bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple Myeloma Patient with Secondary Liver and Tongue Involvement, Complicated by COVID-19-Induced ARDS: An Autopsy Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Matskevych Viktoriya , Ilnytska Khrystyna , Lenchuk Tetiana , Mytsyk Yulian , Kindrativ Elvira , Hlushko Nataliia
Published: January 2024

Background. Liver involvement secondary to multiple myeloma is a rare and uncommon radiologic finding. Such extraosseous secondary lesions as well as tongue involvement require pathohistological confirmation to prevent misdiagnosis. Clinical and laboratory diagnostics are challenging in patients with COVID-19 and underlying multiple myeloma and its secondary lesions, leading to difficulties in treatment and outcomes.

Case Report. A 64-year-old male patient, not vaccinated against COVID-19, with a history of multiple myeloma presented with symptoms of headache, fatigue, dyspnea, cough, and fever. The patient’s medical history was intricate, involving cholecystectomy and a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, which was subsequently treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Additionally, uncommon liver and tongue involvement secondary to multiple myeloma was found. Upon admission, the patient’s peripheral oxygen saturation was 90%, accompanied by increasing shortness of breath and a respiratory rate of 26 breaths per minute. A positive COVID-19 test was recorded. A lung computed tomography revealed bilateral multifocal areas of ground-glass opacity and consolidation, encompassing the entire pulmonary regions, corresponding to CO-RADS 6. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit. Despite initiating oxygen support and symptomatic therapy, the patient’s death occurred. Autopsy confirmed the development of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and bilateral hemorrhagic pneumonia, with multiple myeloma as a contributing factor.

Conclusions. This case report highlighted the rare occurrence of secondary liver involvement in multiple myeloma, characterized by nodules with distinct imaging features. It underscored the importance of identifying coexisting lesions, such as tongue involvement, and the diagnostic challenges they pose. Additionally, the case emphasized the need for comprehensive clinical assessment in patients with concurrent COVID-19 and underlying multiple myeloma, as it may lead to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Development of New Stringency Indices for Nonpharmacological Social Distancing Policies Implemented in Korea During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Random Forest Approach (Preprint)
Authors: Apio Catherine , Han Kyulhee , Lee Doeun , Lee Bogyeom , Park Taesung
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

In the absence of an effective treatment method or vaccine, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic elicited a wide range of unprecedented restriction policies aimed at mitigating and suppressing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These policies and their Stringency Index (SI) of more than 160 countries were systematically recorded in the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) data set. The SI is a summary measure of the overall strictness of these policies. However, the OxCGRT SI may not fully reflect the stringency levels of the restriction policies implemented in Korea. Korea implemented 33 COVID-19 restriction policies targeting 4 areas: public facilities, public events, social gatherings, and religious gatherings.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to develop new Korea Stringency Indices (KSIs) that reflect the stringency levels of Korea’s restriction policies better and to determine which government-implemented policies were most effective in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea.

METHODS

The random forest method was used to calculate the new KSIs using feature importance values and determine their effectiveness in managing daily COVID-19 confirmed cases. Five analysis periods were considered, including November 01, 2020, to January 20, 2021 (Period 1), January 20, 2021, to June 27, 2021 (Period 2), November 01, 2020, to June 27, 2021 (Period 3), June 27, 2021, to November 01, 2021 (Period 4), and November 01, 2021, to April 24, 2022 (Period 5).

RESULTS

Among the KSIs, public facilities in period 4, public events in period 2, religious gatherings in periods 1 and 3, and social gatherings in period 5 had the highest importance. Among the public facilities, policies associated with operation hour restrictions in cinemas, restaurants, PC rooms, indoor sports facilities, karaoke, coffee shops, night entertainment facilities, and baths or saunas had the highest importance across all analysis periods. Strong positive correlations were observed between daily confirmed cases and public facilities, religious gatherings, and public events in period 1 of the pandemic. From then, weaker and negative correlations were observed in the remaining analysis periods. The comparison with the OxCGRT SI showed that the SI had a relatively lower feature importance and correlation with daily confirmed cases than the proposed KSIs, making KSIs more effective than SI.

CONCLUSIONS

Restriction policies targeting public facilities were the most effective among the policies analyzed. In addition, different periods call for the enforcement of different policies given their effectiveness varies during the pandemic.

CLINICALTRIAL
Examining the feasibility, efficacy, and perceptions of an online writing intervention in patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A multi-methods study (Preprint)
Authors: Maslej Marta M. , Ortiz Abigail , Andrews Paul W. , Mulsant Benoit H.
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Barriers to accessing treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) highlight a need for scalable interventions that can be administered online. One such intervention is expressive writing (EW), which typically involves daily sessions of writing for at least 20 minutes about a personal problem or issue. EW has been shown to alleviate MDD symptoms and related difficulties in various samples, including those with or at-risk for MDD. Its simple format also makes it amenable to online administration.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a multi-methods study to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and perceived utility of online EW in patients with MDD.

