bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking Security Paradigms in the Face of External Backlash: A Case Study in Private Security
Authors: Bagchi Soumendra Narain , Sharma Rajeev
Published: November 2024

Security of premises, assets and personnel form an essential requirement for commercial organisations. Lack of security impacts beyond the bottom-line, signalling a joint failure of organisation’s leadership and public governance, attracting more crime. The overloaded government’s police force can hardly dedicate resources to specific businesses. Private security firms, while offering a way out, create legal and socio-political challenges when, in line of duty, they resort to the use of firearms. In this article we research a manufacturing firm whose different security paradigm offers a rare insight into the hitherto relatively unexplored world of industrial security in an Indian context.
From shared grievances to collective action: A multilevel study of economic adversity and protest
Authors: Azedi Arman
Published: November 2024

Strongly felt grievances are the first, necessary condition for collective action to occur. While social movement studies have explored how activists frame grievances to attract recruits, this study assesses whether the pervasiveness of economic grievances in society affects individual decisions to join protests. Using data from nine rounds of the European Social Survey across 33 countries (2002-2019), multilevel models reveal that the population’s average sense of economic difficulty significantly predicts individuals’ willingness to participate in protests. The relationship holds when controlling for other objective economic indicators frequently used as substitutes for economic grievances in previous research, such as unemployment and GDP growth. Protesters also tend to be wealthier and financially comfortable when there is intense economic distress across society, while protest rates decline among the most aggrieved people. The findings suggest the importance of economic grievances lies on the contextual rather than the individual level: people are influenced to mobilize based on social assessments of others’ economic suffering but are less responsive to their own economic problems.
Stroke due to small-vessel disease and migraine: A case–control study of a young adult with ischemic stroke population
Authors: Cloet Faustin , Gueyraud Gabriel , Lerebours Fleur , Munio Mélanie , Larrue Vincent , Gollion Cédric
Published: November 2024

Background

Migraine with aura (MWA) is a risk factor for stroke, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Our aim was to assess the association between MWA and cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD) ischemic stroke after adjustment for vascular risk factors in a population of young patients hospitalized for a first-ever ischemic stroke.

Methods

Patients aged 18–54 years consecutively hospitalized for a first-ever acute ischemic stroke at the neurovascular unit of our university hospital between January 2017 and July 2021 were included in this retrospective cohort study. CSVD lesions were assessed and classified according to ASCOD (Atherosclerosis, Small-Vessel Disease, Cardiac pathology, Others causes, Dissection) classification criteria.

Results

In total, 646 patients were included (median (SD) age, 44.03 (9.01) years; 61.8% male) including 115 patients with MWA and 110 patients with migraine without aura (MWoA). Grade S1, potentially causal, CSVD lesions were significantly less frequent in patients with MWA (odds ratio (OR) = 0.35, 95% cofdence interval (CI)  =  0.13–0.95, p = 0.048) compared to non-migraine patients in univariate analysis. Logistic regression adjusting for vascular risk factors showed no significant association of CSVD of any grade (S1, S2 or S3 vs. S0) with migraine: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.48–1.28, p = 0.34; MWoA: OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.42–1.47, p = 0.51; and MWA: OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.43–1.56, p = 0.60, as well as no association of grade S1 CSVD lesions with migraine: OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.40–1.92, p = 0.81; MWoA: OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.42–2.64, p = 0.81; and MWA: OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.20–1.98, p = 0.56.

Conclusions

In a retrospective study including almost 650 young adults hospitalized for a first ischemic stroke, MWA was not associated with CSVD cause of stroke after adjustment for vascular risk factors.
Managing Transportation Asset Data Collection During COVID-19: The Origin of NYC DOT’s Spatial Data Gathering Program
Authors: Romano Maddalena , Rodriguez Maria , Souza Marvin , Chan Hui Yan (Terri)
Published: November 2024

The New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYC DOT) spatial data gathering (SDG) program is an initiative that sought to address several issues, including providing employees with relevant work that could be done at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This program provided NYC DOT with greatly needed spatial data on assets which would cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain if the work was contracted to a consultant—money that, because of the pandemic, was now scarce. The following pages describe a high-level overview of the methods involved in creating and sustaining the program, the metrics tracking the progress of the individual projects, and the lessons that were learned along the way. In sum, this program was able to train in-house resources that were working from home, as well as interns, to capture spatial data on the location and attributes of assets using web-based imagery and applications for both communication and the exchange of data.
Experiences of Citizenship in Late Medieval Southern German Lands
Authors: Richard Olivier
Published: November 2024

Medieval citizenship is often defined as the rights and duties that individuals had in medieval polities, including political participation, individual protection within the city in cases of legal or commercial conflicts, or the privilege of being judged by certain courts, rather than by others, and by one’s peers, rather than by foreigners. Typically, the status of citizen was further bound to the taxes individuals of that polity had to pay or the military duties they had to fulfil. This understanding of citizenship differs significantly from the ways scholars in the field of political sciences have been discussing the term over the past two decades.
When Rulers Came to Town: Jews, Christians and Urban Processions in Medieval France and the Holy Roman Empire
Authors: Schachter Hannah Teddy
Published: November 2024

