bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating Culture and Faith in Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Qualitative Exploration
Authors: Oti-Boadi Ezekiel , Asare Benedicta , Attafuah Priscilla Yeye Adumoah , Appiah Evans Osei , Opoku-Frempong Doreen , Asiedu Priscilla Ofosuhemaa , Toure Hawah Amadu , Kappiah Jamilatu B.
Published: November 2024

Objective: To assess the cultural and religious beliefs about Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in the Greater Accra of Ghana. This is because ARTs are on the rise globally, yet barriers to access, including cost and limited centers, are well-documented. Culture and religion's impact on ART acceptance, especially in Africa, is understudied. Methods: This study utilized a qualitative approach with an interpretative descriptive design, employing purposive sampling to select 15 male and female participants. Face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted, audiorecorded, and subsequently transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: The data analysis yielded three main themes and 12 subthemes. The study discovered that participants displayed a good understanding of assisted reproductive therapy, accurately defining these techniques and recognizing certain complications associated with ART. However, their grasp of ART ethics was limited, and their utilization of ART was notably influenced by religious and cultural beliefs. Conclusion and discussion: Despite the high awareness, they were faced with some challenges regarding ART usage including difficulty getting a surrogate mother, high cost of ART services, stigmatization, and fear of contracting HIV. Future studies should therefore focus on addressing these barriers to increase uptake of ART among men and women with infertility.
Journalism Students’ Use, Expectations, and Understanding of Generative AI Tools
Authors: Veenstra Aaron S. , Wilder Marcy , Shimu Farhin , Schlauder Luke , Dousdebés Francesca
Published: November 2024

This study investigates how journalism students perceive and use large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, their understanding of the technology, and their ethical considerations. Findings indicate that while students see LLMs as inevitable tools in their future careers, they often misunderstand how these tools generate content, in part because they lack more fundamental knowledge about digital tools. The paper emphasizes the need for tech literacy in journalism programs among both students and faculty.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Journalism Education: Opportunities and Challenges in Egypt
Authors: Okela Abdelmohsen Hamed
Published: November 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing journalism, necessitating a reevaluation of journalism education. The mixed-method study employs the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to investigate the factors influencing AI adoption among Egyptian journalism professors from eight universities. Findings indicate that Facilitating Conditions and Effective Expectancy positively correlate with professors’ AI use, and Facilitating Conditions significantly predict AI adoption intention. The study recommends curriculum updates, infrastructure enhancements, and faculty training to integrate AI effectively into Egyptian journalism education.
High School Journalism Field Trips: Post-Pandemic Barriers and Opportunities
Authors: Hill Monica , Hendricks Marina A. , Cavanah Sarah B. , Bobkowski Piotr S.
Published: November 2024

This study examined high school journalism educators’ perspectives on field trips to attend workshops and conferences sponsored by college and university journalism programs. In-depth interviews were conducted with 29 educators from across the United States, representing a broad range of scholastic journalism programs, schools, and professional experience. Educators revealed barriers and opportunities for participation in journalism-focused field trips. Implications for journalism event providers include: (a) focusing in-person events on socialization for students and educators; (b) disseminating pre- and post-event activities to promote experiential learning; and (c) producing asynchronous, virtual skills training modules that can be used without attending in-person events.
Unlocking Job Involvement: Helping New Employees Navigate using Uncertainty Reduction Theory with Psychological Safety as a Mediator
Authors: Moothery Joshy Lishin , A Anjali
Published: November 2024

Organizational socialization (OS) is a critical process that all employees go through. In addition to the job characteristics, the efficiency and effectiveness of the OS process impact the individual's ability to adjust and be involved in the job. This study proposes and tests a new model in which psychological safety mediated the effects of OS and job characteristics on the job involvement of 313 newly recruited health-care professionals’ working in 10 private hospitals in South India. Researchers used Uncertainty Reduction Theory to explain the relationship between the variables under study. The results indicate that newcomers’ job involvement is predicted positively by OS and job characteristics, and that psychological safety mediates these relationships. These findings as well as their implications in the health-care professional arena are discussed within the Eastern cultural contexts of organizational behavior research.
Mental Health Risk and Protection Among First-Generation Latinx Immigrant Youth: A Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Salerno John P. , Getrich Christina M. , Fish Jessica N. , Castillo Yecenia , Edmiston Susana , Sandoval Pedro , Aparicio Elizabeth M. , Fryer Craig S. , Boekeloo Bradley O.
Published: November 2024

