bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homonationalism across borders. Exploring cross-border exchange and strategic homonationalism in the construction of progressive nationalism
Authors: Liinason Mia
Published: September 2022

While scholars have shown the significance of transnational exchanges for shaping feminist and LGBTI+ connectivities across borders to challenge national exclusions and global divides, less attention has been directed at exploring the complex and ambiguous ways in which transnational collaborations and cross-border exchanges also may facilitate and support national agendas. That is what this article sets out to explore. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with LGBTI+ actors in a Scandinavian context, this article uses the notion of strategic homonationalism to examine the ambiguous ways in which transnational, diasporic, and refugee LGBTI+ politics and locations in the Scandinavian region strategically engage with regulatory notions of liberal-mindedness and with exclusionary discourses of genuine LGBTI+ subjectivity in this context. Rather than being restricted to national contexts, I show, forms of progressive nationalism may be facilitated by cross-border exchange of various kind. Influenced by scholars who argue for the need to bring back a focus on racialization and national belonging in analyses of the making of sexualized and/or gendered difference, the article attends to the complex politics involved in inhabiting the impossible position of not being able to “not want rights.” To this end, this article reworks homonationalism, from a concept that emerges or is rooted in a US context, to a concept that travels and is differently shaped and picked up in various located sites, showing that homonationalism in a Scandinavian context takes shape through a moralistically superior position.
‘The game is on!’ Eventness at a distance at a livestream concert during lockdown
Authors: d’Hoop Ariane , Pols Jeannette
Published: September 2022

In many countries the lockdown measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic forbade social gatherings, including for performing arts. Numerous artists developed projects, often attempting to reach audiences in cyberspace. We offer an ethnographic study of such a project: a jazz concert played live for a particular audience, who attended it from home. We seek to understand how musicians, audience, and the material setting made it possible to engage with music in a way that gave these moments a particular density. What made this experience meaningful, we argue, was the eventness of the performance: the ‘game was on’, happening in the moment, in the unpredictable, risky interactions between musicians, and with the ‘push of the audience’ listening to the gig in real time. The eventness of this online concert was created in such a way it made possible a collective engagement with and through live music, notwithstanding the physical distance.
Review of morphological and chemical characteristics of particulates from compression ignition engines
Authors: Agarwal Avinash Kumar , Krishnamoorthi Muniappan
Published: September 2022

Particulates from compression ignition (CI) engines have received serious attention in the last two decades. CI engines emit higher particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) than spark ignition (SI) engines. Both these species are harmful to human health and the environment. Compared to NOx emissions, PM constitutes many more chemical species in solid and liquid phases. This review paper focuses on soot morphology and chemical characterization of PM emissions from CI engines. Effects of different fuels, lubricating oil, and engine operating conditions on particulate characteristics are analyzed exhaustively. The first part of this paper focuses on the effects of particulates on living organisms, the consequences of exposure to diesel particulates, and the composition of diesel particulates. In recent decades, micro and nano-scale characteristics of PM have been exhaustively investigated to understand its structure, formation, and chemical functionalities. Typically, particulates comprise of elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the soluble organic fraction (SOF), and trace metals. This paper summarizes most aspects of diesel particulate emissions for the benefit of active researchers in the field and underlines the importance of particulate emission reduction from the CI engines. Diesel combustion generates particles with enormous long-chain aggregates of smaller sizes and immature soot particles. Low-temperature combustion (LTC) modes and oxygenated fuels reduce the soot emissions and generate compact/clustered aggregates. Oxygenated fuels in CI engines produce more nucleation mode particles (NMPs) and high-reactivity soot aggregates. Higher trace metal concentrations were observed in diesel origin particulates than biofuel origin particulates. Biodiesel origin particulates possess higher mutagenicity and carcinogenicity because of nitro-PAHs. Transient engine operations cause higher particulates than steady-state engine operations.
Effect of injection timing of waste plastic oil and its blends on CRDI diesel engine
Authors: Kumar Amit , Pali Harveer Singh , Kumar Manoj
Published: September 2022

