bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formation of professional skills of future physical culture and sports specialists
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Shynkarov Serhii , Shynkarova Olena ,   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Вrusak Oleksandr ,   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University
Published: September 2024

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the peculiarities of the formation of professional skills of future specialists in physical culture and sports in institutions of higher education. The article notes that high professional competence and qualifications are the key to demand for a specialist in the labor market. At the same time, the deepening of theoretical general educational, general scientific and general professional training, which is connected with the fundamentalization of education, acquires special significance. At the same time, in recent years, the quality of professional training has been increasingly emphasized, the main task of which is the formation of a highly professional personality, adapted to the realities of modern Ukrainian reality, with a high motivation to improve one’s professional skills. Improving the professional training of future physical culture and sports specialists at the current stage requires more effective ways of organizing the educational and pedagogical process, raising it to a modern technological level using an innovative approach to education. Work on improving the professional skills of future physical education teachers made it possible to establish that the introduction of innovative technologies is preceded by a conscious and well-thought-out program of actions on the organization of the educational process and professional training. Specialists in the field of physical education and sports are constantly searching for the most effective forms and methods of organizing educational and training work with students of higher education, which set high requirements for the level of professional preparation of future specialists in institutions of higher education and their work on finding ways to improve the professional skills of future specialists physical culture and sports. In the formation of professional skills of future specialists in physical education and sports, it is necessary to harmonize general cultural, psychological-pedagogical and methodical knowledge, skills, methods of activity, to strengthen their professional orientation, to ensure the fundamentality of basic training.
Study of teenagers' motivation for motor activity
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Polulyaschenko Tetiana , Haydai Anastasiia ,   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Vasetskyi Ihor ,   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University
Published: September 2024

The study of the motivation of teenagers for physical activity is reflected in the National strategy for healthy physical activity in Ukraine for the period until 2025 "Physical activity – a healthy lifestyle – a healthy nation" one of the main problems of our time is raised – creatіng an opportunity for healthy physical activity and the involvement of young people to leading a healthy lifestyle. In the process of research, negative trends in the state of health of the population of Ukraine, as a result of socioeconomic problems and Russian aggression during martial law, state strategy in the field of education were taken into account. The article reveals the main problem of formation of motivation to engage in physical exercises, which are aimed at ensuring optimal motor activity of each person throughout life, including schoolchildren. The article highlights the problem of students' attitude to physical education and sports, the level of positive stable attitude, uncertain attitude, negative stable attitude is clarified. The types of motivations, internal and external, and their influence on the choice of types of motor activity and their use during physical education and sports are clarified. Described priority directions of the development of the modern system of physical education that affect the upbringing and development of the student's personality, increasing motivation for classes by means of new types of motor activity and constant changes. The presented problems are characterized by a number of contradictions between: − the need to motivate children and young people to engage in physical culture and sports in general secondary education institutions and the insufficient level of motivation among students for physical activity; − theneed to develop healthy lifestyle skills and the lack of motivational potential in adolescent students. The authors drew attention to the use of modern means of motor activity with students of teenage age in the conditions of martial law with the use of individual and differentiated approaches. The insufficiency of theoretical developments and methodical publications on the issues of formation of motivation for physical education among students determined the choice of the topic. The article highlights the impact on the motivation of students due to the use of various motor activities. The influence of various types of motor activity of students on the level of motivation for physical education and sports has been proven.
Dental problems erode learning
Authors: Simpson Fiona
Published: September 2024

Experts warn an increase in decay and a decline in dental services is impacting school attendance
Virtual schools' expanded remit needs more cash
Authors: Rallings Jon
Published: September 2024

Jon Rallings, senior policy adviser, children's social care, County Councils Network
Artists help children to explore their life stories
Authors: Józwiak Gabriella
Published: September 2024

Creative Life Story Work sees care-experienced children work with artists to process their experiences in ways that improve their wellbeing and relationships
Children England's demise reveals ‘existential’ risk to charity sector
Authors: Hayes Derren
Published: September 2024

A key feature of the children's voluntary sector for more than 80 years, infrastructure body Children England is to close, citing financial challenges, with its chief executive warning that more will follow
Practice examples: Detached youth work engages young people in their own spaces
Authors: Jacobs Nina
Published: September 2024

IN SUMMARY

Long-established youth project in the Walton area of Liverpool supports young people to address life's challenges through ‘street conversations’
Practice examples: Blackpool helps children with additional needs
Authors: Weinstein Nicole
Published: September 2024

IN SUMMARY

Group-based activities focusing on developing social and emotional skills help support children with additional needs to move into mainstream youth offer
Report: Parental Involvement and its Effects on Children's Education
Authors: Norman Helen , Davis Jeremy
Published: September 2024

Published by University of Leeds, September 2023
Young people gain skills to leave crime behind
Authors: Józwiak Gabriella
Published: September 2024

Scheme targets young offenders most at risk of going into custody, giving them the opportunity to develop employability skills to turn their lives around
Briefing: U-turn on agency ban
Authors: Hayes Derren
Published: September 2024