METHODS

We recruited a sample of 54 patients diagnosed with MDD from a large academic psychiatry hospital. Half were randomized to complete four 20-minute sessions of EW online and the other half were randomized as controls. All participants completed outcome measures before and after the intervention, and at a one-month follow up. Our primary outcome was MDD symptom severity, and secondary outcomes were symptom severity of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), functional impairment, and the perceived complexity of personal problems. We used mixed effect models to assess the impact of group (i.e., EW or control), time, and their interaction on each outcome. We also completed qualitative interviews with participants assigned to EW about their experiences and conducted a reflexive thematic analysis of these qualitative interviews.

RESULTS

Most EW participants (n=20, 74%) completed at least three EW sessions, but only 6 (22%) wrote for the full 20 minutes. There was no evidence that condition interacted with time to impact MDD symptoms (F=0.28, P=.753), GAD symptoms (F=0.21, P=.811), functional impairment (F=0.99, P=.376), or perceived complexity of problems (F=0.66, P=.519). In qualitative interviews, some participants reported EW allowed them to offload or process negative emotions and thoughts, whereas others reported it to be unhelpful. Suggestions to improve EW included offering more specific guidance and flexibility in its duration.

CONCLUSIONS

EW was feasible to administer online to patients with MDD, with some reported benefits for emotional and cognitive processing. However, EW was not associated with improvements in MDD symptoms and personal functioning and may not be an effective online intervention for MDD in its current state. Providing more specific instructions or guidance, with some clinical oversight or support, may be a promising approach to modifying the intervention for evaluation in future work.
Impact of Virtual Reality on Perioperative Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Yuan Xingzhu , Hu Yanjie , Ye Peiling , Chen Xingrong , Wen Shiqi , Huang Liping , Li Ka
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Effective regulation of preoperative psychological symptoms can enhance surgical outcomes. However, there is a paucity of studies reporting on the use of Virtual Reality (VR) interventions in the management of perioperative psychological symptoms in patients with colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the impact of virtual reality technology on perioperative psychological symptoms(anxiety, depression and mood), and objective vital signs reflecting psychological symptoms(blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate), as well as user experience and safety in patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of publications was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception until November 20, 2023, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, without any language restrictions. The study utilized the PICOS framework for randomized controlled trials, which applied virtual reality to patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer perioperatively, comparing with standard nursing care, to regulate vital signs or psychological symptoms. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was employed to assess the methodological quality of each included study. All data were pooled using RevMan 5.4.

RESULTS

Five studies published between 2021 and 2023 were eligible for inclusion (aggregated sample size=360). In terms of regulating psychological symptoms, VR can alleviate the anxiety of patients with colorectal cancer during the perioperative period (SMD = -0.96; 95% CI, -1.48 to -0.45, P= .000), and during systematic review, VR can improve the overall mood of patients and relieve the symptoms of perioperative tension and depression. Comparing with standard care, virtual reality had a significant positive effect on regulating diastolic blood pressure (SMD= -0.55; 95% CI, -0.92 to -0.19, P= .003) and heart rate (SMD= -0.43; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.07, P= .02), but results for respiratory rate and pain regulation were controversial. The overall experience of using VR was reported as good.

CONCLUSIONS

VR can alleviate perioperative anxiety and depression, and improve mood, regulate blood pressure, heart rate, and pain in patients with colorectal cancer. Future studies can continue to enlarge the sample size and conduct multi-center studies to provide high-quality evidence for the clinical use of VR in patients with colorectal cancer and formulate individualized VR postoperative rehabilitation prescriptions.

CLINICALTRIAL

The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023416893)
Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Berbasis Potensi Lokal di Wisata Lembah Desa Pulutan
Authors: Safri Anggara David , Rezki Muhammad
Published: January 2024

Abstrak

Dahulu desa selalu menjadi kawasan yang selalu diidentikkan dengan kemiskinan dan keterbelakangan. Namun, pada beberapa tahun terakhir desa menjadi sorotan dari berbagai pihak. Pasalnya, pemerintah memberikan otonomi khusus untuk desa agar bisa membangun wilayahnya sesuai dengan potensi lokal yang dimiliki melalui UU Desa. Salah satu desa yang berhasil mengimplementasikan amanat ini adalah Desa Pulutan melalui wisata lembah desa. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji lebih mendalam terkait konsep pemberdayaan yang dilakukan di wisata lembah desa. Peneliti menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif dengan pendekatan tahapan pemberdayaan antara lain; penyadaran, pengkapasitasan dan pemberdayaan. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa wisata yang dikelola BUMDes ini dilakukan dengan memanfaatkan potensi lembah desa dan mengajak masyarakat untuk bermitra dengan pihak pengelola dengan cara menjajakan kuliner tradisional. Selain itu, fasilitas dari lembah desa menarik karena menyuguhkan sistem pertanian modern yakni mina padi.

