bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can a Single Cue Reduce Bias?
Authors: Singh Balbir , Axt Jordan R. , Correll Joshua
Published: December 2024

Many companies simplify information to ease human decision-making. They assume if the available information is less ambiguous, judgments will be less biased. Prior literature suggests when multiple decision-relevant cues are available, perceivers differentially weigh cues to justify biased decisions. Therefore, if a perceiver has access to only one cue, bias may be reduced. In three studies, participants made several selection decisions. We manipulated the number and ambiguity of the qualifications. In Study 1, participants were more accurate with one versus multiple qualifications. However, increasing accuracy did not significantly reduce bias (i.e., social favoritism when errors are made). In Study 2, changing the label and format of the single qualification increased accuracy but did not significantly reduce bias. In Study 3, reducing the ambiguity of the single qualification through instructions replicated Studies 1 and 2. We observe that reducing the number of cues increases accuracy, but does not necessarily reduce bias.
Informal Caregiving: Health System Cost Implications
Authors: Shearkhani Sara , Bai Yu Qing , Kuluski Kerry , Anderson Geoffrey M. , Wodchis Walter P.
Published: December 2024

Background:

Informal caregiving is seen as a low-cost substitute for care provided by health care professionals. However, caregiving is known to negatively impact caregivers’ health and, subsequently, their health care use and costs. This could potentially offset the caregivers’ contributions to the health care system.

Objective:

We examined the impact of caregiving on costs associated with caregivers’ use of publicly funded health care services in Ontario, Canada, in comparison with non-caregivers.

Methods:

We included Ontarians who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey-Healthy Aging Supplement Survey of 2008/09 and linked responses to health care administrative databases. A difference-in-differences design was used to capture differences in caregivers’ and non-caregivers’ total health care costs 1 and 2 years before and after caregiving start date. Generalized Linear Models were used to model the total health care costs.

Results:

The sample size was 4275 with 1265 caregivers and 3010 non-caregivers. We found that while health care utilization increased over time, it increased by a lesser amount for caregivers than non-caregivers. Adjusted total health care costs for caregivers were 11.32% (SE = 0.05, ρ = 0.02) lower than non-caregivers 2 years into caregiving.

Conclusions:

Our study reveals a critical gap in policy, practice, and research driven by a lack of routine data collection and caregiver identification. It also highlights the need for additional longitudinal research focusing on caregivers’ objective health.
Pathologic and genomic characterization of an outbreak of anthrax-like disease caused by Bacillus tropicus (formerly atypical Bacillus cereus) in red kangaroos (Macropus rufus)
Authors: Santana de Cecco Bianca , Grace Falconnier Naomi , Chen Weiyi , Go Yun Young , Peak Laura , Sasaki Emi , Walsh Christine , Mitchell Maria S. , Carossino Mariano , Del Piero Fabio
Published: December 2024

Atypical Bacillus cereus strains (currently classified as Bacillus tropicus) capable of causing anthrax-like disease in humans and animals have emerged in the last 2 decades. These emerging strains are characterized by the acquisition of virulence plasmids pBCXO1 and pBC210, which are homologous to the pXO1 and pXO2 virulence plasmids of Bacillus anthracis, the agent of anthrax. The aim of this study was to describe the gross, histologic, microbiologic, and molecular features of an outbreak of anthrax-like septicemia caused by B. tropicus in red kangaroos ( Macropus rufus). Three red kangaroos from a wild animal preserve were found dead with no premonitory clinical signs. No changes in husbandry were reported prior to the outbreak. The peracute disease process was characterized by severe splenomegaly, associated with fibrinonecrotizing splenitis in all affected animals, in addition to segmental suppurative enteritis in 2 kangaroos and cutaneous excoriations, with underlying necrotizing cellulitis and lymphadenitis, in 1 kangaroo. Numerous intralesional, gram-positive and capsulated bacilli were identified as the formerly known B. cereus group via bacteriologic culture. Whole-genome sequencing from one of the bacterial isolates (designated 11844) revealed numerous anthrax-like virulence factors, including the pBCXO1 and pBC210 virulence plasmids. This isolate also had a close phylogenetic relationship with other B. tropicus strains carrying these virulence plasmids, including B. tropicus (formerly B. cereus) G9241. This is the first report of B. tropicus leading to anthrax-like disease in kangaroos. This disease form carries significant public health risks due to potential zoonotic transmission.
Teaching Technological Unemployment Through Role-Play: The Luddite Rebellion
Authors: McIntyre Ric
Published: December 2024

This article describes a role-play conducted in a required undergraduate course in history of economic thought and contemporary heterodox economics. Students are given roles as landowners, professionals, capitalists, craftspeople, and workers in immediate post-Luddite Manchester, England. They have to grapple individually and collectively with the disruptive effects of new machinery on personal and social life. Based on their reflections students learned about the contradictory effects of new technology, exploitation and oppression in early industrial capitalism, and influences of economic ideas on action. They also gained experience in public speaking and collective organization.

