bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exchange Rate Dynamics and Macroeconomic Factors: A Comparative Study of BRICS Countries
Authors: Sbeiti Wafaa , Ahmad Moid Uddin , AlKhashti Fahad , Haddad Ayman E.
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the exchange rate dynamics within the BRICS countries and how they interact with specific macroeconomic variables. To achieve this purpose, both intra-country and inter-country analyses were performed utilizing various statistical methods using time series data covering the period 2000–2022. The findings reveal a significant interdependency among exchange rates within the BRICS countries, although there are inconsistencies in inter-country relationships. Specifically, the analysis of exchange rate dynamics across different countries reveals diverse associations with other economic variables, highlighting the varying impact of macroeconomic variables on foreign exchange rates across countries. In addition, our study also revealed a significant negative two-way relationship between the Chinese currency and the currencies of South Africa and Russia, highlighting potential challenges and complications in aligning monetary policies and exchange rate dynamics across BRICS countries.

JEL Classification F31, E44, E52, O11
Imagining transnational solidarity in the EU through Hegel’s idea of mutual recognition
Authors: Bobić Ana
Published: February 2025

How do we, EU constitutional scholars, define solidarity? For the most part, solidarity is used as a political soundbite for something that is generally seen as ‘good’ or normatively desirable. In this paper, I make two arguments. On the one hand, I critically reflect upon the dominant approach in EU law under which solidarity as a principle chiefly governs relations between the Member States. Citizens in the EU are at the moment not a unit of concern for which solidarity produces legal outcomes. On the other, based on Durkheim's work on enlightened self-interest, I show that measures in EU law that invoke solidarity mainly do so on economic grounds and do not allow for the creation of socioeconomic and political bonds between citizens in the EU. I then turn to what solidarity in the EU could be. By revisiting Hegel's idea of mutual recognition as the condition for freedom, I offer a more robust understanding of solidarity. Finally, I offer a brief look into potential areas where solidarity might become a meaningful principle for connecting citizens for non-economic purposes and by offering thoughts on space for further research.
EXPRESS: Maximizing Profit and Minimizing Waste with Buy-x-Get-y-Free Promotion Policies During Clearance Sales
Authors: Liu Fang , Sainathan Arvind
Published: February 2025

Maximizing profit and minimizing waste (leftover inventory) can be two conflicting objectives during clearance sales. BxG y policies (buy x units at full price and get y units free) are popular promotion policies for achieving these objectives. We consider four scenarios depending on whether customers are homogeneous/heterogeneous in their valuations and whether the retailer’s objective is to maximize profit/minimize waste. In each scenario, we characterize the structure of the optimal promotion policy (OPP). We categorize the two kinds of OPPs based on the retailer’s objective as profit-based and clearance-based OPPs. If customers are homogeneous, we show that B1G y policies are always optimal. However, if they are heterogeneous, B1Gy policies may not maximize profit, resulting in a complex structure for profit-based OPPs. Therefore, we focus on B1G0, B1G1, and B2G1 policies due to their prevalence among retailers. We then derive how both kinds of OPPs change with quantity. We explain the impact of quantity using the ideas of bundling effect and differentiation effect. We perform a numerical study to examine (i) the impact of the two kinds of OPPs on profit and waste, and (ii) the impact of demand uncertainty. Finally, we discuss how our results apply to several practical instances.
Dynamic Prediction of the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After DAA Treatment for Hepatitis C Patients
Authors: Ma Xinyan , Huang Lili , Yu Meijie , Dong Rui , Wang Yifan , Chen Hongbo , Yu Rongbin , Huang Peng , Wang Jie
Published: February 2025

Objectives

The aim of this study was to develop and internally validate a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk prediction model incorporating repeated-measures data (longitudinal model), and compare with baseline predictions.

Methods

A total of 1097 participants with chronic hepatitis C after direct-acting antivirals (DAA) treatment were included in this prospective cohort study. The framework of joint models for longitudinal and survival data was used to construct the longitudinal prediction model. For comparison, a baseline model incorporating the same predictors was constructed through the multivariate Cox regression models. Model performance was evaluated using dynamic discrimination index (DDI), areas under the receiver-operating characteristics curves (AUROC), and Brier scores.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 7.25 years, 60 patients (5.5%) developed HCC. Key risk factors identified were aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholinesterase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), albumin, hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), antigen-125 (CA-125), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The final joint model, with GGT and CEA removed, showed superior average predictive performance (DDI = .871) compared to models with all predictors included. Validation showed high predictive accuracy for HCC, with AUROCs above .9 for 1-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year predictions. In comparison, the baseline Cox model only achieved mediocre AUROCs of .7 (.75, .67, .69, and .67, respectively).

