bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Divorce and Agunah
Authors: Levmore Rachel , Gotlib Steven
Published: March 2024

Traditional Jewish divorce, as understood in the Hebrew Bible itself, requires the husband’s agreement in order to end the marriage. His refusal to do so gives rise to a situation known in rabbinic literature as the “chained woman” (agunah). If the husband were to disappear without being presumed dead, fall into a permanent vegetative state, or intentionally refuse to grant his wife a bill of divorce (get), she would remain “chained” to him indefinitely. The life of this woman would essentially be frozen in time, with her being unable to establish her independence or to start a new family. Agunot whose husbands have chained them to an unwanted marriage have been subject to great dissension in modern Judaism. This chapter explores the development of Jewish divorce law from the Bible through the present day as well as how the agunah problem has been addressed across Jewish denominations in North America and Israel.
Questions of Law
Authors: Morsel-Eisenberg Tamara
Published: March 2024

The genre of Responsa refers to rabbinic legal opinions and occupies an important station in the realm of halakhic literature. Beginning with the Geonim, Jewish legal scholars have authored responsa. There is no clear formulation as to the legal authority of these writings. The following chapter examines the modes for creating, diffusing, and consulting responsa as means of examining their legal authority and significance. This chapter traces trajectories of responsa texts, examining this genre as a source of law from three angles: communication, transmission, and organization. “Communication” discusses the role of responsa as epistolary writing, “Transmission” examines the subsequent publication of responsa, and “organization” studies how responsa collections were organized and its relation to legal authority. Finally, the chapter suggests that responsa permit thinking in cases, a mode of thinking as crucial to law as it is distinctive of responsa.
Pedagogies for Cultural Change
Authors: Singh J. P.
Published: March 2024

How does (or should) the international relations classroom respond to a time of cultural change? To prepare the international relations practitioners for tomorrow, this chapter suggests addressing cultural changes through immersive understandings with borrowings from arts and anthropology, both known for interpreting cultural meanings. International relations represents cultural meanings about the world and frequently analyzes the cultural origins of the discipline. Culture is about the constitution of symbols, meanings, and rituals, and the institutions that support them. International relations arose as a formal discipline in the twentieth century when cultural meanings of global politics were defined through European great power rivalries and subsequently the multilateral institutions that arose after World War II. The current cultural changes include new forms of international interactions shaped through artificial intelligence and digital technologies, reckoning with global exclusions through oppressive structures such as racism, and existential crises such as climate change and pandemics. Three cultural techniques relevant for international relations are discussed: cultural immersions that enable reflexivity, multimodal techniques that enable complex consciousness of human interactions, and ethnographies that enable listening for building theoretical repertoires. Taken together, the techniques develop a critical consciousness about the world to recognize and adapt to cultural change through problem solving.
Beyond Traditional Study Abroad
Authors: Diehl Paul F. , Lanham Carol Cirulli , Voskuil Caryn
Published: March 2024

This chapter considers three alternatives to conventional study abroad programs: (1) university-led and short-term classes abroad, (2) collaborative learning across institutions using technology, and (3) undergraduate research abroad. Each alternative is discussed in terms of requirements, advantages, disadvantages, and sample programs. The traditional way that undergraduate students have international experiences is through study abroad programs. Nevertheless, financial and employment concerns limit participation in such programs, especially among underrepresented groups. Furthermore, such study abroad programs raise problems with academic credit transfer and other concerns. The alternatives discussed here are not mutually exclusive to traditional study abroad programs nor each other. They do, however, provide different pedagogical, financial, and other advantages that study abroad lack.
Feminist Practices in the (COVID-19) Classroom
Authors: Hudson Natalie Florea , Otero-Asmar Yulianna
Published: March 2024

In the wake of a global pandemic and profound changes in higher education—the effects of which we have yet to fully realize—feminist pedagogy has much to offer the field of international studies, not just at the creative edges but at the core of what constitutes our discipline. Feminist teaching, learning, and research offers an alternative pedogogical approach to position and power grounded in commitments to problematize mainstream (Western) epistemologies and ontologies in order to reimagine a pursuit of knowledge that is inclusive, curious, empathetic, and personal. This sort of feminist engagement in the classroom disrupts power hierarchies, recognizes and learns from diverse and intersectional student voices and experiences, fosters community and personal relationships with and among students, and achieves transformative and emancipatory knowledge that seeks to actively dismantle oppressive structures and create social change. This chapter examines these feminist contributions and the value of bringing intentional care, honesty, and vulnerability to the classroom for the purpose of advancing education, research, and our communities.
Online Teaching
Authors: Glazier Rebecca A.
Published: March 2024

