bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sevoflurane Postconditioning Protects From an Early Neurological Deficit After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Results of a Randomized Laboratory Study in Rats
Authors: Morax Laurent , Beck-Schimmer Beatrice , Neff Jonah , Mueller Mattia , Flury-Frei Renata , Schläpfer Martin
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with neurocognitive impairment. Recent data suggest that sevoflurane attenuates edema formation after SAH in rats. However, so far, no information is available about the long-term repair phase, nor if sevoflurane impacts functionality by increasing vascularity. This study tested whether sevoflurane postconditioning would improve long-term neurologic deficit through increased formation of new vessels close to the hemorrhage area.

METHODS:

Fifty-three animals were subjected to SAH or sham surgery with or without a 2-hour sevoflurane postconditioning (versus propofol anesthesia). Animal survival, including dropout animals due to death or reaching termination criteria, as well as neurologic deficit, defined by the Garcia score, were assessed 2 hours after recovery until postoperative day 14. On day 14, blood samples and brain tissue were harvested. Vessel density was determined by the number of cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31)–positive vessels, and activated glial cells by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)–positive astrocytes per field of view.

RESULTS:

The survival rate for sham animals was 100%, 69% in the SAH-propofol and 92% in the SAH-sevoflurane groups. According to the log-rank Mantel-Cox test, survival curves were significantly different (P = .024). The short-term neurologic deficit was higher in SAH-propofol versus SAH-sevoflurane animals 2 hours after recovery and on postoperative day 1 (propofol versus sevoflurane: 14. 6 ± 3.4 vs 15. 9 ± 2.7 points, P = .034, and 16. 2 ± 3.5 vs 17. 8 ± 0.9 points, P = .015). Overall complete recovery from neurologic deficit was observed on day 7 in both SAH groups (18. 0 ± 0.0 vs 18. 0 ± 0.0 points, P = 1.000). Cortical vascular density increased to 80. 6 ± 15.0 vessels per field of view in SAH-propofol animals (vs 71. 4 ± 10.1 in SAH-sevoflurane, P < .001). Activation of glial cells, an indicator of neuroinflammation, was assessed by GFAP-positive astrocytes GFAP per field of view. Hippocampal GFAP-positive cells were 201 ± 68 vs 179 ± 84 cells per field of view in SAH-propofol versus SAH-sevoflurane animals (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Sevoflurane postconditioning improves survival by 23% (SAH-sevoflurane versus SAH-propofol). The sevoflurane intervention could attenuate the early neurologic deficit, while the long-term outcome was similar across the groups. A higher vascular density close to the SAH area in the propofol group was not associated with improved outcomes.
Factors Associated With Decision to Use and Dosing of Sugammadex in Children: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Authors: Brown Sydney E.S. , Mentz Graciela , Cassidy Ruth , Wade Meridith , Liu Xinyue , Zhong Wenjun , DiBello Julia , Nause-Osthoff Rebecca , Kheterpal Sachin , Colquhoun Douglas A. ,   the Multicenter Outcomes Group (MPOG) Perioperative Clinical Research Committee
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Sugammadex was initially approved for reversal of neuromuscular blockade in adults in the United States in 2015. Limited data suggest sugammadex is widely used in pediatric anesthesia practice however the factors influencing use are not known. We explore patient, surgical, and institutional factors associated with the decision to use sugammadex versus neostigmine or no reversal, and the decision to use 2 mg/kg vs 4 mg/kg dosing.

METHODS:

Using data from the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG) database, an EHR-derived registry, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study. Eligible cases were performed between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020, for children 0 to 17 years at US hospitals. Cases involved general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and administration of rocuronium or vecuronium. Using generalized linear mixed models with institution and anesthesiologist-specific random intercepts, we measured the importance of a variety of patient, clinician, institution, anesthetic, and surgical risk factors in the decision to use sugammadex versus neostigmine, and the decision to use a 2 mg/kg vs 4 mg/kg dose. We then used intraclass correlation statistics to evaluate the proportion of variance contributed by institution and anesthesiologist specifically.

RESULTS:

There were 97,654 eligible anesthetics across 30 institutions. Of these 47.1% received sugammadex, 43.1% received neostigmine, and 9.8% received no reversal agent. Variability in the choice to use sugammadex was attributable primarily to institution (40.4%) and attending anesthesiologist (27.1%). Factors associated with sugammadex use (compared to neostigmine) include time from first institutional use of sugammadex (odds ratio [OR], 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.09, per month, P < .001), younger patient age groups (0–27 days OR, 2.59 [2.00–3.34], P < .001; 28 days–1 year OR, 2.72 [2.16–3.43], P < .001 vs 12–17 years), increased American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] physical status (ASA III: OR, 1.32 [1.23–1.42], P < .001 ASA IV OR, 1.71 [1.46–2.00], P < .001 vs ASA I), neuromuscular disease (OR, 1.14 (1.04–1.26], P = .006), cardiac surgery (OR, 1.76 [1.40–2.22], P < .001), dose of neuromuscular blockade within the hour before reversal (>2 ED95s/kg OR, 4.58 (4.14–5.07], P < .001 vs none), and shorter case duration (case duration <60 minutes OR, 2.06 [1.75–2.43], P < .001 vs >300 minutes).

