bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
If You Cut It Will They Ride? Longitudinal Examination of the Elasticity of Public Transport Ridership in the Post-Pandemic Era
Authors: Redelmeier Paul , El-Geneidy Ahmed
Published: April 2024

In the past two years, public transport ridership has declined because of COVID-19 pandemic health measures and new working from home policies. This decline in ridership has caused major financial stress on public transport agencies around the world. Several agencies have responded to this financial stress by reducing services. The extent to which these service cuts will affect transit ridership is unknown because of the changing operational environment in the post-pandemic world. Our study uses a longitudinal panel data from Montréal, Quebec, Canada, to explore the relationship between route-level ridership and operational factors over time. We find that public transport ridership demand at the route level is highly elastic when compared to trip frequency and has become more elastic after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings imply that agencies cutting service in the post-pandemic era run a much more significant risk of creating a “doom spiral,” where service reductions spur greater declines in ridership, forcing further reductions. Demand was found to be most elastic on more frequent routes, so agencies should prioritize maintaining services on their core routes in the post-pandemic era. This study can be of use to public transit planners and policymakers considering making service changes to attract more riders or trying to respond to post-COVID-19 financial stress.
Encounter Network and Its Application to Studying Epidemic Spread through Public Transportation Networks
Authors: Tahmasbi Behnam , Roozkhosh Farnoosh , Yao Xiaobai Angela
Published: April 2024

Epidemic diseases have always been a challenging issue in public health. Densely populated urban public transportation systems could be the perfect candidate for transmitting epidemics by direct contact with the infected population and contaminated surfaces. In network analysis, betweenness centrality (BC), as the primary metric, has been used to measure an individual’s communication in the network. This research uses this concept to measure the risk of transmitting disease in public transportation links. For each network node, the set of shortest paths from that node to all other nodes compose a shortest paths sub-graph (tree). Source node total betweenness centrality (TBC) is defined as the sum of BC of all edges of this tree. Similarly, the shortest path sub-graph consisting of the set of the shortest paths from all nodes to a single target node is considered, and the target node TBC is defined as the sum of BC of all edges of this tree. The node encounter matrix is also defined to measure each node pair encounter in the network. The source node TBC of a node depicts the risk of transmitting the disease from that node to other nodes. Conversely, the target node TBC of a node is related to the risk of transmitting the disease from other nodes to that node. The susceptible-infected model is used to evaluate the proposed method by measuring the number of infected nodes.
A systematic review of biobanks in Latin America: Strengths and limitations for biomedical research
Authors: Rivera-Alcántara J. Adrián , Esparza-Hurtado Natalia , Galán-Ramírez Gabriela A. , Cruz-Bautista Ivette , Mehta Roopa , Aguilar-Salinas Carlos A. , Martagon Alexandro J.
Published: April 2024

Biobanks are valuable tools for developing and applying scientific research and international cooperation through the collection of biological materials and their associated data. Systematic research following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines was conducted in late 2022 in PubMed and Scopus, and generated 17 articles to be reviewed in depth and critically assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklist due to the limited available data; 12 relevant health organizations and government websites outside of peer-reviewed journals were also included. Our research identified 44 biobanks in Latin America. In general, there is a lack of regulation and legislation guaranteeing the stored materials’ quality and institutional collaboration. We believe a consensus needs to be reached regarding the terminology and definitions used for biobanks. The design for informed consent should also be agreed upon to ensure the privacy of the data shared among institutions. In conclusion, in Latin America, there is a clear need for government support in creating specific procedures for biobanks and providing further support for existing biobanks.
Intelligent fault diagnosis of roller bearing based on dual-flow convolutional neural network
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Liang Wang , Bai Junlan , Luo Xin , Wang Fangzhen
Published: April 2024

Deep learning (DL) has inaugurated new approaches to implement fault diagnosis of roller bearings, which is essential to deal with the current industrial big data era. Unfortunately, many existing deep learning models, particularly convolutional neural network (CNN) models, have the following drawbacks. Single-channel convolution neural network in pooling layer has the problem of data loss. The feature information extracted by CNN is not integrated due to lack of feature learning ability, which will induce unsatisfactory diagnostic results and poor generalization ability. To deal with the above issues, a dual-flow convolutional neural network (DFCNN) is proposed for intelligent diagnosis the faults of roller bearings. The multi-channel convolutional neural network is used for feature extraction to solve the problem of data loss in the pooling layer. More comprehensive fault features can be extracted by multiple feature fusion after the input of two dimensions. Network parameters are adjusted using model optimization. The proposed method is demonstrated by the bearing experiment and collected vibration data including different types of faults. The results show that the accuracy rate is more superior than other six different neural network, and it is suitable for roller bearing fault diagnosis.
Investigation of maximum temperatures in lithium-ion batteries by CFD and machine learning
Authors: Bacak Aykut
Published: April 2024