Conclusion

Compared to static models, our dynamic prediction model can predict the risk of HCC in patients after DAA treatment more accurately, providing better information to distinguish high-risk populations.
Infinite Essence: Black Methodology, Artful Inquiry, and the Possibilities of Black Aesthetics
Authors: Okello Wilson Kwamogi
Published: February 2025

Anti-Blackness, as a sociopolitical matrix, fails to acknowledge Black livingness, necessitating a departure from traditional representational modalities to engage with Black “living” in its fullness. Black aesthetics emerge as imaginative spaces, inspiring change and expansiveness, challenging normativity by centering Blackness. Mikael Owunna embodies this tradition, melding visual media, engineering, and African cosmologies in projects like Infinite Essence. By illuminating Black bodies in darkness, Owunna disrupts notions of Blackness as void, offering a method to envision Blackness beyond racialized and colonial violence. This conceptual exploration foregrounds Black methodology. Specifically, Owunna’s process illuminates several dimensions, or what I refer to as commitments, for taking up Black aesthetics as artful inquiry in research practices that I denote as forecasting, shuttering, tenderness, and gravitation.
All Aboard: Light Rail, Mobility Justice, and the Future of Public Transit in Austin, TX
Authors: Karner Alex , Shuster Jonathan
Published: February 2025

Activists and advocates are increasingly inserting themselves into urban governing regimes. Austin, TX offers a powerful example where these actors shifted public transit planning and decision making toward mobility justice—away from the demands of capital and toward everyday transit riders. Using primary source documents and 13 semistructured interviews with key participants, we demonstrate that a multibillion dollar voter-approved public transit expansion plan called Project Connect was undoubtedly shaped by activists and conceptions of mobility justice. Our results illuminate how these actors were able to influence the plan despite the marginalization of similar concerns in the American context. By engaging in the process early, shaping the initial investment plan that was put before voters, influencing project governance, and coalescing around a first-of-its-kind antidisplacement fund, activists created a permanent seat at the decision-making table from which they are able to fight for just processes and outcomes.
Three Albanian cultural centers in comparison under an acoustic perspective
Authors: Sukaj Silvana , Stasi Roberto , Iannace Gino , Trematerra Amelia
Published: February 2025

After the World War II, Albania was governed by a dictatorship that lasted for about 50 years. The cultural life restarted to be one of the main centers of the society community. Many buildings styles reflected the influence of governors as leaders of countries, in combination with the spread of armed concrete used as the main material for new constructions, given its flexibility compared to brickwork that was not yet developed as it is nowadays. In Albania, many cultural centers were constructed for the local community where citizens can have access to libraries, coffee shops, and auditoria. These latest ones represent the places where live shows are performed, along with international conferences. This paper deals with the assessment of the acoustic response gathered within three auditoria as part of cultural centers in Albania. The acoustic measurements were carried out in accordance with ISO 3382-1. The acoustic response recorded inside the three case studies indicate a good listening condition for both speech and music performance. This outcome has been found in all three auditoria, despite the room volume between each other is different.
Reduced childbirth rates in multiple sclerosis from the prodromal phase: Evidence from a population-based cohort study
Authors: Simonsen Cecilia Smith , Flemmen Heidi Øyen , Broch Line , Brekke Kamilla , Myklebust Harald , Berg-Hansen Pål , Brunborg Cathrine , Celius Elisabeth Gulowsen
Published: February 2025

Background:

The age of multiple sclerosis (MS) onset coincides with fertile age, and both improved prognosis and treatment may influence birth rates in people with MS (pwMS).

Objectives:

To investigate birth rates over time in pwMS compared with controls.

Methods:

This cohort study included pwMS from three hospitals in the southeast of Norway. Clinical data were collected prospectively. Statistics Norway provided year of live births and marital status in pwMS and controls matched for age, sex, and place of residence at age 16.

Results:

We included 1599 pwMS (1118 women with MS (wMS) and 481 men with MS (mMS)) and 23,855 controls. The mean number of live births was 1.5 (standard deviation (SD) 1.2) for pwMS versus 1.8 (SD 1.2) for controls ( p < 0.001). Birth rates in wMS declined significantly starting 3 years before onset, with 4.5% giving birth versus 8.4% of controls 2 years before onset ( p = 0.046). Birth rates were also lower 1 year after onset ( p = 0.002). mMS showed a dip 2 years before onset ( p = 0.002), but otherwise had rates similar to controls. There were no differences in marital status.

