bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel secured open standard framework for internet of things applications integrating elliptic curve cryptography and fog computing
Authors: Ravindra Krishnapura Srinivasa , Rao Malode Vishwanatha Panduranga
Published: October 2024

The internet of things (IoT) has revolutionized various fields by enabling seamless connectivity and data exchange among numerous devices. However, this interconnectivity introduces significant security challenges, particularly in ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. This study proposes a novel secure open standard framework for IoT applications, addressing these challenges through the integration of elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) and fog computing. The framework consists of three core components: secure device registration, data encryption within the fog gateway, and a robust mechanism for detecting man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. The unique aspect of the proposed method lies in its comprehensive approach to IoT security. Utilizing ECC, the framework ensures secure communication among resource constrained IoT devices, balancing encryption strength and efficiency. The integration of fog computing reduces latency and enhances processing efficiency by offloading intensive tasks from IoT devices to the fog layer. The MITM attack detection mechanism continuously monitors cryptographic keys and communication patterns, providing an additional layer of security against advanced cyber threats. The system was implemented and evaluated using the NS-3.26 network simulator and Python for data visualization. The experimental setup included 100 IoT devices, 25 users, a fog gateway, a datacenter, and a cloud server. Results demonstrate the framework's scalability and efficiency, with consistent throughput increases and balanced power consumption across varying IoT device numbers.
Evolution of the concept of device moving from internet of things to artificial intelligence of things
Authors: Paolone Gaetanino , Pilotti Francesco , Piazza Andrea
Published: October 2024

The internet of things (IoT) refers to a network of physical devices that are embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity, allowing them to collect and share data. The devices are the core of any IoT ecosystem. Browsing the extant literature, it emerges that the meaning of the term device depends on the reference context. It follows that, it is an important topic to investigate the reasons behind such a degree of indeterminacy. This paper elaborates on the evolution of the concept of device moving from IoT to artificial intelligence of things (AIoT). The finding that comes from this study is that this evolution is a direct consequence of the evolution of the IoT computing paradigms.
Enhancing resource management in fog-cloud internet of things systems with deep learning-based task allocation
Authors: Venkatesan Vijayalakshmi , Murugan Saravanan
Published: October 2024

A fog-cloud internet of things (IoT) system integrates fog computing with cloud infrastructure to efficiently manage processing data closer to the source, reducing latency and bandwidth usage. Efficient task scheduling in fog-cloud system is crucial for optimizing resource utilization and minimizing energy consumption. Even though many authors proposed energy efficient algorithms, failed to provide efficient method to decide the task placement between fog nodes and cloud nodes. The proposed hybrid approach is used to distinguish the task placement between fog and cloud nodes. The hybrid approach comprises the parametric task categorization algorithm (PTCA) for task categorization and the multi metric forecasting model (MMFM) based on deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) recurrent neural networks for scheduling decisions. PTCA classifies tasks based on priority, quality of service (QoS) demands, and computational needs, facilitating informed decisions on task execution locations. MMFM enhances scheduling by optimizing energy efficiency and task completion time. The experimental evaluation outperforms the existing models, including random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and k-nearest neighbors (KNN). The proposed result shows an accuracy rate of 89%, and energy is consumed 50% lesser than the existing models. The proposed research advances energy-efficient task scheduling, enabling intelligent resource management in fog-cloud IoT environments.
Improved impressed current cathodic protection systems by incorporating a pulse-feeding technique integrated with internet of things capabilities
Authors: Adzman Mohd Rafi , Sallehuddin Aiman Arif Mohd , Shamsudin Shaiful Rizam , Husin Nusaybah Mohd , Haniff Nur Syakirah Mohammed , Gunasilan Mahalaksmi , Idris Muhd Hafizi , Amirruddin Melaty
Published: October 2024

This paper introduces an innovative improvement to impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems by integrating a pulse-feeding technique designed to address metal protection degradation during off-potential periods, a common issue in conventional systems. The proposed system enhances the overall effectiveness and reliability of ICCP, providing consistent corrosion protection for critical metal structures. A notable advantage of this method is its simplicity, utilizing a cost-effective microcontroller for pulse feeding. This approach simplifies integration processes and enhances cost-effectiveness, making it an attractive solution for improving cathodic protection system performance without substantial additional costs. The method addresses conventional ICCP weaknesses by applying a high-frequency pulse current during off-potential periods. This reduces excessive negative charge buildup on metal surfaces during interruptions, boosting the system’s effectiveness and stability. Research laboratory experiments were conducted using pulse width modulation (PWM) on an ATmega328P microcontroller to demonstrate the method’s effectiveness. Additionally, an IoT-monitored ICCP system was developed using an ESP32 microcontroller and the Blynk application. Results highlight the superiority of a 50 kHz pulse feeding frequency in preventing corrosion compared to lower frequencies. Overall, this advancement significantly enhances ICCP systems, providing improved corrosion protection and durability in harsh environments.
Proactive monitoring and predictive alerts for COVID-19 patient management using internet of things, artificial intelligence, and cloud
Authors: Leila Ennaceur , Othman Soufiene Ben , Sakli Hedi , Yahia Mohamed
Published: October 2024

