bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
David as primary model of repentance in Chronicles: How the Chronicler’s inclusion of David’s illicit census sin impacts David’s legacy
Authors: Shaffo Peter
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the Chronicler’s purpose for including the illicit census narrative from his Vorlage and weighs its impact on David’s legacy. The main argument is that the Chronicler intentionally connects the narratives of David’s sin in 1 Chronicles 21.1–22.1 with the narrative of the Lord’s second appearance to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7.11–22. Here the reader discovers the Chronicler’s central theological conviction and the blueprint for Israel’s restored relationship with God (vv. 12b–16). Through the use of inclusio as well as thematic and linguistic parallels regarding those who humble themselves (כנע‎), pray (פלל‎), seek (בקש‎) the Lord, and turn (שוב) from sin, it becomes apparent that David is the primary model of repentance who offers sacrifices at the designated temple site where God hears (שמע‎), forgives (סלח‎), and heals (רפא‎) the land. Therefore, the Chronicler utilizes David’s life and actions as an essential component in his paradigm of repentance.
Lift-based offshore vertical-axis wind turbines for power generation: Current status of technology and future direction of numerical research
Authors: Patel Umesh K , Alom Nur , Saha Ujjwal K
Published: November 2024

The vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are regarded as the best feasible alternative for small-scale power generation due to their design simplicity, ease of installation, good self-starting ability, and independency from wind direction among others. The dilemma of limited land, low onshore wind speed, and the abundance of high-speed wind near the ocean encouraged the researchers to explore the offshore fields. As a result, the lift-based VAWTs are becoming increasingly popular for large-scale offshore wind power production as well as small-scale urban applications. In the present review article, the historical evolution of lift-based offshore VAWTs from their inception to recent advancement has been discussed. The related geometrical and aerodynamic parameters, various loadings, and numerous models utilized in the design and analysis of offshore VAWTs have also been systematically reviewed. Finally, the challenges and the future scope of numerical research have been highlighted.
Organizational Hybridity of Multiple Identities: Drivers and Implications for Social Innovation
Authors: Fu Jiawei Sophia , Cooper Katherine R.
Published: November 2024

Contemporary organizations increasingly embrace multiple identities, but such hybridity may fuel innovation. This research examines communicative drivers of organizational hybridity (i.e., network, community, and institutional) and how plural organizational identities relate to the creation of novel ideas. Research composed of survey, archival, and expert evaluation data from 293 U.S. nonprofits highlights the influence of institutional factors on the development of hybrid social-business organizational identities. Moreover, the availability of charitable donations in the local community and institutional demands from the market are positively related to an organization’s innovativeness orientation and/or social innovation novelty, and the nonprofit commercialization environment of the local community is also positively related to social innovation novelty. Findings suggest nonprofit and business orientations are not necessarily contradictory, and that organizations can realize innovation through blending dual identities. This study advances research on hybrid organizing, organizational identity, and social innovation and offers implications for leveraging hybrid identities for social impact.
Multi-condition and multi-objective conceptual optimization design of automotive front subframe
Authors: Wang Tianbo , Xue Wenshuai , Wei Minxiang , Wu Jiang , Luo Zhaoyi , Liu Ranran
Published: November 2024

The lightweight design of the automotive front subframe was performed by combining multi-condition topology optimization and multi-objective optimization approaches. Firstly, to avoid the singularity of the research condition, a rigid-flexible coupled multibody dynamic model of the front suspension was established to extract the loads at articulation points of the subframe under typical working conditions. Then, a finite element model of the front subframe was constructed for strength and modal analysis. Multi-condition topology optimization of the front subframe envelope was performed utilizing the compromise programming approach. The subframe was redesigned according to the optimization results to establish an explicit parametric model, which avoided the blindness of optimization. Three approximate models were established through the optimal Latin hypercube test method to improve the efficiency of subsequent optimization. Furthermore, three algorithms were employed for multi-objective optimization based on the approximate model with the highest accuracy. To enhance the reliability of the optimization results, a comparison of the lightweighting effect of the three algorithms was performed, and the NSGA-II algorithm was determined as the final algorithm due to its greater effectiveness in lightweighting. The optimized front subframe has met various performance specifications while increasing the first-order frequency by 10 Hz and reducing weight by 3.27 kg.
“I try to find comfort in English, but it’s hard”: Exploring personal information management in multilingual contexts among voluntary migrants
Authors: Alon Lilach , Krtalić Maja
Published: November 2024

