bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creating Single‐Cell Protein‐Producing Bacillus subtilis Mutants Using Chemical Mutagen and Amino Acid Inhibitors
Authors: Berzina Indra , Kalnins Martins , Geiba Zane , Raita Svetlana , Palcevska Jelizaveta , Mika Taras , Spalvins Kriss
Published: November 2024

Due to population growth and climate changes, there is a rising need for alternative food and protein sources to reduce protein scarcity and the environmental impact of food industries. Single‐cell proteins (SCPs) have the potential to partially or fully substitute plant‐ and animal‐derived dietary proteins. Bacillus subtilis is an appealing bacterium for SCP production because of its fast growth and ability to obtain high protein and essential amino acid (AA) content in its biomass. It is also capable of utilizing a wide range of substrates. B. subtilis attractiveness and efficiency can be further enhanced using mutagenesis. In this study, a novel approach to creating mutant strains with enhanced protein and AA content was experimentally validated. The method is based on the application of AA inhibitors for selective pressure to ensure the growth of mutants with enhanced protein and/or AA synthesis capacity. For AA inhibitors, three herbicides were used: glufosinate–ammonium (GA), L‐methionine sulfoximine (MSO), and S‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐L‐cysteine (AEC). Initially, AA inhibitor doses for the complete inhibition of wild‐type (WT) B. subtilis strain were determined. Then, B. subtilis was treated with EMS chemical mutagen and created mutants were cultivated on a medium containing inhibitory dose of AA inhibitors. Growing samples were selected, analyzed, and compared. The optimal inhibitory concentrations of herbicides for mutant selection were 0.05–0.4 M for GA, 0.01–0.05 M for MSO, and 0.2 M for AEC. The best‐performing mutants were selected when using GA—improvement of 7.1 times higher biomass content, 1.5 times higher protein concentration, 1.2 times higher AA content, and 1.2 times higher essential AA index was achieved in comparison with WT B. subtilis. Enhanced mutants were also successfully selected when using MSO and AEC. This study demonstrates the potential of using AA inhibitors for the selection of mutants with improved protein and AA profiles.
Comparison of Procedural Outcomes of Lumenless Fixed-Helix Versus Stylet-Driven Extendable-Helix Lead Systems in Left Bundle Branch Pacing: COMPARE LBBP
Authors: Shroff Jenish P. , Nair Anugrah , Raja Deep Chandh , Abhilash Sreevilasam P. , Fiorese Simon , Ariyaratnam Jonathan P. , Abhayaratna Walter P. , Sanders Prashanthan , Vijayaraman Pugazhendhi , Pathak Rajeev K.
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND:

Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) has emerged as a safe and effective alternative to right ventricular pacing. Traditionally, LBBP is performed with lumenless lead (LLL); however, the use of stylet-driven lead (SDL) is on rise. We aimed to assess acute success and procedural outcomes of SDL versus LLL for LBBP.

METHODS:

One hundred consecutive patients with bradyarrhythmia, indication of cardiac resynchronization therapy, or ablate and pace strategy were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to the SDL and LLL arms. Tendril STS lead with a CPS Locator 3D catheter and SelectSecure 3830 lead with a C315HIS catheter were used in the SDL and LLL arms, respectively. LBBP was confirmed by standard criteria with measurements done on Labsystem Pro.

RESULTS:

Patients in the LLL arm were significantly younger (71.9±11 versus 76.4±8.9 years;
P
=0.02); all other baseline characteristics were not significantly different. Acute success in LBBP was similar with SDL versus LLL (90% versus 92%;
P
=0.7). In patients with successful LBBP, screw attempts were not significantly different between the groups (2.3±1.7 in SDL versus 1.9±1.3 in LLL;
P
=0.2). Implant duration (11±9.6 versus 9.9±7.1 minutes;
P
=0.4), mean fluoroscopy dose (65.3±82.7 versus 53.5±50.5 mGy;
P
=0.5), and fluoroscopy time (7.8±4.8 versus 7.4±4 minutes;
P
=0.7) were also not different in the SDL versus the LLL arm, respectively. Incidence of lead failure (
P
=0.6), microdislodgement (
P
=1), and macrodislodgement (
P
=0.6) were not significantly different. Pacing threshold was comparable at implant and on follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS:

LBBP was feasible with both lead systems with similar success rate and low capture threshold. No significant difference was observed in procedure duration or fluoroscopy use. No major complications were recorded with either lead.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.anzctr.org.au
; Unique identifier: ACTRN12624000304538.
Disease Risk Score Derivation and Validation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: AlKetbi Latifa Baynouna , Nagelkerke Nico , AlAlawi Noura , Humaid Ahmed , AlKetbi Rudina , Aleissaee Hamda , AlShamsi Noura , Abdulbaqi Hanan , Fahmawee Toqa , AlHashaikeh Basil , AlDobaee Muna , AlShamsi Mariam , AlAhbabi Nayla , AlAzeezi AlYazia , Shuaib Fatima , Alnuaimi Jawaher , Mahmoud Esraa , AlDhaheri Alreem , AlMansoori Mohammed , AlKalbani Sanaa , AYahyaee Aysha , AlDerie Wesayef , Saeed Ekram , AlMarzooqi Nouf , AlHassani Ahmed , AlAhmadi Amira , Sahyouni Mohammad , AlFahmawi Farah , AlAlawi Ali , Sahalu Yusra , AlAnsari Zinab , Doucoure Khadija , Ashoor Rawan , AlShamsi Reem , AlAzeezi Maha , AlMeqbaali Fatima , Yahya Noor , AlAlawi Shamma , AlKetbi Fatima
Published: November 2024

Background

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment is a key tool in primary prevention. The ADRS (Abu Dhabi Risk Study) is a retrospective cohort study aiming to develop 10‐year risk prediction equations for coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and validate international risk equations.