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has sparked changes across various domains, encompassing health, commerce, education, and the economy. Given the widespread impact of COVID-19 across numerous nations, it has strained hospital resources, oxygen reserves, and healthcare personnel. Consequently, there exists an urgent necessity to exploit sophisticated technologies such as artificial intelligence and the internet of things (IoT) to monitor patients effectively. This scholarly article proposes a prototype that integrates IoT and artificial intelligence (IA) for the surveillance of COVID-19 patients within healthcare facilities. Wearable IoT devices, equipped with embedded sensors, autonomously collect vital information like oxygen levels and body temperature. Notably, oxygen saturation and heart rate serve as significant markers in COVID-19 cases. These metrics are discerned through the deep learning capabilities of the TensorFlow library. The prototype aims to augment the intelligence of IoT sensors to identify these crucial signs through a trained model. A meticulously labeled dataset comprising oxygen saturation and heart rate data is amassed. Deep neural networks are deployed to prognosticate the disease's progression. The utilization of these technologies harbors the potential for rapid advancements in healthcare, thereby mitigating risks to human life and fostering more proactive responses to health crises.
lncRNA VELRP Modulates Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Promotes Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Liu Cuilian , Chen Jidong , Huang Xingtao , Xia Qinyi , Yang Lei , Guo Jiao , Tian Jinglin , Wang Jun , Niu Yanqin , Li Li , Gou Deming
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND:

Pulmonary hypertension is a devastating vascular disorder characterized by extensive pulmonary vascular remodeling, ultimately leading to right ventricular failure and death. Activation of PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor) signaling promotes the hyperproliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), thus contributing to the pulmonary vascular remodeling. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern hyperproliferation of PASMCs induced by PDGF remain largely unknown, including the contribution of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). In this study, we aimed to identify a novel lncRNA regulated by PDGF implicated in PASMC proliferation in pulmonary vascular remodeling.

METHODS:

RNA-sequencing analysis was conducted to identify a novel lncRNA named vessel-enriched lncRNA regulated by PDGF-BB (platelet-derived growth factor-BB; VELRP). Functional investigations of VELRP were performed using knockdown and overexpression strategies along with RNA sequencing. Validation of the function and potential mechanisms of VELRP was performed through Western blot, RNA immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays.

RESULTS:

We identified a novel vessel-enriched lncRNA with an increased response to PDGF-BB stimulus. VELRP was identified as an evolutionarily conserved RNA molecule. Modulation of VELRP in PASMCs significantly altered cell proliferation. Mechanistically, VELRP enhances trimethylation of H3K4 (histone H3 lysine 4) by interacting with WDR5 (WD repeat-containing protein 5), leading to increased expression of CDK (cyclin-dependent kinase) 1, CDK2, and CDK4 and consequent hyperproliferation of PASMCs. The pathological relevance of VELRP upregulation in pulmonary artery was confirmed using rat pulmonary hypertension models in vivo, as well as in PASMCs from patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Specific knockdown of VELRP in smooth muscle cells using adeno-associated virus type 9 SM22α (smooth muscle protein 22α) promoter–shRNA-mediated silencing of VELRP resulted in a significant decrease in right ventricular systolic pressure and vascular remodeling in rat pulmonary hypertension model.

CONCLUSIONS:

VELRP, as an lncRNA upregulated by PDGF-BB, mediates PASMC proliferation via WDR5/CDK signaling. In vivo studies demonstrate that targeted intervention of VELRP in smooth muscle cells can prevent the development of pulmonary hypertension.
SPA Promotes Atherosclerosis Through Mediating Macrophage Foam Cell Formation—Brief Report
Authors: King Skylar D. , Cai Dunpeng , Pillay Alisha , Fraunfelder Mikayla M. , Allen Lee-Ann H. , Chen Shi-You
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND:

Atherosclerosis is a progressive inflammatory disease in which macrophage foam cells play a central role in disease pathogenesis. SPA (surfactant protein A) is a lipid-associating protein involved with regulating macrophage function in various inflammatory diseases. However, the role of SPA in atherosclerosis and macrophage foam cell formation has not been investigated.

