bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Auswirkung der Besonderheiten einer Organisation auf Change-Prozesse – die Integration interner Beratung am Beispiel von „ekiba 2032“ der Evangelischen Landeskirche in Baden
Authors: Breyer-Mayländer Thomas , Habann Frank , Wehrstein Oliver , Zerres Christopher
Published: October 2024

Sinkende Mitgliederzahlen und knapper werdende finanzielle Ressourcen zwingen die Kirchen in Deutschland, ihre Organisationsstruktur und inhaltliche Ausrichtung zu überprüfen und zu verändern. Dieser Beitrag analysiert am Beispiel der Gemeindeberatung des Strategieprozesses „ekiba 2032“ der Evangelischen Landeskirche in Baden, wie ein organisatorischer und inhaltlicher Transformationsprozess unter Berücksichtigung der Besonderheiten einer Organisation mit internen Beratenden gestaltet werden kann.
Step-by-step: A clinical pathway for stepped care management of fear of cancer recurrence—results of a three-round online delphi consensus process with Australian health professionals and researchers
Authors: Smith Allan ‘Ben’ , Girgis Afaf , Taylor Natalie , Pearce Alison , Liu Jia , Shepherd Heather L. , Wu Verena S , Garvey Gail , Kirsten Laura , Zakhary Iman , Ee Carolyn , Ewald Daniel , Miller Annie , Shaw Joanne
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is not routinely addressed in clinical practice, meaning many cancer survivors forego effective interventions. We established expert consensus on a clinical pathway to help health professionals identify and manage FCR in early-stage cancer survivors.

Methods

Australian health professionals and researchers working with adult cancer survivors participated in a three-round Delphi study promoted via oncology professional bodies and social media. The Round 1 online survey presented 38 items regarding FCR screening, triage, assessment, referral, and stepped care, based on a literature review, related pathways/guidelines, and expert input. Participants rated how representative of best-practice items were on a 5-point scale (strongly disagree–strongly agree), with optional qualitative feedback. Consensus was defined as ≥ 80% of participants strongly/agreeing with items. Items not reaching consensus were re-presented to Round 1 participants in two subsequent rounds with new items, derived from content analysis of qualitative feedback.

Results

From 94 participants in Round 1 (89% health professionals), 26/38 (68%) items reached consensus. By round 3, 35/38 (92%) items, including 8 new items, reached consensus. Routine FCR screening and triage conversations and stepped care management (i.e. tailored and staged treatment) were endorsed. However, the timing of FCR screening/triage did not reach consensus.

Conclusions

This world-first FCR clinical pathway incorporating contemporary evidence and expert opinion recommends routine screening and triage to stepped care management of FCR. Some pathway components, such as screening or triage timing, may need tailoring for different contexts.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Implementation of the pathway could aid routine identification and management of FCR, reducing its burden on cancer survivors and the healthcare system.
Cerebral Embolic Protection: Is There a Benefit for Left Atrial and Mitral Valve Procedures?
Authors: Besir Besir , Kapadia Samir R.
Published: October 2024

Purpose of Review

This review aims to highlight the current evidence on the use of cerebral embolic protection devices (CEPD) in left atrial and transcatheter mitral valve procedures. It also aims to summarize the antithrombotic management of patients undergoing such procedures.

Recent Findings

Ischemic stroke is one of the most devastating complications of structural heart procedures. The manifestation of periprocedural stroke can range from asymptomatic and detectable only through brain imaging to major stroke with neurological deficits. CEP devices were initially developed to mitigate the risk of stroke associated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, the efficacy of such devices during different cardiac interventions is yet to be fully demonstrated, especially in left atrial appendage closure (LAAO), and mitral valve interventions. Few studies demonstrated that the risk of periprocedural strokes after LAAO and mitral valve interventions is not negligible and is highest during the periprocedural period and then falls. The majority of patients undergoing those procedures have cerebral ischemic injuries detected on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). Moreover, a reasonable number of those patients had debris embolization on the filters of the CEPD. Pharmacological therapy with antithrombotic agents before, during, or after structural heart interventions is crucial and should be tailored to each patient’s risk of bleeding and ischemia. Close monitoring that includes a full neurological assessment and frequent follow-up visits with cardiac echocardiography are important.

The risk of periprocedural stroke in left atrial and transcatheter mitral valve procedures is not negligible. Pharmacological therapy with antithrombotic agents before, during, or after structural heart interventions is important to mitigate the risk of stroke, especially the long-term risk. More prospective studies are needed to assess the efficacy of CEPD in such procedures.
Historical insights, current challenges: tracking marine biodiversity in an urban harbor ecosystem in the face of climate change
Authors: Putnam Alysha B. , Endyke Sarah C. , Jones Ally R. , Lockwood Lucy A. D. , Taylor Justin , Albert Marc , Staudinger Michelle D.
Published: October 2024

