bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proximal tibia for alveolar augmentation and augmentative rhinoplasty—a suitable option? A retrospective clinical study on donor and recipient site morbidity
Authors: Korn Paula , Melnikov Anastasia , Kuhn Matthias , Farahzadi Samaneh , Lauer Günter , Schröder Tom Alexander
Published: October 2024

Background

Autologous bone grafts are essential in reconstructive oral and maxillofacial surgery, and depending on the donor site, they can be associated with specific harvesting morbidities. One of the most commonly applied bone grafts is the iliac crest bone graft, irrespective of other grafts, which might be associated with an easier surgical procedure or the possibility of harvesting them under local anaesthesia. Objective of the study is the clinical evaluation of proximal tibia bone grafts regarding their eligibility for maxillofacial bone grafting.

Methods

In this retrospective study, proximal tibia bone grafts were examined with regard to associated donor and recipient site morbidity and their suitability for alveolar ridge augmentation and rhinoplasty.

Results

In total, 21 tibia grafts were included. Fifty-seven percent of the bone grafts were used for alveolar ridge reconstruction, and 43% were used for augmentative rhinoplasty. No significant complications occurred during or after harvesting, but in 14.3% of the patients, minor wound healing disorders were recorded at the donor site, and in 19% of the patients, they were recorded at the recipient site. Statistically, patient sex, age, nicotine and alcohol abuse and metabolic diseases had no significant influence on the complication rate. Graft harvesting under local anaesthesia and at summer temperatures was associated with significantly more complications at the harvesting site (p < 0.05). In cases of dental implant insertion into augmented sites, the implants (n = 31) were followed up for a median period of 40.5 months, during this time 86.7% of the implants survived.

Conclusion

The proximal tibia is a suitable donor site for harvesting autologous bone grafts for alveolar ridge augmentation or rhinoplasty because the donor site morbidity is low, and in contrast to iliac crest bone grafts, they can be harvested under local anaesthesia, which might be advantageous for outpatient surgeries.
Tissue microarray analyses of the essential DNA repair factors ATM, DNA-PKcs and Ku80 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zech Henrike Barbara , von Bargen Clara , Oetting Agnes , Möckelmann Nikolaus , Möller-Koop Christina , Witt Melanie , Struve Nina , Petersen Cordula , Betz Christian , Rothkamm Kai , Münscher Adrian , Clauditz Till Sebastian , Rieckmann Thorsten
Published: October 2024

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) negative for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has remained a difficult to treat entity, whereas tumors positive for HPV are characterized by radiosensitivity and favorable patient outcome. On the cellular level, radiosensitivity is largely governed by the tumor cells` ability to repair radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), but no biomarker is established that could guide clinical decision making. Therefore, we tested the impact of the expression levels of ATM, the central kinase of the DNA damage response as well as DNA-PKcs and Ku80, two major factors in the main DSB repair pathway non-homologous end joining (NHEJ).

Methods

A tissue microarray of a single center HNSCC cohort was stained for ATM, DNA-PKcs and Ku80 and the expression scored based on staining intensity and the percentages of tumor cells stained. Scores were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and survival.

Results

Samples from 427 HNSCC patients yielded interpretable stainings and were scored following an established algorithm. The majority of tumors showed strong expression of both NHEJ factors, whereas the expression of ATM varied more. The expression scores of ATM and DNA-PKcs were not associated with patient survival. For HPV-negative HNSCC, the minority of tumors without strong Ku80 expression trended towards superior survival when treatment included radiotherapy. Focusing stronger on staining intensity to define the subgroup with lowest and therefore potentially insufficient expression levels in the HPV-negative subgroup, we observed significantly better overall survival for patients treated with radiotherapy but not with surgery alone.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that HPV-negative HNSCC with particularly low Ku80 expression represent a highly radiosensitive subpopulation. Confirmation in independent cohorts is required.
The use of tourniquet in total knee arthroplasty does not impact the functional outcome: a randomised controlled study
Authors: Johnsen Magnus , Havik Steinar , Husby Vigdis Schnell , Winther Siri Bjørgen , Foss Olav A. , Husby Otto Schnell , Lian Øystein Bjerkestrand
Published: October 2024

Background

This study evaluates the clinical evidence for performing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) without a tourniquet, a shift from the near-universal use in 2009 to current trends towards tourniquet-less TKA in Norway and Sweden. This change is set against a backdrop of conflicting evidence regarding the positive and negative effects of tourniquet use.

Questions/purposes

The aims were to determine if the tourniquet has an impact on [1] Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) at 8 weeks after surgery; [2] postoperative strength and function; [3] postoperative pain and opioid analgesic use; and [4] operative time, bleeding, and length of stay (LOS).

Methods

Eighty-one patients were randomised to TKA with or without a tourniquet. The outcome measures, FJS-12, muscle strength, functional test, pain, estimated blood loss, haemoglobin (Hb) loss, knee circumference, opioid consumption, and LOS were assessed preoperatively and at 1 day, 8 weeks, and 1 year after surgery.

