bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Faith-Based Financial Accountability in Nigeria: A Theological Perspective on Stewardship in Religious Organizations
Authors: Luka Reuben , Gofwan David
Published: February 2025

Faith-based organizations play a crucial role in the socio-cultural framework of Nigeria, providing spiritual support and economic aid. However, concerns regarding financial management and transparency have raised significant questions about their accountability, leading to a decline in trust among followers and the broader community. The paper addresses the question of how can faith-based organizations ensure financial accountability while remaining true to their spiritual objectives? This study explores the theological concept of stewardship as a viable framework for improving financial accountability within Nigerian religious institutions. The primary issue identified is the gap between biblical teachings on stewardship and the financial practices observed in many organizations. Against this background, the paper examines the theological foundations of financial stewardship, assesses the current challenges related to financial accountability in Nigerian faith-based organizations, and proposes strategies grounded in theological ethics. By emphasizing the theological aspects of accountability, the research highlights the necessity of ethical leadership, transparency, and the active involvement of congregants in financial governance. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study combines scriptural insights with modern theological scholarship, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between theology and financial practices in Nigeria. The findings contribute to the fields of theology and religious studies by offering a theological framework for financial accountability that is deeply rooted in biblical principles of stewardship. Furthermore, the study provides strategies and insight for religious organizations to enhance trust, credibility, and operational efficiency in their missions. By analyzing financial mismanagement through a theological lens, the study bridges the gap between faith and financial ethics, advocating for an accountability model that reflects both spiritual and societal values.
Prioritization Suitable Hydropower Potential Sites Along the Furfuro River, Ethiopia
Authors: Genet Amsayaw , Tadesse Abebe , Zelalem Temesgen , Kifle Tensay , Ejargew Aynadis
Published: February 2025

Energy access is a critical factor for economic development and social progress, particularly in rural areas of developing countries like Ethiopia. This study aims to identify and prioritize suitable hydropower sites along the Furfuro River using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach, specifically the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Five key criteria were considered: power, discharge, head, accessibility, and distance. A pairwise comparison matrix was constructed to assess the relative importance of these criteria. Normalization and critical weight calculation were performed to determine the weight of each criterion. The consistency of the pairwise comparison matrix was evaluated using the consistency ratio (CR), which was found to be acceptable. The site with the highest suitability index was ranked the most suitable for hydropower development. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for decision-makers in prioritizing hydropower development in the region, reducing reliance on traditional, harmful energy sources, and improving the quality of life for local communities along the Furfuro River. By considering multiple factors and employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process, this research contributes to sustainable energy planning and resource management.
Positioning Occupational Therapy to Better Support Students with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Position Paper on Addressing Policy and Practice Gaps
Authors: Shanholtz Cathy , Victor Callie , Gamber Michelle
Published: February 2025

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandates that students with disabilities, including neurodevelopmental disorders, have access to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Occupational therapy is vital in supporting the educational and developmental needs of these students by fostering engagement in both academic and non-academic settings. However, despite federal guidelines, occupational therapy service implementation remains inconsistent across schools, often reflecting varying degrees of awareness among school personnel regarding occupational therapy’s scope and objectives, particularly for students with neurodevelopmental disorders. This paper examines the delivery of school-based occupational therapy services for students with neurodevelopmental disorders and addresses challenges in achieving consistency and effectiveness in meeting these students' unique needs. The misconceptions about occupational therapy’s role, variability in state policies, and gaps in interprofessional collaboration contribute to these challenges. The importance of interprofessional collaboration defined roles, and the alignment of legislative frameworks with the practical application is highlighted to maximize occupational therapy's impact on supporting students with neurodevelopmental and other disabilities. This paper advocates for the enhancement of occupational therapy service delivery through the improvement of the integration and enhancement of multidisciplinary teams and a clearer legislative guideline that will ensure students receive the services they need. Occupational therapy practitioners are fully equipped to address the needs of students. Improvement of training and awareness with all school professionals and the understanding of occupational therapy services are discussed to maximize the impact of supporting our students.
Geospatial-based Landfill Site Selection in Developing Countries: An In-depth Review of Theories, Methodologies, and Criteria
Authors: Gontte Adimasu
Published: February 2025