Alternative fuels are becoming more popular as awareness of fossil fuel depletion, pollution, and climate change grows. Numerous industrial companies are producing electric automobiles for use worldwide. Electric vehicles’ battery packs’ cooling causes firing due to high temperatures. In this study, the surface temperatures of a single electric battery with dimensions of 160 mm × 210 mm within a battery pack were investigated using computational fluid dynamics and, subsequently, Levenberg-Marquardt machine learning as a function of ambient temperature, convective heat transfer coefficient, nominal capacity of the electric battery, and discharge rate. The transport coefficient has been calculated for a rechargeable electric battery with a nominal capacity ranging from 14.6 to 20 Ah and a discharge rate varying between 1 and 15, taking into account conditions of stagnant air at temperatures ranging from 20°C to 35°C and values between 5 and 20 W/m2.K. Insufficient or absent cooling of battery temperatures can lead to them reaching combustion temperatures of electric vehicle batteries, typically from 50°C to 80°C, depending on the operational circumstances. An artificial neural network was utilized in machine learning to forecast maximum temperatures based on operating conditions without requiring simulation. The neural network achieved an estimated mean squared error of 0.00552 and a calculated coefficient of determination of 0.99. The neural network model can predict outputs with mean and standard deviation rates below 0.237. The anticipated artificial neural network model can accurately forecast the maximum surface temperature of an electric vehicle battery.
Height control strategy employing AWPSO-fuzzy PID control for electronically controlled air suspension system
Authors: Tan Xiaoqiang , Wu Guangqiang , Lai Yuxin , Xu Jiaming , Long Yiming , Li Weijun , Liu Kai
Published: April 2024

Electronically controlled air suspension (ECAS) system has been extensively applied in vehicles to increase driving comfort, fuel economy, and operation safety. However, due to the nonlinear and hysteresis characteristics of the ECAS system, accurately controlling suspension height remains challenging. To tackle this problem, a bench test is conducted on the air spring and solenoid valve to establish their mathematical model for their characteristics. Based on this, a mathematical model of the ECAS system is developed by integrating suspension kinematics and dynamics theories. Then, a height control strategy is devised utilizing a fuzzy proportional-integral-derivative (PID) algorithm, enabling precise control of the vehicle’s body height. Based on this, an adaptive weight particle swarm optimization (AWPSO) algorithm is utilized to optimize the output range of the fuzzy controller. The effectiveness of the proposed model and control strategy is validated through both simulation tests and real-vehicle testing under both no-load and full-load conditions. These tests confirm the proposed approach’s effectiveness in achieving precise suspension height control in ECAS systems.
Impact of population and primary energy consumption on air pollutants of 67 countries
Authors: Li Yongtong , Wu Lifeng
Published: April 2024

Air pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues in the world today. To predict the air quality of 67 countries, considering the influence factors including population and primary energy consumption, an unequal-order exponential cumulative grey multivariate model is proposed to predict the PM2.5 concentrations. The prediction results show that South and Southeast Asia are the most polluted regions in Asia. Eastern and Central Europe are the most polluted regions in Europe. North and West Africa are the most polluted regions in Africa. In terms of air quality, Oceania is the best continent. Air quality in North America is likely to deteriorate in the coming years. The situation in South America is also not optimistic. The results of this study can provide the government with a basis to adjust the local environmental policy in order to improve air quality. The public can deal with air pollution and take appropriate precautions.
SDG achievement through international clean energy financing and access to clean fuel and technology
Authors: Jie Chen Xiang , Özkan Oktay , Meo Muhammad Saeed , Ramzan Muhammad
Published: April 2024

Clean fuel and technology play a pivotal role in realizing sustainable development goals 9 and 12. Specifically, clean technology is essential for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables, promoting sustainable development and fostering a cleaner environment. This study delves into the primary driving forces of ecological quality in India spanning from 2000Q1 to 2020Q4, encompassing international clean energy financing, access to clean fuel and technology, globalization and trade. To address the interdependence of explanatory variables and capture results across different quantiles, we employ the recently proposed multivariate quantile-on-quantile regression alongside multivariate quantile regression. Our study's outcomes reveal that international clean energy financing, access to clean fuel and technology, and globalization positively impact the load capacity factor, thereby enhancing ecological quality. Conversely, economic growth and trade exert a negative influence on the load capacity factor, resulting in a decline in ecological quality. Based on these findings, we propose policy recommendations for consideration.
‘The Irregular’ and the Unmaking of Minority Citizenship: The Rules of Law in Majoritarian India
Authors: Bhat M Mohsin Alam
Published: April 2024