JEL Classification: A22, B1, O33
Detrital zircon U–Pb ages of the Upper Vindhyan sequence from the Bhander Sandstone of the Bhopal Inlier in Central India and its implications for provenance of the Vindhyan Basin
Authors: Kumari Vandana , Tandon Sampat Kumar , Tomson J. Kallukalam , Ghatak Arundhuti
Published: December 2024

This study presents the detrital zircon U–Pb ages of the Upper Bhander Sandstone from the Bhopal Inlier, Central India. The age spectra of Upper Bhander Sandstone show the dominance of a detrital zircon population between 1,500 and 1,900 Ma, a subordinate cluster of 2,400–2,600 Ma and a single youngest zircon grain of ~770 Ma. These detrital zircon ages correlate with the timing of granite magmatism in Bundelkhand, Aravalli and Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ), implying their derivation from these terranes. The geochemical and geochronological data, together with the existing paleocurrent data, suggest that the magmatic and metasedimentary rocks exposed in the Satpura Mobile Belt (CITZ) are the major sources of the detritus for the Upper Bhander Sandstone exposed in the Bhopal Inlier. These data are combined with existing palaeobiological evidence to address the issue of lack of convergence between geochronology and biochronology of the Upper Vindhyan succession of Son Valley, Central India. The finding of a single grain of zircon of 770 ± 12 Ma as an outlier is a pointer that Vindhyan deposition may have extended into the late Tonian.
Vegetation dynamics and drivers of change in the Central Highlands of Madagascar during the last 6300 years: Pre- and post-human settlement
Authors: Razafimanantsoa Andriantsilavo HI , Bond William J , Gillson Lindsey
Published: December 2024

The Central Highlands region of Madagascar is currently dominated by open and mosaic ecosystems, and the region is targeted for afforestation projects. At present, little is known about the origin of these ecosystems and whether or not they are ancient or anthropogenically derived mosaics. This paper provides new insights into the environmental history and drivers of change in the Central Highlands of Madagascar during the last 6300 years through palaeoecological records from Lake Dangovavy. Our results suggested that open and mosaic ecosystems have been present in the landscape for at least 6000 years that is, 4 cal. ka BP before human settlement (2 cal. ka BP). Between 6.3 and 2 cal. ka BP landscapes were characterized by a mosaic ecosystem dominated by a matrix of open montane grassland and ericoid shrubland with extent forest patches, associated with seasonal variation of rainfall, and fire. A matrix of ericoid shrubland remained abundant in the landscape despite an increase of fire regime and herbivory activities between 2 and 1.1 cal. ka BP. Major changes in the vegetation were recorded during the last millennium with a shift towards a more open C4-dominated grassland associated with high fire frequency and herbivory activities, most likely linked to human influence. Our findings support the notion of the natural presence of open ecosystems on the islands. These shed light on the landscape history which should be considered when setting conservation goals with a particular focus on areas targeted for tree plantations and fire bans like the Central highlands of Madagascar.
Good Apples in Business Barrels: The Moderating Impacts of CEOs’ Business Background and Corporate Governance Training on Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Nguyen Phuong Dung Thi , Lin Jung-Ching , Chou Te-Kuang , Lee Cheng-Yu
Published: December 2024

In the literature, the effect of chief executive officer (CEO) tenure on corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance is found to be positive, negative, or neutral, and we know little about what factors explain variation in firm CSR participation over time. This inconclusive pattern suggests a more complicated mechanism at work than the traditional focus on simple linear associations. This study anchors itself on the upper echelons theory (UET) to unveil the sophisticated effects of CEO tenure on CSR over their regimes. For this purpose, we adopted regression analysis for panel data with random-effects probit specification and considered the data of 1,722 firm-year observations of Taiwanese listed companies in high-tech industries from 2014 to 2021. We, therefore, propose that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between tenure and CSR. Further, sparked by the metaphor for ‘good apples’ or ‘bad apples’ in barrels, this article represents an extended arm of this seminal work to examine how ethics intervention adjusts CSR. We argue that the CEO’s business background (good apples) and corporate governance training (good barrels) moderate this relationship to benefit CSR performance. Beyond its academic contribution, this study offers insights to managers and practitioners that ethics interventions in schooling and later in business stimulate CSR activities.
Exploring the Nature of the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Harm of Mass Public Shootings
Authors: Fogel Sondra J. , Bjerregaard Beth , Holland Britani M.
Published: December 2024

We examine if adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) directly affect the amount of harm (victims and injuries) caused in mass public shootings or whether ACEs have a mediating or moderating influence on a variety of factors previously associated with the amount of harm caused in mass shootings. Using publicly available data, our results show that ACEs do not directly affect harm. In the mediation model, results indicate the number of ACEs experienced by the shooters indirectly affected the harm of the event, but only through the shooters possessing fame-seeking motivations. In the moderation model, the significant interactions show the strongest relationships between ACEs and harm for those without mental distress or life stressors or signs of crisis. Recommendations for future research and practice are offered.
A Comparative Study of Fentanyl Versus Hydromorphone in Mechanically Ventilated Intensive Care Unit Patients
Authors: Beasley Sarah M. , Zaihra Rizvi Tasneem , Grgurich Philip E.
Published: December 2024

Background:

Although the SCCM PADIS guidelines suggest fentanyl or hydromorphone infusions for analgesia during mechanical ventilation (MV), few studies compare patient-centered outcomes.

