bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Right Kind of Trouble
Authors: Scheu Ashley King
Published: December 2024

This article examines the existentialist meanings of “trouble,” an experience that recurs throughout Simone de Beauvoir’s and Jean-Paul Sartre’s writings on sadism, love, and desire. For both authors, trouble represents the phenomenological experience of being submerged in one’s body through either extreme pleasure or pain. Whereas Sartre’s use of trouble ends up denying intersubjective connection, Beauvoir’s writings leave open the possibility for reciprocity, but only if we are able to create the social grounds on which trouble can flourish.
Missing Links
Authors: Mealy J. Webb
Published: December 2024

The author assesses the effectiveness of Thomas Schreiner’s exegesis of Revelation 20 in his recent technical Revelation commentary (Baker Academic, 2023). Schreiner boldly takes up the new creation millennialism interpretative solution, following J. Webb Mealy’s monographs After the Thousand Years and New Creation Millennialism, but he resists perhaps the most significant potential consequence of that model, namely, that John’s picture of the final fate of the stubbornly unrepentant is to be imagined as annihilation in a temporary pool (Gr. λίμνη) of fire, and not, as commonly understood, as everlasting torment in a permanent lake of fire. The author argues that Schreiner’s resisting of this element leads to an exposition that misses crucial ties between Rev. 19–20 and the Isaiah Apocalypse (Isa. 24:1–27:5) and to a disjointed and at points internally inconsistent story of the end of the unrepentant.
New species and characters of Eucnemidae (Coleoptera, Elateroidea) from Myanmar amber
Authors: HAN XIN-YU , MUONA JYRKI , REN DONG
Published: December 2024

Four new species of Eucnemidae are described from Cretaceous Myanmar amber: Myall ovata sp. nov., Fiegelia gracilis sp. nov., Fiegelia serraticornis sp. nov. and Fiegelia longicornis sp. nov. Based on new specimens, the diagnosis of the genus Fiegelia Muona, 2020 is revised, Cenomana annieae Hsiao & Otto, 2024 and Fiegelia tarsalis Muona, 2020 are revised. More species of derived Eucnemidae with two protibial apical spurs are discovered, indicating that the single protibial apical spur in different derived Eucnemidae lineages is a result of multiple losses of the other spur.
A new amber outcrop from the Late Cretaceous of Xingning Basin, South China
Authors: SONG XIANG-BO , SUI XIN , XUAN QIANG , AZAR DANY , CAI CHEN-YANG , WANG ZI-XI , HUANG DI-YING
Published: December 2024

Mesozoic amber-bearing deposits provide invaluable insights into palaeoecosystems and the evolutionary history of life. Here we report newly discovered amber from the Yetang Formation in the Xingning Basin, eastern Guangdong Province, dated to the early Late Cretaceous (late Cenomanian–Coniacian). The amber pieces are millimetric in size and predominantly exhibit a yellow-brownish hue. Biostratigraphic evidence suggests that the Xingning amber predates the recently discovered Guangzhou amber from the Dalangshan Formation. The Xingning amber is found alongside abundant fossils of gymnosperms and angiosperms, as well as diverse animal fossils, including insects, conchostracans, ostracods, bivalves, and dinosaurs, within a lacustrine setting. Together, these fossils form part of the Late Cretaceous Xingning Biota.
A new species of genus Tingiometra from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Heteroptera: Tingidae: Tingiometrinae)
Authors: MU CHEN-MENG , WANG YU-XIN , REN DONG , YAO YUN-ZHI
Published: December 2024

Tingidae are also known as ‘lace bugs’ because of the delicate, lace-like appearance of their pronotum and hemelytra. Currently, lace bugs (Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha: Tingidae) comprise approximately more than 2,613 species are placed in about 318 genera (Schuh & Weirauch, 2020), they are extremely important phytophagous pests from all over the world (Drake & Davis, 1960; Drake & Ruhoff, 1965). Tingidae are classified into three extant subfamilies: Tinginae; Cantacaderinae; Vianaidinae, and one extinct subfamily: Tingiometrinae. To date, 46 genera with 82 species of Tingidae are known in the fossil record (Wang et al., 2021; Kaulfuss & Heiss, 2023; Ross, 2024). The subfamily Tinginae comprises 29 genera and 46 species, Cantacaderinae includes 6 genera and 18 species, Vianaidinae consists of 2 genera and 2 species, Tingiometrinae contains 2 genera and 5 species and 7 genera and 11 species remain unassigned to any subfamily (Schuh et al., 2006; Heiss et al., 2015; Du & Yao, 2018; Popov & Golub, 2019; Golub & Heiss, 2020; Poinar & Vega, 2020; Golub et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2021; Ross, 2024), ranging from the Early Cretaceous to the Miocene. Archetingis ladinica Montagna et al., 2018, the earliest fossil record of the Tingidae is from the Middle Triassic in Switzerland, but its classification remains controversial (Wang et al., 2021).
Clown beetles of the genus Eutriptus Wollaston, 1862 (Coleoptera: Histeridae) in Eocene Baltic amber
Authors: SIMON-PRAŽÁK JAN , ALEKSEEV VITALII , PROKOP JAKUB
Published: December 2024