First-generation Latinx immigrant youth from the Northern Triangle (NT; El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) face unique risks for experiencing stressors across the phases of migration, which could exacerbate their mental health. This study aimed to (a) identify and characterize unique latent profile groups based on response patterns to immigrant minority stress and psychosocial protective factor items and (b) examine the associations of latent profile membership with depression and anxiety symptoms among NT immigrant youth, controlling for study covariates (i.e., postmigration victimization and forced immigration-related family separation). Primary surveys assessing immigrant minority stress and psychosocial protective factors (i.e., ethnic identity importance, and family, peer, and school support) were administered ( N = 172, age range = 14–21, 63% female). Latent profile analysis (Aim 1) and multiple linear regression (Aim 2) were conducted to examine the study aims. A three latent profile model was identified: (a) moderate immigrant minority stress and low psychosocial protection ( weak resources), (b) moderate immigrant minority stress and moderate psychosocial protection ( average resources), and (c) low immigrant minority stress and high psychosocial protection ( strong resources) during postmigration. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that latent profile membership was significantly associated with mental health. Protective associations with mental health were consistently present among the strong resources group. Detrimental associations with mental health were consistently present among the weak resources group. The average resources group demonstrated both protective and detrimental associations with mental health. Postmigration victimization and forced immigration-related family separation covariates were significantly associated with mental health. Findings provide a foundation for further mental health prevention research with NT immigrant youth.
Vaccination as a risk factor for pediatric multiple sclerosis: Insights from a retrospective case–control study
Authors: Darvishi Sonia , Donnachie Ewan , Gasperi Christiane , Hapfelmeier Alexander , Hemmer Bernhard
Published: November 2024

This study evaluated the association between pediatric multiple sclerosis and vaccinations within 5 years before diagnosis using German ambulatory claims data. Children with multiple sclerosis ( n = 346) aged 9–17 were analyzed with logistic and Poisson regression. Control groups included children with Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and no autoimmune diseases. The results indicated a negative association between vaccinations and pediatric multiple sclerosis, with no significant risk identified. This negative relationship was consistent in sensitivity and clinically isolated syndrome analyses. Overall, the study’s findings do not support the hypothesis that vaccination is a risk factor for pediatric multiple sclerosis.
Exploring the silence of Japanese EFL learners: Its relationship with the degree of willingness to communicate (WTC)
Authors: Sato Rintaro
Published: November 2024

The concept of willingness to communicate (WTC) is pivotal in understanding student engagement in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms. As a dynamic and multifaceted construct, WTC is subject to continual fluctuations throughout the communication process, often changing situationally. Traditionally, learner silence in class or during second language (L2) conversations is perceived negatively, as it can signal a lack of motivation to speak, thereby impeding optimal language acquisition. However, silence can also function as a communicative strategy or reflect learners’ essential feelings and emotions. This study explored the relationship between Japanese EFL learners’ situational WTC and their instances of silence during L2 (English) conversations. Participants were recruited for the study and were asked to deliver short speeches and engage in conversations with a researcher, during which their periods of silence were observed and recorded. All participant utterances were meticulously transcribed and analysed. Additionally, participants self-assessed their WTC for each utterance, and a stimulated recall interview was conducted to gather in-depth qualitative data. The results generally indicated that participants’ WTC was somewhat decreased when silence occurred between and during utterances. However, the findings also revealed the intricate and multifaceted nature of silence in relation to WTC, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding and nuanced consideration of learners’ silence. This study highlights the complexity of the interplay between WTC and silence, suggesting that silence should not be solely viewed as a negative phenomenon but rather as an integral part of the communicative process that warrants careful analysis and understanding.
Approaches to nanosolder reflow at the nanoscale
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2024

Nanosoldering is a way of bottom-up manufacturing that can establish close, strong contact between individual nanoobjects. The reflow of nanosolder plays a vital role in achieving such reliable contact. Here, we propose an in situ reflow approach that uses Joule heating induced by electrical current flowing through the nanosolder as a heating source in scanning electron microscopy. This method facilitated the reflow of 97Sn3Cu nanosolder at approximately 2.9 μJ of Joule heat, without requiring flux. Additionally, we have performed other reflow approaches for reflow tests of 97Sn3Cu nanosolder. This paper eager to provide valuable approaches for nanosolders reflow, aiming at enhancing their application in nanosoldering.
Electromechanical coupling dynamic responses of motor-gear system under different motor control methods
Authors: Yao Zhaoyuan , Lin Tianliang , Ren Haoling , Fu Shengjie
Published: November 2024

