bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intersectional v. Narrow Approaches to Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes: Contrasting Outcomes and Gleaning Useful Techniques
Authors: Martin Ana
Published: January 2025

As interest in intersectionality mounts, this article explores the workings of this approach dealing with sexual and gender-based violence (sgbv) in international criminal law (icl). Based on an empirical analysis of jurisprudence from the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda (icty, ictr) and from the Special Court for Sierra Leone (scsl), it argues that, contrary to icl’s traditionally narrow approach, intersectionality unveils the gendered causes and consequences of sgbv. An overview of rape in detention at the icty illustrates the limitations of the narrow approach. Then, enlightening dissenting opinions using an intersectional lens are contrasted with the Majority’s narrow approach in decisions from the ictr and scsl. Finally, a gender intersectional analysis is gleaned from the scsl’s ruf trial judgment. The findings reveal the potential of intersectionality to unpack the individual and group harms of sgbv, thereby advancing a pending task of feminism dealing with armed conflict.
Comparisons of Risk Scores for Infective Endocarditis Surgery: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Agrawal Ankit , Arockiam Aro Daniela , Dahdah Joseph El , Honnekeri Bianca , Schleicher Mary , Shekhar Shashank , Haroun Elio , Witten James , Majid Muhammad , Pettersson Gosta , Griffin Brian , Unai Shinya , Wang Tom Kai Ming
Published: January 2025

While multiple scoring systems exist to predict mortality in cardiac surgery, their utility in infective endocarditis (IE) remains uncertain, prompting this study to compare their prognostic accuracy. We conducted a comprehensive review using Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Data were pooled using Open-Meta[Analyst] software, and calibration analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.4. Among 620 articles identified, 570 were screened, leading to 15 included studies. Twelve risk scores were analyzed for operative mortality discrimination in IE surgery, with the area under the curve (AUC) ranging from 0.64 to 0.83. Among the IE-specific risk scores, AUCs (95% confidence interval) were highest for ANCLA (Anemia, NYHA class IV, critical state, large intracardiac destruction, surgery on thoracic aorta) 0.838 (0.803–0.873), AEPEI (Association pour l’Etude et la Prevention de l’Endocadite Infectieuse) 0.764 (0.726–0.802), RISK-E (Risk Endocarditis) (0.752 (0.662–0.842) and APORTEI (Análisis de los factores PROnósticos en el Tratamiento quirúrgico de la Endocarditis Infecciosa) 0.750 (0.726–0.774) scores. Regarding traditional risk scores, EuroSCORE II performed at 0.750 (0.725–0.775) but underestimated mortality compared with EuroSCORE I in calibration analysis. In conclusion, EuroSCORE II and several endocarditis-specific scores had moderate discrimination (AUC > 0.75) in predicting mortality after IE surgery.
The National Donor Family Council: History, Activities, Achievements, and Legacies
Authors: Coolican Margaret B. , Corr Charles A.
Published: January 2025

The National Donor Family Council (NDFC) functioned under the sponsorship of the National Kidney Foundation from 1992–2014. Giving voice to the needs and views of donor families, the NDFC had an important impact on the support for those families. This article records significant points in the advocacy of donor families, summarizes the history of the NDFC, highlights the various activities and achievements of the NDFC, and offers some impressions of its legacies.
Between Inevitability and Hindsight: End-Times and the Loss of Agency in the Anthropocene
Authors: Sæten Nanna Lilletvedt
Published: January 2025

Judeo-Christian eschatological time has re-emerged in scholarly and popular discussions of climate apocalypse in the last decades, also in attempts to mobilise action against climate change. I argue that speaking about climate change as the eschatological endpoint in linear time undermines the call for action, understood as the contingent capacity for new beginnings. When the severity of climate change is made sense of by introducing an end to linear Chronos time, the result is a confusion in the direction and contingency of temporal politics, which effectively undermines action through speech. Eschatological, linear time frames the time for action as too narrow: first, by casting the end of time as inevitable, and second, by upsetting the chronology and direction of time as a prerequisite for politics. The conclusion is that climate eschatology is disempowering in Chronos time and that another temporal frame is needed to address climate change politically.
Enhancing dyeability of sustainable polylactic acid fabrics through cross-sectional modification of filaments
Authors: Ju Zixin , Yang Yadie , Fei Bin , Hu Hong
Published: January 2025

