bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Via Normobaric Hyperoxia
Authors: Li Weili , Hu Wenbo , Yuan Shuhua , Chen Jiahao , Wang Qi , Ding Jiayue , Chen Zhiying , Qi Zhifeng , Han Ju
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Recent advancements in animal studies have demonstrated the potential of normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) as a promising intervention for preserving the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). However, there is still limited understanding of the effects of NBO on BBB function in patients with clinical stroke. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of NBO therapy in attenuating BBB damage and reducing brain injury in individuals undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute stroke.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study enrolled patients from the OPENS‐1 (Normobaric Hyperoxia Combined With Reperfusion for Acute Ischemic Stroke) study, with 43 patients receiving NBO combined with EVT and 43 patients receiving EVT alone. The main outcome measures included serum levels of occludin, MMP‐9 (matrix metalloproteinase‐9), NSE (neuron‐specific enolase), and S100b at 24 hours and 7 days, as well as the intracranial extravasation rate at 24 hours. Serum markers were assessed using ELISA, and intracranial contrast extravasation was visualized using dual‐energy computed tomography scan. We analyzed a total of 86 patients and found that the 24‐hour serum markers levels of BBB damage and brain injury were significantly lower in the group receiving NBO therapy combined with EVT compared with the group receiving EVT alone. Similarly, at 7 days, the levels of occludin, MMP‐9, and NSE were lower in the NBO+EVT group. We also found that the 24‐hour serum levels of occludin and MMP‐9 were correlated with intracranial contrast extravasation. Additionally, the incidence of intracranial contrast extravasation was lower in the NBO+EVT group compared with the EVT group (35.9% versus 60.5%,
P
=0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

This study offers valuable insights into the positive impact of NBO on maintaining BBB integrity and reducing brain injury in patients with acute stroke undergoing EVT.
Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Telemedicine Physician Assessments on a Mobile Stroke Unit: Protocol for a Prospective Open‐Label Blinded End‐Point Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yogendrakumar Vignan , Balabanski Anna H. , Johns Hannah , Churilov Leonid , Parsons Nicola K. , Beharry James , Weir Louise , Yassi Nawaf , Zhao Henry , Warwick Alex , Coote Skye , Langenberg Francesca , Branagan Leigh , Siddiqi Wasseem , Bivard Andrew , Campbell Bruce C. V. , Donnan Geoffrey A. , Davis Stephen M. , Mutimer Chloe , Barker James , Santos Angela Dos , Ng Jo Lyn , Ng Felix , Yan Bernard , Ma Margaret , Wong Joey , Park Ashley , Sharobeam Angelos , Valente Michael , Williams Cameron , Ho Stan , Scarff Patrick , Beltrame Cassandra , Shin Christine , Thijs Vincent , Fink John , Barber Alan , Lin Longting
Published: October 2024

Background

Mobile stroke units have been shown to deliver faster patient care and improve clinical outcomes. However, costs associated with staffing limit their use to densely populated cities. Using the Melbourne mobile stroke unit, we aim to evaluate the safety, timeliness, and resource efficiency of a telemedicine model, where the neurologist assesses a patient remotely, via telemedicine, compared with an onboard neurologist model. We hypothesize that, without compromising patient safety, the telemedicine model will provide timely care and superior resource efficiency.

Methods

Using a prospective, randomized, blinded end‐point controlled design, 270 participants consecutively assessed on the Melbourne mobile stroke unit over ≈12 months will be assigned into 2 arms: (1) telemedicine neurologist assessment (intervention) versus (2) onboard assessment (comparator). Enrollment is based on prospectively designated randomized days of neurologist review onboard versus telemedicine. The primary outcome will be the odds that a randomly selected participant in the telemedicine arm will have a better outcome than a randomly selected participant in the onboard arm, measured using a desirability‐of‐outcome ranking, an outcome measure that includes, in order of importance: (1) safety, (2) scene‐to‐treatment‐decision time metrics, and (3) resource usage. All participants within each arm will be compared with those in the other, resulting in a “win/tie/loss” distribution for telemedicine compared with the onboard model.

Conclusions

The study will establish whether use of a telemedicine neurologist delivers superior resource efficiency without compromising patient care. This would enable the broader use of mobile stroke units, particularly relevant to regions with limited access to neurologists, thus improving equity in access to time‐critical, lifesaving stroke care.