The integration of a motor-gear system (MGS) can introduce complex electromechanical coupling dynamics issues. For example, mechanical vibrations within the gear transmission system (GTS) may cause deviations in the actual output power of motor, while torque fluctuations of motor can lead to significant impacts and vibrations during gear meshing. Consequently, this paper primarily addresses abnormal vibrations resulting from electromechanical coupling in MGS and investigates methods for their suppression. The objective is to examine the effect of various motor control techniques on the dynamics of MGS. Initially, a universal modeling approach for MGS, adaptable to different engineering scenarios with simple modifications to gear or motor parameters, is developed. This model includes the equivalent circuit model of the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), mathematical model of the motor rotor, and bending-torsion coupling model of the GTS. Coupling channels are established between these local models, facilitating the construction of a comprehensive electromechanical coupling dynamic model of MGS. The efficacy of this proposed model is validated through experimentation. Subsequently, different motor control techniques based on this model to assess their effects on the dynamics of both motor and GTS are analyzed. The results suggest that, without altering the mechanical structure of system, the dynamic behaviors of MGS can be improved through the implementation of motor control strategies. This approach aids in mitigating the exacerbation of abnormal vibrations within the MGS.
A novel imbalance fault diagnosis method based on data augmentation and hybrid deep learning models
Authors: Fan Caizi , Zhang Yongchao , Ma Hui , Ma Zeyu , Yin Xunmin , Zhang Xiaoxu , Zhao Songtao
Published: November 2024

In recent years, although a large number of intelligent fault diagnosis methods have been proposed, their effectiveness has mostly been validated through balanced datasets. However, the data accumulated in real engineering scenarios tend to show a long-tail distribution, with a much larger number of healthy samples compared to faulty samples. This phenomenon makes the classifiers of deep learning models prone to learn features from samples of the majority class, which affects the model’s accuracy in identifying faulty samples. To solve the above imbalanced data problem, a novel hybrid model is proposed. First, to reduce the dimensionality of the dataset, time and frequency domain feature indicators are used instead of the raw vibration signals. Subsequently, the k-nearest neighbor maximum trend diffusion algorithm optimized through grid search is employed to generate high quality fault samples for balancing the dataset. Finally, the temporal correlation features and spatial features of the data are extracted and fused to predict the fault classes by the hybrid deep learning model. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified on two different gearbox datasets. The experimental results indicate that the proposed model can generate synthetic samples that align with the distribution of real samples. And it also achieves the highest diagnostic accuracy and F1 score under different imbalance ratios, which are superior than other models.
James (Carrick) Moore (1763–1860): Another (Scottish) Local Anaesthetic Hero
Authors: Wildsmith JAW (Tony)
Published: November 2024

Modern technology has provided the author with access to a previously unobtainable publication, John Moore’s 1784 work, ‘ A Method of Preventing or diminishing Pain in Several Operations of Surgery’. Not only did this allow direct consideration of his technique of nerve compression (which has been described briefly by many others since), but also showed that Moore had very advanced humane views on the need to try and produce pain relief for surgery. It also became possible to obtain far more information on the author, notably that although he worked in London he was born and educated in Glasgow, and did his initial medical training in Edinburgh. He thus is one of a group, all of whom were Scots, who did preliminary work on local anaesthesia before the recognition of the local action of cocaine. His technique was tried, apparently successfully, for a below-knee amputation by John Hunter, and while both the technique and his humane approach were noted by others, the method does not seem to have found wider favour. He continued working as a surgeon in London until he inherited an estate in south-west Scotland, this allowing him to give up clinical practice and focus on writing and campaigning. He wrote the definitive biography of his brother (Sir John Moore of Corunna fame) and was a leading advocate of vaccination, leading the organisation after Jenner’s death. These activities meant that he was well known in his lifetime, but he deserves to be better known today as being the first person to promote the need for pain relief during surgery.
Affect and Materiality Among Highways, Heat, and Wheat: A New Materialist Auto/Ethnography of Be(com)ing Kansan
Authors: Kraemer-Holland Angela
Published: November 2024

This auto/ethnographic piece adopts a new materialist approach to articulating my affective, material journey about/with/through be(com)ing [a] Kansan. By unpacking moments that occurred-but-are-still-occurring, I highlight the data-glowing, intimate connections I make about/with/through materiality and affect to cut across boundaries of the more-than/human social world, reinforcing the agentive role of matter in our qualitative and environmental sense-making. And so, this piece attempts to challenge my initially static conceptualizations of body, context, and inquiry; to complicate notions of em/placement, privilege, and mobility and to amplify the significance of affective entanglements with/in more-than/human materiality.
A Clinical Retrospective Study on the Qualitative Value of Multimodal Ultrasonography for ACR-TIRADS 4 Thyroid Nodules Ranging from 1 cm to 1.5 cm
Authors: Yuan Xiaodan , Wen Hong , Huang Mei , Xie Xumin , Yi Zhijun , Li Shengkai
Published: November 2024

Introduction

This study explored the clinical value and application of ultrasound contrast imaging technology in the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) TR4 benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from the medical records of 40 patients who met the inclusion criteria between January 2020 and December 2023. Each patient was evaluated using the ACR TI-RADS classification and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The agreement between pathological outcomes and ultrasound indicators and the diagnostic value and significance of each parameter were assessed.