METHODS:

SPA expression was assessed in healthy and atherosclerotic human coronary arteries and the brachiocephalic arteries of wild-type or ApoE-deficient mice fed high-fat diets for 4 weeks. Hypercholesteremic wild-type and SPA-deficient mice fed a high-fat diet for 6 weeks were investigated for atherosclerotic lesions in vivo. In vitro experiments using RAW264.7 macrophages, primary resident peritoneal macrophages extracted from wild-type or SPA-deficient mice, and human monocyte-derived macrophages from the peripheral blood of healthy donors determined the functional effects of SPA in macrophage foam cell formation.

RESULTS:

SPA expression was increased in atherosclerotic lesions in humans and ApoE-deficient mice and in response to a proatherosclerotic stimulus in vitro. SPA deficiency reduced the lipid profiles induced by hypercholesterolemia, attenuated atherosclerosis, and reduced the number of lesion-associated macrophage foam cells. In vitro studies revealed that SPA deficiency reduced intracellular cholesterol accumulation and macrophage foam cell formation. Mechanistically, SPA deficiency dramatically downregulated the expression of scavenger receptor CD36 (cluster of differentiation antigen 36) cellular and lesional expression. Importantly, SPA also increased CD36 expression in human monocyte-derived macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results elucidate that SPA is a novel factor promoting atherosclerosis development. SPA enhances macrophage foam cell formation and atherosclerosis by increasing scavenger receptor CD36 expression, leading to increasing cellular OxLDL influx.
DIGITAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: REVISITING IDENTITY CRISIS FOR THE ADAPTATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Hergüner Burak
Published: October 2024

Recent technological advancements have undoubtedly made significant contributions to ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of public services and preventing red tape. However, as has been examined through artificial intelligence in this study, it has also brought along some questions in the discipline of public administration, especially within the framework of legitimacy and values. Nonetheless, in order to adapt these new technological techniques to public administration in a sustainable way, perhaps paradoxically, previous dichotomies and crises in the discipline may be illuminative. Therefore, the study analyzes the direction of the digital transformation of public administration through politics-administration, fact-value dichotomies and identity crisis. In the study, along with the benefits of digital transformation and especially artificial intelligence applications, their risks for public administration are also discussed in detail. Afterward, the approaches of two leading figures of public administration, Herbert Simon and Dwight Waldo, were revisited in order to provide a framework for a correct approach to identity crises that today's public administration may face with digital transformation. For this reason, the arguments of both names have been put forward through the literature in the study. Then, the question of how to properly adapt professions for artificial intelligence to public administration was answered.
EXTREME WEATHER AND DEMAND: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF TURKISH MARKET FOR AIR CONDITIONERS
Authors: Soytas Mehmet Ali , Durak Uşar Damla
Published: October 2024

Extreme weather can impact both businesses and consumers in significant ways. Firms can be affected through changes and disruptions in production and operations but can also be affected through the demand response as consumers’ demand for various goods and services changes due to extreme weather. We investigate the interdependence between the extreme temperatures and the AC demand. Demand for ACs in Turkey is growing in the last decades due to both demographic factors and an episode of rapid increase in the GDP per capita. However, the pace of the growth is not uniform and varies due to the existence of different climatic and socioeconomic conditions across different regions of Turkey. To reckon with time and cross-sectional variation as well as the city level climatic and socioeconomic differences, we estimate a dynamic fixed effect (DFE) model and use cointegration framework to identify short and long run effects of the extreme weather on the AC demand. We find strong evidence of a long run equilibrium effect where the consumer demand for ACs increases significantly due to extreme hot weather.
Quest for Social Inclusion on Digital Platform: Evidence of Gender-differentiated Effects on Micro and Small Businesses in China
Authors: Kong Sherry Tao , Xiang Xu , Chen Qiuhui
Published: October 2024

Amidst the global surge in digitalization, China emerges as a frontrunner, boasting a digital economy constituting 40 percent of its GDP and engaging over 1 billion users. Despite this, quantitative analyses on the socioeconomic impacts, particularly concerning gender inclusivity, remain sparse. This study addresses this gap by examining a sample of over 30,000 Chinese micro and small enterprises (MSEs) operating on a leading fintech platform. Our findings indicate a significant revenue boost for MSEs following platform registration, with pronounced benefits accruing to female entrepreneurs and marginalized populations. The adoption of digital payment systems and the availability of non-discriminatory credit are identified as pivotal mechanisms. These findings offer valuable insights into the transformative societal impact of digital platforms and mechanisms for fostering socioeconomic inclusivity.
Resilience and Post-traumatic Growth among Cancer Patients: A Moderated Mediation Analysis through Perceived Social Support and Stress
Authors: Zahra Kaneez , Khan Saira , Sadia Rayna , Aslam Irum
Published: October 2024