Conclusion:

wMS have reduced rates of childbirth compared with controls. This is significant already in the prodromal phase.
‘Life itself is kinship’: Care and disgust in more-than-human worlds
Authors: Banerjee Bidisha
Published: February 2025

Shaunak Sen’s powerful documentary All That Breathes (2022) tells the story of two brothers Nadeem Shehzad and Mohamed Saud, and their assistant Salik, who have devoted their lives to saving black kites that have been dropping from the skies of Delhi in alarming numbers for over a decade. They work tirelessly in the makeshift hospital in their cramped basement, taking care of these regal creatures. This article argues that Sen’s documentary provides an example of planetary care via the portrayal of the wildlife rescue work done by the brothers. It analyzes the film’s depiction of entangled interspecies relations via a triangulation of the brothers, the kites and the material environment, arguing that the brothers’ enactment of a sense of obligation, care and commitment contrasts starkly with the abject conditions in which they live and work. In proposing a profound ethic of multispecies care, I argue that the film also subtly critiques India’s right-wing Hindu majoritarianism and the state-endorsed violence against Muslims, which provides the film’s backdrop. It does so by engaging with a discourse of disgust that is often invoked against the Muslim by majoritarian groups in India when calls are made to rid the imagined Hindu nation space of the Muslim Other. Furthermore, the tender moments of care become themselves moments for the production of an aesthetics of disgust. By intermingling depictions of care with representations of disgust, the film critiques the national politics of alterity and exclusion while urgently calling for interrelational webs of care. However, I argue that despite Sen’s attempts to humanize the Muslim Other for a majoritarian audience, the film ultimately remains somewhat circumscribed within a liberal sensibility, thereby missing the opportunity for an even more nuanced representation of human–animal entanglements and an intimate understanding of the Muslim Other.
Altered functional connectivity between primary visual cortex and cerebellum in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Cai Chang , Kato Takashi , Arahata Yutaka , Takeda Akinori , Nihashi Takashi , Sakurai Keita , Tanaka Emi , Diers Kersten , Fujita Kosuke , Sugimoto Taiki , Sakurai Takashi , Ito Kengo , Nakamura Akinori
Published: February 2025

Background

It is known that eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions invoke different organizations of brain functional networks, such as sensorimotor, attention, and salience networks in healthy participants. Functional connectivity (FC) extracted from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data, under either EO or EC conditions, has been widely applied to explore the neural substrates of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the impact of eye conditions on FC within the AD continuum remains not fully understood.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the effects of eye conditions on FC across the AD continuum.

Methods

FC with the primary visual cortex (V1) seed was analyzed for both EO and EC conditions in 59 amyloid-β (Aβ)-positron emission tomography (PET)-negative cognitively normal (CN−), 14 Aβ-PET-positive CN+, 24 mild cognitive impairment (MCI+), and 15 AD individuals.

Results

EO and EC differently modulated FC between the V1 and cerebellum, especially the posterior vermis, in all groups. In CN−, CN+, and MCI+ groups, EO significantly facilitated FC between V1 and the cerebellum compared with the EC condition. However, the AD group showed the reverse pattern. Moreover, a sub-analysis demonstrated that the FC significantly correlated with a truncal balance measure under EO, but not EC, in participants with MCI+ and AD.

Conclusions

The results show that the FC between the V1 and cerebellum changed in AD. This finding may partially explain the impaired truncal balance and tendency to fall down in AD. This study suggests that analyzing FC under EO and EC conditions may provide a new functional biomarker for AD.
Androgen deprivation therapy and dementia risk: An updated and dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Shun , Ni Jingnian , Long Siwei , Teng Yuou , Yao Yirou , Shi Jing , Tian Jinzhou
Published: February 2025

Background

The association between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and dementia risk is controversial, and the dose-response relationship between them remains unclear.

Objective

We aim to further clarify the relationship between ADT and dementia risk.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched up to September 2024 to identify relevant studies. A meta-analysis was conducted using hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) as pooled indicators. The robust error meta-regression (REMR) approach was performed to explore the dose-response relationship. Heterogeneity was assessed using I² statistics, and subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regressions were conducted. Publication bias was evaluated with a funnel plot and Egger's test.

Results

Our meta-analysis of 21 studies involving 2,278,835 patients revealed that ADT significantly increased the risk of overall dementia (HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.06–1.20) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) (HR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06–1.23), but not non-AD dementia (HR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.89–1.16). For ADT subtypes, anti-androgens increased the risk of overall dementia (HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.09–1.49), particularly for AD (HR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.19–1.97), while Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone therapy and bilateral orchiectomy were not linked to the risk of any dementia subtype. A bell-shaped non-linear relationship between ADT duration and dementia risk was observed, with the highest risk observed at 15.5 to 21.5 months (HR = 1.25), which was confirmed by subgroup analysis for AD.