Results

No significant difference in FJS-12 scores was found between the two groups at postoperative 8 weeks. However, the tourniquet group showed statistically significant better knee extension strength at 8 weeks (p = 0.045). There were no differences in other outcomes, except for a greater decrease in haemoglobin levels (p = 0.02) and higher estimated perioperative blood loss (p < 0.001) in the no tourniquet group than the torniquet group.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that tourniquet use during TKA causes no significant differences in FJS-12 at 8 weeks, significantly reduces bleeding and postoperative Hb loss, and improves quadriceps strength at 8 weeks.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrails.gov. Registry Number: NCT03666598. Registered 30 August 2018.
Ensemble feature selection and tabular data augmentation with generative adversarial networks to enhance cutaneous melanoma identification and interpretability
Authors: Gómez-Martínez Vanesa , Chushig-Muzo David , Veierød Marit B. , Granja Conceição , Soguero-Ruiz Cristina
Published: October 2024

Background

Cutaneous melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, responsible for most skin cancer-related deaths. Recent advances in artificial intelligence, jointly with the availability of public dermoscopy image datasets, have allowed to assist dermatologists in melanoma identification. While image feature extraction holds potential for melanoma detection, it often leads to high-dimensional data. Furthermore, most image datasets present the class imbalance problem, where a few classes have numerous samples, whereas others are under-represented.

Methods

In this paper, we propose to combine ensemble feature selection (FS) methods and data augmentation with the conditional tabular generative adversarial networks (CTGAN) to enhance melanoma identification in imbalanced datasets. We employed dermoscopy images from two public datasets, PH2 and Derm7pt, which contain melanoma and not-melanoma lesions. To capture intrinsic information from skin lesions, we conduct two feature extraction (FE) approaches, including handcrafted and embedding features. For the former, color, geometric and first-, second-, and higher-order texture features were extracted, whereas for the latter, embeddings were obtained using ResNet-based models. To alleviate the high-dimensionality in the FE, ensemble FS with filter methods were used and evaluated. For data augmentation, we conducted a progressive analysis of the imbalance ratio (IR), related to the amount of synthetic samples created, and evaluated the impact on the predictive results. To gain interpretability on predictive models, we used SHAP, bootstrap resampling statistical tests and UMAP visualizations.

Results

The combination of ensemble FS, CTGAN, and linear models achieved the best predictive results, achieving AUCROC values of 87% (with support vector machine and IR=0.9) and 76% (with LASSO and IR=1.0) for the PH2 and Derm7pt, respectively. We also identified that melanoma lesions were mainly characterized by features related to color, while not-melanoma lesions were characterized by texture features.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of ensemble FS and synthetic data in the development of models that accurately identify melanoma. This research advances skin lesion analysis, contributing to both melanoma detection and the interpretation of main features for its identification.
The awareness of sharenting in Italy: a pilot study
Authors: Ferrara Pietro , Cammisa Ignazio , Zona Margherita , Cimaroli Elena , Sacco Roberto , Pacucci Ivana , Grimaldi Maria Teresa , Scaltrito Francesca , Pettoello-Mantovani Massimo , Corsello Giovanni
Published: October 2024

Background

This pilot study examines the widespread phenomenon of “sharenting” and how it is perceived by parents. Given the increasing prevalence of this practice, the study aims to explore parental awareness of its potential risks and assess whether it is perceived as a form of child abuse, particularly regarding the violation of children’s privacy. While traditional forms of child abuse inflict direct harm on the child, sharenting can damage the child’s image and pose risks to their well-being, both in the present and the future. We evaluated the potential correlation between specific demographic characteristics and parents’ social media usage. The study aimed to assess the possibility of expanding the research by involving European pediatric societies to obtain comparable data and develop family education programs with the goal of limiting this phenomenon. It also emphasizes the important role that pediatricians and schools can play in these programs.

Methods

The study was designed using a survey model, one of the recognized quantitative research methods described in the literature and was conducted by the Pediatric Department of the University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico in Rome between November 2023 and January 2024.

Results

Data from this study indicate that gender, age, education level, number of children, and number of social media accounts were not associated with sharenting phenomenon and suggest that the frequency and the onset time of sharenting were the main influencing variables in the perception of sharenting phenomenon as neglect and abuse.

Conclusions

Preventive interventions, such as counseling and parental education, are essential to safeguard children’s well-being and prioritize their best interests, including their privacy and identity. Moreover, while the data from this study are limited, they underscore the importance of expanding data collection efforts across different countries. Establishing a comprehensive database could be beneficial for local and European governments in developing policies and educational programs aimed at mitigating potential risks associated with the improper exploitation of personal data, thus safeguarding children in both the short and long term.
Fine structure of a daytime mid-latitude sporadic-E revealed by GNSS TEC, InSAR, and MAI
Authors: Fujimoto Tatsuya , Furuya Masato , Heki Kosuke
Published: October 2024

