bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Talking crisis politics in Greece and Germany
Authors: Γαρυφάλλου Αναστασία
Published: January 2025

Η διατριβή εξετάζει τις διεργασίες νοηματοδότησης της κρίσης και της πολιτικής συμμετοχής στην Ελλάδα και τη Γερμανία τη χρονική περίοδο 2015-2017. Αντί να υιοθετεί την έννοια της «κρίσης» ως δεδομένη στηριζόμενη σε μια επαγωγική θεωρητική προσέγγιση, διερευνά τον τρόπο με τον οποίο οι ίδιοι οι πολίτες ορίζουν τις κρίσεις και τις πολιτικές στρατηγικές τους σε δύο χώρες που αναδεικνύουν τις ασυμμετρίες εξουσίας στην Ευρώπη μεταξύ του Βορρά και του Νότου. Συνθέτοντας βιβλιογραφία αναφορικά με τον πολιτικό λόγο, τις κρίσεις στον καπιταλισμό, την πολιτική συμμετοχή και τη ψυχολογία των διομαδικών σχέσεων, η διατριβή προτείνει μια νέα προσέγγιση εμπειρικά θεμελιωμένης θεωρίας. Επιλέχθηκε μια μικτή μεθοδολογία, ποσοτική και ποιοτική, ώστε να συνδυαστούν αντιπροσωπευτικά δεδομένα για τις πολιτικές τάσεις στις δύο χώρες με τη σε βάθος ανάλυση πολιτικού λόγου ομάδων εστίασης για τους επεξηγηματικούς μηχανισμούς πίσω από αυτές τις τάσεις. Η ανάλυση έδειξε ότι διαφορετικά προβλήματα, πολλαπλά και πολυεπίπεδα, δημιούργησαν μια αίσθηση αλληλοεπικαλυπτόμενων κρίσεων στις δύο χώρες. Στην Ελλάδα οι κρίσεις νοηματοδοτήθηκαν γύρω από την οικονομική και πολιτική κατάρρευση της χώρας, καθώς και την παρουσία της «Τρόικας» να υπαγόρευει πολιτικές λιτότητας μέσω της Ευρωζώνης. Αντίθετα, στη Γερμανία οι κρίσεις νοηματοδοτήθηκαν γύρω από τη λεγόμενη "προσφυγική κρίση" και την έλλειψη εναλλακτικών προτάσεων μεταξύ των κυρίαρχων πολιτικών κομμάτων. Ωστόσο, και στις δύο περιπτώσεις, ήταν η πολιτική κρίση της μεταδημοκρατικής εκπροσώπησης σε εθνικό και ευρωπαϊκό επίπεδο που μετέτρεψε αυτά τα οικονομικά και κοινωνικά προβλήματα σε κρίσεις καθεαυτές. Το διαφοροποιημένο επίπεδο πολιτικοποίησης των αιτημάτων που προέκυψαν από τις κρίσεις, η πολιτική ταύτιση με κινήματα και κόμματα που προώθησαν αυτά τα αιτήματα, και ο διαδραστικός μετασχηματισμός του πολιτικού πλαισίου στις δύο χώρες διαμόρφωσαν τις στρατηγικές πολιτικής συμμετοχής των πολιτών. Στη Γερμανία οι ανησυχίες των πολιτών επικεντρώθηκαν γύρω από προβλήματα σχετικά με την ποιότητα ζωής και την κυρίαρχη θέση τους στην παγκόσμια οικονομία. Οι πολίτες πρότειναν μετριοπαθείς πολιτικές στρατηγικές για να καταστήσουν το πολιτικό σύστημα πιο προσιτό. Από την άλλη πλευρά, οι πολίτες στην Ελλάδα αμφισβήτησαν ριζικά το εθνικό και ευρωπαϊκό κατεστημένο, καθώς το προτεινόμενο οικονομικό και πολιτικό μοντέλο σηματοδοτεί εκτεταμένη φτώχεια για το σύνολο του πληθυσμού. Οι προσεγγίσεις των πολιτών σχετικά με την Ευρώπη και την παγκοσμιοποίηση παρέχει μια νέα υπερεθνική διάσταση στην πολιτική συμμετοχή, προβληματίζοντας τον τόπο και τον τρόπο της πολιτικής επιρροής σε ένα αυξανόμενα παγκοσμιοποιημένο πολιτικό περιβάλλον.
Does Sex affect Antipsychotic Associated Weight Gain in Patients Being Treated for Psychotic Disorders: A Protocol for a Systematic Review
Authors: O'Riain Colm , Crowley Sean , McDonagh Siofra , Murray Nuala , Sukainah Alkhalaf , Clarke Gerard , Khasan Ali S , O'Connor Karen
Published: January 2025

