bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longer term outcomes of laparoscopic peritoneal lavage in the management of acute Hinchey III perforated diverticulitis: A Systematic review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sciascia David , Neary Paul , Sahebally Shaheel , Whelan Maria , Clancy Cillian , O Riordan James Michael , Abdelgadir Alwaleed , Kavanagh Dara Oliver
Published: December 2024

Introduction:
To investigate the current evidence regarding long-term outcomes using laparoscopic peritoneal lavage (LPL) versus primary bowel resection (PR) in Hinchey III diverticulitis.

Methods:
A systematic review was undertaken based upon articles published between 1st January 2000 and 1st March 2024. Databases Pubmed, Scopus and Embase were used employing the key search terms “diverticulitis” and “peritoneal lavage”. Articles were selected according to the PRISMA guidelines and statistical analysis was undertaken. Cumulative analysis of diverticulitis recurrence and secondary outcomes of disease-related mortality, serious adverse events, stoma incidence, re-operation and re-admission rates were performed.

Results:
An initial search identified 506 articles for review. A total of 294 patients were included for final analysis from 3 prospective randomised controlled trials. There was no significant difference in disease-related mortality or serious adverse events between LPL and PR. There was significantly decreased likelihood of having a stoma in the LPL group however there was also a significantly increased likelihood of having recurrent diverticulitis. There was heterogenicity throughout.

Conclusion:
There is a paucity of level 1 evidence available regarding the long-term outcomes of Hinchey III diverticulitis managed with LPL. At 3-year follow-up there is a significantly decreased likelihood of having a stoma, tempered by the fact that there is a significantly increased likelihood of having recurrent diverticulitis. Further homogenous high-quality randomised studies are required to clarify whether LPL shows long term benefit.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Risk of Lung Cancer:
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sodeifian Fatemeh , Kian Naghmeh , Atefi Amirhomayou , Naserghandi Alvand , Zangiabadian Moein , Sadeghzade Sara , Namakin Kosar , Seghatoleslami Zahra Sadat , D'Ambrosio Lia , Nasiri Mohammad Javad , Migliori Giovanni Battista
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with rising incidence in resource-limited settings. Research suggests an increased risk of lung cancer in individuals with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), but the association needs further clarification. This systematic review aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this relationship.
Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Scopus databases for relevant studies up to March 15, 2024. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using either random-effects or fixed-effects models, depending on the level of heterogeneity. All statistical analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, version 3.0.
Results: A total of 37 studies were included (9 cohort and 28 case-control). A significant association between prior pulmonary TB and lung cancer was found in both cohort (OR: 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-3.8) and case-control (OR: 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.5) studies. Subgroup analyses revealed a stronger association in East Asia (OR: 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3-4.1).
Conclusion: Our study provides strong evidence of an increased risk of lung cancer following pulmonary TB. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive public health strategies, including targeted screening, early detection, and smoking cessation. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms linking TB and lung cancer, as well as the effectiveness of integrated prevention programs, particularly in high-burden regions.
Exploring the Impact of the Biden Administration and Arab Monarchies on the Two-State Solution and Governance in Gaza
Authors: Jabali Oqab , Ayyoub Abed Alkarim , Saeedi Munther
Published: December 2024

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is significantly influenced by the Biden Administration’s policies and Arab monarchies’ strategic interests. The 2023 Gaza war has reshaped the political landscape, emphasizing the need for sustainable resolution. A thorough examination of the aftermath of the 2023 Gaza attack is imperative for grasping the current prospects for the two-state solution and regional governance under the Biden administration, and the influence of Arab monarchies. Employing a quantitative approach, our findings indicate a consensus among study participants favoring the involvement of diverse Palestinian factions in Gaza’s governance to advance peace efforts. Arab monarchies’ actions significantly impact trust in their mediation role, underscoring their pivotal role in shaping regional peace prospects. Similarly, attitudes toward the Biden administration’s stance influence trust in its role as a mediator, despite criticisms of perceived biases. Remarkably, demographic factors do not yield statistical differences in attitudes towards governance and the two-state solution.
Perceptions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and AI’s Impact on Society
Authors: Lund Brady D. , Agbaji Daniel , Mannuru Nishith Reddy
Published: December 2024

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), and particularly the growth of artificial intelligence (AI), has had a profound impact on society, creating excitement among the public while also raising concerns about its implications and ethical considerations. This study aims to examine the perceptions of individuals from a variety of backgrounds toward AI and Industry 4.0 through a mixed-methods, survey and interview approach. The results reveal key themes in participant-supplied definitions of AI and Industry 4.0, emphasizing the replication of human intelligence, machine learning, automation, and the integration of digital technologies. Participants expressed concerns about job replacement, privacy invasion, and inaccurate information provided by AI. However, they also recognized the benefits of AI, such as solving complex problems and increasing convenience. Views on government involvement in shaping Industry 4.0 varied, with some advocating for strict regulations and others favoring support and development. The anticipated changes brought by Industry 4.0 include automation, potential job impacts, increased social disconnect, and reliance on technology. Understanding these perceptions is crucial for effectively managing the challenges and opportunities associated with AI in the evolving digital landscape.
Dissatisfaction Theory of Financial Inclusion
Authors: Ozili Peterson K.
Published: December 2024

