bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A million-cow genome-wide association study of productive life in U.S. Holstein cows
Authors: Liang Zuoxiang , Prakapenka Dzianis , Zaabza Hafedh B. , VanRaden Paul M. , Van Tassell Curtis P. , Da Yang
Published: September 2024

Background

Productive life (PL) of a cow is the time the cow remains in the milking herd from first calving to exit from the herd due to culling or death and is an important economic trait in U.S. Holstein cattle. The large samples of Holstein genomic evaluation data that have become available recently provided unprecedented statistical power to identify genetic factors affecting PL in Holstein cows using the approach of genome-wide association study (GWAS).

Methods

The GWAS analysis used 1,103,641 Holstein cows with phenotypic observations on PL and genotypes of 75,282 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The statistical tests and estimation of SNP additive and dominance effects used the approximate generalized least squares method implemented by the EPISNPmpi computer program.

Results

The GWAS detected 5390 significant additive effects of PL distributed over all 29 autosomes and the X–Y nonrecombining region of the X chromosome (Chr31). Two chromosome regions had the most significant and largest cluster of additive effects, the SLC4A4-GC-NPFFR2 (SGN) region of Chr06 with pleiotropic effects for PL, fertility, somatic cell score and milk yield; and the 32–52 Mb region of Chr10 with peak effects for PL in or near RASGRP1 with many important immunity functions. The dominance tests detected 38 significant dominance effects including 12 dominance effects with sharply negative homozygous recessive genotypes on Chr18, Chr05, Chr23 and Chr24.

Conclusions

The GWAS results showed that highly significant genetic effects for PL were in chromosome regions known to have highly significant effects for fertility and health and a chromosome region with multiple genes with reproductive and immunity functions. SNPs with rare but sharply negative homozygous recessive genotypes for PL existed and should be used for eliminating heifers carrying those homozygous recessive genotypes.
Inspiring nurses’ sustainability mindset: Exploring the Mediating Role of Organizational Culture on the relationship between Pro-social Leader behaviors and nurses’ sustainability consciousness
Authors: Atalla Amal Diab Ghanem , Mostafa Wafaa Hassan , Ali Mohamed Saad Saleh
Published: September 2024

Background

Since nurses are at the frontline of healthcare delivery, their actions and understanding of the environment have a big impact on how long healthcare systems can last. It is essential to comprehend the elements that impact nurses’ sustainability consciousness to encourage ecologically conscious actions in the healthcare industry.

Aim

This study aimed to explore the relationship between pro-social leader behaviors and nurses’ sustainability consciousness and testify to the mediating role of organizational culture in this relationship.

Design

A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design by STROBE criteria was used.

Methods and tools

An approach to a judgmental non-probability sampling technique was employed to obtain data from 350 nurses in an Egyptian hospital. Three measurement surveys were employed: Organizational Culture Survey, Prosociality Scale, and, Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ-S). Relationships were shown using structural equation modeling and descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

53.4% of nurses have high perceptions of organizational culture, and the majority of nurses (85.7%) have high perceptions of prosocial leader behaviors. Furthermore, 60.9% of nurses have high perceptions of sustainability consciousness. Additionally, Prosocial leader behaviors positively correlated with organizational culture (r = 0.129) and nurses’ sustainability consciousness (r = 0.274). The indirect effect of prosocial leader behaviors on nurses’ sustainability consciousness through organizational culture is calculated by multiplying the coefficients of both direct effects (0.129 * 0.159 = 0.811). This means that for each unit increase in prosocial leader behaviors, we would expect a 0.811 unit increase in nurses’ sustainability consciousness through the mediating effect of organizational culture. The model appears to match the data well based on the model fit parameters (CFI = 1.000, IFI = 1.000, RMSEA = 0.114).

Conclusions

The study highlights the impact of pro-social leader behaviors on nurses’ sustainability consciousness through the organizational culture as a mediating factor. Nursing Implications: Findings from this research can promote environmental stewardship and sustainable practices in the healthcare sector by illuminating the elements that can encourage and support a sustainability-oriented mindset among nurses. To promote a more sustainable future for the nursing profession, the findings can guide activities in nursing education, corporate culture transformation, and leadership development.
Incidence and characteristics of prehospital fatalities from haemorrhage in Sweden: a nationwide observational study
Authors: von Olnhausen Oliver , Wladis Andreas , Bäckström Denise
Published: September 2024

Background

Haemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable mortality in high-income countries and emergency management presents unique challenges in the prehospital setting. The study aimed to determine incidence and characteristics of fatalities from prehospital haemorrhage in Sweden.

Methods

A nationwide retrospective cohort study 2012–2021 was conducted using data from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. Prehospital fatality from haemorrhage was defined as a cause of death related to haemorrhage (Appendix 1) without a hospital admission on the same day. Primary outcome was age-standardized mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants.

