bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolomics of Personalized Body Elements in Thai Traditional Medicine Response to Herbal Medicine for Body Elements Balancing in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Vannabhum Manmas , Mahajaroensiri Suthatip , Pattanapholkornsakul Saracha , Tantiwongsekunakorn Athippat , Thippayacharoentam Thapthep , Tripatara Pinpat , Akarasereenont Pravit
Published: November 2023

Background. In Thai traditional medicine (TTM), the dominant body element called “Dhat Chao Ruean” (DCR) is an integral part in the diagnostic process of Thai traditional medicine. TTM practitioners usually use Thai herbal Benjakul formula (BKF) for adjusting and balancing the body elements. However, the effects of BKF on metabolism and individual response to it have not been studied yet. Methods. This study proposed to investigate the metabolic profiling in 24 volunteers categorized by their types of birth month DCR (bDCR) after the administration of BKF (450 mg, three tablets three times a day before meals) for seven days. Differences in metabolic profiling between bDCR groups were investigated by using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for untargeted analysis, and in addition, the safety was assessed by testing the plasma biochemical level. Results. This study identified 57 biomarkers in positive ESI and 12 in negative ESI. Piperine was found in varying amount among the participants but it was the highest in the earth group. In addition, this study found that elemicin, phenylpropionic acid, ricinoleic acid, and β‐sitosterol are important substances in a single herb of BKF. Regarding biochemical tests, the results indicated that BKF can decrease the lipid profile and it has no toxic effects on liver and kidney functions. Conclusion. The findings indicated that it is safe to use BKF which can help to improve health in chronic diseases by adjusting abnormality of the elements of the body. In addition, the information gathered from this study is valuable for further study in the field of Thai traditional medicine.
Evolutionary Game of Vertical Cooperation and Innovation between Civilian and Military Enterprises: A Civilian-Military Integration Supply Chain System with Chinese Characteristics
Authors: Qi Ning , Zhang Ao , Zhu Qiyana
Published: November 2023

The establishment of a civil-military integration supply chain system is the cornerstone of China’s strategic development in military-civilian integration. It is essential to explore cooperative innovation and development between upstream civilian enterprises and downstream military enterprises within the supply chain to optimise resource allocation and promote the sustainable use of civil-military resources. This exploration is a prerequisite for accelerating the formation of the civil-military integration supply chain system and holds significant importance for realising the internal synergy between the civilian industry and the military industry. However, utilizing the evolutionary game model as a foundation, this study delves into the impact of absorption capacity, transformation and integration capability, network synergy, and change and innovation capacity on the vertical cooperation and innovation behaviour within the supply chain of civil-military integration enterprises. Firstly, civilian enterprises are more cost-sensitive concerning collaborative innovation investments compared to military enterprises. Excessive costs can discourage collaboration between civilian and military entities. Secondly, strong exploratory and absorptive capabilities, along with network synergies, can enhance the benefits of cooperation and innovation among these enterprises, but they also introduce the risk of opportunistic “free-rider” behaviour. Thirdly, the dynamics of the technology and product chains are influenced by an excess supply for civilian enterprises, while the opposite is true for military enterprises. Finally, a strong capacity for transformation and integration fosters cooperative and innovative behaviours among enterprises, with civilian enterprises exhibiting greater responsiveness. This study brings new research perspectives to the forefront, exploring vertical cooperation and innovative development within supply chain enterprises, particularly through the lens of supply and demand dynamics. Additionally, it offers practical recommendations aimed at helping the government expedite the establishment of integrated military-civilian supply chains and foster the synergistic development of the two key sectors: the military and civilian economies.
Probabilistic models for understanding inland amphipods water population abundances in Andean stream (Caspana, 23°S, Antofagasta region, Chile)
Authors: De los Ríos-Escalante Patricio , Wilson Rodolfo , Esse Carlos
Published: November 2023

The Andes mountains in northern Chile have numerous small permanent and intermittent streams that are poorly studied; among the most reported species are amphipods of the genus Hyalella, specifically H. fossamanchini and H. kochi. The aim of the present study was to do a first characterization of populations of both amphipod species in a small stream (Caspana, 23°S; 3200 m a.s.l.), that was visited in September 2022. The first results using a Kruskall-Wallis nonparametric test revealed that the abundances of both species and unidentified juveniles were not significantly different in a comparison of two sites, whereas a Mann-Wittney nonparametric U test gave similar results when each species and juveniles were compared between sites. The results of variance/mean ratio revealed the existence of an aggregated pattern, and a negative binomial distribution for all samples. The occurrence of an aggregated pattern and the consequent negative binomial distribution is a very frequent pattern for inland water invertebrates in Chilean rivers.
“Beating the Drums in God’s Wrestling Arena”: Spirituality Translated into Local Metaphor in Wolof Sufi ʿAjamī Poetry
Authors: Ndiaye Gana , Rowley Margaret , Diagne Elhadji Djibril
Published: November 2023