The Boston Harbor Islands is the only coastal drumlin archipelago in the USA, featuring a distinctive and uncommon geological intertidal habitat known as mixed coarse substrate, which supports a range of coastal species and ecological processes. Recently designated as one of America’s 11 most endangered historic places due to climate change impacts, coastal adaptation and restoration efforts are crucial to their preservation. Such efforts can benefit from historic and current knowledge of endemic and emergent biodiversity. To investigate broad trends in coastal biodiversity, we compiled an inventory of marine coastal macroalgae, macroinvertebrates, fish, mammals, and shorebirds observed in the harbor since 1861. Records span 159 years, consisting of 451 unique taxa from 19 phyla. Analysis of average taxonomic distinctness (AvTD) revealed increases in diversity towards the end of the twentieth and early twenty-first century, likely associated with improved water quality (dissolved oxygen; AvTD > 85, p = 0.01) due to harbor restoration in the 1980s. Macroinvertebrates comprised 50% of the records, making this the most diverse taxonomic group in the time series. A significant increase of non-indigenous species, primarily macroinvertebrates and macroalgae, was observed over the last 20 years near human infrastructure and across multiple islands, a consequence of global change and characteristic of most urban harbors. The mixed coarse intertidal habitat, which makes up > 70% of Boston Harbor’s inner islands and supports high macroinvertebrate and macroalgal diversity (47% of species records), is not routinely monitored; our findings serve as a foundational resource for climate adaptation projects and decision-making.
A fix-propagate-repair heuristic for mixed integer programming
Authors: Salvagnin Domenico , Roberti Roberto , Fischetti Matteo
Published: October 2024

We describe a diving heuristic framework based on constraint propagation for mixed integer linear programs. The proposed approach is an extension of the common fix-and-propagate scheme, with the addition of solution repairing after each step. The repair logic is loosely based on the WalkSAT strategy for boolean satisfiability. Different strategies for variable ranking and value selection, as well as other options, yield different diving heuristics. The overall method is relatively inexpensive, as it is basically LP-free: the full linear programming relaxation is solved only at the beginning (and only for the ranking strategies that make use of it), while additional, typically much smaller, LPs are only used to compute values for the continuous variables (if any), once at the bottom of a dive. While individual strategies are not very robust in finding feasible solutions on a heterogeneous testbed, a portfolio approach proved quite effective. In particular, it could consistently find feasible solutions in 189 out of 240 instances from the public MIPLIB 2017 benchmark testbed, in a matter of a few seconds of runtime. The framework has also been implemented inside the commercial MIP solver Xpress and shown to give a small performance improvement in time to optimality on a large internal heterogeneous testbed.
Employment uncertainty and parenthood: quantifying the mediating role of union formation
Authors: Alderotti Giammarco , De Rose Alessandra , Tocchioni Valentina
Published: October 2024

This study aims to quantify the extent to which union formation mediates the relationship between employment uncertainty and the transition to parenthood, taking Italy as a case study. Research on the determinants of low fertility is increasingly shedding light on the negative effects of employment uncertainty. It is generally acknowledged that partnership formation plays a fundamental mediating role, as uncertain employment conditions may hamper the initial formation of a stable union, consequently affecting the likelihood of having a child. Nevertheless, it remains unknown how much of the (total) effect of employment uncertainty on fertility is indeed mediated by union formation. To perform the mediation analysis, we relied on the KHB (Karlson–Holm–Breen) method to accurately assess the effect of employment uncertainty on the transition to parenthood with and without controlling for union formation, i.e. the mediating variable. Results indicate that union formation mediates between 25 and 40% of the negative effect of employment uncertainty on the transition to parenthood, especially among men. Differences by cohort groups are evident, with the youngest cohorts being the most affected by such a mediation. We conclude that union formation is a key element in the relationship between employment uncertainty and fertility as it mediates a non-negligible share of the total effect of employment uncertainty on transition to parenthood.
Novel imaging and biophysical approaches to study tissue hydraulics in mammalian folliculogenesis
Authors: Turley Jake , Leong Kim Whye , Chan Chii Jou
Published: October 2024

A key developmental stage in mammalian folliculogenesis is the formation of a fluid-filled lumen (antrum) prior to ovulation. While it has long been speculated that the follicular fluid is essential for oocyte maturation and ovulation, little is known about the morphogenesis and the mechanisms driving the antrum formation and ovulation, potentially due to challenges in imaging tissue dynamics in large tissues. Misregulation of such processes leads to anovulation, a hallmark of infertility in ageing and diseases such as the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this review, we discuss recent advances in deep tissue imaging techniques, machine learning and theoretical approaches that have been applied to study development and diseases. We propose that an integrative approach combining these techniques is essential for understanding the physics of hydraulics in follicle development and ovarian functions.
“Love the sin, hate the sinner”: Attitudes Towards Sexuality Among Mainline and Evangelical Protestants in the USA
Authors: Derbyshire Daniel W. , Bawden Max
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Attitudes towards gay and lesbian people and same-sex marriage remain a contentious issue within Evangelical Protestantism.

