bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Higher Circulating Lymphocytes and the Incidence of Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia
Authors: Zhao Qiuping , Liu Rongmei , Chen Hui , Yang Xiaomo , Dong Jiajia , Bai Minfu , Yu MingYang , Feng Zeying , Zeng Dingyuan
Published: March 2024

Excessive immune activation contributes to the onset of early dysfunction of the maternal-fetal interface, and it is closely linked to the development of pre-eclampsia. However, the effect of specific immune cells on the risk of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia remains controversial. We investigated the causal relationship between immune cells and pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. For exposure, we extracted genetic variants associated with immune cell-related traits, and for outcomes, we used summary genetic data of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was then performed to assess the causal relationship. Robustness of the MR results was then evaluated through colocalization analysis. We found that genetically proxied circulating lymphocyte absolute count was causally associated with total eclampsia (odds ratio OR=1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.31-1.79), p=1.15E−07) and pre-eclampsia (OR=1.50, 95% CI (1.28-1.77), p=9.18E−07); T cell absolute count was causally associated with total eclampsia (OR=1.49, 95% CI (1.28-1.73), p=2.73E−07) and pre-eclampsia (OR=1.47, 95% CI (1.25-1.72), p=1.76E−06). And CD28- CD25+ CD8+ T cell absolute count was causally associated with total eclampsia (OR=1.83, 95% CI (1.44-2.32), p=7.11E−07) and pre-eclampsia (OR=1.77, 95% CI (1.38-2.26), p=6.55E−06). Colocalization analysis revealed that immune cell-related traits shared the same variant with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Our study suggested causal effects of genetic predisposition to high lymphocyte absolute count levels, T cell absolute count, and CD28- CD25+ CD8+ T cell absolute count on eclampsia, particularly pre-eclampsia risk, providing crucial new insights into the potential prevention target for eclampsia and pre-eclampsia.
FIGURE 7 from Activity of the Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme Inhibitor TAK-243 in Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cell Lines, Patient-derived Organoids, and Murine Xenografts
Authors: Arakawa Yasuhiro , Jo Ukhyun , Kumar Suresh , Sun Nai-Yun , Elloumi Fathi , Thomas Anish , Roper Nitin , Varghese Diana Grace , Takebe Naoko , Zhang Xiaohu , Ceribelli Michele , Holland David O. , Beck Erin , Itkin Zina , McKnight Crystal , Wilson Kelli M. , Travers Jameson , Klumpp-Thomas Carleen , Thomas Craig J. , Hoang Chuong D. , Hernandez Jonathan M. , Del Rivero Jaydira , Pommier Yves
Published: March 2024

Synergy between TAK-243 and Venetoclax in organoids generated from patient-derived xenograft (PDXO). A, Representative brightfield images of PDXOs (20x magnification, scale bar 50 µm). B, Phenotypic characteristics of PDXOs. Expression of biomarkers routinely used to diagnose ACC, including inhibin-α, SF-1, INSM-1, and β-catenin in ACC-PDX-derived organoids using immunofluorescence assay. C, Top: The indicated ACC PDXOs were treated with TAK-243 with or without Venetoclax for 72 hours. Bottom: Plots of the corresponding CI values.
FIGURE 3 from Activity of the Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme Inhibitor TAK-243 in Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cell Lines, Patient-derived Organoids, and Murine Xenografts
Authors: Arakawa Yasuhiro , Jo Ukhyun , Kumar Suresh , Sun Nai-Yun , Elloumi Fathi , Thomas Anish , Roper Nitin , Varghese Diana Grace , Takebe Naoko , Zhang Xiaohu , Ceribelli Michele , Holland David O. , Beck Erin , Itkin Zina , McKnight Crystal , Wilson Kelli M. , Travers Jameson , Klumpp-Thomas Carleen , Thomas Craig J. , Hoang Chuong D. , Hernandez Jonathan M. , Del Rivero Jaydira , Pommier Yves
Published: March 2024

