bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large variability in degree of constraint of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty liners between different implant systems
Authors: Moroder Philipp , Herbst Eva , Pawelke Jonas , Lappen Sebastian , Schulz Eva
Published: October 2024

Aims

The liner design is a key determinant of the constraint of a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). The aim of this study was to compare the degree of constraint of rTSA liners between different implant systems.

Methods

An implant company’s independent 3D shoulder arthroplasty planning software (mediCAD 3D shoulder v. 7.0, module v. 2.1.84.173.43) was used to determine the jump height of standard and constrained liners of different sizes (radius of curvature) of all available companies. The obtained parameters were used to calculate the stability ratio (degree of constraint) and angle of coverage (degree of glenosphere coverage by liner) of the different systems. Measurements were independently performed by two raters, and intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to perform a reliability analysis. Additionally, measurements were compared with parameters provided by the companies themselves, when available, to ensure validity of the software-derived measurements.

Results

There were variations in jump height between rTSA systems at a given size, resulting in large differences in stability ratio between systems. Standard liners exhibited a stability ratio range from 126% to 214% (mean 158% (SD 23%)) and constrained liners a range from 151% to 479% (mean 245% (SD 76%)). The angle of coverage showed a range from 103° to 130° (mean 115° (SD 7°)) for standard and a range from 113° to 156° (mean 133° (SD 11°)) for constrained liners. Four arthroplasty systems kept the stability ratio of standard liners constant (within 5%) across different sizes, while one system showed slight inconsistencies (within 10%), and ten arthroplasty systems showed large inconsistencies (range 11% to 28%). The stability ratio of constrained liners was consistent across different sizes in two arthroplasty systems and inconsistent in seven systems (range 18% to 106%).

Conclusion

Large differences in jump height and resulting degree of constraint of rTSA liners were observed between different implant systems, and in many cases even within the same implant systems. While the immediate clinical effect remains unclear, in theory the degree of constraint of the liner plays an important role for the dislocation and notching risk of a rTSA system.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(10):818–824.
Fighting Alone or Mutual Benefit and Win? A Study on Forestry Embodied Energy Competition Network Based on MRIO
Authors: Ni Jing-Sheng , Dong Juan , Zheng Ming-Gui
Published: October 2024

Measuring energy usage in the forestry trade is a topic of great significance. In this article, we use the World Input–Output Database and the multiregional input–output model to establish an embodied energy competition network and assess the influence of global value chain (GVC) integration on competition. The results show that (1) the intensity of competition for embodied energy in forestry is higher for exports compared with imports. Additionally, the import competition network exhibits lower connectivity and overall efficiency. (2) The core regions of the competitive network are primarily found in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The United States consistently maintains a competitive advantage. However, forestry policies have led to a decline in the status of the United States, (3) The hierarchical structure of export competition is more pronounced. When the weighting degree exceeds 200, this phenomenon becomes more pronounced. (4) From the perspective of GVC, positive embedding in the GVC is negatively correlated with import competition. Backward GVC embedding is positively correlated with import and export competition. On the basis of the above results, this article proposes that countries where backward embedding is the main method should actively participate in building appropriate export international associations, participating in international organizations, and building a relatively harmonious and stable export competition market, thereby helping to maintain economic development and energy environment management.
On the Unplanned Technique of Enactments: Holding Liminality in Group Therapy
Authors: Shechter Adam
Published: October 2024

Abstract: The essence of the enactment comes from the group therapist's early adaptions and how they obscure an objective view of the group members' needs. The construct of liminality is explored for its clinical and theoretical use in this between-zone of being, sensing, and consciously intervening. Language as an expressive vehicle is considered alongside other tools for therapeutically functioning in liminality. A liminal frame of mind may grant accessibility to these enactments as abstractly prefigured, so that when the enactment comes to center stage, the clinician can coparticipate therapeutically. Enactments as a tool of therapeutic intervention occur unintentionally; the technique discussed here is planning for the unplanned.
Splitting Into "Us and Them" in Bulgaria: Examples of Repeated Collective Defense Mechanisms During Social Unrest—a Compulsion to Repeat
Authors: Nikolova Yana
Published: October 2024

Abstract: The article explains the concept of splitting as a group's defense mechanism that becomes repeatable observed action during social unrest. Using two examples of protests that demonstrate counterproductive repetitions of mental interpretation, the article explains how splitting reinforces the cognitive formation of "us and them," which becomes a polarized stance of "friends and enemies." It also contributes to the area of large-group psychology by explaining a group's compulsion to repeat. The examples from Bulgaria present mental and behavioral similarities that lead to three questions: (a) if repeated cycles from history can be considered as compulsion to repeat rather than unlearned lessons, (b) if so-what explains it, and (c) if events interpreted and experienced in the same way can explain a collective compulsion to repeat over a period of time. The article uses Vamik Volkan' s theory of "us and them" supported by Carl Schmitt's "friends and enemies." Both explain how a group forms a mental representation of events through splitting that manifests as a form of street violence. Furthermore, Melanie Klein's concept of the paranoid-schizoid position is applied to a large group when explaining the reasons why splitting occurs in the first place. The exploration of the two examples demonstrates that a large group can unconsciously repeat their mental interpretations and perform identical collective behavior as a defense operation during the same pressurized social situations.
Body and Imagination: Healing Trauma through Ignatian Meditation and Bio-Spiritual Focusing
Authors: Lee Bo Karen
Published: October 2024