Polylactic acid (PLA) fiber, renowned for its renewable and biodegradable nature, is increasingly recognized as a promising alternative to conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester fiber in the textile industry. However, the poor dyeability of PLA has limited its widespread industrial application. This study aims to enhance the dyeability of PLA fabrics by modifying the cross-sectional shape of PLA filaments and optimizing the dyeing conditions for disperse dyes. PLA filaments with circular, cruciform, and trilobal cross-sections (designated as PLAO, PLA+, and PLAY, respectively) were fabricated and then knitted into fabrics. Dyeing experiments using three different disperse dyes consistently demonstrate that PLA+ fabrics exhibit the best dyeing performance, followed by PLAY fabrics, with PLAO fabrics showing the lowest effectiveness. These results highlight the significant effect of filament cross-sectional shape on dyeing performance. Further macroscopic and microscopic analyses indicate that profiled PLA+ and PLAY filaments possess higher non-roundness factors and specific surface areas, lower glass transition temperatures, and reduced crystallinity, collectively enhancing their dyeability. In addition, lower fabric luster contributes to achieving deeper color. The study also identifies the optimal dyeing conditions for PLA fabrics with the selected disperse dyes: pH 5.0, dye concentration of 4% owf, dyeing temperature of 110°C, and dyeing time of 30 minutes. Under these optimized conditions, PLA+ and PLAY fabrics exhibit significantly enhanced K/ S values, while dyeing levelness and color fastness across all PLA fabrics remain within acceptable ranges.
Longitudinal Analysis of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Older Adults Participating in a Park-Based Fitness Program
Authors: Li Tang , Pieper Carl F. , Pendergast Jane Frances , Hansen Eric , Nardi Maria I. , D’Agostino Emily M.
Published: January 2025

Background: Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, particularly among older adults. We examined changes in cardiovascular risk factors among older adults in a community-based fitness program in Miami-Dade County, FL. Methods: We used repeated measures linear mixed models to examine participants’ cardiovascular risk factor changes over 28 months. Outcomes (body mass index, blood pressure, pulse, arm/leg strength, and mobility) were modeled accounting for park, individual, time, and sociodemographic factors (2017–2019). Results: The study included 210 participants (mean age 71 years; 86% female; 52% Hispanic, 38% non-Hispanic Black). Participation was positively associated with reductions in cardiovascular risk, including improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (−0.83 and −0.39 mmHg, respectively), mobility (−0.07 s) and arm strength (0.5 arm curls). Differences were observed in arm curls across sex and pulse across poverty areas. Conclusion: Participating in a park-based fitness program was associated with improved older adults’ cardiovascular health.
Digital Technology Adoption and Changes in Energy Intensity in German Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Axenbeck Janna , Niebel Thomas
Published: January 2025

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are generally believed to have significant potential to reduce energy intensity. In contrast to previous empirical studies, which have relied on aggregated data, we conduct the first large-scale firm-level investigation into this relationship. Our results, which are based on administrative panel data on 28,600 German manufacturing firms, confirm a robust negative relationship between software capital (our proxy for the degree of firm digitalization) and energy intensity for the years 2009 to 2017. However, the effect size is rather small. For the average firm, we find that a 1 percent increase in software usage relates to a decrease in energy intensity by 0.003 percent. Hence, contrary to previous industry-level results, we do not observe substantial energy intensity improvements in connection with ICT adoption. Moreover, we find that the relationship between ICT and energy intensity exhibits properties that can lead to an aggregation bias.

JEL Classification: C32, H23, O33, O38, Q56, Q58.
Hot deformation behavior study and constitutive modeling of Ferrium® C64 carburizing steel
Authors: A Jayanthi , Ravisankar B
Published: January 2025

The hot deformation behavior of Ferrium® C64 (Fe-16Co-7.5Ni-0.1C) alloy was studied using isothermal uniaxial hot compression tests (HCT) from 1123K to 1423K and strain rates of 0.01 to 10 s−1. The Arrhenius hyperbolic sine law modeled the flow behavior with an R² of 0.99. Material constants and a deformation activation energy of 488 ± 23 kJ/mol at peak stress were determined. Microstructure using optical microscopy and EBSD analysis and phase identification using XRD were conducted. Flow stress analysis revealed strain hardening at low temperatures/high strain rates and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) at high temperatures/slow strain rates. The strain rate sensitivity map showed positive strain rate sensitivity (m) over the investigated domain and optimal processing parameters for hot working is recommended.
Control of neurovascular coupling by ATP-sensitive potassium channels
Authors: Bowen Ryan M , York Nathaniel W , Padawer-Curry Jonah , Bauer Adam Q , Lee Jin-Moo , Nichols Colin G
Published: January 2025

Regional blood flow within the brain is tightly coupled to regional neuronal activity, a process known as neurovascular coupling (NVC). In this study, we demonstrate the striking role of SUR2- and Kir6.1-dependent ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels in control of NVC in the sensory cortex of conscious mice, in response to mechanical stimuli. We demonstrate that either globally increased (pinacidil-activated) or decreased (glibenclamide-inhibited) KATP activity markedly disrupts NVC; pinacidil-activation is capable of completely abolishing stimulus-evoked cortical hemodynamic responses, while glibenclamide slows and reduces the response. The response is similarly slowed and reduced in SUR2 KO animals, while animals expressing gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in Kir6.1, which underlie Cantú syndrome, exhibit baseline reduction of NVC as well as increased sensitivity to pinacidil. In revealing the dramatic effects of either increasing or decreasing SUR2/Kir6.1-dependent KATP activity on NVC, whether pharmacologically or genetically induced, the study has important implications both for monogenic KATP channel diseases and for more common brain pathologies.
Effect of nitrogen content and cerium treatment on the characteristics of inclusions in non-oriented silicon steel
Authors: Li Yongkang , Hu Shaoyan , Wang Deyong , Chen Zhaoping , Zhou Xingzhi , Jiang Yunxuan , Wang Ruizhi , Qu Tianpeng
Published: January 2025