Multilingualism is a widespread phenomenon that influences various life aspects, including information behavior. Despite its prevalence, personal information management (PIM) in multilingual contexts, defined as MPIM, remains underexplored. Through the lens of the information transition theory, this qualitative phenomenological study fills this gap by investigating a new framework that focuses on the intersection of PIM, multilingualism, and migration. Drawing from 16 semi-structured interviews with voluntary migrants in the higher education sector, we explore how the experience of multilingualism and migration shape MPIM practices and identify the affective aspects of this experience. Findings show that language choice in MPIM is an important part of one’s emotional and identity authenticity. MPIM choices are important for cultural integration and are linked with the length of stay in the host country as well as future plans. Language choices also differentiate professional and personal spheres, are audience-specific, and align with the context of information. These findings offer a nuanced understanding of MPIM, presenting a detailed analysis of its practices and associated challenges, and offering a framework of MPIM behavior in the context of migration. This study contributes to the field of information science research and offers theoretical and practical insights which can be used to inform practice utilization and the design of PIM platforms suitable for multilingual people.
Simulation and experimental evaluation of a vane-type magnetorheological damper based on multi-physics field coupling
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Wang Guoping , Wei Min , Jiang Rilang , Jin Zhuang , Jiang Min , Gu Lilin
Published: November 2024

This work aims to accurately evaluate the nonlinear behaviors of the vane-type magnetorheological (MR) damper through multi-physics field coupling analysis. The working principle of the vane-type MR damper is introduced, and the output torsion model is derived. Considering that the performance of the MR damper is affected by the coupling of electromagnetic field, flow field, thermal field, and solid mechanics, the finite element software COMSOL is used to simulate the multi-physics field inside the MR damper. Correspondingly, the mechanical performance testing of the MR damper is carried out on the torsional electro-hydraulic servo fatigue testing machine. The test results show that the MR damper can reach a maximum output torsion of 7130 N·m and achieves a high torsion-volume ratio of 4.19 × 107 N·m−2, which proves that it has good mechanical properties as well as the ability to satisfy high torsional requirements in relatively limited space. Finally, a comparative analysis between the simulation and experimental curves is carried out, and it is concluded that the multi-physics field coupling analysis can accurately simulate the mechanical performance and working state of the vane-type MR damper.
Formulation and verification of an anisotropic damage plasticity constitutive model for plain concrete
Authors: Jahanitabar Ali Akbar , Lotfi Vahid
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a new constitutive model based on the combination of plasticity and anisotropic damage mechanics to predict the nonlinear response of plain concrete. The aim is to overcome the deficiencies of the previous anisotropic damage-plasticity models in simulating concrete failure under multiaxial loadings. To effectively combine plasticity and damage, a decoupled algorithm and consequently a strain equivalence hypothesis are employed. A stress-based yield criterion and a non-associative flow rule are used in the plasticity formulation. The stress tensor is decomposed into positive and negative parts to consider the unilateral effect of concrete damage. Consequently, two sets of damage criteria and two anisotropic damage tensors are defined, which leads to automatically accounting for the stiffness recovery in transition from tensile to compressive stress. The viscous model of Duvaut–Lions is employed to improve mesh dependency. Moreover, the formulation is regularized to capture large crack opening and closing when the material has experienced large amounts of strain. The numerical implementation of the proposed model is described in detail. A special in-house finite element program incorporating the proposed approach is developed. The efficiency of the model is verified by comparing numerical results and experimental data for different benchmark problems such as monotonic and cyclic uniaxial tests, monotonic biaxial test, and mixed-mode multidimensional structural tests.
Underdetermination and causality in Irruption Theory: A critical analysis from a complex systems perspective
Authors: Hölken Alexander
Published: November 2024

In an article from 2023, Tom Froese suggests Irruption Theory as a new conceptual framework for understanding the causal efficacy of normative states, particularly concerning motivations for action in embodied agents. Froese’s theory is built on three central tenets, two of which—the Irruption and Scalability theses—are central to its claim that normative states causally affect behavior via the creation and amplification of the microscopic, stochastic processes after which the theory is named. According to Froese, this amplification process explains why agential behavior is underdetermined by its material basis, creating a causal gap that can be filled by causally-efficacious normative states. In this commentary, I argue that the Irruption and Scalability theses do not give a sufficiently detailed account of how underdetermination arises in material systems and how the scaling-up of irruptions causally affects normative behavior. However, the theses should not be rejected outright. Rather, I argue that Irruption Theory should adopt central concepts from complex systems theory in order to adequately describe the causal efficacy of normativity in embodied agents. To this end, I suggest that it should identify normative states as relations holding between embodied agents and similar-scale systems in their environment. These relations can be usefully described and modeled as topologies of a large-scale agent-environment system that top-down constrain an agent’s behavior. Accordingly, I propose interpreting irruptions as a boundary condition for normative behavior, with normative states as one of its control parameters (237 words).
Latent Structure and Item Functioning of Self-Referent Encoding Task Word Stimuli in Preadolescent Youth
Authors: Gabel Lindsay N. , Olino Thomas M. , Goldstein Brandon L. , Klein Daniel N. , Stanton Kasey , Hayden Elizabeth P.
Published: November 2024

