bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population Genomic Evidence for a Repeated Introduction and Rapid Expansion of the Fungal Maize Pathogen Setosphaeria turcica in Europe
Authors: Vidal-Villarejo Mireia , Freund Fabian , Hanekamp Hendrik , von Tiedemann Andreas , Schmid Karl
Published: July 2023

Modern agricultural practices, climate change, and globalization foster the rapid spread of plant pathogens, such as the maize fungal pathogen Setosphaeria turcica, which causes Northern corn leaf blight and expanded into Central Europe during the twentieth century. To investigate the rapid expansion of S. turcica, we sequenced 121 isolates from Europe and Kenya. Population genomic inference revealed a single genetically diverse cluster in Kenya and three clonal lineages with low diversity, as well as one cluster of multiple clonal sublineages in Europe. Phylogenetic dating suggests that all European lineages originated through sexual reproduction outside Europe and were subsequently introgressed multiple times. Unlike isolates from Kenya, European isolates did not show sexual recombination, despite the presence of both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 mating types. For the clonal lineages, coalescent model selection supported a selectively neutral model with strong exponential population growth, rather than models with pervasive positive selection caused by host defense resistance or environmental adaptation. Within clonal lineages, phenotypic variation in virulence to different monogenic resistances, which defines the pathogen races, suggests that these races may originate from repeated mutations in virulence genes. Association testing based on k-mers did not identify genomic regions linked to pathogen races, but it did uncover strongly differentiated genomic regions between clonal lineages, which harbor genes with putative roles in pathogenicity. In conclusion, the expansion and population growth of S. turcica in Europe are mainly driven by an expansion of the maize cultivation area and not by rapid adaptation.
Challenges in tolerogenic dendritic cell therapy for autoimmune diseases: the route of administration
Authors: Mansilla María José , Hilkens Catharien M U , Martínez-Cáceres Eva M
Published: July 2023

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) are a promising strategy to treat autoimmune diseases since they have the potential to re-educate and modulate pathological immune responses in an antigen-specific manner and, therefore, have minimal adverse effects on the immune system compared to conventional immunosuppressive treatments. TolDC therapy has demonstrated safety and efficacy in different experimental models of autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), type 1 diabetes (T1D), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moreover, data from phase I clinical trials have shown that therapy with tolDCs is safe and well tolerated by MS, T1D, and RA patients. Nevertheless, various parameters need to be optimized to increase tolDC efficacy. In this regard, one important parameter to be determined is the most appropriate route of administration. Several delivery routes, such as intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intradermal, intranodal, and intraarticular routes, have been used in experimental models as well as in phase I clinical trials. This review summarizes data obtained from preclinical and clinical studies of tolDC therapy in the treatment of MS, T1D, and RA and their animal models, as well as data from the context of cancer immunotherapy using mature peptide-loaded DC, and data from in vivo cell tracking experiments, to define the most appropriate route of tolDC administration in relation to the most feasible, safest, and effective therapeutic use.
Elizabeth Hamilton
Authors: Grogan Claire
Published: July 2023

The British writer Elizabeth Hamilton (1756–1816) used her publications, fiction and nonfiction, rather than political polemic, to contribute to the revolutionary debate about female capabilities and appropriate education. In this way she avoided the personal attacks experienced by her more radical and outspoken female contemporaries. However, Hamilton’s focus on educational philosophy and economic independence over sexual freedoms meant that her revolutionary ideas have often been overlooked. Hamilton argued that a clear and current knowledge of the workings of the mind—a philosophy of understanding—was a necessary foundation for any effective educational reform. Her publications, whether fiction, historical biography or educational treatise, map the evolution of her understanding of, and contribution to, moral and educational philosophy. As a result, Hamilton’s moral philosophy and educational theory build more on the ideas of Scottish Enlightenment thinkers such as Thomas Reid and Dugald Stewart than on the educationalists Mary Wollstonecraft, Hannah More, or Richard and Maria Edgeworth. She drew on her reading of Locke, Hume, and Reid, and her friendships with Stewart, Moyes, and Alison, to argue that a grounding in moral philosophy was a necessary cornerstone of any educational reform.
Mary Shelley and Post-Apocalyptic Literature and Philosophy
Authors: Hunt Eileen M.
Published: July 2023

