bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Edge-based relative entropy as a sensitive indicator of critical transitions in biological systems
Authors: Hong Renhao , Tong Yuyan , Liu Huisheng , Chen Pei , Liu Rui
Published: April 2024

Background

Disease progression in biosystems is not always a steady process but is occasionally abrupt. It is important but challenging to signal critical transitions in complex biosystems.

Methods

In this study, based on the theoretical framework of dynamic network biomarkers (DNBs), we propose a model-free method, edge-based relative entropy (ERE), to identify temporal key biomolecular associations/networks that may serve as DNBs and detect early-warning signals of the drastic state transition during disease progression in complex biological systems. Specifically, by combining gene‒gene interaction (edge) information with the relative entropy, the ERE method converts gene expression values into network entropy values, quantifying the dynamic change in a biomolecular network and indicating the qualitative shift in the system state.

Results

The proposed method was validated using simulated data and real biological datasets of complex diseases. The applications show that for certain diseases, the ERE method helps to reveal so-called “dark genes” that are non-differentially expressed but with high ERE values and of essential importance in both gene regulation and prognosis.

Conclusions

The proposed method effectively identified the critical transition states of complex diseases at the network level. Our study not only identified the critical transition states of various cancers but also provided two types of new prognostic biomarkers, positive and negative edge biomarkers, for further practical application. The method in this study therefore has great potential in personalized disease diagnosis.
Impact of FAPI-46/dual-tracer PET/CT imaging on radiotherapeutic management in esophageal cancer
Authors: Wegen Simone , Claus Karina , Linde Philipp , Rosenbrock Johannes , Trommer Maike , Zander Thomas , Tuchscherer Armin , Bruns Christiane , Schlößer Hans Anton , Schröder Wolfgang , Eich Marie-Lisa , Fischer Thomas , Schomäcker Klaus , Drzezga Alexander , Kobe Carsten , Roth Katrin Sabine , Weindler Jasmin Josefine
Published: April 2024

Background

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is expressed in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of various cancers. In our analysis, we describe the impact of dual-tracer imaging with Gallium-68-radiolabeled inhibitors of FAP (FAPI-46-PET/CT) and fluorodeoxy-D-glucose (FDG-PET/CT) on the radiotherapeutic management of primary esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods

32 patients with EC, who are scheduled for chemoradiation, received FDG and FAPI-46 PET/CT on the same day (dual-tracer protocol, 71%) or on two separate days (29%) We compared functional tumor volumes (FTVs), gross tumor volumes (GTVs) and tumor stages before and after PET-imaging. Changes in treatment were categorized as “minor” (adaption of radiation field) or “major” (change of treatment regimen). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for FAP was performed in all patients with available tissue.

Results

Primary tumor was detected in all FAPI-46/dual-tracer scans and in 30/32 (93%) of FDG scans. Compared to the initial staging CT scan, 12/32 patients (38%) were upstaged in nodal status after the combination of FDG and FAPI-46 PET scans. Two lymph node metastases were only visible in FAPI-46/dual-tracer. New distant metastasis was observed in 2/32 (6%) patients following FAPI-4 -PET/CT. Our findings led to larger RT fields (“minor change”) in 5/32 patients (16%) and changed treatment regimen (“major change”) in 3/32 patients after FAPI-46/dual-tracer PET/CT. GTVs were larger in FAPI-46/dual-tracer scans compared to FDG-PET/CT (mean 99.0 vs. 80.3 ml, respectively (p < 0.001)) with similar results for nuclear medical FTVs. IHC revealed heterogenous FAP-expression in all specimens (mean H-score: 36.3 (SD 24.6)) without correlation between FAP expression in IHC and FAPI tracer uptake in PET/CT.

Conclusion

We report first data on the use of PET with FAPI-46 for patients with EC, who are scheduled to receive RT. Tumor uptake was high and not depending on FAP expression in TME. Further, FAPI-46/dual-tracer PET had relevant impact on management in this setting. Our data calls for prospective evaluation of FAPI-46/dual-tracer PET to improve clinical outcomes of EC.
Clinical and ultrasound features of 46 children with suppurative osteoarthritis: experience from two centers
Authors: Huang Sai-feng , Teng Yue , Hui-Qing Shi  , Chen Wen-Juan , Zhang Xue-Hua
Published: April 2024

Objective

Diagnosing musculoskeletal infections in children is challenging. In recent years, with the advancement of ultrasound technology, high-resolution ultrasound has unique advantages for musculoskeletal children. The aim of this work is to summarize the ultrasonographic and clinical characteristics of children with pyogenic arthritis and osteomyelitis. This study provides a simpler and more effective diagnostic basis for clinical treatment.

Methods

Fifty children with osteomyelitis or arthritis were diagnosed via ultrasound, and the results of the ultrasound diagnosis were compared with those of magnetic resonance imaging and surgery. Clinical and ultrasound characteristics were also analyzed.

Results

Out of 50 patients, 46 were confirmed to have suppurative infection by surgical and microbiological examination. Among these 46 patients, 26 were diagnosed with osteomyelitis and 20 had arthritis. The manifestations of osteomyelitis were subperiosteal abscess (15 patients), bone destruction (17 patients), bone marrow abscess (9 patients), and adjacent joint abscess (13 patients). Osteomyelitis mostly affects the long bones of the limbs, femur and humerus (10 and 9 patients, respectively), followed by the ulna, radius, tibia and fibula (one patient each). The manifestations of arthritis were joint pus (20 patients) and joint capsule thickening (20 patients), and hip dislocation (8 patients). All the patients had arthritis involving the hip joint.