The Self-Referent Encoding Task (SRET) can be used to measure self-concept via endorsement of trait words, a robust metric associated with depression severity. Our study is the first to investigate the structural validity and item functioning of SRET endorsement scores using confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory. Community-dwelling preadolescent youth ( N = 508; Mage = 12.39 years, SDage = .72) were shown a list of positive and negative trait adjectives and made binary ratings of whether words were self-descriptive. The SRET exhibited a two-factor structure, comprising positive and negative factors. Positive items were endorsed by most children and best estimated information about positive self-concepts below average levels of positivity. Conversely, negative items were unendorsed by most children and best estimated information about negative self-concepts above average levels of negativity. We identify standardized, psychometrically sound, and developmentally sensitive SRET items for assessing youth self-concept and its associations with depression risk.
The Impact of Economic Status on Cause-Specific Survival in Patients with Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in the United States: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Xiang Xiu-Shun , Li Guo-Sheng , Liu Jun , Gao Xiang , Feng Gui-Yu , Li Jing-Xiao , Huang Tao , Guo Jian-Ji , Yang Nuo , Zhou Hua-Fu
Published: November 2024

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the impact of economic status on the cause-specific survival (CSS) of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

Methods

Using propensity score matching (PSM), we analyzed data from 4676 patients with EAC, categorized into low household income (LHI) and high household income (HHI), sourced from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Significant pre-PSM differences in age, gender, race, and tumor stage (T stage) were observed, necessitating PSM adjustment. The PSM incorporated these variables along with radiotherapy to balance the groups effectively. Kaplan–Meier curves and accelerated failure time (AFT) and random survival forest (RSF) models were used to assess the prognostic impacts.

Results

According to the pre-PSM data, a significant difference in CSS was observed between the LHI and HHI groups (median CSS = 1.25 years vs 1.50 years, P < .05). Post-PSM analysis maintained the result ( P < .05). Using the AFT model, HHI was found to significantly enhance CSS (pre-PSM time ratio [TR] = 1.145, post-PSM TR = 1.146). Male gender (pre-PSM TR = 0.762, post-PSM TR = 0.819) and certain non-single marital statuses (such as divorced, pre- and post-TRs <1.000) are also prognostic risk factors for EAC ( P values <.05). Additional significant prognostic risk factors for EAC included advanced American Joint Committee on Cancer stages (III and IV), higher tumor stages (T3 and T4), higher node stages (N1–N3), without surgery, and without chemotherapy, as identified using the AFT and/or RSF mothods. The results derived from the RSF model are consistent with those of the AFT model.

Conclusion

Higher economic status is positively related to EAC CSS. Beyond standard clinical treatments, interventions such as enhancing socioeconomic support and preventive aspects, including intensive health education and EAC screening, could play a crucial role in improving EAC prognosis.
How the Public Makes Sense of Artificial Intelligence: The Interplay Between Communication and Discrete Emotions
Authors: Choi Sukyoung , Lee Chul-joo , Park Andrew , Lee Jung Ah
Published: November 2024

While artificial intelligence (AI) garners widespread media attention as an emerging technology, empirical research on how AI-related information influences public opinion is scarce, especially among those with preexisting emotions toward AI. Utilizing a survey of 1,206 U.S. adults, this study examined how communication about AI and three discrete emotions (anger, fear, and hope) jointly affect public attitudes. More exposure to AI information from mediated sources was linked to stronger support for AI, particularly among those reporting more anger and less hope toward AI. Conversely, there was no significant association between information exposure from interpersonal sources and public support.
Temporal trends of inflammatory bowel disease: Nationwide study from 2010 to 2020
Authors: Choday Silpa , Jarvis Anne , Kim Peter , Chuang Keng-Yu , Vyas Neil
Published: November 2024

This study examined inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) trends over the last 10 years, including their nationwide patterns, and the outcomes of the utilization of total parental nutrition (TPN). Nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) database from 2010 to 2020, was used to identify IBD hospitalization and discharges and investigate outcomes, including in-hospital mortality and hospital resource utilization. The hospitalizations for IBD combining both Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) initially noted a rising trend until 2016 followed by a decreasing trend with statistical significance ( p < 0.001). A decreasing trend in TPN utilization in CD dropped from 6.2 to 5.4% ( p = 0.07). The prevalence of malnutrition in CD cases significantly increased from 11.6 to 16.6% ( p < 0.001), and the use of TPN in malnutrition cases decreased from 25.0 to 20.0% with statistical significance ( p = 0.002). TPN in UC cases also exhibited a downward trend, declining from 5.3 to 3.1% with statistical significance ( p < 0.001). However, there was a noteworthy increase in malnutrition rates, rising from 13.5 to 17.3% ( p = 0.087). Similarly, the utilization of TPN in malnutrition cases among UC cases displayed a significant decrease from 19.9 to 11.3% ( p < 0.001). The combined use of TPN in IBD showed a decreased trend from 5.9 to 4.3% with statistical significance ( p < 0.001). There is a decline in the trend in TPN usage in both CD and UC. The hospital costs and malnutrition trend has increased, while the inpatient mortality, length of stay, and TPN use decreased over the year.
A mirror symmetric dodecagon resonator based double band ENG-metamaterial with multilayer tunability and sensing application
Authors: Rabbani Md. Golam , Hoque Ahasanul , Islam Mohammad Tariqul , Alzamil Ahmed , Soliman Mohamed S
Published: November 2024