Methods and Results

The 8699 participants were examined in the Abu Dhabi cardiovascular screening program from 2011 to 2013 with a subsequent average follow‐up of 9.2 years. They were assessed in 2023 for new CAD, admissions for acute coronary syndrome, or stroke. The validation cohort, 2554 subjects, is from the 2016 to 2017 Abu Dhabi community screening program, with 6.67 years average follow‐up. Of 8504 ASCVD‐free subjects, 250 experienced new CAD events. ASCVD risk factors in this population were age, sex, smoking, high cholesterol/high‐density lipoprotein ratio, and diabetes diagnosis, in addition to low vitamin D level and low glomerular filtration rate. Three ADRS prediction models were derived using Cox regression. The ADRS‐CAD had a C statistic of 0.899 (0.882–0.916) compared with 0.828 (0.803–0.852) for the Framingham Risk Score in the same sample. ADRS‐stroke had a C statistic of 0.904 (0.865–0.944). The ADRS‐ASCVD had a C statistic of 0.898 (0.883–0.913) compared with 0.891 (0.875–0.907) of pooled cohort equations and 0.825 (0.802–0.847) for Framingham Risk Score‐cardiovascular disease. Applying our formulas to the validation cohort yielded C statistics of 0.825 (0.803–0.846), 0.799 (0.774–0.824), and 0.761 (0.71–0.813) for ASCVD, CAD, and stroke, respectively. The pooled cohort equations in this cohort had a C statistic for ASCVD of 0.824 (0.802–0.846).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the value of tailoring risk assessments to local populations and health care contexts.
Spor Yatırımlarının Verimlilik Analizi – İstanbul İli Örneği
Authors: Özaydın Selçuk
Published: November 2024

Ülkemizde gerek kamunun gerekse de özel sektörün ayırdığı yüksek kaynaklara rağmen birçok spor branşında arzulanan seviyede başarı elde edilememektedir. Sporda başarının getireceği ulusal ve uluslararası prestij ve sporun bireye ve topluma olan faydaları göz önüne alındığında, sporda kullanılan kaynakların etkin kullanımı önemli bir nokta olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Bu çalışma, veri zarflama analizi aracılığıyla İstanbul ili özelinde 10 farklı branşta verimlilik analizi yapmaktadır. İstanbul genelinde futbol ve yüzme branşları en verimsiz, jimnastik ve tenis de kaynakların en verimli kullanıldığı branşlar olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Ayrıca her ilçenin en verimli branşları ve her branşın en verimli olduğu ilçeler de saptanmıştır. Verimli ve verimsiz ilçelerin saptanmasının, gelecekte yapılacak spor yatırımlarının daha etkin şekilde kullanılması hususunda faydalı olacağı düşünülmektedir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, en İstanbul’un sporcu yetiştirmede en verimli ilçeleri Adalar ve Şile, en verimsiz ilçeleri ise Sultanbeyli ve Esenyurt olarak gözükmektedir. Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarının, İstanbul’a yapılacak hem özel hem kamu spor yatırımları için yol gösterici olacağı düşünülmektedir.
Türkiye’deki Özel Güvenlik Görevlileri ve Yöneticileri Tarafından Benimsenen Meslek Etiği Değerleri
Authors: Demirci Uğur , Yüksek Maksut , Uçkun Ceylan Gazi , Konak Orkun , Karakurt Bayram
Published: November 2024

Etik ilkelerin varlığı, mesleğin profesyonelleşme düzeyini işaret etmektedir. Türkiye’de, özel güvenlik görevlileri için yayınlanmış meslek etiği ilkeleri bulunmamaktadır. Meslek etiği ilkelerinin oluşturulmasında meslek mensuplarının görüşleri önemlidir. Bu bağlamda araştırma, Türkiye’deki özel güvenlik görevlisi ve yöneticilerinin benimseyerek uygulamalarına yansıttıkları meslek etiği değerlerini tespit etmek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan tekli durum çalışması çerçevesinde keşfedici durum çalışması olarak desenlenmiştir. Araştırma kapsamında 3.612 özel güvenlik görevlisi ve yöneticisinden veri toplanmıştır. Verinin analizi neticesinde, elde edilen 37 kodun beş tema altında toplandığı tespit edilmiştir.
Towards Gender Parity: Examining Women's Role In Turkey's Workforce
Authors: Unuvar Unluoglu Dilara
Published: November 2024

This research aims to interpret women's position in working life within the framework of gender and to reveal it in relation to the fields of economy, education, and public administration. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using a semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher after a review of the relevant literature. In the mixed design study, frequency analysis, and chi-square tests were applied. Of the study participants, 85.3% were female, and 16.5% were male, with the majority falling within the 20-29 age range (47%). Regarding employment type, 21% were permanent, 35% were contracted, 4% were casual, and 39% were subcontracted. The research reveals significant correlations between gender and participation in the workforce, as well as the partner's employment status, reasons for taking a break from work, and the tendency to leave the workforce. Additionally, the study found that a woman's level of education has an inverse relationship with her husband's involvement in determining the allocation and expenditure of her earnings. Lastly, the economic findings demonstrate significant connections between gender and the primary source of income that satisfies an individual's needs and the reasons for pursuing paid employment.
Keşif ve Merakın İzinde: Richard Francis Burton’un Mescid-i Nebevî Macerası
Authors: Önal Muhsin
Published: November 2024

