bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Communication and Idea Transmission across Historical Communities: A Quantitative Analysis of Early Modern Nonconformist Networks
Authors: Hill Mark J. , Vaara Ville , Tolonen Mikko
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT: This essay outlines methodologies for identifying and understanding discourse within and across historical communities. It uses social network analysis and quantitative text analysis to demonstrate, first, how communities of actors with a shared context can be extracted from social networks, and second, that the written works tied to those communities hold distinct linguistic features. To do this, it develops a case study around early modern Quakers within the London book trade. The aim is to use existing historical knowledge and expertise to both validate the methods and offer insights into their future uses.
East Asians in Soviet Intelligence: A Study of Five Soviet "Naturals"
Authors: Chang Jon K.
Published: September 2024

Abstract: This study is about the East Asians in Soviet intelligence (EASI) in the Cheka and other incarnations of the Soviet political police to 1945. It will investigate and analyze the "naturals," one variant of the Soviet illegal, who were sent on intelligence operations (called Maki Mirage) in the Far East from 1920 to 1945. This paper will also explain why the Foreign Department (INO) expanded and pivoted to the use of two sets of agents—"Russians" and East Asians—in Manchuria. Then, we will examine five outstanding "naturals" in the INO for overseas missions. Finally, this study connects the significance of the INO and EASI missions in regards to Stalinism and Soviet socialism. This is the sixth article in the series on East Asians in Soviet intelligence.
Deradicalization Strategies in the North Caucasus: The Search for Sustainable Peace and Development
Authors: Popov Maxim
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Ethnoreligious radicalization remains a fundamental obstacle to the resolution of protracted conflicts in the North Caucasus and a major factor in the armed uprising. Unresolved ethnoterritorial conflicts reinforce the alienation of citizens from the state and promote the search for radical alternatives—in recent decades, jihadist extremism has been a major conflict driver in this multiethnic and multiconfessional region. Ethnoreligious radicalization is complicated by the growth of Islamophobia and alternative projects of ethnic nationalism. Transnational jihadist movements widely exploit frustration and resentment, and try to capitalize on nationalist demands. Since 2017, the North Caucasus has experienced a partial deradicalization due to the suppression of the Caucasus Emirate and the decline of the role of ISIS in the jihadist movement in the region, but economic disadvantage and ethnic tensions remain significant drivers of violent extremism. Today, the deradicalization strategy in the North Caucasus is becoming a tool for preventing extremism and proactively influencing the factors of radicalization through a set of measures to manage regional elites, provide economic support through federal transfers and development programs, and organize educational and informational activities.
Versos de burlas sobre la campaña de Portugal en la "Carta de un cortesano a un amigo suyo de Valladolid"
Authors: Mansilla Fernando Rodríguez
Published: September 2024

Resumen: En este trabajo se analiza y edita la "Copia de una carta de un cortesano a un amigo suyo de Valladolid", texto proveniente del sexto volumen de la recopilación conocida como Parnaso español (fols. 418v–422r). El texto incluye poemas satíricos dirigidos contra don Luis Méndez de Haro por su derrota en la batalla de Elvas, en el contexto de la guerra de Restauración de Portugal. Mi objetivo es estudiar cómo los versos se integran e interactúan con la estructura en prosa de la carta, que es en realidad un pasquín. Como apéndice del trabajo, se edita el texto, modernizando la puntuación y la ortografía sin relevancia fonética.
Entresijos de sotanas: Las quintillas contra el padre Lucio Garcete de la Compañía de Jesús
Authors: Vinatea Martina
Published: September 2024

Resumen: A partir del análisis de las quintillas contra el padre Lucio Garcete, escritas a fines del siglo dieciséis, se intenta desentrañar los entresijos que están detrás de la composición. Especialmente, la relación conflictiva que tenía el padre Garcete con los sacerdotes y con los hermanos mestizos ingresados a la Compañía de Jesús, especialmente con el más talentoso de ellos: el padre Blas Valera.
El podcast narrativo de no-ficción: una nueva aproximación a la realidad latinoamericana y un medio idóneo para llevar esa realidad y su lenguaje al aula de clase
Authors: Cadena-Pardo Paola
Published: September 2024