A new mirror-symmetric dodecagon resonator-based metamaterial (MM) has been proposed. It is intended for sensing applications. This MM is a candidate for further study because its transmission coefficient shows numerous resonances in the S and C bands. A low-loss Rogers RT5880 substrate is used to construct the resonating patch, which has an electrical size of 0.104λ × 0.104λ . The proposed MM is electromagnetically characterized using permeability, permittivity, and refractive index studies, revealing resonances at 3.12 GHz and 4.58 GHz. Several parametric analyses have optimized the structure’s design and size. The MM responds similarly to single cells and arrays because of its dodecagon mirror symmetry structure. Electromagnetic characterization studies reveal that the suggested MM exhibits negative permittivity, negligible permeability, and a refractive index. A sandwich construction on top of the frequency-tunable patch of the unit cell is used to investigate frequency tuning utilising various dielectric property-based substrates. The calculated outcome satisfies the simulated effect well. The MM, with an effective medium ratio (EMR) of 9.62, is well-suited for frequency-selective microwave devices due to its unique characteristics. Different oil samples with varying dielectric characteristics are used to test the sensor’s accuracy. The proposed sensor also has high sensitivity, high Q-Factor, and High FOM with a value of 60.89, 65, and 3957.85, respectively. As a result, the proposed sensor has broad applicability, especially in the industrial sector.
Homonymous hemi-macular atrophy in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kalaitzidis Grigorios , Ezzedin Omar , Bacchetti Anna , Moussa Hussein , Murphy Olwen C , Filippatou Angeliki G , Ehrhardt Henrik , Vasileiou Eleni , Pellegrini Nicole , Davis Simidele , Douglas Morgan , Fitzgerald Kathryn C , DuVal Anna , Douglas Newsome Scott , Sotirchos Elias S , Nourbakhsh Bardia , Dewey Blake E , Prince Jerry , Saidha Shiv , Calabresi Peter A
Published: November 2024

Background:

Retrograde trans-synaptic degeneration (TSD) following retro-chiasmal pathology, typically retro-geniculate in multiple sclerosis (MS), may manifest as homonymous hemi-macular atrophy (HHMA) of the ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GCIPL).

Objective:

To determine the frequency, association with clinical outcomes, and retinal and radiological features of HHMA in people with MS (PwMS).

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, healthy controls (HC) and PwMS underwent retinal optical coherence tomography scanning. For quantitative identification of HHMA, a normalized asymmetry ratio was used, and its normative cutoffs were established from the HC. HHMA PwMS were propensity score matched 1:2 to non-HHMA PwMS. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used in analyses.

Results:

Based on normative data from 238 HC (466 eyes), 79 out of 942 PwMS exhibited HHMA (8.4%; 143 eyes). Compared to non-HHMA eyes from matched PwMS (158 PwMS; 308 eyes), HHMA eyes had lower average GCIPL (diff: −5.7 μm (95% CI −7.6 to −3.8); p < 0.001) but also inner nuclear layer (diff: −0.9 μm (95% CI −1.6 to −0.1); p = 0.02), and outer nuclear layer (diff: −1.9 μm (95% CI −3.4 to −0.4); p = 0.02) thicknesses; in further analyses, these differences were exclusive to the homonymous side of HHMA. HHMA participants also exhibited higher expanded disability status scale scores (diff: 0.5 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.9); p = 0.02), worse 100% and 2.5% visual acuity scores (diff: −3.2 (95% CI −4.1 to −1.0); p = 0.002, −5.4 (95% CI −7.5 to −3.5); p < 0.001), and higher frequency of microcystoid macular changes (10.1% vs. 3.2%; p = 0.03) compared to non-HHMA participants.

Conclusions:

HHMA, possibly as a marker of TSD, may signify higher disability in MS.
Understanding coping mechanisms in times of anxiety and uncertainty: A qualitative study of Kashmir women’s recourse to superstitions
Authors: Khan Tanveer Ahmad , Rajab Mudasir , Farooqi Irfanullah , Kamal Mustafa , Rehman Masood ur
Published: November 2024

The present study explores the nature and prevalence of superstitious beliefs in Kashmir with major focus on the practice of hanging coloured bottles filled with water at the main entrance of the house. This practice contributes to the region’s already-existing superstitious beliefs, which are intricately linked to its political and social dynamics. Based on primary data collected in five districts of Kashmir, the study examines the socio-cultural significance attached to the hanging of these bottles and other traditional items in order to escape from evil eyes or to fulfill certain purposes. For the purpose of data collection, 18 women participants, four faith healers, and one historian were interviewed. Women participants were chosen because, for various reasons, it is women who actively engage in this particular practice. Purposive and theoretical sampling techniques were employed to recruit the participants. Case study, observation, and open-ended interviews were used to collect data from the participants. The data was analyzed thematically. The key themes that emerged after critical analysis of data regarding the practice of hanging coloured water bottles and other traditional items were: to get rid of dogs, to protect property and kitchen gardens, for curbing diseases, for prevention against evil, and to curb and keep away the repressive state apparatus. The results of the study reveal rampant prevalence of superstitious beliefs in Kashmiri society with the hanging of coloured water bottles as another addition to the existing set of superstitious practices.
Involuntary immigrants experience in the Itajaí valley, Brazil: From segregation to survival strategies
Authors: Padilha Felipe , Machado Gustavo da Silva , Jansson Larissa , Mazzuco Enis
Published: November 2024