Results

A total of 9801 prehospital fatalities from haemorrhage were identified. Annual age-standardized mortality rate decreased from 10.97 to 8.18 per 100,000 population (coefficient =  − 0.28, r2 = 0.85, p =  < 0.001). Trauma was the most common cause (3512, 35.83%) with intentional self-harm (X60–X84), transport accidents (V01–V99) and assault (X85–Y09) being the most common mechanisms of injury. Traumatic fatalities were younger and a larger proportion were male compared to non-traumatic causes (p < 0.001). Overall median Charlson Comorbidity Index (Quan) was 0 [0–2] with a lower index noted for traumatic causes (p < 0.001). Trauma resulted in a median of 26.1 [3.65–49.22] years of life lost per patient compared to 0 [0–3.65] for non-traumatic causes (p < 0.001). Regional variations in mortality rate were observed with lower population density correlating with higher mortality rate (ρ =  − 0.64, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Prehospital mortality from haemorrhage decreased between 2012 and 2021. Trauma was the most common cause which resulted in many years of life lost in a population with a low burden of comorbidities. There were considerable regional differences with low population density associated with higher mortality rate from prehospital haemorrhage.
Side differences in upper quarter mobility/stability are not related to serve velocity in tennis players with different levels of training experience
Authors: Lambrich Johanna , Panzer Stefan , Muehlbauer Thomas
Published: September 2024

Objective

Tennis is characterised by repetitive serves and strokes predominately performed with one arm. This can lead to differences in upper quarter mobility/stability between the stroke and non-stroke arm, which could even enlarge with increasing training experience and negatively affect serve velocity. Thus, we determined side differences (i.e., limb symmetry index) in upper quarter mobility/stability and their association with flat and slice serve velocity in advanced (ITN ≤ 4) female and male tennis players (N = 42, mean age = 23.9 ± 9.3 years) with different levels of training experience (< 2 years: n = 14, 2–5 years: n = 17, 6–8 years: n = 11).

Results

Y Balance Test-Upper Quarter (YBT-UQ) side difference (i.e., composite score) and performances (i.e., medial reach) were largest in players with the lowest level of training experience (i.e., < 2 years). Further, YBT-UQ performances (i.e., medial reach and composite score) but not side differences were significantly correlated with flat and slice serve velocity, particularly in less experienced players. Our results suggest that significant side differences in upper quarter mobility/stability occur in less experienced players (indicative of increased injury risk) but they are not related to tennis-specific performance (i.e., serve velocity).
Single-cell sequencing suggests a conserved function of Hedgehog-signalling in spider eye development
Authors: Medina‑Jiménez Brenda I. , Budd Graham E. , Pechmann Matthias , Posnien Nico , Janssen Ralf
Published: September 2024

Background

Spiders evolved different types of eyes, a pair of primary eyes that are usually forward pointing, and three pairs of secondary eyes that are typically situated more posterior and lateral on the spider’s head. The best understanding of arthropod eye development comes from the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster, the main arthropod model organism, that also evolved different types of eyes, the larval eyes and the ocelli and compound eyes of the imago. The gene regulatory networks that underlie eye development in this species are well investigated revealing a conserved core network, but also show several differences between the different types of eyes. Recent candidate gene approaches identified a number of conserved genes in arthropod eye development, but also revealed crucial differences including the apparent lack of some key factors in some groups of arthropods, including spiders.

Results

Here, we re-analysed our published scRNA sequencing data and found potential key regulators of spider eye development that were previously overlooked. Unlike earlier research on this topic, our new data suggest that Hedgehog (Hh)-signalling is involved in eye development in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. By investigating embryonic gene expression in representatives of all main groups of spiders, we demonstrate that this involvement is conserved in spiders. Additionally, we identified genes that are expressed in the developing eyes of spiders, but that have not been studied in this context before.

Conclusion

Our data show that single-cell sequencing represents a powerful method to gain deeper insight into gene regulatory networks that underlie the development of lineage-specific organs such as the derived set of eyes in spiders. Overall, we gained deeper insight into spider eye development, as well as the evolution of arthropod visual system formation.
The national educational panel study (NEPS) and methodological innovations in longitudinal large-scale assessments
Authors: Kutscher Tanja , Sengewald Marie-Ann , Gnambs Timo , Carstensen Claus H. , Aßmann Christian
Published: September 2024

This editorial introduces a special issue of Large-Scale Assessments in Education (LSAE) that addresses key challenges in analyzing longitudinal data from large-scale studies. These challenges include ensuring fair measurement across time, developing common metrics, and correcting for measurement errors. The special issue highlights recent methodological innovations, particularly for studies like the National Education Panel Study (NEPS), providing approaches for improving the accuracy and robustness of longitudinal educational research. The papers in this issue present advances in methods for estimating trends, incorporating background information, and analyzing longitudinal relationships between constructs. Innovative approaches such as Bayesian modeling for borrowing historical information, continuous-time models for capturing developmental trends, and plausible value estimation provide practical solutions for researchers working with complex longitudinal data. In addition, the issue presents new software tools that facilitate the implementation of these advanced methodologies. Together, these papers contribute to both the theory and practice of educational assessment and provide valuable insights for those working with longitudinal data in national and international panel studies.
Short-term prediction of geomagnetic secular variation with an echo state network
Authors: Nakano Shin’ya , Sato Sho , Toh Hiroaki
Published: September 2024

A technique for predicting the secular variation (SV) of the geomagnetic field based on the echo state network (ESN) model is proposed. SV is controlled by the geodynamo process in the Earth’s outer core, and modeling its nonlinear behaviors can be challenging. This study employs an ESN to represent the short-term temporal evolution of the geomagnetic field on the Earth’s surface. The hindcast results demonstrate that the ESN enables us to predict SV for a duration of several years with satisfactory accuracy. It is also found that the prediction is robust to the length of the the training data period. This suggests that the recent features of the SV are important for short-term prediction and that the ESN effectively learns these features.