Eutriptus Wollaston, 1862 is a small histerid genus currently discontinuously distributed from the Canary Islands to the Himalayas. According to the last revision (Lackner & Kapler, 2007), the Recent fauna includes four valid species. As characterized by Lackner & Kapler (2007), the genus can be distinguished from the very similar and widely distributed in tropical Africa and South-eastern Asia genus Diplostix Bickhardt, 1921 in the presence of longitudinal meso-metasternal striae on the metasternum.
The first record of disruptive colouration in holometabolan larvae from about 100 million-year-old Kachin amber is a lacewing larva with dark stripes on the legs
Authors: HAUG CAROLIN , HAUG GIDEON T. , HAUG JOACHIM T.
Published: December 2024

Animals have evolved various strategies to avoid being eaten (e.g., Howland, 1974; Peterson et al., 2021). Such strategies are especially important in groups of animals that represent a large biomass and are therefore attractive aims for predators (Lindstedt et al., 2019). Holometabola, the group including beetles, bees, butterflies, and all their closer relatives, represents a vast biomass in continental ecosystems; more precisely their larval forms represent this vast biomass (Husler & Husler, 1940). These larvae are important food sources for many other groups of animals and are hence central points within the food web.
Bucky, Becky, and Student Financial Aid Policy Design
Authors: Marifian Elise A. , Smith Jeffrey A. , Turner Sarah E.
Published: December 2024

Bucky’s Tuition Promise (BTP) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison offers generous financial aid to low-income, in-state students. Unlike many similar programs at other public universities, financial eligibility for BTP depends solely on a family’s adjusted gross income (AGI), rather than on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or some function of the poverty line. This program design aims to make eligibility simpler and more transparent for students and their families and thereby to encourage application and matriculation. We investigate the implications of the program design for who does and does not receive additional institutional aid, with a particular focus on the marginal group of BTP-eligible students who lack federal Pell Grant eligibility. With this analysis, we aim to motivate a broader discussion of different notions of equity in financial aid administration and the tough trade-offs implicit in simplifying eligibility criteria.
Forensic Investigation in Policing Immigrants: Applications, Challenges, and Recommendations
Authors: Zhang Min , Russo Charles W.
Published: December 2024

Forensic investigation is used in policing immigrants for various investigative tasks, such as forensic psychological evaluations in immigration courts, forensic medical evaluation on immigration relief, forensic genetics and anthropology in identifying decedent migrants, and document examination on immigration documents. Forensic applications in policing immigrants have focused primarily on document examination and individual identification. Although the other forensic methods have been relatively underreported, their significance in serving immigrant policing is evident. Challenges in developing forensic investigation for policing immigrants involve collaboration issues, resource limitations, and technical complications. In order to improve policing immigrants, the above challenges need to be overcome to remove the barriers between forensic investigation and immigrant policing. The authors gathered information from journals, government sources, and nongovernment organizations to identify current and past practices in North America and Europe related to the background of forensic applications in immigrant policing. In this article, the status quo of applications along with case examples are presented; the current challenges are pointed out and the root cause analysis of problems in the challenges is conducted; recommendations for future forensic application, development, and advancement in policing immigrants are discussed.
Candidate Qualifications and Out-Group Support: Evidence From Afghanistan
Authors: Bhatia Jasmine , Monroe Steve L.
Published: December 2024

Can qualifications help candidates from historically marginalized groups win over out-group voters? We help answer this question with an original conjoint experiment fielded on a face-to-face survey conducted in three Afghan provinces between 2016 and 2017. The conjoint asked over 2,400 Afghan respondents to rank and choose between profiles of hypothetical candidates with varying gender, ethnic and educational attributes. We explore whether candidate qualifications – as measured by educational attainment – can amplify respondents’ support for hypothetical candidates from two social groups traditionally underrepresented in Afghan politics: women and Hazaras, a predominately Shi’a ethnic minority group. We find that higher qualifications consistently increase male (non-Hazara) respondents’ ranking and likelihood of choosing profiles with female (Hazara) candidates. These gains, however, do not completely offset male (non-Hazara) respondents’ in-group biases. Qualifications help but are not enough to dismantle voter preferences for in-group candidates.
“Flipping the Sexual Script”: A Systematic Review of Black Girls’ and Women’s Responses to and Experiences With Sexual Stereotypes
Authors: Francois-Walcott Rachel R. R. , Stokes Gillian
Published: December 2024