Abstract: Ignatian meditation and bio-spiritual focusing (or BSF) hold healing potential for those recovering from the effects of trauma. This essay, originally delivered as the presidential address of the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality in November 2023, outlines the nature and sources of trauma, explores its effects on the human psyche and body, and offers healing pathways from two streams in Christian spirituality—imaginative Ignatian prayer and BSF. It also explores the theological and spiritual implications of Christ's solidarity with the sufferer, and some of the ways in which Christ offers compassionate witness and embodied presence for those on the healing journey.
Arvo Pärt, Death, and Affective Practice
Authors: Clarkson Joy Marie
Published: October 2024

Abstract: Recent scholarship suggests that the modern West offers few spiritual resources to prepare people for death. This essay contends that Arvo Pärt's music can act as a contemporary affective practice that consoles listeners facing death and compares this use of music with the medieval spiritual practices associated with ars moriendi . This essay attends to the first-person accounts of hospice patients listening to Pärt's music as a compelling case study of contemporary affective practice and develops a new framework for understanding the affective capacities of music by engaging emerging scholarship on spirituality and affect theory.
Ignatian Influences on Nikos Kazantzakis's Askitiki
Authors: Middleton Darren J. N.
Published: October 2024

Abstract: Nikos Kazantzakis (1883–1957), a highly influential Greek novelist and poet, spent a long apprenticeship to Christian spirituality, and he admired Ignatius Loyola (1491–1556). Examining Kazantzakis's Askitiki (English translation, The Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises ), this essay discloses how the moves in Kazantzakis's lyrical essay, like those in Ignatius's masterwork, are drills that constitute an "always more" ( semper maior ) training for the arduous ascent to a knowledge of the God-world alliance. Three themes unite Kazantzakis and Ignatius: active mindfulness; soul-freedom through detachment from disordered affections; and pansacramentalism, finding God in all things and all things in the divine.
Allotropes and Speculative Obligation: SF in Southern Africa
Authors: Omry Keren
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT: This article focuses on speculative fiction written by authors from Southern Africa to examine the nature and effect of genre in fiction from a non-European context. In particular, I claim that Yvette Lisa Ndlovu (Zimbabwe), Namwali Serpell (Zambia), Tlotlo Tsamaase (Botswana), and Nick Wood (Zambia) turn to alternate history to move beyond the stasis of a utopia/dystopia binary. Thus, by creating new settings for both social and intimate interactions within what I call allotropic temporality, a term developed in the article, these authors reestablish a temporal arc: futural possibilities that ensure aesthetic and ethical alternatives by offering nurturing kinship relations and flourishing communities.
Meshwork Ecology: Climate and Colonialism in Diene's Hell Freezes Over and Ruga's Public Service Announcement
Authors: Tveit Marta Mboka
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT: Within global academia, activism, and cultural production there has been a turn towards what I conceptualize as meshwork ecology . Here, the relationality and interdependency of all earthbound things are emphasized, as is the multiplicity of human and nonhuman ontologies and epistemologies existing on the planet. This paper demonstrates how reading for meshwork ecological elements can bring to light new features of ecocentric African speculative fiction. After unpacking my understanding of meshwork ecology, I read for certain meshwork ecological elements the novella "Hell Freezes Over" by Mame Bougouma Diene and the short film Public Service Announcement by Athipatra Ruga. I show how reading for meshwork ecological elements illuminates four central aspects of these texts: 1) the interrogation of colonial ways of inhabiting the earth, 2) the centering of interconnectedness and relationality with the nonhuman, 3) thinking with multiple temporalities, and 4) exploring assemblages that involve technology, humanity, and the nonhuman. I expound on how I understand these texts in conversation with meshwork ecological scholarship as examples of planetary resonances, in this case a shared engagement with the looming reality of climate change and the pressing need to rethink how humanity relates to the nonhuman world.
China's Neoliberal Authoritarian Social Policy
Authors: Frazier Mark W.
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT: China is commonly regarded as a successful alternative to neoliberal economic policy and development strategy. But China's social policies, which were adopted at a pivotal global moment of postsocialist transition in the 1990s, bear significant traits one would associate with neoliberal economic policy. This article uses the case of old age pensions to support this claim. Pension reforms of the early 2000s transferred unprecedented costs and risks to Chinese households under a new social insurance scheme. Twenty years later, the inherent flaws in financing healthcare and pensions through employer-financed and individualized social insurance have become apparent. The concluding section discusses Xi Jinping's dominance of Chinese politics and the risks and economic insecurities that have afflicted Chinese society under these neoliberal social policies.
Industrial picosecond pulse laser welding of stainless-steel to quartz for optical applications
Authors: Morawska Paulina O. , Dzipalski Adrian , Van Abeelen Tara , MacKay Peter E. , Carter Richard M. , Esser M. J. Daniel , Hand Duncan P.
Published: October 2024