How do ʿAjamī scholars translate Sufi spirituality and esoteric concepts into a language accessible to their audience? The body of Senegalese Wolof ʿAjamī poetry often seeks to translate divine concepts into a language that is local, both in time and place. This translation takes place within the local language in all of its literary dimensions. For the Wolof ʿAjamī poet, proverbs, parables, and metaphors are key literary devices that facilitate understanding among listeners. Studying ʿAjamī poems opens a window into a historic locality, teaching the contemporary reader-listener about both Sufi spirituality and the particular contexts in which the poems were produced. Through these metaphors, the poet ʿAjamizes, conferring sacred meaning onto practices and devices that otherwise might be outside the Sufi realm. In the process, metaphors become vessels of divine meaning. This article treats the metaphor as a key literary device whose understanding is paramount for grasping the meaning of the religious message. Treating the poems as social documents and works of literature also offers scholars new possibilities for understanding the everyday life of ordinary users in Senegambia.
Lives of Patriarchs, Lives of Qadis: Reading the Abbasid Sources of the “History of the Patriarchs” as Islamicate Texts
Authors: Palombo Cecilia
Published: November 2023

This article discusses the literary representation of religious leadership in the Siyar al-bīʿa al-muqaddasa, also known as “History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria”. It suggests reading accounts on early Muslim rule within the frameworks of Islamicate literature from the Abbasid and the Fatimid periods, when the collection was created, also considering successive layers of redaction. This approach contrasts with a more conventional way of reading such texts as historical sources on Christian-Muslim relations and as witnesses of the early Islamic period. By comparing stories of patriarchs and rulers with stories about qadis and rulers, the article highlights the importance of framing early Islamicate Christian sources in relation to a broader cultural context and historical developments, without exaggerating their early dating. Finally, it proposes that there is historical meaning to be found in the display of linguistic and narrative anachronisms.
Patriarcat, califat et réseaux : le moment Ḥarrān au cœur de l’Empire (126/744-140/758)
Authors: Pierre Simon
Published: November 2023

This paper offers a cross-analysis of Syriac and Arabic sources related to the Jazīra, the northern province of the caliphate, during the second/eighth century. Specifically, it delves into what the author refers to as the “Ḥarrān moment”. It pertains to the period when this regional town was turned to the last capital of the Umayyads, and immediately to the centre of the provincial government of the future caliph al-Manṣūr, prior to his ascent to power in 754-755 CE. The study views the Abbasid revolution as part of a single decade of civil war (fitna) (744-755) and emphasises the continuity between two dynasties, challenging the traditional historiographical divide of the “Abbasid revolution.” The “Ḥarrān moment” marked a significant shift in central political (and ecclesiastical) power from Umayyad Damascus to Abbasid Baghdad. Syriac sources underscore the centrality of the Jazīra and its capital, as well as the similarities in the political and military history before and after 132/750. Moreover, local ecclesiastical chronicles highlight how Ḥarrān became the centre of the Church at that time, partly by chance and partly due to geopolitical and geo-ecclesiological co-construction. It is argued that this results from a period when prelates and patriarchs became more courtiers, and both Marwān II and al-Manṣūr initiated a policy of affiliation of the Syrian Orthodox Church to the Caliphate, particularly through the issuance of diplomas (sigillions). This article demonstrates that the physical encounter of these two central powers, civil and ecclesiastical, in this strategic location during this critical time of interconnected political-military and ecclesiological turmoil and changes of the 740s-750s, is the key to understanding this process. The study specifically examines the similarities between monastic and tribal provincial and infra-provincial networks, which arise from the same political constraints, to explore the formation and crystallisation of parallel regional ecclesiastical and political blocks during the mid-eighth century CE.
Policy for Civic Reasoning
Authors: Darling-Hammond Linda , McGuire Kent
Published: November 2023

Preparing young people for citizenship requires significant change in our public schools, including a commitment to preparation of the education workforce for today’s diverse learners and paying more attention to culture and identity in what is taught. Schools should be designed and organized in ways that help students understand the obligations that members of a society owe one another. Policy can be an important lever in promoting changes that foster civic reasoning and engagement: curriculum policies can support civic reasoning and discourse within and across subject areas, assessments can support civic reasoning through competency-based approaches, and well-designed graduation requirements can reinforce attention to civic learning. This article describes various frameworks to guide policy development, each with the potential to prepare young people more fully for citizenship.
Development and Validation of a Modified Khorana Score for Predicting Venous Thromboembolism in Newly Diagnosed Stage IV Lung Cancer
Authors: Qin Ya , Liang Xiao , Wu Hongshuai , Sun Xia , Yan Shuai , Wang Nanyao , Yuan Ming , Wang Qiong , Wu Dan
Published: November 2023