Mary Shelley mined the forms and themes of plague literature, the epic, the romance, and the gothic novel to develop a new subgenre of modern science fiction: post-apocalyptic literature. Her two great science fiction works (or what I call political science fictions)—Frankenstein (1818) and The Last Man (1826)—confront the social problems that arise from humanity’s artificial, technological, and cultural interventions in the wider environment. Comparing Frankenstein and The Last Man with their literary and philosophical sources—from Sophocles and Plutarch to Goethe and Godwin—reveals Shelley’s concern with the problem of interpersonal conflict. Her science fiction novels dramatize how interpersonal conflict, if left unchecked, will spiral into the wider social and political injustices of violence, war, and other human-made disasters, such as species extinctions, plagues, and pandemics. Their themes have deeply shaped existential and post-apocalyptic fiction, from Bram Stoker, M. P. Shiel, George Orwell, Albert Camus, and Richard Matheson to Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, and Emily St. John Mandel.
Total Atrial Conduction Time as a Predictor of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chiotis Sotirios , Doundoulakis Ioannis , Pagkalidou Eirini , Piperis Christos , Zafeiropoulos Stefanos , Botis Michail , Haidich Anna-Bettina , Economou Fotios , Chierchia Gian-Battista , de Asmundis Carlo , Tsiachris Dimitris , Vassilikos Vassilios P , Giannopoulos Georgios
Published: July 2023

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the predictive value of total atrial conduction time (TACT) assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography (PA-TDI) in atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in patients following a rhythm-control strategy. A systematic approach following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines was applied in electronic databases (Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science), supplemented by scanning through studies’ references. TACT was compared using a random-effects model and presented as a difference in means (MD). The primary endpoint was AF recurrence. Seven publications were included in this systematic review. The mean age of the patients ranged from 55 years to 72 years. Prolonged TACT was associated with AF recurrence [MD, 23.12 msec; 95% confidence interval (CI), 11.54–34.71; I
2 = 95%]. Subgroup analysis showed that prolonged TACT was strongly associated with AF recurrence in persistent AF cohorts undergoing electrical cardioversion (MD, 26.56; 95% CI, 15.51–37.6; I
2 = 86%), while in patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) undergoing catheter ablation, the results were not statistically significant (MD, 11.48; 95% CI, −1.19 to 24.14; I
2 = 90%). The summary area under the curve (sAUC) using a random-effects model was 0.89 (95% CI, 0.80–0.99). TACT is a valuable echocardiographic parameter that can predict AF recurrence in patients following a rhythm-control strategy.

Protocol registration:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022353018
A Case of a Chronic Expanding Hematoma Caused by an Epidermal Cyst
Authors: Kuwahara Masamitsu , Wada Takuya , Masuda Yasumitsu , Miyata Riyo , Harada Masayuki , Ogawa Kohei
Published: July 2023

Chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) is a rare type of hematoma that expands slowly and continuously without compromising coagulation. Its etiology is often unknown. However, we experienced a rare case of CEH, in which an epidermal cyst was thought to be the cause. A 57-year-old man had developed a painless soft-tissue tumor in his left buttock 45 years earlier, which slowly grew to 11 cm in diameter. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging suggested a large cyst containing several masses. Surgery revealed a hematoma and keratin debris surrounded by a white fibrous cyst wall and a fibrous nodule measuring 4 cm in diameter. On histopathological examination of the white fibrous wall, an epidermal component was observed contralateral to the superficial punctum, but the epidermal component was absent from most of the wall, including the fibrous nodule. Based on a pathological examination, the CEH was suggested to have been caused by partial rupturing and inflammation of an epidermal cyst. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of epidermal cysts causing CEH. In addition, the large fibrous nodule protruding from the CEH cyst wall was considered to be rare. This was considered to be a rare CEH that may have originated from an epidermal cyst.
A new lymph node ratio-based staging system for rectosigmoid cancer: a retrospective study with external validation
Authors: Zhang Chao , Sun Pengda , Ma Zhiming , Zhao Shutao , Wang Xudong
Published: July 2023

Background:

This study evaluated the clinical value of a new AJCC TNM staging prediction model based on lymph node ratio (LNR) in rectosigmoid cancer.

Methods:

The analysis included 1,444 patients with non-metastatic rectosigmoid cancer diagnosed pathologically between 2010 and 2016 who were collected from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Results database. The AJCC N-stage was redefined according to the LNR cut-off point, and the ability of the new staging system to predict prognosis was compared with that of the AJCC TNM staging system. Data from 739 patients from our hospital were used for external validation.

Results:

According to the number of examined lymph nodes and LNR, the N stage was divided into five groups (LNR0-5). The 5-year OS of patients divided according to the new TLNRM staging into stage I (T1LNR1, T1LNR2), IIA (T1LNR3, T2LNR1, T2LNR2, T2LNR3, T1LNR4, T3LNR1), IIB (T2LNR4), IIC (T3LNR2, T4aLNR1, T1LNR5), IIIA (T3LNR3, T2LNR5, T4b LNR1, T4aLNR2, T3LNR4), IIIB (T3LNR5, T4a LNR3, T4a LNR4, T4b LNR2), and IIIC (T4b LNR3, T4a LNR5, T4b LNR4, T4b LNR5) was significantly different (P<0.05). Decision curve analysis showed that the net income of the new TLNRM staging system for different decision thresholds was higher than the prediction line of the traditional 8th TNM staging system. The smaller AIC and BIC suggested that the new staging system had higher sensitivity for predicting prognosis than the traditional staging system. TLNRM Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients benefited from adjuvant chemotherapy, while adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve the prognosis of TNM Ⅱ patients. These findings were confirmed by the external validation data.