We report on the development of a robust picosecond laser welding process for the industrially relevant material combination of quartz and stainless steel. The process requires high numerical aperture focusing of a 6 ps 1030 nm laser through the transparent quartz onto the interface between the two materials. It is found that increased mechanical pressure applied during welding increases reliability and weld performance and with the correct choice of welding parameters parts will survive ISO standard thermal cycling and vibration testing demonstrating the suitability of the process for industrial application.
How the Laser Found Problems to Solve
Authors: Hecht Jeff
Published: October 2024

While some initially wondered about practical applications for the laser—an invention born out of basic research—within a few decades after its first appearance, it was offering solutions ranging from high-speed printing to crystal-clear music.
Yeast Nat4 regulates DNA damage checkpoint signaling through its N-terminal acetyltransferase activity on histone H4
Authors: Constantinou Mamantia , Charidemou Evelina , Shanlitourk Izge , Strati Katerina , Kirmizis Antonis
Published: October 2024

The DNA damage response (DDR) constitutes a vital cellular process that safeguards genome integrity. This biological process involves substantial alterations in chromatin structure, commonly orchestrated by epigenetic enzymes. Here, we show that the epigenetic modifier N-terminal acetyltransferase 4 (Nat4), known to acetylate the alpha-amino group of serine 1 on histones H4 and H2A, is implicated in the response to DNA damage in S. cerevisiae. Initially, we demonstrate that yeast cells lacking Nat4 have an increased sensitivity to DNA damage and accumulate more DNA breaks than wild-type cells. Accordingly, upon DNA damage, NAT4 gene expression is elevated, and the enzyme is specifically recruited at double-strand breaks. Delving deeper into its effects on the DNA damage signaling cascade, nat4-deleted cells exhibit lower levels of the damage-induced modification H2AS129ph (γH2A), accompanied by diminished binding of the checkpoint control protein Rad9 surrounding the double-strand break. Consistently, Mec1 kinase recruitment at double-strand breaks, critical for H2AS129ph deposition and Rad9 retention, is significantly impaired in nat4Δ cells. Consequently, Mec1-dependent phosphorylation of downstream effector kinase Rad53, indicative of DNA damage checkpoint activation, is reduced. Importantly, we found that the effects of Nat4 in regulating the checkpoint signaling cascade are mediated by its N-terminal acetyltransferase activity targeted specifically towards histone H4. Overall, this study points towards a novel functional link between histone N-terminal acetyltransferase Nat4 and the DDR, associating a new histone-modifying activity in the maintenance of genome integrity.
Structure matters: Assessing the statistical significance of network topologies
Authors: Salbanya Bernat , Carrasco-Farré Carlos , Nin Jordi
Published: October 2024

Network analysis has found widespread utility in many research areas. However, assessing the statistical significance of observed relationships within networks remains a complex challenge. Traditional node permutation tests are often insufficient in capturing the effect of changing network topology by creating reliable null distributions. We propose two randomization alternatives to address this gap: random rewiring and controlled rewiring. These methods incorporate changes in the network topology through edge swaps. However, controlled rewiring allows for more nuanced alterations of the original network than random rewiring. In this sense, this paper introduces a novel evaluation tool, the Expanded Quadratic Assignment Procedure (EQAP), designed to calculate a specific p-value and interpret statistical tests with enhanced precision. The combination of EQAP and controlled rewiring provides a robust network comparison and statistical analysis framework. The methodology is exemplified through two real-world examples: the analysis of an organizational network structure, illustrated by the Enron-Email dataset, and a social network case, represented by the UK Faculty friendship network. The utility of these statistical tests is underscored by their capacity to safeguard researchers against Type I errors when exploring network metrics dependent on intricate topologies.
Personality in motion: How intuition and sensing personality traits relate to lower limb rebound performance
Authors: Gindre Cyrille , Patoz Aurélien , Breine Bastiaan , Lussiana Thibault
Published: October 2024