Instead of banning agency social work teams, the government wants councils to monitor their use
Tackling rising violence threat
Authors: Hayes Derren
Published: September 2024

Research highlights youth violence link to centre closures and examples of groups achieving success
Halting the Rise in Eating Disorders
Authors: Hopkinson Emmie
Published: September 2024

There has been a sharp increase in the number of children and young people with eating disorders. Experts explore the need for prevention and early intervention and the role of children's services
Early years inspection updates
Authors: Stephenson Jo
Published: September 2024

Early years providers have seen significant regulatory and inspection changes this year, including EYFS revisions and updates to the inspection handbook around safeguarding, reports Jo Stephenson
Communicating with families
Authors: Reid Chris
Published: September 2024

Effective communication with families is essential for every good nursery. Settings should establish a strategy for meaningful, ongoing dialogue with parents that will build on in-person conversations
Councils must review behaviour policies
Authors: Simpson Fiona
Published: September 2024

Protocol for dealing with behavioural issues in social care settings fails to cut criminalisation of children in care, academics warn
Classroom storytelling sessions target emotions
Authors: Józwiak´ Gabriella
Published: September 2024

Creative Classrooms gives children and teachers the opportunity to encourage empathy and focus on personal and social development through stories
A Platform to Establish a Working Hierarchy of Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells:
Authors: Savanur Vibha Harindra , Sarkar Anushka , Petryna Andrew , Nguyen Ky , Benites-Sandoval Jesus , Gergues Marina , Hatefi Arash , Rameshwar Pranela
Published: September 2024

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM), a grade IV glioma, is the most common and aggressive cancer in the central nervous system. Current treatment for GBM includes surgical resection, radiation, and the frontline DNA alkylating drug, temozolomide (TMZ). The current median survival for GBM patients is about 14.5 months with 5% patients surviving up to 5 years. We propose that discerning distinct subsets within heterogeneous GBM will provide avenues for research to improve new therapies. We used different methods to isolate GBM cell subsets. These include stable transfectants of GBM cell lines with a lentiviral system in which green fluorescence protein (GFP) is regulated with tandem repeats of Oct4a and Sox2 response elements. Parallel studies with a plasmid using the full-length regulatory region of Oct4a indicated reduced efficiency in separating cell subsets, relative to SORE6-GFP lentivirus. Stem cell-linked gene expressions and function studies such as ALDH1, tumorsphere and in vivo passaging of GFP hi subsets confirmed the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). We also studied a more efficient method that could be relevant for primary GBM cells. We selected tumorspheres by plating heterogeneous GBM cells and then serially passaged the spheres. Studies for stem cell genes indicated that this method could be used for primary GBM cells. Overall, this study provided insights into methods to isolate GBM subsets, including primary GBM cells. The advantages of the methods are discussed.
Effect of a Nurses’ Training Program on Early Detection of Egyptian Children With Developmental Disabilities in Assiut Governorate
Authors: Mady Zienab M. , Abdeldayem Tayseer S. , Elmwafie Seham M. , Ramadan Amr S.
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a designed training program for nurses toward early detection of developmental disabilities among children aged 0–3 years. A group of 21 licensed nurses with professional experience ranging from 5–11 years participated in the study. The participants completed the measurements to evaluate their current knowledge, practice, and perception pre- and post-training program, as well as during a follow-up, in relation to early detection of disabilities. The results showed highly statistically significant difference between the studied nurses’ total knowledge, perception, and practice in pre- and post-program application (p = 0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the post-program and follow-up application (p = 0.180).
Between Androgyny and Drag: Dzi Croquettes on the Brazilian Theatre Stage, 1972 / 2012
Authors: Vasquez Toral Enzo E.
Published: September 2024

Abstract: In the 1970s, Dzi Croquettes was an all-male troupe that revolutionized Brazilian theatre and dance at a time of dictatorial military ruling and increased censorship. Branding themselves as “androgynous,” they mixed cross-dressing, comedy, and cabaret aesthetics that pushed the limits of gender performance, which eventually led to their exile in Europe. In 2012, Ciro Barcelos, one of the surviving members, created a tribute musical of the same name, Dzi Croquettes. I analyze the work by Dzi Croquettes in the 1970s and Barcelos’s musical to offer a diachronic approach to the study of androgyny and drag as political performance. I introduce the term dzi androgyny to describe an embodied dramaturgy and philosophy particular to the one Dzi Croquettes performed as they faced censorship. Repurposed forty years later, Barcelos’s musical evidences a “re-presentation,” meaning a re-introduction, of a historically grounded aesthetic that puts Dzi Croquettes in conversation with contemporary forms of drag.
Sixty “Villagers” Onstage: Criminal Intimacy, Queer Community, and Queen Self-Authorship in Mae West’s The Drag
Authors: Blake Sam N. W.
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Mae West’s 1927 play The Drag has often been cited by theatre historians for its role in prompting passage of the Wales Padlock Act. However, the drag elements of the play have been mostly ignored by this same scholarship. This brief article reexamines the legacy of Mae West’s play The Drag, recontextualizing the play through the drag queen self-authorship and queer communal worldmaking found within the text. By exploring the criminal intimacies and legal precarity that shape the camp aesthetics throughout the play, the essay argues The Drag provides a critical window into early 20th century drag performance practices and is a foundational text of queer theatre history.
Analysis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Gene Expression Profiles in a Prospective, Community-Based Cohort
Authors: Dahrendorff Jan , Wani Agaz , Keller Thomas , Armstrong Don , Qu Annie , Wildman Derek E. , Valero Maria Carmen , Koenen Karestan C. , Aiello Allison E.
Published: September 2024