IS faculty have rich resources at their fingertips and can be leaders in the future of online education, providing models for other disciplines to follow. Recent years have seen an increasing number of online courses and students in higher education—a trend only accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although online courses face the challenge of engaging and retaining students across increased transactional distance, International Studies (IS) faculty are well poised to lead in online education. First, the field naturally lends itself to diverse and engaging online course materials—from maps to international Zoom calls to podcasts. Second, online education works best when it engages students and IS faculty have a proven track record of innovation in active learning, simulations, and student engagement. Third, the online medium makes it possible to connect students with resources and people from around the world to build inclusive classrooms across different modalities.
Integrating Community-Based Experiential Learning (CBEL) into Educational Design in International Studies
Authors: Tiessen Rebecca
Published: March 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in community-based experiential learning moving from in-person activities to online interactions. CBEL refers to two forms of experiential learning that take place primarily outside the classroom with community partner organizations. It can include international experiential learning and locally focused community service learning options. The transition to online learning created new challenges as well as opportunities for rethinking delivery mechanisms and approaches for enhancing student CBEL with community partners. This chapter provides an overview of CBEL available to students: how they are distinct from other forms of experiential learning, the barriers to participation in community-based participation, and the possibility for using the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to adapt and enhance program offerings to benefit students and partner organizations in new ways.
How to Teach International Studies through the Arts
Authors: Ramel Frédéric
Published: March 2024

This chapter proposes three ways to include the arts in the international studies classroom: to refresh the pedagogical materials as sources for handling international issues, to invite students to become creators in dealing with international topics, and to perform aesthetic action as knowledge production by other means. These three perspectives aim at strengthening the students’ capability to think and create beyond the academic exercises they are used to practice. Linked to the teaching dimension of the aesthetic turn in IR, they also take into account the emotional conceptions that could enrich our pedagogical practices. Because in the end, to be “ready to learn from life” means to recognize the role of sensitivity in the international realm, beyond rationality.
“Hard-Core” Tantric Traditions and the Cult of Bhairava in Java
Authors: Acri Andrea
Published: March 2024

This chapter surveys textual, archaeological, and art historical vestiges documenting the existence of hard-core tantric traditions in Java from ca. eleventh to the nineteenth century, especially those revolving around the worship of the demonic manifestation of Śiva known as Bhairava, as well as Goddess-oriented Śākta traditions and tantric Buddhist traditions. These traditions, although by no means unknown in Central Java prior to the tenth century, became more prominent and widespread in East Java from the eleventh century onward, both at the level of the urbanized political elites as well as the religious communities in the countryside. The chapter argues that one of the main factors behind this progressive popularization was a close alliance between the political elites and Bhairava-oriented priesthood, as well as an interest in state-protection magic associated with wrathful deities. It also suggests that, after the rise to dominance of Islam from the late fifteenth century onward, motifs and behaviors associated with hard-core Tantra survived, in a vestigial form, into the nineteenth century and beyond as a radically monistic undercurrent in the doctrines, mythology, and textual sources of modern Javanese mysticism.
Armenians in Turkey
Authors: Suciyan Talin
Published: March 2024

This chapter discusses the history of Armenians in Turkey. With the Armenian genocide, Armenian life in the provinces was brought to an end, as planned by the Ottoman government of the time. This article follows the lines of continuities from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic. It argues that policies implemented throughout the 20th and 21st have been heavily embedded in the experiences and reservoir of knowledge that was accumulated during the 19th century and First World War. The post-1923 in Turkey was a period in which Armenian survivors continued to live under existential threats, Armenian institutions were unable to function according to the laws and regulations of Armenian administration, and most importantly the Treaty of Lausanne, the guarantor of the rights and entitlements for remaining Armenians, was de facto only applied in Istanbul. For the rest of the country, neither Armenian institutions nor Armenian cultural life was allowed to flourish again.
Eastern Orthodox Christians and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
Authors: Beylunioğlu Anna Maria
Published: March 2024

The number of Eastern Orthodox Christians in Turkey has been in decline in parallel to the decrease in the overall non-Muslim population due to the identity reconstruction process since the founding of the Republic. The low numbers of non-Muslim population seem ironic particularly since the 1990s, when their cultural significance has become increasingly visible. The irony beyond this relative visibility highlights an illusion, and underscores the ongoing risk of extinction faced by these communities, because they are still subject to limited freedom in controlling and administering their own affairs. This chapter focuses on the Eastern Orthodox communities of Turkey and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, both of which experience similar obstacles that non-Muslim communities have been facing for decades. It will explore how the rights and freedoms of the Eastern Orthodox in Turkey have changed since the initiation of the EU reform process in the 2000s, assessing the impact of increased visibility of non-Muslims and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople on their declining population. Additionally, the chapter will suggest potential strategies for preserving the population and cultural heritage of Eastern Orthodox communities in Turkey.
Is There a Left-Wing Illiberalism?
Authors: Eklundh Emmy
Published: March 2024

While considerable scholarly attention has focused on the rise of illiberalism on the right, there has been much less focus on the left. This oversight has obscured the fact that right-wing illiberalism is closely linked to much of the liberal tradition and its undemocratic past. This chapter traces the similarities between the illiberal right and the liberal center and argues that both have a complicated and at times antithetical relationship with democracy.
Does (and Should) Hosea Matter Still?
Authors: Dempsey Carol J.
Published: March 2024