In explaining the cause of financial exclusion, dissatisfaction with the formal financial system stands out as a possible cause of financial exclusion according to the dissatisfaction theory of financial inclusion. This article revisits the dissatisfaction theory of financial inclusion and extends the theory by providing an elaborate discussion of (i) the relationship between customer dissatisfaction and financial inclusion using a grid; (ii) the sources of customer dissatisfaction; and (iii) ways to deal with customer dissatisfaction. The theory argues that previously banked adults who left the formal financial system and have become unbanked again can be brought back to the formal financial sector through persuasion if the element of dissatisfaction has been removed or resolved. The theory is significant because it explains one of the major reasons why people leave the formal financial system despite the availability of formal financial services and ease of access to financial services in the financial system.
Advancing Sustainable Human Security in a Digital Era through Inclusivity and Accountability
Authors: Saliba Abi Chedid Darina
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this article is to look at how a humanized global governance framework based on human rights, ethics, and harnessing humanities may ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) is utilized for promoting sustainable human security for all and safeguarding human rights. The digital era adds to substantial changes in understanding key viewpoints in international humanitarian law and related humanitarian practice in this environment. Notably, this article reflects the ideological, legal, social, political, and economic development of the concept of ‘human security’ over the years. Constitutions will inevitably undergo revisions and modifications to adapt to such developments. The article also focuses on how AI might help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG s) and other humanitarian goals.
A Crucifix, Broken and Repaired, and Global Histories of Art and Emotions
Authors: Jasienski Adam
Published: December 2024

The intersection of the global and material turns has led to an abundance of studies centering the mobility of early modern objects. But things didn’t move of their own volition. Rather, they were propelled or stilled by the emotional responses of human actors. This essay attempts to square the global turn with recent scholarship on the history of emotions. It argues for an increased sensitivity to the emotional regimes that gave lives to objects, while acknowledging the impossibility of creating a single framework for understanding emotional response in as diverse and complex a context as the early modern Hispanic world.
Minding the Gap: The St. Thomas Reliquary from Mylapore
Authors: Krass Urte
Published: December 2024

The reliquary in question here has disappeared. It was created in the second half of the sixteenth century, and the only extant photographs of it make clear that it is an object of great significance. This article emphasizes the importance of considering not only existing objects but also the voids and losses in our understanding of global material culture. The reliquary was made for a site in Mylapore that had been a center of Christian worship since the fourth century, predating the Portuguese arrival in India. It has an intriguing story, intertwined with the Syrian Church, then in charge of the St. Thomas Christians in India. The reliquary is a unique blend of Christian, Islamic, and Hindu artistic elements and reflects the complex cultural and religious context of the time. Its origin and production remain uncertain, with possibilities ranging from local craftsmanship in Goa to creation in Cochin or Mylapore.
Mastering a World by Consuming a Book, circa 1495–1505
Authors: Rice Yael
Published: December 2024

This article considers some of the ways that the Ni‘matnāma (Book of delights), a Persian-language recipe book composed and illustrated in Mandu, in west-central India, between circa 1495–1505, maps, embodies, and consumes a very particular kind of world, one in which the courtly consolidation of power and authority via extraction, accumulation, coercion, translation, and consumption figure centrally. It is argued that the Ni‘matnāma’s text and images thematize long-distance travel and the accumulation and mixing of imported and local goods as integral facets of a broader courtly ethos centered upon male sexual expertise, corporeal control, mastery of ethical ideals, and political sovereignty.
Co-ratification in practice
Authors: Bökenkamp Daniel
Published: December 2024

This contribution examines the role of the city of Rouen in the co-ratification of the Treaty of the More in 1525. On looking into the deliberations of Rouen’s city council, this article provides a local perspective into the participation of cities in treaty processes, challenging the traditional view that such affairs were solely the domain of monarchs and their courts. This contribution analyses the correspondence of the Regent of France, Louise of Savoy, and the council of Rouen. The findings reveal how Rouen’s City Council balanced loyalty to the French crown with efforts to preserve local interests, using diplomatic channels and delaying tactics. This case-study illustrates the complexity of power politics in 16th-century France, where cities like Rouen played a significant, yet often overlooked, role in shaping international agreements. The article contributes to broader historiographical debates on the development of modern diplomacy and the agency of cities.
Drinking from the Same Well?
Authors: Fretheim Sara , Eshun Daniel Justice , Mclean-Farrell Janice , Perkins Anna Kasafi , Sadgrove Jo
Published: December 2024