Conclusion:

The new TLNRM staging system was superior to the 8th edition AJCC staging system for staging and predicting the prognosis of patients with rectosigmoid cancer and may become an effective tool in clinical practice.
Nurse-led rapid rehabilitation following mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke: A historical control study
Authors: He Yueyue , Wang Rui , Dong Shuju , Long Shiyan , Zhang Ping , Feng Ling
Published: July 2023

The care model composed of a multidisciplinary team is the best model to promote stroke rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of nurse-led rapid rehabilitation on mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study used a non-randomized, historically controlled clinical trial design to compare the efficacy of nurse-led rapid and routine rehabilitation after thrombectomy in patients with ischemic stroke. Treatment outcomes, including hospitalization duration, hospitalization costs, scores on multiple scales at discharge, and clinical outcomes 3 months post-discharge, were assessed and compared between the 2 rehabilitation approaches. Our report is based on the STROBE guidelines. The differences in length of stay in hospital (P = .018), hospitalization expense (P < .001), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) score at discharge (P < .001), modified Rankin scale (MRS) score at discharge (P < .001), and ADL (Activities of Daily Living) score at discharge (P = .156) between the intervention group and the control group were statistically significant. There were statistically significant differences in anxiety/depression (P = .013) and overall quality of life (P = .017) 3 months after discharge. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis showed that interaction effects between group and time were statistically significant for MRS (OR = 0.231, 95% confidence interval: 0.128–0.417, P < .001). The hospitalization time of patients in the intervention group was shortened, and the hospitalization cost was reduced. There were differences in psychological status, and the overall quality of life and improvement of disability status was better.
Sexually dimorphic differences in angiogenesis markers predict brain aging trajectories
Authors: Torres-Espin A , Rabadaugh Hannah , Fitzsimons S , Harvey D , Chou A , Lindberg C , Casaletto KB , Goldberger L , Staffaroni AM , Maillard P , Miller BL , DeCarli C , Hinman JD , Ferguson AR , Kramer JH , Elahi FM
Published: July 2023

Aberrant angiogenesis could contribute to cognitive impairment, representing a therapeutic target for preventing dementia. However, most angiogenesis studies focus on model organisms. To test the relevance of angiogenesis to human cognitive aging, we evaluated associations of circulating blood markers of angiogenesis with brain aging trajectories in two deeply phenotyped human cohorts (n=435, age 74+9) with longitudinal cognitive assessments, biospecimens, structural brain imaging, and clinical data. Machine learning and traditional statistics revealed sex dimorphic associations of plasma angiogenic growth factors with brain aging outcomes. Specifically, angiogenesis is associated with higher executive function and less brain atrophy in younger women (not men), a directionality of association that reverses around age 75. Higher levels of basic fibroblast growth factor, known for pleiotropic effects on multiple cell types, predicted favorable cognitive trajectories. This work demonstrates the relevance of angiogenesis to brain aging with important therapeutic implications for vascular cognitive impairment and dementia.
How does femvertising work in a patriarchal context? An unwavering consumer perspective
Authors: Amir Aleena , Roca David , Sadaf Lubaba , Obaid Asfia
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Given the extensive evidence of femvertising's positive effects in Western cultures, this paper aims to investigate how femvertising may influence customers' perceptions and brand-related outcomes in a patriarchal context such as Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative methodology was employed in this study, which was based on in-depth interviews involving 17 consumers (including both male and females). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings

Results indicated that male and female consumers revealed varied and sometimes contradictory perspectives on the perception, understanding and behaviour towards femvertised adverts, which are governed by patriarchal gendered norms.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of knowledge by exploring the consumer perception towards femvertising in a patriarchal context, where gender disparity is evident. It also draws attention to the underlying cultural elements contributing towards the formation of those perceptions.
Evaluation of the impact of a self-stigma reduction programme on psychosocial outcomes among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorder
Authors: Hasan Abd , Alsharawneh Anas , Alasamee Nofaa
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-stigma reduction programme on self-stigma.

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized controlled trial was conducted from November 2017 to December 2018 with 278 people diagnosed with schizophrenia (PDwS). Participants were randomly assigned to receive a self-stigma reduction programme (psychoeducation, cognitive behavioural therapy and social skills training) or treatment as usual.

Findings

PDwS in the intervention group experienced a greater reduction in the level of self-stigma (20.19 vs −0.62; p < 0.001) at post-intervention and (37.35 vs −0.66; p < 0.001) at six-month follow-up.