Objective:

This study evaluated therapeutic outcomes and adverse effects of fentanyl and hydromorphone in MV intensive care unit patients.

Methods:

This single-center, retrospective cohort study evaluated adult MV patients who were intubated for 1 to 14 days and received either hydromorphone or fentanyl infusion for analgesia, while targeting light sedation. The primary endpoint was 28-day MV-free survival. Select secondary endpoints included cumulative and hourly opioid doses during MV, duration of MV, and time within goal pain and sedation score ranges during MV. Multivariate regression analysis was performed for patients intubated more than 72 hours.

Results:

A total of 238 patients were included; 144 received fentanyl and 94 received hydromorphone. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups with a median age of 66 years, weight 78 kg, and 33% female. Median 28-day MV-free survival was 22 and 21 days for the fentanyl and hydromorphone groups, respectively ( P = 0.36). Patients given fentanyl received higher cumulative opioid doses, expressed in fentanyl equivalents, during MV compared to hydromorphone-treated patients, 4241 (interquartile range [IQR] 1817-8146) mcg and 2448 (IQR 1012-4926) mcg ( P < 0.001), respectively, and higher hourly average doses, 55 (IQR 39-75) mcg/h and 37 (IQR 29-51) mcg/h ( P < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion and Relevance:

There was no difference in 28-day MV-free survival with fentanyl- and hydromorphone-based analgesia, but hydromorphone was associated with lower cumulative and hourly opioid requirements.
Health Literacy Among Sexual and Gender-Diverse Adolescents in New York City
Authors: Marshall Abby , Mackson Grace , Kaighobadi Farnaz , Hoffman Neal D. , Ciarleglio Adam , Sandfort Theo G. M.
Published: December 2024

This study explored sexual orientation and gender identity as predictors of health literacy among adolescents attending New York City (NYC) public high schools. Many studies have demonstrated disparities in sexual health among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents. However, little is known about their health literacy. Health literacy, defined as the capacity to acquire, understand, appraise, and apply health information, especially in health decision-making, is a known predictor of health. Data came from a quantitative cross-sectional survey ( N = 1,438) collected at 15 high schools in the Bronx, NYC. Four aspects of health literacy were explored: (1) knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), (2) knowledge of sexual health rights in New York State, (3) health access literacy and self-efficacy, and (4) health communication. Linear regression analysis was used to test predictors of health literacy. Contrary to our hypothesis, SGM adolescents did not score significantly lower on the health literacy variables compared with cisgender heterosexual adolescents. SGM adolescents scored significantly higher on knowledge of STIs and knowledge of health rights compared with cisgender heterosexual young men. Adolescents who were questioning their sexual identity scored significantly lower compared with both SGM and cisgender heterosexual adolescents on all four health literacy scales. Interventions are needed to ensure that in-school curricula are inclusive and address health literacy among questioning adolescents and cisgender heterosexual young men. Addressing the health needs of questioning adolescents is particularly important because adolescence is a critical time of decision-making around sexuality and health.
Analysis of the training, self-perception and information competence of young people in Spain in internet search strategies / Análisis de la formación, autopercepción y competencias informacionales de los jóvenes españoles sobre sus estrategias de búsqueda en Internet
Authors: Beriain-Bañares Ana , de Vicente-Domínguez Aida-María , Sierra-Sánchez Javier
Published: December 2024

European guidelines have stressed the urgent need to train citizens in competencies related to the search for information on the internet, and this study offers, for the first time, an overview of the information literacy of young people in Spain aged between 18 and 25. The objectives are: to learn what training they have received and their interest in learning; to investigate their self-perception; and to analyse their search skills. The method consists of a descriptive quantitative study in which a structured questionnaire was administered to a representative sample of the population studied ( n = 500), with a sampling error of ± 4.47% and a confidence level of 95%. The data are weighted according to socio-demographic variables (gender, age, level of education, social class, habitat size and geographical area) to analyse whether there are statistically significant differences using the chi-squared test. The results indicate that in this area, they have not been trained, are self-taught and, although they believe they know how to search on the internet, do not know how and where to search beyond a beginner’s level. It is concluded that this population is failing in this information competence and that there is a digital divide that needs to be bridged as a matter of urgency.
Paradigmatic disharmonies and dilemmas in special educational practices for Sámi children and youth in Norway
Authors: Lindblom Anne , Jannok Nutti Ylva
Published: December 2024