Combining the total electron content (TEC) data from two nationwide Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) networks in Japan with the L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, we reveal the fine spatial and temporal structure of a daytime sporadic-E (Es) episode in Shikoku, Japan. The snapshot of the Es is derived not only from interferometric SAR (InSAR) but also from multiple aperture interferometry (MAI), the latter of which performs better in isolating the fine spatial structure. The GNSS TEC maps indicate that the Es episode is accompanied by a primary east–west elongated (up to ~ 180 km) southward migrating TEC striation with a speed of ~ 90 m/s and ~ 10–20 km widths in the north–south direction. As previously suggested by the GNSS TEC time series, the present InSAR and MAI data independently confirm that electron density in the primary striation gradually increases from the frontal leading edge but abruptly drops in the trailing edge. MAI-based TEC map confirms multiple TEC striations as previously suggested in GNSS TEC time-series, which are reminiscent of the quasi-periodic (QP) echoes in nighttime Es detected by the middle and upper atmosphere (MU) radar, but the periodicity is not as clear as that observed by MU radar. The Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) instabilities around the wind shear of neutral winds could be responsible for the QP TEC striations.

Graphical abstract
In vivo validation of osteoinductivity and biocompatibility of BMP-2 enriched calcium phosphate cement alongside retrospective description of its clinical adverse events
Authors: Wang Mingjie , Xu Chunfeng , Zheng Yuanna , Pieterse Herman , Sun Zhe , Liu Yuelian
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Although bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) possesses potent osteoinductivity, there have been some concerns on the safety of BMP-2 and BMP-2-incorporated bone substitutes used for bone formation. On the other hand, BMP-2-loaded calcium phosphate cement (BMP-2@CPC) has been developed and used for bone regeneration in oral implantology. Therefore, this study aims to investigate this product's biocompatibility and clinical safety after being used in maxillofacial surgery.

Materials and methods

A rat model was employed to assess the osteoinduction and biocompatibility of BMP-2@CPC. Further, a retrospective investigation was carried out: 110 patients who received BMP-2@CPC treatment after their maxillofacial surgery were recruited to describe relative adverse events.

Results

In vivo, BMP-2@CPC showed a significantly higher mean bone volume density and osteoblasts volume density (15 ± 2% and 3 ± 1%)than those of the CPC group (p < 0.05) after being implanted in the dorsal area of rats. Regarding biocompatibility, the mean fibrous tissue volume density was significantly lower in the BMP-2@CPC group (20 ± 5% compared to 31 ± 6%, p = 0.026). The retrospective clinical study showed that only five mild/moderate adverse events were identified in four patients based on the medical records of 110 patients, including swelling, bony mass, and wound dehiscence. This adverse event occurrence was not affected by gender, age, the dose of filled materials, and operations in the study (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

BMP-2-loaded CPC has osteoinductivity and more promising biocompatibility than pure CPC. However, its degradation is slower than CPC. The safety of BMP-2-loaded CPC with 0.5 or 1 mg BMP-2 is promising in oral maxillofacial surgery.

Clinical implications

This study confirmed the promising safety of this BMP-2 incorporated CPC used in dental clinical practice, which can promote its reassuring application for dental implant placement in bone insufficient areas.

Graphical Abstract
Free Kappa light chain in a sample of Egyptian multiple sclerosis patients (a pilot study)
Authors: Shehab Abeer Elsayed Aly , Bakr Salwa Ibrahim , Saleh Rasha Mamdouh , Ragab Dina Aly , Salem Maryam Gamal , Hafeez Mohamed Aly Abdel
Published: October 2024

Background

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that is usually associated with varying degrees of progressive disability. Free Kappa light chain (FKLC) has attracted growing attention as a significant diagnostic marker of MS. Our aim was to study the diagnostic utility of cerebrospinal fluid free Kappa light chain and related indices in a sample of Egyptian MS patients vs. CSF IgG oligoclonal bands. It was a prospective case–control study of MS patients carried in our hospital during the period from January 2021 till January 2022. Our study carried on 30 patients with multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory neurologic diseases and 20 age and sex matched controls. The study measured FKLC in the CSF and serum sample pairs of patients and control group. Indices calculated using FKLC measured in CSF and serum included; FKLC index, FKLC intrathecal fraction and quotient of FKLC. Indices were used to assess intrathecal synthesis of FKLC considering blood–CSF barrier function. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine diagnostic performance of FKLC and related indices in comparison to CSF–OCB testing.

Results

Measured FKLC levels as well as its calculated indices have shown statistically significant higher values among MS patients against OIND patients and healthy control group. Both FKLC index and FKLC IF were similarly showing 100% diagnostic sensitivity and 100% diagnostic specificity for MS diagnosis.

Conclusions

FKLC biomarkers are proposed to be highly sensitive and easy to detect first-line markers of intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis with accurate performance and low cost that might prove to be promising diagnostic markers of MS.
Psychiatric symptom profiles of inpatient refugees in Egypt: insights from a single center study
Authors: Soliman Mahmoud , El-Gabry Dina Aly , Assaf Mansour , Meshreky Kyrillos , Elsaadouni Nisrin
Published: October 2024

Background

The global surge in refugee populations has sparked considerable apprehension regarding their mental health. This study explores the symptom profile and associated factors among refugee patients admitted to Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, hospitals between 2018 and 2021.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted utilizing the medical records of refugee patients admitted to Okasha Institute of Psychiatry between 2018 and 2021. Data collection encompassed socio-demographic characteristics, diagnoses, reported stressors, and specific symptom profiles.

