bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Hybrid ZnO Nanohexagons and Nanorods with CNT Embedded in PVC Film for Advanced Insulation and Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Ghobashy M. M. , Zaher Ahmed A. , Khalil Sameh , Aldosari Eman , Sharshir A. I.
Published: February 2025

This study focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and application of a novel polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/carbon nanotube (CNT)/zinc oxide (ZnO) hybrid nanocomposite. ZnO nanostructures with two distinct morphologies (nanohexagons and nanorods) were synthesized and embedded within a PVC matrix alongside CNTs to achieve a functional hybrid composite. TEM analysis revealed the presence of both nanohexagon and nanorod ZnO structures alongside CNTs. SEM and EDX analyses confirmed the uniform distribution of ZnO nanostructures and CNTs within the PVC matrix. FTIR and UV-vis analyses revealed successful integration of CNTs and ZnO, exhibiting well-defined morphologies with a high aspect ratio. The optical properties are characterized by a reduction in the optical bandgap from 5.40 eV for PVC/ZnO to 4.60 eV for PVC/ZnO/5%CNT, indicating an increase in absorption in the visible spectrum. Furthermore, the AC conductivity demonstrates significant frequency dependence, with conductivity increasing with CNT concentration due to the formation of conductive pathways. The dielectric constant also shows enhanced values with increased CNT content, attributed to improved interfacial polarization. The simulation of electric field distribution reveals that the PVC/CNT/ZnO nanocomposite exhibits a more uniform electric field distribution than conventional PVC. This study concludes that the PVC/CNT/ZnO nanocomposite has potential applications in optoelectronics devices.
Evolving resources use for self-directed learning in physiology among first-year medical students in a classroom setting
Authors: Mondal Himel
Published: February 2025

Self-directed learning (SDL) is integral to medical education. It helps in fostering critical thinking, independence, and problem-solving skills. With advancements in technology, digital tools like search engines, interactive content, and large language model (LLM) chatbots have become supplementary tools to traditional materials such as textbooks. However, limited data exist on SDL resource preferences among medical students in India since the inception of LLM like ChatGPT. To address this, 64 medical students participated in a classroom-based SDL session on anemia. Students freely selected resources during a 40-minute preparation period, followed by 20 minutes of writing responses to a total of five higher-order knowledge questions (i.e., questions start with ‘explain why’). Post-session, they anonymously reported their resource use. Among 63 valid responses, 47.62% used one resource, 39.68% used two, and 14.29% used three. Search engines (61.9%) and LLM chatbots (60.32%) were the most frequently used, followed by textbooks (26.98%), with less reliance on notes, journals, and videos. Hence, there is a growing preference for search engines and LLM chatbots as an educational tool in self-directed learning in a classroom setting.
SMARCA4 Inhibits Breast Cancer Progression and Metastasis through RHOA Suppression
Authors: Sun Zheng , Li Zhuo , Wei Yong , Xu Lillian , Hang Xiang , Kang Yibin
Published: February 2025

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents the most challenging subtype of the disease due to its aggressive nature and lack of targeted therapy options. To identify regulators of TNBC, we conducted a genome-wide CRISPR-knockout screen in both 3D tumor spheroid and 2D cell culture models. The 3D spheroid model displayed unique potential in identifying putative tumor suppressors due to its closer mimicry of in vivo tumor growth conditions. Notably, the chromatin-remodeling SWI/SNF complex emerged as a potent suppressor of tumor spheroid growth. Specifically, loss of the SWI/SNF ATPase subunit SMARCA4 promoted tumor spheroid growth with reduced compactness and enhanced primary tumor growth and metastasis across multiple TNBC models. SMARCA4 was required for the transcription of Rho GTPase activating factor ARHGAP29 by enhancing DNA accessibility through direct binding to its promoter. SMARCA4 loss resulted in reduced ARHGAP29 levels and hyperactive RHOA signaling, subsequently disrupting cell adhesion, facilitating the formation of a loose spheroid structure in vitro, and enhancing breast cancer growth and metastasis in vivo. These results establish SMARCA4 and SWI/SNF as tumor suppressors of TNBC through suppression of RHOA activity.
Synergistic Effects of Transarterial Chemoembolization and Lenvatinib on HIF-1α Ubiquitination and Prognosis Improvement in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chung Sung Won , Kim Jin Sun , Choi Won-Mook , Choi Jonggi , Lee Danbi , Shim Ju Hyun , Lim Young-Suk , Lee Han Chu , Kim Kang Mo
Published: February 2025