CONCLUSIONS:

Variation in sugammadex use was primarily explained by institution and attending anesthesiologist. Patient factors associated with the decision to use sugammadex included younger age, higher doses of neuromuscular blocking agents, and increased medical complexity.
Dimitris D. Arvanitakis, Η Αγωγή του πολίτη: Η γαλλική παρουσία στο Ιόνιο (1797-1799) και το έθνος των Ελλήνων
Authors: Pagratis Gerassimos D.
Published: January 2024

Review of Dimitris D. Arvanitakis, Η αγωγή του πολίτη: Η γαλλική παρουσία στο Ιόνιο (1797–1799) και το έθνος των Ελλήνων [Educating the citizen: The French presence in the Ionian Sea (1797–1799) and the Greek nation]. Iraklio: Crete University Press, 2020. 782 pp.
Developing a measure of participant experience of trials: qualitative study and cognitive testing
Authors: Small Nicola , Planner Claire , Gillies Katie , Sanders Caroline , Turner Katrina , Young Bridget , Donnelly Ailsa , Brown Lindsey , Holt Anjie , Hogg Judith , Bagley Heather , Bower Peter
Published: January 2024

Background To encourage participation in trials, people need to have a positive experience. However, researchers do not routinely measure participant experience. Our aim is to facilitate routine measurement by developing a measure that captures the participant perspective, in a way that is meaningful, acceptable and useful to trial teams and participants. Methods We conducted a focus group and 25 interviews with trial professionals and trial participants to explore how participant experiences of trials should be measured, and to identify domains and items to include in the measure. Interviewees were also asked to comment on a list of candidate domains and items informed by a previous review of the literature on participant experience measures. Interviews were analysed thematically. Candidate domains and items were incorporated into a draft measure. Cognitive testing was undertaken in two rounds to ensure the items were comprehensible and grounded in participant experience. Results Interviewees and patient and public contributors reported that standardising the measurement of participant experience of trials had the potential to improve trial experience but described issues around the timing of measurement. Cognitive testing highlighted issues with comprehension, recall and response and numerous items were removed or refined. We developed a standard and a short version of the measure for feasibility testing. Conclusions We developed a measure covering important domains of participant experience of trials, which could assist trial teams and participants to improve trial design and enhance delivery of a meaningful participant experience.
The effects that secondary parkinsonian syndromes have on health status
Authors: Kościołek Dawid , Urbaś Michał , Misiak Jakub , Kościołek Aleksandra , Kępczyk Martyna , Czekaj Oliwia , Ojdana Miłosz , Surowiecka Kaja , Kwaśniewska Oliwia , Demianenko Yehor
Published: January 2024

Introduction and aim of work:
The parkinsonian syndrome is a component of Parkinson's disease. A thorough neurological examination can detect symptoms belonging to the parkinsonian syndrome. Diagnosis using the Queen Square Brain Bank criteria is based on the presence of bradykinesia along with one additional symptom in the patient. These include muscle rigidity or resting tremors at a frequency of 4-6 Hz, or postural disturbances that cannot be explained by visual, vestibular, cerebellar, or deep sensory disorders. The parkinsonian syndrome can occur in idiopathic Parkinson's disease, hereditary disorders, secondary parkinsonism, or be part of an atypical parkinsonian syndrome.
The aim of the study was to discuss the diagnostic features and differences in the occurrence of the parkinsonian syndrome as a component of Parkinson's disease, both within the context of other neurological disorders.
Materials and methods: The foundation of the research was medical articles gathered from the Google Scholar database. The studies were conducted by analyzing keywords such as "parkinsonism," "drug-induced parkinsonism," and "vascular parkinsonism."
Results: Secondary parkinsonism, or secondary parkinsonism syndrome, can be indicated by clinical features such as: disease onset below the age of 40, abrupt onset, rapid disease progression, symptoms related to medication use, and symptoms associated with the underlying condition. In addition to clinical evaluation, imaging studies are also employed. Various conditions can lead to the development of secondary parkinsonism, including hydrocephalus, brain tumors, encephalitis, cerebral atherosclerosis, traumatic brain injuries, medications, and poisoning. The aforementioned conditions exert different mechanisms of influence on the central nervous system.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy in the treatment of androgenic alopecia – review
Authors: Getka Beata , Przyborowska Kinga , Rukat Mateusz , Łata Michał , Kwiecień Justyna , Wiejak Katarzyna
Published: January 2024

Hair loss is a problem that affects many people around the world. Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss affecting up to 50% of men and 40% of women over the age of 50. This type of hair loss is mediated by androgens, the strongest of which is dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone influences the weakening hair follicles. The problem of excess DHT and the associated androgenic hair loss may concern people practicing sports, especially aerobic disciplines of moderate and high intensity. In the recent decades, many topical and oral therapies have been introduced to delay and stop hair loss. However, commonly used medications have only a partial and temporary effect, therefore alternative treatment methods are needed. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is known, among other things, for its use in orthopedics. The use of PRP may benefit athletes in the treatment of injuries to tendons, ligaments, muscles and cartilage. Many publications indicate good results with the use of PRP in the treatment of hair loss.