Background. A cancer diagnosis is a powerful, unanticipated, and occasionally traumatic event which impacts an individual with evidence of a life-threatening illness. As a potentially terminal illness, cancer entails substantial physical, emotional, and psychological costs. Even though psychological resources such as social support and resilience promote post-traumatic growth, chronic stressors experienced by cancer patients have the potential to weaken the function of such positive resources. Therefore, it is crucial to assess how stress impacts post-traumatic growth among cancer patients. Objective. The present study aimed to examine the moderating effect of stress on post-traumatic growth and resilience among cancer patients mediated by perceived social support. Design. A cross-sectional research design and purposive sampling technique was used to collect data on Urdu versions of the Short Form of the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, Brief Resilience Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Stress subscale of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale. Cancer patients (N = 200) were approached and recruited from public and private hospitals in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Gilgit Baltistan to participate in the research. Results. Post-traumatic growth had a positive association with resilience and perceived social support. However, stress was negatively related to all study variables. Moderated mediation analysis highlighted that high levels of stress decrease the indirect impact of resilience on post-traumatic growth through perceived social support. Conclusion. The study’s findings imply that stress must be given considerable attention while fostering post-traumatic growth among cancer patients. Based on these findings, future studies should also take into account specific age range of the sample, types of cancer (and other terminal illnesses), the cross-sectional nature of the study, and individual differences in coping with illness for a comprehensive understanding of post-traumatic growth among cancer patients.
Bodies as Temples
Authors: Ìbírónkẹ́ Shalom , Iwuh John , Uwadinma-Idemudia Eunice
Published: October 2024

The portrayal of disability within sacred and dramatic narratives offers an avenue for the examination of societal and theological paradigms. Such an examination is attempted in this study by investigating the representation of disability in the Bible and Ola Rotimi’s play Hopes of the Living Dead through the theoretical frameworks of Ableism and Reynolds’ hermeneutical approach. Biblical stories depicting disability as a curse, a tool, and a subject of divine healing are used in the research to explore the complex interplay between societal perceptions and theological implications. Rotimi’s dramatization of people with leprosy further elucidates themes of marginalisation and resilience within a predominantly secular context. Integrating Ableism theory, this paper critiques normative conceptions of ability and disability, while Reynolds’ hermeneutical methodology facilitates a nuanced interpretation of the often-conflicting representations found in both sacred texts and dramatic literature. This interdisciplinary approach yields comprehensive insights into the cultural, religious, and social constructs surrounding disability, advocating for more inclusive and empathetic interpretative practices.
Comparative Analysis of the Relevance and Priority for Artificial Intelligence Tools, Services and Open Questions in the Hellenic, Argentinian and Canadian Parliaments
Authors: von Lucke Jörn , Fitsilis Fotios , Gagnon Stéphane
Published: October 2024

Artificial Intelligence (ai) is on the rise and already affecting parliaments around the world. In the framework of a long-term and on-going research project, a series of interactive workshops have been organized between 2021 and 2023 in three national parliaments, in Greece, Argentina, and Canada, with the objective to assess the relevance and priority of a pre-defined set of 210 proposals, primarily regarding the use of ai-based tools and services in the parliamentary workspace. Reflection groups within each parliament evaluated these proposals providing invaluable results that can be utilized in manifold ways by the institutions, for instance towards structuring digital strategies, designing future it systems, or training intra-parliamentary stakeholders. This article presents a comparative analysis of the results obtained by all three parliaments. The analysis sheds light in a rapidly developing field of disruptive parliamentary technology (ParlTech) that with define the parliaments of the future.
Diversity of High-Frequency (10–25-Day) Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Wang Tianyi , Wang Bin
Published: October 2024

The high-frequency (HF) (10–25 days) boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) connects tightly to day-to-day weather and is inimitable in regulating extreme weather events. The western North Pacific (WNP) exhibits the most robust HF-BSISO variability worldwide, overshadowing the low-frequency (25–90 days) BSISO variability. Revealing the diversity of the HF-BSISO over the WNP area is crucial for understanding the BSISO physics and the week two-to-four subseasonal forecast. This study objectively identified four types of HF-BSISO by cluster analysis of the (two-dimensional) propagation of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) anomalies, including two northwestward-propagating patterns, with trajectories predominantly being located to the east and west of the Philippines, a westward-propagating Rossby wave train from the Philippine Sea to the Bay of Bengal, and a quasi-standing oscillation pattern centered around the Luzon Island. We have explored the propagation mechanisms of each archetype through a column-integrated moist static energy (MSE) budget diagnosis. Potential factors influencing the diverse propagation patterns are identified and compared. Basically, advections by the background flow predominantly drive the three propagating patterns, while the quasi-standing oscillation pattern is more sensitive to the surface turbulent heat fluxes. It is suggested that the diverse propagation patterns of the HF-BSISO over WNP could be impacted by the background states. However, the origins of these diversified propagation forms are complex and deserve further exploration.
After the organization: Symbolic capital and negative expert knowledge in post-whistleblowing careers
Authors: Olesen Thomas
Published: October 2024