Kata kunci: Pemberdayaan, Masyarakat, Wisata Lembah Pulutan

Abstract

In the past, villages were always identified with poverty and underdevelopment. However, recently villages have been in the spotlight from various parties. This is because the government has given special autonomy to villages so that they can develop their territory according to their local potential through the UU Desa. Village that has successfully implemented this mandate is Pulutan Village through Wisata Lembah Desa. This article aims to examine more deeply the concept of empowerment carried out in valley village tourism. The researcher uses descriptive qualitative method with empowerment stage approach including; awareness, capacity building and empowerment. The results indicate that tourism managed by BUMDes is carried out by utilizing the potential of the village valley and inviting the community to partner with the manager by selling traditional culinary delights. In addition, the facilities from the village valley are interesting because they present a modern agricultural system, namely mina padi.

Key words: Empowerment, Community, Pulutan Valley Tourism
The Association of Intra-Abdominal Adhesions with Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter-Related Complications
Authors: Qureshi Mohammad Azfar , Maierean Serban , Crabtree John H. , Clarke Alix , Armstrong Sean , Fissell Rachel , Jain Arsh K. , Jassal Sarbjit V. , Hu Susie L. , Kennealey Peter , Liebman Scott , McCormick Brendan , Momciu Bogdan , Pauly Robert P. , Pellegrino Beth , Perl Jeffrey , Pirkle James L. , Plumb Troy J. , Seshasai Rebecca , Shah Ankur , Shah Nikhil , Shen Jenny , Singh Gurmukteshwar , Tennankore Karthik , Uribarri Jaime , Vasilevsky Murray , Yang Robert , Quinn Robert R. , Nadler Ashlie , Oliver Matthew J. ,   on behalf of the North American Peritoneal Dialysis Registry
Published: January 2024

Background

This study investigated the association of intra-abdominal adhesions with the risk of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter complications.

Methods

Individuals undergoing laparoscopic PD catheter insertion were prospectively enrolled from eight centers in Canada and the United States. Patients were grouped based on the presence of adhesions observed during catheter insertion. The primary outcome was the composite of PD never starting, termination of PD, or the need for an invasive procedure caused by flow restriction or abdominal pain.

Results

Seven hundred and fifty-eight individuals were enrolled, of whom 201 (27%) had adhesions during laparoscopic PD catheter insertion. The risk of the primary outcome occurred in 35 (17%) in the adhesion group compared with 58 (10%) in the no adhesion group (adjusted HR, 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 2.55) within 6 months of insertion. Lower abdominal or pelvic adhesions had an adjusted HR of 1.80 (95% CI, 1.09 to 2.98) compared with the no adhesion group. Invasive procedures were required in 26 (13%) and 47 (8%) of the adhesion and no adhesion groups, respectively (unadjusted HR, 1.60: 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.47) within 6 months of insertion. The adjusted odds ratio for adhesions for women was 1.65 (95% CI, 1.12 to 2.41), for body mass index per 5 kg/m2 was 1.16 (95% CI, 1.003 to 1.34), and for prior abdominal surgery was 8.34 (95% CI, 5.5 to 12.34). Common abnormalities found during invasive procedures included PD catheter tip migration, occlusion of the lumen with fibrin, omental wrapping, adherence to the bowel, and the development of new adhesions.

Conclusions

People with intra-abdominal adhesions undergoing PD catheter insertion were at higher risk for abdominal pain or flow restriction preventing PD from starting, PD termination, or requiring an invasive procedure. However, most patients, with or without adhesions, did not experience complications, and most complications did not lead to the termination of PD therapy.

Podcast

This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2024_11_15_CJASN2024Trainee2nd.mp3
Verb-Governor Based Comparative Analysis on the Move Structure of Abstracts in Six English Varieties
Authors: Chen Shuo , Cao Jingxiang
Published: January 2024

This study compares the move structure of abstracts in six English varieties based on verb-governors to explore their similarities and differences. In this study, we use English abstracts in journals published in six official languages of the United Nations as material, and follow the five-move model which is put forward by Santos in 1996 for move analysis. We found that the six English varieties have a general move structure: 1) All of the six varieties are composed of five moves and there is no move omission. 2) Research method usually occupies the largest proportion. 3) Research purpose usually occupies the smallest proportion. But there are also differences in the proportion of moves among the varieties, which may be influenced by the cultural background of L1, the subjective choice of the author, or the requirements of the journal publisher.
Legal Issues and Challenges in Pet Food Labeling System
Authors:   Journal of Law research, Jo Sung-Ho , Lee So-Young
Published: January 2024