Purpose: A recent trial has shown that adding transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to lenvatinib therapy results in enhanced therapeutic efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the lenvatinib and TACE combination in a real-world clinical context for managing HCC and to elucidate the molecular pathways involved. Experimental Design: This retrospective analysis included 199 patients diagnosed with HCC and having intrahepatic lesions between 2018 and 2021. The cohort was divided into those who received lenvatinib plus TACE (n=62, combination group) and those who received lenvatinib monotherapy (n=137, monotherapy group). To further explore the underlying mechanisms, Huh-7 cells were exposed to lenvatinib or a vehicle for 48 hours under normoxic or hypoxic condition. Results: Propensity score-matched analysis revealed a significant improvement in both overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.38; 95% CI, 0.24–0.59; P<0.001) and progression-free survival (aHR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.26–0.64; P<0.001) in the combination group compared to the monotherapy group. In laboratory experiments, under hypoxic conditions, lenvatinib notably attenuated hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) protein levels in Huh-7 cells without altering its mRNA levels. Intriguingly, lenvatinib facilitated the MDM2-mediated ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of HIF-1α. Additionally, cell viability assays confirmed a significant decrease in Huh-7 cell survival following lenvatinib treatment under hypoxic conditions. Conclusions: The combination of lenvatinib and TACE significantly improved survival in HCC patients. The mechanistic foundation appears to be the lenvatinib-triggered degradation of HIF-1α via the MDM2-dependent ubiquitination pathway, highlighting a potential therapeutic target in HCC treatment.
Presence of tertiary lymphoid structures and exhausted tissue-resident T cells determines clinical response to PD-1 blockade in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Hugaboom Miya B. , Wirth Lena V. , Street Kelly , Ruthen Neil , Jegede Opeyemi A. , Schindler Nicholas R. , Shah Valisha , Zaemes Jacob P. , El Ahmar Nourhan , Matar Sayed , Savla Varunika , Choueiri Toni K. , Denize Thomas , West Destiny J. , McDermott David F. , Plimack Elizabeth R. , Sosman Jeffrey A. , Haas Naomi B. , Stein Mark N. , Alter Robert , Bilen Mehmet A. , Hurwitz Michael E. , Hammers Hans , Signoretti Sabina , Atkins Michael B. , Wu Catherine J. , Braun David A.
Published: February 2025

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) targeting the PD-1 pathway have transformed treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but mechanisms underlying therapeutic response remain largely unknown. Herein, we perform transcriptomic analysis on RCC biospecimens from 102 patients enrolled in a phase II clinical trial of frontline nivolumab (NCT03117309) to investigate determinants of response to anti-PD1 monotherapy. Through bulk analysis, we identify an enrichment of genes associated with tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in responding patients. Using single-cell transcriptomics and external cohort validation, we identify a population of tissue-resident (ZNF683+ SLAMF7+) exhausted CD8+ T cells enriched in patients with poor clinical outcomes. Integrating these findings, we find tumors with high TLS and low tissue-resident exhausted CD8+ T cells have superior clinical outcomes with nivolumab. Altogether, these analyses contribute to a growing understanding of how the tumor microenvironment drives ICI- resistance and propose possible therapeutic targets to rationally overcome resistance to anti-PD1 monotherapy.
Interstitielle Lungenerkrankung bei idiopathischen inflammatorischen Myopathien – nicht nur Haut und Muskeln sind bedeutsam
Authors: Sticherling Michael
Published: February 2025

Objective: Identify the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) combined with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Methods: IIM-ILD patients who were hospitalized at Guangxi Medical University from January 2017 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed and classified as having dermatomyositis (DM)-ILD or -ILD. Clinical and laboratory results were analyzed. Results: There were 39 males and 111 females, the mean age of disease onset was 50.4 ± 12.3 years, and the median disease duration was 3 months (range: 1–6). Ninety-seven patients had DM-ILD, and 53 had ASS-ILD. The DM-ILD group had 72% positivity for the anti-MDA5 antibody and 5.2% positivity for the anti-Mi-2 antibody; the ASS-ILD group had 67.9% positivity for the anti-Jo-1 antibody and 17% positivity for the anti-EJ antibody. Muscle symptoms, skin ulcers, rash, rapidly progressing interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD), and elevated levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen were more common in DM-ILD patients (all p < 0.05). However, pericardial effusion and pleural effusion, elevated creatinine kinase, and elevated C-reactive protein were more common in ASS-ILD patients. After a median follow-up of 15.5 months, there were more deaths in the DM-ILD group (42.3% vs. 13.2%, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that RP-ILD, dyspnea, and the usual interstitial pneumonia type of ILD had negative associations with overall survival (OS), and arthralgia had a positive association with OS (all p < 0.05).
A Novel Pathogenic TSPEAR Variant in a Family with Clinical Variability: Definition of Dental Anomalies and Review of the Literature
Authors: Akalin Akçahan , Koç Nagihan , Özşin-Özler Cansu , Karaosmanoglu Beren , Ürel-Demir Gizem , Taskiran Ekim Z. , Utine Gulen Eda , Uzamış-Tekçiçek Meryem , Simsek-Kiper Pelin Özlem
Published: February 2025