Increasingly, people are forced to leave their countries looking for integrity and survival. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people forced to migrate in the last few years to understand the processes of building immigrant communities and their paradoxical effect on the integration of immigrants in the Itajaí Valley, Brazil. In these interviews, they talked about their life stories, the migratory route and the relationships established with Brazilians and immigrants of their and other cultures and nationalities. After data analysis using categorical semantic analysis, forms of immigrant communities were identified due to external factors, as a consequence of xenophobic practices of social exclusion; and internal ones, from the search for identity continuity, maintenance of culture, mutual help and psychic support.
A call for globally responsive screening materials to account for heterogeneity in dementia syndromes
Authors: Gallée Jeanne
Published: November 2024

Effective screening for communicative ability in dementia is vital to drive theoretical understanding and optimize care responsiveness globally. Communication is central to the human experience; however, routine clinical screening for progressive communication change remains limited due to a variety of resource constraints. Other challenges include the subtlety of early communication-led symptoms, heterogeneous underlying pathologies, and a lack of culturally diverse research and tools. To address the scarcity of dedicated assessment resources, future initiatives must maximize responsiveness to and representation of our global population to appropriately respond to the rising, and vastly diverse, dementia crisis.
Exploring airflow patterns at the roof parapet of a building
Authors: Yang Changqing , Jin Yuqi , Liu Yubo , Liu Zhiyong , Li Angui
Published: November 2024

Roof parapet structures can affect airflow patterns and outdoor wind field on rooftops, potentially leading to pollutant accumulation and indoor infiltration. This study is to clarify the airflow patterns on the rooftop with a parapet and the thermal effect on the indoor environment. In this study, various factors that influence airflow characteristics on rooftops with parapet structures were investigated through numerical simulation. The findings showed that when the wind angle is 0°, the recirculation zone on the rooftop is the largest. In addition, when heights of parapets are 0.6 m and the Richardson number ( Ri) is less than 2.5, an obvious vortex core can be observed at the top. When Ri > 13.34, a complete recirculation zone cannot be observed, but when increasing the height of the parapet, a vortex area can be observed on the roof under the condition of a high Ri. Moreover, this study examined the impact of the building height (including parapet), width and proportion of the parapet height to the building height on the size of the recirculation zone on the rooftop. The study recommends the use of a scaling coefficient R* to evaluate the size of the recirculation zone on the rooftop.
Unveiling barriers to EHR implementation for effective decision support in tanzanian primary healthcare: Insights from practitioners
Authors: Mwogosi Augustino , Kibusi Stephen
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the barriers to implementing electronic health records (EHR) systems for decision support in Tanzanian primary healthcare (PHC) facilities and proposes strategies to address these challenges. A qualitative, inductive approach was used, guided by the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the Sociotechnical Systems theory. Using snowball sampling, data were collected from 14 participants through semi-structured interviews in Dodoma, Tanzania. Thematic analysis identified key barriers. Critical barriers to EHR implementation include lack of leadership support, poor network infrastructure, increased workload, and resistance to technology due to concerns over professional autonomy. Technical challenges, such as system downtime and lack of skilled personnel, hinder EHR use, resulting in inefficiencies and incomplete system adoption, negatively affecting patient outcomes. This study offers unique insights into barriers to EHR adoption in Tanzanian PHC facilities. Grounded in multiple theoretical frameworks, the findings contribute to health informatics discourse in low-resource settings and provide practical recommendations for improving EHR implementation. The study’s implications are relevant for policymakers, healthcare leaders, and IT developers in similar contexts.
The influencer-intellectual tactic and social media advertisements: How PragerU advances partisan knowledge
Authors: Leeds Tyler
Published: November 2024

Right-wing think tanks are a major source of partisan knowledge. Their influence is rooted in their strategic hybridity, namely their ability to use the resources of fields outside politics to promote their partisan messages. This strategic hybridity is especially powerful in relation to the academy, as arguments can be framed with the trappings of scholarship without first passing muster in the scholarly community. This article documents how strategic hybridity has deepened online as the organization PragerU embraces a new tactic—the influencer-intellectual—and a new genre—social media ads—to advance its right-wing cause. To illustrate this new complexity, I analyze ads PragerU ran on Meta platforms that attacked the 1619 Project and had at least 20 million impressions. Beyond reconceptualizing hybridity, I review the shortcomings of Meta’s Ad Library while making the case for its value in tracking the spilling of partisanship from formal politics into culture.
Child idols in South Korea and beyond: Manufacturing young stars at the intersection of the K-pop and influencer industries
Authors: Lee Jin , Leaver Tama , Abidin Crystal
Published: November 2024