The prevalence of gender and race-based sexual stereotypes contributes to the sexual health disparities that young Black girls and women in the US experience. This systematic review examined young Black girls’ and women’s experiences of sexual stereotypes and its impact on their sexual behaviors. A qualitative evidence synthesis of 26 studies using a meta-ethnographic synthesis approach was utilized. Black Feminist Thought (BFT) was applied as a conceptual framework to center Black girls’ and women’s experiences. The review generated several constructs that highlighted the impact of stereotypes on sexual decision-making and behaviors: reclaiming versus rejecting stereotypes; loss of control; confront and challenge; health professional distrust and intergenerational trauma; and internalized misogynoir. A line of argument synthesis was also generated, which highlighted how this demographic sought sexual autonomy away from race-based sexual stereotypes: this was coined flipping the sexual script. The findings highlight the need for policy changes concerning sexual health and education in the US, to include policies specifically tailored to Black girls and women.
Molecular epidemiology and distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans in human immunodeficiency-positive patients in China
Authors: Wang Ying , Li Zichao , Liu Yaoguang , Ding Yu , Wang Zhongzhi
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study aims to inform the prevention and treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans infections in China by analyzing the molecular epidemiology and distribution patterns of the pathogen.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving a retrospective analysis of 64 clinical strains of Cryptococcus isolated from January 2018 to April 2023 across various domestic regions. Patient information was collected from human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals in multiple hospitals located in 19 cities within China’s southeastern coastal and southwestern regions. A VITEK MS mass spectrometer was employed for strain identification. Variants and mating types were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while PCR multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was utilized for molecular genetic analysis of the strains. Evolutionary trees were constructed using MEGA software.

Results

The study identified a male predominance (2.37:1) among the 64 strains, with a median patient age of 38.5 years. Most strains (79.69%) were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid. All strains belonged to the Aα, VN I type, with MLST revealing three sequence types: ST5 (89.06%), ST32 (7.81%), and ST186 (3.13%).

Conclusion

From 2018 to 2023, Cryptococcus neoformans infections in China were predominantly found in middle-aged men, and the VN I genotype was the most common among the isolated strains.
Evaluation of motion behaviour of inclusions at the moulten steel–slag interface based on a modified model
Authors: Zang Xu , Liu Chengjun , Wang Yeguang , Yin Yuqing , Liang Zhigang
Published: December 2024

In this work, a modified model for evaluating the motion behaviour of inclusions at the moulten steel–slag interface was firstly established by adding Basset force. Based on the similarity theory, a water model was carried out to validate the accuracy of the modified model. Subsequently, the effects of the interface tension between steel and slag, the inclusion wettability, the inclusion diameter and slag viscosity on the motion behaviour of inclusions at the interface were quantitatively investigated. The results show that the inclusion wettability and the slag viscosity have significant influences on the motion behaviour of inclusions. Based on that, the present study calculated the favourable range of inclusion wettability and slag viscosity for inclusions passing through the interface. Moreover, the tendency for common harmful inclusions passing through the interface was compared.
Effect of direct alloying of manganese ore–cored wires on the composition and quality of molten steel
Authors: Wu Wei , Zhao Bo , Liang Qiang , Lei Ming , Zhang Bo , Zhang Fei
Published: December 2024

This research involved investigating the effects of different manganese ore addition methods on the quality of molten steel. From the thermodynamic point of view, when carbon powder, an aluminium block, silicon carbide, ferrosilicon and other reducing agents were added during the refining process, the manganese yield substantially increased at 1550 °C; the reduction abilities of the involved reducing agents were in the following order: aluminium block > silicon > silicon carbide > graphite. For top-slag addition, the mass transfer rate of manganese was lesser in molten steel than in slag, indicating that it was the limiting factor. For nonaluminium deoxidation, the inclusions in high-carbon steel were primarily manganese sulfide (MnS), along with a small amount of silicates. Medium-carbon steel contained small amounts of silicon oxide, magnesium oxide and alumina. In aluminium deoxidation, the inclusions in the involved steel were primarily alumina. The average inclusion size for cored-wire alloying with ferrosilicon as the reducing agent was 2.10 μm, with the inclusion density and manganese yield being 0.10/μm 2 and 93.46%, respectively. This alloying process was found to be optimal for direct alloying of manganese ore.
The Factor Structure of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in India
Authors: Sheel Hina , Suárez Lidia , Marsh Nigel V.
Published: December 2024

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief instrument developed primarily for screening children and adolescents for social-emotional learning. The SDQ contains four factors related to socio-emotional difficulties and one factor related to prosocial behaviour. However, studies of its factor structure have produced mixed results. The present study examined whether the original five-factor model of the SDQ could be replicated with children in India. The sample consisted of 407 children aged 4–8 years with neurotypical development who were recruited across the states of North India. Parents and teachers were recruited through purposive sampling and completed the SDQ online. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess the factor structure of the SDQ. The results showed that the five-factor model was a good fit for parents and an adequate fit for teachers. The results from this study provide evidence for the construct validity of the SDQ with children in India. Hence, these findings provide support for its use in screening the social-emotional functioning of children living in India.
Trends of Self-Reported Health Consequences of Violence from 2000 to 2018 and Associated Factors in Mexican Adolescents and Adult Women at the National Level
Authors: Torres Martha Itzel García , Allen-Leigh Betania , Basto Abreu Ana Cristina , Cupul-Uicab Lea Aurora , Hernández Cadena Leticia
Published: December 2024