Effective landfill site selection is crucial for sustainable waste management, particularly in regions facing rapid urbanization and limited resources. The increasing pressure on waste management systems necessitates a systematic approach to landfill siting. Many landfill siting studies struggle to address the unique challenges of developing countries, where resource constraints and environmental impacts are significant concerns. Existing research often lacks comprehensive methodologies that integrate various technological advances. This study aims to analyze geospatial-based landfill site selection methodologies in developing countries, focusing on research published from 2014 to 2024. It synthesizes various theoretical approaches, emphasizing the integration of geographic information systems (GIS), multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), and remote sensing technologies. The review identifies key site selection criteria, such as environmental impact, economic feasibility, and community acceptance, to mitigate negative effects on public health and the environment. The analytical hierarchy process is the primary method used for assigning weights to the selection criteria. Additionally, the review discusses policy frameworks and regulatory considerations that shape effective landfill site selection. It highlights gaps in existing research, including the need for localized studies and the integration of emerging technologies. By addressing these gaps, the review provides valuable insights for researchers and policymakers. Ultimately, it seeks to enhance the understanding of sustainable waste management practices in developing countries, promoting more effective landfill site selection strategies that consider diverse aspects.
Challenges and Advances in Diagnosing and Treating Hypophosphatasia in Adults: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Bolla Sandeep
Published: February 2025

Hypophosphatasia (HPP), a rare metabolic disorder caused by mutations in the ALPL gene, leads to deficient alkaline phosphatase activity and presents unique clinical challenges for adult patients, including fractures, chronic pain, and dental issues. This disorder is often underdiagnosed due to its variable clinical presentation and overlap with other conditions, further complicating timely intervention. Early diagnosis is critical for effective management; however, current diagnostic criteria have limitations, often resulting in delays. Insights from the Global HPP Registry reveal significant disease burden and treatment gaps in treated and untreated adults. These insights underscore the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in addressing HPP-related complications, including musculoskeletal and systemic manifestations. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with asfotase alfa has proven effective in reducing disease burden and improving quality of life. Recent clinical evidence suggests that ERT not only alleviates symptoms but may also prevent disease progression when initiated early. Emerging therapies and alternative regimens like teriparatide dosing adjustments are being explored for their potential benefits. In addition, advanced imaging modalities and biomarker studies are improving diagnostic accuracy and monitoring of therapeutic outcomes. This comprehensive review highlights the significant challenges and advances in diagnosing and treating HPP in adults. Ongoing research aims to enhance diagnosis and treatment through genetic testing and personalized medicine, focusing on identifying and addressing knowledge gaps to improve care for adult HPP patients. Collaborative efforts between researchers, clinicians, and patient advocacy groups are crucial for driving innovation and improving access to care. Continued research and innovation are essential, and healthcare professionals must stay informed about the latest advancements in HPP diagnosis and treatment to ensure optimal patient care. By addressing these challenges, the field can move closer to improving the lives of adults living with HPP.
Survival Status of HIV-Hepatitis B Virus Co-Infection with HIV Mono-infected Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Mekelle City, North Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Bidre Haileselassie , Teklemicael Desalegn , Gebrewahid Goshu , Teame Gebrecherkos , Tekulu Fsaha , Kahsay Alemayehu
Published: February 2025

Background: HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are two serious global health threats that co-occur and are resistant to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Milions of people worldwide lost their lives to acquired immunodeficiency in 2019.Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate the survival status of patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B viruses who are on antiretroviral therapy (HART). Methods: A retrospective cohort study design was conducted. Individuals with HIV-HBV co-infected with HIV mono-infected in six health facilities in Mekelle City from January 2009 to February 2018. The total sample size was 466, of which 94 were HBV exposed and 372 were unexposed for HBV on ART clients. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazard models for survival analysis were used. Data was analyzed using STATA version 14. Result: Of the total patients, 300 (64.3%) were females and most age groups were 15-30 years old, 199 (43%). Over 1960 person years of observation time at risk, 23 (24%) HIV-HBV co-infected and 26 (7%) HIV mono-infected died. In the adjusted analysis, HIV-HBV co-infected group had a 2.53 times increased hazard of death (aHR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.31-4.85) than HIV mono-infected. Conclusion: In this cohort study, mortality is higher in the HIV-HBV co-infected group. Hence, special attention shall be given to HIV-HBV co-infected groups, to significantly reduce mortality, and contribute to alleviating public health burden.
The Linguistic Sign and the Subsystems of Language
Authors: Papazian Eric
Published: February 2025

The point of departure is that the traditional linguistic «components» or subsystems like phonology, semantics, lexicon and grammar are based on the linguistic sign (or symbol), and the article discusses the relation between these components: Are they independent and supplementary, or are some systems part of others? And what is their relation to the sign and its two parts, expression and content (meaning)? First, the linguistic sign is presented and discussed, and defined 1) as a general unit with any expression, not limited to speech, 2) non-mentalistically, in a manner compatible with a usage-based approach to language, namely as a social or conventional product that also comprises physical entities like sounds or letters. Then some problems concerning the relation between the sign and the subsystems are pointed out and discussed in the following sections. The main conclusions are: 1) Lexicon and grammar include (e.g. phonological) expressions, phonology deals with the expression system. 2) There is no semantic system – meaning is part of lexicon and grammar. 3) Grammar is not «autonomous», but consists of (complex) signs and includes meaning. 4) Lexicon and grammar are neither expression nor content, but represent the sign or lexicogrammatical level. 5) Languages and texts are not signs and do not consist of expression and content, but of subsystems and parts. 6) Words are the basic part of language, presupposed by grammar.
Maternal Factors, Feeding Practices and Morbidity Status of Children Aged 0-6 Months Attending Kwanza Hospital’s Well-Baby Clinic
Authors: Cheloti Sophy , Kuria Elizabeth , Kobia Joseph
Published: February 2025