A perusal of research on the book of Hosea indicates that questions concerning authorship, authorial intention, dating of texts, and translation and textual problems continue to interest scholars. Of equal interest is an appreciation for the book’s rhetoric, literary dimensions, and rich poetics. New biblical hermeneutical approaches, especially cultural studies, have produced a shift away from what the text meant in its originating context to readers, grounded in their social locations, as creators of meanings. This essay highlights why the book of Hosea has been important to scholars, questions if the book should still matter, highlights salient reasons why it needs to matter still, and presents new avenues for scholars to explore in an effort to attract a twenty-first-century readership grappling with myriad forms of oppression and injustice.
Intertextuality and Traditions in the Book of Hosea
Authors: Eidevall Göran
Published: March 2024

This essay explores the intertextual dimensions of the book of Hosea. The aim is to contribute to a refined understanding of the literary and theological profile of Hosea. The first part deals with intertextual connections between Hosea and other parts of the Hebrew Bible. A survey, indicating patterns of occurrence as well as absence of such connections, is followed by case studies of how four selected intertexts are related to Hosea: Jer. 2, Isa. 31, The Song of Moses (Deut. 32), and the Song of Songs. The second part treats Hosea’s creative use of theological traditions relating to the Pentateuch. A case study dealing with the references to traditions about Jacob in Hos. 12 is followed by a discussion of a stylistic device typical of Hosea—namely, the use of reversals. The discussion focuses on reversals of traditions and concepts concerning the covenant and the exodus from Egypt.
Hosea in Feminist and Womanist Interpretation
Authors: Lovelace Vanessa
Published: March 2024

This essay examines the development of feminist and womanist biblical interpretation of Hosea over the past thirty years. The terms “feminist” and “womanist” are defined while also recognizing that they are contested. Nonetheless, they share assumptions about the androcentrism of the texts that support patriarchal, gender asymmetrical worldviews. Another shared assumption is that all readers bring biases to the text that affect their interpretations. The interest in Hosea by feminist and womanist biblical scholars rests largely on the use of female sexual imagery to metaphorically convey the relationship between God and Israel. Female sexuality is depicted as symbolic of sin in the text. Thus, a concern of feminist and womanist scholars is the influence on contemporary readers’ images of women’s sexuality. The scholars featured in this essay are diverse. They include women and men, Jews and Christians, white, black, and Asian. Their interpretations of Hosea are just as diverse. While several of them analyzed Hos. 1–3, their conclusions are wide-ranging methodologically and theologically. Traces of goddesses, female cultic officials, God as mother, pornography, male fantasy and displacement, and other issues are explored in Hosea.
The Ghost of Hosea in African American Interpretation
Authors: Dorsey Aaron D.
Published: March 2024

African American interpretation of the book of Hosea demonstrates the multiple priorities that define African American biblical scholarship and the diverse interactions between the book of Hosea and the needs of African American communities. African American liberationists have focused their attention on Hosea’s references to Egypt in the project of recovering black presence in the Bible. Renita Weems and other African American womanist and feminist scholars have critically analyzed the metaphors in Hosea, especially the marriage metaphor, to find ways of resisting the embedded harmful ideologies and create liberatory readings for African American women and other vulnerable communities. The study of Hosea by womanist scholars contributed directly to the formation of womanist hermeneutics which seek to empower readers to creatively and critically engage with the biblical texts. These scholars have also gestured toward an ecological reading of the book of Hosea. Allusions to Hosea by Toni Morrison in Beloved have clarified opportunities for an intercontextual reading between exilic/postexilic redactions of Hosea and African American communities as they address issues of hostile appropriation and traumatic memory after devastation. The range of interpretive projects discussed in this essay illustrate Hosea’s direct and indirect effects on African American life, and the dexterity of African American interpreters relates even troubling biblical texts to the well-being of their communities.
Territorial Disputes
Authors: Núñez Jorge E.
Published: March 2024

The chapter presents and evaluates territorial disputes in the Americas. In order to bring together a coherent and cohesive legal hermeneutical and historical discourse, the first two sections introduce the concept of territorial dispute and demonstrate that most of the differences in the Americas have roots in colonial times. By accepting their multidimensional nature, the acknowledgement is that territorial disputes may have several issues at stake, the involved agents may have a wide range of claims and there may be different interlinked contexts (domestic, regional, and international). The third and fourth sections focus on post-independence differences and reasons for peacebuilding. Importantly, the chapter shows that, although the claiming parties may achieve a settlement, domestic, regional and international issues at stake may still turn the situation volatile, and regional guarantors are key in peacekeeping. The fifth section explores still ongoing cases such as the Falklands/Malvinas, Guantanamo and the Caribbean Sea. The chapter finishes by highlighting that the disputes in the Americas are multi-faceted and multi-layered, they include indigenous and implanted populations. and that colonial roots are coupled with new developments in law such as the notion of “right-peopling,” the Law of the Sea and new factual factors like new technologies.
MutL homolog 1 participates in interference-sensitive meiotic crossover formation in soybean
Authors: Wu Tao , Yang Suxin , Fang Junling , Ye Yongheng , Zhang Yaohua , Gao Jinshan , Leng Jiantian , Zhang Zhirui , Tang Kuanqiang , Bhat Javaid Akhter , Feng Xianzhong
Published: March 2024