The festive entry of a monarch into medieval cities was an elaborate social drama involving the whole urban population. This article investigates how Jews were involved in these ceremonies in medieval France and the Holy Roman Empire, refuting previously held assumptions of their forced and marginalised roles. By demonstrating that Jews were actively included in these urban rituals, embracing local customs to welcome Christian rulers and using an array of distinctive objects to express their identity, much like other civic groups, this study argues that medieval Jews were part of an elaborate choreographed performance through which civic belonging was expressed. As Jewish participation spanned both the formal and logistical aspects of these events, medieval urban processions provide an effective case study on how religious minorities were woven into both the social and ceremonial fabric of medieval urban life.
Sectarian, religious and political divisions in a professional accounting body: The case of Lebanon
Authors: Sadaka Sami F
Published: November 2024

This article explores how political, religious and sectarian divisions influence the functioning of the exclusive professional accounting body in Lebanon. This article shows that this body is characterised by significant divisions among different groups of members, which has ultimately politicised the electoral processes as well as the functioning of its boards, over the years. In turn, this has drawn this body into broader divisions that are historically inherent to the Lebanese society. This article illustrates that the functioning of professional accounting associations in diverse contexts entails establishing conditions under which the coexistence of different groups is protected. Whether the difference is based on religion, sect, class or gender, confrontation should not be eliminated because it organises coexistence under potentially conflicting conditions.
Higher BMI Is Associated With Wound Breakdown Following Resection of Haglund Deformity
Authors: Morrissette Kali J. , Kutzer Katherine M. , Krez Alexandra N. , Wu Kevin A. , Hinton Zoe W. , Anastasio Albert T. , Hanselman Andrew E. , Schweitzer Karl M. , Adams Samuel B. , Easley Mark E. , Nunley James A. , Amendola Ned
Published: November 2024

Background:

Haglund deformity is characterized by an enlarged posterosuperior calcaneus, often with inflammation of the retrocalcaneal bursa and Achilles tendon. This study aims to determine if obesity is associated with an increased rate of complications after Haglund resection.

Methods:

A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent surgical resection for Haglund deformity from January 2015 to December 2023 at a single academic center. The patient cohort was initially stratified by body mass index (BMI) into normal (BMI < 25), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30), and obese (BMI ≥ 30). For those classified as obese, further subclassification was performed using the standard system: obesity class I (mild obesity) = BMI 30.0-34.9; obesity class II (moderate obesity) = BMI 35.0-39.9; and obesity class III (severe obesity) = BMI ≥40.0. Data on demographics, surgical techniques, and weightbearing were collected and analyzed. Postoperative complications were compared between groups.

Results:

Of the 370 patients included in this study, 20 (5.4%) were classified as normal, 77 (20.8%) were overweight, and 273 (73.8%) were obese. Within the cohort of patients with obesity, 96 (35.2%) were classified as obesity class I, 96 (35.2%) as obesity class II, and 81 (29.7%) as obesity class III. The obese group had a higher proportion of females (70.0%) and Black/African American race (24.5%), and a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (22.0%) and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores compared with other groups. Additionally, analysis within the obesity subclassifications revealed significant differences in smoking status, with a higher proportion of nonsmokers as obesity class increased (58.3% in class I, 76.0% in class II, and 79.0% in class III; P = .01). Follow-up duration averaged 10.5 months, with wound breakdown rates significantly higher in the obese group vs the overweight or normal groups (11.0% vs 2.6% vs 0.0%, P = .02). No significant differences in wound complications or outcomes were observed between patients based on different obesity subclassifications.

Conclusion:

Our findings demonstrate that after Haglund resection, obese patients have a higher risk of complications, particularly wound breakdown. This underscores the necessity of careful patient selection and perioperative optimization.
CD163 Expression in Chronic Intervillositis of Unknown Etiology and SARS-CoV-2 Placentitis
Authors: Terry Jefferson
Published: November 2024

Chronic intervillositis of unknown etiology (CIUE) is an aberrant maternal inflammatory infiltrate comprised primarily of macrophages that collect in the intervillus space and is associated with poor outcomes including recurrent pregnancy loss. An abnormal maternal Th1-type response to pregnancy may be the basis for pathogenesis of CIUE but macrophage in the maternal infiltrate of CIUE have been reported to have an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype characterized by increased expression of CD163. This study assesses expression of CD163 in CIUE and SARS-CoV-2 placentitis, which has a similar histopathological presentation, using an automated approach to minimize observer-related variability. The data show that the maternal inflammatory infiltrate of CIUE contains a blended population of high and low CD163 expressing macrophage with a prominent bias towards an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype when compared to normal control tissue. A similar pattern is seen in SARS-CoV-2 placentitis, suggesting pathophysiologic similarity with CIUE, although SARS-CoV-2 also appears to promote decreased CD163 expression in Hofbauer cells, which is not seen in CIUE.
Comparison of Scheduled Caste Youth Lifestyles and Those of Other Castes in Tamil Nadu: Youth Subculture and Identity
Authors: Subramanian Lalitha , Kattumuri Ruth
Published: November 2024