Mescid-i Nebevî, İslam inancının en önemli kutsal mekânlarından birisidir. Bizzat İslam Peygamber’i tarafından inşa edilmiş olması ve Peygamber’in kabrinin bu mescitte bulunması, onu gerek manevi gerekse de maddi anlamda kutsal ve değerli kılmıştır. Bu önemli özelliğinin yanı sıra, mimari yapısı, mihrap ve revakları, giriş kapıları, geniş avlusu, yeşil kubbesi, İslam toplumunda mescide karşı derin bir manevi ve tarihi bağın oluşması sonucunu doğurmuştur. Müslümanların nazarında son derece önem arz eden bu hususlar, Batılıların mescide yönelik ilgisini de ziyadesiyle arttırmıştır. Bu çalışmada da bu ilgiye dair bir örneklem olarak, İngiliz kâşif Richard Francis Burton’un Mescid-i Nebevî hakkındaki kanaatlerinin izi sürülmek istenmiştir. Bu doğrultuda, makalede oryantalist yazarın mescit hakkındaki çıkarımları değerlendirilmiş, batılı bir zihnin Müslümanların varlık sebebi olarak kabul edilebilecek kutsal bir mekân hakkındaki izlenimlerinin peşine düşülmüştür.
Okul Öncesi Dönemde Çocuğu Olan ve Çalışan Ebeveynlerin Çocuk Bakımına İlişkin Deneyimleri
Authors: Erdemir Turgut Asiye , Sürsavur Latife , Tamkoç Betül
Published: November 2024

Okul öncesi dönemde çocuğu olan ve çalışan ebeveynler çocuk bakımı konusunda farklı sorunlarla karşılaşmaktadır. Çocukların psikososyal ve bilişsel gelişimi için oldukça önemli olan bu dönemin etkin geçirilmesi çocukların sağlıklı gelişimleri için gereklidir. Bu dönemde ebeveynlerin karşılaştıkları sorunların ve bu sorunların çözümü noktasındaki önerilerin neler olduğunu öğrenmek amacıyla nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden fenomenolojik desen kullanılarak yapılan bu araştırmada 15 ebeveyn görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yapılan görüşmeler aracılığı ile toplanan veriler MAXQDA 2020 paket programı kullanılarak çözümlenmiştir. Araştırmadan elde edilen verilere göre ‘çocuk bakımına ilişkin bilgiler’ ve ‘hizmet beklentileri’ olarak iki ana tema belirlenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonucunda çalışan ebeveynlerin büyük bir kısmının çocuk bakımı konusunda sorunlar yaşadıkları, bu sorunlara çözüm noktasında ise ebeveynlik izin sürelerinin arttırılması, esnek çalışma olanaklarının sağlanması, çalışılan kurumlar bünyesinde kreş hizmetlerinin verilmesi ve kreş ücretlerinin düzenlenmesi şeklinde öneriler sunulmuştur.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Çalışan Ebeveynler, Okul Öncesi Dönem, Ebeveynlerin Karşılaştıkları Sorunlar.
Türkiye’de Reklam Okuryazarlığı Alanındaki Lisansüstü Tezlerin Bibliyometrik Analizi
Authors: Saatcıoğlu Ezgi
Published: November 2024

Günümüzde bireyler, pazar koşulları içerisinde birer tüketici olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Bu bağlamda hem bireyler hem de markalar açısından reklam okuryazarlığı önemli bir olgu olmaktadır. Bireysel düzeyde bir yeteneği ifade eden her bireyin farklı düzeylerde olabileceği ve kendini geliştirebileceği reklam okuryazarlığı, önemli bir akademik çalışma alanıdır.. Bu çalışmada reklam okuryazarlığı literatüründeki yönelimlerin belirlenmesi hedeflenerek bibliyometrik bir analiz gerçekleştirilmektedir. Çalışmada Yükseköğretim Kurulu Başkanlığı Ulusal Tez Merkezi üzerinden ulaşılan, reklam okuryazarlığı alanında yazılmış lisansüstü tezler incelenmektedir. Çalışmada gerçekleştirilen bibliyometrik analiz sonuçlarına göre reklam okuryazarlığı alanında Türkiye alanyazınında hazırlanmış olan sınırlı sayıda lisansüstü tez bulunduğu 2 tez dışındaki tezlerin halkla ilişkiler ve tanıtım ile iletişim bilimleri alanında yazıldığı görülmektedir. Çalışmaların araştırma yöntemleri, veri toplama teknikleri çeşitlilik göstermekte, çocukların ve yetişkinlerin reklam okuryazarlığı düzeylerinin irdelendiği görülmektedir.
Fotoğraf Alanında Yazılan Lisansüstü Tezlerin İçerik Çözümlemesi Yöntemiyle İncelenmesi (1983-2023)
Authors: Tokgöz Beyza
Published: November 2024