Background: Ectodermal dysplasias (EDs) represent a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders marked by impaired development of multiple tissue derivatives originating from the human ectoderm, including teeth, hair, nails, and sweat glands. Advances in next-generation sequencing technology have facilitated the identification of novel genes, such as TSPEAR, contributing to the emergence of the Ectodermal Dysplasia-14 of the hair/tooth type (ECTD14) phenotype, primarily characterized by hypotrichosis, hypodontia, and dysmorphic features.
Methods: Five individuals who displayed ectodermal dysplasia and/or teeth loss were included in the study. Exome sequencing (ES) was performed in the index case, and Sanger sequence analysis was carried out to detect the carrier status in parents and relatives.
Results: We identified a novel biallelic frameshift TSPEAR variant [(NM_144991.2, c.1594_1595insA, p.(Phe532TyrfsTer26)] in two siblings who displayed oligodontia, sparse hair, and facial dysmorphism. The remaining heterozygous carriers manifested early tooth loss with nonsyndromic isolated oligodontia.
Conclusion: This study has identified individuals carrying biallelic and heterozygous TSPEAR variants, where heterozygous carriers often exhibit nonsyndromic tooth agenesis. Moreover, the presence of inter- and intrafamilial variability emerges as a notable feature of the disease. This understanding underscores the complexity of the disease and the importance of considering genetic variability when diagnosing and managing affected individuals
Novas competências na condução musical: diálogos sobre a inclusão do solfejo tímbrico na formação de regentes na Pós-Pandemia de Covid-19
Authors: Camargo Cristina Moura Emboaba da Costa Julião de , Camargo Fernando Emboaba de
Published: February 2025

A pandemia da Covid-19 remodelou a dinâmica da atuação musical de regentes durante o período da suspensão de atividades musicais presenciais. Esta mudança, comentada aqui através de relatos de experiência, apontou para o uso de ferramentas tecnológicas que viabilizaram a realização das práticas musicais coletivas no modelo remoto - coros virtuais ou vídeo mosaico, ensaio por videoconferência. Foram analisados trabalhos científicos nacionais durante o período de 2020 a 2022 na temática da prática coral. Notamos que foi requisitado ao regente um conhecimento específico da área de tecnologia musical e que se manteve mesmo após o retorno das atividades presenciais. Para o desenvolvimento dessas novas competências, buscamos materiais que possam, de maneira teórica e prática, contemplar um treinamento técnico auditivo para produção de áudio (solfejo tímbrico), a saber: o aplicativo e livro Produção de Áudio e escuta crítica - treinamento técnico auditivo de Jason Corey publicado em 2010.
Reactivation of Oxidized Soluble Guanylate Cyclase as a Novel Treatment Strategy to Slow Progression of Calcific Aortic Valve Stenosis: Preclinical and Randomized Clinical Trials to Assess Safety and Efficacy
Authors: Zhang Bin , Enriquez-Sarano Maurice , Schaff Hartzell V. , Michelena Hector I. , Roos Carolyn M. , Hagler Michael A. , Zhang Heyu , Casaclang-Verzosa Grace , Huang Runqing , Bartoo Anna , Ranadive Sushant , Joyner Michael J. , Pislaru Sorin , Nkomo Vuyisile , Kremers Walter K. , Araoz Philip , Singh Gurpreet , Walters Michael A. , Hawkinson Jon , Cunningham Kevin Y. , Sung Jaeyun , Dunagan Brandon , Yi Ze , Miller Jordan D.
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND:

Pharmacological treatments for fibrocalcific aortic valve stenosis (FCAVS) have been elusive for >50 years. Here, we tested the hypothesis that reactivation of oxidized sGC (soluble guanylate cyclase), the primary receptor for nitric oxide, with ataciguat is a safe and efficacious strategy to slow progression of FCAVS.

METHODS:

We used quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry to characterize sGC signaling and the biological effects of ataciguat on signaling cascades related to nitric oxide, calcification, and fibrosis in excised human aortic valve tissue, aortic valve interstitial cells, and mouse aortic valves. We then conducted randomized, placebo-controlled phase I (14-day safety/tolerance) and phase II (6-month efficacy) trials in patients with moderate aortic valve stenosis.

RESULTS:

In excised human tissue, we found robust losses in sGC signaling despite upregulation of sGC subunits. In vitro, ataciguat increased sGC signaling and reduced BMP2 (bone morphogenetic protein 2) signaling in aortic valve interstitial cells. In mice with established FCAVS, treatment with ataciguat attenuated BMP signaling and slowed progression of valve calcification and dysfunction. In a phase I, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, treatment with ataciguat for 2 weeks was safe and well tolerated in patients with moderate FCAVS (
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02049203). In a separate phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, treatment with ataciguat for 6 months slowed the progression of aortic valve calcification and tended to slow the progression of valvular and ventricular dysfunction in patients with moderate FCAVS (
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02481258).