Activity of TAK-243 on ACC PDOs. Concentration–response curves and IC50 values of TAK-243 for ACC PDOs. The indicated concentrations of TAK-243 were administered to organoids derived from patients with ACC for 72 hours and cell viability was determined. Representative brightfield images of organoids were also shown (20x magnification, scale bar 50 µm).
Congenital Hypodysfibrinogenemia due to γ326Cys→Tyr Mutation: Third Ever-Described Case Associated with Recurrent Venous Thrombosis and COVID Vaccine
Authors: Nanthan Kumanan Rune , Pedersen Inge Søkilde , Andersen Dorte Terp , Bor Mustafa Vakur
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Congenital fibrinogen disorders are a heterogenous group of fibrinogen defects. Case Presentation: Here, we describe hypodysfibrinogenemia in a 33-year-old female patient with provoked recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) diagnosed based on decreased functional and antigenic fibrinogen levels with a decreased functional/antigenic fibrinogen ratio. Definitive diagnosis of congenital hypodysfibrinogenemia is done by genotyping using whole-exome sequencing, which identified the γ326Cys→Tyr mutation combined with single-nucleotide polymorphisms: rs2070011 and rs2070018 in FGA and rs1049636 in FGG. Fibrin structure assays showed reduced maximum polymerization rate. The mother of the proband shares the same γ326Cys→Tyr mutation and experienced a provoked DVT. Conclusion: Our case with DVT is the third ever-described occurrence of the mutation γ326Cys→Tyr that is associated with hypodysfibrinogenemia. The mechanism by which this mutation induces thrombosis remains unknown. Due to the high recurrence risk of thrombosis, the patient was treated with long-term reduced dose of rivaroxaban (10 mg daily) as secondary prophylaxis.
Surgical Management and System Therapy of the Most Giant Known Malignant Metastatic Breast Phyllodes Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Kaiser Christina , Abramian Alina-Valik , Faridi Andree
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Phyllodes tumors belong to uncommon fibroepithelial breast tumors with a range of biological behaviors. Phyllodes tumors are responsible for less than 1 percent of all neoplasms of the breast. Case Presentation: A 66-year-old woman presented to our Breastcancer Unit in March 2021 because of a huge mass of her left breast with bleeding out of a tumor necrosis. Five years ago in 2016, a benign phyllodes tumor was diagnosed externally. When we started the treatment, the tumor had a weight of 18.6 kg. Conclusion: We describe the surgical management and the systemic treatment of metastatic disease.
Effect of Diet before Bariatric Surgery on Ghrelin Level through DNA Methylation
Authors: Güçlü Duygu , Işıksaçan Nilgün , Seyit Hakan , Gedikbaşı Asuman , Karabulut Mehmet , Erdil İrem , Taşçı Tamay Seda , Yaman Mustafa
Published: March 2024

Introduction: The ghrelin system, which generates the appetite hormone, is harmed by obesity, a problem of worldwide public health. An efficient way to cure obesity is through bariatric surgery. This randomized controlled study’s objective was to assess preoperative diet-related DNA methylation of Ghrelin (GHRL) levels in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Methods: The 50 patients who volunteered to participate in the trial were randomly divided into two groups. The study group followed the very low-calorie diet for 2 weeks. The control group did not follow any diet. The physiological parameters, weight, and DNA methylation levels of the patients were assessed. Results: The percentage of excess weight loss (EWL) in the control and study groups was determined as 47.1% and 51.5%, respectively. The study group’s GHRL percentage of methylated reference was 76.8%, whereas the control group’s was 67.3%. It was concluded that the EWL and GHRL gene DNA methylation of the diet-treated study group were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings, the pre-op diet had a favorable effect on the patient’s behavior modification. It has also been shown to increase postoperative weight loss and DNA methylation of the Ghrelin gene. The ghrelin gene has been muted by methylation, making hunger regulation more manageable.
Coarctation Duration and Severity Predict Risk of Hypertension Precursors in a Preclinical Model and Hypertensive Status Among Patients
Authors: Ghorbannia Arash , Jurkiewicz Hilda , Nasif Lith , Ahmed Abdillahi , Co-Vu Jennifer , Maadooliat Mehdi , Woods Ronald K. , LaDisa John F.
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) often leads to hypertension posttreatment. Evidence is lacking for the current >20 mm Hg peak-to-peak blood pressure (BP) gradient (BPGpp) guideline, which can cause aortic thickening, stiffening, and dysfunction. This study sought to find the BPGpp severity and duration that avoid persistent dysfunction in a preclinical model and test if predictors translate to hypertension status in patients with CoA.

METHODS:

Rabbits (n=75; 5–12/group) were exposed to mild, intermediate, or severe CoA (≤12, 13–19, ≥20 mm Hg BPGpp) for ≈1, 3, or 22 weeks using dissolvable and permanent sutures with thickening, stiffening, contraction, and endothelial function evaluated via multivariate regression. Relevance to patients with CoA (n=239; age, 0.01–46 years; median 3.7 months) was tested by retrospective review of predictors (preoperative BPGpp, surgical age, etc.) versus follow-up hypertension status.

RESULTS:

CoA duration and severity were predictive of aortic remodeling and active dysfunction in rabbits, and hypertension in patients with CoA. Interaction between patient age and BPGpp at surgery contributed significantly to hypertension, similar to rabbits, suggesting preclinical findings translate to patients. Machine learning decision tree analysis uncovered that preoperative BPGpp and surgical age predict risk of hypertension along with residual postoperative BPGpp.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest the current BPGpp threshold determined decades ago is likely too high to prevent adverse coarctation-induced aortic remodeling. The results and decision tree analysis provide a foundation for revising CoA treatment guidelines considering the interaction between CoA severity and duration to limit the risk of hypertension.
Caribbean Migrant Women Making Their Voices Heard: Perspectives from Tobago
Authors: Joseph O’Neil
Published: March 2024