Conclusion

Subperiosteal abscess, bone destruction, and joint abscess with dislocation are ultrasonographic features of pyogenic osteoarthritis. The findings of this work can improve the early diagnosis and differentiation of pyogenic osteoarthritis and provide a reliable basis for treatment.
Associations between hyperuricemia and ultrasound-detected knee synovial abnormalities in middle-aged and older population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Weng Qianlin , Jiang Ting , Zhang Weiya , Doherty Michael , Yang Zidan , Wei Jie
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Knee synovial abnormalities, potentially treatment targets for knee pain and osteoarthritis, are common in middle-aged and older population, but its etiology remains unclear. We examined the associations between hyperuricemia and knee synovial abnormalities detected by ultrasound in a general population sample.

Methods

Participants aged ≥ 50 years were from a community-based observational study. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum urate (SU) level > 416 µmol/L in men and > 357 µmol/L in women. Ultrasound of both knees was performed to determine the presence of synovial abnormalities, i.e., synovial hypertrophy, effusion, or Power Doppler signal (PDS). We examined the relation of hyperuricemia to prevalence of knee synovial abnormalities and its laterality, and the dose-response relationships between SU levels and the prevalence of knee synovial abnormalities.

Results

In total, 3,405 participants were included in the analysis. Hyperuricemia was associated with higher prevalence of knee synovial abnormality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 to 1.43), synovial hypertrophy (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.68), and effusion (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.44), respectively. There were dose-response relationships between SU levels and synovial abnormalities. Additionally, the hyperuricemia was more associated with prevalence of bilateral than with that of unilateral knee synovial abnormality, synovial hypertrophy, or effusion; however, no significant association was observed between hyperuricemia and PDS.

Conclusion

In this population-based study we found that hyperuricemia was associated with higher prevalence of knee synovial abnormality, synovial hypertrophy and effusion, suggesting that hyperuricemia may play a role in pathogenesis of knee synovial abnormalities.
Increasing access to mental health supports for 12–17-year-old Indigenous youth with the JoyPop mobile mental health app: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mushquash Aislin R. , Neufeld Teagan , Malik Ishaq , Toombs Elaine , Olthuis Janine V. , Schmidt Fred , Dunning Crystal , Stasiuk Kristine , Bobinski Tina , Ohinmaa Arto , Newton Amanda , Stewart Sherry H.
Published: April 2024

Background

Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario who need mental health supports experience longer waits than non-Indigenous youth within the region and when compared to youth in urban areas. Limited access and extended waits can exacerbate symptoms, prolong distress, and increase risk for adverse outcomes. Innovative approaches are urgently needed to provide support for Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario. Using a randomized controlled trial design, the primary objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the JoyPop app compared to usual practice (UP; monitoring) in improving emotion regulation among Indigenous youth (12–17 years) who are awaiting mental health services. The secondary objectives are to (1) assess change in mental health difficulties and treatment readiness between youth in each condition to better understand the app’s broader impact as a waitlist tool and (2) conduct an economic analysis to determine whether receiving the app while waiting for mental health services reduces other health service use and associated costs.

Methods

A pragmatic, parallel arm randomized controlled superiority trial will be used. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the control (UP) or intervention (UP + JoyPop) condition. Stratified block randomization will be used to randomly assign participants to each condition. All participants will be monitored through existing waitlist practices, which involve regular phone calls to check in and assess functioning. Participants in the intervention condition will receive access to the JoyPop app for 4 weeks and will be asked to use it at least twice daily. All participants will be asked to complete outcome measures at baseline, after 2 weeks, and after 4 weeks.

Discussion

This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the JoyPop app as a tool to support Indigenous youth waiting for mental health services. Should findings show that using the JoyPop app is beneficial, there may be support from partners and other organizations to integrate it into usual care pathways.

Trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05898516 [registered on June 1, 2023].
Expression analysis of zinc-metabolizing enzymes in the saliva as a new method of evaluating zinc content in the body: two case reports and a review of the literature
Authors: Sakata Ken-ichiro , Hashimoto Ayako , Kambe Taiho , Sato Jun , Ohga Noritaka , Yamazaki Yutaka , Koyachi Masahide , Tatsuki Itagaki , Okada Mai , Taro Okura , Hikasa Hiroshi , Kitagawa Yoshimasa
Published: April 2024

Background

The activity level of alkaline phosphatase, a zinc-requiring enzyme in the serum, is used to indicate zinc nutritional status; however, it does not correlate with serum zinc levels or subjective symptoms of taste disorder in many cases. Hence, this study focused on the total activity of alkaline phosphatase, a zinc-requiring enzyme. The total alkaline phosphatasa activity level in the saliva was measured before and after zinc supplementation, and the results were compared with serum zinc levels.

Case presentation

This study included patients with hypozincemia, specifically a patient with zinc-deficient taste disorder (patient 1: a 69-year-old Japanese woman) and a patient with glossodynia with zinc deficiency (patient 2: an 82-year-old Japanese woman). Saliva samples were collected, and blood tests were performed before and after zinc supplementation. Subjective symptoms and serum zinc levels were simultaneously evaluated. Zinc supplementation was performed using zinc acetate hydrate or Polaprezinc.