Driven by the increasing number of pets and households that have pets, the pet food market is undergoing substantial growth. With the surge in pet guardianship, pet food consumption has increased, which has been accompanied by a growing interest in various functional pet food types. Despite the variety available, a notable issue exists concerning the primary labeling of pet food. This study investigates the current status and major issues within the pet food labeling system and proposes improvements.
The labeling system for pet food is governed by the Control of Livestock and Fish Feed Act in conjunction with livestock feed regulations. This dual oversight presents challenges in providing precise information to pet food consumers through the labeling system. Currently, there are no established standards for differentiating pet food product names, specifying recommended feeding amounts, highlighting nutritional functions, or verifying pet food labeling. Additionally, a robust review system and review board dedicated to overseeing pet food labeling are absent.
To foster the growth of the pet food industry, a revision of the current pet food labeling system is imperative. The proposed revision involves the following: First, reorganizing the classification system. The existing feed classification system of formulated feed and straight feed (mixed straight feed) should transition to a labeling classification system based on the intended purpose of the feed. Second, there is a need to regulate the contents of pet food, including product names and nutritional ingredients. Mandatory display of product names and the regulation of their use are essential components of this revision. Third, empirical standards and the establishment of a review advisory board to authenticate pet food labeling are needed. Regulations on the contents and procedures for labeling and advertising on efficacy and effectiveness should be established, grounded in a minimum scientific evidence threshold. Furthermore, there have been calls for the formation of an advisory or review committee composed of experts, which underscores the need for the establishment of a system to facilitate this.
중국의 건강관리데이터 공유의 운영상 딜레마와 법적 대응
Authors:   Journal of Law research, Wu Zongze , Yang Yi
Published: January 2024

Promoting the circulation and sharing of health care data is not only a practical necessity for the advancement of the digital economy, but also a key to achieving the strategic goals of China's health care development. However, the sharing and utilization of China's health care data still face a series of challenges, including unclear allocation of rights and interests of data, breaches of personal privacy, misuse of personal information, and an underdeveloped collaborative mechanism. To overcome these barriers in the era of big data, firstly it is necessary to clarify the rights and interests’ allocation of health care data. Health care data involves three categories of stakeholders: patients, medical institutions, and the public. It is essential to appropriately allocate the rights and interests to health care data among patients, medical institutions, and public health management agencies. From the perspective of effectively utilizing health care data, the rights and interests of patients to their personal health care data are merely an extension of their individual rights and do not include the right to use the data in terms of resource utilization. The rights and interests to use health care data for resource utilization should be granted to medical institutions that actually own or control the health care data. For public health management agencies serving the public interest, only necessary rights and interests should be granted when meeting the needs of the public interest. Secondly, it is necessary to balance the inherent contradiction between sharing and privacy. This requires improving the means by which patients can exercise control over their personal information, establishing a tiered protection mechanism based on the type and sensitivity of health care data, and enhancing the enforcement of health care data regulations to ensure the protection of personal privacy and data security. Ensuring efficient sharing of health data, while respecting individual privacy. Lastly, strengthening the collaborative mechanism for health care data, accelerating the compilation of a health care data resource catalog, and developing universal standards for health care data. From both technical and institutional perspectives, this lays the foundation for the orderly and secure sharing of health care data.

促进健康医疗数据的流通、共享，既是推动数字经济发展的现实需要，也是实现中国健康医疗发展战略目标的关键。然而，中国健康医疗数据共享利用仍然面临数据权益配置不明、个人隐私泄露、个人信息被滥用、协作机制不健全等一系列问题。为了破解大数据时代健康医疗数据共享利用的现实壁垒，首先是要明晰健康医疗数据的权益配置。健康医疗数据涉及患者个人、医疗机构、社会公众三类利益主体，需要妥当配置患者个人、医疗机构和公共卫生管理机构对健康医疗数据的权益。从有效利用健康医疗数据的角度来看，患者对其个人健康医疗数据的权益只是个人权利的延伸，并不包括健康医疗数据资源化利用意义上的使用权。健康医疗数据资源化利用的使用权，应该赋予实际上拥有或控制健康医疗数据的医疗机构。而对服务于公共利益的公共卫生管理机构而言，只应赋予其必要的权益以满足公共利益的需要。其次，还需平衡共享与隐私的内在矛盾，需完善患者个人信息自决的行使途径，健全基于医疗健康数据类型及其敏感性的分级保护机制，并且通过加强健康医疗数据的执法进一步让个人隐私、数据安全得到保证。确保医疗健康数据高效共享的同时，又让个人隐私得到应有的尊重。最后，强化医疗健康数据的协作机制，加快编制医疗健康数据资源目录，制定医疗健康数据通用标准。从技术、制度层面，进一步奠定医疗健�
Comprehending of the 2018-2020 New Chinese Vocabulary among International Students in China
Authors: Liangyu Wu , Hiang Loon Low , Soon Goh Ying
Published: January 2024

