bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling soil deposition predictions on solar photovoltaic panels using ANN under Malaysia’s meteorological condition
Authors: Suhaimi Muhammad Aiman Amin Muhammad , Dahlan Nofri Yenita , Asman Saidatul Habsah , Rajasekar Natarajan , Mohamed Hassan
Published: October 2024

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels performance is influenced by various external factors such as precipitation, wind angle, ambient temperature, wind speed, transient irradiation, and soil deposition. Soiling accumulation on panels poses a significant challenge to PV power generation. This paper presents the development of an artificial neural network (ANN)-based soil deposition prediction model for PV systems. Conducted at a Malaysian solar farm over three months, the research utilized power output data from the inverter as model output and meteorological data as input variables. The model employed the Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation method with Tansig and Purline activation functions. Performance assessment via statistical comparison of experimental and simulated results revealed a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.68073 for the ANN architecture of 5 input layers, 30 hidden layers, and 1 output layer (5-30-1). Sensitivity analysis highlighted relative humidity and wind direction as the most influential parameters affecting PV soiling rate. The developed ANN model, combined with sensitivity analysis, serves as a robust foundation for enhancing the efficiency of smart sensors in PV module cleaning systems.
Batak Toba language-Indonesian machine translation with transfer learning using no language left behind
Authors: Samuel Cevin , Ali Irsan Taufik
Published: October 2024

This study focuses on neural machine translation (NMT) for low-resource languages (LRLs) pair, Batak Toba-Indonesian (bbc↔ind). The Batak Toba language is a critically endangered dialect of an Indonesian ethnic group, Batak. Recent advances in machine translation offer potential solutions, with transfer learning emerging as a promising approach for this language pair. We used a publicly available bbc↔ind parallel corpora from the Hugging Face datasets hub and employed the NLLB-200's distilled 600M variant model as the baseline model. Our models achieved sacreBLEU scores as follows: i) for bbc→ind, it achieved a score of 37.10 (+25.67, up from 11.43) and ii) for ind→bbc, it achieved a score of 30.84 (+25.82, up from 5.02). These results outperform all previous works in the task bbc↔ind machine translation and prove the validity of our approach.
Assessment of heavy metals concentration of Mapanuepe Lake, Zambales, Philippines
Authors: Mendoza Ma. Shiela G. , Rogayan Jr. Danilo V.
Published: October 2024

Despite the absence of recent research, Mapanuepe Lake in the Philippines has been a significant environmental concern due to potential heavy metal contamination. Hence, the study assessed the heavy metal concentration of water and surface sediments and identified the other physicochemical properties of Mapanuepe Lake in San Marcelino, Zambales, Philippines. This descriptive research employed physical profiling and physicochemical characterization of water and surface sediments of the lake. Six sampling stations in the lake were selected based on their current land use and nearness to the point source of heavy metal pollution. The study found that the Mapanuepe Lake is a thriving place for algae and zooplankton. The heavy metal concentration of the lake water and sediment sample is within the standard limit. The water conductivity is considered to be within the standards. In terms of pH level, the sampling sites obtained a pH level within the acceptable limit. The concentration of heavy metals in the lake water and sediments is generally within the standard limit. Other physicochemical properties are also in the acceptable range. The community people and local government must collaborate to implement the crafted strategic environmental sustainability plan, which includes biodiversity conservation and ecotourism promotion. Likewise, the study provides updated and comprehensive data on the status of the lake's heavy metal concentration for policy formulation and further research.
The study of requirements for the workforce of the digital industries using web scraping techniques
Authors: Tipsena Rachawit , Chansanam Wirapong , Tuamsuk Kulthida , Boongoen Tossapon
Published: October 2024

This study investigates workforce requirements in Thailand's digital industries, focusing on qualification requirements across five industry groups: hardware and smart devices, software and software services, digital service, digital content, and telecommunication. Employing Python-based web scraping from selected job websites during 2022–2023, the data undergoes natural language processing (NLP) for analysis. Within Group 1 (hardware and smart devices), electrical engineers dominate with 92 positions, emphasizing a demand for engineering expertise. Group 2 (software and software services) sees a surge in programmer roles, totaling 244 positions, showcasing a need for robust programming skills. Group 3 (digital service) prioritizes information technology (IT) support, claiming 354 positions, indicating high demand for IT support qualifications. Graphic design leads Group 4 (digital content) with 587 positions, highlighting the need for a workforce in digital content production. In Group 5 (telecommunication), network engineers dominate with 37 positions, signaling a demand for top-tier network engineering skills. Most positions across groups specify a bachelor's degree and often require prior experience, highlighting the industry's preference for both academic and practical qualifications. This study underscores the digital industry's rapid growth and the sustained demand for a qualified workforce, emphasizing the importance of academic credentials and specialized skills for future employment in these sectors.
The production-inventory model with imperfect, rework, and scrap items under stochastic demand
Authors: Utama Dana Marsetiya , Putri Artha Bripka
Published: October 2024