The electric arc furnace (EAF) short process is an important technical path for the future production of green steel, while the higher nitrogen content limits the production of high-grade steel plates, represented by non-oriented silicon steel (NOSS). Under this background, the influence of nitrogen content and cerium treatment on the characteristics of inclusions in NOSS was investigated. Thermodynamic analysis reveals that increasing nitrogen content raises both the initial precipitation temperature and the mass fraction of AlN. NOSS with varying nitrogen contents were smelted in a resistance furnace by top-blowing nitrogen gas (simulating high nitrogen content NOSS produced using EAF), and then cerium treatment was performed on the high nitrogen content NOSS. The inclusions were qualitatively and quantitatively characterised by scanning electron microscope (SEM, Sigma 300). The results indicate that as nitrogen content increases from 0.0013 to 0.0043 wt%, the number density of submicron-sized inclusions, which are more harmful to NOSS properties, increases from 95.43 to 126.64 mm−2. These inclusions are mainly pure MnS and nitrides (AlN and AlN + MnS). After cerium treatment, the modification of sulphides and coarsening of AlN resulted in a decrease in the number density of submicron inclusions. With 0.0086 wt% cerium, the lowest observed number density of submicron-sized inclusions is 14.58 mm−2. The heterogeneous nucleation between AlN and Ce-S was confirmed using the edge-to-edge matching model combined with electron backscattered diffraction.
Analysis of total RNA as a potential biomarker of Parkinson’s disease in silico
Authors: Jovičić Snežana M
Published: January 2025

Knowledge about total RNA molecules in Parkinson’s disease is limited. This gene expression profiling study was conducted with a preclinical experimental design using a mouse model to examine the molecular-biological characteristics and the pathological implication of total RNA gene interaction in Parkinson’s disease in silico. In silico analysis of total RNA molecules, the Gene Expression Omnibus database, published results, and preliminary findings of available patient samples apply. The potential signaling network and the effect of the interaction of molecules with total RNA was predicted and confirmed. The research consists of four parts. At first, we analyzed the control and MPTP groups. In the second part, we analyzed FVB-N control and MPTP. In the third part, we analyzed controls. In the fourth part, we analyzed MTPT separately. The constructed network contains total RNA, where the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database analysis showed that genes from the signaling pathway are involved in the development and complications of Parkinson’s disease in male and female rats. Identified total RNA and genes are involved in altered signaling. There is direct interconnection and interdependence of interactions in the signaling network. Results identified the significant total-RNA molecules of the signaling pathway that connect other molecules. In silico analysis shows upregulated and downregulated genes in Parkinson’s disease rats. Preliminary data shows that total RNA molecules interact with other genes, and they are applicable in Parkinson’s disease course monitoring, shedding light on how factors impact the expression of genes and offering strategies for management.
Comparing residual kidney function equations based on β2-microglobulin in Chinese patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Huang Chunxiang , Liu Dan , Weng Ning , Luo Fenxia
Published: January 2025

Background

Few studies have evaluated the predictive capability of equations for residual kidney function (RKF) in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Moreover, the applicability of each equation remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the performances of the estimated RKF (eRKF) equations of Shafi, Steubl, and Jaques in Chinese patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Methods

This was a retrospective study. We enrolled patients who underwent CAPD and RKF measurements (via 24-h urine collection) in our hospital between November 2021 and May 2022. Using the measured RKF (mRKF) as the reference, we derived the bias, precision and accuracy of each equation.

Results

We enrolled 174 participants. The mean β2-microglobulin and median mRKF were 29.00 ± 8.69 mg/L and 2.94 (1.26, 4.65) mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The Steubl equation had the least bias (MD [95% confidence interval, CI]: −0.52 [−0.77 to −0.38]), higher precision (interquartile range: 1.43 [1.16, 1.76]), and highest accuracy (83%). It also had a high diagnostic accuracy for identifying patients with an mRKF of > 2.5 mL/min/1.73 m2, area under the curve of 0.936 95% CI [0.903–0.970], p < 0.001), cut-off value of 1.80 mL/min/1.73 m2, specificity of 0.895, and sensitivity of 0.847.

Conclusion

Although no equation was fully accurate, the Steubl equation identified patients suitable for an incremental PD prescription more accurately than the Shafi and Jaques versions. It may be useful for monitoring the RKF of Chinese patients undergoing CAPD who are unable to reliably collect urine.
Intelligent classification of lung cancer pathology images through comparative morphological feature learning
Authors: Peng Fangfang , Li Saihong
Published: January 2025

Lung cancer pathology images are categorized with enhanced accuracy in this research, addressing the significant challenge posed by the limited availability of labeled images, a limitation exacerbated by the complexity of cellular morphologies.