MutL homolog 1 (MLH1), a member of the MutL homolog family, is required for normal recombination in most organisms. However, its role in soybean (Glycine max) remains unclear to date. Here, we characterized the Glycine max female and male sterility 1 (Gmfms1) mutation that reduces pollen grain viability and increases embryo sac abortion in soybean. Map-based cloning revealed that the causal gene of Gmfms1 is Glycine max MutL homolog 1 (GmMLH1), and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout approach further validated that disruption of GmMLH1 confers the female–male sterility phenotype in soybean. Loss of GmMLH1 function disrupted bivalent formation, leading to univalent mis-segregation during meiosis and ultimately to female–male sterility. The Gmmlh1 mutant showed about a 78.16% decrease in meiotic crossover frequency compared to the wild type. The residual chiasmata followed a Poisson distribution, suggesting that interference-sensitive crossover formation was affected in the Gmmlh1 mutant. Furthermore, GmMLH1 could interact with GmMLH3A and GmMLH3B both in vivo and in vitro. Overall, our work demonstrates that GmMLH1 participates in interference-sensitive crossover formation in soybean, and provides additional information about the conserved functions of MLH1 across plant species.
Balancing act: Assessing police efficiency amidst staffing shortages through inverse data envelopment analysis
Authors: Alda Erik
Published: March 2024

Police agencies are amid a significant staffing shortage. Scholars and police managers warn about the effects of understaffing on public safety and security. Studies have examined the impacts of events like the Floyd protests had on police resignations. This study uses a linear programming method, Inverse data envelopment analysis (InvDEA), to estimate the efficient allocation of police resources using a simulated agency with 150 sectors. The first decision-making scenario simulated the challenge many agencies currently face with staffing shortages. Reallocating officers and civilians from inefficient to efficient units improved performance by 4.7% without additional officers. Results of the second and third decision-making scenarios indicate a need to reallocate resources by 23% and 19%, respectively. These findings contribute to the scarce literature on police staff allocation. In addition, the methodology employed in this study is helpful for police managers to make accurate operational decisions when combined with changes to the efficiency frontier that reflect the environment in which they operate.
The association of circulating lipoprotein lipids and apolipoproteins with risk of endometriosis: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: He Xiwen , Xie Shengyu , Liu Yi
Published: March 2024

Background

Endometriosis is a poorly understood disease that affects up to 196 million women worldwide and imposes high costs in terms of economic burden and quality of life of women. Traits of circulating lipids have been related to the onset and progression of endometriosis in previous observational studies but the results have remained contradictory.

Methods

We performed univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using instrument variables to genetically predict the associations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and B from the UK Biobank with endometriosis (consisting of 8288 cases and 68 969 controls from the FinnGen consortium). The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary estimate, whereas MR-Egger and weighted median were conducted as complements to the IVW model.

Results

Increased levels of triglycerides were associated with higher risk of endometriosis and endometriosis of the pelvic peritoneum in the univariable MR analyses. In multivariable MR analysis including apoB, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in the same model, triglycerides still retained a robust effect. Decreased levels of apoA-I and HDL cholesterol were associated with increased risk of endometriosis and endometriosis of the pelvic peritoneum in univariable MR analyses. After mutual adjustment, HDL cholesterol retained a robust effect whereas the association for apoA-I was attenuated.

Conclusions

This is the first MR-based evidence to suggest that triglycerides and HDL cholesterol are the predominant traits that account for the aetiological relationship of lipoprotein lipids with risk of endometriosis, in particular endometriosis of the pelvic peritoneum. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to address these results.
The causality between C-reactive protein and asthma: a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Mou Yong , Cao Wenhao , Wang Rujuan , Liu Xiaofan , Yang Xiuwen , Zhu Jing
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study sought to investigate the causal effects of circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) level on risk of asthma and its subtypes by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods

We utilized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with both CRP and outcomes of asthma, allergic asthma, and obesity-related asthma as genetic variables via a genome-wide summary association study (GWAS). MR analysis mainly based on the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was performed to infer the causal relationship between exposure and outcomes. Cochran’s Q test and MR-Egger regression analysis were performed to determine respectively the heterogeneity and pleiotropy among instrumental variables (IVs), and leave-one-out analysis was conducted to determine the stability of the MR results.