Fotoğraf, icat edildiği dönemden itibaren bilim, haber ve iletişim gibi pek çok farklı alanda kullanılmıştır. Bu araştırmada, fotoğraf alanında yazılan lisansüstü tezlerin genel görünümünü ortaya koymak amaçlanmıştır. Bu doğrultuda, 1983-2023 yılları arasında Yükseköğretim Kurulu Ulusal Tez Merkezi veri tabanında bulunan ve başlığında “fotoğraf” kelimesi geçen erişime açık 689 lisansüstü teze ulaşılmıştır. Bu lisansüstü tezler; tez türü, yazım dili, yazıldığı yıl, üniversite, anabilim dalı/anasanat dalı/bilim dalı ve tez konusu olarak yedi başlık açısından içerik çözümlemesi yöntemi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda lisansüstü tezlerde; en fazla yüksek lisans tezi yazıldığı, yazım dilinin ağırlıklı olarak Türkçe olduğu, en çok tez yazılan yılın 2019 yılı, en çok tez yazılan üniversitenin Marmara Üniversitesi, en fazla tezin Fotoğraf Anasanat Dalı’nda yazıldığı, tezlerde çoğunlukla tercih edilen konunun Sahne ve Görüntü Sanatları olduğu saptanmıştır.
Klasik Türk Şiirinde Vaat Meselesi
Authors: Akkuş Yasemin
Published: November 2024

"Vaat" lütuf ve ihsan gibi insanın talep ettiği bir ihtiyaç iken "vade" ise bu talebin zamana yayılması ile mecburi bir bekleyiş ve sabır gerektirir. Vaat, Yaratıcı'dan gelirse İlâhî'dir ve hakîkîdir; insandan gelirse beşerîdir ve çoğunlukla yalandır. Klasik Türk şiirinin hayal dünyasında, özellikle ma'şûkun vaatleri, âşığı heyecanlandırıp ümit verse de vadesi sürekli ertelenen ve gerçekleşmeyen vaatlerdir. Devlet adamları, din adamları ve feleğin vaatleri de tıpkı ma'şûğunki gibi genellikle yalan vaatlerdir. "Vaat" ve "vade" kelimeleri, çoğunlukla "va'd-i ferdâ, va'd-i visâl, va'd-i dîdâr, va'de-i muhâl, va'de-i dürûğ...vb." gibi tamlamalar etrafında kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca insanların yetiştirdikleri kimyon bitkisine yeşermesi için vaatte bulunmaları ile "va'd-i kemmûn", yalancılığıyla meşhur olmuş bir kişi olan 'Urkûb'a teşbihle de "va'd-i 'Urkûb" ifadeleri sembolik değeri olan vaatler olarak kabul edilebilir.
TÜRK DEVLETLERİ TEŞKİLATI ÜYELERİNİN ULUS İNŞA POLİTİKALARI: KAZAKİSTAN ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: Giritlioglu Sharifa
Published: November 2024

Bu çalışma, Kazakistan örneğinde, Türk Devletleri Teşkilatı’na (TDT) üye devletlerin ulus inşa etme politikalarını konu almaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında TDT üyelerinin ulus inşa etme politikalarının nasıl uygulandığı sorusuna cevap aranırken, özellikle Kazakistan örneğinde ulusal kimlik gelişimini çevreleyen konulara ilişkin araştırma yapılmıştır. Araştırmada yöntem olarak, Kazakistan’ın ulus inşası sürecinin tarihi, sosyo-kültürel ve ento-politik yönlerini incelemek için nitel metot kullanılmakta olup, resmi hükümet raporları, açıklamalar, tarihi kayıtlar, akademik yayınlar ve resmi haber ajansları dahil olmak üzere farklı kaynaklardan veri toplanmış ve analiz edilmiştir. Araştırmanın bulgularına göre her TDT üyesi ülke, kendi özgün tarihlerine, kültürlerine ve coğrafyasına uygun şekilde ulusal kimliklerini geliştirmek için farklı stratejiler benimsemiştir ve Kazakistan örneğinde ulus inşa politikalarında kimlik, dil, etnik politika gibi ortak temalar bulunmaktadır.
Üniversite Tercihinde Kriterlerin Sıralamadaki Rolü: TOPSIS Yöntemi ile Bir Analiz
Authors: Meydan Bilge
Published: November 2024

Bu çalışma, Türkiye'deki üniversite tercihi yapacak öğrencilerin karar verme süreçlerini etkileyen faktörleri incelemekte ve bu faktörlerle üniversiteleri sıralamaktadır. Öğrenci tercihlerinde öne çıkan kriterler eğitim kalitesi, program çeşitliliği, üniversitenin prestiji, üniversitenin yeterliliği, maliyet, coğrafi konum, kampüs olanaklarıdır. İncelenen literatürde kriterlerin genellikle subjektif ağırlıklandırıldığı görülmüştür. Kriter farklılaşmasına odaklanan objektif ağırlıklandırma yöntemleri kullanılarak okulların sıralamasının, tercih dönemindeki öğrencilere daha rasyonel bir kılavuz sunması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada seçilen 20 kriterin ağırlıkları eşit ağırlıklandırma, Entropy, Critic yöntemleri ve daha sonra bu kriter ağırlıklarının ortalaması alınarak dağıtılmıştır. Tüm ağırlık setleriyle yapılan sıralamalarda 1. Sırada İstanbul Üniversitesi yer almaktadır. Eşit ağırlık, Entropy ve Critic yöntemleriyle belirlenen ağırlıklarla yapılan sıralamalarda bazı üniversitelerin konumları değişmiştir. Bu değişiklik, farklı ağırlık setlerinde kriterlere atanan yüksek değerlerle bu kriterlerin daha önemli sayılmasından kaynaklanmaktadır. Üniversitelerin başarılı öğrencileri çekmeye yönelik stratejik planlamalarında önemli katkılar sağlayabilir.
Special Issue Introduction: Researching and Understanding the Intersection of Immigrants and Policing in the 21st Century United States
Authors: Wallace Wendell C. , Harry Casandra
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this special issue is to highlight recent research on the intersection of immigrants and policing in the United States, a traditional destination since time immemorial for immigrants from disparate parts of the world. The special issue aims to enhance understandings of immigrants and how they interact with police officers and policing in the United States. Instructively, while there is a host of immigration studies conducted in the United States as well as scholarship on the immigration/policing nexus, the body of work surrounding immigrants and policing appears to be limited and thus requires framing in a broader context to capture a wider range of immigrants’ perspectives on the policing of immigrants in the United States. This special issue addresses the existing lacuna by framing immigrants’ intersection with policing in the United States around a wide range of nationalities, including, but not limited to, immigrants from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, as well as on a host of immigrant specific issues, such as U Visa, sanctuary states and immigrants’ willingness to cooperate with the police. Regardless of the gender, nationality, age, and/or ethnicity of the immigrants reported upon in this special issue, the guest editors issue a call to action for organizations with a migration focus as well as scholars in the social sciences to systematically conduct research on immigrants and their interaction with policing as this has implications for immigration, police legitimacy, and social integration.
The suspension of morality in organisations: Conceptualising organisational moral disengagement and testing its role in relation to unethical behaviours and silence
Authors: Fida Roberta , Skovgaard-Smith Irene , Barbaranelli Claudio , Paciello Marinella , Searle Rosalind , Marzocchi Ivan , Ronchetti Matteo
Published: November 2024