Good nutrition in early life is key to building the body’s immunity and good health in later years. For children aged 0-6 months, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is widely advocated as the optimum practice. In Kenya, exclusive breastfeeding rates are still low. The purpose of this study was to determine the maternal factors, feeding practices and morbidity among children aged 0 to 6 months attending well baby clinic at Kwanza Hospital, Trans-Nzoia, Kenya. A cross-sectional analytical design was utilized and systematic sampling used to attain the sample size of 151 children. Questionnaires, focus group discussion and key informant guides were employed in data collection. SPSS version 28 was used for data analysis. To evaluate the results, descriptive statistics, chi-square test, ODDs ratio and logistic regression were employed. Majority (63.5%) of the children were aged 0-3 months. More than half (52%) of the children were on EBF, over a quarter (26.2%) were given prelacteal feeds and nearly half (41.2%) reported sick. The findings revealed associations between mode of delivery with breastfeeding status (p-value 0.0001), marital status with breastfeeding frequency (OR 5.23, 95% CI 1.90-14.36, p-value 0.001), maternal illness with use of prelacteal feeds and morbidity with monthly income. Logistic regression was conducted using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation method (MLE). There was a significant relationship between monthly income and the likelihood of a child being sick (p=0.036). The relationship was a weak positive relationship (r=0.063, r2=0.004). The study concludes that feeding practices among children aged 0-6 months were inadequate (use of prelacteals, mixed feeding and replacement feeding) in relation to World Health Organization standards. Nearly half (41.2%) of the children (0-6 months) suffered from childhood morbidities. This study suggests strengthening of exclusive breastfeeding health talks by health institutions, strengthening preventive strategies to reduce childhood illnesses, counseling and support for mothers having children before marriage.
Globalization Unveiled: Examining the Pros and Cons in the 21st Century
Authors: Maurizio Bragagni , Lorenc Xhaferraj , Carlotta Toscani
Published: February 2025

Globalisation is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that has redefined the global economic, political, cultural, and technological landscape. It generates a growing interconnectedness between people and different societies, and it expands the flows of goods, services, ideas and across the world. Globalisation has become a widely debated topic in recent years, with opinions divided on whether it is beneficial or harmful to the world. This research paper provides an in-depth examination of how globalization has affected the economic and social standing of both the poor and the rich. The authors highlight that globalization can drive economic growth, creating new opportunities and elevating living standards. For wealthy individuals and developed nations, globalization opens up new markets and fosters technological advancements, increasing their wealth and influence. However, for poorer populations, the benefits are mixed. While globalization can provide access to jobs and technology, it often comes with challenges like low wages, job insecurity, and environmental exploitation, leading to a widening income gap between the rich and poor. The author presents these dynamics to illustrate the uneven distribution of globalization's benefits and the social and economic stratification that has emerged as a result. Beyond economic impacts, the paper also emphasizes how globalization has influenced global security and environmental sustainability. The interconnectedness brought by globalization means that security issues in one region can quickly impact other parts of the world, making global stability a shared concern. This complexity is further compounded by climate change, which has been intensified by globalized industrial activity and resource consumption. The paper balances these concerns by acknowledging both positive developments, such as advancements in global cooperation for environmental action, and the urgent challenges globalization poses to equitable growth and environmental health.
Impact of Climate Change in Wheat Yield and Water Productivity-Review
Authors: Amdneh Mahlet
Published: February 2025

Climate change is linked to many catastrophic events and causes many disasters for people around the world. We cannot say that just those impoverished countries are impacted by the worsening effects of climate change, when wealthier nations continue to lose billions of dollars and thousands of lives year. This review work's primary goal was to determine how climate change affects crop water requirements and productivity while also offering recommendations. Numerous books and papers, both published and unpublished, were reviewed as part of the methodology. The outcome showed that the impact of climate change will vary by region and could be either good or unfavorable. In some regions of the world, raising the temperature by just one degrees Celsius may significantly reduce wheat yield productivity, but in other regions, it will enhance yield and water productivity. According to those studies, despite an increase in yield and water productivity, the high levels of carbon dioxide in the environment will cause the quality to deteriorate. Additionally. According to the reports, depending on various situations and horizons with sowing dates as well, the water need for wheat production will fall by 10% to 32% as a result of temperature increases. Researchers also underlined that water productivity will occasionally decline if mitigating efforts are not made to address the effects of climate change.
The Perceived Benefits of Assistive Technologies for Children with Cerebral Palsy, Families and Caregivers: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hreish Dala
Published: February 2025