Results

In our study, 42 SNPs were identified as IVs for MR analyses. According to the primary inference results by IVW methods, circulating CRP was demonstrated to be significantly associated with risk of asthma [odds ratio (OR): 1.046; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.004–1.090; P = .030] and obesity-related asthma (OR: 1.072; 95% CI: 1.009–1.138; P = 0.025), whereas no distinct causality with allergic asthma was found (OR: 1.051; 95% CI: 0.994–1.112; P = .081). Sensitivity analyses indicated that there was no horizontal pleiotropy among IVs, and the MR results were proved to be robust by leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, despite the presence of heterogeneity.

Conclusion

The present study suggested that higher CRP might genetically predict an increased risk of developing asthma and obesity-related asthma, without causality with allergic asthma.
Seven tesla knee MRI T2*-mapping detects intrasubstance meniscus degeneration in patients with posterior root tears
Authors: Kajabi Abdul Wahed , Zbýň Štefan , Smith Jesse S , Hedayati Eisa , Knutsen Karsten , Tollefson Luke V , Homan Morgan , Abbasguliyev Hasan , Takahashi Takashi , Metzger Gregor J , LaPrade Robert F , Ellermann Jutta M
Published: March 2024

Background

Medial meniscus root tears often lead to knee osteoarthritis. The extent of meniscal tissue changes beyond the localized root tear is unknown.

Purpose

To evaluate if 7 Tesla 3D T2*-mapping can detect intrasubstance meniscal degeneration in patients with arthroscopically verified medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs), and assess if tissue changes extend beyond the immediate site of the posterior root tear detected on surface examination by arthroscopy.

Methods

In this prospective study we acquired 7 T knee MRIs from patients with MMPRTs and asymptomatic controls. Using a linear mixed model, we compared T2* values between patients and controls, and across different meniscal regions. Patients underwent arthroscopic assessment before MMPRT repair. Changes in pain levels before and after repair were calculated using Knee Injury & Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Pain changes and meniscal extrusion were correlated with T2* using Pearson correlation (r).

Results

Twenty patients (mean age 53 ± 8; 16 females) demonstrated significantly higher T2* values across the medial meniscus (anterior horn, posterior body and posterior horn: all P < .001; anterior body: P = .007), and lateral meniscus anterior (P = .024) and posterior (P < .001) horns when compared to the corresponding regions in ten matched controls (mean age 53 ± 12; 8 females). Elevated T2* values were inversely correlated with the change in pain levels before and after repair. All patients had medial meniscal extrusion of ≥2 mm. Arthroscopy did not reveal surface abnormalities in 70% of patients (14 out of 20).

Conclusions

Elevated T2* values across both medial and lateral menisci indicate that degenerative changes in patients with MMPRTs extend beyond the immediate vicinity of the posterior root tear. This suggests more widespread meniscal degeneration, often undetected by surface examinations in arthroscopy.
Enhancing current guidance for psoriatic arthritis and its comorbidities: recommendations from an expert consensus panel
Authors: Coates Laura C , Bukhari Marwan , Chan Antoni , Choy Ernest , Galloway James , Gullick Nicola , Kent Alison , Savage Laura , Siebert Stefan , Tillett William , Wood Natasha , Conaghan Philip G
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The existing guidelines for PsA cover many aspects of management. Some gaps remain relating to routine practice application. An expert group aimed to enhance the current guidance and develop recommendations for clinical practice that are complementary to the existing guidelines.

Methods

A steering committee comprising experienced, research-active clinicians in rheumatology, dermatology and primary care agreed on themes and relevant questions. A targeted literature review of PubMed and Embase following a PICO framework was conducted. At a second meeting, recommendations were drafted, and subsequently an extended faculty comprising rheumatologists, dermatologists, primary care clinicians, specialist nurses, allied health professionals, non-clinical academic participants and members of the Brit-PACT patient group, was recruited. Consensus was achieved via an online voting platform at which 75% of respondents agreed in the range of 7–9 on a 9-point scale.

Results

The guidance comprised 34 statements covering four PsA themes. Diagnosis focused on strategies for identifying PsA early and referring appropriately, assessment of diagnostic indicators, use of screening tools and use of imaging. Disease assessment centred on holistic consideration of disease activity, physical functioning and impact from a patient perspective, and on how to implement shared decision-making. For comorbidities, recommendations included specific guidance on high-impact conditions such as depression and obesity. Management statements (which excluded extant guidance on pharmacological therapies) recommended multidisciplinary team working, implementation of lifestyle modifications and treat-to-target strategies. Minimizing CS use was recommended where feasible.