Fossil fuels are a major global concern due to escalating demand and current geo-politics. So demand has been arising for alternative fuel for I C engines. Alternatively, the generation of waste plastic is a severe environmental problem due to global disposal issues; however, it may be converted into alternative fossil fuel with minor amendments in fueling systems. So In this study, blends of waste plastic oil (WPO) have been investigated on CRDI diesel at variable injection timings (IT) (from 26°bTDC to 14°bTDC) to address above mentioned problems. The effect of different injection timings has been analyzed for WPO blends fuels, WPO10D90 (10% WPO+90% Diesel) and WPO20D80 (20% WPO+80% Diesel) and compared with baseline diesel fuel. In the experimental investigations, WPO20D80 achieved optimum results at IT of 17°bTDC; however, the original injection timings (ORG) was 23°bTDC. The optimal result has been provided as 6.7% greater BTE for WPO20D80 at 17°bTDC injection timing, and CO and NOx emissions have been reduced by 16% and 2.15%, respectively. So, suitable IT settings provided considerable improvement in performance and emissions for WPO blends with respect to baseline fuel and original injection timings. Furthermore, it can potentially be a long-term solution for the waste plastic disposal issue.
From stories at bedtime to a love of reading: Parental practices and beliefs about reading with infants
Authors: Egan Suzanne M , Moloney Mary , Pope Jennifer , Breatnach Deirdre , Hoyne Clara
Published: September 2022

Although it is well established that reading with young children supports early language and literacy development, few studies have focused on the importance of parental beliefs about reading with infants. The current study, which sheds light on parental beliefs had three main aims. The first was to examine practices of shared reading in infancy (birth to 1 year old), while the second, sought to examine parents’ views on benefits of and potential barriers to reading with infants. The third aim was to explore how parents’ beliefs about reading, and their own enjoyment of reading, may influence the early home literacy environment they create for their infants. Drawing upon a mixed methods approach, comprising surveys and interviews with parents of infants ( n = 31), this paper highlights the importance of parents’ own enjoyment of reading. The findings, which are considered from a bioecological perspective, indicate that parents’ enjoyment of reading was significantly and positively associated with the number of children’s books in their home, and the frequency of reading with their infant, as well as their hope for their child’s future enjoyment of reading. Parents noted that one of the main benefits of reading with their infants related to socio-emotional development and the one-to-one time, rather than the language and literacy benefits, which constitute the focus of much research in this area. The findings further point to an intergenerational transfer of a love of reading.
Experiences of Interpersonal Trauma Among Parents With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hammarlund Mårten , Granqvist Pehr , Forslund Tommie
Published: September 2022

Research has suggested highly elevated levels of interpersonal trauma (IPT) among parents with intellectual disabilities (ID), and that such experiences may contribute to the caregiving and child developmental problems often seen in this population. Conflicting results have however been reported, and there is no systematic review on this matter. This study therefore systematically reviewed the empirical evidence concerning (a) prevalence of IPT among parents with ID, and links with (b) caregiving-relevant and (c) child developmental outcomes, in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PTSDpubs. Peer-reviewed empirical articles reporting exposure to any form of systematically assessed IPT (unspecified IPT, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, prolonged childhood separations from caregivers, witnessing abuse in the family) among parents with ID were included, yielding a final selection of 20 studies. Findings consistently indicated markedly elevated levels of IPT among parents with ID, with a majority (>50%) having experienced some form of IPT. Estimates for both unspecified and specific forms were typically higher than corresponding estimates in other groups at elevated risk, and than meta-analytical general population estimates in comparable countries. Findings regarding caregiving-relevant outcomes were mixed but indicated links with adverse outcomes, particularly regarding parental mental health. Reports pertaining to child developmental outcomes were scant and inconsistent. We highlight important limitations in the extant literature and provide directions for future research and clinical practice.
Impact of Steroid Only Induction on Rejection in Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Ruiz Irene , Sparkes Tracy , Masters Brian , Barth Rolf , Maluf Daniel , Freedman Sari
Published: September 2022

Introduction: The occurrence of simultaneous liver kidney transplantation has greatly increased; however, the ideal induction and maintenance immunosuppression remains unknown. Question: This evaluation aimed to determine if corticosteroid only induction in simultaneous liver kidney transplant recipients provided adequate prophylaxis against rejection when compared to basiliximab. Design: This was a single center, retrospective, cohort study of adult simultaneous liver kidney transplant recipients from June 2010 to June 2019 receiving corticosteroid only (N = 41) or basiliximab (N = 42) induction. Results: Liver or kidney biopsy proven acute rejection at 3 months was comparable between the corticosteroid only and basiliximab groups (10% vs 7%, P = .67), which persisted through 12 months posttransplant (15% vs 21%, P = .42). The occurrence of any infection at 3 months was increased in the corticosteroid only group relative to the basiliximab group (41% vs 21%, P = .049). Graft and patient survival at 12 months were similar between groups. Maintenance immunosuppression was overall minimized with a tacrolimus goal of 6-8 ng/mL, mycophenolate mofetil dose reduction to 1000 mg/day by 3 months, and early steroid withdrawal in both groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that corticosteroid only induction was an effective strategy for preventing rejection in simultaneous liver kidney transplant recipients, even in combination with reduced maintenance immunosuppression.
Low Treatment Fidelity as an Indication to Switch Interventions: Pivoting From Child-Parent Psychotherapy to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Early Childhood Trauma
Authors: Agazzi Heather , Soca Lozano Sandra , Hernandez Michael
Published: September 2022