We aimed to establish an effective model to identify metastatic lung cancer patients at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Patients diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer from January 2011 to June 2019 were included in the development cohort; those recruited from July 2019 to June 2021 were included in the validation cohort. Univariable and multivariable analyses determined the risk factors for VTE. Then we assessed the value for predicting VTE of the Khorana score and modified Khorana score in these two cohorts; 575 patients were included in the development cohort, and 202 patients in the validation cohort. Adenocarcinoma, D-dimer, and the Khorana score were independent risk factors for VTE. In the development cohort, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the Khorana score in patients with newly diagnosed stage IV lung cancer was 0.598 (95% CI, 0.512-0.684). The AUC of the modified Khorana score was 0.747 (95% CI, 0.689-0.805). The difference was statistically significant ( P <.001). The AUC of the modified Khorana score in the validation cohort was 0.763 (95% CI, 0.661-0.865). The modified Khorana score is more able to accurately predict VTE in patients with newly diagnosed stage IV lung cancer than the Khorana score.
COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among US Adults: Safety and Effectiveness Perceptions and Messaging to Increase Vaccine Confidence and Intent to Vaccinate
Authors: Weinstein Nicole , Schwarz Kelsey , Chan Isabella , Kobau Rosemarie , Alexander Robert , Kollar Laura , Rodriguez Leslie , Mansergh Gordon , Repetski Torey , Gandhi Pooja , Pechta Laura
Published: November 2023

Objective:

Public health agencies have a critical role in providing effective messaging about mitigation strategies during a public health emergency. The objectives of this study were (1) to understand perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines, including concerns about side effects, safety, and effectiveness and how these perceptions influence vaccine decision-making among US adults and (2) to learn what messages might motivate vaccine uptake.

Methods:

In April and May 2021, we conducted 14 online focus groups with non-Hispanic English-speaking and English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic adults (N = 99) not vaccinated against COVID-19. We oversampled adults aged 18-39 years and rural residents and systematically assessed 10 test messages. Researchers used a standardized guide and an a priori codebook for focus group discussions, coding transcripts, and thematic analysis.

Results:

Vaccine hesitancy factors included fear of the unknown; long-term side effects, including infertility; and beliefs that the vaccines were developed too quickly and were not sufficiently effective. Motivating factors for receiving vaccination included the ability to safely socialize and travel. Health care providers were considered important trusted messengers. Participants were critical of most messages tested. Messages that came across as “honest” about what is not yet known about COVID-19 vaccines were perceived more positively than other messages tested. Messages were seen as ineffective if perceived as vague or lacking in data and specificity.

Conclusions:

Messages that were simple and transparent about what is unknown about vaccines relative to emerging science were viewed most favorably. Health care providers, friends, and family were considered influential in vaccination decision-making. Findings underscore the benefits of research-informed strategies for developing and disseminating effective messages addressing critical issues in a public health emergency.
Assessing Modern Monetary Theory’s Peculiar Ontology of Money
Authors: Duricy Brian , Poitier Maxwell G.
Published: November 2023

Macroeconomic traditions disagree on the policies needed for the economy to properly function and how to assess them. In this paper, we contend that these disagreements originate from the social ontological commitments of a theory. The ontology of money underlines these disagreements between Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and mainstream economics. First, we assess MMT’s ontology of money. Next, we identify MMT’s normative commitments and classify MMT’s ontology as a taxonomic definition with thick concepts. Finally, we offer reasons why MMT's ontology of money leads to rivalries with other economic traditions. We argue disagreements on policy are expected, given the ontological differences elaborated.
Social norms and social practices
Authors: Lawless John
Published: November 2023

Theories of social norms frequently define social norms in terms of individuals’ beliefs and preferences, and so afford individual beliefs and preferences conceptual priority over social norms. I argue that this treatment of social norms is unsustainable. Taking Bicchieri’s theory as an exemplar of this approach, I argue, first, that Bicchieri’s framework bears important structural similarities with the command theory of law; and second, that Hart’s arguments against the command theory of law, suitably recast, reveal the fundamental problems with Bicchieri’s framework. I then draw on Hart’s critique to develop and defend an alternative approach, arguing that we should conceive of social norms as the norms internal to a “socially sanctioned representational practice.” This approach makes social norms conceptually independent of individuals’ beliefs and preferences by locating them within social practices that transcend their individual participants, structuring the social landscape even before individuals form their own beliefs and preferences.
Changing Motherhood in the South African Middle-Class Context
Authors: Mograbi Rachel Zaidman , Bain Katherine , Pretorius Edmarie
Published: November 2023