Cerebral palsy is a neurodevelopmental condition that occurs pre-birth, during birth or post-birth. It often results in motor impairments and associated challenges that significantly affect functional independence and quality of life. Assistive technologies play a critical role in enhancing function and independence for young people affected by this condition. This systematic review aimed to identify the perceived benefits of such technologies for children with cerebral palsy, their families and caregivers. A systematic search of the literature identified nine articles that met the inclusion criteria. The review used meta-ethnography as its methodology, applying an interpretive approach to translate concepts across studies and generate new insights. Four third-order interpretations were identified. The first was Identity and belonging: enhancing self-esteem, motivation, independence, and improving posture and mobility. The second was Inclusion and participation: children’s willingness, relationships and parents’ perception. The third was Environmental barriers at home and school. And the fourth was Challenges in assistive technology: aesthetics, usability, knowledge gaps and the need for ongoing support. The findings highlight how assistive technologies address both physical and social challenges, improving developmental opportunities and enhancing independence, social participation and quality of life. Tailoring devices to real-world needs and strengthening collaboration among healthcare professionals, educators and families are essential for promoting children’s functional performance, well-being and inclusion in society.
The Influence of Processing Parameters on the Physical Quality of Garri
Authors: Karteh Sallu , Allie Georgiana , Sherman-Kamara Joseph , Nah Amis , Ibrahim-Sayo Dominic
Published: February 2025

Fermentation and dewatering of cassava mash are critical stages in processing of Garri in Sierra Leone and many other West African countries. This study examines the effect of grating band and dewatering pressure on the quality of Garri obtained from three improved cassava varietiesTR-0031, TR-01229 and TR-983, obtained from Njala Agricultural Research Centre, Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (NARC, SLARI) using two locally made grating bands (4-inch nail size and 1.5-inch nail size). Five kilograms (5kg) of cassava mash was dewatered at pressures of 1422.33psi, 1066.748psi and 711.165psi. The resulting dewatered mash was roasted to obtain Garri. Samples of the Garri was used to conduct analysis for swelling index and particle size distribution. Data recorded was analyzed using Microsoft excel. Key findings: Water discharged by the different Pressing Pressure, pressure 1422.33psi discharged 1.42kg in four hours of pressing, pressure 1066.748psi discharge 1.20kg and pressure 711.165psi discharged 1.08kg. The swelling index for grating band 4” obtained a maximum of 57% and band 1.5” of 43% for variety TR-01229. On average grating band 4” swelled to a pick of 54.3% and band 1.5” obtained 45.7%. The statistical analysis conducted between varieties (TR-0983, TR-0031 and TR-1229) at 95% level of probability shows that no statistically significant difference of swelling index between varieties with p-value of 0.482185. For particle size distribution (PSD) maximum Garri retention was obtained by sieve 2 of 44% and minimum of 8% for sieve 5. A Pearson correlation shows a weak negative relationship (-0.709) between grating band and swelling index. The study leads to the conclusion that the nature of grating bands and magnitude of dewatering pressure are important factors in determining PSD and swelling power, which are key quality factors of Garri processing in Sierra Leone.
Nonsuicidal self-injury in a cross-sectional community survey of New Zealand adults: Associations with demographic and psychological characteristics
Authors: Robinson Kealagh , Grey Isabella , Broodryk Terise , Hove Lisa Van , Wilson Marc S
Published: February 2025

Objective:

Understanding of nonsuicidal self-injury relies almost exclusively on adolescent and emerging adult samples. We investigated the prevalence of lifetime and past-year nonsuicidal self-injury among New Zealanders aged 16–75 years and above, before evaluating if established associations between nonsuicidal self-injury, and demographic and psychological characteristics generalise to adults.

Method:

New Zealand adults ( n = 4906; median age 55–59 years; 55.5% female) completed a cross-sectional survey assessing lifetime and past-year nonsuicidal self-injury, psychological distress, self-esteem, emotion dysregulation, and social desirability susceptibility.

Results:

Nonsuicidal self-injury was common among adults; 25.6% participants reported ever self-injuring and 10.7% had done so at least once in the past year. Women and younger participants were more likely to report lifetime self-injury. Although younger participants were also more likely to report past-year self-injury than older participants, this age effect was attenuated for men ( b = −0.09) compared to women ( b = −0.18). Self-esteem (odds ratios 0.74, 0.74), psychological distress (odds ratios 1.09, 1.16), emotion dysregulation (odds ratios 2.05, 1.88), and desire to manage others’ impressions of oneself (odds ratios 0.88, 0.85) were uniquely associated with both lifetime and past-year nonsuicidal self-injury, respectively, and these effects were not moderated by age.