The aim of this study is to summarise the published reports on the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on hair loss prevention in people with androgenic alopecia (AGA) and to analyse the papers discussing androgen levels in physically active people.
Masterskaâ Sokurova kak škola svoevoliâ v sovremennom rossijskom kinematografe: Razžimaâ kulaki Kiry Kovalenko
Authors: Caspers Olga
Published: January 2024

This paper offers an analysis of Kira Kovalenko’s work (in comparison with two other graduates of Sokurov’s workshop: Kantemir Balagov and Malika Musaeva), who expresses her specific position towards Russian authorities both in her creative work and in her civil stance. To describe and analyse the filmmaker’s work, the concept of wilfulness (Eigen-Sinn) is used. It was first introduced by German anthropologists Alf Lüdtke and Thomas Lindenberger, who researched the culture of everyday life in authoritarian societies and analysed civil practices of resistance to the Nazi regime in Germany in the 1930s. Particular attention is paid to the subversive potential of cinema in the context of contemporary political developments and implicit ways of influencing the public. The other area of focus are strategies and forms of self-presentation of a new generation of filmmakers in relation to new media possibilities (YouTube, Instagram, etc.).
Współczesna literatura zaangażowana jako narzędzie sprzeciwu (na materiale wybranej prozy rosyjskiej)
Authors: Kowalska Martyna
Published: January 2024

The term ‘committed literature,’ which originated from an essays of Jean-Paul Sartre, came to be associated with socialist realism in Central and Eastern Europe and was reserved for creative works that were ideological and political in character. Cut off from the original concept, the notion acquired pejorative meaning. However, as we observe contemporary writers taking vivid interest in social and political problems, it becomes necessary to redefine the concept of committed literature and the paradigms of intellectual commitment of literature creators. At present, committed literature focuses on the areas of social tensions and conflicts which are not reflected in political decisions and media coverage. It points the way to understand topics that are taboo, issues that are left unspoken or are erased from cultural memory. This type of literature is uncomfortable for the system as it opens debates, forces readers to pose questions, and influences the undertakings that lead to change. Prose works of young Russian women writers (Kristina Gepting and Katya Chistyakova) are an example of committed literature understood in this way. What links their texts are sensitive social topics, focusing on excluded, stigmatised and marginalised groups. The authors reveal the flaws in Russian social security system and demonstrate the effects of homophobia and lack of tolerance towards minorities. Thus, committed literature can be a tool used to contest the dominant ideology and at the same time an instrument of undermining it.
Feministskij protest v sovremennom russkom teatre. Pʹesa Olʹgi Šilâevoj 28 dnej
Authors: Melani Pascale
Published: January 2024

In the last years before the war in Ukraine, women’s voices against patriarchy, discrimination and violence against women were increasing in Russian theatre with Olga Shilyaeva’s play 28 Days, staged in 2017 at theatre.doc by Yuri Muravitsky and Svetlana Mikhalischeva as striking example. In this work, Shilyaeva broke one of the strongest taboos and spoke openly about a forbidden subject (menstruation). The paper aims to characterize her artistic principles on the basis of an analysis of the drama. Shilyaeva abandons one of the central principles of new drama, zero-position, and resorts to a new artistic method: the main technique is collage of quotations, rhythmic montage and musical design of the text with anaphors, repetitions and exclamations, which turn the text into a manifesto. By bringing the theme to life in an appropriate and deeply artistic form, Shilyaeva creates a harmonious whole that addresses more general, ethical and social questions such as “What does it mean to be a woman?”
Big Fish in Small Ponds: Human Capital Migration and the Rise of Boutique Banks
Authors: Gao Janet , Wang Wenyu , Yu Xiaoyun
Published: January 2024

We study the comparative advantage of firms with focused and multidivisional organizational forms at attracting valuable human capital. Using the merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory industry as a laboratory, we show that high-performing individuals are more likely to migrate to boutique (focused) banks, especially those who are still on the upward trajectory of their career. Such migration is amplified by the cross-subsidization inside bulge bracket (multidivisional) firms, proxied by poor performance of their non-M&A departments. The transition of skilled labor improves the performance of the boutique sector, potentially contributing to the rise of boutiques over the past two decades. Moreover, M&A deal outcomes differ when having boutique advisors. Our findings suggest that corporate organizational structure and labor migration can jointly shape industry dynamics.

This paper was accepted by Victoria Ivashina, finance.

Funding: W. Wang gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Daniel C. Smith Fellowship.