Parenting has been found to be highly contextually and culturally determined and there have been calls to research parenting within culture as it is lived. Due to changing social and economic factors, middle-class South African mothers face unique challenges in relation to the navigation of culture and class in child-rearing. Foregrounding the complexity of acculturation, this paper uses social constructionist theory in the analysis of maternal narratives and responses to video-recordings of their interaction with their infants, of a group of middle-class South African mothers from various cultural and racial groups, with an aim to understanding how mothering is changing amongst middle-class South African mothers. The findings suggest that acculturation is complex and influenced by a combination of socioeconomic status, geographical location, contact with other cultural groups and personal emotional experiences of having been parented within a particular culture.
Are Women Brave or Braver Than Men? Judgments of Implicit and Explicit Intergroup Comparisons
Authors: Lux Alexandra , Bruckmüller Susanne , Hoorens Vera
Published: November 2023

People learn about social groups by reading and hearing verbal statements. We investigated if the perceived truth and acceptability of such statements depend on whether they are implicitly vs. explicitly comparative (e.g., “Women are brave” vs. “Women are braver than men”). Participants (Study 1: Ns = 259; Study 2: N = 246) rated the truth, acceptability, familiarity, and positivity of implicitly vs. explicitly comparative, stereotypical vs. counter-stereotypical statements about positive vs. negative features. Consistent with an Etiquette Hypothesis, implicitly (vs. explicitly) comparative statements about positive features were judged as truer and more acceptable, presumably because they adhered better to a positivity norm. Consistent with a Fluency Hypothesis, stereotypical explicitly (vs. implicitly) comparative statements about age groups were judged as truer, presumably because of higher ease-of-processing. Thus, mechanisms affecting judgments vary somewhat with the groups compared. We discuss the role of metacognitive and normative processes in stereotype maintenance and stereotype change.
Global connections from the second-tier: The trade performance of smaller southern US cities
Authors: Kalafsky Ronald V , Graves William
Published: November 2023

After years of relative neglect, renewed attention has been paid to smaller, “ordinary” cities. The distinctiveness of these cities is often found in their economic development paths, which, can encompass their roles in international trade. Many locations have included exports as part of their economic growth strategies, yet the effectiveness of export strategies varies by location. This is in addition to varying components of exports for these cities, including the destination geographies and reliance on particular markets. In order to contribute to the growing literature on ordinary cities, this paper examines the export performance of smaller metropolitan areas across the southern United States. In recent decades, the South has been a region marked by robust economic performance, both overall and in terms of exporting; the region’s smaller cities are an especially notable case in terms of export performance and structure. While goods-related exports from the smaller cities across this region have tended to trend upward, export performance has been spatially uneven, with export markets and key export industries varying widely. The article concludes with an exploration and discussion of possible export trajectories for these urban areas in the post-pandemic and potentially, post-globalization, environments, particularly in terms of development-related outcomes.
Captive bodies, prison geographies, and the somatic carceral condition
Authors: Bloch Stefano , Olivares-Pelayo Enrique A
Published: November 2023

Putting research and reflection on prison experience into conversation with the subfields of carceral and health geography, we discuss the “somatic carceral condition” as a viseral, bodily effect of prisonization. In doing so, we call for increased reliance on data derived from somatic experience as well as autoethnographic insight on imprisonment. More broadly, we argue, an embrace of somatic data used to tell the story of marginalization and captivity experienced in prison and across the carceral continuum can help advance the discipline of geography theoretically, methodologically, and in terms of contributing to praxis-based interventions.
Nigerian wind energy status
Authors: Akporhonor Gbubemi Kevin , Otuagoma Smith Orode , Akporhonor Temisan Arnold
Published: November 2023

This review paper evaluates the current status of the Nigeria wind energy sector to identify the available Wind Energy Potential, Installed Wind Energy Capacity and Renewable Energy Policies in a bid to provide accurate information to aid the exploration and exploitation of wind energy across Nigeria. Consequently, the huge expanse between the wind energy Potential across Cities in Nigeria, the poor numbers of installed wind capacity and Nigeria’s Renewable Energy policies show low interest in Wind Energy in comparison to other RE sources. All this calls for further investment in the Nigerian wind energy sector
Dynamic performance of newly developed environmentally friendly greases containing polysaccharide gums in rolling bearing
Authors: Saxena Ankit , Kumar Deepak , Tandon Naresh
Published: November 2023