Young children who experience trauma and adverse experiences are at an increased risk of developing an insecure attachment style as well as negative physical and mental health problems. These can include internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems, developmental delay, emotional dysregulation, and aggression. Several evidence-based interventions exist to treat young children with symptoms related to trauma, each with different foundational theories. This article presents the case of a 4-year-old boy with posttraumatic stress disorder who was in the middle of a legal fight between caregivers and transitioning between caregivers’ homes. Initially, therapy began with Child-Parent Psychotherapy to address caregivers’ first concerns. Later, the therapeutical approach was switched to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy due to difficulty with treatment fidelity related to caregivers’ symptoms and conflict. This case demonstrates great improvement in treatment fidelity and subsequently problem behaviors after switching to an intervention that allowed to address behavior management shortcomings in a family with ongoing conflict.
COVID-19 Spotlights Connections between Disease and Multiple Lifestyle Factors
Authors: Enichen Elizabeth , Harvey Caitlyn , Demmig-Adams Barbara
Published: September 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), and the disease it causes (COVID-19), have had a profound impact on global human society and threaten to continue to have such an impact with newly emerging variants. Because of the widespread effects of SARS-CoV-2, understanding how lifestyle choices impact the severity of disease is imperative. This review summarizes evidence for an involvement of chronic, non-resolving inflammation, gut microbiome disruption (dysbiosis with loss of beneficial microorganisms), and impaired viral defenses, all of which are associated with an imbalanced lifestyle, in severe disease manifestations and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). Humans’ physiological propensity for uncontrolled inflammation and severe COVID-19 are briefly contrasted with bats’ low propensity for inflammation and their resistance to viral disease. This insight is used to identify positive lifestyle factors with the potential to act in synergy for restoring balance to the immune response and gut microbiome, and thereby protect individuals against severe COVID-19 and PASC. It is proposed that clinicians should consider recommending lifestyle factors, such as stress management, balanced nutrition and physical activity, as preventative measures against severe viral disease and PASC.
‘Patriotism is not just a Man’s Thing’: Right-wing Extremist Gender Policies within the so-called Identitarian Movement
Authors: Goetz Judith
Published: September 2022

Taking an analysis of relevant statements and campaigns of the right-wing extremist group ‘Identitarian Movement’ in German-speaking countries as a starting point, this article will reconstruct their key narratives with regard to gender policy, and identify the discourses and forms of organization that are used to integrate women into the Identitarian context. An overview of the origins and characteristics of the Identitarians is followed by a classification of Identitarian gender policy into three phases: its beginning (2012–2015), its peak (2016–2018) and its demise (2019–2020). As can be seen, during the first years it had been necessary to negotiate fundamental questions of the group's gender concepts, whereas during the peak years the focus shifted to threat scenarios involving ‘our women’. At the same time, female activists started to find their own projects. Since 2019, however, the group has started to fall apart, women's issues have lost their appeal and women activists have been leaving. Notwithstanding this decline, the question still remains of what to make of the gender-political commitment of Identitarian women in the context of feminist debates.
Response surface, neural network, and experimental approach to optimize process parameters and characterization of Al-Mg alloy by friction stir welding
Authors: Anjinappa Chandra Shekar , Alamri Sagr , Afzal Asif , Razak Kaladgi Abdul , Saleel ChanduVeetil Ahamed , Hasan Nasim , Saleh Bahaa
Published: September 2022