abstract: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and debilitating psychiatric disorder that may occur in individuals exposed to traumatic events such as accidents, interpersonal violence, war, combat, or natural disasters. Additionally, PTSD has been implicated in the development of a variety of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, suggesting the biological alterations associated with the disorder can manifest as chronic diseases in those suffering from PTSD. The biological underpinnings of the disorder are not well understood. Gene expression studies can illuminate the complex physiology of PTSD reflecting the embodiment of trauma, that is, the process in which traumatic experiences in our social environments could potentially manifest in our body by genomic mechanisms. To date, gene expression studies that examine the whole transcriptome are scarce and limited to single-time-point assessments. Here we applied a transcriptome-wide gene expression screen with RNA-seq to whole blood samples from predominantly African American community-dwelling participants to elucidate the gene expression signatures associated with the development of PTSD. The study participants ( N = 72) comprised a trauma-exposed subsample of participants enrolled in a longitudinal, prospective cohort study of adults living in Detroit, Michigan. PTSD was assessed in a structured telephone interview, and whole blood samples were taken both before and after trauma exposure. Among the 72 study participants, 10 had PTSD at baseline and 21 developed it during the study. We found 45 differentially expressed genes associated with PTSD development with an estimated log2-fold change > 1.5 at a nominal p -value of <0.05. Six genes ( PAX6 , TSPAN7 , PXDN , VWC2 , SULF1 , and NFATC4 ) were also ubiquitously expressed in all brain regions. Longitudinal sampling provides a promising mean to elucidate the pathophysiology underlying the embodiment of trauma.
Portrait of a Loser
Authors: Ramos Alberto Salcedo
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Víctor Regino, a former boxer, returns to the ring after a long hiatus to earn money to restart his business. Despite knowing the odds are against him in the fight, Regino focuses on the award. His motivation stems from a desire to provide for his daughter and trying to save her from the hardships he endured. The story explores themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of life.
The American War in Vietnam: Oral Histories
Authors: Appy Christian
Published: September 2024

Abstract: The essay explores the complex realities of the Vietnam War from two perspectives: one is a U.S. Marine Corps correspondent, and the other is an underground operative for a South Vietnamese revolutionary group. Max Belcher, the marine, tells the story of his service, the civil unrest in the United States, and the solidarity of soldiers in the field during an unpopular war. Nguyễn Thị Năm Thanh speaks about her experiences as a female revolutionary in South Vietnam and her arrest and imprisonment.
We Were Two Girls
Authors: Goyette Marie
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Two young girls visit a public pool on a hot summer day when they witness a child get hit by a car. The girls, along with others from the pool, gather around while they wait for paramedics to arrive. As they see the aftermath of the accident, the girls confront their emotions and their vulnerability.
Max Weber and the Legitimate Order Theory
Authors: Cerfeda Andrea S.
Published: September 2024

Abstract: The Weberian theory of legitimacy is a topic that scholars have widely discussed, often arguing how contradictory it might be. One of the main problems concerns the formal mismatch between the two typologies of legitimacy presented in Soziologische Grundbegriffe and the one elaborated in Die Typen der Herrschaft , two texts composed by Weber towards the end of his life, between 1919 and 1920. This article examines Weber’s position on legitimacy as articulated in these texts, focusing in particular on the intertwining of order and legitimacy. In this respect, the article makes two points: firstly, Weber characterises the legitimate order as being, to some extent, connected to the representation of values. Secondly, Weber conceives the legitimacy of rulership as a prestige that cannot exist independently from a legitimate order. The centrality of the concept of order accounts for the coherence and unity of Weber’s final stance on the issue of legitimacy.
Max Weber and Walter Benjamin: Politics facing Capitalism
Authors: Pinto Lucía
Published: September 2024