Conclusion:

Although self-injury was most common among emerging adults, adults of all ages reported self-injuring. Individuals with a greater desire to manage how others perceive them appeared to underreport their nonsuicidal self-injury. While men were less likely than women to self-injure, they may also be more likely to continue self-injuring over adulthood, suggesting that the developmental factors which drive self-injury cessation among adults differ for men and women.
Dental Management of Genetic Dental Disorders: A Critical Review
Authors: Dujic H. , Bücher K. , Schüler I.M. , Schmidt P. , Hertel S. , Timpel J. , Jablonski-Momeni A. , Schilke R. , Kapferer-Seebacher I. , Zschocke J. , Liebermann A. , Güth J.F. , Edelhoff D. , Heinrich-Weltzien R. , Kühnisch J.
Published: February 2025

Genetic dental disorders (GDDs) can occur either isolated or as part of syndromes. Clinically, deviations in tooth shape, size, or structure, as well as the absence of multiple teeth, lead to severe dysfunction and a reduced quality of life, requiring lifelong preventive, conservative, and prosthodontic dental care. The dental management of prevalent dental diseases, such as caries or periodontitis, has been based on decades of research, whereas scientific data on the dental management of GDDs are scarce. This lack of data is challenging for dental practitioners, who must primarily rely on empirical knowledge only. Therefore, a systematic literature search and review were conducted on the dental management of common GDDs, such as ectodermal dysplasia, amelogenesis imperfecta, dentinogenesis imperfecta, periodontitis as a manifestation of rare systemic diseases, and X-linked hypophosphatemia and hypophosphatasia. The review revealed that 468 of the 9,115 retrieved publications met the inclusion criteria, with most being case reports or case series, highlighting a lack of robust clinical trials. This critical review provides a brief summary of the genetic background, key clinical signs, and treatment options for these conditions. The dominance of case reports emphasizes the need for improved reporting standards and long-term follow-up to support comprehensive data synthesis and meta-analyses. In addition, the uneven global distribution of publications suggests disparities in access to advanced dental care for GDDs. Efforts to standardize reporting and improve treatment documentation globally are crucial to addressing these challenges. In this way, information on GDD management can be improved, and statistical analyses of the data can be performed.
The textual dynamics of international policymaking: A new corpus of UN resolutions, 1946–2018
Authors: Arias Sabrina B
Published: February 2025

I introduce a new dataset of all United Nations Security Council and United Nations General Assembly resolutions passed from 1946–2018, as well as machine-learning-based measures of their references to other resolutions, textual alignment, and topics. I suggest applications of this data for a variety of questions in international relations from the development of international law to the influence of state power in international organizations. I illustrate the utility of this dataset by investigating why policymakers employ references in the drafting of legal documents, and how the inclusion of these references affects political outcomes. I draw on theories of international lawmaking to argue that for states deciding whether to vote in favor of a resolution, these references, by signaling ideological consistency with a state’s foreign policy goals and existing consensus amongst negotiators, serve as a strategy to obtain support for resolutions. I found that the inclusion of references did increase political support for resolutions, using my measure of textual alignment to hold resolution text constant while isolating variation in the inclusion of references. I found that even accounting for foreign aid flows as a canonical alternative explanation of vote choice, reference dynamics were an important predictor of state support for resolutions.
Murine chapparvovirus (MuCPV)/mouse kidney parvovirus (MKPV) eradication by cross foster rederivation
Authors: Faseeh Ibrahim , Vongphakham Vatthana , Sharp Patrick
Published: February 2025

When diagnostic tests became available for the detection of mouse kidney parvovirus (MKPV), also known as murine chapparvovirus (MuCPV), we undertook a facility-wide screening to determine the prevalence of this novel agent in the Animal Resources Centre. MKPV was present only in the Customs Strains, specific-pathogen-free (SPF) barrier area, which was the only animal holding area that received mice imports directly from non-approved vendors. Based on this information, the knowledge and understanding of the viral epizootiology, and the testing methods available, we decided to eradicate MKPV after consultation with the researchers impacted. To eradicate MKPV from the barrier, we took a multi-modal approach composed of testing and separating positive and negative cages; and cross-foster (XF) rederivation. The test and separate approach was unsuccessful due to the animal housing and husbandry set up in the SPF barrier area given that MKPV is an environmentally stable and highly infectious agent. However, with an XF rederivation method, we were able to successfully rederive 11 out of 16 litters of various genetically modified lines that remained MKPV negative over a 20-week testing period. Our trial indicates that XF rederivation techniques, coupled with strict disinfection, can be used for a growing list of viral and other infectious agents that are highly infectious and persistent in the environment.
Death from an improvised explosive device (IED) in Nepal
Authors: Ghimire Samjhana , Bajracharya Mimosa , Atreya Alok , Kunwar Srijana
Published: February 2025