Embodied cognition asserts a symbiotic relationship between cognitive processes and the physical body, raising an intriguing question: could personality traits be intertwined with the biomechanical performance of the lower limb? This study aimed to explore this connection by examining how personality traits, assessed using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), relate to lower limb rebound power (RP) measured through the five-repetition rebound jump test. Eighty participants completed two sessions: a biomechanical analysis of hopping using an Optojump® system to measure contact time, flight time, and RP, and a personality traits assessment categorizing traits across four MBTI axes: extraversion-introversion (favorite world); sensing-intuition (information processing preference); thinking-feeling (decision making); and judging-perceiving (structure). Participant characteristics did not significantly differ across MBTI axes (p≥0.07), minimizing potential confounding factors. Notably, individuals classified as intuitive showed significantly longer flight times (p = 0.02) and larger RP (p = 0.007) compared to sensing individuals, suggesting a greater reliance on the fast stretch-shortening cycle and showcasing superior use of their lower limb structures as springs. This suggests potential implications for sports performance, with intuition individuals possibly excelling in plyometric sports. However, no significant associations were found between biomechanical performance and the other three MBTI axes (p≥0.12), challenging the initial hypothesis. This research provides initial insights into the nuanced relationship between personality traits and movement patterns, indicating the potential for tailored physical interventions to enhance adherence and optimize responses in training programs.
Women’s environmental quality of life is key to their overall quality of life and health: Global evidence from the WHOQOL-100
Authors: Skevington Suzanne M. , Schick-Makaroff Kara , Rowland Christine , Molzahn Anita ,   and the WHOQOL Group
Published: October 2024

Gender inequalities in health-related quality of life (QoL) are generally few and small, even in large surveys. Many generic measures limit assessment to QoL overall and its physical and psychological dimensions, while overlooking internationally important environmental, social, and spiritual QoL domains. Unique cross-cultural legacy data was collected using four WHOQOL-100 surveys of adults living in 43 cultures world-wide (17,608 adults; ages 15–101). It was first used to examined gender profiles of its five QoL international domains, and their component facets. Few significant gender differences (p < .001) were found. Women reported higher spiritual QoL than men on faith, and spiritual connection facets specifically. Men reported higher physical and psychological QoL domains than women. We aimed to identify those QoL dimensions that contribute to women’s overall QoL in health, as this information could inform gender inequalities interventions in health. Environmental QoL explained a substantial 46% of women’s overall QoL and health (n = 5,017; 17 cultures) (stepwise multiple regression adjusted for age, education, and marital status covariates). Five environmental QoL facets contributed significantly to this result; home environment offered most explanation. Age band analysis was conducted to understand when interventions might be best timed in the lifespan to improve women’s QoL. Younger women (< 45 years) reported the poorest QoL across the lifetime, and on every domain. After 45, all domains except physical QoL increased to very good at about 60, and high levels were sustained beyond 75, especially environmental QoL. Global findings show that assessing environmental, social, and spiritual QoL domains are key to fully understanding women’s QoL and health. These assessments should be prioritized in surveys that aim to improve international conservation, and public health policies.
Segmentation study of nanoparticle topological structures based on synthetic data
Authors: Liang Fengfeng , Zhang Yu , Zhou Chuntian , Zhang Heng , Liu Guangjie , Zhu Jinlong
Published: October 2024

Nanoparticles exhibit broad applications in materials mechanics, medicine, energy and other fields. The ordered arrangement of nanoparticles is very important to fully understand their properties and functionalities. However, in materials science, the acquisition of training images requires a large number of professionals and the labor cost is extremely high, so there are usually very few training samples in the field of materials. In this study, a segmentation method of nanoparticle topological structure based on synthetic data (SD) is proposed, which aims to solve the issue of small data in the field of materials. Our findings reveal that the combination of SD generated by rendering software with merely 15% Authentic Data (AD) shows better performance in training deep learning model. The trained U-Net model shows that Miou of 0.8476, accuracy of 0.9970, Kappa of 0.8207, and Dice of 0.9103, respectively. Compared with data enhancement alone, our approach yields a 1% improvement in the Miou metric. These results show that our proposed strategy can achieve better prediction performance without increasing the cost of data acquisition.
The background and experience of neuroscience teachers in Australian universities: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Todd Gabrielle , Kreilaus Fabian , Lonergan Amy S. , Cameron Melissa S. , Double Kay L.
Published: October 2024

