bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prisonized religiosity and the prison subculture: A hermeneutic expansion from a constructivist perspective
Authors: GARCÍA MARTÍNEZ Jesús , GÓMEZ-QUINTERO Juan D.
Published: February 2025

Functionalism has been the dominant theoretical model used in social sciences to explain the religious expression of prison inmates. However, not all their religious behaviours can be explained by one single paradigm. The objective of this research is to understand the complexity of religiousness in prison and present the need for new interpretative approaches that encompass the polyhedric nature of this phenomenon. The methodology applied is hermeneutic and qualitative. Two modules from the same prison were selected and a focus group was formed for each module. The focus group sessions revolved around the inmates’ religious beliefs, attitudes, and practices and how they are manifested within the prison context. The results demonstrate the functionality of religiousness in prison as an effective mechanism for adapting to a highly stressful medium and for alleviating the destructuring effects of the prison regime. The application of a constructivist hermeneutic approach as a complement to functionalism also highlighted a new type of religious expression that springs from the prison subculture, namely ‘prisonized religiousness’, a concept defined as a transcendental spiritual revival of subjective revitalization which enables inmates to create a new identity.
Literary representations of ‘racial mixing’ in Czech modernism
Authors: Kantoříková Jana
Published: February 2025

This article aims to demonstrate that colonial discourses on ‘racial mixing’ and their taxonomic intricacies were by no means limited to the Western colonial powers. By focusing on literary representations of racial mixing, it offers an analytical overview of this motif in the Czech context, while emphasising its function as a projection surface for colonial fantasies, aspirations of Europeanness and concerns about the integrity and homogeneity of the ‘national body’, principally fears of the subaltern position associated with ‘blackness’. Attention is paid to translations of French and German literature (e.g. Eugène Sue, Wilhelm Bauberger) from the first half of the nineteenth century, to Czech patriotic productions (Matěj Karas) and especially to representations of modernists and avant-gardists and their critical perspective (e.g. Jaroslav Hašek, Vítězslav Nezval, Vladimír Raffel). Considering a longer period of time allows the author to point out some tendencies characteristic of the Czech cultural context, especially its oscillation between mixophobic and mixophilic approaches.
Academic posing ‘in Black’: Drawings and illustrations by František Kupka
Authors: Theinhardt Markéta
Published: February 2025

This article analyses the representations of the ‘other’, especially the ‘black’ human figure, in the work of the Czech artist František Kupka, known as one of the first representatives of non-figurative art. As a satirical draughtsman and illustrator in Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century, he continued to treat these representations in an ‘academic’ manner without allusion to the formal systems of non-European art, as was the case of avant-garde artists. However, he followed modern, freethinking ideas and incorporated new content into his ‘modern allegories’. He shared these ideas above all with the social-anarchist geographer Élisée Reclus, whose work L’Homme et la Terre, an Anthropocene history of the Earth, he illustrated and whose reflections are highly topical in our changing world. Nevertheless, for Kupka, as for Reclus, the philosophical aesthetic model remains in Ancient Greece, which was also the ideological source of the artist’s non-figurative concept.
Building belonging at university: cultural background, social interaction, science identity and linguistic support / Creando pertenencia en la universidad: acervo cultural, interacción social y apoyo lingüístico
Authors: Dukhan Shalini
Published: February 2025

Colonization caused historic imbalance where societies were strategized to be, and remain, marginalized: education was used as a primary vehicle to establish domination. This case study illustrates that when the social and cultural environment and language use at university support a sense of belonging and the development of identity within science, students from less resourced environments gain a deeper understanding of the nuances for undergraduate academic success. In-depth interviews were conducted to follow the mechanisms that enabled a poorly performing first year from a rural setting to succeed during the undergraduate years. Evidence is provided from the student’s perspective of the need for collaborative peer-mentoring relationships where language plays a key role during undergraduate studies to facilitate a sense of belonging and ensure academic success when peers of similar cultural backgrounds study together.
An Approach to Setting Vertebrate Animal-use Benchmarks for Agrochemical and GM Crop Testing to Facilitate Future Animal Reduction Efforts
Authors: Henriquez Joseph , Merrell Matthew , Mathesius Carey , Settivari Raja , Murphy Lynea , Kisielewski Susan , LaRocca Jessica , Mikles Kathleen , Gehen Sean
Published: February 2025