This is a joint reflection by a group of Christian scholars involved with transatlantic (African/Caribbean/British) theological initiatives, tackling questions of engagement and lack thereof between contemporary African and Caribbean Christian scholars. As we have observed/experienced, African and Caribbean scholars evince ‘selective amnesia’ around theologies and lived experiences across the Atlantic despite deep historical ties and shared African indigenous cosmological roots, with persistent and diverse traumatic legacies. Building on recent experiences convening/leading various transatlantic projects and consultations in Ghana, Jamaica, and Barbados, and including perspectives from our funder, USPG, we trace past transatlantic Christian engagement (mid-18th century to present). We identify post-independence political and economic crises as likely reasons for the fading of this discourse; argue that it is within the interest of African and Caribbean Christians and wider Christian scholarly community to transcend these past and ongoing traumas; and call for mutual (re)engagement and a transatlantic theology of repair/remaking.
Indo-Muslim Interactions in the Mojaddedi Tradition: Observations on ʿAndalib’s Nāla-ye ʿAndalib
Authors: Khodamoradi† Soraya
Published: December 2024

Sufism in South Asia has enjoyed a rich heritage of interactions with Indian cultures, religions, and learned traditions. Sufis have continuously exchanged ideas and practices with adherents of Indian religions, as well as reactionary trends opposing such discourse. The reformist Sufi Mojaddediyya (“Renewal”) movement, founded by Ahmad Serhendi (1564–1624), with its call for a return to a pure Islam, is a remarkable example of such anti-hybridization dynamics. “Pure” refers, among other meanings, to a kind of Islam that is stripped of religious innovation (bedʿa), including non-Muslim traditions, beliefs, and social and moral norms adopted by Muslims. By means of textual and intertextual analysis, this article tries to shed light on the position of the Mojaddedi “pure Mohammadi way (tariqa Mohammadiyya khālesa)” towards Indo-Persian and Indo-Muslim interactions. For this purpose, we shall examine closely the Nāla-ye ʿAndalib (The Nightingale’s Lament), the Persian masterpiece by the founder of this path, Mohammad Nāser ʿAndalib (1693/4–1759).
Réception du Coran parmi les émigrés hongrois dans l’Empire ottoman au XVIIIe siècle
Authors: Tóth Ferenc
Published: December 2024

Les colonies émigrées hongroises dans l’Empire ottoman issues des guerres d’indépendance inabouties du tournant des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles subirent des influences de l’islam et nous laissèrent des témoignages de la réception du Coran. Durant son exil en Turquie, le prince François II Rákóczi se fit entourer d’experts en langues et civilisations orientales et joua un rôle d’intermédiaire entre les autorités ottomanes et les ambassades européennes. Le chargé d’affaires des émigrés hongrois, Ibrahim Müteferrika, était un renégat transylvain qui devint plus tard un acteur principal des relations diplomatiques et du transfert des savoirs dans le milieu cosmopolite de Constantinople. Le centre de l’émigration hongroise implantée dans la ville de Rodosto devint ainsi un carrefour des personnes et des idées entre l’Orient et l’Occident qui inspirèrent plusieurs ouvrages originaux.
Moving On? The Act of Remembering Humanitarian Aid and the Shaping of Normative Experiences
Authors: Taithe Bertrand
Published: December 2024

This essay draws on the experience of ‘get-togethers’ among veteran field workers recorded in 2016 who recalled work experience from the 1980s–often stressing in their account their memories and the part this period played in their lives. This source can now help us analyse the formation of meaningful experience of the concept of experience. Using further archives of normative processes which drew from ‘lessons learnt’ and ‘experience’ to shape the rulebooks of the 1990s’ humanitarian aid industry, and using interviews and oral history as well as new archives and diaries, this essay will consider how humanitarians have reflected on normative experiences. The first section of the essay will be devoted to the experiences arising from work in the great refugee camps of the 1980s, where many humanitarians developed their skills. The second section develops from this and considers how camps became the site of norm-setting for many actors and organisations of the humanitarian sector in the 1990s. The third section of the article reflects on the legitimacy arising from field work and humanitarian experience, focusing on the sociability of experience and how this cultural capital was then instrumentalised. The final section ends on the itinerant humanitarian exhibition which was deployed at the end of the presence (2020–21) of one of the largest medical NGOs in Cambodia. Through this Médecins sans Frontières exhibition the essay will reflect on how experience and legitimacy were constructed and finally historicised and memorialized.
From Explication to Order: The Persian Vernacularization of Arabic Rhetoric
Authors: Tahmasebian Kayvan
Published: December 2024

This article explores the vernacularization of Arabic rhetorical embellishments by Persian rhetoricians, presenting it as an early instance of comparative literary theory emerging through translation. Focusing on the organizational figurative device laff-va-nashr (“wrapping up and rolling out”), I trace its adaptation from Arabic rhetorical sources into fourteenth-century Persian rhetorical manuals. The discussion addresses the complexities of the coexistence of laff-va-nashr and tafsīr in Persian rhetorical handbooks and examines the subtle innovations Persian rhetoricians introduced to this figure. By charting its transformation from an author-oriented device (tafsīr) to a reader-oriented one (laff-va-nashr), this study highlights a significant example of cross-fertilization between philology, translation, literary theory, and hermeneutics in Persian rhetoric. Ultimately, this comparative analysis of Persian and Arabic rhetorical traditions serves as a preliminary step toward understanding Islamic balāgha as an intrinsically multilingual poetics.
Ibn al-Ghaḍāʾirī’s K. al-Rijāl and the Canonization of Imami ʿIlm al-Rijāl Literature
Authors: Adem Rodrigo , Ansari Hassan
Published: December 2024

