bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of blood pressure variability on hemorrhagic transformation post-rt-PA thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Liu Sihan , Gao Jiadi , Zhao Hanshu , Xu Yuanqi , Zhou Yubing , Liu Yushuang , Shen Jinru , Zhang Zhongling
Published: September 2024

Background:

The relationship between blood pressure variability and hemorrhagic transformation after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke is uncertain due to inconsistent methodologies across studies. This study aimed to elucidate the association between 24-h systolic blood pressure extremes post-admission and hemorrhagic transformation while considering the possibility of hemorrhagic transformation occurring beyond the initial monitoring period.

Methods:

We enrolled patients admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University for ischemic stroke who were treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator within 4.5 h of symptom onset between January 2020 and December 2022. We analyzed the relationships among admission blood pressure, 24-h post-admission recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (mean, maximum, minimum, extreme difference, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation), immediate and 1-h post-thrombolysis blood pressure, and hemorrhagic transformation occurrence within 36 h post-thrombolysis. The potential for delayed hemorrhagic transformation was also considered during the interpretation of the results.

Results:

Among the 138 patients, 39.1% experienced post-thrombolytic hemorrhagic transformation. Multivariate analysis revealed that hemorrhagic transformation was significantly associated with coronary artery disease, cerebral leukoaraiosis, large cerebral infarction, elevated random glucose levels, and 24-h systolic blood pressure extremes at admission. Specifically, 24-h systolic blood pressure extremes showed a significant positive correlation with hemorrhagic transformation (OR = 1. 042; 95% CI: 1.000–1.086, p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

These findings underscore the importance of establishing robust protocols for continuous blood pressure monitoring and intervention strategies tailored to individual risk profiles. Given that hemorrhagic transformation can occur beyond the initial 36 h, clinicians should maintain vigilance for delayed hemorrhagic transformation, particularly in patients with high recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. Strict control of blood pressure, especially minimizing extremes in systolic blood pressure, is essential to ensure the safety of patients undergoing thrombolysis.
Unmet need for family planning among pastoralist community of West Omo zone, Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study
Authors: Hailemariam Shewangizaw , Mulugeta Sharew , Asnake Molla
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

Family planning is among the best suggested strategies to decrease the high maternal mortality and morbidity prevailing among pastoral communities. Despite this fact, there is no sufficient information regarding the unmet need for family planning in the study area. Therefore, this study was intended to assess the prevalence of unmet need for family planning and its associated factors among currently married women residing in pastoralist community of West Omo zone, Ethiopia.

Methods:

Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 01 January to 01 April 2021 in West Omo zone. Five-hundred-sixty currently married women aged 15–49 were interviewed, and the study participants were randomly selected by employing a modified random walk approach. Data were checked manually for completeness and consistency, then entered into Epidata 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors, and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) at 95% CI with p-value < 0.05 was considered as significant variables.

Result:

A total of 560 currently married women agreed to participate in this study making a response rate of 93.17%. Two hundred three, that is, about 36.3% (95% CI: 32.1, 40.2%) currently married women had an unmet need for family planning, with 119 (58.6%) wishing to delay childbirth and 84 (41.4%) seeking to limit. Have no formal education (AOR = 2.86 (95% CI: 1.61, 5.10)), having poor knowledge of family planning (AOR = 2.83 (95% CI: 1.45, 5.54)), and lack of husband support of family planning (AOR = 2.38 (95% CI: 1.22, 4.67)) are positively associated with unmet need for family planning.

Conclusion:

The magnitude of unmet need for family planning in this study is fairly high as compared to previous studies done among non-pastoral community. Hence, it’s important to consider the above identified factors while designing effective public health intervention.
Achieving functional recovery without anatomical repositioning: A case of corneal flap inversion trauma post femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery
Authors: Wang Hui-Xian , Zhang Xu , Gao Xiao-Wei , Li Wen-Jing
Published: September 2024

Post femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis corneal flap inversion trauma is an exceptionally rare and challenging complication in ophthalmology, highlighted by a case involving a 29-year-old woman who suffered an eye injury from ice chips 10 months after undergoing bilateral femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery. The injury led to a corneal flap inversion and melting, exacerbated by a delay in seeking treatment due to the pandemic. When she finally presented for medical attention, her vision was severely compromised, with dense epithelial ingrowth obstructing the visual axis or blocking the pupillary entrance. Despite these complications, medical interventions to remove the epithelial cells and attempts to reposition the corneal flap were carried out. Although the flap could not be fully anatomically restored due to scarring and stromal melt, the patient experienced a remarkable recovery in vision, achieving 20/17 visual acuity 6 months post-surgery. This case illustrates that satisfactory visual outcomes can be achieved even when perfect anatomical restoration is not possible. It challenges the traditional focus on anatomical perfection in corneal surgery and highlights the potential for functional recovery to take precedence over anatomical correction, reducing the need for further risky procedures. The outcome stresses the importance of tailored patient management and careful assessment of the risks and benefits in complex surgical cases.
Burden of Care, Depression, and Anxiety Among Family Caregivers of People With Dementia
Authors: Abdelhalim Doaa S. , Ahmed Marwa M. , Hussein Hoda A. , Khalaf Ola O. , Sarhan Mai D.
Published: September 2024

Background:

There are many challenges that entail caring for an individual with dementia, affecting not only the individual with the condition but also their caregivers. This can lead to increased burden, frustration, and depression among those taking care of them. A research gap exists concerning the care of people with dementia in Egypt, particularly regarding the mental health of caregivers. Limited studies have been conducted in Egypt, particularly focusing on the mental health of caregivers. This lack highlights the need to understand the prevalence and impact of caregiver burden in this population.

