bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adrenomedullin 2/Intermedin Exerts Cardioprotective Effects by Regulating Cardiomyocyte Mitochondrial Function
Authors: Zhao Yunlu , Sakurai Takayuki , Kamiyoshi Akiko , Tanaka Megumu , Ichikawa-Shindo Yuka , Kawate Hisaka , Matsuda Yorishige , Zhang Yan , Guo Qianqian , Li Peixuan , Hoshiyama Ken , Hayashi Marina , Li Jiake , Shindo Takayuki
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND:

Adrenomedullin 2 (AM2) plays critical roles in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance. However, the specific involvement of AM2 in cardiac hypertrophy has not been comprehensively elucidated, warranting further investigation into its molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications.

METHODS:

Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in adult mice lacking AM2 (AM2−/−) using transverse aortic constriction surgery. Comprehensive cardiac morphology, function, histology, and transcriptome/metabolome analyses were conducted. Signal transduction underlying AM2 stimulation in the cardiomyocytes was explored.

RESULTS:

The absence of endogenous AM2 led to the development of severe heart failure after transverse aortic constriction surgery, which was characterized by alterations in the mitochondrial morphology and function associated with glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the heart and cardiomyocytes of transverse aortic constriction–operated AM2−/− mice. AM2 stimulation was associated with the receptor-modifying factor RAMP2 (receptor activity-modifying protein 2), which primarily transduces signals through the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway and affects the expression of genes involved in glycolysis, β-oxidation, and oxidative phosphorylation. The administration of exogenous AM2 alleviated heart failure following transverse aortic constriction.

CONCLUSIONS:

AM2 crucially regulates mitochondrial functions associated with the glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycles in the cardiomyocytes, thereby exerting a protective effect on the heart under pressure overload conditions.
Scaling to Perception: Challenges and Opportunities for Large-Scale Immersive Visualization Facilities
Authors: Polys Nicholas F. , Mohammed Ayat , Sandbrook Ben
Published: January 2025

This paper reflects on the challenges and successes of providing cutting-edge immersive visualization facilities for a variety of academic users at Virginia Tech’s Visionarium and Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) (see Figure 1). For over 25 years at Virginia Tech, we have provided cyberinfrastructure and support for designers, engineers, and scientists with data and visualization needs. We consider the history and evolution of these services and inventory several aspects of their research and educational impact. While there are many other examples of successful installations, we present evidence demonstrating the cross-cutting value of these institutional cyberinfrastructure resources and prospectives for future research.
Comprehensive care processes for substance use disorders in adult mental health services: A systematic review
Authors: Reilly John , Meurk Carla , Sara Grant E , Heffernan Ed
Published: January 2025

Background and Objectives:

Assessment and care of substance use disorder within mental health services are essential due to the high prevalence and harms associated with comorbidity. Substance use disorder assessment and care are routinely recommended in clinical guidelines; however, processes are not agreed. This systematic review of routine clinical practice in relation to substance use disorders in adult mental health service aims to identify routine assessment and diagnosis processes, the proportion of patients and service episodes in which they occur and their outputs.

Methods:

We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase and relevant Cochrane databases for articles until July 2024 reporting on substance use assessment, diagnosis or treatment in adults receiving routine mental health service and locating additional articles by snowballing. Variables including setting, study method, period, cohort, substances, clinical assessment type, diagnosis and care pathways were compared.

Results:

In 137 heterogeneous studies reporting routine practice within a wide variety of adult mental health service from 29 nations, 44 (32%) expected or reported on substance use assessment in domains of pattern or impact. However, 23 studies (17%) reported structured approaches to substance use disorder assessment, while 67 (49%) reported a diagnostic structure, including classification system. Diagnostic prevalence varied markedly. Treatment was reported in 16 studies (12%) and no substance use disorder outcomes were reported.

Conclusion:

This systematic review shows marked variation in routine practice in mental health service across a range of substance use disorder assessment and diagnosis processes. To better identify substance use disorder, enhance its care and reduce associated morbidity, adult mental health service may benefit from standardising expectations and systematically monitoring the performance of substance use assessment and diagnosis.
An Excellent Seminary President
Authors: Aleshire Daniel
Published: January 2025

Excellent leadership of a theological school requires the ethical use of power in service to a school’s mission. It involves a spirituality that brings helpful perspective for disappointments in the present and hope for the future. Excellent leadership entails intelligence, humility, discipline, and the skills of building an effective administrative team, working well with the faculty, raising and administering financial resources, and nurturing a vision that both undergirds present tasks and cultivates a path to the future. This work is most faithfully accomplished with a theological and biblical undergirding in the long tradition of the mission of God in the world.
Women in agricultural marketing: A systematic review of motivations, opportunities, and challenges
Authors: Kandi Laxmi Prasanna , Ma Shuai , Xu Zhihong , Dooley Kim E.
Published: January 2025