Conclusions

The risk of overall dementia and AD were found to be significantly associated with ADT in a bell-shaped dose-response effect.
Radiotherapy department supported by an optimization algorithm for scheduling patient appointments
Authors: Marcela Chavez , Silvia Gonzalez , Alvaro Ruiz , Patrick Duflot , Jansen Nicolas , Mlakar Izidor , Arioz Umut , Safran Valentino , Philippe Kolh , Marteyn Van Gasteren
Published: February 2025

Prompt administration of radiotherapy (RT) is one of the most effective treatments against cancer. Each day, the radiotherapy departments of large hospitals must plan numerous irradiation sessions, considering the availability of human and material resources, such as healthcare professionals and linear accelerators. With the increasing number of patients suffering from different types of cancers, manually establishing schedules following each patient’s treatment protocols has become an extremely difficult and time-consuming task. We propose an optimization algorithm that automatically schedules and generates patient appointments. The model can rearrange fixed appointments to accommodate urgent cases, enabling hospitals to schedule appointments more efficiently. It respects the different treatment protocols and should increase staff and patient satisfaction. The optimization algorithm can be connected to a mobile application allowing patients to accept or refuse appointment changes for rescheduling radiotherapy treatments.
The Assertoric Nod: Non-concordant uses in responses to polar questions in English conversation
Authors: Wu Ruey-Jiuan Regina , Heritage John
Published: February 2025

This article introduces the ‘Assertoric Nod’ – a category of head nodding distinguished by its physical shape and manner of execution – and explores a previously-uninvestigated phenomenon of the interactional use of head nodding. Our analysis focuses on the simultaneous co-production of the assertoric nod and a non-concordant negatively-polarized verbal response to polar questions in English. We propose that unlike other forms of nodding behavior, the assertoric nod conveys more than simple affirmation and serves to embody an ‘assertoric’ position that the speaker is holding concerning the matter at hand. We demonstrate that, with the dual embodied response package of this kind, the speaker not only rejects the question’s proposition but implicitly challenges the askability of the question. Our findings shed light on the complexity of contingencies involved in the action formation of responding actions while providing a window into how participants manage multiple issues of sense-making and stance display.
Poetry interventions in Alzheimer’s and dementia care: A scoping review
Authors: Paniagua Guzman Antonio , Otto Amy K , Galeeva Indira , Brown Sarah Jane , Jacklin Kristen
Published: February 2025

Art-based interventions for people living with dementia have been successful in improving diverse areas of quality of life and care. Within the spectrum of art-based interventions, poetry has shown an impact on communication, socialization, and the regulation of behavioral outcomes. This scoping review aims to identifying and analyzing how and in what contexts poetry has been used as a form of therapy for people living with dementia and their caregivers. It also looks at the methodology, design, and outcomes. After screening 1106 articles across multiple databases, 23 underwent full-text review, and six were included in the final extraction. Inclusion criteria focused on people living with dementia aged 50+ and/or their family caregivers, encompassing any form of language-based poetry intervention (e.g., written, spoken word). Both completed and ongoing original research reporting intervention outcomes in peer-reviewed articles or certain types of grey literature were considered. The review covers literature published between 1993 and 2023. Additional details on the poetry interventions including collaboration, facilitation, duration, and underlying theory, were also extracted. The findings highlight the effectiveness of poetry interventions for people living with dementia and their caregivers as person-centered activities fostering personhood and social connectedness. Particularly spoken-word poetry-based programs showed positive impacts on participants’ self-expression, personhood, and agency. Two main barriers for wider dissemination were identified. First, methodology and outcome reporting conventions in some extracted studies diverge from broader biomedical/health and social science norms. Second, study design and data analysis are not reported in ways that evidence of programs’ impact can be assessed and supported. Additionally, there is a lack of literature focused on the development and implementation of poetry-based intervention programs aimed at serving under-represented and minority populations. Recommendations for future projects include multidisciplinary collaborations, diversifying methodological approaches, and attention to cross-cultural approaches to program development and implementation.
It’s a Mindset Revolution! Co-creating inclusive spaces of participation on youth mental health
Authors: Bussu Sonia , Rubin Katy , Carroll Niamh , Eve Zarah
Published: February 2025