The present study explores the performance of novel vegetable oil-based greases containing polysaccharide gums as additives. Two series of greases with varying concentrations of gum acacia (GA) and guar gum (GG) are evaluated in a rolling bearing at various speeds and loads. The vibrations and shock pulse measurements (SPM) quantified the tribo-dynamics of the developed greases against two commercial greases used as the benchmark. The vibration and SPM assessment suggest that the newly developed eco-friendly greases are at par with the commercial ones; the performance varies with the concentration and type of gum. Where a cumulative effect of rheology and gum size seems to influence the vibrations, the entrainment of gums in the contact zone governs the SPM carpet values. The developed greases show great prospects as a sustainable, potential, and commercial alternative to existing environmentally unfriendly greases.
Multiphysics and comparative analysis on failure detection in planetary gears
Authors: Boudhraa Safa , Fernandez del Rincon Alfonso , Chaari Fakher , Ben Souf Mohamed Amine , Haddar Mohamed , Viadero Fernando
Published: November 2023

Gearbox monitoring is considered an important scientific focus for predicting preventative maintenance plans. In these systems, mechanical defects such as loading problems, eccentricity and torsional vibrations lead to shaft fatigue and other damage to various other mechanical components. Various methods have been developed to detect and identify the presence of defects in gearboxes. In this paper, we investigate the effect of gearbox faults on the current signal by defining an analytical correlation between the physical presence of the fault and the stator current. The theoretical development is supported by experimental measurements taken on a back-to-back planetary gearbox. Planetary gearbox faults result in the motor’s input torque oscillations, generating amplitude and frequency modulation (AM-FM). These modulations have an effect on stator current signals. The study of the stator current was followed by that of vibration signal and acoustic pressure taken simultaneously under the same operating conditions. This comparative investigation aims to present the differences between different techniques and highlight the efficiency of each.
Development and characterization of a novel nanocomposite-polymer based piezoresistive pressure sensor for low-pressure application
Authors: Chauhan Shivanku , Ranjan Prabhat , Ansari Mohd. Zahid
Published: November 2023

This work presents the design, fabrication and characterization of a nanocomposite-polymer (piezoresistive) based pressure sensor for low-pressure measurement. The developed piezoresistive pressure sensor consists of a PDMS diaphragm and piezoresistor sensing element. The sensing element is made of PDMS/Graphite composite, which works as a piezoresistor active element. The ultrasonic mixing followed by degasification, spin coating and curing is used to fabricate the PDMS diaphragm and PDPM/Graphite piezoresistive composite. The characterization of the pure PDMS and PDMS/Graphite composite with different graphite filler concentrations is done before assembling them to fabricate the pressure-sensing device. The PDPM/Graphite composite shows a higher elastic modulus compared to the pure PDMS and the electrical conductivity of the composite also increases with the increment of the graphite filler in it. After the characterization of the constituents of the pressure sensing device, the device is characterized for low-pressure sensing.
Implementation of robotic electrochemical machining in freeform surface machining with material removal rate prediction using different machine learning algorithms
Authors: Cebi Abdulkadir , Demirtas Hasan , Kaleli Alirıza
Published: November 2023

Robots are used as machine tools via some advanced properties such as versatility, adaptation and mobility with other control systems. These advantages can be the solution to overcome the encountered problems in electrochemical machining (ECM). In this manner, the usability of a new machining method that is Robotic electrochemical machining (RECM) in freeform surface machining is investigated. Firstly, ECM parameters and their effects on the material removal rate (MRR) is discussed and compared with the literature. Experimental results showed that MRR variation for RECM acts similar characteristics with conventional ECM processes. The increase in voltage, electrolyte conductivity and feed rate increase MRR. The highest effect on MRR for both materials is voltage, electrolyte conductivity, and feed rate, respectively. Secondly, three different machine learning models are designed as Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), regression tree and deep neural network (DNN) models and the relationships between their actual and predicted values are discussed. The performance of the DNN model is better than other models with a correlation of determination values equal for Inconel 718 and AISI 1040. Furthermore, the DNN model with four input parameters outperforms developed models such as GPR and DTR with optimized hyperparameters regarding the R2, MSE, RMSE, and MAE. The change in height in the Z-axis and the surface roughness of the machined surfaces are also measured. The results show that the decrease in the Z axis is homogeneous, that is, uniform machining occurs and also the surface roughness has improved. Therefore, RECM can be a solution to machine free-form surfaces for different materials with high predictability.
Vision-based environmental perception for autonomous driving
Authors: Liu Fei , Lu Zihao , Lin Xianke
Published: November 2023

Visual perception plays an important role in autonomous driving. One of the primary tasks is object detection and identification. Since the vision sensor is rich in color and texture information, it can quickly and accurately identify various road information. The commonly used technique is based on extracting and calculating various features of the image. The recent development of deep learning-based method has better reliability and processing speed and has a greater advantage in recognizing complex elements. For depth estimation, vision sensor is also used for ranging due to their small size and low cost. Monocular camera uses image data from a single viewpoint as input to estimate object depth. In contrast, stereo vision is based on parallax and matching feature points of different views, and the application of Deep learning also further improves the accuracy. In addition, Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM) can establish a model of the road environment, thus helping the vehicle perceive the surrounding environment and complete the tasks. In this paper, we introduce and compare various methods of object detection and identification, then explain the development of depth estimation and compare various methods based on monocular, stereo, and RGB-D sensors, next review and compare various methods of SLAM, and finally summarize the current problems and present the future development trends of vision technologies.
Expert system based fault diagnosis for railway point machines
Authors: Reetz Susanne , Neumann Thorsten , Schrijver Gerrit , van den Berg Arnout , Buursma Douwe
Published: November 2023