The motivations for women's involvement in agricultural marketing stem from the need to support their families and improve their livelihoods. Addressing these challenges through policy reforms and targeted interventions is crucial for promoting gender parity. How do challenges, along with available opportunities, impact women's participation in agricultural marketing while contributing to their empowerment and fulfillment of basic, psychological, and self-actualization needs? This study systematically reviewed 59 articles on women's participation in agricultural marketing, focusing on motivations, challenges, and opportunities, which were key variables analyzed in the paper. The study integrated three main frameworks: Msosa's (2022) framework for challenges, Maslow's (1943) Hierarchy of Needs theory for motivations, and McClelland's (1961) Achievement theory for opportunities. Each framework helped categorize these variables effectively to address the research question. The findings highlight major constraints like economic, social, and institutional constraints that intersect with opportunities that create pathways for women's empowerment. These opportunities, in turn, facilitate women's ability to fulfill their basic, psychological, and self-fulfillment needs, driving both individual growth and broader socio-economic outcomes. There are clear opportunities for empowerment through cooperative models, access to technology, and government-supported programs. Addressing these barriers not only allows women to participate fully in agricultural markets but also fulfills their broader psychological and self-actualization needs. By recognizing these dynamics, we can create more inclusive agricultural systems that promote gender equality and contribute to economic stability and food security in rural communities.
Intramuscular pH monitoring before and during exercise in individuals with intermittent claudication compared to healthy controls: A feasibility study
Authors: Ablett Andrew D. , Collins Patrick , Ball Derek , Brittenden Julie , Johnstone Alan J.
Published: January 2025

Objective

In this feasibility study, firstly, we aimed to assess whether intramuscular pH (IMpH) could be measured with a glass-tipped electrode. Secondly, we aimed to explore whether we could monitor changes in skeletal muscle pH before and throughout static (isometric) and after dynamic (treadmill) exercise, comparing individuals with intermittent claudication (IC) to a group of healthy controls.

Methods

Forty participants with IC (mean age ± SD) 68 ± 8) and 40 healthy volunteers (63 ± 10) were recruited. Participants in the IC group had an ankle brachial pressure index of <0.7 (mean: 0.62 ± 0.13). The first 20 participants in each group underwent isometric ankle dorsiflexion for 120 s at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction and the remainder underwent treadmill exercise (3.6 km/h, 5° incline) to maximal walking distance. A sterilised reusable 1.5 mm shatterproof, heat strengthened glass tipped pH probe inserted using a peripheral venous cannula and in combination with a pH meter was used to measure IMpH of the tibialis anterior muscle prior to, during and continuously for 1 h after exercise.

Results

Resting IMpH was similar between the groups (median 6.8 (interquartile range (IQR) 6.7-6.9)) for IC individuals and 6.7 (6.6 to 6.8) for controls). Following isometric exercise, the magnitude of the decrease in IMpH was greatest in the IC group (median ΔpH max. in patients −0.2 (IQR: −0.2 to −0.1) versus −0.1 (IQR: −0.2 to −0.1) in the control group ( p = 0.002). After treadmill exercise, the magnitude of the decrease in IMpH (ΔpH max) was greatest in individuals with IC (median ΔpH max. in patients −0.3 (IQR: −0.3 to −0.3) versus 0 (IQR: −0.2 to 0) in the control group, p = 0.04.

Conclusions

IMpH monitoring with a flexible glass probe inserted into the tibialis anterior muscle is viable and changes in IMpH during static and dynamic exercises are detected.
Roles of the CDCA gene family in breast carcinoma
Authors: Ding Wei , Han Wei , Shi Chun-Tao , Yao Li-Qian , Liang Zhi-Wei , Zhou Ming-Hui , Wang Hao-Nan
Published: January 2025

Cell division cycle-associated (CDCA) genes are dysregulated in carcinomas. Our study aims to identify similarities and differences of the clinical roles of CDCAs in breast cancer (BRCA) and to explore their potential mechanisms. In GEPIA, compared to normal tissues, expressions of CDCAs were higher in BRCA and sub-types. In addition, CDCAs were significantly positively related to stages and predicted worse survival in BRCA. In CancerSEA, expression levels of most CDCAs were strongly positively related to cell cycle, DNA damage, DNA repair, and proliferation. In TIMER, CDCAs were linked with immune infiltration levels of BRCA, including Dendritic cell, B cell and so on, and were positively related to most of the common markers of immune cells, especially CD38 of B cell and IL12RB2 of Th1. In GeneMANIA, there were complex interactions and co-expression relationships between CDCAs and cell division-associated genes. In addition, CDCA1, CDCA3, CDCA5, CDCA6 and CDCA8 had a high proportion of amplification in BRCA, and CDCA1, CDCA2, CDCA5, CDCA7 and CDCA8 had high levels of body DNA methylation. Among 11 transcription factors possibly combining promoters of all CDCAs, FOXP3 and YY1 were significantly higher in BRCA in comparison to normal tissues, and both had a positive relationship with all CDCAs in GEPIA and IHC. In addition, silencing FOXP3 or YY1 decreased levels of CDCAs in MDA-MB-231. In summary, CDCAs have various similarities in clinical functions, functional states, immune infiltration, and mechanisms, and they may become novel potential biomarkers for BRCA.
Occlusive Narratives: School Textbooks and National Identities
Authors: Salam Jeebanlata
Published: January 2025