Results

The study involved 36 refugee patients, averaging 26.7 years, predominantly female (61.1%), and predominantly of Sudanese origin (45.9%). Prevalent diagnoses included bipolar disorder (36.8%), schizophrenia (26.3%), and major depressive disorder (13.2%). A diverse array of stressors emerged, with immigration-related issues ranking highest (21.2%). Other noteworthy stressors comprised marital conflicts (15.2%) and house-related difficulties (15.2%).

Conclusion

This study highlighted the prevalence of severe mental illnesses, varied stressors, and distinct symptom profiles in refugees with psychiatric admissions and underscored the imperative for culturally sensitive and trauma-informed mental health services. Further research is imperative to devise effective interventions and enhance the mental health outcomes of refugee populations.
Data assetization and capital market information efficiency: evidence from Hidden Champion SMEs in China
Authors: Chen Lili
Published: October 2024

Data assets serve functions such as value preservation and appreciation, financing, and value creation. They contain extensive information about enterprises’ operational status and future development prospects, providing significant references for external investors’ decision-making and greatly impacting the information efficiency in capital market. This study examines the correlation between data assetization and capital market information efficiency, along with the mechanisms and influencing factors involved. We select a sample of Chinese Hidden Champion small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 2011 to 2021, utilize text analysis methods to build a data assets dictionary, and extract keywords from corporate annual reports to depict the level of data assetization. The research results indicate that data assetization significantly enhances the information efficiency of capital market, specifically reducing stock price synchronicity and stock price delay. By categorizing data assets into own-use data assets and transactional data assets, we find that both types can improve the information efficiency of the capital market. Mechanism analysis reveals that enterprise data assetization can enhance the information efficiency of capital market by alleviating corporate financing constraints and improving forward-looking information disclosure. Factors analysis demonstrates that digital infrastructure and data circulation transactions can strengthen the enhancement effect of data assetization on the information efficiency of capital market. This study enriches the research outcomes in the micro-research field of data assets, providing valuable insights for promoting the digital transformation of Hidden Champion SMEs and the high-quality development of capital market.
Post COVID rhino-cerebral mucormycosis at a tertiary hospital in Central India: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Gaurkar Sagar Shankarrao , Deshmukh Prasad Trimbakrao , Khan Farhat Qamruddin
Published: October 2024

Background

Usually non-pathogenic in immunocompetent individuals, mucormycosis is an aggressive, angio-invasive fungus. It is a rare, opportunistic infection belonging to the zygomycete family. The second wave of COVID-19 saw the emergence of a more dangerous and a potentially deadly invasive fungal sinusitis evolving in rhino-cerebral mucormycosis thus compounding and complicating the pandemic. Alarming and exponential rise in the number of cases of rhino-cerebral mucormycosis in India versus the rest of the world when the treatment protocols essentially remained the same needs to be probed scientifically along with its prompt management. Here an attempt has been made to explore this in the study of 50 cases of rhino-cerebral mucormycosis. This study aims to explore the cause and extension of the disease along with its treatment and outcome in 50 cases of post COVID rhino-cerebral mucormycosis.

Results

This is a retrospective cohort study conducted on 50 patients with post COVID-19 invasive mucormycosis of the paranasal sinuses with extension to surrounding structure visiting Otorhinolaryngology department at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Wardha. Among 50 patients, 86% males in 4th to 7th decade with mean age of 51.08 years. Large majority had mild–moderate severity on high-resolution computed tomography thorax with 84% having uncontrolled diabetes and 18% newly diagnosed diabetic cases. Seventy-two percent had history of steroid intake for COVID-19 management. Maxillary sinus was most commonly involved sinus in 94% cases while 32% had commonest extra nasal spread hard palate. Seventy-eight percent of the post operated mucormycosis cases are alive with no recurrence, 8% are alive and had recurrence of the disease while 14% resulted in death.

Conclusion

Effective management and control of the infection can be achieved with the use of strong antibiotics, oral or systemic antifungal drugs, extensive surgical excision of diseased tissue, and addressing underlying risk factors can effectively manage and control the infection. This approach results in positive outcomes and reduced morbidity compared to the time prior to the COVID-19 pandemic including cases with extensive disease.
Identifying Oncology Patients at High Risk for Potentially Preventable Emergency Department Visits Using a Novel Definition
Authors: Fleshner Lauren , Gandhi Sonal , Lagree Andrew , Boulard Louise , Grant Robert C. , Kiss Alex , Krzyzanowska Monika K. , Cheng Ivy , Tran William T.
Published: October 2024

PURPOSE

Patients with cancer visit the emergency department (ED) frequently. While some ED visits are necessary, others may be potentially preventable ED visits (PPEDs). Reducing PPEDs is important to improve quality of care and reduce costs. However, a robust definition and the characteristics of patients at risk remain unclear. This study aimed to describe oncology-related PPEDs and identify characteristics of patients at the highest risk for PPEDs to help target interventions and minimize avoidable ED visits.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted using four clinical and administrative databases. All ED visits by oncology patients between April 1, 2019, and April 1, 2021, were identified. A novel definition of PPEDs was explored, specifically visits that resulted in immediate discharge from the ED or admissions <48 hours. Trends in ED use, including PPEDs, were evaluated using descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and machine learning (ML) modeling.