The Sámi are the only recognised Indigenous peoples in Europe. The traditional homeland, Sápmi, stretches today over the countries Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola peninsula in Russia. The aim of this article is to pinpoint critical issues related to special educational support for Sámi children and youth in Norway. Research on this topic is scarce. Research conversations were held in 2022 with 10 Sámi special education teachers. The Sámi special education teachers’ narratives reveal how their language proficiency, cultural and subject knowledge, and special educational competencies allow them to bridge the paradigmatic disharmonies and dilemmas in special educational practices in Norway to various extent. To illustrate the results the article presents three scenarios depicting the Sámi special education teacher as a strong instrumentalist bridging between paradigmatic disharmonies; as a frustrated player constantly improvising to find the harmony; or playing an instrument that is not included in the symphony.
Use of brain MRI and gene expression atlases to reconstruct the pathophysiology of autoimmune neurological disorders: The proof-of-concept of NMOSD
Authors: Cacciaguerra Laura , Storelli Loredana , Pagani Elisabetta , Preziosa Paolo , Mesaros Sharlota , Martinelli Vittorio , Moiola Lucia , Radaelli Marta , Ivanovic Jovana , Tamas Olivera , Drulovic Jelena , Filippi Massimo , Rocca Maria A
Published: December 2024

Background:

The understanding of disease pathophysiology is pivotal for tailored treatments. The spatial distribution of brain damage relies on the regional antigen expression and the local balance of susceptibility and protective elements.

Objective:

As proof-of-concept, we investigated the spatial association between brain damage and gene expression in aquaporin-4-IgG-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4 + NMOSD).

Methods:

In this multicenter cross-sectional study, 90 AQP4 + NMOSD patients and 94 age-matched healthy controls underwent a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We used T2-hyperintense lesion probability maps and white/gray matter atrophy as proxies of inflammation and neurodegeneration. The association with the expression of 266 candidate genes was obtained with the Multimodal Environment for Neuroimaging and Genomic Analysis platform. A functional-enrichment analysis investigated overrepresented biological processes.

Results:

In AQP4 + NMOSD, T2-hyperintense lesions were mainly periventricular; atrophy mostly involved the visual pathway. The expression of AQP4 and complement (C4a and C5) was associated with both inflammation and neurodegeneration. Complement activation and regulation/uptake of the insulin-like growth factor were the most relevant enriched pathways. Nonspecific pathways related to DNA synthesis and repair were associated with brain atrophy.

Conclusions:

Quantitative MRI and gene expression atlas identified the key elements of AQP4 + NMOSD pathophysiology. This analysis could help in understanding the pathophysiology of antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders.
“I felt like a woman”: A phenomenological qualitative study of disease-related experiences in Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH syndrome)
Authors: Güner Perihan , Ulukaya Tuğba , Pehlivan Sarıbudak Tuğba
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to examine the psychosocial problems and their effects experienced by individuals diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH syndrome) who had undergone surgical operations. Ten patients who had undergone a McIndoe operation after a MRKH syndrome diagnosis were recruited with a convenience sample. Data collection was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a university hospital in Türkiye. This study produced four main themes: (1) Emotional Turmoil Upon Diagnosis, (2) Challenges to Sexual Identity and Intimate Relationships, (3) The Profound Impact of Infertility, and (4) Navigating the Complexities of Surgical Treatment. This study revealed that MRKH syndrome individuals experienced psychological reactions such as shock, resentment, anger, and sadness throughout their journey with the disease, including both before and after undergoing surgical operations. The study sheds light on the psychological needs of individuals (particularly during the initial diagnosis and postoperative period), offering important implications for nurses caring for such individuals.
Distress and health-related quality of life among people living with type 2 diabetes: An analysis of moderated mediation roles of mindfulness and social support
Authors: Onu Desmond Uchechukwu , Igwe Elisha John
Published: December 2024

Type 2 diabetes patients often experience distress that adversely impacts their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, studies remain scarce on the pathways explaining the poor health outcomes. This study investigated the mediating link between diabetes distress (DD) and HRQoL through mindfulness and the moderating role of social support in this link. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, 276 type 2 diabetes patients completed measures of relevant variables. Results of moderated mediation analysis showed that social support moderated the mediating effect of mindfulness in the link between DD and HRQoL. Intervention may integrate mindfulness-based therapies with targeted support enhancements to improve patients’ health.
Can lexical and morphosyntactic dialect features be acquired by L3 speakers? The case of Poles in Tromsø
Authors: Castle Chloe , Jensberg Helene Ruud , Velnić Marta , Malarski Kamil , Jensen Isabel Nadine , Wrembel Magdalena
Published: December 2024

Aims and Objectives/Purpose/Research Questions:

There is scant literature on second dialect acquisition for both L1 and L2 speakers (Drummond, 2013; Gnevsheva et al., 2022), with no literature on L3 speakers. In this article, we focus on dialect acquisition in multilinguals, in participants’ third or additional language acquired in adulthood. We explore this in the context of Norway, a country with significant dialectal variation and where dialects have relative prestige.

Design/Methodology/Approach:

A translation task and an acceptability judgement task (AJT) were used to assess Polish–English–Norwegian speakers’ production (in the lexicon) and perception (in morphosyntax) of the Tromsø dialect.

Data and Analysis:

We assessed use of dialect forms in the translation task between groups (L1 Norwegian-L2 English and L1 Polish-L2 English-L3 Norwegian) with a linear mixed effects model. We also used Random Forests and a linear mixed effects model to assess dialect use within the L1 Polish group against seventeen sociolinguistic and linguistic variables. Finally, we used a linear mixed effects model to examine AJT responses between groups.