Results

The diameters did not differ between benign and malignant nodules (P = 0.324). Ring enhancement was closely associated with benign thyroid nodules, with a negative predictive value of 100%. Homogeneous enhancement and enhancement intensity showed good diagnostic value for pathological results, with an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.8. This parameter showed a high diagnostic value for serial and parallel combinations of homogeneous enhancement and enhancement intensity, with a sensitivity of 77.8% and specificity of 85.7% for the serial combination and 100% and 71.4%, respectively. for the parallel combination.

Conclusion

Among ACR TI-RADS TR4 nodules, diameter 1.0–1.5 cm was not significantly correlated with a benign or malignant nature. Nodules featuring ring enhancement with ring-enhancing features should be considered benign. Similarly, nodules showing no, homogeneous, or high enhancement with clear borders on CEUS imaging may be benign. However, nodules with uneven low enhancement or unclear borders may be malignant. Therefore, uneven and low enhancement on CEUS imaging may have a high diagnostic value for malignant nodules. Moreover, the combination of these features may have even higher specificity.
Staying with the trouble: What do the frontline need to do to be recognised as leadership actors?
Authors: Carroll Brigid
Published: November 2024

This Leading Questions piece puzzles over why frontline leadership appears little understood, recognised and drawn on in both leadership studies and organisation practice. It draws on a series of empirical ‘breadcrumbs’ to craft a pathway to understanding the frontline in leadership. It argues that such leadership is porous with resistance through a theorisation built from the construct of trouble, active ‘troubling’ of management imperatives and troubles talk. It concludes by asking a series of broader questions about organisational resisting and leading through the unique lens of the frontline who bring both into a different conversation.
What’s under attack: Activism and institutional conflict within US higher education
Authors: Cho Katherine S , Davis Charles HF , Morgan Demetri L
Published: November 2024

Within the United States, the targeted efforts against Critical Race Theory, political machinations against higher education governance, and the use of surveillance on liberatory protests, reveals a complicated nexus regarding educational activism and institutional navigation. Through the Actors, Contexts, Tactics, and Strategies (A.C.T.S.) Framework, we offer an expansive understanding of the who, what, how, when, and where of activism. By applying this framework to three distinct yet interrelated examples on legislative fights against diversity, tenure and governance, and pro-Palestine activism, we illuminate the role of institutional mechanics to reimagine the institutional fatality of ‘this is just how things are’ and an inevitable political tide. In doing so, this manuscript offers a robust analysis of institutionalism, opposition, support, and transformation.
Victim behaviour and trauma recovery: Representing black British femininity through fantasy in Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You
Authors: Bramwell Richard
Published: November 2024

This paper examines the representation of trauma recovery in the television series I May Destroy You ( 2020 ). Research on rape in fictional television programmes overwhelmingly focus on rape myths or how rape is represented. There is scant research on recovery from rape trauma in television drama. This paper contributes to scholarship on rape in fictional television, through a focus on the process of trauma recovery. Michaela Coel’s portrayal of the struggle to recover from the traumatic experience of sexual assault, makes a nuanced contribution to debates on sexual violence, victim behaviour, and black British identity.
Comparative evaluation of first-attempt intubation success rate using direct laryngoscope with Macintosh blade and video laryngoscope during rapid sequence induction in patients undergoing emergency surgery: A prospective randomised controlled trial
Authors: Chauhan Durga , Kumar Sanjay , Mahajan Shalvi , Sarna Rashi , Saini Kulbhushan , Sharma Amit
Published: November 2024

Background:

Airway management skills form the cornerstone of routine anaesthesia practice. Its role becomes more significant in emergency areas where time is of the essence. Patients presenting for emergency surgery require definitive airway management with endotracheal intubation. Rapid sequence induction with direct laryngoscopy using a Macintosh blade has been used consistently with varying success. With the advent of video laryngoscopes, their utility is being explored in emergency areas. We aimed to assess the role of a video laryngoscope (Medizintechnik, Sulz, Germany) in rapid sequence induction and intubation during emergency surgeries.

Aim:

We hypothesised that video laryngoscope would improve the first-attempt intubation success rate in patients undergoing emergency surgery.

Methodology:

In total, 76 patients presenting for emergency surgery were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups (38 each), who were intubated with either a video laryngoscope or Macintosh blade during rapid sequence induction. This study aimed to compare and evaluate direct laryngoscopy using a Macintosh blade and a video laryngoscope during rapid sequence induction.

Results:

The two groups were similar in the type and indication for surgery. Airway characteristics were also compared, and there were no significant differences in all airway parameters, including mouth opening, thyromental distance, Mallampati grading and neck circumference. The first-attempt intubation success rate was significantly higher in the video laryngoscope group (p = 0.017, χ2 = 5.684). The Cormack–Lehane grade distribution was compared in both groups, with better glottis visualisation in group video laryngoscope (p = 0.028, χ2 = 9.123).