Registration

URL:
clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique Identifier: NCT05991310.
A review of the genus Amida Lewis (Coccinellidae: Ortaliini) from China
Authors: WEI XUE-YUAN , LIN LI , CHEN LIN , YANG XIAO-JUN , WANG XING-MIN
Published: October 2024

A review of the genus Amida Lewis, 1986 from China is presented. Thirteen species are recorded in total, including four new species, Amida sagittata Wei et Wang, sp. nov., Amida longifolia Wei et Wang, sp. nov., Amida motuensis Wei et Wang, sp. nov. and Amida nanlingiensis Wei et Wang, sp. nov., and two new recorded species from China: Amida nguyent Hoàng, 1983 and Amida mirifica Hoàng, 1983. Descriptions, re-descriptions and illustrations of all species are provided. A distribution map and an identification key are also given.
Three new species and new faunistic data on Ancistria Erichson (Coleoptera: Passandridae) from southern China
Authors: PAN ZHAO , LI PAN-PAN , LIU KAI-XUAN , SHU ZU-FEI , ZHANG YING-MING , BAI MING
Published: October 2024

Ancistria Erichson, 1845 is poorly known from China, with only five species recorded. Three new species and one newly recorded species for China were discovered from the Nanling Mountain Range and Lingnan area, i.e., A. limbata Pan, sp. nov., A. longior Pan, sp. nov., A. nanlingensis Pan, sp. nov. and A. bicolorata Burckhardt & Ślipiński, 1995, which are described and illustrated in this paper. A key to the known Chinese species of Ancistria is also provided.
Drumontiana zhilini sp. nov., a new species from Guangxi, China (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae)
Authors: WANG YING-QI , WANG PING , XIE GUANG-LIN , WANG WEN-KAI
Published: October 2024

In this work, a new species of the genus Drumontiana Danilevsky, 2001 (Cerambycidae: Prioninae) is described and illustrated, namely Drumontiana zhilini sp. nov. from Huaping National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China.
Four new species of Gallerucida Motschulsky, 1861 from China (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)
Authors: XU SI-YUAN , YANG XING-KE
Published: October 2024

Four new species of the genus Gallerucida Motschulsky, 1861 from China, G. mantillerii sp. nov. distributed in Guangxi and Guizhou, G. rubicornis sp. nov. distributed in Henan, Hunan, Hubei, Fujian and Guizhou, G. rubiginosa sp. nov. distributed in Xizang, and G. rubrimelaena sp. nov. distributed in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan, are described, with their habitus and major diagnostic features illustrated.
Exploration of the Extended World of the 13 Characters in Weiliaozi
Authors: Lee Juongme
Published: October 2024

In addition to the Establishing the first unified empire in East Asia XiHuang (始皇) and HanFei (韩非) active political and military activities, WeiLiao (尉缭) had a great impact on the unification of the six countries of Qin in the late Zhanguo Period with his political purpose and concept of "XingDe (刑德)". This weiliao's military and political rule and its theory were the metric development that later brought about the legalization of territory and system and the perfection of Qin (秦) 18's legal system, which was the driving force for the development of science, technology and civilization. If can grasp the background of the pivotal figures and events in the history of the times and their causes, and rediscover the literature and artifacts with regional characteristics as a scene of a long history, the regions and their boundaries that can be seen in the whole map of the 21st century are not only the territorial boundaries divided and staged. As an integrated media of the behavior product of the human community, its epistemological objects, whether paper or digital, have a great impact on the globalization (the whole area) of the global village.
SARIMA Model-Based Maximum Temperature Forecasting in Bangladesh: A Data-Driven Evaluation from 1981 to 2024
Authors: Azim Nur , Parvez Sofi , Taharima Mumtahin , Rudman Md.
Published: October 2024

Bangladesh is a tropical nation where there are notable seasonal temperature changes. The Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model is used in this study to forecast Bangladesh's maximum temperature from 2023 to 2042. The objective is to assess how rising temperatures can affect public health, energy consumption, and agriculture. Autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation analysis will be used to improve the model. Analysis was done using historical maximum temperature data spanning from 1981 to 2022. Forecasts were produced using the SARIMA model, whose parameters were chosen in accordance with plots of the autocorrelation function (ACF) and partial autocorrelation function (PACF). The model SARIMA (1,1,2)(0,0,1) is selected based on AIC. In order to account for forecast uncertainty, forecasts were created for the years 2023–2042. 95% prediction ranges were then calculated. Bangladesh's maximum temperatures are predicted by the SARIMA model to rise gradually, from roughly 33.75°C in 2023 to 34.17°C in 2042. With some degree of uncertainty, the 95% prediction intervals show a steady increasing trend between 33.53°C and 34.51°C. The anticipated increase in the highest temperatures has major consequences for Bangladesh. These results highlight how crucial it is to create adaptation plans and laws in order to lessen the effects of warming temperatures and increase resilience.
Agricultural Waste for Energy Storage, Conversion and Agricultural Applications
Authors: Assaye Yilikal
Published: October 2024

