bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Retrospective Study on the Continuation of Buprenorphine in the Perioperative Setting
Authors: Dermody Morgan Lynn , Lemon Sandra , Kingdon Lisa , Ruekert Laura
Published: November 2024

Background and Aims: The purpose of this study is to review the 2020 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Guideline for Opioid Use Disorder recommendations to continue buprenorphine perioperatively by evaluating the total morphine milligram equivalents (MME) requirements in the first 24 hours postoperatively of patients who continued their buprenorphine therapy to those who discontinued their buprenorphine therapy perioperatively. Methods: This IRB approved study is a multicenter retrospective chart review of 80 surgical inpatients on buprenorphine prior to admission at participating sites from January 2015 to October 2022. The primary outcome is MME administered 24 hours postoperatively in patients who continued buprenorphine perioperatively versus those who discontinued buprenorphine perioperatively. Secondary efficacy outcomes included MME administered 48 and 72 hours postoperatively and daily average pain scores. Safety outcomes included rate of respiratory depression and mortality. Findings: Patients who continued buprenorphine perioperatively required significantly less MME in the first 24 hours postoperatively compared to those who discontinued buprenorphine perioperatively (median [IQR]; 23.25 [6-74.35] vs 93.38 [49.8-156.26]; P < .001). Secondary outcomes of MME administered at 48 hours (10.4 [0-40.5] vs 66.15 [27.94-143.5], P < .001) and 72 hours (0 [0-31.13] vs 66 [22.5-144], P < .001) postoperatively were also significantly less in those whose buprenorphine was continued versus those whose buprenorphine was discontinued perioperatively. Patients whose buprenorphine was continued perioperatively experienced significantly lower average pain scores at 48 (median [IQR]; 4.74 [2.9-7.08] vs 6 [4.93-7.4], P = .028) and 72 hours (3.78 [1.78-5.85] vs 5.75 [4.15-7.45], P = .002) postoperatively. Conclusion: Continuation of buprenorphine in the perioperative setting results in significantly lower utilization of MME in patients whose buprenorphine is continued compared to those whose buprenorphine is discontinued perioperatively.
In-Hospital Outcomes Associated With Initial Fibrinolysis Versus Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Among Patients Residing in Rural Areas Presenting With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Sussman Whitney B. , Johnson Conner E. , Weeda Erin R.
Published: November 2024

Background: Fibrinolysis is more commonly used to manage ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in rural versus urban areas. However, little is known about the outcomes associated with this treatment strategy in rural individuals. We sought to compare in-hospital outcomes associated with the use of fibrinolysis versus primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among patients residing in rural areas presenting with STEMI. Methods: We identified adult patients with STEMI between 2016 and 2021 using the United States National Inpatient Sample. The cohort was restricted to individuals residing in rural areas. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts based on the receipt of initial fibrinolysis versus primary PCI. In-hospital outcomes were compared between cohorts, with in-hospital mortality serving as the primary outcome and length of stay (LOS) serving as a secondary outcome. Results: We identified 13 475 rural STEMI encounters receiving either initial fibrinolytic therapy (n = 1095) or primary PCI (n = 12 380). The average age and number of comorbidities were similar between cohorts. In-hospital mortality occurred in 5.2% of patients, and mean LOS for initial fibrinolysis and primary PCI patients was 3.73 ± 3.739 days and 3.45 ± 3.974 days, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, initial fibrinolysis was not associated with higher in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 0.913; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.679-1.228). Initial fibrinolysis was associated with a small increase in LOS compared to primary PCI (Mean difference = 0.079 days; 95%CI = 0.035-0.123). Conclusions: In this analysis of approximately 13 000 STEMI encounters among rural individuals, patient characteristics between those treated with initial fibrinolysis versus primary PCI were similar. Observed outcomes were not meaningfully different between cohorts. Fibrinolytic therapy should not be an overlooked treatment strategy in rural STEMI patients facing delays in receipt of primary PCI.
Documenting Conditions of Life in India: Official Inquiries of the Late Nineteenth Century
Authors: Bandopadhyay Arun
Published: November 2024

This article deals with the findings of a study being undertaken on the economic conditions of India during the nineteenth century under the auspices of the Indian Council of Historical Research. It deals mainly with information collected in response to a Government of India’s directive (1887) to enquire into the actual conditions of life of the common people. Wherever the enquiry was well undertaken by local officials, dire poverty could not be denied. Since the official enquiries were not often meant for publication (though some were printed for circulation among officials), there were in large part honestly conducted and so form an important mass of evidence enriching our knowledge of the conditions of India at the close of the twentieth century. The present article presents illustrative evidence drawn from these reports, covering parts of Eastern, Southern and Northern India.
Impact of fly-in fly-out on the family dynamics of male miners
Authors: Labra Oscar , Brouillette Christelle , Castro Carol , Gingras-Lacroix Gabriel , Cousineau Tommy
Published: November 2024