India is a country of multiple histories. People of all races were creative subjects of history. In the collective effort to shape the imagined nation of Indians—India, no community or race should be privileged over another. The India depicted by elite historians and academicians in their writings often leans towards what they deem significant in portraying the concepts of ‘India’ and ‘Indian nationalism’. The occlusion of social–cultural–political narratives of the people of North-East India from the grand narratives of nationalised school textbooks has had serious consequences, particularly in shaping the identity of the North-Eastern Indians. The North-East region occupies an important position in India’s political landscape, yet its sociocultural narratives fail to find recognition within the broader conception of the Indian nation. By critiquing the singular notion of ‘India’ and Indian nationalism, this article sheds light on how identity formation based on the essence of being ‘Indian’ and the concept of ‘Indian nationalism’ can influence ethnic and racial dynamics between India’s “mainland” population and the people of North-East India. This scrutiny reveals how such dynamics can lead to instances of racism against North-Easterners within their own homeland.
From ‘poor devil’ to middle class? Navigating resettlement and (in)formal reterritorialisation under COVID-19
Authors: Nunez Collado José Rafael
Published: January 2025

Extensive research has examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on precarious informal settlements. However, limited attention has been directed towards its implications in resettlement sites, where relocated residents from poor urban areas often experience long-term vulnerability. This article addresses this gap by investigating how the pandemic shaped ongoing post-relocation integration within a major resettlement site in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The concept of ‘(in)formal reterritorialisation’ is employed to elucidate the complex interplay between formal and informal adaptation endeavours disrupted by the health emergency. Drawing on empirical data, the article untangles how the pandemic exacerbated post-relocation disruptions to social ties and economic mobility, prompting residents to reassess informal settlements as sites of opportunity and solidarity. Conversely, during the outbreak, residents perceived the formal spatial and aesthetic conditions of the resettlement site as providing enhanced protections against the virus, bolstering their sense of belonging and place attachment. The findings underscore the intricate and often-conflicting outcomes that unfold within resettlement territories, critical sites for urban development in the Global South.
Using Google Maps to Generate Organizational Sampling Frames
Authors: Fulton Brad R , King David P
Published: January 2025

Organizational researchers use a variety of methods to obtain sampling frames. The utility of these methods, however, is constrained by access restrictions, limited coverage, prohibitive costs, and cumbersome formats. This article presents a new method for generating organizational sampling frames that is cost-effective, uses publicly available data, and can produce sampling frames for many geographic areas in the U.S. The Python-based program we developed systematically scans the Google Maps platform to identify organizations of interest and retrieve their contact information. We demonstrate the program's viability and utility by generating a sampling frame of religious congregations in the U.S. To assess Google Maps’ coverage and representativeness of such congregations, we examined two nationally representative samples of congregations and censuses of congregations in a small, medium, and large city. We found that Google Maps contains approximately 98% of those congregations––extensive coverage that ensures a high degree of representativeness. This study provides evidence that using Google Maps to generate sampling frames can improve the process for obtaining representative samples for organizational studies by reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and providing greater coverage and representativeness.
Analysis of the Correlation Between Factors Affecting Green Mining in Open-Pit Mines
Authors: Cui Yiyuan , He BinBin , Li Kun , Li Yaoxuan
Published: January 2025

Green mining is of great significance for the sustainable development of mines. However, the current green mine evaluation index system proposed in China is complex, and the intrinsic logical relationships between the indicators are not yet clear. To address this issue, this article conducts an in-depth analysis and study of the green mine evaluation index system. First, 16 indicators directly related to mining activities were selected. Then, using data mining technology based on the Apriori algorithm, the actual data of 30 open-pit mines were analyzed, and 7 effective association rules among the green mining indicators of open-pit mines were extracted. The results show that the association rule composed of ecological function requirements, mining technology, and advanced technology and equipment has the highest confidence level, with a confidence of 100% and a support of 68%. Advanced technology and equipment are identified as a key indicator for achieving green mining, playing a role in all 7 association rules. The remaining six effective association rules further emphasize the importance of the compatibility between different mining processes in achieving green mining goals, indicating that green mining is a complex system engineering requiring comprehensive decision making. The effective association rules proposed in this article provide a theoretical basis for mining enterprises to formulate more scientific work plans and thereby achieve green development goals.
Experimental study on petrophysical parameters of deep carbonate karst geothermal reservoir in China's Xiong’an New Area
Authors: Long Hui , Sun Sheng , Li Shengtao , Feng Bo , Xie Xinglong , Jia Xiaofeng
Published: January 2025