Findings/conclusions:

We find that some participants use the Tromsø dialect in production (albeit variably), and key predictors of this are how much they like the Tromsø dialect and passive language use in Norwegian. Participants do not appear to be sensitive to dialectal differences in morphosyntax.

Significance/Implications:

L3 learners who immigrated as adults can and do use the local dialect, and this use is modulated by social factors. In addition, such learners seem more able to use and exploit their knowledge of dialectal differences at the lexical level.
Onboard optical fuel sensing for enhanced combustion control in a multi-fuel compression-ignition engine
Authors: Okada Haruna , Abraham Abhinav , Patel Dev , Ambre Dhananjay , Raju Sathya Aswath Govind , Stafford Jacob , Narasimhamurthy Niranjan Miganakallu , Mayhew Eric , Kim Kenneth , Temme Jacob , Kweon Chol-Bum Mike , Brezinsky Kenneth , Lynch Patrick , Sun Zongxuan , Rothamer David , Sanders Scott
Published: December 2024

Compression-ignition (CI) engines with an ignition assistant can be made to operate on a wide range of fuels. The operation of such engines is most efficient and reliable if engine controls capable of real-time adjustments based on fuel cetane number (CN) are implemented. This study demonstrates a closed-loop engine control system using optical fuel sensing during fuel switches between two jet fuel blends with derived cetane numbers (DCN) of 45.80 and 32.79. Three fuel sensors utilizing Raman, dispersive near-infrared (NIR), and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were integrated in-line in a CI engine test cell to infer the DCN of the fuel upstream of the high-pressure common-rail pump. The engine control utilized the NIR sensor measurements to set CN estimation bounds. These bounds served as control inputs for regulating start of combustion (SOC) by adjusting start of injection and power delivered to an ignition assistant. All three fuel sensors provided accurate DCN estimates throughout the fuel switches, with errors of at most 6%, as validated by samples collected and tested using an Ignition Quality Tester (IQT). The engine control effectively utilized the fuel sensor measurements to maintain SOC within ±1 crank-angle degree of the desired value. Without the implemented system, misfires in engine operation are expected.
A robust hybrid method for damage detection under varying environmental conditions
Authors: Pan Yuhang , Sharif Khodaei Zahra , Aliabadi M. H. Ferri
Published: December 2024

This paper presents a hybrid structural health monitoring (SHM) approach that combines the high damage sensitivity of guided waves with the temperature resilience of modal analysis, enabling damage detection in plates with varying material properties under different temperature conditions, without the need for extensive baseline data or temperature compensation. To validate this approach, a series of experiments were designed and carried out on plates equipped with four Piezoelectric transducers to actuate and receive guided waves to obtain the transmissibility functions (TFs) of structures under different temperature conditions ranging from 20°C to 60°C. The changes in correlation coefficients of TFs between the current and baseline states were selected as damage-sensitive features, with the Mahalanobis distance (MD) calculated as a damage indicator. The proposed method was experimentally verified on an aluminum plate (M1), a quasi-isotropic composite plate (M2), and an anisotropic curved composite plate (M3). Results demonstrate high accuracy in detecting damage at five different locations on the M1 plate, both inside and outside the sensor coverage area, over the temperature range of 20°C–60°C. Furthermore, the proposed method successfully detected damage on the M2 and M3 plates over temperature ranges of 20°C–40°C and 20°C–30°C, respectively. Finally, the performance of the proposed methodology was evaluated using an alternative actuator, thereby mitigating potential uncertainties arising from variations in sensor locations. This work highlights a practical and efficient SHM solution, offering accurate damage detection across variable environmental conditions with a simplified experimental setup and minimal baseline requirements.
A New Design for Aortic Arch Surgery: Ex Vivo Implantation and Computerized Flow Evaluation of the ISLAND Graft
Authors: Chiariello Giovanni A. , Bruno Piergiorgio , Heijmen Robin , Mecozzi Gianclaudio , Mariani Massimo , Boumpouli Maria , Mazza Andrea , Pavone Natalia , Zamboni Paolo , Massetti Massimo , Zeitani Jacob
Published: December 2024

Objective:

Both the en bloc island technique and the branched graft technique (BGT) present advantages but also limitations in aortic arch surgery. Here is the first presentation of an innovative prosthesis for aortic arch replacement, conceived to overcome the disadvantages of both techniques.

Methods:

The novel ISLAND graft is a tubular Dacron or hybrid prosthesis with an additional extended Dacron graft (“bubble”) on the superior aspect, for en bloc island graft anastomosis. To verify the technical feasibility, following bench study, 3 prostheses were implanted in human cadavers in which the distal anastomosis was performed either in zone 2 or 3. A flow analysis and a computational simulation were performed in different configurations. The flows of the “full-bubble,” the “cut-bubble,” and the traditional branched grafts were compared. The wall shear stress, time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillatory stress index (OSI), and relative residence time (RRT) were compared in the 3 settings.