Supplemental Material: Data and the internet appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.03829 .
Trust-and-Evaluate: A Dynamic Nonmonetary Mechanism for Internal Capital Allocation
Authors: Gupta Shivam , Bansal Saurabh , Dawande Milind , Janakiraman Ganesh
Published: January 2024

To stay competitive, firms regularly invest in innovation by supporting internal capital projects (funded and executed in-house) that explore new products and operational improvements. Each year, in a highly competitive process, managers from different functional units of the firm submit proposals (that include estimated costs and benefits) for such projects. Managers, because of their domain knowledge and expertise, are naturally better informed about the costs and benefits of their respective projects and can use this information strategically to secure funding. An example of such behavior is the under-reporting of the cost estimate of a project and subsequently requesting additional funding during the execution phase. Such strategic behavior not only affects the firm’s ability to fund the best projects but is also costly. Motivated by this challenge of deciding the funding of such projects at a global agribusiness firm, we seek a mechanism that is both provably near-optimal for the firm and guarantees truthful reporting from managers. Our setting consists of a principal and multiple agents. In each time period, over an infinite horizon, each agent requests funding for a potential project from the principal. Before submitting his proposal, each agent privately estimates the project’s cost and its benefit. If funded, each project is executed in one period. The principal’s funding decisions are binary; that is, each project is either funded in full or not funded. The actual cost (benefit) of a funded project is realized on its completion and incurred (earned) by the principal. The agents earn utility from the experience and reputation gained in completing projects. In each period, the principal desires to keep the total spend below a budget but can borrow external money at a cost. Our main contribution is a practically appealing dynamic nonmonetary mechanism for internal capital allocation under which, for any [Formula: see text], (a) truth-telling forms an ϵ-Bayesian Nash equilibrium and (b) the principal’s expected utility is within ϵ of the expected utility in the first-best setting.

This paper was accepted by Karan Girotra, operations management.

Supplemental Material: The online appendices and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.01121 .
A VIAGEM, DE TATIANA PINTO: NARRATIVA INFANTIL MOÇAMBICANA E AS (RE)APROPRIAÇÕES DO FEMININO
Authors: Souza Larissa da Silva Lisboa , Silva Avani Souza
Published: January 2024

Desvencilhando-se de perspectivas utilitaristas, os textos literários infantis e juvenis contemporâneos dos países africanos de língua portuguesa trazem aos leitores diferentes temáticas, bem como diversos formatos narrativos. A viagem, da escritora moçambicana Tatiana Pinto (2016), faz parte desse grupo de obras artísticas, possibilitando a imersão no universo tradicional moçambicano, a partir da recolha de uma história oral, mas inserindo elementos constituintes das atuais agendas democráticas. A partir da compreensão do texto de Pinto na categoria de “reconto” (HUNT, 2012), o presente artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre como se insere a questão de gênero na narrativa, seja a partir da recolha inicial, no século XIX, seja na reescrita da autora, por meio de novos elementos que atualizam a história ao público contemporâneo.
“MUTOLA”: A ORALIDADE E A REPRESENTAÇÃO FEMININA EM UM CONTO DE PAULINA CHIZIANE
Authors: De Morais Caroline , De Campos Daniela
Published: January 2024

O presente artigo analisa o conto “Mutola”, da escritora moçambicana Paulina Chiziane, presente na obra As andorinhas, observando a potência do texto literário ao estabelecer relações com a oralidade e a representação feminina. Para articular com essa temática, tem-se como objetivo associar aspectos da História e da Literatura por meio de uma análise qualitativa do conto “Mutola”, de Paulina Chiziane, reconhecendo a oralidade como uma forma de narrar histórias e a disparidade imposta entre o feminino e o masculino no contexto moçambicano. Essa investigação tem como base uma narrativa que associa a história de uma águia e a ascensão da personagem Lurdes. A fundamentação teórica está amparada em estudos de Bajard (1994), Leite (2014), Freitas (2020), Saes (2021), Botoso (2021), entre outros pesquisadores. Além disso, o conto selecionado e a obra da escritora moçambicana são alicerces para desenvolver a investigação. Diante deste estudo, evidenciam-se situações estereotipadas vividas pelas mulheres e a negação para a participação em esportes concebidos como masculinos, entretanto, a narrativa prestigia a determinação de uma figura feminina representativa para Moçambique: Maria de Lurdes Mutola.
BREVES REFLEXÕES SOBRE TORNADO, DE TERESA NORONHA
Authors: Morais da Silva Luciana
Published: January 2024

A leitura realizada tem por objetivo descortinar os percursos memorialísticos presentes na narrativa, principalmente ao analisar as estruturas composicionais do texto. Para tanto, pretende-se observar as diferentes estratégias utilizadas pela escritora que constituem o objeto, o livro Tornado, da escritora moçambicana Teresa Noronha (2021), reparando o modo como a personagem em primeira pessoa constitui-se como parte de um mundo conflituoso e permeado pelo preconceito. No campo da memória a escritora cria uma narrativa em espiral que guia seu leitor pelas idas e vindas de uma história gradativamente revelada a um irmão. Há, nesse sentido, a exploração de espaços diversos, porém centralizados na memória da personagem, que fixa em um lugar deambula por países e continentes ao acessar suas lembranças.
On the Need to Apply the Ālayavijñāna theory to Modern Meditation Practices: Focusing on the first argument of the Eight Proofs of the Existence of the Ālayavijñāna
Authors: Kang Myunghee
Published: January 2024