In the present study, an interaction relationship has been developed by following a design matrix consisting of few combinations of tool rotational speed, traverse speed, and tool pin configurations to understand the evolution of structural and mechanical properties of friction stir welded (FSW) Al-Mg alloy. The welded Al-Mg alloy was characterized in terms of microstructure to analysis different zones of weld using optical and scanning electron microscope. The mechanical properties such as bulk & micro hardness, and tensile strength were evaluated using Brinell, Vickers hardness tester, and tensometer respectively. The weld textures and grain size of the three different zones obtained using electron beam scattered diffraction (EBSD). Further, confirmation test was conducted to ensure the reliability. Results reveal that process parameters and tool pin profile influence the properties of the friction stir welded joints. The straight square pin configuration was the optimal structure for friction stir welding of Al-Mg alloy at a rotational speed of 1000 rpm and a welding speed of 40 mm/min, produced defect free weld with highest tensile strength of 136.25 MPa, bulk-hardness of 80.41 BHN, micro-hardness of 82 VHN in comparison with rest of the combinations considered in the investigation under same conditions. A fine recrystallized equiaxed grain with a partial fiber texture was evolved in the nugget zone. The measured experimental values agreed with the predicted data well.
The relationship between sarcopenia and one-year mortality in patients with critical limb ischemia undergoing endovascular therapy below the knee
Authors: Guler Arda , Gurbak Ismail , Aydin Sinem , Kahraman Serkan , Tasbulak Omer , Ucar Servet U , Dogan Arda C , Topel Cagdas , Panc Cafer , Cizgici Ahmet Y , Kalkan Ali K , Yalcin Ahmet A , Erturk Mehmet
Published: September 2022

Objective

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a progressive form of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Patients with CLI have poor long-term prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of sarcopenia in terms of 1-year mortality in patients with below-the-knee lesions who underwent endovascular treatment for CLI.

Methods

A total of 190 patients with critical limb ischemia who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) for below-the-knee (BTK) lesions were enrolled in this study. Sarcopenia was defined using the psoas muscle index (PMI). PMI was obtained by calculating the average psoas muscle area (APMA) of the left and right psoas muscles at the third lumbar vertebra level and dividing by the square of the height (cm2/m2). The primary endpoint of the study was 1-year mortality and the secondary endpoint was 1-year amputation. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to presence of sarcopenia.

Results

We detected sarcopenia in 64 patients. The mean age, height, and EF were higher in sarcopenia group. The psoas muscle area, weight, psoas muscle index, body-mass index, albumin level, and GFR were lower in sarcopenia group. The incidence of amputation (11.9% vs 29.7%, p = 0.003) and mortality (15.1% vs 35.9%, p = 0.001) were higher in patients with sarcopenia. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the independent predictors of amputation and mortality. The survival curve for 1-year using the sarcopenia was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method, and statistical analysis was performed with the log-rank test. The presence of sarcopenia, glomerular filtration rate level, and low ejection fraction were found to be independent predictors of mortality.

Conclusions

Sarcopenia was associated with 1-year mortality in patients with CLI undergoing EVT for BTK lesions. Also, patients with sacropenia had higher 1-year amputation rates. Sarcopenia may be a simple method to help patient selection, assessment, and intervention strategy for EVT and may improve patient outcomes.
Returns to education in Central and Eastern European transition economies: The role of macroeconomic context
Authors: Wincenciak Leszek , Grotkowska Gabriela , Gajderowicz Tomasz
Published: September 2022

After the fall of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe, the returns to education were substantially growing over time. We summarise the existing literature conducting a meta-analysis of returns to education for economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and test for several mechanisms, which can explain the evolution of the returns over time and differences between countries of the region. The average estimated rate of return basing on more than 600 estimates is around 7%, but it shows variation depending on the methodology adopted, but also on countries’ characteristics. We find out a positive impact of the unemployment rate and negative impact of the enrolment rates into tertiary education. The first observation suggests we observe a countercyclicality of education returns while the latter shows that the dominance of supply of tertiary graduates reduced returns to schooling.
Phonological instantiation of grammatical gender in the course of production is sensitive to words’ internal structure
Authors: Dank Maya , Deutsch Avital
Published: September 2022

Research on the gender-congruency effect in speech production across languages suggests that access to grammatical gender during production is modulated by language-specific properties. The present study extends this line of research by seeking evidence for linguistic idiosyncratic influence on gender processing, however, from a within language comparison. Accordingly, it investigated the processing of gender information of Hebrew inanimate nouns from a foreign origin that do not have the typical morphologically complex Semitic structure of Hebrew nouns. The findings were evaluated in relation to previous findings derived from typical native Hebrew nouns. Gender processing was studied through the picture-word-interference (PWI) paradigm for estimating the gender-congruency effect induced by presenting a spoken distractor word of the same or of a different gender of the picture to be named. Across two experiments naming latency, for bare nouns (Exp. 1) and noun phrases (Exp. 2) revealed a different pattern of results from the pattern previously found for typical native inanimate Hebrew nouns—an inhibitory gender-congruency effect for feminine nouns only, but no congruency effect for masculine nouns. The unique pattern observed for this group of words reflects the high sensitivity of the linguistic system, in terms of gender processing, to the basic morphological structure of words. Thus, even within a language, the linguistic processor accommodates itself to item-specific properties. It is suggested that the specific pattern of the results reflects the attempt of the system to assimilate deviant forms within existing procedures on the basis of a flexible criterion of similarity.
Index diagnoses of gastric intestinal metaplasia in the United States: patient characteristics, endoscopic findings, and clinical practice patterns at a large tertiary care center
Authors: Parbhu Sheeva K. , Shah Shailja C. , Sossenheimer Michael J. , Fang John C. , Peterson Kathryn A. , Gawron Andrew J.
Published: September 2022