Resumen: En este artículo se discuten las principales características del podcast narrativo de no-ficción producido en América Latina y España como un medio en actual y vertiginoso crecimiento. Además, se discuten cómo estas características lo convierten en un medio único de aproximación a las realidades culturales, históricas y sociales de sus regiones geográficas, a través de relatos que combinan la contextualización histórica y cultural como la experiencia de individuos particulares. Finalmente, y teniendo en cuenta lo anterior, se plantea este tipo de narrativa en audio como una herramienta idónea para el proceso de enseñanza/aprendizaje de la lengua y la cultura.
The parable of the prodigal son in Maria Chapdelaine
Authors: Rangarajan Sudarsan
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Religion plays a significant role in Louis Hémon's Maria Chapdelaine . This article scrutinizes the Parable of the Prodigal Son as an underlying feature of the novel that governs the lives of Maria's three suitors: François Paradis, Lorenzo Surprenant and Eutrope Gagnon. Focusing on the motifs of departure from and staying home, the essay will show that François, Maria's preferred suitor, and Lorenzo, her second choice, are variants of the Prodigal. While the Prodigal in the Biblical text returns home and seeks redemption, in Maria François dies and Lorenzo vows not to return to settle in Quebec. The message of the voices Maria hears is essentially the Parable. Maria, then, rejects the prodigal life outside Quebec and decides to marry Eutrope who resembles the elder son in the Parable. With its emphasis on staying in the province, the novel captures the pulse of the Quebec society in the early twentieth century.
Finding the Means: Socrates in Dialogue with Simonides
Authors: Barry Lydia
Published: September 2024

Abstract: This article explores Socrates' long analysis of Simonides' "Ode to Scopas," found near the end of Plato's Protagoras . Socrates misinterprets the poem to suggest that virtue is akin to technical knowledge, whereas the poem suggests instead that a wholly virtuous life is impossible, and that the good life is divine, achievable only by the gods. The author argues that Socrates' exegesis dialectically opposes the idea that virtue is knowledge, along with his suggestion that the good life can be secured through a hedonistic calculus, with the poem's emphasis on the insurmountable limitations to human flourishing. Socrates' misreading highlights the provisional and aporetic nature of philosophical accounts of virtue, suggesting that continuous inquiry in the face of misfortune is constitutive of human goodness. The article concludes by proposing that philosophical speech must be self-disclosive and poetic, indicating its own limitations, while engaging in a dialogical pursuit of truth.
Antonymy in Ethiopian Sign Language
Authors: Ayansa Woinshet Girma
Published: September 2024

Abstract: This is a progress report of a preliminary study that aims to describe antonyms in Ethiopian Sign Language (EthSL). EthSL antonyms were drawn from two types of data. First, data was collected from twelve participants from Addis Ababa and Hosanna. The participants did elicitation tasks, narratives, and consultant observations. Then, two EthSL dictionaries were included as supplementary sources. The overall findings reveal that movement metathesis, location, palm orientation contrasts, and derivational morphology all play a significant role in antonym formation in EthSL. However, handshape is not generally used to mark oppositeness. The antonyms found in this preliminary study can be categorized as gradable antonyms, converse antonyms (also subcategorized as directional, antipodal, and kinship opposition), and reverse antonyms. This study also makes suggestions for the creation of EthSL dictionaries that take into account morphophonological features and semantic relations between signs.
Fast and universal single-molecule localization using multi-dimensional point spread functions
Authors: Li Mengfan , Shi Wei , Liu Sheng , Fu Shuang , Fei Yue , Zhou Lulu , Fang Ke , Li Yiming
Published: September 2024

The recent development of single-molecule imaging techniques has enabled not only high accuracy spatial resolution imaging but also information rich functional imaging. Abundant information about single molecules can be encoded in its diffraction pattern and be extracted precisely (e.g. 3D position, wavelength, dipole orientation). However, sophisticated high dimensional point spread function (PSF) modeling and analyzing methods have greatly impeded the broad accessibility of these techniques. Here, we present a graphics processing unit (GPU) -based B-spline PSF modeling method that could flexibly model high dimensional PSFs with arbitrary shape without greatly increasing the model parameters. Our B-spline fitter achieves 100 times speed improvement and minimal uncertainty for each dimension, enabling efficient high dimensional single-molecule analysis. We demonstrated, both in simulations and experiments, the universality and flexibility of our B-spline fitter to accurately extract the abundant information from different types of high dimensional single-molecule data, including multicolor PSF (3D + color), multi-channel four-dimensional 4Pi-PSF (3D + interference phase) and five-dimensional vortex PSF (3D + dipole orientation).
Pitfall in autocorrelation measurements of laser radiation
Authors: Fiehler Torben , Saraceno Clara , Steinmeyer Günter , Wittrock Ulrich
Published: September 2024

Spectrally broad laser radiation from continuous wave (cw) lasers can exhibit second-order autocorrelation traces virtually indistinguishable from those of mode-locked lasers. Consequently, based only on autocorrelations, one might erroneously conclude that a cw laser is mode-locked. This pitfall in interpretation can be avoided by carefully characterizing radio frequency transients and spectra. However, optoelectronics are often too slow for lasers with an axial mode spacing in the multi-GHz range. Carefully evaluated autocorrelations then remain the last resort for validating mode locking. We demonstrate in detail what needs to be observed. We compare autocorrelation measurements and calculations of a mode-locked titanium-sapphire (Ti:Sa) laser with 76 MHz repetition rate and a spectrally broad monolithic cw Ti:Sa laser and devise a new, additional measurement to safeguard against misinterpretation of their autocorrelations.
Pile-up effect in near-infrared single-pixel imaging with an incoherent light source
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Shi-Jian , Jin Xiao-Peng , Yao Xu-Ri
Published: September 2024