Agrochemical active ingredients are among the most toxicologically evaluated chemical substances, and genetically modified (GM) crops must be evaluated for safety and nutritional adequacy. Traditionally, these evaluations are conducted in vivo. There are concerted efforts in the agrochemical sector to reduce animal testing, but there is also an emphasis on updating test guidelines and fulfilling new data package requirements, which can both result in increased animal testing. The purpose of this project was to generate benchmarks for the numbers of vertebrate animals used in: a) evaluating agrochemical pesticidal active ingredients for human health hazards; and b) assessing GM crops for safety and nutritional adequacy, based on guideline studies for data package requirements. To achieve this, guideline studies employing vertebrates, as required by regulatory bodies for developing global data packages for new active ingredients and for GM crops, were listed. These listed guideline studies were reviewed, in terms of the study details and the required animal-use, which was determined based on best testing practices. For historical animal-use benchmarking, Corteva’s six most recent agrochemical pesticidal active ingredients and four most recent GM crop events were evaluated. Across the six most recently developed active ingredients, an average of approximately 10,000 mammals were used for the testing of each (range: 5500–19,000); across the four most recently developed GM crops, the average number of vertebrates similarly used for each was approximately 1200 (range: 1000–1500). Though regulatory testing requirements are likely to change with time, as new technologies become available, this project has established a theoretical minimum requirement to help drive aspirational animal reduction goals, identified regulatory challenges associated with the reduction of animal-use, and helped to refine Corteva’s vertebrate animal-use tracking approaches.
A professional register for probation practitioners in England and Wales: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Tidmarsh Matt , Uche Sharon Chisom Ozioma
Published: February 2025

Implemented in September 2024 against a backdrop of significant organisational challenges, the ‘Probation Professional Register’ aims to enhance confidence in the probation service in England and Wales, strengthen professional identity, and improve training and practice. It mandates, among other things, that probation officers evidence their qualifications; adhere to personal and professional standards of conduct; and commit to continuous professional development. Drawing on discussions from a one-day conference hosted at the University of Leeds in February 2024, this article examines the introduction of the professional register. In particular, it explores the opportunities and challenges associated with registration, situating these debates within the broader historical context of professionalism in probation. The article argues that, although registration was generally well received among conference participants, numerous and interlinked issues – inclusive of staffing shortages, high caseloads, inadequate pay, and perceptions of unnecessary bureaucracy – present significant obstacles to meaningful implementation. As such, the article concludes with some recommendations for how the register can be successful in driving (re)professionalisation rather than merely as a bureaucratic tool of regulatory compliance.
Association of gray and white matter volumes, clinical features, neurofilament light chain, and glial fibrillary acidic protein in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Authors: Esgul Neslihan , Orhan Varoglu Asuman , Baysal Begumhan
Published: February 2025

Background

Numerous studies have examined the prognosis of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Purpose

To seek a relationship between the gray matter/white matter (GM/WM) volume ratio, clinical features, neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in RRMS.

Material and Methods

A total of 61 patients aged 18–70 years with RRMS and 20 controls were included. Neurological examinations were noted at the first attack and last visit. Blood samples were taken in remission.

Results

Patients’ WM volume was lower and the GM/WM volume ratio was larger than in the controls ( P < 0.001). Patients’ WM correlated with GM volume ( P < 0.001, r = 0.608). WM correlated with GM/WM volume ratio ( P < 0.001, r = −0.632). For NfL and GFAP, no difference was found between patients and controls. Patients’ NfL correlated with GFAP ( P < 0.001, r = 0.452). Age and disease duration were correlated with Gfap ( P < 0.001, r = 0.434; P < 0.002, r = 0.381). No correlation was found between NfL/GFAP levels and all volumetric measurements of patients. Higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), lower GM and WM volumes, and greater GM/WM volume ratio were detected in patients with the first pyramidal findings ( P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Patients’ NfL and GFAP levels were lower than in controls and did not correlate with all volumes. GFAP is more informative, particularly in patients of advanced age and those with longstanding diseases. Higher EDSS and decreased GM and WM volumes were seen in patients with pyramidal symptoms at the first attack.
“I Am Not Sure What Else I Could Do to Help Her More”: Perceptions of Partner Support in Older Couples Living with Multiple Chronic Conditions
Authors: Daniel Nikita R. , Edelstein Robin S. , Salwi Shreya M. , Valera Juhi R. , Polenick Courtney A.
Published: February 2025

Spouses are a major support in managing multiple chronic conditions (MCC) in middle and later life, but little is known about perceptions of partner support patterns within couples. We examined perceptions of partner support patterns and satisfaction with partner support among older couples where both partners lived with MCC. Both partners in 51 couples completed separate phone interviews with open-ended questions about managing MCC and partner support. We categorized participating couples as discordant ( n = 20) or concordant ( n = 31) in their views of partner support. Our qualitative content analysis revealed that discordant couples wanted more mutual partner support, communication about health and support needs, engagement in health-related activities, and no desired changes. Concordant couples wanted more mutual partner support, working together to manage MCC, better partner self-management, and no desired changes. These findings inform targeted interventions for couples with MCC and emphasize exploring perceptions of partner support patterns.
The Prevalence and Consequences of Gender-Based Violence Among Trans and Gender Diverse University Students in Ontario
Authors: Wilson-Yang Jia Qing , Woodford Michael R. , Oakes Harrison , Marshall Zack , Coulombe Simon
Published: February 2025