This paper analyzes the content of the eight proofs of the existence of the Ālayavijñāna, which were established in the context of the Viniscayasamgrahani of Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra the Viniscayasamgrahani, in a contemporary perspective, and suggests the necessity of applying them to modern meditation practices. If we understand the eight proofs of the existence of the Ālayavijñāna in a modern context, they can be summarized as follows. The first proof is that the discriminative function of five consciousness and the sixth consciousness, which perceives the functioning of the sense organs, is incapable of the function of upādi, and only the Ālayavijñāna is capable of this function of upādi, which applies to the body, speech, in seed. The second proof is that the birth of all living beings is only possible with the existence of the Ālayavijñāna. The third proof is that only with the existence of the Ālayavijñāna can one perceive all aspects of an object clearly. The fourth proof is that only with the existence of the Ālayavijñāna can one retain the potentiality for nāma-grāha and ātma-grāha within the mind. The fifth proof is that only with the existence of the Ālayavijñāna can one contain karma. The sixth proof is that only with the existence of the Ālayavijñāna can one experience the various sensations of the body. The seventh proof is that only with the existence of the Ālayavijñāna can one continue life in the state of asaṃjñi-samāpatti and nirodha-samāpatti. The eighth proof is that only with the existence of the Ālayavijñāna can one explain the differentiation of bodily sensations between the head and the feet cooling down at the time of death. When the eight proofs of the existence of the Ālayavijñāna are combined with modern meditation techniques, it can surpass the limitations of various meditation practices being conducted in Korea and can heal even the deepest inner the Ālayavijñāna. Especially, the function of upādi demonstrated in the first argument, is an area that can be reached through prolonged and in-depth observation of the body of the sensory organs and thoughts. In addition, it is important to practice prenatal meditation related to the birth of life, and it is necessary to develop death meditation in relation to the phenomena that occur at the time of death. In addition, in the consciousness only school of Buddhism, it is claimed that the Ālayavijñāna creates the body and seeds when it is turned inward, and creates the natural environment, when it is turned outward. Therefore, developing meditation techniques that combine with the natural environment is required for overall healing of the mind.
Exploring Dāna practice through the Shikoku sacred pilgrimage journal
Authors: Kim Taeyeon
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this study is to examine the act of Dāna(practice of giving) occurring during the Shikoku pilgrimage through literature from a Buddhist perspective and to explore the changes in pilgrims through this act. The research questions are as follows: Firstly, through the travelogues of Shikoku pilgrimage participants, we aim to examine various Dāna practices taking place in Shikoku and explore the pilgrims' sentiments from a Buddhist perspective. Secondly, we seek to investigate the changes in pilgrims' minds induced by Dāna practices during the pilgrimage. The Shikoku pilgrimage narrative in this study is based on published books and officially serialized documents on the internet. The books referenced include works by Gyeongin Seon, Kim Hyo-seon, Choi Seong-hyun, Choi Sang-hee. Internet sources consulted include pilgrimage narratives by Kim Nam-hee, Park Ji-san, Choi Hyeon-gyeong. The various practice of giving (Dāna) in the Shikoku pilgrimage were classified into material giving (Jae-si), Dharma giving (Beop-si), and fearless giving (Muoe-si) from a Buddhist perspective. The cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes of pilgrims through acts of giving were comprehensively organized. Through the research, the diverse acts of giving in the Shikoku pilgrimage, performed by givers, pilgrims, and the objects of giving, all embody the pure "selfless giving," characterized by kindness and a heart of blessing without conditions, deeply touching the hearts of pilgrims. This emotional response manifested in various forms, including feelings of strength, joy, happiness, gratitude, positivity, reassurance, gratitude for the fourfold assembly, profound emotional experiences that helped forget pain and relieve stress headaches. The psychological and emotional changes in these pilgrims not only stopped at their own happiness but also led to a reciprocal cycle of giving back to others. The transformation of pilgrims through the giving practice of the Shikoku pilgrimage is expected to contribute to creating a warm society with altruistic characteristics.
Early Buddhist perspectives on social memorialization
Authors: Lee Pilwon
Published: January 2024