This article focuses on the important aspect of India's democratic decline, the ascendance of the Hindu majoritarian state, and its relationship with the law. It argues that the law is central to the Hindu majoritarian project but often in obscurely informal ways. India's majoritarian state seeks to radically reconfigure the law in Indian social life by making the rule of law inapplicable to its minorities. Through a series of examples drawn from the everyday socio-legal life in contemporary India, the article shows how arbitrary and extralegal state violence is endorsed, affirmed, and acquiesced on grounds of serving ethnonationalist values and interests. It theoretically develops the novel interpretive framework of ‘the irregular’ to capture the practices of the ethnicization of the law, ethnonationalist legitimisation of extra-legality through intense political mobilisation, and the production of subordinated minority citizenship without the formal incorporation of graded citizenship.
Numeracy Education for Adult Learners: A Scan of the Field and Principles for Course and Materials Design
Authors: Perry Rebecca , Neumayer DePiper Jill , Tsinnajinnie Belin , Jackson Brent E. , Thornley Leslie
Published: April 2024

Additional research is needed to improve adult numeracy instruction, training for instructors, and our understanding of the feasibility and impact of innovations in these areas. The Adult Numeracy in the Digital Era (ANDE) project, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education, seeks to develop and test an innovative, technology-enabled approach for improving adult numeracy and digital literacy instruction. We began this project guided by principles of user-centered design, specifically the principle of knowing the user’s wants and needs. We conducted a “field scan” of adult numeracy and digital literacy, by interviewing researchers, instructors, students; conducting classroom observations; and reviewing literature. We detail our key findings within two emergent themes: (1) extensive variability in learner backgrounds and readiness, instructors’ experiences, standards alignment, course structures, and classroom contexts; and (2) diversity of learner goals and the actions they and their instructors took as they worked together within the course and local policy contexts. We also identify three design principles to guide course development, suggesting that adult numeracy courses should be: aligned and relevant; interactive and participatory; and relationship-centered. These principles guided the design of our adult numeracy course, and we offer questions that current instructors can consider as they design their own adult numeracy lessons.
From Parent's COVID-19 Stress to Children and Young People's Behavior Problems: The Mediating Role of Parental Burnout and the Buffering Role of Parenting Behaviors
Authors: Ha Tu Anh , Tran Minh Anh Quang , Nguyen Thanh Minh
Published: April 2024

Coronavirus has caused a global pandemic, and its adverse effects have spread to both adults and children. This study explores the mediating role of parental burnout in the relationship between parents’ COVID-19 stress (PCS) and children's behavior problems and whether this mediating process is moderated by parenting behaviors. Participants included 692 Vietnamese parents ( Mage = 36.82, SD = 5.548 years) selected through an online survey. Participants completed questionnaires including demographic information, PCS, parental burnout, parenting behaviors, and children and youth's behavior problems. The main findings include: (a) PCS had no direct association with children and youth's behavior problems; (b) parental burnout played a mediating role in the relationship between PCS and children and youth's behavior problems; (c) the direct association of PCS with parental burnout was moderated by parenting behaviors. Findings from this study showed that PCS did not affect parental burnout in families with highly positive parental support. In contrast, in families with highly negative parental behavioral control, COVID-19 stress positively correlated with parental burnout. This study's results have implications for the development of interventions in family settings during the uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic or other contexts that might happen in the future and that pose similar challenges in order to improve the mental health of parents and children.
Factors affecting medication adherence in patients using oral chemotherapy: A descriptive study
Authors: Unal Eda , Cinar Fatma Ilknur , Porucu Canan
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The utilization of oral chemotherapy agents for cancer treatment has witnessed a steady rise in recent years. The pivotal determinant for the success of oral chemotherapy lies in the adherence of cancer patients to the prescribed treatment. This study aims to explore oral chemotherapy adherence and identify factors influencing medication adherence among cancer patients.

Methods

A total of 103 cancer patients participated in this descriptive study. Data were collected using the Oral Chemotherapy Adherence Scale, the Turkish Translation of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ-T) and The Functional Living Index-Cancer.

Results

Of the participants, 66% reported good adherence to oral chemotherapy. Key findings indicate that access to health services (β = −1.473, p = 0.009), cancer stage (β = −1.570, p = 0.015) and the BMQ-T subscale of General Overuse (β = .696, p = 0.041) were independent predictors of medication adherence.

Conclusion

The study observed medication non-adherence in one-third of patients undergoing oral chemotherapy. Primary contributors to non-adherence included difficulties in accessing health services, advanced cancer stage and the belief that drugs are over-recommended by doctors. These results underscore the need for a heightened focus on preventable factors, such as improving access to health services and addressing beliefs about drug overuse, to enhance medication adherence in patients receiving oral chemotherapy.
Securing the oral and enteral oncopediatric chemotherapy process in pediatric oncology: Introduction of the ENFit™ standard in a controlled-atmosphere area and implementation of a dispensing service of medications to outpatients circuit with advice on proper use
Authors: Poutrain Elise , Abelé-Naveau Marie , Baltora Marion , Villain Alexandre , Sakji Ilyes , Strobbe Geoffrey , Marliot Guillaume
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Oral chemotherapies pediatrics are manufactured from injectable specialties in a controlled-atmosphere area. Packaged in Luer-Lock syringes, the transition to an ENFit™ connector became crucial to enable administration in surveyed patients. In parallel, a study was carried out to optimize and secure patient care by setting up a retrocession circuit.