Background Psychotic disorders are mental illnesses whose treatment often includes antipsychotic medication, a treatment option associated with metabolic side effects including weight gain. However, the influence of sex on antipsychotic-associated weight gain remains inadequately explored. We aim to synthesise the evidence on the sex-specific differences in weight gain among patients with psychotic disorders receiving antipsychotic treatment. Methods We will include cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control studies, randomized, and non-randomized controlled trials, which examine the association between a treated psychotic disorder and weight gain in male and female patients. PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases will be systematically searched in accordance with a detailed search strategy. Other inclusion criteria are; only articles which mention gender or sex in the title or abstract, only data from original studies, studies where diagnosis of a psychotic disorder must be made by a medical practitioner using diagnostic guidelines, studies published in English only, and only peer-reviewed literature. Two review authors will independently review the titles and abstracts of all studies and perform data extraction and quality assessment using standardized tools. We will perform meta-analyses to estimate the overall pooled associations using the generic inverse variance method. We will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. Ethics and Dissemination This systematic review and meta-analysis, relying solely on already published data, does not necessitate ethics approval. The results will be shared at scientific gatherings and disseminated via publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Registration CRD42023495785
Historia y humanismo en las cartas Alemanes de Walter Benjamin .
Authors: Di Pego Anabella
Published: January 2025

Este trabajo analiza el último libro publicado en vida por Walter Benjamin, Deutsche Menschen que reúne una colección de
cartas de personalidades alemanas del
siglo XVIII y XIX. Nuestra hipótesis es
que en este texto se materializa la concepción benjaminiana de la historia,
mostrando particularmente la dialéctica entre la destrucción y la salvación, a
la vez que explorando motivos antropológicos –el amor, la amistad, la familia,
etc.– que resultan fundamentales en su
materialismo. De este modo, reconstruiremos su posicionamiento respecto del
legado del humanismo atendiendo a las
dimensiones de la historia pública y de la
vida privada signadas por una dinámica
de destrucción, salvación y construcción
política
Should advanced practitioners consider critical realism as a distinctive epistemological position for social scientific enquiry?
Authors: Dean Sue
Published: January 2025

Research is a core pillar of advanced practice, making it essential for advanced practitioners to have an understanding of the philosophy of science and research. This article discusses the philosophical position of critical realism as a basis for social science and advanced practitioner research. The key concepts of ontology and epistemology are defined, and positionality is discussed before exploring ‘what is science and what constitutes scientific enquiry’. The standard view of science is explained, critiqued and used to support the position that critical realism is a distinctive epistemological position for social scientific enquiry and is better suited to research in complex healthcare systems. The discussion includes the development of critical realism since the 1970s, along with explanation of the key elements: the intransitive and transitive dimension, open and closed systems, structure and agency, along with consideration of the associated strengths and critiques. The article highlights the role of critical realism in offering a helpful and distinctive epistemological position for advanced practitioner research.
Gender, politics, and the market: evidence from Finland
Authors: Jansesberger Viktoria , Lefkofridi Zoe
Published: January 2025

We extend work on political consumerism by examining pre-behavioral stages and including people who have not yet engaged in a politically motivated boycott (opposition) or buycott (support). We analyze the effect of gender on both attitudes and behavior using data from four Finnish National Election Studies (covering 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019). Finland constitutes a rigorous test of the gender gap hypothesis: Scandinavia generally exhibits high rates of political consumerism and gender equality; combined, these conditions make a gender gap in Finland highly unlikely. Our data reveal the opposite, however. In gender-equal Finland, gender is a key predictor of political consumerism, both as attitudes toward future action and as past behavior. Moreover, attitudes toward both variants (buycott/boycott) are systematically gendered: among those who have never practiced political consumerism, men are systematically less likely and women are more likely to view the market as a channel of political expression.
Three Social Contexts that Produce Catharsis in Aristotle: Mystery Rites, Tragic Performances, Readings of Tragic Texts
Authors: Nightingale Andrea W.
Published: January 2025

Abstract: This essay examines three social contexts that generate catharsis in Aristotle's Politics 8 and Poetics : (1) the Dionysian and Corybantic mystery rites, (2) performances of tragedies at the theatre, and (3) private readings of tragedies. These contexts attracted different groups of people: mostly women in #1; mostly non-aristocrats in #2; and mostly aristocratic males in #3. In context #1, initiates dancing to sacred aulos music at the mystery rites experienced "healing and catharsis." In #2, an audience member hearing the music in a tragic performance has "a kind of" catharsis. In #3, reading the script of a tragedy generates catharsis. Does dancing to/listening to music bring about the same kind of catharsis as reading a tragedy? Do the women, non-aristocrats, and elite males in the three groups have the same experience of catharsis?
“Have I Asked the Name of that Fish?”: Synagogue Humor in Contemporary Hungary
Authors: Papp Richárd
Published: January 2025

Abstract: Jews who remained in Hungary after the Shoah almost completely abandoned their religious life because of the communist regime’s politics of assimilation. After the regime change in 1989, synagogue attendance rose and a renewed interest in ethnic-religious traditions was evident among Hungarian Jews. However, not knowing the ethnic traditions, they were unable to follow the religious commandments. Ethnographic observation in a synagogue in Budapest shows that ensuing communal tensions were eased by humor. Humor also became a marker of identity in the synagogue, by which even those who did not fully follow religious norms identified themselves as “imperfect but religious Jews.”
Here’s the Thing: Material Culture Studies and Vast Early American History
Authors: Anishanslin Zara
Published: January 2025