This article explores how the influencer and traditional entertainment industries are converging in the “child idol” phenomenon—a celebrity genre and system that had existed prior to the emergence of the influencer industry but has now been remixed with the influencer industry’s convention and refashioned as the stepping stone to lubricate children’s journeys toward professional idol careers in the wake of K-pop culture. We examine the “child idol” phenomenon as a case study wherein children perform as a younger version of K-pop idols under entertainment agencies’ in-house training systems, with calibrated construction of social media personae by influencer agencies and their parents. Despite ongoing attempts to protect children in the industry, undertaken by the Korean government and human rights organizations, the exploitative environment of child stars becomes even more serious as it becomes a template adopted by other countries emulating the success of K-pop.
Romance in times of crisis: Contingent social synchronization in accelerated love markets
Authors: Ordóñez-Giraldo Sebastián , Phipps Marcus , Ozanne Julie L
Published: November 2024

This work extends Rosa’s theory of social acceleration drawing on empirical findings from a qualitative study of online dating. Due to an involuntary deceleration in the pace of life during the COVID-19 crisis, online dating platforms moved from being accelerated love markets where competitive consumers made short-term exchanges, to supportive networks that helped them establish long-term relationships. This transformation occurred because consumers experienced contingent social synchronization—a process of temporal realignment after an unexpected desynchronization in pace of life, technological change, and social change. In contingent social synchronization, online daters modified their interactions and unexpectedly formed stronger bonds within these accelerated markets, transforming their patterns of time investment and their temporal perception of love. The implications of contingent social synchronization are discussed for the functioning of love markets, therapeutic confessions, and consumption during crises.
Findings on serial thigh MRI can identify individuals with inflammatory myositis who recover sub-optimally: A 6-month follow-up study
Authors: Gorijavolu Mamatha , Kavadichanda Chengappa G , Gopal Aishwarya , Ananthakrishnan Ramesh , Naik Dhukhabandhu , Mariaselvam Christina Mary , Thabah Molly Mary , Negi Vir Singh
Published: November 2024

Background:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thigh is used in diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) diagnosis due to its high sensitivity in detecting muscle oedema and to localize the site for muscle biopsy. At the same time, dual energy absorptiometry (DXA) is an accepted method in clinical practice to measure muscle mass and change in body composition. In this longitudinal study of patients with active IIM we sought to correlate muscle findings on serial thigh MRI and body composition assessed using DXA with six-month clinical outcomes, we also studied correlation of thigh MRI scores with body composition parameters.

Methods:

A single-centre prospective study involving 20 active IIM patients. Clinical outcomes, muscle enzymes, MRI of the thigh scores and body composition were periodically assessed over 6 months.

Results:

Muscle oedema score significantly decreased from baseline (median 17.7) to 3 months (0.7) and 6 months (0) ( p < 0.001). Fatty infiltration increased significantly from baseline (8.8) to 3 months (13.3; p < 0.001) and remained stable. Muscle atrophy score did not change significantly from baseline to 3 or 3 to 6 months. Body composition indices showed significant changes over 6 months, with increases in both lean mass indices and adiposity measures ( p < 0.05). Muscle oedema score significantly correlated with manual muscle testing-8 (MMT-8) at baseline ( r = −0.64). At 6 months MMT-8 showed a significant negative correlation with muscle atrophy ( r = −0.562) and fatty infiltration ( r = −0.478) but not with muscle oedema. Multivariate regression model revealed muscle oedema scores at 3 months ( p = 0.03) and baseline muscle atrophy ( p = 0.02) as significant predictors of MMT-8 at 6 months.

Conclusion:

Thigh MRI correlated with clinical outcomes both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Higher baseline muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration, and higher muscle oedema at 3 months predict suboptimal clinical outcomes at 6 months. Intramuscular fatty infiltration scores on thigh MRI did not correlate with lower limb fat indices but correlated with overall fat indices on DXA scan.
Atypical femur fracture following romosozumab and bisphosphonate treatment
Authors: Jacunski Mark , Johnsson Hanna , Ralston Stuart H , Hauser Barbara
Published: November 2024

Romosozumab, a monoclonal antibody against sclerostin, is a newly licensed dual-acting osteoporosis treatment for patients at very high risk of fracture. Sclerostin inhibition leads to stimulation of bone formation and simultaneous inhibition of bone resorption. Only three cases of atypical femur fractures were reported out of 5,621 patients who received romosozumab in the pivotal randomised controlled trials FRAME and ARCH; however, most enrolled clinical trial patients were osteoporosis treatment-naïve or had a prolonged washout period. We report a case of an atypical femur fracture that occurred after the completion of romosozumab treatment which was followed by one dose of 5 mg intravenous zoledronic acid. The patient had previously received a 2-year course of subcutaneous teriparatide and subsequent three consecutive yearly intravenous zoledronic acid infusions, followed by a 2-year treatment break. This case highlights the risks of prolonged suppression of bone resorption, which includes romosozumab due to its dual action and the need for further research on how to minimise such deleterious medication effects. Patients who are switched from prolonged antiresorptive treatment to romosozumab, should be risk-assessed and counselled for the risk of atypical femur fracture.
Outcomes of Proximal Row Carpectomy With Interposition Arthroplasty for Advanced Wrist Arthritis
Authors: Adenikinju Abidemi , Wu Kitty Y. , Karim Kristin , Carlsen Brian , Kakar Sanjeev
Published: November 2024

Background:

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the outcomes of proximal row carpectomy (PRC) with interposition arthroplasty using dorsal wrist capsule interposition, lateral meniscus allograft, or dermal allograft in patients with lunate facet/capitate degeneration.