RESULTS

During the 2-year period, 6,689 oncology patients visited the ED (N = 13,415 visits). A total of 62.1% of visits were classified as PPEDs. PPEDs were most common among patients with stage I to III breast cancer and those on systemic therapy. Characteristics of patients at high risk for non-PPEDs included stage IV disease with either lung or GI carcinomas and shorter distances to the ED. The highest-performing ML model yielded an AUC of 0.819.

CONCLUSION

Our novel definition of PPEDs appears promising in identifying oncology patients who could avoid the ED with targeted interventions. This work demonstrated that patients with early-stage disease, those with breast cancer, and those on systemic therapy are at the highest risk for PPEDs and may benefit from proactive interventions to avoid the ED. Although our definition requires validation, using ML models for more robust predictive modeling appears promising.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Informed Decision-Making on
BRAF
Mutation Testing
Authors: Webster Jennifer , Ghith Jennifer , Penner Orion , Lieu Christopher H. , Schijvenaars Bob J.A.
Published: October 2024

PURPOSE

Precision oncology relies on accurate and interpretable reporting of testing and mutation rates. Focusing on the
BRAFV600
mutations in advanced colorectal carcinoma, non–small-cell lung carcinoma, and cutaneous melanoma, we developed a platform displaying testing and mutation rates reported in the literature, which we annotated using an artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) pipeline.

METHODS

Using AI, we identified publications that likely reported a testing or mutation rate, filtered publications for cancer type, and identified sentences that likely reported rates. Rates and covariates were subsequently manually curated by three experts. The AI performance was evaluated using precision and recall metrics. We used an interactive platform to explore and present the annotated testing and mutation rates by certain study characteristics.

RESULTS

The interactive dashboard, accessible at the BRAF dimensions website, enables users to filter mutation and testing rates with relevant options (eg, country of study, study type, mutation type) and to visualize annotated rates. The AI pipeline demonstrated excellent filtering performance (>90% precision and recall for all target cancer types) and moderate performance for sentence classification (53%-99% precision; ≥75% recall). The manual annotation of testing and mutation rates revealed inter-rater disagreement (testing rate, 19%; mutation rate, 70%), indicating unclear or nonstandard reporting of rates in some publications.

CONCLUSION

Our AI-driven NLP pipeline demonstrated the potential for annotating biomarker testing and mutation rates. The difficulties we encountered highlight the need for more advanced AI-powered literature searching and data extraction, and more consistent reporting of testing rates. These improvements would reduce the risk of misinterpretation or misunderstanding of testing and mutation rates by AI-based technologies and the health care community, with beneficial impacts on clinical decision-making, research, and trial design.
Extractive Colonialism and State Making in Early Modern Ottoman Kurdistan
Authors: Özok-Gündoğan Nilay
Published: October 2024

This article explores the overlooked dimension of Ottoman colonialism through an analysis of resource extraction in the Keban and Ergani mines during the early modern era. Situated in the Kurdistan province, these mines played a pivotal role in furnishing essential minerals for the Ottoman state's fiscal and military exigencies. Departing from conventional narratives, which often emphasize discursive practices or focus solely on settler colonialism, the study adopts an extractive colonialism framework to reveal the intricate relationship between imperialism, resource exploitation, and indigenous resistance. Ultimately, it contributes to the burgeoning literature on the coloniality of Kurdistan by providing empirical evidence of economic exploitation, environmental degradation, and the erosion of local autonomy in the face of heightened state centralization, control, and economic expansion.
Fixers, Fieldwork, and Precarity: The Postcoloniality of Western Fieldwork on ISIS in Kurdistan
Authors: Jasim Dastan
Published: October 2024

After the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2014 and the fight of both Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces as well as the Syrian Kurdish forces of the People's Protection Units (YPG, Yekîneyên Parastina Gel) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ, Yekîneyên Parastina Jin) against them, Western journalists tried to gather information quickly. Locals were happy to share as much as possible, as ISIS was a great danger. As an often forgotten population under permanent occupation seeking visibility, the Kurds allow Westerners unparalleled access to the field and provide unpaid or underpaid labor, hoping that the world will see their struggle. This deepened the disparity between Kurdish journalists, academics, and writers and their Western counterparts. Using postcolonial theory on the mindset of colonialized peoples, this article shows how the fear of being forgotten, the material disparity between colonizers and colonized, and the coloniality of local political actors are obstacles for Kurdish professionals. Looking at a focus-group discussion and two interviews with Kurdish journalists, fixers, and translators from Iraq and Syria, the comparison shows that both autonomous regions are projects that sought to end decades of occupation and now face challenges that show similarities and differences.
Kurdish Vernacular Learning as Indigenous Knowledge: Decolonizing Ottoman Cultural and Intellectual History
Authors: Leezenberg Michiel
Published: October 2024

