bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sediments
Authors: Tazudeen Rasheed
Published: October 2024

This chapter examines Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859). Carroll and Darwin imagine sediments as both the undergrounds of meaning/logos as well as the repressed geo- and evolutionary histories of the earth and its beings. The chapter then highlights the subterranean, multispecies communions between each work's most iconic image: Darwin's Tree of Life and Carroll's Jabberwock. Darwin's Tree of Life, the diagram illustrating the work of natural selection on species over “thousands of generations,” is constituted by the unknowable histories that have been sedimented into the earth over geological time. In the Jabberwock, and in the Alice books as a whole, underground sounds, beings, and worlds propagate and gather into something other than logos, an inconceptual generativity that we call nonsense. In this way, both Tree of Life and Jabberwock are metaphors that are persistently reshaped by what is gathered into them, simultaneously nominal designation (metaphora) and copulative excess (epiphora).
Soils
Authors: Tazudeen Rasheed
Published: October 2024

This chapter focuses on the animal narrators of two late Franz Kafka works: Der Bau (“The Burrow,” 1931) and Forschungen eines Hundes (“Investigations of a Dog,” 1931). What one might call a late Kafkan inhumanism emerges through acts of faith and acts of striving, on the part of these narrators, toward the ainigma of the earth's generation, to and past the point of complete self-abandonment. For both burrower and dog-philosopher, all philosophy and all knowing proceeds from relations with the “nourishing earth” and what is given in its soils. Burrowing, as the chapter explores, becomes devotion to what of earth is unpossessable—the unseen sound, most particularly, and what is engendered from the burrower's fantasies of it—even if this devotion leads to the unmaking of the self, or the fracturing of self into many selves. Similarly, dog-philosophy begins from the ancient canine wisdom on which all dog being is founded.
International Law and the Public
Authors: Wallace Geoffrey P.R.
Published: October 2024

This book investigates the public as a crucial, often overlooked, actor in international law. It asks just who is it that counts in the operation of the international legal order. Defying conventional wisdom that sees governments, leaders, generals, lawyers, or elites from the upper echelons of society as the main international legal players, the book advances a “popular international law” where ordinary people are considered important legal actors in their own right alongside the usual focus on elites. Far from powerless or unwitting, publics possess both the cognitive and material capacities to understand and contribute to the intricacies of international legal rules. The book is an account of an international legal politics from below, taking seriously the place of ordinary people in international affairs.
Conclusion
Authors: Wallace Geoffrey P. R.
Published: October 2024

This chapter addresses the fundamental questions of to whom international law belongs and who the responsible actors are in its operation, proposing a theory centered on popular international law. Traditionally, international law has been seen as the domain of states and their elites due to the complexity and elite-centric nature of legal rules. The chapter argues that ordinary members of the public have played and can continue to play a significant role in international legal commitments. By examining preambles of foundational documents like the US Constitution and the United Nations (UN) Charter, the chapter suggests a more inclusive view of international law. It highlights the importance of considering the public's beliefs and voices in international legal affairs.
Creating Connections with Africa
Authors: Ndulo Muna , Michelsen Heike
Published: October 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the Institute for African Development (IAD) at Cornell University. It highlights Cornell's IAD as the most distinguished center in African development in the United States. Upon establishment, the IAD quickly became a magnet for Cornell scholars and practitioners in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Each year, IAD brings a distinguished African scholar to campus in collaboration with departments in various schools at Cornell. The chapter mentions that IAD alumni become catalysts for development and form an extensive network across Africa that enriches field courses, research activities, and internship opportunities for current Cornell students.
The Study of Muslim Culture, Society, and History Around the World
Authors: Tagliacozzo Eric
Published: October 2024

This chapter examines the Comparative Muslim Societies Program (CMS) at Cornell University. It explains that the program was formed to promote the comparative study of Muslims and Muslim societies between and across the boundaries of traditional area studies programs and departments. CMS served as a forum for faculty and students on campus who are engaged in the study of various aspects of Muslim culture, society, and history. The significant features of the CMS range between the speaker series and supporting students. The chapter provides an overview of the projects that exemplify the kind of cutting-edge, comparative work that has been a hallmark of CMS.
The Bartels World Affairs Fellows
Authors: Michelsen Heike
Published: October 2024

This chapter discusses the extent of public lectures conducted by Bartels Fellows. It explains the opportunity for face-to-face meetings with significant public figures like Nobel laureates, presidents, and other distinguished global thinkers. In collaboration with university leadership, departments, programs, faculty, and students across the campus, the Einaudi Center annually selects the topic and speaker and develops and organizes the program. Students and others benefit from the extraordinary opportunity to interact directly with leaders of international stature to learn about global issues and facets of an international career. The lectures have attracted huge audiences over the years from across campus as they discuss multiregional or global issues or specific world regions.
Ciifad
Authors: Tucker Terry , Michelsen Heike
Published: October 2024