CONCLUSIONS:

Collectively, this study highlights the therapeutic potential of the targeted restoration of the diseased/inactive form of sGC for treatment of FCAVS.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02049203. URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02481258.
Distribution of Antillesoma (Stephen & Edmonds, 1972) (Sipuncula, Antillesomatidae) in the Southwest Atlantic: New Records and Morphological Notes
Authors: FRANCO LETÍCIA C. , KAWAUCHI GISELE Y.
Published: February 2025

Sipuncula, a marine annelid group, remains poorly known, particularly in the Southwestern Atlantic. This study focuses on the family Antillesomatidae (Kawauchi, Sharma, & Giribet 2012) and the cosmopolitan species Antillesoma antillarum (Grube & Öersted 1858) to enhance our understanding of its distribution, morphology, and population-level variations. We document A. antillarum at thirteen localities in the Southwestern Atlantic, extending its known range. This work was enabled by reviewing specimens from Brazilian scientific collections, which previously lacked formal records. Detailed morphological analysis and examination of population variations reveal the species’ morphological plasticity and refine its distribution limits. Our findings improve the taxonomic framework for A. antillarum and significantly advance the understanding of Sipuncula diversity and distribution in the region, providing new insights into distribution patterns.
1. Introduction
Authors: Phillips Kim
Published: February 2025

Chapter 1 introduces Codex Climaci Rescriptus (CCR) as a 10th century palimpsest manuscript, whose parchment was recycled from earlier manuscripts containing Greek and Christian Palestinian Aramaic (CPA) texts. It outlines the history of the discovery of the manuscript, and gives a brief summary of the research carried out on the manuscript’s undertexts to date, including a summary of our current understanding of the eleven base manuscripts from which leaves were recycled for use in CCR. This is accompanied by a simple overview of multispectral imaging, and how these new imaging techniques are being used in the ongoing process of re-editing CCR’s erased texts.
2. CCR II: Pauline Epistles
Authors: Phillips Kim
Published: February 2025

The first part of the chapter provides a detailed codicological description of the early-period (c. sixth century) CPA Pauline Epistles manuscript: CCR II. Twenty-five bifolia were recycled from this manuscript for use in CCR in the tenth century. The description includes a discussion of the paratextual features of the manuscript, and an initial discussion of the manuscript’s punctuation.

The second part of the chapter provides a fresh transcription of the CPA text of the forty-one folios currently held by Museum of the Bible. Each page includes two brief marginal apparati: the first lists the differences in reading between the current transcription and that of Müller-Kessler and Sokoloff; the second consists of a brief textual apparatus.
4. Textual and Linguistic Commentary
Authors: Phillips Kim
Published: February 2025

This chapter consists of a commentary on the textual and linguistic issues arising from the fresh transcriptions of CCR II and CCR XI provided in the previous two chapters. Textually, the commentary only discusses the most obvious semantic divergences between the Greek (using the 28th edition of Nestle-Aland as the comparison text) and the freshly edited CPA. Linguistically, the commentary presents all the instances known to the author where the reading of the new edition contributes to our understanding of CPA grammar and lexicography.
Testimonia najdawniejszych dziejów Słowian. Seria łacińska. Tom. 3: Średniowiecze. Zeszyt 1b: Narracyjne źródła węgierskie. Pisarze z wieku XI–XIV (słownik)
Authors: Grunwald-Hajdasz Barbara , Grzesik Ryszard , Kotłowska Anna , Mądry Wojciech , Quéret-Podesta Adrien
Published: February 2025

This work is part of the series „Testimonia najdawniejszych dziejów Słowian” [Testimonies of the Earliest History of the Slavs], an editorial project pursued at the Institute of Slavic Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences for almost fifty years. This instalment presents information about the Slavs contained in medieval Hungarian sources. Considering the importance of Polish-Hungarian relations and the tradition of friendship between the two countries and their peoples, which is alive to this day, we decided to expand the scope of our research. Apart from records about the Slavs, we also present the idea of medieval Hungarians about their past, as well as extensive passages concerning not only the civil wars in Hungary after the death of the first crowned ruler of the country, Stephen I (St Stephen), in which the Slavic neighbours were involved, but also the Hungarian interventions in countries referred to as Slavic today. The excerpts from sources appear in the original version with a parallel Polish translation and come in two sections: historiography and hagiography. One novelty is that the Hungarian-Polish Chronicle (in both redactions) appears in the hagiography section,which may allow us to see it in a new, and unobvious, context. The final item in the volume of sources is the first Polish translation of the oldest continuous text in Hungarian: „Halotti beszéd és könyörgés” [Funeral Sermon and Prayer]. The second volume contains a commentary to the excerpted sources: a lexicon which provides information about historical figures, place names and other toponyms as well as selected political terms from the history of Hungary. In this way, we draw on the research traditions of the team that prepared this work – the traditions of „Słownik starożytności słowiańskich” [Lexicon of Slavic Antiquities].
Variations in Simulated GMI Brightness Temperatures Due to Varying Particle Size Distribution Models and Hydrometeor Characteristics in a Severe Hailstorm
Authors: Leppert Kenneth D. , Cecil Daniel J.
Published: February 2025

The Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Simulator was used to conduct several simulations of Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager brightness temperatures (BTs; 10.65–183.31±7-GHz) over a severe hailstorm. Simulations were conducted to test the sensitivity of BTs to particle size distribution form and to the size, orientation, and shape of several hydrometeor types assuming constant S-band radar reflectivity. Results show an increase in BT (i.e., less scattering) at most frequencies when changing from a normalized gamma distribution (NGD) to exponential distribution (EXPD). This change causes a decrease in cumulative hydrometeor surface area, but not necessarily a decrease in number concentration, suggesting that surface area exerts a stronger influence on BTs than concentration. Simulated BTs at the highest frequencies (166.0-183.31±7 GHz) agree better with observations when using an EXPD for cloud ice. At lower frequencies, especially 36.5-89.0 GHz, using a NGD for high-density graupel and hail leads to a better match between simulated and observed BTs. No clear preference is seen for low-density graupel, liquid precipitation, or snow. The impact of changing particle shape and/or orientation depends on the hydrometeor type. Changing the orientation of cloud ice from horizontal to a random orientation increases simulated BTs, while having no effect for high-density graupel. Assuming horizontally-oriented, oblate-spheroid cloud ice results in simulated BTs that match better with observed. Finally, under the fixed reflectivity constraint, increasing the diameter of hail from 0.5 to 20 cm results in an increase in minimum BT up to 1.5-cm diameter with near constant BT at all frequencies thereafter.
How to Grow Without Getting Bigger: Inter-Cooperation as a Scaling Strategy for Social and Solidarity Economy Organizations
Authors: Etxezarreta Enekoitz , Villalba-Eguiluz Unai , Arrillaga Pablo , Mendieta Ricard
Published: February 2025

The issue of growth of Social and Solidarity Economy organizations has become a focus of analysis in response to the extensive case studies documented which recount processes of degeneration (or loss of original values) of the organizations in question. In this article, the case study of a non-profit cooperative (Agintzari S. Coop.) in the field of social services in the Basque Country (Spain) demonstrates the possibility of activating ecosystemic scaling processes, by way of inter-cooperative strategies, which do not result in the growth of the organization itself. The research question seeks to inquire to what extent inter-cooperation strategies, understood as ecosystemic scaling models, help to strengthen cooperative entities without weakening the maintenance of cooperative principles. The article aims to advance some results regarding the theoretical relationships between scaling strategies, the foundational motivations (or “interest orientation”) of the organizations, and the ecosystemic structures adopted to sustain these scaling processes.
Resident Presence and Burglary: A Spatiotemporal Exploration of Guardianship Patterns Using Mobile Phone Tracking Data as a Measure of Ambient Population
Authors: Bae Junghwan , Korotchenko Stan , Semukhina Olga B. , Copeland Christopher
Published: February 2025

This study examines the routine activity theory’s capable guardianship concept using contemporary GIS data. Leveraging high-frequency geotracked mobile phone data from Advan, which provides ambient population counts for census block groups every 2 hr, the research tests the impact of residents’ presence on burglary frequency at different times of the day and week. Through a series of negative binomial regression and GS2SLS models, significant variations in deterrence provided by such capable guardianship are revealed across different times of the day, as well as between weekdays and weekends. Highlighting the novelty and utility of mobile phone tracking data, the research offers insights into the temporal dynamics of residential burglary, informing targeted crime prevention strategies, enhancing community safety, and advancing criminological theory.
Climate-Change Resilience and Women’s Participation in Food-Security Initiatives. A Review of Amalima-Loko Programmes in Nkayi, Zimbabwe
Authors: Moyo Funa , Dube Zenzo Lusaba , Nkala Peter , Ncube Vusisizwe , Mathe Tumelo Tumza , Murai Travor , Ndlovu Thabo , Mamba Felix Sipho , Ncube Mthuthukisi , Ndlovu Sindiso , Ndlovu Ntobeko , Ndlovu Angela
Published: February 2025

Climate change poses significant threats to food security, particularly in rural Zimbabwe. Food security is of paramount concern in Zimbabwe, particularly among smallholder farmers and vulnerable populations such as female-headed households. Women play a crucial role in enhancing food security, yet their participation in food-security programmes is often limited due to gender inequality, inequity and other discriminatory norms, a practice that is common rural areas such as Nkayi district. The objective of the article was to examine the nexus between climate-change resilience and women’s participation in food-security initiatives. Three hundred and thirty-one Amalima Loko beneficiaries completed the questionnaires, in addition to six key informants and three focus group discussions. Gender dynamics and food security tend to have a strong interplay. The study sought to examine the impact of climate change on food security and suggests strategies to improve food security through increased food access. The project also magnifies the role of meaningful women’s participation in building climate-change resilience through inclusive local ownership on food security and resilience planning. The study used the Zimmerman and Boserup theories as the analytical lens to evaluate women’s participation. Access and control of resources is key. The findings highlight the importance of inclusive local ownership on food security and climate resilience planning using the Zimmerman theory to challenge traditional gender perspectives that hinder certain groups from realising their full potential in meeting personal and community needs. Furthermore, rural women play a critical role as guardians of household food security, where their full control, delegated and partnership typologies of participation demands their inclusion in all levels of decision-making and implementation processes. This results in the empowerment of women in food-security initiatives, thereby enhancing the community’s climate resilience outcomes. As a case under review, the Amalima Loko project has made great strides in empowering women, and arguable addressed some of the issues that hindered their participation.
Women Missionaries and the Marginalization of Dais in India, 1872–1932
Authors: Ojo Olusola Bamidele
Published: February 2025