This exploratory study examines the impact of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) and the difficulties facing male workers. The results are based on data gathered through a semi-structured interview guide from 22 men working in the FIFO mining sector. The participants’ comments show that certain factors stemming from family and couple dynamics influence workers’ perception of their work/family balance. This study shows that FIFO workers are confronted with realities that, when they ask for help, require the worker to have specific knowledge of this lifestyle.
Vulnerability to Climate Variability of Smallholder Farmers in Gutu District, Zimbabwe: A Pro-Poor Asset Adaptation Approach
Authors: Chatsiwa Jaison
Published: November 2024

The African continent is vulnerable to climate variability and change due to the sensitivity of all the economic sectors to climate and its low adaptive capacity. Sporadic rainfall and increasing temperature are rapidly emerging as the most serious problems affecting agriculture and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Field-based research was conducted in the Gutu district of Masvingo Province using the participatory climate change adaptation appraisal to determine asset-based adaptation strategies employed by the smallholder farmers in building their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate variability. Questionnaire-based surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Vulnerability indices were calculated using the expert judgment approach. The research adopted a design science research paradigm to generate innovative and useful artifacts to solve real-world problems. Multistage sampling was used to sample the interviewees. Results reveal that Gutu smallholder farmers use household assets to cope and adapt to climate change and variability with financial assets being the dominant asset affecting smallholder farmers’ vulnerability.
Microfinance and Poverty Alleviation: The Socio-Economic Contribution of SILC, a Savings-Led Microfinance Programme in Semonkong, Lesotho
Authors: Makara Mamotsiba , Faimau Gabriel , Maphosa France
Published: November 2024

Microfinance has garnered significant attention in development discourse due to its acclaimed potential to reduce poverty. Its role as a poverty reduction tool, however, has yet to be thoroughly examined. A single case study was undertaken through interviews and observations involving 30 Savings and Internal Lending in Communities beneficiaries in Semonkong, Lesotho. The rural populations in Lesotho face poverty due to, among other reasons, a lack of access to microloans necessary for alleviating poverty. The study’s outcome sheds light on the phenomenon of community-led microfinance programme and analyses their contribution to the livelihoods of those living in rural communities. The study found that savings-led microfinancing has effectively increased household incomes among those participating in it thereby amplifying consumption and access to basic needs. Small loans have further facilitated the establishment of small businesses and the acquisition of assets necessary to curb poverty. While there are some negative consequences associated with participating in this activity, the study found that overall the positive impacts outweigh the negative ones. We, therefore, recommend the promotion of savings-led microfinancing as a poverty alleviation tool and envisage that the findings of this study will stimulate policy dialogue and promote advocacy for rural financial inclusion.
Whom to Repress: Tall Poppies, Key Players, and Weakest Links
Authors: De Jaegher Kris
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a game-theoretic model where dissidents with heterogeneous abilities and motivations contribute to collective action. A regime demotivates dissidents by preemptively increasing their costs of contributing, using a budget that can be spread across them in any way desired. The regime’s optimal targeting strategy is shown to depend on the (technological) degree of complementarity between dissidents’ contributions. For low complementarity, it is optimal to equalize all dissidents’ strengths (where strength depends both on motivation and ability; tall-poppies strategy). For intermediate complementarity, it is optimal to focus all repression on the most able dissidents (key-player strategy). For high complementarity, it is optimal to focus all repression on the least-motivated dissidents (weakest-link strategy). The range of intermediate complementarities for which the key-player strategy is optimal is larger, the larger heterogeneity in abilities. The paper finds indication for the use of these strategies in concrete examples of preemptive repression.
Optimizing Hospital Bed Capacity and Resource Allocation Using Inflow and Outflow Indices for Effective Healthcare Management
Authors: Kim Jin-Nam , Oh In-Hwan
Published: November 2024

This study analyzes hospital bed capacity and resource allocation using inflow and outflow indices to identify disparities in bed utilization. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for effective healthcare management, particularly in the allocation of specialized beds such as those in intensive care units (ICU). Despite a high bed-to-population ratio, South Korea faces regional disparities in bed distribution, especially in Seoul, which accounts for 12.4% of the nation’s hospital beds. Hospital beds were categorized based on the Medical Service Act, and the Relevance Index (RI) and Commitment Index (CI) were used to assess patient flow in 2019 across different bed types and functions. Data from the “Statistical Yearbook on the Usage of Medical Service by Region” provided insights into utilization patterns in tertiary referral hospitals, general hospitals, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The analysis revealed high RIs for tertiary referral hospitals, indicating strong patient retention and minimal outflow, whereas lower RIs for long-term care hospitals suggested underutilization. Regional analysis within Seoul found a concentration of tertiary referral hospitals in the Southeast and a shortage of ICU beds in the Northwest and Southwest regions. The Inflow and Outflow Index confirmed significant patient inflow into tertiary referral hospitals, with some areas experiencing higher outflows, particularly for long-term care beds. These findings underscore the need for strategic hospital bed capacity management, prioritizing essential beds in underserved regions. Future research should incorporate more recent data and employ direct patient flow analysis to optimize resource allocation, addressing evolving healthcare demands, such as an aging population and new infectious diseases. This study offers valuable insights for regional health policy, aiming to enhance functional hospital bed management and improve overall healthcare resource utilization.
Let Alone to Listen: The Impact of Northern Territory Liquor Laws on Aboriginal Justice Outcomes
Authors: Negrine Joseph
Published: November 2024