Originality/value

The first RCT examines the problem and implements intervention in middle east country. Also, the authors have conducted high-quality RCT.
Conceptual engineering, predictive processing, and a new implementation problem
Authors: Löhr Guido , Michel Christian
Published: July 2023

According to predictive processing, an increasingly influential paradigm in cognitive science, the function of the brain is to minimize the prediction error of its sensory input. Conceptual engineering is the practice of assessing and changing concepts or word meanings. We contribute to both strands of research by proposing the first cognitive account of conceptual engineering, using the predictive processing framework. Our model reveals a new kind of implementation problem as prediction errors are only minimized if enough agents embrace conceptual changes. This problem can be overcome by emphasizing the importance ofsocial normsandconceptual pluralism.
Influence of single‐room accommodation on nursing care: A realistic evaluation
Authors: Søndergaard Susanne Friis , Andersen Anne Bendix , Kolbæk Raymond , Beedholm Kirsten , Frederiksen Kirsten
Published: July 2023

Nowadays, it is common that newly built hospitals are designed with single‐room accommodation, unlike in the past, where shared accommodation was the favoured standard. Despite this change in hospital design, very little is known about how single‐room accommodation affects nurses' work environment and nursing care. This study evaluates how the single‐room design affects nurses and nursing care in the single‐room hospital design. Nurses working in the single‐room design predominantly work alone with little opportunity for peer training, interaction and reflection. In addition, the single‐room design affects the nurses' work environment due to changes in sensory stimulation and increased walking distances. Furthermore, a change in the discourse, namely, regarding the single room as the patient's home, makes the nurses react to queries, demands and tasks in a new way. Overall, the new hospital design forces the nurses into a more reactive role and affect their way of providing nursing care. Despite this, the nurses find single‐room accommodation beneficial for the patients and their nursing care.
Dynamics of a Parallel-Kinematics Machine With Six Pairs of Offset Joints
Authors: Han Hasiaoqier , Angeles Jorge
Published: July 2023

The authors propose a systematic formulation of the dynamics of the 6-P-RR-R-RR parallel-kinematics machine (PKM) with offset RR -joints. The kinematics of the same system is reported in an accompanying paper. Based on the kinematics model developed in the former, the dynamics model of the limb-chain is derived here using the Newton–Euler equations. Then, the constraint wrenches in the governing equations of the limb-chain are eliminated with the aid of the natural orthogonal complement. This is the twist-shaping matrix, which maps the joint-rate array of the limb-chain into the twist array of the PKM. Furthermore, the dynamics model of the whole PKM with offset joints is formulated. Moreover, the actuator forces are obtained. Finally, upon validation via simulation, the dynamics model is proven to be both precise and effective.
Configuration Synthesis Method of Multi-Mode Parallel Mechanism Based on Variable Mobility Branch
Authors: Gao Xueyuan , Li Fujuan , Han Xueyan , Liu Xinwang , Li Shihua
Published: July 2023

In order to obtain more configurations of multi-mode parallel mechanism with the expected motion modes, a new configuration synthesis method of multi-mode parallel mechanism is proposed in this paper. The generation principle of parallel mechanism with multiple motion modes is analyzed. The relation between the motion of moving platform and the motion of branch is obtained. The finite motion and instantaneous motion of existing variable mobility branches are analyzed, and variable mobility branches are decomposed into variable mobility generators. By using variable mobility generators to construct variable mobility branches, a configuration synthesis method of multi-mode parallel mechanism based on variable mobility branch is proposed. Taking the multi-mode parallel mechanism with 2T1R and 2R1T motion modes as an example, a new class of multi-mode parallel mechanisms is obtained. The proposed method enriches the configuration synthesis theory of multi-mode parallel mechanism and the synthesis results enrich the configurations of multi-mode parallel mechanism.
The Unprecedented Current Increase in the Amount of Charcoal Particles in Sediments of Lakes of the North Minusinsk Basin (Southern Siberia): Possible Evidence of Anthropogenic Influence
Authors: Rogozin D. Yu. , Burdin L. A. , Bolobanshchikova G. N. , Degermendzhy A. G.
Published: July 2023

The distribution of charcoal particles >100 µm in size, which are indicators of plant combustion in ambient territories, are analyzed in sediments of Shira and Uchum lakes located in southern Siberia in the steppe zone of the North Minusinsk Basin (Republic of Khakasiya and Krasnoyarsk krai). The age of the lakes is to 1400 and 500 years, respectively. The lacustrine sediments contain charcoal particles of three types. Particles of group 1 have elongated morphology and are interpreted as remnants of grassy plants and/or conifers. Particles of group 2 look like thin plates similar to relics of leaves and bark of trees. Group 3 is composed of various irregular volumetric particles, which are probably relics from wood and coal combustion. The particles of group 1 are mostly indicators of natural fires, and their amount is almost constant in the current period. The amount of charcoal particles of groups 2 and, mostly, 3 has strongly increased in past 100 years, which reflects an increase in the amount of artificially combusted wood and coal in the vicinities of the lakes in the present-day industrial period. An increase in the contribution of the charcoal particles to lacustrine sediments over the past 100 years has been detected for the first time for this region, which is unprecedented for the period of study. This is evidence of the anthropogenic impact on the dynamics of charcoal particles in lacustrine sediments. Our data can be useful for reconstruction of the dynamics of natural fires and the paleoclimate in southern Siberia in the Late Holocene.
Some Features of the Process of Interaction of Iron with Methane at a Temperature of 900°C and a Pressure of 100 MPa
Authors: Aranovich L. Ya. , Persikov E. S. , Bukhtiyarov P. G. , Shaposhnikova O. Y. , Nekrasov A. N.
Published: July 2023