Background

The accurate classification of lung cancer pathology images is of paramount importance for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, the development of robust classification models is often hindered by the intricate cellular morphologies and the scarcity of labeled images, which is a critical bottleneck in the field.

Objectives

The study is designed to incorporate unlabeled data into the training process, thereby enhancing the classification of lung cancer pathology images through the use of comparative learning techniques.

Methods

A methodology is introduced wherein confidently classified unlabeled images are integrated with labeled ones, enriching the training dataset. This approach draws on principles of farthest and nearest neighbor contrastive learning to cultivate a more challenging learning environment and to augment the variability of contrastive samples. To effectively extract key cellular morphological features, an encoder based on the ResNet50 architecture, fortified with deformable and dynamic convolutional techniques, is utilized.

Results

Demonstrated by experimental results, the proposed classification strategy achieves a significant improvement in the accuracy of lung cancer image classification, even under conditions characterized by a limited availability of labeled data, thus underscoring the robustness of the method.

Conclusion

The integration of comparative learning with both labeled and unlabeled images, complemented by the application of advanced convolutional techniques, is shown to be a promising avenue for enhancing the classification of lung cancer pathology images. This research is presented as a practical solution to the urgent need for accurate and efficient diagnostic tools in the field of oncology.
Polarization and cultural divergence
Authors: Naess Ole-Andreas Elvik
Published: January 2025

This article presents an explanation to observed trends in redistribution and cultural and political polarization. I extend a one-dimensional voting model by taking into account that voters, in addition to having economic preferences, also care about cultural issues. Political parties diverge in the cultural dimension to be able to implement different tax rates. A higher level of pre-tax income inequality makes it more difficult to win the election by proposing a low tax rate, but the right-wing party may be able to win the election by bundling a low tax rate with a focus on cultural issues.
Research on adaptive robust sliding mode control of Horizontal vibration of high-speed elevator car system considering time delay
Authors: He Qin , Zhang Jianwei , Li Hua , Zhang Lulu , Zhu Xiangshuai
Published: January 2025

In this paper, a new adaptive robust sliding mode control (ASMC) strategy is proposed for high-speed elevator car systems with input delay and unknown nonlinear dynamic characteristics. Firstly, considering the inherent time delay of the system, the active control model of the four-degree-of-freedom time-delay car system with the symmetrical distribution of the actuator is established. Then, for the car system with unknown disturbance, a robust integral sliding mode control strategy is designed, and an adaptive law is designed to ensure the reachability of sliding mode motion. Then, considering the time delay of vibration signal transmission and actuator actuation, a time-delay optimal adaptive robust sliding mode control strategy (TDASMC) based on the state transformation method is designed, and the stability of the system is proved by constructing the Lyapunov function. Finally, Matlab software is used for simulation analysis, and the results show that the proposed control strategy can attenuate more than 45% of the peak and RMS of the horizontal vibration acceleration, and the large vibration suppression degree is not more than 14% under different working conditions, which has good vibration suppression performance and robustness.
Influence of boron carbide and graphite particulates on the microstructural and mechanical properties of Al6061 metal matrix
Authors: Venkitachalapathy K , Manivannan I , Periandy S
Published: January 2025

Al6061 metal matrix composites were fabricated via the Stir casting method with ultrasonic cavitation technique for various weight percentage of Boron carbide and Graphite particulates as reinforcements (Al6061-0.5wt.%Gr-(0.6, 1.2, 1.8wt.% B4C). The microstructural and mechanical behavior of the fabricated Hybrid composites were studied. The Hardness of the composites was measured by two metrics: Brinell and Micro-Vickers. Density and Porosity of the composites were determined based on their hardness values. Mechanical properties, including uniaxial tensile, flexural, and compression strengths, were assessed using a Universal Testing Machine. The homogeneous distribution of Graphite and Boron Carbide particles in the Al6061-0.5wt%Gr-1.2wt%B4C composite specimen were confirmed through a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Additionally, interfacial analysis of the metal matrix composite was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The specific uniaxial tensile, flexural and compression properties of Al6061-0.5wt%Gr-1.2wt%B4C increased by 15.63%, 51.27%, and 47.59% respectively. The specific hardness of Brinell and Micro-Vickers of the composite increased by 51.44% and 45.04% respectively. Additionally, the composite exhibited an impact energy of 16 J.
Enhancing Sustainability: Green Supply Chain Management in Ayurvedic Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Jomon Jose M.  , Jeyalakshmi P. R.
Published: January 2025

This research investigates the impact of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices on the sustainability performance of Kerala’s Ayurvedic manufacturing sector. By examining green procurement, processing, distribution, inventory management, and logistics, the study reveals a moderate positive relationship between GSCM practices and sustainability. Notably, green processing, inventory management, and logistics emerge as key drivers, while procurement and distribution have limited effects. The findings underscore the importance of recycling, reuse, and degradability in enhancing sustainability, offering actionable insights for industry practitioners and policymakers to optimize resource use and minimize environmental impact.
Assembling Conjugality: Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. and the Recasting of Bollywoodised Marital Conjugation in Reema Kagti’s Precarious Narratives
Authors: Das Sragdharamalini
Published: January 2025