Methods

We use data from the Sexuality version of the Implicit Association Test from the Project Implicit website (n = 180,554) between 2006 and 2016. We investigate the attitudes of Atheists, Mainline Protestants and Evangelical Protestants towards gay and lesbian people and same-sex marriage.

Results

In an inversion of the typical mantra, Evangelical Protestant participants appear to “love the sin, hate the sinner,” with relatively high levels of approval for same-sex marriage combined with significant negative associations with gay and lesbian people. Further, we find significant differences between Mainline and Evangelical Protestants who are also gay, lesbian or bisexual compared to those who are heterosexual.

Conclusions

We discuss the cognitive dissonance between compassionate Christianity (“love thy neighbour”) and negative associations towards gay and lesbian people and the intersections of religious and sexual identities.

Policy Implications.

Results suggest that among Evangelical Protestants same-sex marriage is supported by a sizeable minority (40 + %). Efforts to improve attitudes towards same-sex marriage should focus on attempts to generate further improvements in attitudes among conservative Christians.
Cancer Care in Post-Roe America: How Do We Move Forward?
Authors: Smith Emily Ramonna , Sadler Georgia Robins
Published: October 2024

In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. This ruling ended all federal protections for abortion, consequently reshaping the American healthcare landscape. Two years later, the impacts of this ruling on cancer care remain largely undiscussed. This reflection summarizes a literature review exploring the effects of the Dobbs decision on cancer treatment access in America. Articles were identified using databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Westlaw Campus Research, Nexis Uni, Google Scholar, and JSTOR. Search terms included cancer, drugs, Methotrexate, access, treatment delays, Roe v. Wade, Dobbs, post-Roe, abortion, abortion-inducing, maternal health, reproductive rights, and limitations. Thirty eligible articles, published in English from 2001 to 2024, were reviewed in full text. The findings of this reflection article highlight the urgent need for the oncology community to understand the potential impact of these changes and work collectively to ensure the equal access to women's cancer care.
Fractional Sobolev type spaces of functions of two variables via Riemann-Liouville derivatives
Authors: Idczak Dariusz
Published: October 2024

We introduce and study the spaces of fractionally absolutely continuous functions of two variables of any order and the fractional Sobolev type spaces of functions of two variables. Our approach is based on the Riemann-Liouville fractional integrals and derivatives. We investigate relations between these spaces as well as between the Riemann-Liouville and weak derivatives.
Spacecraft to Spacecraft Absolute Tracking for Autonomous Navigation of a Distributed Space System from Relative Sensors
Authors: Greaves Jesse , Scheeres Daniel
Published: October 2024

Navigation for a distributed space system can be fully and autonomously provided by relative measurements between vehicles under non-linear dynamics, thereby removing any need for external observation. This paper derives the observability of a generic distributed system using relative measurements through an investigation of non-linear dynamical moments. The absolute state becomes observable due to second and higher dynamical moments that produce differential motion between vehicles, while the relative state observability is a function of the full system motion as traditionally expected. The results from observability analysis are leveraged to instantiate simulations which demonstrate observability for a distributed space system with relative optical measurements. The simulations assess uncertainty via a linearized covariance analysis in various settings including Keplerian, perturbed Keplerian, and cislunar dynamics. This navigation method excels when targets have highly differential motion and falters as the difference subsides. Therefore, highly perturbed environments with multiple targets generate the best results.
Experiences of Discrimination and Alcohol Involvement Among Young Adults at the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Gender
Authors: Lopez-Vergara Hector Ismael , Rozum William , Charvis Jodi M. Sutherland , Iacoi Sydney , Vergara-Lopez Chrystal , Stein L. A. R.
Published: October 2024

Although discrimination is an important social determinant of alcohol involvement, there is a dearth of research testing these associations across race/ethnicity and gender. This is an important research gap given that experiences of discrimination and therefore links with alcohol involvement may vary as a function race/ethnicity and gender intersectional identities. We tested for measurement invariance in discrimination and alcohol involvement and examined group differences in means and covariances. The sample consisted of n = 1187 young adults (ages 18–26; n = 193 Black women, n = 209 Latina women, n = 186 White women, n = 198 Black men, n = 203 Latino men, and n = 198 White men). We found evidence for differential item functioning for discrimination and alcohol involvement that violated assumptions needed to make manifest between-group comparisons. To model the source and degree of differential item functioning, we used partial measurement invariance and dropped a discrimination item that did not reliably overlap with the latent factor for White women. After accounting for differential item functioning, Black women and men reported the highest discrimination, followed by Latinx women and men, and then White women and men. White women reported the most alcohol involvement, followed by White men, Latina women, Latino men, Black men, and Black women. Discrimination and alcohol involvement were positively associated for all groups except White women, though effect sizes varied with Black men exhibiting the largest effect. An intersectionally valid understanding of discrimination and alcohol involvement may necessitate statistical approaches that can test for (and model) differential item functioning prior to making between-group quantitative comparisons.
Persistent and Resistant: Middle Class Advantage in Schooling
Authors: O’Neill John
Published: October 2024