This article tracks the development of liquor laws in the Northern Territory, considering their impacts on Aboriginal justice outcomes and possible areas for reform. Noting the putative trade-off between health and justice outcomes, it examines the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 (Cth), the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012 (Cth) and the 2022–23 Liquor Act 2019 (NT) amendments. Under the most recent Liquor Act amendments, the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol remain restricted in prescribed areas, which must determine the future of their liquor laws by 28 February 2027. This article proposes that greater investment is required to support Aboriginal leadership throughout this decision-making process. Indeed, a central proposition of this article is that the failure to adequately consult Aboriginal communities has been a shared feature of all three laws, and a fundamental barrier to improving Aboriginal justice. Reflecting on the interaction between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal legal systems, this article identifies issues in the current policies that risk replicating the shortcomings of previous laws, thereby failing to empower Aboriginal leadership or improve Aboriginal justice services.
The Regulation of Paid Parental Leave in Australia: Delivering Gendered Patterns of Care
Authors: Selvarajah Amanda Darshini
Published: November 2024

Key changes to the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 (Cth) (‘PPL Act’), which offers minimum wage payments to parents on parental leave, took effect in July 2023. These changes sought to improve the gender equal utilisation of parental leave. This article assesses these changes to that end. The article also explores the regulation of employer-funded parental leave policies, which has been under-researched to date, drawing upon recent Workplace Gender Equality Agency data and interviews with human resource professionals. The data reveals that employer-funded parental leave policies often provide higher levels of income replacement than the PPL Act but mirror many of the PPL Act’s features that discourage gender equal parenting. These findings highlight the need for further reform in the regulation of paid parental leave to increase take up amongst men. Such reform will require flexible parental leave policies with non-transferrable and generous entitlements for all parents with high levels of income replacement.
Ensuring Equitable Payment Options: A Legal Perspective on Banning ‘No Cash’ Policies in Australia
Authors: Chamorro-Courtland Christian
Published: November 2024

This article examines the legal case for banning ‘no cash’ policies at retailers in Australia, with a focus on fostering inclusivity for unbanked individuals and empowering consumers. The analysis explores three potential options for implementing such a prohibition: leveraging anti-discrimination laws, utilizing consumer protection laws or enacting new legislation. From a legal standpoint, the article argues that retailers should be mandated to accept cash when consumers seek to purchase essential goods and services. Drawing upon relevant legal frameworks, the article highlights the importance of protecting the rights of unbanked individuals and ensuring consumer choice. It explores the potential impacts on financial inclusion and consumer empowerment while considering the risks of financial crime. By delving into these considerations, this article aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding ‘no cash’ policies, offering insights and recommendations for policymakers and legal practitioners alike in their pursuit of a fair and inclusive society.
A slope-based automatic identification and optimization of key time nodes method for adaptive control vector parameterization
Authors: Dang Lanqing , Ye Shijin , Li Tai-Fang
Published: November 2024

Control vector parameterization is a mainstream numerical approach for solving dynamic programming problems. By discretizing the entire time domain into a grid of time nodes, an infinite-dimensional optimal control problem can be transformed into a finite-dimensional static optimization problem. Despite the attractive advantages of high solution accuracy and ease of implementation of control vector parameterization, the rationality of time grid partitioning significantly influences the efficiency of the solution and the approximating accuracy of the optimal control trajectory. In the traditional control vector parameterization method, the time grid is typically set beforehand and remains static in the optimization process, which has a direct impact on how closely the solution result approximates the optimal control trajectory. To address the conflict of accurate approximations and computational time, we propose a slope-based automatic identification and optimization of key time nodes method for adaptive control vector parameterization, which not only optimizes merging and inserting time nodes but also incorporates automatic identification of key time nodes. Through a simulation example, we verify that this improved method can reduce computation time, enhance approximation accuracy, and achieve higher optimization efficiency.
Linguistic organisation and coherence in personal narratives of 10-year-old children with developmental language disorder
Authors: Gabaj Mateja , Kuvač Kraljević Jelena , Westerveld Marleen F.
Published: November 2024