Inventory is crucial in maintaining a smooth production process and meeting consumer demand for manufacturing companies. This research focuses on production problems involving defects, rework, and scrap items in stochastic demand. This research aims to develop a production-availability model by minimizing the expectation of total cost (ETC). The model includes four main decision variables, namely production quantity (Q), safety factor (k), production rate (P), and rework rate (P1). This research uses the Aquila optimizer algorithm to optimize the objective function. It compares with the heuristic procedure and Harris Hawk optimization algorithm. The results showed that the Aquila optimizer algorithm successfully optimized the production-availability problem. A comparison between algorithms indicates that the Aquila optimizer algorithm performs equivalently to the Harris Hawk optimization algorithm and outperforms the heuristic procedure. Sensitivity analysis shows that increasing demand uncertainty increases ETC and k. At the same time, it can decrease Q.
Insights into pour point depressants: a brief review of their impact on the behavior of waxy crude oil
Authors: Khaklari Gaurav Himanta , Talukdar Prasenjit
Published: October 2024

A persistent challenge in the petroleum industry involves paraffin wax deposition from crude oils during low-temperature conditions, complicating pipeline flow assurance due to the intricate rheological behaviors exhibited by waxy crude oil gels. These behaviors include viscoelasticity, yield stress, and thixotropy, contributing to issues like flow reduction and pipeline obstruction, adversely affecting overall pipeline performance. Mitigating this problem requires a combination of mechanical and chemical processes, with pour point depressants (PPDs) emerging as an effective chemical solution. PPDs operate by interacting with wax crystals in the oil, disrupting their formation into a continuous network and preventing flow blockage at lower temperatures. The performance of PPDs depends on factors such as base oil type, PPD concentration, and application temperature. Recent advancements in PPDs focus on developing new polymers with enhanced performance and reduced environmental impact, including those derived from renewable resources, biodegradable PPDs, nano-structured PPDs, or hybrid PPDs. Polymeric additives, such as crystalline-amorphous copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, comb polymers, and nanohybrids, are employed to modify wax crystallization behavior. Understanding the molecular structure of these additives, fluid composition, and pipeline conditions is crucial for optimizing formulations tailored to specific petroleum fluid compositions and transport conditions, ensuring effective wax deposition mitigation.
Circulating miRNAs and Machine Learning for Lateralizing Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Vékony Bálint , Nyirő Gábor , Herold Zoltan , Fekete János , Ceccato Filippo , Gruber Sven , Kürzinger Lydia , Parasiliti-Caprino Mirko , Bioletto Fabio , Szücs Nikolette , Doros Attila , Szeredás Bálint Kende , Syed Mohammed Nazri Siti Khadijah , Fell Vanessa , Bassiony Mohamed , Dank Magdolna , Azizan Elena Aisha , Bancos Irina , Beuschlein Felix , Igaz Peter
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND:

Distinguishing between unilateral and bilateral primary aldosteronism, a major cause of secondary hypertension, is crucial due to different treatment approaches. While adrenal venous sampling is the gold standard, its invasiveness, limited availability, and often difficult interpretation pose challenges. This study explores the utility of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and machine learning in distinguishing between unilateral and bilateral forms of primary aldosteronism.

METHODS:

MiRNA profiling was conducted on plasma samples from 18 patients with primary aldosteronism taken during adrenal venous sampling on an Illumina MiSeq platform. Bioinformatics and machine learning identified 9 miRNAs for validation by reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Validation was performed on a cohort consisting of 108 patients with known subdifferentiation. A 30-patient subset of the validation cohort involved both adrenal venous sampling and peripheral, the rest only peripheral samples. A neural network model was used for feature selection and comparison between adrenal venous sampling and peripheral samples, while a deep-learning model was used for classification.

RESULTS:

Our model identified 10 miRNA combinations achieving >85% accuracy in distinguishing unilateral primary aldosteronism and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia on a 30-sample subset, while also confirming the suitability of peripheral samples for analysis. The best model, involving 6 miRNAs, achieved an area under curve of 87.1%. Deep learning resulted in 100% accuracy on the subset and 90.9% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity on all 108 samples, with an area under curve of 86.7%.

CONCLUSIONS:

Machine learning analysis of circulating miRNAs offers a minimally invasive alternative for primary aldosteronism lateralization. Early identification of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia could expedite treatment initiation without the need for further localization, benefiting both patients and health care providers.
Clinical Impact of Reperfusion Techniques and Occlusion Sites in Thrombectomy: Insights from the ASSIST Stroke Registry
Authors: Neuberger Ulf , Price Lori Lyn , Miralbés Salvador , Naravetla Bharath , Spiotta Alejandro , Loehr Christian , Martínez‐Galdámez Mario , McTaggart Ryan A. , Defreyne Luc , Vega Pedro , Zaidat Osama O. , Liebeskind David S. , Gupta Rishi , Möhlenbruch Markus Alfred , Investigators the ASSIST
Published: October 2024

Background

Mechanical thrombectomy has changed the landscape of acute ischemic stroke treatment, offering improved outcomes for patients with large vessel occlusions. The interplay between reperfusion techniques and occlusion sites remains a critical consideration in treatment decisions. This study investigates the impact of primary reperfusion techniques—stent retriever classic, stent retriever combination with aspiration, and direct aspiration—on procedural and clinical outcomes at different occlusion sites.

