlinearity with the help of ambient vibrations of the structure. A finite element model of a concrete beam with a thin crack is developed. The base of the beam was oscillated at 100 Hz. Meanwhile, a 200 kHz ultrasonic excitation was applied on the beam to monitor its propagation through the crack. The closing and opening of the crack generate the nonlinear behavior of the ultrasonic pulse. A considerable increment of nonlinearity was observed demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed method. The time windows for the nonlinear zone have been identified. A laboratory experiment has been performed to demonstrate the proposed method in reinforced concrete beams. This investigation demonstrates that CAN can be utilized in monitoring concrete structures when ambient vibrations are taken into account.
Associations Between Sedentary Time, Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular Health in 6-Year-Old Children Born to Mothers With Increased Cardiometabolic Risk
Authors: Litwin Linda , Sundholm Johnny K.M. , Olander Rasmus F.W. , Meinilä Jelena , Kulmala Janne , Tammelin Tuija H. , Rönö Kristiina , Koivusalo Saila B. , Eriksson Johan G. , Sarkola Taisto
Published: December 2023

Purpose: To assess associations between sedentary time (ST), physical activity (PA), and cardiovascular health in early childhood. Method: Cross-sectional study including 160 children (age 6.1 y [SD 0.5], 86 boys, 93 maternal body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2, and 73 gestational diabetes) assessed for pulse wave velocity, echocardiography, ultra-high frequency 48–70 MHz vascular ultrasound, and accelerometery. Results: Boys had 385 (SD 53) minutes per day ST, 305 (SD 44) minutes per day light PA, and 81 (SD 22) minutes per day moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA). Girls had 415 (SD 50) minutes per day ST, 283 (SD 40) minutes per day light PA, and 66 (SD 19) minutes per day MVPA. In adjusted analyses, MVPA was inversely associated with resting heart rate (β = −6.6; 95% confidence interval, −12.5 to −0.7) and positively associated with left ventricular mass (β = 6.8; 1.4–12.3), radial intima-media thickness (β = 11.4; 5.4–17.5), brachial intima-media thickness (β = 8.0; 2.0–14.0), and femoral intima-media thickness (β = 1.3; 0.2–2.3). MVPA was inversely associated with body fat percentage (β = −3.4; −6.6 to −0.2), diastolic blood pressure (β = −0.05; −0.8 to −0.1), and femoral (β = −18.1; −32.4 to −0.8) and radial (β = −13.4; −24.0 to −2.9) circumferential wall stress in boys only. ST and pulse wave velocity showed no significant associations. Conclusions: In young at-risk children, MVPA is associated with cardiovascular remodeling, partly in a sex-dependant way, likely representing physiological adaptation, but ST shows no association with cardiovascular health in early childhood.
Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li conductivity model for the thermal enhancement in the water-based nanofluids over a stretching sheet considering dissipative heat effects
Authors: Sahoo R. K. , Mishra S. R.
Published: December 2023

Today’s need of the growing industries is to get better products with long life which depends upon the production processes. This requires enhanced thermal properties of the fluid as well as the components surrounding to it. Therefore, this study reveals the flow of several water-based nanofluids past an expanding sheet. Oxide nanoparticles, such as Al2O3 and CuO, are considered in the base liquid water to show their behavior on the flow phenomena. Further, dissipative heat properties due to magnetization, i.e. Joule and viscous dissipation enrich the study. The novelty of this study is the consideration of KKL “(Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li) correlation” for the conductivity and viscosity plays its important role in which the influence of Brownian activity is vital. The utilization of similarity rules is beneficial for the transformation of the governing equations into non-dimensional form. Further, the shooting-based Runge–Kutta technique is useful for the solution of these set of equations. The characterization of diversified components likely the particle concentration, magnetic and buoyancy parameter on the velocity distribution along with the Eckert number, and thermal radiation on the energy profile is obtained and deliberated briefly.
Relationships between medical student wellness, self-efficacy, and academic performance during the “post-COVID” period
Authors: Ruiz Jonathan , Kaminnik Phillip , Kibble Jonathan , Kauffman Christine
Published: December 2023

This study followed a group of medical students through the “post-COVID” period to assess their wellness as they transitioned from basic sciences to clinical training. We found that their wellness and belief in their ability to succeed (self-efficacy) remained strong, showing their resiliency. We observed correlations between self-efficacy and their level of wellness and academic performance during basic science classes but not during clinical training.
Perspectives on Nurse Retention in Hospitals in the Netherlands: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Seller-Boersma Annamarike , Boot Cecile , van Oostveen Catharina , Jongerden Irene , van Vugt Michele
Published: December 2023