Agricultural waste residues (agro-waste) present a significant source of carbohydrates that are often underutilized despite their valuable properties. With increasing urbanization and limited non-renewable resources, the valorization of agro-waste is imperative. The global energy demand is on the rise, driven by factors such as population growth, industrialization, and a desire for enhanced living standards. Traditional energy sources, especially fossil fuels, have come under scrutiny for their environmental impact and limited availability. Consequently, there is an increasing focus on developing renewable and sustainable energy solutions, particularly through the use of agricultural waste. Agricultural waste—including crop residues, animal manure, and byproducts from food processing—represents a largely untapped resource for energy production. Converting this waste into valuable energy can help meet rising energy needs while offering environmental and economic advantages, such as mitigating waste disposal issues and creating additional income sources for the agricultural sector. Despite the significant potential of agricultural waste for energy storage and conversion, several challenges remain. These include issues related to logistics and transportation, the need for pretreatment, and concerns about economic feasibility. Future research should aim to enhance conversion technologies and better integrate agricultural waste into energy and agricultural systems. This review discusses various energy conversion technologies and applications of agricultural waste, including biofuels, biogas, and direct combustion, while exploring its role in energy storage through biochar. This review examines the composition and properties of agricultural waste, the various technologies available for energy conversion, and how agricultural waste can be utilized as a feedstock for biofuels, biogas, and direct combustion. It also investigates the integration of agricultural waste in energy storage solutions like biochar and explores other agricultural applications beyond energy production.
“In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors” Polish Traditions of Westward Migration Meets Modern Epigenetics of Trauma
Authors: Golombek Kornelia
Published: October 2024

For several years, there have been ongoing considerations regarding the interdisciplinary connections between the natural sciences and the humanities. The same holds true for the question as to whether trauma can be inherited biologically as well as culturally. Today, this topic is increasingly steering the scientific debate in the direction of epigenetic research, which currently combines molecular biology and social psychology with their respective hallmarks. Can culture-related traumas be inherited and, if this was possible, can transgenerational consequences of trauma be passed on to subsequent generations? The focus remains on educational and socialization-related conduct as well on biologically inherited processes of how individual deals with their own trauma. Can migration be inherited by subsequent generations via transgenerational transmission of trauma? In order to answer this question, both consequences and causes of the long-running migration from Poland to Western European countries need to be considered. This article thus seeks to establish a connection between now and then, while also focusing on tragic passages in Poland’s history that were characterized by suffering, statelessness, and occupation (until 1989). Consequently, multi-layered and repeated habitus breakages as well as specific Polish “worldviews” may have emerged, which tend to favour migration. The causal links between the transgenerational transmission of such traumas and their causal connections to ongoing migration from Poland to countries such as Germany are addressed by using modern epigenetics.
Improving Grade Nine Students’ English Language Speaking Skill of Polite Requests: Misrak Chora Secondary School
Authors: Miko Assefa
Published: October 2024

Most commonly it is agreed that politeness is reflected in the pragmatic use of language. Although the politeness phenomenon is universal, with many expressional similarities, each language possesses norms and ways of expressing politeness within a given cultural context. Politeness has connection with everyday life such as with greeting, inviting, helping, apologizing, opinions, advice, questioning and suggesting information etc. English speaker tourists most frequently visit and resident in Hawassa City-Ethiopia and have cultural and communication exposure. However, many Ethiopian students are observed incompetent in this regard. Thus, the current study was intended to improve EFL learners’ polite requesting skills in some selected situations both in classroom contexts and outside contexts. For this purpose, the pre-experimental research design was employed to the study, and twenty students (10 females and 10 males) were randomly selected by lottery system from the 9th B classroom. This makes 22.2% of the population in the class. Six politeness genres were selected from the students’ English textbook for explicit lesson intervention. Based on Written Discourse Completion Test (WDCT) instrument prepared from these contents, both pretest and posttest conditions were administered to the selected students. Also cooperative learning strategies such as role play, pair work, group discussion, extemporaneous speeches on situations, cooperative jigsaw, interactive discourse, timed interview, Think-Pair-Share (TPS) were utilized during the lesson sessions. Then, frequencies, means, standard deviations, variances and percentages were used to obtain the main findings. On pretest, students have scored the overall 27.16% (mean, 8.15) regarding all polite request situations. However, it was found that the posttest scores showed great difference about 78.3% (mean, 23.5) in all situations. The study has also sought which request contexts grade nine students improve best as a result of the explicit instruction. Although students have improved performance in all tested situations, they had showed very significant change on request for apology followed by for help. In apology situation the students have achieved 90% and the least in preference scenario which is 65%. Thus, it is recommended that learners have to be explicitly taught in context of these language genres to develop learners' communicative abilities in the area. Teachers should devote time to instruct on this language content [polite request] as it is everyday encounter in one's life. Syllabus designers also should allot much time and tasks on the area so that school teachers give attention to areas.
RUFCO: A Deep Learning Framework to Postprocess Subseasonal Precipitation Accumulation Forecasts
Authors: Worsnop Rochelle P. , Scheuerer Michael , Hamill Thomas M. , Smith Timothy A. , Schlör Jakob
Published: October 2024