Graphical Abstract
Characteristics of the seismogenic zone in an arc-continent collision belt: insights from seismic b values in Eastern Taiwan
Authors: Yeh Yu-Lien , Huang Bor-Yu , Wen Strong
Published: September 2024

Eastern Taiwan overlies a suture zone between the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate and is characterized by frequent earthquakes, often resulting in significant disasters. Notably, the region exhibits characteristics such as a high frequency of earthquakes and a short recurrence period for intense seismic events. While prior research has explored seismic b values across various periods in Taiwan, detailed investigations of the b value in the eastern region are lacking. This study employs the earthquake catalog compiled by the Taiwan Central Weather Administration to analyze spatial–temporal variations in b values in eastern Taiwan. The analysis encompasses seismic events occurring between January 1996 and June 2019. The seismic catalog is divided into three distinct time periods related to large seismic events: period I, 1996–2003 (the Chengkung earthquake); period II, 2003–2013 (the Ruisui earthquake); and period III, 2013–2019 (the Hualien earthquake). Our results indicate that most seismic events with a magnitude greater than 6 are associated with low b values. The overall b value increases during period II and then decreases substantially during period III. Although the estimated b values changed slightly, but the uncertainty in b values remained stable in this study. The epicenters of large earthquakes often overlap with areas with lower b values, especially in plate suture zones, which means that areas with lower b values usually have a higher probability of larger earthquakes. Given the extremely high potential for a catastrophic earthquake, mitigating measures should be adopted at all times.

Graphical Abstract
Expounding the application of nano and micro silica as a complementary additive in metakaolin phosphate geopolymer for ceramic applications—micro and nanoscale structural investigation
Authors: Vanitha N. , Thanigaiselvan Rithikaa , Manivannan M. , Jeyalakshmi R. , Megha S. N. , Kesavan M.
Published: September 2024

Metakaolin phosphate geopolymers comprising poly-phospho-siloxo units are known for their structural performance, additionally advancing their microstructure with the transformation of crystalline berlinite phases at elevated temperatures. The intrinsic reaction of Al of metakaolin in the acid exploited, but the reaction of secondary silica phases is limitedly known. Metakaolin as a primary precursor (M) with the addition of 2% and 5% of nano silica (MS2 and MS5) and micro silica (MM2 and MM5) cast using 8-M phosphoric acid was cured at 80 °C. To enhance the utilization of geopolymer in any high-temperature applications, the structural transformations were studied after heating to various temperatures (200, 400, 600 and 800 °C) by XRD, Raman, TGA-DTA, SEM, XPS, FTIR and MAS-NMR. Sample M attained a strength of 46.2 MPa enhanced to 63.6 MPa in MS5 and 54.2 MPa in MM5. This can be ascribed from the transformation of Si–O–Al–O–Si into Si–O–Al–O–P from Raman bands. Comparing the chemical shift of Al (IV) to control, micro silica addition shifts the signal to a lower field (53 to 50 ppm) related to the increase of the number of Al-connected Si to give a tougher network. Nanoindentation is visualized from hardness and elasticity, and the corresponding values are 1.4 to 2.1 GPa and 0.8 to 1.4 GPa for loads ranging from 20 to 100 mN in silica-reinforced samples that are much higher than M. The micro and macro hardness is due to the reinforcement of quartz in micro silica around the gel. TGA-DTA showed that the reduction of mass loss is as high as 25.4% in control whereas 17.2% in MS5 and 15.8% in the MM5. Further, shrinkage rate in MS5 and MM5 was as low as − 1.1% and − 0.8% throughout the temperature range from 25 to 1000 °C and thus provides the way of use of nano and micro form of silica for better thermal resistance.