Using the original high-gas pressure unit (IHPV), experiments were conducted for the first time on the interaction of iron with methane at a temperature of 900°C and a pressure of 100 MPa. Complex methods (microprobe, Raman spectroscopy, chromatography, mass balance calculations) are used for a thorough analysis of fluid compositions and metallic phases formed in experiments. For the first time, experimental and theoretical quantitative data on the composition of the fluid and the composition of the fluid components dissolved in the metal were obtained. Unlike the previously studied Fe3C–H2 system, in experiments, when Fe reacts with methane, there is an active interaction of carbon formed due to the pyrolysis of methane with iron up to the synthesis of Fe3C carbide. The experiments have shown that increasing pressure inhibits significantly hydrogen yield during methane conversion on metallic iron. Carbon saturation of iron with the formation of Fe3C is not complete within the entire volume of the metal during 24 h runs at 900°С. Employing molybdenum containers facilitates CH4 decomposition.
The photoelectron angular distributions of H atoms in two-color linearly polarized laser fields
Authors: Ren Xianghe , Yang Qi , Zhang Jingtao
Published: July 2023

By calculating the photoelectron angular distributions of H atoms driven by two-color linear polarization laser pulses, we investigate the influence of ionization channels on the photoelectron angular distributions. For a fixed final kinetic energy of photoelectron E k  =  qω1, qω1 =  lω1 +  mω2, in which l is the number of photons absorbed from laser with a wavelength of λ1, m is the number of photons absorbed from laser with a wavelength of λ2, and the combination ( l, m) is an ionization channel. We find that the photoelectron angular distributions are obviously dependent on ionization channels. For a given ionization channel, the low-order phased Bessel function, which corresponds to the smaller number of photon absorbed, has the main contribution to the photoelectron angular distributions. We also find that the relative direction of the polarization vector of two laser pulses has significant influence on the photoelectron angular distributions. By changing the relative direction between two polarization vectors, we can control the emission direction of photoelectrons.
Fabrication of solution processable perovskite solar cells under high humid conditions via optimization of TiO2 compact layer
Authors: Bhagat Navjyoti , Saxena Vibha , Singh Ajay , Mahajan Aman
Published: July 2023

Organic inorganic-based perovskites solar cells (PSCs) are quite prominent as next generation solar cells as they exhibit excellent properties as well as high power conversion efficiency. In spite of the high cost, interfacial recombinations and instability in ambient environment limit their commercialization. Herein, TiO2-based compact layer (c-TiO2) with different thicknesses is employed (<50[Formula: see text]nm) to study the charge transportation at interface and recombination in PSCs fabricated under high humid conditions (R[Formula: see text] 80%). The thickness of CL was varied from 7[Formula: see text]nm to 35[Formula: see text]nm and was optimized by changing the precursor concentration as well as spinning speed. The prepared c-TiO2 and the mesoporous layer of TiO2 (m-TiO2) were thoroughly characterized using Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical techniques. Furthermore, CuSCN was used as hole transporting layer (HTL) in PSCs owing to ease of handling and nominal cost. The optimized PSC is found to show that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) improved by 50% on varying the thickness of CL and is stable even under high humid conditions. The elevated performance of PSCs is ascribed to the appropriate thickness of CL which resulted in improved charge transportation and reduced electron hole recombinations.
Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among People Living with HIV in Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Sweta , Chataut Subodh , Kc Badri , Acharya Khagendra , Pradhan Sait Kumar , Shrestha Sunil
Published: July 2023

Introduction. Patient’s knowledge and attitude towards their treatment avert stereotypical misconceptions about the disease and its treatment, as well as aid in attaining optimal adherence. This study investigated the knowledge, attitude, practice, and adherence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) clients in Nepal. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 165 ART clients visiting five ART sites in the far western region and the capital city of Nepal. The convenience sampling method was employed, and the data were collected through interviews with ART clients using a validated questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors. Result. Approximately 80.7% had adequate knowledge and 55% had a positive attitude towards ART. Stigmatization was associated with ARV by only 4.2%. Half of the participants (50.3%) revealed that they had surreptitiously stored their ART medication, diverging from the recommended storage guidelines. A significant proportion of respondents (33.3%) chose to repackage the medication as a strategy to prevent unintended disclosure of their HIV status. Many (59.3%) believed that ART does not prolong life. Nevertheless, they advocated the regular use of ART rather than taking it only when the health deteriorates (81.8%). The majority (97.6%) were found to be adherent to their ART. There was a significant association of age with a level of knowledge and attitude (

p
<
0.05

). A significant association was also found between knowledge and attitude towards ART (