Conclusions

Total alkaline phosphatase activity levels were found to be associated with serum zinc levels and subjective symptoms. A further study with a higher number of patients is necessary to confirm whether total alkaline phosphatase activity levels more accurately reflect the amounts of zinc in the body than serum zinc levels.
Comparison of dysfunctional attitudes, cognitive vulnerability to depression, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in healthy participants
Authors: Muraosa Haruka , Shirata Toshinori , Saito Yusuke , Noto Keisuke , Suzuki Akihito
Published: April 2024

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, depression and suicide rates increased worldwide, and in Japan. Presumably, an increase of neuroticism-related personality traits mediates the relation linking the COVID-19 pandemic with depression and suicide. This study examined COVID-19 pandemic effects on dysfunctional attitudes, cognitive vulnerability to depression, in healthy participants.

Methods

The study used Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) -24 data of three subscales (i.e., achievement, dependency, and self-control) obtained from 270 Japanese medical students during October 2017 – June 2022. Participants were divided into two groups: those for whom DAS-24 was assessed before the pandemic (phase 1 group, October 2017 – March 2020, n = 178) and those for whom DAS-24 was assessed during the pandemic (phase 2 group, April 2020 – June 2022, n = 92).

Results

Total DAS-24 scores of the phase 2 group were significantly (p = 0.047) lower than those of the phase 1 group. Scores of the dependency subscale for the phase 2 group were significantly (p = 0.002) lower than those for the phase 1 group, but no significant difference was found in the scores of the achievement and self-control subscales.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that a decrease in DAS-24 scores, particularly of the dependency subscale, occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Possible mechanisms underlying these results are 1) individuals became less preoccupied with receiving evaluation, 2) individuals realized that self-cognition depending on the approval of others is unimportant, and 3) high levels of dysfunctional attitude were maladaptive for obtaining affective benefits via social interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assessing the agreement of chronic lung disease of prematurity diagnosis between radiologists and clinical criteria
Authors: Rich Joseph Matthew , Lin Lydia Jing , Le Jonathan Luan , Abe Justin Ryan Ching , Sura Amit
Published: April 2024

Background

Chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD) is the most prevalent complication of preterm birth and indicates an increased likelihood of long-term pulmonary complications. The accurate diagnosis of this condition is critical for long-term health management. Numerous definitions define CLD with different clinical parameters and radiology findings, making diagnosis of the disease ambiguous and potentially inaccurate.

Methods

95 patients were identified for this study, as determined by the diagnosis or confirmation of CLD in the impression of the radiologist’s report on chest x-ray. Pulmonary function and complications were recorded at multiple benchmark timeframes within each patient’s first few months of life and used for determining eligibility under each definition.

Results

Each clinical definition of CLD had a high sensitivity for patients identified to have CLD by radiologists, correctly fitting over 90% of patients. Most patients included required invasive mechanical ventilation or positive pressure ventilation at 36 weeks postmenstrual age, indicating patients with radiographically confirmed CLD tended to have more severe disease. Radiologists tended to diagnose CLD before 36 weeks postmenstrual age, a timepoint used by multiple standard clinical definitions, with cases called earlier fitting under a larger percentage of definitions than those called later.

Conclusions

Radiologists tend to diagnose CLD in young patients with severe respiratory compromise, and can accurately diagnose the condition before developmental milestones for clinical definitions are met.
Service Evaluation of MyChristie-MyHealth, an Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Integrated Into Clinical Cancer Care
Authors: Shipman Lee A. , Price James , Abdulwahid Danya , Bayman Neil , Blackhall Fiona , Califano Raffaele , Chan Clara , Coote Joanna , Eaton Marie , Fenemore Jacqueline , Gomes Fabio , Harris Margaret , Halkyard Emma , Lindsay Colin , Neal Hilary , McEntee Delyth , Sheikh Hamid , Summers Yvonne , Taylor Paul , Woolf David , Yorke Janelle , Faivre-Finn Corinne
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

Electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) are digitalized health questionnaires used to gauge patients' subjective experience of health and disease. They are becoming prevalent in cancer care and have been linked to a host of benefits including improved survival. MyChristie-MyHealth is the ePROM established at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in 2019. We conducted an evaluation of this service to understand user experiences, as well as strategies to improve its functioning.

METHODS

Data collection: Patients who had opted never to complete MyChristie-MyHealth (n = 87), and those who had completed at least one (n = 87) were identified. Demographic data included age, sex, ethnicity, postcode, diagnosis, treatment intent, and trial status. Semistructured interviews were held with noncompleters (n = 30) and completers (n = 31) of MyChristie-MyHealth, as well as clinician users (n = 6), covering themes such as accessibility, acceptability and usefulness, and open discourse on ways in which the service could be improved.

RESULTS

Noncompleters of MyChristie-MyHealth were older (median age 72 v 66 years, P = .005), receiving treatment with curative rather than palliative intent (odds ratio [OR], 1.45; P = .045), and less likely to be enrolled on a clinical trial (OR, 0.531; P = .011). They were less likely to own a smartphone (33% v 97%) or have reliable Internet access (45% v 100%). Satisfaction with MyChristie-MyHealth was high in both groups: 93% (n = 29) of completers and 87% (n = 26) noncompleters felt generally happy to complete. Completers of MyChristie-MyHealth wanted their results to be acknowledged by their clinicians. Clinicians wanted results to be displayed in a more user-friendly way.