Abstract: This article, based on the 2021 WMQ -EMSI workshop, “Material Culture Studies and Early American History,” offers a state-of-the-field report. It considers the scholarly popularity of the “material turn” among historians of early America in the twenty-first century and asks what scholars miss by engaging with material culture primarily as tangible evidence without dwelling on the methodological or theoretical foundations of material culture studies as a field. Understanding material culture studies as a field sheds greater light on why material culture evidence is critically important for studying early American history, especially a field that many of us now conceive of as “vast early America.” Interdisciplinary in its origins and practice, material culture studies, like early America, has a vastness—a vastness that gives us tools to decolonize our study of the past. The vastness of material culture studies equips us to do better justice to the rich history of an early America that is similarly vast. This article uses the work of workshop participants as the basis for a discussion of what material culture studies has done in the past, and can do in the future, for fully inclusive, interdisciplinary history.
Designing Political Order
Authors: Abramson Scott F , Awad Emiel , Kenkel Brenton
Published: January 2025

abstract: Social scientists and political philosophers believe that the existence of a sovereign agent endowed with a monopoly of coercive force is the foundation of political order. In this article, the authors develop a formal model of anarchic competition and show that whenever it is possible to construct a peaceful political order based on a monopoly of force, it is also possible to construct one in which multiple agents maintain coercive abilities. What is more, the authors show that peaceful orders with multiple violence specialists generally require lower coercive investments than do peaceful orders with a single violence specialist. This result undercuts the notion that monopolistic domestic politics is inherently more efficient than the competitive international system. Nevertheless, the authors identify why inefficient monopolies of violence might persist—any individual agent's payoff is maximized when she serves as a monopolist who invests more in coercion than is strictly necessary to maintain peace.
Prime Ministers and Party System Stability in Postcommunist Democracies
Authors: Grotz Florian , Weber Till
Published: January 2025

abstract: A stable party system is central to making democratic accountability work. Challenges arise from high electoral volatility, reflecting large vote shifts among established parties (within-system) or equally large shifts to new parties (extra-system). Though intriguing patterns of volatility often defy structural and institutional explanations, political agency may be critical for stabilizing party systems, especially in new democracies—or for undermining their consolidation. The authors explore this new theoretical perspective by investigating how prime ministers affect volatility in the paradigmatic case of postcommunist Central and Eastern Europe. Building on a unique data set of prime-ministerial performance in 129 cabinets in eleven countries, quantitative and qualitative analyses demonstrate how agency in the chief executive office shapes the reelection of government parties and the rise of new contenders. Whereas the effect on within-system volatility is immediate, effects on extra-system volatility unfold over time. Hence, executive leadership is key to understanding the dynamics of party-system stability and democratic accountability.
Introduction to the OFC 2024 Special Issue
Authors: Lord Andrew
Published: January 2025

Welcome to this year’s OFC conference special issue. I am thrilled to introduce a bumper crop of papers that were originally either invited or top-scoring papers at OFC 2024. I can’t refer to all of them in this introduction, but I will point out the highlights and major trends.
Moiré encryption and decryption in Fourier single-pixel imaging
Authors: Liu Zhan-Dong , Zhang Xue-Qian , Ding Yi-Nuo , Li Zong-Guo , Li Hong-Guo
Published: January 2025

As a novel imaging technology, Fourier single-pixel imaging (FSI) not only facilitates the transmission of image information but also serves as a tool for image encryption and decryption. In this paper, we propose a dual image encryption-decryption approach that combines FSI with the Moiré effect. The feasibility of this strategy is demonstrated through numerical simulations and optical experiments. In this strategy, an image initially encrypted using the Moiré effect is designated as the watermark. The normalized four-step phase-shifting coefficients of the watermark image are subsequently employed as weights to embed it into structured illumination light, introducing a secondary layer of encryption. FSI is then performed using the structured light that contains the concealed encrypted image information, enabling the initial decryption of the image. Finally, the additive Moiré effect is utilized for secondary decryption. This approach harnesses the advantages of both FSI and Moiré effect encryption, offering a promising solution for scenarios where encryption relying solely on the Moiré effect or FSI encounters limitations.
Synthetic data as external control arms in scarce single-arm clinical trials
Authors: Elvatun Severin , Knoors Daan , Brant Simon , Jonasson Christian , Nygård Jan F.
Published: January 2025