Community studies documenting gender-based violence (GBV) experienced by trans and gender diverse (TGD) people often find differences in prevalence across TGD subgroups. In contrast, studies with university students tend to treat TGD students as a homogenous group, leaving differences across subgroups unknown. Using data from TGD Ontario university students, we examined the prevalence and impacts of GBV across the spectrum of nonbinary and gender queer, trans women and trans feminine (TWTF), and trans men and trans masculine (TMTM) students. Specifically, we explored the frequency of subtle and overt forms of GBV (trans environmental microaggressions, trans interpersonal microaggressions, victimization) and their relationship with psychological (positive mental health, psychological distress, perceived stress) and social (campus belonging) well-being among each subgroup. TMTM students reported experiencing both microaggression types significantly more frequently than TWTF; no other differences in prevalence were found. Consistent with minority stress theory, all but one statistically significant result suggested that experiences of GBV are associated with poorer outcomes. Specifically, GBV can negatively impact TGD students’ well-being, although its impacts are not identical across TGD subgroups. The findings highlight the importance of considering TGD students as a heterogeneous group when examining GBV and its consequences. Implications for research, policy, practice, and the training of practitioners are offered.
Gendered Pathways From Victimization to Offending: The Influences of Victimization Subtype and Low Self-Control
Authors: Kopf Samantha , Kuhl Danielle C. , Clark Sheridan
Published: February 2025

A criminological fact is that there is an overlap between victims and offenders. Yet within this line of research less is known about the impact of specific types of victimization and how this relationship varies by gender and levels of low self-control (LSC). Employing a gendered perspective, this study expands the understanding of the victim-offender overlap by highlighting how the experiences of victimization and offending differ between men and women and by LSC. Negative binomial regressions using longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) indicate that there are gender differences in the effects of childhood caregiver abuse on self-reported offending over time. Cumulative violent victimization predicts increased offending for both men and women and is the strongest predictor overall. Low self-control moderates these relationships at Wave III, with significant interactions indicating that higher self-control weakens the impact of cumulative victimization on offending behaviors. Notably, these moderating effects diminish by Wave IV, suggesting developmental changes or reduced relevance of earlier victimization over time. This observed interaction varies in intensity by gender. By integrating gender and victimization type, this research contributes to a more thorough understanding of heterogeneity in the victim–offender overlap, emphasizing the importance of considering both gender-specific and general factors in addressing the effects of interpersonal violence. Future research should expand the field’s understanding of the role of diversity in the victim–offender overlap by examining nonbinary gender identities and different sexual orientations as these are known factors that impact both the likelihood of victimization and offending.
Predictive models on patients’ eligibility for peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Yang Yang , Chen Helen H. , Quinn Robert R. , Dubin Joel A. , Oliver Matthew J.
Published: February 2025

Background

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is being promoted because it is cost-effective and has equivalent outcomes to facility-based hemodialysis (HD). Determining PD eligibility is critical but subjective, with high variability among renal programs. This study aimed to establish a predictive model for PD eligibility among individuals who started treatment with HD. A secondary objective was to identify predictors of PD eligibility and determine if eligible patients went on to receive PD.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included individuals starting HD at multiple hospitals in Alberta, Canada, as part of the START program between 1 October 2016 and 31 March 2018. Twenty-seven predictors, including patient characteristics, laboratory values, and comorbidities, were considered in logistic regression modeling. The outcome variable was PD eligibility, as determined by a standardized interdisciplinary assessment. The model selection was based on the Akaike information criterion. The confusion matrix was used for each model to compare the predicted versus observed eligibility. The final model was calibrated and presented.

Results

Among the 598 participants, 391 (65.4%) were considered eligible for PD. The logistic regression model achieved a modest performance in discriminating patients who were eligible for PD, with a high sensitivity of 91.3%, an accuracy of 0.68 (95% CI, 0.65–0.72), and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranging from 0.69 to 0.71. Age (OR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97–0.99), body mass index (OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93–0.97), starting dialysis in intensive care unit (OR = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.31–0.92), and polycystic kidney disease (OR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.13–0.99) were statistically significant factors associated with a lower likelihood of being considered eligible for PD. Out of the 391 eligible PD patients, 87 (22.3%) received PD treatment within 6 months of starting HD.