Neuroscience is an academic discipline taught within a broad range of university degrees and programs. The expertise and experience of neuroscience teaching staff contribute to the student’s learning experience and knowledge acquisition. We undertook a survey to characterize the neuroscience teaching workforce and practices in Australian universities, and to investigate access to and deficiencies in neuroscience teaching resources and training. Two hundred neuroscience teaching staff completed our anonymous online survey. The responses indicated that neuroscience is primarily being delivered by highly qualified (86% with doctoral degrees, 27% with formal qualifications in tertiary teaching), research-active (45% were recently primary supervisors of research students) teaching academics with secure employment (77% in full-time continuing positions). There were more females (61.5%) than males (38.5%) in the sample and most respondents taught neuroscience to students enrolled in a range of degrees/programs. Most survey respondents could access an anatomy laboratory for teaching (87%) but access to specialised online resources, such as augmented reality presentations, customised game-based learning approaches, and/or online brain atlases, was limited. Most survey respondents reported they would benefit from increased access to neuroscience teaching resources and/or peer-tested teaching materials (80%), an informal network of Australian neuroscience teaching peers (64%), and/or training workshops on neuroscience teaching (59%). Approximately half of survey respondents supported the creation of national guidelines for neuroscience teaching curricula. The survey results identify specific gaps in teacher training and resources and inform the development of strategies to support tertiary teachers of neuroscience and student learning.
2’-O-methyltransferase-deficient yellow fever virus: Restricted replication in the midgut and secondary tissues of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes severely limits dissemination
Authors: vom Hemdt Anja , Thienel Alexandra L. , Ciupka Katrin , Wieseler Janett , Proksch Hannah M. , Schlee Martin , Kümmerer Beate M.
Published: October 2024

The RNA genome of orthoflaviviruses encodes a methyltransferase within the non-structural protein NS5, which is involved in 2’-O-methylation of the 5’-terminal nucleotide of the viral genome resulting in a cap1 structure. While a 2’-O-unmethylated cap0 structure is recognized in vertebrates by the RNA sensor RIG-I, the cap1 structure allows orthoflaviviruses to evade the vertebrate innate immune system. Here, we analyzed whether the cap0 structure is also recognized in mosquitoes. Replication analyses of 2’-O-methyltransferase deficient yellow fever virus mutants (YFV NS5-E218A) of the vaccine 17D and the wild-type Asibi strain in mosquito cells revealed a distinct downregulation of the cap0 viruses. Interestingly, the level of inhibition differed for various mosquito cells. The most striking difference was found in Aedes albopictus-derived C6/36 cells with YFV-17D cap0 replication being completely blocked. Replication of YFV-Asibi cap0 was also suppressed in mosquito cells but to a lower extent. Analyses using chimeras between YFV-17D and YFV-Asibi suggest that a synergistic effect of several mutations across the viral genome accompanied by a faster initial growth rate of YFV-Asibi cap1 correlates with the lower level of YFV-Asibi cap0 attenuation. Viral growth analyses in Dicer-2 knockout cells demonstrated that Dicer-2 is entirely dispensable for attenuating the YFV cap0 viruses. Translation of a replication-incompetent cap0 reporter YFV-17D genome was reduced in mosquito cells, indicating a cap0 sensing translation regulation mechanism. Further, oral infection of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes resulted in lower infection rates for YFV-Asibi cap0. The latter is related to lower viral loads found in the midguts, which largely diminished dissemination to secondary tissues. After intrathoracic infection, YFV-Asibi cap0 replicated slower and to decreased amounts in secondary tissues compared to YFV-Asibi cap1. These results suggest the existence of an ubiquitously expressed innate antiviral protein recognizing 5’-terminal RNA cap-modifications in mosquitoes, both in the midgut as well as in secondary tissues.
Challenges in Building a Secure Sustainable Society Amid Global Risks and Threats: Theoretical and Practical Aspects
Authors: Vilks Andrejs , Kipane Aldona , Kuzņecova Kristine
Published: October 2024

The development of society must be based on its sustainability. The current geopolitical situation is linked to extensive security challenges, new extremist manifestations, and threats at international and national levels. In today’s circumstances, the classic conventional threats are complemented by new global threats: hybrid threats, terrorism, cybercrime, and transnational organised crime. The multiple factors affecting public security and its sustainable development are changing.  The new types of threats destabilise international policies in the implementation of the strategy for the sustainable development of society, which requires an objectively determined need for their interdisciplinary study. The study process should take into account that the geopolitical situation is highly dynamic, and the perception and evaluation of its transformation are variable. The study results show that people face feelings of insecurity, anxiety, and depression in current socio-political settings. International global security index scores generally show adverse patterns in these parameters for countries and cities.  The study uses a variety of information sources and cognitive tools to identify the state of security and its threats. Its results will contribute to the development of practical conceptual frameworks for the further development of a sustainable and safe society, taking into account global risks and threats. In a turbulent era characterised by risks, one needs to learn how to understand, anticipate, assess, manage, and mitigate their potential negative impacts. This requires appropriate action, technological solutions, and changes in attitudes.
 