Objective

To introduce the ENFit™ range of devices into the manufacturing process for oral or enteral chemotherapy syringes. Secondly, establish a retrocession circuit, validate its economic relevance and implement and evaluate efforts to promote proper use.

Methods

ENFit™ meeting the specifications were sourced and then evaluated. Research was conducted on the legislative framework governing the retrocession of masterful preparations made from injectable specialties. A 2021 retrospective economic study enabled the assessment of the financial balance generated by a potential retrocession circuit. Meetings to promote the good use of medication were conducted. Satisfaction questionnaires were created for caregivers and medical staff in the pediatric department.

Results

All ENFit™ ranges have been referenced within the Fresenius laboratory. Retrocession has been set up in accordance with legislation. The economic study highlighted a potential revenue of EUR 69,900 in 2021. Three good-use booklets and a dosage plan were created to promote good use. Ten families and 12 caregivers responded to the questionnaire, with satisfaction rates of 81.1% and 71.9%, respectively.

Conclusion

ENFit™ devices has enabled oral and enteral administration of chemotherapy. The retrocession circuit includes all the good-use elements required for optimal patient care. The results of the satisfaction survey are positive, certain areas for improvement have been identified.
Endocannabinoids and cortisol in plasma, aqueous and tear samples of primary angle closure glaucoma versus controls
Authors: Angmo Dewang , Warjri Gazella Bruce , Gowtham L , Velpandian Thirumurthy , Dada Tanuj
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To compare the levels of endocannabinoids (EC) in plasma, aqueous humor and tears, cortisol in plasma and aqueous, in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and controls, while comparing the quality of life in both groups.

Methods

A total of 60 patients, ≥40years of age, with a diagnosis of PACG or cataract, 30 in each group were recruited. They were subjected to a detailed ophthalmic evaluation, a WHO Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire answering and collection of tear, aqueous and blood samples. The levels of endocannabinoids–anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2AG) in plasma, aqueous humor and tears; cortisol in plasma and aqueous humor; and WHO-QOL score in each group were noted.

Results

Plasma AEA ( p = 0.01) and plasma 2-AG, ( p = 0.002) levels were significantly higher in the control group as compared to the PACG group. WHO-QOL score was better in controls ( p < 0.001). The EC were in undetectable levels in aqueous. Plasma and aqueous cortisol were significantly higher in PACG and both had the highest Area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curve value for differentiating PACG from controls. Tear 2AG and tear AEA had a moderately strong positive correlation with plasma 2-AG. Females had insignificantly higher levels of plasma and tear endocannabinoids.

Conclusions

Tear endocannabinoids were determined for the first time in PACG and normal with no difference between the two groups. Plasma and aqueous cortisol levels are a differentiating factor between normal and glaucoma patients with plasma endocannabinoids being remarkably higher in normals. Quality of life in glaucoma patients with high cortisol levels is poorer.
Implementation of advanced vascular access, physiological monitoring and goal-directed resuscitation during OHCA in a helicopter emergency medical service
Authors: Aziz Shadman , Lachowycz Kate , Major Rob , Rees Paul , Barratt Jon
Published: April 2024

Outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remain poor in the UK. In order to increase the chances of successful resuscitation, international society guidelines on cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality have recommended titration of chest compression parameters and vasopressor administration to arterial diastolic blood pressure if invasive catheters are in situ at the time of cardiac arrest. However, prehospital initiation of arterial and central venous catheterisation is seldom undertaken due to the risks and significant technical challenges in the context of ongoing resuscitation in this environment. In 2019, a dedicated programme was started at East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) to enable the safe introduction of contemporary emergency vascular access devices, in order to improve physiological monitoring intra-arrest and deliver nuanced, goal-directed resuscitation in OHCA patients. This programme was entitled Specialist Percutaneous Emergency Aortic Resuscitation (SPEAR). This article details the EAAA SPEAR technique; and the development, implementation and governance of this novel endovascular strategy in our UK physician-paramedic staffed helicopter emergency medical service.
Splash lubrication for an orthogonal face gear using numerical investigation integrating image processing
Authors: Dai Yu , Yang Cai-Hua , Zhang Ru , Liang Chong-Yu , Zhu Xiang
Published: April 2024