Social institutions and structures are crucial in shaping individual personalities and facilitating transitions, but systemic barriers can hinder youth’s smooth transition to adulthood and participation in society. When a transition fails, an identity crisis occurs and develops identity confusion as a result they will not have a clear sense of their role in society. No research has been done on the identity problems and transition challenges faced by Scheduled Caste Youth in Tamil Nadu, India. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate how rural youth in Tamil Nadu are influenced by socio-economic, political and cultural factors in forming their identity. Qualitative research techniques like case studies and focus group discussions were employed to examine the perspectives of youth from Katchipattu and Pattunool Chatram villages in Tamil Nadu. The results of the study highlight the significance of sub-cultural context, caste system and social exclusion in shaping youth attitudes and behaviours.
The impact of different forms of exercise on intraocular pressure, blood flow, and the risk for primary open angle glaucoma
Authors: Sidoti Michael , Harris Alon , Coleman-Belin Janet , Verticchio Vercellin Alice , Antman Gal , Oddone Francesco , Carnevale Carmela , Tessone Isaac , Siesky Brent
Published: November 2024

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a chronic disease characterized by progressive optic nerve damage and irreversible loss of vision, often diagnosed at late stages. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the major risk factor for its onset and progression while older age, myopia, genetic factors, blood pressure (BP), and reduced ocular blood flow (OBF) have also been linked to the disease. Different forms of exercise are known to have significant, but variable, effects on IOP, BP, ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), OBF and oxygen metabolism, and ultimately the risk for development and progression of POAG. While population-based studies lack agreement regarding the relationship between exercise and POAG status, data suggests that resistance training causes a short-term increase in IOP, BP, and OPP. Conversely, aerobic exercise has been shown to cause a short-term decrease in IOP and increase in BP and OPP. Research also suggests that following an exercise program over an extended period may lead to a long-term decrease in IOP, however its cessation results in a prompt return to baseline levels. Data suggests normal vascular autoregulation ensures minimal change in OBF following extended exercise unless OPP rises ∼70% above baseline. Although exercise may alter IOP, BP, and OBF, both acutely and chronically, it is currently uncertain if physical activity significantly alters risk for the onset and progression of POAG.
The New Media Art world in Turkey: Boundary-work in action
Authors: Yeğinsü İpek
Published: November 2024

In an age marked by the Post-media condition, the term ‘New Media Art’ remains in use in reference to a professional territory not autonomous, but also different from the territory of Contemporary Art, and its members use various rhetorical tactics to maintain and expand their professional authority. This study aims at analyzing the professional ideology of the New Media Art territory in Turkey using Thomas F. Gieryn’s concept of the ‘boundary-work’. The data obtained via semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with a purposively sampled population of artists, curators and producers are used to assess whether a common cultural repertoire exists in this territory and whether it conforms to or contradicts its global counterpart. The study finds that since the mid-1990s, the professional ideology of the New Media Art territory in Turkey has developed in parallel with the world, but not monolithically. The curators/producers’ ideology is defined by potential for democratization, intersections of art, science and technology, interaction/interactivity and interdisciplinary collaboration. However, they exhibit two repertoire variants positively correlated with the subjects’ career orientations. The artists’ common ideology is similar to the curators’/producers’, but their cultural repertoires are more flexible thanks to the variety of their individual practices. The study concludes that this duality emerges due to the limited funding sources in Turkey.
What puzzles L2 learners about German grammar? Using practitioner research to explore threshold concepts in language curricula
Authors: Crane Cori
Published: November 2024

Taking the perspective of a language program director (LPD), this practitioner research (PR) study describes how analysis of learners’ reflections written for an advanced undergraduate German course in the United States helped an LPD see how students had experienced learning grammar in lower-level instruction. The study analyses a semester-long project based on the PR framework of exploratory practice (EP), in which students ( n = 30) pursued individual questions (‘puzzles’) about German grammar that would be most meaningful to them in their language learning journey. Initial analysis of the students’ questions revealed a general preference among learners to investigate grammar topics previously covered in the lower-division curriculum. In-depth case studies, focused on two learners’ experiences with EP, show how the project allowed students to investigate their grammar puzzles using resources across the entire curriculum, including dialoguing with teachers and students in other courses. The study looks to threshold concept theory to theorize students’ learning experiences vis-à-vis L2 grammar (specifically inflectional morphology, i.e. case markings) and argues that the flexibility of the EP framework and its core tenets of working towards understanding and involving others supported the LPD in seeing how learners understood and felt about German grammar and grammar instruction across the larger curriculum.
Bicultural bilinguals: Juggling languages, shifting ‘personalities’, destroying barriers
Authors: Purpuri Silvia , Treccani Barbara , Filippi Roberto , Mulatti Claudio
Published: November 2024