Conclusions

The majority of patients starting HD were considered eligible for PD. Our model exhibits a high level of sensitivity and could serve as a valuable tool for screening potential candidates following the commencement of HD.
Effect of the time intervals on the mechanical and metallurgical quality of AA-2219 resistance spot weld joints
Authors: Amini Saeed , Vardanjani Mehdi Jafari
Published: February 2025

The final quality of the consecutive resistance spot weld (RSW) joints depends on the parameters including the welding time, welding distance, etc. Welding interval defined as the off time between the welding process of the two adjacent weld spots influences the quality of the next joint due to the contributions of the heating and pre-heating processes caused by the current local temperature distribution of the sheet and electrodes. In this paper, the influence of the timing interval between the two weld spots has been analyzed on the AA-2219 RSW joints, while the metallurgical and mechanical behavior of the final joint are analyzed experimentally and numerically. Temperature history and distribution of the final spot has been obtained using the finite-element analysis results, while microstructure and tensile-shear strength of the final spot weld have been evaluated experimentally. Timing interval has been set as the main variable for two consecutive nuggets with 5 mm welding distance, with the value of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 s. The results demonstrated that the longer interval has led to slightly faster cooling rates, less tensile-shear strength (0.6%), more asymmetric HAZ spread (15%) due to shunting intensification, and slightly smaller nuggets (about 2.5%), while the shorter interval had the reverse effects together with minor pre-heating.
Research on the effect of nozzle pressure ratio on tangential supersonic film cooling of hypersonic spherical windows
Authors: Liu Mingxing , Yi Shihe , Ding Haolin , Sun Xiaobin , Huo Jiabo , Xia Zihao , Luo Suyiming
Published: February 2025

In a hypersonic flight environment, optical windows face severe aerodynamic heating challenges, leading to window overheating, which can drown out infrared signals and even damage the windows. This paper proposes a spherical window cooling method based on tangential supersonic gas film. We conducted heat flux measurement in a hypersonic ( Ma∞ = 7.1) shock wave wind tunnel to obtain the impact law of Nozzle Pressure Ratio ( NPR = [Formula: see text] = 0, 0.059, 0.106, 0.148, 0.206, 0.313, 0.345, defined as the static pressure of the jet outlet to the total pressure of the spherical stagnation point) on the tangential supersonic gas film cooling of the spherical. Combined with the flow information near the window obtained by the numerical simulation method of Reynolds average Navier-Stokes, the internal mechanism of NPR to the tangential supersonic gas film cooling law of the spherical window is revealed. The results indicate that as the NPR increases, the surface heat flux on the spherical window decreases significantly. The momentum of the supersonic gas film increases, improving the ability of gas film to resist mainstream mixing, expanding the effective cooling zone (denoted by the central angle [Formula: see text] of the heat insulation ([Formula: see text])), enhancing the film cooling efficiency markedly. Therefore, the increase of NPR improves the ability of the gas film to isolate the mainstream. Furthermore, a higher NPR reduces the angle at which the supersonic gas film is compressed inward. The gas film expands outward. At the same central angle [Formula: see text], resulting in an accelerated flow within the gas film flow, decreasing the static temperature of the gas film, thereby intensifying the heat dissipation effect against the high-temperature mainstream flow. Thus, the increase of NPR also improves the effect of the gas film cooling main stream, resulting in a nonlinear growth in the relationship between the unit volume gas film momentum and the effective cooling range ([Formula: see text]) with the varies of NPR.
Can One Donation a Day Keep Depression Away? Three Randomized Controlled Trials of an Online Micro-Charitable Giving Intervention
Authors: Zhang Yuyang , Jiang Qianyu , Luo Yushen , Liu Jinting
Published: February 2025

Prosocial interventions grounded in social interactions have shown limited effectiveness in alleviating depressive symptoms, possibly because of the discomfort and unease that depressed individuals experience during such interactions. We developed and examined an innovative prosocial intervention—an online micro-charitable giving intervention, in which individuals voluntarily donated at least one Chinese cent (¥0.01, or about $0.0014) daily. We conducted three preregistered, 2-month randomized controlled trials with depressed individuals (Sample 1: N = 125, Sample 2: N = 296, Sample 3: N = 462). Results showed that, compared with the waitlist group, the intervention group exhibited significantly greater improvements in both depressive symptoms (Cohen’s ds = −0.19 to −0.46) and emotional positivity (Cohen’s ds = 0.22 to 0.49), and that emotional positivity mediated the intervention’s effect on the reduction of depressive symptoms. Exploratory analysis found a slightly larger intervention effect for generous donors than for minimal donors. This low-cost, easily accessible prosocial intervention holds potential for the prevention of depression.