This article offers a historical study and translation of a text written in Baghdad in the first half of the 5th/11th century known to the Imami Shiʿi scholarly tradition as the K. al-Rijāl by Ibn al-Ghaḍāʾirī, containing some of the earliest extant material from the Imami scholarly practice of ʿilm al-rijāl, and providing key insights into the historical development of hadith scholarship in Imami thought. Ibn al-Ghaḍāʾirī’s biographical circumstances provide a particularly useful entry point into Imami hadith scholarship of 5th/11th century Baghdad and the historical circumstances of the authorship of the authoritative textual sources of Imami ʿilm al-rijāl. The remarkable historical achievement of Ibn al-Ghaḍāʾirī’s K. al-Rijāl consists in its reemergence from presumed oblivion in the 11th century CE to attaining quasi-canonical status within Imami scholarship over the 13th to 16th centuries CE, and just as rapidly coming under attack by Imami jurists over subsequent centuries into the present day.
A Twelfth-Century Controversy on Mānkdīm’s Taʿlīq Sharḥ al-Uṣūl al-khamsa: Zaydis Debating Accidents, Attributes, and Optics
Authors: Ansari Hassan , Thiele Jan
Published: December 2024

In this article, we present a so far unstudied epistolary exchange between two sixth/twelfth-century Zaydis from Yemen on Mānkdīm’s famous Taʿlīq Sharḥ al-Uṣūl al-khamsa. In the text, which survives in a unique manuscript, al-Ḥasan al-ʿUdharī raises objections against passages from the proof for the createdness of the world and from the chapter on beatific vision in the Taʿlīq, touching upon issues related to accidents (aʿrāḍ), attributes (ṣifāt), and sense-perception. Al-ʿUdharī’s objections are refuted by al-Ḥasan al-Raṣṣāṣ, who was possibly his teacher. The debate is of interest for studying the sixth/twelfth-century Zaydi reception of Muʿtazili teachings, as is evident, but it also serves as a valuable testimony to the Zaydi engagement with other intellectual traditions, including proponents of Greek-derived logic and Ashʿari arguments against Muʿtazili theories. Our article first situates the text and its arguments in its historical and intellectual context, then offers an English translation, and concludes with a critical edition of the epistolary exchange.
Seeing the Signs: the Imamate in Sayyid Kāẓim al-Rashtī’s (d. 1259/1843) Sharḥ Duʿāʾ al-simāt
Authors: Izzo Gianni
Published: December 2024

This article discusses a supplication commentary written by Sayyid Kāẓim b. Qāsim al-Rashtī (d. 1259/1843), the second leader of the Shaykhi Imami Shiʿi movement (al-Shaykhiyya) that emerged in nineteenth-century Iran. Al-Rashtī’s name has yet to reach a broader audience, and not without reason. It is easy to see how the first Shaykhi leader, Aḥmad b. Zayn al-Dīn al-Aḥsāʾī (d. 1241/1826), could overshadow his successor given the former’s charisma and influence, as well as the great abundance of his writings. However, al-Rashtī’s marginality obscures a key stage in the movement’s history and development when the Shaykhi cause gained wider purchase within Qājār Shiʿi society and when the ideas of al-Aḥsāʾī took on growing urgency in fervent expectation of Imam al-Mahdī’s (re)appearance (ẓuhūr). The main purpose of this article is to highlight the role of interpretation in al-Rashtī’s Sharḥ Duʿāʾ al-simāt (Commentary on the supplication of signs) in articulating Shaykhi thought. Al-Rashtī’s commentary is a deeply considered expression of the imams’ influence in sacred history. It interprets the speech of an Infallible (maʿṣūm) to indicate how God interacts with creation through prophetic and imamic archetypes, designating supplicative words and phrases to express this relationship. Given the paucity of information on al-Rashtī, the value of this enterprise will require some appreciation of his background and motivations. In the first section, I chronicle al-Rashtī’s fundamental role in Shaykhi history within the anarchic scene of the ʿAtabāt region of the mid-Qājār period and catalogue some of his main works. The first section lays the groundwork for the second, main section, which analyses al-Rashtī’s commentary and his interpretive procedure.
From Eschatology to Empire: Fatra as a Driving Force in Rewriting the Early Ismaʿili Movement
Authors: Matthews Alex
Published: December 2024

The concept of fatra, which has its basis in the Quran as the interim time between prophets, was marshalled and reimagined by the early Ismaʿili movement as a way to explain the absence of the awaited mahdī, Muḥammad b. Ismāʿīl. In this understanding, the imam may go into hiding during times of heightened persecution or perhaps even die before the next imam has been designated. However, the establishment of the Fatimid state complicated the idea that there could be a time when the imam is absent. The K. al-Fatarāt wa-l-qirānāt, attributed to the tenth-century Fatimid author Jaʿfar b. Manṣūr al-Yaman, captures the Fatimid reckoning with the implications of fatarāt. It rewrites the history of the early movement to claim that since the advent of the cycle of the Prophet Muhammad there has not been a fatra, nor will there be one again so long as the Fatimids reign.
Mobile STEM Programming
Authors: Delello Julie A.
Published: December 2024