This contribution explores in what ways the Kurdish experience may be called “colonial” and, by extension, what decolonizing Kurdish studies would or could amount to. Specifically, it explores whether and to what extent Kurdish vernacular learning may be qualified as “Indigenous learning” as it appears in decolonial critiques. The article suggests a genealogical approach to the epistemic dimensions of coloniality to explicate the radical historicity of knowledge and to make visible relations of domination and resistance in the field of knowledge and learning. Early modern Kurdish vernacular learning, it will be argued, was produced under the domination of Persian and Arabic, and to some extent it amounted to heresy, that is, an act of symbolic resistance. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the vernacularization of Kurdish language and learning in the seventeenth-century Ottoman Empire and in Mollah Mahmûdê Bayazîdî’s encounter with nineteenth-century Russian imperialism and Orientalism.
The Decolonial Turn in Kurdish Studies: An Introduction
Authors: Kurt Mashuq , Özok-Gündoğan Nilay
Published: October 2024

This special-issue introduction highlights the burgeoning movement toward decolonizing Kurdish studies, outlining its challenges and opportunities within the academic landscape. Central to the authors’ discussion is the concept of the coloniality of power, which offers a framework for understanding the enduring oppression faced by Kurds within the context of ongoing colonial domination in the Middle East. The introduction delves into themes of historical erasure and academic marginalization, shedding light on the struggle for recognition within not only national and regional variants of area studies such as Turkish, Arab, Iranian, and Middle East studies but also the Euro-American academy more broadly. Furthermore, the introduction underlines the potential of decolonial methodologies in reshaping the study of Kurds and Kurdistan, emphasizing the significance of amplifying voices from the ground, including those of Kurdish intellectuals, activists, and politicians. Through critical reflexivity and engagement with diverse perspectives, the editors of this special issue call for a reimagining of Kurdish studies that prioritizes epistemic decolonization, centering the experiences and agency of Kurdish communities.
The Three Pillars of De-development: Forced Displacement, Cultural Annihilation, and Economic Expropriation
Authors: Yadirgi Veli
Published: October 2024

The central argument and the vantage point of this article is that there is an indivisible and organic link between the economic and noneconomic aspects of dispossession or disarticulation in the state policies in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia (ESA), without the analysis of which the political economy of de-development in ESA cannot be veraciously understood. Nor could the region be analyzed from a decolonial lens because overlooking or negating this link hinders the pivotal aims and achievements of the decolonization scholarship: (1) excavating the significant historical power inequalities and (2) unearthing and impugning the sanitization or negation of plunder and the civilizing mission. An indispensable element of de-development in ESA is the nationalist population policies, which, among other things, include forced displacement of the autochthonic populaces in ESA. This article analyzes the fluxes in the socioeconomic and political features and structures of ESA and describes the demographic engineering-centered de-development policies implemented in the ESA, which have been thus far either eluded or analyzed devoid of their ramifications for socioeconomic features and structures in ESA by scholarly studies. In doing so, the article will employ a political economy approach as well as a longue durée mode of analysis.
Sticky Spending, Sequestration, and Government Debt
Authors: Piguillem Facundo , Riboni Alessandro
Published: October 2024

Once established, government spending programs tend to continue. A commonly held view is that spending inertia leads to unsustainable debt, ultimately requiring fiscal adjustments such as “sequestration.” We show that by insuring against political turnover, inertia may reduce politicians’ incentives to accumulate debt. However, large preexisting commitments and the prospect of future stabilization can lead to overspending to dilute past administrations’ commitments. Finally, we show that political polarization amplifies incentives to prioritize inertial programs, potentially explaining the increased share of mandatory spending in the US budget. (JEL D72, E62, H61, H63)
Χαρακτήρες παιδιών και εφήβων στην πεζογραφία του Κοσμά Πολίτη
Authors: Στόφυλας Ηλίας
Published: October 2024