This study aims to investigate the linguistic organisation and coherence of personal narratives among children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) to provide insight into their communication skills in everyday contexts. A cohort of 10-year-old Croatian-speaking children diagnosed with DLD ( n = 50, M = 10;8) and their gender-matched typically developing peers (TLD; n = 50, M = 10;2) participated in the study. All participants were asked to produce personal narratives in response to the Global TALES protocol, a standard protocol in which the child is asked to tell personal stories in response to six emotion- and situation-based prompts. Their responses were analysed at micro- and macro-structure levels on measures of vocabulary, grammar, productivity and coherence. Findings indicate that children with DLD have difficulties in both grammatical aspects of narrative production (complexity and accuracy) and the formation of coherent personal narratives, characterised by difficulties in creating chronologically organised and thematically elaborated narratives. Moreover, narrative measures, particularly those pertaining to grammar, demonstrate sensitivity in accurately predicting group membership, distinguishing between children with DLD and their TLD peers.
Risk Factors of Mortality and Clinical Characteristics in Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis: A Retrospective Evaluation of 181 Patients
Authors: Chen Min , Lei Lei , Jiang Zheng , Yang Hao , Zou Jian , Song Ningying , Zheng Yongbo
Published: November 2024

Objectives: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a serious infection with a high-mortality rate. However, large-scale studies analyzing the clinical characteristics and risk factors of mortality in DNM are rare. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors and some clinical characteristics of mortality of DNM in our hospital. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data, including clinical characteristics and mortality, of 181 patients diagnosed with DNM between 2008 and 2022 to clarify the mortality-related risk factors. Results: A total of 181 patients were evaluated, and the mortality rate was 21.55% (39/181 patients). Endo classification type IIB; advanced age; higher white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage, C-reactive protein (CRP) level on admission; and the incidence of septic shock, sepsis, hypoalbuminemia, and electrolyte disorders were significantly related to mortality. Logistic analysis showed that age (≥55 years old), Endo classification type IIB on computed tomography (CT), septic shock, and high CRP level on admission were independent risk factors of mortality. Conclusion: Old age and high CRP levels on admission increase the risk of mortality in DNM patients. Further, Endo classification type IIB on CT and septic shock were associated with poor prognosis.
Cavernous Hemangioma of the Posterior Aspect of the Inferior Meatus: A Rare Etiology and Location
Authors: Lee Yong Won , Kim Jong Ok , Chung Jihyun
Published: November 2024

Nasal hemangiomas most commonly occur in the anterior part of the nose, including the Little’s area of the nasal septum, the anterior tip of the inferior nasal turbinate, and the vestibule. They rarely develop in the posterior part of the inferior nasal turbinate and meatus. Here, we report a case of cavernous hemangioma at the posterior aspect of the left inferior meatus in a 79-year-old man who presented with epistaxis and progressive nasal obstruction for 4 months after blowing his nose forcefully and review the relevant literature. An endoscopic evaluation revealed a dark red mass in the posterior part of the left inferior meatus that did not extend to the posterior choana or nasopharynx. The tumor was removed with endoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. No recurrence was observed during a 2-year follow-up. Our experience suggests that forceful nose blowing is a traumatic stimulus that can lead to hemangiomas arising in the posterior nasal cavity in rare instances.
What Is Risk, Exactly? Reviewing Construct Heterogeneity Across Business Fields and Implications for Entrepreneurship Research
Authors: Arteaga-Fonseca Jorge , Rutherford Matthew W. , Phillips Duygu , Hill Aaron D.
Published: November 2024

We conduct two literature reviews to explore what risk is in entrepreneurship and across business fields. The objective of these reviews is to shed light on the heterogeneity of the risk construct. In doing this, we are able to contribute to entrepreneurship research by informing scholars of a wider spectrum of risks in the literature, as well as the implications that adopting different views offers for future entrepreneurship research and practice. We find that the term “risk” is often used casually, without clear connections to category, level of analysis, and perspective. To address this, we propose a multidimensional conceptualization of risk. Moreover, our reviews suggest that entrepreneurship researchers are only scratching the surface with regard to the extant studies of risks and risk-related constructs. We highlight similarities and distinctions between entrepreneurship and other business research fields, which, in turn, help inform future research opportunities. Our future research program is aimed at both helping delineate risk in entrepreneurship conceptually and operationally while also illuminating exciting paths for expanding the study of risk across environmental level risks (sociopolitical and market risk categories) and firm and individual level risks (default, liquidity, operational, and pure risk categories).
Teachers’ Attitude Towards Gifted Students and Their Education: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sambuis Sophie , Bourdin Béatrice
Published: November 2024