This chapter explores the unique funding for collaborative approaches to international development, particularly focusing on the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD). While CIIFAD was set up as a university-wide entity, it was based in the International Programs of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and given administrative support and facilities by the college. The chapter explains that CIIFAD addressed issues of agricultural and natural resource sustainability in developing countries through multidisciplinary, participatory research. Essentially, CIIFAD's activities were organized through thirteen country collaborative programs and fourteen thematic collaborative programs. The chapter then details the factors of CIIFAD's success and impact, such as its reliance on partnerships.
Asia’s Last Shangri La
Authors: Lassoie James P.
Published: October 2024

This chapter examines Cornell University's engagement with Bhutan. The faculty of Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) expanded their research and teaching horizons, leading to new ideas, innovative initiatives, and often remarkable professional contributions both on and off campus. Bhutan, known as the Last Shangri-La, offered a unique cultural and ecological setting for expanding interests in sustainability, which strives to balance socioeconomic development and environmental protection. The chapter discusses the establishment of the internet-based platform, Conservation Bridge, which supports interdisciplinary education based on real-world sustainable development dilemmas. It explains that a long-term Bhutan–Cornell partnership was ensured in 2022 with the establishment of two King's Scholarships for undergraduate Bhutanese students.
Cornell Expands the Digital World
Authors: Colle Royal D.
Published: October 2024

This chapter considers the evolution of communication technology across the world, particularly Cornell's contribution. The simple audio cassette started Cornellians on the way to bringing modern communications technologies to many people around the globe. The audio cassette was soon overtaken by the computer and other digital technologies. The chapter provides an overview of Cornell's involvement with information and communications technologies in rural and developing areas which significantly benefited many people who had been left behind in the new information age. It then explains that the initiatives presented opportunities for universities to help bridge those digital divides as even newer technologies emerge.
After the Berlin Wall
Authors: Brown David L. , Haldeman James E. , Zuidema Larry
Published: October 2024

This chapter explains that postsocialist transformations stimulated new scholarly interest in Central and Eastern Europe, including Cornell. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation provided Cornell's initial funding for scholarly activities in postsocialist Central and Eastern Europe supporting collaborative educational and research programs. The Mellon-sponsored project focused on assisting the professional development of the economic and social science faculty of the Slovak Agricultural University (SAU). The chapter also notes that Cornell received a grant to collaborate with Rousse University in Bulgaria to establish educational programs focused on regional development management in the Rousse Region. The program's most lasting impact was the mutually beneficial and durable scholarly partnership formed between Cornell faculty members and counterparts in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Tang Cornell-China Scholars Program
Authors: Scott Norman
Published: October 2024

This chapter looks into the correlation between the Tang Cornell-China Scholar program and the CALS. Through the program, the Tang Cornell-China Scholars would expand their research proficiencies, build lasting research relationships with Cornell colleagues, and develop their ability to lead research and technology developments and educational advancements. Scholars highlighted the impact on their skills, expertise, and professional development. Thus, the Tang Cornell-China Scholars Program continues to be successful as an exemplary model to engage distinguished faculty at Cornell and numerous Chinese universities in science and technology related to agriculture and food systems. The chapter mentions that the Cornell faculty described the program as an opportunity for lifelong friendship and collaboration.
Southeast Asian Languages and the Birth of Modern Language Studies at Cornell
Authors: Wolff John
Published: October 2024

This chapter details the origins of modern language studies at Cornell University. It explains that Southeast Asia became the focus of scholars in a wide range of fields as American scholarship became more sophisticated. When the Rockefeller Foundation funded a grant to form a program of Southeast Asian studies at Cornell, language instruction was a key part of the envisioned curriculum. The developments in pedagogy, like the FALCON (Full-Year Asian Language Concentration) program, changed the character and quality of the old Bloomfield method entirely. The chapter explains that instruction in Southeast Asian languages is possible at present through a partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences and the Southeast Asia Program (SEAP).
Africana Studies at Cornell
Authors: Assié-Lumumba N’dri T.
Published: October 2024