Conclusion

The consensus group have made evidence-based best-practice recommendations for the management of PsA to enhance the existing guidelines.
The clinical relevance of WDFY4 in autoimmune diseases in diverse ancestral populations
Authors: Lyu Xia , Lamb Janine A , Chinoy Hector
Published: March 2024

WD repeat- and FYVE domain-containing protein 4 (WDFY4), coded by a gene on 10q11.23, is a member of the BEACH (Beige and Chediak-Higashi) domain-containing family. Genome-wide association studies identified WDFY4 variants as a risk factor for SLE in Asian and European populations. WDFY4 variants are also associated with RA and primary biliary cholangitis, in different ancestry populations. The WDFY4 protein plays an essential role in the cross-presentation of classic dendritic cells, reactive oxygen species-induced apoptosis of CD8+ T cells, and non-canonical autophagic activity in B cells. A novel variant rs7919656 was identified in Japanese clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis patients, with a highly expressed truncated isoform augmenting the melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) signalling pathway. The same variant was later found to be significantly associated with RP-ILD in Chinese MDA5+DM patients. Here, we briefly review the association of WDFY4 with autoimmune diseases and its known function in the immune response.
Evaluating radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure in confined spaces: a systematic review of recent studies and future directions
Authors: Ahsan Ashraf Muhammad , Celik Turgay
Published: March 2024

This study reviews recent research on Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) exposure in confined environments, focusing on methodologies and parameters. Studies typically evaluate RF-EMF exposure using an electric field and specific absorption rate but fail to consider temperature rise in the tissues in confined environments. The study highlights the investigation of RF-EMF exposure in subterranean environments such as subways, tunnels and mines. Future research should evaluate the exposure of communication devices in such environments, considering the surrounding environment. Such studies will aid in understanding the risks and developing effective mitigation strategies to protect workers and the general public.
Duration of Untreated Psychosis and Outcomes in First-Episode Psychosis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Early Detection and Intervention Strategies
Authors: Salazar de Pablo Gonzalo , Guinart Daniel , Armendariz Alvaro , Aymerich Claudia , Catalan Ana , Alameda Luis , Rogdaki Maria , Martinez Baringo Estrella , Soler-Vidal Joan , Oliver Dominic , Rubio Jose M , Arango Celso , Kane John M , Fusar-Poli Paolo , Correll Christoph U
Published: March 2024

Background

The role of duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) as an early detection and intervention target to improve outcomes for individuals with first-episode psychosis is unknown.

Study Design

PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant systematic review to identify studies until February 1, 2023, with an intervention and a control group, reporting DUP in both groups. Random effects meta-analysis to evaluate (1) differences in DUP in early detection/intervention services vs the control group, (2) the efficacy of early detection strategies regarding eight real-world outcomes at baseline (service entry), and (3) the efficacy of early intervention strategies on ten real-world outcomes at follow-up. We conducted quality assessment, heterogeneity, publication bias, and meta-regression analyses (PROSPERO: CRD42020163640).

Study Results

From 6229 citations, 33 intervention studies were retrieved. The intervention group achieved a small DUP reduction (Hedges’ g = 0.168, 95% CI = 0.055–0.283) vs the control group. The early detection group had better functioning levels (g = 0.281, 95% CI = 0.073–0.488) at baseline. Both groups did not differ regarding total psychopathology, admission rates, quality of life, positive/negative/depressive symptoms, and employment rates (P > .05). Early interventions improved quality of life (g = 0.600, 95% CI = 0.408–0.791), employment rates (g = 0.427, 95% CI = 0.135–0.718), negative symptoms (g = 0.417, 95% CI = 0.153–0.682), relapse rates (g = 0.364, 95% CI = 0.117–0.612), admissions rates (g = 0.335, 95% CI = 0.198–0.468), total psychopathology (g = 0.298, 95% CI = 0.014–0.582), depressive symptoms (g = 0.268, 95% CI = 0.008–0.528), and functioning (g = 0.180, 95% CI = 0.065–0.295) at follow-up but not positive symptoms or remission (P > .05).

Conclusions

Comparing interventions targeting DUP and control groups, the impact of early detection strategies on DUP and other correlates is limited. However, the impact of early intervention was significant regarding relevant outcomes, underscoring the importance of supporting early intervention services worldwide.
An Analysis of the Legislative Protection for Journalists and Lawyers Under Zimbabwe’s Interception of Communications Act
Authors: Hungwe Brian , Munoriyarwa Allen
Published: March 2024

This paper provides a legal analysis that interrogates the Information Communication Act (ICA) in Zimbabwe. Its purpose is to examine the extent to which the ICA protects journalists and lawyers privileges, critical constituencies in any democratic state. The ICA, passed in 2007, has remained a heavily contested legislation in the country. On the one hand, it is understood to be security minded legislation, yet, other critics have argued that it interferes with the journalist’s source privilege, and lawyer–client confidentiality. In this paper, we are concerned about whether the Act provides adequate safeguards where the subject of surveillance is a practising journalist or lawyer. Thus we ask; to what extent does the ICA provides adequate legal safeguards to lawyers and journalists? Through a qualitative textual analysis of the law, the paper determines the constitutional implications of the main provisions of the Act on whether they reflect constitutional norms that safeguard the legal privileges accorded to the professions. We note that the ICA does not provide adequate safeguards for the protection of lawyers and journalists. We, therefore, argue that ICA is a weaponized legislation meant to emasculate these two communities of practice. As such, we call for the Act’s alignment with the current broadened constitutional provisions. South Africa’s Constitutional Court has invalidated unconstitutional provisions within its surveillance and interception laws, likewise identical provisions within its neighbouring state, Zimbabwe should follow the same. Both countries share common historical, political and economic ties.
DateLife: Leveraging Databases and Analytical Tools to Reveal the Dated Tree of Life
Authors: Sánchez Reyes Luna L , McTavish Emily Jane , O’Meara Brian
Published: March 2024