While conjugation or couple formation in Bollywood films has received consistent scholarly attention, its functioning under marriage has remained relatively overlooked. When discussed, the focus has been on discerning the sociological relevance of conjugal representations rather than its phenomenological significance. Foregrounding conjugality as the experience of being married, this article attempts to fill this lacuna by discussing Reema Kagti’s multicouple film Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. It first situates Honeymoon as a precursor to Kagti’s later explorations of marital dynamics in works such as Talaash (2012) and Dahaad (2023), establishing a thematic continuity in her oeuvre. This article then recognises honeymoon as a period of crisis that immediately reveals many contingencies that structure marriage. Accordingly, this article argues that Honeymoon forwards conjugality as a circulating arrangement of couples, themselves undergoing intrapersonal and interpersonal changes and informing the multiplicity ingrained in conjugality, employing a multivalent use of Bollywood tropes. Using multidisciplinary theories, this article outlines how the institution of marriage, the feelings and actions unfolding within it, and its participants remain in perpetual motion to affirm the unity of conjugality. In the course of this discussion, Honeymoon emerges as an instance of New Bollywood Cinema that successfully conveys the multiplicity-embedded experience of conjugality even as it remains bound to the post-globalisation formal reorientation of Bollywood cinema.
Employment-Related Assistive Technologies for Autistic Individuals: A Scoping Review
Authors: Zhou Kaiqi , Richard Constance , Kim Jaeyoung
Published: January 2025

Background

Autistic individuals face challenges in obtaining and retaining employment due to autism-related characteristics and workplace barriers. Assistive technologies (ATs) offer potential solutions but show gaps in practical application.

Objectives

This scoping review explores the types, characteristics, and effectiveness of ATs used in employment by autistic individuals. It also investigates the involvement of professionals from different fields in AT service delivery.

Methods

The study followed Arksey and O’Malley's scoping review framework. The search was conducted utilizing a total of eight databases and relevant references, retrieving articles for peer-reviewed studies published between 1998 and 2022. Inclusion criteria focused on empirical evaluations of ATs for employment-related purposes among autistic individuals aged 16 or older. Data were extracted and synthesized based on predefined categories.

Results

Thirty studies were identified, primarily targeting pre-employment skill training using ATs such as video modeling, virtual reality, and covert audio coaching. Few studies addressed on-the-job performance or retention. Most ATs were applied passively with limited user training or engagement. Researchers from fields like special education and psychology dominated the studies, with minimal involvement from rehabilitation counseling professionals.

Conclusions

While ATs show promise in pre-employment settings, their use for post-hiring support remains underexplored. Future research should prioritize active learning, rigorous methodologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration, especially with rehabilitation counselors, to enhance AT applicability. Addressing training, affordability, and user satisfaction is essential for long-term success.
“Come With Me on My #Griefjourney”: First-Person Narratives of Grief on TikTok
Authors: Davoudi Nilou , Douglas Jennifer
Published: January 2025

As scholarship on death and dying has demonstrated, the tendency to ritualize experiences with death and grief stems from the need to find ways to express the pain and agony of loss. In recent decades, these expressions have moved from offline spaces to online spaces, marking a new era of digitally mediated mourning. Social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok enable users to connect, interact, and share across geographical boundaries and time constraints. They have also become virtual memorial spaces for users to post videos, photos, and tributes to deceased loved ones. With a rapid rise in popularity and ever-expanding user base, TikTok's blend of entertainment, self-expression, and emotional connection has become a compelling force among social media platforms. While online mourning is an established phenomenon, TikTok's presence in this space is a relatively recent development; users leverage TikTok's affordances to express their grief publicly and to continue connections with deceased loved ones, in the process, creating a digital “safe space” for public displays of grief. Through the analysis of grief narratives on TikTok and comparison to grief practices on other social media platforms, such as blogs and Facebook, a platform widely associated with online mourning, this article introduces a new form of first-person grief narrative and reflects on how social grieving and memorialization practices are evolving in changing social media environments.
Voicing Out Parental Experiences of Schooling Their Children with Learning Disabilities: A Qualitative Study of Inclusive Government Schools of India
Authors: Khanna Radhika , Kareem Jacqueline
Published: January 2025

The paper shone light on the lived experiences of parents of children with learning disabilities. The specific objective was to understand the challenges, experiences and aspirations of parents for their children. A phenomenological study was adopted for the study so as to focus on the experiences of the parents. Participants were parents (female- 17 and male- 3) of children in primary classes, who were identified through purposive sampling from government schools of Delhi, NCR from 3 underdeveloped areas of Delhi - Nangloi, Mangolpuri and Ranhaula. The data was collected by semi-structured interviews and later thematically analyzed. The findings were on the basis of the past and present experiences and further their future aspirations for the children. They revealed that the parents faced challenges with applying and issuance of the UDID certificates, but with the collaborative efforts of the special educator and the parents along with various support systems that are provided by the school their experiences became positive. It was also brought to light that the mother was the main caregiver in most of the cases. All the parents were worried, what will happen to their children if they are not there with them. They aspired that the students will be financially independent and have a safe future ahead of them. They dream of a society where all the students are equal in an inclusive environment.
DEK::AFF2 Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Sinonasal Region and Temporal Bone Diagnosed After Recurrences: A Report of Two Patients
Authors: Owosho Adepitan A. , Gleysteen John P. , Wood C. Burton , Franklin Andrew , Angel Jacqueline , Jain Richa
Published: January 2025