The Mindset Revolution project aimed to strengthen youth voice on mental health policy and practice. We worked with a diverse group of young people to co-create digital and in-person spaces of participatory democracy and action research. We combined play, art and creativity to challenge power dynamics and name structural racism, sexism, ageism, classism, and ableism as forces in institutional practice in the mental health system. Our approach reflected the participatory ethos and ambition for social transformation underpinned by Action Research with a concern for Transformations (ART). By taking an assemblage perspective, the paper highlights the relational and situated nature of participatory democracy and action research, warning against top-down designs and advocating for context-specific and emergent practices that can foster sustainable social change. The paper emphasises the complexity of achieving policy impact, highlighting barriers such as limited space and time for trust-building processes, limited resources, and stringent funding requirements. It advocates for a flexible, long-term approach that integrates diverse, intersectional and radically inclusive spaces of participation, embedded in the community that can take ownership beyond small-scale projects. Transformative change in youth mental health can only occur when it is co-created with and owned by young people and their communities.
Influence of amount of fumed silica on curing, mechanical, damping, and relaxation properties of phenyl vinyl methyl polysiloxane elastomer
Authors: Aksüt Davut
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the influence of varying amounts of fumed silica filler on phenyl vinyl methyl polysiloxane (PVMQ) elastomer properties. Results demonstrate a significant impact of silica filler quantity on hardening, mechanical strength, relaxation, and damping properties of PVMQ elastomers. Notably, 15 phr fumed silica positively affects scorch time and optimum cure times. Increasing silica filler levels enhances mechanical properties, including hardness, Emod, and 50% modulus, by reinforcing physical and chemical cross-linking. The unique surface morphology of silica fillers enhances mechanical performance and energy absorption capacity, as evidenced by tan delta values. Multi-cycle compression tests confirm increased deformation resistance and energy absorption damping capacities with higher silica filler content. Temperature scanning stress relaxation analysis reveals notable effects on thermal relaxation properties. These findings underscore the crucial role of silica filler quantity in shaping the mechanical, damping, and thermal relaxation properties of PVMQ-based materials, suggesting avenues for performance optimization through surface morphology manipulation.
Neurophysiological effects of altruistically motivated craft activities in occupational therapy: A pilot study using frontal EEG and heart rate variability analysis
Authors: Orui Junya , Shiraiwa Keigo , Inoue Takao , Ueda Masaya , Ueno Keita , Naito Yasuo , Ishii Ryouhei
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Occupational therapy utilizes altruistically motivated activities, potentially influencing both frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) associated with approach motivation and autonomic responses. This study examines the effects of altruistically motivated craft activities on FAA and autonomic activity.

Methods

Fifteen rehabilitation students (21.0 ± 0.4 years) performed a netcraft task under altruistic and selfish conditions. EEG and ECG were measured during the craft task, and FAA and autonomic indices were analyzed.

Results

FAA score was significantly higher in the altruistic condition ( p = .040, d = 0.59), indicating increased approach motivation. Sympathetic activity was significantly lower in the altruistic condition ( p = .018, r = −0.68), indicating reduced sympathetic activity.

Conclusions

Altruistically motivated craft activities increased relative left frontal cortical activity and decreased sympathetic activity, highlighting their potential benefit in occupational therapy. These findings are not only consistent with previous research, but also support the inclusion of altruistic activities in therapeutic interventions to improve mental health and well-being.
Relations between justice and trust in professionals working with persons with intellectual disability
Authors: Maniezki Alice , Martínez-Tur Vicente , Estreder Yolanda , Moliner Carolina , Gracia Esther
Published: February 2025

This study explores how the way families treat professionals (interpersonal justice) and the trust professionals have in families relate to each other over time in organizations for persons with intellectual disabilities. Interpersonal justice is based on kindness, courtesy, respect, and dignity. Trust is an attitude reflecting the extent to which one party in a relationship believes the other to be trustworthy. We studied data from 179 professionals, measuring interpersonal justice and trust three times with a separation of four weeks. Our findings highlighted a double spiral model in which interpersonal justice and trust strengthen each other, acting as key drivers of dynamic processes. Specifically, interpersonal justice at one point in time (T1) was associated with trust at a later point (T2), which then was related to interpersonal justice again (T3). Similarly, trust at an earlier time (T1) was linked to interpersonal justice later (T2), which subsequently encouraged greater trust (T3).
Collaterals and outcomes after endovascular treatment in acute large vessel occlusion: Disparity by stroke etiologies
Authors: Leng Xinyi , Nie Ximing , Yan Hongyi , Pan Yuesong , Zheng Lina , Liu Yuying , Duan Wanying , Liu Xin , Wei Yufei , Gu Weibin , Hou Xinyi , Leung Thomas W , Miao Zhongrong , Liebeskind David S. , Liu Liping
Published: February 2025

Background:

Collateral circulation provides compensatory flow to ischemic brain regions in acute large vessel occlusion (LVO), which had been associated with better outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT).

Aims:

We aimed to reveal the pre-EVT collateral status and its associations with outcomes after EVT, in patients with acute LVO with different etiologies.

Methods:

Based on a prospective, multicenter registry, we analyzed patients with acute, intracranial anterior-circulation LVO due to large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) and cardioembolism (CE), who underwent EVT within 24 hours. Pre-EVT leptomeningeal collateral status was classified on digital subtraction angiography by ASITN/SIR grading system. Outcomes included good 3-month functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 0-2), 3-month mRS distribution, successful recanalization, early neurological deterioration, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and 3-month mortality.

Results:

Among 805 patients (median age 66 years), 450 and 355 respectively had LVO due to LAA and CE, of whom 57.8% and 56.6% (p=0.742) had good pre-EVT collaterals. In LAA patients, good collaterals were associated with lower risk of sICH (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=0.40; 95% CI 0.17-0.94; p=0.036) but not functional outcomes. In CE patients, good collaterals were associated with a higher chance of good functional outcome (adjusted OR=1.55; 95% CI 0.96-2.51; p=0.072) and lower mRS at 3 months (adjusted common OR=0.64; 95% CI 0.43-0.94; p=0.021). However, there was no significant CE/LAA and collateral status interaction on any outcome.