This article examines the life histories of three women who migrated from the island of Tobago in the period 1950 to 1990. The themes explored include the factors which motivated their move, their lived realities in ‘new’ lands, the impact of migration on them and their families, and the reasons for return migration. This article argues that from the first half of the twentieth century, working-class Tobago women, through their personal migration efforts, made use of ingenuity, psychological strength and ambition to better themselves and their families. The Caribbean labour migration literature highlights the migration treks of Caribbean men during this period, but Caribbean women travelled in equally large numbers regionally and internationally in a relentless pursuit of wage labour and economic stability. While in some instances, their migration experiences led to the achievement of promised upward mobility, the pain of deteriorating family relations and rejection in a ‘new’ land, often led to return migration. This argument, which rests upon an interrogation of life histories, newspapers and official documents, presents new insights on a familiar topic, and meaningfully expands the historiography of migration and Caribbean women.
Immigration from Yugoslavia to Sweden 1966–1971: An Analysis of the Impacts of Firms and State
Authors: Frank Denis
Published: March 2024

In the period 1947–1972, large numbers of migrants arrived in Sweden to perform work, particularly in the manufacturing industry. The largest number of migrants came from Finland. Prior to the 1960s, Yugoslavia had not been a significant origin country for immigrants in Sweden, but immigration from Yugoslavia to Sweden increased in that decade. The question posed in the article is: how did Sweden become interlinked with Yugoslavia as an emigration country? The article focuses on the part played by firms and their interaction with state authorities. Swedish employers developed preferences for Yugoslav workers in the 1960s, because they were viewed as skilled within the engineering industry. They were also viewed as a stable workforce, particularly in relation to Finnish workers. Furthermore, the article analyses how the labour market authority shaped immigration from Yugoslavia; it could guide firms towards the recruitment of workers in Yugoslavia.
Panama: An Analysis Of Class Location And Income Distribution
Authors: Castillo Fernández Dídimo
Published: March 2024

In this article, the theoretical perspective centered on “dynamic inequality” and inter-category or individual differences is questioned, while the structural approach of extra-categorical analysis is sustained as essential and pertinent to sociological discussions of inequality and, further, attributable to social class, rather than internal or individual differences as posited by some theorists of inequality. From this position, an attempt is made to offer a frame of reference for the analysis and understanding the distributive structure of income in contemporary Panama. Despite presenting one of the best positioned minimum wage and average income structures in Latin America, Panama occupies one of the worst income distributions in the region. The approach subscribed to in this investigation is based on the theoretical assumption that links the conditions of income inequality with the structures of occupation and class location of the workers. The purpose is to build an empirical model of class structures associated with the occupational categories of the workers and, from this, to analyze the trends in the distribution of income in the country. The data analysis was carried out based on the Labor Market Survey of the National Institute of Statistics and Census of the Comptroller General of the Republic for 2000 and 2021.
Gladiolus adanus (Iridaceae, Crocoideae), a new species from Türkiye
Authors: EKER İSMAİL , SAĞIROĞLU MEHMET
Published: March 2024

Gladiolus adanus is introduced to the scientific world as a new species from Adana/Tufanbeyli/Türkiye. In this study, description and illustration, diagnostic morphological characters, habitat, distribution, ecological characteristics, conservation status, seed micromorphological characters (LM and SEM) and comparisons with close species are given.
Descriptions of the larvae and pupae of Sisko Ross with notes on western Dolophilodes Ulmer larvae (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae)
Authors: LEE JONATHAN
Published: March 2024

Larvae and a pupa of the caddisfly genus Sisko Ross (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae) are described. Larval and pupal photos and larval diagnoses are provided. Larval head and mandible photos and notes are provided for four species of western Dolophilodes Ulmer. A key to the larvae of North American Philopotamidae genera is included.
Moscow, a Submissive City: Jacek Komuda’s View of the East in the Context of Neo-Sarmatism and the Topographic Turn on the Example of “Samozwaniec”
Authors: Tauer Sebastian
Published: March 2024

In the neo-Sarmatian trend (which involves an attempt to build individual and collective identities by referring to the Sarmatian cultural formation), an important issue is how one identifies oneself in terms of spatial relations between the West, Centre and East of Europe. Jacek Komuda is one of the most recognisable writers of this trend and thus has a great impact on the reader, especially the young one, and on the shaping of their identity. Moscow occupies an important place in his work: the capital of the Grand Duchy was a place where, following its capture by Polish troops, Russian and Sarmatian culture came into contact. A closer look at the representations of Moscow and its society in the novel Samozwaniec [The Pretender] allows us to see how the neo-Sarmatians perceive the East and what image they present to Polish readers, who on this basis are to determine what cultural circle they belong to.
The Social Image of the Czech Housing Estate in Selected Films from the Socialist Era
Authors: Zygmunt Adam
Published: March 2024