[Box: see text]
Outcome adaptive propensity score methods for handling censoring and high-dimensionality: Application to insurance claims
Authors: Du Jiacong , Yu Youfei , Zhang Min , Wu Zhenke , Ryan Andrew M , Mukherjee Bhramar
Published: February 2025

Propensity scores are commonly used to reduce the confounding bias in non-randomized observational studies for estimating the average treatment effect. An important assumption underlying this approach is that all confounders that are associated with both the treatment and the outcome of interest are measured and included in the propensity score model. In the absence of strong prior knowledge about potential confounders, researchers may agnostically want to adjust for a high-dimensional set of pre-treatment variables. As such, variable selection procedure is needed for propensity score estimation. In addition, studies show that including variables related to treatment only in the propensity score model may inflate the variance of the treatment effect estimators, while including variables that are predictive of only the outcome can improve efficiency. In this article, we propose to incorporate outcome-covariate relationship in the propensity score model by including the predicted binary outcome probability as a covariate. Our approach can be easily adapted to an ensemble of variable selection methods, including regularization methods and modern machine-learning tools based on classification and regression trees. We evaluate our method to estimate the treatment effects on a binary outcome, which is possibly censored, across multiple treatment groups. Simulation studies indicate that incorporating outcome probability for estimating the propensity scores can improve statistical efficiency and protect against model misspecification. The proposed methods are applied to a cohort of advanced-stage prostate cancer patients identified from a private insurance claims database for comparing the adverse effects of four commonly used drugs for treating castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Ideology or Survival: Where is Iran’s Foreign Policy Heading in the Emerging New World Order?
Authors: Mir Tawseef Ahmad , Baghat Muneer Ahmad
Published: February 2025

The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is often subject to contrasting interpretations. Scholars and analysts in international relations have long debated its underlying nature. While some view it as fundamentally driven by ideology, others argue that this ideological veneer masks Iran’s strategic pursuit of national interests. This article examines the role of ideology and self-help dynamics in the context of Iran’s quest for independence in a constantly shifting multipolar world order. The analysis draws on Iran’s approach to managing challenges ‘both North and South’—from forging partnerships with China, Russia, and India on one hand, and, on the other hand, asserting influence in its backyard to countering pressures from the West. Compounding these external challenges is domestic factionalism, with reformists and hardliners vying for influence, further complicating foreign policy making. The paper explores how Tehran leverages strategic partnerships to counterbalance sanctions and isolation while navigating the risks of over-dependence on any external power. It argues that Iran’s foreign policy reflects a precarious balance, shaped by the convergence of internal power struggles and external pressures in an increasingly fragmented international system.
The costs of conditionality. IPCEIs and the constrained politics of EU industrial policy
Authors: Schmitz Luuk , Seidl Timo , Wuttke Tobias
Published: February 2025

With the global return of industrial policy, most literature examines why states increasingly resort to market activism. Much less is known about how industrial policy works “on the ground.” In this paper, we address this how-question through an in-depth case study of the poster child of the EU’s new industrial policy: the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI). We argue that while the literature has rightly pointed out that attaching conditionalities to public money is key to steering markets effectively and equitably, conditionalities also come with costs. Moreover, they are not the reflection of policy design principles but reflect political, institutional, and ideational constraints that shape which and how conditionalities are applied. We show how the constrained politics of EU industrial policy have shaped both the creation and application of the conditionalities that govern IPCEIs, and how this has led to costs in the form of perverse outcomes, adverse selection, and workarounds.
Does fear of death mediate the link between intolerance of uncertainty and sleep quality? Insights from earthquake survivors in containers
Authors: Bulut Meryem Berrin , Kaygas Yasemin
Published: February 2025

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of fear of death in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and sleep quality in earthquake survivors. Participants were 190 voluntary earthquake survivors (nmen = 64, nwomen = 123, three of them not specified) aged between 18 and 64 years. Data collection tools were the Multidimensional Mortality Awareness Measure, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Basic Scale on Insomnia Complaints/Quality of Sleep, and sociodemographic information form. Data were analyzed via correlation and mediation analyses. Significant positive correlations were found between intolerance of uncertainty and poor sleep quality, intolerance of uncertainty and fear of death, and fear of death and poor sleep quality. Fear of death had no mediating role in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and sleep quality. Given that intolerance of uncertainty and fear of death are related to sleep quality, it is critical to consider these variables in sleep quality intervention programs for earthquake survivors.
Sabotage, feeding and collusion after bariatric surgery. And the winner is . . .? A psychodynamic and systemic perspective on sabotage and feeding after bariatric surgery by means of a case series analysis
Authors: Stiefel Friedrich , Michaud Laurent , Bourquin-Sachse Céline , Quirke-Macfarlane Sophia , Ogden Jane
Published: February 2025