Background:

Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a premalignant gastric mucosal change that is often incidentally detected during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Despite the established higher risk of gastric cancer associated with GIM, the incidence, prevalence, and outcomes data for GIM are limited in the United States (US), and practice patterns are highly variable.

Objectives:

Our primary objectives were to accurately identify incident histology-confirmed GIM cases and determine patient characteristics, endoscopy findings, Helicobacter pylori (HP) detection, and eradication treatment outcomes, as well as surveillance and follow-up recommendations.

Design:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data.

Methods:

We first developed and validated a rule-based natural language processing tool to identify the patients with GIM on gastrointestinal pathology reports between 2011 and 2016. We then performed a manual chart review of all EGD procedures and associated pathology notes to confirm cases and obtain clinically relevant data.

Results:

In all, 414 patients with an index diagnosis of GIM were confirmed (prevalence = 2.5% of patients undergoing any EGD). A majority (52.4%) of patients were non-Hispanic white. The most common indication for EGD was abdominal pain (46.9%). A majority (55%) did not receive specific follow-up recommendations or were asked to see their primary care provider. HP testing was documented in 86% of patients, and detected in 94 patients (prevalence = 26.4%). Treatment was documented in 94.7% of cases, and eradication confirmed in only 34.8% of these cases.

Conclusion:

A large group of US patients with an index diagnosis of GIM was accurately identified. There was wide variability in clinical practice patterns including biopsy practice, HP treatment and eradication confirmation testing, and surveillance recommendations. This work demonstrates that there is a major unmet need for quality improvement efforts to standardize care for patients with GIM, a premalignant condition, and inform future prospective studies in a US population.
Tanshinone IIA Inhibits Liver Fibrosis by Regulating COL1A1 Expression Through H19/let-7a in Mice
Authors: Lin Chao , Xing Jianming , Jiang Ziping , Sun Liqun , Gao Yongjian , Yang Shuo , Wang Dongxu , Yin Ning
Published: September 2022

Liver fibrosis is a serious health problem and may lead to advanced liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma if left untreated. In this study, a mouse liver fibrosis model was established by the administration of 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC), and tanshinone IIA. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge extract, shown to play a regulatory role in liver fibrosis, was administered to study its effect on the expression of COL1A1. Mice were divided into 3 groups, control (Con), model (DDC), and drug administration (DDC-Tan) groups, and were subjected to the respective treatment for 2 months. Following treatment, the degree of liver fibrosis in mice in each group was determined. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin, and albumin levels in mice were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mouse liver tissues were used for hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical staining. ELISA results showed that treatment with tanshinone IIA inhibited the expression of ALT, AST, and bilirubin in the DDC-Tan group compared with the DDC group. Hematoxylin-eosin, Sirius red, and α-SMA staining showed that liver injury was delayed in the DDC-Tan group. Immunohistochemistry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot results showed that COL1A1 expression was reduced after tanshinone IIA treatment. Moreover, the bioinformatic analysis indicated that let-7a targets COL1A1, and H19 regulates let-7a expression. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot results confirmed that the H19/let-7a axis regulates COL1A1 expression. Thus, tanshinone IIA inhibited liver fibrosis by regulating COL1A1 expression through the H19/let-7a axis in mice.
Safety surveillance and challenges in accelerated COVID-19 vaccine development
Authors: Cole Abimbola , Webster Peggy , Van Liew Denny , Salas Maribel , Aimer Omar , Malikova Marina A.
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by a novel type of coronavirus, continues to infect people, increasing morbidity and mortality across the globe. Measures to slow the transmission of the virus have had limited impact, and people, businesses, and economies have suffered. The disease has disproportionally impacted elderly and individuals with certain pre-existing conditions and has highlighted health and social inequities in some racial and ethnic minority groups. The majority of those who contract the disease recover completely, but some experience long-lasting complications. Vaccines have the potential to end the pandemic, and through the intense collaboration of scientists in government and private sectors, more than 200 COVID-19 candidate vaccines have been or are being developed, using known platforms and previous experiences with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), at unprecedented speed. The expectations for vaccine safety and quality in the setting of accelerated development are the same as during non-emergency times; however, challenges inherent with the circumstances of the pandemic situation provide opportunities to improve clinical trial conduct and strengthen pharmacovigilance systems. We have reviewed and analyzed existing PV guidelines and recommendations throughout the lifecycle of vaccine development with a focus on developing a global/worldwide effort for post-marketing vaccine safety surveillance.