Abstract: The article compares the relationship between capitalism and politics in Max Weber’s and Walter Benjamin’s works. Benjamin’s text Kapitalismus als Religion references Weber’s Die protestantische Ethik und der ‘Geist’ des Kapitalismus . In recent decades, a considerable number of studies have focused on highlighting the differences and affinities between the thinking of Weber and Benjamin. In contrast, this article takes a rarely pursued approach by introducing an overarching point of reference which examines Weber’s and Benjamin’s views on politics. The article asks what potentialities politics has for Weber and Benjamin given the conditions that capitalism imposes. In order to pursue this question, we need to analyse not only Weber’s Protestant Ethic but also some earlier writings that are indicative of the relationship between capitalism and politics: Weber’s Argentinische Kolonistenwirthschaften , Die Börse. I. Zweck und äußere Organisation der Börsen , and Die Börse. II. Der Börsenverkehr ; and Benjamin’s Theologisch-politisches Fragment and Zur Kritik der Gewalt . My argument is that there is a common ground between Weber and Benjamin on politics since both contribute to the idea that the analysis of modern politics must consider the transformations in capitalism. For Weber, political action can provide meaning to the world, in a context of dispute and in a tragic plot of irreversible forces. For Benjamin, politics refers to the possibility of interrupting the course of history, characterised by the persistence of myth that must be overcome.
Optimization of efficiency of short-pulsed fast flow CO2 laser amplifier with dual-band and multispectral lines
Authors: You Cong , Hu Youyou , Lin Gaojie , Li Wenjing , Huang Xiaojun , Li Boyang , Zhao Jiang , Li Bo
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we optimize the amplification efficiency of a nanosecond pulse CO2 laser in a fast flow amplifier using dual-band and multispectral lines techniques. Utilizing a six-temperature model and a random rotational relaxation model, we simulate the time-domain amplification process of dual-band and multispectral lines short-pulse seeds in a fast flow CO2 laser amplifier, analyzing the effects of input pulse fluence, pulse width, and spectral line composition on amplification efficiency. Compared to single-line 10P(20) amplification, the extraction efficiency of 10.6-µm and 9.6-µm dual-band two-line 15-ns pulses is improved by approximately 70%, surpassing that of 10.6-µm single-band four-line amplification. This study is of great significance for the efficient amplification of short-pulse CO2 lasers and the generation of extreme ultraviolet light from laser produced plasma.
Automatic detection of problem-gambling signs from online texts using large language models
Authors: Smith Elke , Peters Jan , Reiter Nils
Published: September 2024

Problem gambling is a major public health concern and is associated with profound psychological distress and economic problems. There are numerous gambling communities on the internet where users exchange information about games, gambling tactics, as well as gambling-related problems. Individuals exhibiting higher levels of problem gambling engage more in such communities. Online gambling communities may provide insights into problem-gambling behaviour. Using data scraped from a major German gambling discussion board, we fine-tuned a large language model, specifically a Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) model, to predict signs of problem-gambling from forum posts. Training data were generated by manual annotation and by taking into account diagnostic criteria and gambling-related cognitive distortions. Using cross-validation, our models achieved a precision of 0.95 and F1 score of 0.71, demonstrating that satisfactory classification performance can be achieved by generating high-quality training material through manual annotation based on diagnostic criteria. The current study confirms that a BERT-based model can be reliably used on small data sets and to detect signatures of problem gambling in online communication data. Such computational approaches may have potential for the detection of changes in problem-gambling prevalence among online users.
Application of type II diabetes incidence and mortality rates for insurance
Authors: Yue Jack C. , Wang Hsin-Chung , Chang Ting-Chung
Published: September 2024

Prolonging life is a global trend, and more medical expenditure is being spent on chronic diseases owing to population aging. Diseases commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly people, such as heart disease and diabetes, have slowed mortality improvement in recent years. Diabetes is a common chronic disease and comorbidity of many serious health conditions. The total estimated cost of diabetes in the United States was $327 billion in 2017. However, many people are unaware that diabetes is common, and at least 21.4% of adults do not know that they have diabetes. The number of diabetes-related deaths has been increasing, and diabetes was the 5th cause of death in Taiwan in 2019. In this study, we explore the trend and influence of diabetes in Taiwan and apply mortality models, such as the Lee-Carter and Age-Period-Cohort models, using data from Taiwan’s National Insurance to model the incidence and mortality rates of diabetes. We found that the Lee-Carter model provides fairly satisfactory estimates and that people with diabetes regularly taking diabetes medication have lower mortality rates. Moreover, we demonstrate how these results can be used to design diabetes related insurance products and prepare the insured to face the impact of incurring diabetes. In addition, we consider different criteria for judging whether people have diabetes (as there is no consensus on these criteria) and investigate the issue of moral hazard in designing diabetes insurance products.
Exploring the influence of rock bridge angle on the rock secant modulus
Authors: Zhou Junxia , Meng Shiyu , Hu Gaojian , Zha Lanchang
Published: September 2024