Postprocessing is a critical step in attaining calibrated and reliable probabilistic forecast output from numerical weather prediction models. A novel deep learning framework is proposed to postprocess 20 years of 7- and 14-day precipitation accumulation reforecasts from the Global Ensemble Forecast System at subseasonal time scales (week 1, week 2, and combined weeks 3–4 forecasts) over the contiguous United States. The network builds upon previous studies and is a combination of three parallel-trained components suitable for subseasonal prediction. The first is a ResUnet architecture which learns nonlinear relationships between binned observed precipitation and input images of weather and geographical variables. The second conditions the network to the month-of-year via a feature-wise linear modulation (FiLM) layer. The third helps the network learn when to revert the forecast to that of climatology. The RUFCO (named for its components ResUnet, FiLM, and Climatological-Offramp) forecasts are compared against raw and climatological forecasts as well as those from a state-of-the-art distributional regression postprocessing model, “censored, shifted gamma distribution (CSGD),” and a simple bias-corrected model. At week 1, every method exhibited a competitive advantage over climatological forecasts. At week 2, RUFCO generated forecasts with statistically significant improvement over climatology at 82%–94% of the domain, beating CSGD’s coverage of 76%–90% of the grid points. At week 3, RUFCO’s skillful coverage was 65%–85%, while CSGDs dropped to only 12%–37%. At the longer lead times, RUFCO achieved the highest domain-averaged skill scores across seasons. However, the network tends to “smooth” forecast skill, making it less competitive with CSGD in limited areas with strongly spatially varying biases.

Significance Statement

Precipitation accumulation forecasts 1, 2, and 3–4 weeks in advance are increasingly in-demand for a variety of decision-making applications around hydrologic forecasting, flood and drought awareness, and wildfire preparedness. However, raw forecasts from numerical weather prediction systems have errors that hinder skill. Postprocessing methods remove those errors and provide more reliable and skillful forecasts. We show that a new neural network technique is an effective and competitive postprocessing tool compared to more traditional techniques.
‘You Know What the Truth Is? There are No Touareg Evacuées Here’: On Crisis and Categories of Migration
Authors: Gonzales Giulia
Published: October 2024

This paper analyses the practices of (im)mobilities and the accompanying emotions to question the exceptionalisation of crisis and migratory categorisations. Focusing on Kel Tamasheq (aka Tuareg) mobile livelihoods and their fluid interconnections with kinship networks and emotions across time, it argues that the multidimensionality of causes behind a migratory project, and the importance of historically contextualising the relation between a crisis, here the ‘Malian crisis’, and regional patterns of (im)mobilities, reveal the arbitrariness of making crisis exceptional and migratory categories uniquely discreet. This paper is based on a 10-month ethnography among Kel Tamasheq in Bamako.
The Socio-Cultural Life of Migration Categories: Insights Across the Global South and North – Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Gallo Ester , Ngeh Jonathan , Diallo Souleymane
Published: October 2024

Categories have gained new centrality in migration studies, highlighting the importance of critically approaching policy labels and considering categories as a lens rather than a pre-determined analytical toolkit. This Special Issue (SI) brings together migration scholars of different disciplinary backgrounds from the Global South and North. This article introduces the SI with a theoretically driven discussion of migration categories, hopefully inspiring further research and orienting newcomers to the field. Current studies have what we term sub-field confinement, one-dimensionality and context-related perspectival limitations. Bridging migration subfields, empirically apprehending the disconnections between policy and experiential dimensions of labelling and de-centring Global North analyses are key to understanding the socio-cultural life of migration categories. Further comparative and interdisciplinary research is necessary, given the topic’s rising importance in migration studies.
Political Repression, Refugee Crises and Labor Migration from Post-Colonial Mali
Authors: Diallo Souleymane , Tandjigora Fodié
Published: October 2024

This article zooms in on the ways in which forced migration articulates with labor migration in urban West Africa. Precisely, it reflects on how the refugee crisis contributes to labor migration and, inversely, how labor migration is used as a strategy to respond to the predicament induced by the adverse and often deeply humiliating living conditions of exile. To this end, we situate the article within broader scholarly debates on migration categories. We use the notion “exile” to refer to the social conditions induced by political persecution-related relocations from Mali to Niger and Senegal. Our discussion draws on data collected from freeborn Tuareg from Mali in Niamey and former Malian students who fled the dictatorship of Moussa Traoré. The results prompt a reflection that prioritizes the empirical connections between forced and labor migrations over their differences, something that is often taken for granted in the academic literature and in political narratives.
Micro and Small Business Growth Drivers in Nigeria: Evidence from Small Cities Small Federating State
Authors: Ezeoha Abel E. , Nkwagu Lius C. , Ama Udu U. , Okorie Ebere , Iteshi Chioma , Anyigor Kelechi , Ugwu Okereke J.
Published: October 2024