Single-pixel imaging (SPI), which offers high-throughput measurement capabilities and a simple structure, has promising applications in near-infrared single-photon imaging. Nevertheless, the low saturation count rate of near-infrared single-photon detectors often leads to photon pile-up effects. This paper delves into the influence of these effects on passive SPI under both random matrix modulation and Hadamard matrix modulation and offers corresponding noise removal solutions. The experimental results validated the efficacy of these noise removal schemes.
Unidirectional and highly dispersive grating emitters for silicon photonic beam steerers
Authors: Chen Fa-Lun , Yiu Gow-Zin , Chang You-Chia
Published: September 2024

Grating emitters are the key component used in silicon photonic beam steerers to create light emission and allow dispersion-based steering. Conventional grating emitters are inefficient due to bidirectional emission, and their angular dispersion is only on the order of 0.1°/nm. In this paper, we develop unidirectional grating emitters by choosing a top cladding material with a refraction index higher than that of the bottom cladding. The refractive index difference allows the phase-matching condition to be satisfied only for the upward diffraction. We demonstrate experimentally grating emitters with a directionality of 83% and an angular dispersion of 0.79°/nm. These grating emitters have a simple device structure compatible with the standard silicon photonic platform.
Experimental demonstration of polarization-based decoy-state BB84 quantum key distribution utilizing a single laser and single detector
Authors: Donaldson Ross , Simmons Cameron , Castillo Alfonso Tello
Published: September 2024

As quantum key distribution progresses into commercial products and services, there is growing interest in technological solutions that improve performance and/or reduce costs. We present an experimental demonstration of polarization-based decoy-state BB84 quantum key distribution protocol, at a clock frequency of 50 MHz, that relies on fewer resources at the receiver and increases robustness to side-channel attacks for both transmitter and receiver. A single-laser source and cascade of electro-optic modulators provide the four polarization states, while a photonic recombiner with time-multiplexed inputs enables detection with a single single-photon detector.
Four-level diffractive photon sieves by deep-UV femtosecond laser ablation
Authors: Stonyte Dominyka , Jukna Vytautas , Lukosiunas Ignas , Zakarauskas Paulius , Huang Hsin-hui , KATKUS Tomas , Zheng Nan , Le Nguyen Hoai An , Juodkazis Saulius , Gailevičius Darius , Paipulas Domas
Published: September 2024

A growing demand for advanced optical elements, driven by the increasing availability of intense ultrashort pulses from X-ray and deep-UV sources, necessitates devices capable of manipulating intensity distributions while withstanding harsh environmental conditions. The prevailing fabrication methods for these elements often involve multi-step lithographic processes. In contrast, direct laser ablation offers a single-step, cost-effective, and maskless alternative. However, using solid-state laser systems' fundamental wavelength (in the IR range) for ablation lacks the precise depth control required for multi-level diffractive optical element fabrication. In this paper, we present the first experimental proof that femtosecond direct laser ablation in the UV spectral range is a reliable method for fabricating diffractive optical elements. We demonstrate the high-quality production of compact photon sieve focusing elements with the shortest focal length ever reported at 9 mm. Furthermore, we report an efficiency of 3.3%, which, to our knowledge, is the highest for elements with such a small focal length and not far from the theoretical efficiency limit of 4.46% (considering perfect cylindrical ablated pits). Furthermore, our fabricated elements focus light to a 2.3% smaller focal spot if compared to the refractive lens with the same parameters. This fabrication method shows great promise for advanced applications that require precise depth control in wide band gap materials, such as the fused quartz used in this study.
Self-mixing thin sliced ruby laser for laser Doppler velocimetry with high optical sensitivity
Authors: Sudo Seiichi , Otsuka Kenju
Published: September 2024

In self-mixing laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV), the motion of a moving target is observed by using intensity-modulated laser light detected by a simple photodetector. Here, the self-mixing laser output modulation takes place, reflecting the pronounced effective loss modulation index, which is proportional to the fluorescence-to-photon lifetime ratio. The fluorescence lifetime of a ruby laser is extremely long, so if a ruby crystal can be used as a laser light source for a self-mixing LDV system, high-sensitivity LDV measurements can be performed with it. We describe a method for velocimetry of moving targets using self-mixing LDV in which a CW oscillating ruby laser is the light source. The oscillation mechanism of the thin-slice ruby laser with a large fluorescence-to-photon lifetime ratio, which is suitable for LDV measurements, is clarified and the results of highly sensitive LDV measurements are presented, featuring nonlinear dynamics observed associated with the self-mixing velocimetry experiment.
LXR-dependent enhancer activation regulates the temporal organization of the liver’s response to refeeding leading to lipogenic gene overshoot
Authors: Korenfeld Noga , Gorbonos Tali , Romero Florian Maria C. , Rotaro Dan , Goldberg Dana , Radushkevitz-Frishman Talia , Charni-Natan Meital , Bar-Shimon Meirav , Cummins Carolyn L. , Goldstein Ido
Published: September 2024