Aim. To explore hospital nurses’ perceptions of working conditions that affect their retention and to identify preconditions for retention across nursing subgroups and informants directly involved in the work that nurses do. Introduction. Understanding why nurses want to stay in their job is essential for hospitals to improve retention and develop policies to combat nursing shortages. Retention barriers are known, but mostly pre-COVID-19 and in specific nursing subgroups, while nursing teams are diverse in life phase, education, and expertise. Materials and Methods. A qualitative study with semistructured focus group interviews with nurses from different hospitals. We held interviews with nursing students and with newly graduated, experienced, specialized, and master-educated nurses. In addition, we held interviews with informants directly involved in the work that nurses do. Results. Three themes concerning the perceptions of working conditions and retention preconditions were identified among subgroups: (1) nurses finding their personal pathway, indicating work that fits individual challenges during the life course and work that matches personal motives and authority and control over professional practice; (2) constructive collaboration within the nursing team and with their manager and physicians; and (3) availability of supportive facilities, e.g., development, professionalization, working environment, and rewards. Conclusion. Elements for retention occur at individual, team, and organizational levels. Nurses find it important that their profession aligns with their personal pathway and are motivated by constructive collaboration in a stimulating team. They emphasized organizational support in realizing career tracks and in active participation in decision-making. These themes are consistent across subgroups and encompass multiple interacting elements. Implications for Nursing Management. By recognizing and understanding what takes place at these different levels, policymakers and managers can develop effective strategies to promote nurse retention and improve healthcare quality. While implementing and monitoring a broad retention program, managers must remain attentive to nurses’ perceptions of retention preconditions amidst changing demographics and the impact of COVID-19.
Fig S1 from Pharmacodynamic Analysis of BTK Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Acalabrutinib
Authors: Alsadhan Anfal , Cheung Jean , Gulrajani Michael , Gaglione Erika M. , Nierman Pia , Hamdy Ahmed , Izumi Raquel , Bibikova Elena , Patel Priti , Sun Clare , Covey Todd , Herman Sarah E.M. , Wiestner Adrian
Published: December 2023

Flow cytometry gating strategy for intracellular phosphor-proteins assessed ex-vivo.
Supplemental Table 4 from Absence of Cytomegalovirus in Glioblastoma and Other High-grade Gliomas by Real-time PCR, Immunohistochemistry, and In Situ Hybridization
Authors: Holdhoff Matthias , Guner Gunes , Rodriguez Fausto J. , Hicks Jessica L. , Zheng Qizhi , Forman Michael S. , Ye Xiaobu , Grossman Stuart A. , Meeker Alan K. , Heaphy Christopher M. , Eberhart Charles G. , De Marzo Angelo M. , Arav-Boger Ravit
Published: December 2023

Studies that showed presence of CMV in gliomas versus studies that did not.
Supplemental Table 1 from Detection of miR-34a Promoter Methylation in Combination with Elevated Expression of c-Met and β-Catenin Predicts Distant Metastasis of Colon Cancer
Authors: Siemens Helge , Neumann Jens , Jackstadt Rene , Mansmann Ulrich , Horst David , Kirchner Thomas , Hermeking Heiko
Published: December 2023

PDF file - 1325K, Oligonucleotides used for methylation specific PCR (MSP) analysis of the miR-34a and miR-34b/c promoters are listed. "I" indicates Inosine
Supplementary Methods from Discovery of KRB-456, a KRAS G12D Switch-I/II Allosteric Pocket Binder That Inhibits the Growth of Pancreatic Cancer Patient-derived Tumors
Authors: Kazi Aslamuzzaman , Ranjan Alok , Kumar M.V. Vasantha , Agianian Bogos , Garcia Chavez Martin , Vudatha Vignesh , Wang Rui , Vangipurapu Rajanikanth , Chen Liwei , Kennedy Perry , Subramanian Karthikeyan , Quirke Jonathan C.K. , Beato Francisca , Underwood Patrick W. , Fleming Jason B. , Trevino Jose , Hergenrother Paul J. , Gavathiotis Evripidis , Sebti Said M.
Published: December 2023

Supplemental Methods
Figure S5 from Discovery of KRB-456, a KRAS G12D Switch-I/II Allosteric Pocket Binder That Inhibits the Growth of Pancreatic Cancer Patient-derived Tumors
Authors: Kazi Aslamuzzaman , Ranjan Alok , Kumar M.V. Vasantha , Agianian Bogos , Garcia Chavez Martin , Vudatha Vignesh , Wang Rui , Vangipurapu Rajanikanth , Chen Liwei , Kennedy Perry , Subramanian Karthikeyan , Quirke Jonathan C.K. , Beato Francisca , Underwood Patrick W. , Fleming Jason B. , Trevino Jose , Hergenrother Paul J. , Gavathiotis Evripidis , Sebti Said M.
Published: December 2023