Plain Language Summary

The Important Role of Pharmacovigilance in Accelerated COVID-19 Vaccine Development This is an extensive review that intends to address important aspects of COVID-19 vaccines’ accelerated development and safety surveillance. It is focused on regulatory requirements for long-term safety monitoring, practical applications, and current global efforts in developing robust pharmacovigilance systems for post-authorization surveillance. Notably, different perspectives of authors from industry, academic institutions, and contract research organizations involved in drug safety were incorporated to reflect on various regulatory requirements and new developments in vaccine safety. All co-authors are current members of International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP).
Cyberspace, Black-Hat Hacking and Economic Sustainability of Corporate Organizations in Cross-River State, Nigeria
Authors: Okpa John Thompson , Ugwuoke Christopher Uchechukwu , Ajah Benjamin Okorie , Eshiotse Emmanuel , Igbe Joseph Egidi , Ajor Ogar James , Okoi Ofem, Nnana , Eteng Mary Juachi , Nnamani Rebecca Ginikanwa
Published: September 2022

Globally, e-commerce offers unlimited opportunities for corporate organizations to flourish as its customers reside in all parts of the universe. However, given the fluid nature of the cyberspace, black-hat hackers have enormously taken undue advantages of such mobility to perpetrate numerous financial frauds against individuals and corporate organizations. The impact of their attacks on the economic sustainability of corporate organizations is of obvious policy relevance, but little is empirically known about it. This study examined the role cyberspace plays in aiding the criminal activities of black-hat hackers and the impact of such malicious attacks on the economic sustainability of corporate organizations in Cross River State, Nigeria. An exploratory cross-sectional survey research design that allows the triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methods was adopted. Questionnaires were distributed to 1,074 respondents purposively selected from 18 financial institutions, 4 telecommunication network providers, and 2 manufacturing companies, while an in-depth interview was conducted on 13 participants across the selected corporate organizations. The presentation of data was done using frequency distribution tables, charts and relevant narratives. Chi-square was used to test the hypothesis, and content analyzing was adopted to analyze the qualitative data. The study found that corporate organizations with previous hacking experience are more likely to perceive black-hat hacking as affecting the productivity of their organization. The study, therefore, recommends that corporate organizations should strengthen their firewalls; educate their staff on the dangers of visiting unsafe websites, and downloading unverified attachments or clicking on links in unfamiliar emails.
Tablet inscription recognition based on the convolutional neural network
Authors: Luo Shun
Published: September 2022

Text image recognition has opened up a new path for intelligent text sorting and research. The number of epitaph inscriptions is very large and of great value. Due to the limitation of objective conditions, there are many deficiencies in the study of its text arrangement and it is urgent to adopt new methods and new technologies to overcome them. This paper attaches great importance to the design of an automatic recognition algorithm for tablets based on the convolutional neural network. It also describes the application prospects of using the algorithm for the reading and distinguishing of inscriptions, the sorting of inscriptions, and the building of intelligent databases.
Promoting Well-Being and Responsiveness in Pre-Service Teachers Using Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Zieher Almut K. , Armstrong Jan
Published: September 2022

Mindfulness trainings are a promising approach for mitigating teacher burnout and promoting well-being and effective teaching, yet few studies with pre-service teachers employ this approach for prevention purposes, and only one has used dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills. In this study, 12 pre-service teachers were taught DBT skills in eight 1-hour weekly sessions to promote their mindfulness and well-being. Using mixed methods, we investigated how pre-service teachers used DBT skills and evaluated training effects and feasibility. Findings from 81 days of daily survey data indicated that pre-service teachers’ mindfulness and positive affect were significantly higher the evening after training sessions and that their positive affect remained elevated through the next evening. Completed homework sheets, researcher journals, and interviews provided evidence of how the pre-service teachers used DBT skills to navigate challenges and support their students. We identified the need for more frequent sessions and additional structures to promote practice of DBT skills in daily life. The results from this study point to the feasibility of using DBT skills in a preventative capacity as part of teacher preparation programming to support teachers’ ongoing well-being and effective teaching.
From growth coalition to development coalition: A case study of urban renewal governance transformation in Southern Area of Nanjing (SAN), China
Authors: Zhang Jing-xiang , Gao Yu
Published: September 2022