An external control arm based on health registry data can serve as an alternative comparator in single-arm drug development studies that lack a benchmark for comparison to the experimental treatment. However, accessing such observational healthcare data involves a lengthy and intricate application process, delaying drug approval studies and access to novel treatments. Clinical trials typically comprise only a few hundred patients usually with high-cardinality features, which makes individual data instances more exposed to re-identification attacks. We examine whether synthetic data can serve as a proxy for the empirical control arm data by providing the same research outcomes while reducing the risk of information disclosure. We propose a reversible data generalization procedure to address these particular data characteristics that can be used in conjunction with any generator algorithm. It reduces the input data cardinality pre-synthesis and reverses it post-synthesis to regain the original data structure. Finally, we test a selection of state-of-the-art generators against a suite of utility and privacy metrics. The external control arm benchmark was generated using data from Norwegian health registries. In this retrospective study, we compare various synthetic data generation algorithms in numerical experiments, focusing on the utility of the synthetic data to support the conclusions drawn from the empirical data, and analysing the risk of sensitive information disclosure. Our results indicate that data generalization is advantageous to enhance both data utility and privacy in smaller datasets with high cardinality. Moreover, the generator algorithms demonstrate the ability to generate synthetic data of high utility without compromising the confidentiality of the empirical data. Our finding suggests that synthetic external control arms could serve as a viable alternative to observational data in drug development studies, while reducing the risk of revealing sensitive patient information.
Trichinella spiralis excretory/secretory proteins mediated larval invasion via inducing gut epithelial apoptosis and barrier disruption
Authors: Lu Qi Qi , Zheng Wen Wen , Zhang Zhao Yu , Cong Pei Kun , Guo Xin , Zhang Yao , Zhang Xin Zhuo , Long Shao Rong , Liu Ruo Dan , Wang Zhong Quan , Cui Jing
Published: January 2025

Background

Intestinal larva invasion is a crucial step of Trichinella spiralis infection. Intestinal infective larvae (IIL) and their excretory/secretory proteins (ESP) interact with gut epithelium, which often results in gut epithelium barrier injuries. Previous studies showed when T. spiralis invaded intestinal epithelium cells, the IIL ESP disrupted the tight junctions (TJs) of Caco-2 monolayer, but the mechanism is not clear. The IIL ESP might cause gut epithelial apoptosis, weaken the gut barrier and aid the larval invasion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether T. spiralis IIL ESP participate in enterocyte apoptosis and disrupt gut epithelial barrier to promote the larval invasion.

Methodology/Principal findings

Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay and the results showed that 200 μg/ml of IIL ESP incubated with Caco-2 cells for 18 h inhibited the Caco-2 cell viability. The results of trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and FITC-dextran showed that IIL ESP decreased the TEER, increased FITC-dextran flux in Caco-2 monolayer. qPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence test (IFT) showed that IIL ESP decreased the mRNA and protein expression of TJs (ZO-1, E-cad, Occludin and Claudin-1). The IIL ESP-induced Caco-2 cell apoptosis was observed by DAPI, Hoechst 33358, TUNEL and Annexin V/PI staining. Besides, flow cytometry revealed an increasing apoptosis rate in Caco-2 cells after the IIL ESP treatment. qPCR and Western blot analysis indicated that IIL ESP activated caspases (Caspase 3, Caspase 9 and Caspase 8), up-regulated the pro-apoptotic factors (Bax and Cytochrome c) and down-regulated the anti-apoptosis molecule Bcl-2. Interestingly, pretreatment of Caco-2 cells with apoptosis inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK abrogated and recovered the barrier function of Caco-2 monolayer destroyed by IIL ESP. Furthermore, the Z-VAD-FMK pretreatment also impeded the in vitro larva invasion of Caco-2 monolayer.

Conclusions

T. spiralis IIL ESP induced gut epithelial apoptosis, reduced the TJs expression, damaged gut epithelial integrity and barrier function, and promoted larval invasion. These findings provided a basis of further understanding the interaction mechanism between T. spiralis and host gut epithelium, and they were valuable to the development new prevention and therapeutic strategy of early T. spiralis infection.
zIncubascope: Long-term quantitative imaging of multi-cellular assemblies inside an incubator
Authors: Jana Anirban , Mekhileri Naveen , Boyreau Adeline , Bazin Aymerick , Pujol Nadège , Alessandri Kevin , Recher Gaëlle , Nassoy Pierre , Badon Amaury
Published: January 2025

Recent advances in bioengineering have made it possible to develop increasingly complex biological systems to recapitulate organ functions as closely as possible in vitro. Monitoring the assembly and growth of multi-cellular aggregates, micro-tissues or organoids and extracting quantitative information is a crucial but challenging task required to decipher the underlying morphogenetic mechanisms. We present here an imaging platform designed to be accommodated inside an incubator which provides high-throughput monitoring of cell assemblies over days and weeks. We exemplify the capabilities of our system by investigating human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) enclosed in spherical capsules, hiPSCs in tubular capsules and yeast cells in spherical capsules. Combined with a customized pipeline of image analysis, our solution provides insight into the impact of confinement on the morphogenesis of these self-organized systems.
Investigation of biometabolites and novel antimicrobial peptides derived from promising source Cordyceps militaris and effect of non-small cell lung cancer genes computationally
Authors: Afzal Muhammad , Abusalah Mai Abdel Haleem A. , Shehzadi Neelum , Absar Muhammad , Ahmed Naveed , Khan Sarmir , Naseem Yalnaz , Mehmood Noshaba , Singh Kirnpal Kaur Banga
Published: January 2025