Rock can undergo shape deformation and damage due to the influence of joint fissures, and the range of damage caused by joints at different rock bridge angles varies. To study the influence of rock bridge angle on the size effect of rock secant modulus, this paper adopts the principle of regression analysis and combines numerical simulation to carry out relevant research. The research results indicate that: (1) As the rock bridge angle increases, the secant modulus gradually decreases, following a power function relationship. (2) As the rock size increases, the secant modulus shows a trend of first decreasing and then stabilizing, following a power function relationship. (3) As the rock bridge angle increases, the characteristic tangent modulus and characteristic size gradually decrease, following a power function relationship. On this basis, we obtained their relationship formulas separately.
A mathematical perspective on Romanisation: Modelling the Roman road activation process in ancient Tunisia
Authors: Conrad Nataša Djurdjevac , Chemnitz Robin , Kostré Margarita , Schweigart Fleur , Fless Friederike , Schütte Christof , Ducke Benjamin
Published: September 2024

Romanisation is a multi-faceted historical phenomenon with profound and lasting cultural impact on the ancient world. In the modern-day territory of Tunisia, this is particularly manifest during the first four centuries AD, under the reign of the Roman Empire. We derive a reduced, operational concept of Romanisation as a cultural diffusion process that is observable in the archaeological remains of the Roman era settlement system. We then introduce a novel mathematical model that computes spatio-temporal approximations for the Romanisation of the settlement system. The model is based on the concept of temporal road activation and makes minimal assumptions regarding input data quality. The results of our study contribute to the understanding of the time dynamics of the region’s road network, under the influence of Romanisation. Our model can be applied in similar archaeological research scenarios, to generate spatio-temporal backbones for the analysis of otherwise intractably complex social processes.
Demographic and pathogen characteristics of incident bacterial meningitis in infants in South Africa: A cohort study
Authors: Kiakuvue Yannick Nkiambi , Mall Sumaya , Govender Nelesh , Gottberg Anne von , Mashau Rudzani , Meiring Susan , Cohen Cheryl
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of death, with an approximate case fatality rate of 37% across all age groups in South Africa. This study aimed to describe the demographic and pathogen characteristics of incident meningitis in children aged <1 year in South Africa from 2014 through 2018, during a period when Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) were both included in the expanded program on immunization (EPI).

Methods

We conducted a cohort study of routine laboratory data in the National Health Laboratory Service Corporate Data Warehouse, which covers approximately 80% of the South African population. We defined a case of laboratory-confirmed bacterial meningitis as any person aged <1 year with meningitis diagnosed by culture and identification of a pathogen documented as being a common cause of meningitis in CSF. The cause-specific incidence risks were calculated by dividing the number of positive specimens in each age group and year by the corresponding mid-year population for children under 1 year old and those in the post-neonatal period (≥ 28 days to 365 days old). For children under 28 days old, the annual numbers of registered livebirths were used. We used Poisson regression to compare the incidence of meningitis by year.

Results

We identified 3575 (1.5%) cases of culture-confirmed bacterial meningitis from the 232,016 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens tested from 2014–2018. The highest number of cases were recorded in children aged <28 days (1873, 52.4%), male children (1800, 50.4%) as well as in the Gauteng Province (2014, 56.3%). Acinetobacter baumannii (14.9%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.5%), and group B streptococcus (GBS) (10.7%), were the most common pathogens detected. Overall, A. baumannii had the highest incidence risk, occurring at 9.8 per 100,000 persons in children aged <1 year in 2018. Among neonates, A. baumannii peaked at 14.9 per 100,000 livebirths in 2018, while Streptococcus pneumoniae was most common in the post-neonatal period (≥ 28 days to 365 days old), peaking at 9.8 per 100,000 persons in 2014. There was an increase in the annual incidence of most pathogens over the study period.

Conclusion

There was an increasing trend in the annual incidence of bacterial meningitis in infants caused by most pathogens, particularly A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae and GBS. In addition to increased uptake of vaccination, prevention measures to reduce nosocomial and mother-to-child transmission of bacteria could include antenatal screening for GBS in pregnant women, rigorous hygiene in the hospital environment as well as rational antibiotic use.
Medial open wedge osteotomy yields comparable stability to lateral open wedge procedure on the distal femur
Authors: Karkosch Roman Frederik , Schwarze Michael , Smith Tomas , Petri Maximilian , Pastor Marc-Frederic , Horstmann Hauke
Published: September 2024

Background

Supracondylar osteotomies are a frequently and successfully used technique in the treatment of coronal plane deformities and unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee. While lateral open wedge techniques are common for valgus deformities, the data about medial open wedge techniques for varus deformities is sparse. The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of medial and lateral open wedge osteotomies using a locking Tomofix® plate (DePuy Synthes, Oberdorf, Switzerland). Our hypothesis was that there would be no difference regarding biomechanical outcome parameters between these two groups.

Methods

Medial and lateral open wedge osteotomies were performed in composite bone model as routine. Each experimental group contained 6 constructs. Standardized osteotomy gaps of ten millimeters were performed and Tomofix® plates were fixed to third generation composite bones. The constructs were subsequently mounted into a servohydraulic testing machine. Axial and torsional loadings were applied as described in previous experimental studies. All specimens were subject to a load to failure mode with the mechanism of failure being noted.