Learning new Chinese vocabulary beyond the HSK (Global Chinese Proficiency Examination) vocabulary syllabus will improve Chinese communication ability for international students in China. This study addresses the vocabulary learning problems including insufficient systematic understanding of vocabulary features, lack of in-depth learning methods and the lack of contextual application. This study investigates the respondents’ level of comprehending the 2018-2020 New Chinese Vocabulary, and explores their learning problems, as well as proposes suitable vocabulary learning strategies for them. The samples included 30 international students from Yangzhou University, Guangxi Normal University and Bohai University in China. The results from the online questionnaire indicate that the students' comprehension of these new vocabulary has improved in the context-provided assessment. In terms of problems, 90% of the respondents were unable to infer the meaning of new vocabulary based on existing knowledge. Besides, students with better understanding generally use context strategies and coding strategies more than other students. This study puts forward suggestions on the vocabulary learning strategies to help international students learn Chinese vocabulary better.
Validity of “Negation” and “Interrogatives” in Processability Theory for Iranian EFL Learners
Authors: Rouintani Amir Hamzeh Gholami , Bayat Abbas , Rajabi Payman
Published: January 2024

Processability Theory (PT), which organizes the knowledge base of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), offers an explanation of acquisition sequences. The aim of this paper is to investigate validation of PT for Iranian EFL learners for the acquisition of “negation” and “interrogative” structures across five proficiency levels and compared it with the morpho-syntactic structures model suggested by Pienemann. From the 160 participants having distinct proficiency, the needed data was gathered. They were wanted to produce example of oral performance in semi-structured interview and picture description tasks. The Kruskal-Wallis test pointed that both “negation” and “interrogative” emerge in agreement with the order of acquisition forcasted by Pienemann. In other words, as the participants’ level of proficiency level grew, so did their correct use of interrogatives and negation. Thus, PT is validated for EFL students, too.
Examining the moderating effect of bank size on the financial risk and performance linkage of Islamic commercial banks
Authors: Asrori Asrori , Amal Muhammad Ihlashul , Musyaffi Ayatulloh Michael , Utami Suci Aprilliani , Rengganis Nabila Pangestika
Published: January 2024

Financial performance is very important for Islamic banks to ensure the sustainability of their business in providing banking products and services according to Sharia principles or Islamic law. This research examines the impact of financial risk on the financial performance of Indonesian Islamic commercial banks (ICBs), with bank size as a moderating variable. The research was conducted on all Indonesian ICBs from 2017–2021. Fixed effects models are employed to account for potential heterogeneity across banks and control for time-invariant unobserved factors. These models allow for estimating the within-bank variation over time, capturing constant bank-specific characteristics over the study period. The results of this research state that financing and operational risks significantly negatively impact financial performance. In contrast, liquidity risk does not significantly negatively impact financial performance. Furthermore, from testing the moderation hypothesis, the results of this study state that total financing reduces the significant negative effect of financing risk and operational risk on ICB Indonesia’s financial performance. However, total financing does not reduce the significant negative effect of liquidity risk on the financial performance of Indonesian ICBs.
Analysis of Non-Revenue Water reduction using the FAVAD method in DMA planning: Case study in Palangka Raya drinking water supply system
Authors: Nanda Fahreza Alvian , Masduqi Ali , Ahyar Agus , Rachman Ade Syaiful
Published: January 2024

Non-revenue water (NRW) is a crucial problem for the Perusahaan Umum Daerah Air Minum (PERUMDAM) Palangka Raya due to its extensive service area, lacking metered divisions that hinder leak detection in the distribution pipe network. This research explores the potential for reducing NRW levels by establishing a district meter area (DMA) within the central drinking water supply system (SPAM) PERUMDAM Palangka Raya service area. DMA configuration, designed to meet specific distribution pipe criteria, is carried out through the EPANET 2.2 program. This study aims to identify the decrease in NRW through the implementation of the Fix and Variable Area Demand (FAVAD) pressure management method. Due to limited resources, a priority assessment for DMA formation was performed using the Weight Sum Model (WSM) method. The analysis results show the possibility of dividing the central drinking water supply system service area into 27 DMAs, with the formation of DMA I/11 identifies as the highest priority DMA. After the DMA was established, the NRW component that decreased was water loss caused by pipe leaks, resulting in a saved amount of 15,261 m3/month. This reduction contribute to a dicrease in NRW levels by 6.06%, preventing clean water scarcity in Palangka Raya City.
The Effect of Multiple Exemplar Instruction(MEI) within Relational
Frame Theory on Perspective-Taking Responses Using Fairy Tales in Children
with Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Lee In-Soon , LeePark Hyesuk
Published: January 2024