Methods

Using data from the ASSIST registry, a prospective multinational initiative, patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusions (n = 1477) were included. Three primary occlusion sites—M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery, M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery, and the internal carotid artery—were studied. Univariate tests and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess associations between reperfusion techniques and procedural and clinical outcomes, including the expanded thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score and the modified Rankin Scale, stratified by occlusion site.

Results

Achieving expanded thrombolysis in cerebral infarction ≥2c after first pass was lower in internal carotid artery occlusions (18.2%,
P
<0.0001) with direct aspiration alone compared with stent retriever classic (38.2%) or stent retriever combination with aspiration (43.3%), while no differences were seen for M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (
P
= 0.77) and M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery (
P
= 0.29) occlusions. Bailout maneuvers, which were more frequent in the direct aspiration group for all occlusion sites, did not result in longer procedure times or different final recanalization outcomes in direct aspiration compared with stent retriever classic or stent retriever combination with aspiration. Overall, there were no differences in the rate of patients with modified Rankin Scale scores of 0–2 at 90 days. No differences in safety outcomes were observed.

Conclusions

This study provides insight into the complex relationship between reperfusion techniques and occlusion sites in patients with acute ischemic stroke and shows that certain techniques have advantages in certain occlusion sites. As the field evolves, further research is warranted to refine our understanding of these dynamics and inform clinical practice.
For an Effective Global Anti-Crime Governance: untoc and uncac Consolidated
Authors: Zvekic Ugljesa Ugi
Published: October 2024

Increased linkages between corruption and organized crime need to be recognized in uncac and untoc to provide an effective integrated response.
Surface patterns or syntactic structure?
Authors: Keydana Götz
Published: October 2024

In Ancient Greek, the default case for subjects in infinitival phrases is the accusative. In this paper I give a diachronic explanation in terms of reanalysis and, more importantly, pattern extension. It is argued that the development is a-structural in that a surface pattern is extended irrespective of structural licensing. In the second part of the paper the default character of the accusative in infinitivals which is the result of pattern extension is accounted for on the synchronic level in a lexical inheritance network.
Creating the Shi’i Sacred Space in Italy
Authors: Mirshahvalad Minoo
Published: October 2024

The most serious challenge that Twelver Shi’is face in Italy is the absence of their conventional places of worship. The present study through empirical methods demonstrates how Shi’is create prayer halls by inclusion and exclusion of certain elements and how confer a sort of sacredness to these locals. Although sacredness of the Islamic places of worship is subject to controversy, in this essay we will see how sacredness of such places emerges as a social construction liable to constant evolution, rather than a God-given and extraordinary phenomenon.
“Tax Amazon, Not Working People”: Left Populism and Labor Organizing in Seattle
Authors: Thomas Mark P. , Abdelbaki Rawan
Published: October 2024

This paper examines the role of labor and community left populist organizing in the Tax Amazon campaign based in Seattle, WA, USA. As a case study within a larger project that examines manifestations of both right-wing and left-wing populism in urban spaces, the paper presents a lens through which urban populism may be examined in relation to new forms of labor organizing, with a specific focus on the dynamics of left populist resistance. The Tax Amazon campaign is situated within a longer trajectory of contemporary left populist organizing in Seattle. Emerging from a previous campaign that resulted in Seattle City Council instituting a $15 minimum wage, the Tax Amazon campaign brought together labor and community organizations to pressure Seattle City Council to introduce a corporate tax to generate funding for affordable housing initiatives. The campaign was met with resistance from the local business community, as well as some local trade unions. Being a leading corporate figure in this opposition, Amazon emerged as a key target of the left populist campaign. Through this study, we ask, what role did labor-community coalitions play in shaping the emergence of a broader left populist politics at the municipal scale in Seattle? Building from the experience of the Tax Amazon campaign, the paper reflects on the dynamics of resistance to corporate power through labor- and community-based left populist organizing. Reflecting a shift in U.S. politics at the municipal scale, Seattle offers a key case through which to assess whether and how urban populism may give rise to new forms of labor organizing. The paper also considers the ways in which the simultaneity of the Tax Amazon campaign and the Movement for Black Lives to ‘Defund the Police’ expanded the scope of political demands in the context of Seattle’s racialized urban precarity. In its conclusion, the paper draws from the analysis to reflect on both the broader prospects and limitations of left populist organising.
Prionohydrus cambyreta sp. nov. from Iberá wetlands—the first species of the genus from northern Argentina (Coleoptera: Noteridae)
Authors: URCOLA JUAN I. , BACA STEPHEN M. , RODRIGUEZ GEORGINA , MICHAT MARIANO C.
Published: October 2024