The relationship of P- and S-wave velocities, density, and P-wave velocity provides a physical basis for the interpretation, inversion, and prediction of the well-logging and geophysical data of the carbonate reservoir, which is of great significance for deep geothermal exploration and exploitation. This paper takes the carbonate karst geothermal reservoir in the Niutuozhen geothermal field in North China as the research object, based on the physical property parameters such as P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity, and density obtained by petrophysical experiment and the geophysical exploration data of two-dimensional seismic and well-logging. The change rule of P- and S-wave velocities with temperature and pressure increases in carbonate rock is studied using mathematical statistics. The results show that the P-wave velocity of carbonate rocks increases with the increase in temperature below 50 °C, decreases with the rise in temperature above 50 °C, and tends to be stable above 100 °C. The change rule of S-wave velocity with temperature increasing is not apparent. Both P- and S-wave velocities increase with the increase in surrounding pressure, with the most extensive increase range of 10–15 MPa. At the same time, mathematical models of the P-S wave velocity relation and density-P-wave velocity relation applicable to the study area were also established. The density of the Wumishan formation of the Jixian System in borehole D15 was predicted under the constraint of well-logging. The results were in good agreement with the measured data, which proved the applicability of the constructed petrophysical model in the study area. It helps improve the accuracy and reliability of geophysical exploration data interpretation and reservoir prediction, and it has important practical application and theoretical value.
Cognitive Remediation to Facilitate Independent Living in Persons With Serious Mental Illness
Authors: Trolley-Hanson Alexa R. , McGuire Richard A. , Konopa Heidi , Lane Meghan , Krolick Jeff , Margulis Jason , Mueser Kim T. , McGurk Susan R.
Published: January 2025

Many people with serious mental illness (SMI) experience cognitive disabilities and poor independent living skills which limit their ability to live independently in the community. This study examined the feasibility and initial effectiveness of integrating a new cognitive remediation program, Thinking Skills for Life (TSL), into independent living skills training programs in four secure residential treatment facilities (SRTFs) to facilitate discharge to more independent living situations. Participants were 30 individuals in the SRTF, of whom 11 were forensically committed to the SRTF. Results showed the intervention was feasible to implement, with 97% of participants exposed to TSL and 67% completing the program. Initial promise of the TSL program at improving independent living was suggested by post cognitive program discharge to less restrictive living situations of 63% of participants not on forensic commitment, and 55% of those on forensic commitment. These promising findings set the stage for more rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of the TSL program.
Age at Migration and the Political Integration of Immigrants — Evidence From a Sibling Analysis
Authors: Andersson Henrik , Dehdari Sirus , Lindgren Karl Oskar
Published: January 2025

We study the effect of age at migration among immigrants in Sweden on political participation as adults. To identify the effect, we use validated individual turnout data over three elections in Sweden (1994, 2010, and 2018), and compare outcomes among siblings who arrive at the same time but at different ages. We document a clear effect on political participation from early arrival: immigrants arriving in early childhood (ages 0–5) are about 5 to 10 percentage points more likely to partake in national elections as adults compared to immigrants arriving later (ages 12–17) during their childhood. We further show that the effect is partially persistent over the life-cycle.
Machine Learning, Synthetic Data, and the Politics of Difference
Authors: Jacobsen Benjamin N.
Published: January 2025

What is the relationship between ideas of sameness and difference for machine learning and AI? Algorithms are often understood to participate in the continual displacement of the different and heterogeneous in society in favour of sameness, of that which is socio-politically similar and proximate. In contrast to this prevalent emphasis on sameness, however, this paper argues that there is a nascent heterophilic logic underpinning the intersection of synthetic data and machine learning, a move towards actively generating differences and heterogeneous data attributes to train, fine-tune, and optimize algorithms. Yet, these synthetic attribute data are nonetheless always machine compatible, devoid of their socio-cultural dynamics and tensions. As such, through a critical examination of three core dimensions of this emergent politics of difference of synthetic data – disentanglement, compositionality, and normativity – the paper argues that this has the potential to ultimately undercut a politics of intervention that seeks to foreground the systemic unfairness and violence of machine learning.
Sustainable development of social responsibility in universities in the digital era: Perceptions and advances
Authors: Lan Huaihao
Published: January 2025