While considerable attention has been devoted to understanding how individual characteristics influence unethical actions, far less research has examined the role of social and organisational processes. We introduce the concept of organisational moral disengagement (OrgMD), drawing on Bandura’s moral agency theory, to explain how unethicality may be fostered in organisations. OrgMD is a multilevel construct, capturing perceptions of the mechanisms through which morality can be suspended in an organisation allowing unethical practices to flourish. Using four empirical studies, we validated OrgMD at both individual and organisational levels. The first three studies were conducted at individual level (Study 1: two waves, 301 workers; Study 2: two waves, 297 workers; Study 3: 297 workers), while the fourth adopted a multilevel design (3050 workers nested in 113 organisations). OrgMD, although highly correlated with personal moral disengagement, emerges as a distinct construct that operates both at individual and organisational levels. We show that when members perceive their organisation to be morally disengaged, they are more likely to engage in unethical pro-organisational behaviour and silence. The concept of OrgMD advances understanding of the social processes through which unethical organisational activities can be normalised as acceptable in organisations.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and its association with mental health outcomes: Cross sectional study
Authors: Alsawafi Aziza , Fotouhi Akbar , AlAdawi Samir , Jaju Sanjay , Al Qadire Mohammad , Al Azri Zeinab
Published: November 2024

Background:

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are pivotal precursors to poor mental health outcomes. However, studies focusing on the Arab/Islamic population, including Oman, are scarce. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between ACE and mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation) among Omani adults.

Methods:

A total sample of 1,648 adults were recruited from a university-affiliated hospital in Oman using convenient sampling technique. Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was utilized to measure ACEs while CDC Health Appraisal Questionnaire (HAQ) was used to measure the mental health outcomes.

Results:

The results show that 88% of participants suffered at least from one ACE in their childhood. The prevalence of mental health outcomes as follow: anxiety (10.32%), depression (6.10%), and suicidal ideation (4.61%). ACE level significantly correlated with depression ( p < .001), anxiety ( p < .001), and suicidal ideation ( p = .001). Participants with four ACEs or more have higher odds ratio for depression (10.03), anxiety (3.44), and suicidal ideation (3.93). Demographic factors (except education level) showed significant associations with all mental health outcomes.

Conclusion:

This study highlights a substantial association between ACE and mental health disorders among Omani adults, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to address ACE’s enduring impact on adult mental health in Omani society
Salience of social identities in explaining homeownership patterns in India
Authors: Gupta Ashish , Das Prashant , Coulson N Edward , Das Abhiman
Published: November 2024

Indian society presents heterogeneity across two identities – that is, religion and caste – that lead to heterogenous economic outcomes, but affirmative action is mostly applicable to caste. Our empirical models affirm that economically less secure households have a higher homeownership propensity in India. Minority religions and backward castes also have a significantly higher propensity to own homes. This is in sharp contrast to findings in the US where minority households are associated with lower homeownership rates. Further, religious and caste-based identities in India lead to different household behaviours in differing demographic mixes. Religious identity in India is more salient than caste identity in explaining differing homeownership patterns.
Imported Consumer Goods and Hegemony: External Constraints and Hegemonic Capacities of the Argentinian State
Authors: Boos Tobias
Published: November 2024

Debates about the link between the economic conjuncture and the fall of the so-called Pink Tide in Latin America often focus on the role played by raw material exports. However, this article shows that import dependency also played a significant role in the decline of the Argentinian iteration of the Pink Tide, also known as Kirchnerism. First, it analyses how imported consumer goods contributed to what is referred to as external constraints of the Argentinian economy. Second, from the perspective of hegemony theory, it argues that the Argentinian government alienated the middle class by implementing measures related to highly symbolic aspects of everyday life. Here, the article uses the term hegemonic capacities to analyze how structural constraints influenced the political room for maneuver of the Argentinian state. Its findings raise further theoretical questions about the relationship between economic and political constraints in the construction of hegemony for governments in Latin America.
High-energy injuries, combined ligamentous injuries, and joint incongruity as predictors of postoperative shoulder dysfunction in AC joint dislocation surgery
Authors: Zhu Xing-Fei , Wang Zhiyuang , Li Hai-Feng , Fan Jian
Published: November 2024

Objective

To identify risk factors associated with postoperative shoulder joint dysfunction in patients who underwent surgical intervention for acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation, with the aim of enhancing preoperative counselling, surgical planning, and postoperative management to optimize functional outcomes.