The literature on whistleblowing rightly identifies the retaliatory and psychologically hurtful experiences that whistleblowers go through. As a result, many end up leaving or being dismissed from their organization. However, the literature has been less attentive to the way these negative experiences can in some cases function as a resource that enable whistleblowers to develop new careers after the organization. To explore this idea, the paper analyzes 11 high-profile whistleblower cases and asks: What kinds of professional careers have these whistleblowers pursued after leaving their organization? The analysis finds that 10 out of 11 whistleblowers have found new careers in activism, politics, advocacy, commentary, and journalism. It explains this outcome through Pierre Bourdieu's notion of symbolic capital and a new theoretical concept developed for this paper: negative expert knowledge. The combination of symbolic capital and negative expert knowledge provides whistleblowers with a unique set of skills and qualities that can be converted into new career trajectories. In this way, the paper offers a new approach to life after whistleblowing that looks not only on victimization and destructive experiences but also at the resources, values, and competences associated with this form of action.
Evolving Role of Coronary Collaterals in STEMI Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis of Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Phases
Authors: Ozcan Ozgur Ulas , Demircelik Muhammed Bora , Hakgor Aykun , Dursun Atakan , Yazar Arzu , Akhundova Aysel , Cakal Beytullah , Karaca Oguz , Boztosun Bilal
Published: October 2024

Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a critical condition where coronary collaterals can mitigate myocardial damage. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic introduced unique challenges in STEMI management, potentially affecting outcomes. This study evaluates the efficacy of coronary collaterals during the pandemic compared to the post-pandemic period. A review of 1465 STEMI patients treated at a high-volume tertiary care center from April 2020 to December 2022 was conducted. Collaterals were assessed using the Rentrop classification. In-hospital mortality and 1-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were analyzed based on collateral status and timeframes. During the pandemic, there was a higher incidence of robust collaterals (28.2% vs 23.2%, P = .04), but they were less protective, with similar in-hospital mortality (14.4% vs 8.1%, P = .07) and 1-year MACE rates (21.9% vs 30.4%, P = .09) across groups. Post-pandemic, robust collaterals showed significant protective effects with reduced in-hospital mortality (3.6% vs 7.4%, P = .04) and 1-year MACE rates (17.1% vs 24.9%, P = .03). These findings highlight a dynamic role of collaterals in STEMI management, with the pandemic impairing their functionality. This underscores the need for adaptive STEMI care strategies, especially during global health crises.
Browsing: Further thoughts on this month’s theme
Authors: Preston Teresa
Published: October 2024

Additional resources and discussion questions related to the October 2024 Kappan theme, “Education for Mastery.”
Taking HOMies from the classroom to the whole school
Authors: Nathan Linda , Fuller Demetrius , Meyers Nate
Published: October 2024

Demetrius Fuller developed the HOMies, eight characters who represent eight habits of mind for learners, while he was an art teacher at a Massachusetts elementary school. When students began talking about the HOMies outside their art class, the initiative spread across the school. Linda Nathan, Demetrius Fuller, and Nate Meyers describe the HOMies and unpack the key ingredients involved in scaling a good classroom practice throughout an entire school. They look at the role of involving teachers from different subject areas and with different perspectives in the program. This example shows how teachers and leaders can ensure that innovative ideas can be shared and sustained so that schools can continually evolve to find ways to meet student needs.
Deliberating across difference
Authors: Sheran Brendan , Carey Ashley , Schneider Jack , Woodland Rebecca , McDermott Kathryn
Published: October 2024

Dialogue, listening, and compromise are essential elements of living in a democracy. In a highly partisan time, is it possible to reestablish common ground when it comes to how best to educate our children in and for democracy? Authors Brendan Sheran, Ashley Carey, Jack Schneider, Rebecca Woodland, and Kathryn McDermott, who are affiliated with Center for Education Policy (CEP) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, outline a process called deliberative polling. They used this process of bringing citizens together in a structured way to deliver information and allow for questions and discussion in their Civic Summit. The event, in which Massachusetts citizens discussed the pros and cons of an upcoming state ballot measure on high school graduation exams, was an example of how a summit can bring people together to discuss, safety ask questions, and debate education issues.
Under the Law: Grade retention and the law
Authors: Kim Robert
Published: October 2024