With practical physical immersion depth as their joint, the relations between the oil distribution characteristics and the associated no-load power losses for splash-lubricated orthogonal face gears are explored and quantified in this paper. Firstly, a theoretical analytical model is proposed to estimate the churning losses of an isolated face gear considering all the preceding parameters, along with a numerical model of a face gear stirring oil developed based on the sliding mesh strategy. Then the accuracy and correctness of the computational fluid dynamics method are verified with experiments in terms of oil flow behavior and no-load losses. Finally, the physical immersion depth is determined by leveraging the image processing technique and substituted into the theoretical model replacing the static depth with an improvement of prediction accuracy. Last but not least, this practical immersion depth acts as a link to facilitate the communication between the oil distributions and the no-load power losses within the gearboxes.
A global approach to studying platforms and cultural production
Authors: Prey Robert , Lee Seonok
Published: April 2024

There is a major blindspot regarding our understanding of different structural models of platformization beyond the dominant Anglo-American markets. This article develops a typology of political economic models of platformization by using the case of music platformization. In order to generate such a typology, the article proposes that we start by identifying variables present in any music market around the world. Three different variables are proposed: (1) platform dependence; (2) dominance of ‘global’ platforms; and (3) the degree of platform and recording industry integration. To illustrate how these variables result in structurally distinct models of platformization, the article briefly discusses the cases of South Korea, the Netherlands and Nigeria. In doing so, a framework is provided through which to interpret the experiences and conditions of musicians, and other cultural producers, in diverse platform ecosystems.
Governing global challenges through quantified futures
Authors: Berten John , Kranke Matthias
Published: April 2024

Many contemporary efforts to govern global challenges are driven by combinations of numbers and futures. This special section proposes the novel concept of ‘quantified futures’ as a way of grasping this widespread entanglement. Because existing scholarship has largely treated quantification and futurisation as discrete governing technologies, their intersections have remained undertheorised and underexplored. In this introductory article, we discuss similarities between quantification and futurisation to build an integrated analytical framework that outlines how quantified futures operate across transnational policy domains by shaping the salience, scope and urgency of global challenges and their solutions. The special section at large cautions against overly optimistic expectations regarding the capacity of quantified futures to tackle global challenges. Rather, it underscores the need to enquire into the mutually reinforcing effects between, on the one hand, the growing use of quantified futures and, on the other hand, the increase and diversification of global challenges.
Grit and Graduation: Exploring Persistence Among Urban University Students
Authors: Woodward Laura S. , Patrick Sarah D. , Rapport Lisa J.
Published: April 2024

This study examines predictors of college success in 968 students, focusing on the influence of grit, demographic, and academic factors, using logistic and Cox regression analyses. It finds that higher grit scores significantly predict increased graduation rates and decreased dropout rates, with gender, ACT scores, entry-level, and summer course enrollment as key factors. The research highlights the importance of considering broader socioeconomic and systemic contexts that affect the development of resilience and grit. It emphasizes that resilience and grit are not only personal attributes but also outcomes shaped by socioeconomic status and systemic barriers, such as income disparities and institutional biases. The study advocates for educational environments that support individual resilience and grit while addressing socio-economic and systemic inequalities to promote equitable student success. This approach calls for integrated supportive structures and policies within educational institutions to alleviate the compounded challenges faced by students, ensuring resilience and grit are nurtured within a context that recognizes and confronts systemic inequity.
Clinical Value of Human Endogenous Retrovirus-H Long Terminal Repeat Associating 2 (HHLA2) in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhang Xiuqin , Qin Yan , Chen Xu , Xiong Mengrui , Shu Song
Published: April 2024

Objective: Human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat associating 2 (HHLA2) is a new immune checkpoint in the B7 family, and the value of HHLA2 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is unknown. Methods: We retrospectively detected HHLA2 expression by immunohistochemistry in SCLC patients. Moreover, plasma biomarkers of SCLC were detected retrospectively. Results: Seventy-four percent of SCLC patients exhibited HHLA2 expression. HHLA2 staining was localised within the nucleus of SCLC cells, while no staining was detected in normal lung tissue specimens. The correlation between HHLA2 expression and clinical factors was also analysed. Limited stage (LS) SCLC was more common than extensive stage (ES) SCLC among patients with HHLA2 staining. SCLC patients without metastasis had higher HHLA2 expression than SCLC patients with metastasis. HHLA2 expression was more frequently detected in the group with a tumour size greater than 5 cm than in the group with a tumour size less than 5 cm. The proportion of patients with HHLA2-positive staining was greater in the stage III and IV SCLC groups than in the stage I and II SCLC groups. A high proportion of SCLC patients with HHLA2-positive staining had a survival time <2 years. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE), CEA and Ki-67 levels were measured. The NSE level in the HHLA2-positive group was significantly greater than that in the HHLA2-negative group. The CEA and Ki-67 levels did not significantly differ between the HHLA2-positive and HHLA2-negative patients, nor were age, sex, smoking status, nodal metastasis status, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score, or Ki-67 expression score. HHLA2-positive SCLC patients had higher tumour stages and shorter 2-year survival times than HHLA2-negative patients did. Conclusion: The new immune molecule HHLA2 may be an ideal clinical biomarker for predicting SCLC progression and could serve as a new immunotherapy target in SCLC.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Uterine Sarcoma
Authors: Yang Ling , Cai Ying , Wang Yunjia , Huang Yue , Zhang Chi , Ma Hu , Zhou Jian-Guo
Published: April 2024

Background

Uterine sarcoma (US) is a highly malignant cancer with poor prognosis and high mortality in women. In this study, we evaluated the expression of human fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in different US subtypes and the relationship between survival and clinicopathological characteristics.