Findings

Both experimental groups showed comparable biomechanical properties under axial and torsional loadings. Mean high force axial stiffness was 3772 N/mm for lateral and 4185 N/mm for the medial construct. Significant differences were noted for torsional stiffness under low- (0 N) and mid-force (150 N) loadings (P = 0.002; P = 0.009), favoring the medial open wedge constructs.

Interpretation

Medial open wedge osteotomy yields comparable biomechanical stability to the lateral open wedge procedure on the distal femur in a composite bone model.
Food craving, vitamin A, and menstrual disorders: A comprehensive study on university female students
Authors: Sen Liton Chandra , Jahan Ishrat , Salekin Nadia , Shourove Jahid Hasan , Rahman Mosiur , Uddin Md Jamal , Zhang Cuilin , H. Hamer Davidson , Islam G. M. Rabiul
Published: September 2024

Background

Menstrual disorders, influenced by dietary habits like high fat intake and low fruit and vegetable consumption, are a global public health issue. This study assessed the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and irregular menstrual cycle (IMC) among female university students in Bangladesh, focusing on food cravings and low vitamin A intake as risk factors.

Methods

In this comprehensive study, data from randomly selected female university students were collected using a structured questionnaire. The associations were analyzed through chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression, reported as adjusted odds ratios (AOR).

Results

The most prevalent menstrual disorder was dysmenorrhea (68.3%) followed by PMS (33.8%), and IMC (24.3%). Food cravers for high-fat and sweet foods were likely to experience dysmenorrhea (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5–3.9, P<0.001), suffer from PMS (AOR: 3.9, 95% CI: 2.3–6.6, P<0.001), and have IMC (AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.6–5.3, P<0.001) vs. subjects who didn’t. Subjects consuming vitamin A-rich plant foods had 40% (AOR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4–0.9, P < 0.01) and 60% (AOR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.6, P<0.001) less likely suffering from dysmenorrhea and IMC vs. who didn’t. Both underweight and overweight/obese subjects experienced more than 2-fold dysmenorrhea vs. normal-weight peers. The chance of IMC was nearly 3-fold among overweight/obese subjects. However, lower physical activity was associated with PMS and IMC whereas family history was associated with dysmenorrhea and PMS. Among the socio-demographic factors, maternal education, place of residence, and earlier menarche (≤12 years) were associated with dysmenorrhea while marital status was associated with IMC.

Conclusion

This study indicates that increasing the intake of vitamin A-rich plant foods and reducing high-fat, sweet foods can lower the risk of dysmenorrhea and IMC. Additionally, it highlights the need for regular exercise to mitigate the increased risk of PMS and IMC.
Estrategias del discurso parlamentario. La Cámara de los Comunes y El Congreso de los Diputados
Authors: Íñigo-Mora Isabel
Published: September 2024

El objetivo principal de este artículo es estudiar las estrategias discursivas utilizadas en dos entornos parlamentarios: La Cámara de los Comunes (UK) y El Congreso de los Diputados (España). En concreto, se analizarán las prácticas discursivas de parlamentarios británicos y españoles en el Tiempo de Preguntas (Question Time) dedicado a la discusión del conflicto iraquí. Este análisis nos ayudará a descubrir si parlamentarios británicos y españoles utilizan estrategias discursivas similares o distintas a la hora de referirse a una misma realidad social. Como herramienta de análisis se va a utilizar la orientación metodológica de la denominada Psicología Discursiva (Edwards y Potter, 1992). Esta aproximación al estudio del discurso tiene como objeto de análisis la construcción de la realidad psicológica de un individuo a partir de sus intercambios conversacionales.
Usos y variaciones del nombre propio como estrategia política. De “Zapatero” a “Zetapé”, en el discurso político de Jiménez Losantos
Authors: Lucero Sánchez Ernesto
Published: September 2024

En este trabajo se analiza el uso del nombre propio de José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero y sus variantes presente en el discurso de Federico Jiménez Losantos en Libertad Digital, como parte de una estrategia política de raíz populista.
Un proyecto de medición del nivel de aceptación de la ideología de los grupos dominantes
Authors: Moreno García Alejandro Armando
Published: September 2024

Se realizó un estudio exploratorio entre estudiantes universitarios y obreros en México con el propósito conocer el nivel de aceptación de la ideología de los grupos dominantes. Para conseguir lo anterior, se diseñó un cuestionario con los tópicos más importantes del discurso ideológico de estos grupos en México. Este discurso concuerda con la ideología neoliberal e intenta suprimir beneficios sociales en aspectos de salud, distribución de la riqueza y empleo. Con los resultados del cuestionario, y utilizando el análisis factorial, se diseñó una entrevista para comprender los modelos subyacentes de las respuestas del cuestionario. Todos los grupos tendieron a rechazar las marchas como fórmulas de protesta, tanto en el cuestionario como en las entrevistas. También se observó que en algunas respuestas los obreros tendían a parecerse más a los grupos económicamente más favorecidos; esto en aspectos relacionados con actitudes hacia los bancos nacionales o extranjeros. Tales hallazgos mostraron que las estrategias discursivas de los grupos dominantes difundidas por los medios de comunicación han sido exitosas para evitar la solidaridad grupal y la competencia ideológica entre los grupos que conforman la sociedad mexicana. Como consecuencia de lo anterior, las posibilidades de cambio social en México disminuyen.
Net carbon storage of supplied timber in highly mechanized timber harvest
Authors:   KWF - Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik e.V., Spremberger Straße 1, 64823 Groß-Umstadt, Germany, Kaulen Alexander ,   University of Freiburg, Chair of Forest Operations, Werthmannstr. 6, 79085 Freiburg, Germany, Engler Benjamin , Purfürst Thomas
Published: September 2024