Violence has negative effects on women’s physical, mental, sexual, reproductive, and behavioral health. Globally, 50% to 80% of women who have experienced violence suffer some health consequences. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and trends of self-reported health consequences of violence among Mexican adolescents and women from 2000 to 2018. Data from four nationally representative Mexican surveys (2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018) were analyzed using logistic regression models to assess trends in the health consequences of violence stratified by age, education, place of residence, employment, pregnancy status, and location of violence. We employed a probit regression model to assess sociodemographic determinants that contribute to a higher likelihood of experiencing community violence compared to violence at home. In the 2018 survey, the health consequences of violence were observed in 1.9% of adult women and 2.2% of adolescents. We identified a significant annual increase in the health consequences of violence, especially in 2012 and among adolescents. Similarly, there was an increase in the health consequences among adults due to community violence (8.1% annual increase), and the rise was higher among adolescents (9.4% annual increase). Urban residence, higher education, and economic activity significantly increased the likelihood of community violence exposure in adult women, while higher education was a significant factor among adolescents. This study significantly contributes to filling the knowledge gap regarding the health consequences of violence against women among adolescent and adult women, underscoring the need for early interventions and public policies to reduce exposure and mitigate long-term health effects on Mexican women.
Is cloudy peritoneal dialysate associated with adverse drug reactions to benidipine?
Authors: Lin Yun , Huang Shumin , Cai Xiaorui , Tang Xiaoling , Chen Haohao
Published: December 2024

Cloudiness in peritoneal dialysate is a key clinical indicator of peritonitis. However, distinguishing between turbidity caused by peritonitis and that induced by drug administration can be challenging. To better understand this phenomenon, data were collected between April 2020 and March 2023 from 287 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients undergoing benidipine-controlled blood pressure management in our PD center. Among these patients, 25 cases (8.71%) developed non-infectious chyloperitoneum as an adverse reaction to benidipine. Turbidity appeared, on average, 25.28 ± 60.55 days after starting benidipine. Switching to another antihypertensive drug cleared the dialysate within 12 to 36 hours. Laboratory results, including smears and cultures, were consistent with a non-infectious state. Elevated triglyceride (TG) levels were observed in the turbid dialysate ( p < 0.0001), with a mean TG of 0.28 ± 0.17 mmol/L in cloudy samples, compared to 0.07 ± 0.03 mmol/L in clear samples. No significant changes in cholesterol or peripheral blood TG levels were found before or after the occurrence of turbidity. This study confirms that benidipine can cause non-infectious chyloperitoneum, underscoring the need for attention to adverse drug reactions to avoid unnecessary resource use. Further investigation is required to guide antihypertensive medication choices in PD patients.
Effect of dynamic recrystallization on microstructure and properties of multilayer Al foils friction stir welding
Authors: Deng Yongfang , Zhou Yutao , Zuo Yingjie , Zeng Jincheng , Hu Liang , Li Zihang , Qiu Zherui
Published: December 2024

In this study, friction stir welding (FSW) was used to weld multi-layer Al foil and Al plate, and the defect-free welded joint was successfully obtained. In the stirring zone (SZ), due to the extrusion of the shoulder and the rotation of the stirring pin, the original layered structure of SZ is destroyed, and the original grains are destroyed and dynamically recrystalized to form fine equiaxed grains. With the decrease of welding speed, the heat input increases, the dynamic recrystallization degree (DRX) of SZ increases, the proportion of low angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) increases from 20.5% to 45.0%, and the grain size of SZ decreases from 1.53 to 0.93 μm, which affects the performance of the joint. The hardness of each welding parameter SZ is higher than that of the base material. With the increasing degree of DRX, the hardness of SZ continues to rise, and the electrical conductivity decreases from 57.5% international annealing copper standard (IACS) to 52.5%-56.2% IACS. The tensile strength of the joint reaches its maximum first and then decreases with the increase of DRX.
Investigating the properties and characteristic analysis of frictionally welded dissimilar Inconel alloys
Authors: Krishna M. , Mathivanan A.
Published: December 2024