p
<
0.05

). None of the variables had a significant association with adherence (

p
>
0.05

). Conclusion. Overall, adequate knowledge was demonstrated, whereas efforts are still needed to improve the attitude of ART clients towards ART. A need for counseling regarding the storage practices of ART is needed. A focus on ensuring the perfect translation of adequate knowledge and a positive attitude to the practice of ART clients is essential. Whether adequate ART knowledge and attitude scores will lead to near-perfect ART adherence needs further investigation.
Comparison of Traditional and Advanced Resistance Training Paradigms on Muscle Hypertrophy in Trained Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fonseca Pedro A. B. , Ide Bernardo N. , Oranchuk Dustin J. , Marocolo Moacir , Simim Mário A. M. , Roberts Michael D. , Mota Gustavo R.
Published: July 2023

Trained individuals may require variations in training stimuli and advanced resistance training paradigms (ADV) to increase skeletal muscle hypertrophy. However, no meta-analysis has examined how ADV versus traditional (TRAD) approaches may differentially affect hypertrophic outcomes in trained populations. The aim of this review was to determine whether the skeletal muscle hypertrophy responses induced by TRAD differed from ADV in resistance-trained individuals. Furthermore, we sought to examine potential effects of dietary factors, participants’ training status, and training loads. We searched for peer-reviewed, randomized controlled trials (published in English) conducted in healthy resistance-trained adults performing a period of TRAD and ADV with pre-to-post measurement(s) of muscle hypertrophy in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and MEDLINE databases up to October 2022. A formal meta-analysis was conducted in Revman5, and risk of bias was assessed by ROB2. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Results indicated no difference between ADV and TRAD for muscle thickness (SMD = 0.05, 95% CI: −0.20 0.29,p = 0.70), lean mass (SMD = −0.01, 95% CI: −0.26 0.23,p = 0.92), muscle cross-sectional area (SMD = −0.07, 95% CI: −0.36 0.22,p = 0.64), or all measurements analyzed together (SMD = −0.00, 95% CI: −0.15 0.14,p = 0.95). No heterogeneity or inconsistencies were observed; however, unclear risk of bias was present in most of the studies. Short-term ADV does not induce superior skeletal muscle hypertrophy responses when compared with TRAD in trained individuals. This review was not previously registered.
Changing Contours of Chinese Queer Perceptions and the Taiwanese Model
Authors: Amina Reem V. P.  , Moolakkattu John S.
Published: July 2023

This study explores the transitions of queer understandings in China, which are considerably shaped by social, political, cultural and historical factors. While the Mao era silenced homosexuality, the reform era created new avenues for public discussions on sexuality, though they were confined to urban China. The representation of queerness in Chinese media like television, films, pop music, and so on, signifies the role of cultural identities having larger implications in a local and global context. However, queer voices in China have been subject to ambiguous yet persistent censorship. In this context, placing queer politics at the cross-strait tensions between China and Taiwan gives a better understanding of its soft power potential. Taiwan is the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage, and queer politics has become an important soft power tool to enhance its democratic credentials in the international community. Strategic promulgation of a progressive queer policy in China will have potential benefits in enhancing its legitimacy in the international arena. The study assesses the state of LGBTQ rights in China and how the country traverses between the grey areas of allowance and disallowance in its approach to the queer question. It also explores the potential benefits of granting LGBTQ rights as a soft power strategy, taking a cue from the Taiwan experience and the constraints to attaining such status.
Market Governance as a Balance of Power
Authors: Vogel Steven K.
Published: July 2023

This essay conceptualizes market governance as a balance of power and discusses the implications for current debates over antitrust policy. This framework offers a way to interpret and evaluate the “neo-Brandeisian” school that views concentrated market power as a threat to democracy as well as to economic goals, such as productivity and innovation. It suggests that the government can deploy antitrust policy to alter the balance of power to promote the public welfare without necessarily impeding competition or otherwise distorting markets. And antitrust policies that constrain market power can have the double benefit of making both markets and politics more competitive.
Applying an Extended Protection Motivation Theory Model to Predict Resident Hospitality During the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: Li Shuhao , Chen Mimi , Ma Xiao , Sun Zhongfeng
Published: July 2023

This study integrates trust in government, fear of COVID-19, and economic dependence on tourism into the protection motivation theory (PMT) framework to predict resident hospitality during the COVID-19 crisis. Structural equation modeling is utilized to analyze 281 questionnaires from destination residents. Findings show that threat severity and threat vulnerability can indirectly reduce resident hospitality through fear of COVID-19, whereas response efficacy and self-efficacy can directly promote resident hospitality. Trust in government can change the levels of threat severity, threat vulnerability, response efficacy, and self-efficacy, which in turn influences fear of COVID-19 and resident hospitality in different ways. Additionally, economic dependence on tourism is found as the most influential predictor of resident hospitality. Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature by developing a comprehensive and novel extended PMT model to understand the formation mechanism of residents’ attitudes during the COVID-19 crisis. Practical implications can help better improve resident hospitality.
“Who Should Care for Our Parents?” How the Perceived Achievement Hierarchy Complicates Transnational Family Relations in China?
Authors: Sun Ken Chih-Yan , Su Baiyu
Published: July 2023