Transitions between the fed and fasted state are common in mammals. The liver orchestrates adaptive responses to feeding/fasting by transcriptionally regulating metabolic pathways of energy usage and storage. Transcriptional and enhancer dynamics following cessation of fasting (refeeding) have not been explored. We examined the transcriptional and chromatin events occurring upon refeeding in mice, including kinetic behavior and molecular drivers. We found that the refeeding response is temporally organized with the early response focused on ramping up protein translation while the later stages of refeeding drive a bifurcated lipid synthesis program. While both the cholesterol biosynthesis and lipogenesis pathways were inhibited during fasting, most cholesterol biosynthesis genes returned to their basal levels upon refeeding while most lipogenesis genes markedly overshoot above pre-fasting levels. Gene knockout, enhancer dynamics, and ChIP-seq analyses revealed that lipogenic gene overshoot is dictated by LXRα. These findings from unbiased analyses unravel the mechanism behind the long-known phenomenon of refeeding fat overshoot.
Neglected tropical disease meets neglected community: Street children’s susceptibility to scabies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Zewude Bewunetu , Tadele Getnet , Davey Gail
Published: September 2024

Scabies is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) with high prevalence rate in resource-limited settings. Though street children are susceptible because of lack of sanitation and contact with vectors, few attempts have been made to identify the lived experience of street children with scabies in the global south. This study explored perceived susceptibility to scabies and related lived experiences of street children in Addis Ababa. Using in-depth interviews, we collected qualitative data from selected children of the street to identify their understanding of the causes of scabies, their experiences of managing the condition, and their health-seeking behavior. Informants were recruited to include maximum variation in terms of age, sex, and experience of infestation. The study showed that scabies was common among street children and that the infestation has physical, psychological and social impacts. Study participants believed that scabies had its origin in their living conditions (including poor environmental sanitation and lack of personal hygiene), with lice playing a significant role as vectors of transmission. The informants reported visiting modern healthcare facilities, traditional healers and self-care in response to infestation. By uncovering the embodied experience of a stigmatized skin NTD in a neglected community in the global south, this study contributes to combating neglect and addressing health disparities. Having identified living conditions as the major factor contributing to susceptibility, efforts need to be exerted to change street children’s living situations and other structural conditions through reunification with their families or other communities, reintegration and other exit strategies.
Classification of Alzheimer disease using DenseNet-201 based on deep transfer learning technique
Authors: Zia-ur-Rehman  , Awang Mohd Khalid , Rashid Javed , Ali Ghulam , Hamid Muhammad , Mahmoud Samy F. , Saleh Dalia I. , Ahmad Hafiz Ishfaq
Published: September 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a brain illness that causes gradual memory loss. AD has no treatment and cannot be cured, so early detection is critical. Various AD diagnosis approaches are used in this regard, but Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides the most helpful neuroimaging tool for detecting AD. In this paper, we employ a DenseNet-201 based transfer learning technique for diagnosing different Alzheimer’s stages as Non-Demented (ND), Moderate Demented (MOD), Mild Demented (MD), Very Mild Demented (VMD), and Severe Demented (SD). The suggested method for a dataset of MRI scans for Alzheimer’s disease is divided into five classes. Data augmentation methods were used to expand the size of the dataset and increase DenseNet-201’s accuracy. It was found that the proposed strategy provides a very high classification accuracy. This practical and reliable model delivers a success rate of 98.24%. The findings of the experiments demonstrate that the suggested deep learning approach is more accurate and performs well compared to existing techniques and state-of-the-art methods.
Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation combined with transhepatic artery embolization chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis
Authors: Pan Kerui , Wang Sisi , Li Xueping , Wu Shuoming
Published: September 2024

Objective

Meta-analysis was used to assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation combined with transhepatic artery embolization chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods

Randomized controlled studies on ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation combined with transhepatic artery embolization chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma were searched in the databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, web of science with a search deadline of March 14, 2024. Data were analyzed using Stata 15.0.

Result

Six randomized controlled studies involving 520 individuals were finally included, the results of meta-analysis showed that ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation combined with TACE can improve objective response rate [RR = 1.52, 95%CI (1.28, 1.81)], improve disease control rate [RR = 1.15, 95%CI (1.06, 1.24)], The survival rate [RR = 1.34, 95%CI (1.19,1.51)] did not increase adverse reactions [RR = 1.34, 95%CI (1.00,1.79)].