The article concerns the representation of the space of Czech housing estates in selected films from the socialist era: Domy z panelů [Prefabricated Houses] (Jiří Menzel, 1959), Moderní byt [Modern House] (Jan Moravec, 1971) and Panelstory [Prefab Story] (Věra Chytilová, 1979). The films are analysed taking into account the tools of the semiotics of the artistic text, the sociology of habitation (with a particular emphasis on the issue of comfort) and the concept of using space, described by Michel de Certeau. The point of departure of the study are the realities of Czech housing construction in the years 1956–1989. The article aims is to show how the directors used cinematic techniques to create an image of life in a socialist housing estate.
Impact of ENSO and Trends on the Distribution of North American Wintertime Daily Temperature
Authors: Becker Emily J. , Tippett Michael K.
Published: March 2024

The effect of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnection and climate change trends on observed North American wintertime daily 2-m temperature is investigated for 1960–2022 with a quantile regression model, which represents the variability of the full distribution of daily temperature, including extremes and changes in spread. Climate change trends are included as a predictor in the regression model to avoid the potentially confounding effect on ENSO teleconnections. Based on prior evidence of asymmetric impacts from El Niño and La Niña, the ENSO response is taken to be piecewise linear, and the regression model contains separate predictors for warm and cool ENSO. The relationship between these predictors and shifts in median, interquartile range, skewness, and kurtosis of daily 2-m temperature are summarized through Legendre polynomials. Warm ENSO conditions result in significant warming shifts in the median and contraction of the interquartile range in central-northern North America, while no opposite effect is found for cool ENSO conditions in this region. In the southern United States, cool ENSO conditions produce a warming shift in the median, while warm ENSO conditions have little impact on the median, but contracts the interquartile range. Climate change trends are present as a near-uniform warming in the median and across quantiles and have no discernable impact on interquartile range or higher-order moments. Trends and ENSO together explain a substantial fraction of the interannual variability of daily temperature distribution shifts across much of North America and, to a lesser extent, changes of the interquartile range.
How and when Proactive Vitality Management Promotes Undergraduates’ Creativity? A Conservation of Resources Perspective
Authors: Hua Weijun , Zhang Jianwei , Xuan Xingyu , Fu Mengmeng , Zhou Jie
Published: March 2024

Despite widely highlighting that creative individuals need to be full of vitality to function optimally, previous research neglects the very real possibility that human beings may also need to proactively manage their vitality to ignite creativity. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, this study explores the impact of proactive vitality management on undergraduates’ creativity through harmonious academic passion, as well as the moderating roles of university creative climate and prevention focus. Evidence from a scenario-based experiment (Study 1) and a multi-wave field survey (Study 2) demonstrated that proactive vitality management positively promoted individual creativity. This relationship was partially mediated by harmonious academic passion. In addition, proactive vitality management enhanced undergraduate students’ creativity via harmonious academic passion in a high university creative climate, whereas the indirect effect was weak when prevention focus was high. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed, along with study limitations and future research directions.
Abiotic stress tolerance in pearl millet: Unraveling molecular mechanisms via transcriptomics
Authors: Dhawi Faten
Published: March 2024

Pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum (L.)) is a vital cereal crop renowned for its ability to thrive in challenging environmental conditions; however, the molecular mechanisms governing its salt stress tolerance remain poorly understood. To address this gap, next-generation RNA sequencing was conducted to compare gene expression patterns in pearl millet seedlings exposed to salt stress with those grown under normal conditions. Our RNA sequencing analysis focused on shoots from 13-day-old pearl millet plants subjected to either salinity stress (150 mmol of NaCl for 3 days) or thermal stress (50°C for 60 s). Of 36,041 genes examined, 17,271 genes with fold changes ranging from 2.2 to 19.6 were successfully identified. Specifically, 2388 genes were differentially upregulated in response to heat stress, whereas 4327 genes were downregulated. Under salt stress conditions, 2013 genes were upregulated and 4221 genes were downregulated. Transcriptomic analysis revealed four common abiotic KEGG pathways that play crucial roles in the response of pearl millet to salt and heat stress: phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, photosynthesis–antenna proteins, photosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction. These metabolic pathways are necessary for pearl millet to withstand and adapt to abiotic stresses caused by salt and heat. Moreover, the pearl millet shoot heat stress group showed specific transcriptomics related to KEEG metabolic pathways such as cytochrome P450, cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis, zeatin biosynthesis, crocin biosynthesis, ginsenoside biosynthesis, saponin biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of various plant secondary metabolites. In contrast, pearl millet shoots exposed to salinity stress exhibited transcriptomic changes associated with KEEG metabolic pathways related to carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, mismatch repair, and nitrogen metabolism. Our findings underscore the remarkable cross-tolerance of pearl millet to simultaneous salt and heat stress, elucidated through the activation of shared abiotic KEGG pathways. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of transcriptomics analysis in unraveling the molecular responses of pearl millet under abiotic stress conditions.
A comprehensive numerical study of the effects of the air distribution terminals on the performance of a novel VRF-SV hybrid system
Authors: Yau Yat Huang , Rajput Umair Ahmed
Published: March 2024