Perspective-taking, which requires understanding oneself and others, is an
important social skill in interacting with others. However, children with
developmental disabilities have limited understanding of others and barriers to
accepting others’ perspectives in many situations. This study to investigates
the effects of the Multiple Exemplar Instruction(MEI) based on Relational Frame
Theory(RFT) on response with reversed relation and double reversed relation as
sub-components of perspective-taking skills using fairy tale books. Participants
in the study are a 10-year-old girl with autism spectrum disorder and an
8-year-old boy with a language development delay, who need to improve their
perspectives-taking skills. A multiple probe design across participants was
employed in the study. The MEI was used for intervention targeting to establish
reinforcement history with a frame for the reversed relation, and the double
reversed relation perspective-taking using fairy tales. As a result of the
study, it was demonstrated that the MEI had an increased rate of
perspective-taking responses, and the changes were maintained after the
intervention. As a suggestion for future studies, it is necessary to replicate
this study in various environments such as peer group situations and peer class
situations within school-age grades.
A systematic literature analysis of wraparound application study
for school-aged students with special educational needs
Authors: Kim Hee-Jin , Kim Bo-Ram , Jeong Ju-Young , Kang Soyeon , Na Kyong-Eun
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of domestic and
foreign studies that applied wraparound to school-aged students with special
educational needs, and to explore the possibility of practicing wraparound in
Korea by analyzing the degree of compliance with 10 principles of wraparound. A
total of 14 documents were selected to conduct systematic literature analysis to
achieve the purpose of this study. The results of analyzing 14 studies applying
wraparound were as follows. First, wraparound was applied to school-aged
students with emotional and behavioral disorder characteristics, and it showed
positive effects on the study participants. Second, as a result of analyzing 14
papers selected based on the 10 principles suggested by NWI (2004), it was found
that there were relatively many studies that met the 10 principles. Based on the
results of literature analysis, this study made suggestions for further research
along with discussion.
Cross-Border Regulatory Cooperation and Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting
Authors: Chen Xiaomeng Charlene , Luo Le , Tsang Albert
Published: January 2024

This study investigates the impact of the SEC’s regulatory cooperation and enforcement on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting practices of U.S.-listed foreign firms using a country’s Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU) signing as a catalyst. The MMoU, a cooperative agreement among global securities regulators, enhances the SEC’s ability to engage in cross-border enforcement actions in collaboration with foreign counterparts. Our findings reveal a significant enhancement in both the quantity and quality of CSR reporting among U.S.-listed foreign firms after their home country signs the MMoU. This improvement sets them apart from their non-U.S.-listed counterparts in the same foreign location. Notably, this positive change is more pronounced among foreign firms from signatory countries with weak country-level institutions. This study contributes to the understanding of how regulatory changes, specifically MMoU adoption, influence CSR reporting, emphasizing the strategic role it plays for firms in the face of heightened regulatory cooperation and enforcement.

Data Availability: Data subject to third-party restrictions.

JEL Classifications: M41; G18; P48; G32.
Private Loan Issuance and Risk Factor Disclosure
Authors: Dai Lili , Landsman Wayne R. , Peng Zihang
Published: January 2024

This study provides evidence that private loan issuance offers opportunities for borrowers to learn new information about their own risks and subsequently disclose such information in their risk factor disclosures (RFDs) to satisfy lenders’ demand for transparency about borrowers’ risks. This loan issuance effect on risk disclosures is more pronounced when greater learning opportunities are present and when lenders have a stronger demand for borrowers’ risk information transparency. Further analyses suggest that the enhanced risk disclosures following loan issuance not only benefit lenders by reducing the costs of accessing the secondary credit markets, but also create spillover benefits for equity investors by increasing risk information about the borrower and reducing uncertainty about the borrower’s risk. Taken together, these findings suggest that borrowers’ private interactions with lenders provide new opportunities for managers to generate and reflect fresh information in corporate risk disclosures, ultimately benefiting a wide range of capital market participants.

Data Availability: Data are available from the sources identified in the paper.

JEL Classifications: G21; G32; M41.
Systematic review of cost-effectiveness in breast reconstruction: deep inferior epigastric perforator flap vs. implant-based breast reconstruction
Authors: Hansson Emma , Brorson Fredrik , Löfstrand Jonas , Elander Anna , Svensson Mikael
Published: January 2024

Background: There are several techniques for reconstructing breasts after mastectomy, but little scientific evidence for which technique is superior. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the cost-effectiveness of implant-based and autologous reconstruction and to evaluate the overall certainty of evidence, as well as the quality of reporting of the included studies.
Methods: Studies investigating the cost-effectiveness of breast reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap compared to implant-based reconstruction, meeting criteria defined in a PICO (population, intervention, comparison, and outcome), were included. Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, CinahL, EconLit, and NHS EED databases were searched. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence, and the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standard (CHEERS) 2022 was used to evaluate the quality of reporting.
Results and conclusions: A total of 256 abstracts were retrieved from the search, and after scrutiny, seven studies were included. The findings of this present systematic review should be interpreted with caution as the overall certainty of evidence is low (GRADE ƟƟОО). The included studies suggest that DIEP-flaps are cost-effective compared with implant-based breast reconstruction when the applied cost-effectiveness thresholds of $50,000 to $100,000 per quality-adjusted life years are used. It is noteworthy that no high level evidence exists regarding cost-effeciency, to support recommendations and decision in breast reconstruction. Methodological issues that can be improved in future studies are presented.
Investigating Pore-Throat Blockage in Tight Rocks: The Role of Colloidal Particles in Treated and Untreated Produced Water
Authors: CE Njie
Published: January 2024