Conclusion:

This prospective, randomised, controlled study aimed to compare the first-attempt intubation success rate using direct laryngoscopy with a Macintosh blade and a video laryngoscope during rapid sequence induction in patients undergoing emergency surgeries and observed that first-attempt intubation success rate was significantly higher in group video laryngoscope (86.8%) than in group direct laryngoscopy (63.2%). Therefore, video laryngoscopy offers an attractive alternative to conventional laryngoscopy while securing the airway in patients presenting for emergency surgery.
Immoral money aggravates myopia in intertemporal investment decision-making
Authors: He Zetong , Lin Wenjing , He Guibing
Published: November 2024

In investment decision-making, money's moral attributes vary based on principal source and profit method. This study investigated the effects of immoral money on intertemporal investment choices. Studies 1 and 2 show that perceived immorality of principal sources or profit methods increased preference for smaller-sooner (SS) options. A guilt-mediated effect was demonstrated, suggesting guilt aversion as an SS preference mechanism. Study 3 explored the joint effects of the morality of principal sources and profit methods on guilt and investment choices. When both aspects were immoral, individuals engaging in immoral profit methods preferred SS more, and those investing moral principal via immoral methods felt guiltiest. These findings implicated that maintaining the morality of the principal source and profit methods can promote long-term investment. The present study also highlights the vicious cycle of shortsighted behavior (e.g., eco-unfriendly behavior), where money with moral flaws would aggravate future shortsighted decisions.
Submandibular Gland-Sparing Technique Versus En-Bloc Level IB Dissection in Oral Cavity Cancers with N0 Neck Status: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Vetrivel G. , Moideen Areej , Jat Bhinyaram , Durgapal Prashant , Kumar Amit , Tyagi Amit Kumar , Patro Sourabha Kumar , Majumdar Kinjal Shankar , Singh Vikramjit , Ravichandran Nivedhan , Semwal Ankita , Sood Rachit , Hota Ashutosh , Yadav Akhilesh Chandra , Prasath M. Ramesh
Published: November 2024

Importance

Metastases to the submandibular gland (SMG) from oral cavity primaries are very rare. Hence, a gland-preserving level IB dissection technique is a feasible option without compromising the lymph node yield (LNY).

Objective

To assess the feasibility and noninferiority of the SMG-preserving dissection technique to the conventional en bloc removal of level IB in terms of LNY in patients with cN0 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) undergoing elective neck dissection.

Design

Parallel-design, single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Tertiary care health care center—Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, AIIMS Rishikesh.

Participants

Thirty-eight (n = 38) participants with 46 (n = 46) neck dissection specimens of OSCC were randomly allocated (1:1) into gland-preserving (n1 = 23) and en bloc (n2 = 23) dissection groups.

Intervention

Elective neck dissection comparing SMG-sparing level IB dissection technique versus en bloc level IB dissection.

Main Outcome Measures

LNY, lymph node density, and level IB operative time in both groups were compared between groups (α < .05).

Results

Median LNY ( P = .543) and lymph node density ( P = 1.000) in level IB did not show significant differences between the groups. LNY in level IB by gland-preserving technique is also not inferior to the conventional en bloc dissection technique (mean difference = 0.217; 95% CI: [−0.597, 1.032]; P = .593). The mean level IB operative time is significantly longer in the gland-preserving group ( P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

None of the examined SMGs were involved by the tumor. SMG-preserving technique is noninferior to the traditional technique of level IB clearance and can be used in elective neck dissections without compromising the LNY. Functional neck dissection has greatly evolved to decrease patient morbidity, and this method can be adopted in case-specific situations.

Trial registration

The trial was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry—India (CTRI/2022/05/042344) on May 2, 2023, https://ctri.nic.in/ .
Seasonal Variation in the Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential oil Obtained from Moroccan Lavender Lavandula maroccana Murb. Collected from the Wild
Authors: Soulaimani Bouchra , Abbad Imane , Amssayef Ayoub
Published: November 2024