Prionohydrus cambyreta sp. nov. is described from the Iberá wetlands, Corrientes Province, Argentina. Diagnostic characters are described and illustrated in detail, and the new taxon is compared with the other four South American species of Prionohydrus Gómez & Miller, 2013. In external appearance, P. cambyreta is very similar to P. matogrossensis Gómez & Miller 2013, but it can be distinguished by the shape of the male genitalia. The new species represents the most southern record for Prionohydrus, extending the distributional range of the genus by about 1700 km.
Three Shehret Texts
Authors: Watson Janet C.E. , Boom Andrea , Adli Al-Kathiri Amir Azad , Morris Miranda
Published: October 2024

This chapter presents three audio texts in the Modern South Arabian language (MSAL) Śḥerɛ̄t (henceforth Shehret, a.k.a. Jibbāli) that deal with the use of indigenous flora for the building of houses for people and pens for livestock. The chapter begins with a brief background to the human–nature relationship in Dhofar, a brief description of the texts and the speakers and an outline of the phonemic inventory of Shehret. Section 2 describes the traditional use of plants as building materials. Section 3 presents the texts in Shehret, translated into English with annotations.

This chapter contributes to the documentation and revitalisation of language and culture in Dhofar. We hope that the botanical and cultural information presented here will be of interest to ethnobotany in general, and contribute to sustaining traditional knowledge in the region.
Distal and Proximal Relative Pronouns in Faifi Arabic
Authors: Alfaifi Abdullah
Published: October 2024

This paper provides preliminary evidence that relative pronouns in Central Faifi Arabic can possibly denote distality and proximity. First, the paper contextualises relative pronouns in Central Faifi Arabic by providing a general overview of relative pronouns, with a focus on relative pronouns in Modern Written Arabic and some Arabic dialects. Central Faifi Arabic has three pairs of relative pronouns: ḏī and ḏā, tī and tā, and ʾawḏī and ʾawḏā. The members of each pair, which only differ in the quality of the final vowel, have been previously regarded as free variants.

Through a series of tasks performed by 15 Central Faifi Arabic native speakers, this paper shows that relative pronouns in Central Faifi Arabic are not always in free variation and that they can indicate distality and proximity when an adverb of place, ḥawla ‘there’, ṯamma ‘there’, or hnī ‘here’, is present in the clause. In other words, adverbs of place in the dialect draw out a possible historical distinction between the relative pronouns which have the high vowel /ī/ and relative pronouns which have the low vowel /ā/, where relative pronouns with /ā/ indicate distality and relative pronouns with /ī/ indicate proximity. Thus, while the distal/proximal distinction may not be categorical at present, the results of the tasks performed by native speakers strongly imply that the dialect had this distinction at some point.
Technological Support For Endangered/Minority Languages
Authors: Zhang Hongwei
Published: October 2024

The rapid development of the computer and internet technology has made digital space an indispensable part of modern life. While the technological advancement has enabled more creative ways for documenting endangered and minority languages, such as the collaboration by trained native speakers (Villa 2002), the insufficient technological support still leaves members from such language communities with very limited digital space online. This is true for minority languages with traditional writing systems, such as the Plains Cree syllabary (Antonio Santos and Harrigan 2020), and the situation can only be worse for those without an established writing system, such as the Modern South Arabian Languages. In the context of the importance of technological support to minority languages, this paper describes the author’s personal experience with creating cross-platform keyboard layouts for Modern South Arabian Languages.

As a precious branch of the Semitic language family that survived to the present day, these minority languages lack official recognition and there has not been any conventional writing system for them until very recently (Watson et al. n.d.; Naumkin and Kogan 2015). In fact, long before the current the Unicode Standard, i.e., Version 13.0 of (The Unicode Consortium 2020), since no later than Version 4.0.1 (Aliprand et al. 2003, 473), all the special characters involved in the proposed Arabic-based orthography for the Modern South Arabian Languages have been incorporated. However, the corresponding input methods did not become available until a Mehri layout was released in Google’s Gboard app for Android devices only. To fill in the gap, the author created system keyboards for both Windows and MacOS platforms and a working iPhone keyboard should be available after the next update of the iOS app Keyman. Since “[a]ll people, even the illiterate or semiliterate, are empowered to become part of the information society more readily if they are able to use their own languages” (Pretorius and Bosch 2003, 57), it is hope that the products of this project can help promote the online presence to contribute to the revitalization of the Modern South Arabian Languages.
Test Flight of a Stratospheric Sonic Anemometer Prototype
Authors: Cheng Tim J. , Yoder Chris , Curran Tara , Steve Freidlay , Banfield Don , White Robert D.
Published: October 2024