The context of urban development in China has undergone a remarkable transformation in the latest decade. In the course of this, the central government has gradually narrowed its early flexible policies and discretionary powers for local urban development, changing from the style featuring the growth-orientated values in the early phase to a new development concept of Urban Renewal Action highlighting plural values in the new era. Different from being promoted by the local-government-led growth coalition during the previous rapid development, Urban Renewal Action emphasizes the bottom-line constraints imposed by the central government, advocating an overall reconstruction in a combination of the renewal goals, the renewal mechanism, and the renewal objects. In this sense, urban renewal can no longer be explained only through the perspective of the growth coalition. This paper, through the re-interpretation of the urban renewal in the Southern Area of Nanjing (SAN), not only demonstrates the changes in the value context of China’s urban development in the past decade, but also proposes the development coalition, as a new approach, to decode the urban renewal governance transformation under the new development discourse in China. In the process, the central government promotes such transformation through policies and regulations while considering sustainable social development as the new goal of urban renewal locally. During this nationwide transformation, residents and intellectuals are functioning as new core members.
City-regionalism and (re)framing the urban question in China
Authors: Li Yi , Jonas Andrew E.G.
Published: September 2022

This paper situates the rise of city-regionalism in China in the context of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s approach to the urban question since 1949. From strictly controlling urbanization during the first two decades of socialist central planning, the Chinese state now promotes mega city-regionalization (literally in Chinese, city clusters) as a vehicle for internationalizing China’s economy. A reframed urban question in China today emerges from the ongoing tension between city-regional growth, on the one hand, and the emergence of new political interests in the urban living place around the collective provision of services, social and environmental inequalities, and citizen/resident representation in urban governance, on the other. The planetary scope of urbanization notwithstanding, differences in the national political context are crucial for explaining the full diversity of city-regional development processes and outcomes in different countries. The city-regional domain provides an exciting opportunity for urban scholars to examine the changing nature of the urban question in China in the context of an emergent ‘world of city-regionalisms’.
Mapping global financial networks: a spatial analysis of Chinese companies’ overseas listings
Authors: Pan Fenghua , Fang Cheng
Published: September 2022

Drawing on the case of Chinese companies’ overseas listings on US stock exchanges, this study unpacks the geography and network structure of China’s integration into global financial networks (GFNs) by taking a city network approach based on inter-firm service and collaboration linkages. The results show that New York and Hong Kong are the dominant international financial centres facilitating this process. The Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands are the key offshore jurisdictions in which the Chinese companies are incorporated. Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are more likely to be connected with GFNs than other cities in mainland China. The financial and business service firms involved in the overseas listings are mostly located in these cities. These strategic nodes have varied functions in GFNs. Several key city-dyads within the networks are identified, which further indicates the importance of those strategic nodes mentioned above. Despite the growing importance of Chinese firms and financial centres within GFNs, the continuing integration of China’s economy via overseas listings on US stock exchanges has strengthened rather than challenged the existing global financial order dominated by the west.
Identification of COX4I2 as a hypoxia-associated gene acting through FGF1 to promote EMT and angiogenesis in CRC
Authors: Li Jie-pin , Liu Yuan-jie , Zeng Shu-hong , Gao Hai-jian , Chen Yu-gen , Zou Xi
Published: September 2022

Background

Current evidence suggests that the hypoxic tumor microenvironment further aggravates tumor progression, leading to poor therapeutic outcomes. There is as yet no biomarker capable of evaluating the hypoxic state of the tumor. The cytochromecoxidase (COX) subunit is crucial to the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Methods

We investigated the potential oncogenic role of COX subunit 4 isoform 2 gene (COX4I2) in colorectal cancer (CRC) by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and COX regression analysis to examine whetherCOX4I2overexpression can predict colorectal cancer (CRC) prognosis. The association ofCOX4I2levels with clinical features and its biological actions were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Our analysis showed that elevatedCOX4I2levels were correlated with poor clinical outcomes. We also observed that thatCOX4I2may be involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, activation of cancer-related fibroblasts and angiogenesis in relation to fibroblast growth factor 1.

Conclusions

TheCOX4I2level may be a predictor of outcome in CRC and may represent a novel target for treatment development.