Purpose and research questions: Despite the amount of existing work about bilingualism and some interesting studies about biculturalism, research somehow lacks interest in considering these two aspects as one big reality, bicultural bilingualism. The aim of this article is to bridge the gap between the linguistic and the cultural components that build bicultural bilinguals and to show the importance of taking into account these two components together to have a complete understanding of the mechanisms that underlie bicultural bilinguals. Key concepts such as the Foreign Language Effect and Bicultural Identity Integration are explored to highlight how language and culture interplay in shaping identity and behaviour. Methodology: By examining the literature on language-dependent frame-switching and the integration of cultural identities, this article highlights the unique characteristics of bicultural bilinguals that differentiate them from both monocultural bilinguals and monolingual biculturalsFindings and conclusions: Bicultural bilinguals are not merely the aggregation of different languages and different cultures. They possess a unique identity that sets them apart from monocultural bilinguals and monolingual biculturals. Significance:This article is among the first to analyse bicultural bilingualism as a unified phenomenon, emphasizing the need to consider both linguistic and cultural dimensions. The findings of this analysis have broader implications for psychology, sociolinguistics, and cultural studies.
Experimental and numerical investigation on the effect of process parameters on joint strength and failure behavior of self-piercing riveted steel/aluminium hybrid joints
Authors: Yu Wanyuan , Wang Chao , Du Zhanpeng , Cheng Aiguo , He Zhicheng
Published: November 2024

To further improve the joint strength and identify the potential failure behavior of self-piercing riveted (SPR) steel/aluminium hybrid joints under shear and cross-tension loading conditions, a simplified 2D-to-3D simulation process chain is proposed. The finite element models (FEM) for the failure process of SPR joints are established in LS-DYNA and verified against experimental results. The effects of rivet strength, sheet material and thickness, and riveting direction on the joint strength and failure behavior of SPR joints are investigated. The results show that when the rivet strength is less than 1.3 GPa, increasing the rivet strength can improve the joint strength of AS joints under shear load and SA joints under cross-tension load. The joint strength of two types of SPR joints increases gradually and then decreases with an increase in thickness ratio Rt. When the steel/aluminium sheet thickness ratio Rsa exceeds 1.47, the aluminium-to-steel direction should be chosen. Increasing material strength can improve the joint strength of two types of SPR joints, while their sensitivities to the material strength vary under different loading conditions. The sheet material, sheet thickness, and riveting direction can change the failure behavior of the joints, while the rivet strength does not alter the failure behavior. This work contributes to understanding the mechanism of joint strength improvement and enhances riveting quality in industrial practice.
Transparency, disclosure and autonomy: Moral judgment and attitudes toward branded content among media workers
Authors: Plaisance Patrick Lee , Chen Jin
Published: November 2024

This study extends the media sociology literature on moral judgment by comparing moral orientations among journalists and non-journalistic media professionals as well as attitudinal differences regarding branded content and related perceptions of transparency, disclosure standards, and perceived job autonomy. Based on a survey sample of the Online News Association membership ( n = 226), journalists placed greater emphasis on organizational disclosure standards than non-journalist counterparts, and branded-content producers had less favorable attitudes toward disclosure. Also, perceived disclosure standards of their organizations negatively predicted individuals’ disclosure attitude. Regression modeling showed morally related variables accounted for a small but notable variance in disclosure-related attitudes.
Tiaki Taoka, designing a Kāi Tahu Māori organisation to work with child protection
Authors: Cleaver Kerri
Published: November 2024

In 2019 Aotearoa New Zealand added an amendment to the child protection legislation that required the state to partner with Māori. This paper looks at a case study of the development of one of the services developed under the legislative amendment. Section 7 AA, Tiaki Taoka. Tiaki Taoka was designed as a Māori service response for Kāi Tahu, the iwi, tribe of the greater area of Te Waipounamu (the South Island). The service was mandated by Kāi Tahu and funded through the state to provide partial child protection services devolved from the state. The design was “by Māori, for Māori and of Māori” culturally nuanced in Kāi Tahu knowledge and experience. The co-design of the service model, Te Rereka Toroa, with Kāi Tahu community is shared alongside important relational work with the child protection system, Oranga Tamariki. Tensions in Māori and state relationships are provided with a critique on the maintenance of power and control by the colonial state and the current political challenges.
Conceptual PlayWorlds: A transformational model for children’s learning and development in an early childhood education setting in Indonesia
Authors: Utami Ade Dwi , Fleer Marilyn , Li Liang
Published: November 2024