Chronograms—phylogenies with branch lengths proportional to time—represent key data on timing of evolutionary events, allowing us to study natural processes in many areas of biological research. Chronograms also provide valuable information that can be used for education, science communication, and conservation policy decisions. Yet, achieving a high-quality reconstruction of a chronogram is a difficult and resource-consuming task. Here we present DateLife, a phylogenetic software implemented as an R package and an R Shiny web application available at www.datelife.org, that provides services for efficient and easy discovery, summary, reuse, and reanalysis of node age data mined from a curated database of expert, peer-reviewed, and openly available chronograms. The main DateLife workflow starts with one or more scientific taxon names provided by a user. Names are processed and standardized to a unified taxonomy, allowing DateLife to run a name match across its local chronogram database that is curated from Open Tree of Life’s phylogenetic repository, and extract all chronograms that contain at least two queried taxon names, along with their metadata. Finally, node ages from matching chronograms are mapped using the congruification algorithm to corresponding nodes on a tree topology, either extracted from Open Tree of Life’s synthetic phylogeny or one provided by the user. Congruified node ages are used as secondary calibrations to date the chosen topology, with or without initial branch lengths, using different phylogenetic dating methods such as BLADJ, treePL, PATHd8, and MrBayes. We performed a cross-validation test to compare node ages resulting from a DateLife analysis (i.e, phylogenetic dating using secondary calibrations) to those from the original chronograms (i.e, obtained with primary calibrations), and found that DateLife’s node age estimates are consistent with the age estimates from the original chronograms, with the largest variation in ages occurring around topologically deeper nodes. Because the results from any software for scientific analysis can only be as good as the data used as input, we highlight the importance of considering the results of a DateLife analysis in the context of the input chronograms. DateLife can help to increase awareness of the existing disparities among alternative hypotheses of dates for the same diversification events, and to support exploration of the effect of alternative chronogram hypotheses on downstream analyses, providing a framework for a more informed interpretation of evolutionary results.
Replacing alfalfa hay with a novel alfalfa leaf pellet product (ProLEAF MAX) and/or alfalfa stems (ProFiber Plus) in the diet of developing dairy heifers alters dry matter intake, but does not negatively impact growth or development
Authors: Motsinger Laura A , Young Allen Y , Feuz Ryan , Larsen Ryan , Brady Tevan J , Briggs Reganne K , Reichhardt Caleb C , Pratt Chris , Thornton Kara J
Published: March 2024

Alfalfa is a commonly grown forage in the Intermountain West region of the United States and is often included in the diet of dairy cattle. Alfalfa provides a variety of different nutrients, but the nutrient content of alfalfa varies depending on factors such as the soil, region, cutting, and climate. However, alfalfa leaves tend to have less variation in their nutrient content than alfalfa stems. Fractionating alfalfa may be one way to improve control of nutrients provided when developing a ration for developing dairy heifers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether including fractionated alfalfa in the diet impacts the growth or conception rates of developing dairy heifers. Heifers were allocated to one of three treatments: a control group fed a typical diet (CON; n = 8), a diet that replaced alfalfa with fractionated alfalfa leaf pellets and alfalfa stems (ProLEAF MAX + ProFiber Plus; PLM + PFP; n = 8), or a diet that replaced alfalfa with alfalfa stems (PFP; n = 8) for 85 d. Heifers were fed individually twice daily and weight, hip height (HH), and wither height (WH) were recorded every 14 d. Additionally, blood was collected every 28 d, and conception rates were recorded at the end of the trial. Heifers receiving the PFP diet consumed less dry matter (P = 0.001) than the CON treatment. Analyses were then conducted to determine nutrient intake and heifers receiving the PFP diet also consumed less neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.02), acid detergent fiber (P = 0.02), crude protein (P = 0.001), and net energy for maintenance (P = 0.001) than heifers consuming the CON diet; however, no differences (P > 0.10) were observed between heifers fed the CON and PLM + PFP diets. Analysis of body weight gain over the feeding period showed no difference (P = 0.52) among heifers consuming the different treatment diets. Additionally, treatment did not affect average daily gain (P = 0.49), gain:feed (P = 0.82), HH gain (P = 0.20), or WH gain (P = 0.44) among heifers receiving different diets. Treatment × time altered (P < 0.001) blood urea nitrogen when analyzed as a repeated measure. Total feed cost was lowest (P < 0.001) for the PFP diet and cost of gain tended (P = 0.09) to be increased for the PLM + PFP diet compared to the CON diet. Overall, these data indicate that including alfalfa stems in a developing heifer diet may decrease dry matter intake, lower input costs, and increase profitability, without negatively impacting growth.
The Role of 3D Custom Implants in Upper Extremity Surgery
Authors: Choo Andrew , Richard Marc J.
Published: March 2024