Methods:

Patients who underwent PRC with interposition arthroplasty between 2010 and 2022 at a single institution were identified. Preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain, functional outcomes, and complications were recorded.

Results:

Twenty-one patients (11 dorsal capsule, 6 meniscus, 4 dermal matrix) were identified with a mean follow-up of 65.8 months. Postoperative pain and functional outcome scores significantly improved. The mean postoperative Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score was 20.3. In total, 89.5% of patients returned to work, including 75% of manual laborers.

Conclusions:

No significant differences were found between dorsal capsular flap versus allograft groups. Proximal row carpectomy with interposition arthroplasty is an effective motion-sparing procedure for patients with proximal capitate and/or lunate fossa arthritis, improving pain and function.
Knowledge of Midwives Regarding Antenatal Depression, Screening, and Referral in South Africa: A Qualitative Study Protocol
Authors: Baloyi Olivia B. , Laari Luke , Mbobnda Kapche Cedric X. , Mbobnda Kapche Esther L.
Published: November 2024

Women are twice at risk of developing depression compared to men. This risk is even higher during pregnancy where many physiological, hormonal, social, and psychological changes occur. Prevalence studies show perinatal mental disorders are at least as prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa as they are in high-income and other low- and middle-income sub-regions. The mean weighted prevalence of both antenatal and postpartum depression are 11.3% and 18.3%, respectively, and the mean prevalence of both prenatal and postpartum anxiety is 14.8% and 14%, respectively in both high and low- and middle-income countries. Although maternal mental disorders, including antenatal depression, are widespread and have serious consequences, there remains a lack of understanding and inadequate care provided to pregnant women, by midwives who are their main healthcare providers. Therefore, this study aims to explore the midwives’ knowledge of antenatal depression before and after a training session on antenatal depression. The study will follow a qualitative research methodology and will be conducted in a Community Healthcare Center, in South Africa. In-depth individual interviews will be conducted with the midwives who attend to pregnant women at the study site before and after a training session on antenatal depression. Elo and Knygas’ content analysis will be used to analyse data. It is hoped that the results of the study may provide support for advocating the integration of mental health services into maternal care programmes.
The Interview Quality Reflection Tool (IQRT): Honing the Craft of Experiential Interviews
Authors: Huff James L. , Brooks Amy L.
Published: November 2024

Prior methodological literature on conducting interviews emphasizes the importance of skill development in conducting interviews. However, in contrast to qualitative data analysis, there are few systematic processes in place to guide the interviewer into reflexivity about their role in the interview situation. Here, we present the interview quality reflection tool (IQRT) as a process that we developed from conducting and mentoring semi-structured and unstructured interviews focused on personal lived experiences. The IQRT prompts the interviewer to transcribe each interview question and reflect on how the spoken question served to advance experiential quality in the interview. We illustrate the IQRT itself before demonstrating how we authors used the process to examine experiential quality in three cases conducted in our prior research. Finally, we consider how the IQRT enables researchers to examine the interview situation as a whole, by increasing the self-awareness of the interviewer, and the parts, by commenting on the mechanics of constructing useful questions.
Testosterone deficiency
Authors: Amir Nadia , Shan Syed Kazim Ali
Published: November 2024

Testosterone deficiency, or hypogonadism, occurs when the body does not produce enough testosterone, the primary male sex hormone. This can lead to physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms that affect quality of life, including decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, depression, and reduced muscle mass. Causes include ageing, specific medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or systemic diseases, or damage to the testes. Numerous studies have indicated that testosterone levels start to decrease in men beginning in their 40s, with approximately 30% of men fitting the criteria for testosterone deficiency syndrome by the age of 70. These statistics highlight the need for awareness and management of this condition, especially among ageing males. GPs play a crucial role in diagnosing, managing, and referring cases of testosterone deficiency. This review helps GPs navigate the complexities of testosterone deficiency, ensuring patients receive appropriate care. It aligns with the GP curriculum, covering essential skills and knowledge areas, including history taking, physical examination, and screening tools, and includes a case scenario to discuss that illustrates application in general practice.
Colonic transendoscopic enteral tubing is revolutionizing intestinal therapeutics, diagnosis, and microbiome research
Authors: Wang Zheyu , Wu Xia , Wang Yaxue , Wen Quan , Cui Bota , Zhang Faming
Published: November 2024