The traditional birth attendants called Dais occupied a significant role in the birthing space of India since antiquity. This article examines the influence of women missionaries on the social roles of Dais in the colonial era. The thesis argues that women missionaries played a significant role in the marginalization of Dais from the late-19th to early 20th-century India. The study discovered that missionaries deploy the rhetoric of poor hygiene to castigate their social roles. Focusing on women missionaries and Dais affords us a rare privilege to gauge the intricate interplay between medicine and gender in colonial medicine.
Adaptations, Code-Switching, and Novelty With Cultural Integrity: Musicians Performing and Learning Musical Instruments in Different Musical Traditions
Authors: Kang Sangmi
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this phenomenological inquiry was to examine musicians’—who already have extensive training in a familiar musical style—intensive, hands-on, performance-based learning experience of different musical traditions based on the theoretical frameworks of bi-musicality and interactive constructivism. Through chain sampling, I conducted interviews with eight musicians from multiple countries. Participants had a shared experience of the phenomenon shaped by their roles, including an undergraduate music student, a music education doctoral student, a private music teacher, a retired music teacher, a higher education professor, a music therapist, a children’s community choir director, and a music producer. Following epoché, bracketing, horizontalization, and phenomenological reduction, three themes emerged: (a) adapting skills and knowledge from previous learning, (b) setting aside techniques that express cultural differences, and (c) exploring novelty intuitively through experimentation with cultural integrity. The three themes encapsulated the essence of musicians’ experiences across musical traditions as adaptations, code-switching, and novelty with cultural integrity. The findings of this study may suggest implications for how music teachers and students broaden their music experiences beyond their familiar style to encompass diverse musical traditions in their formal and informal music learning settings.
Comparisons of Types of Schematic Diagrams and Time of Day of Instruction for Teaching Soccer Tactics
Authors: Rekik Ghazi
Published: February 2025

Our purpose in this study was to explore how types of schematic diagrams and diurnal timing of instruction of soccer tactics affect physical education undergraduates’ learning. We partly randomized student assignments to three schematic conditions: (a) diagrams with simultaneous arrows, (b) diagrams with sequential-transient arrows, or (c) diagrams with sequential-permanent arrows. Each of 45 participants attended a morning session (08h00-09h00) and an afternoon session (16h00-17h00) on two different days. Each session involved oral temperature and mood state measurements, a study phase (in which the participant studied how the play system functioned), and then a recall-reconstruction task. We found that morning sessions were associated with better recall performance than late afternoon sessions, regardless of the schematic diagram format. Moreover, students derived greater benefit from diagrams featuring both sequential-transient and sequential-permanent arrows in both morning and afternoon sessions, with a clear relative advantage for the diagrams with sequential-permanent arrows. During morning sessions, compared to afternoon sessions, participants showed lower oral temperature, lower negative mood, and higher positive mood. We discuss these findings and their implications for the acquisition of tactical information about soccer.
Mental Health, Mentalising and Empathy in Australian Healthcare Workers During COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Soloveva Maria V. , Ravindran Joshua , Sakar Ayse
Published: February 2025

Since the outbreak of a Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), healthcare workers have consistently exhibited increased stress, anxiety and depression. However, no study to date, has yet examined whether these symptoms are associated with social cognitive skills, known to be paramount in delivering high quality patient care. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression were related to both empathy and mentalising in healthcare workers who worked during the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia. Participants were healthcare workers with an average age of 31.9 years ( N = 177). Participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Reading the Mind in The Eyes Test (RMET) between May 24th and June 21st, 2021. We found that higher stress levels in healthcare workers were associated with improved abilities in understanding others’ emotions and mental states, showing affective empathy and engaging in imaginative thinking. Conversely, increased anxiety was linked to reduced understanding of others’ emotions and mental states in this cohort. No other significant associations were observed. Our findings suggest that organisational initiatives are needed to deliver targeted interventions and specialised programs to support social cognitive skills in healthcare workers. Future studies with longitudinal designs are needed to better characterise mental health-social cognition associations and disentangle its directionality.
Analysis of gas sensors installation position optimization for multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Shen Zedong , Ding Tao , Jiang Xinyan , Li Jinye , Hu Lifang , Mu Jinxia
Published: February 2025

Since the 1990s, domestic and foreign researchers have been dedicated to studying drone-based gas leak source localization techniques. During drone flight, the interaction between the rotors and air generates rotor airflow. The rotor airflow can disturb the spatial distribution of gases, consequently affecting the efficiency of drones in pinpointing the sources of gas pollution. By optimizing the placement of gas sensors, the interference caused by rotor airflow on sensor readings can be mitigated. However, research on the optimal placement of gas sensors on drones is scarce, leading to a lack of comprehensive scientific theories to inform their installation. This study integrates virtual simulations with real-world experimental trials to analyze data and arrives at the following conclusion: The impact of rotor airflow on gas sensors, depending on their placement, can be ranked from the least to most affected as follows: above, on the sides and underside of the drone.
Honduras, Gangs, and Asylum Law
Authors: Frank-Vitale Amelia , Hoffnung-Garskof Jesse
Published: February 2025