The aim of this review is to synthesize the results of multiple studies that measured teachers’ attitudes towards gifted students and their education. A total of 1,356 references, 28 of which met our selection criteria, were identified through a literature search. The results suggest that teachers generally have a positive attitude toward the needs of gifted students. However, their attitudes toward pedagogical interventions, especially those that remove the child from their reference classroom, are more negative. The literature has tested several predictors of attitudes, but few have shown a robust effect, and the studies are difficult to compare due to significant methodological differences. However, interactions with gifted individuals and personal self-efficacy appear to be the most significant. Finally, there appear to be differences by country of origin related to the concept of giftedness. Further studies are necessary to confirm the impact of these variables and potential cultural differences.
The time is right when you make it right: Coordinating routine clusters in sustained crises
Authors: Geiger Daniel , Harborth Lisa
Published: November 2024

This article examines how organizations coordinate routines to achieve reliable collective action in sustained, temporally complex crises. We conducted an observational study of the Uganda Red Cross Society’s Ebola emergency response operation, which lasted for almost two years. Our findings reveal that sustained crises necessitate both the enacting of clusters of interrelated routines to achieve reliable operations and the accommodating of unexpected events when coordinating these clusters. Thereby, this study contributes to research on coordinating routines in sustained crises in two ways. First, we challenge traditional views of routine clusters as stable and path dependent, arguing that tolerating temporal conflicts between routines enables the flexible coordination of routine clusters during sustained crises. Second, we introduce the concept of temporal manipulation, which challenges existing thinking about the need for temporal alignment of routine performances. Temporal manipulation is the ability of routine participants to exercise agency by altering the past and/or future to successfully coordinate routines with diverging temporalities. This suggests that manipulating time, rather than aligning it, can be an effective means of coordination in sustained crises.
Mechanical versus bioprosthetic valve for aortic valve replacement in dialysis patients: Systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis
Authors: Zoupas Ioannis , Loufopoulos Georgios , Tasoudis Panagiotis T. , Manaki Vasiliki , Namidis Iosif , Caranasos Thomas G. , Iliopoulos Dimitrios C. , Athanasiou Thanos
Published: November 2024

Objective

There is little evidence regarding the most beneficial choice between a mechanical and a bioprosthetic valve in the aortic position in dialysis patients. This meta-analysis compares the survival and freedom from reintervention rates between mechanical and bioprosthetic valves in patients on dialysis undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery.

Methods

Two databases were searched, and the systematic review was performed in accordance with the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. We conducted one-stage and two-stage meta-analysis with Kaplan–Meier-derived individual patient data and meta-analysis with random-effects model.

Results

Eight studies were included, providing data about 1215 dialysis patients receiving mechanical valves and 1851 patients receiving bioprosthetic valves. During a mean follow-up of 43.1 months, overall survival rates were significantly improved in the mechanical valve group in comparison to the bioprosthetic one (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69–0.84, p < 0.001). This was confirmed by the two-stage meta-analysis (HR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.62–0.83, p = 0.00, I2= 17.79%). Regarding freedom from reintervention, no arm offered a statistically significant advantage, according to the two-stage generated analysis (HR: 1.025, 95% CI: 0.65–1.61, p = 0.914). Similarly, there was no evident superiority of a valve type for perioperative outcomes.

Conclusions

Mechanical valves are likely to be associated with a better survival outcome compared to bioprosthetic valves for patients on dialysis undergoing aortic valve replacement. However, freedom from reoperation rates and perioperative outcomes were comparable between the two valve types, with no arm exhibiting a statistically significant advantage.
The protective role of siblings in sexual diverse emerging adult well-being
Authors: Rogers Christy R. , Morgan Derek D. , Dees Triston B. , Disney Jordan L.
Published: November 2024

Close sibling relationships can serve as a salient source of support, particularly for individuals navigating stressors associated with emerging adulthood and minoritized identities. Using attachment theory and the temporal intersectional minority stress model as guiding frameworks, mixed-methods data were collected from 939 emerging adult college students to examine the role that siblings play in sexually diverse individual well-being. Sexually diverse emerging adults who perceived close sibling ties did not exhibit a negative effect of prospective anxiety on their self-esteem, but did experience an elevation in positive affect in the face of prospective anxiety, whereas sexually diverse individuals who had poor sibling relationships and heterosexual emerging adults did not show these protective effects. Interactions were not significant for negative affect. Sexually diverse emerging adults shared their lived experiences of how their siblings contribute to their well-being, including themes of affect, sibling interactions, sibling qualities, and coping within the relationship. Most sexually diverse individuals appeared to view a positive effect of siblings on their well-being despite less proximity to the family of origin.
Chronic health issues and entrepreneurship: Exploring the role of grit, bricolage and illness uncertainty on venture performance
Authors: Ahsan Mujtaba , Gyensare Michael Asiedu , Adomako Samuel , Zheng Congcong
Published: November 2024