To meet the increasing demands for availability at reasonable cost, operators and maintainers of railway point machines are constantly looking for innovative techniques for switch condition monitoring and prediction. This includes automated fault root cause diagnosis based on measurement data (such as motor current curves) and other information. However, large, comprehensive sets of labeled data suitable for standard machine learning are not yet available. Existing data-driven approaches focus only on the differentiation of a few major fault categories at the level of the measurement data (i.e., the “fault symptoms”). There is great potential in hybrid models that use expert knowledge in combination with multiple sources of information to automatically identify failure causes at a much more detailed level. This paper discusses a Bayesian network diagnostic model for determining the root causes of faults in point machines, based on expert knowledge and few labeled data examples from the Netherlands. Human-interpretable current curve features and other information sources (e.g., past maintenance actions) are used as evidence. The result of the model is a ranking of the most likely failure causes with associated probabilities in terms of fuzzy multi-label classification, which is directly aimed at providing decision support to maintenance engineers. The validity and limitations of the model are demonstrated by a scenario-based evaluation and a brief analysis using information theoretic measures. We present the information sources used, the detailed development process and the analysis methodology. This article is intended to be a guide to developing similar models for various complex technical assets.
Effects of the fillers on the interface strength of the hat-stiffened composite panel
Authors: Liu Longquan , Guan Zhongwei
Published: November 2023

Hat-stiffened composite skins have been widely used in primary structures of aircraft components. The bonding strength at the stiffener-skin interface is critical to ensure the advanced load-bearing capacity of the stiffened skin, whereas, the deltoid regions are usually the weakest locations because of the geometrical singularity. Inserting fillers into the deltoid regions could alter the bonding strength. In this study, a series of four-point bending tests are conducted on the co-cured hat-stiffened composite skin specimens with and without fillers and with different pre-fabricated debonding defects, furthermore, finite element simulations are implemented to predict the failure process. The stiffness, initial failure load, failure mode and failure process are analyzed to obtain the influences of the fillers on the damage tolerance of the hat-stiffened composite panels, and the influential mechanisms were revealed by the combined analyses of the test and simulation results. It is found that the usage of fillers can increase the initial stiffness of the panel without prefabricated defects by about 10%, but provide limited influence on the initial failure load. The pre-fabricated debonding defect along longitudinal direction has little influence on the stiffness and failure load, but the influence of the defect along transverse direction are higher. The initial failure of all hat-stiffened composite panels with/without filler and with/without prefabricated defects under four-point bending onsets around the deltoid region. The usage of the fillers changed the load transfer and the stress status in the deltoid region of the hat-stiffened composite panels and as a consequence, the initial failure modes were changed and the failure load were increased by the fillers. This work provides a technical support for the damage tolerance design and strengthening method of hat-stiffened composite structures.
Trauma-Informed Approach to Qualitative Interviewing in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Research
Authors: Karmakar Sushmita , Duggal Chetna
Published: November 2023

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is recognized as a public health concern owing to its chronic nature, association with suicide risk, and its growing prevalence rates across the globe. Including individuals living with NSSI in research is crucial as it offers opportunities to give primacy to participant voices and insights, further guiding therapeutic interventions. Research has established an association between history of traumatic events and adverse childhood experiences with subsequent risk of NSSI. When planning a qualitative research study with individuals with potential trauma history, researchers need to be aware of and sensitive to potential re-traumatization and distressing emotions that participants may experience during interviews, as well as complex trauma reactions that may affect individuals after study participation. The article emphasizes that researchers be cognizant of the multifaceted nature of trauma and how it can impact individuals and communities and be sensitive in their approach to interviewing vulnerable groups such as individuals with experiences of NSSI. The authors propose adopting a trauma-informed approach to ethically plan and conduct qualitative interviews exploring NSSI experiences. Trauma-informed recommendations for preparing and carrying out specific steps during different stages of NSSI interviews are detailed.
Mental health struggles of social work students: Distress, stigma, and perseverance
Authors: Beddoe Liz , Baker Moya , Cox Kendra , Ballantyne Neil
Published: November 2023