This commentary applies Martin Thrupp’s long-term research interest in the practices of persistent middleclass advantage to a discussion of parents’ apparent freedom to choose the State school their child attends, and the effects of this parental choice on educational equality. In a highly unequal society such as Aotearoa New Zealand, parents’ capabilities to act, consume, self-maximise and choose freely in the schooling marketplace are also highly unequal. The commentary then draws on Axel Honneth’s version of recognition theory to examine underlying assumptions among advantaged groups that effectively frame parental choice as: (i) natural (i.e. all parents promote their own children’s best interests); (ii) unobjectionable (i.e. parents can choose or decide not to as they wish); and (iii) harmless to others (i.e. parents’ schooling choices affect only their own children). This family or household view of best interests is contrasted with one that focuses on the collective schooling interests of the neighbourhood.
‘A Realist Conceptual Methodology for Qualitative Educational Research: A Modest Proposal’
Authors: Lourie Megan , McPhail Graham
Published: October 2024

This article explains and illustrates an approach to the design of qualitative inquiry in education using a conceptual methodology informed by a realist ontology. It is written with research novices in mind, based on two observations we have made while supervising postgraduate students. The first is that the methodology literature education students often engage with tends to focus on interpretivist-constructivist approaches. The second observation is that it can be challenging for students to find appealing and accessible material which employs realist informed methodology. To counter this we offer a general introduction to undertaking educational research informed by a realist ontology drawing on a simplified account of critical realism (CR). We illustrate the key concepts of this approach using examples from postgraduate studies in education. It is our hope that this article may stimulate wider discussion about the possibilities, development, and use of realist approaches.
Not all that glitters is green: empirical evidence from the Eurostoxx600 on stakeholders’ perception of greenwashing
Authors: Bosone Costanza , Cerchiello Paola , Kostiuk Yana
Published: October 2024

Greenwashing refers to the deceptive practice where a company exaggerates or misrepresents the sustainability of its actions or projects. Given the ambiguity surrounding the methodologies behind conventional ratings, we enquire their robustness through the implementation of an alternative comprehensive measure entailing both internally disclosed and externally generated data. We address a notorious critique in greenwashing research—that the entire voluntary CSR approach inadvertently facilitates the diffusion of greenwashing. We make a unique contribution to the statistical methodology by breaking down the difference between internal and external perception of sustainability through regression analysis. We claim that only when the presence of CSR Committees is coupled with tangible initiatives boosting sustainability, both external and internal stakeholders are found to positively evaluate the sustainable commitment of a company.
Pharmacometrics-Enhanced Bayesian Borrowing for Pediatric Extrapolation – A Case Study of the DINAMO Trial
Authors: Sailer Martin Oliver , Neubacher Dietmar , Johnston Curtis , Rogers James , Wiens Matthew , Pérez-Pitarch Alejandro , Tartakovsky Igor , Marquard Jan , Laffel Lori M.
Published: October 2024

Bayesian borrowing analyses have an important role in the design and analysis of pediatric trials. This paper describes use of a prespecified Pharmacometrics Enhanced Bayesian Borrowing (PEBB) analysis that was conducted to overcome an expectation for reduced statistical power in the pediatric DINAMO trial due to a greater than expected variability in the primary endpoint. The DINAMO trial assessed the efficacy and safety of an empagliflozin dosing regimen versus placebo and linagliptin versus placebo on glycemic control (change in HbA1c over 26 weeks) in young people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Previously fitted pharmacokinetic and exposure-response models for empagliflozin and linagliptin based on available historical data in adult and pediatric patients with T2D were used to simulate participant data and derive the informative component of a Bayesian robust mixture prior distribution. External experts and representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provided recommendations to determine the effective sample size of the prior and the weight of the informative prior component. Separate exposure response-based Bayesian borrowing analyses for empagliflozin and linagliptin showed posterior mean and 95% credible intervals that were consistent with the trial results. Sensitivity analyses with a full range of alternative weights were also performed. The use of PEBB in this analysis combined advantages of mechanistic modeling of pharmacometric differences between adults and young people with T2D, with advantages of partial extrapolation through Bayesian dynamic borrowing. Our findings suggest that the described PEBB approach is a promising option to optimize the power for future pediatric trials.
Myricetin inhibits CYP3A4, GST, and MRP1 in hepatic cancer cells
Authors: Eid Safaa Yehia
Published: October 2024