Conclusion

Based on the findings of the current study, ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation combined with TACE was found to improve the objective remission rate, disease control rate, and did not increase adverse events in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Body appreciation is associated with optimism/pessimism in patients with chronic kidney disease: Results from a cross-sectional study and validation of the Arabic version of the Optimism–Pessimism Short Scale–2
Authors: Hajj-Moussa Maroun , El Hachem Nay , El Sebaaly Ziad , Moubarak Perla , Kahwagi Reine-Marie , Malaeb Diana , Hallit Rabih , El Khatib Sami , Hallit Souheil , Obeid Sahar , Fekih-Romdhane Feten
Published: September 2024

Background

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients encounter many obstacles that affect their physical and psychological well-being. The primary objective of the present study was to investigate potential correlates of optimism/pessimism in a sample of patients with CKD, including socio-demographics, body appreciation and disordered eating symptoms. As a secondary objective, we proposed to examine the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Optimism–Pessimism Short Scale–2 (SOP2) before its use in our sample.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out between April and May 2023, enrolling 108 participants from three hospitals in Lebanon providing insights into their sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity levels, body appreciation, optimism, pessimism, and eating attitudes.

Results

Results indicated that the Arabic-language adaptation of the SOP2 has good reliability coefficients. The two facets of the scale displayed a strong correlation to each other, and highly similar correlations with external study variables (i.e., household crowding index, physical activity, body appreciation, disordered eating), suggesting that the SOP2 can be interpreted as a unidimensional measure for the psychological dispositional optimism as proposed by the developers. Furthermore, findings revealed a strong positive correlation between body appreciation and optimism, suggesting that CKD patients who appreciate their bodies tend to exhibit a more optimistic outlook on life. Conversely, higher body appreciation is associated with lower pessimism, indicating that a positive body image may mitigate feelings of hopelessness and despair in CKD patients.

Conclusion

This study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, it offers the Arabic SOP2 as an brief tool to administer, and psychometrically sound instrument that can be useful for clinical and research purposes. Second, it unveils a clear correlation between higher body appreciation and a more optimistic, less pessimistic mindset in patients with CKD.
Modeling of SPM-GRU ping-pong ball trajectory prediction incorporating YOLOv4-Tiny algorithm
Authors: He Fuxing , Li Yongan
Published: September 2024

The research aims to lift the accuracy of table tennis trajectory prediction through advanced computer vision and deep learning techniques to achieve real-time and accurate table tennis ball position and motion trajectory tracking. The study concentrates on the innovative application of a micro-miniature fourth-generation real-time target detection algorithm with a gated loop unit to table tennis ball motion analysis by combining physical models and deep learning methods. The results show that in the comparison experiments, the improved micro-miniature fourth-generation real-time target detection algorithm outperforms the traditional target detection algorithm, with the loss value decreasing to 1.54. Its average accuracy in multi-target recognition is dramatically increased to 86.74%, which is 22.36% higher than the original model, and the ping-pong ball recognition experiments show that it has an excellent accuracy in various lighting conditions, especially in low light, with an average accuracy of 89.12%. Meanwhile, the improved model achieves a processing efficiency of 85 frames/s. In addition, compared with the traditional trajectory prediction model, the constructed model performs the best in table tennis ball trajectory prediction, with errors of 4.5 mm, 25.3 mm, and 35.58 mm. The results show that the research trajectory prediction model achieves significant results in accurately tracking table tennis ball positions and trajectories. It not only has practical application value for table tennis training and competition strategies, but also provides a useful reference for the similar techniques application in other sports.
Associations between corticosteroid dosage and clinical outcomes in patients with hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Teeratakulpisarn Napassorn , Chiewroongroj Supattra , Naorungroj Thummaporn , Ratanarat Ranistha
Published: September 2024

Background

Corticosteroids are commonly used to treat COVID-19 patients with hypoxemia, and clinicians have adjusted the corticosteroid intensity on the basis of clinical needs. However, neither the optimal dose nor the duration of treatment has been recommended.

Objective

To investigate whether cumulative doses of corticosteroids, measured as dexamethasone-equivalent doses over the first 14 days, impact outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted between April 1st, 2020, and September 30th, 2021. The study focused on the type and dose of corticosteroid administered during the initial 14 days, clinical outcomes, and complications. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.