BI-2852 competes with KRB-456 for binding to KRAS G12D.
Figure S4 from Discovery of KRB-456, a KRAS G12D Switch-I/II Allosteric Pocket Binder That Inhibits the Growth of Pancreatic Cancer Patient-derived Tumors
Authors: Kazi Aslamuzzaman , Ranjan Alok , Kumar M.V. Vasantha , Agianian Bogos , Garcia Chavez Martin , Vudatha Vignesh , Wang Rui , Vangipurapu Rajanikanth , Chen Liwei , Kennedy Perry , Subramanian Karthikeyan , Quirke Jonathan C.K. , Beato Francisca , Underwood Patrick W. , Fleming Jason B. , Trevino Jose , Hergenrother Paul J. , Gavathiotis Evripidis , Sebti Said M.
Published: December 2023

IIA-15D shows reduced chemical shift perturbations to KRAS G12DGDP possibly due to steric clash with the KRAS allosteric pocket.
FIGURE 6 from Discovery of KRB-456, a KRAS G12D Switch-I/II Allosteric Pocket Binder That Inhibits the Growth of Pancreatic Cancer Patient-derived Tumors
Authors: Kazi Aslamuzzaman , Ranjan Alok , Kumar M.V. Vasantha , Agianian Bogos , Garcia Chavez Martin , Vudatha Vignesh , Wang Rui , Vangipurapu Rajanikanth , Chen Liwei , Kennedy Perry , Subramanian Karthikeyan , Quirke Jonathan C.K. , Beato Francisca , Underwood Patrick W. , Fleming Jason B. , Trevino Jose , Hergenrother Paul J. , Gavathiotis Evripidis , Sebti Said M.
Published: December 2023

KRB-456 inhibits the growth of mt KRAS xenografts from patients with refractory pancreatic cancer. Fresh tumor biopsies from 4 patients with pancreatic cancer were prepared as described in Materials and Methods and implanted subcutaneously into NSG mice, and when the average tumor volumes were about 200 mm3, the mice were randomized and treated daily with vehicle (V) or KRB-456 5 mpk daily for 24 days, except for days 12, 13 with no treatment (A); 5 mpk daily for 24 days except for days 8, 10 and 19, 21 with no treatment (B); 5 mpk daily for 17 days except for days 11, 12 and 14 to 17 with no treatment (C), and 4 mpk with intermittent cycles of 5 days of treatment followed by 2 days of no treatment for a total of 27 days (D). (*, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001). P values determined by Student t test. Error bars represent SE. The 4 and 5 mpk doses were chosen based on our results of MTD studies that are described in Materials and Methods. The % change of tumor volume for each tumor was calculated as: {[(Volume at day X) − (Volume at day 0)]/(Volume at day 0)} × 100, with X being any day of tumor measurement. The average tumor volumes at the start of the experiment in Fig. 6 are: Patient 1 PDX: Vehicle (176 ± 59) and KRB456 (175 ± 65 mm3); Patient 2 PDX: Vehicle (204 ± 139) and KRB456 (202 ± 139 mm3); Patient 3 PDX: Vehicle (299 ± 156) and KRB456 (309 ± 152 mm3); Patient 4 PDX: Vehicle (183 ± 76) and KRB456 (182 ± 81 mm3).
Data from Discovery of KRB-456, a KRAS G12D Switch-I/II Allosteric Pocket Binder That Inhibits the Growth of Pancreatic Cancer Patient-derived Tumors
Authors: Kazi Aslamuzzaman , Ranjan Alok , Kumar M.V. Vasantha , Agianian Bogos , Garcia Chavez Martin , Vudatha Vignesh , Wang Rui , Vangipurapu Rajanikanth , Chen Liwei , Kennedy Perry , Subramanian Karthikeyan , Quirke Jonathan C.K. , Beato Francisca , Underwood Patrick W. , Fleming Jason B. , Trevino Jose , Hergenrother Paul J. , Gavathiotis Evripidis , Sebti Said M.
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Currently, there are no clinically approved drugs that directly thwart mutant KRAS G12D, a major driver of human cancer. Here, we report on the discovery of a small molecule, KRB-456, that binds KRAS G12D and inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer patient-derived tumors. Protein nuclear magnetic resonance studies revealed that KRB-456 binds the GDP-bound and GCP-bound conformation of KRAS G12D by forming interactions with a dynamic allosteric binding pocket within the switch-I/II region. Isothermal titration calorimetry demonstrated that KRB-456 binds potently to KRAS G12D with 1.5-, 2-, and 6-fold higher affinity than to KRAS G12V, KRAS wild-type, and KRAS G12C, respectively. KRB-456 potently inhibits the binding of KRAS G12D to the RAS-binding domain (RBD) of RAF1 as demonstrated by GST-RBD pulldown and AlphaScreen assays. Treatment of KRAS G12D-harboring human pancreatic cancer cells with KRB-456 suppresses the cellular levels of KRAS bound to GTP and inhibits the binding of KRAS to RAF1. Importantly, KRB-456 inhibits P-MEK, P-AKT, and P-S6 levels in vivo and inhibits the growth of subcutaneous and orthotopic xenografts derived from patients with pancreatic cancer whose tumors harbor KRAS G12D and KRAS G12V and who relapsed after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These results warrant further development of KRB-456 for pancreatic cancer.
Significance:
There are no clinically approved drugs directly abrogating mutant KRAS G12D. Here, we discovered a small molecule, KRB-456, that binds a dynamic allosteric binding pocket within the switch-I/II region of KRAS G12D. KRB-456 inhibits P-MEK, P-AKT, and P-S6 levels in vivo and inhibits the growth of subcutaneous and orthotopic xenografts derived from patients with pancreatic cancer. This discovery warrants further advanced preclinical and clinical studies in pancreatic cancer.
Whole-Exome Sequencing in Turkish Patients with Inherited Retinal Dystrophies Reveals Novel Variants in Ten Genes
Authors: Basdemirci Muserref , Kocak Eker Hatice
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) associated with more than 300 genes are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of retinal diseases. This study aimed to identify causative gene variants and molecular basis of Turkish patients with IRD. Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 28 unrelated patients. The potential pathogenicity of variants was evaluated using the American College of Medical Genetics variant interpretation guidelines, in silico prediction tools, published literature or Human Gene Mutation Database, and compatibility with inheritance patterns or known phenotypes. Results: Causative variants in 21 genes, including MERTK, SNRP200, MYO7A, AIPL1, RDH12, OTX2, ADGRV1, RPGRIP1, SPATA7, USH2A, MFSD8, CDHR1, EYS, CACNA1F, CNGA3, RDH5, TULP1, BBS2, BEST1, RS1, GUCY2D were detected in 26 (92.9%) of 28 patients. The most prevalent causative variants were observed MERTK (10.7% of cases), followed by CDHR1, AIPL1, RDH12, SPATA7, CNGA3, TULP1 (7.1% of cases, each). The most common variant type in this study was missense variants (53%), followed by frameshift (21%), nonsense (20%), and splice (6%). Twelve novel variants, 6 of frameshift and 6 of missense, were detected in ten genes. Retinitis pigmentosa was the most common phenotype followed by Leber congenital amaurosis. Conclusion: This study provides an overview of causative gene variants in Turkish patients with IRD. Variants identified in this study expand the variant spectrum of IRD genes. We believe it is essential to combine molecular and clinical data to diagnose IRD patients, especially with the emergence of therapeutic options.
Impact of Intensity of Vascular Care Preceding Major Amputation Among Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia
Authors: Secemsky Eric A. , Kirksey Lee , Quiroga Elina , King Claire M. , Martinson Melissa , Hasegawa James T. , West Nick E.J. , Wadhera Rishi K.
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Lower-limb amputation rates in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia vary across the United States, with marked disparities in amputation rates by gender, race, and income status. We evaluated the association of patient, hospital, and geographic characteristics with the intensity of vascular care received the year before a major lower-limb amputation and how intensity of care associates with outcomes after amputation.