This study aims to numerically investigate the impact of air supply terminal devices (ASTDs) on the performance of novel variable refrigerant flow (VRF) integrated stratum ventilation (SV) system. The novel VRF-SV hybrid system was designed and analyzed in the authors’ previous work, where different design configurations were tested and their performances were compared. However, the effect of ASTDs on the performance of novel system has not yet been thoroughly explored. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effect of four types of ASTDs, including bar grille, double deflection grille, drum louver and jet slot diffusers installed in the laboratory and meeting room environments. The temperature and velocity field distribution, thermal comfort and indoor air quality (IAQ) were examined as performance indicators. The Re-Normalization Group (RNG), Realizable and Standard k-ϵ turbulence models were also employed in this study to verify and validate the numerical predictions with the experimental measurements. The experimental results found relatively close to the predictions obtained through RNG k-ϵ model with maximum deviations at any location were found to be 0.28 m/s in terms of velocity and 1.6°C in terms of temperature magnitude. Further research demonstrated that among the studied ASTDs, the bar grille diffuser provided an adequate thermal environment for the occupants with an acceptable jet throw and IAQ. This benefit also suggests that if the bar grille is installed with the VRF-SV system, the system would require less fan power, and thus, it reduces the energy use by the fan.
Waste heat utilization using organic rankine cycle from a pressurized pulverized combined cycle power plant
Authors: Choudhary Nitesh Kumar , Khankari Goutam , Karmakar Sujit
Published: March 2024

Power plants release a massive amount of waste heat at very low temperatures. Posing a challenge for efficient conversion into useful work through conventional methods. By selecting appropriate working fluids, low-grade power cycles can solve this problem by converting waste heat to electricity. The present work dealt with waste heat utilization using the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) from a 400 MWe coal based supercritical Pressurized Pulverized Combined Cycle (PPCC). The working fluid for the ORC is the refrigerant R245fa. High-ash (HA) Indian coal and low-ash (LA) South African coal are used as fuel to assess the plant’s ability to produce electricity under ambient conditions in India. The simulation flowsheet program “Cycle-Tempo” models and simulates different plant layouts. The thermodynamic assessment unveiled that the standalone plant has energy and exergy efficiencies of 43.46% and 39.87% for HA & 45.42% and 43.84% for LA, respectively. According to this study, the proposed plant has energy and exergy efficiencies of 44.63% and 40.94% for HA & 46.69% and 45.07% for LA, respectively. Moreover, using ORC, the waste heat generates additional electricity of 9.38 MWe, with an energy efficiency of 12.92% and exergy efficiency of 34.63%.
Minimally Invasive vs Open Approach for First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis: Short Report of Early Results
Authors: Duggan Jessica L. , Guild Theodore T. , Stanwood Katherine C. , Miller Christopher P.
Published: March 2024

Background:

We aim to compare early surgical results between groups who underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS) vs open first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthrodesis to treat end-stage hallux rigidus.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort review of 65 patients who underwent a first MTP fusion procedure at an academic medical center between 2015 and 2023. Success of fusion was determined radiographically. Postoperative complications were identified through medical record review.

Results:

Sixty-seven first MTP fusion surgeries (41 open and 26 MIS) were performed on 65 patients with a primary diagnosis of hallux rigidus. Open surgery and MIS groups had similarly high fusion rates: 95% (39/41) and 96% (25/26), respectively ( P = .84). We identified no difference in overall complication rates: 20% for open surgery and 23% for MIS ( P = .73).

Conclusion:

This retrospective analysis of 67 first MTP arthrodesis procedures showed no significant differences in fusion success or complications in the short term when comparing MIS to open surgery. Further studies are needed to elucidate potential differences between MIS vs open surgery.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative study.
After the ‘refugee crisis’ and the Yerevan Communiqué: Nationalism and empire as the not-so-hidden heart of European higher education
Authors: Warren Simon
Published: March 2024

The Yerevan Communiqué represents a possible high-point in European responses to the 2015 ‘refugee crisis’ and the role of higher education in building an inclusive Europe. If that is so, then the post-2015 period can be seen as a retreat from the moral stance taken in the Communiqué. This paper takes a different perspective and argues that the post-2015 period reveals tensions at the heart of the European project and the role of higher education in this. Specifically, the paper argues that the rise of a nativist politics of belonging in Europe and its manifestation in European higher education is immanent in the European project itself as a post-imperial project, in the historical formation of European higher education amidst the legacies of imperial designs, intensified by the neoliberal reformation of nation/states, and the role of migration in the context of neoliberal globalisation and the problematic nature of ‘national’ borders.
Nearly collinear robust procedures for 2SLS estimation
Authors: Young Alwyn
Published: March 2024

Stata’s two-stage least-squares (2SLS) computation procedures are sensitive to near collinearity among regressors, allowing situations in which reported results depend upon factors as irrelevant as the order of the data and variables. This article illustrates this claim with the public-use data of Oreopoulos (2006, American Economic Review 96: 152–175), where the instrumented coefficient estimate can be made to vary between 0.012 and 30.0 in one specification by permuting the order of the variables. Different methods for improving the accuracy of 2SLS estimates are reviewed, and a Stata command for collinearity-robust 2SLS estimation is provided.
Teacher leadership in professional learning communities in early childhood education: A Chinese perspective
Authors: Wang Mo , Zhang Limin
Published: March 2024