Results

Among 271 patients, the mean cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent dose was 158 (119.9–197.25) mg in survivors and 185 (131.7–222.0) mg in nonsurvivors. Univariate analysis revealed that the cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent dose was a risk factor for in-hospital mortality. However, this association did not hold true in the multivariate analysis. After the cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent dose was categorized into quartiles, the moderate dosage (126.01–165.00 mg) in the second quartile was found to be associated with the lowest in-hospital mortality (16.2%). Higher cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent doses were associated with longer hospital and ICU stays and fewer ventilator-free days (p < 0.001). Doses exceeding 165 mg were associated with an increased risk of hospital-acquired infections (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent dose during the first 14 days is not associated with in-hospital mortality in hypoxemic COVID-19 patients. However, higher cumulative doses exceeding 165 mg are associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality and secondary hospital-acquired infections.
The configuration path of the balanced compulsory education resources supply in the context of equal rights to rent and purchase: Based on the fsQCA analysis of 31 cities in China
Authors: Lou Wenlong , Li Jinjie
Published: September 2024

Equal rights to rent and purchase affects the supply of compulsory education resources. How to promote the balanced compulsory education resources supply in the context of equal rights to rent and purchase is currently a hot issue amongst government and society. To achieve such balance, conducting research in the context of equal rights to rent and purchase becomes crucial. However, existing research has yet to provide sufficient explanations for the differentiated paths for realizing the balanced compulsory education resources supply in practice. This study uses 31 cities in China as case samples and jointly applies fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis and the ‘technology–organization–environment’ (TOE) framework. The findings are summarized as follows. Firstly, the balanced compulsory education resources supply in the context of equal rights to rent and purchase is affected by six key technological, organizational, and environmental factors. Namely, data co-construction and sharing, technological infrastructure, attention allocation, government information disclosure, policy support for equal rights to rent and purchase, and level of urban economic development. Secondly, the linkage matching of technological, organizational and environmental conditions forms diversified configurations that drive the balanced compulsory education resources supply in the context of equal rights to rent and purchase. These configurations include the ‘organization’ driving model, ‘technology–environment’ driving model, ‘technology–organization–environment’ driving model, and ‘technology-organization’ driving model. Finally, eastern, central and western China are driven by different configuration paths. Amongst them, eastern China has relatively good basic conditions at the technological, organizational and environmental levels. The combination of different conditions can drive the balanced compulsory education resources supply in a ‘different paths lead to the same destination’ manner. Although the development in central China is somewhat restricted, the radiation and impetus from eastern China, in combination with the different conditions in central China, can drive the balanced compulsory education resources supply. Western China shows no advantages at the technological, organizational and environmental levels. Faced with restrictions in organizational and environmental conditions, the government in western China should develop the necessary technological conditions to drive the balanced compulsory education resources supply.
Unveiling the Exodus: A scoping review of attrition in allied health
Authors: Yeoh Su Ann , Kumar Saravana , Phillips Anna , Li Lok Sze Katrina
Published: September 2024

Background

Efficient utilisation of allied health workforce may help address the predicted shortfall of 18 million health workers estimated by 2030. Knowledge about allied health professionals’ attrition, or intention to leave, and factors influencing attrition can assist in developing evidence-informed strategies to mitigate this issue. The review aimed to map attrition and attrition intention rates, and its attributing factors for allied health professions worldwide.

Methods

Adhering to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across academic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library database) and grey literature (Google, Google Scholar, organisational websites). Two reviewers independently undertook a two-stage screening process along with data extraction using customised data extraction forms. A narrative synthesis was used to synthesise the data.

Results

Thirty-two studies published between 1990 and 2024 were included. Attrition rates ranged from 0.5% to 41% across allied health disciplines. Pharmacists demonstrated the lowest attrition rates, while audiologists reported the highest. Radiographers reported the lowest intent to leave at 7.6%, while occupational therapists showed highest intent to leave, ranging from 10.7% to 74.1%. The analysis revealed three recurring themes contributing to attrition: profession-centric factors (e.g., career progression, job satisfaction, support, and professional growth), systemic-centric factors (e.g., compensation, staffing challenges, clinical practices, patient care, workload), and individual-centric factors (e.g., recognition, the need for change, and burnout).

Conclusion

Attrition in allied health remains a significant challenge. Addressing this issue requires a systemic, nuanced, and evidence-based approach, given the complex, interlinked, and multifaceted factors contributing to attrition. The younger workforce, characterized by changing generational values, necessitates innovative thinking, intersectoral collaboration, and the potential for co-created solutions with, for, and by the allied health workforce.
Reduction of bioburden on large area surfaces through use of a supplemental residual antimicrobial paint
Authors: Hiras Jennifer , Bright Kelly R. , Kurzejewski Jackie L. , McInroy Alexander E. , Frutos Anthony G. , Langille Mark R. , Lehman Jon Q. , Gerba Charles P. , Lahiri Joydeep
Published: September 2024