Colloidal particles in produced water used for hydraulic fracturing can block pore throats in tight reservoir rocks through three main mechanisms. The blockage of these pore throats damages the permeability of the reservoir, leading to low productivity and higher operational cost. However, the characterization of these particles in produced water used for hydraulic fracturing is understudied. This study investigates the size distribution of these particles in produced water and the resulting pore plugging mechanisms potentially operating on typical 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4-micron-wide siltstone reservoir rock pore throats caused by primary, aggregate, and agglomerate particles in such produced waters. The siltstone pore throat diameters and particle diameters from untreated and treated produced water from McClean, McKenzie, Williams, and Mountrail Counties were compared and used to calculate the jamming ratios from which the main pore throat plugging mechanisms in those rocks were inferred. The results show that bridge blockage, and single pore blocking through straining are the main pore throat blocking mechanisms contributing to formation damage in these reservoir rocks. The bridge blocking mechanism is more prevalent when untreated produced water is used as the base fluid for hydraulic fracturing, while single pore blocking through straining is more prevalent in treated water. The size of the particles also affects the pore plugging mechanisms, with smaller particles causing damage through bridging and larger particles causing damage through single pore blockage and straining. These findings have important implications for the management of produced water in the oil and gas industry, as they may provide clues to minimize formation damage.
Significant Influence of Sand Production on the Well's Drainage Area
Authors: M Guliyeva
Published: January 2024

The exploration of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs is a prominent global trend today. Achieving cost-effective and efficient hydrocarbon production from these reservoirs necessitates advanced technologies. One such technology that has been employed in the oil and gas industry for many decades is hydraulic fracturing. It is used to create highly conductive channels within formations characterized by extremely low permeability values. The successful implementation of hydraulic fracturing hinges on the development of an effective fracturing design. This design is crucial to achieving the anticipated production outcomes from unconventional reservoirs, including tight gas, shale gas, coal bed methane, and reservoirs with very low permeability. Key parameters for the success of hydraulic fracturing operations include the determination of the optimal fracturing rate, fracture height, and the selection of propping agents. These factors collectively contribute to the efficiency and productivity of hydraulic fracturing activities in unconventional reservoirs.
Diálogos sobre o cristianismo na literatura
Authors: Souza César Martins de , Castro Weverton
Published: January 2024

As obras literárias trazem entretenimento, conhecimento e reflexão ao possibilitar aos leitores adentrar em universos diferentes de suas próprias realidades. No presente artigo se constroi um diálogo com a literatura para pensar sobre as relações desta com o cristianismo, a partir dos estudos sobre espiritualidade, problemáticas sociais e concepções cristãs em obras que se mantêm atuais mesmo em temporalidades posteriores. A literatura permite aprofundar o olhar sobre o cristianismo em narrativas que nem sempre possuem a intenção religiosa, mas que olham para temáticas muito presentes na religiosidade cristã. Assim, em obras consagradas da literatura brasileira e universal, evidencia-se que trazem debates sobre o aprofundamento da espiritualidade a partir da literatura, bem como sobre problemas sociais, como a violência e a disseminação do ódio na sociedade, expondo contradições e paradoxos de discursos que se apoiam no cristianismo para apregoar ideias contrárias aos ensinamentos de Cristo presentes nos evangelhos.
Sociocultural valuation of ecosystem services in protected areas: A study applied to Southeast Spain
Authors: López-Felices Belén , Schoenemann Marina , Román-Sánchez Isabel M. , Aznar-Sánchez José A.
Published: January 2024

Research background: Protected areas (PAs) play a fundamental role in the maintenance of ecosystem processes and in the flow of ecosystem services (ESs) they provide. However, the management of PAs is complex due to the existence of different stakeholders with disparate and, often, opposed preferences and valuations. The sociocultural assessment of ESs contributes to optimizing the management of scarce resources based on the preferences of the different stakeholders, taking into account the economic, environmental and social dimensions of the analysed area.
Purpose of the article: In this work, a sociocultural assessment of the ESs provided by a PA in southeast Spain is carried out. The objective is to identify which the various ESs provided by this PA are and to establish their degree of importance for all the stakeholders involved.
Methods: For this, different complementary methodologies have been used in successive phases, both qualitative and quantitative. Specifically, a literature review, in-depth interviews and an assessment questionnaire were used.
Findings & value added: Based on the results obtained, a series of measures are proposed to improve the sustainable management of the PA and the socioeconomic development of its environment. The results of this study may be useful for PAs whose management tries to find a balance between conservation measures and the design of models that contribute to the socioeconomic development of their area of influence.
Notes on various operators of fractional calculus and some of their implications for certain analytic functions
Authors:   Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Çankiri Karatekin University, Çankiri, Turkey. Email: hirmak@karatekin.edu.tr., Irmak Huseyin
Published: January 2024