This article investigates the relationship between grit, bricolage and venture performance in a sample of 230 entrepreneurs with chronic diseases and physical disabilities. Building on the broaden-and-build theory, we posit that grit influences venture performance through bricolage and that the effect of grit on bricolage is contingent upon varying levels of illness uncertainty (IU). The results demonstrate broad support for our proposed hypotheses. We contribute to the entrepreneurship literature by examining the relationship between grit and venture performance through bricolage. Furthermore, we examine the moderating effect of IU on this relationship, our findings have implications for both practitioners and policymakers.
Ayahuasca enhances the formation of hippocampal-dependent episodic memory without impacting false memory susceptibility in experienced ayahuasca users: An observational study
Authors: Doss Manoj K , Kloft Lilian , Mason Natasha L , Mallaroni Pablo , Reckweg Johannes T , van Oorsouw Kim , Tupper Nina , Otgaar Henry , Ramaekers Johannes G
Published: November 2024

Background:

Ayahuasca is an Amazonian brew with 5-HT2A-dependent psychedelic effects taken by religious groups globally. Recently, psychedelics have been shown to impair the formation of recollections (hippocampal-dependent episodic memory for specific details) and potentially distort memory while remembering. However, psychedelics spare or enhance the formation of familiarity-based memory (cortical-dependent feeling of knowing that a stimulus has been processed).

Aims:

Given the growing literature on the plasticity-promoting effects of psychedelics, we investigated the acute impact of ayahuasca on recollection, familiarity, and false memory in an observational study of 24 Santo Daime members with >500 lifetime ayahuasca uses on average.

Methods:

Participants completed a false memory task at baseline and after they consumed a self-selected dose of ayahuasca prepared by their church (average dose contained 3.36 and 170.64 mg of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and β-carbolines, respectively).

Results:

Surprisingly, pre-encoding administration of ayahuasca enhanced hit rates, memory accuracy, and recollection but had no impact on familiarity or false memory. Although practice effects cannot be discounted, these memory enhancements were large and selective, as multiple measures of false memory and metamemory did not improve across testing sessions. β-carboline activity potentially accounted for this recollection enhancement that diverges from past psychedelic research. Although ayahuasca did not impact familiarity, these estimates were generally elevated across conditions compared to past work, alluding to a consequence of frequently driving cortical plasticity.

Conclusions:

When encoding and retrieval took place under acute ayahuasca effects in experienced ayahuasca users, susceptibility to memory distortions did not increase, potentially owing to enhancements in memory accuracy.
Convex geometric motion planning of multi-body systems on lie groups via variational integrators and sparse moment relaxation
Authors: Teng Sangli , Jasour Ashkan , Vasudevan Ram , Ghaffari Maani
Published: November 2024

This paper reports a novel result: with proper robot models based on geometric mechanics, one can formulate the kinodynamic motion planning problems for rigid body systems as exact polynomial optimization problems. Due to the nonlinear rigid body dynamics, the motion planning problem for rigid body systems is nonconvex. Existing global optimization-based methods do not parameterize 3D rigid body motion efficiently; thus, they do not scale well to long-horizon planning problems. We use Lie groups as the configuration space and apply the variational integrator to formulate the forced rigid body dynamics as quadratic polynomials. Then, we leverage Lasserre’s hierarchy of moment relaxation to obtain the globally optimal solution via semidefinite programming. By leveraging the sparsity of the motion planning problem, the proposed algorithm has linear complexity with respect to the planning horizon. This paper demonstrates that the proposed method can provide globally optimal solutions or certificates of infeasibility at the second-order relaxation for 3D drone landing using full dynamics and inverse kinematics for serial manipulators. Moreover, we extend the algorithms to multi-body systems via the constrained variational integrators. The testing cases on cart-pole and drone with cable-suspended load suggest that the proposed algorithms can provide rank-one optimal solutions or nontrivial initial guesses. Finally, we propose strategies to speed up the computation, including an alternative formulation using quaternion, which provides empirically tight relaxations for the drone landing problem at the first-order relaxation.
Business alliances, shared resources and environmental uncertainty: A qualitative study
Authors: Afonso Mónica , Franco Mário
Published: November 2024

Globalisation and competitiveness among companies have been increasing, leading many companies to be unable, in isolation, to meet the demands of markets in constant turbulence. The business model based on isolated competition has given way to establishing alliances between companies, allowing them to face the uncertainty and complexity of the changing environment more easily. A growing number of companies depend on forming alliances to access the necessary resources and thus achieve strategic objectives. Following on from the study by Prabhudesai et al. (2022), the present study aims to determine how the different types of resources available to a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), in conjunction with the uncertainty of the environment perceived by owner-managers, affect alliance formation. To achieve this goal, a qualitative thematic approach/methodology was used, combining two theoretical perspectives, Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) and Resource Based View (RBV), taking into account the uncertainty of the environment and the resources held. Based on interviews with managers of three companies and analysis of internal documents, the results show that the companies’ resources and the uncertainty of the environment trigger alliance formation. This study distinguishes between the two types of resources, tangible and intangible, and explains how the interaction of resource type and environmental uncertainty affects alliance formation.
An Escape Room-Based Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Approach to Enhancing Students’ Learning Achievement, Collaboration Awareness, Learning Motivation and Problem-Solving Skills
Authors: Chang Ching-Yi , Setiani Intan , Yang Jie Chi
Published: November 2024