Mushrooms are considered one of the safe and effective medications because they have great economic importance due to countless biological properties. Cordyceps militaris contains bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-cancerous properties. This study was projected to analyze the potentials of biometabolites and to extract antimicrobial peptides and protein from the C. militaris. An in-vitro analysis of biometabolites and antimicrobial peptides was performed to investigate their pharmacological potentials followed by quantification and characterization of extracted protein. Computational analysis on non-small cell lung cancer genes (NSCLC) was performed on quantified compounds to interpret the biometabolites from C. militaris that could be potential drug candidate molecules with high specificity and potency. A total of 34 compounds representing 100% of total detected constituents identified were identified using GCMS analysis and 20 compounds using LC-MS which showed strong biological activities. FT-IR spectroscopy manifest powerful instant peaks to have different bioactive components including carboxylic acid, phenols, amines and alkanes present in methanolic extract of C. militaris. In C. militaris, higher protein concentration was observed in 70% concentration of protein extract (500 μg/ml ± 0.025). The best antioxidant activity (% Radical scavenging activity) of methanolic extracts was 80a ± 0.03, antidiabetic activity was 37 ± 0.057 and anti-inflammatory activity was 40 ± 0.021 at 12 mg/ml. Antibacterial activity for different concentrations of Cordyceps protein and methanolic extracts was significantly (p < 0.05). Indolizine, 2-(4-methylphenyl) has most binding affinity (micromolar) and optimized properties to be selected as the lead inhibitor. It interacts favorably with the active site of RET gene of NSCLC and is neuroprotective and hepatoprotective.
An insight into the genome-wide analysis of bacterial defense mechanisms in a uropathogenic Morganella morganii isolate from Bangladesh
Authors: Al Sium Syed Muktadir , Goswami Barna , Chowdhury Sanjana Fatema , Naser Showti Raheel , Sarkar Mihir Kanti , Faruq Md. Jobaid , Habib Md. Ahashan , Akter Shahina , Banu Tanjina Akhtar , Sarkar Md. Murshed Hasan , Khan Md. Salim
Published: January 2025

The gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacterium Morganella morganii is linked to a number of illnesses, including nosocomial infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs). A clinical isolate from a UTI patient in Bangladesh was subjected to high-throughput whole genome sequencing and extensive bioinformatics analysis in order to gather knowledge about the genomic basis of bacterial defenses and pathogenicity in M. morganii. With an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of more than 97% similarity to a reference genome and phylogenetic analysis verified the isolate as M. morganii. Genome annotation identified 3,718 protein-coding sequences, including genes for metabolism, protein processing, stress response, energy, and membrane transport. The presence of biosynthetic gene clusters points to the isolate’s ability to create bioactive compounds, including antibiotics. Genomic islands contained genes for metal transporters, stress proteins, toxin proteins, and genes related to horizontal gene transfer. The beta-lactam resistance gene blaDHA was found using antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene analysis across three databases. The virulence genes kdsA and cheY, which may be involved in chemotaxis and lipopolysaccharide production, were also available in the isolate, suggesting its high pathogenicity. The genome contained mobile genetic components and defense mechanisms, such as restriction modification and CRISPR-Cas systems, indicating the bacterium’s ability to defend itself against viral attacks. This thorough investigation sheds important light on M. morganii’s pathogenicity and adaptive tactics by revealing its genetic characteristics, AMR, virulence components, and defense mechanisms. For the development of targeted treatments and preventing the onset of resistance in clinical care, it is essential to comprehend these genetic fingerprints.
A superior tool for predicting sepsis in SAH patients: The nomogram outperforms SOFA score
Authors: Yu Lei , Zou Shan , Zhou Qingshan , Cheng Beibei , Jin Jun
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram to predict the risk of sepsis in non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients using data from the MIMIC-IV database.

Methods

A total of 803 SAH patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a training set (563 cases) and a validation set (240 cases). Independent prognostic factors were identified through forward stepwise logistic regression, and a nomogram was created based on these factors. The discriminative ability of the nomogram was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared with the SOFA score. The model’s consistency was evaluated using the C-index, and the improvement in performance over the SOFA score was calculated using integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI).

Results

Five independent predictive factors were identified through LASSO regression analysis: mechanical ventilation, hyperlipidemia, temperature, white blood cell count, and red blood cell count. The AUC of the nomogram in the training and validation sets were 0.854 and 0.824, respectively, both higher than the SOFA score. NRI and IDI results indicated that the nomogram outperformed the SOFA score in identifying sepsis risk. Calibration curves and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test demonstrated good calibration of the nomogram. Decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram had higher net benefit in clinical application.

Conclusion

The nomogram developed in this study performed excellently in predicting the risk of sepsis in SAH patients, surpassing the traditional SOFA scoring system, and has significant clinical application value.
Construction of an lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network to investigate the inflammatory regulatory mechanisms of ischemic stroke
Authors: Xu Meimei , Yuan Shan , Luo Xing , Xu Mengsi , Hu Guangze , He Zhe , Yang Xinyuan , Gao Rui
Published: January 2025