Paint is a versatile material that can be used to coat surfaces for which routine disinfection practices may be lacking. EPA-registered copper-containing supplemental residual antimicrobial paints could be used to reduce the bioburden on often-neglected surfaces. An interventional study was conducted by painting the walls of a preschool restroom and metal locker surfaces in two hospital locker rooms with a copper-containing antimicrobial paint to evaluate the potential for bioburden reduction compared to a non-copper-containing control paint. The antimicrobial paint reduced the bioburden on the preschool restroom walls by 57% and on lockers in one locker room by 63% compared to the control paint; no significant difference was observed between the two paint types in the second locker room. The upper quartile bacterial counts, which drive the overall risk by increasing exposure to pathogens, also exhibited 63% and 47% reductions for the antimicrobial paint compared to the control paint in the preschool restroom and the first locker room, respectively. Because detectible levels of bioburden are found on large-area surfaces such as walls and lockers, surfaces painted with copper-containing paints may make large-area surfaces that are prone to contamination safer in a way that is practical and economical.
How appraisals of an in-group’s collective history shape collective identity and action: Evidence in relation to African identity
Authors: Makanju Damilola , Livingstone Andrew G. , Sweetman Joseph , Okafor Chiedozie O. , Attoh Franca
Published: September 2024

This research tested the impact of how group members appraise their collective history on in-group identification and group-based action in the African context. Across three experiments (Ns = 950; 270; and 259) with Nigerian participants, we tested whether the effect of historical representations–specifically the valence of the in-group’s collective history–on in-group engagement, in turn, depends on whether that history is also appraised as subjectively important. In Study 1, findings from exploratory moderated-mediation analyses indicated that the appraised negative valence of African history was associated with an increase in identification and group-based action when African history was appraised as unimportant (history-as-contrast). Conversely, the appraised positive valence of African history was also associated with an increase in identification and group-based action when African history was also appraised as important (history-as-inspiration). Studies 2a and 2b then orthogonally manipulated the valence and subjective importance of African history. However, findings from Studies 2a and 2b did not replicate those of Study 1. Altogether, our findings suggest that the relationship between historical representations of groups and in-group identification and group-based action in the present is more complex than previously acknowledged.
A cross sectional study on levels of dental anxiety, its influencing factors, and the preferred management techniques among patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alowid Albandri Mohammed , Hebbal Mamata , Aldegheishem Alhanoof , Nadakkavukaran Santhosh Varkey , Surath Kumar Ram , Alfayyadh Atheer Mohammed , Alateeq Njoud Ibrahim , Alomran Sara mazen , Aleban Shog Abdulelah
Published: September 2024

Background

Dental anxiety is marked by intense and irrational fear of dental procedures affecting millions of individuals worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dental anxiety, its influencing factors, and the preferred management techniques among adults seeking dental care in Riyadh.

Methods

A cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out among 1734 patients who visited dental clinics in Riyadh. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and validated, comprising 28 closed-ended questions; it demonstrated good reliability and internal consistency (Cohen’s kappa coefficient = 0.90, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = 0.86), it contained pre-validated Modified Dental Anxiety Scale to quantitatively assess the level of dental anxiety. Data analysis involved descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression.

Results

Majority (59.2%) of participants reported moderate anxiety, while 10.9% experienced high anxiety which was significantly linked to factors such as fear of pain (37.8%) and anaesthetic needles (25.8%). Topical anaesthetic gel (64.5%), pre-treatment explanations (78.9%), and conducive clinic environment (79.4%) were perceived as effective anxiety alleviators. A negative correlation existed between dental anxiety and preferred management techniques. Dental anxiety had significant association between gender (β = 0.910) and age (β = 0.263).

Conclusion

This study revealed that majority of participants had moderate dental anxiety, linked significantly to influencing factors like frequency and purpose of dental visits and past dental experiences. The study also found the preferred anxiety management methods among participants which included topical anaesthetic gel, pre-treatment explanations, and a comfortable clinic environment.
Tightening policy and housing price bubbles: Examining an episode in the Chinese housing market
Authors: Ahn Kwangwon , Jeong Minhyuk , Kim Jinu , Tarzia Domenico , Zhang Ping
Published: September 2024

Housing markets are often characterized by price bubbles, and governments have instituted policies to stabilize them. Under this circumstance, this study addresses the following questions. (1) Does policy tightening change expectations in housing prices, revealing a regime change? (2) If so, what determines the housing market’s reaction to policy tightening? To answer these questions, we examine the effects of policy tightening that occurred in 2016 on the Chinese housing market where a price boom persisted in the post-2000 period. Using a log-periodic power law model and employing a modified multi-population genetic algorithm for parameter estimation, we find that tightening policy in China did not cause a market crash; instead, shifting the Chinese housing market from faster-than-exponential growth to a soft landing. We attribute this regime shift to low sensitivity in the Chinese housing market to global perturbations. Our findings suggest that government policies can help stabilize housing prices and improve market conditions when implemented expediently. Moreover, policymakers should consider preparedness for the possibility of an economic crisis and other social needs (e.g., housing affordability) for overall social welfare when managing housing price bubbles.
Diffusion model-based image generation from rat brain activity
Authors: Yamashiro Kotaro , Matsumoto Nobuyoshi , Ikegaya Yuji
Published: September 2024