This mixed-methods study investigated the effectiveness of a STEM Carnival program in enhancing STEM understanding among 2,108 middle school students across five rural East Texas campuses. The study aimed to assess students’ perceptions of the carnival activities, their learning gains, and their recommendations for future events. Results indicated a high level of student engagement, particularly in hands-on and interactive activities, highlighting the value of experiential and context-based learning. Notably, 98% of the students, including those from underrepresented ethnic groups and across genders, reported knowledge gains. These findings suggest that such interactive programs can significantly enhance STEM learning and foster a sense of community and collaboration. This study underscores the potential of STEM carnivals to promote interest in STEM careers and offers recommendations for future educational programming in rural settings.
Design and Development of an Inclusive Online STEM Course for Families
Authors: Kano Kei , Azai Hajime , Hagihara Kimi , Ishikawa Manaka , Nagayasu Yuri , Nishida Miyu , Tanaka Rina , Tsushi Yuzuna , Yamada Hirofumi
Published: December 2024

Marginalized individuals and communities have been largely disengaged in science museums, science festivals, or informal Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. This study recognizes these difficulties and aims to develop an inclusive STEM course. A conceptual framework comprising seven recommendations guided our online STEM course that comprised three STEM workshops, relevant to everyday life, and included art and traditional methods and tools. These workshops underwent a pilot phase for improvement and later included deaf/hard-of-hearing students. The improved workshop promoted inquiry question submissions from the group of students with lower interest in science and technology and its quality; however, significant differences were not noted in inquiry report submissions. The study emphasizes the importance of examining the inclusion of those with lower interest, and of examining the impact of long-term courses on student learning to ensure continuous access to resources.
Primary hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: a case report
Authors: Wang Jing-Rui , Yang Qi-Jun , Lu Bei , Cai Yang , Yin Jun-Jie
Published: December 2024

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a low-grade malignant tumor of vascular origin. The rarity of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) makes the diagnosis and treatment of this entity challenging. We report a case of a 69-year-old female patient who suffered from HEHE and complained of abdominal distension pain with dizziness and appetite loss for more than half a month. Enhanced computed tomography of the upper abdomen indicated multiple space-occupying lesions in the liver. The pathological results of color ultrasound puncture suggested HEHE. We performed transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and relevant examinations according to the patient’s condition and their choice. We followed the patient for 5 years and found that she developed recurrent intrahepatic metastasis of the tumor. Computed tomography was performed again after 3 months of treatment with anlotinib and the tumor did not show any progression. HEHE is a relatively rare hepatic malignant tumor derived from vascular endothelial cells, with a low incidence, atypical clinical manifestations, and a difficult diagnosis that can only be confirmed with pathological results. Currently, appropriate treatment methods should be selected according to the specific conditions of the patient.
Business Constraints, Information Technology and Income Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Bouanza Jean R. F. K. , Asongu Simplice A. , Nnanna Joseph
Published: December 2024

The objective of this study is to examine how information and communication technology can be used to moderate the unfavourable effects of doing business constraints on income inequality in 48 sub-Saharan African countries for the period from 2004 to 2019. The Gini coefficient is used as the income inequality indicator, whereas the ICT dynamics employed entail subscriptions to mobile phones and the Internet. Ten indicators of doing business constraints are also employed. From the findings, for the most part, doing business constraints increase income inequality while ICT moderates the positive effect of doing business constraints on income inequality. Thresholds of ICT at which the doing business constraints no longer increase income inequality are provided. At these established ICT penetration thresholds, ICT effectively moderates doing business constraints to reduce income inequality.
Open Innovation Over the Regional and National Boundaries in the Semiconductor Industry: The Effects of Digital Transformation and Decoupling of the Global Value Chain
Authors: Yun Jinhyo Joseph , Zhao Xiaofei , Ahn Heungju
Published: December 2024

Decoupling of the global value chains in the semiconductor industry under digital transformation has not been adequately investigated, although it is a popular topic with the emerging technological rivalry globally. This study empirically examines the following research question to contribute to the limited research. How do firms’ collaborations across regional and national boundaries moderate the effects of open innovation on performance in the semiconductor industry after digital transformation under the decoupling of the global value chain? This study analyses patents which had been registered at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) in the semiconductor industry during 2004 and 2020 at the representative terms of before and after digital transformation. Findings are as follows: First, digital transformation motivates semiconductor enterprises’ collaboration effects over regional and national boundaries. Second, the decoupling of the semiconductor industry in the global value chain negatively moderates the effects of open innovation on firms’ performance across regional and national boundaries. Therefore, by reconstructing the global value chain of the semiconductor industry, the negative moderating effects of the semiconductor industry’s decoupling could be diminished. In addition, by constructing a national semiconductor cluster in South Korea, the benefits of digital transformation in the semiconductor industry could be increased.
Schumpeterian Implications of Government-led Local Innovation: Evidence from China
Authors: Kim Sang-Joon , Koo Inhyouk , Park Seunghyun , Wang Zimeng
Published: December 2024