Graphical Abstract
Three new reduced forms of synthesized Schiff bases as potent anti-corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in artificial seawater
Authors: Jafari Hojat , Ameri Elham , Soltanolkottabi Fariba , Berisha Avni
Published: September 2024

As part of the development of a new organic entity, we synthesized three new reduced forms of Schiff bases named 2,2’-(((2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)disphenol (I1), 4,4’-(((2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diyl)bis (azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(2-methoxyphenol) (I2), and 6,6’-(((2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diyl) bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(2-methoxyphenol) (I3). In order to develop new organic ligands to inhibit steel corrosion in 1M HCl solution, various electrochemical methods, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), along with surface visualization through atomic force microscopy (AFM), were employed. PDP results revealed excellent inhibition by compound I3 (71%) at a concentration of 1 mg/L. These findings were supported by the observation of a protective layer formation during prolonged immersion of steel in a corrosive solution, with or without inhibitors. In addition to gaining insights into the interaction mechanism and adsorption mode, density functional theory, Monte Carlo, and molecular dynamic simulations were conducted, revealing valuable information about the interaction of the inhibitors with the steel surface. Average surface roughness (Ra) values obtained for the artificial seawater in the absence and presence of inhibitor are 887 nm for blank, 195 nm for I1, 158 nm for I2, and 105 nm for I3.
Peripheral and central regulation of neuro–immune crosstalk
Authors: Izumi Mayuko , Nakanishi Yoshimitsu , Kang Sujin , Kumanogoh Atsushi
Published: September 2024

The neural and immune systems sense and respond to external stimuli to maintain tissue homeostasis. These systems do not function independently but rather interact with each other to effectively exert biological actions and prevent disease pathogenesis, such as metabolic, inflammatory, and infectious disorders. Mutual communication between these systems is also affected by tissue niche-specific signals that reflect the tissue environment. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying these interactions are not completely understood. In addition to the peripheral regulation of neuro–immune crosstalk, recent studies have reported that the central nervous system plays essential roles in the regulation of systemic neuro–immune interactions. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecular basis of peripheral and systemic neuro–immune crosstalk and explore how these multilayered interactions are maintained.
Economic burden and quality of life of caregivers of patients with sickle cell disease in the United Kingdom and France: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Besser Martin , O’Sullivan Sian Bissell , Bourke Siobhan , Longworth Louise , Barcelos Giovanna Tedesco , Oluboyede Yemi
Published: September 2024

Background

Sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic blood disorder that affects red blood cells and oxygen delivery to body tissues, is characterized by haemolytic anaemia, pain episodes, fatigue, and end-organ damage with acute and chronic dimensions. Caring for patients with SCD imposes a high burden on informal caregivers. This study aims to capture the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and economic burden of caregiving for patients with SCD.

Methods

Validated instruments of HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L, Carer Quality of Life-7 dimensions [CarerQol-7D]) and productivity (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: Specific Health Problem [WPAI: SHP]) were administered via a cross-sectional online survey to caregivers in the United Kingdom (UK) and France. Demographics, HRQoL, and economic burden data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Economic burden was determined using country-specific minimum and average wage values. Subgroup analysis examined caregivers with and without SCD.

Results

Sixty-nine caregivers were recruited (UK, 43; France, 26), 83% were female, and 22% had SCD themselves. The mean (SD) caregiver EQ-5D-5L score was 0.66 (0.28) (UK, 0.62; France, 0.73), and the mean CarerQol-7D score was 80.69 (24.40) (UK, 78.72 [25.79]; France, 83.97 [22.01]). Mental health problems were reported in 72% and 70% of caregivers measured using the EQ-5D-5L and CarerQol-7D, respectively. Financial problems were reported by 68% of caregivers, with mean annual minimum wage productivity losses of £4209 and €3485, increasing to £5391 and €9319 for average wages. Sensitivity analysis determined additional HRQoL decrements for caregivers with and without, SCD.

Conclusion

Caring for patients with SCD impacts the HRQoL and economic burden of caregivers. Further research to support the complex needs of SCD caregivers is required.
Diagnostic reference levels for routine computed tomography angiography examinations: a systematic review
Authors: Alhailiy Ali Bahny
Published: September 2024

Background

This work aims to investigate existing methodologies that have been used to establish diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for common computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations in adult patients by analyzing published national and local DRL studies. A detailed search through Science Direct, Web of Science, EBSCO host, PubMed–Medline, and Google Scholar was conducted. The preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses methodology was also used to evaluate the selected articles. Studies were selected via the PICOS method and included only DRL studies established for CTA examinations. Case studies, posters, reviews, and meta-analyses were excluded. The literature review identified 21 publications, 15 proposed a national DRL survey, and 6 studies with local (facility) data.

Results

A noticeable variation in DRL quantities for the same CTA procedures was noted among studies. Several factors contributed to this variability, including the methodologies used for establishing CTA DRLs, variations in scanning protocols, number of scanning phases, and scanner type.

Conclusion

There is a need for a global standardization for DRL establishment methods aligned with recent recommendations from prominent international radiation protection bodies to facilitate accurate comparisons of radiation dose metrics both between and within CT imaging facilities.
Development and application of a SYBR Green I fluorescent PCR assay for the differentiation of genotypes I and II African swine fever viruses
Authors: Yu Xuexiang , Wu Haowei , Li Dongfan , Xu Qian , Chen Xiaoyu , Zhang Chengjun , Xu Fengqin , Ku Xugang , He Qigai , Li Wentao
Published: September 2024