Friction welding of Inconel 625 and Inconel 825 alloys is crucial for high-performance applications like turbocharger shafts, where high tensile strength and corrosion resistance are essential. This study evaluated the key aspects of the welding process and the resulting mechanical properties of the joints. Among the samples, Sample S3—welded at a spindle speed of 2350 rpm, soft load of 700 Nm, and friction load of 1300 Nm—demonstrated the most favorable mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of 641.63 MPa, yield stress of 540.11 MPa, and elongation of 17.86%. These values align with or exceed the mechanical properties reported in similar studies on friction welding of Inconel alloys, where tensile strengths typically range between 600 and 652 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed no visible cracks in Sample S3, confirming the quality and integrity of the welds. Additionally, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis provided a deeper understanding of the microstructural characteristics, revealing a refined grain size of around 10 microns and uniform grain structure with 52.15% high-angle grain boundaries minimal anisotropy, which further contributes to the material's strength and reliability. The optimization of welding parameters has allowed the identification of ideal conditions for achieving superior mechanical properties. This study demonstrates the efficacy of the friction welding process for Inconel alloys, highlighting its potential for economically viable and sustainable applications.
Numerical and experimental analysis of guide vane pivot torque prediction in the reversible pump-turbine
Authors: Ocepek Matic , Lipej Andrej
Published: December 2024

In the last decades, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has played an important role in the numerical prediction of different characteristics of all types of hydraulic turbomachinery. Relative results of the characteristics curves for different hydraulic shapes can be predicted very accurately. On the contrary the prediction of the absolute values of various characteristics is still a challenge. In the paper, we would like to present the comparison between the results of the model testing and numerical analysis of the main reversible pump-turbine characteristics in pump and turbine mode: head, torque, efficiency and detailed analysis of prediction of the guide vane pivot torque for various operating regimes. Detailed model reversible pump-turbine measurements were done in hydraulic laboratory according to the international standard IEC 60193. Special attention was paid to the measurements of the guide vane torque. The research results include efficiency and QH curves derived from model tests and numerical analyses across various operating regimes. Dimensionless guide vane pivot torque values from both model tests and numerical analysis are compared and presented in diagram form. The comparison shows good agreement between the model test and CFD results. While steady-state CFD is generally accurate enough for turbine mode operation, unsteady calculations provide better results for pump mode operation. Numerous unsteady CFD analyses in turbine and pump mode operation demonstrate that CFD is equivalent or superior to model test in terms of speed, cost and accuracy. This research establishes that using CFD to predict guide vane pivot torque in hydraulic machines is now the most reasonable approach, eliminating the need for model tests.
2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for SLE score predicts future lupus hospital admission and costs
Authors: Suman Saurav , Ali Hammad , Buechler Connor R , Rogers Heidi C , Roberts W Neal
Published: December 2024

Objective

To test the ability of the 2019 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for SLE score to predict lupus related hospitalization and overall cost of hospitalization.

Methods

217 University of Kentucky patient records that met our preliminary inclusion criteria, 44 patients were selected by a random number generator algorithm for a thorough chart review to collect data needed for calculation of the 2019 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for SLE score. Total hospitalization cost was calculated by using hospital adjusted expenses per inpatient day data, which estimates the expense incurred by the hospital to provide services and thus removes the variability of charges and reimbursements introduced by insurance type.

Results

Patients with a score of 19 or more had increased risk of hospitalization in at least the 6 months after initial outpatient visit as compared to their counterparts with scores less than 19 [ p = .069]. The odds of being hospitalized for lupus among those with initial score ≥19 was 5.71 times higher than for those with score <19. Patients who scored 19 or less at initial visit had a mean hospitalization cost of $14,499, whereas those scored >19 had mean hospitalization cost of $28,725.

Conclusion

This study adds to the growing evidence that 2019 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria score for SLE can be used as a surrogate marker to assess disease severity. The weighted 2019 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for SLE score offers a promising tool beyond its primary objective to find true lupus cases for research and clinical trials.
Diversity of thought as ‘mission critical’: Knowledge, politics and power in UK national security policymaking
Authors: Wright Hannah
Published: December 2024

The idea that diversity and inclusion in policymaking institutions is a national security imperative because it enhances ‘diversity of thought’ has proliferated among policymakers in recent years. Building on critical, feminist and postcolonial scholarship arguing that constructions of gender, race and class undergird hegemonic militaristic and colonial approaches to security, this article analyses how the discourse on diversity of thought occasionally challenges, but more often reinforces these hegemonic approaches. Based on interviews with UK civil servants, the article explores how this discourse, and consequent measures to promote diversity of thought by creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace, have developed in the UK national security community, analysing how officials interpret the relationship between demographic diversity and knowledge production. Using feminist epistemologies as a heuristic, the article argues that although some officials view this agenda as a means to challenge militaristic thinking, the commonplace exclusion of structural power analysis places hard constraints on its ability to achieve this end and has enabled its recuperation by far-right anti-equality agendas. Ultimately, the politics of diversity are insufficient to overcome UK national security institutions’ commitment to militarism, which demands attention to the material structures that make militaristic approaches to security appear necessary.
A Policy of Deliberate Ambiguity: The Irish Provisional Government's Shifting Northern Ireland Policy, 1922
Authors: Traynor Jack M.
Published: December 2024