This chapter explores the extent of Africana studies at Cornell University. It discusses the work and achievements of the Africana Studies and Research Center (ASRC), such as several international conferences and global outreach programs as part of its engagement in the trajectory of social and global transformation. Africana Studies has contributed to Cornell's global mission of training students from across the globe at the undergraduate, master's, and PhD levels. The Africana embodies naming and agency, essentially capturing the vision of a dialectical correlation between the African continent and the diaspora. The chapter also considers the major grants from the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations in the 1990s.
Global Hospitality
Authors: Summers Bill
Published: October 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the international legacy of the Hotel School. It elaborates on how the school has increasingly incorporated global content into its curriculum. At Cornell, the Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) further extends the global reach of the Hotel School. Moreover, the Hotel School has forged alliances with academic institutions around the world in another move to expand its global imprint. The chapter notes that the Nolan School of Hotel Administration has long recognized the value of a global focus when it comes to hospitality, and it continues to adapt to an increasingly interconnected business world.
Feeding the World
Authors: Nesheim Malden C.
Published: October 2024

This chapter discusses Cornell University's commitment to international nutrition. The study of nutrition at Cornell arose from two areas of interest, particularly the proper feeding of animals in animal husbandry and the proper feeding of families in home economics. Although early work in nutritional science dealt mostly with domestic issues, Cornell faculty soon became involved in international programs. The chapter provides an overview of the works and achievements of Cornell staff regarding international nutrition. It explains that today's formal Program in International Nutrition, led by Professor Saurabh Meta, continues to focus on research, policy, and action to improve nutrition and health in low- and middle-income countries.
John P. Windmuller and the ILR School’s Global Experience
Authors: Sonnenstuhl William J.
Published: October 2024

This chapter looks into the global experience provided by the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR School) and the legacy of John P. Windmuller. The founding faculty of the school's commitment revolved around resolving disagreements peacefully in the United States and globally. Meanwhile, Windmuller played a significant role in forging the field of international and comparative labor relations. In the 1990s, the ILR School created the Department of International and Comparative Labor which requires ILR School undergraduates to take a course in international and comparative labor. The chapter explains that the ILR School's faculty remains committed to its international and comparative labor agenda and provides all ILR School students with an international experience and global perspective.
Global Awareness and Commitments of Cornell’s Law School
Authors: Lasser Mitchel
Published: October 2024

This chapter elaborates on the global awareness and commitments of the Cornell Law School. It looks into how the demand for cross-border legal education exploded after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. Thus, Cornell took the lead in developing innovative models for preparing students for the challenges and opportunities presented by an increasingly interconnected world. The faculty's international orientation remains a hallmark of the Law School. The chapter explains that the current international projects of the Law School have been boosted and supported through a number of vibrant research institutes, centers, and programs.
Cornell International Education Network
Authors: Michelsen Heike
Published: October 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the Cornell International Education Network (CIEN). CIEN's mandate revolves around promoting resource sharing and professional development among staff and faculty working in international education. After COVID-19 forced the university to move online, the online meetings of CIEN brought a new dimension and widened the network significantly. The chapter explains that the CIEN remains a learning organization based on participatory approaches. It notes that Cornell's internationalization efforts have reached a new peak, referencing the significant expansion of Global Cornell addressing information needs while providing a wide range of services for staff and faculty connected to the university's international endeavors.
Global Connections Bring Asian Art to the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
Authors: Avril Ellen
Published: October 2024

This chapter elaborates on the global connections bringing Asian art to the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. The museum's Asian art collection is considered to be one of the top university collections of Asian art in the United States. Over the decades, the collection has grown to encompass the arts of almost every Asian culture that came from donations of alumni, faculty, and friends of Cornell. The chapter details how the Johnson Museum organized a series of international loan exhibitions of contemporary Asian art beginning in the 2000s. In recent years, the museum has organized exhibitions that present the works of international contemporary artists and art collectives.
Teeal
Authors: Morris-Knower Jim
Published: October 2024

This chapter discusses the Mann Library providing global access to scholarly information in Zimbabwe. It explains that the development and support of the Essential Electronic Agricultural Library (TEEAL) represents Cornell's commitment to disseminating knowledge and improving the livelihoods and research of those who cannot afford them. TEEAL's transformative impact on the scholarly lives of countless researchers across the world remains one of many examples of Cornell's positive impact across the globe. The chapter details the work of librarians Wally and Jan Olsen to highlight the impact and legacy of TEEAL. It explains the significance of the Mann Library's support in the development of TEEAL.
Returning Mushrooms to China
Authors: Colle Royal D.
Published: October 2024