Herbal and nutritional supplements are widely used to prevent and treat many diseases, including cancer. Tumor cells modify metabolic enzyme systems like CYP3A4 and GST. They also overexpress MRP1, an ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamily G (ABCG2) member. Drug efflux may increase, reducing tumor cell drug accumulation and developing drug resistance that leads to significant obstacles in cancer care. Natural products' ability to overcome cancer's multidrug resistance is interesting. Their ability to affect several targets makes them valuable in addressing drug resistance from diverse approaches. The potential of natural flavonoid; Myricetin (MYR) to modulate CYP3A4, GST, and MRP1 activity and expression in hepatic cancer cells was evaluated to prove its targeting and preventing these pathways of multidrug resistance. The cell proliferation of MYR was determined using an MTT assay. Specific enzyme assays, efflux assay, and gene expression using RT-PCR were used to evaluate MYR effect in hepatic cell lines HepG-2 and Huh-7. MYR has a noteworthy cytotoxic effect compared to doxorubicin (DOX) with IC50 > 100 μM in HepG-2 and Huh-7 cells. MYR showed potent inhibition of CYP3A4 and GST enzyme activity and MRP1 efflux function and downregulated their gene expression in a dose-dependent manner in both cells. MYR100 dose was the most significant effective dose. MRY100 decreased CYP3A4 activity by 67.5% (P < 0.05) and 55% (P < 0.01) and downregulated the gene by 0.2-fold (P < 0.001) and 0.3-fold (P < 0.001) in HepG-2 and Hub-7 cells, respectively. After treatment with MRY100, GST activity decreased significantly in both cells, reaching 47.6% (P < 0.001) and 33.2% and GST gene downregulation was 0.12 and 0.21-fold (P < 0.001). MRY100 inhibited MRP1 efflux pump 2.3 times (P < 0.001) and 1.9 times (P < 0.001) more effectively than PC, resulting in a 0.23-fold and 0.12-fold downregulation of MRP1 genes in HepG-2 and Hub-7 cells. The result will validate the use of MYR to interact with the metabolism phases and could be used as adjuvant therapy in cancer prevention and treatment approaches.
The LAB school project: a socio-ecological investigation into the intersection between literacy, the arts and wellbeing in a rural early years classroom setting
Authors: Barton Georgina , Fanshawe Melissa
Published: October 2024

This study examined the piloting of a literacy, arts and wellbeing (LAB) project in a rural school in Queensland, Australia. The research involved a Year 1 class (n = 24) participating in co-designed lessons with their classroom teacher and two visiting researchers from a regional university. These lessons were developed with literacy learning outcomes, arts-based approaches and positive education components in mind. Lesson observations and artefacts were collected to understand the children’s participation and development of the learning objectives. In addition, teacher interviews and researcher reflections provided feedback about the approach’s effectiveness. Data were analysed using an arts-based social engagement model to improve health. Evidence from this case study showed that language and literacy learning outcomes and wellbeing were strongly developed through the LAB approaches. More research is needed to know if a whole school LAB approach would benefit children across other settings.
Demystifying Sovereignty: Totem and Taboo of Migration Control in International Law
Authors: Chetail Vincent
Published: October 2024

“We all think about immigration . . . as the state asks us to think about it and, ultimately, as it thinks about it itself.” This aphorism of the sociologist Abdelmalek Sayad seems to speak to lawyers and, in particular, international lawyers who are accustomed to thinking of immigration as a mere question of sovereignty. I contend that this internalization of sovereignty by the legal profession is a pure mystification. I call for acknowledging the duality of sovereignty as a Janus with two faces. This metaphor illuminates the ontological ambivalence of the border that can be viewed as either a passage or a wall depending on the viewpoint.
Colonialism and the “Right to Exclude”
Authors: Mongia Radhika
Published: October 2024

A discussion of the state's “right to exclude” requires that we have at our disposal unambiguous understandings of what constitutes the state, who constitute its subjects/citizens, and who constitute aliens.1 This, however, is not the case. In fact, the reverse is more true: particular notions of the state, of subjects/citizens, and of aliens are the outcome of (among other things) practices of migration regulation. This essay interrogates two understandings of the state that characterize much scholarship on migration, including legal scholarship. First, the assumption of the salience of state borders, of citizens/subjects, and of aliens understood in national terms; second, the assumption—often condensed in invocations of the Westphalian state—that the authority to control migration across these putative borders is a longstanding and non-contentious element of state sovereignty. In such approaches, the state is simply there. It matters little what prefix—national, colonial, imperial, modern, and so forth—we affix to it. Such views are premised on the notion that the practices of governance and the institutions of the state have a fidelity to, can be deduced from, and simply reflect a set of principles. In my view, rather than understand the state as merely translating a set of principles into practice, we are better served by focusing on practices to examine how they interpret and remake principles in particular historical conjunctures.
The Illusion of Progress: Rethinking Human Rights and the Legal Regulation of Mobility
Authors: Paz Moria
Published: October 2024

The development of human rights law is generally presented as a story of progress. This progress is an evolution from an “old” legal regime that did not recognize individual rights to a “new” law (starting with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)) that anointed all individuals as possessors of internationally recognized rights against their states. Further, the definition of these rights has supposedly expanded over time, adding elements of complementary protection and extraterritorial application.
Just who wanted dominion home rule?: ‘moderates’ and the Irish War of Independence
Authors: Morrissey Conor
Published: October 2024