Methods

Patients who underwent surgery for AC joint dislocation between January 2018 and January 2023 at a hospital orthopaedic centre were enrolled into this retrospective study. Inclusion criteria were patients aged ≥18 years with a documented AC joint dislocation who underwent surgical treatment and had a minimum follow-up period >1 year. Patients with pre-existing shoulder conditions, prior shoulder surgeries, or incomplete medical records were excluded. Visual Analog Scale pain score ≥5 and Constant-Murley Score ≤70 was considered indicative of shoulder joint dysfunction. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors for postoperative shoulder joint dysfunction.

Results

Among 208 included patients, 56 (27%) exhibited shoulder joint dysfunction at the final follow-up. High-energy injury mechanisms, combined coracoclavicular ligament injuries, and lack of coronal plane congruity were identified as significant predictors of postoperative dysfunction. Specifically, high-energy injuries (odds ratio [OR] 5.493, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.068, 14.590), combined coracoclavicular ligament injuries (OR 0.118, 95% CI 0.032, 0.432), and lack of coronal plane congruity (OR 2.540, 95% CI 1.197, 5.387) were associated with an increased risk of poor shoulder function postoperatively. Other factors, such as age, injury mechanism, and postoperative exercise compliance also contributed to the outcomes. Level of evidence: iv.

Conclusions

Injury mechanism, ligamentous injuries, and joint congruity are important in determining postoperative shoulder function. Accurate joint reduction and diligent postoperative rehabilitation are crucial for optimal recovery. These findings provide valuable insights for improving patient care and surgical outcomes in AC joint dislocation treatment. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore additional factors that may influence postoperative shoulder function.
Tribal Women’s Valiant Contributions to India’s Fight for Freedom
Authors: Mishra Pravin Kumar , Tripathi Sangya
Published: November 2024

The sacrifice made by Indian women will take precedence above all others. The narratives of tribal women’s bravery, selflessness and sacrifice in the struggle for freedom are abundant. Many of us are unaware that hundreds of women fought alongside their male colleagues in battle. They fought with unwavering courage and true passion. The Indian tribal women broke free from several limitations and their traditional duties and obligations focused on the home. Therefore, the contribution of tribal women to the struggle for freedom and the national awakening is simply amazing and deserving of appreciation. An unrecorded, unheard of, and invisible aspect of India’s independence fightback is the role played by women liberation fighters in India. Everyone emphasises the significance of the masculine freedom fighter. However, achieving independence in India would have remained an impossible goal without the contributions of female freedom fighters. Many people are oblivious of their transformation from sati practitioners, victims of domestic violence, ignorant citizens and second-class citizens to outstanding liberation fight leaders. Participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement, doing satyagraha, propagating khadi and striking drinking establishments are just a few examples where Indian women have contributed significantly to this journey. Their contribution to the fight for freedom has been significant and honourable. When most of the men were incarcerated, a good thing occurred. Women of Bhart entered the realm of the struggle for independence. They had always made a contribution to the cause of freedom, but the British administration had been shocked by their unmatched fervour. The enormous awakening among Indian women and their role in Indian politics, the British Home Secretary had to concede, had troubled him more than anything else.
Book review: Purabi Roy and Saradindu Mukherji (Eds.), Indian National Army
Authors: Ghosh Nibir K.
Published: November 2024

Purabi Roy and Saradindu Mukherji (Eds.), Indian National Army. New Delhi: ICHR & Agam Kala Prakashan, 2021, xxxvi + 274 pp. ₹1,500, ISBN: 978-81-942937-2-9 (Hardback).
Breaking the Silence: A Preliminary Study on the Experiences of Chinese Men as Victims of Intimate Partner Violence and Masculinity
Authors: Wang Yun , Pan Xiaofu , Ying Hu , Yu Tao
Published: November 2024

Understanding the experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical first step in developing effective responses. However, the majority of research has focused on male perpetration against women, with male victimization being relatively marginalized. This study aims to explore the experiences of men with IPV in the context of Chinese society, where adherence to masculinity and the societal pursuit of face and harmony contribute to tolerance of IPV and hinder the understanding of male victim experiences. This study analyzes the IPV experiences shared by 57 men on public internet forums and invited 11 of them to participate in semi-structured interviews through private messages. Finally, thematic analysis was employed to qualitatively analyze the collected textual data. This study revealed seven key themes in the narratives of men. This study has significant implications for future research on IPV in China, as well as for policy formulation and service provision.
Framing the Immigrant in Labor Unions and the Military in the United States
Authors: Aptekar Sofya , Gleeson Shannon
Published: November 2024

We present a comparative study of organizational discourses on immigrants in two cornerstone US institutions: labor unions and the US military, both powerful players in setting the terms of immigration debates and policies in the United States. How do unions and the military frame the role of immigrants within their institutions and in US society? We draw on qualitative content analysis of materials produced by AFL-CIO and the US military between 2000 and 2020. Despite significant differences in these institutions, we find that they share the following three core themes in their framing of immigrants: (1) immigrants as potential threats, (2) immigrants as essential workers, and (3) immigrants as a source of diversity. We synthesize existing research on labor unions and the military to contextualize these commonalities, engaging theory on diversity ideology and organizational discourses. We conclude by discussing the implications of these discursive patterns on immigrants and US immigration policies.
Boards for Diversity? A Critical Economic Sociology of British South Asian Senior Leaders’ Experiences of the Executive Level of Football
Authors: Lawrence Stefan , Fletcher Thomas , Kilvington Daniel
Published: November 2024