METHODS:

Using Medicare claims data (2016–2019), beneficiaries diagnosed with chronic limb-threatening ischemia who underwent a major lower-limb amputation were identified. We examined patient, hospital, and geographic characteristics associated with the intensity of vascular care received the year before amputation. Secondary objectives evaluated all-cause mortality and adverse events following amputation.

RESULTS:

Of 33 036 total Medicare beneficiaries undergoing major amputation, 7885 (23.9%) were due to chronic limb-threatening ischemia; of these, 4988 (63.3%) received low-intensity and 2897 (36.7%) received high-intensity vascular care. Mean age, 76.6 years; women, 38.9%; Black adults, 24.5%; and of low income, 35.2%. After multivariable adjustment, those of low income (odds ratio, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.58–0.72];
P
<0.001), and to a lesser extent, men (odds ratio, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.81–0.98];
P
=0.019), and those who received care at a safety-net hospital (odds ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.78–0.97];
P
=0.012) were most likely to receive low intensity of care before amputation. High-intensity care was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality 2 years following amputation (hazard ratio, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.74–0.85];
P
<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients who were of low-income status, and to a lesser extent, men, or those cared for at safety-net hospitals were most likely to receive low-intensity vascular care. Low-intensity care was associated with worse long-term event-free survival. These data emphasize the continued disparities that exist in contemporary vascular practice.
Special issue commemorating Dr David Meagher 1956–2023 (Table of Contents)
Authors: CARGILL D. CHRISTINE , STECH MICHAEL , TABUA MEREIA , KONRAT MATT VON
Published: December 2023

Table of Contents
Unpacking Indigenous Social Mobility: Entrepreneurs, Social Networks, and Connections to Culture
Authors: Côté Rochelle , Evans Michelle
Published: December 2023