Decision-makers within the US immigration system have long looked skeptically on asylum claims based on persecution by street gangs. We draw on ethnographic research conducted in San Pedro Sula, Honduras to argue that this skepticism and the corresponding legal precedents rely on an incorrect understanding of the issues at stake. Our evidence, considered in light of recent scholarship on violence in Latin America, contradicts three assumptions that underly asylum decisions: 1) that gang violence in Honduras is indiscriminate; 2) that gang violence is motivated purely by instrumental motives (often described as “criminal” motives)—such as financial gain or competition for market share between criminal enterprises—rather than ideological motives; and 3) that gang members and society at large are not able to recognize which groups are likely targets.
Shaping Future Leaders in Taiwan: The Impact of Personality, Parental Emotional Blackmail, and Career Adaptability on Military Cadets
Authors: Wu Chia-Chun
Published: February 2025

Eastern countries emphasize family relationships, where parents may use emotional blackmail—leveraging fear, obligation, and guilt through filial piety—to influence children’s career adaptability. Career adaptability involves proactive strategies to meet career demands. This study investigates the relationship among personality traits, parental emotional blackmail, and career adaptability among the military in a sample of 1,164 Taiwanese military cadets (884 males and 280 females; ages 18–22, M = 19.72, SD = 1.40). Results revealed that personality traits and parental emotional blackmail together explain 49.9% of the variance in career adaptability, with personality contributing most significantly (49.3%), particularly through traits like conscientiousness. Parental emotional blackmail contributed 0.7%, with obligation negatively and guilt positively influencing career adaptability. Some personality traits as a mediator between emotional blackmail and career adaptability. These findings highlight the interplay between family dynamics and personality in shaping cadets’ career adaptability, offering valuable guidance for future cadets in military academy selection.
Middle Turbinate Vascular Malformation Associated With Angiofibroma Originating From the Nasal Septum: A Case Report
Authors: Grgurević Uglješa , Jovanovski Aleksandar , Vukomanović Đurđević Biserka , Sotirović Jelena , Labus Milica , Perić Aleksandar
Published: February 2025

According to the latest classification of vascular lesions, cavernous hemangioma is considered a venous or arteriovenous malformation. The literature has not described the association between vascular malformation of the middle turbinate and angiofibroma of the nasal septum. A 26-year-old female patient with profuse left-sided bleeding and nasal obstruction is presented. She was bleeding from a vascular malformation of the left middle turbinate, and from an angiofibroma, attached to the posterior edge of the nasal septum. The patient also had hypoplasia of the left maxillary sinus and a lack of the septum in the sphenoid sinus. Despite the embolization of the supplier, the patient lost 1.5 L of blood. Although necessary, preoperative embolization is frequently insufficient to prevent significant blood loss during the removal of vascular lesions of the nasal cavity. Vascular malformations of the sinonasal region should be considered in cases of frequent and profuse nosebleeds in patients with hypertrophy of the middle turbinate associated with anatomical variations.
Chronic Sinonasal Inflammation as a Comorbidity of Respiratory Epithelial Adenomatoid Hamartoma: A 15-Year Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Vukomanović Đurđević Biserka , Jovančević Ljiljana , Ilić Aleksandra , Labus Milica , Božić Bojan , Zelenović Tamara , Baletić Nenad , Perić Aleksandar
Published: February 2025

Background:Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH) is a benign pseudo-glandular proliferation of the nasal cavity with poorly-understood etiopathogenesis. This study aimed to examine the frequency of comorbidities in patients with REAH and to determine whether comorbidity affects the clinical characteristics of REAH. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included patients with REAH treated at 2 university hospitals over 15 years. Clinical parameters included the side of the nasal cavity, localization and size of the lesion, duration of symptoms, follow-up period, and associated chronic inflammation. Results: Twenty previously-unoperated patients with REAH were included. We found an association of REAH with chronic sinonasal disorders in 70% of cases: in 30% with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), in 25% with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and in 15% of cases with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). In 87.5% of cases of bilateral REAH, the lesion was associated with NPs, in 80% of patients with CRSwNP as a comorbidity, and in 100% of patients where it was AERD. Symptoms were longer in REAH patients with associated sinonasal inflammation ( P < .038). We found a far-greater average volume of REAH in patients with AERD than in cases with PAR, and CRSwNP ( P < .001; P < .001, respectively) and a positive correlation between the duration of symptoms and the lesion volume ( R = .700; P = .001). The follow-up period was longer in patients with comorbidities ( P < .028), and recurrences of REAH were noted only in 2 patients with AERD as a comorbidity. Conclusion: A high degree of association between REAH and chronic sinonasal inflammation was found. Also, the results suggest that inflammation in AERD is the strongest provoking factor for the growth of REAH. A direct correlation was observed between the duration of nasal symptoms and the lesion size.
Dignity Is Distinct From Respect: How Treating Others With Dignity Entails Accounting for Their Self-Conscious Emotions
Authors: Andrejević Milan , Hohwy Jakob , Barclay Linda
Published: February 2025