Objectives:

The research aimed to evaluate the burden of dementia, levels of depression, and anxiety among family caregivers of individuals with dementia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a geriatric unit clinic of a psychiatric hospital in Cairo University, Egypt. Caregiver burden, anxiety, and depression were assessed using questionnaires. These questionnaires included the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), together with demographic data on the patients and caregivers.

Results:

The majority of the 141 participants (73% (n = 103)) were female, mostly daughters, with an average age of 40 years. Approximately 50% (n = 71) of the subjects exhibited mild to moderate burden, whereas 30% (n = 43) showed moderate to severe burden. About 31% (n = 44) of the subjects exhibited symptoms of moderate depression, whereas 9% (n = 13) had symptoms of severe depression. Furthermore, almost 43% (n = 60) of caregivers exhibited a moderate level of anxiety. Furthermore, a significant association was seen between caregiver burden and the presence of anxiety and depression.

Conclusion:

This study showed a substantial burden in providing care, elevated levels of despair, and anxiety among caregivers of PWD. The findings highlight how important it is to develop targeted therapies and support systems in order to lessen the load on caregivers, advance their mental health, and improve overall care for both caregivers and their patients in Egypt. Policy-makers should prioritize investing in dementia-related support systems and services to empower caregivers and improve the quality of life for both caregivers and their patients.
Changing Attitudes about Mental Health Stigma in Israel during the COVID-19 Period: A Potential Positive Effect of the Pandemic
Authors: Shapiro Ephraim , Al-Krenawi Alean , Zukerman Gil , Melamed Malka , Dana Shtibi Clara , Korn Liat
Published: September 2024

As well as affecting physical health, COVID-19 can impact mental health. While many studies have examined stigma related to having COVID-19, almost none have examined the larger issue of attitudes toward mental health and stigma since the pandemic began. This study examined public/external mental health stigma among Israelis after the COVID-19 outbreak, including whether there were changes to it. Surveys were administered to a sample of 1,099 Israelis aged 18–55 and multivariate analyses were performed. Israelis were found to have faced increased mental health risks since the COVID-19 outbreak and extensive mental health stigma was found among many of them. However, the stigma was reduced in later months as well as during lockdown periods. Variations in stigma were found by types of stigma and mental health illness, as well as by sociodemographic groups. COVID-19 can negatively impact mental health and appropriate mental healthcare utilization, although there may be positive effects as well. A crisis such as COVID-19 which began as a physical threat can cause society to reconsider how it views mental health, with important and potentially positive implications in the long term, and potential lessons learned for future crises. Interventions are needed, especially when appropriately tailored for vulnerable populations.
Study on the Impact of Awe on Consumers’ Green Purchasing Intention
Authors: Li Dalin , Julie Bonian Deba
Published: September 2024

Studies show that awe can predict prosocial behaviors. However, the effects of awe on green consumption or its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Awe promotes the small self that can promote connectedness to nature (CNS). Emotion regulation strategies can modify the effects of emotions on behavior. Therefore, this study investigated the moderating effects of emotion regulation strategies (emotion reappraisal and suppression) and the multi-step mediating effects of the small self and CNS on awe’s impact on consumers’ green purchasing intentions. Through four experiments, the study showed that (a) awe positively impacts consumers’ green purchasing intentions; (b) the small self and CNS play a multi-step mediating role in awe’s positive effect on green purchasing intention; (c) emotion reappraisal moderates awe’s favorable influence on green purchase intentions; and (d) apart from positive awe, negative and unnatural awe also influence green purchasing intention positively. This research has practical implications for companies’ green marketing strategies.
Formal and Informal Institutional Factors and Women Entrepreneurship in Egypt: A Qualitative Perspective
Authors: Borham Ashraf Abdou , Taib Rosfizah Binti Md , Sisodia Gyanendra Singh , Fadahunsi Akinola
Published: September 2024