This chapter details Cornell University returning the scholar Shu Chun Teng's mushroom collection after seven decades. Initially, many of Teng's findings became part of the collection at the National Herbarium in Nanjing, but due to the war, Teng arranged for his best specimens to be removed from the institute to save them from possible damage during the war. Thus, Many of Teng's specimen packets came to Cornell for safekeeping by the Cornell Plant Pathology Herbarium and became the Fungi of China Collection. The chapter explains that Teng's manuscripts related to his work with fungi were confiscated during the Cultural Revolution, and were recovered by his family years after his passing.
The Strong Foundations of Cornell-China Relationships
Authors: MacCorkle Jeff , Zheng Liren
Published: October 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the strong foundation of the relationship between Cornell and China. It explains that Cornell was one of the first universities in the United States to offer Chinese language classes. Moreover, the Chinese government sent an imperial commission to investigate the political, judicial, and educational systems in the United States to carry out reforms in China. The chapter details the extent of the achievements of Chinese students attending Cornell University. It also discusses the flourishing Cornell alumni activity in China, referencing the foundation of the Cornell Alumni Association, which is the largest Cornell alumni group aside North America.
A Great School Faces the Great War
Authors: Engst Elaine D. , Friedlander Blaine
Published: October 2024

This chapter looks into the state of Cornell University amidst the Great War. It explains that the contribution of Cornellians ranged between military service and the US Army School of Military Aeronautics at Cornell University. The army needed aerial photographs so photographers trained at Cornell for reconnaissance missions to achieve superior field intelligence. The chapter provides a brief overview of Cornell's contribution and achievements when the armistice was achieved on November 11, 1918. It notes the War Memorial on the west campus commemorating Cornell's World War I casualties as an everlasting tribute to the brave souls who walked these grounds.
Cornell and the Peace Corps
Authors: Haldeman James E.
Published: October 2024

This chapter highlights the valuable partnership between Cornell University and the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps aims to help people of interested countries meet the need for trained men and women, while also helping people from host countries better understand people from the United States, and vice versa. In 1976, International Programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) established an on-campus Peace Corps student representative position to build a stronger link between land-grant colleges and the Peace Corps. The chapter examines the impact of combining a Cornell learning experience with hands-on Peace Corps service. The Cornell–Peace Corps collaboration proved to be a mutually beneficial partnership benefitting local communities around the world, Peace Corps volunteers, the United States, and the university community.
Performing around the World
Authors: Earle Corey Ryan
Published: October 2024

This chapter focuses on Cornell's musical ambassadors. Over the years, vocal and instrumental organizations toured across the United States and the world, bringing the Cornell name as a global ambassador for the university and the nation. For over fifty years, the trips of the Cornell University Glee Club also included the university banjo and mandolin ensembles, under the collective umbrella of the Cornell Musical Clubs. The chapter provides an overview of how Cornell's instrumental ensembles have joined in international exchange efforts. The opportunity to collaborate with international ensembles and perform for global audiences gave generations of Cornellians a life-changing experience and a cultural education beyond the classroom.
Label-Guided relation prototype generation for Continual Relation Extraction
Authors: Liu Shuang , Chen XunQin , Chen Peng , Kolmanič Simon
Published: October 2024

Continual relation extraction (CRE) aims to extract relations towards the continuous and iterative arrival of new data. To address the problem of catastrophic forgetting, some existing research endeavors have focused on exploring memory replay methods by storing typical historical learned instances or embedding all observed relations as prototypes by averaging the hidden representation of samples and replaying them in the subsequent training process. However, this prototype generation method overlooks the rich semantic information within the label namespace and are also constrained by memory size, resulting in inadequate descriptions of relation semantics by relation prototypes. To this end, we introduce an approach termed Label-Guided Relation Prototype Generation. Initially, we enhance the representations of label embeddings through a technique named label knowledge infusion. Following that, we utilize the multi-head attention mechanism to form relation prototypes, allowing them to capture diverse aspects of typical instances. The embeddings of relation labels are utilized at this stage, leveraging their contained semantics. Additionally, we propose a feature-based distillation loss function called multi-similarity distillation, to ensure the model retains prior knowledge after learning new tasks. The experimental results indicate that our method has achieved competitive performance compared to the state-of-the-art baseline models in CRE.
Predicting e-commerce product prices through the integration of variational mode decomposition and deep neural networks
Authors: Wu Haojie
Published: October 2024