Social disasters are more than just accidents or technological disasters, they are defined as disasters stemming from a variety of causes that affect human life, property, and the stability of a country or society. These disasters can take many forms, including terrorism, crime, and violence, and have a profound impact on individuals and the public. How we respond after an event, especially how we treat victims, is crucial. In cases such as the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster in the United Kingdom and the 2022 Itaewon tragedy in South Korea, we see a lack of adequate and sufficient response, and the nature of the problem becomes an ideological conflict. This is the result of a misperception of reality and intentional distortion of the problem, which in turn leads to social conflict and increased costs. In Buddhism, these problems can be solved through compassion and right view. Resolution is about effectively healing the aftermath of a disaster and changing our consciousness to prevent it from happening again. When the social memorialization and healing of a disaster is done properly, our society can regain stability and the victims can return to their daily lives. In particular, we can effectively respond to social disasters through four immeasurable states of mind based on the Four Noble Truths.
Significantly Increased Accumulations of PAHs in Scalp Hair During Smoke-haze Period Among Female Adolescents in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Authors:   Program in Environmental Science, Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Radarit Kessaya ,   Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Wiriya Wan ,   Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Chai-Adisaksopha Chatree ,   Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Chantara Somporn ,   Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Prapamontol Tippawan ,   Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Published: January 2024

Limitations in reporting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulated in humans arise from the impact of intense biomass burning and air pollution in upper Southeast Asia. This study analyzed PAHs in human hair samples and explored the associations between ambient PM2.5 and hair PAH concentrations. Follow-up hair collections were conducted on 111 female students, and hair samples with a length of 4 cm were analyzed. Ten different PAHs were identified in the subjects' hair samples. The most substantial pooled estimate of cumulative effects of PM2.5 exposure was observed at lag04 (4-month average). At lag04, every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration was significantly associated with 0.33, 0.29, 0.35, 0.16, 0.04, 0.64, and 1.66 ng/g hair increases in Acy, Ace, Flu, Ant, Chr, BaP, and total PAHs, respectively (P < 0.05). The findings underscore the significant contribution of ambient PM2.5 exposure to the elevation of PAHs in human hair. Specifically, each centimeter of hair represents a one-month exposure to ambient PM2.5. Moreover, the accumulation of BaP, a carcinogenic PAH, significantly increased at heightened PM2.5 levels, emphasizing the importance of hair analysis in assessing PAH exposure risks and obtaining reliable and comprehensive health risk information. Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Hair analysis, PM2.5
Significantly Elevated Urinary OH-PAHs and Oxidative Damage Concentrations Attributable to PM2.5 Exposure: A Panel Study of Preaging Females in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Authors:   Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Ponsawansong Pitakchon ,   Program in Environmental Science, Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Prapamontol Tippawan ,   Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Singkaew Jaras ,   Saraphi Hospital, Chiang Mai, 50140, Thailand, Li Guoxing ,   Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, Pan Xiaochuan ,   Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191
Published: January 2024

Exposure to ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) has been associated with oxidative damage. This study investigated the PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure levels during elevated PM2.5 levels and the oxidative damage among a preaging females in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The 64 female participants, aged between 50 and 65 years old, were followed for 5 weeks consecutively during the non-haze rainy season as the baseline and haze episodes. The morning void urine sample was collected weekly and analyzed for 8 species of hydroxylated-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results showed that the high increase in PM2.5 levels was positively associated with OH-PAH levels. In addition, for every 1 µg/gCre increase in individual urinary OH-PAH concentrations, the MDA concentration increased from 0.073 to 2.071 µg/gCre. Therefore, the present study suggested that detected urinary OH-PAHs were attributable to PM2.5-bound PAH exposure, particularly from inhalation. These study results provide useful information for policy makers and public health agencies to mitigate the chain effects of PM2.5 exposure from haze pollution. Keywords: Air pollution, Hydroxylated-PAHs, Oxidative stress, Urinary biomarkers
3D surgical planning including patient-specific drilling guides for tibial plateau fractures
Authors: Assink Nick , ten Duis Kaj , de Vries Jean-Paul P. M. , Witjes Max J. H. , Kraeima Joep , Doornberg Job N. , IJpma Frank F. A.
Published: January 2024

Aims

Proper preoperative planning benefits fracture reduction, fixation, and stability in tibial plateau fracture surgery. We developed and clinically implemented a novel workflow for 3D surgical planning including patient-specific drilling guides in tibial plateau fracture surgery.

Methods

A prospective feasibility study was performed in which consecutive tibial plateau fracture patients were treated with 3D surgical planning, including patient-specific drilling guides applied to standard off-the-shelf plates. A postoperative CT scan was obtained to assess whether the screw directions, screw lengths, and plate position were performed according the preoperative planning. Quality of the fracture reduction was assessed by measuring residual intra-articular incongruence (maximum gap and step-off) and compared to a historical matched control group.

Results

A total of 15 patients were treated with 3D surgical planning in which 83 screws were placed by using drilling guides. The median deviation of the achieved screw trajectory from the planned trajectory was 3.4° (interquartile range (IQR) 2.5 to 5.4) and the difference in entry points (i.e. plate position) was 3.0 mm (IQR 2.0 to 5.5) compared to the 3D preoperative planning. The length of 72 screws (86.7%) were according to the planning. Compared to the historical cohort, 3D-guided surgery showed an improved surgical reduction in terms of median gap (3.1 vs 4.7 mm; p = 0.126) and step-off (2.9 vs 4.0 mm; p = 0.026).