Being retained in a grade can have long-term consequences for students, and certain students are disproportionately likely to be retained in their grade. Robert Kim considers grade retention as a potential civil rights issue. Thus far, courts have been reluctant to overrule schools’ decisions in this area. However, cases that illuminate large disparities among students or that tie grade retention clearly to other acknowledged civil rights violations might invite greater judicial scrutiny.
Neighbourhoods as resource hubs and resource nodes: Civic organisations and political recruitment of first- and second-generation immigrants in Berlin, Germany
Authors: El-Kayed Nihad
Published: October 2024

Neighbourhood effects are commonly understood as an effect of a characteristic of the residential location on social outcomes – although people are also linked to other places in their everyday lives. Based on a mixed-methods study on the significance of neighbourhoods for political recruitment of first- and second-generation Turkish immigrants in Berlin, this article shows that neighbourhoods with a strong migrant civic infrastructure are important places for political recruitment – not only for their residents, but also for visitors and people linked to them through social networks. The article identifies three mechanisms by which people can be linked to neighbourhoods and the resources embedded in them. The first is residency. Second, neighbourhoods can work as a hub when people visit them to shop, meet friends, or engage in other activities. Visitors can then profit from a neighbourhood’s infrastructure, such as civic organisations. Third, neighbourhoods work as a node when social networks transmit information and resources originating in one neighbourhood context – for example, political information – to others located outside of it. The article contributes to an understanding of neighbourhoods not as closed-off containers but as being interconnected to other places, non-residents, and resources, an understanding that comprehends the spatial production of social inequalities in terms of residency, everyday mobility, and social network connections.
Effectiveness and safety of detachable fibered coils as a single therapy for embolization in venous origin chronic pelvic pain
Authors: Rodríguez Carvajal Rubén , Bretos-Azcona Pablo E. , Láinez Rube Rocío , Hernández Carbonell María Teresa , Ruales Romero Ana Margarita
Published: October 2024

Objectives

To investigate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment by embolization with detachable fibered coils of insufficient pelvic veins, as the primary cause of Venous Origin Chronic Pelvic Pain (VOCPP).

Methods

This observational, retrospective study analyzes data from the PELVIC registry from 2014 to 2022. Sociodemographic, diagnostic, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative follow-up variables were reported.

Results

A total of 255 patients were included, with follow-up periods up to 5 years. The study’s effectiveness was significant with a 60% decrease in pelvic pain at the first follow-up after treatment measured by a Visual Analogue Scale ( p = 0.001). There were also decreases in the severity levels of dyspareunia ( p = 0.03), dysmenorrhea ( p = 0.12) and presence of Pelvic Venous Disorders symptoms in general (−43.8%; p = 0.001). No major adverse events were recorded. Only 5 patients (2%) experimented technical issues in coil implantation, all of them solved in situ.

Conclusion

The treatment of VOCPP by embolization with detachable fibered coils has proven to be an effective and safe option for insufficient pelvic veins.
Handy Gadget for Cephalometric Analysis: A Systematic Review
Authors: N Goutham , S Neeharika , HK Vedavathi , Ramegowda Santosh , AM Shailaja
Published: October 2024

With exceptional progress in the field of electronics, newer diagnostic modalities have become popular in medicine. Out of the several gadgets invented, smartphones are the handiest and celebrated innovations of the world. The usage of smartphones has had a colossal influence on individuals and society in all aspects of daily life such as the economy, education, and communication just to mention a few. It also has an extended spread to many sectors, including health care and dentistry with multifarious benefits. Today, several orthodontic applications are available as software on computers and smartphones. The applications can process diagnosis, provide a good doctor–patient interface, and also cater to patient needs. Concerning orthodontics, diagnosis is of high priority, with radiographic analysis being the most crucial step. At the moment, several applications are available on smartphones to perform cephalometric analysis using radiographs. Just with a few clicks, cephalometric analysis can be performed, and the results are displayed in a flash. Only a minor number of orthodontists are enlightened about the operation of smartphones for cephalometric analysis. To elicit awareness, a narrative review has been performed on the software for cephalometric analysis available on smartphones. This article reviews the reliance of smartphones for the assessment of cephalometric analysis.
Introduction: Conceptualising heterodox palaeoscience
Authors: Fallon Richard , Guimont Edward
Published: October 2024

This introduction to a special issue on ‘Conceptualising heterodox palaeoscience' contemplates what it means to consider particular interpretations of aspects of Earth's history ‘heterodox' rather than ‘orthodox', given that scientific understandings of this subject have undergone dramatic changes in recent centuries, accelerating in recent decades. Drawing on scholarship about the relationship between palaeoscience and religion, and about the textual forms adopted by practitioners dismissed as ‘pseudoscientists', we reflect on how, where, and by whom the boundaries of palaeoscientific orthodoxy tend to be negotiated. After outlining the diverse contents of the special issue, which range from discussions of the writings of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to analysis of the Godzilla film franchise, we finishing by examining the present popularity of one highly controversial form of heterodox palaeoscience: pseudoarchaeology.
Optimization of CNC turning parameters with different turning tool radii for sphere surface profiles of SUS 304 material based on PVD coating technology applied for industrial arts
Authors: Dang Minh Phung , Tran Chi Thien , Le Hieu Giang , Dao Thanh-Phong
Published: October 2024