DEK::AFF2 squamous cell carcinoma is a recently recognized entity characterized by a non-viral-related non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma with chromosomal rearrangement between DEK on 6p22.3 and AFF2 on Xq28. This neoplasm is associated with an aggressive clinical behavior, particularly regarding local recurrences and distant metastases even with its deceptively bland histomorphology. In this article, we report on 2 patients with DEK:: AFF2 squamous cell carcinomas, which were only diagnosed at the time of recurrence. Patient #1 was originally misdiagnosed with inverted papilloma. This occurred 3 years previously, and at second presentation the tumor was recurrent in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Patient #2 was identified at second recurrence of a “nasopharyngeal carcinoma,” initially diagnosed in the nasopharynx 5 years earlier, with a subsequent recurrence in the middle ear 2 years later, involving the mastoid process. The immunophenotypic and molecular work-up, as well as the management of these patients, are discussed. In our review of the English-language literature on DEK:: AFF2 squamous cell carcinomas, we identified 41 patients, including our 2 patients. Of these, 26 had information on their clinical course. Sixty-nine percent of patients reported a history of locoregional recurrence, and 19% reported a history of distant metastases, with an average follow-up duration of 36 months after multimodality therapies. Given our improved understanding of DEK:: AFF2 squamous cell carcinoma as an aggressive tumor, it is crucial to differentiate this neoplasm from other potential histomorphologic mimickers to ensure early and accurate diagnosis.
Hospital Involvement in Screening for and Addressing Patients’ Health-Related Social Needs
Authors: Singh Simone R. , Hogg-Graham Rachel
Published: January 2025

The number of hospitals screening patients for health-related social needs (HRSNs) has increased substantially in recent years, yet little is known about the extent to which hospitals invest in programs or strategies aimed at addressing identified needs. Using data from the 2022 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey for 2,468 non-federal general medical and surgical hospitals, this study explored screening rates and related interventions for eight HRSNs: housing, food insecurity, utilities, interpersonal violence, transportation, employment or income, education, and social isolation. Sample hospitals screened for an average of 6.1 HRSNs and had programs or strategies for an average of 5.4 HRSNs. Hospitals that screened their patients for HRSNs were significantly more likely to invest in interventions aimed at addressing these needs. Serving patients more holistically by addressing both medical and social needs has the potential to improve health outcomes and ultimately reduce health disparities.
Influence of micro-groove surface texture on the lubrication tribological properties of GCr15 bearing steel
Authors: Lai Fuqiang , Cao Changsheng , Chen Huanghuang , Lin Chang , Song Chenfei , Lei Kangjie , Lin Youxi , Wu Zhangbin
Published: January 2025

Textured surfaces have been widely applied in the field of engineering for friction reduction, but research on the effects of different texture design parameters on the wear and fatigue resistance of bearing steel remains insufficiently explored. In order to improve the anti-wear and anti-fatigue performance and prolong the service life of bearing steel, surface texturing technology was applied to fabricate textured GCr15 bearing steel materials. In this work, micro-groove surface texture was designed by hydrodynamic theory, then, it was fabricated on the GCr15 bearing steel surface using nanosecond laser processing. The depths (15 μm, 30 μm), spacing (100 μm, 200 μm, 300 μm), and friction angles (30°, 60°, 90°) of micro groove were selected as the primary parameters for micro groove fabrication. The friction and wear tests and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) tests were conducted to investigate the lubrication tribological properties. The results indicated that micro-groove spacing of 300 μm significantly reduces the coefficient of friction (CoF), depth of 30 μm produces a higher hydrodynamic pressure, and friction angle of 60° has a lower CoF value. Compared to the untextured samples, the RCF life of micro-groove surface texture sample is improved, and the median RCF life is increased by 36.5%. And it could be attributed to the dispersion effect of micro-groove surface texture on stress concentration. The findings indicate that a well-designed micro-groove structure can enhance the fluid dynamic pressure lubrication effect to a certain degree. In comparison to smooth surface specimens, those with micro-grooves exhibit reduced friction.
Trajectories of the notion of liminality: Identity, border, threshold, affectivity and spatio-temporal processes of transformation
Authors: De Luca Picione Raffaele , De Fortuna Angelo Maria , Balzani Enrica , Marsico Giuseppina
Published: January 2025