Immediately following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the emergent pro-Treaty regime pursued a strategy to win the brittle loyalty of the IRA’s Northern Divisions. The Provisional Government publicly adopted a northern policy of deliberate ambiguity which allowed it to appeal to militarists and moderates alike. The precariously situated Northern IRA largely accepted the Treaty due to these clandestine appeals and promises of military aid. Aware that it must maintain an uneasy coalition of diverse constituencies, the Provisional Government’s policy evolved from one aligned with militarists to one aimed at non-violent co-existence with Northern Ireland.
Quality of vision with monofocal intraocular lens after cataract surgery: Comprehensive evaluation and graphical illustration
Authors: Henriques Jorge FS , Duarte Marisa A , Queirós Tatiana SM , Coimbra Rita , Caramelo Francisco , Rosa Andreia FM , Fonseca Conceição L Lobo , Murta Joaquim CN
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To comprehensively characterize the quality of vision (QV) in an otherwise healthy population undergoing bilateral consecutive cataract surgery with the implantation of a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) and to propose a graphical illustration.

Setting

Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

This study included patients that underwent sequential bilateral cataract surgery with implantation of a monofocal acrylic foldable single-piece IOL. Patients were evaluated at the 3rd postoperative month in terms of bilateral uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and corrected near visual acuity (CNVA); sphero-cylindrical refraction; bilateral reading speed and contrast sensitivity function (CSF); corneal topography/tomography; aberrometry; pupillometry; negative dysphotopsia (ND); Catquest-9SF and Quality of Vision (QoV) questionnaires.

Results

Both eyes from 26 (n = 26) consecutive patients with mean age of 68 years ± 6.68 were included. UDVA mean was logMAR = 0.01 ± 0.04, and CDVA was logMAR = 0.00 ± 0.04. The average reading speed was 110.42 words/minute. The CSF showed a descendent curve for higher spatial frequencies and was lower with glare. ND was present in 1.92% of the patients. Catquest-9SF mean was 95.46% and QoV mean score was 4.48 points. A radar graph showing median scores across the multiple variables assessed was produced demonstrating a wide panorama of QV.

Conclusion

Patients’ satisfaction was correlated with CSF, reading speed, CNVA and residual spherical equivalent. To the author's best knowledge, this study establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive panorama of visual performance through a radar graph that can be utilized to describe the QV.
A qualitative exploration of the experience of autistic females in Hong Kong
Authors: Lam Gary Yu Hin , Chow Constance Kit Ching , Chan Sibyl Wai
Published: December 2024

There are fewer females than males diagnosed with autism, but autistic females are said to be under-identified and underrepresented in the existing diagnostic and service systems. The gender discrepancy may potentially be attributed to the lack of accurate understanding of autistic females and their needs. Emerging research has begun to document the experiences of autistic women in Western countries, but their experience in Eastern cultures is almost unknown. This study aimed to investigate the lived experience of autistic women in Hong Kong. Thirteen formally diagnosed or self-diagnosed autistic women completed semi-structured interviews, discussing how they identified with autism, their diagnostic experience, and their understanding of autism. Results based on thematic analysis revealed Hong Kong autistic women commonly experienced emotional problems and encountered autistic models on the way they came to identify with autism, despite often being dismissed by families and professionals. They found an autism diagnosis or identity meaningful to their self-understanding. Societal misunderstanding toward autism had a great impact on their self-identity as an autistic female. Findings can inform improved services for autistic women in Hong Kong and provide insights to enhance understanding of autism in Chinese culture.

Lay abstract

There are more males than females with autism. One of the reasons can be that we do not understand autistic females well. Some research in Western cultures has begun to document the lived experience of autistic females, but no such studies are conducted with Chinese autistic females. This study explored the first-person experience of living with autism in Hong Kong autistic women. We conducted qualitative interviews with 13 women with a formal diagnosis of autism or self-diagnosed as autistic. We used semi-structured interviews to discuss how they came to recognize or identify with autism, their diagnostic experience, and their understanding of autistic females. We summarized several broad themes that depicted their experience. Participants recognized autism in themselves when seeing other autistic people. They indicated mental health challenges that led them to seek help from professionals, who might sometimes reject their concerns about autism. Participants found it meaningful to have an autism diagnosis or identity, but other people’s judgment would affect their self-understanding. Participants also described themselves different from the stereotypes of autism, not the same as autistic males, and were perceived by others as not autistic enough. Our findings suggested autistic women in Hong Kong faced challenges in identity development and support services. There is a need to increase awareness and knowledge about autism in professionals and the public. Understanding how unique cultural factors that influence the identity of autistic women or individuals in Chinese cultures is important to promote their well-being.
Simulation and experimental study of cold compression process for reducing the quenching residual stress of large 7050 aluminum alloy cambered forging
Authors: Guo Wanfu , Cui Jindong , Li Si
Published: December 2024