The intestine, as a crucial organ of the human body, has remained enigmatic despite the remarkable advancements in modern medical technology. Over the past decades, the invention of endoscopic technology has made the noninvasive intervention of the intestine a reality, expanding diagnostic and therapeutic options for diseases. However, due to the single-treatment feature of endoscopic procedures, continuous or repeated medication administration, sampling, and decompression drainage within the intestine have yet to be fulfilled. These limitations persisted until the invention of colonic transendoscopic enteral tubing (TET) in 2014, which realized repeated fecal microbiota transplantation, medication administration, and decompression drainage for the treatment of colon perforation and intestinal obstruction, as well as in situ dynamic sampling. These breakthroughs have not gone unnoticed, gaining global attention and recommendations from guidelines and consensuses. TET has emerged as a novel microbial research tool that offers new paradigms for human microbiome research. This review aims to update the research progress based on TET.
UFO registry: final analysis of baseline data from patients with advanced prostate cancer in Asia
Authors: Ye Dingwei , Kanesvaran Ravindran , Chiong Edmund , Lojanapiwat Bannakij , Pu Yeong-Shiau , Rawal Sudhir Kumar , Aik Ong Teng , Zeng Hao , Chung Byung Ha , Ashani Md Yusoff Noor , Ohyama Chikara , Kim Choung Soo , Hu Zhiquang , Tsai Yuh-Shyan , Razack Azad Hassan Abdul , Singh Anildeep , Liu Yanfang , Uemura Hirotsugu
Published: November 2024

Background:

The incidence of prostate cancer (PC) is increasing in Asian countries. The epidemiology of PC, its treatment including the use of novel therapeutic options, impacts on quality of life, and clinical outcomes of patients with PC in Asia, are not well documented.

Objectives:

To describe the demographic and disease features of the full cohort of patients enrolled in the United in Fight against prOstate cancer (UFO) registry.

Design:

The UFO registry was a multi-national, longitudinal, observational study of patients with PC presenting to participating tertiary care hospitals in eight Asian countries/regions.

Methods:

Patients with high-risk localized PC (HRL), non-metastatic biochemically recurrent, or metastatic PC were consecutively enrolled from September 14, 2015 until September 1, 2020 and followed for up to 5 years.

Results:

Among the full cohort of 3635 patients, 425 had HRL, 389 had non-metastatic biochemically recurrent, and 2821 had metastatic PC. Median follow-up time was 4.2, 4.2, and 2.6 years, respectively. At first diagnosis, the mean age ranged from 65.7 to 69.1 years, 38.5% had extra-capsular tumor extension, 34.0% had regional lymph node metastases, and 65.1% had distant metastases. Quality-of-life scores at enrollment were significantly worse in patients with metastatic disease. Decisions to start therapy were mainly driven by treatment guidelines and disease progression. The decision to discontinue hormonal therapy was often due to disease progression. Few patients received novel hormonal therapies despite their availability.

Conclusion:

The UFO registry provides a detailed, contemporary picture of the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with PC in Asia. There is an unmet medical need to improve access to novel agents in Asia, aiming to improve quality of life and clinical outcomes.

Trial registration:

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02546908, Registry Identifier: NOPRODPCR4001.
The safety and efficiency of SMART coil for brain aneurysm: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Habibi Mohammad Amin , Mirjnani Mohammad Sina , Zafari Rasa , saadat Zahra , Zahedinasab Bahareh , Delbari Pouria , Zare Amir Hessam , Sheipouri Amirmahdi , Mobader Sani Sheida
Published: November 2024

Background

The SMART coil system is a relatively new generation of embolic coils consisting of a bare platinum coil, a detachment pusher, and a detachment handle. This study investigated the safety and efficiency of the SMART coil system in treating cerebral aneurysms.

Method

PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched until October, 1st 2023. Non-English language, non-human studies, and non-original studies were excluded.

Results

A total of 7 studies were included. The results of our study reflected complete aneurysm occlusion (mRRC1) rate of 45% (95% CI, 0.35–0.56), neck remnant aneurysm (mRRC2) rate of 36% (95% CI, 0.30–0.42), and residual aneurysm (mRRC3) rate of 22% (95% CI, 0.12–0.38) during post-procedural assessment. Moreover, considering longest follow-up, our study showed complete aneurysm occlusion (mRRC1) rate of 66% (95% CI, 0.43–0.84), neck remnant aneurysm (mRRC2) rate of 27% (95% CI, 0.13–0.49), and residual aneurysm (mRRC3) rate of 9% (95% CI, 0.04–0.20). In addition, recanalization and retreatment rates were reported 10% (95% CI, 0.06–0.17) and 9% (95% CI, 0.06–0.12), respectively. The rates of adverse and serious adverse events were 9% (95% CI, 0.07–0.10) and 6% (95% CI, 0.01–0.22), respectively. Three studies reported a stroke rate which was 2% (95% CI, 0.00–0.13), and five studies reported a mortality rate which was 6% (95% CI, 0.03–0.11).

Conclusion

The findings suggested that the SMART coil can be a safe and efficient treatment in patients with intracranial aneurysms compared to other available treatment methods.