In settler societies, upward social mobility by Indigenous people is seen in the growth of successful professional and entrepreneurial classes where both wealth creation and social power are significant resources. Yet, public and academic discourses perpetuate the belief that social mobility impacts negatively on Indigenous people by placing cultural identity in conflict with capitalist business practices. Using data from an international comparison consisting of interviews with 220 Indigenous entrepreneurs in research sites across three countries, this article shows that the belief is unfounded and reveals how this duality creates an impossible tension when Indigenous cultural identity is framed as “at risk” because of social mobility. A discursive colonial mind-set remains a central, enduring and problematic organizing principle of the field of Indigenous social mobility, one that requires a shift in the kinds of research questions that are asked and the ways in which social mobility is ultimately defined.
Images, Investigators, Identification, Code D and the Court of Appeal
Authors: Edmond Gary , Wortley Natalie
Published: December 2023

The rapid rise in accessibility and portability of cameras has resulted in widespread reliance on the interpretation of images by analysts and investigators in criminal proceedings. Codes of practice, guidance and jurisprudence have evolved to facilitate the admission of opinions as to the identity of offenders (or persons of interest) at trial. In this article, we explain why allowing investigators to give opinions as to identity on the basis of familiarity with images or suspects acquired during the course of an investigation is incompatible with mainstream scientific research and advice, and conducive to error. It rests on the flawed assumption that investigators can reliably identify or recognise persons in images, articulate and document the basis of these ‘identifications’, and avoid the risk of contamination (really cognitive bias) from their knowledge of, or exposure to, domain-irrelevant information. Jurors, who may be invited to conduct their own comparison between an image and the defendant in the dock, are similarly vulnerable to assuming the task is straightforward, as well as many of the contextual and cognitive biases confronting investigators. Using the facts and evidence in R v Yaryare [2020] EWCA Crim 1314 as a case study, we show how case information available to investigators and imaging analysts both inform their interpretations of images and is (re-)presented at trial and on appeal as independent support for their opinions. We identify substantial threats to fairness, proof and rationality and propose that only witnesses with demonstrable expertise should be permitted to testify as to the identity of persons of interest in images.
Exploring Needed Support as a Motivational Factor for Travelers with Mobility Impairments: A Sequential Mixed-Methods Exploration
Authors: Hua Chenggang , Cole Shu , Zhang Ye , Wang Weixuan , Zhao Haoai
Published: December 2023

Despite needing more support in tourism, individuals with mobility impairments consistently show strong travel motivation, regardless of their physical challenges. This study utilizes self-determination theory and employs a sequential mixed-methods approach to delve into the role of needed support in driving travel motivation and to understand the intrinsic processes at play. From 39 interviews, a qualitative analysis was conducted, leading to the development of a scale specifically designed for those with mobility impairments. Further quantitative research was undertaken to refine this scale and evaluate the proposed model. By comparing and integrating qualitative and quantitative results, the study provides deeper insights. This investigation not only challenges prevailing notions within self-determination theory but also emphasizes the pivotal role of needed support. It unveils unique motivational drivers for those with mobility impairments in tourism contexts, advocating for scholars, industry professionals, and policymakers to reconsider their views and champion more inclusive practices.
Refugees Separated by the Global Color Line: The Power of Europeanness, Whiteness, and Sameness
Authors: Balogun Bolaji
Published: December 2023

It is often erroneously assumed that Russians and Ukrainians are the “same people.” This conviction of sameness partly drove the aggressive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with a determination to forcefully drag a sovereign nation onto an assumed similar destination with Russia and Belarus. Such an assault on a sovereign nation drew denunciations from organizations and people around the world. Nonetheless, by November 2022, the invasion had resulted in the tragic loss of numerous innocent Ukrainian lives and compelled an unprecedented number of people to seek sanctuary throughout Europe. The same event prompted a growing use of the language of imperialism to characterize Russia's supremacy, concurrently giving rise to the logic of Europeanness and whiteness. In this IMR Dispatch, I explore the impact of Europeanness, whiteness, and sameness on people of color fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. While it is crucial to examine the systematic racialization of these people, I argue that the racialized border enforcement witnessed during the conflict is better understood when viewed through the global color line embedded within migration and border management, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe where racialized logics are still underplayed.
Embodied Transnational Belonging
Authors: Nikielska-Sekuła Karolina
Published: December 2023

This article, based on a collection of 53 interviews with people who migrated from Poland to Norway, discusses how transnational sentiments, nostalgia, and attachments to places and people materialize through the bodily experiences of the mobile subjects. It conceptualizes the notion of embodied transnational belonging, understood as a dynamic, bodily felt materialization of social, cultural, political, economic, and affective processes that assist the emplacement of mobile people in new localities, and that span the borders of nation-states. Theoretically, the article builds on the premises of the sensory turn in social sciences and utilizes the concepts from anthropology, health studies and migration and mobility studies interdisciplinarily. Methodologically, it employs photo elicitation interviews. It discusses how the concept of embodied transnational belonging can be used to extend the understanding of migrant persons’ transnationality. By doing so, it addresses a knowledge gap in transnational studies, attempting to theoretically open the conceptualization of transnational belonging to the bodily dimension. The article suggests that transnationalism is exercised on a level of a bodily experience of the migrant persons, and hence transnationality is not a solely mental/rational phenomenon, but also a bodily/physical one.
Tirer La Couverture À Soi. PSOE Factions’ Views on French Socialism and the Popular Front
Authors: Bataller Aurelio Martí , Gomez Sergio Valero
Published: December 2023

The Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) has been interpreted as exceptional among its European counterparts because of its internal divisions, radicalization and the impossibility of reaching cross-cutting agreements. This article demonstrates how, during the 1930s, the PSOE's evolution went hand in hand with other socialist parties in Europe, especially with the Section Française de l’International Ouvrière (SFIO). In particular, this article focuses on the views of the Spanish socialist factions – prietismo and caballerismo – on the formation and development of the Popular Front in Spain and France. The press of these factions – El Socialista, Claridad and Leviatán – had a similar role in the evolution of both parties. Furthermore, this study points out how the different factions of Spanish socialism used the French experience to legitimize their positions during the first part of 1936.
Pilot Study of Prism EFP NeuroFeedback in Adult ADHD
Authors: Adler Lenard A. , Anbarasan Deepti , Leon Terry , Sardoff Taylor , Descorbeth Olivia , Cho Dayeon , Stern Yaki , Kraft Oded , Hendler Talma , Marmar Charles R.
Published: December 2023

Objective:

A pilot study to preliminarily examine the effects of Prism EFP NeuroFeedback (NF) in adult ADHD.

Method:

Prism EFP NF is a form of NF specifically designed to target emotional dysregulation (ED) through down regulation of amygdala activity. Prism EFP NF has been shown to improve other disorders with significant ED. Nine participants with adult ADHD received an open trial of Prism EFP NF consisting of fifteen sessions over 8 weeks; all completed at least 5 weeks of treatment with seven completing all 8 weeks. Outcomes were assessed by change in ADHD symptoms from baseline to End of Treatment.

Results:

About two-third reduction was seen in total DSM ADHD symptom scores (primary outcome measure) with improvement observed in all other clinical measures. No significant adverse events were seen.

Conclusion:

This preliminary trial found substantial effects of Prism EFP NF on ADHD/ED symptoms and global impairment.
‘Asset-based welfare’: The social policy corollary of the Anglo-liberal growth model?
Authors: Hay Colin
Published: December 2023

In the wake of the deepest and longest recession that the United Kingdom has experienced since the 1930s, the consequences of Brexit and now COVID too, this article examines the origins, sustenance and puncturing of the growth dynamic it enjoyed since the early 1990s. It identifies what is termed the ‘Anglo-liberal growth model’ and its social policy corollary, ‘asset-based welfare’, considering the symbiotic yet increasingly tense and dynamic interdependence of the two. It argues that although both are compromised by the compound shocks of the crisis, Brexit and COVID, they have in fact become more not less intertwined and interdependent in these more troubled times. It considers the implications for the long-term sustainability of this fractious coupling and the wider consequences for UK economic performance and social welfare in the years ahead.
The peace/violence nexus: Fundamental, multiple, contingent
Authors: Kustermans Jorg
Published: December 2023

This paper finds its point of departure in Murad Idris’s argument about peace being a fundamentally violent ideal marked by an overarching logic of constitutive aggression. It responds to this categorical statement by reconstructing four distinct variants of the peace/violence nexus, each of which involves a different type of violence, performed by a different type of agent, with a different demeanor, at different times and intervals, and in relation to a different conception of peace. There is not one peace/violence nexus but at least four. What is more, a detailed examination of these peace/violence nexuses puts into doubt their fundamental nature, if by fundamental is meant intrinsic and inescapable. It draws attention to the contingency of their becoming a social and political reality, and thereby confirms that the imbrication of peace and violence may at least theoretically—and temporarily—be avoided.
Searching for timbre on a budget: Brazilian indie rock home recordings (2013–2020)
Authors: Conter Marcelo Bergamin , Macedo Lucas Nucci
Published: December 2023

In Brazil, the high cost of musical instruments is a prominent concern among indie rock musicians, given the genre's well-known emphasis on timbre. Through an insider research approach, involving timbre analysis and in-depth interviews with six band members, this article aims to identify signs emerging from the sound textures of Brazilian indie rock home recordings that express the situation of the economic limitations within which these musicians operate. The study concludes that even though each band deals with budgetary constraints in different ways and explores different strategies when looking for singular timbres, a shift towards professional mixing leads musicians away from a DIY approach to another of precarious work and authorial disidentification, which operates in favour of mainstream tendencies, and consequently, towards a Global North standardisation.
Universal Basic Income: A Dynamic Assessment
Authors: Daruich Diego , Fernández Raquel
Published: December 2023