Stratospheric sonic anemometers are an emerging technology for making wind velocity measurements in low pressure environments. This paper explores the challenges, design, and high-altitude testing of a digital sonic anemometer for applications including high-altitude balloon navigation, atmospheric gravity wave research, solar activity research, and planetary science on Mars. The system was flown on NASA’s Sensor Package for Attitude, Rotation, and Relative Observable Winds (SPARROW-3) balloon test flight out of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in August 2022. The mission recorded relative wind data throughout the flight at temperatures as low as −40°C and at the balloon’s float altitude of 38 km (3.8-mb pressure; 1 mb = 1 hPa). The device surpassed all previous sonic anemometers regarding maximum operational altitude. However, only two of the three axes operated well above 32 km, leading to some validation challenges. The system achieved a velocity resolution of 0.1 m s−1 (standard deviation) and recorded three-dimensional wind measurement every 2.25 s. Future plans anticipate addressing the faulty axis and increasing performance to a resolution of 0.01 m s−1 and a wind sampling rate of 10 Hz.
Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome: Where Are We Today?
Authors: Maddox Kayden , Farrell Timothy M. , Pascarella Luigi
Published: October 2024

Median arcuate ligament syndrome, or celiac artery compression syndrome (eponym: Dunbar syndrome), has historically been attributed to pathophysiologic vascular compression causing downstream ischemic symptoms of the organs supplied by the celiac trunk. However, the more we learn about the histology, clinical presentation, and treatment outcomes, health care providers are increasingly correlating the symptoms of MALS with the long-term, repetitive compression of the celiac ganglion rather than the celiac trunk. This article provides a comprehensive review of current MALS literature, emphasizing the multidisciplinary approach these patients require in all phases of their care. With most patients with MALS waiting an average of 10.5 months to 2.6 years, 9, 10 our need for better diagnostic protocols and clearer understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease is paramount. Further investigation into patient outcomes, associated conditions, and linked pathophysiology would help better characterize this disease with hopes of moving it from a diagnosis of exclusion to one of standard work-up with decreased time to treatment and symptom relief for patients.
Eurocentric Fables of International Debt and China
Authors: Nayak Bhabani Shankar
Published: October 2024

The article outlines different trajectories of the international debt trap diplomacy, which uses debt as a tool to control resources and to undermine state and governments in countries outside the Westphalian outlook. The debt is not only an economic tool but also a weapon of political leverage. Developed countries use debt as tool of their economic and political agenda to dominate world economy and politics in order to pursue the project of debt led capitalist dependency as a dominant global system. The article argues that it is time to democratise rules, regulations and institutions that govern international debt to ensure egalitarian political economy of development focusing on people and the planet. It engages with alternative Chinese debt based engagement with Africa.
Stressors and suicidal ideation in low-income adults in Malaysia: A serial mediation analysis of social support and mental health symptoms
Authors: Shukri Madihah , Armitage Christopher J , Koon Chong Siew , Tarmizi Nurul Nabila
Published: October 2024

Background:

Studies have documented a heightened risk of suicidal ideation in response to stressors, especially among people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. However, the mechanisms of this association remain elusive.

Aims:

Drawing on the social deterioration and counteractive models, this study aims to elucidate the pathways linking stressors to suicidal ideation through serial mediation of social support and mental health symptoms in Malaysia.

Method:

Data were collected from 404 low-income adults (33.2% male and 66.8% female) receiving monthly financial assistance from Malaysia’s social welfare department. We employed stressor measures (i.e. financial, family and work), the Oslo Social Support Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Suicidal Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised.

Results:

A total of 46.8% of participants reported mild-to-severe anxiety and depressive symptoms, with 11.1% classified as high risk for suicide. Direct and indirect effects were found. After controlling for age and gender, social support and mental health symptoms mediated the link between stressors and suicidal ideation. The serial mediation analysis indicates that stressors are connected to heightened suicidal ideation through a sequence involving insufficient social support, followed by elevated levels of mental health symptoms.

Conclusion:

Understanding the multifaceted relationships among stressors, social support, mental health symptoms and suicide ideation expands the potential for developing targeted interventions and preventive strategies tailored for vulnerable populations. Clinical work with low-income individuals may include implementing early systematic efforts to develop accessible mental health and integrated care services.
India’s Arctic Agenda and the Potential for Indo-Russian Cooperation in the Arctic
Authors: Kharina Olga , Strelnikova Irina
Published: October 2024