Structured and teacher-directed play focused on children’s academic outcomes has proven problematic in Indonesian early childhood education. This contrasts with the PlayWorlds model, which emphasises both the primary activity of play and conceptual learning. However, there has been little research in Indonesia on the pedagogical aspects of the PlayWorlds model in creating conditions for children’s learning and development. The purpose of this study is to highlight the distinctive pedagogical and contextual aspects of Indonesian PlayWorlds by investigating how the implementation of the PlayWorlds model creates conditions for children’s learning and development. Using cultural-historical concepts to analyse the data, the findings reveal a transformational model of PlayWorlds that highlights five key elements: teachers’ role as play partners, the dialectical meaning-making process, degrees of freedom, motives and contradictions, and the unity of emotion and cognition. This model is shown to support pedagogical concepts and practices by providing opportunities for children’s development in play through the integration of imaginative, cognitive and affective skills. It is argued that the transformative paradigm of PlayWorlds as an innovative play pedagogy holds promise for children’s learning and development, while recognising play as their primary activity.
Multi-objective optimization framework based on review of form-finding of architectural parametric forms
Authors: Ramadan Lina A , El Mokadem Ashraf , Badawy Nancy
Published: November 2024

Parametric architecture has played a vital role in architectural design in recent times. Research on early form-finding of architectural forms represents a notable area of study. Despite the significance of energy performance, digital fabrication, and aesthetics as design objectives, there is a lack of a comprehensive framework that integrates them in the form-finding process. To address this gap, this research conducts a systematic review of previous studies on form-finding and optimization of architectural forms, focusing on the three aforementioned objectives. Then, based on the analysis of the selected studies, the research proposes a multi-objective optimization framework for form-finding of architectural parametric forms, considering energy performance, digital fabrication, and aesthetics. The framework comprises five phases: form generation, multi-objective optimization, aesthetic evaluation, geometry rationalization, and digital fabrication of a prototype. This framework is usable by any architect, regardless of their programming knowledge, and is applicable to any new architectural design.
Curcumol Enhances the Sensitivity of Gastric Cancer to Cisplatin Resistance by Inducing Ferroptosis Through the P62/KEAP1/NRF2 Pathway
Authors: Feng Tongfei , Zhou Yanlin , Mao Xiangying , Rui Xiaowei , Cai Lijun
Published: November 2024

Background: Chemoresistance represented one of the challenges in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (GC). Curcumol (CUR) was found to have a certain sensitizing effect on chemoresistance, although the mechanism was not yet fully understood. Purpose: To clarify the ability of CUR to intervene in the sensitivity of GC cells to Cisplatin (CDDP) by regulating the induction of ferroptosis through the P62/KEAP1/NRF2 pathway. Methods: An in vitro resistant cell line was established and treated with CUR for intervention. The synergy was evaluated using synergyfinder3.0 software. The impact of the combined use of CUR and CDDP on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of resistant GC cells was determined. The effect of CUR on ferroptosis in resistant GC cell lines was evaluated by measuring changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, iron ion levels, and the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Western blotting was used to verify the expression changes of the ferroptosis-related indicator GPX4 and the differential expression of the antioxidant-related pathway P62/KEAP1/NRF2, validating the mechanism by which CUR induces ferroptosis in resistant GC cells. In vivo validation was performed using a xenograft mouse model. Results: The evaluation by synergy3.0 revealed a synergistic effect between CUR and CDDP. After treatment with CUR and CDDP, resistant GC cell lines exhibited reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities. Furthermore, the resistant GC cell lines underwent ferroptosis, with significant changes observed in ferroptosis-related indicators such as ROS, MDA, iron ions, and GSH/GSSG. The ferroptosis-related targets Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and the antioxidant pathway P62/KEAP1/NRF2 signaling pathway also showed significant changes. In in vivo validation, the combination of CUR and CDDP inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors and was found to be associated with the inhibition of subcutaneous xenografts and the GPX4 and P62/KEAP1/NRF2 signaling pathways. Conclusion: This study first revealed that CUR enhanced the sensitivity of cisplatin-resistant GC cells to CDDP by inducing ferroptosis. The combination of CUR and CDDP induces ferroptosis in cisplatin-resistant GC through the P62/KEAP1/NRF2 pathway.
Process and mechanism of gradient structural pure copper sheets prepared by extrusion machining
Authors: Li Rujie , Deng Rongbin , Pang Xueqin , Zhong Peixuan
Published: November 2024