Traditional teaching methods often limit interactive learning, negatively impacting students’ motivation and learning achievement. Moreover, fostering collaborative awareness and problem-solving skills is crucial for developing the core competencies of future nursing professionals. To address these challenges, this study proposed an escape room-based computer-supported collaborative learning (ER-CSCL) approach to enhance students’ learning outcomes in an obstetrics course. A quasi-experimental study involving 55 nursing students (28 in the experimental group and 27 in the control group) was conducted in a nursing school in northern Taiwan to compare the effectiveness of the ER-CSCL approach with the video-based learning method. The study assessed four key outcomes: learning achievement, collaboration awareness, learning motivation, and problem-solving skills. The results indicated that the ER-CSCL approach significantly outperformed the video-based learning method in terms of learning achievement, collaboration awareness, learning motivation, and problem-solving skills. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that integrating an interactive escape room online game-based learning tool with CSCL strategies effectively engages nursing students and enhances their learning outcomes. This innovative approach aligns with the goals of nursing education, proving a dynamic avenue for immersive learning and cultivating professional knowledge and practical skills among nursing students.
“We’re Going to Start Healing”: Perceptions of Sexual Violence on a Rural Indian Reservation in the Northern Great Plains
Authors: Lim Stephanie , Allen Maeve , Aranda-Hughes Vivian , Edwards Katie M. , Wilson Thalia
Published: November 2024

Indigenous people experience disproportionally higher rates of sexual violence, but we know little about how to prevent sexual violence among this population. The purpose of this study was to understand the perspectives (e.g., causes, prevention) of sexual violence among an Indigenous community residing on a large rural Indian Reservation in the Northern Great Plains. The study conducted seven focus groups with adults, high school students, and middle school students, and a thematic analysis approach was used to assess the gestalt of the data. Three primary themes emerged from the data: (a) causes of sexual violence, (b) characteristics and contexts of sexual violence, and (c) prevention of sexual violence. Specifically, Indigenous relatives desired sexual violence education; however, there was agreement that there is a lack of programming or education from schools and community organizations. Notably, adults focused on how colonization affected the attitudes and behaviors related to sexual violence and the importance of empowering youth. Adolescent boys believed that the general acceptance of physical violence and bullying in their community led to a culture of ambivalence and distrust of sexual assault disclosures. Adolescent girls referenced how gender and social norms that subjugate women/girls have led to rape myth acceptance and victim-blaming. Findings highlight the need for empowerment-based, culturally grounded, gender transformative prevention programs to address the social biases and gender norms that contribute to sexual violence while promoting cultural strengths and community among youth. This research has important implications for informing sexual violence prevention programming across Indian country.
The Impact of Violent Pornography on Sexual Coercive Behaviors Among College Men: A Prospective Examination
Authors: Bhuptani Prachi H. , Cashin Daniel , Orchowski Lindsay M.
Published: November 2024

Sexual coercion is a widespread public health concern, especially among college students, and is associated with a multitude of negative consequences for survivors. Prior studies document an association between exposure to violent pornography and engagement in sexual coercion among men, although longitudinal examination of this association is largely absent. Using a prospective design, the current study examined how exposure to violent pornography relates to increased engagement in sexually coercive behaviors among college men over time. It was hypothesized that increased exposure to violent pornography would be associated with higher levels of gender inequitable attitudes, higher rape myth acceptance, greater problems with alcohol use, lower recognition of rape scenarios as rape, greater ascription of responsibility to the woman in instances of rape, and lower ascription of responsibility toward the man in instances of rape, all of which in turn would predict greater engagement in sexually coercive behavior over time. Data was collected from 247 college men who completed self-report surveys at baseline, 4-month, and 7-month intervals. Higher gender inequitable attitudes, greater problems with alcohol use, and lower levels of responsibility assigned to men for rape mediated the relation between exposure to violent pornography at baseline and endorsement of sexually coercive behavior at the 7-month. Findings highlight the need to address pornography literacy in sexual assault prevention programs for college men.
Constructing Hate Crimes: Does Respondent’s Racial/Ethnic Identity Matter?
Authors: Zhang Chenghui
Published: November 2024