Growing evidence reports that social work students experience financial hardship and negative impacts on their health and wellbeing as they juggle study, paid work, and family commitments. Social work qualifying programmes require extended compulsory field placements, which increase students’ financial stress and potentially exacerbate mental health vulnerabilities. A national survey of social work students and recent graduates in Aotearoa New Zealand, was conducted in 2019, gaining 353 responses, augmented by 31 semi-structured interviews. We report the analysis of both open-question survey and interview data related to students’ experience of mental distress. The survey revealed that 58.4% of respondents had sought medical advice on mental health while a social work student. At the same time, 60% of participants who experienced significant anxiety, stress, or depression chose not to seek medical advice for their mental health. Cost and access were among the main reasons for not seeking help. However, more than one in four (28%) identified stigma and fear of career consequences as reasons for not seeking help. This finding has implications for social work education and needs further research and policy development.
Antiracism in appreciative inquiry: Generative tensions and collective reflexivity
Authors: Gebhard Amanda , Allen Willow Samara , Pino Fritz
Published: November 2023

Appreciative inquiry is an action research methodology focused on revealing an organization’s positive core. As a cross-racial team of antiracist researchers, we were drawn to appreciative inquiry due to its congruences with community-based research perspectives on power-sharing and co-constructing knowledge. Our collaborative reflexivity brought us to question whether Appreciative inquiry’s hyper-focus on positivity would fit our antiracist research paradigm. We articulate reflections of how antiracism theory informed our approach to Appreciative inquiry in a study on the experiences of predominantly racialized settlement workers in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explain how we negotiated tensions between Appreciative inquiry’s focus on positivity and our antiracist framing, in a Canadian settler colonial context where institutional expectations to ignore racism and collapse diversity, loom large. Without a theoretical framework that attends to racism and power, Appreciative inquiry may not fulsomely address participants’ transnational knowledges, nor experiences outside of a positive/negative binary. In our elucidation of how critical reflexivity on racism allowed us to integrate antiracism into Appreciative inquiry, we demonstrate the value of first-person action research for expanding the social justice aims of research.
Developing Attributes of the Leader: From Military Service to the Civilian Workforce
Authors: Henderson Latosha R.
Published: November 2023

The Problem

Organizations struggle to find effective ways to identify needs and consequently develop the leadership skills of leaders. At the same time, veterans are entering the civilian workforce with significant, valuable non-technical leadership skills that are rarely studied as leadership attributes. As a result, there is scant research on the contribution of leadership attributes from military leadership.

The Solution

This article will introduce the Be-Know-Do framework used in the U.S. Army’s leadership development program. The premise of the model is that when the attributes and competencies of the leader are developed, organizational results will be produced through the people they lead.

The Stakeholders

Human resource development (HRD) scholars and practitioners, human resource management (HRM) practitioners, professionals, and trainers
Indocyanine Green Tattooing During Colonoscopy as a Guide to Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Literature Review
Authors: Varanese Marzia , Arcieri Stefano , Lauro Augusto , Panetta Cristina , Eberspacher Chiara , Palma Rossella , Mascagni Domenico , Pontone Stefano
Published: November 2023

Background

Endoscopic tattooing of colorectal lesions has been performed employing several markers. The indocyanine green (ICG) that uses near infrared fluorescence technology, has been recently adopted in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. This study aims to systematically review the international literature to validate the ICG in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, in order to include the ICG in the therapeutic protocol.

Methods

Following AMSTAR 2 criteria, we performed a systematic review to evaluate the use of green indocyanine as a marker for preoperative endoscopic tattooing and for lymph nodes mapping. The study selection was conducted using the PubMed database from January 1989 to July 2022.

Results

We identified 25 eligible studies. 13 based on fluorescent tumor localization in laparoscopic colorectal surgery using ICG while 12 of them reported the lymphatic road mapping and sentinel node identification by ICG using a near-infrared camera system. One study analyzed both topics.

Conclusions

In laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery indocyanine green can be used to localize fluorescent tumors and mapping fluorescence lymph node. The use of ICG appears to be a valid and safe technique that helps the surgeon to achieve a better oncological radicality. However, the protocols need to be clarified by further studies.
Curcumin's Dose-Dependent Attenuation of Gastric Cancer Cell Progression Via the PI3K Pathway Blockade
Authors: Xi Gen , Dong Qingtao , Yang Bo , Jiao Desheng , Khan Shahanavaj
Published: November 2023

Background: Gastric cancer stands as a primary cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, making the discovery of new therapeutic agents essential for enhancing treatment outcomes. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound found in turmeric ( Curcuma longa), has demonstrated potential in multiple cancer types due to its anti-cancer characteristics. This research aimed to examine the impact of curcumin on gastric cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion, as well as its influence on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling cascade.

Methods: Gastric cancer cell lines were exposed to varying curcumin concentrations, followed by assessments of cell viability, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, gene and protein expression levels associated with the PI3K signaling cascade were evaluated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis.