Due to the balanced strength-plasticity, gradient structural (GS) materials have received much attention in recent years. Extrusion machining (EM), a new severe plastic deformation, can prepare GS metal sheets in one step. However, studies on the forming mechanism and mechanical properties of GS plates prepared by EM are insufficient, and there is a gap in their microstructure evolution and thermal stability. Combining numerical simulation and experiments, the GS pure copper sheets prepared under different extrusion thicknesses t ch were systematically investigated. The results showed that the prepared sheets exhibited significant gradient distributions in equivalent strain, grain size, and hardness, which could be adjusted by varying t ch. As t ch increased, the material strength decreased, and the elongation tended to increase. Moreover, the increased t ch contributed to a higher lateral extrusion machining ratio. From the coarse-grained layer to fine-grained layer, the grain orientation tended to be randomized. When the annealing temperature exceeded 250°C, the gradient structure gradually disappeared, and the hardness greatly decreased. Upon annealing at 350°C, the tensile strength and elongation approximated the initial annealed samples. Accordingly, the GS sheets prepared by EM possessed better properties and provided relevant guidance to improve the theory and application of related processes.
Correlation of gastro-esophageal reflux disease with asthma control and quality of life: a cross-sectional study from a low-middle income country
Authors: Iqbal Nousheen , Amirali Atiqa , lail Ghulam ullah , Khan Maria Ali , Sial Rabia , Irfan Muhammad
Published: November 2024

Background:

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disease that coexists with asthma and is often responsible for repeated exacerbations, as well as has a negative impact on the quality of life (QoL). However, from our continent, there is limited data available on the exact prevalence of GERD in asthma and its association with asthma control and QoL.

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of GERD in asthma and see its association with asthma control and QoL.

Design:

A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted over 8 months from September 2020 to April 2021.

Methods:

Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma aged 18 years and above were recruited from the outpatient department of pulmonology. Patients’ GERD score was calculated using the FSSG SCALE (Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD) questionnaire and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) was used to determine asthma control. To assess the QoL, the short form of health survey (SF-36) questionnaire was used. Patients were recruited through a convenience sampling technique.

Results:

A total of 190 patients were enrolled, the mean age was 33.7 ± 13.3 years and 55.8% were female. Prevalence of GERD was (136) 71.6%. According to the ACT score, 81 (42.6%) patients had very poorly controlled asthma (mean GERD score of 13.73 ± 7.66), compared to 59 (31.1%) asthmatic patients who had well-controlled asthma (mean GERD score of 11.97 ± 7.39, p = 0.43). SF-36 questionnaire was used to measure QoL showed GERD patients had statistically lower scores in the following domains of QoL: “Role Limitations due to Physical Functioning” (37.78 vs 57.44, p = 0.003), “Energy/Fatigue” (47.47 vs 55.07, p = 0.02), and “Bodily Pain” (63.40 vs 72.84, p = 0.01).

Conclusion:

This study showed a high prevalence of GERD among asthmatic patients with a negative impact on QoL but did not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between GERD and asthma control.
Surgical Margin Definition and Assessment in Head and Neck Oncology: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Canadian Head and Neck Surgeons
Authors: Daniel Ryan C. , Yan Bernie , Chandarana Shamir , Nichols Anthony C. , Eskander Antoine , Enepekides Danny , Higgins Kevin
Published: November 2024

Importance

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are responsible for a significant amount of morbidity and mortality in Canada. Surgical margins are one of the most important factors used to guide treatment; however, currently there is a lack of consensus on the ideal surgical margin definition, sampling, and assessment method.

Objective

To understand the current perspectives and practice patterns of Canadian head and neck surgeons with respect to surgical margin: (1) definition, (2) sampling, (3) pathological assessment.

Design

A 24-question cross-sectional survey was sent via email through the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery (CSOHNS), and responses were gathered from December 19, 2023, to March 12, 2024. Responses were aggregated and reported using descriptive statistics.

Setting/Participants

The survey was conducted in Canada among self-reported staff head and neck oncology surgeons with membership in the CSOHNS.

Results

A total of 36 staff head and neck oncology surgeons responded from across Canada. The most common (58.3%) definition of a negative surgical margin for oral cavity HNSCC was “>5 mm formalin fixed paraffin embedded distance.” To obtain surgical margins, surgeons were split with 44.1% using only a tumor bed approach and 32.4% using only a specimen-driven approach. A dedicated head and neck pathologist is always available more commonly for final pathological assessment (63.6%) versus intraoperative frozen section assessment (15.5%). Finally, most surgeons reported having a synoptic standardized reporting system for annotating margin status (78.8%).

Conclusions/Relevance

The results of this survey provide a current-state analysis of head and neck surgeons across Canada and set the stage for future efforts to be directed toward standardizing the collection method and reporting criteria for surgical margins in HNSCC.
Potential Molecular Mechanisms and Metabolic Networks in Red Ginseng-induced “Shanghuo” (上火)
Authors: Yang Zi , Zhang Yi , Xie Ruifei , Xie Zhijun , Zhao Kai , Fan Yongsheng , Zhao Ting
Published: November 2024