In the context of bariatric surgery, negative social support has recently been conceptualized in terms of sabotage, feeding behaviour and collusion undermining a person’s effort to lose or maintain weight. While sabotage and feeding behaviour are thought to be motivated consciously, collusion is understood as a bond, by which protagonists are tied together sharing an unresolved and unconscious psychological issue such as dependency, domination and submission, and so on. Drawing upon a systemic and psychodynamic understanding, we analysed interviews with patients ( n = 10) who had undergone bariatric surgery and their partners ( n = 10) focusing on support. We selected interviews ( n = 4 + 4), illustrative of sabotage, feeding, collusion and co-evolution based on the comprehensiveness of information, their emblematic quality and suitability to delineate these phenomena. Our analysis confirms that negative social support can be considered as an attempt to reestablish a level of homeostasis within the couple. However, rather than being intentional, we consider that sabotage and feeding behaviour are better conceptualised as consequences of collusive relationships.
“I made myself a new safety bubble”: Building trans virtual homeplaces
Authors: Jaaksi Vilja
Published: February 2025

Discussions on filter bubbles are often entangled with ideas of polarization and the internet as a public sphere. This article explores an alternative vernacular use of the term bubble, as used by Finnish trans/nonbinary social media users. In their use, bubbles are sites of safety and retreat. This article interprets this idea of bubbles in terms of trans virtual homeplaces, as plural and porous digital spaces where trans people come together away from the transphobia of the broader internet and resist a culture of constant surveillance, visibility and engagement. The article traces the meanings these spaces are given, the practices of their creation, and their messy boundaries of membership. Thinking bubbles in terms of homeplace avoids equating digital spaces to public spaces and moves toward thinking trans online communities beyond counterpublics .
On the “Tantawy technique” and other methods for analyzing fractional Fokker–Plank type equations
Authors: Almuqrin Aljawhara H , Tiofack CGL , Douanla DV , Mohamadou A , Alhejaili Weaam , Ismaeel Sherif ME , El-Tantawy Samir A
Published: February 2025

The family of Fokker–Planck (FP) equations has been widely used in various physical applications, especially optical physics. It has proven effective in understanding numerous nonlinear phenomena observed in optical fiber. Accordingly, we analyze the time fractional FP (FFP) equations to understand the underlying mechanics of the phenomena described by the suggested models, control the generation and propagation of these phenomena, or prevent their occurrence altogether to achieve the desired applications. Thus, in this investigation, some techniques, such as a novel technique, which is called the “ Tantawy technique” and the optimal auxiliary function method (OAFM) are implemented to analyze different types of FFP equations in the framework of the Caputo operator. Using fractional calculus, we develop a complete framework for effectively managing complex diffusion processes and their corresponding probability density functions. We apply the OAFM and the “ Tantawy technique” to three different models of the FFP. Some highly accurate approximations for the two models are derived and discussed numerically. The accuracy of the obtained approximations is checked by analyzing these approximations numerically and graphically using some suitable values for the related parameters. In addition, the absolute error for the obtained approximations is estimated compared to the exact solutions for the integer cases to confirm the validity and accuracy of these approximations. Moreover, the novel “ Tantawy technique,” developed for the first time, is highly accurate and efficient in analyzing the most complicated and nonlinear problems. It is also far more precise than the optimal auxiliary function method. Moreover, it is characterized by extreme simplicity, high accuracy, and stability throughout the study domain, which is not achieved in many other methods. The derived approximations using the “ Tantawy technique” are compared to the Laplace homotopy perturbation method.
Research on fault diagnosis of amorphous alloy transformers by using vibration signals and a PSO-optimized full-process WPT-SVM model
Authors: Liu Daosheng , Yang Wentao , Liu Longsheng , Zhao Zhe
Published: February 2025

The prominent vibration characteristics of amorphous alloy transformer (AMT) make it possible to apply the vibration method for real-time fault monitoring of AMT. Therefore, in order to solve the AMT vibration monitoring problem and enhance the diagnostic efficiency, this study proposes an AMT fault diagnosis model based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) to optimize the parameters of wavelet packet transform (WPT) and support vector machine (SVM).The optimal vibration signal acquisition point is determined by finite element analysis to ensure high signal quality. The PSO algorithm is used to optimize the number of WPT decomposition layers, wavelet basis functions, SVM kernel parameters g and penalty parameters c to enhance the accuracy of feature extraction and classification. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) reduces the dimensionality of the redundant frequency band energy after WPT feature extraction, minimizing data redundancy. Overall, the full-process optimization significantly improves AMT fault diagnosis efficiency compared with single-aspect optimization.
Coming to terms with a changing everyday life with dementia: What can we learn from people who are diagnosed while still working?
Authors: Nygård Louise , Nedlund Ann-Charlotte , Issakainen Mervi , Astell Arlene , Boger Jenifer , Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen Anna , Engvall Ann-Louise , Heuchemer Birgit , Rosenberg Lena , Ryd Charlotta
Published: February 2025

Objective

The study’s aim was to better understand how persons, diagnosed with dementia while still working, strived to make sense of and come to terms with their changing everyday lives during the process of exiting work life.