CONCLUSION

We have broadly characterized noncompleters of the Christie ePROM to identify those in need of extra support or encouragement in the clinic. An action plan resulting from this review has been compiled and will inform the future development of MyChristie-MyHealth.
Lung Cancer Clinical Trials in Latin America in the Era of Cooperative Groups: A 20-Year Analysis
Authors: Knapp Thomas , Nygaard Joseph , Cassinat Joshua , Galvez Fernando , Gopalan Priya K.
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to characterize lung cancer treatment clinical trials in Latin America before (January 2001-December 2011) and after (January 2012-December 2021) the organization of major Latin American oncology cooperative groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Interventional clinical trials were identified in ClinicalTrials.gov using the search terms “lung cancer,” country filters for 20 Latin American countries, and study start dates January 1, 2001-December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2012-December 31, 2021. Clinical trials were categorized as either originating in Latin America (LA) or outside Latin America (non-LA) with participation of Latin American countries. Descriptive statistics, two-sided Z-scores, and chi-square analyses with 95% CIs were calculated.

RESULTS

Overall, 273 clinical trials involving Latin American countries between 2001 and 2021 were identified. Comparing 2001-2011 with 2012-2021, there was an increase in total clinical trials (100 v 173; P < .001). Only 9% (26 of 273) of all trials were LA trials. There was a marked decrease in the proportion of LA trials (14% v 7%, P = .058) and estimated enrollment to LA trials (3,245 v 1,190 patients; P < .001). Recruiting of patients with EGFR (29% v 7%; P < .01) and KRAS (18% v 2%; P < .01) driver mutations also decreased. Trial participation was highest in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Peru and increased over time: Brazil (61 v 108; 77% increase), Mexico (40 v 88; 120% increase), Argentina (50 v 78; 56% increase), Chile (25 v 57; 128% increase), and Peru (14 v 37; 164% increase).

CONCLUSION

There was a significant increase in clinical trial participation by Latin American countries, from 2001-2011 to 2012-2021. However, there were few clinical trials which originated in Latin America or focused on patients with driver mutations.
Relativistic generalised uncertainty and the corrected vacuum energy
Authors: Pandey Akshat
Published: April 2024

In this paper we make use of the recent covariant extension of the generalised uncertainty principle to study the corrections to the vacuum energy of the simplest scalar quantum field theory. We then calculate the modifications to the Casimir effect that such a correction to the vacuum energy would bring about. We emphasise that these corrections are indeed physical.
Computational analysis of super-resolved in situ sequencing data reveals genes modified by immune–tumor contact events
Authors: Danino-Levi Michal , Goldberg Tal , Keter Maya , Akselrod Nikol , Shprach-Buaron Noa , Safra Modi , Singer Gonen , Alon Shahar
Published: April 2024

Cancer cells can manipulate immune cells and escape from the immune system response. Quantifying the molecular changes that occur when an immune cell touches a tumor cell can increase our understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Recently, it became possible to perform such measurements in situ—for example, using expansion sequencing, which enabled in situ sequencing of genes with super-resolution. We systematically examined whether individual immune cells from specific cell types express genes differently when in physical proximity to individual tumor cells. First, we demonstrated that a dense mapping of genes in situ can be used for the segmentation of cell bodies in 3D, thus improving our ability to detect likely touching cells. Next, we used three different computational approaches to detect the molecular changes that are triggered by proximity: differential expression analysis, tree-based machine learning classifiers, and matrix factorization analysis. This systematic analysis revealed tens of genes, in specific cell types, whose expression separates immune cells that are proximal to tumor cells from those that are not proximal, with a significant overlap between the different detection methods. Remarkably, an order of magnitude more genes are triggered by proximity to tumor cells in CD8 T cells compared to CD4 T cells, in line with the ability of CD8 T cells to directly bind major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I on tumor cells. Thus, in situ sequencing of an individual biopsy can be used to detect genes likely involved in immune–tumor cell–cell interactions. The data used in this manuscript and the code of the InSituSeg, machine learning, cNMF, and Moran'sImethods are publicly available at doi:10.5281/zenodo.7497981.
A neglected problem ın caregıvers of cancer patıents: Supportıve care needs
Authors: Çelik Ayşegül , Temeltaş Gizem
Published: April 2024

Background: Supportive care approaches are critical in meeting the needs of cancer patients and their families when they are diagnosed, during cancer treatment, and after therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the supportive care needs of cancer caregivers.
Methods: The study was descriptive and quantitative. Data was collected online between December 2021 and February 2022. The study's sample included 170 people aged 18 years up who had been responsible for the care of cancer patients for at least three months. “Partners and Caregivers Descriptive Information Form” and “Supportive Care Needs Survey Partners and Caregivers of Patients Diagnosed with Cancer” were used to collect data.
Results: According to the study, 81.2% of caregivers were female, 52.9% had a bachelor's degree, 74.1% were married, and 61.2% had a job. Additionally, 26.5% of individuals provided care to lung cancer patients, 64.1% lived with the patient, and 26.5% dedicated 7-12 hours each day to the provision of care. The most common supportive care needs of caregivers were psychological and emotional support (87.0%). Educational level, perceived income status, relationship with the patient and daily caregiving duration were determined as caregiver characteristics that affect supportive care needs (p<0.05).
Conclusion As a result of the research, it was determined that the partners and caregivers who care for cancer patients have a high level of supportive care needs. Psychological and emotional support was the most frequently reported need for supportive care by cancer patients caregivers in Turkish society.
A SYSTEMATIC REVIEw OF THE MECHANISMS THAT INFLUENCE TALENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Authors: Douson Dzhozef , Lysenko E.
Published: April 2024