India, despite having no access to the Arctic Ocean, during the 20th century showed increasing interest in the Arctic and sent its scientists to the region. In 1928, Indian scientist Bibhuti Bhushan Banerjee was invited on an expedition to Wrangel Island in the Arctic, where he spent about 3 years and collected a lot of data on the local flora and fauna. Today, India is actively involved in international scientific research projects in the Arctic on climate and biodiversity. India is also interested in developing trade and economic ties with Arctic nations. It has changed its approach towards the Arctic and is trying to find opportunities to take the place of countries that have suspended cooperation with the Russian Federation in the Arctic region. India is also interested in exploring and exploiting Arctic resources such as oil and gas due to technological advancements in Arctic exploration. India’s growing interest in the Arctic could lead to a change in the composition of players in the region and a realignment of economic, scientific and technological ties between India and Russia.
Forces to Be Reckoned with: Countervailing Powers and Physician Emotional Distress during COVID-19
Authors: Jenkins Tania M. , Buchbinder Liza , Buchbinder Mara
Published: October 2024

The “countervailing powers” framework conceptualizes health care as an arena for power contests among key stakeholders, drawing attention to the moves, countermoves, and alliances that have challenged physicians’ dominance since the 1970s. Here, we focus on one of the lesser known micro-level consequences of such forces for physicians: emotional distress. We draw on 145 interviews with frontline physicians across four U.S. cities during the COVID-19 pandemic to trace physicians’ experiences with three countervailing forces: the state, health care organizations, and patients. We find that threats to physician dominance eroded physicians’ sense of mastery (perceived personal control) at work, thereby prompting emotional distress, including anger and moral conflict. Conversely, in certain cases, acts of resistance may have helped increase mastery, thus moderating distress. Our findings advance the countervailing powers framework by elucidating some of the micro-level, personal consequences of macro-level power struggles and offer practical implications for understanding contemporary threats to physician dominance.
Partners in Force? Understanding Police Use of Force from a Network Perspective
Authors: Hashimi Sadaf , Ouellet Marie , Ledford Logan
Published: October 2024

Objectives

The importance of peer relations is rooted in decades of policing research; however, scholars have largely overlooked the role of peers in officers’ use-of-force behaviors. The current study investigates the “connected” nature of police use of force.

Methods

Data on officers’ networks are reconstructed from 11,834 use-of-force reports involving 1,894 officers in seven departments in New Jersey. Exponential Random Graph Models evaluate which officer-level attributes and network dependencies are associated with officers’ co-involvement in police use-of-force incidents.

Results

Findings indicate the police use of force is not evenly distributed but concentrated on a subset of officers and partnerships. Variation in officers’ likelihood of using force together is driven by individual characteristics, including officer race/ethnicity, rank, and tenure. In addition, co-involvement in force clusters among officers, with officers likely to engage in force together when they share a connection.

Conclusion

This study highlights an alternative starting point for understanding police use of force. By paying greater attention to the structural makeup of the department, such as the connectivity of the force network, agencies can design efforts that aim to reduce incidents of force through relational properties such as assignments and partnerships.
Philosophical and Moral Issues of Organ Transplantation at the Close of the Twentieth Century
Authors: Howard Rev. Father Joseph C.
Published: October 2024

Editor's note: Organ transplantation and the associated ethical topics such as the criteria for brain death continue to be of critical interest to Catholics, both physician and lay. Thirty years ago, Fr. Joseph Howard took a look at the philosophical and moral aspects of organ transplantation, and his words are still relevant today. New, recent insights into the residual functioning of the brain in the face of extensive injuries pose an additional question for Catholic physicians: to what extent do we owe a duty to our patients to explain to them the nature of the uncertainties and debates surrounding both donation and transplantation, in order for them to make an informed decision for themselves or their loved ones? Linacre Quarterly. 1994 Nov;61(4):57–64.
The Association Between Death Anxiety and Ageism Among Nursing Students: The Influence of Terror Management Theory Defense Mechanisms
Authors: Rababa Mohammad , Alhammad Balqis Mohammad , Hayajneh Audai A. , Telfah Reem
Published: October 2024

Ageism and death anxiety are still underrecognized and not well-examined among nursing students despite the high prevalence in nursing education and clinical practice. According to terror management theory (TMT), older adults are a potent reminder of mortality and disability, imposing a sense of death anxiety among nursing students who may exhibit ageist behaviors toward older adults in an attempt to control that sense of death anxiety. This study aims to examine the moderating effect of TMT defense mechanisms on the relationship between death anxiety and ageism among nursing students. This correlational, cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of 371 nursing students and validated tools. Self-esteem was found to be a significant moderator, with higher levels mitigating the impact of death anxiety on ageism. However, symbolic immortality and interpersonal relationships did not significantly moderate this relationship. Enhancing self-esteem among nursing students would reduce death anxiety and associated ageist behaviors.
Rethinking power and positionality in debates about citation: Towards a recognition of complexity and opacity in academic hierarchies
Authors: Pereira Maria do Mar
Published: October 2024