Methods

We conducted a comparative analysis of FGF23 gene expression in different pathological types of US. Utilizing a cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas of 57 patients, a 50-patient microarray dataset (GSE119043) from the Gene Expression Omnibus and a Suining cohort of 44 patients, we analyzed gene expression profiles and corresponding clinicopathological information. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression level of FGF23 in four US subtypes. Survival analysis was used to assess the relationship between FGF23 expression and prognosis in US patients.

Results

Compared with uterine normal smooth muscle and uterine leiomyoma, FGF23 expression was significantly upregulated in US and was differentially expressed in four US subtypes. Uterine carcinosarcoma exhibited the highest expression of FGF23 among the subtypes. Survival analysis revealed no correlation between FGF23 expression and either overall survival or progression-free survival in US ( P > 0.05). Similar results were obtained from the validation cohorts. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed no significant correlation between FGF23 expression and the US prognosis. Tumor stage, CA125, and tumor recurrence were independent prognostic factors for survival of US patients.

Conclusion

FGF23 was highly expressed in US and was promising as a novel potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of US.
Pharmacological Thromboprophylaxis for VTE Post-Endovenous Ablation of Varicose Veins: Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Westby Daniel , Gasior Sara , Twyford Mark , Power Foley Megan , Lowery Aoife , Walsh Stewart R.
Published: April 2024

Objective

Endovenous ablation has revolutionized treatment of varicose vein surgery but is associated with a risk of venous thromboembolism. There is no consensus regarding anticoagulation protocols for these patients. This network meta-analysis (NMA) aims to identify which anticoagulant is optimal in this cohort for clot prevention with minimal risk of adverse bleeding events.

Methods

Library databases were searched for studies where patients were treated with one or more anticoagulants following endovenous ablation for varicose veins. The methodological quality of included studies was quantified using the Risk of Bias (ROB) assessment tools. Findings were reported using the meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE) checklist. Statistical analysis was carried out using metainsight (rpackage).

Results

Observational data on just under 1500 patients prescribed post ablation anticoagulation (Rivaroxaban, Enoxaparin, Fondaparinux) were analyzed. Patient characteristics were comparable across the cohorts. 81 thrombotic and 40 minor bleeding events occurred in total. Overall rivaroxaban is found to be superior to the other agents.

Conclusions

This NMA indicates that prophylactic rivaroxaban is the highest ranked anticoagulant for thromboprophylaxis in patients post endovenous ablation for varicose veins, with a low risk of adverse bleeding. The choice whether to anticoagulate these patients is likely to remain at the discretion of the treating clinician.
A Meta-Ethnography of Player Motivation in Digital Games: The 28 Dimensions of Play
Authors: McKechnie-Martin Corey T. , Cunningham Andrew , Baumeister James , Von Itzstein G. Stewart
Published: April 2024

Video games have become a significant component of popular culture, with the reasons why players pursue particular gaming experiences being a heavily explored topic within games research. Player motivations toward games have seen classification in many motivation models, resulting in diverse outcomes covering a variety of scopes within games media. We performed a meta-ethnography to explore the findings of this diverse topic and provide a comprehensive overview of the existing body of knowledge, resulting in our synthesized 28 Dimensions of Play. Through the definition of these Dimensions, we are able to observe the gaps present in explored sources and propose a more complete model of player motivations.
The Role of Martyrdom and Victimhood in the Memory of the Greek Civil War Refugees in Czechoslovakia through the Prism of ‘Refugee’ Literature
Authors: Tohma Nikola
Published: April 2024

This article focusses on the narratives of collective victimhood and martyrdom in the memories of refugees from the Greek Civil War (GCW, 1946–1949) to post-1948 communist Czechoslovakia (later, the Czech Republic). It analyses literary production by refugees, that is, ego-documents, popular history books and fiction, assessing refugees’ motivations in writing their own histories. It investigates the role of collective victimhood and its effect on the diaspora's identity, its aims and its functions. It determines that the narratives of martyrdom were an early representation by GCW refugees to portray themselves as heroic partisans and anti-fascist fighters and gain the high ground on the moral side of the conflict. Such perceptions, however, have in some cases persisted among communist-oriented authors to this day. This article distinguishes them from more personal expressions of collective victimhood, allowing for a plurality of interpretations of their refugee experience as well as a greater variety of motivations for capturing it in written form for a broader audience. This study aims to show how fluid and permeable these narratives of collective victimhood have been and how fundamentally they have affected the constitution of the GCW diaspora's identity.
To their Credit: The Aristocracy and Commercial Credit in Europe, c.1750–1820
Authors: Ilmakunnas Johanna , Overkamp Anne S , Stobart Jon
Published: April 2024