The strategy of transforming universities into producers of new knowledge for technological enhancement through digital technologies, aimed at improving the quality of life and ensuring social responsibility and sustainability by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, underscores the relevance of our research. This research aims to investigate the evolution of students’ social responsibility within university settings amidst the backdrop of educational digitalization. The research methodology was based on a model of social responsibility as an integrative personal quality. The study revealed the insufficiency of the formation of the motivational factor of social responsibility among undergraduate students and the prevalence of instrumental motivation among a significant number of master's students. The null hypothesis was refuted and a pronounced positive dynamics of students’ social responsibility in the learning process was demonstrated. The need to orient the higher education system toward the development of students’ moral aspirations for conscious regulation of their educational and future professional activities was substantiated. The results of the study can be used to solve theoretical, methodological and practical problems of sociology. Future research aims to explore the driving components of students’ social responsibility motivation, to study comparative attitudes towards social responsibility between students and teachers, and to study the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in the context of universities’ corporate social responsibility. This expansion will include diversifying the respondent pool to cover other educational institutions, as well as expanding the sample to different cultural contexts.
A scoping review on motor imagery-based rehabilitation: Potential working mechanisms and clinical application for cognitive function and depression
Authors: Hu Yule , Li Yan , Leung Angela Yee Man , Li Jiaying , Mei Xiaoxiao , Montayre Jed , Tao Ran , Yorke Janelle
Published: January 2025

Objective

To map evidence on the characteristics, effectiveness, and potential mechanisms of motor imagery interventions targeting cognitive function and depression in adults with neurological disorders and/or mobility impairments.

Data Sources

Six English databases (The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and PsycINFO), two Chinese databases (CNKI and WanFang), and a gray literature database were searched from inception to December 2024.

Review Methods

This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review methodology. Interventional studies that evaluated motor imagery for cognitive function and/or depression in adults with neurological disorders and/or mobility impairments were included.

Results

A total of 24 studies, primarily involving adults with cerebrovascular diseases, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease, were identified. Motor imagery was typically conducted at home/clinic, occurring 2 to 3 sessions per week for approximately 2 months, with each session lasting 20 to 30 minutes. The 62.5% of studies (n = 10) reported significant improvements in cognitive function, exhibiting moderate-to-large effect sizes (Cohen's d = 0.48–3.41), especially in memory, attention, and executive function, while 53.3% (n = 8) indicated alleviation in depression with moderate-to-large effect sizes (Cohen's d = −0.72– −2.56). Motor imagery interventions could relieve pain perception and promote beneficial neurological changes in brains by facilitating neurotrophic factor expression and activating neural circuits related to motor, emotional, and cognitive functions.

Conclusion

Motor imagery could feasibly be conducted at home, with promising effects on cognitive function and depression. More high-quality randomized controlled trials and neuroimaging techniques are needed to investigate the effects of motor imagery on neuroplasticity and brain functional reorganization, thereby aiding in the development of mechanism-driven interventions.
Expanding the Boundaries of Representative Bureaucracy
Authors: Kennedy Brandy , Bishu Sebawit , Kennedy Alexis
Published: January 2025

Representative bureaucracy scholarship has operated in an academic silo, largely separate from the policy subfields where it is applied, specifically when testing passive and active representation. Despite scholarly research around representation in health, social work, environmental policy and other fields, representative bureaucracy has not fully used the theoretical and empirical findings from these fields to inform its own body of knowledge. Reviewing research from policy subfield experts can enhance our understanding of the benefits and limits of bureaucratic representation. This can allow us to (i) better understand how representation shapes service outcomes in less explored policy fields, (ii) identify gaps in empirical evidence, (iii) identify shortcomings in the current methodology and understanding, and (iv) identify future directions for the field. We review existing theoretical and empirical work across health services and environmental justice to find new ways of conceptualizing the benefits, mechanisms, and limits of a representative workforce. In conceptualizing representation, the paper's primary focus is on workforce demography, specifically gender and minoritized identities. These two subfields were selected for several reasons. Administrative actors in both fields exercise considerable discretion linked to salient identities. Further, health and environmental inequities experienced by marginalized groups have long been acknowledged and actively prioritized by scholars and practitioners in these fields. We find key areas of overlap and differences between the subfields and representative bureaucracy. We use these areas of overlap and difference to better understand current limitations and direct new areas of research in the field of representative bureaucracy.
A novel intelligent control approach for lateral deviation in hot-rolled strip steel
Authors: Ding Jijie , He Hainan , Wang Xiaochen , Yang Quan , Xu Dong
Published: January 2025