Objective: To comprehensively uncover potential molecular mechanisms and metabolic networks in RG-induced “ Shanghuo”. Red ginseng (RG) could bring out the manifestations of “ Shanghuo”, which mostly presents as redness, swelling, fever, and pain. Methods: The compounds of RG were obtained from the TCMSP and SymMap databases. The putative targets of RG were determined based on the obtained compounds by STITCH. The potential targets of “ Shanghuo” were retrieved from the literature. Those interacted targets of RG and “ Shanghuo” were screened by STRING and conducted networks of RG and “ Shanghuo”. The RG-influenced “ Shanghuo” targets were further analyzed by the STRING and proved by molecular docking. Afterwards, water extract of RG was given to 6 weeks-old rats for 15 days. Observations were carried out to confirm the establishment of “ Shanghuo” model. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were utilized to identify the differential metabolites. Results: Apolipoprotein B and Serum albumin (ALB) were the co-acting targets, while Transient Receptor Potential Channel Vanilloid 1 was a vital target of RG jointing “ Shanghuo” and RG together through the connection via ALB. Ginsenoside Rb1 was the most influential compound of RG to induce “ Shanghuo” by molecular docking. Our study indicated that fat digestion and absorption and cholesterol metabolism the potential mechanism of RG-induced “ Shanghuo”. An acceleration of energy expenditure in the “ Shanghuo” group was additionally verified by conducting the GC-MS method. Conclusion: The disorders in heat dissipation along with the accelerated fat metabolism and overactive energy expenditure might contribute to RG-induced “ Shanghuo”.
Common Cold Coronavirus 229E Induces Higher Interferon Stimulating Gene Responses in Human Nasal Epithelial Cells from Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Polyposis
Authors: Sell Elizabeth A. , Tan Li Hui , Renner David M. , Douglas Jennifer , Lee Robert J. , Kohanski Michael A. , Bosso John V. , Kennedy David W. , Palmer James N. , Adappa Nithin D. , Weiss Susan R. , Cohen Noam A.
Published: November 2024

Background

Viral infections have long been implicated in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Given widespread exposure to the common cold coronavirus 229E (HCoV229E), we sought to investigate how HCoV-229E is cleared and stimulates interferon pathways in air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures from patients with CRSwNP.

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify whether viral clearance and ISG expression is different in ALI cultures from donors with CRSwNP compared with controls.

Methods

Plaque assays were used to quantify infectious virus released by infected air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures derived from patients with CRSwNP compared to patients without CRS (controls). Additionally, mock and induced levels of Interferon Stimulated Genes (ISGs) mRNA following HCoV-229E infection were quantified by RT-qPCR.

Results

Quantification of infectious virus by plaque assay reveals that CRSwNP ALI cultures were equally susceptible to HCoV-229E infection, and surprisingly viral titers dropped significantly faster than in the control ALI cultures. We further demonstrate that this accelerated viral clearance correlates with increased mRNA expression of at least 4 ISGs following viral infection in the CRSwNP ALIs compared to the control ALIs.

Conclusion

This study paradoxically demonstrates that ALI cultures from patients with CRSwNP are more efficient at clearing the common cold HCoV-229E virus compared to controls. We also demonstrate significantly increased ISG mRNA expression following HCoV-229E infection in CRSwNP. These findings call for further investigation into the effect of unimpaired interferon signaling on the type 2 inflammatory environment in patients with CRSwNP.
Consumer perceptions of direct-to-consumer electronic prescription services in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Cossart Amelia R , Kennedy Eloise , Yong Faith R , Hillen Jodie B , Freeman Christopher R
Published: November 2024

Background

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) electronic prescription services (EPS) are a novel addition to the Australian healthcare landscape. This study aimed to explore consumers’ perceptions on how this model of care supports the delivery of best-practice care.

Method

Focus groups participants were recruited through social media and included adults aged 18 years or older, Queensland (Australia) residents, and interested in DTC EPS. Focus groups were conducted via Zoom® and repeated until data saturation. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken to elicit consumer perception themes from focus group discussions and field notes.

Results

Three focus groups were conducted between July and August 2022 and included 13 participants of which two (15%) had previously used DTC EPS. Four major perception themes were induced: (a) Consumer responsibility. There is an assumed level of consumer health literacy leading to an unacceptable burden of responsibility on the patient; (b) System processes appear to be underdeveloped to support best-practice care; (c) Access to convenient and timely healthcare will be improved for many patients, however, out of pocket expenses may promote inequity; and (d) Service model improvements can address safety and quality concerns including integration of the model within existing national digital health platforms.