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has gained recognition in various fields, including clinical applications, assistive technology, and human-computer interaction research. BCI enables communication, control, and monitoring of the affective/cognitive states of users. Recently, BCI has also found applications in the artistic field, enabling real-time art composition using brain activity signals, and engaging performers, spectators, or an entire audience with brain activity-based artistic environments. Existing techniques use specific features of brain activity, such as the P300 wave and SSVEPs, to control drawing tools, rather than directly reflecting brain activity in the output image. In this study, we present a novel approach that uses a latent diffusion model, a type of deep neural network, to generate images directly from continuous brain activity. We demonstrate this technology using local field potentials from the neocortex of freely moving rats. This system continuously converted the recorded brain activity into images. Our end-to-end method for generating images from brain activity opens new possibilities for creative expression and experimentation. Notably, our results show that the generated images successfully reflect the dynamic and stochastic nature of the underlying neural activity, providing a unique procedure for visualization of brain function.
Frequent hemodialysis versus standard hemodialysis for people with kidney failure: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Natale Patrizia , Green Suetonia C. , Rose Matthias , Bots Michiel L. , Blankestijn Peter J. , Vernooij Robin W. M. , Gerittsen Karin , Woodward Mark , Hockham Carinna , Cromm Krister , Barth Claudia , Davenport Andrew , Hegbrant Jörgen , Sarafidis Pantelis , Das Partha , Wanner Christoph , Nissenson Allan R. , Sautenet Benedicte , Török Marietta , Strippoli Giovanni
Published: September 2024

Background

Frequent hemodialysis provided more than three times per week may lower mortality and improve health-related quality of life. Yet, the evidence is inconclusive. We evaluated the benefits and harms of frequent hemodialysis in people with kidney failure compared with standard hemodialysis.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials including adults on hemodialysis with highly sensitive searching in MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar on 3 January 2024. Data were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. We adjudicated evidence certainty using GRADE.

Results

From 11,142 unique citations, only seven studies involving 518 participants proved eligible. The effects of frequent hemodialysis on physical and mental health were imprecise due to few data. Frequent hemodialysis probably had uncertain effect on death from all cause compared with standard hemodialysis (relative risk 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.33–1.91, low certainty evidence). Data were not reported for death from cardiovascular causes, major cardiovascular events, fatigue or vascular access.

Conclusion

The evidentiary basis for frequent hemodialysis is incomplete due to clinical trials with few or no events reported for mortality and cardiovascular outcome measures and few participants in which patient-reported outcomes including health-related quality of life and symptoms were reported.
Judges: officials, activists or mediators?
Authors: Vasconcellos Rafael
Published: September 2024

In legal systems there are interpretative openings and limits resulting from the bundling of internal factors, related do the judge, and external, related to the environment. The combination of these factors gives rise to a three-judge model: officials-judges, activists-judges and mediators-judges. Different methodological proposals seek ways to the correct answer or one capable of restricting discretion, with Ronald Dworkin’s argument of principle andCastanheira Neves’ methodical scheme as affirmative conceptions. With the intention of providing a contribution to the problem of interpretation and its limits, this paper takes the opposite path (negative conception), stipulating assumptions, which if exceeded lead to a legally irrational and, therefore, arbitrary decision. Such presuppositions are the interpretative beacons seen under the objective-temporal and subjective-spatial binomial that can serve as interpretative limit.
Phenomenology of Art and Narrative in Hannah Arendt
Authors: Arancibia Hurtado Camilo
Published: September 2024

Hannah Arendt’s aesthetic reflections have not been largely considered in Law and Literature (1), contrary to her contributions to political theory and philosophy. This article seeks to give an approach to the phenomenology of art developed by Arendt to apply it to Law and Literature. For this (2) I describe what this theory consists of, focusing the analysis on the notion of a work of art whose characteristics (permanence and uselessness) and functions (visibility and anticipation) are intertwined with two types of narrative: first, the narrative for redemption (3), based on which Arendt redeems the defeated in history and, second, narration for understanding (4), which seeks to morallyengage the reader in social phenomena. To highlight the use of both forms of narration, I pay attention to the use of Proust In Search of Lost Time in Arendt’s work, regarding the redemption of the Jewish outcast, and to the analysis of a story by Günter Anders entitled Die beweinte Zukunft (1961), based on which I present the concept of understanding developed by Arendt, but led to concern for the current climate crisis.I conclude (5) with some projections and criticisms that show that Arendt’s phenomenology and her use of the narrative can be used in Law and Literature to reflect on the great problems of contemporary times.