The wing edge (large 7050 aluminum alloy cambered forging) is the major force-bearing component of the aircraft. Reducing the quenching residual stress on the wing edge is crucial after manufacturing. In this paper, a novel cold compression process is proposed to reduce the quenching residual stress by integral deformation along the arc length direction and subsection deformation along the width direction. The obtained results demonstrate that the residual tensile stress is concentrated in the center where the sternum and ribs intersect after quenching. Matching the quenching residual stress distribution, an adaptive cold compression (2% rib + 0.5% sternum) was implemented, the residual tensile stress along the arc length direction decreases almost 80%; especially the residual stress on the rib is effectively reduced. There is little difference between the simulation results and the practical measured results, and the simulation results have great reference value.
First be safe: Exploring and improving journalists’ skills in digital security
Authors: Frech Jannis , Lilienthal Volker , Schönbächler Viviane
Published: December 2024

Despite the scientific significance of journalism practice, the gap between academic and applied fields persists. In this paper, based on our project on the digital security of journalists and their sources, we argue that practice-relevant research in the form of the action-innovation model benefits both the academic and the applied realms. To this end, we provide hands-on practical training on the important topic of digital security, which remains under-researched and therefore requires an exploratory approach. A total of 23 training sessions were conducted for 230 participants representing various media outlets in Germany. The objective was to enhance awareness and skills regarding digital threats. This constituted the core of a mixed-methods approach, which included surveys, observation, and interviews. In evaluating the process and results, it was found that the combination of applied and scholarly elements enhanced the project in terms of access, commitment, contextualisation and depth. The data were analysed according to an adaptation of the socio-technological Newsafety concept. The findings revealed a general lack of competence in dealing with cyber threats and a severely lacking in-house communication. In general, to address and explore relevant and current issues like this, it is recommended to consider the practical value to research participants and to collaborate with practice-based trainers who can help bridge the gap and foster mutual understanding.
The Psychology of Framing: How Everyday Language Shapes the Way We Think, Feel, and Act
Authors: Flusberg Stephen J. , Holmes Kevin J. , Thibodeau Paul H. , Nabi Robin L. , Matlock Teenie
Published: December 2024

When we use language to communicate, we must choose what to say, what not to say, and how to say it. That is, we must decide how to frame the message. These linguistic choices matter: Framing a discussion one way or another can influence how people think, feel, and act in many important domains, including politics, health, business, journalism, law, and even conversations with loved ones. The ubiquity of framing effects raises several important questions relevant to the public interest: What makes certain messages so potent and others so ineffectual? Do framing effects pose a threat to our autonomy, or are they a rational response to variation in linguistic content? Can we learn to use language more effectively to promote policy reforms or other causes we believe in, or is this an overly idealistic goal? In this article, we address these questions by providing an integrative review of the psychology of framing. We begin with a brief history of the concept of framing and a survey of common framing effects. We then outline the cognitive, social-pragmatic, and emotional mechanisms underlying such effects. This discussion centers on the view that framing is a natural—and unavoidable—feature of human communication. From this perspective, framing effects reflect a sensible response to messages that communicate different information. In the second half of the article, we provide a taxonomy of linguistic framing techniques, describing various ways that the structure or content of a message can be altered to shape people’s mental models of what is being described. Some framing manipulations are subtle, involving a slight shift in grammar or wording. Others are more overt, involving wholesale changes to a message. Finally, we consider factors that moderate the impact of framing, gaps in the current empirical literature, and opportunities for future research. We conclude by offering general recommendations for effective framing and reflecting on the place of framing in society. Linguistic framing is powerful, but its effects are not inevitable—we can always reframe an issue to ourselves or other people.
The Implications for Clinical Practice of Circulating miR144-3p and miR190a-5p as Promising Diagnostic Biomarkers for Thyroid Nodule Differentiation
Authors: Hassan Basima , Omran Mohamed M. , Youssef Magdy M. , Refaat Manar , Abouzid Amr , Abdel Wahab Abdel Hady A. , Bakr Yasser M.
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

Thyroid cancer, a prevalent endocrine malignancy, often presents as thyroid nodules, whose benign or malignant nature is challenging to determine. This study aims to identify circulating miRNA panels that may distinguish between benign nodules, papillary thyroid cancer, and normal thyroid conditions, building on extensive research into miRNAs as potential thyroid cancer biomarkers.

Materials and Methods

As a cross-sectional case-control study the study revealed the quantification of the 17-miRNA panel was evaluated using qRT-PCR method on 60 blood samples, comprising 25 patients diagnosed with PTC, 24 patients with benign lesions, and 11 healthy controls.