Methods

The study has an explorative, longitudinal design, following five persons who developed dementia while still working, with repeated, qualitative, in-depth interviews. Comparative analyses were combined with an interpretative approach, using the concepts doing, being, becoming and belonging.

Results

Three overarching themes were created: i/Finding out an orientation to continued activity engagement, ii/ Relating to the diagnosis and available dementia specific activities, and iii/ Managing wellbeing and information related to health care. Findings illuminate how participants sought avenues for continued activity engagement in everyday life, based on their perceptions of what they were able to do, who they wanted to be and become, and where they felt they belonged.

Conclusion

The participants’ agency came through strongly in their efforts to come to terms with changes in everyday life in their work and private lives, as well as with health care and dementia associations, underscoring that agency is vital and possible to support in persons with early-stage dementia.
“The trauma of system failure:” The Interactional Process affecting MSW intern trauma exposure response
Authors: Sonsteng-Person Melanie , Vugić Lea , Sandell Liana , Lowery Channel
Published: February 2025

Social workers are frequently exposed to the suffering of clients and communities they partner with while navigating multiple institutional factors exacerbating their and their clients’ trauma. While significant research has identified high levels of trauma exposure response and burnout among master’s level social workers, limited work explicitly examines what influences the impact of trauma exposure response among MSW interns. As such, a Grounded Theory design was used to understand the process through which MSW interns and supervisors identify and respond to the manifestation of interns’ trauma exposure in placement. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 MSW interns and 11 supervisors from three MSW programs. Findings inform the Interactional Process of the Three S’s, which highlights the process through which the Self, Supervisor, and System either exacerbate or mitigate interns’ trauma exposure response. Although interns leveraged coping skills, most interns described a “hopelessness” as they internalized the inability to change the circumstances that continued to traumatize their clients. A few interns could make meaning out of their roles, primarily influenced by the support from their supervisors. Interviews with supervisors outline how personal experiences and coping methods, their own experience with their supervisors, and the university collectively impact how they support interns exposed to client trauma. The Interactional Process underscores the need to address harmful policies and practices throughout social work systems. Implications describe points of intervention for universities and placement sites to implement to protect MSW interns and their supervisors.
The psychological impact of cybercrime victimization: The importance of personal and circumstantial factors
Authors: Borwell Jildau , Jansen Jurjen , Stol Wouter
Published: February 2025

This study examines the psychological impact of cybercrime victimization through the theoretical concepts of the democratization of victimization, coping, and cyborg theory. Using survey data from 2,415 Dutch cybercrime victims it explores how personal and circumstantial factors influence victims’ emotional well-being and sense of security. The findings indicate that older victims experience a greater impact on their sense of security, while emotional well-being is more adversely affected in victims who live alone, women, religious victims, and those with lower socioeconomic status. Additionally, specific crime-related factors, namely device hacking and crime duration, are associated with higher impact on both emotional well-being and sense of security. Beyond its academic and theoretical contributions, this study provides valuable insights for developing targeted prevention and support measures for cybercrime victims.
Cultural Adaptations to the Assessment and Treatment of Trauma Experiences Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Benjamin Lewis , Gillard Steve , Jones Nielsen Jessica , Costa E. Silva Mariana , Sin Jacqueline
Published: February 2025

A higher prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exists among racial and ethnic minority groups who experience trauma; however, little is known about cultural adaptations of trauma assessments and interventions, or whether those adaptations meet cultural needs. This systematic review examined the effectiveness and experiences of culturally adapted trauma assessments and interventions for adults from racial and ethnic minority groups. Empirical studies investigating culturally adapted trauma assessment and/or interventions targeting adults from racial and ethnic minority groups were searched for in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, from inception to May 2022. A total of 21 articles were included, and 8 common themes of adaptations were identified: socio-cultural integrations, collaboration, psychoeducation, language, cultural matching, addressing stigma, training for providers, and practical considerations. Random effects meta-analyses on intervention effects showed that culturally adapted interventions were more effective in reducing PTSD symptoms (7 randomized controlled trials [RCTs], n = 213, Standardized Mean Difference −0.67, 95% CI [−1.06, −0.25], I2 = 39%) and in ameliorating anxiety symptoms (5 RCTs, n = 168, SMD −1.92, 95% CI [−3.18, −0.67], I2 = 89%) when compared with non-adapted interventions at immediate post-intervention. No statistical difference in effects was found on depression, nor on PTSD or anxiety sustained beyond the post-intervention time-point. Thematic synthesis on participants’ experiences showed that adapted interventions had positive influences on attitudes toward mental health and engagement with services. Future research should employ large-scale trial methods to test adapted trauma interventions over longer follow-up periods as well as to explore the subjective experiences of users of adapted interventions.
Replicating Success in Conservative Surgery for Diabetes-Related Forefoot Osteomyelitis: A Comparative Study Between Two Diabetic Foot Units in Spain and Costa Rica
Authors: Víquez-Molina Gerardo , Rojas-Bonilla José María , Aragón-Sánchez Javier
Published: February 2025