Background: Lavandula maroccana Murb. is renowned for its valuable essential oil (EO), with a complex chemical composition and potent antimicrobial properties, which can be subjected to environmental influences. The objective of the present study was to assess how seasonal variations affect the yield, chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Lavandula maroccana Murb. EO. Methods: The plant materials were collected throughout the four seasons and subjected to EO extraction using hydro-distillation method. The chemical composition was analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), while the antimicrobial properties were evaluated using disc diffusion and microdilution assays against four yeasts ( Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis), and six pathogenic bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Results: The highest EO yield was recorded from the samples collected in autumn (0.19%), while the spring harvest yielded the lowest EO production (0.06%). The GC/MS analysis identified 41 different compounds, with notable variations in the major compound, carvacrol, which ranged from 29.33% to 60.60%. The summer collections contained the highest concentration of carvacrol. Antimicrobial testing, revealed that EOs obtained from all seasons displayed substantial activity against both bacteria and yeast strains. Notably, the summer-harvested EO showed the most potent antimicrobial effects, with inhibition zone and MIC values ranging from 15.32 ± 0.45 mm to 24.09 ± 0.65 mm and 0.16 mg/mL to 2.50 mg/mL, respectively. Conversely, the spring-harvested EO showed the least antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of harvesting L. maroccana during the summer and/or autumn to maximize the EO yield and carvacrol content, thereby enhancing its antimicrobial effectiveness.
Sounding out voice biometrics: Comparing and contrasting how the state and the private sector determine identity through voice
Authors: Leix Palumbo Daniel , Prey Robert
Published: November 2024

The voice biometrics industry is promised today as a new center of digital innovation. Tech companies and state agencies are massively investing in speech recognition and analysis systems, pushed by the belief that the acoustics of voice contain unique individual characteristics to convert into information and value through artificial intelligence. This article responds to this current development by exploring the under-researched datafication of the auditory realm to reveal how the sound of voice is emerging as a site for identity construction by both states and corporations. To do so, we look at two different case studies. First, we examine a patent granted to the streaming service Spotify, which aims to improve the platform's music recommendation system by analyzing users’ speech. Second, we discuss the use of voice biometrics in German asylum procedures, where the country of origin of undocumented asylum seekers is determined through accent analysis. Through these seemingly distinct case studies, we identify not only the common assumptions behind the rationale for adopting voice biometrics, but also important differences in the way the private sector and the State determine identity through the analysis of the sounding voice. These two entities are rarely examined together and are often conflated when addressing practices of auditory surveillance. Thus, our comparative and contrastive approach contributes to existing scholarship that questions the claimed efficiency and ethics of voice biometrics’ extractive practices, further defining the operations and assumptions of the private sector and the State.
Facing the AI challenge in radiology: Lessons learned from a regional survey among Austrian radiologists in academic and non-academic settings on perceptions and expectations towards artificial intelligence
Authors: Adelsmayr Gabriel , Janisch Michael , Pohl Maximilian , Fuchsjäger Michael , Schöllnast Helmut
Published: November 2024

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate perceptions and expectations towards artificial intelligence (AI) applications in diagnostic radiology among radiologists across academic, non-academic and private practice settings in the Federal State of Styria, Austria. It also sought to determine how participant's characteristics and AI-specific knowledge might influence these views.

Methods

An online quantitative survey comprising 20 multiple-choice questions in German language was distributed via email to radiologists in outpatient and hospital settings throughout Styria in 2024.

Results

Out of 149 radiologists contacted, 66 responded. Of these, 75.4% reported having basic knowledge of AI, 13.8% indicated good to very good knowledge and only 10.8% had minimal AI-specific knowledge. The majority (84.4%) expressed willingness to use certified AI software in diagnostics. About half of the respondents (50.8%) believed that AI would not fully replace radiologists in the next 10–15 years, although 46.0% anticipated partial replacement. Additionally, 87.7% did not foresee a decrease in professional income due to AI integration. 64.6% anticipated improvement in diagnostic tasks through AI, with this expectation being significantly linked to an academic career (χ2 = 8.97, p  = 0.01). However, opinions varied on AI's potential to outperform radiologists in diagnostics in the near future. There was no statistically significant relationship between participant's AI-specific knowledge and perceptions and expectations towards AI.

Conclusion

The study reveals a generally positive attitude towards AI among radiologists, with uncertainties about its future performance compared to human radiologists. Although AI is anticipated to positively influence workload without reducing income, there may be a discrepancy between these expectations and actual outcomes.
Multidisciplinary Surgical Care for a Cervical Esophageal Duplication Cyst
Authors: Sachdev Harikrishan S. , Well Andrew , Attra James , Mery Carlos , Fraser Charles D. , Venardos Neil
Published: November 2024