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly fatal hemorrhagic disease affecting domestic pigs caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). Genetic analysis of ASFV isolates to date has identified 24 geographically related genotypes with various subgroups, but only genotype I and II ASFVs have been reported outside Africa. ASFV genotype II and genotype I viruses were reported in China in 2018 and 2021, respectively. In this study, unique and highly conserved noncoding regions were found between MGF_505-9R and MGF_505-10R in the 188 genomes of ASFV genotypes I and II. A pair of primers was designed on the basis of this region. By optimizing the reaction system and conditions, a SYBR Green I fluorescence PCR assay that can distinguish between ASFV genotypes I and II was established, and the sensitivity, reproducibility and specificity were evaluated. The detection limit was 1 TCID50/0.1 mL for both genotypes, with no cross-reactivity observed with other common pig pathogens. The intra- and interbatch variation coefficients were both less than 1.2%. Clinical sample detection analysis revealed 47 positive cases out of 100, including 3 for genotype I and 44 for genotype II, aligning with results from the WOAH-recommended and national standard methods. The method developed in this study allows for the differentiation of ASFV genotypes I and II without the need for genome sequencing, offering a convenient and rapid approach for ASFV detection and genotype identification.
Feasibility of the Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme: open-access online group psychoeducation and acceptance and commitment therapy for adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Seery Christina , Leonard-Curtin Aisling , Naismith Lauren , King Nora , O'Donnell Fiona , Byrne Brendan , Boyd Christine , Kilbride Ken , Wrigley Margo , McHugh Louise , Bramham Jessica
Published: September 2024

Background

Psychoeducational interventions are a critical aspect of supporting adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme (UMAAP) is a six-session, group-based webinar intervention that incorporates psychoeducation with acceptance and commitment therapy. UMAAP relies on self-referrals and is facilitated by a charity, to promote accessibility.

Aims

The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of UMAAP and explore preliminary effectiveness.

Method

Adults with formally diagnosed or self-identified ADHD (n = 257) participated in an uncontrolled pre–post design. Feasibility was indicated by attendance, confidence in completing the home practice and satisfaction. Quality of life, psychological flexibility, self-acceptance and knowledge of ADHD were assessed at baseline, 1 week post-intervention and 3 months later, to explore preliminary effectiveness.

Results

Feasibility was demonstrated by the high attendance ratings and satisfaction with the intervention, although there was only moderate confidence in the ability to complete the home practices. Quality of life (mean increase 9.69, 95% CI 7.57–11.80), self-acceptance (mean increase 0.19, 95% CI 0.10–0.28) and knowledge of ADHD (mean increase 1.55, 95% CI 1.23–1.82) were significantly improved post-intervention. The effects were maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Psychological flexibility did not significantly change immediately post-intervention, but increased significantly at the 3-month follow-up (mean increase 0.42, 95% CI 0.26–0.58).

Conclusions

Overall, UMAAP is a feasible intervention for adults with ADHD. Findings highlighted the feasibility of delivering psychological interventions online in group settings, to increase access to support for adults with ADHD.
How the Computer Taught Us to See
Authors: Pow Whitney (Whit)
Published: September 2024

The span between 1973 and 1981 marks a number of significant changes in computer history, medical history, and queer and transgender (trans) history in the United States: the development of the earliest object-oriented graphical user interfaces used in the Xerox Alto computer prototype and its commercial successor the Xerox Star; the development and publication of the third revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (or DSM-III), used by physicians for medical diagnosis, which more than doubled its number of diagnostic categories from the DSM-II; and finally, the removal of “Sexual Orientation Disturbance (Homosexuality)” from the DSM and the addition of a new diagnosis, “Gender Identity Disorder” (now “Gender Dysphoria”), in the DSM-III. This article performs a horizontal cut across time to place medical history, queer and trans history, and computer history side by side, looking closely at how changes in the visualization and datafication of medical diagnosis developed alongside the ways computers were imagined into visual, screen-based technologies that recapitulate the same racialized and gendered logics of medical surveillance and thus of the state: that seeing something is the same as understanding its nature. We must think of software history as medical history, and computer history as queer and trans history. Intimately connecting these threads of trans history, trans of color critique, medical history, and computer history is the invisibility of mediation and the normalization of power that occurs as the result of it: the mediation of the visuality of the computer's graphical user interface; the mediation of medical diagnosis as the conversion of embodied experience into so-called medical fact; and the mediation of bureaucratic documentation that reduces human life into data points, digestible and computable en masse by institutions and by computers.
Regretting Nothing, or Regretting Everything? Postfeminism, Femininity, and Regret in Miss Austen Regrets
Authors: Taylor Jessica
Published: September 2024

This article considers how regret is mobilized within a postfeminist cultural context, taking the 2007 BBC film Miss Austen Regrets (dir. Jeremy Lovering, UK) as its case study. The article proposes that what is regretted in postfeminist culture speaks to the values and tensions that underpin this cultural context and explores how the expression or experience of regret is treated as proof of women's failures of subjectivity and decision-making. Through examining three of the main characters — Jane Austen, Cassandra Austen, and Fanny Austen Knight — and their interactions with regret, this article argues that both normative femininity and feminist perspectives are key sites where notions of “success” and “failure” are negotiated and where the risks for making the “wrong decision” as a postfeminist subject are highest. Through exploring femininity, individualism, and relationality via regret, the article argues that regret offers a new perspective on understanding the affective register of postfeminism. Furthermore, the article suggests that expressions of regret simultaneously shore up conservative postfeminist logics regarding normative femininity and individualism, while also making visible and offering feminist critiques of structural inequalities and relationality.
Pleasure Aesthetics: On the Art of Mika Rottenberg
Authors: Hayes Shannan
Published: September 2024