To evaluate whether the adoption of conservative surgical techniques in Costa Rica, facilitated by international collaboration and training, achieved outcomes comparable to those in a reference unit in Spain. This retrospective study included 199 patients with histologically confirmed diabetes-related forefoot osteomyelitis: 110 from Costa Rica and 89 from Spain. Data were extracted from two standardized databases. Infection severity was classified according to IWGDF/IDSA criteria. Surgical procedures were categorized as conservative surgery, minor amputation, or major amputation. Antibiotic use and hospitalization rates were compared between cohorts. Statistical analyses included Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests. Patients in Costa Rica were younger and exhibited poorer metabolic control, while patients in Spain had higher rates of comorbidities. Despite more severe infections in Costa Rica, characterized by higher inflammatory markers and soft tissue involvement, 39.1% of Costa Rican patients were treated without postoperative antibiotics, and the median antibiotic duration was significantly shorter (14 vs 30 days, p < 0.001). The rates of conservative surgery were similar in both groups (62.7% in Costa Rica vs 65.2% in Spain, p = 0.63). When excluding cases with soft tissue involvement, conservative surgery was performed in 86.0% of Costa Rican cases and 96.0% of Spanish cases (p = 0.167). This study demonstrates that structured training and international collaboration enabled the adoption of surgical strategies comparable to those in a reference unit in Spain, achieving similar clinical outcomes. The findings highlight the potential for conservative surgery and antibiotic stewardship to optimize care in resource-limited settings while reducing unnecessary interventions.
What are the Drivers, Barriers, Mechanisms, and Anchors of cross-industry cooperation? The Perspective of the Video Game Industry Ecosystem
Authors: Klimas Patrycja , Radomska Joanna , Kościewicz Dawid , Strzelec Gabriela , Wrona Sylwia
Published: February 2025

This article explores the specifics of cross-sector cooperation within the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) from the perspective of the Video Game Industry Ecosystem (VGIE) based on integrating desk research (utilising a systematic literature review of 61 papers) and field research (through a focused group interview with ten experts representing mainly the actors from VGIE). Our two-step parallel study identifies key drivers and barriers in establishing such cooperation, highlights three coordination mechanisms essential during its execution (static-adaptive management, proximity, and knowledge management), and uncovers a significant research gap regarding the ending phase of such cooperation, despite our FGI revealing relevant factors contributing to its termination or dormancy. This work offers a theoretical contribution to the existing knowledge by synthesising and expanding the understanding of cross-industry cooperation between the VGIE and other CCIs. Moreover, it highlights significant research gaps, particularly in the final phase of cross-industry cooperation.
A visual journey through medium vessel occlusion strokes: From diagnosis to treatment
Authors: Stebner Alexander , Bosshart Salome L , Fujiwara Satoru , Souza Roberto , Bento Mariana , Ospel Johanna
Published: February 2025

Acute ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot obstructs cerebral blood flow, leading to ischemia and potentially irreversible brain damage. While large vessel occlusions are known for their catastrophic effects, medium vessel occlusions (MeVOs) also contribute significantly to stroke-related disability. These occlusions, which occur in smaller, mid-sized vessels, can result in substantial neurological deficits depending on their location and the availability of collateral circulation. The detection of MeVOs poses unique diagnostic challenges, as their subtle presentations are often overlooked in standard imaging. Timely and accurate identification is critical for initiating appropriate therapies, including intravenous thrombolysis, endovascular thrombectomy, and secondary prevention measures. This editorial takes you on a visual journey through the world of MeVOs, exploring their locations, challenging cases, and the diverse techniques used to identify them. With detailed illustrations, it demonstrates how to recognize these occlusions on both advanced and conventional imaging, including guidance on spotting them on digital subtraction angiography. Finally, it delves into how these strokes are treated, offering a comprehensive and engaging look at the unique challenges and solutions in MeVO management.