In the corporate world, talent management is the buzzword for retaining key employees. It has emerged as one of the most pressing concerns for businesses. These days, almost every industry in the world is experiencing high levels of attrition. The retention of talented employees is a critical component of an organization’s more general approach to talent management, which is defined as the implementation of integrated strategies or systems designed to increase workplace productivity by developing improved processes for attracting, developing, retaining, and utilizing people with the required skills and aptitude to meet current and future business needs. According to research, talent management practices must be reviewed on a regular basis in order for a company to capitalize on its talented employees, find the best fit, and expand into new markets. As a result, management should identify and review the factors that influence talent management in the organization on a regular basis. The goal of this paper is to identify the various mechanisms that have an impact on talent management practices and organizational effectiveness.
HOw TO MANAGE PROBLEM EMPLOYEES
Authors: Erygina Anna , Davidenko E.
Published: April 2024

In this scientific work, we have considered and analyzed the types of problematic employees that exist today, as well as their possible actions and, directly, the problems themselves that these employees bear, the degree of importance of a particular problem, how to solve them to the head. Possible examples of problematic co-workers are given, for each of which the problems they carry are described. Analyzed some posts with HH.ru on the basis of which we proposed options for determining the problematic employee at the meeting stage. It also describes what is important to pay attention to before hiring an employee. We have put forward possible methods and actions that can be applied to problem employees, depending on their type.
Effects of Supportive Leadership Behaviors on Employee Satisfaction, Engagement, and Performance: An Experimental Field Investigation
Authors: Haeckl Simone , Rege Mari
Published: April 2024

We conduct a field experiment in a large corporation to investigate the effects of supportive leadership behaviors on employee satisfaction, engagement, and performance. Treated leaders receive a brief training promoting leadership behaviors that encourage, assure, and value employee efforts. Our experimental design allows us to observe leaders and employees in a subsequent meeting. We find that the leadership training affects the leaders’ supportive behaviors and thereby increases employees’ self-reported satisfaction and engagement during the meeting by 0.28 and 0.18 standard deviations, respectively. The effect on team performance is 0.13 standard deviations but is not significant.

This paper was accepted by Marie Claire Villeval, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Funding: This work was supported by Norges Forskningsråd [Grant 325398].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.02170 .
Das Sicherheitsdispositiv der Resilienz
Authors: Folkers Andreas
Published: April 2024

In einer Welt, in der alte Gewissheiten prekär werden, ist Sicherheit zu einer zentralen Wertvorstellung geworden. Terroranschläge, Naturgefahren, Pandemien, Ausfälle vitaler Infrastrukturen und technische Störfälle führen immer wieder vor Augen, dass es "keine hundertprozentige Sicherheit" gibt. Als Alternative zum Versprechen von Sicherheit wird in jüngster Zeit verstärkt das Leitbild der Resilienz ins Spiel gebracht - die Fähigkeit, Risiken und Gefahren erfolgreich zu bewältigen. Dieses Buch untersucht die komplexe Sicherheitslandschaft der Gegenwart. Es befragt Praktiken der Sicherheit nach ihrer historischen Herkunft und ihren sozialen Effekten und versucht, unser Verständnis von "Sicherheit" zu verunsichern. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Globalität sehen
Authors: Hoggenmüller Sebastian W.
Published: April 2024

Weltraumfotografien, CO2-Infografiken und Weltkarten – sie veranschaulichen nicht einfach nur Daten, Fakten und Zusammenhänge, sondern erzeugen spezifische Vorstellungen über eine allen Menschen gemeinsame Welt. Wie sie dies leisten, welche Vorstellungen der Welt das im Einzelnen sind und was sich aus jenen visuellen Darstellungsmedien über Konzepte der Globalität und die Struktur der Weltgesellschaft lernen lässt, erforscht Sebastian W. Hoggenmüller mittels einer neu entwickelten Methode zur interpretativen Bildanalyse. Sein Buch eröffnet Wege, Dinge zu sehen, die dem Alltagsblick verborgen bleiben. Und es erschließt ein Thema, das bislang noch nicht systematisch bearbeitet wurde: die visuelle Konstruktion von Globalität. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.de
Die Illusion der Leistungsgerechtigkeit
Authors: Westerheide Jule Elena
Published: April 2024

Jede erfolgreiche Führungskraft verfügt über ein leistungsstarkes »Vorzimmer«. Sekretärinnen an der Hochschule bilden etwa einen Berufsstand, mit dem Wissenschaftler_innen täglich kooperieren, ohne dass dieser je ernsthaft zum Gegenstand ihrer Forschung geworden wäre. Während Sekretariatsarbeit im öffentlichen Dienst durch technische und organisatorische Veränderungen zunehmend anspruchsvoller wird, bleibt die für frauentypische Assistenztätigkeiten übliche niedrige tarifliche Eingruppierung erhalten. Die Studie untersucht die daraus resultierende, individualisierte Form des Arbeitskonflikts um Entgelt. Organisationale Arbeitsplatzbewertungen werden zum Austragungsort der Lohnfindung, in denen Vorstelllungen von Leistung und Gerechtigkeit aufeinandertreffen und unter Bezugnahme auf das Leistungsprinzip ausgehandelt werden. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Rechtskämpfe
Authors: Pichl Maximilian
Published: April 2024