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are among the most abundant types of non-coding RNAs in the genome and exhibit particularly high expression levels in the brain, where they play crucial roles in various neurophysiological and neuropathological processes. Although ischemic stroke is a complex multifactorial disease, the involvement of brain-derived lncRNAs in its intricate regulatory networks remains inadequately understood. In this study, we established a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. High-throughput sequencing was performed to profile the expression of cortical lncRNAs post-stroke, with subsequent validation using RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. Among the 31,183 lncRNAs detected in the rat cerebral cortex, 551 were differentially expressed between the MCAO and sham-operated groups in the ipsilateral cortex (fold change ≥2.0, P < 0.05). An integrated analysis of the 20 most abundant and significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) identified 25 core cytoplasmic DELs, which were used to construct an interaction network based on their targeting relationships. This led to the establishment of a comprehensive lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network comprising 12 lncRNAs, 16 sponge miRNAs, and 191 target mRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed that differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were significantly enriched in stroke-related pathways. Our analysis predicted four key lncRNAs, four miRNAs, and eleven crucial mRNAs involved in post-transcriptional regulation through competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanisms. These molecules were shown to participate extensively in post-stroke processes, including angiogenesis, axonal regeneration, inflammatory responses, microglial activation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and thrombocytopenia. These findings highlight the role of lncRNAs as multi-level regulators in the complex network of post-stroke mechanisms, providing novel insights into the pathophysiological processes of stroke.
Dynamics of Salmonella Dublin infection and antimicrobial resistance in a dairy herd endemic to salmonellosis
Authors: do Amarante Victor Santos , de Castro Pereira Joelma Kellen , Serafini Matheus Ferreira , Ramos Carolina Pantuzza , Zanon Isabela Pádua , de Souza Thayanne Gabryelle Viana , Moreira Tiago Facury , de Carvalho Antônio Ultimo , Meneses Rodrigo Melo , Aburjaile Flavia Figueira , Azevedo Vasco , Facury Filho Elias Jorge , Silva Rodrigo Otávio Silveira
Published: January 2025

Salmonella Dublin is a serovar that causes severe infections and cattle. Despite the importance of this agent, research on achieving its elimination from dairy farms is limited, which complicates risk mitigation and control efforts. This study thus aimed to assess the prevalence of S. Dublin on a farm with a history of outbreaks, to understand the dynamics of the infection, characterize the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates, and evaluate their genetic similarity. Multiparous cows in the postpartum phase are nearly five times more likely to shed Salmonella sp. A total of 39 cases of fatal septicemic salmonellosis caused by S. Dublin were confirmed in calves aged 3–5 months. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated in 45 strains of S. Dublin, with 48.9% of the isolates classified as multidrug resistant, including resistance to penicillin (48.9%), tetracyclines (42.2%), and fluoroquinolones (33.3%). Seven multidrug-resistant isolates were selected for genomic sequencing. Among the resistance determinants identified, a mutation in the gyrA gene, present in all sequenced isolates, was notable. Analyses of cgMLST and SNPs revealed that the isolates from healthy animals were closely related to those found in animals with confirmed cases of S. Dublin, confirming that the agent was circulating among healthy animals across various categories. A high similarity was also found between the isolates in this study and strains causing salmonellosis in humans in Brazil, thus reinforcing the zoonotic nature and possible epidemiological link between cattle, and the occurrence of this disease in humans.
Secret Violences: The Political Cinema of Michelangelo Antonioni 1960–1975, Sławomir Masłoń (2023)
Authors: Benci Jacopo
Published: January 2025

Review of: Secret Violences: The Political Cinema of Michelangelo Antonioni 1960–1975, Sławomir Masłoń (2023)

New York and London: Bloomsbury Academic, 185 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-50139-823-0, h/bk, £81.00
Wandering Women: Urban Ecologies of Italian Feminist Filmmaking, Laura Di Bianco (2023)
Authors: Benini Stefania
Published: January 2025

Review of: Wandering Women: Urban Ecologies of Italian Feminist Filmmaking, Laura Di Bianco (2023)

Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 215 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-25306-464-6, p/bk, $25.00
Madama Butterfly, Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier (dirs), Royal Opera House, London, 26 March 2024
Authors: Sporton Gregory
Published: January 2025

Review of: Madama Butterfly, Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier (dirs), Royal Opera House, London, 26 March 2024
Revealing Emergence
Authors: Dalenius Tove Noorjahaan
Published: January 2025

The artist and technology researcher Tove Noorjahaan Dalenius shares the journey of discovery, creative practice, technological research and academic dissemination, as well as face-to-face exhibition of the direct-write digital hologram Emergence, which visualizes the full extent of the clitoris in its anatomical setting. The intent is to invite readers to consider the entire endeavour through an organic and integrated approach. The project was built through a multidisciplinary process, using a practice-based research method. Through active collaboration and using collage visual methods, Dalenius created a well-researched transplane work of art which engaged audiences. The description of the exploration includes both facts and figures and some personal reflections to situate the journey. This article covers the inception of the project through to the exhibition of the artwork, a time span of fifteen years. The research concerning the anatomy of the clitoris by urologist Helen O’Connell and a visualization model by researcher and anti-sexism activist Odile Fillod are introduced. The reader is familiarized with the creative and technical medium of direct-write digital holography (DWDH). The work of art Emergence is revealed and details of the work are discussed. Finally, Dalenius describes displaying the work at the SPIE Photonics West conference, and The Women’s Building community centre in San Francisco, United States. Dalenius also brings the reader along to the Women in Tech 2023 conference in Stockholm and shares how Emergence became cover news for the feminist magazine Feministiskt Perspektiv (FemPers). The article is illustrated by ample images. By mixing innovative research in both the fields of anatomy and imaging technology, the artist/researcher/technologist has been able to create both beautiful and informative piece of art which engages the viewer. Through interaction with global audiences in different communities and settings, the work and the artist have informed, entertained and raised further questions and curiosity about anatomy, holography and societal issues.
Food Security During Times of Crisis: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Zhuawu Collin
Published: January 2025