This study explores whether and how respondents’ racial/ethnic identity affects racial/ethnic hate crime perception, considering the races/ethnicities of the offender and the victim. The data of this study comes from a factorial survey experiment with random vignette assignments among U.S. adults from MTurk ( n = 2,021). A set of logistic regression models with robust standard errors was estimated to test the two-way and three-way moderation effects of the races/ethnicities of the offender, victim, and respondent. Results reveal how racial/ethnic groups recognize hate crimes, considering not only the identities of the offenders and victims but also the respondents’ own backgrounds. Subgroup analyses further revealed different patterns of racial/ethnic hate crime recognition among minority respondents and non-Hispanic white respondents. Integrating a power-relation perspective and social identity theory, this study concludes that there are racial/ethnic variances in the recognition of racial/ethnic hate crimes, which not only concern the race/ethnicity of the offender and victim but are also related to respondents’ identity. Social identity theory partially explains the observations through group image management and ingroup favoritism. Additionally, the perception of racial/ethnic hate crimes is primarily driven by the Majority–Minority pattern, regardless of the group membership. This study calls for further efforts not only in researching the role of race/ethnicity in relation to racial/ethnic hate crime recognition but also in advancing the practice of hate crime reporting and data collection by an enhanced understanding of group identity among individuals as well as law enforcement.
Trajectories and Legacies of Outsider Party-Building: The Rise and Fall of Spain’s Podemos
Authors: Brown John
Published: November 2024

Mass protests in Spain that challenged the long-standing two-party system and austerity policies associated with both major parties (PP and PSOE) were followed by the emergence of challenger party Podemos. In the current conjuncture, however, Podemos faces an existential crisis. Supported by data gathered during interviews with key figures from Podemos, leftist parties and activists, this article disentangles why and how the outsider-to-insider party-building process culminated in a de-legitimized Podemos. The article argues that the electoral strategy of Podemos leaders in conjunction with opposition pressures encouraged a moderation of the party’s brand. To pursue such moderation required insulating the leadership clique from radical voices via degenerative factionalism and oligarchization processes. Moreover, weak popular sector organizations were unable to counter the moderation–factionalism–oligarchization process. The culmination of the party-building process saw a Podemos that lacked a coherent brand or any societal connections, leaving it vulnerable to replacement by a new challenger.
Investigation of physico-mechanical properties of Mimosa pudica micro-fibrils as an effective reinforcement in polymer composite
Authors: Sengupta Arnab , Pattnaik Sarojrani , Sutar Mihir Kumar
Published: November 2024

This paper explores the potential of inedible weed Mimosa pudica (MP) micro-fibers as a novel reinforcement in thermoplastic resins. Performance analysis of the fibers extracted from the stem by sodium hydroxide (NaOH) retting has been done through a morphological study using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), tensile tests, Thermogravimetric (TG)/Differential Thermogravimetric (DTG), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Weibull’s model yielded characteristic tensile strength as 77 MPa and Young’s modulus as 6248 MPa while Weibull’s moduli were 1.42 and 1.31, respectively. TG/DTG analysis yielded initial and maximum degradation temperatures of 220°C and 314°C, respectively, and weight loss of 15% at 240°C, which is suitable for processing the fibers with thermoplastic resins as well as bio-resins. SEM analysis revealed the rough surface of the micro-fibrils required for proper bonding with polymer matrices. The outcome of the study indicates that MP fibers characterized by significantly low water absorption, good thermal stability, and moderate tensile strength, have shown promise as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites.
Transforming electronic waste into a sustainable 3D printing filaments using polylactic acid
Authors: Kumarasamy Yogeshwaran , Jayakumar Nagarjun , Mohanty Prases Kumar , Das Shubhajit
Published: November 2024

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is a versatile manufacturing technique that utilizes polymer filaments as a raw material. It is appropriate process for integrating recycled biowaste and fibers as reinforcing agents alongside the polymers. This research article delves into the intricate process of fabricating filaments using powder extracted from Electronic Waste (EW), notably Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and blended with virgin Polylactic Acid (PLA), providing a comprehensive exploration of the methodology involved. The primary pellet in this study was virgin PLA, while flexi PLA F2110 was utilized as a plasticizer. The PCB underwent shredding and grinding into powder particles ≤150 µm, which was subsequently blended with polymer pellets (1 and 3 wt.%) for the experiment. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDAX) was utilized to determine the composition of the segregated EW. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) were performed on the EW powder to test its thermal stability and determine its capacity to survive the temperatures required for filament extrusion. The filaments were extruded using a single screw extruder with EW-PCB, and the properties of both the extruded filament and filler particles were assessed through tensile, impact and hardness testing. Thermal analysis and morphology examination of the EW-PCB filler particles confirmed their suitability for filament extrusion. The outcomes of the tensile, hardness and impact tests revealed that the composite filament, containing 3 wt.% EW-PCB, demonstrated significantly greater resistance to tensile load, a higher Young’s modulus, increased surface hardness and decreased toughness compared to the other composite filaments (0 and 1 wt.%).