Nach dem Sommer der Migration 2015 haben die EU-Mitgliedstaaten ihre Migrationskontrollpolitiken deutlich verschärft. Rechtsanwält_innen und Menschenrechtsorganisationen führten die Rechtskämpfe auf Seiten der Geflüchteten häufig hinter den Kulissen. Maximilian Pichl liefert einen politikwissenschaftlichen Einblick in Kämpfe vor Gerichten gegen das europäische Grenzregime. In den Fokus geraten die »heißen« Abschiebungen aus der spanischen Exklave Melilla nach Marokko, die Inhaftierung von Geflüchteten an der ungarischen Grenze sowie die juristische Auseinandersetzung um die Asylverfahrensbeschleunigung in Deutschland. Für seine Dissertation gewann Maximilian Pichl im Jahr 2023 den Antonio-Gramsci-Preis. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode
Managing Change
Authors: Maile Michael
Published: April 2024

Change-Management gilt als zentrale Managementtechnik zur Steuerung des sozialen Gefüges in Organisationen. Michael Maile untersucht in seiner Studie die kulturelle Seite innerbetrieblicher Veränderungen und analysiert Change-Management als eine spezifische Arbeitskultur. Im Zentrum seiner empirischen Forschung steht die Art und Weise, wie Führungskräfte mit organisationalem Wandel umgehen und wie sie ihn gestalten. Auf Basis narrativer Interviews mit Führungskräften unterschiedlicher Organisationen gibt er tiefe Einblicke in den betrieblichen Alltag. In detaillierten Einzelfallanalysen werden deren vielfältige Motive, Deutungen und Praktiken sowie organisationsspezifische Kontexte freigelegt. Die Untersuchung zeigt, wie Führungskräfte versuchen, sich selbst und die Beschäftigten zu steuern und so den Change zu managen: Krisenbilder werden gezeichnet, Emotionen wie Angst und Neugier instrumentalisiert, Macht- und Statusansprüche verhandelt, Selbstverantwortung wie auch Loyalität eingefordert und Beteiligung erprobt. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Die Subversion verletzender Worte
Authors: Schütze Christian Vasili
Published: April 2024

Hate Speech wird hierzulande zunehmend als ernsthaftes gesellschaftliches Problem erkannt. Während in Debatten über Handlungsmöglichkeiten meistens Sanktionierungen durch staatliche Institutionen im Zentrum stehen, macht Christian Vasili Schütze eine rhetorisch-künstlerische Form der Intervention stark, die der verletzenden Kraft nicht frontal entgegentritt, sondern sie umlenkt und zurückwirft. In Auseinandersetzung mit Hate Poetry, Kanak Sprak und Kanak Attak arbeitet der Autor Grundlagen zum Verständnis von Hate Speech und der Subversion verletzender Worte aus. Dabei knüpft er an Konzepte von Butler, Derrida, Austin und Bourdieu an und entwickelt sie weiter. Sein Buch stellt ein differenziertes theoretisches Instrumentarium für eine sprachpolitische Praxis gegen Hate Speech bereit. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Eine kritische Theorie der Tugendethik
Authors: Runge Richard Friedrich
Published: April 2024

Der neo-aristotelischen Tugendethik zufolge hängen ethische Maßstäbe von der biologischen Spezieszugehörigkeit der ethischen Akteure ab. Diese Perspektive, so argumentiert Richard Friedrich Runge in seinem Buch, bleibt bislang unbefriedigend. Unter Einbeziehung der modernen philosophischen Biologie und der dialektischen Anthropologie von Erich Fromm plädiert der Autor für eine kritische Wendung der Tugendethik und ein dialektisches Verständnis der Beziehung von Individuum und Umwelt. Seine kritische Theorie der Tugendethik ist der Versuch eines großen systematischen Neuentwurfs in einer der bestimmenden metaethischen Debatten unserer Zeit. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Das Affektregime weiblicher Altersarmut
Authors: Rau Alexandra
Published: April 2024

Altersarmut ist in erster Linie weiblich. Begründet liegt sie unter anderem im geschlechtsspezifischen Arbeitsmarkt und dem zunehmenden Abbau des Sozialstaats. In Altersarmut zu leben bedeutet, mit knappen Mitteln wirtschaften zu müssen und mit gesellschaftlicher Stigmatisierung konfrontiert zu sein. Diese geht häufig Hand in Hand mit Gefühlen wie Scham und Schuld, Ängsten und Sorgen, Kränkung oder Einsamkeit. Auf Basis ethnografischer Portraits liefert Alexandra Rau intime Einblicke in die alltägliche Verstrickung einer Frauengeneration, für die das Zukunftsversprechen eines »wohlverdienten Ruhestands« obsolet erscheint. Ihre empirische Studie zeigt, wie das Affektregime weiblicher Altersarmut eine Solidarisierung betroffener Frauen verhindert und damit politische Mobilisierung untergräbt. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Moralische Gentrifizierung
Authors: Jann Olaf , Selk Veith
Published: April 2024

Migration, Klimawandel, Inflation, Krieg – Krisen kumulieren in immer kürzeren Abständen. Dieses Buch bietet einen aktuellen, pointierten, aber wissenschaftlich fundierten Beitrag über die Korrosion von Politik und Gesellschaft. Die Moralisierung politischer Kultur wird im Kontext gegenwärtiger Transformationskonflikte als ein Krisensymptom demokratischer Gesellschaften analysiert. Eine These lautet: Das Schwinden liberaler Demokratie und die Transformation der Gesellschaft bewirken emotionale Kontrastverschärfungen, die in einen Vertrauensverlust staatlicher Institutionen münden können. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Koloniales Erbe verhandeln
Authors: Krajewsky Georg
Published: April 2024