Blast injuries can be caused by pressurised containers like gas cylinders, tyres, etc., and are commonly associated with wars and terrorist attacks. The injuries suffered will depend on the type of explosion, for example from shock wave, burns and fractures, which mainly affect the lungs and hollow organs. Accurately noting the nature and extent of any blast injuries suffered will help to explain the patho-mechanism of these injuries. We report a case of 49-year-old pedestrian who sustained bomb blast injuries at a mobile phone tower office in Nepal. An improvised explosive device was used in the attack. All the peculiarities and typical features of blast injuries were evident at autopsy and may provide useful information for researchers studying explosive-related deaths.
Late talking in young children in Saudi Arabia: Identifying key risk factors
Authors: Almohammadi Alaa , Alaslani Khadeejah , Alroqi Haifa , Aljahlan Yara , Alsulaiman Roaa , Albeeshi Aalya , Murad Abdullah , Alnemary Fahad
Published: February 2025

The development of language skills is critical to the academic success and overall well-being of children. Research shows that late talking, defined as delayed expressive language development in toddlers, negatively impacts future language and literacy skills. The early identification of children at risk of late talking can significantly improve long-term outcomes in language development. However, data on late talkers among Saudi children are scarce. The present study aimed to address this gap by examining the prevalence and risk factors of late talking among Saudi toddlers, focusing on biological and environmental factors and the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on home literacy environment (HLE) practices. A sample of 270 children aged 16–36 months participated. Expressive vocabulary size was measured using JISH Arabic Communicative Development Inventory: Words & Sentences–Short Form (JACDI: WS-SF), a Saudi Arabic adaptation of the MB-CDI. Caregivers completed a home-screening questionnaire that assessed various family and child variables, including SES, family history of language disorders, birth conditions, HLE practices, screen use, and parental self-efficacy in nurturing language development. The findings revealed that 11% of toddlers were at risk of late talking, with hearing or vision issues as key biological risks. While engagement in HLE practices significantly reduced the likelihood of late talking, excessive screen time increased such risks. The study did not find a significant association between SES factors, such as maternal education and household income, and participation in HLE practices. These insights have implications for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers in early childhood education and health.
Human Values Across the Lifespan: Age-Graded Differences at Three Hierarchical Levels and What We Can Learn From Them
Authors: Gvirtz Andrés , Montecchi Matteo , Selby Amy , Götz Friedrich M.
Published: February 2025

Personality-development research is flourishing. Here, we extend these efforts horizontally (new constructs) and vertically (new levels within the same construct) by charting out age-graded differences in Schwarz’s human values across 80,814 individuals. Conducting a systematic investigation of cross-sectional age-graded differences in human values—from late teenage years to post-retirement—featuring 36 analytical model choices and 180,000 simulation-based decisions, our analyses replicate some earlier findings (e.g., increasing self- and growth-focus during adolescence and increasing security concerns during adulthood), while also highlighting complex and previously unappreciated dynamics. As such, while it is a common practice to aggregate specific values into parsimonious higher-order concepts to ease interpretation, this may risk overlooking meaningful trends in lower-order value development. Specifically, revealing unique and asynchronous patterns for value nuances, we find that aggregation (a) leads to a loss of critical information, (b) creates conflicting results when nuances diverge, and (c) significantly reduces predictive power.
An Audience Heterogeneity View of Markets: Contributions, Tensions, and Agenda for Future Research
Authors: Isenring Kata , Durand Rodolphe , Laamanen Tomi
Published: February 2025

Producers’ resource allocation, performance, and survival depend on how market audiences identify, evaluate, and value them. While research has focused on producers’ heterogeneity, it has not consistently addressed audiences’ heterogeneity despite its critical consequences on producers’ decisions and market dynamics. This review integrates three research perspectives—ecological, socio-cognitive, and optimal distinctiveness—to offer a clearer comprehension of audience heterogeneity. It distinguishes between-audience heterogeneity from within-audience heterogeneity and regroups existing but scattered findings under two audience heterogeneity dimensions: audience plasticity and audience multiplexity. Avenues for research build on these distinctions and underscore the relationships between audience heterogeneity and market temporality, individual reactions (e.g., rooted in ideology and emotions), and technology (in particular AI-enhanced categorization).
Clinical outcomes following treatment for small saphenous vein insufficiency: An AVLS PRO venous registry study
Authors: Echevarria Carlos , Scovell Sherry , Blebea John , Thornton Micah , Stoughton Julianne
Published: February 2025

Background

Compared to the great saphenous vein, there is a relative paucity of data in the literature focused on treating the small saphenous vein (SSV). Our goal was to evaluate and analyze national registry data related to the diagnosis and treatment of the SSV and identify practice patterns and clinical outcomes.