Product prices frequently manifest nonlinear and nonstationary time-series attributes, indicating potential variations in their behavioral patterns over time. Conventional linear models may fall short in adequately capturing these intricate properties. In addressing this, the present study leverages the adaptive and non-recursive attributes of the Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) methodology. It employs VMD to dissect the intricate time series into multiple Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMF). Subsequently, a method rooted in the minimum fuzzy entropy criterion is introduced for determining the optimal modal number (K) in the VMD decomposition process. This method effectively mitigates issues related to modal confusion and endpoint effects, thereby enhancing the decomposition efficacy of VMD. In the subsequent phase, deep neural networks (DNN) are harnessed to forecast the identified modes, with the cumulative modal predictions yielding the ultimate e-commerce product price prognostications. The predictive efficacy of the proposed Variational Mode Decomposition-deep neural network (VMD-DNN) decomposition model is assessed on three public datasets, wherein the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) on the E-commerce Price Prediction Dataset and Online Retail Dataset is notably low at 0.6578 and 0.5414, respectively. This corresponds to a remarkable error reduction rate of 66.5% and 70.4%. Moreover, the VMD-DNN decomposition model excels in predicting e-commerce product prices through DNN, thereby amplifying the VMD decomposition capability by 4%. The VMD-DNN model attains superior results in terms of directional symmetry, boasting the highest Directional Symmetry (DS) score of 86.25. Notably, the forecasted trends across diverse price ranges closely mirror the actual trends.
A Generalized approach to the operationalization of Software Quality Models
Authors: Izurieta Clemente , Reimanis Derek , O’Donoghue Eric , Liyanage Kaveen , Manzi Muneza A. Redempta , Whitaker Bradley , Reinhold Ann Marie
Published: October 2024

Comprehensive measures of quality are a research imperative, yet the development of software quality models is a wicked problem. Definitive solutions do not exist and quality is subjective at its most abstract. Definitional measures of quality are contingent on a domain, and even within a domain, the choice of representative characteristics to decompose quality is subjective. Thus, the operationalization of quality models brings even more challenges. A promising approach to quality modeling is the use of hierarchies to represent characteristics, where lower levels of the hierarchy represent concepts closer to real-world observations. Building upon prior hierarchical modeling approaches, we developed the Platform for Investigative software Quality Understanding and Evaluation (PIQUE). PIQUE surmounts several quality modeling challenges because it allows modelers to instantiate abstract hierarchical models in any domain by leveraging organizational tools tailored to their specific contexts. Here, we introduce PIQUE; exemplify its utility with two practical use cases; address challenges associated with parameterizing a PIQUE model; and describe algorithmic techniques that tackle normalization, aggregation, and interpolation of measurements.
Enabling personalized smart tourism with location-based social networks
Authors: Shen Yuqi , Wu Yuhan , Song Jingbo , Kong Xiangjie , Pau Giovanni
Published: October 2024

With the rapid advance of mobile internet, communication technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), the tourism industry is undergoing unprecedented transformation. Smart tourism offers users personalized and customized services for travel planning and recommendations. Location-based social networks (LBSNs) play a crucial role in smart tourism industry by providing abundant data sources through their social networking attributes. However, applying LBSNs to smart tourism is a challenge due to the need to deal with complex multi-source information modeling and tourism data sparsity. In this article, to fully harness the potential of LBSNs using deep learning technologies, we propose an knowledge-driven personalized recommendation method for smart tourism. Representation learning techniques can effectively modeling the contextual information (e.g., time, space, and semantics) in LBSNs, while the data augmentation strategy of contrastive learning techniques can explore user personalized travel behaviors and alleviate data sparsity. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, we conducted a case study on trip recommendation. Furthermore, the patterns of human mobility are revealed by exploring the effect of contextual data and tourist potential preferences.
Adaptation and validation of the Spanish version of the Being a Mother scale
Authors: Riera-Martín Anna , Oliver-Roig Antonio , Cormenzana Susana , Richart-Martínez Miguel , Martínez-Pampliega Ana
Published: October 2024

Background

Becoming a mother is a very important process because of the impact it can have on women and their families. Currently, there is no validated questionnaire that evaluates the process of becoming a mother in the Spanish population. Moreover, no consistent results have been obtained to identify significant differences between primiparous and multiparous mothers.

Aim

(1) Linguistic and metric validation of the Being a Mother scale (BaM-13) in the Spanish population, (2) analysis of possible differences between primiparous and multiparous mothers’ experience of motherhood.

Methods

Instrumental design. In 2016–2017, a sample of 579 mothers with children between 6 and 11 months of age completed the Spanish version of BaM-13. The instrument was translated using forward and back translation. Construct validity, internal consistency, and criterion validity were empirically analyzed.

Results

Factorial analyses showed that the scale presented two adequate factors. Internal consistency of the global scale (α = 0.818, ω = 0.861), the Postnatal bonding factor (α = 0.773, ω = 0.784), and the Adult’s experience factor (α = 0.710, ω = 0.721) was adequate. Significant associations were found with postpartum depression (r = 0.560), parental competence (r =  − 0.584) and postnatal bonding (r =  − 0.327). In terms of parity, primiparous mothers have greater difficulty in postnatal bonding, compared to multiparous mothers (p = 0.006).