Highly mechanized timber harvesting and timber logistics emit CO2. In turn, the provided timber stores CO2 from the atmosphere as biogenic carbon. This basic assumption resulted in the calculation of net carbon storage of supplied timber. For this, we first developed a formula that represents the carbon content of freshly harvested timber. Coniferous wood contains about 734 kg CO2 m-3 and deciduous wood about 1000 CO2 m-3. Contrary to this, CO2 emissions from trucks, harvesters, and forwarders were calculated using the variable parameters for actual diesel consumption and the distance to the sawmill and constant parameters for the transport of the machine to the stand, lubricants, transport of operators, loading, and fabrication, supply, and maintenance. The method was tested on an actual harvest. The principal findings are that the method is practical, the net carbon storage of the supplied timber is reduced by 1.5% to 5% by harvesting and transport activities, and timber logistics is the largest contributor to emissions. The CO2 emissions for harvesters and forwarders are about 4 kg CO2 m-3, and for downstream timber logistics across all assortments and distances is 11 kg CO2 m-3. We conclude that the emissions are low, vis-a-vis the storage capacity. Emissions and a standardized calculation model are imperative. The model developed here for mapping the net carbon storage of roundwood highlights the climate protection performance of timber and contributes to optimizing climate-friendly timber supply chains.
Eco-renaissance in floriculture: unlocking the power of plant growth-promoting bacteria
Authors: Mohamed Asik M  , C Subesh Ranjith Kumar  , P Irene Vethamoni  , U Sivakumar  , R Jagadeeswaran  , M. Djanaguiraman
Published: September 2024

The conventional floriculture industry heavily relies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to meet global demand, which can have detrimental environmental impacts. To promote sustainable flower cultivation, Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) has emerged as eco-friendly tools to enhance the productivity of major commercial flower crops. This review summarizes the current knowledge on diverse PGPB genera associated with ornamentals like rose, gerbera, carnation, chrysanthemum and orchids. It examines the abilities of PGPB to improve yield, quality and stress tolerance of flowers through mechanisms such as biological nitrogen fixation, nutrient solubilization, phytohormone synthesis, induced systemic resistance and antagonism against pathogens. The potential of developing microbial consortia and bioformulations as PGPB-based biofertilizers, bio stimulants and biopesticides for sustainable floriculture is discussed. By identifying research gaps and prospects, this review highlights the role of PGPB in driving sustainable intensification of commercial flower production with reduced environmental footprint.
Literature as a Vehicle of Mystery: On Jerzy Grotowski’s Writing
Authors: Kosiński Dariusz
Published: September 2024

Jerzy Grotowski (1933–1999), who is considered to be one of the greatest theater artists of the 20th century, frequently expressed his ambivalent relation to words, repeating that any true knowledge has to be obtained by practice. However, all his life he created and published texts. The volume collecting them all in print runs to 1131 pages. Scholars interpreting his art (e.g. Krzysztof Rutkowski, Zbigniew Osiński) and his close collaborators, like Ludwik Flaszen, frequently times underlined the importance of Grotowski’s writings, stressing a special function literature played in this artist’s research. Following their recognitions, partly polemizing with them, one can formulate some basic assumptions concerning the character and functions of Grotowski’s writing and its relation to the main aspects of contemporary literature. This was the man of theater appears to be also an aware creator of a literature paradoxically closely related and working for mystery beyond words.
Textual Games
Authors: Wachowski Jacek
Published: September 2024

The article attempts to characterize literary practices which have emerged in recent decades due to the rise of new technologies. The titular “textual games” are experiments which test the stylistic and genre durability of popular literary works. They give rise to new technological formats and new genre variations (gamebooks or works written by artificial intelligence). As such, they also create a new and unique aesthetic and formal landscape and provoke reflection on contemporary literary practices and research strategies that can be used to describe them.
How the Neoclassical Market Ideology Destroys the Market: Shareholder Value Maximization as a Self-Defeating Prophecy
Authors: Braun Eduard
Published: September 2024