This article discusses political ‘moderates’, those individuals who reacted to the turmoil of the War of Independence by coalescing around a vision of a dominion of Ireland within the British Empire, with appropriate safeguards for minorities. It will consider how reformist gentry, parliamentary and former unionist elements came together to bring about their preferred settlement. Through statistical examination of the membership of the Irish Dominion League, the leading moderate movement, it will establish the political backgrounds, religion and social class of supporters, and demonstrate the various means by which moderates worked as intermediaries between British forces and the rebels. Southern unionists made efforts to avoid working with moderates and to retain a distinct political identity, and, ultimately, divisions within the movement, and the changing structure of Irish politics, inhibited the creation of an effective moderate party.
State formation, diplomacy and sport: the British Empire Games, Ireland and Northern Ireland, 1930–38
Authors: Liston Katie , Maguire Joseph
Published: October 2024

This paper considers the interconnected practices of state formation, diplomacy, national identity and sport through an examination of ‘Irish’ involvement in the British Empire Games of 1930, 1934 and 1938. These events had a contradictory role in bolstering diplomatic relations between those who were committed to the empire but also in expressing the aspirations of those who sought independence from it, or a distinct identity within it. State formation and diplomacy played out in sporting contexts — which we term sportcraft — and this process was especially complex in post-partition Ireland. In the period under examination, a gradual but significant hardening of ideologies and identities occurred in certain sports on the island, notably athletics, mirroring the effects of partition and reflecting British and unionist political actions and sportive interests. Original archival and documentary material is presented from state archives in Dublin, London, Belfast and Ottawa, and from official sports collections in Birmingham, London, Stirling, Melbourne (Australia), Hamilton (Canada) and Lausanne (Switzerland). This demonstrates that by the early 1920s, government officials and sports administrators had already recognised the propaganda functions and utility of sport for state formation purposes and for issues of political control, jurisdiction and territorial boundaries.
The Stauntons of Galway in China: Irish Catholic networks and the expansion of the British Empire in Asia
Authors: Harrison Henrietta
Published: October 2024

George Leonard Staunton, who travelled on the first British embassy to China in 1793, and his son George Thomas Staunton, who translated the Chinese legal code into English, are well-known figures in the history of China. Their British identity was constructed by George Thomas to conceal the family's Irish Catholic background, but in fact George Leonard used that background for the benefit of an imperial career that propelled him from Galway to the West Indies, India and, finally, China. It enabled him to win the support of the papacy for the British embassy to China, and his son to learn Chinese and make a career as a merchant and translator. Their story shows some of the mechanisms that connected the nineteenth-century British Empire in Asia to the Catholic Church which had been the great global institution of the early modern age. Moreover, a distinctively Irish concern with property law can be seen to have influenced George Thomas's great work on Chinese law. The Stauntons’ imperial careers made the family wealthy and much of this wealth came back to County Galway.
Modeling of multicomponent adsorption equilibria of phenol and ciprofloxacin on pristine, acid-modified and thermo-oxidatively-aged polyethylene terephthalate microplastics
Authors: Enyoh Christian Ebere , Qingyue Wang
Published: October 2024

Multicomponent systems are representative of the most common real situations as many industrial discharges contain a mixture of several pollutants. This study examines the concurrent adsorption of phenol (PHE) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) onto three types of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET MPs): pristine, acid-modified, and thermal-oxidatively aged. Using extended Langmuir (EL), extended Freundlich (EF) isotherms, and a new artificial neural network (ANN) model, equilibrium adsorption capacities were predicted. The EL isotherm fit for pristine and aged PET MPs, while EF fit for modified PET MPs. Monolayer adsorption capacities ranged from 342.10–3715.73 mg/g for PHE and 2518.23–14498.79 mg/g for CIP, exceeding single-component adsorption. The ANN model used one hidden layer with 3 neurons for pristine and aged PET MPs, and 2 hidden layers with five neurons for modified PET MPs, with a hyperbolic tangent activation function. Models showed excellent performance metrics, including R2 values of 0.989–0.999, RMSE of 0.001–0.413, and AAE of 0.009–0.327. Synergistic interactions were observed in the binary system, with PET MPs showing higher selectivity toward CIP. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of PET MPs for binary adsorption of PHE and CIP in aqueous solutions, highlighting their potential for multicomponent pollutant removal.
Race and Populism. A Comparative Study of Thatcherism, Peronism and the American Populists
Authors: Carreira da Silva Filipe , Brito Vieira Mónica
Published: October 2024

This article re-examines the race-populism nexus. It asks: Does populist political construction of the figure of “the people” necessarily involve processes of racial othering? We answer this question by revisiting three emblematic cases of populism. Each historical case illustrates a basic type of identity formation that can have an i) exclusionary, ii) ambivalent or iii) positive impact on racial justice. The first case is Thatcherism, whose “authoritarian populism” feeds on and reinforces anti-Black racial prejudice. The second is Peronism, which has an ambivalent relationship with race that promises to shed important new light on this classic case of populism. The third case is that of the American Populists, whose pioneering experiments in interracial politics remain an enduring illustration of populism’s progressive potential. In each case, we focus on a key document from that political regime/movement: the Conservative Manifesto of 1979, the Peronist Constitution of 1949, and the Omaha Platform of 1892. The article concludes that populism, as a logic of action, acts as a catalyst that intensifies whatever specific content is mobilised – racist and anti-racist content alike.
Guess who arrived in the western tropical Atlantic? Microcosmus squamiger (Ascidiacea: Pyuridae) records on the Brazilian coast
Authors: Silva Paulo Cezar Azevedo , Skinner Luis Felipe , Rocha Rosana Moreira
Published: October 2024