Discussions about epistemic inequalities have for several years highlighted the need to engage critically and reflexively with the politics of citation. Many authors have called for colleagues to correct longstanding epistemic and material injustices by proactively citing scholars and scholarship from marginalised groups, thereby producing radical knowledge that disrupts power. Analysing the epistemic-political grammar of these calls, I note that they often assume that resistance and disruption are intrinsic to corrective citation – i.e. that citing names understood as marginal will by default undermine relations of power. But is that always the case? Drawing on three sets of empirical examples, I demonstrate that citation often does not have the epistemic and material effects we predict, or hope, it will, and may reinforce some inequalities at the same time as it disrupts others. I show that the effects of citation are complex and contingent because they are shaped by unpredictable interactions between different structures of power, unexpected (dis)connections between global and local inequalities, and dynamic relationships between injustice within texts and inequalities beyond them. I argue, therefore, that we must question the more binary and reifying logics of contemporary conceptualisations of citation and attempt to think about corrective citation differently. To contribute to this rethinking, I draw on several authors to propose an approach that celebrates the potential of corrective citation, but remains attentive to its limitations, foregrounding complexity and opacity, recognising the possible failures of radical epistemic practices, and probing our affective investments in them.
Fly-tipping and the sociology of abandonment
Authors: Holmes Helen , Perczel Julia
Published: October 2024

This article addresses a prominent gap in sociological studies of consumption and disposal. Whilst waste and disposal studies have traditionally focused on the production of waste or its subsequent treatment at municipal disposal facilities, little has focused sociologically on waste outside of these confines, such as littering and fly-tipping. Focusing on the latter, this article makes an original contribution by drawing on fly-tipping to demonstrate the need for further sociological study on material abandonment and its relevance for the fields of consumption and disposal, and more broadly issues of sustainability. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 14 local authority waste officers and local councillors, we argue that fly-tipping disrupts the usual linear pathways of consumption, occurring in transitional zones between the site of production/ownership of objects/materials (e.g. households, construction sites) and that of its acceptance and treatment into formal waste infrastructures (local authority waste processing). We illustrate how fly-tipping incorporates both aspects of disjuncture and abandonment but that it cannot simply be positioned as an act without care. We do this through a focus on three interconnected key facets of fly-tipping: (1) the complexity of defining; (2) issues of measurement and responsibility; and (3) socio-economic factors and the influence of the built environment.
Don’t Read the Comments: Discourse About COVID-19 Vaccines in a State Health Department's Social Media Comments
Authors: Kenzie Daniel , Anderson Murphy
Published: October 2024

As the United States rolled out COVID-19 vaccinations, state health departments attempted to communicate quickly evolving information about vaccines amid political conflict and misinformation. In October 2021, one state health department shut off comments for their social media to deplatform misinformation. To analyze this health department's Facebook page as a discursive space, our study examines user activity on the page through quantitative analysis of engagement metrics and topical clusters and qualitative analysis of user comments from January to October 2021. Our findings show that the common idea of vaccine proponents valuing data while vaccine skeptics prefer anecdote is not represented; antivaccine comments are pervaded with suspicion toward institutions, while provaccine comments largely use unproductive tactics; the two sides largely showed different sets of concerns; engagement was high during critical moments in the pandemic, and a few top influencers tended to dominate comment threads.
A Case of Multiple Tongue Hamartomas with Cleft Palate: 7 Years of Follow-Up
Authors: Qin Yuelin , Hu Ningning , Zhang Runze , Yang Xuecai , Wang Junwei
Published: October 2024

Hamartoma is a congenital benign lesion commonly found in the lungs, kidneys, colon, and other regions, but it is seldom seen in the oral cavity. Multiple hamartoma occurrences in the tongue are particularly rare. This article describes a 7-day-old female infant with multiple tongue tumors and a cleft palate, who had difficulty feeding and subsequently underwent tumor removal under general anesthesia. Nine months later, a cleft palate repair was performed. No genetic abnormalities were detected in the genetic testing. After the tumor removal, follow-ups were conducted every year to observe any recurrence of the tumors, the morphology and function of the tongue, and any systemic abnormalities. After 7 years of follow-up, there was no recurrence of the tumors, and the morphology and function of the tongue were normal, with no systemic diseases found. It is crucial to conduct multidisciplinary consultations for children diagnosed with multiple tongue hamartomas and to monitor their overall development while addressing oral lesions.
Meaningful Work Through Craft: How workers in low-skilled roles engage in anomalous craft to gain autonomy and receive recognition
Authors: Rostain Marjolaine , Clarke Jean
Published: October 2024

Meaningful work is work that offers a degree of autonomy and the opportunity to receive recognition from others. It is traditionally associated with highly skilled jobs whereas low-skilled jobs are often equated with meaningless work. Previous research assumes that workers in low-skilled roles have little access to the autonomy or recognition characteristic of highly skilled labour. Rather it suggests that in their efforts to make their working lives more tolerable, such workers are limited to either discursively reframing the significance of their roles or engaging in acts of resistance against the organization. In this paper, based on an eight-month ethnographic study of a mould-producing company in France, we identify three processes through which workers in low-skilled roles find temporal opportunities to engage in anomalous craft where latent or underused craft skills and attitudes are utilized to enable them to work more autonomously and earn recognition from peers and supervisors, rendering their work more meaningful. Our work offers insights into how workers can use craft to activate or re-establish meaning in contexts where work has been stripped of significance.
Intra-abdominal Abscesses in Two Göttingen Minipigs
Authors: Grand Nanna , Jeppesen Gitte , Nyska Abraham
Published: October 2024