Conclusions:

The study revealed comparable pre-EVT collateral status in patients with LVO due to LAA versus CE who received EVT within 24 hours, but the pre-EVT collaterals may have different protective effects for post-EVT outcomes in these two groups of patients.
Continuous and Flash Glucose Monitoring in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Scoping Review
Authors: Amoh Prince , Broom David , Kyrou Ioannis , Nartey Samuel , Paul Anna , Esliger Dale , Whelan Maxine
Published: February 2025

Background:

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and flash glucose monitoring (FGM) are widely used in diabetes management and increasingly being considered for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevention. This scoping review aims to summarize the literature published to date on CGM and FGM use in adults at risk of T2DM.

Methods:

A systematic search of four databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library) was conducted, covering studies from 1985 to 2024. Eligible studies used CGM or FGM in interventional settings targeting adults at risk of T2DM. Rayyan software facilitated article screening, and the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice tool assessed study quality.

Results:

From 13 644 articles, 12 studies were included, reporting on 1144 participants (353 at-risk, mean age 47 ± 12.8 years) across eight countries. Ten studies employed FGM, focusing on health-related behaviors (diet, physical activity, or both). Significant improvements in glucose control and anthropometrics were reported in 75% and 50% of the studies, respectively, along with reductions in glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance. Seven studies used qualitative methods, with recurrent themes including perceived benefits and motivators for behavior change and acceptability and feasibility of device use. Three studies were rated as “high” level and scored a “B” for evidence quality, while the remaining studies were lower for both level and evidence quality.

Conclusions:

Existing published studies deploying glucose monitoring technologies show promise in supporting interventions aimed at preventing T2DM in at-risk adults. Further robust studies are required to confirm the long-term acceptability and efficacy of these technologies.
The Impact of Virtual Consultations on Quality of Care for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Aldakhil Reham , Greenfield Geva , Lammila-Escalera Elena , Laranjo Liliana , Hayhoe Benedict W. J. , Majeed Azeem , Neves Ana Luísa
Published: February 2025

Background

Virtual consultations (VC) have transformed healthcare delivery, offering a convenient and effective way to manage chronic conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of VC on the quality of care provided to patients with T2D, mapping it across the six domains of the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM) quality-of-care framework (ie, effectiveness, efficiency, patient-centeredness, timeliness, safety, and equity).

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science for the period between January 2010 and December 2024. Eligible studies involved adult T2D patients, evaluated synchronous VCs, and reported outcomes relevant to NAM quality domains. Two independent reviewers performed screening, and studies were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). A narrative synthesis was conducted for each quality domain, and a meta-analysis of HbA1c levels was performed using random-effects models.

Results

In total, 15 studies involving 821 014 participants were included. VCs were comparable with face-to-face care in effectiveness, efficiency, patient-centeredness, and timeliness, with improvements in accessibility and patient satisfaction. Mixed results were found for safety due to limitations in physical assessments, and for equity, with older adults and those with lower digital literacy facing more challenges. The meta-analysis showed no significant difference in HbA1c reduction between VCs and face-to-face (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.71 to 0.09, P = 0.12).

Conclusion

VCs offer a promising alternative to in-person care, but addressing digital disparities and improving access for older adults are essential for maximizing VC potential.
Dear Theory and Other Stories: Healing Our Relationship to Theory Through Reading
Authors: Flint Maureen , Adams Jaminque , Dodd Kasandra , Simmons Lee Tonja , Johnson Michele Thomas , Mitchell Nia , Grimes Deaetta
Published: February 2025

This collaboratively written article follows the narratives, memories, and reflections of six Black women and their professor, a White woman, as we read and grappled with theory in a qualitative research course. We explore our shared and individual experiences interpreting, understanding, and applying theory through reading with Katherine McKittrick. Reading together was healing because it gave us a new language or affirmation of our world and viewpoint, helped us better understand the methodological implications of the theories we want to ground our work in, and helped us to advocate for ourselves more intentionally in our research direction. Our reading, writing, and thinking practices are couched in our disobedience and refusal to accept what is given to us as knowledge and truth. Through this article, we ask: How do we grapple with texts through our reading practices? We further wonder, grounded in our identities as Black women and a White woman, How did our identities matter in relation to theory and reading theory? How does (did) Blackwomanness matter in the (this) classroom? We explore the tensions and joy of acquiring knowledge through reading together as scholars.
Ethanolic extract of ginger enhances liver health and lipid metabolism in high-cystine diet-induced hyperlipidemia by boosting the antioxidant milieu
Authors: Abdel-Rasol Mohammed A , El-Beih Nadia M , El-Sayed Wael M
Published: February 2025

Background

Hypercholesterolemia is a global health concern and a risk factor for metabolic disorders due to its association with oxidative stress.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ginger ethanolic extract (GE) and ginger water suspension (GS) against hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative stress in cystine-fed rats.