In this research, an effective multiobjective optimal method is proposed for investigating to find suitable fabricating factors of CNC turning process for sphere surfaces of 304 stainless steel material applied for industrial arts based on physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating technology in the mechanical engineering field. A combination of Taguchi method (TM), response surface method (RSM) and teaching learning-based optimization (TLBO) was suggested for optimizing fabricating factors to advance the superiority features. In the first stage, a number of initial experiments of the fabricating parameters were generated by the TM. Secondly, mathematical equations of the main fabricating parameters and surface roughness, turning time and dimension error were then established by employing the RSM. Furthermore, analysis of variance as well as sensitivity analysis were carried out for evaluating significant effects of fabricating factors on the surface roughness, turning time and fabricating dimension error. According to the analysis of variance consequences, feed rate (41.58%) and nose radius (16.48%) are the two elements that most significantly affect surface roughness. However, the proportions of the feed rate and cutting velocity to turning time were 82.92% and 8.27%, respectively and the feed rate was the most influential effect parameter on the CNC turning time. Especially, the fabricating depth and cutting velocity were the two main factors influencing on dimension error with relatively small 10.46% and 8.81%, respectively. In the end, the TLBO was carried out based on mathematical models to define the ideal factors. The optimized findings showed a dimension inaccuracy of 0.015 mm and an optimized surface roughness of roughly 0.986 µm. Additionally, the errors in dimension inaccuracy, CNC turning time, and surface roughness between experimental verifications and anticipated outcomes were around 2.83%, 16.19%, and 5.67%, respectively. As a result, the experimental verification results aligned with the predictions made by the suggested optimization technique. These findings showed that the suggested integration approach may effectively define the ideal fabrication factors for CNC turning processes using stainless steel 304 based on PVD coating technology for industrial arts. It can also be expanded to apply to complex multiobjective optimization issues.
The impact of concurrent HIV-infection on women with vulvar cancer: Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcome
Authors: Butt Jennifer L , Jacobsen Judith S , Simonds Hannah M , Botha Matthys H
Published: October 2024

Background

HPV-related vulvar cancer is increasing in prevalence, especially in women living with HIV. Treatment of vulva cancer is based on evidence from HPV-independent cancers, which affect older women. The impact of HIV on vulvar cancer characteristics and treatment outcomes needs to be elucidated.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective observational study compared the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of 92 HIV-positive and 131 HIV-negative women with vulvar cancer at our institution. Using descriptive statistics, HIV-positive and negative patients were compared and Cox regression models were tested for differences in mortality and recurrence.

Results

HIV-positive patients were 20 years younger than HIV-negative patients ( p < 0.001). More than 50% of patients presented with advanced stage cancer, however this was independent of HIV-status. Although HIV infection was associated with poorer survival ( p = 0.022); rates of cure ( p = 0.933) and recurrence rates ( p = 0.8) were similar in HIV-positive and negative women.

Conclusions

Vulvar cancer occurs at a much younger age in women living with HIV. Awareness among HIV-positive women and health care providers would lead to diagnosis of vulvar cancer at an earlier stage. Treatment protocols for HPV-related vulvar cancer should not be altered due to HIV status and should take into consideration the young age of the patients.
Clinical characteristics and mortality of tuberculosis among adults living with HIV/AIDS: A single center, retrospective cohort study in Thailand
Authors: Chaicharoen Hariwong , Lertsakulbunlue Sethapong , Sakboonyarat Boonsub , Nasomsong Worapong
Published: October 2024

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality, particularly in high TB burden countries. Our objective is to investigate the clinical characteristics and mortality rates associated with TB among adult PLWHA over a 10-year period at an urban HIV clinic situated in a high TB burden country.

Method

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 2022. The primary endpoints were clinical characteristics and mortality rate of TB, determined as per 100 person-years among adult PLWHA, presented with a 95% confidence interval. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional regression analyses were performed to determine risk factors for TB mortality.

Result

From January 2012-December 2022, 155 PLWHA receiving a diagnosis of TB were enrolled. The median age was 29 (26.5–48.5) years, and the median CD4 + T cell count was 141 (41.8–252.8) cells/µL, with 60.0% of patients with TB manifesting as disseminated infection. The most involved organs were pulmonary (89.7%), lymph nodes (39.4%) and pleura (14.8%). The treatment outcomes exhibited success in 63.2% of cases, relapse in 5.2%, loss to follow up in 17.4% and death in 14.2%. The overall mortality rate was 18.8 per 100 person-years. Multivariable analyses showed significant factors affecting mortality, including lymph node involvement (adjusted HR 3.5; 95% CI 1.1–10.8) and thrombocytopenia (adjusted HR 74.2; 95% CI 10.0–551.4).