This study examines the impact of governmental interventions on the performance of local innovation through technological leapfrogging. Local innovation is defined under the framework of Schumpeterian innovation, encompassing the emergence of high-tech de-novo firms. Additionally, we investigate the potential correlation between national R&D investment and the emergence rate of de-novo firms in a specific region. To test this hypothesis, we analysed the effects of a nationwide scheme in China known as the Jingjinji project; the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Joint Development Project, on the formation of de-novo firms dedicated to cutting-edge technologies. We employed panel data from 212 locales in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei to evaluate the policies’ impact on Hebei’s innovation, as well as the role played by government R&D investment. Based on the difference-in-difference results, the Jingjinji project was found to have a statistically significant positive impact on innovation. However, the emergence of de-novo firms had a negative impact on the project’s success due to decreased R&D investment. This study emphasises the significance of government intervention in promoting local innovation, not only in China but also in other nations.
South African Expatriate Teachers in the Gulf Arab States: Push and Pull Factors for Leaving
Authors: Mohamed Aneesa , Dasoo Nazreen , Israel Hilda
Published: December 2024

This study explored the experiences of South African teachers who relocated to teach at schools in the Gulf region (Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait). Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used with 25 educational professionals. Research was guided by the Expectancy-Value Theory and Herzberg’s Motivational Theory in order to situate the findings. Participants revealed that the inability to earn a reasonable salary and lack of professional growth opportunities were two of the main reasons that they left South Africa. Education researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders will benefit from the understanding of how to effectively meet the needs of South African teachers in order to stop further brain drain after qualified teachers graduate; how to acknowledge the challenges of teaching in South Africa in university curricula; and how to encourage recent graduates to stay in South Africa in order to take advantage skills and education.
Molecular profiles of blood from numerous species that differ in sensitivity to acute inflammation
Authors: Gregory David J. , Han Feifei , Li Peng , Gritsenko Marina A. , Kyle Jennifer , Riley Frank E. , Chavez Deborah , Yotova Vania , Sindeaux Renata H. M. , Hawash Mohamed B. F. , Xu Fengyun , Hung Li-Yuan , Hayden Douglas L. , Tompkins Ronald G. , Lanford Robert E. , Kobzik Lester , Hellman Judith , Jacobs Jon M. , Barreiro Luis B. , Xiao Wenzhong , Warren H. Shaw
Published: December 2024

Vertebrates differ over 100,000-fold in responses to pro-inflammatory agonists such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), complicating use of animal models to study human sepsis or inflammatory disorders. We compared transcriptomes of resting and LPS-exposed blood from six LPS-sensitive species (rabbit, pig, sheep, cow, chimpanzee, human) and four LPS-resilient species (mice, rats, baboon, rhesus), as well as plasma proteomes and lipidomes. Unexpectedly, at baseline, sensitive species already had enhanced expression of LPS-responsive genes relative to resilient species. After LPS stimulation, maximally different genes in resilient species included genes that detoxify LPS, diminish bacterial growth, discriminate sepsis from SIRS, and play roles in autophagy and apoptosis. The findings reveal the molecular landscape of species differences in inflammation. This may inform better selection of species for pre-clinical models and could lead to new therapeutic strategies that mimic mechanisms in inflammation-resilient species to limit inflammation without causing immunosuppression.
Evaluating SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and calf circumference as diagnostic tools for sarcopenia in Thai older adults: results from a nationwide study
Authors: Vanitcharoenkul Ekasame , Unnanuntana Aasis , Chotiyarnwong Pojchong , Adulkasem Nath , Asavamongkolkul Apichat , Laohaprasitiporn Panai
Published: December 2024

Background

With the increasing number of older adults, musculoskeletal disorders such as sarcopenia have become increasingly important to research because of their strong association with falls and fractures. Sarcopenia, which is characterized by reduced muscle mass, is common among older adults and significantly increases the risk of falls. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the SARC-F and SARC-CalF questionnaires, along with calf circumference measurements, for sarcopenia screening among Thai community-dwelling older adults, following the 2019 criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia.

Methods

This analysis drew on data from the Thai Musculoskeletal Diseases Nationwide Study, which included 2543 participants aged 60 years or older. The SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and calf circumference data were evaluated against the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve to determine the diagnostic performance of each tool.

Results

Of the 2455 participants analyzed, 18.1% were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The SARC-F and SARC-CalF questionnaires showed limited effectiveness in diagnosing sarcopenia, with area under the curve values of 0.508 and 0.729, respectively. In contrast, calf circumference demonstrated greater diagnostic accuracy, with area under the curve values of 0.897 in males and 0.878 in females. Adjusting the cutoff points to < 33 cm for males and < 31 cm for females improved the overall diagnostic accuracy from 66.4 to 82%.