Conclusions

The Spanish version of the BaM-13 scale is valid for measuring mothers’ experience of motherhood in a wide range of domains. The findings of the study show the importance of considering parity in the experience of becoming a mother, highlighting the approach to postnatal bonding in primiparous mothers. Additionally, we underline that it should not be assumed that multiparous mothers experience fewer difficulties in their motherhood process.
Efficacy and safety of intracavitary electrocardiography-guided peripherally inserted central catheters in pediatric patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Li , Wang Min , Zhao Mingjia , Pu Siyi , Zhao Jiao , Zhu Ge , Zhang Qin , Li Dan
Published: October 2024

Objective

To assess the efficacy and safety of intracavitary electrocardiography (IC-ECG)-guided peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placements in pediatric patients, emphasizing improvements over traditional placement methods.

Methods

A literature search was conducted in April 2024 across PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. Studies focusing on pediatric patients and reporting the efficacy and safety of IC-ECG-guided PICC placement via the upper extremity were included. This study was registered with the PROSPERO database (CRD42024549037) in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Results

Eleven studies were included, comprising five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and six quasi-experimental studies. The pooled analysis showed that IC-ECG had an applicability and feasibility of 97% and 98%, respectively. The first puncture success rate was 91%, and the overall success rate was 98%. Sensitivity and specificity were 97% and 80%, respectively. IC-ECG significantly reduced overall complications compared to traditional methods (RR: 0.31, 95% CI [0.20–0.46], p < 0.00001), particularly in phlebitis (RR: 0.25, 95% CI [0.11–0.57], p = 0.001) and arrhythmias (RR: 0.09, 95% CI [0.01–0.70], p = 0.021). Similar results were observed in neonates. Only one case of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) was reported, and no arrhythmia events were noted.

Conclusion

IC-ECG-guided PICC placement is a highly effective and safe method for pediatric patients, including neonates, offering significant advantages over traditional techniques. Further high-quality studies are needed to standardize procedural techniques and explore cost-effectiveness.
The Impact of the Establishment of Heavy Industry (İsdemir) on Payas (Hatay) District
Authors: KARAGEL Eylül
Published: October 2024

Payas district has always made itself mentioned thanks to the advantages provided by transportation facilities in the historical process due to its geographical location. It is one of the 3 new districts of Hatay, the southernmost
province of our country, established in 2012. The administrative area of the district, where different morphographic units are located between the west of the Amanos Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, has a total of 12 settlement
units, including urban and rural areas. Payas district center is divided into 9 neighborhoods, including the area rising with a slight slope from the coast to the foothills. The rural area is characterized by the spread of villages
and sub-village settlements established along the slopes of the mountainous area. Payas settlement has served as an important center in history. Its location on the route between Anatolia and Mesopotamia made it important as one
of the accommodation places for caravans. The administrative change it has undergone until today has also affected the functional sphere of influence of the settlement. Payas, which had 989 inhabitants in the first years of the
Republic, is a small village settlement. In 1942, it merged with the neighboring village and became a municipality. The main population increase and functional change started in 1970. Heavy industry transformed the settlement of
Payas as well as all the settlements around the gulf in terms of the industrial sector. Between 1970 and 1975, the population of Payas increased by 325% to 25.500 people. This population value is only the change in Payas settlement.
In addition, rural areas and neighboring districts also experienced large population increases. Interregional migration due to industry has affected functional land use. On the one hand, the coastal plains occupied by industrial
areas started to be utilized to meet the housing needs of the increasing population. This rapid change has caused the intensive spread of industrial and residential areas. In this study, it was tried to reveal the rapid population
migration of Payas district due to the heavy industry and the land use characteristics it brought along with it. For this purpose, the study was directed by using field studies, document analysis and statistical data.
Perceived Stress, Depression and Anxiety in the Spouses of Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Vivekanandan Saranya , Preethi S , Saha Arnab , Jhamuna R
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a significant public health issue in India, where alcohol consumption is discouraged but often practiced excessively. In our country, with an emphasis on the family system, the spouses of individuals with alcohol dependence are also affected in many ways. The patients and their spouses are bound to affect each other, as spouses are usually the primary caregivers. Aim: To study the impact of AUD on the spouses of affected individuals, focusing on perceived stress, depression and anxiety. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 spouses of patients with AUD who visited the Psychiatry Outpatient Department (OPD) the Department of Psychiatry, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, a tertiary hospital in the Chennai suburban area over a period of two months. Data were collected between November 2021 and December 2021 using a socio-demographic proforma to record age, education, employment and the ages of children, among other factors. Assessment tools used included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) for assessing depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software. Independent t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for comparison. Results: The average age of the participants was 42.1±11.7 years, with moderate variability. Most participants were educated (81%), employed (84%) and residing in nuclear families (76%). The study revealed moderate levels of perceived stress (24.2), variable anxiety (19.2) and varying degrees of depression (16.4) among the spouses. Employed individuals had significantly lower anxiety and depression scores compared to non employed individuals. The correlations indicated positive associations between stress, anxiety and depression. Anxiety was positively correlated with the ages of male children (r=0.244, p=0.016) and female children (r=0.363, p=0.002). Similarly, depression was correlated with the ages of male children (r=0.258, p=0.011) and female children (r=0.292, p=0.014). Conclusion: The present study underscores the substantial impact of AUD on spouses, highlighting notable levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Employment status has emerged as a crucial factor influencing mental health outcomes.
Clinicopathological Analysis of GATA3 Positive Breast Cancers with Molecular Subtypes: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Goel Vibhav , Marwah Nisha , Verma Renuka , Gupta Sumiti , Lamba Ekta , Singh Sunita
Published: October 2024