This study involves a comprehensive survey of about 1500 micro and small businesses across three major cities in one of the smallest states in Nigeria (Ebonyi State). Based on the cross-sectional data generated, a linearized Tobit regression and a robust T-Test statistical technique are applied to comparatively examine how internal firm attributes, market attributes, and socioeconomic and macroeconomic conditions affect the growth of micro and small businesses in a typical small state and small cities. The results reveal a key challenge to be the dominance of the business space in small cities by micro and largely informal enterprises.
Using a Phenomenological and Fanon Analytic: A Methodological Framework and Method for Research with Impoverished Black Male Youth
Authors: Clarke Warren
Published: October 2024

While there is a good amount of general literature on the experiences of Black men in Canada, there is a paucity of empirical data regarding the specific lived experiences of first- and second-generation, Canadian-born, impoverished Black young men (ages 15–29). Black male youth are often impoverished due to anti-Black racism and classism, which together further social and economic barriers. While many methods of data collection and analysis provide a useful snapshot of the experiences of young Black men, many traditional methods are unable to highlight the nuance that lies in complex intersections of identity for Black young men experiencing poverty and un(der)employment. This article demonstrates the success of practices rooted in phenomenology to understand and articulate the unique, heterogeneous lived experiences of first- and second-generation impoverished Black young men who utilize youth employment training programs in three Canadian cities. Further, this article demonstrates how using Frantz Fanon’s scholarly work and applied phenomenology can inform future research on Black and other underserved youth who face complex marginalization.
Resin impregnation and interface property improvement of CFRP composite via modulating wettability of carbon fibers
Authors: Xu Xinxin , Yang Xujing , Li Maojun , Xiong Chenfeng
Published: October 2024

In this work, the effects of different fiber wettability on resin impregnation during vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process and subsequent interface properties were comprehensively investigated. The fabrics with different surface morphology and wettability were successfully obtained via tuning the concentration of epoxy sizing agents. Results indicate that a low void content of less than 1% is achieved with the improvement of fiber wettability. Additionally, the interlayer property of composites is significantly improved by ∼12%. It is attributed to improved impregnation and capillary number, achieved by optimizing the dual-scale flow of resin in the preform via reducing the contact angle. Achieving equilibrium of dual-scale flow is an important factor in minimizing voids within the CFRP laminate. Furthermore, the introduction of epoxy functional groups significantly enhances interfacial bonding, contributing to an increase in the interlaminar shear strength of CFRP composites. This improvement effectively improves stress concentration by dispersing crack propagation. The findings in this work provide significant information for designing CFRP composites with superior mechanical properties via adjusting fiber wettability.
Maritimacies and Nature-Culture Collectives as Inputs for a Sustainable Blue Economy on the East Coast of Uruguay
Authors: Camarero Leticia D’Ambrosio
Published: October 2024

The research for this article examines the characteristics of the marine-coastal environment from the perspectives of a range of social actors. Knowledge of maritimacies can serve as an input for management of marine-coastal environments that takes into account the diverse types of humanity found there, by emphasizing that these processes are not just physical and ecological, but also social, economic, cultural, and historical. An ethnographic methodology allows for mapping the perspectives of social actors, their points of view, and different ways of life. The result was a systemization of maritimacies, which can contribute to thinking about and building a sustainable Blue Economy that recognizes and involves those who inhabit the coast and the sea in Uruguay by considering the heterogeneity and complexity of their social networks.
‘I have aym’d my black shafts at white markes’: Colours in The Queen of Corinth
Authors: Paravano Cristina
Published: October 2024

The article offers a new angle on The Queen of Corinth (1617), a tragicomedy that Philip Massinger co-wrote with John Fletcher and Nathan Field. It discusses the way in which colours are skilfully used to sketch out the characters’ personalities, reproduce their mindset, values, gender, and social roles, and define the different agencies of men and women. This article sheds light on how the presence of colours and their interaction convey a cultural ideology and negotiate multiple meanings in terms of morality, sexual politics, gender, and justice while crystallising the sexual, social, and political anxieties of the period.
Lost in translation: The normative and the historical
Authors: Rasmussen David M
Published: October 2024

I am intrigued by the use of the words ‘embedded’ and ‘capacity’ as they appear in what I take to be the strategy of Sovereignty Across Generations where these words are used to make what is evidently implicit within John Rawls’s political liberalism explicit, that is, a normative account of ‘the justice and legitimacy of political orders’. If I am correct about this strategy, my question is quite simple: is something lost in translation in this transition from Rawls’s more historical to this normative orientation? I conclude with a positive comment on the potential that a theory of temporality has for the development of a notion of political self-constitution as it pertains to the transition from ethnos to demos.
NAMAH—An Innovative Tele-ECHO Mentoring Program to Foster Well-being Among Physicians
Authors: Parate Nidhi , BR Manjunatha , R Sanchitha , Narasimha Venkata Lakshmi , Mahadevan Jayant , Chand Prabhat , Murthy Pratima , Arora Sanjeev
Published: October 2024

Background:

The current study aimed to develop and implement the National Assistance in Mental Health for Health Care Providers (NAMAH) module, which focused on wellness and building resilience for a cohort of physicians.