Microcosmus squamiger, an ascidian with high invasion potential, is recorded for the first time in the Brazilian western Atlantic, between Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. The species was found near ports and marinas, and its introduction may have been favoured by intense nautical activity and climatic events such as La Niña. Coexistence with Microcosmus exasperatus, a morphologically similar species, was observed in all localities where M. squamiger was recorded. This discovery implies that a more rigorous process of species identification is necessary during monitoring activities, given that both species can be easily confused (only the syphon spinules differentiate them) and M. exasperatus is widely distributed with collection records dating back more than half a century on the Brazilian coast. The preference of M. squamiger for colder waters suggests that researchers in the Southeast and South Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina should closely monitor the arrival and possible environmental impacts of this species. The identification of M. squamiger in locations close to bivalve mariculture areas in Rio de Janeiro raises concern, as the species has the potential to compete with bivalves. This study highlights the importance of continuing to monitor the potential spread and the implications of the introduction of M. squamiger into Brazilian waters, as well as its relationship with M. exasperatus, a species already established in this same region.
First record of Stygiomedusa gigantea (Discomedusae: Ulmaridae) from Southern Africa, with a comment on scyphozoan distribution
Authors: Gibbons Mark J. , Maletzky Erich , Kalwenya Lessyn
Published: October 2024

A single Stygiomedusa gigantea was caught by demersal crab trawl off Namibia at a fishing depth of 750 m. Although widely considered to be globally distributed in meso- and bathy-pelagic waters, this represents the first record of the species from the SE Atlantic and only the second from around Africa. The photographed specimen differs slightly from previous observations and attention is drawn to accurately recording future material.
Refuelling the Cold War: The China factor in the United States and Japan’s pursuit of economic détente with the USSR, 1972–1980
Authors: Wu Bohao
Published: October 2024

This article evaluates China’s influence on the making and unmaking of economic détente in the 1970s. Utilizing recently declassified documents in Japan, the United States, and China, this article demonstrates that Chinese officials used both diplomatic and commercial means to influence their Japanese and American counterparts to prevent them from developing economic relations with the Soviet Union. During this process, Japanese and American industrialists had to carefully weigh up their participation in governments’ geopolitical schemes when pursuing business opportunities in the two socialist countries. This cautious attitude led to shifting dynamics in economic détente and varying outcomes for development projects. Chinese activism also prompted changes in Japan and the United States when decision-makers sought to benefit from the Sino-Soviet confrontation and maximize their economic and geopolitical gains. This article, therefore, features economic détente as a dynamic, multilateral process and emphasizes that the volatile geopolitics in Northeast Asia played a crucial role in ending détente and redrew the global Cold War to carry stronger economic overtones.
Lagged effects of childhood depressive symptoms on adult epigenetic aging
Authors: Han Laura K. M. , Aghajani Moji , Penninx Brenda W. J. H. , Copeland William E. , Aberg Karolina A. , van den Oord Edwin J. C. G.
Published: October 2024

Background

Cross-sectional studies have identified health risks associated with epigenetic aging. However, it is unclear whether these risks make epigenetic clocks ‘tick faster’ (i.e. accelerate biological aging). The current study examines concurrent and lagged within-person changes of a variety of health risks associated with epigenetic aging.

Methods

Individuals from the Great Smoky Mountains Study were followed from age 9 to 35 years. DNA methylation profiles were assessed from blood, at multiple timepoints (i.e. waves) for each individual. Health risks were psychiatric, lifestyle, and adversity factors. Concurrent (N = 539 individuals; 1029 assessments) and lagged (N = 380 individuals; 760 assessments) analyses were used to determine the link between health risks and epigenetic aging.

Results

Concurrent models showed that BMI (r = 0.15, PFDR < 0.01) was significantly correlated to epigenetic aging at the subject-level but not wave-level. Lagged models demonstrated that depressive symptoms (b = 1.67 months per symptom, PFDR = 0.02) in adolescence accelerated epigenetic aging in adulthood, also when models were fully adjusted for BMI, smoking, and cannabis and alcohol use.