This essay develops a theory of Mika Rottenberg's video art by attending to both the content her work represents (neoliberalism's logic of gendered labor) and the formal characteristics by which her art affects (sensibly drawing the viewer in while resisting assimilation into conceptual critique). Rottenberg's art flirts with a logic of cognitive mapping by suggesting the structures of global production and gendered labor that characterize our neoliberal world order. Through editing and documentary-like international filming, her works suture seemingly disparate locations and activities within an international division of labor. At the same time, her art is neither didactic nor a means to gain abstract, maplike vision of the networked global production system. Rottenberg's art disorients the viewer through pleasurable, haptic, and nonsensical proximities that provide a felt sense of enmeshment within the viewing experience. Rottenberg's art recasts what we might understand not only as the political affectiveness of contemporary art but also the role of aesthetics within feminist practice and critique. This theory of political aesthetics privileges the value of sensible revitalization found in the encounter with art, while departing from established (left) expectations that art's most pressing political relevance is in its ability to raise consciousness or perform critique. This article builds this argument by moving in detail through three of Rottenberg's recent videos: NoNoseKnows (2015), Cosmic Generator (2017), and Spaghetti Blockchain (2019–24).
Just Be There: Ethics and Aesthetics of the Surface in Mike Mills's 20th Century Women
Authors: Glista Victoria (Tia)
Published: September 2024

This article offers a reading of Mike Mills's 2016 film 20th Century Women (US), arguing that the film's aesthetic and ethical project is cognate with practices of surface reading, while also offering necessary points of friction and departure. Surface reading makes a compelling argument against the excavation of so-called deeper meaning; however, its claims to objective truthfulness cannot adequately account for the multiplicity of the surface itself — that which ultimately resists the stability that proponents claim it confirms. Instead, as I will argue, we might turn to a method like surface reading not as a tool with which to diagnose true meaning or claim certainty but to think about the surface as a zone that voids knowability, as a site where we find not the transparent but the opaque, and where we encounter fundamental forms of alterity. Drawing primarily on the aesthetic properties of the film, including color, mise-en-scène, cinematography, and editing, I argue that 20th Century Women recuperates the surface, but the surface does not clarify or confirm meaning; rather, as Mills attests, it remains a zone of lasting mystery. This is at the heart of the film's ethical intervention, which resists the possibility of total, appropriative knowledge and coordinates other forms of attention premised on openness and nonmastery instead.
Aromantic Comedy: The Aro/Ace Aesthetics of Together Together
Authors: Leyda Julia , Seymour Nicole
Published: September 2024

This article outlines a theory of aromantic and asexual film aesthetics exemplified in a reading of the surrogacy comedy Together Together (dir. Nikole Beckwith, US, 2021). Contextualizing this analysis within the long genre history of the romantic comedy, the article argues that this film constitutes a challenge to the presiding atmosphere of compulsory sexuality in contemporary culture by focalizing a platonic intergenerational friendship, highlighting the quotidian charms and pleasures of that nonsexual and nonromantic relationship, and portraying it as both nurturing and finite. As the article shows, the emerging field of asexuality studies offers a rich ground for intersectional feminist film studies and ongoing scholarship on the romantic comedy genre.
The Story of What is Broken is Whole
Authors: Levins Morales Aurora
Published: September 2024

The Story of What Is Broken Is Whole collects for the first time fifty years of writing by Puerto Rican Jewish feminist and radical thinker Aurora Levins Morales. Combining well-known excerpts from her books with out-of-print and harder to find ephemeral works and unpublished pieces, this collection weaves together stories of bodies, ecologies, Indigeneity, illness, travel, sexuality, and more. As Levins Morales reflects on her use of storytelling as a tool for change, she gathers the threads of lives and places sacrificed to greed and extraction while centering care for our individual bodyminds and those of our kin, communities, and movements. This comprehensive and essential collection provides an unprecedented window into the breadth and depth of the work of one of the most significant thinkers of our time.
Tobacco Use and Trigeminal Neuralgia: Clinical Features and Outcome After Microvascular Decompression
Authors: Shepherd Jerry , Li Sean , Herring Eric , Labak Collin M. , Miller Jonathan P.
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Tobacco use is known to affect incidence and postoperative outcome for several neurosurgical disorders, but its relationship to trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is not known. We sought to identify unique population characteristics that correlate with tobacco use in a cohort of patients with TN who underwent microvascular decompression (MVD), including effect on long-term postoperative outcome.

METHODS:

Data about 171 patients with classic TN treated with MVD were obtained from a prospectively maintained registry. Patients were classified as smokers or nonsmokers based on the use of tobacco within the 6 months before surgery. Analysis of clinical characteristics and postoperative outcome was performed.