Conclusion

TB in PLWHA, commonly presenting as disseminated infection, contributes to high mortality. Lymph node involvement and thrombocytopenia are significant factors contributing to mortality. Tuberculosis preventive treatment should be considered for improved prevention strategies among PLWHA, particularly in high TB burden countries.
Beyond Academic Integrity: Navigating Institutional and Disciplinary Anxieties About AI-Assisted Authorship in Technical and Professional Communication
Authors: Velez Meghan , Rister Alex
Published: October 2024

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools are already being implemented for a variety of writing tasks in workplaces, where individual (human) authorship is valued less than the efficient production of text. But policies regarding AI use in higher education continue to prioritize academic integrity, focusing on narrowly defined notions of authorship that do not reflect the realities of workplace writing. Through an analysis of 100 university policies on AI, this article shows how AI tools create a tension for faculty in technical and professional communication who must operate within institutional or departmental policies for AI use but must also prepare writers for workplace authorship.
Environmentally Sustainable Public Procurement of Construction Projects – Implementing Circularity Approach
Authors: Diófási-Kovács Orsolya , Tátrai Tünde
Published: October 2024

Construction projects are frequently used to boost local economic development without consideration of the long-term sustainability impacts. Via implementing circularity approach in public procurement, the research sought to identify best practices for greening construction projects by conducting in-depth interviews with stakeholders to collect their views about green public procurement (GPP) criteria in an EU country. The paper demonstrates how circular public procurement can be implemented for construction projects and which phases of procurement are more promising in terms of minimizing environmental impacts. Our results show that the design and build phases should be procured separately in order to successfully reduce environmental impacts in circular construction projects. The planning phase should ideally be carried out by an interdisciplinary team that establishes the right green public procurement criteria for selecting the designer, the construction firm and developing technical specifications.
Spanish-speaking Patients’ Experiences with Hearing Health Care
Authors: Gaeta Laura , John Andrew
Published: October 2024

Background/introduction: Health care providers working with Spanish-speaking patients must provide culturally and linguistically appropriate care to meet the communication needs of this population. Disparities related to hearing health care access remain understudied, leaving gaps in clinical practice and guidance for audiologists. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Spanish-speaking patients with hearing loss when accessing hearing health care services through a limited income hearing aid program. Methods: Six Spanish-speaking patients (three monolingual Spanish, three bilingual Spanish/English) with hearing loss from the Oklahoma City metropolitan area completed in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results/findings: Three main themes emerged: (1) perceived barriers to service delivery (cost, language, and transportation); (2) success with hearing health care (use of interpreters and reduced cost of services and amplification); and (3) cultural factors (family, religion, and use of home remedies). Discussion/conclusion: The themes identified can provide a foundation for service delivery of patient-centered services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate to help improve access to and quality of hearing health care, particularly for this population of patients. This study identified factors that may contribute to hearing health care disparities for Spanish-speaking adults, which may not be observed in other disciplines that are less communication-focused. Suggestions for improving services for audiologists serving Spanish-speaking patients are discussed.
Three-Dimensional Holographic-Guided Robotic Lung Segmentectomy for Deep Pulmonary Nodules: Technique and Initial Results
Authors: Bagan Patrick , Aissa Kaouther , Essid Rime , Azbabay Wissam , Zaimi Rym , Dakhil Bassel
Published: October 2024

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of small and isolated lung nodules remain challenging issues.

Purpose: The aim of this article is to report the technique of real-time navigation using holographic reconstruction technology combined with a robot assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) platform for lung resection in patients with  small deep nodules.

Research Design: The pre-surgery 3D planning was based on the chest CT scan. The reconstruction was uploaded to a head-mounted display for real-time navigation during mini invasive robot assisted surgery performed with an open console platform. We evaluated this technique with the success rate of diagnosis, the operative time and the post-operative course.

Study Sample: This technique was performed in 6 patients (4 female, mean age 65 years) to date.

Results: The precision of the head-mounted display based localization system was effective in all cases without the need of open conversion. The mean diameter of the nodules was 8 mm (6-9). The diagnosis was a lung cancer (n = 5) and tuberculoma (n = 1). The mean operative time was 125 min (100-145). The mean hospital stay was 2.5 days (1-3).

Conclusions: In conclusion, the intraoperative navigation using the 3D holographic assistance was an helpful tool for mini invasive RATS lung segmentectomy without the need of preoperative localization.