We present a case of a three-month-old male who presented with a cervical esophageal duplication cyst requiring early surgical intervention. The patient presented with feeding difficulties, poor weight gain, and respiratory distress. Due to the position of the cervical esophageal duplication cyst and airway compression, this unique case required a multidisciplinary surgical approach involving both otolaryngology and cardiothoracic surgery.
Financial Knowledge and Short- and Long-Term Financial Behavior Across Gender and Generations: Evidence from Japan
Authors: Long Trinh Quang , Tue Nguyen Dang
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the causal effect of financial knowledge on short- and long-term financial behaviors across gender and age groups in Japan. Using a comprehensive survey conducted by the Bank of Japan, we construct financial knowledge and short- and long-term financial behavior indicators. Our results show that financial knowledge positively impacts short- and long-term financial behaviors. The evidence indicates that women are generally more financially responsible than men, although they are less likely to invest in financial assets. We also find that older individuals tend to practice more responsible financial behavior than younger ones. Additionally, the effects of financial knowledge on most financial behaviors decline as age increases, except for asset investment. We also find that the gender gap in financial behaviors is lower among those with higher financial knowledge. Our findings have significant policy implications for designing financial education programs.
A Moderation-Mediation Model of Direct Environmental Regulation and Innovation Quality for Chinese Textile Enterprises
Authors: Yu Yabin , Cheng Hua , Xu Qian , Zhang Zhiying
Published: November 2024

In early 2021, China introduced the “30–60” objective of “Carbon Neutral and Carbon Peak,” establishing low-carbon and high-quality development as a pivotal direction for China’s economic and social progress. China’s textile industry assumes a vital role in achieving low-carbon and high-quality development. Technological innovation emerges as a means to meet environmental regulations, facilitating an advantageous synergy between economic prosperity and environmental protection. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between direct environmental regulation (DER) and enterprise innovation in the context of the Chinese textile industry. To achieve it, the study utilizes data collected from publicly listed textile companies in China, covering the period from 2004 to 2018, to construct a moderation-mediation model that explores the complex interplay between DER and enterprise innovation. The study’s novelty lies in comparing the impact of environmental regulation on innovation quality through substantive innovation and green innovation, as well as conducting stratified classification analyses by incorporating heterogeneous factors such as DER intensity, region, and sub-industry. The results demonstrate that DER significantly promotes both the input and output quality of innovation in Chinese textile enterprises, exhibiting a complex pattern of mediating and moderating effects. Specifically, DER exerts a substantial influence on the capital investment in innovation by Chinese textile enterprises, with high-intensity DER yielding more pronounced effects. The impact of DER on enterprise innovation quality is also contingent upon enterprise heterogeneity. Additionally, innovation capital investment serves as a pivotal mediating factor that links DER to the innovation quality of Chinese textile enterprises. The enterprise scale exhibits a moderating effect between DER and enterprise innovation quality. In summary, the mediation of innovation input and the moderation of enterprise scale collectively contribute to a comprehensive moderation-mediation effect on the relationship between DER and innovation quality in Chinese textile enterprises. Based on these findings, this study provides novel empirical support for the narrow “Porter Hypothesis” and offers targeted recommendations for enterprise management and policymakers in future applications.
The EU’s Democratic Dilemma: Assessing the Rise and Ramifications of Technocratic Government
Authors: Zhang Yiwen
Published: November 2024

Amid escalating political and economic challenges, several EU nations have witnessed the emergence of technocratic governments, often perceived as complementary to or alternative for representative democracy. This research endeavors to identify the pivotal determinants of the rise of technocratic governments and to evaluate their prospective political implications. Employing multinomial logistic regression analysis on 285 instances, this study establishes that factors such as economic underperformance, pervasive corruption, party polarization, and surging populism significantly enhance the likelihood of technocratic government inception. Subsequent in-depth case analyses further reveal that the public’s aspiration for efficient governance and the intrinsic paradoxes of party democracy contribute to the phenomenon of technocratic populism. This study underscores the potential discord between technocratic government and representative democracy, emphasizing the need for a more profound exploration and deliberation on efficacious governance.
The Use and Effect of Statistics in U.S. Professional Sports Leagues’ X Posts on Engagement, Enjoyment, and Emotion
Authors: Hahn Dustin
Published: November 2024

This study examines the use and effect of statistics in online social media posts on X (formerly Twitter) for the top five professional sports leagues in the U.S. (NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, and NHL) during 2023 for changes in engagement, enjoyment, and emotion. This study utilizes machine learning to code 49,455 X posts before employing AI-powered sentiment and emotion analysis tools, in conjunction with more traditional measures of engagement and enjoyment, of 136,401 mentions responding to a randomly sampled subset of 500 of these posts (50 with statistics and 50 without statistics present in each of the five leagues). First, findings revealed discrepancies in frequency of use of statistics across leagues. Next, while posts with statistics increased engagement, they also negatively impacted enjoyment. Finally, analysis revealed posts with statistics yielded more “sad” responses compared to more “joyful” responses to posts without statistics. However, results varied by sports league. Implications for exemplification theory and future sport communication research on the use of statistics in sports media and practical considerations for sports media professionals are discussed.
Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Nonoperative Treatment and Arthroscopically Assisted Stabilization in Patients With Acute Rockwood Type 5 Acromioclavicular Dislocation
Authors: Akgün Doruk , Gebauer Henry , Paksoy Alp , Eckl Larissa , Hayta Agahan , Ücertas Ata , Barthod-tonnot Nicolas , Hazra Rony-Orijit Dey , Lacheta Lucca , Moroder Philipp , Pawelke Jonas
Published: November 2024

Background:

Currently, Rockwood type 3 acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations are initially treated nonoperatively, whereas surgery is recommended for Rockwood type 5 dislocations. However, multiple studies have been published favoring nonoperative approaches in patients with high-grade Rockwood injuries.