"The main purpose of this note is firstly to present certain information in relation with some elementary operators created by the well-known fractional calculus, also to determine a number of applications of them for certain complex function analytic in the open unit disc, and then to reveal (or point out) some implications of the fundamental results of this research. Keywords: Complex domains, open unit disc, normalized analytic function, fractional calculus, Operators of fractional calculus, Series expansions, inequalities in the complex plane. "
Tecnopopulismo autoritario en los países árabes y legitimación internacional
Authors:   Profesor de Relaciones Internacionales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Barreñada Bajo Isaías
Published: January 2024

Este artículo aborda tres aspectos que caracterizan la restauración autoritaria posterior a las llamadas primaveras árabes de 2011: a) el recurso a tecnócratas al frente de los gobiernos, b) la proliferación de discursos de despolitización de la gobernanza y c) la posposición de la renegociación de los viejos contratos sociales. A ello se añade la relevancia del nexo internacional, dado que los estados aliados estratégicos a nivel global y los organismos financieros internacionales amparan esta fórmula que garantiza estabilidad y posibilita la aplicación de reformas en clave neoliberal. Sin embargo, este tecnopopulismo autoritario no logra responder a las demandas económicas de la población ni proporciona vías de inclusión política ni un marco para redefinir un nuevo contrato social; en el mejor de los casos, sirve momentáneamente de estructura de contención de las protestas.
Libertades individuales y mecanismos de legitimación política e institucional en Marruecos
Authors:   Profesor de Derecho Constitucional, Universidad Hassan i, Settat, Marruecos, Brouksy Omar
Published: January 2024

La cuestión de las libertades individuales representa un verdadero reto en el proceso de legitimación nacional e internacional de Marruecos y, en el plano jurídico, es objeto de reformas constitucionales muy variables; asimismo, suscita preocupación por el frágil equilibrio ante un contexto nacional en el que la legitimidad religiosa del rey compite con las corrientes políticas conservadoras, pero también en relación con un entorno internacional muy restrictivo. Entre la Constitución de 1992, que reconoce la universalidad de los derechos humanos, y la de 2011, que consagra las libertades individuales, esta dinámica jurídica tiene dificultades para plasmarse en la legislación, reflejando a la vez tanto una cautela política como una actualización jurídica.
High concordance of blood glucose measurement in cats between a beta prototype glucometer device and a reference laboratory standard in a clinical setting
Authors: Walker Alex , Stewart Samuel D.
Published: January 2024

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a beta prototype version of a new portable blood glucose meter in feline patients.

ANIMALS

60 client-owned cats.

METHODS

In this prospective study, 3-mL blood samples were collected from each cat and analyzed in triplicate using a beta prototype device (AlphaTRAK 3 [AT3]) and by a reference lab standard immediately after collection. Accuracy of the AT3 device was determined in accordance with the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 15197:2013 criteria, including Bland-Altman plotting and consensus error grid analysis. A Passing-Bablok regression analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

96% of feline measurements fell within the ISO accuracy threshold, and 100% of measurements fell within zones A and B of the consensus error grid, meeting the ISO accuracy requirements. There was no significant bias in the data according to the Bland-Altman analysis. Within the full range of glucose concentrations (20 to 750 mg/dL) the correlation coefficient between the AT3 and the reference lab standard was 0.99. There was no significant constant or proportional bias present in the data.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The AT3 device met the ISO requirements and is accurate for measurement of blood glucose concentrations in cats.
Fatigue Behaviour of Medium Carbon Steel Assessed by the Barkhausen Noise Method
Authors: Makowska Katarzyna , Szymczak Tadeusz , Kowalewski Zbigniew L.
Published: January 2024

In this paper, an attempt to estimate the stage of the fatigue process using the Barkhausen noise method is studied. First, microstructural and static tensile tests were carried out and, subsequently, fatigue tests up to failure were conducted. After determination of the material behaviour in the assumed static and dynamic conditions, the interrupted fatigue tests were performed. Each specimen was stressed up to a different number of cycles corresponding to 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% of fatigue lifetime for the loading conditions considered. In the next step of the experimental programme, the specimens were subjected to the Barkhausen magnetic noise measurements. Various magnetic parameters coming from the rms Barkhausen noise envelopes were determined. The linear relationship betweenthe full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the Barkhausen noise envelope and the number of loading cycles to fracture was found. Specimens loaded up to a certain number of cycles were also subjected to a tensile test to assess an influence of fatigue on the fracture features.
Reporting Offences and Protection of the Public Interest in Moravian Provincial Law in the 16th Century
Authors: Janišová Jana
Published: January 2024

The legal institute of whistleblowing as a tool for detecting wrong-doing, especially in large corporations, and at the same time as an institute of whistleblower protection is a matter of modern law and its wider use has been registered only in recent decades. However, some aspects of whistleblowing, in particular the protection of the public interest and the possibility for weaker parties to report offences to an official, can already be found in older law in many different countries. Moravian provincial law was the main law on the territory of the Margraviate of Moravia, although there were other legal circuits (with regard to the personality of the law) paying quite a lot of attention to the issue of reporting offences to an official authority. This issue is connected not only with the police regulations for the protection of the country, but is also strongly reflected in the set of provisions concerning the serfs.