Results

We found that seven miRNAs, including miR144-3p and miR190a-5p, exhibited statistically significant variations in their expression levels, and miR144-3p exhibited the most superior diagnostic capability in distinguishing between malignant and healthy groups, as well as between benign and healthy groups. The concurrent utilization of miR144-3p, miR148a-3p, and miR190a-5p resulted in an enhancement of sensitivity from 76% to 88%.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that miR144-3p and miR190a-5p exhibit potential as biomarkers for distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid nodules and healthy individuals, and further investigation is necessary to evaluate their clinical significance.
Machine Learning-Based Pathomics Model to Predict the Prognosis in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Li Xiangyun , Yang Xiaoqun , Yang Xianwei , Xie Xin , Rui Wenbin , He Hongchao
Published: December 2024

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a highly lethal urinary malignancy with poor overall survival (OS) rates. Integrating computer vision and machine learning in pathomics analysis offers potential for enhancing classification, prognosis, and treatment strategies for ccRCC. This study aims to create a pathomics model to predict OS in ccRCC patients. In this study, data from ccRCC patients in the TCGA database were used as a training set, with clinical data serving as a validation set. Pathological features were extracted from H&E-stained slides using PyRadiomics, and a pathomics model was constructed using the non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm. The model's predictive performance was assessed through Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival curves and Cox regression analysis. Additionally, differential gene expression, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, immune infiltration, and mutational analysis were conducted to investigate the underlying biological mechanisms. A total of 368 pathomics features were extracted from H&E-stained slides of ccRCC patients, and a pathomics model comprising two subtypes (Cluster 1 and Cluster 2) was successfully constructed using the NMF algorithm. KM survival curves and Cox regression analysis revealed that Cluster 2 was associated with worse OS. A total of 76 differential genes were identified between the two subtypes, primarily involving extracellular matrix organization and structure. Immune-related genes, including CTLA4, CD80, and TIGIT, were highly expressed in Cluster 2, while the VHL and PBRM1 genes, along with mutations in the PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, and MAPK signaling pathways, exhibited mutation rates exceeding 40% in both subtypes. The machine learning-based pathomics model effectively predicts the OS of ccRCC patients and differentiates between subtypes. The critical roles of the immune-related gene CTLA4 and the PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, and MAPK signaling pathways offer new insights for further research on the molecular mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for ccRCC.
Psychometric properties of the Assessment of Positive Occupation 15 for individuals with physical illness
Authors: Noguchi Takuya , Kyougoku Makoto
Published: December 2024

Objectives

The Assessment of Positive Occupation 15 (APO-15) is a scale initially developed to evaluate participation in well-being-promoting occupations among individuals with mental illness. This study examines the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the APO-15 for individuals with physical illness, focusing on its validity, reliability, and interpretability.

Methods

We evaluated the psychometric properties of the APO-15 using a sample of 1,259 individuals with physical illness living at home, in hospitals, and in nursing homes. Validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to confirm the factor structure, and concurrent validity was examined by correlating APO-15 scores with measures of happiness and psychological distress. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency analysis using Cronbach's alpha, and item difficulty was analyzed using the Rasch Rating Scale Model (RSM). Interpretability was established through a T-scale-based five-level criterion for client status.

Results

The APO-15 showed strong psychometric properties. CFA indicated a good fit for the factor structure (RMSEA= 0.100, CFI= 0.944, TLI= 0.930). Internal consistency was high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.914. Item difficulty analysis revealed a bias towards easier items, consistent with previous findings in mental illness populations. The T-scale-based five-level criterion effectively classified client status, though significance was noted between most levels except levels 1 and 2.

Conclusion

The Japanese version of the APO-15 is a reliable and valid tool for assessing occupational participation and promoting well-being among individuals with physical illness. It provides a robust framework for occupational therapists to support clients' well-being through targeted occupational engagement.
Assessing severity of pediatric pneumonia using multimodal transformers with multi-task learning
Authors: Li Jing , Nan Ziang , Qi Guoqiang , Cai Junlan , Zhao Xinkui , Li Xiang , Liu Shaofeng , Wang Yuqi , Wu Yangyang , Miao Xiaoye , Yu Gang
Published: December 2024

Objective

While current multimodal approaches in the diagnosis and severity assessment of pneumonia demonstrate remarkable performance, they frequently overlook the issue of modality absence—a common challenge in clinical practice. Thus, we present the robust multimodal transformer (RMT) model, crafted to bridge this gap. The RMT model aims to enhance diagnosis and severity assessment accuracy in situations with incomplete data, thereby ensuring it meets the complex needs of real-world clinical settings.

Method

The RMT model leverages multimodal data, integrating X-ray images and clinical text data through a sophisticated AI-driven framework. It employs a Transformer-based architecture, enhanced by multi-task learning and mask attention mechanism. This approach aims to optimize the model’s performance across different modalities, particularly under conditions of modality absence.

Results

The RMT model demonstrates superior performance over traditional diagnostic methods and baseline models in accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and specificity. In tests involving various scenarios, including single-modal and multimodal tasks, the model shows remarkable robustness in handling incomplete data. Its effectiveness is further validated through extensive comparative analysis and ablation studies.

Conclusion

The RMT model represents a substantial advancement in pediatric pneumonia severity assessment. It successfully harnesses multimodal data and advanced AI techniques to improve assessment precision. While the RMT model sets a new precedent in AI applications in medical diagnostics, the development of a comprehensive pediatric pneumonia dataset marks a pivotal contribution, providing a robust foundation for future research.