Results:

The novel prosthesis appeared easy to implant with significant technical advantages. The manipulation of epiaortic vessels was reduced with expected lower risk of neurologic events. The fenestration of the external cuff could be tailored to the island segment, thus eliminating most pathological aortic tissue. The flows in the supraortic branches were more favorable in the ISLAND graft, in which the angles of the branches were maintained, and with reduced cuff height (cut-bubble), in which higher values of TAWSS and lower values of OSI and RRT were calculated.

Conclusions:

The novel ISLAND graft device overcomes the disadvantages of the traditional island technique and benefits from the advantages of the BGT. Given the first results, the next step would represent the in vivo implantation.
Estimating treatment effects from a randomized controlled trial with mid-trial design changes
Authors: Paul Sudeshna , Choi Jaeun , Song Mi-Kyung
Published: December 2024

Background

In randomized controlled trials (RCTs), unplanned design modifications due to unexpected circumstances are seldom reported. Naively lumping data from pre- and post-design changes to estimate the size of the treatment effect, as planned in the original study, can introduce systematic bias and limit interpretability of the trial findings. There has been limited discussion on how to estimate the treatment effect when an RCT undergoes major design changes during the trial. Using our recently completed RCT, which underwent multiple design changes, as an example, we examined the statistical implications of design changes on the treatment effect estimates.

Methods

Our example RCT aimed to test an advance care planning intervention targeting dementia patients and their surrogate decision-makers compared to usual care. The original trial underwent two major mid-trial design changes resulting in three smaller studies. The changes included altering the number of study arms and adding new recruitment sites, thus perturbing the initial statistical assumptions. We used a simulation study to mimic these design modifications in our RCT, generate independent patient-level data and evaluate naïve lumping of data, a two-stage fixed-effect and random-effect meta-analysis model to obtain an average effect size estimate from all studies. Standardized mean-difference and odds-ratio estimates at post-intervention were used as effect sizes for continuous and binary outcomes, respectively. The performance of the estimates from different methods were compared by studying their statistical properties (e.g. bias, mean squared error, and coverage probability of 95% confidence intervals).

Results

When between-design heterogeneity is negligible, the fixed- and random-effect meta-analysis models yielded accurate and precise effect-size estimates for both continuous and binary data. As between-design heterogeneity increased, the estimates from random meta-analysis methods indicated less bias and higher coverage probability compared to the naïve and fixed-effect methods, however the mean squared error was higher indicating greater uncertainty arising from a small number of studies. The between-study heterogeneity parameter was not precisely estimable due to fewer studies. With increasing sample sizes within each study, the effect-size estimates showed improved precision and statistical power.

Conclusions

When a trial undergoes unplanned major design changes, the statistical approach to estimate the treatment effect needs to be determined carefully. Naïve lumping of data across designs is not appropriate even when the overall goal of the trial remains unchanged. Understanding the implications of the different aspects of design changes and accounting for them in the analysis of the data are essential for internal validity and reporting of the trial findings. Importantly, investigators must disclose the design changes clearly in their study reports.
The Promise of Adjunct Medications in Improving Type 1 Diabetes Outcomes: Glucagon-like Peptide Receptor Agonists
Authors: Seetharaman Sujatha , Cengiz Eda
Published: December 2024

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) necessitates lifelong insulin therapy due to the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Despite advancements in diabetes technology and insulin formulations, maintaining optimal glycemic outcomes remains challenging in these individuals. Obesity, accompanied by insulin resistance, is common not only in type 2 diabetes (T2D) but also in many individuals with T1D. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), approved for T2D and obesity, are now being explored for off-label use in individuals with T1D. This review examines their efficacy, safety, and potential benefits in T1D management. We reviewed articles published up to May 2024 from databases like PubMed and Scopus, mainly focusing on human studies of GLP-1 RAs in T1D, as well as cardiorenal and metabolic outcomes in individuals with T2D and obesity. Semaglutide and other GLP-1 RAs showed significant improvements in glycemic outcomes, hemoglobin A1c levels, reduced insulin doses, and notable weight loss. Studies in individuals with obesity and T2D showed significant improvements in lipid profile and offered cardiorenal protection. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues, and while some studies reported hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and ketosis, others did not. Despite these challenges, GLP-1 RAs offer significant therapeutic benefits, making them a promising adjunct to insulin therapy for improving clinical outcomes in T1D management.
Postoperative Outcomes of Combined Phacovitrectomy for Epiretinal Membrane With a Concurrent Cataract vs Standalone Phacoemulsification for a Cataract
Authors: El-Ali Oubada , Koklanis Konstandina , Vukicevic Meri , Heriot Wilson J.
Published: December 2024