Η παρούσα διατριβή επικεντρώνεται στη μελέτη των λογοτεχνικών παιδικών και εφηβικών χαρακτήρων στο έργο του Κοσμά Πολίτη, ενός από τους σπουδαιότερους Έλληνες πεζογράφους της γενιάς του Τριάντα. Στόχος της συγκεκριμένης εργασίας είναι να διερευνήσει σε βάθος το ψυχοσυναισθηματικό τοπίο όλων των παιδικών και εφηβικών χαρακτήρων των έργων του Πολίτη και να αναδείξει τον βαθμό ταύτισης του ίδιου του συγγραφέα με τα πλάσματα της μυθιστορηματικής του φαντασίας. Εκτός όμως από την ανάλυση και τον τρόπο παρουσίασης των παιδικών και εφηβικών λογοτεχνικών προσώπων, στοχοθεσία της παρούσας διατριβής αποτελεί και η ερμηνεία της διαπλοκής των τελευταίων με το υπόλοιπο «προσωπικό» των λογοτεχνικών έργων του συγγραφέα· η ανάδειξη όλων των ειρωνικών δομών, όπως αυτές προκύπτουν, κυρίως, από την εναλλαγή των αφηγηματικών φωνών και των οπτικών γωνιών. Τα βασικά κεφάλαια της διατριβής είναι αφιερωμένα σε παιδικά και εφηβικά πρόσωπα που διαδραματίζουν κεντρικό ρόλο. Το κάθε κεφάλαιο ξεκινά με σχόλια σχετικά με την υπόθεση, τον τίτλο, τη δομή, τα θεματικά μοτίβα, τις αφηγηματικές τεχνικές, την κριτική πρόσληψη του κάθε κειμένου, ύστερα εξετάζονται ενδελεχώς οι παιδικοί και εφηβικοί χαρακτήρες και καταγράφονται τα σχετικά συμπεράσματα. Εντοπίζονται οι μέθοδοι χαρακτηρισμού που χρησιμοποιεί ο Πολίτης για τη σκιαγράφηση των χαρακτήρων. Χρησιμοποιούνται ακόμη θεωρητικά εργαλεία από τα πεδία της αφηγηματολογίας αλλά και των σπουδών του φύλου, όπου κρίνεται απαραίτητο. Στο έργο του Πολίτη οι μικροί ήρωες δεν παίζουν μόνο, αλλά και πάσχουν στον κόσμο των μεγάλων. Τα παιδιά με ευάλωτο ψυχισμό βρίσκονται μετέωρα ανάμεσα στα οικογενειακά προβλήματα, οικονομικής κυρίως φύσεως και στις απαιτήσεις του κοινωνικού περίγυρου. Οι παιδικοί και εφηβικοί χαρακτήρες των έργων του Πολίτη, αδυνατώντας να ξεπεράσουν την ασυμβατότητα του προσωπικού με το αλλότριο, αφανίζονται με πρόωρο θάνατο, συνήθως αυτοκτονούν.
The genome sequence of a true bug, Aradus depressus (Fabricius, 1794)
Authors: McCulloch James , Crowley Liam M. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: October 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual male true bug, Aradus depressus (Arthropoda; Insecta; Hemiptera; Aradidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 697.70 megabases. Most of the assembly (98.69%) is scaffolded into 14 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.81 kilobases in length.
Preserving Secrecy within the Patent System to Safeguard Western Countries’ Technological Innovation
Authors: Põld Lisette
Published: October 2024

Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has brought patent-policy debates into sharp focus with regard to secrecy. Russian violations of international and multilateral agreements on intellectual property have drawn significant attention and highlighted potential risks pertaining to safeguarding of technological innovation by Western countries, not least European Union member states. Against this backdrop, the article reflects on the secret-invention regulations in place and opportunities to keep an invention secret under European patent law. While the concept of a secret invention may appear contradictory to the patent system’s primary aim – disclosure – secret patents are nothing new in the history of patenting. The paper presents a recommendation to expand the scope of secrecy in current patent law, thereby allowing Western countries to implement sufficient counter-measures in response to adversaries’ flouting of international intellectual-property law. The article directs particular attention to expansion of this secrecy’s scope to the technical description of a patent application involving dual-use inventions.
Untangling the Role of Assortative Mating in Educational Reproduction in Twelve European Countries
Authors: Wittemann Vanessa , Yastrebov Gordey
Published: October 2024

In this study, we explore how educational differences in demographic behavior – in particular, mating patterns and fertility – mediate the intergenerational reproduction of educational inequality in twelve European countries. Although this research interest itself is not new, we contribute to this debate by adopting a prospective approach and scaling it to include multiple countries and cohorts. To this end, we leverage a series of complementary datasets and the inferential method developed by Song and Mare (2015) and advanced by Skopek and Leopold (2020) to estimate the components of a stylized educational reproduction model. We then employ a simple decomposition analysis to quantify the contributions of different pathways to prospective educational reproduction rates across educational backgrounds and explore the differences across cohorts and countries. We report several findings. Most notably, (1) the intergenerational reproduction of educational inequality persists in all twelve countries and is barely offset by small (and declining) negative educational gradients in fertility, (2) educational differences in selection into partnership are small and do not account for much inequality, and (3) the role of assortative mating, where present, is ambiguous because it both reinforces inequality via its effects on resources within the family and offsets it via its effects on fertility.
* This article belongs to a special issue on “Changes in Educational Homogamy and Its Consequences”.
Zdolności dynamiczne jako źródło przewag konkurencyjnych przedsiębiorstw
Authors: Cegliński Paweł
Published: October 2024

The main goal set forth in front of the presented monograph is to organise knowledge in the field of relations between dynamic capabilities and competitive advantages of enterprises. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to discuss the complex issue of competitive advantages, describe the assumptions of selected schools of strategic management, the foundations of the concept of dynamic capabilities and many problems related to it, as well as conduct our own empirical research. Contemporary enterprises are forced to constantly adapt to turbulent changes in the environment, which is associated with the need for far-reaching modifications and increasing flexibility of the strategies they implement. The concept of dynamic capabilities is a wide-ranging extension of the resource-based school of strategy, which allows for a significant reformulation of strategic analysis methods and the development of enterprise strategies. It is argued in science that a specific type of organisational capabilities, called dynamic capabilities, is an essential part of any effective strategic adjustment. This concept also complements the methodology of intra- and inter-sectoral comparisons and allows for improving the effectiveness and speed of an organisation's response to changes in its surroundings.
SOLIDARIEDADE E TRANSPARÊNCIA: O IMPACTO DAS REFORMAS NO REGISTRO DE IMÓVEIS E O COMBATE À LAVAGEM DE DINHEIRO NO BRASIL - DOI: 10.12818/P.0304-2340.2024v85p109
Authors: Ferrarini Gomes da Costa Fernanda , Renato dos Reis Jorge
Published: October 2024