Liminality is a theoretical and methodological concept which originated within anthropology at beginning of the 20th century through the work of Arnold van Gennep and later Victor Turner. This notion emphasizes the need for a transformative space-time in the human experience and for a temporary suspension of the normative borders that orient it. Through ritualized symbolic forms, the individual can experience an “ in-between” condition and question one’s own identity and role in the community of belonging, introducing new balances between innovation and preservation. The notion of liminality - from a processual point of view - allows us to explore a twofold paradoxical tension that can never be fully resolved in the human psyche: the relationship between identity and sociality (the paradox of psychic and collective life) and the relationship between stability and change (the paradox of transformation). Through the examination of historical contributions on liminality up to the most recent studies on contemporary psychosocial forms, the value of liminality is explored focusing on some of its central aspects: identity, community, rituality, passages and thresholds, borders and limits, creativity and transformation, uncertainty and affectivity, stability and loss of orientation.
Cultural labour, income support, and the welfare state: Non-arts funding and funding the arts
Authors: Daughtry Steph , Whiting Sam
Published: January 2025

Cultural labour intersects with other forms of labour, such as immaterial and affective labour. However, it is distinct from these in its specific goal of producing ‘culture.’ Furthermore, the conditions necessary for cultural labour to thrive resemble that which Pierre Bourdieu referred to as skholè, unimpeded time to pursue one's work. Yet the problem of resourcing this labour and equitably funding it remains a unique issue. This paper will examine cultural labour and issues of equity in the contemporary Australian context, providing an overview of how artists have used arts and non-arts funding to resource their labour. Through a discussion of Australian cultural policy, this paper identifies key insufficiencies of project-based grant funding. By acknowledging the policy/practice gap in Australian cultural policy, the paper concludes that an understanding of the need to resource skholè effectively is necessary if we are to expect equitable access to and output of cultural labour practices.
Pathways to usage intention of mobile health apps among hypertensive patients: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis
Authors: Sun Ting , Ding Zenghui , Xie Hui , Chen Xiaoning , Wang Yumeng , Li Yibin , Zhang Guoli , Xu Xuejie , Xia Yuxin , Ma Zuchang
Published: January 2025

Background: The efficacy of mHealth apps in managing hypertension has been proven; however, low usage intention remains a significant challenge, warranting an in-depth exploration of the influencing factors. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the factors influencing hypertensive new users’ intention to use mobile health applications through a cross-sectional survey. Methods: Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was employed to investigate the combinations of various determinants, including technology acceptance, adoption factors, compliance behavior initiation factors, and time motivation factors for decision making. Results: A total of 100 middle-aged and elderly hypertensive individuals participated in the survey, with 98 responses included in the final statistical analysis. The analysis identified four distinct configurations that contribute to high usage intentions, with solution consistency and coverage values of 0.93 and 0.36, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that intervention strategies should account for the various pathways leading to usage intentions.
Losing Hurts: Defeated Legislators and Satisfaction with Democracy in Latin America
Authors: Martínez Rosón Mar , Mateos Araceli
Published: January 2025

This article aims to analyze satisfaction with democracy among political representatives as key actors of democracy. We examine the impact of two possible sources of satisfaction—personal benefits and policy performance—using a database from the Latin American Legislative Elites Project with 1207 personal interviews to legislators from 17 countries. The results show that, in addition to the winner effect, personal benefits and policy performance are also significant factors explaining levels of satisfaction with democracy, but the impact is different for winners and losers. For winners, these aspects are irrelevant, and their levels of satisfaction remain high and stable, even under poor political performance. In contrast, losers have lower levels of satisfaction, but satisfaction with democracy increases with seniority, positive salary assessments, and perceptions of good political performance, suggesting that for defeated legislators, these factors help to heal their wounds.
Pregnancy in Epilepsy: Moms Have Risks too
Authors: Noe Katherine
Published: January 2025

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Post-Stroke Recovery in Relation to Parvalbumin-Positive Interneurons and Perineuronal Nets
Authors: Kuhl Lydia M. , Jeffers Matthew S. , Hristozov Nicolay , Karthikeyan Sudhir , McDonald Matthew W. , Hufnagel Aisha , Carter Anthony , Dancause Numa , Corbett Dale
Published: January 2025

Background:

There is a critical time window of post-stroke neuroplasticity when spontaneous behavioral recovery occurs. Potential factors responsible for this heightened plasticity are the reduction of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV+) interneuron inhibitory signaling and the disappearance of extracellular matrix synaptic stabilizers called perineuronal net(s; PNN/PNNs).

Objective:

This study investigated whether behavioral recovery during this critical period following stroke is associated with changes in densities of PV+ interneurons and PNNs.

Methods

Male, Sprague-Dawley rats received forelimb motor cortex stroke (n = 43) using endothelin-1, or vehicle injections (n = 44). Cohorts of rats underwent a battery of motor tests and were sacrificed within the post-stroke critical window on day 1, and 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Using immunofluorescent labeling, PNNs (wisteria floribunda agglutinin; WFA+ cells), PV+ interneurons, and cells expressing both PV and PNNs were quantified in contra- and ipsilesional cortices to elucidate their spatial-temporal profiles following stroke.