Purpose: To compare the postoperative outcomes after combined phacovitrectomy for epiretinal membrane and cataract (combined group) vs standalone phacoemulsification (control group). Methods: A systematic literature search of Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library was performed. The primary outcomes were the refractive predictive error and mean absolute error expressed as the spherical equivalent. Secondary outcomes were the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The weighted mean prediction error was calculated, and the mean absolute error outcomes were combined for a meta-analysis. When a meta-analysis was not feasible, a narrative synthesis was performed. Results: Of 3632 articles identified in the database search, 6 retrospective case control studies and 1 prospective case study met the inclusion criteria. The 7 studies comprised a total of 584 eyes (combined group, 278 eyes; control group, 306 eyes). The combined weighted mean (±SD) prediction error was −0.41 ± 0.85 D in the combined group, showing a myopic shift, and 0.09 ± 0.45 D in the control group. The meta-analysis for the postoperative mean absolute error showed a significant difference between groups (mean deviation, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.02-0.17; P = .01), favoring the control group. The mean BCVA was 0.34 ± 0.21 logMAR in the combined group and 0.575 ± 0.23 logMAR in the control group (Snellen equivalent, 6/12 and 6/19, respectively). Conclusions: The results of the meta-analysis showed that phacovitrectomy for ERM and concurrent cataract leads to higher prediction errors than standalone phacoemulsification for cataract. However, the postoperative BCVA was comparable between the 2 procedures.
Effect of artificial intelligence on economic growth in European countries: a symmetric and asymmetric cointegration based on linear and non-linear ARDL approach
Authors: Kalai Maha , Becha Hamdi , Helali Kamel
Published: December 2024

The impact of accelerated advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) on economic development remains a topic of debate in the current era. It is thought by some that AI has the potential to stimulate economic development; however, the precise function of AI remains uncertain. In order to investigate the influence of AI on economic growth in 30 European countries between 2000 and 2021, this study employed both the symmetric (PMG-ARDL) and asymmetric (PMG-NARDL) models. The ARDL model's results suggest that AI has a stimulating effect on economic development. A 0.217% increase in long-term economic growth is associated with an increase in AI. In the NARDL model, the growth of the economy was observed to be increased by 0.026% as a result of positive shocks to the positive AI variable. Conversely, negative shocks were found to have a negative impact, with a decrease of 0.029% in economic growth. It is posited that AI may stimulate economic development by increasing efficiency, promoting economies of scale, enhancing the quality of products and services, and improving working conditions. Furthermore, the study identifies the displacement of employment, the rising costs of training and adaptation, and the expansion of economic and social inequality. To address these challenges, policymakers must facilitate the creation of alternative employment opportunities, promote the development of new AI-driven industries, and implement rehabilitation programs for workers at risk of automation. Balancing technological advancement with job preservation and high-quality employment necessitates a collaborative approach between public and private sectors.
The powerless bosses: the working day experience of bicycle messengers and its impact on their identities and wellbeing
Authors: Hjelle Iben Østin , Nordrum Helle , Wentzeck Julian-Werner , Teymoori Ali
Published: December 2024

Background

Bicycle messengers in the online food delivery sector typically work on an on-demand basis, have digitally mediated relationships with their employer, and have very limited labor rights. In this study, we explore how bicycle messengers themselves experience their workday and how platform work influences their identity and wellbeing.

Method

We conducted qualitative interviews with ten bicycle messengers working for Foodora and Wolt in Bergen and Oslo, Norway. We used reflexive thematic analysis to analyze the interviews.

Results

We discerned five themes related to the dynamics of autonomy versus algorithmic control, the reduction of workers’ identity to the courier role, lack of collegial bonding among bicycle messengers, physical demands and risks of the job, and the transitory nature of courier work.

Conclusion

The working experience of bicycle messengers is marked by a paradoxical sense of autonomy and powerlessness in the face of algorithmic control, a perceived sense of devaluation by others and its reproduction among their own colleagues, and competitive and at times hostile intra- and inter-group dynamics. We explore the implications of such working experiences for bicycle messengers’ wellbeing and identity within this newly evolving form of labor.
Location, Location, Location
Authors: Card David , Rothstein Jesse , Yi Moises
Published: December 2024

We use linked employer–employee data to study the causal effects of location on earnings in the United States. We estimate a model with employer and employee effects, then aggregate to the commuting zone (CZ) level. Sorting across firms biases traditional “movers” designs. Our model accurately predicts earnings changes for CZ movers after accounting for firm sorting. Worker skills explain half of observed earnings differences across CZs; observable characteristics understate this. Industry composition explains little of average place effects. Costs at least offset CZ earnings premia on average; workers who move to higher-wage CZs have equal or lower real consumption. (JEL J24, J31, R23, R32)
Pseudo-Aristotle’s Risa lat al-Tuff ah a: Its History and Critical Edition with Remarks on its Possible Authorship and an Overview of its Contents
Authors: Bakır Muhammed Burak
Published: December 2024

This article examines Pseudo-Aristotle’s Risālat al-Tuffāḥa or Kitāb al-Tuffāḥa (Lat. Liber de Pomo, Eng. The Book of the Apple) in terms of its history, possible authorship, and manuscripts, presents an overview of its contents and includes a critical edition of its complete Arabic version, which has never been critically edited before. The edition is based on the manuscript closest to the original Arabic version of the treatise, and a comparison with a second complete manuscript was made. The present article argues that Risālat al-Tuffāḥa was first compiled in Arabic within al-Kindī’s circle, then appropriated by Bāṭinī-Ismāʿīlī and Hermetic traditions, and circulated in the literature of gnomologia and the books of ṭabaqāt. However, it was not an acceptable treatise according to Mashshāʾī philosophers due to their emphasis on scientificity and awareness of its pseudepigraphy. Moreover, the Hebrew-Latin tradition’s interest in the treatise is notable, as it was part of their broader effort to appropriate all of Aristotle’s works, thereby facilitating the acceptance of philosophy in Jewish and Christian societies. Consequently, Pseudo-Aristotle’s Risālat al-Tuffāḥa is a religious-philosophical work that facilitated the reconciliation of philosophy and religion and was circulated in the Islamic, Jewish, and Christian worlds for this very reason.
Jacobus Erasmus. The Kalām Cosmological Argument: A Reassessment
Authors: Bulğen Mehmet
Published: December 2024