This study presents an advanced intelligent control method that integrates ABAQUS simulation with the Derivative Dynamic Time Warping (DDTW) algorithm to enhance lateral deviation control in hot-rolled steel strips. Tested on a 2250 mm seven-stand tandem mill, the method incorporates a simulation model developed to assess control effectiveness under varying rolling conditions, including steel grades, strip widths, and thicknesses. The DDTW algorithm was employed to track the strip's centerline and accurately correct tail-end deviations, achieving over 96% accuracy. By combining real-time deviation data with the simulation, control precision was significantly enhanced, reducing deviation at the finishing mill exit by 20% compared to manual methods. Additionally, operator intervention was reduced by over 80%, and incident rates dropped by more than 60%, improving both process stability and product quality. These findings demonstrate the method's potential to optimize production consistency and minimize operational risks.
Reformulating theories of ‘accumulation by dispossession’: ‘Contested accumulations through displacement’ in postcolonial Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Khan Danish
Published: January 2025

The reformulation of Harvey’s seminal theory of ‘accumulation by dispossession’ (ABD) has sparked a robust debate within the heterodox political economy literature. On one hand, there’s an argument that ‘extra-economic’ coercion should be the defining characteristic of ABD. On the other hand, Leitner and Sheppard have demonstrated that both forced evictions and consensual sales of land rights are integral processes of ABD. This paper contributes to this debate by expanding Leitner and Sheppard’s framework of ‘contested accumulations through displacement’ in two key ways. Firstly, the paper unbundles the postcolonial state and illustrates that its role is more nuanced than merely the ‘expropriation’ of land within the process of ABD. Based on theoretically grounded empirical research in the context of Sheikhupura, Punjab (Pakistan), the paper shows that the postcolonial state engineers new ground rents and facilitates land speculation through selective provision of road infrastructure, favouring certain areas while excluding others. In Sheikhupura, the uneven provision of road networks has enhanced the connectivity and accessibility of some places (connected villages) over others (isolated villages). Consequently, large landholders in ‘connected villages’ have been incentivized to extract high ground rents by converting farmland to gated housing enclaves (real estate development). This process has resulted in the loss of farm-based livelihoods and displacement for landless and small peasants. This illustrates that ABD does not necessarily require violent forms of expropriation in the age of neoliberal capitalism, as infrastructural development can lead to changes in land use, causing displacement and further marginalization of historically disadvantaged groups like landless and small peasants. Secondly, the paper introduces the concept-phenomenon of ‘economic-hybridity’ in the context of ABD which makes visible the dual and often contradictory nature of socio-economic and legal impulses in postcolonial social formations. Further, economic-hybridity helps in unravelling the intricate connections between place, property and power within processes of ABD.
A Review of Emerging Evidence and Clinical Applications of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Authors: Patel Sakshi Hiren , Joseph Juliet Joy , Gandhi Tejal R. , Mehta Anita , Shah Akshay
Published: January 2025

Background: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that involves administering 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure to enhance oxygen delivery to tissues. Initially developed for decompression sickness, HBOT has since been utilized for a wide range of medical conditions, including severe infections, non-healing wounds, and, more recently, COVID-19. Objective: This review explores the historical development of HBOT, its principles, its emerging role in the management of and its outcome as treatment in COVID-19, particularly in mitigating inflammation, hypoxemia, and oxidative stress. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, analyzing case reports and case series that examined the effectiveness of HBOT in various clinical scenarios, with a focus on COVID-19. Results: HBOT has been shown to enhance tissue oxygenation, reduce inflammation, and modulate oxidative stress, thereby improving clinical outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19. The therapy's ability to increase dissolved oxygen levels in blood and tissues, independent of hemoglobin, makes it particularly beneficial in conditions like COVID-19, where hypoxemia and inflammation are prominent. Conclusion: HBOT offers a promising adjunctive treatment for severe COVID-19, with the potential to reduce mortality and improve recovery by targeting key pathophysiological processes such as hypoxemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Further research is warranted to optimize treatment protocols and confirm long-term benefits.
Heterosexual Partner Sexual Violence: Identifying Women Victims Through Questions on Sexual Coercion
Authors: Pons-Salvador Gemma , Martínez Sanz Alicia , Mañas Viejo Carmen
Published: January 2025

Intimate partner sexual violence is a serious problem and difficult to detect, often due to beliefs, myths and gender stereotypes. This study analyzes whether women identify this violence better through direct questions about sexual coercion, using the Semi-structured Interview for the Exploration of Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (EVS), which examines the characteristics and circumstances of these situations. A total of 110 women participated, divided into two groups: 80 who sought help at a center for victims of intimate partner violence and have therefore overcome common barriers to asking for help, and 30 who attended a counseling center during divorce proceedings, without having reported any form of violence. The results show that, among the women who sought help at a center for intimate partner violence and recognized having suffered sexual coercion in the EVS interview, half had already previously identified sexual violence, generally linked to physical assault, hitting furniture or shouting. The other half only identified sexual violence after being asked directly if they had been sexually coerced by their partner. In these cases, the types of coercion were threats or blackmail, without physical aggression. In the group of women in the process of divorce, one-third acknowledged having been also forced into sexual activities through subtle coercion, without physical violence. All women explicitly rejected forced sexual activities, but some participated passively or actively under duress, leading them to doubt whether these experiences were considered sexual violence. The study concludes that many women only acknowledge sexual violence when asked directly if they were forced by their partner, given that coercion without explicit aggression and participation under pressure make it difficult to identify it as violence. These findings underline the importance of asking specific questions to detect sexual violence, especially when coercion is not evident.
Enhancing structural performance of recycled fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite part through incorporating composite laminate precuts
Authors: Kim Garam , Choi Sungjun , Lee Harry , Barocio Eduardo
Published: January 2025