Universal basic income (UBI) is an increasingly popular policy proposal, but there is no evidence regarding its longer-term consequences. We find that UBI generates large welfare losses in a general equilibrium model with imperfect capital markets, labor market shocks, and intergenerational linkages via skill formation and transfers. This conclusion is robust to various alternative ways of financing UBI. By using observationally equivalent models that eliminate different sources of endogenous dynamic linkages (equilibrium capital market and parental investment in child skills), we show that the latter are largely responsible for the negative welfare consequences. (JEL H24, H31, I38, J22, J24, J62)
PHYTOSANITARY CONDITION OF PEA AGROPHYTOCOENOSES (PISUM SATIVUM L.) UNDER DIFFERENT SOIL TILLAGE METHODS
Authors: Savelyeva Olesya , Savelyev Andrey , Bukin Oleg , Nikolskiy Aleksandr , Bochkarev Dmitriy
Published: December 2023

Research was carried out to determine the influence of various systems of basic soil cultivation on the prevalence and development of pests in the agrophytocenosis of peas. The work was carried out in 2017-2019 in the Republic of Mordovia in the second rotation of the crop rotation: peas - winter wheat - soybeans - spring barley. The experimental scheme included the following options: autumn disking at 10…12 cm + moldboard plowing at 22…24 cm (disking + plowing); autumn disking with a disc harrow at 10…12 cm (disking); zero tillage (direct sowing). The use of disking and direct sowing increased the infestation of crops with young weeds, compared with plowing, by 12 and 24 weeds/m2. Plowing led to a decrease in the amount of thistle and horsetail. The prevalence of rust and gray rot in peas was largely influenced by weather conditions favorable to pathogens. In 2017 the prevalence of rust in the flowering phase was higher than in the drier years of 2018-2019 by 44...53%, gray mold - by 17...23%. The intensity of pathogen development increased as the crop matured; in the experiment, the lowest value of this indicator was against the background of disking. Plowing significantly reduced the density of the pea aphid population compared to disking (by 79%) and direct sowing (by 11%). A similar pattern was noted for gamma moth caterpillars. The results obtained can be used in the development of an integrated system for protecting peas from a complex of pests for the southern forest-steppe of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation.
STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF ENDOPHYTIC BACTERIA OF THE GENUS BACILLUS ON THE GROWTH AND STRESS RESISTANCE OF SPRING WHEAT AND SOYBEAN SEEDLS
Authors: Shaymullina Gulnaz , Safin Radik , Egorova Olga , Valiev Ayrat , Kalimullin Marat
Published: December 2023

The studies were carried out to assess the indicators of seed germination, root length, level of lipid peroxidation, content of photosynthetic pigments and free proline in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous crops when seeds were treated with strains of endophytic bacteria of the genus Bacillus. The scheme of vegetation experiments included modeling of 30% drought on sand and pre-sowing treatment of seeds of spring wheat variety Yoldyz and soybean variety Sultana with endophytic bacteria: Bacillus subtilis KS-55 AU, Bacillus cereus KS-56 AU, Bacillus pumilus KS-57 AU, Bacillus megaterium KS- 58 AU, Bacillus cereus KS-59 AU, Bacillus megaterium KS-60 AU and Bacillus pumilus KS-61 AU. Bacteria better stimulated root growth when using a titer of 1×106 cells in 1 ml of the drug (the increase was 0.6 cm on soybean with Bacillus subtilis KS-55 AU and Bacillus megaterium KS-60 AU and 0.4 cm on wheat with Bacillus cereus KS -56 AU, Bacillus cereus KS-59 AU and Bacillus pumilus KS-61 AU). In wheat, the Bacillus subtilis KS-55 AU strain stood out, treatment with which contributed to an increase in germination by 30%, a decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation by 46%, an increase in the amount of free proline by 148% and photosynthetic pigments by 6%, relative to the control variant. On soybean plants, the strain Bacillus subtilis KS-55 AU contributed to an increase in germination by 40%, Bacillus cereus KS-59 AU contributed to a decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation by 47% and the accumulation of proline by 73%, and Bacillus pumilus KS-61 AU increased the amount of total chlorophyll by 141%, relative to the control variant. Thus, we can conclude that the above strains of endophytic bacteria improve the growth and development of spring wheat and soybean seedlings, and also serve as inducers of crop resistance to soil drought.
THE RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTAL – EXPLORING RESEARCH OF THE MICRONIZATION INFLUENCE ON THE FRACTURE STRAIN OF CARYOPSIS
Authors: Kipriyanov Fedor , Savinyh Petr
Published: December 2023