Conclusions

Within-persons, changes in health risks were unaccompanied by concurrent changes in epigenetic aging, suggesting that it is unlikely for risks to immediately ‘accelerate’ epigenetic aging. However, time lagged analyses indicated that depressive symptoms in childhood/adolescence predicted epigenetic aging in adulthood. Together, findings suggest that age-related biological embedding of depressive symptoms is not instant but provides prognostic opportunities. Repeated measurements and longer follow-up times are needed to examine stable and dynamic contributions of childhood experiences to epigenetic aging across the lifespan.
Urban water footprint in Mashhad, Iran’s second largest city
Authors: Kolahi Mahdi , Sharifi Zeinab , Heydari Saeideh , Ansari Mina
Published: October 2024

The water footprint (WF) is a metric used to quantify the total volume of fresh water consumed directly and indirectly by individuals and communities; it helps to inform responses to global challenges such as water scarcity, climate change and sustainable water management. This study assessed virtual (VWF), direct (DWF) and total (TWF) water footprints in Mashhad, Iran’s second largest city. Data collected from 382 households showed that the average individual VWF was 1314 m3 per month, the average individual DWF was 228 m3 per month and the average individual TWF was 1538 m3 per month. Additionally, key consumption patterns were identified, with rice and bread emerging as the most consumed items and vegetables as the least consumed. Over a 5-year period, direct water use declined. Significant correlations emerged between family size, annual cost and VWF and TWF, yet no association was found between age and the WFs. There were income-based disparities in VWF and TWF but no differences across education levels in terms of DWF, VWF and TWF. These findings offer crucial insights for policymakers and water authorities in formulating effective water-saving policies to address pressing environmental concerns.
A systematic review of social camouflaging in autistic adults and youth: Implications and theory
Authors: Klein Jessica , Krahn Rachel , Howe Stephanie , Lewis Jessi , McMorris Carly , Macoun Sarah
Published: October 2024

Social camouflaging (SC) is a set of behaviors used by autistic people to assimilate with their social environment. Using SC behaviours may put autistic people at risk for poor mental health outcomes. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, the goal of this systematic review was to investigate the development of SC and inform theory in this area by outlining the predictors, phenotype, and consequences of SC. This review fills a gap in existing literature by integrating quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including all gender identities/age groups of autistic individuals, incorporating a large scope of associated factors with SC, and expanding on theory/implications. Papers were sourced using Medline, PsycInfo, and ERIC. Results indicate that self-protection and desire for social connection motivate SC. Camouflaging behaviors include compensation, masking, and assimilation. Female individuals were found to be more likely to SC. Additionally, this review yielded novel insights including contextual factors of SC, interpersonal relational and identity-related consequences of SC, and possible bidirectional associations between SC and mental health, cognition, and age of diagnosis. Autistic youth and adults have similar SC motivations, outward expression of SC behavior, and experience similar consequences post-camouflaging. Further empirical exploration is needed to investigate the directionality between predictors and consequences of SC, and possible mitigating factors such as social stigma and gender identity.
Usefulness of percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty for coronary artery stenosis after surgery for CHD
Authors: Tsuda Etsuko , Kitano Masataka , Iwasa Toru , Sakaguchi Heima , Ohuchi Hideo , Kurosaki Kenichi
Published: October 2024

Coronary artery involvements occur rarely both during cardiac repair and in the late period after surgery, and it may result in myocardial ischaemia and infarction. We present six cases who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty for coronary artery stenosis in the late period after surgery. The patients included four boys and two girls. Post-operative states involving anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery and d-transposition of the great arteries were observed in two patients each. Two patients with univentricular heart had coronary artery injuries during surgery. The age at the angioplasty ranged from 1 month to 14 years, with a median of 3 years. The interval from the operation to angioplasty ranged from 37 days to 14 years (median 8 months). The interval from the angioplasty to follow-up coronary angiography ranged from 2 months to 14 years (median 11 months). The follow-up period ranged from 2 months to 20 years (median 8 years). One patient underwent a stent implantation because of post-procedure recoil. Coronary artery stenosis improved immediately after procedure in the six patients without complication, and restenosis occurred post-procedure in one patient. Five patients had no cardiac events. Although the angioplasty’s initial effect may not be dramatic, it can improve late after the procedure. It was considered that the optimal balloon-reference vessel ratio to obtain a minimal effective lumen diameter was about 1.0. Angioplasty post-surgery for CHD in children was feasible and without complications.
Divisia monetary aggregates, monetary policy and business cycle analysis
Authors: Raghavan Mala
Published: October 2024

The paper builds a parsimonious US business cycle SVARMA model, establishing identification conditions for independent monetary shocks. The SVARMA model, utilizing Divisia M3 and Divisia M4, is compared to the simple sum M2. The monetary rule with Divisia M3 yields theoretically consistent results marked by the absence of the usual price and liquidity puzzles. As the Federal Reserve (Fed) took a more hawkish approach to curb inflation, significant increases in US interest rates and declines in monetary aggregates were largely influenced by the Fed’s reaction function, which incorporates the Divisia M3 monetary rule. Findings emphasize the monetary impact on the business cycle, highlighting the significance of Divisia monetary aggregates. Historical and variance decompositions reveal diverse, dynamic effects of monetary shocks on macroeconomic variables. The SVARMA model with Divisia M3 and M4 demonstrates superior performance over simple sum M2 in capturing the time path of monetary shocks.