Introduction: In breast carcinoma, a panel of various marker proteins are used to characterise tumour subtypes, confirm tissue of origin, distinguish metastatic tumours from primary tumours, and provide additional information that may be important for prognosis, predicting response to therapy, or evaluating residual tumours post-treatment. Aim: To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) in breast carcinoma. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology in collaboration with the Department of Surgery at Pt. BD Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India over the period of one year from April 2023 to March 2024. Tumour specimens (n=60) were obtained after modified radical mastectomy. All clinicopathological parameters were noted. Histological tumour grading was performed using the Nottingham Modification of the Bloom-Richardson (MBR) grading system, and representative sections were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for Oestrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2/Neu (HER2/Neu), and Ki-67 for molecular subtyping, as well as GATA3 expression. The association between GATA3 expression and clinicopathological parameters and different breast cancer molecular subtypes was calculated using the Chi-square and Fisher’s exact Test. The collected data were analysed using the software package Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0. Results: The age of patients ranged from 28 to 75 years, with a median age of 50.0 years. Triple-negative/basal-like was the most common molecular subtype 20 (33.33%) among all cases. Sixteen cases (26.67%) were of the luminal A subtype. Other molecular subtypes included 12 cases (20%) each of luminal B and HER2-enriched types. GATA3 was positive in 45 of 60 cases, constituting 75% of all cases. A statistically significant relationship was observed between GATA3-positive tumours and histological grade (p-value=0.024), ER status (p-value<0.001), PR status of the tumour (p-value=0.001), and the luminal A and B molecular subtypes (p-value<0.001). No association was found between GATA3 expression and patient age, side of the breast involved, tumour size, histologic subtype, lymph node status, Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI), or HER2/Neu status of the tumour. Conclusion: GATA3 is a sensitive marker of breast carcinoma and exhibits nuclear expression that aids in better interpretation. It can be especially useful in metastatic breast carcinoma when considered in conjunction with other immunohistochemical markers. GATA3-positive breast cancers demonstrate luminal differentiation and are characterised by high ER and PR expression.
Assessing the Impact of Community Health Workforce on the Efficiency and Accessibility of Healthcare Delivery
Authors: Hassan Saidu Malgwi , Okoli Ernest Chinedu , Azike Chidimma Anthonia , Okoye Nelyn Akunna , Adindu Nelson Kelechi
Published: October 2024

The role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in improving healthcare delivery, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), has garnered increased attention due to their ability to bridge the gap between formal health systems and underserved communities. This study assesses the impact of CHWs on healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and quality. CHWs have been instrumental in expanding healthcare access, especially in rural and remote areas, by providing primary care, maternal and child health services, and chronic disease management. Additionally, CHWs enhance health system efficiency by alleviating the burden on overworked health professionals, enabling them to focus on more specialized care. However, challenges remains regarding the sustainability of CHW programs, including inadequate training, compensation, and integration into formal healthcare systems, which can affect the quality of care. Addressing these challenges through sustained investment, political support, and better integration is critical for maximizing the potential of CHWs to transform healthcare delivery, reduce health disparities, and promote health equity.
XRD Studies on Metamorphic Changes of the Dissimilarly Graphitized Carbonaceous Materials
Authors: Marahatta Anant Babu
Published: October 2024