Im Sommer 2014 beschloss der Hamburger Senat, die Hansestadt solle als erste Stadt in Deutschland mit der Aufarbeitung ihrer Kolonialvergangenheit beginnen. Das Buch untersucht die Verhandlungen über die Neuausrichtung städtischer Erinnerungspolitik im Rahmen des Runden Tisches »Koloniales Erbe« und beleuchtet dabei die sozialen Bedingungen des kollektiven Erinnerns der europäischen Kolonialherrschaft. Mit ihrer machttheoretischen Perspektive bietet die Fallstudie fundierte Einblicke in die Konflikte und Kompromisse zu den Kompetenzen der unterschiedlichen erinnerungspolitischen Akteure und die Deutungen der städtischen Kolonialvergangenheit und ihrer Folgen.
Global Platform Work
Authors: Oechslen Anna
Published: April 2024

Digitale Freelance-Plattformen werben mit Flexibilität, Unabhängigkeit und dem Zugang zu einem weltweiten Arbeitsmarkt. Doch was bedeutet es, sich in diesem Umfeld zu organisieren und zu positionieren? »Global Platform Work« beleuchtet den Alltag von Grafikdesigner:innen, die von Indien aus über digitale Plattformen weltweit Aufträge erhalten. Auf der Grundlage von Interviews, Beobachtungen und Fototagebüchern beschreibt Anna Oechslen, wie wichtig es für Gigworker:innen ist, sich ständig aufs Neue in ein positives Licht zu rücken, Beziehungen zu knüpfen und sich an eine Arbeitsumgebung anzupassen, die im ständigen Wandel begriffen ist. Dabei formuliert sie Gig Work als Beziehungsarbeit und beleuchtet alltägliche Praktiken, die gängige Konzepte von Arbeit oft unberücksichtigt lassen.
Soziale Orte in Bulgarien – Erfahrungen einer Exkursion im Rahmen des international vergleichenden Wissenstransfers
Authors: Reinhold Maike , Vogel Berthold
Published: April 2024

Armut, Abwanderung, Abstiegsängste – die statistischen Zahlen zur wirtschaftlichen, demografischen und sozialen Lage in der Region Montana im Nordwesten Bulgariens zeichnen im europäischen Vergleich ein dramatisches Bild. Was aber verrät die Statistik über den gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt? Wie gestalten die Menschen ihren Alltag und welche Erwartungen haben sie an die Zukunft ihrer Region? Was die statistischen Zahlen nicht zum Ausdruck bringen können, ist der lebensweltliche Umgang beziehungsweise die Gestaltung von Transformationsprozessen durch die Menschen vor Ort. Zahlen können die sozialen und affektiven Beziehungen der Gemeinschaften ländlicher Gemeinden nicht abbilden. Um ein facettenreiches Bild von Regionen und den dort lebenden Menschen zu bekommen, um individuelle Lebensrealitäten ins Verhältnis zu statistischen Werten zu setzen, ist eine aufsuchende Sozialforschung gefragt, wie wir sie am Teilinstitut (TI) Göttingen des Forschungsinstituts Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt (FGZ) verfolgen. Für eine vergleichende Zusammenhaltsforschung entlang der Stichworte »Soziale Orte« und »gleichwertige Lebensverhältnisse« hat sich das TI Göttingen auf eine Exkursion in den Nordwesten Bulgariens begeben. Dieser Text berichtet von methodischen Zugriffen, gelernten Erkenntnissen, die für die Durchführung eines international vergleichenden Wissenstransfers zu beachten sind, und zeigt, dass Wissenschaft internationale Brücken baut, wenn sie neue Wege geht und wechselseitige Lernprozesse anstößt.
Partizipativer Wissenstransfer im Bereich der Medienforschung – Das Beispiel der „Denkwerkstatt“
Authors: Broer Irene , Pröschel Louisa , Schmidt Jan-Hinrik , Schoon Wiebke
Published: April 2024

Der Beitrag beschreibt das Format der „Denkwerkstätten“ als partizipative Denk- und Diskussionsräume, die einen geschützten Rahmen für Austausch, Vernetzung und Wissensproduktion zwischen wissenschaftlichen und nicht-wissenschaftlichen Akteur:innen schaffen. Das Format wird bislang am Standort Hamburg des Forschungsinstituts Gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt (FGZ) in Projekten eingesetzt, die die Bedeutung von Medien und Journalismus für gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt erkunden, ist aber nicht grundsätzlich auf dieses Thema beschränkt. Der Beitrag gibt zunächst einen Überblick über die Bedeutung partizipativer Ansätze für die Medien- und Kommunikationsforschung. Danach stellen wir das Konzept der Denkwerkstatt im Detail vor, skizzieren typische Abläufe und illustrieren diese anhand von bislang durchgeführten Denkwerkstätten. Abschließend diskutieren wir, welche Schlüsse wir aus unseren Erfahrungen mit dem Format für die Untersuchung des gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalts ziehen können und erläutern die partizipativen und indirekt transformativen Elemente, die damit einhergehen. Dabei differenzieren wir zwischen drei Ebenen: die Ebene der Teilnehmer:innen, die Ebene der wissenschaftlichen Forschung und die der Medien.
Relating to Other Worlds
Authors: Rüpke Jörg
Published: April 2024