This issue of Trade Hot Topics examines the broader threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the food security of developing countries, including most Commonwealth small states, LDCs and SSA countries. It argues that the pandemic provides strong evidence in support of finding a permanent solution at the WTO to public stockholding (PSH) for food security to provide assurance on enough food supplies in future crises.
Sustainable Economic Recovery after COVID-19: Committing to International Co-operation, Trade and Investment
Authors: Gehring Markus , Phillips Freedom-Kai , Cordonier Segger Marie-Claire
Published: January 2025

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has initiated economic and social disruptions at an unprecedented scale. As we prepare to rebuild our economic engines in a post-pandemic world, we have an opportunity to revisit our approaches to enable alignment with international climate change and sustainable development priorities. This report investigates how existing international legal and governance frameworks can guide state action to ensure that post-pandemic recovery trajectories are aligned with global efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It sheds light on the opportunities to leverage existing commitments enshrined in trade and investment agreements, derives key learnings from the good practices of Commonwealth countries, and outlines how key SDGs can be incorporated into international initiatives and trade and investment instruments to support post-pandemic economic stimulus.
Harnessing Maritime Trade for Post-COVID Recovery and Resilience-Building in the Commonwealth
Authors: Wignaraja Ganeshan , Vickers Brendan , Ali Salamat
Published: January 2025

This paper maps patterns of maritime trade in the Commonwealth with a view to exploring the effects of the pandemic and policy implications for post-COVID recovery and resilience-building in Commonwealth countries. The main findings are as follows. First, a significant presence in global coastlines, seaports and container traffic means that maritime trade is fundamental to Commonwealth countries’ global and intra-Commonwealth trade. Second, the sudden onset of the pandemic led directly to a moderate decline in shipping and maritime trade as well as indirect falls in maritime support services. Third, the maritime industry and trade patterns have been rapidly adjusting to a new operating environment with some signs of recovery. Shifts in the demand and supply of goods following the pandemic injected a new momentum in shipping, raised container freight rates to historically high levels and created challenges for trade recovery in several developing countries. However, the outlook for the shipping sector has also been altered by pre-pandemic headwinds such as rising protectionism and increasing debate regarding nearshoring and the reconfiguration of supply chains. The paper concludes by suggesting that success in the new operating environment requires Commonwealth countries to build resilience by improving the quality of seaport infrastructure, logistics and transport networks, enhancing trade openness and trade facilitation, addressing maritime security threats and increasing the environmental sustainability of shipping operations.
The comparative analysis of hybrid purpose companies in the EU: Lessons and policy implications
Authors: Lacmanović Sabina , Hasić Tea , Škare Marinko
Published: January 2025

This study conducts a comparative analysis of hybrid purpose companies in the EU, focusing on Società Benefit in Italy, Sociedades de Beneficio e Interés Común (SBIC) in Spain, and Société à Mission in France. These companies pursue public benefits alongside profit-making, representing an innovative legal framework to address contemporary environmental, social, and economic challenges. The research objectives include systematically evaluating and comparing the legal frameworks with a focus on directors' responsibilities, transparency requirements, and control mechanisms; analysing the organisational perspective of acquiring benefit corporation status; presenting key statistics on growth trends, sectoral distribution, and performance indicators; and comparing mission reports of relevant case studies. Qualitative data analysis was implemented using publicly available secondary data and case study analysis. The results show significant similarities and specific differences between the models, especially in control mechanisms. The Italian model provides stakeholders with public enforcement mechanisms against misleading practices, while the French model relies on mission committees and independent third-party assessments. The Spanish model, introduced in 2022, is expected to develop similar control mechanisms. The growth trends and overall performance indicate that companies recognise the value of adopting this legal framework. The comparative analysis provides valuable insights for EU countries considering introducing similar hybrid-purpose models.
Generational differences in work-related expectations: Examining period and cohort effects
Authors: Egerova Dana , Komarkova Lenka , Rotenbornova Lucie
Published: January 2025

This study explores the extent to which cohort and period effects impact employees’ work-related expectations in the context of the anticipatory psychological contract. This investigation focuses on the transition of the new Generation Z into the labour market and the preceding Generation Y. A longitudinal study based on a repeated questionnaire survey with 1,000 respondents was employed to examine cohort and period effects simultaneously. Differences in the development of work-related expectations between two generations were assessed using statistical linear mixed models. The findings indicate that the future work-related expectations of Gen Y and Z are primarily influenced by the cohort effect. The results also reveal that the expectations of both generations are relatively stable even during the turbulent period of 2019–2022. However, their levels differ between the two generations. The research findings have practical implications for managers, recruiters, and corporate human resource departments in terms of understanding and attracting and retaining the emerging generation of new employees. Some theoretical implications are also discussed.
Relationship between work-family conflict and emotional exhaustion in health care workers: Mediating role of self-efficacy and stress perception
Authors: Tutar Hasan , Mutlu Hakan Tahiri , Nam Selçuk , Bilan Svitlana
Published: January 2025