Graphical Abstract
Characterisation and analysis of key studies used to restrict substances under REACH
Authors: Borchert Flora , Beronius Anna , Ågerstrand Marlene
Published: September 2022

Background

Understanding how scientific studies are used in regulatory risk assessments is important since it influences the outcome of an assessment, and thus the level of protection of human health and the environment. Within the REACH legislation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, EC Nr. 1907/2006) hazard information on clearly defined (eco-)toxicological endpoints are submitted for the registration of substances, and this information is intended for concluding on potential hazards and risk as well as subsequent risk management measures such as restrictions. The present study aimed to (1) characterise key studies used by the European Chemicals Agency’s Committee for Risk Assessment to restrict hazardous substances; (2) analyse if the REACH registration database provided the key studies used in these restrictions, and (3) investigate potential expert disagreements related to the use of non-standard studies in the restrictions.

Results

Our analysis showed that 58% of the 53 scrutinised key studies were non-standard studies, all available by paying a fee or through open access. Sixteen (30%) of the key studies were consulted from external sources outside the REACH registration database by the Committee for Risk Assessment. Only one study of the 16 external key studies was a standard study. Further, 9% (5/53) of the key studies used by the Committee for Risk Assessment were inaccessible to third parties, all were standard studies. The uses of non-standard studies were (unsuccessfully) challenged for five substances during the public consultation.

Conclusions

These results suggest that non-standard studies contributed to the identification and management of substances of concern, that the REACH registration database may not be sufficient for the identification and management of uncontrolled hazards and risks, and that the transparency of the decisions made by the Committee for Risk Assessment was partially hampered due to the use of standard studies inaccessible to third parties.
Dignity and psychosocial related variables in elderly advanced cancer patients
Authors: Martín-Abreu Carla M. , Hernández Raquel , Cruz-Castellanos Patricia , Fernández-Montes Ana , Lorente-Estellés David , López-Ceballos Helena , Ostios-Garcia Lorena , Antoñanzas Mónica , Jiménez-Fonseca Paula , García-García Teresa , Calderon Caterina
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Most cancers occur in older individuals, who are more vulnerable due to functional impairment, multiple comorbidities, cognitive impairment, and lack of socio-familial support. These can undermine patients’ sense of dignity. This study seeks to compare dignity scores in older patients with advanced cancer on sociodemographic and clinical variables and analyze the predictive value of anxiety, depression, functional limitations, and social support on dignity scores.

Methods

A prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted with participation of 15 hospitals in Spain from February 2020 to October 2021. Patients with newly-diagnosed, advanced cancer completed the dignity (PPDS), anxiety and depression (BSI), Social Support (Duke–UNC-11), and functional limitations (EORTC-C30) scales. Lineal regression analyses explored the effects of anxiety, depression, functional status, and social support on dignity, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Results

A total of 180 subjects participated in this study. The results of the correlation analysis revealed that dignity correlated negatively with anxiety, depression, and sex, and positively with social support, functional status, and longer estimated survival. Thus, women, and more anxious and depressed individuals scored lower on the dignity scale, whereas patients with more social support, fewer functional limitations, and longer estimated survival scored higher.

Conclusion

In conclusion, being female, having a lower educational level, lower estimated survival, depression, anxiety, less social support, and limited functionality are correlated with less dignity in the elderly with advanced cancer. It is a priority to manage both physical and psychological symptoms in patients with unresectable advanced cancer to mitigate psychological distress and increase their sense of dignity.
Using pre-operative radiomics to predict microvascular invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma based on Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI
Authors: Lu Xin-Yu , Zhang Ji-Yun , Zhang Tao , Zhang Xue-Qin , Lu Jian , Miao Xiao-Fen , Chen Wei-Bo , Jiang Ji-Feng , Ding Ding , Du Sheng
Published: September 2022

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the value of performing gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics for preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on multiple sequences.

Methods

We randomly allocated 165 patients with HCC who underwent partial hepatectomy to training and validation sets. Stepwise regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm were used to select significant variables. A clinicoradiological model, radiomics model, and combined model were constructed using multivariate logistic regression. The performance of the models was evaluated, and a nomogram risk-prediction model was built based on the combined model. A concordance index and calibration curve were used to evaluate the discrimination and calibration of the nomogram model.

Results

The tumour margin, peritumoural hypointensity, and seven radiomics features were selected to build the combined model. The combined model outperformed the radiomics model and the clinicoradiological model and had the highest sensitivity (90.89%) in the validation set. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.826, 0.755, and 0.708 for the combined, radiomics, and clinicoradiological models, respectively. The nomogram model based on the combined model exhibited good discrimination (concordance index = 0.79) and calibration.

Conclusions

The combined model based on radiomics features of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI, tumour margin, and peritumoural hypointensity was valuable for predicting HCC microvascular invasion. The nomogram based on the combined model can intuitively show the probabilities of MVI.