One of the unique yet functional properties of the carbonaceous materials is an irregular change in their internal heterogeneity and graphene layouts upon graphitizing themselves. The precise investigations of such type phase transitions inclusive of reshuffling/restructuring of the sporadically arranged graphene C–atoms, and thereby acquiring crystallite growths & contractions, crystallinity, graphitization degree, extent of structural orders, dissimilar range pores & porosity networks, etc., are indispensable for understanding the actual transformation aptitudes of the low temperature amorphous carbons into the crystalline semi-graphite and graphite like functional materials. In this report, the XRD spectroscopy is applied to the variably carbonized and graphitized carbon materials (activated carbons (AC1─AC3) & carbon blacks (CB1─CB4)), and the progressive internal improvisations in their graphene layouts caused by the dissimilar metamorphic temperature regimes are sought out. For this, the XRD diffractograms linked descriptors (diffraction angles (\(2\theta\)), intergraphene layer gap (d), & crystallite sizes (Lc)), and the correlations between many descriptive subordinates (% crystallinity (%C), graphitization degree (%DOG), metamorphic temperature (Tmet), BET surface area (SBET), and specific capacitance (CSP)) are taken into account. The former set speculates the existence of lower amorphicity and higher graphitic homogeneity in CBs than in the ACs, and elucidates their contrasting inbound graphene configurations. And, the latter set quantifies the extent to which the founding graphitic units of them undergo significant improvements owing to acquire better functional domains. The applicative propensities for them are forecasted as CB4 (C = 1.3%, DOG = 98%, Tmet = 595⁰C, SBET = 5348 m2/g, CSP = 600 F/g) > CB3 (C = 5.1%, DOG = 96%, Tmet = 588⁰C, SBET = 3735 m2/g, CSP = 419 F/g) > CB2 (C = 5.8%, DOG = 93%, Tmet = 576⁰C, SBET =1508 m2/g, CSP = 169 F/g) > CB1 (C = 19.7%, DOG = 64%, Tmet = 486⁰C, SBET = 1186 m2/g, CSP = 133 F/g). The author believes these datasets as quite useful while specifying their compressibility & reinforcement, binding & lubricity, catalysts & catalysis, electrochemical & electro-adsorption, etc., and can be referred time to time while identifying distinctive functionalities of one over the others.
Managing Aggressive Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Young Smoker: A Case Report of Rapid Progression and Severe Complications
Authors: Faisal Shaji , Khan Osaf Ali , Bajwa Amina Yousaf , Tariq Muhammad Umar , Bibi Ruqiya , Subhan Muhammad
Published: October 2024

This case report has detailed the clinical journey of a 35-year-old male who was diagnosed with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine tumor. The patient presented with a left hilar mass and extensive metastasis to the spine and right hip bone. His medical history included chronic smoking, and he exhibited symptoms of worsening shortness of breath, cough, weight loss, and chest pain. Despite aggressive management, including chemotherapy, the patient succumbed to acute complications. We discussed his clinical presentation, diagnostic process, treatment course, and outcome, highlighting the rarity and aggressive nature of SCLC, which accounts for approximately 15% of all lung cancers. This report has emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive treatment in managing SCLC. Further research is necessary to understand better the epidemiology, prognosis, and most effective treatment strategies for these patients. Addressing knowledge gaps in this area will be key to improving patient outcomes.
Efficacy of Insecticides Against Yellow Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas Walker) and Rice Leaf Folder (Cnaphaocrocis medinalis Guenee) and Their Impact on Natural Enemies in Rice Ecosystem
Authors: Saikia Rituraj , Borah Sanjib Ranjan , Konwar Milon Jyoti , Bharali Arunima , Hussain Safiqul
Published: October 2024

The experiment was conducted at AAU-Assam Rice Research Institute, Titabor to test the efficacy of some insecticides against yellow stem borer and rice leaf folder. Out of 8 tested insecticides, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC showed the best result in minimizing yellow stem borer and rice leaf folder infestation. The lowest infestation percentage of yellow stem borer (2.10%) was observed on Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC treated plots followed by treatment with Chlorantraniliprole 10% + Lambda Cyhalothrin 5% ZC (2.33 %) at 7 DAT. Similarly, white ear head (0.33%) was also recorded as the lowest on Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC treated plots. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC recorded the lowest infestation percentage of rice leaf folder at 7 DAT (3.40 %) and 14 DAT (3.53 %) followed by Chlorantraniliprole 10% + Lambda Cyhalothrin 5% ZC. While, the highest number of spiders and coccinellids were recorded in Chlorantraniliprole 0.4GR (2.43 spider/plant and 1.33 coccinellids/plant) followed by Thiamethoxam 25WG (2.13 spiders/plant and 1.10 coccinellids/plant). In terms of yield, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC was found to be the best insecticide which provided the highest yield of 5.83t/ha among all the tested insecticides.