According to the widespread, neoclassical market ideology, market prices are not simply helpful, yet imperfect, reference points for consumers and profit-seeking enterprises. Rather, they are interpreted as reflecting the true value of goods. The hypothetical end result of the market process – the market equilibrium – is thereby assumed to be an ever-satisfied condition of the market economy. Based on this unrealistic presupposition, this market ideology maintains that the performance of managers can be evaluated from the prices of the (net) assets they control and, in the case of publicly traded companies, share prices. The share prices supposedly reflect the value that managers create for shareholders and, thus, the economy as a whole. If this were actually the case, the maximization of so-called shareholder value would be a socially beneficial goal for managers. The present paper demonstrates, however, that the ongoing re-orientation of corporate governance towards the maximization of values (as revealed by share prices) instead of profits (as determined by the accounting system) destroys the very market processes that coordinate business activity and allocate resources in the market economy.
Enhanced osmotic dehydration of watermelon rind using honey–sucrose solutions: A study on pre-treatment efficacy and mass transfer kinetics
Authors: Kaur Jaspreet , Kaur Sawinder , Assouguem Amine , El Kadili Sara , Ullah Riaz , Iqbal Zafar , Nanda Vikas
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the osmotic dehydration process of watermelon rind using a solution composed of honey and sucrose. The impact of the ratio of rind-to-solution and temperature on the process is illustrated. Pre-treatments such as blanching, microwaves, and ultrasonication were utilized. Ultrasonication reduces the time needed for osmosis in a sample, resulting in increased fluid loss and solute uptake; therefore, it was selected as the method to investigate the kinetics and modelling of mass transfer. The effective diffusivities for water loss (ranging from 3.02 × 10−5 to 4.21 × 10−4 m2 s−1) and solid gain (ranging from 1.94 × 10−6 to 3.21 × 10−6 m2 s−1) were shown to increase with process variables such as temperature and the rind-to-solution ratio. The activation energy decreased as the process temperature increased, ranging from 3.723 to 0.928 kJ mol−1 for water loss and from 1.733 to 0.903 kJ mol−1 for solid gain, respectively. The sample treated with microwaves exhibited the maximum dehydration coefficient, rendering it appropriate for producing dehydrated products. Five empirical models were utilized, with the power law model (R
2 = 0.983) and the Magee model (R
2 = 0.950) being the most suitable for water loss data and solid gain, respectively.
Clinical value of smear review of flagged samples analyzed with the Sysmex XN hematology analyzer
Authors: Winther-Larsen Anne , Vestergaard Else Marie , Abildgaard Anders
Published: September 2024

Objectives

A smear review is typically made in flagged differential counts performed with hematology analyzers although the clinical value of such reviews is uncertain. Therefore, we evaluated the differences in differential counts between Sysmex XN-9000 and a smear review in flagged samples. Furthermore, the clinical value of blasts identified was investigated.

Methods

Data on all differential counts performed in a two-year period were identified at two laboratories. In patients with blasts, the electronic health record was reviewed. Agreement between automated and manual differential counts was evaluated by Bland-Altman plots. Concordance between the two methods categorized according to reference intervals was evaluated and adjusted for irrelevant non-concordance caused by random analytical error.

Results

In total, 5,500 flagged differential counts were identified from 4,092 patients. A good agreement between the automated and manual differential count was found for all cell types (−0.480 × 109/L to 0.297 × 109/L). The concordance between the two methods was excellent for all cell types, except for monocytes (82 %) where the automated estimates were higher than the manual in 19 % of samples. Blasts were identified in 241 (1 %) of smear reviews. Acute leukemia was diagnosed in 13 (5 %) patients, and only in one patient contributed the detection of blasts to the suspicion of acute leukemia.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that routine smear review of all flagged samples do not contribute with additional, significant information. After local validation and dialogue with clinical departments, such reviews may potentially be omitted to increase cost-effectiveness and reduce turn-around-time.
Topological structure of the solution sets to neutral evolution inclusions driven by measures
Authors: Gu Haibo , Li Ning
Published: September 2024

This study is concerned with topological structure of the solution sets to evolution inclusions of neutral type involving measures on compact intervals. By using Górniewicz-Lassonde fixed-point theorem, the existence of solutions and the compactness of solution sets for neutral measure differential inclusions are obtained. Second, based on the

R

δ

{R}_{\delta }

-structure equivalence theorem, by constructing a continuous function that can make the solution set homotopic at a single point, the

R

δ

{R}_{\delta }

-type structure of the solution sets of this kind of differential inclusion is obtained.
Inoperativity and Destituent Power in Benjamin, Agamben and Spinoza
Authors: Richards Serene
Published: September 2024

This paper examines the notion of destituent power in the work of Walter Benjamin and Giorgio Agamben. In contrast to constituent power's emphasis on the formation of a people relying on the metaphysical presuppositions this entails, including representation and identity, destituent power does away with such categories and renders them inoperative. This paper explores this gesture, together with the idea of a modal ontology that substitutes the “what” in the questions “what is being” for “how”. It is argued here that this reconceptualization has the capacity to reorient the mode of politics functioning to take account of power’s anomie and false promises to ever delay the catastrophe that has already arrived.