Greg Clarke, former Chairman of the English Football Association, made several racist remarks during a 2020 appearance before a UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, claiming British South Asian people prefer to pursue careers in computing rather than football. Clarke’s ill-founded beliefs were poignantly well-timed given they came just as we were beginning our fieldwork, which involved interviewing 21 British South Asian senior leaders and executives across the football industry. Clarke’s comments crystallised what emerged from our interviews about battles to overcome institutional racisms and biases of co-workers. Drawing on over 36 hours of testimony – working at the nexus of economic sociology, critical race theory and the field of sport business management – we identify factors that regulate the openness/closedness of senior leadership and executive levels of employment in football, namely the role of exclusivity, closed networks, White allies, racial framing and exploitative temporality of non-executive boards.
A Study of the Value of Institutional Investor Involvement in M&A Activities of Nordic Corporations
Authors: Alimov Naufal , Bhasa Malla Praveen
Published: November 2024

This article examines the impact of the interaction between institutional investors and large shareholders in value creation process. Our study of Nordic companies from 2001 to 2016 finds a positive relationship between mergers and acquisitions (M&A) initiation and the ownership levels of both large shareholders and institutional investors, while their interaction shows a negative influence. We found no evidence that mergers are driven by value expropriation motives, as the gap between voting and cash flow rights of the largest shareholder has no significant impact on M&A likelihood.

While market reactions suggest potential value expropriation by large shareholders, post-merger performance analysis does not support this hypothesis. Overall, our findings suggest that large shareholders, rather than destroying value, contribute to value creation in Nordic companies, with institutional investors playing a role in safeguarding this process.
Factors Influencing Health Literacy Among Migrants in Taiwan
Authors: Krzyż Ewa Zuzanna , Putri Anggie Pradana , Lin Hung-Ru
Published: November 2024

Introduction:

With increasing migration from the Asian countries, enhancing migrant health literacy in Taiwan is crucial. This study addresses a significant gap in health literacy research, particularly concerning immigrants of both genders and from diverse countries. Its purpose is to assess health literacy levels among migrants and identify associated factors to provide a comprehensive understanding of this issue.

Methods:

This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2022 and January 2024, involving first-generation migrants aged above 20 years. Data were collected anonymously using the HLS-EU-Q47 questionnaire, available in English, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.

Results:

Participants, mainly of Asian background, generally had low health literacy. Significant factors associated with higher health literacy included marital status, father’s education, employment, health care training, transportation usage, ability to pay medical fees, income, and household arrangements. Educational courses and health seminars also improved health literacy.

Discussion:

The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance health literacy among migrants, considering demographic and socioeconomic factors.
Mechanistic Insights of hsa-mir-301a Regulation by Tobacco Smoke in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Evidence From Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Pustylnyak Vladimir O , Perevalova Alina M , Gulyaeva Lyudmila F
Published: November 2024

MicroRNAs play a significant role in the development of cancers, including lung cancer. A recent study revealed that smoking, a key risk factor for lung cancer, increased the levels of hsa-mir-301a in the tumor tissues of patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). The aim of the current study is to investigate the mechanism by which tobacco smoke increases hsa-mir-301a levels in LUSC tumor tissues using bioinformatics analysis. Bioinformatics tools and online databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), LinkedOmics, and Encyclopedia of RNA Interactomes (ENCORI), were applied in this study. Our results showed a correlation between the upregulation of hsa-mir-301a in LUSC tissues and smoking exposure. However, no correlation was discovered between patients’ smoking status and the expression level of the hsa-mir-301a host gene, SKA2, prompting us to investigate possible changes in microRNA processing under tobacco smoke exposure. In silico results using online platforms suggest that post-transcriptional processes, which involve the RNA-binding proteins DGCR8 and FUS, contribute to the elevation of mature hsa-mir-301a levels in smoking patients with LUSC. Our findings suggest that RNA-binding proteins play a key role in controlling the processing of hsa-mir-301a, indicating a complex regulation of hsa-mir-301a in the LUSC tissues of smokers.
Percutaneous spinal cord stimulation cylindrical lead placement for managing refractory neuropathic pain: A case series with an endoscopic-assisted approach
Authors: Hu Zhouyang , Wang Hong , Xu Zhipeng , Zhang Jianjin , Li Lijun , Fan Guoxin , Liao Xiang
Published: November 2024

Background

The paddle lead (PL) and cylindrical lead (CL) remain the main implant categories in spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for treating neuropathic pain. Surgeons often complain about the greater trauma associated with PL implantation, while percutaneous endoscopic technique offers a promising approach for minimizing the trauma associated to PL implantation. However, there remains a dearth of real-world case study on endoscopy-assisted CL implantation.

Purpose

This study aimed to demonstrate the endoscopic-assisted approach and outcomes of CL implantation in SCS for managing neuropathic pain.

Research Design

A retrospective case series.

Study Sample

Patients aged 18 years and above with chronic neuropathic pain persisting for at least three months, refractory to standardized conservative treatment, were enrolled between January 2021 and March 2023.

Data Collection and Analysis

The surgical key steps including puncture, working cannula placement, endoscopic laminotomy and endoscopic CL introduction were demonstrated. Characteristics as demographics, follow-up time, visual analog scale (VAS) score, pain disability index (PDI) score and patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) scale were assessed.