Conclusions

Sarcopenia is relatively prevalent in Thailand. The SARC-F and SARC-CalF questionnaires are inadequate for diagnosing sarcopenia, while calf circumference alone is the most effective screening tool. Adding more parameters to the SARC-F questionnaire could enhance its diagnostic accuracy.

Trial registration

This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06558617). Registration Date 16 August 2024.
A qualitative exploration of women’s expectations of birth and knowledge of birth interventions following antenatal education
Authors: Davies Anna , Larkin Michael , Willis Lucy , Mampitiya Narendra , Lynch Mary , Toolan Miriam , Fraser Abigail , Rawling Kate , Plachcinski Rachel , Barnfield Sonia , Smith Margaret , Burden Christy , Merriel Abi
Published: December 2024

Background

Expectations of birth, and whether they are met, influence postnatal psychological wellbeing. Intrapartum interventions, for example induction of labour, are increasing due to a changing pregnant population and evolving evidence, which may contribute to a mismatch between expectations and birth experience. NICE recommends antenatal education (ANE) to prepare women for labour and birth, but there is no mandated UK National Health Service (NHS) ANE curriculum. We aimed to explore women’s expectations of childbirth and their understanding of common interventions and complications following NHS and non-NHS ANE.

Method

Qualitative focus groups were conducted with postnatal women (< 12 months postpartum) aged ≥ 16, who had received antenatal care at a single NHS Trust. A semi-structured topic guide was used to explore birth expectations following attendance at ANE and knowledge of birth interventions and complications. Data were transcribed and thematic analysis was undertaken by at least two researchers.

Results

46 women (mean age: 33.5years; 81% white British) participated across eight groups. 65% were primiparous, 35% had a caesarean birth. 50% attended NHS ANE and 59% non-NHS ANE. Participants perceived that a ‘hierarchy of birth’ was presented within ANE classes, where a ‘better birth’ involved vaginal birth, minimal pain relief and limited intervention. Participants described expectations of control and choice over their birth, though some described being encouraged to be open-minded about the course it may take. Participants identified a mismatch between their expectations and subsequent experiences, which adversely impacted their psychological wellbeing. While participants received information about common birth interventions and complications, limited time spent on these during classes resulted in expectations that they were rare. Participants felt that receiving sensitively presented information about the frequency of interventions could prepare women and support their psychological wellbeing after birth.

Conclusions

Women’s expectations of birth are informed by ANE which may precipitate a mismatch between expectations and experience. Better information about risk factors and frequency of labour and birth interventions may support women to develop evidence-informed expectations of birth, reducing the expectation-experience gap, with consequent impact on maternal postnatal wellbeing. A mandatory minimum curriculum for ANE is needed to ensure high-quality education is available to all.
Bias in machine learning applications to address non-communicable diseases at a population-level: a scoping review
Authors: Birdi Sharon , Rabet Roxana , Durant Steve , Patel Atushi , Vosoughi Tina , Shergill Mahek , Costanian Christy , Ziegler Carolyn P. , Ali Shehzad , Buckeridge David , Ghassemi Marzyeh , Gibson Jennifer , John-Baptiste Ava , Macklin Jillian , McCradden Melissa , McKenzie Kwame , Mishra Sharmistha , Naraei Parisa , Owusu-Bempah Akwasi , Rosella Laura , Shaw James , Upshur Ross , Pinto Andrew D.
Published: December 2024

Background

Machine learning (ML) is increasingly used in population and public health to support epidemiological studies, surveillance, and evaluation. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review to identify studies that use ML in population health, with a focus on its use in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We also examine potential algorithmic biases in model design, training, and implementation, as well as efforts to mitigate these biases.

Methods

We searched the peer-reviewed, indexed literature using Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, Inspec, Web of Science’s Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, and the Emerging Sources Citation Index, up to March 2022.

Results

The search identified 27 310 studies and 65 were included. Study aims were separated into algorithm comparison (n = 13, 20%) or disease modelling for population-health-related outputs (n = 52, 80%). We extracted data on NCD type, data sources, technical approach, possible algorithmic bias, and jurisdiction. Type 2 diabetes was the most studied NCD. The most common use of ML was for risk modeling. Mitigating bias was not extensively addressed, with most methods focused on mitigating sex-related bias.

Conclusion

This review examines current applications of ML in NCDs, highlighting potential biases and strategies for mitigation. Future research should focus on communicable diseases and the transferability of ML models in low and middle-income settings. Our findings can guide the development of guidelines for the equitable use of ML to improve population health outcomes.
Mechanism of activation of TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway induced by heat stress disrupting the filtration barrier in broiler
Authors: Dong Hui-li , Wu Xing-yue , Wang Fei-yao , Chen Hao-xiang , Feng Si-liang , Zhou Chen-yang , Zhao Zhan-qin , Si Li-fang
Published: December 2024

Background

High-temperature environment can cause acute kidney injury affecting renal filtration function. To study the mechanism of renal injury caused by heat stress through activates TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway by disrupting the filtration barrier in broiler chickens. The temperature of broilers in the TN group was maintained at 23 ± 1 °C, and the HS group temperature was maintained at 35 ± 1℃ from the age of 21 days, and the high temperature was 10 h per day, and one broiler from each replicate group at the age of 35 and 42 days was selected for blood sampling, respectively.