Methods:

The NAMAH module is a 12-week tele-mentoring program leveraging videoconference technology that uses the ECHO (Extension of Community Healthcare Outcome) HUB and SPOKE and consists of real-life case discussions and a brief didactic. The module’s content was developed after iterative feedback from experts and incorporated suggestions from healthcare providers (HCPs) following a needs assessment. A pre and post-design was used to assess the impact of the module on psychological distress using the self-reported Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and burnout using the Maslach Burnout—Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) among the 32 physicians who participated.

Results:

There was a significant decrease in the mean scores before (19.5 ± 6.27) and after (17.38 ± 6.23) the NAMAH module ( p < .05) in the psychological distress as measured by K 10 with a Cohen’s d of 0.41 (95% CI: 0.05–0.77). There was also a significant decrease in the mean scores after the intervention in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization domain of the MBI-HSS with a medium effect size (Cohen’s d of 0.65) and large effect size (Cohen’s d of 0.94), respectively.

Conclusion:

The findings from this pilot study lay a foundational framework, encouraging further exploration, research, and scaling-up of such interventions to enhance mental health among physicians and HCPs.
Character strengths: Theory and intervention
Authors: Snyder Frank J. , Khan Fatimah E.
Published: October 2024

This article discusses concepts related to character strengths and positive youth development and how these ideas can be applied to improve outcomes among gifted young people. A theory with roots in public health, The Theory of Triadic Influence (TTI), is discussed with examples applied to gifted populations. Practitioners and researchers from several fields have used the TTI to better understand behavior and to inform program development/evaluation efforts that have improved young people’s outcomes including those related to substance use, dietary behaviors, and physical activity. The TTI may be helpful for researchers and practitioners intending to understand and change both cognitive and affective/emotional influences that play a role in shaping the behaviors of gifted young people. In addition, we review intervention/evaluation studies that seek to improve outcomes among young people (in general) and gifted young people (in particular) and share ideas for future efforts to improve outcomes among gifted populations.
Meta-analysis of improved mitral regurgitation after aortic valve replacement
Authors: Naito Noritsugu , Takagi Hisato
Published: October 2024

Background

This meta-analysis aimed to compare survival outcomes among patients experiencing improvement in untreated significant mitral regurgitation (MR) following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for severe aortic stenosis, in contrast to those without improvement.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search through February 2024. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed. Kaplan-Meier curves depicting all-cause mortality were reconstructed using individual patient data derived from the included studies.

Results

A systematic review identified twelve non-randomized studies encompassing 4040 patients. The pooled all-cause mortality of the meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in patients whose MR improved compared to those with persistent MR after aortic valve replacement (AVR) (HR [95% CI] = 0.55 [0.47–0.64], p < .01). The hazard ratio, derived from reconstructed time-to-event data, indicated lower all-cause mortality in patients with improved MR after AVR relative to the other cohort (HR [95% CI] = 0.50 [0.40–0.62], p < .01 in all patients, 0.48 [0.34–0.68], p < .01 in patients undergoing SAVR, and 0.58 [0.42–0.80], p < .01 in those receiving TAVR).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this meta-analysis revealed that improved MR after AVR, whether surgically or by transcatheter approach, correlates with superior survival. The benefits of simultaneous or staged intervention on the mitral valve in individuals undergoing AVR warrant validation in future investigations.
Calculating the Expected Net Benefit of Sampling for Survival Data: A Tutorial and Case Study
Authors: Vervaart Mathyn
Published: October 2024

The net value of reducing decision uncertainty through collecting additional data is quantified by the expected net benefit of sampling (ENBS). The ENBS is the difference between the population-level expected value of sample information (EVSI) for the data collection exercise and the costs associated with the data collection. ENBS calculations for studies that collect survival data are complicated by the need to take into account censoring, and this has limited the application of value-of-information analysis in this setting. In this tutorial article, we present a general-purpose algorithm for calculating the ENBS for a study that collects survival data along with a step-by-step implementation in R. The algorithm is based on recently published methods for simulating survival data and computing EVSI that do not rely on the survival data being from a distribution with any particular parametric form and that can take into account any arbitrary censoring process. We illustrate the method using a real-life case study drawn from an appraisal of pembrolizumab plus axitinib for treating advanced renal cell carcinoma in which the initial decision was informed by immature survival data.