In conditions of increased productivity of farm animals, it is important to increase the energy efficiency of feed. The micronization of feed grains improves its digestibility, disinfects it, and reduces the amount of antinutrients. One of the criteria for the sufficiency of micronization is the fracture strain of caryopsis. Research to study the influence of micronization modes on the force of destruction of a grain with a wedge-shaped tip was carried out using the example of rye and barley grain. In a series of one-factor experiments, the fracture strain of caryopsis was determined upon the occurrence of various events: the beginning of cracking of the grain and the beginning of burning. The fracture strain at the beginning of cracking for rye grain decreased in the range from 9% to 20%, for barley grain - from 10% to 44%, at the beginning of burning - from 16% to 26% and from 44% to 50%, respectively. Measuring the breaking force of grains that were processed during the average time between the time of cracking and the start of burning showed that increasing the heating time did not lead to a significant decrease in the breaking force. To obtain the least force of grain destruction during micronization, it is necessary to ensure the height of the radiation source above the transporting surface from 10 mm to 15 mm with a processing duration of 33 to 41 s, preventing burning and charring of the grains. The resulting mathematical models adequately describe the change in the fracture force depending on the processing conditions. Processing in the optimal mode leads to a reduction in the force of destruction of the rye grain by 1.8 times from 66 to 37 N, of barley - by 2.3 times from 101 to 44 N.
HF radio channel modeling by a waveguide approach
Authors: Kurkin Vladimir , Ilyin Nikolay , Penzin Maksim , Ponomarchuk Sergey , Khakhinov Vitaliy
Published: December 2023

We present a modified method of HF radio channel modeling based on a waveguide approach. The waveguide approach represents the electromagnetic field of radiation inside the Earth—ionosphere waveguide as an eigenfunction series of a radial boundary problem with impedance conditions on the Earth surface and radiation conditions at infinity. The transfer function of the radio channel is represented as a series of products of angular-operator Green functions, excitation coefficients, and coefficients for receiving individual normal modes. We have obtained a solution of the boundary value problem of determining the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the radial operator. The solution can be applied to the frequency range below the ionospheric F-layer critical frequency. We examine algorithms for calculating distance-frequency, frequency-angular, and amplitude characteristics of signals by analyzing and numerically summarizing the series in terms of strongly damped normal modes.
Successful projects or success in project management - are projects dependent on a methodology?
Authors: Nyman Henrik J. , Öörni Anssi
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this paper is to bridge two seemingly disparate views of project management: proponents of project management methodologies promote a view where a standard set of predefined project practices guarantee project success, while a contingent view of projects suggests that project management needs to be adaptive to project actuality and context. Our aim in this paper is to understand how these different forms of managing projects impact project success. We investigate projects through a lens of discretion, defined as autonomy in the project team to adapt the project to its context as opposed to a reliance on a pre-defined set of rules for project management. We also look at the role of exploration, that is, whether the project focuses on the development of new knowledge, or whether the focus is on furthering existing competences. Based on our analysis, we propose a framework to determine the right amount of discretion in a project, highlighting which project management methodology is suited for the work at hand or whether discarding methodology altogether is more likely to lead to project success.
The relevance of STEM education for training modern specialists in the higher education system
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Matsai Nataliia , Hubska Olha ,   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University
Published: December 2023

The possibilities of using the STEM approach in the process of training future bachelors in natural sciences in today's conditions are considered. The potential of interactive training for the formation of professional and general competencies of future specialists is revealed; examples of the use of specific forms of education in the educational process are given. The role of virtual laboratories for the organization of research activities in the conditions of distance learning is shown. The role of the teacher in the formation of general competences in the process of implementing STEM in education is determined.
Adaptive Paramagnetism and Photoluminescence in Nitrogen Co-doped Mn: CdS Composite Quantum Dots
Authors: Reddy M Surya Sekhar , Kumar Y B Kishore
Published: December 2023

Manganese-doped cadmium sulfide quantum dots (QDs), co-doped with nitrogen, were synthesized using the chemical co-precipitation method (CPM). Surfactant 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) was used to efficiently regulate the size of these QDs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses verified that the particles fell within the nano-dimension, measuring between 1-2 nm. A Rietveld analysis with X’pert high score software (XPHS) proved that these synthesized QDs contained many phases. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) technique confirmed the successful incorporation of both manganese and nitrogen dopants into the CdS. Ultraviolet-visible analysis (UV-Vis) demonstrated a noticeable shift towards the blue end in the energy gap, indicating the presence of a quantum-confinement effect. The photoluminescence (PL) investigations revealed a significant emission peak at λ = 634 nm, linked to the transition from 4T1 to 6A1, attributed to the incorporation of Mn2+ within the CdS core. Electron paramagnetic spectroscopy (EPR) demonstrated paramagnetic characteristics. EPR assessments of the g factor (1.995) and hyperfine splitting constant (A) values (7 mT) verified the existence of nitrogen and manganese ions in the tetrahedral positions of the CdS core. The notable alterations noticed in the magnetic and optical characteristics of the fabricated quantum dots imply promising uses in optoelectronic and magneto-luminescent applications.