Conclusion

The use of 3D surgical planning including drilling guides was feasible, and facilitated accurate screw directions, screw lengths, and plate positioning. Moreover, the personalized approach improved fracture reduction as compared to a historical cohort.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(1):46–52.
Whatever Happened to the Affluent Society? Or, the Dynamics of Consumer-Driven Capitalism Revealed
Authors: de Vries Jan
Published: January 2024

Abstract: This article is an exploration of the ways in which affluence undermines itself, based on a reexamination of two influential books: John Kenneth Galbraith’s Affluent Society (1958) and Tibor Scotivsky’s Joyless Economy (1976). Galbraith’s book offered blueprints for the reform of both the American economy and the discipline of economics based on his understanding that the affluent society was driven increasingly by the consumer rather than the producer. The essay explores the strengths and weaknesses of Galbraith’s analysis based on an account of the course of American public policy in the decades since he wrote. He had advocated for an expansion of public goods; what emerged instead was an expansion of transfer payments. Scitovsky’s account of consumer behavior sought to explain why rising income led to dissatisfied—joyless—consumers. Expanding on his approach, I identify the dynamic of consumer demand that acts to undermine the condition of affluence itself.
Islam, Merchants, and Capitalism: Fifty-Five Years in the Socioeconomic History of the Medieval Islamic World
Authors: Bondioli Lorenzo M.
Published: January 2024

Abstract: “Islam, Merchants, and Capitalism” draws attention to the missing link between early and central medieval Islamic socioeconomic history (ca. 650–1250) and the history of capitalism. This intertext essay starts from reassessing the work of French Marxist Islamicist Maxime Rodinson, who first made a programmatic attempt to forge such a link in his seminal 1966 Islam and Capitalism . It then proceeds to lay bare the reasons why Rodinson’s call went largely unheard in the following decades, identifying the persistence of a pervasive decline paradigm within medieval Islamic socioeconomic history as the key obstacle preventing advances in the field and foreclosing avenues for theoretical discussion. Regrettably this paradigm, while outdated and no longer tenable, still remains authoritative and is frequently invoked by modern theorists of “underdevelopment.” The essay then discusses some examples of recent groundbreaking scholarship that deploy new archaeological and documentary sources to decidedly move away from decline, showing the way forward out of this historiographical impasse. Finally, the essay returns to the question of capitalism, and of the forms in which this ambiguous term can, or cannot, be applied to early and central medieval Islamic societies, calling for a recentering of the Islamic Middle Ages in a longue-durée global history of capitalism.
Embracing What He Was “Taught to Shun”: Tracing Richard Wright’s Recommitment to His Grandmother’s Seventh-Day Adventist Faith
Authors: Brown Donald
Published: January 2024

Abstract: This essay considers the theme of religion in the work of Richard Wright. Margaret Bolden Wilson, Richard Wright’s grandmother, was a fervent Seventh-day Adventist who ensured her grandchild followed the tenets of her faith for the many years he lived with her as a child and teenager. Though Wright left the faith once he left her house at seventeen years old, its influence on him remained for his entire life. While Wright is normally positioned as a secular humanist, this paper argues that his Seventh-day Adventist background complicates that categorization. His roots in the church inform his criticisms of the Communist Party and ultimately manifest consistently and prominently in his literary oeuvre.
“The Proprioceptive Probe”: Amiri Baraka’s New Ark in Tales and Tales of the Out and the Gone
Authors: Akiman Özge Özbek
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Amiri Baraka reimagines his hometown, Newark, as a mythical New Ark in his fiction, Tales (1967) and the Tales of the Out and the Gone (2007), as a symbolic source wherefrom Black people reinvent themselves. At the basis of the poet’s spatial vision lies a culturally specific proprioceptive impulse, an attention to the real-time and site-specific innerworkings of the body. This essay analyzes the development of the sketchy characters and settings in the early stories into the New Ark’s “out and gone” in later stories within the framework of the proprioceptive loop that constantly internalizes and acts on the external.
Doubt: On Sparring and Sociability
Authors: Sommer Doris
Published: January 2024

Abstract: "What good are the humanities?" To practical people who ask this question, my answer will sound paradoxical: The humanities are good for training a taste for doubt. All research starts with doubt, but mostly to resolve it. Humanists don't care as much about answers as about the activity of thinking. They let doubt linger and invite interpretation, conversation, reflection, human contact. The humanities promote sociability and support democracy. If people don't enjoy talking together, hearing various opinions, and sparring sometimes for the sheer fun of it, democracy declines. When rationality and AI eliminate doubt, we become indifferent to differences of perspective, experience, and to each other.
Fast, multicolour optical sectioning over extended fields of view with patterned illumination and machine learning
Authors: Ward Edward N. , McClelland Rebecca M. , Lamb Jacob R. , Rubio-Sánchez Roger , Christensen Charles N. , Mazumder Bismoy , Kapsiani Sofia , Mascheroni Luca , Di Michele Lorenzo , Kaminski Schierle Gabriele S. , Kaminski Clemens F.
Published: January 2024