Results

Successful CL implantation under endoscopy was achieved in all patients, including 3 with failed back surgery syndrome, 2 with complex regional pain syndrome and 2 with chronic pelvic pain. No spinal cord injuries, dural tears, lead migration, lead fractures, or postoperative infections were observed. VAS score of regional pain, PDI score as well as PROMIS of patient’s quality of life were all significantly improved after surgery.

Conclusion

Percutaneous endoscope-assisted CL implantation offered a new alternative technique for SCS in managing neuropathic pain.
Introduction to the special issue: Challenges and practices to advance sustainable and inclusive practitioner research
Authors: Slimani-Rolls Assia , Crane Cori , Hanks Judith , de Miller Ines Kayon
Published: November 2024

This introduction to Language Teaching Research’s Special Issue “Challenges and Practices to Advance Sustainable and Inclusive Practitioner Research” introduces readers to central themes and issues surrounding inclusive and sustainable Practitioner Research (PR). Three traditions that foreground practitioners as active agents (Action Research, Exploratory Practice, Reflective Practice) are discussed, providing initial context. The article considers the value that teachers, learners, and teacher educators bring to research as practitioners with agency. Empowering practitioners in agenda-setting and supporting the practice and dissemination of practitioners researching their own classrooms and instructional environments, the authors argue, are vital for the fields of Applied Linguistics, English for Academic Purposes, and Language Education. The discussion highlights two central and intertwined tenets of PR work that feature in the articles of the special issue: inclusivity of students in the learning, teaching, and research processes, and sustainability fostered through supportive communities and the use of familiar pedagogic activities to sustain teachers’ investigative efforts. The four authors bring their unique perspectives as editors, authors, and practitioners to the discussions, providing an overview of the novel conceptual and empirical work undertaken in different parts of the world. We conclude that although inclusivity in PR may be hard to achieve, it is a goal worth striving for, with rich contributions for the field.
Restorative action research: Fostering wellbeing as a collective, relational, vital endeavor
Authors: Egan Mark , Friedman Victor J , Jones David R , Rhew Nicholas D , Robinson Sarah , Sama Linda M
Published: November 2024

This paper presents restorative action research - a relational, collective, vital approach to fostering wellbeing. It is based on cooperative inquiry carried out by six academics over three years, for the purpose of enhancing their own wellbeing in the increasingly precarious world of higher education, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the concept of “vital assemblages” as an analytical tool, the paper illustrates how restorative action research enhanced the participants’ sense of feeling alive, active, and joyful at a time of great stress. This relational, collective, vital approach to wellbeing offers an alternative to the dominant individualistic, internal framing of wellbeing. It is relevant to organizations outside of academia, as echoed in the idea of “networked wellbeing” emerging from the Global South. Restorative action research is also a political act with transformational potential, because it creates social spaces that enable people to free themselves and resist, if only a little, the influence of organizations and other dominant fields that cause illbeing and threaten human society.
Automated Parasociality: From Personalization to Personification
Authors: Andrejevic Mark , Volcic Zala
Published: November 2024

Recent developments in AI promise to further enact the shift from personalization to personification in automated digital interfaces. We have already seen the rise of virtual influencers and, more recently, of chatbots that adopt the personas of celebrities. Drawing on the intertwined history of the relationship between parasociality and personal influence, we frame the shift toward personification as a strategy for re-centralizing control over the online media environment. The shift is likely to extend beyond the realm of social media influencers to characterize our interactions with a range of services, platforms, and media content, from search engines to online news and entertainment. Automated personification anticipates a world permeated by enhanced parasocial relations with media devices and interfaces. To the extent that the interactive infrastructures shaping these relations remain controlled by commercial tech platforms, we can anticipate their imperatives will be baked into this version of automated sociality.
Impact of transpedal retrograde wire just marker technique on revascularization of below the knee artery occlusions with ambiguous proximal caps in patients with Buerger’s disease
Authors: Varim Perihan , Buturak Ali , Çakmak Ahmet C , Tatli Ersan
Published: November 2024

Background

Chronic total occlusions with ambiguous proximal caps present a significant challenge in endovascular interventions of patients with Buerger’s disease.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of transpedal retrograde wire just marker technique in patients with Buerger’s disease presenting proximal cap ambiguity and flush occlusions.

Methods

Seventeen patients with the diagnosis of Buerger’s disease who had below the knee artery chronic total occlusions with ambiguous proximal caps were enrolled. Procedural success, post-intervention Rutherford stage, wound scores, pedal loop scores, and amputation rates were recorded.

Results

Final study group consisted of 13 patients after exclusion of 4 patients due to pedal loop formation failure and severe vasospasm preventing equipment advancement. Post-intervention angiographic success rate was 100%. The post-intervention Rutherford stage showed excellent improvement (mean preprocedural Rutherford stage = 5 vs mean post-intervention Rutherford stage = 2; p = 0.003). Additionally, the average Saint Elian Wound Score System (SEWSS) decreased significantly (Preprocedural 14.9 ± 4.0 vs Postprocedural 11.3 ± 4.7, p < 0.001) after the interventions. Two patients had a major amputation during the follow-up indicating that higher post-intervention pedal loop scores are associated with higher amputation rates.

Conclusions

Transpedal retrograde wire just marker technique is an effective and practical method for revascularization of below the knee artery occlusions with ambiguous proximal caps. Including pedal loop angioplasty as a routine part of this technique can significantly increase blood supply to the pedal arch., thereby enhancing the likelihood of wound healing.