Keywords:   Security, society, sustainable development, threats
Sustainability in Enterprise Architecture: From Optional to Essential
Authors: Alghamdi Hassan
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the integration of sustainability into Enterprise Architecture (EA) and its impact on organizational performance. It examines how sustainable EA practices influence efficiency, compliance with environmental regulations, stakeholder engagement, and innovation within organizations. The research employs a structured Likert scale questionnaire targeting professionals in various industries. Findings reveal a positive correlation between sustainable EA practices and improved organizational performance, regulatory compliance, and innovation. However, challenges such as high costs and organizational resistance persist, particularly for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The study highlights the importance of leadership support and technological readiness in overcoming these barriers. This research contributes to understanding the strategic role of sustainability in EA, offering insights for enhancing organizational resilience and competitiveness. 
Keywords: Enterprise Architecture (EA); Sustainability; Sustainable EA practices; Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
An Exploratory Study on E-Waste Reporting: A Review of Annual Reports from Malaysian Public Listed Companies
Authors: Azman Nik Amalena Najebah Nik , Salleh Sharina Mohd , Hanafi Wan Noordiana Wan , Ya’acob Nur Shuhada , Alrazi  Bakhtiar , Yusoff Haslinda
Published: October 2024

Electronic waste (e-waste) has emerged as a critical global issue due to the environmental and health impacts. Moreover, a significant portion remains unrecorded and improperly managed. Hence, effective e-waste management is crucial to mitigating associated risks and ensuring environmental sustainability. The current study examined e-waste reporting practices among Malaysian Public Listed Companies (PLCs), assessed PLC commitments to environmental sustainability, and explored the legitimacy theory in understanding e-waste reporting.
This study focused on Malaysian PLCs. The sample comprises 114 PLCs distributed across various sectors, such as construction, consumer products and services, energy, financial services, healthcare, and technology, which represented 15% of the total population. A content analysis approach was employed to identify relevant information in annual reports. Subsequently, a categorisation scheme with eight content categories across four dimensions was adapted from previous research to analyse e-waste reporting practices.
The findings revealed that the e-waste reporting among PLCs was low as the information was primarily declarative and neutral. Varying commitment levels were also observed across different sectors, which highlighted the communication methods of PLCs on e-waste management practices. The legitimacy theory was applied to appraise the factors contributing to e-waste reporting behaviours.
The findings contributed to a deeper understanding of how different industries managed e-waste and valuable insights into the most optimal practices to be adopted across sectors. The study results also underscored the need for standardised reporting frameworks to enhance transparency and corporate responsibility towards environmental sustainability. 
Keywords: E-waste Reporting, Malaysian Public Listed Companies, Legitimacy Theory, Environmental Sustainability, Content Analysis
The Impact of State Funding of Higher Education on Employment and Living Standards in Georgia
Authors: Shainidze Ekaterine , , Mamuladze Nino , Katamadze3 Giorgi , Ghoghoberidze Tamar
Published: October 2024

State financing of higher education is crucial for promoting innovation and competition, as well as guaranteeing equal opportunities and access to education. This financing facilitates the development of students' potential by providing them with the necessary skills and information to enhance graduation rates and social well-being. Scholarships and grants are implemented to improve student access to education by aligning the financial system with the demands of the job market and educational developments.
The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of financing higher education in Georgia on  employment of graduates and well-being of the population.
The results of the survey of entrants and students reveal that public awareness of state-funded higher education programs in Georgia is quite low (47.2%). A large part of the graduates (47,8%) provided with various types of state funding during their studies are not employed in their specialty.  The impact of the increase in the expenditure on education on the increase in the income of the population is quite low (0.23%).
The research concludes that the allocation of public funds for higher education in Georgia does not effectively match the capabilities of graduates with the demands of the labour market. The reason for the mentioned inconsistency is that the requirements of the labor market were not taken into account when determining the directions to be financed. In addition, it is important to note that the demands of the labor market change every year in accordance with the current challenges, therefore the employer also demands relevant skills immediately, which cannot be met by higher education institutions in a short period of time. Despite the above, the involvement of employers in the process of developing educational programs is low and it is mostly formal in nature. When determining the priority educational programs, there is no periodic revision of the directions so that it is adapted to the demands of the labor market. It is necessary to establish partnership relations between employers, higher educational institutions and the state in order to take into account the requirements of the labor market both in the development of educational programs and in the determination of priority educational directions.  Enhancing transparency and emphasising practical training in key areas are essential for enhancing the program's efficacy and enhancing the career chances of graduates.  These modifications will provide a more favourable return on investment for state education expenditure.
Keywords: higher education, state financing, employment, living standards
Challenges and Perspectives of the Startup Ecosystem for the Development of Innovative Economy in Georgia
Authors: Abuselidze George , Tsiklashvili Natela , Verulidze Vazha , Glonti Vladimer , Gechbaia Badri , Robitashvili Natalia
Published: October 2024

The processes of introduction of technology and innovation ecosystem in the economic development of the country have attracted special attention in the global world in the conditions of pandemic and post-pandemic. Accordingly, the research focuses on the formation and development models of modern start-up ecosystems, processes and determinants that ensure their transformation into innovations and the transfer of resources for economic development in the regions. The aim of the paper is to determine the main directions that will contribute to the development of startup ecosystems, taking into account global trends and state-specific practices; The research is based on the methods of grouping, comparison, analogy, analysis, generalization and systemic-structural approaches. As a result of the research, startup ecosystems were defined as an institutional mechanism that is open to the expansion of intersectoral networks and changes the competitive market environment in favor of the architecture of a stable innovative economy. The examples of Estonia, Spain, and Britain show the potential of developing a national startup ecosystem model that prioritizes long-term development, state technical self-sufficiency, and the ability to expand to new markets.
 