Methods

Rats were randomly assigned to seven groups. Control, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) group, groups three and four received orally 150 mg/kg of GE or GS for two weeks, respectively. Group five was fed a diet with 5% cystine for two weeks. Groups six and seven were fed cystine for two weeks, followed by two weeks of ginger ethanolic extract (GE) or GS treatment, respectively.

Results

Rats fed a cystine diet exhibited significant increases in serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, hepatic malondialdehyde, and serum levels of total cholesterol, malondialdehyde, triacylglycerols, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total lipids. They showed significant decreases in serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, alpha-1 and -2 globulin, beta-globulin levels, hepatic reduced glutathione content, and activities of hepatic glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase. Administration of GE or GS significantly mitigated these effects.

Conclusions

GE and GS attenuated hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative damage by modulating the lipid profile and boosting the activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes with GE showing superior efficacy to GS.
Knowledge mapping of online healthcare: An interdisciplinary visual analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace
Authors: Ding Xue , Lu Dingming , Wei Ruoxi , Zhu Fangfang
Published: February 2025

Background

Online healthcare has been regarded as a permanent component and complementation in routine worldwide healthcare. Although there have been large-scale related studies in this field, studies are scattered across disciplines. Numerous publications are needed to systematically and comprehensively identify the status quo, development, and future hotspots in this field.

Methods

Publications on online healthcare were screened from the WoS database. By using VOSviewer and CiteSpace, this study analyzed 4636 articles in this field with 60,306 associated references. First, countries/regions distributions, institutions distributions, influential journals, and productive authors were obtained. Then, co-citation analysis, co-occurrence analysis, timeline analysis, and burst detection were further conducted to sketch the panorama of online healthcare.

Results

There were 147 countries/regions participated in and contributed to this field in total. Accounting for over half of the total number of publications, the USA, England, Australia, China, and Canada played significant roles in this area. Among the 24,362 authors, Guo XT was the most influential author. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health was the journal with the most publications and citations. Studies in this field have shifted from basic research to applied practice research. COVID-19, mental health, healthcare, and healthcare workers were the most common keywords, indicating that studies on the impact of online healthcare on healthcare workers, online healthcare service for COVID-19, and mental health will be promising areas in the future.

Conclusions

Research on online healthcare is booming, while worldwide cooperation is still regionalized. Cross-regional cooperation among institutions and scholars is needed to enhance in the future. Online healthcare services for specific health fields and specific groups are the current and developing topics in this field.
Risk, Responsibility, and Prevention in Injury Management: Implications of Concussion (mis)education on Youth Athlete Knowledge Uptake
Authors: Pennock Kaleigh , McKenzie Braeden
Published: February 2025

Concerns over the short- and long-term health implications of concussions has led to a surge in concussion education materials, resources, and modalities to educate youth athletes as a first line of defense in injury prevention. In this paper, we argue that this over-emphasis on concussion education–and a reliance on static, sensationalized, and culturally disconnected messaging–fails to consider the sociocultural implications of concussion education and the subsequent uptake and impact of this information by/on youth athletes. To do so, we present research involving semi-structured interviews with youth athletes in Ontario, Canada ( N = 28; aged 13-18-years-old) focused on understanding experiences with concussion knowledge and education. Through our analysis, we highlight three important domains related to athletes’ experiences with concussion education concerning (1) sufficient education, (2) scare tactics in education efforts, and (3) equity, access, and responsibility. By problematizing education as an effective mode of injury prevention, we draw attention to a gap within current sport-related concussion literature concerning knowledge uptake, education, and behaviour with the social and cultural realities of concussion experiences.
The Impact of Hypoalbuminemia on Outcomes in Non-Surgically Treated Patients With Central Cord Injury
Authors: Gorbacheva Anna , Goudarzi Ariaz , Vengsarkar Ved A. , Pierre Clifford , Gerstmeyer Julius , Oskouian Rod , Chapman Jens R. , Lockey Stephen
Published: February 2025

Study design

Database study.

Objectives

Acute traumatic central cord syndrome (atCCS) is the most common incomplete spinal cord injury in the US, characterized by motor weakness of the upper extremities with relative sparing of the lower extremities and varying degrees of bladder dysfunction and sensory changes caudal to the lesion. Hypoalbuminemia (HA) has previously been associated with poorer outcomes following acute spinal cord injury. We hypothesized that patients with atCCS and HA treated non-surgically experienced worse outcomes than those without HA.

Methods

Data was collected using the PearldiverTM database and included adult patients who sustained atCCS from 2010-2022Q2. Pearson χ2 test and Welch’s t-test were used to evaluate differences in demographic and clinical data. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed.