Method

Subjects undergoing SSV interventions between April 2014 and March 2023 were identified in the AVLS PRO Venous Registry. Data points included Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, Pathological (CEAP) classifications; Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), Venous Quality of Life (VVSymQ®) instrument scores, Heaviness, Aching, Swelling, Throbbing, Itching (HASTI) symptoms, and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36.) Duplex ultrasound findings included vein diameter, length, and the overall recanalization rate.

Result

A total of 92,175 SSV interventions were identified. Over two-thirds of subjects presented with a CEAP classification of C3 (31%) and C4 (C4 40%). Clinical results demonstrated significant improvement immediately after treatment in the first month and maintained beneficial results at 1 year or longer ( p < 0.001.) This improvement was reflected in the significant decrease in VCSS scores (6 ± 3.4 to 5 ± 2.9; p < 0.0001), VVSymQ (9.5 ± 6.0 to 5.9 ± 4.4; p < 0.0001), and HASTI (9.4 ± 5.9 to 6.6 ± 5.2; p < 0.0001). The recanalization rate at any follow-up was 3%; 48% of those occurring within the first year. Predictors associated with recanalization were larger vein diameter (mean 4.0 mm, 95% CI 3.9-4.1, p < 0.0001) and shorter SSV length (mean 15.27 mm, 95 % CI 14.4-16.1, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Treatment of SSV insufficiency improved clinical outcomes by both patient and physician-derived outcome measures. Only 3% of SSV demonstrated recanalization, and nearly half occurred within the first year following the procedure. Predictors of recanalization included larger pre-procedure vein diameters and treatment of a shorter length of SSV.
DABA: Decentralized and accelerated large-scale bundle adjustment
Authors: Fan Taosha , Ortiz Joseph , Hsiao Ming , Monge Maurizio , Dong Jing , Murphey Todd D , Mukadam Mustafa
Published: February 2025

Scaling to arbitrarily large bundle adjustment problems requires data and compute to be distributed across multiple devices. Centralized methods in prior works are only able to solve small or medium size problems due to overhead in computation and communication. In this paper, we present a fully decentralized method that alleviates computation and communication bottlenecks to solve arbitrarily large bundle adjustment problems. We achieve this by reformulating the reprojection error and deriving a novel surrogate function that decouples optimization variables from different devices. This function makes it possible to use majorization minimization techniques and reduces bundle adjustment to independent optimization subproblems that can be solved in parallel. Moreover, an efficient closed-form warm start strategy has been presented that always improves bundle adjustment estimates. We further apply Nesterov’s acceleration and adaptive restart to improve convergence while maintaining its theoretical guarantees. Despite limited peer-to-peer communication, our method has provable convergence to first-order critical points under mild conditions. On extensive benchmarks with public datasets, our method converges much faster than decentralized baselines with similar memory usage and communication load. Compared to centralized baselines using a single device, our method, while being decentralized, yields more accurate solutions with significant speedups of up to 953.7x over [Formula: see text] and 174.6x over [Formula: see text]. Code: https://github.com/facebookresearch/ DABA .
Effects of cognitive stimulation group programs in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Kwon Daseul , Kim DeokJu
Published: February 2025

Objectives:

This study examined the effects of a cognitive stimulation group program on cognitive functions, depression, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods:

Sixty patients with mild AD were randomized into the experimental or control groups (30 in each). Both groups underwent conventional occupational therapy for 30 minutes, followed by a 50-minute session of a cognitive stimulation group program for the experimental group and a cognitive workbook group program for the control group. Interventions for both groups were carried out for 4 weeks, five times a week, and once a day.

Results:

After the interventions, both groups showed significant differences in cognitive functions, depression, ADL, and quality of life ( p < 0.01, p < 0.001), with the experimental group demonstrating slightly higher scores in all assessment items. Significant intergroup differences were found in the scores for memory, the shortened Korean version of the Boston Naming Test, the Elderly Seoul Verbal Learning Test, the Korean version of the Trail Making Test Part A (depression), the Korean version of the Instrumental ADL scale, and quality of life ( p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

It has been shown that the cognitive simulation group program can be an effective intervention method to reduce the depression of mild AD patients and improve cognitive function, ADL, and quality of life. In addition, it is significant that various enjoyable activities were organized for each cognitive domain to induce active participation and motivation of the subjects. It is expected that this study can be usefully used as a guideline for the treatment of AD patients in the future.
Perioperative anaphylaxis in Malaysia: A nine-year retrospective study
Authors: Kwok Fan-Yin , Hui Mun-Tsong , Thomas Joseph Cindy , Hanim Binti Mohamad Arfah , Bakhtiar Mohammed-Faizal
Published: February 2025