Structured illumination can reject out-of-focus signal from a sample,
enabling high-speed and high-contrast imaging over large areas with
widefield detection optics. However, this optical sectioning technique
is currently limited by image reconstruction artefacts and poor
performance at low signal-to-noise ratios. We combine multicolour
interferometric pattern generation with machine learning to achieve
high-contrast, real-time reconstruction of image data that is robust
to background noise and sample motion. We validate the method
in silico and demonstrate imaging of diverse
specimens, from fixed and live biological samples to synthetic
biosystems, reconstructing data live at 11 Hz across a 44 ×
44μm2 field of view, and
demonstrate image acquisition speeds exceeding 154 Hz.
Parametric metasurfaces for electromagnetic wave amplification
Authors: Kovalev Fedor V. , Shadrivov Ilya V.
Published: January 2024

We study parametric amplification of electromagnetic waves using metasurfaces. We design a variable capacitor-loaded metasurface that can amplify incident electromagnetic waves. We analyze various regimes of operation of the system and find that we can achieve a significant gain (over 10 dB) in just one layer of such a structure, and this gain can be controlled by parametric modulation. We study the instability threshold for this system and show that a simple theoretical model agrees well with the results of full numerical simulations.
Identifying essential factors for energy-efficient walking control across a wide range of velocities in reflex-based musculoskeletal systems
Authors: Koseki Shunsuke , Hayashibe Mitsuhiro , Owaki Dai
Published: January 2024

Humans can generate and sustain a wide range of walking velocities while optimizing their energy efficiency. Understanding the intricate mechanisms governing human walking will contribute to the engineering applications such as energy-efficient biped robots and walking assistive devices. Reflex-based control mechanisms, which generate motor patterns in response to sensory feedback, have shown promise in generating human-like walking in musculoskeletal models. However, the precise regulation of velocity remains a major challenge. This limitation makes it difficult to identify the essential reflex circuits for energy-efficient walking. To explore the reflex control mechanism and gain a better understanding of its energy-efficient maintenance mechanism, we extend the reflex-based control system to enable controlled walking velocities based on target speeds. We developed a novel performance-weighted least squares (PWLS) method to design a parameter modulator that optimizes walking efficiency while maintaining target velocity for the reflex-based bipedal system. We have successfully generated walking gaits from 0.7 to 1.6 m/s in a two-dimensional musculoskeletal model based on an input target velocity in the simulation environment. Our detailed analysis of the parameter modulator in a reflex-based system revealed two key reflex circuits that have a significant impact on energy efficiency. Furthermore, this finding was confirmed to be not influenced by setting parameters, i.e., leg length, sensory time delay, and weight coefficients in the objective cost function. These findings provide a powerful tool for exploring the neural bases of locomotion control while shedding light on the intricate mechanisms underlying human walking and hold significant potential for practical engineering applications.
Development of an integrated and decentralised skin health strategy to improve experiences of skin neglected tropical diseases and other skin conditions in Atwima Mponua District, Ghana
Authors: Phillips Richard Odame , Owusu Lucy , Koka Eric , Ocloo Edmond Kwaku , Simpson Hope , Agbanyo Abigail , Okyere Daniel , Tuwor Ruth Dede , Fokuoh-Boadu Adelaide , Akuffo Richard Adjei , Novignon Jacob , Oppong Michael Ntiamoah , Mosweu Iris , Asante-Poku Adwoa , Cobbinah Jojo , Mtuy Tara B. , Palmer Jennifer , Ahorlu Collins , Amoako Yaw Ampem , Walker Stephen L. , Yeboah-Manu Dorothy , Marks Michael , Pitt Catherine , Pullan Rachel ,   SHARP collaboration
Published: January 2024

Integrated strategies are recommended to tackle neglected tropical diseases of the skin (skin NTDs), which pose a substantial health and economic burden in many countries, including Ghana. We describe the development of an integrated and decentralised skin health strategy designed to improve experiences of skin NTDs in Atwima Mponua district in Ashanti Region. A multidisciplinary research team led an iterative process to develop an overall strategy and specific interventions, based on a theory of change informed by formative research conducted in Atwima Mponua district. The process involved preparatory work, four co-development workshops (August 2021 to November 2022), collaborative working groups to operationalise intervention components, and obtaining ethical approval. Stakeholders including affected individuals, caregivers, other community members and actors from different levels of the health system participated in co-development activities. We consulted these stakeholders at each stage of the research process, including discussion of study findings, development of our theory of change, identifying implementable solutions to identified challenges, and protocol development. Participants determined that the intervention should broadly address wounds and other skin conditions, rather than only skin NTDs, and should avoid reliance on non-governmental organisations and research teams to ensure sustainable implementation by district health teams and transferability elsewhere. The overall strategy was designed to focus on a decentralised model of care for skin conditions, while including other interventions to support a self-care delivery pathway, community engagement, and referral. Our theory of change describes the pathways through which these interventions are expected to achieve the strategy’s aim, the assumptions, and problems addressed. This complex intervention strategy has been designed to respond to the local context, while maximising transferability to ensure wider relevance. Implementation is expected to begin in 2023.