The aristocracy and their use of commercial credit are seldom explored in the European comparative context despite important studies of the French aristocracy and their credit relations with shopkeepers, tradesmen and fashion merchants. This article studies the aristocracy and commercial credit in England, Germany and Sweden, by drawing on the normative literature and the account books, receipted bills, correspondence and diaries of several families occupying different echelons of the nobility. We examine the extent and nature of aristocratic engagement with shop credit, the ways in which they manipulated and managed this credit, and their motivations for doing so. We argue that the aristocracy was involved in a modern commercial credit economy and that this was central to their position in society and way of life. Our analysis of the ideals communicated through conduct books and parental advice and the actual credit practices of the aristocracy show that they took their credit arrangements seriously. They had to abide by the rules of commercial credit and settle their accounts: sometimes promptly, most often in a timely manner and only occasionally after considerable delay. The article offers a comparative framework for further and broader studies on the aristocracy within economic history.
Nazi Crimes, Max Merten and his Prosecution as Reflected in Greece and beyond
Authors: Králová Kateřina , Lagos Katerina
Published: April 2024

The prosecution of Max Merten (1911–1971), the only Nazi war criminal accused of Holocaust involvement in Greece, coincided not only with the start of the Greek-German negotiations on victim compensation but also with the Eichmann trial. In 1959, the Merten Case provoked a massive public backlash, both because of the gravity of his crimes and because of his impending extradition to West Germany. We argue that in the Cold War atmosphere, when the Merten Case attracted international attention, the actions of internal and external power elites in the West deliberately departed from the concept of transitional justice to use this murky affair to their political advantage. Rather than a fair trial, the aim was to obstruct it in the interests of good relations, political self-preservation, and gradual social amnesia about Greek complicity during the German occupation. In contrast, the Eastern Bloc fed the opposite narrative of rotten capitalism by building on its proclaimed struggle against fascism. By combining archival sources and newspaper coverage of the Merten Case on both sides of the East-West conflict, our article explores which mechanisms were mobilised in public and which incentives were carried out behind the scenes. This allows us to examine multidirectional attitudes in a geopolitical sense, with the main aim of showing the discursive imposition of disinformation operating (in)formally through the channels of political institutions during the Cold War.
Multi-axis CNC finishing and surface roughness prediction of TC11 titanium alloy open integral micro impeller
Authors: Zhao HaiYue , Cao Yan , Guo JunDe , Sun Biao , Geng Nan
Published: April 2024

The titanium alloy open integral micro impeller has a strong material strength and high removal rate in the field of multi-axis CNC machining. The flow channel is tiny and the blades are thin and highly twisted. It is difficult to control the surface accuracy and prone to overcutting and undercutting. The NX2212 software post-processing module plans two distinct blade finishing process routes and verifies them using virtual machine tool simulation, taking into account the technical challenges of micro impeller machining. Following verification, the tool path machining code is imported into MATLAB for data fitting. The workpiece surface working condition is determined based on the simulation findings, the blade surface roughness value is calculated, and a physical simulation model of blade finishing is created in the finite element analysis software. The outcomes demonstrate how well the “segmented and sub-regional cutting” processing method may raise blade accuracy. The leading and trailing edges of the blade both had surface roughness increases of 4.86% and 4.19%. The surface morphology of the micro impeller is measured using a white light interferometer, and it is CNC machined using two distinct process methods. The findings demonstrate that there is a significant difference between the value calculated by the finite element analysis software and the surface roughness value measured experimentally which together make up less than 5%. An investigation of the impact of cutting parameters on the surface roughness of micro-structure components is carried out using a three factor, three-level BBD experiment that is founded on the second-order response surface method. The findings indicate that the feed per tooth influences surface roughness more significantly than cutting depth and cutting speed for a reasonable range of cutting parameters; Surface roughness will rise with lower or higher cutting speeds; Raising the feed per tooth and the cutting speed simultaneously may reduce surface roughness; Surface roughness can be accurately predicted and controlled using the second-order response surface method.
Technical determinants of air rifle and pistol shooting performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sundaram Vasanth , Sundar Viswanath , Middleton Kane
Published: April 2024