Results

The ELISA results demonstrated that in comparison to the TN group, serum CORT content of broilers in the HS group was all remarkably elevated (P < 0.01); the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum were remarkably elevated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); serum CAT and SOD activities were all remarkably reduced (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and serum LDH activity and MDA content were all remarkably decreased (P < 0.05); serum BUN and CRE levels were remarkably elevated (P < 0.01). Pathological sections and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the structure of the renal filtration barrier in the HS group damaged gradually with the prolongation of heat stress in comparison to the TN group, but the damage was reduced at 42 days of age; the levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, NF-κB-p65, NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β mRNAs were all up-regulated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in renal tissues of the HS group, indicating that heat stress caused damage to the morphological structure and function of the renal filtration barrier and that TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway was also affected by heat stress, leading to increased activity (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

Conclusions

It demonstrated that heat stress caused detrimental effects on both the morphological structure and function of the renal filtration barrier, and the initiation of the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway exacerbated the inflammatory damage, leading to increased thermal damage to renal tissues and glomerular filtration barriers; however, with the prolongation of heat stress, broilers gradually developed heat tolerance, and the damage to the renal tissues and filtration barriers triggered by heat stress was mitigated.
THBS2 + cancer-associated fibroblasts promote EMT leading to oxaliplatin resistance via COL8A1-mediated PI3K/AKT activation in colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhou Xing , Han Jiashu , Zuo Anning , Ba Yuhao , Liu Shutong , Xu Hui , Zhang Yuyuan , Weng Siyuan , Zhou Zhaokai , Liu Long , Luo Peng , Cheng Quan , Zhang Chuhan , Chen Yukang , Shan Dan , Liu Benyu , Yang Shuaixi , Han Xinwei , Deng Jinhai , Liu Zaoqu
Published: December 2024

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) exert multiple tumor-promoting functions and are key contributors to drug resistance. The mechanisms by which specific subsets of CAFs facilitate oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been fully explored. This study found that THBS2 is positively associated with CAF activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and chemoresistance at the pan-cancer level. Together with single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics analyses, we identified THBS2 specifically derived from subsets of CAFs, termed THBS2 + CAFs, which could promote oxaliplatin resistance by interacting with malignant cells via the collagen pathway in CRC. Mechanistically, COL8A1 specifically secreted from THBS2 + CAFs directly interacts with the ITGB1 receptor on resistant malignant cells, activating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and promoting EMT, ultimately leading to oxaliplatin resistance in CRC. Moreover, elevated COL8A1 promotes EMT and contributes to CRC oxaliplatin resistance, which can be mitigated by ITGB1 knockdown or AKT inhibitor. Collectively, these results highlight the crucial role of THBS2 + CAFs in promoting oxaliplatin resistance of CRC by activating EMT and provide a rationale for a novel strategy to overcome oxaliplatin resistance in CRC.
Phase 1 study of AYP-101 (soybean phosphatidylcholine): safety, pharmacokinetics, and lipid profile effects for reducing submental fat
Authors: Lee Hyun Joon , Jiang Xu , Abd El-Aty A. M. , Jeong Ji Hoon , Chung Jae-Yong
Published: December 2024

Background

Excessive submental fat under the chin is a known aesthetic concern because of its negative impact on facial appearance and psychological well-being. AYP-101 is a newly developed injectable agent containing 93% soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) designed to reduce submental fat. We conducted a phase 1 study to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic (PK), and lipid profile effects of AYP-101.

Methods

This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose, two-cohort trial. Participants were randomized into groups receiving 250 mg of AYP-101, 500 mg of AYP-101, or placebo at a 9:9:8 ratio across both cohorts. Safety was assessed through standard clinical evaluations. Blood samples were collected up to 144 h postdose in cohort 1 and up to 48 h postdose in cohort 2. The PK parameters were calculated via noncompartmental analysis.

Results

All 26 randomized subjects completed the study. A total of 72 solicited adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were reported by 24 subjects, all of which were mild. The most common ADRs were injection site pain and bruising. There were 29 ADR cases in the 250 mg group; 26 cases in the 500 mg group; and 18 cases in the placebo group, indicating that there were no clinically significant differences in the safety profiles between the groups. All the dose groups presented similar PK profiles, with Cmax values of 12.86, 13.44, and 13.61 µg/L and AUC0−24 h values of 278.06, 274.79, and 267.63 µg*h/L, respectively. No clinically significant differences in PK or lipid profiles were observed between the postdose group and the baseline group for any of the dose groups.

Conclusions

AYP-101 appears to be a safe candidate for treating submental fat, with localized reactions and no systemic exposure at single subcutaneous doses of up to 500 mg.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05476094.