To address the research gap in exploring teacher leadership and professional learning community (PLC) in early childhood education in China, this study explored how PLC members enacted leadership and how preschool principals influenced the enactment of such leadership. Purposive sampling was used to select research participants based on the current local governmental preschool quality ratings: Excellent, Good, and Average. Data were collected from three public preschools with corresponding levels of autonomy and hierarchical structures, and semistructured interviews were conducted with nine preschool practitioners. In terms of roles, PLC leaders served as pseudo leaders, and classroom teachers served as active learners but passive leaders in PLCs. PLC members implemented strategies that included the provision of learning support and communication to facilitate PLCs. Although preschool principals were found to serve as helmsmen, they positively managed the learning programmes and invited experts to conduct teacher training.
Theorizing knowledgescape as a transnational mediating force: Artificial intelligence and global flows
Authors: Ding Huiling , Kong Yeqing
Published: March 2024

As a global technoscientific form involving various forces and stakeholders, research and development (R&D) in artificial intelligence (AI) transcends corporate, national and institutional boundaries. Incorporating transnational rhetorical analysis and corpus-assisted discourse analysis, this article examines the global cultural flows surrounding AI constructed in official and media discourses in the US and China. We propose a new theoretical concept of knowledgescape that expands the toolkits of global flows and provides new explanatory power about global innovation and competition. This concept sheds light on the global processes, mechanisms and power dynamics of the production, dissemination, consumption and contestation of cutting-edge knowledge.
Consumer Motivation to Purchase Online During COVID-19 Pandemic: Extending Protection Motivation Theory
Authors: Mat Dawi Norazryana , Hwang Ha Jin , Abdul Jalil Nasir , Maresova Petra , Namazi Hamidreza
Published: March 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed consumers’ purchasing behavior from contact to intact consumerism. By integrating the protection motivation theory and the theory of planned behavior, this study investigates factors that motivate consumers to purchase online. Data were collected from an online survey among 481 consumers using self-administered questionnaires. The findings suggest that consumers may link protection motivation factors to attitude toward online purchasing. Further, attitude toward online purchasing, internal subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and social distancing have significant relationships with intention to purchase online. Additionally, social distancing is a significant moderator in the relationship between attitude and intention to purchase online; indicating that consumers’ adherence to social distancing moderates the relationship negatively.
Feminism and Support for the Transgender Movement in Britain
Authors: Biggs Michael
Published: March 2024

To what extent do feminists support the transgender movement? This visualization presents a recent British survey, which asked whether transgender women should be allowed to compete in female sports. Graphs depict how attitudes vary with feminism and age. Overall, feminists are more likely than nonfeminists to favor the rights of trans women, but this association conceals significant differences among generations. For young people, the relationship between feminism and support for transgender women is unequivocally positive. Among older people, by contrast, feminists are polarized. They are more likely than nonfeminists to strongly support trans women but also more likely to strongly oppose them. Whether this polarization is peculiar to Britain, where the transgender movement has met with particularly strong countermobilization, is a question for future research.
Plantar Kinetics During Wheeled Knee Walker Use Compared to Different Assistive Walking Devices in Persons With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Gwaltney Holton C. , Harrington Joseph W. , Anguiano-Hernandez Jose G. , Kingston David C.
Published: March 2024

Background:

Diabetic patients with foot ulcers are commonly prescribed assistive walking devices to unload the affected foot and promote tissue healing. However, the effect on shear loads to the contralateral foot is unknown. This study investigated the effect of a wheeled knee walker (WKW), compared to common devices, on compressive and shear plantar forces carried by the propulsive foot during walking in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A secondary objective investigated plantar forces’ correlations with body weight unloaded (BWU).

Methods:

Participants walked a maximum of 200 m per condition during normal walking or when using crutches, a standard walker, and a WKW in randomized order. Plantar forces were measured with force plates, and wireless force-sensitive pads measured BWU through the hands. The WKW was instrumented to measure BWU onto the seat and handlebars. Three-dimensional motion capture confirmed gait events.

Results:

The WKW produced the lowest vertical, braking, propulsive, and medial shear forces but the highest lateral shear force among all conditions. Using crutches or a walker had negligible medial and lateral shear (mean = −6.69 N and −7.80 N), with normal walking producing the highest medial shear. There was a poor relationship between BWU and assistive walking devices and shear force values.

Conclusion:

A WKW could be the preferred assistive device for unloading a diabetic foot ulcer. The magnitude of lateral force would need further investigation to determine ulceration risk, given patient susceptibility and neuropathy.