 
Keywords: innovative economy, ecosystems, technoparks, startups, innovations, R&D, economic development
Shifting Boundaries of Marketing Management in E-Commerce: A Study through TAM (Technology Acceptance Model)
Authors: Manna Yahya
Published: October 2024

This research tries to investigate the adoption of information technology and its constituents by the customers while making decisions to buy any product from the market utilising TAM. Many political and business related changes are being made in the context of marketing management. In the past 20 years, every domain of management has seen a transformation. Text explosion and information, information, technology and advancement in transport and communication revolutionised every domain of management marketing management which was regarded as the cost for the management is now regarded and recognised at the strategic level. The marketing managers are now enjoying high status in the corporate world. Traditionally, the field of marketing management was dependent on mass media and broadcast media, but with the advent of social media and the access of Internet to almost more than 50% of the consumers in every industry has transformed the field of marketing management.
This change was recognised by many authors and researchers around the globe and there is a need to research from customers perspective that how easily consumers are adopting technology in decision making, For the assessment Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was utilised. The data was collected from (n=138) marketing managers, the data was analysed by the use of SPSS 22.0 for descriptive analysis and for regression analysis and structural modelling method was applied. The finding suggest the technology acceptance model is highly applicable to marketing activities and some of its constituents rank high when it comes to make a decision to buy any product by the customer. However Attitude of using does not have any direct impact on Intention to use. 
Keywords: Marketing Managers, Status of Marketing managers, SEM, Lisrel 9.0., information technology, marketing activities.
Cultivating Innovative Work Behavior: Insights from HRM Practices Integration
Authors: Manalo Hernani D. , Manalo Ma. Riza T. , Bibangco El Jireh P.
Published: October 2024

Innovative Work Behavior (IWB) has a prominent space in various literature, but what cultivates it remains inconsistent and fragmented. This study posits that controlled Human Resource (HR) practices can foster Innovative Work Behavior (IWB).  It used Reflective Thematic Analysis (RTA) to examine from the lens of Perceived Organizational Support (POS) and Learning Culture (LC) theories based on the insights of 10 expert-respondents across 8 industries. The findings revealed that the organization’s support and the synergy of HR practices such as Diversity Management (DM), Work Life Balance (WLB), and Training and Development (TD) significantly succeeded to cultivate IWB while Rewards and Recognition (RR) practices failed to cultivate the desired behavior. The study also showed that championing cultural diversity and observing employees’ balanced work-family time propelled innovative behavior.  Likewise, Learning Culture (LC) as enhanced by TD, DM, and WLB practices escalated the employees’ IWB. The study recommends to strategize RR practices, focusing on intrinsic rewards that are linked to IWB and to enhance TD practices for sustainable learning. It further highlights the crucial role of organizational support through HRM practices and learning culture in cultivating IWB. Since IWB is multi-factored, an investigation on other factors not addressed in this study and longitudinal research must be conducted to ensure consistent findings. The future direction of this study should also focus on external factors such as technological advancement, market competition, and regulatory environment that shall redefine the organization’s core values and consequently frame employees’ Innovative Work Behavior. This study does not only contribute to the existing body of literature, but also offers significant insights for both HR and Innovation managers in their respective practices. 
Keywords: Innovative Work Behavior, HR Practices, Organizational Performance, Diversity Management, Work-Life Balance, Training and Development, Rewards and Recognition, Perceived Organizational Support (POS) Theory, Learning Culture (LC) Theory
Life Cycle Assessment of Construction Components of Schools in Southern Brazil
Authors: Rataichesck Fiates Julia , Ghisi Enedir
Published: October 2024

Introducing energy efficiency techniques in schools can significantly reduce energy consumption, as Brazil has a large public education system. The main objective of this work was to select the set of construction components with the lowest environmental impact for use in schools in Florianópolis, southern Brazil, through life cycle assessment (LCA). Two types of walls, four types of roofs, and two types of window frames were studied. Ceramic bricks measuring 14x9x19cm and 9x19x19cm were considered for the walls. Wood and aluminium were used for the window frames, with single glass panes on all windows. For the roofs, fibre cement tiles with a PVC ceiling, a drywall ceiling, and a concrete slab were considered, as well as ceramic tiles with a PVC ceiling. Computer simulations were conducted using the EnergyPlus program in order to determine the building’s energy consumption. SimaPro was used to run the LCA. The construction of the building and one year of its energy consumption were analysed to select the combination of components with the lowest impact on the building’s life cycle. Finally, the set consisting of 9x19x19cm ceramic brick walls, wooden frames, and roof with fibre cement tiles and PVC ceiling presented the lowest environmental impact.
 