Dignity is prominently endorsed in health care, organizations, and law. However, humanities research casts doubt over the utility of this concept, disputing that “dignity” captures any unique ethical value distinguishable from “respect”. Here, we test a recent proposal that dignity entails special regard for humiliation. We created a set of vignettes describing a “perpetrator” making offensive remarks or gestures to a “victim”, and asked lay participants to rate how well each offense corresponds to a dignity violation as opposed to a respect violation. We manipulated the victims’ resulting emotions within-subject, across “humiliation”, “anger”, and “baseline” conditions, while controlling for other factors (e.g., victim’s gender, vulnerability). We found substantial evidence (BF = 4.11) for our preregistered hypothesis that humiliation increased dignity-relatedness ratings as compared with the baseline condition, and very strong evidence when compared with the anger condition (BF = 84.75). These findings provide empirical backing to dignitarian ethics with applications in health care, organizations, and law.
Shared Governance in Wicked Times: Perceptions of Faculty Senate Presidents on Faculty and Administrator Relationships
Authors: McNaughtan Jon , Enright Esther A. , Xie Wu , Billings Meredith S. , Harris Nathan F.
Published: February 2025

Background:

Shared governance is currently under attack by state agencies that seek to limit the power of institutional governing bodies. In addition, the effectiveness has been called into question by practitioners and researchers alike, which creates an additional stress on the prevailing governing structure of higher education.

Purpose, Objective, and Focus of Study:

Given the challenging context that higher education currently exists in with decreasing financing and desire for more legislative oversight, effective shared governance is critical. In this study, we discuss the importance of shared governance and focus on the critical nature of relationships in the efficacy of shared governance.

Research Design:

Guided by the shared governance theoretical model, we conducted an embedded qualitative case study on faculty senate presidents’ experiences working with administrators and faculty on issues of shared governance at public four-year regional comprehensive universities. We analyze responses from 13 faculty senate presidents to provide insights on the relationship between administration and faculty senate leaders to better understand how this relationship is perceived, and how it can be improved.

Conclusions:

We find that faculty senate presidents see challenges in what it means to “have a seat at the table,” and identify important insights for how to strengthen relationships between shared governance leaders and administrators.
Understanding online job search behaviour through the lens of TAM and DTPB: A new-collar job seeker perspective
Authors: Saad Zuria Akmal , Fauzi Muhammad Ashraf , Osman Azim Azuan
Published: February 2025

Background

The industrial revolutions have significantly impacted the labour workforce due to technological changes. Consequently, these changes have reshaped the job search landscape, necessitating a deeper understanding of job search behaviour.

Objective

This study explores the determinants influencing new-collar job seekers’ use of online job search platforms through an integrated model combining the technology acceptance model (TAM) and decomposed theory of planned behaviour (DTPB).

Method

Three hundred thirty responses from new-collar job seekers in the East Coast region of Malaysia were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM 4).

Results

Eight of the nine hypotheses developed from the TAM and DTPB variables had a significant impact. The study highlights that sociodemographic factors, digital skills, experience, and platform usability contributed to the insignificance of perceived ease of use in influencing the attitude of new-collar job seekers. Although actual behavioural control failed to moderate the relationship between intention and behaviour, this finding provides valuable insights into the role of this variable in the context of online job search platforms.

Conclusion

The findings of this study enhance the understanding of new-collar workers’ behaviours in Malaysia. By gaining insights into these behaviours, the study underscores the importance of various stakeholders in the labour market being better prepared for future conditions, ultimately supporting Malaysia’s efforts to achieve developed country status.
Intraoperative fluorescence angiography after arterial switch operation
Authors: Miura Norito , Nakata Tomohiro , Tachi Maiko , Yasuda Kenji , Nakashima Shigeki , Yamazaki Kazuhiro
Published: February 2025

A full-term neonate with d-transposition of the great arteries and an intact ventricular septum was referred to our institution. We successfully performed an arterial switch operation with the LeCompte maneuver. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) immediately after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. Indocyanine green, diluted 20 times with saline and blood, was injected through the arterial line to perform contrast imaging and check for problems with the reconstructed coronary arteries. Clear coronary visualization was achieved. MR improved over time and had almost disappeared by the time the patient returned to the intensive care unit.
Automating the Detection of Linguistic Intergroup Bias Through Computerized Language Analysis
Authors: Collins Katherine A. , Boyd Ryan L.
Published: February 2025

Linguistic bias is the differential use of abstraction, or other linguistic mechanisms, for the same behavior by members of different groups. Abstraction is defined by the Linguistic Category Model (LCM), which defines a continuum of words from concrete to abstract. Linguistic Intergroup Bias (LIB) characterizes the tendency for people to use abstract words for undesirable outgroup and desirable ingroup behavior and concrete words for desirable outgroup and undesirable ingroup behavior. Thus, by examining abstraction in a text, we can understand the implicit attitudes of the author. Yet, research is currently stifled by the time-consuming and resource-intensive method of manual coding. In this study, we aim to develop an automated method to code for LIB. We compiled various techniques, including forms of sentence tokenization, sentiment analysis, and abstraction coding. All methods provided scores that were a good approximation of manually coded scores, which is promising and suggests that more complex methods for LIB coding may be unnecessary. We recommend automated approaches using CoreNLP sentiment analysis and LCM Dictionary abstraction coding.