RESULTS:

Compared with nonsmokers with TN, MVD patients using tobacco were significantly younger (53 vs 62 years, P < .01) and less likely to report pain in a single distribution of the trigeminal nerve (36% vs 65%, P < .01). There was no difference between smokers and nonsmokers in the presence of some degree of continuous pain, severity of neurovascular compression, sex, race, obesity, pain duration before presentation, immediate postoperative outcome, length of stay, or postoperative complication profile. Among 128 patients followed for at least 6 months, smokers were significantly less likely to be pain-free off medications at the last follow-up (36% vs 57%, P < .05).

CONCLUSION:

In patients undergoing MVD for TN, smoking is associated with younger age of TN onset, more widespread facial pain, and worse long-term postoperative outcome after MVD. These features suggest that TN in smokers may represent a more severe disease form compared with TN in nonsmokers with different responses to treatment.
Independence and synergy of spatial attention in the two visual systems of jumping spiders
Authors: Loconsole Maria , Ferrante Federico , Giacomazzi Davide , De Agrò Massimo
Published: September 2024

By selectively focusing on a specific portion of the environment, animals can solve the problem of information overload, toning down irrelevant inputs and concentrating only on the relevant ones. This may be of particular relevance for animals such as the jumping spider, which possess a wide visual field of almost 360 deg and thus could benefit from a low-cost system for sharpening attention. Jumping spiders have a modular visual system composed of four pairs of eyes, of which only the two frontal eyes (the anteromedial eyes, AMEs) are motile, whereas the other secondary pairs remain immobile. We hypothesised that jumping spiders can exploit both principal and secondary eyes for stimulus detection and attentional shift, with the two systems working synergistically. In experiment 1, we investigated the attentional responses of AMEs following a spatial cue presented to the secondary eyes. In experiment 2, we tested for enhanced attention in the secondary eyes' visual field congruent with the direction of the AMEs' focus. In both experiments, we observed that animals were faster and more accurate in detecting a target when it appeared in a direction opposite to that of the initial cue. In contrast with our initial hypothesis, these results would suggest that attention is segregated across eyes, with each system working on compensating the other by attending to different spatial locations.
Distortion by Audit: Evidence from Public Procurement
Authors: Gerardino Maria Paula , Litschig Stephan , Pomeranz Dina
Published: September 2024

Public sector audits are key to state capacity. However, they can create unintended distortions. Regression discontinuity analysis from Chile shows that audits lowered the use of auctions for public procurement, reduced supplier competition, and increased the likelihood of small, local, and incumbent firms winning contracts. Looking inside the black box of the audit process reveals that relative to comparable direct contracts, auctions underwent more than twice as many checks and led to twice as many detected infractions. These findings show that standard audit protocols can mechanically discourage the use of more regulated, complex, and transparent procedures involving more auditable steps. (JEL H57, H83, O17)
Νέα επικοινωνιακά μοντέλα επαλήθευσης των ειδήσεων με βάση τον πληθοπορισμό
Authors: Λάμπρου Ευάγγελος
Published: September 2024

Οι διαταραχές της πληροφόρησης και οι ψευδείς ειδήσεις αποτελούν ένα φαινόμενο που προκαλεί παγκόσμια ανησυχία και προβληματισμό για την λειτουργία της δημόσιας σφαίρας, την αξιοπιστία των Μέσων αλλά και την ποιότητα της Δημοκρατίας. Δεδομένης της ολοένα και αυξανόμενης ψηφιοποίησης της καθημερινότητας των πολιτών, της καθολικής εισχώρησης των μέσων κοινωνικής δικτύωσης στο ενημερωτικό γίγνεσθαι, το εξατομικευμένο περιεχόμενο αλλά και τις εξελίξεις στην ενημέρωση και τη δημοσιογραφία με πολλούς δημοσιογραφικούς οργανισμούς να αντιμετωπίζουν σημαντικά προβλήματα σε ένα συνεχώς μεταβαλλόμενο περιβάλλον, το ζήτημα γίνεται συνεχώς όλο και πιο σύνθετο. Είναι λοιπόν κοινή παραδοχή ερευνητών ότι απαιτείται ένα νέο σύστημα διασφαλίσεων, (Lazer et al., 2018) προκειμένου να αντιμετωπιστεί το φαινόμενο και να ενισχυθεί η αξιοπιστία των Μέσων και της δημόσιας σφαίρας εν γένει. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή έχει ως στόχο να ερευνήσει και να αποκαλύψει που και με ποιους τρόπους και χαρακτηριστικά εμφανίζεται το φαινόμενο στην Ελληνική δημόσια σφαίρα, να εντοπίσει τις πηγές από όπου προέρχεται και να ερευνήσει τους τρόπους και τις μεθόδους που μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθούν για να καταπολεμηθεί και να περιοριστεί. Παράλληλα, επιδιώκει να προτείνει νέα μοντέλα επικοινωνίας και πλατφόρμες ελέγχου γεγονότων που βασίζονται σε στρατηγικές που ενισχύουν τη συμμετοχή των πολιτών όπως ο πληθοπορισμός αλλά και η αξιοποίηση νέων τεχνολογιών όπως η τεχνητή νοημοσύνη, που μπορούν να συμβάλουν καθοριστικά στην καταπολέμηση του φαινομένου.
Patient satisfaction with infection prevention control practices in the acute hospital setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Skally Mairead , Kearney Aoife , Rajesh Sahana , Strawbridge Judith , Bennett Kathleen , Humphreys Hilary , Fitzpatrick Fidelma
Published: September 2024