Highlights

The net value of reducing decision uncertainty by collecting additional data is quantified by the expected net benefit of sampling (ENBS). This tutorial presents a general-purpose algorithm for computing the ENBS for collecting survival data along with a step-by-step implementation in R. The algorithm is based on recently published methods for simulating survival data and computing expected value of sample information that do not rely on the survival data to follow any particular parametric distribution and that can take into account any arbitrary censoring process. We demonstrate in a case study based on a previous cancer technology appraisal that ENBS calculations are useful not only for designing new studies but also for optimizing reimbursement decisions for new health technologies based on immature evidence from ongoing trials.
The impact of COVID-19 and the ERS on superannuation savings in Australia
Authors: Robey Michael , Bruhn Aaron
Published: October 2024

COVID-19 has had a significant economic impact on Australia, and consequently on the superannuation savings of many individuals. To examine COVID-19’s heterogeneous effects across different industries and demographic groups, the impact on superannuation was assessed for 12 representative cameos using a range of Australian data, including Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA), ATO, ABS and APRA sources. The marginal impacts of sudden job loss, investment losses, investment switching and participation in the Early Release of Superannuation (ERS) scheme were each investigated in turn. The cameos highlight that some demographic cohorts faced several compounding challenges. For example, many ERS applicants were already facing financial hardship, were more likely to be younger, and faced a higher risk of unemployment. This highlights that COVID-19 has impacted different cohorts in different ways, depending on age, employment status and industry, and family situation, among other factors.

JEL Classification: D14, D15, J26, J32
How Has the Paris Rail Public-Transportation Network Recovered After the COVID-19 Pandemic? Applying a Mixture of Regressions Model
Authors: Moreau Hugues , Côme Étienne , Samé Allou , Oukhellou Latifa
Published: October 2024

Through a combination of regulations, fear of contagion, and changes in travelers’ habits, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mobility of public-transit ridership worldwide. To understand the longer-term effects of the pandemic on public-transit ridership, we focus on the case of Paris, France, thanks to an open 5 year record of entries into more than 500 stations. To deal with the large volume of data, we use a statistical model that performs clustering and segmentation simultaneously while incorporating many exogenous variables, such as the day of the week or lockdowns, to account for their effect on the number of entries. We carry out an in-depth analysis of the results for the segments and clusters. Examining and comparing the regression coefficients across clusters and consecutive segments allows us to draw per-cluster and per-segment conclusions. We show that the number of weekday trips decreased in most clusters and that the reduction in weekly variations is proportional to the share of weekday trips in the volume of entries before the pandemic. In addition, we characterize the changes in the weekly profile: Thursday was replaced by Tuesday as the day with the highest ridership; because of teleworking, Friday became the least crowded weekday in clusters with strong differences between weekdays and weekends, while the lowest ridership weekday remains Monday in the other clusters.
The Associations Between Social Support From Adult Children (SSAC) and the Risk of Later-Life Depression (LLD) Among Rural Older Individuals: A Longitudinal Study Based on 2011 to 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study Data
Authors: Xie Shuya , Zhang Li , Zhu Ruikai , Yao Zhentao , Wu Yulong , Huang Jia , Lian Fuzhi , Yang Jun , Xu Xianrong
Published: October 2024

This study was designed to investigate the implications of perceived social support from adult children (SSAC) on the incidence of later-life depression (LLD) among rural older adults in China. A total of 1762 participants without depressive symptoms and aged ≥60 years at baseline were recruited from three waves (2011, 2013, and 2015) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and followed up until 2018. After following-up for 2–7 years (average 4.6 years), a total of 746 participants (43.2%) were identified with LLD and the overall incidence of LLD was 128.5 per 1000 person-years. Univariate and multiple Cox regression analysis consistently indicated that receiving living care support was the sole form of SSAC that may significantly reduce the risk of LLD in rural older adults in China (HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70–0.95, p = .008). These results may be of assistance in comprehensively understanding the role of SSAC in the mental health of older adults.
Association Between Three Levels of Social Exclusion and Quality of Life in the Oldest Old Australians: An Analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Data
Authors: Sakuda Mami , Oldroyd John
Published: October 2024

This study examined associations between three levels of social exclusion and quality of life in the Australian oldest old. We performed cross-sectional analyses of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia data using 203 participants aged ≥85. Principal component analysis was used to construct social exclusion variables at an individual level (lack of supportive relationships), neighborhood level (disadvantaged neighborhood social climates), and community level (community disengagement). Quality of life was assessed using physical and mental component summary scores of SF-36. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed separately for men and women. Lack of supportive relationships was negatively associated with physical and mental quality of life in all participants. Among men, community disengagement was associated with low physical quality of life. Policies to reduce social exclusion in this age group should focus on improving supportive relationships to enhance quality of life, rather than neighborhood or community levels.
American Capitalism and the Decline of Debtors’ Prison in the 19th Century
Authors: Parisot James
Published: October 2024

This paper examines the dynamics of capitalism and the penitentiary system through an analysis of the decline of debt imprisonment in 19th-century United States. It argues that class transformations in the early to mid-1800s created a context for social experiments with new forms of punishment. The penitentiary systems that formed developed logics that contingently fit with the rising mode of production. The decline of debt imprisonment, in this context, was much in part the result of transformations in class power and class structure.
Do novel inflammation biomarkers arising from routine complete blood count play a role in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus?
Authors: Gambichler Thilo , Numanovic Zenaida , Apel Imke , Hessam Schapoor , Susok Laura , Xenofon Baraliakos  , Sewerin Philipp
Published: October 2024

Background

Laboratory-based biomarkers accurately presenting systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity may have a practical value in clinical routine. As shown in many other conditions, complete blood count (CBC)-derived biomarkers may also play a role in SLE.