Clinical Relevance:

Understanding shear forces on the propulsive foot is important for minimizing contralateral limb tissue damage risk while treating an ulcer. Different assistive walking devices change walking patterns and affect shear forces on the plantar surface of the foot. Although the WKW minimizes several loading metrics, a clinical trial investigating assistive walking device compliance and wound healing in diabetic foot ulcer patients across devices is needed.
How useful do communities find the health and wellness centres? A qualitative assessment of India’s new policy for primary health care
Authors: Abhishek Shriyuta , Garg Samir , Keshri Vikash Ranjan
Published: March 2024

Background

The policy attention to primary health care has seen a global upswing in recent years, including in India. Earlier assessments had shown that a very small proportion of Indian population used the government primary health facilities. Starting in 2018, Indian government has established more than 100,000 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) to increase rural population’s access to primary health care. It is crucial to know how useful people find the services of HWCs.

Methods

A qualitative inquiry was made to understand the perceptions, experiences and expectations of the rural communities regarding HWCs in Chhattisgarh state. Fourteen focus group discussions were conducted with community members. The study areas were chosen to include both the central and remote districts of the state. The study used accessibility, availability, acceptability and quality (AAAQ) framework to assess HWCs.

Results

Community members felt that the most important change brought about by HWCs was to offer a wider range of curative services than previously available. Services for noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes were seen as a key value addition of HWCs. People felt improvements in services for acute ailments also. The services people found missing in HWCs were for injuries, dental care and mental health. In people’s experience, the availability of essential medicines and point-of-care tests at HWCs was satisfactory and the treatment was effective. People appreciated the supportive behaviour of health workers in HWCs. They did not find the referrals from HWCs as excessive but often faced difficulties in receiving necessary services at higher facilities.

Conclusions

The assessment based on community perceptions showed that the services of HWCs matched well with people’s needs of curative primary care. It shows that people are willing to use the government facilities for primary health care if the services are relevant, adequately functional and accessible.
Internal stigmatization in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse headache
Authors: Uçan Tokuç Firdevs Ezgi , Göksu Eylem Özaydın , Katı Şennur Delibaş
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Internalized stigma can have profound effects on how individuals with migraines and other primary headache disorders see themselves and their quality of life. We aimed to investigate internalized stigma in patients with chronic migraines and medication overuse headaches.

Methods

A total of 57 patients (52 women, 5 men) were included in the study, 26 of these patients were affected by chronic migraine, 31 of them were affected by medication overuse headache and chronic migraine. The Internalized Stigma Scale in Mental Illness (Ristsher’s stigmatization scale) and General Health Questionnaire were applied to all patients.

Results

In Ristsher’s stigmatization scale, which measures internalization of stigma, internalized stigmatization was more significant in patients with medication overuse headache than in patients with chronic migraine compared to groups (p:0.05). The subtitle of alienation was statistically significant when the groups were compared to all subscales in the form of alienation, confirmation of stereotypes, perceived discrimination, social withdrawal and resistance to stigma (p:0.05).

Discussion

Although internal stigmatize has been observed in chronic migraine patients, medication overuse headache is also a type of headache with intense stigma. In addition, this internal stigma perhaps plays an active role in the transformation of chronic migraine patients to medication overuse headaches patient.
In vitro antibacterial activity of fruit pulp extracts of Tamarindus indica against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Goanar Gatluak , Tafesse Geremew , Fereja Workineh Mengesha
Published: March 2024

Background

Infectious diseases are increasingly recognized as public health concern worldwide as the rising incidence in multidrug resistance bacteria. This consequently enforces the need to find a new antimicrobial agent where plants have a potential source. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of fruit pulp extract of the Tamarindus indica against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae).

Methods and materials

Maceration technique was employed for subsequent extraction of the sample using acetone and ethanol. Antibacterial activity of the plant extract was investigated based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Gram-negative strain (K. pneumoniae (ATCC 700603)) and Gram-positive strain (S. aureus (ATCC 25923)) using agar disc-diffusion technique.

Results

It was found that both acetone and ethanol extracts showed significant antibacterial activities, against both S. aureus and K. pneumoniae as compared to the negative control (P = 0.00), but no significantly different from the drug (P > 0.05). However, K. pneumoniae showed more sensitivity to the extracts than S. aureus with MIC value of 18.75 mg/mL and 9.38 mg/mL for both acetone and ethanol extracts against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae respectively.

Conclusion

This study suggested that the fruit pulp have antibacterial properties, which might validate their traditional uses.
Family and community resilience: a Photovoice study
Authors: Tan Yvonne , Pinder Danielle , Bayoumi Imaan , Carter Rifaa , Cole Michele , Jackson Logan , Watson Autumn , Knox Bruce , Chan-Nguyen Sophy , Ford Meghan , Davison Colleen M. , Bartels Susan A. , Purkey Eva
Published: March 2024

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), in combination with adverse community environments, can result in traumatic stress reactions, increasing a person’s risk for chronic physical and mental health conditions. Family resilience refers to the ability of families to withstand and rebound from adversity; it involves coping with disruptions as well as positive growth in the face of sudden or challenging life events, trauma, or adversities. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to family and community resilience from the perspective of families who self-identified as having a history of adversity and being resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This study used Photovoice, a visual participatory research method which asks participants to take photographs to illustrate their responses to a research question. Participants consisted of a maximum variation sample of families who demonstrated family level resilience in the context of the pair of ACEs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Family members were asked to collect approximately five images or videos that illustrated the facilitators and barriers to well-being for their family in their community. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted using the SHOWeD framework to allow participants to share and elucidate the meaning of their photos. Using thematic analysis, two researchers then independently completed line-by-line coding of interview transcripts before collaborating to develop consensus regarding key themes and interpretations.