Background Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices are used to prevent or minimise the risk to patients and staff of acquiring healthcare-associated infections (HAI), including those caused by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pathogens. These practices are continually changing. Previous systematic reviews have focused or either overall patient satisfaction or specific IPC practices, however none have addressed the association of IPC with patient satisfaction. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the association between IPC practices and patient satisfaction in the acute hospital setting. Methods This systematic review will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews of aetiology and risk across multiple electronic databases. The population, exposure, outcomes (PEO) tool for systematic reviewing in patients having undergone IPC practices will be used. Observational studies in peer-reviewed journals meeting the search criteria will be reviewed for inclusion. Rayyan Systematic Review software will be used and two reviewers from the research team will conduct the title and abstract screening. One team member will read identified articles in depth and extract relevant data with guidance by the JBI-recommended approach. Data will be extracted in duplicate, by another member of the research team, for 20% of the identified papers. The Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) reporting guidelines will be referred to in addition to the PRISMA-P guidelines 1 . A descriptive summary of all included papers will be written. A random effects meta-analysis will be conducted where possible. Conclusion IPC practices are not limited to one intervention and a patient may experience numerous IPC measures during their inpatient stay. However, IPC practices and their association on patient satisfaction is unknown.
Digital twins for managing bridge climate change adaptation
Authors: Kaewunruen Sakdirat , Fu Hao , Adebiyi Adefolarin , Sengsri Pasakorn
Published: September 2024

Background Bridges are vital construction infrastructures that almost every nation needs in order to function. Climate change is a significant issue, that especially affects the construction industry. It is very important that bridges are able to withstand the impacts of climate change and adaptation measures will be required to achieve this. Methods The digital twin will be developed using BIM to manage the climate change adaptation measures for the bridges. A 6D BIM model will be created that includes the 3D Revit model of a bridge featuring climate change measures, the climate change adaptation measures timeline schedule, climate change adaptation cost estimation, and carbon emission estimation, which will be produced using Revit software, Navisworks, and Granta EduPack. The results will show how 6D BIM can be used to support the adaptation of bridges to the effects of climate change. Results The findings underscore the efficacy of 6D BIM in enhancing bridge resilience against climate change impacts. The 3D model demonstrates integration of adaptation measures without compromising bridge functionality. Moreover, the 4D model's timeline scheduling facilitates hazard anticipation, project planning, communication enhancement, collaborative efforts, and project visualization. Cost estimations from the 5D model reveal varying costs among adaptation measures, while the 6D model highlights differences in carbon footprints. These BIM dimensions enable stakeholders to analyse effects on project costs and energy consumption, aiding sustainability and cost-efficiency considerations. Conclusions The study exhibits the literature review analysis, the risk assessment, research on climate change adaptation strategies, and implementation using Revit 2022, Navisworks 2022, and Granta EduPack software. By contributing to the adaptation of bridges to climate change effects, the research has provided valuable insights and practical implications for enhancing bridge resilience globally.
Financial, Supplies, and Human Resource Preparedness in Management of Covid-19 Pandemic Among Dental Facilities in Nairobi County Kenya
Authors: Chematia Hazel , Karanja Simon , Kiilu Elizabeth
Published: September 2024

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has put a strain on healthcare facilities worldwide. Dental facilities pose the highest risk of COVID-19 transmission because of the aerosol-generating procedures involved in dental practice. This study aimed to determine financial, supply, and human resource preparedness in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic among dental facilities in Nairobi County, Kenya. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach among 183 dental facilities in Nairobi County. Data were collected using the KoboCollect questionnaire and analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS version 26. The readiness of dental facilities was assessed using the ReadyScore Criteria. Qualitative data were collected through one-on-one interviews with key informants and analyzed thematically. Results Readyscore Criteria analysis showed that 39 (21.3%) of the evaluated dental facilities were considered "ready," while 133 (72.7%) and 11 (6%) were considered to have "work to do" and "not ready" for the pandemic. Bivariate analysis showed that the level of facilities (p<0.001), presence of other departments (p<0.001), funds sufficiency for COVID-19 emergency response (p=0.001), and clients attended per month (p=0.017) were statistically significant factors associated with pandemic preparedness scores. Regression analysis revealed that the presence of other departments among dental facilities was a significant predictor of readiness, with a 4.5 times higher likelihood of being ready for a pandemic (aOR 4.591; 1.471–14.327, p=0.009) compared to other facilities. Conclusions Support from healthcare authorities and capacity-building initiatives are recommended to enhance preparedness and resilience among dental facilities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.