Diagnosis of perioperative anaphylaxis (POA) and identification of causative agents remain challenging. This study aimed to describe the estimated incidence, characteristics and causative agents of POA in Malaysia. This is a retrospective review of all cases of suspected POA referred to the only anaesthetic allergy centre in Malaysia from March 2014 to December 2022. One hundred and ninety patients with suspected POA of Grade 2 and above were included. Data on clinical presentation, severity, management, serum tryptase and subsequent allergy workup (including skin and serum testing results) of these patients were extracted from the database. Dynamic tryptase was elevated in half of the cases where tryptase results were available and skin tests were positive in 96% of these cases. Skin testing was positive in 113 patients (60%) overall, and more than 70% of Grades 3 and 4 anaphylaxis cases. Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) and antibiotics were the most commonly identified causative agents (27.4% and 23% respectively). The commonest NMBAs were rocuronium and atracurium, both commonly cross-reacting with cisatracurium. The overall cross-reactivity rate among NMBAs was 58%. For antibiotics, the commonest causative agents were cefuroxime, ceftriaxone and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Using these data, the estimated incidence of Grades 2–4 POA over this period in Malaysia was approximately 1 in 30,000 anaesthetics. However, owing to the voluntary nature of reporting, it is possible that this is an underestimate, particularly in relation to some milder Grade 2 cases which may have gone unrecognised or unreported.
The elective use of percutaneous transtracheal oxygen insufflation for laryngeal surgery in a patient with a known difficult airway
Authors: Bolland Matthew J , Andrews David T , Williams Daryl L
Published: February 2025

We report the case of successful elective percutaneous transtracheal oxygen insufflation in a patient with high-grade laryngeal stenosis, requiring repeat surgical laryngeal dilation, in the setting of multiple previous failed attempts at intubation and ventilation. This case report highlights the role of this technique as an initial management plan to provide general anaesthesia in a safe and simple way to patients with a known difficult airway. We also describe the use of an intravenous extension kit which allowed end-tidal carbon dioxide to be measured during transtracheal oxygen insufflation.
Effect of surface coatings on endothelialization and biofilm in PTFE vascular grafts
Authors: Erkan Muhammet Hüseyin , Boğa Mehmet , Salih Hanife , Barbarus Emin , Rahman Ömer Faruk , Sakarya Sarhan
Published: February 2025

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts are of great importance for vascular surgery and many methods have been developed to improve their biocompatibility. The most important of these methods is the coating of the inner surfaces of the grafts. In this study, the effects of surface coatings used in vascular grafts on endothelialization and bacterial biofilm formation were investigated. Three different PTFE graft types, heparin coated, carbon coated and uncoated, were compared. HUVEC cell culture was used for endothelialization experiments and Staphylococcus aureus strain was used for biofilm formation. Endothelialization was evaluated by inverted microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Heparin-coated grafts showed more biofilm formation than other graft types ( p < 0.01). Moderate biofilm formation was observed in carbon-coated grafts ( p < 0.05). When evaluating endothelialization, heparin-coated grafts showed more cell adhesion in the first days, but lagged behind the other graft types in the following days. Carbon-coated grafts showed more endothelial cell proliferation in the long term. While biofilm formation was high in heparin-coated grafts, carbon-coated grafts provided better endothelialization. Our study showed that the coating of PTFE grafts significantly affects biocompatibility and infection risk.
Investigating the clinical significance of E2F5 expression in circulating extracellular vesicles in prostate carcinoma
Authors: Huda Noushim Akram , Chatterjee Souvik , Sultana Nahid , Sengupta Sanghamitra , Sarkar Debansu
Published: February 2025

Background:

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) based screening strategy has caused a marked improvement in prostate cancer detection and reduction in associated mortality. However, its specificity and sensitivity is not optimal for differentiating different forms of prostate cancer, resulting in overtreatment of indolent tumors. E2F5, a member of the family of transcription factors plays essential roles during many cellular processes. E2F5 amplification is a major event in PCa. A liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure to investigate the cancer-related molecules in circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Serum and plasma are attractive sources of EV-based biomarkers as blood sample acquisition is a minimally invasive procedure. Given, the shortcomings of PSA as a serum marker, the suitability of E2F5 expression and chemical properties of EVs can be used for the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer.

Objectives:

To technically refine the current histopathology-based diagnosis of PCa by adding it to the molecular readouts specific to disease states and biochemical fingerprints of EVs.

Materials and methods:

The study included 100 TRUS-biopsied tissues, 50 representing 4 Gleason grades and another 50 representing BPH. Expression of E2F5 was studied in all the qualified tissues by Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Blood from patients was collected and EVs were isolated and characterized.

Results:

E2F5 was highly upregulated through all Gleason grades, the maximum being in Gleason 10(5 + 5) and the minimum in Gleason 7(3 + 4), as compared to BPH. The EVs isolated from blood plasma were within 30–200 nm in size.

Conclusion:

E2F5, being a transcription factor, is highly overexpressed in malignant biopsy tissues, through all Gleason grades. BPH tissues served as control samples. EVs from blood plasma might serve as a potential liquid biopsy marker for predicting disease progression and better prognosis.