 
Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment; public schools; computer simulation; buildings; EnergyPlus; SimaPro
The Dynamics of Technological Spectacle in Billy Mitchell's Campaign for Aerial War
Authors: Firgens Benjamin
Published: October 2024

This essay examines the first major American debate over aerial warfare as a case study in the relationship between visual spectacle and warfighting technologies. In the early 1920s, Brigadier General William “Billy” Mitchell mounted a short but intense advocacy campaign to win public approval for a standalone and fully supported air force. He justified his arguments with sanitized depictions of the warplane's idealized deployment. I call such depictions technological spectacles, and I parse their three hallmarks in Mitchell's advocacy: the dissociation of violence and destruction, the self-justification of technology, and the confusion of possibility for probability. I demonstrate that these habits of spectacle pervaded not only Mitchell's rhetoric but the coverage he received in the press. The essay establishes Mitchell as a key figure in the history of American rhetoric about military technology and, in the process, offers new historical context and critical vocabulary for diagnosing rhetorics of technological spectacle.
Black Women's Rights-Blurring Strategies in a Culture of Rights Discrimination
Authors: Gent Whitney
Published: October 2024

This article examines the case of Moms 4 Housing, a group of Black mothers who occupied a vacant house in Oakland, California as an attempt to advance a human right to housing. It argues that the U.S. penchant for rights discrimination, the idea that one must choose between whose and which rights matter, contributes to the need for a rhetorical strategy of rights-blurring. Building on previous scholarship that establishes a history of Black women connecting civil rights to human rights as a rhetorical strategy in the United States, this article explains how rights-blurring actually operates. It also demonstrates how this strategy functions in conversations about property rights in the United States and in the context of a twenty-first century direct-action protest.
Ensino, pesquisa e extensão
Authors: Ortiz Thiago Alberto , Souza Silvia Graciele Hülse de , Silva Franciely Ponce da
Published: October 2024

A Agenda 2030, estabelecida pela Organização das Nações Unidas, constitui um plano global para alcançar o desenvolvimento sustentável, contemplando diversas dimensões, entre elas a educação e a agricultura. Este trabalho aborda temas relacionados ao Desenvolvimento Sustentável, à Educação Ambiental, à Educação para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável, à Sustentabilidade e à Governança no contexto atual nacional e mundial. A fim de trazer contribuições para futuros estudos, assim como discussões que possam contribuir para o entendimento e possíveis inserções da Educação para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável na graduação e pós-graduação no ensino privado. A educação é uma importante base para que haja êxito na implementação da Agenda 2030, por permear a sociedade de forma transformadora, gerando resultados que abrangem a redução das desigualdades, sendo que um ambiente inclusivo favorece o processo de aprendizagem, além de ser precursor de diversas tecnologias. A sustentabilidade do planeta depende da união de forças de políticas públicas e privadas, a fim de integrar aspectos econômicos, sociais e ambientais. Não se deve esperar que uma única política pública alcance todos os objetivos da Agenda 2030; diversas ações, medidas e políticas são necessárias. A participação ativa da sociedade civil é, portanto, fundamental para o alcance das metas propostas.
Agenda 2030 e os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável nas atividades de extensão
Authors: Marcolin Carla Bonato , Borsatto Jaluza Maria Lima Silva
Published: October 2024

Texto de apresentação da Edição Especial "Agenda 2030 e os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável nas atividades de extensão".
Fallbeschreibung einer Patientin mit einer ausgeprägten visuellen Objektagnosie
Authors: Karr K- , Kerkhoff G. , Kraft A.
Published: October 2024

Bei Frau D (57) wurde im August 2021 eine parietale Atrophie unklarer Genese diagnostiziert. Sie stellte sich im September 2023 in unserer neuropsychologischen Universitatsambulanz vor. Neben einer schweren visuellen Objektagnosie litt sie unter einem linksseitigen Neglect, raumlichen Storungen und einer Gedachtnisstorung. Die visuelle Objektagnosie von Frau D auserte sich im Alltag zum Beispiel beim Betrachten von Objekten unter suboptimalen Bedingungen und konnte mit der NeuroObjects-Testbatterie objektiviert werden [3]. Hier zeigten sich deutlich beeintrachtigte Objekterkennungsleistungen. Die Therapie von Frau D konzentrierte sich hauptsachlich auf die Neglect-Symptomatik. Schlüsselwörter: Visuelle Agnosie, Objekterkennung, Therapie, Rehabilitation