As the technology of three-dimensional (3D) printing becomes more refined and accessible, multiple applications of its use are becoming more commonplace in upper extremity surgery. 3D-printed models have been beneficial in preoperative planning of complex cases of acute trauma or malunions, contributing to spatial understanding or even contouring of implants. Custom guides can also be created to assist intraoperatively with precise placement of osteotomies or arthroplasty implants. Finally, custom 3D implants have been described for cases of bone loss in the upper extremity. This can be for relatively small gaps after malunion correction or extensive defects, typically for trauma or tumor. Articular defects can also be addressed with this technology, although special considerations should be given to the implant design and longevity in these situations. Because of the relatively recent nature of 3D implants, long-term data are lacking. However, they show great promise in an expanding range of challenging clinical indications.
Predictive Value of Cervical Degenerative Quantitative Scoring System on Postoperative Disc Height Loss After Cervical Disc Replacement
Authors: Yan Chunyi , Wang Hong , Abudouaini Haimiti , Wu Tingkui , Wang Beiyu , Liu Hao
Published: March 2024

Study design:

A retrospective study.

Objective:

In this study, a cervical degenerative quantitative scoring system was used to identify the risk factors for disc height loss after cervical disc replacement (CDR) and to verify their accuracy.

Background:

Disc height loss after CDR is drawing much attention. Preoperative cervical degeneration has been proven related to postoperative disc height loss but lacked quantitative verification.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 160 patients who underwent CDR with the Prestige-LP disc at our hospital between January 2011 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Disc height loss was defined as a reduction of more than 2 mm from postoperative to the final follow-up. A quantitative scoring system was used to evaluate preoperative degeneration on radiographs. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to determine predictive factors and calculate the logistic regression formula. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted to obtain the optimal cutoff value and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [areas under the curve (AUC)].

Results:

Study subjects had a mean age of 43.51 ± 8.51 years, with a mean follow-up time of 60.14 ± 12.75 months. The overall incidence rate of disc height loss was 65.62%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that endplate sclerosis (P = 0.000) and low preoperative disc height (P = 0.000) were independent risk factors for postoperative disc height loss. In addition, the calculated optimal cutoff point was 1 point of endplate sclerosis (AUC = 0.768) and 4.5 mm of preoperative disc height (AUC = 0.795). The regression formula established by multivariate logistic regression analysis was composed of preoperative disc height (odds ratio: 2.995, P = 0.000) and endplate sclerosis (odds ratio: 18.131, P = 0.000), with an AUC of 0.879.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that a comprehensive preoperative assessment is essential when patients with apparent endplate sclerosis and low preoperative disc height are being considered for CDR.
Development of a Novel Risk Stratification Score to Predict 30-Day Mortality in Cervical Trauma Patients
Authors: Cartagena-Reyes Miguel A. , Solomon Eric , Silva Aponte Juan , Joshi Aditya , Raad Micheal , Hassanzadeh Hamid , Jain Amit
Published: March 2024

Study Design:

Case control.

Objective:

Traumatic cervical spine injuries are associated with a substantial risk of mortality. The aim of this study is to develop a novel mortality prediction model for patients with cervical trauma who require operative treatment.

Summary of Background Data:

Patients with cervical spine trauma have a high risk of postoperative complications and mortality. There are few reliable systems that can accurately predict mortality after surgery for cervical spine trauma, and those that do exist are typically not specific to cervical trauma.

Materials and Methods:

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to identify patients undergoing surgery for cervical spine trauma. Univariate analyses were performed to identify variables associated with mortality. Variables that were found to be significant in the univariate models were compiled into a multivariable model. The final model was compared with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), a modified Charlson comorbidity index (mCCI), and the 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) in respect to predicting 30-day mortality after cervical trauma. The score was then externally validated using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

Results:

Fifty-five (6.7%) of 822 patients did not survive 30 days after surgery. The final multivariable logistic regression model consisted of the following variables: circumferential fusion “C.” long “L” fusion (more than 4 levels), anemia “A,” age over 60 “A,” and dialysis “D.” The risk of mortality increased with increasing CLAAD score, with mortality rates of 0.9%, 3.1%, 7.4%, 22.7%, and 14.3% for scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The CLAAD model had an AUC of 0.73 for predicting mortality after cervical trauma.

Conclusions:

The CLAAD score is a simple and effective system that can help identify patients at risk of increased mortality within 30 days of cervical trauma.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.