Jacobus Erasmus. The Kalām Cosmological Argument: A Reassessment
Laura Hassan. Ash‘arism Encounters Avicennism: Sayf al-Dīn al-Āmidī on Creation
Authors: Demir Osman
Published: December 2024

Laura Hassan. Ash‘arism Encounters Avicennism: Sayf al-Dīn al-Āmidī on Creation.
Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press LLC, 2020. xi+317 pages. ISBN:‎ 9781463207199.
Orhan Güneş. Eski ile Yeniye Bakmak: Bir Âlimin Gözünden Modern Astronomi. Hayâtîzâde’nin Efkâru’l-Ceberût Adlı Eseri [Looking from the Old to the New: Modern Astronomy Through the Eyes of a Scholar. Hayātīzāde’s Work Entitled Afkār al-jabarūt]
Authors: Danışan Gaye
Published: December 2024

Orhan Güneş. Eski ile Yeniye Bakmak: Bir Âlimin Gözünden Modern Astronomi.
Hayâtîzâde’nin Efkâru’l-Ceberût Adlı Eseri [Looking from the Old to the New: Modern
Astronomy Through the Eyes of a Scholar. Hayātīzāde’s Work Entitled Afkār al-jabarūt].
Istanbul: Ketebe, 2021. 538 pages. ISBN: 9786257587921.
ἐγώ, ἡμεῖϛ, ὑμεῖϛ – Constructing Identity of a Speaker in Reference to His Audience in the Political Speeches of Demosthenes and the Political Writings of Isocrates
Authors: Janik Joanna
Published: December 2024

In this paper I would like to focus on the very basic philological question of frequency and context of utterances in the first person singular and plural as well as the second person plural in the deliberative speeches of Demosthenes and the political writings of Isocrates imitating deliberative speech. In this genre of oratory self-presentation of a speaker and the way he constructs his relationship with the audience seem crucial for the effectiveness of persuasion. In this respect, it is interesting to notice differences between Demosthenes and Isocrates. Both clearly mark their own positions as opposed to opinions of the others and eagerly employ verbs in the first person singular (or personal pronouns ‘mine’, ‘my’), especially in the opening sections of speeches, but, when it comes to the analysis of past events, the deliberation of present condition or advice for the future, Demosthenes tends to speak in the second person plural standing literally and metaphorically versus the Athenians, while Isocrates chooses the first person plural as if he was trying to erase the division between himself and his audience.This tendency might be explained by aesthetic preferences and individual dispositions of both orators, nevertheless I would like to argue that some less subjective reason could be taken into consideration.
In Lampadem mundani splendoris acceditur
Authors: Komorowska Joanna
Published: December 2024

The article proposes the reading of Capella’s NMPh I 14–15 and the relevant encounter of Mercury and Apollo against the background of contemporary astrological doctrine. The carefully outlined astrological semantics of the seven rivers and of the subsequent rising of Apollo/the Sun provide an additional insight into the complex and multilayered nature of Mercury’s travels as portrayed by Martianus, but also furnish an important indication of the overall importance of the astrological component in the work.
From Jupiter’s Rod to the School Mace
Authors: Peressin Roberto
Published: December 2024

The article presents an edition, prose translation, and commentary concerning a Humanist Greek poem composed by Michael Retell and published in Danzig in 1571. The poem is dedicated to the origin of the academic mace as a symbol of authority and power within the Danzig academic school (Gymnasium Dantiscanum). Through an analysis of this text, the study aims to shed light on some organisational aspects of the renowned Reformed school during its formative period and to highlight the contributions of a talented yet lesser-known Hellenist of the Polish Renaissance.
When You Praise the Ruler, Do not Hesitate to Boast Your Own Talent – Analysis of the Poem Heraclias, Book I, Verses: 1–139 of George of Pisidia
Authors: Samoń-Trzos Magdalena
Published: December 2024

The poems of George of Pisidia – the court poet of the Emperor Heraclius – are not only an important historical source for the reign of this Byzantine ruler, but also an expression of the extraordinary erudition and talent of their author. The subject of this article is an analysis concerning a fragment of one of them – Heraclias. In this epic, which is a praise of the emperor’s reign, the poet with true virtuosity weaves references to the traditions and culture of pagan and Christian antiquity into the historical narrative. Based on rhetorical recommendations, he gives his poem a laudatory character. Pisides creates an extraordinary, surprisingly coherent work. The poet’s erudition is revealed not only by the content but also by the compositional devices of his works.