Results

HA in conjunction with non-surgical care of atCCS was associated with an increased risk of development of renal failure and pressure ulcers as well as longer length of stay and two-year mortality. There was no significant increase in odds ratios for 90-day hospital readmission, pneumonia, UTI, respiratory failure, or sepsis.

Conclusions

Patients with hypoalbuminemia after atCCS treated non-surgically are at an increased risk of developing complications such as renal failure, pressure ulcers, longer lengths of stay and increased mortality. Surprisingly, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and sepsis were not found to be statistically different between patients with atCCS with and without HA. Inherent to a database study there are predictable limitations, however a large-scale analysis could help further delineate physiologic factors affecting outcomes of atCCS patients.
Evaluating Artificial Intelligence in Spinal Cord Injury Management: A Comparative Analysis of ChatGPT-4o and Google Gemini Against American College of Surgeons Best Practices Guidelines for Spine Injury
Authors: Yu Alexander , Li Albert , Ahmed Wasil , Saturno Michael , Cho Samuel K.
Published: February 2025

Study Design

Comparative Analysis.

Objectives

The American College of Surgeons developed the 2022 Best Practice Guidelines to provide evidence-based recommendations for managing spinal injuries. This study aims to assess the concordance of ChatGPT-4o and Gemini Advanced with the 2022 ACS Best Practice Guidelines, offering the first expert evaluation of these models in managing spinal cord injuries.

Methods

The 2022 ACS Trauma Quality Program Best Practices Guidelines for Spine Injury were used to create 52 questions based on key clinical recommendations. These were grouped into informational (8), diagnostic (14), and treatment (30) categories and posed to ChatGPT-4o and Google Gemini Advanced. Responses were graded for concordance with ACS guidelines and validated by a board-certified spine surgeon.

Results

ChatGPT was concordant with ACS guidelines on 38 of 52 questions (73.07%) and Gemini on 36 (69.23%). Most non-concordant answers were due to insufficient information. The models disagreed on 8 questions, with ChatGPT concordant in 5 and Gemini in 3. Both achieved 75% concordance on clinical information; Gemini outperformed on diagnostics (78.57% vs 71.43%), while ChatGPT had higher concordance on treatment questions (73.33% vs 63.33%).

Conclusions

ChatGPT-4o and Gemini Advanced demonstrate potential as valuable assets in spinal injury management by providing responses aligned with current best practices. The marginal differences in concordance rates suggest that neither model exhibits a superior ability to deliver recommendations concordant with validated clinical guidelines. Despite LLMs increasing sophistication and utility, existing limitations currently prevent them from being clinically safe and practical in trauma-based settings.
Bolstering teaching performance in Chinese universities through transformational leadership and perceived organizational support
Authors: Yousefi Midya , Zhang Jun , Jiang Ziwei
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the impact of transformational leadership on teaching performance among academic staff at Universities in Wenzhou, China. Focusing on the four dimensions of transformational leadership—idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration—the research examines how these factors influence teaching performance and the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS). Data from 290 full-time faculty members were analyzed using AMOS software. Results show that all four leadership dimensions positively affect teaching performance, with POS enhancing the effects of inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration, but not idealized influence. The findings offer valuable insights for Chinese higher education leaders to improve teaching performance through targeted leadership practices and contribute to the broader literature on transformational leadership in academic settings.
Voices from Abroad: Insights of expatriate academics on offshore campuses in China
Authors: Duffy Liam P
Published: February 2025

This study explores the experiences of expatriate academics at US and UK offshore campuses in mainland China, focusing on factors influencing job satisfaction relating to organizational support. Utilizing a General Inductive Qualitative Model, data were collected through 33 semi-structured interviews with individual faculty members. Key findings reveal that while expatriate faculty enjoy opportunities such as professional development, challenges such as administrative restrictions, censorship, and difficulties heightened at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impact job satisfaction. The study highlights the need for policymakers to develop supportive frameworks that promote academic freedom, equitable treatment, and enhanced collaboration and communication for expatriate academics. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of faculty experiences in transnational education, particularly in the context of the growing international programs in China, and suggest avenues for future research.
Arab-Israeli Mix: Low-scale Protests and the Increase in Terrorism Following the Outbreak of the Swords of Iron War
Authors: Hitman Gadi , Shemer Nesya Rubinstein-
Published: February 2025

This article seeks to examine the behavior patterns of the Arab society in Israel since the Israel-Hamas War began in October 2023. The uniqueness of this population is the ethnic-national and religious differences between it and the Jewish majority and their identification with the Palestinians. Theoretically, the behavior patterns will be analyzed using a model of three variables: religion, citizenship, and nationality. This qualitative study, based on interviews, media clips, and public statements by Arab public leaders, identifies several opposing trends: an increase in the scope of terrorism, protests on a limited scale, and the lack of a uniform response by the Arab leadership to the Hamas attack and the war that followed it.