The mechanical recycling process of fiber-reinforced composite parts involves shredding long continuous fibers into shorter discontinuous fibers. Since the performance of the shredded short fibers is not as high as that of the original long fibers, the application of recycled composites is limited. The objective of this study is to enhance the structural performance of recycled composite parts by integrating of a set of continuous fiber composite precuts during the molding process. The 2-dimentional precuts were positioned in the structurally critical regions of the recycled composite part, and the remaining area was then filled with shredded composite material. An aircraft overhead bin door pin bracket was used as the part geometry. The mechanically recycled material and the precuts were made from 60% by weight carbon fiber reinforced polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) composite. Three different combinations of precuts were designed to create the pin bracket, and their performance was assessed by mechanical testing of the pin bracket. Additionally, digital image correlation (DIC) technology was used to analyze local strain changes and investigate the failure mechanisms of the parts throughout the testing process. The test results demonstrated that the inclusion of properly designed precuts significantly improved the performance of the recycled composite part.
Selecting projection views based on error equidistribution for computed tomography
Authors: Zhang Yinghui , Zhao Xing , Chen Ke , Li Hongwei
Published: January 2025

Background:

Nonuniform sampling is a useful technique to optimize the acquisition of projections with a limited budget. Existing methods for selecting important projection views have limitations, such as relying on blueprint images or excessive computing resources.

Methods:

We aim to develop a simple nonuniform sampling method for selecting informative projection views suitable for practical CT applications. The proposed algorithm is inspired by two key observations: projection errors contain angle-specific information, and adding views around error peaks effectively reduces errors and improves reconstruction. Given a budget and an initial view set, the proposed method involves: estimating projection errors based on current set of projection views, adding more projection views based on error equidistribution to smooth out errors, and final image reconstruction based on the new set of projection views. This process can be recursive, and the initial view can be obtained uniformly or from a prior for greater efficiency.

Results:

Comparison with popular view selection algorithms using simulated and real data demonstrates consistently superior performance in identifying optimal views and generating high-quality reconstructions. Notably, the new algorithm performs well in both PSNR and SSIM metrics while being computationally efficient, enhancing its practicality for CT optimization.

Conclusions:

A projection view selection algorithm based on error equidistribution is proposed, offering superior reconstruction quality and efficiency over existing methods. It is ready for real CT applications to optimize dose utilization.
Parametric optimization of abrasive waterjet machining for aluminum 7075/boron carbide/zirconium silicate hybrid composites
Authors: Thamizhvalavan P , Varatharajulu M , Baskaran Jagadeesh
Published: January 2025

In the present work, an attempt was made to study the machining characteristics of Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites (HMMCs) using Abrasive Waterjet Machining (AWJM). For preparing the composites, Aluminum alloy 7075 is cast with boron carbide (B4C) and zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4) reinforcement by the method of stir casting. Experimental investigation of the machining parameters on Depth of Cut (DoC), Material Removal Rate (MRR), and Surface Roughness (SR) was done. The independent parameters include Abrasive Mesh Size (AMS), Abrasive Flow Rate (AFR), Water Jet Pressure (WJP), and Traverse Rate (TR). The results of experiments reveal that low TRs increase SR, while short AMSs, high flow rates, and large WJPs increase DoC and MRR. Surface maps made by SEM exposed information about the surface texturing and the material removal processes. It was found that the optimal DoC was achieved at an AMS 80#, AMS of 340 g/min, WJP of 200 MPa, and TR of 60 mm/min for both unreinforced Al and the composite of Al + 5% B4C + 5% ZrSiO4. The results enable the development of proper AWJM procedures for HMMCs to ensure better surface finish and workability. From the experiments, it was observed that while smaller mesh sizes and greater AFR will improve MRR and DoC, it can at the same time have a negative effect on the overall performance of Kerf Taper angle (KT) and Surface Roughness (SR).
Regional carbon emission efficiency evaluation combining gray forecasting and game cross-efficiency analysis: The case of Yangtze River Delta
Authors: Ren Youyang , Wang Yuhong , Wu Dongdong , Xia Lin , Yan Qing
Published: January 2025