The author develops an analysis of cities of the ancient Mediterranean world. The chapter analyzes how religious practices shape Weltbeziehungen in urban contexts. The focus is on a relationship fundamental for all inhabitants, namely to the dead, and dead ancestors in particular. With a framework of relational analysis, the chapter demonstrates that religion offers a toolbox for establishing a complex web of relations, to spaces, to people, to a beyond that is conceptually combining distance and contiguity. Burial practices and funerary rites show the working of such relations within the framework of an urbanity that amply employs the continuous membership of dead family for claiming social positions and at the same time conceptually excludes them from urban space proper.
Rechtspopulismus und Homosexualität
Authors: Wielowiejski Patrick
Published: April 2024

Homosexuelle werden zunehmend ins populistische »Wir« der äußersten Rechten integriert. Der Kulturanthropologe Patrick Wielowiejski hat eine Gruppe schwuler Mitglieder der »Alternative für Deutschland« (AfD) zwei Jahre lang begleitet. Ausgehend von ihren Narrativen und Praktiken analysiert er in dieser »Ethnografie der Feindschaft« das politische Imaginäre der gegenwärtigen Rechten. Dabei wird deutlich, dass die Grenze zwischen »normal« und »pervers« hier nicht mehr zwischen »Hetero« und »Homo« gezogen wird, sondern zwischen essentialistischen und emanzipatorischen Lebensentwürfen und Praktiken. Zugleich reflektiert Wielowiejski kritisch seine Forschungserfahrungen und ermöglicht so einen nuancierten Einblick in ein politisches Feld, das den demokratischen Zusammenhalt immer mehr bedroht. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
Relationship between nutritional goals and pressure injuries in critical care patients receiving enteral nutrition
Authors: Wenzel Fernanda , Whitaker Iveth Yamaguchi
Published: April 2024

Objective:

To examine the relationship between pressure injury (PI) development and achievement of nutritional goals (protein and caloric), as well as consider the clinical conditions, hospitalisation factors, and risk assessment for PI development in patients who are critically ill and receiving enteral nutrition (EN) in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Method:

An observational cohort study was conducted in the ICU of the University Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Inclusion criteria were as follows: age ≥18 years; length of ICU stay ≥24 hours; without PI at ICU admission; and receiving EN exclusively during ICU stay. The development of PI was considered the dependent variable. The Chi-squared test was applied to compare categorical variables, and the Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables between groups of patients with and without a PI. The analysis of the achievement of nutritional goals was performed using Fisher's exact test. A significance level of 5% (p-value<0.05) and a confidence interval (CI) of 95% was adopted in all statistical tests.

Results:

A total of 181 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 102 (56.4%) were male and 79 (43.6%) were female. Mean age was 55.1 years, and mean length of ICU stay was 17.5 days. PI development was associated with not achieving nutritional goals. There was a higher percentage (65.3%) of patients without a PI when both protein and caloric goals were achieved. In contrast, 45.6% of patients developed a PI when the goals were not achieved. The mean days for sedation, vasoactive drugs and mechanical ventilation were all significantly higher in patients who developed a PI (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

There was a significant association between patients developing a PI and deficits in caloric and protein intake. Patients who did not develop PIs had a greater calorie and protein intake compared with those who developed a PI.
Experience of diagnosis and treatment of hard-to-heal wounds infected with Acinetobacter baumannii: a case study
Authors: Ji Chaochao , Guo Wenyong , Amir Hammad
Published: April 2024

Objective:

To explore the efficacy of 0.01% hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds infected by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Method:

We report a case of hard-to-heal wounds on a patient's forearms that were infected by Acinetobacter baumannii. The wounds were treated with 0.01% HOCl. We reviewed the relevant literature and discussed the definition, epidemiology and pathogenesis of hard-to-heal wounds infected by Acinetobacter baumannii. We also explored the safety and efficacy of 0.01% HOCl for the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds infected with Acinetobacter baumannii.

Results:

After 3–4 weeks of treatment with 0.01% HOCl, the pain and pruritus of the wounds was gradually alleviated, the infection was controlled and the granulation tissue was fresh. The ulcers also shrank and the nutritional condition of the patient improved. In the fifth week, the skin of the patient's right thigh was grafted to repair the wounds, which then healed within 18 days. During the three years of follow-up, the patient had no relapse.

Conclusion:

In our case, the 0.01% HOCl seemed to effectively inactivate the bacterial biological biofilm. This helped to promote wound healing, and was non-toxic to the tissues. We consider low-concentration HOCl to be safe and effective for the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds infected with Acinetobacter baumannii.
Gardening Without a Garden
Authors: Reklis Kathryn
Published: April 2024

Abstract: At the intersection of autobiography, critical cultural commentary, and historical mediation, this essay explores the idea of gardening without access to private, self-contained land. It argues that gardening, like language, is the work of the commons - alternatives to histories of enclosure and privatization. Gardens and language are about the commons, about what earth's species have in common with one another and how we choose to entangle our lives in common survival and flourishing.
Queer Gardens
Authors: Emmerik Joost
Published: April 2024

Abstract: This essay explores the author's own identity in relation with his grandmother's garden, as well as the garden plans of several key garden designers. Gardens provide a safe, queer space, set apart from the normative gardens with their straight rows and meticulously controlled land. Queer gardens are about finding a way to relate to the world, a place on earth that means something to their creators, and their visitors, safe spaces in which to behave differently. They're quirky, willful, playful, expressions of the characters of their creators and gardeners. They stretch the idea of what a garden can or should be and in doing this, they inspire other designers.