This study examines the mediating role of self-efficacy and stress perception in the relationship between work-family conflict and emotional exhaustion in healthcare workers. The study's primary purpose is to reveal the effect of work-family conflict on the emotional exhaustion levels of healthcare workers and to understand how individual factors such as self-efficacy and stress perception affect this process. The study's central question is, “Is there a significant relationship between work-family conflict and emotional exhaustion, and what role do self-efficacy and stress perception play in this relationship?” The study was designed as a cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach. The study sample consisted of 313 healthcare workers working in public and private hospitals in Turkey. The data were determined using the convenience sampling method. The data were analysed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine direct and indirect relationships between variables. According to the analysis results, a significant and positive relationship was found between work-family conflict and emotional burnout. It was determined that the perception of stress strengthened this relationship, while the perception of self-efficacy weakened it. While the work-family conflict was observed to cause less burnout in individuals with high self-efficacy levels, it was determined that emotional burnout levels increased even more in individuals with a high perception of stress. These findings emphasize the effect of individual factors on the professional and personal balance of healthcare professionals. This study confirms the adverse effects of work-family conflict on the emotional burnout levels of healthcare professionals. The research findings show that self-efficacy is a protective factor, while perception of stress is a risk factor. Increasing self-efficacy is critical in ensuring work-family balance and reducing the risk of emotional burnout in healthcare professionals. These results indicate that institutional strategies should be developed to reduce the emotional burnout levels of employees in the healthcare sector. Additionally, flexible working hours and family-friendly policies are recommended to reduce work-family conflict.
The linked movement of the housing market and stock market in the G7 asset economy
Authors: Yoon Jae-Ho , Goo Young-Wan , Nawrot Katarzyna Anna
Published: January 2025

The relationship between housing and stock prices has traditionally been positive and stable. However, prior research suggests this relationship can vary significantly under certain economic conditions. For instance, Yoon (2018) identified a typical business cycle between housing and stock prices in the U.S. and U.K. during oil shocks, the IT bubble collapse, and the 2008 financial crisis. This study examines whether such standard asymmetric behaviour exists across G7 countries using the FIML Markov-switching model developed by Yoon and Nawrot (2022). Our findings indicate that housing and stock prices exhibit a shared business cycle during major economic disruptions, such as oil shocks, the global financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, these periods are characterised by heightened volatility in both markets. Conversely, no significant co-movement between housing and stock prices is observed during normal economic periods. These results underscore the importance of considering asymmetric relationships in analysing the interconnected dynamics of housing and stock markets, particularly during financial instability.
Environmental tax reform efficiency: Prerequisites and consequences
Authors: Samusevych Yaryna , Rącka Izabela , Vasylieva Tetyana , Tóth Árpàd
Published: January 2025

Ensuring green transformations of the national economy requires the careful development of effective mechanisms for influencing the behaviour of key stakeholders who impact the environment. Implementing environmental tax reforms (ETR) to balance environmental and economic effects was successful for many European countries. Adapting this experience for developing countries requires considering the impact of national specifics on the expected result. In the first stage, the key consequences of the ETR implementation were assessed using the Differences-in-Differences method. In the second stage, the impact of economic, social, technological and institutional factors on the result of the ETR implementation was tested using panel regression modelling. The calculations showed that the positive effect of increasing the security of the national economy due to the ETR implementation occurs with a relatively long time lag. This indicates that ETR should be considered a strategic instrument for regulating the national economy and developed for the long term, supported by tactical operational tools. At the same time, the most significant manifestations of ETR are observed in the context of their impact on business activity and foreign trade. The key prerequisites for ensuring the ETR's effectiveness are the role of the fiscal and budgetary system, the welfare and gender equality of society, the spread of digital technologies among the population and the rule of law.
criação de arena pública para o debate climático no RN:
Authors: Ferreira José Gomes , Knox Winifred
Published: January 2025

O artigo analisa a realização recente de várias iniciativas que colocam o Rio Grande do Norte em destaque na discussão pública estadual sobre a crise climática contemporânea. Os fóruns juntaram cientistas, gestores públicos, movimentos sociais e outros setores da sociedade civil, invertendo a ausência de uma reflexão sobre a crise ambiental e expondo uma tensão entre objetivos desenvolvimentistas da pauta pública e a discussão ontológica sobre o futuro da humanidade. Nosso objetivo é analisar o processo de construção dessa agenda pública ambiental a partir da atenção da academia, da mídia, da classe política e da sociedade. Para tal, analisamos como se deu a midiatização e divulgação dos eventos, as articulações, resultados obtidos e encaminhamentos futuros. A conclusão é que o trabalho preparatório é fundamental, mas é necessário garantir a continuidade dos debates, alargar a abrangência e garantir a sua reprodutibilidade.