Carbon emission efficiency (CEE) reflects the interplay between carbon emissions and the economy, which refers to achieving more economic benefits and lower carbon emissions while considering energy, labor, and capital inputs. Assessing regional CEE is crucial for evaluating the level of China's regional low-carbon economic development. Thus, this paper proposes a scenario-based hybrid model with a foresight perspective and game cross-efficiency (GCE) analysis. It measures the future CEE of 41 Yangtze River Delta (YRD) cities from 2023 to 2030. The improved gray forecasting models generate the input and output datasets for GCE analysis, and the assurance region constraint simulates the carbon emission and energy consumption dual-control policy. The results show that: (1) the CEEs of 41 cities are generally low, with an average of 0.2142. Shanghai has the highest CEE, 0.8089, while Tongling has the lowest, 0.0307, under the current policy constraint. (2) Under the four control policy scenarios, the CEE of the YRD urban agglomeration generally follows a U-shaped trend. It indicates that the dual-control policy may lead to a short-term decline in the CEE of YRD, but in the long term, it may gradually increase in 2025 or 2026. (3) Spatial–temporal analysis reveals that the government should flexibly optimize and update the carbon intensity constraint value based on regional development differences and focus more on energy consumption. These results provide forward-looking guidance for China's regional low-carbon and high-quality development.
A reflection on how the absence of a psychodynamic perspective may disadvantage gender care and decision-making
Authors: Spencer Jillian , D’Angelo Roberto
Published: January 2025

Objective

To reflect on factors that may have led to the widespread implementation of gender affirming care (GAC) for minors by psychiatric clinical leaders despite the absence of a robust evidence base and the known risks of harm.

Conclusions

The progressive rejection of psychodynamic thinking by the profession of psychiatry may have contributed to psychiatrists failing to question key aspects of GAC for minors. Further, numerous unconscious factors potentially contribute to the foreclosure of thinking about the risks of gender medicine.
Evaluation of PCORnet as an Approach to Accessing Electronic Health Record (EHR) Data for Cleft Outcomes Research: Advantages and Limitations
Authors: Lin Elaine , Yi Victoria N. , Dunworth Kristina , Runyan Christopher , Allori Alexander C.
Published: January 2025

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of using the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet®) as a source of electronic health record (EHR) data for cleft outcomes research. Design: Exploratory retrospective analysis of multi-year, administrative and clinical, structured data stored in PCORnet. Setting: Academic institution with an ACPA-approved cleft and craniofacial team. Patients/Participants: Encounter-level data pertaining to patients with orofacial clefts treated at this center between 2010 and 2018. Outcome Measures: (1) Ability of PCORnet to report metrics such as the following: number of new and returning patients per year; demographics; phenotype; procedures; readmission or reoperation within 30 days; etc. (2) Accuracy of selected metrics, compared with manual chart review. Results: PCORnet is useful for the calculation of simple process metrics such as patient demographics, phenotype mix, case mix, and number of readmissions. However, as it lacks access to clinical notes, PCORnet alone cannot provide more detailed information. Phenotypic classification (based on ICD codes) and procedural description (based on CPT®) are subject to inaccuracy. A 1-2 year delay in data upload to PCORnet may be rate-limiting for certain applications. Multi-institutional queries were feasible. Conclusions: PCORnet does not include all necessary data elements from the EHR. While very convenient for the tabulation of simple process metrics, especially from multiple institutions, supplemental data collection will be required for meaningful cleft outcomes research. Cleft teams whose institutions participate in PCORnet might choose to store the supplemental data as “sidecars” alongside the standard PCORnet database tables, which would allow for future PCORnet queries to be more informative and impactful.
Appropriate Statin Use in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Ischemic Stroke or Myocardial Infarction at a Tertiary County Teaching Hospital
Authors: Woo Soomin , Seifert Charles F.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Statins are the mainstay of therapy in patients suffering an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or myocardial infarction (MI); however, several studies have shown that prescribing is not optimal.

Objective:

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the percentage of patients prescribed appropriate statin therapy upon discharge after an AIS or MI.

Methods:

This is a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary, county, teaching hospital in patients aged 18 to 89 years who were newly diagnosed with AIS or MI, from September 2017 to September 2022.

Results:

Six hundred thirty-six individuals were hospitalized for AIS or MI according to ICD-10 codes. Of these, 389 patients were excluded, and 247 were included in the analysis. Although 85% of AIS and MI patients were at very high risk of future ASCVD events, over 25% were not discharged on appropriate statin therapy. Patients who had been taking high-intensity statins or were statin-naïve prior to admission (156/194, 80.4%) were significantly more likely to be discharged with appropriate statin therapy compared to those who had been taking low or moderate-intensity statins at home (27/53, 50.9%, p<0.0001, OR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.71 to 6.79).

Conclusion and Relevance:

The treatment of patients with statin therapy following an AIS and MI remains suboptimal, despite most of these patients being at very high risk for further ASCVD events. Significantly more patients on high-intensity statins or were statin naïve on admission were discharged on appropriate therapy.