Minipigs are valued alternatives to dogs and non-human primates in non-clinical safety and toxicity studies, and Göttingen minipigs are bred specifically for experimental purposes. They are bred under barrier conditions and monitored regularly for many pathogens and opportunistic agents, and spontaneous disease is rare when compared to what is seen in production pigs. Knowledge of spontaneous background lesions is important when toxicological pathologists evaluate microscopic findings in pre-clinical toxicity studies to avoid interference with study data interpretation. In this brief communication, intra-abdominal granulomas/abscesses were seen in Göttingen minipigs. The minipigs did not show any clinical signs, but nodules were present in the abdominal peritoneum at necropsy. Microscopic evaluation revealed chronic inflammation, with abscess or granuloma formation. Areas of inflammation, occasionally associated with the presence of the Splendore-Hoeppli material, were surrounded by a fibrotic capsule. Special stains were applied to investigate for the presence of microorganisms.
Manufacturing and characterization of open-cell aluminum foam by powder metallurgy
Authors: Menç Berkay , Özçatalbaş Yusuf
Published: October 2024

Metallic foams are classified into two groups based on their pore structure: closed and open pores. The variability of cell structures directly depends on the production method and the variability of parameters. Open – cell metallic foams are used as heat exchangers due to their large surface area, in filters and separators due to their properties such as high liquid/gas permeability and corrosion resistance, and in water purifiers to reduce the concentration of unwanted ions dissolved in water because they can provide liquid flow, and in silencers due to their sound absorbing feature. Due to their thermal conductivity, they are generally used in functional applications such as catalyst supports and flame arresters. In this study, open cell aluminum foams with different pore sizes were produced using the powder metallurgy method and polyurethane foam (PUF) replica technique. After the PUF model material of the foams was removed at 500 °C for 6 h, they were sintered at different temperatures such as 850, 900 and 950 °C for 6 h. Density measurement, XRD analysis, microstructure examination and compression testing were applied to the sintered open-cell foams. The highest pore ratio and compressive strength were determined in foams with a 20 ppi (porosity per inch) pore ratio sintered at 950 °C.
Modified cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for transcatheter aortic valve implantation and emergent cardiac surgery
Authors: Wang Qi , Jiang Wei , Shi Guang , Yan Xiao-Qing , Fan Zong-Ming , Chen Zhen , Liu Jian-hua
Published: October 2024

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has revolutionized the treatment of severe aortic stenosis in high-risk patients, offering a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery. However, complications such as hemodynamic instability may require mechanical circulatory support. In some cases, emergent cardiac surgery may be required, necessitating a swift transition to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We modified the CPB circuit allowing for circulatory support and easy transition to CPB. No bleeding or vascular complications were observed. The modified CPB circuit minimizes hemodynamic disruptions and allows for postoperative ECMO support.
Efficacy of spiritual interventions in palliative care: An umbrella review of systematic reviews
Authors: Austin Philip D , Lee Wei , Keall Robyn , Lovell Melanie R
Published: October 2024

Background:

Spiritual care is increasingly recognised as an essential component of care in palliative settings. Given this growing body of literature on spiritual interventions, there is a need to systematically evaluate and synthesis findings from previous systematic reviews

Aim:

To systematically synthesise the available evidence from systematic reviews concerning (a) the efficacy of spiritual care interventions and (b) the extent and nature of spiritual care interventions used in specialist palliative care settings.

Methods:

An umbrella review of systematic reviews was conducted in accordance with PROSPERO (CRD42024455147) and followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for umbrella reviews.

Data sources:

Electronic databases (Ovid Medline, Embase, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL and Web of Science) and references of accepted systematic reviews were searched for systematic reviews from inception to 2024. The AMSTAR-2 criteria was used to assess risk of bias within systematic reviews.

Results:

A toal of 27 reviews met the eligibility criteria and reported the effects of 14 different spiritual care interventions across 431 studies including 55,759 participants. Findings show that spiritual care interventions especially dignity therapy and life-review may be effective for improving outcomes including spiritual wellbeing, emotional symptoms, quality-of-life and physical symptoms in people receiving specialist palliative care. Under half of included reviews report follow-up data where only emotional symptoms and quality-of-life are reported at more than one time-point.

Conclusion:

Overall, spiritual care interventions have positive effects on spiritual wellbeing, quality of life and mood, compared to control conditions. Increased methodological rigour is needed to capture effect and duration of effect with spiritual care interventions at different phases of palliative care.