O Brasil tem implementado estratégias robustas para combater a lavagem de dinheiro, integrando a atuação dos registros de imóveis, o Conselho de Controle de Atividades Financeiras (COAF) e a atividade notarial. A recente promulgação do Provimento n. 161/2024 pelo Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ) visa aprimorar o processo de comunicação de operações financeiras suspeitas, reduzindo a frequência de comunicações obrigatórias e aumentando a qualidade das informações reportadas. Este provimento destaca a necessidade de documentação detalhada dos meios de pagamento em transações imobiliárias e a identificação das partes envolvidas, como pessoas politicamente expostas. O papel dos cartórios é fulcral: é um meio de controle da garantia da transparência e da integridade das transações imobiliárias, consentâneo com o princípio da solidariedade. Este princípio permeia o espírito destas reformas, refletindo um compromisso com a promoção de um ambiente econômico transparente, justo e seguro.
A rare cutaneous manifestation of systemic sclerosis
Authors: Sleiman Joelle , Aslam Taimur , Slobodnick Anastasia , Bridges Alina G.
Published: October 2024

A 43-year-old male with a history of intravenous drug use and alcohol consumption presented to the emergency department with three-month history of failure to thrive. The patient exhibited a constellation of constitutional symptoms including cough, weight loss, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting. The skin examination revealed multiple subcutaneous hyperpigmented, indurated plaques and nodules on the trunk and arms. Laboratory evaluation revealed abnormal autoimmune tests, anaemia, elevated inflammatory markers and radiological evidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). An excisional biopsy from a skin lesion demonstrated dermal sclerosis consistent with scleroderma. The patient was diagnosed with diffuse systemic scleroderma with cutaneous findings consistent with nodular or keloidal scleroderma variant. This case highlights a rare cutaneous variant of systemic scleroderma called nodular or keloidal scleroderma.
Paradoxical hypoxemia following positive pressure ventilation: exploring the pathophysiology
Authors: See Xin Ya , Naseem Zehra , Synderburn Susan , Wallace William , Chaisson Neal , Culver Daniel
Published: October 2024

Positive pressure ventilation (PPV), both non-invasive and invasive, enhances ventilation but can sometimes lead to unexpected hypoxemia. This case report describes an instance of paradoxical hypoxemia after initiating bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) in a 58-year-old female with a medical history of systemic lupus erythematosus, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary embolism. BiPAP was started, leading to improved hypercarbia but worsened hypoxemia. Further investigation revealed a right-to-left interatrial shunt via a small patent foramen ovale (PFO). Adjusting BiPAP settings improved arterial blood gas parameters. This case illustrates how positive pressure ventilation with underlying PFO can cause paradoxical hypoxemia. The case emphasizes the importance of understanding the pathophysiology and tailoring BiPAP settings based on individual haemodynamics.
Highlighting the latest research: October 2024
Authors: Palmer Sarah Jane , Cowan Helen
Published: October 2024

Sarah Jane Palmer presents a selection of recently published articles of interest to nurses working in cardiovascular nursing, while Helen Cowan explores their application to practice. The aim of this roundup is to provide a brief overview of the research papers selected and highlight their relevance to cardiac nursing practice. A full reference is provided for those who wish to look at the research in further detail.
Exploring perceptions of maternity services for pregnant adolescents in Indonesia: a qualitative study
Authors: Astuti Andari Wuri , Lestari Yayuk Puji
Published: October 2024

Background/Aims

Adolescent pregnancies are prevalent in Indonesia. This study aimed to explore perceptions from healthcare workers and pregnant adolescents of maternity services for pregnant adolescents.

Methods

This qualitative exploratory study involved two policymakers, 10 midwives, five doctors, and 10 pregnant adolescents. Data were collected through structured interviews in public health centre consultation rooms. The data were analysed thematically to explore factors that promoted or hindered use of maternity services for pregnant adolescents.

Results

The identified barriers included a lack of tailored directives, challenges in engaging adolescents, insufficient numbers of skilled healthcare professionals, adolescents' fears and compromised confidentiality. Opportunities for improvement included enhancing service quality through strategic planning and specialised training for midwives and psychologists.

Conclusions

The study underscores the need to improve maternity services offered for pregnant adolescents by creating a conducive working environment and sensitising healthcare workers and the community to adolescent mothers' needs.

Implications for practice

There is a need for guidelines in Indonesia specifically on providing care for pregnant adolescents. Healthcare professionals require specialised training and facilities should be made adolescent friendly.