Results

Nine families were enrolled in the study. We identified five main themes that enhanced family resilience: (1) social support networks; (2) factors fostering children's development; (3) access and connection to nature; (4) having a space of one’s own; and (5) access to social services and community resources.

Conclusions

In the context of additional stresses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, resilient behaviours and strategies for families were identified. The creation or development of networks of intra- and inter-community bonds; the promotion of accessible parenting, housing, and other social services; and the conservation and expansion of natural environments may support resilience and health.
C-type lectin-like receptor 2: roles and drug target
Authors: Sun Lan , Wang Zhe , Liu Zhiyan , Mu Guangyan , Cui Yimin , Xiang Qian
Published: March 2024

C-type lectin-like receptor-2 (CLEC-2) is a member of the C-type lectin superfamily of cell surface receptors. The first confirmed endogenous and exogenous ligands of CLEC-2 are podoplanin and rhodocytin, respectively. CLEC-2 is expressed on the surface of platelets, which participates in platelet activation and aggregation by binding with its ligands. CLEC-2 and its ligands are involved in pathophysiological processes, such as atherosclerosis, cancer, inflammatory thrombus status, maintenance of vascular wall integrity, and cancer-related thrombosis. In the last 5 years, different anti- podoplanin antibody types have been developed for the treatment of cancers, such as glioblastoma and lung cancer. New tests and new diagnostics targeting CLEC-2 are also discussed. CLEC-2 mediates thrombosis in various pathological states, but CLEC-2-specific deletion does not affect normal hemostasis, which would provide a new therapeutic tool for many thromboembolic diseases. The CLEC-2-podoplanin interaction is a target for cancer treatment. CLEC-2 may be applied in clinical practice and play a therapeutic role.
Assessing high-risk sexual practices associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection among young female sex workers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mukuku Olivier , Kiakuvue Yannick Nkiambi , Numbi Georges Yumba , Ruhindiza Bienvenu Mukuku , Kakisingi Christian , Mwamba Claude Mulumba , Katabwa Joe Kabongo
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Young female sex workers (YFSWs) face a higher risk of HIV infection compared to older workers, but there is a lack of comprehensive data on their sexual practices and HIV infection risks, which may present unique challenges and vulnerabilities. The study aimed to identify high-risk sexual practices associated with HIV infection among YFSWs in Lubumbashi.

Methods

We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study and used a comprehensive sample of all YFSWs who presented to the HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections Screening and Treatment Center in Lubumbashi between April 2016 and December 2017. We collected data on socio-demographic characteristics and behavioral risk factors of female sex workers were collected using a structured questionnaire. Using STATA version 16, multivariate logistic regression was fitted and the results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Results

A total of 572 YFSWs were included in the study, 19 of whom were HIV-positive (3.3%; 95% CI: 2.1–5.1%). Participants who were forced to have sex (aOR = 12.2; 95% CI: 3.2–46.4; p < 0.0001), those who did not use condoms systematically (aOR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.3–13.0; p = 0.018), and those who had anal sex (aOR = 23.8; 95% CI: 6.9–82.4; p < 0.0001) were more likely to be HIV-positive.

Conclusion

The study reveals a concerning trend of higher hospital HIV prevalence among YFSWs compared to the general Congolese population. It also highlights a significant link between high-risk sexual practices and HIV infection, highlighting the need for urgent interventions.
Molecular analysis of scats revealed diet and prey choice of grey wolves and Eurasian lynx in the contact zone between the Dinaric Mountains and the Alps
Authors: Buzan Elena , Potočnik Hubert , Pokorny Boštjan , Potušek Sandra , Iacolina Laura , Gerič Urška , Urzi Felicita , Kos Ivan
Published: March 2024

A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to get ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of non-invasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet investigations. The objective of this study was to employ DNA metabarcoding to accurately determine the prey species in grey wolf (Canis lupus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) scat samples collected in the Julian Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, Slovenia. The primary prey of wolves were red deer (Cervus elaphus) (detected in 96% scat samples), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (68%), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) (45%). A smaller portion of their diet consisted of mesocarnivores, small mammals, and domestic animals. In contrast, the lynx diet mostly consisted of European roe deer (82%) and red deer (64%). However, small mammals and domestic animals were also present in lynx diet, albeit to a lesser extent. Our findings indicate that the dietary habits of wolves and lynx are influenced by geographical location. Snapshot dietary analyses using metabarcoding are valuable for comprehending the behaviour and ecology of predators, and for devising conservation measures aimed at sustainable management of both their natural habitats and prey populations. However, to gain a more detailed understanding of wolf and lynx dietary habits and ecological impact, it would be essential to conduct long-term genetic monitoring of their diet.