This article offers the concept of an “achievement hierarchy”—the symbolic meanings that families attach to siblings’ ability to convert education into professional accomplishments across borders—to examine how adult children caring for left-behind parents position themselves vis-à-vis their emigrant brothers and sisters. We argue that respondents’ characterization of siblings’ migration trajectories significantly shapes the dynamics within global care chains. Based on 95 qualitative interviews with family caregivers, our analysis delineates three scenarios where respondents manage a perceived achievement hierarchy in the context of long-distance eldercare: (1) hierarchical transfer, (2) contested sibling hierarchy, and (3) hierarchical collaboration. Many respondents believe that an achievement hierarchy among siblings paves the way for slotting them into a less desirable node in the global care chain. By contrast, some emphasize their status as the moral head of their family or China's global rise to challenge the family's symbolic distinctions. Others develop a collaborative relationship with emigrant siblings to care for parents at home, but this collaboration can either strengthen or soften the perceived achievement hierarchy between siblings. Our analysis shows that the pathways of emigration—as student, labor, and marriage migrants—mediate at-home caregivers’ feelings, emotions, and identities during family life transitions.
Towards an Iconography of Disease: Exploring the Gendered Worlds of the Goddesses of Epidemics
Authors: Binny Malavika
Published: July 2023

The article tries to interrogate the gendered world of disease through an exploration of the deities associated with contagious diseases. The complex world of disease, cure and patient care was one infused with ideas of sacrality and notions of pollution and purity in the premodern period. The article will explore the anthropomorphizing of diseases into female deities at the local level and the Brahmanical attempt to transform these local goddesses. Ayurvedic works in Sanskrit, Tamil and Malayalam, talapurāṇa and folklore have been consulted to analyse the role and relevance of goddesses of disease, in addition to fieldwork in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Converting post-crash deformation into energy equivalent speed (EES): Toward an objective measure of crash severity
Authors: Breitlauch Pascal , Junge Mirko , Erbsmehl Christian , Sandner Volker , van Ratingen Michiel
Published: July 2023

In this paper, an objective method for the conversion of post-crash vehicle deformation to crash energy is presented. While the crash severity assessment for standard crash test configurations is relatively robust, bias in real-world crash reconstruction is a well-known problem. A method to reduce the bias in crash severity reconstruction is constructed by focusing on post-crash deformation, the principle direction of force ( PDOF), and vehicle type ( VT) only. The analysis was restricted to 12 PDOF and six VT. A voxel model, onto which the depth information of the post-crash deformations was mapped, was constructed for every PDOF and VT. Standardized crash tests were used to normalize the deformation energy assigned to each voxel. The plastic deformation energy was computed by integrating this energy across all deformed voxels. This energy is expressed as the “energy equivalent speed” ( EES). The method allows for a retrospective calculation of the EES from deformations. Thus, objective EES values can be computed for crash databases like CISS or GIDAS and even for legacy databases like NASSCDS. The results from the EES model will become part of the standard GIDAS database. The EES model was tested using a car-to-car crash test, a 40% offset frontal-frontal collision of an Audi Q7 against a Fiat 500.
Cross-diffusion of the stagnation-point solar radiated micropolar liquid flow through a convected surface
Authors: Vinodh Kumar Pallamkuppam , Pedda Obulesu Yeddula
Published: July 2023

The aim of the present analysis was to the best part of the effect of a magnetohydrodynamic micropolar fluid over the convective surface boundary condition into cross-diffusion and linear radiative heats were assumed. The impact on chemical reaction and viscous dissipation is considered. This governing equation about flow fields was transformed with a non-dimensional design to apply relevant correlation variables. That ODE was defined with the bvp4c method. This result is entrusted into plots and tables about the consequence of diverse flow variables in the flow fields. They observed into appreciative temperature in the increase in the Dufour number, although the unfavorable force was recognized in the Richardson number. It was noticed that the higher velocity was placed on the Newtonian liquid on difference into that micropolar liquid. Concentration was the reducing function on chemical reaction parameters and Schmidt number.
Studying the transfer mechanisms of water based top-of-rail products in a wheel/rail interaction
Authors: Lee Zing Siang , Trummer Gerald , Harmon Matthew , White Ben , Six Klaus , Lewis Roger
Published: July 2023