Conclusion

Participants believed that DTC EPS was a valuable addition to the Australian health care landscape increasing convenient and timely access to medicines for consumers. Participants were concerned that a heavy reliance on health literacy and underdeveloped system processes may lead to unsafe prescribing.
Participatory Censorship With Illusory Empowerment: Algorithmic Folklore and Interpretive Labor beyond Fandom
Authors: Wang Erika Ningxin
Published: November 2024

This article explores the cultural complexities of participatory censorship among young Chinese netizens, particularly within and beyond fan communities, through a digital ethnographic lens. By examining the interplay between social media practices and state governance, the study introduces the concepts of algorithmic folklore and interpretive labor to elucidate how fans engage in censorship as both a routine task and a form of ideological negotiation. Through immersive participant observations and in-depth interviews with 25 informants involved in fan conflicts, the findings highlight that while fans perceive their participation in reporting as a form of empowerment, this engagement paradoxically reinforces state control and self-censorship. The study argues that the dynamics of fan conflicts are intricately linked to broader political contexts, where fans become both agents and subjects of censorship. Ultimately, this research underscores the cultural complexities of participatory censorship, revealing the ways it can obscure deeper systemic inequalities and exploitation within the framework of cultural governance in China.
Poland and the ‘Paradox’ of Immigration: Implications for Educators and Advocates
Authors: McCorkle William , Parven Shahanaz
Published: November 2024

Poland made international news with the unbelievable outpouring of support to Ukrainian refugees from both the government and the local population after the Russian invasion in 2022. As scholars, we travelled to Poland to understand more of this dynamic. Our research with activists and humanitarian workers, however, revealed a more complicated dynamic. We discovered a situation where Poland is both one of the most welcoming countries to those coming from Ukraine and one of the most restrictive on its border with Belarus with migrants coming primarily from nations such as Syria and Afghanistan. Our analysis examines this ‘paradox’ and how it relates to the larger double-standard and inequity in migration policies throughout the world. Of particular importance is the relevance of Poland to the work of immigration activists and educators as they examine the complicated nature of migration and asylum in the modern world.
Transoral Atlantoaxial Reduction Plate (TARP) Technique for the Treatment of Irreducible Atlantoaxial Dislocation (IAAD) Caused by Old Odontoid Fracture
Authors: Zou Xiaobao , Cai Mandi , Yang Haozhi , Zhang Shuang , Deng Chenfu , Chen Junlin , Ma Rencai , Chen Zexing , Xia Hong , Ma Xiangyang
Published: November 2024

Study Design

Retrospective case series study.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of TARP technique for treating IAAD caused by old odontoid fracture and assess the outcomes of patients who underwent TARP technique over 2 years of follow-up.

Methods

Between January 2005 and September 2017, 56 patients with IAAD caused by old odontoid fractures were treated with TARP technique. Patients’ clinical, radiological, and surgical data were retrospectively analyzed. Radiological parameters included the atlantodental interval (ADI) and the space available for the spinal cord (SAC) were measured. Occipitocervical pain levels and neurologic status were evaluated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score respectively. Degree of cervical dysfunction was assessed by Neck Disability Index (NDI). Fusion status was evaluated by images during the follow-ups.

Results

Surgeries for 56 cases were performed successfully with no injury to the spinal cord, nerve, or blood vessels. All patients achieved satisfactory reduction and fixation. Clinical symptomatic relief was obtained in all cases (100%). Patients were followed up for an average of 33.9 ± 9.6 months (ranged 24-60 months). Improvements in the postoperative ADI, SAC, VAS, JOA score and NDI were significant ( P < .05). Besides, Bone fusion was observed in all patients. No hardware failure or re-dislocation occurred during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

TARP technique is an effective procedure for the treatment of IAAD caused by old odontoid fracture, which can achieve complete release, satisfactory decompression, reduction and fixation, and reliable bone fusion through a single transoral approach.
Extremity War Injury Symposium 2024: Sports Medicine and Medical Readiness Section Summary
Authors: Anderson Ashley , Barrow Aaron E. , Bedi Asheesh , Dekker Travis J. , Donohue Michael A. , Dragoo Jason L. , Ficke James R. , Gosselin Michelle M. , Hsu Joseph R. , Renninger Christopher , Sheean Andrew J. , Song Daniel , Spindler Kurt P. , Stinner Daniel J. , Tintle Scott , Tokish John M. , Waltz Robert , Whitney Kaitlyn E. , Yuan Xiaoning ,   Extremity War Injury Symposium Working Group
Published: November 2024

Collaboration between military and civilian investigators is necessary to develop strategies for optimizing treatments to diminish the sequelae of non–battle-related musculoskeletal injuries, which are highly prevalent among servicemembers. The 2024 Extremity War Injuries Symposium provided a forum whereby a diverse group of clinicians and researchers could develop strategies for optimizing treatments and diminishing the sequelae of conditions that are highly prevalent among active individuals. Key points were as follows:

1. The value of collaborations between military and civilian investigators cannot be overemphasized. These synergies can leverage the capabilities of established infrastructures in order to answer important questions pertaining to short-term outcomes—for example, warrior readiness of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions among servicemembers and long-term posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) outcomes among civilian cohorts.

2. Current and future prospective trials will inform future treatment decisions related to multiligamentous knee injuries and glenohumeral instability.

3. Novel approaches to addressing PTOA in the acute postinjury period will need longitudinal surveillance to measure their impact on improving clinical outcomes and diminishing residual functional deficits.