Purpose:

To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with acute Rockwood type 5 AC joint dislocations treated nonoperatively versus with arthroscopically assisted stabilization.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Included were 48 patients with acute Rockwood type 5 dislocation who were initially treated nonoperatively between June 2010 and June 2022 and 48 patients matched according to age, sex, affected side, and follow-up interval who underwent arthroscopically assisted coracoclavicular (CC) stabilization using a suture-button technique, with additional percutaneous AC tape cerclage. Clinical outcomes were assessed based on the Subjective Shoulder Value, Nottingham Clavicle Score, Constant score, and visual analog scale for pain. The radiographic assessment included the CC distance, CC difference ratio, and degree of horizontal instability at final follow-up (62 ± 43 months).

Results:

At the final follow-up, the Constant score was significantly higher in the nonoperative group ( P = .02). The operative group had significantly higher pain levels on palpation of the AC joint (1.2 ± 2.2 vs 0.19 ± 0.5 for the nonoperative group; P = .003). In the operative group, the mean CC difference ratio was significantly higher at the latest follow-up compared with postoperatively (1.3 ± 0.3 vs 0.67 ± 0.3, respectively; P < .001), whereas the CC difference ratio of the nonoperative group was significantly reduced at the latest follow-up compared with postinjury (2.0 ± 0.5 vs 2.6 ± 0.8, respectively; P < .001). The operative group had a significantly lower CC difference ratio compared with the nonoperative group at final follow-up ( P < .001). More than half of the patients (56%) who were treated operatively had a loss of reduction resulting in a Rockwood type 3 state at the latest follow-up, whereas 54% of patients treated nonoperatively had spontaneous reduction of injury severity from Rockwood type 5 to Rockwood type 3.

Conclusion:

Although 15% of the nonoperatively treated patients eventually required surgery, successful nonoperative treatment showed similar outcomes to initial operative treatment in patients with acute Rockwood type 5 dislocation.
Smell, Touch, and Taste: Sensory Words as Stimuli to Influence Customer Engagement in Digital Contexts
Authors: Valenzuela-Gálvez E. Sophía , González-Benito Óscar , Garrido-Morgado Álvaro
Published: November 2024

This research aims to analyze whether sensory stimuli such as words associated with smell, touch, and taste enhance customer engagement. We conducted five A/B experiments to analyze the relationship. Experiment 1 evaluates sensory words related to smell using a handmade soap. Experiments 2 and 3, which were related to touch with two different books, and experiments 4 and 5, which were related to the sense of taste with ice cream and artisan bread. In version A of the experiments, the content integrated sensory words related to smell, touch, and taste. In version B, the content included words related to other characteristics of the product that were not related to sensory aspects. The findings show that sensory words increase customer engagement. Analysis of consumer engagement metrics revealed significant improvements in the percentage of people interacting with contents, for example, with increases ranging from 15.3 to 21.5 points across experiments. These findings underscore the efficacy of sensory words in capturing consumer attention and fostering deeper levels of customer engagement.
From the Illusion of Choice to Actual Control: Reconsidering the Induced-Compliance Paradigm of Cognitive Dissonance
Authors: Pauer Shiva , Linne Roman , Erb Hans-Peter
Published: November 2024

The induced-compliance paradigm is a fundamental pillar in the literature on cognitive dissonance. A recent failed replication by Vaidis et al. casts doubt on the widely used experimental method, thereby challenging the literature and prevailing theorizing about the role of perceived choice in cognitive dissonance. However, the nonreplication of the experimental effects could be attributable to methodological factors, such as laboratory settings and cross-temporal dynamics. We therefore reanalyzed the replication data to further explore the relationship between dissonant-attitude change and choice perceptions, employing self-report items instead of the traditional experimental manipulation of choice. Our analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between perceived choice and dissonant behavior (writing a counterattitudinal essay vs. a self-chosen essay) on attitude change: Participants who wrote a counterattitudinal essay aligned their attitudes only if they reported high (vs. low) freedom of choice. These findings suggest a crucial role of choice perceptions in dissonance reduction, consistent with the original theorizing. Future research can employ various methods and draw from adjacent fields, especially from the literature on control perceptions, to reconsider the induced-compliance paradigm and advance research on cognitive dissonance.