The study aimed to investigate the influence of key technical determinants on shooting performance in both air rifle and pistol shooting disciplines. Following a systematic search across four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Library), a total of 22 articles were included. The findings indicate that there was a significant correlation between the stability of hold component, as measured by DEV_X ( r = −0.60; 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.69 to −0.49; p < 0.001) and HITf ( r = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.56 to 0.79; p < 0.001) and shooting performance in both shooting disciplines. In addition, HITr, another stability component, revealed a significant positive correlation for shooting performance ( r = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.35 to 0.77; p < 0.001) in air pistol shooting. Furthermore, in both disciplines, there was a significant positive correlation between shooting performance and measures of aiming accuracy such as COGhit ( r = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.49 to 0.75; p < 0.001), Targetf ( r = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.63 to 0.84; p < 0.001), and Targetr ( r = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.33 to 0.78; p < 0.001). In both disciplines, there was a strong negative correlation between the cleanliness of triggering and shooting performance ( r = −0.63; 95% CI = −0.75 to −0.48; p < 0.001). Time on target measure significantly correlated with shooting performance ( r = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.31 to 0.68; p < 0.001) across both disciplines. The relationship between postural balance and shooting performance in air rifle shooting was negative, indicating that better postural balance is associated with improved shooting ( r = −0.53; 95% CI = −0.69 to −0.33; p < 0.001). This review emphasizes the significance of various technical components in both air rifle and pistol disciplines.
Tribological characteristics and film behaviour of polytetrafluoroethylene in jatropha with sodium dodecyl sulphate as surfactant
Authors: Opia Anthony Chukwunonso , Bin Abdollah Mohd Fadzli , Amiruddin Hilmi , Veza Ibham
Published: April 2024

In this research, a bio lubricant was developed utilising eco-friendly constituents of jatropha oil, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and sodium dodecyl benzenesulphonate (SDBS), characterised and tested with four-ball tribometer under ASTM D2783 standard. The tribological performance in terms of friction, wear, load carrying ability and evaluation of the film behaviour on stability and strength was conducted. According to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) of the study, the presence of the two additives in base jatropha oil demonstrated good functional groups desired for lubricant lubricity. In comparison to base jatropha under 40 kg and 1200 rpm, blended 1 wt-% PTFE + 0.8 wt-% SDBS additives produced an outstanding reduction in coefficient of friction (61.4%) and good load carrying strength among all the samples tested, but commercial shell oil (CSO) outperformed under wear resisting potential. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a 3D surface profilometer were used to examine the rubbed surfaces. Findings indicate that the boundary film on the worn surface was made up of PTFE and SDBS nanoparticles that deposited film elements of sulphur and higher carbon content. The decrease in the percentage of iron (Fe) indicates that tribo-pairs were separated from direct contact under additives usage. According to the research, adding an anti-wear substance to the new formulation could increase wear protection, thus effectively making it comparable with CSO counterpart.
Sexual Harassment, Negative Emotions, and Turnover Intention in the Restaurant Industry: The Moderating Effect of Pay Satisfaction
Authors: Meira Jessica Vieira de Souza , Park Jeong-Yeol , Kyle Hight S. , Bufquin Diego , Back Robin M.
Published: April 2024

Sexual harassment in the workplace remains one of the most significant issues affecting the hospitality sector today. In particular, scholars need to better understand why some employees choose to remain employed by a company despite experiencing such harassment. Drawing from appraisal theory and social exchange theory, the goal of this study is to investigate the mediating effects of negative emotions (i.e., shame and anger) on the relationship between sexual harassment and turnover intention, and the moderating effect of pay satisfaction on the relationship between such negative emotions and turnover intention. Data were collected from 500 full-time restaurant employees in the United States. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), all direct effects were supported, except for the impact of shame on turnover intention. Moreover, anger mediated the relationship between sexual harassment and turnover intention, and pay satisfaction moderated the relationship between anger and turnover intention. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed in detail.
Critical Qualitative Inquiry: One Attempt to Actualize a Reconceptualization of Research
Authors: Westby Kathryn R.
Published: April 2024

Critical qualitative scholar-activists’ work toward greater justice is always situated within the neo-liberal structures of the academy and society: even as we strive to reconceptualize research, we exist within its current conceptualizations that instantiate and reify the very oppressions we seek to disrupt. This paper chronicles one researcher’s attempt to reconceptualize research as sacred acts of relationships and relating through challenging the primacy of language, and traditional conceptualizations of disability. Calling on praxis as a complex dynamic of theory and practice—two indivisible parts of being human—I will discuss a research project involving a professional development experience for teacher candidates with disabilities or diagnoses, as a research endeavor that attempted to facilitate research as a sacred act occurring in the relationships formed and relating within, between, and among the people involved and employed methodological tools that do not rely on language as an only source of communication.
Raising Money to Support School Nurses and School Nursing Research: NASN’s Endowment Fund
Authors: Hall Sophia
Published: April 2024

Have you ever wondered how the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) supports school nursing research and clinical practice degree advancement or how they provide opportunities to strengthen advocacy skills? NASN does this work through an endowment fund which provides annual scholarships and grants to members to support their various professional endeavors.