The railway industry uses top-of-rail products to control and manage the friction in the wheel/rail interface to help ensure efficient train operations and reduce wheel and rail damage. A product is typically applied from a wayside applicator that pumps a puddle onto the rail head where a passing wheel will pick it up and then transfer it down the track. The aim of this study was to study the transfer mechanisms of water-based top-of-rail friction modifiers (TOR-FMs) and how they are linked to the friction conditions in the wheel/rail interface. The transfer mechanisms were split into three parts: pick-up, carry-on and consumption. Pick-up looks at how the product transfers from the puddle on the rail to a wheel tread, whereas the carry-on mechanism relates to the product transfer back to the wheel. Consumption focuses on the removal rate of the product layer from the wheel or rail. A full-scale rig and twin disc machine were chosen to perform the tests because each rig could give different insights into understanding the product transfer mechanisms. Two products were tested of similar formulation. Results show that there are differences in the transfer and friction between the two products despite them being relatively similar. The test methods developed can clearly resolve differences between varying product types, which could be useful for product development studies or approvals work. The outcomes could also be used to develop a model of transfer/consumption.
Book review: Elora Halim Chowdhury, Ethical Encounters: Transnational Feminism, Human Rights, and War Cinema in Bangladesh
Authors: Haq Fahmidul
Published: July 2023

Elora Halim Chowdhury, Ethical Encounters: Transnational Feminism, Human Rights, and War Cinema in Bangladesh (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2022), 225 pp., $32.95 (Paperback). ISBN: 978-1-4399-2225-5
Mind Force Retreat: Improving the Subjective Well-being of Military Veterans Through Alternative Mental Health Therapies
Authors: Barrett Giles A. , Currin Hilary
Published: July 2023

This study focuses on the subjective well-being (SWB) of a sample of military veterans before and after their engagement with a nonclinical, alternative mental health therapies residential retreat in the United Kingdom. The study findings have relevance for trauma-exposed individuals globally. Military veterans will actively avoid seeking traditional mental health treatments due to factors such as stigma and life-long labels, as well as a reluctance to engage in talk therapies. This is despite the widespread occurrence of diagnosed and undiagnosed chronic mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder following periods of service. Moving beyond trauma-informed practice and embracing a healing-centered approach involving holistic therapies delivered during a retreat-type format has a positive impact on the SWB of service users. Positive changes in SWB were recorded using the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale and the lived experiences of the participants. A shared military identity contributes immeasurably to a veteran-centered approach to holistic therapy, healing, and recovery.
Experimental and numerical investigation on the vibro-acoustic characteristics of periodic rib stiffened plate based on band gap theory
Authors: Li Xiaozhen , Li Haoqing , Jiang Xihao , Liang Lin
Published: July 2023

This study presents a novel method for analyzing the vibration and noise from the periodic rib stiffened plate (PRSP). For the first time, the band gap theory was combined with hybrid finite element-boundary element method (FE-BEM) to predict the vibro-acoustic characteristics of this structure and guide its vibration and noise reduction design from the perspective of bending wave propagation. The excitation test was carried out simultaneously to verify the rationality and accuracy of the proposed method. Then, the acoustic contribution analysis was conducted and the influence of structural design parameters on bending wave bandgap and noise reduction effect was discussed in detail. The results show that there are alternating passbands and stopbands for bending waves propagating in PRSP, making the vibro-acoustic responses in different frequency bands exhibit distinct differences as well. Increasing the base plate thickness and decreasing the rib spacing are conducive to widen the bandgaps and reduce the noise radiation, which are the decisive factors affecting the vibro-acoustic characteristics of PRSP. While the rib thickness has little effect, this provides a new approach for vibration mitigation and acoustic optimization in steel bridges.
Enhancement of paediatric oncology pharmacy practices in a low–middle-income country through teaching and training using the My Child Matters Grant
Authors: Farooq Wasfa , Baig Natasha , Khan Bashir Ahmed , Butt Faran Ahmed , Hanif Ayesha , Ali Arif , Raza Muhammad Rafie
Published: July 2023

The development of a successful oncology pharmacy system includes competency training, cost-efficient procurement, proper storage, preparation and administration of chemotherapy, and appropriate waste disposal. Low–middle-income countries such as Pakistan face several challenges within the realm of oncology pharmacy such as the unavailability of training programmes, resources and financial support, and inconsistencies in the safe handling of cytotoxic drugs. The Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) is among the pioneers of oncology pharmacy practices in Pakistan, with a well-established Oncology Pharmacy Team and chemotherapy preparation in accordance with the United States Pharmacopeia 797 and 800 safety guidelines. The My Child Matters Grant was awarded by the Sanofi Espoir Foundation to the Department of Paediatric Hematology and Oncology at IHHN for holistic improvement in childhood cancer care through teaching, training and capacity building. Partnerships were formed with five public-sector paediatric oncology units nationwide. Initiatives were taken to improve oncology pharmacy practices including teaching and training courses, in-person assessment visits, and mentorship and liaison efforts. Despite prevailing challenges, promising improvements were noted at each centre. However, Pakistan needs to establish a national plan for childhood cancer with the creation of regional organisations for the training and monitoring of oncology pharmacists. Centralisation of pharmacy operations within hospitals is essential to maintain the availability, storage, preparation and administration standards of chemotherapy.