Results: The findings revealed a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability, migration, and invasion in gastric cancer cells treated with curcumin. Additionally, curcumin administration led to the downregulation of key genes and proteins within the PI3K signaling process, such as PI3K, Akt, and mTOR.

Conclusion: These findings propose that curcumin may exercise its anti-cancer effects on gastric cancer cells, partly by suppressing the PI3K signaling pathway. This study's outcomes support curcumin's potential as a therapeutic agent for gastric cancer and encourage further exploration of its underlying molecular mechanisms and in vivo effectiveness.
Air Pollution and Cardiac Diseases: A Review of Experimental Studies
Authors: Palacio Laura C. , Pachajoa Diana C. , Echeverri-Londoño Carlos A. , Saiz Javier , Tobón Catalina
Published: November 2023

Air pollution is associated with around 6.5 million premature deaths annually, which are directly related to cardiovascular diseases, and the most dangerous atmospheric pollutants to health are as follows: NO2, SO2, CO, and PM. The mechanisms underlying the observed effects have not yet been clearly defined. This work aims to conduct a narrative review of experimental studies to provide a more comprehensive and multiperspective assessment of how the effect of atmospheric pollutants on cardiac activity can result in the development of cardiac diseases. For this purpose, a review was carried out in databases of experimental studies, excluding clinical trials, and epidemiological and simulation studies. After analyzing the available information, the existence of pathophysiological effects of the different pollutants on cardiac activity from exposure during both short-term and long-term is evident. This narrative review based on experimental studies is a basis for the development of recommendations for public health.
Insights into the T-cell response to SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Kadi Chaimae , Najimi Nouhaila , Zakaria Menanne , Youssef Bakri , Noureddine Elmtili , Fouad Seghrouchni
Published: November 2023

Following infection with SARS-CoV-2, cellular components of the adaptive immune system play a crucial role in eliminating the virus. Specifically, virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells generate effector cytokines and display cytotoxic activity. A number of studies carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and memory cells in this process. T-cell responses emerge early and contribute to protection, but are comparatively impaired in severe cases, often accompanied by intense activation or lymphopenia. Since December 2020, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been licensed and administered worldwide. These vaccines induce a targeted T-cell response against SARS-CoV-2. The cellular response after the third dose was strong and superior to that obtained with the second dose. COVID-19 multiple vaccines elicit a robust CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response after the short-term booster. While, the T-cell response induced by COVID-19 vaccines has been shown to decline within 6-12 months of vaccination. In addition, the long-term persistence of cellular immunity may protect against the development of severe disease. In addition, adoptive T-cell therapies have shown considerable potential in the development of COVID-19 traitement. These therapies involve the transfer of T cells with specific antiviral properties into patients to boost their immune response against SARS-CoV-2.
A Phenomenological Investigation of Rural School Counselors’ Experiences Providing Career Development
Authors: Boulden Rawn , Henry Sarah
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this phenomenological investigation was to explore the lived experiences of rural high school counselors when providing career development services. Several key themes emerged, including (a) contextual factors, (b) direct services, (c) indirect services, (d) rewarding aspects, and (e) challenging aspects. The findings support increased attention centered on rural career development in both preservice and in-service settings. We offer implications for school counselor practice and preparation, and discuss limitations and future research areas.
Non-technical Skills in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Improvement and Evaluation of a New Course Introduced to the Curriculum at a Medical School in Poland in 2018 to 2019
Authors: Gaska Kaja , Pavlinec Christopher , Cebula Grzegorz , Pisarska-Adamczyk Magdalena , Szopa Magdalena
Published: November 2023

Non-technical skills (NTS) are important skills in emergency medicine and should be a necessity even at the stage of medical studies. The aim of this study was to assess how increasing the number of non-technical skills hours influenced the results of non-technical competences among medical students. In this investigation, 296 Polish medical students in the sixth year at Medical College in Krakow, Poland were included in the study. The students were divided into two research groups: I in 2018 and II in 2019. The groups differed in the number of total hours that focused on non-technical skills, in 2018: 60 hr, and 2019: 120 total hours. Non-technical competencies were assessed at the Crisis Resource Management station using sudden cardiac arrest scenarios. In 2018, the median was 20 points and the average of the points obtained in this group was 19.53 points (SD 5.39 points). In 2019, the median was 26 points and the average of points was 25.07 points (SD 5.23 points). Students who had more non-technical skills classes (120 hr) scored more points on the OSCE exam than group I (60 hr) ( p < .001). The median of points in non-technical competences depended on the number of teaching hours in which the main emphasis was on the development of these skills. This investigation demonstrates that more teaching hours dedicated to improving the non-technical skills of students corresponded to better results on the cardiopulmonary resuscitation scenarios.