Objectives

We aimed to study for the first time the pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV, monocytes x platelets x neutrophils/lymphocytes) and the more established systemic immune-inflammation index (SII, neutrophils x platelets /lymphocytes) in SLE patients and correlate it with serological and clinical findings including disease outcomes.

Methods

In this retrospective multicentric investigation, we reviewed the clinical records of 148 SLE who had an available CBC at baseline. The latter served for the determination of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), SII, and the PIV. Control groups were studied as well. Univariable as well as multivariable statistics were employed.

Results

The values for baseline systemic immune-inflammation biomarkers (SIIB) studied were significantly ( p < 0.0001) higher than those observed in healthy controls but comparable to those obtained from patients with other inflammatory conditions. Multivariable analysis revealed that ANA titer > 1:640 remained the only significant ( p < 0.0001) baseline predictor of SLE flare (odds ratio: 7.6, 95% CI 3.1 to 18.8). Improvement of SLE following treatment was associated with the absence of lymphopenia as well as ANA > 1:640 ( p = 0.041). The SLEDAI-2K significantly correlated with NLR, SII, CRP, lymphocytes, and monocytes only on univariable testing.

Conclusions

Compared to healthy controls the CBC-based SIIB investigated are significantly increased in SLE patients. However, SIIB do not appear to be useful in managing SLE clinically. Nevertheless, we confirm that higher ANA titers can predict flares of SLE.
Mapping Green Supply Chain Practices: An Extensive Bibliometric Review with the SPAR-4-SLR and TCCM Framework
Authors: Jain Silky , Sharma Dinesh Kumar , Sharma Manisha
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

The growing global awareness of environmental sustainability and the threat of climate change has prompted organisations to embrace green supply chain practices (GSCP) to minimise their ecological footprint and improve their competitive edge. The primary objective of this study is to offer a comprehensive, insightful analysis of the GSCP utilising the TCCM (theory, context, characteristics, and methods) framework.

Design/Methodology/Approach:

This study conducts an extensive bibliometric analysis, incorporating the TCCM framework and SPAR-4-SLR (Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews) protocol, to delve into the dynamic field of GSCP spanning 2004 to 2023.

Findings:

This article offers a nuanced exploration of the intricacies of GSCP research dynamics, shedding light on influential articles, distinguished authors, prominent academic institutions, publication sources and nine key thematic research clusters that have had a substantial impact and propelled this pivotal domain forward. TCCM framework is used to construct an all-encompassing citation network, elucidating five significant domains guided by the theoretical framework. These domains include social and economic theories, resource and strategy theories, innovation and change theories, systems and interdisciplinary theories, and management and organisation theories. Every subcategory within the GSCP realm represents a distinct and unique facet and is supported by an individual theoretical framework and scholarly contribution.

Practical Implications:

The findings from the bibliometric review yield significant insights for researchers and green supply-chain practitioners. This article aims to guide future research endeavours and policy formulation by evaluating the existing knowledge base and pinpointing diverse research avenues. It underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among academics from different domains to address the complex aspects of sustainability in supply-chain operations, thus highlighting the multidisciplinary character of green supply-chain research.

Originality/Value:

To the best of our knowledge, this review study is the first to present a bibliometric analysis of GSCP using the TCCM framework and the SPAR-4-SLR protocol.
Towards the Concept of Digital Grassroots Youth Innovation
Authors: Zukerfeld Mariano , Fressoli Mariano , Marco Celeste De , Xhardez Verónica
Published: October 2024

In recent years, young people have acquired a more active role in different areas of public life, such as culture, politics and gender debates. However, the relevance of their role in innovation processes has remained largely undiscussed. Are young people, in particular those from working class backgrounds, a forgotten actor for innovation and technological change policies? This study aims to understand whether the youth population—who are widely connected to the Internet, who do not necessarily participate in formal educational spaces but are increasingly acquiring digital skills autonomously—can be considered as an agent of innovation. Specifically, this study aims to propose and define the concept of Digital Grassroots Youth Innovation. It is based on both empirical and theoretical sources. On the one hand, it relies on a compilation of experiences of innovative activities related to digital technologies led by young people in Argentina. On the other hand, it is supported by a theoretical discussion on (a) the different types of innovations and their subjects, (b) the specificities of the ‘marginal mass’ in informational capitalism and (c) the characterisation of the young population in Argentina as ‘NEET’ (not in education, employment or training). Finally, we ask about the role played by digital technologies and non-formal learning in these particular innovation processes.