Results

PV+ interneuron density decreased significantly at 1-day post-stroke in the lateral ipsilesional cortex, while the density of PNNs was significantly lower up to 4 weeks post-stroke in the lateral ipsilesional cortex and at 1 and 2 weeks post-stroke in the medial ipsilesional cortex. Reduction of combined PV+/PNN signaling coincided with spontaneous behavioral recovery.

Conclusions

These results suggest that post-stroke behavioral recovery corresponds to an early reduction in PV+/PNN co-labeled cells in conjunction with an early temporally-dependent reduction in PV+ interneuron signaling and chronic disappearance of PNNs. Interventions targeting PNNs or PV+ interneuron signaling have significant potential for extending the critical window of recovery following stroke.
Improved healthcare utilization and economic outcomes of chronic subdural hematoma treatment with middle meningeal artery embolization compared to conventional surgical drainage
Authors: John Kevin , Dietz Nicholas , Brake Aaron , Ugiliweneza Beatrice , Drazin Doniel , Abecassis Isaac Josh , Ding Dale , Boakye Maxwell
Published: January 2025

Background

Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) emerges as an alternative to conventional surgical drainage (CSD) for chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH). Several studies have suggested that MMAE improves the cost efficacy of cSDH treatment. However, further comprehensive analyses of the outcomes and healthcare costs of MMAE are necessary.

Methods

Merative MarketScan Research Database from 2017–2022 was used to compare demographics, reoperation rates, complications, healthcare utilization, and payments of patients being treated with CSD, CSD and adjunctive MMAE, or standalone MMAE for cSDH or nontraumatic subdural hemorrhage.

Results

From 2017–2022, there were 2108 patients who underwent CSD ( n = 2015), or CSD+MMAE ( n = 23) or MMAE only ( n = 70). The median age of the surgical group was 61 years (IQR 53–73 years), the surgery plus MMAE was 67 years (56–77 years) and the MMAE group was 65 years (55–77 years). Median hospital days were significantly longer for the CSD (6 (IQR 5–7) days) and CSD + MMAE (7 (IQR 6–7) days) groups compared to MMAE only (0 days(IQR 0–1)( p < 0.0001). Median index hospitalization payments were significantly higher for the CSD+MMAE group ($74,568) compared to both CSD ($39,658) ( p = 0.003) and MMAE groups ($22,286) ( p < 0.0001). The total median payments at six-month follow-up for the CSD group were higher compared to CSD+MMAE ($11494 vs $7300, p = 0.0017) but not compared to MMAE only ($10,680, p = 0.08).

Conclusions

The reduced complications, infection rate, hospital utilization, and costs observed in this study support MMAE as a promising treatment option in the arsenal for cSDH management.
Free Movement in Postwar Europe: Exploring a Multivalent Concept. Introduction
Authors: Hertel Patricia , Pack Sasha D
Published: January 2025

The progressive elevation of ideologies and discourses of free movement constitutes a vital narrative of modern European history. This introduction offers a brief genealogy of free movement in European thought and politics in modern liberalism since the late eighteenth century and outlines the actors, spaces and conflicts of free movement in postwar Europe. Furthermore, it offers a discussion of the place of free movement in recent historiography.
Prediction of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction using atrial fibrillation or flutter electrocardiograms: A machine-learning study
Authors: Kwon Soonil , Chung SooMin , Lee So-Ryoung , Kim Kwangsoo , Kim Junmo , Baek Dahyeon , Yang Hyun-Lim , Choi Eue-Keun , Oh Seil
Published: January 2025

Objective

Although the evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) is crucial for appropriate medical management, the prediction of reduced LVEF (<50%) with AF/AFL electrocardiograms (ECGs) lacks evidence. This study aimed to investigate deep-learning approaches to predict reduced LVEF (<50%) in patients with AF/AFL ECGs and easily obtainable clinical information.

Methods

Patients with 12-lead ECGs of AF/AFL and echocardiography were divided into those with LVEF <50% and ≥50%. A convolutional neural networks-based model customized to the study (AFibEFNet) and other deep-learning models were investigated. Electrocardiogram signals, ECG features, and clinical features (demographic information, comorbidities, blood cell counts, and blood test results) were collected for training. A hold-out test dataset was constructed using a different recruitment period. Five-fold cross-validation and calibration plots were used to evaluate performance.

Results

A total of 15,683 patients were analyzed (mean age, 70.0 ± 11.7 years; 61.2% men), with 82.2% having LVEF ≥50% and 17.8% having LVEF < 50%. Among the learning models, the AFibEFNet outperformed other models regarding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC), and F1-score. Using ECG signals alone, the AFibEFNet model predicted reduced LVEF with AUROC of 0.798 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.767–0.829) and AUPRC of 0.508 (95% CI, 0.434–0.564). For the AFibEFNet model, additional training with ECG and clinical features significantly improved AUROC (0.816 vs. 0.798, p = 0.04) and AUPRC (0.547 vs. 0.508, p < 0.001). The AFibEFNet model primarily focused on the R-wave, QRS onset and offset, and T-wave in ECG signals.

Conclusions

Among the patients with AF/AFL, machine learning may predict reduced LVEF with 12-lead ECGs of AF/AFL.