This paper aims to identify the constrains faced by female entrepreneurs in Egypt. This study also intends to examine the influence of formal and informal institutional factors on women’s entry into entrepreneurship in Egypt. In addition, to explore the factors enable women entrepreneurs to overcome the barriers they may face. The qualitative research approach was adopted in the study to explore the challenges experienced by Egyptian female entrepreneurs. Purposeful sampling was employed and twenty-five (25) women entrepreneurs were selected from five Egyptian governorates to conduct semi-structured interviews to collect primary data. The findings indicated that the main constraints faced Egyptian women entrepreneurs arise from difficulty in raising capital, socio-culture commitments, sexual harassment, work-family conflict and lack of managerial skills. The study found factors such family-husband support, religious values, personal traits and technological skills are crucial for overcome constraints faced by women entrepreneurs. The study recommends creating a funding program targeting female entrepreneurs and raise the awareness about the importance of women entrepreneurship as well as take necessary actions to prevent sexual harassment phenomenon. Minimal research has examined female entrepreneurship in Egypt. Therefore, this study offers valuable insights of constraints faced by women entrepreneurs in Egypt. The study contributes to the women’s entrepreneurship literature from the perspective of an Arab Islamic developing country.
Switching Intent in Smart Factories: Understanding Key Influencers
Authors: Jo Hyeon , Bang Youngsok
Published: September 2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Industry 4.0, understanding the factors influencing smart factory users’ intention to switch systems is paramount. This study aims to uncover the key determinants driving switching intention among smart factory users. Our theoretical framework emphasizes the significance of alternative attractiveness, peer influence, satisfaction, and switching cost in this context. We analyzed data from 163 smart factory users employing partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings underscore that switching intention is majorly influenced by factors such as alternative attractiveness, peer influence, and switching cost. Further, perceived ease of use directly influences perceived usefulness and satisfaction. Moreover, satisfaction is found to be closely tied to perceived usefulness. Intriguingly, personal innovativeness stands out as a primary factor in shaping user satisfaction. We conclude by outlining the academic and practical implications of our findings, highlighting the need for organizations to strategize based on these insights.
Influence of Task Complexity on Text Features and Writing Scores: Evidence from College Students in Southern China
Authors: Zou Yumei , Kannan Sathiamoorthy , Sidhu Gurnam Kaur
Published: September 2024

Task design has been viewed to be essential in the context of language assessment. This study investigated whether increasing task complexity affects learners’ writing performance. It employs three writing tasks with different levels of complexity based on Robinson’s Componential Framework. A cohort of 278 participants was selected using a simple random sampling technique, and a corpus of 603 compositions was used for data analysis. The results showed that learners demonstrated higher scores and higher levels of coherence in the compositions of more complex tasks. The findings of this study contribute to the growing field of cognitive research by exploring the effects of task complexity on learners’ writing production. The results have implications for online automated writing assessment, writing test development, and the design of high-stakes language tests. The findings also provide recommendations on how tasks should be designed to develop learners’ language production skills in writing instruction.
The Multidisciplinary Nature of the Capability Approach: Emerging Trends and Future Research Directions Through a Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Barreno-Alcalde Santiago , Diez-Martin Francisco , Escamilla-Solano Sandra
Published: September 2024

“The Capability Approach” (CA) is a normative and critical framework for assessing the well-being of people and societies. It is a pluralistic methodology open to deliberation, with applications in various branches of the Social Sciences. The suitability of CA for social, economic, and political improvements in a wide variety of contexts is highlighted, assuming ethical principles of defence of freedom and justice. The growing interest in relation to CA is reflected in a large increase in scientific production, which makes it difficult to outline its main lines of research precisely. Our study has two goals: on the one hand, it will become a fruitful instrument to learn about the main areas of research that already exist on CA; on the other hand, it will serve to enrich them and incorporate new lines of research into the field. Having a panoramic view of the trends in CA will facilitate their work for future researchers. To this end, taking the Web of Science database from 1994 to 2022 as a reference, a bibliometric analysis based on citations is conducted using the CiteSpace program. Our findings show that 11 clearly differentiated clusters have been detected, which correspond to the essential lines of research on CA. Our bibliometric analysis contributes to revealing the evolution of the academic field of CA, with special emphasis on emerging areas.
Effects of Career Aspirations of New Generation Employees on Proactive Socialization Behavior
Authors: Pan Guoqiang , Cai Yang , Yang Qiandong , Shi Wendian
Published: September 2024

Organizational socialization of the new generation of employees has become a hot topic affecting the sustainable development of organizations. From the perspective of a proactive motivation model, the mechanism of career aspirations on new generation employees’ proactive socialization behaviors was explored. Three hundred three responses were gathered from an online survey. The results show that career aspirations were positively associated with proactive socialization behavior. Sense of hope played a mediating role in the relationship between career aspirations and proactive socialization behavior. Perceived organizational support moderated the relationship between career aspirations and a sense of hope. As employees’ perception of organizational support increases, the positive effect of career aspirations on a sense of hope is weakened. Our findings help to understand why new generation employees exhibit proactive socialization behavior and provide management insights for organizations to motivate new generation employees to take proactive socialization behaviors.
Analyzing Price Discrimination in Tourism Through Tripartite Evolutionary Game Theory: A Focus on Value Co-Creation
Authors: Zhang Xingwang , Xin Jie
Published: September 2024

In the context of big data, pricing discrimination in global tourism expands the potential for reputational harm due to readily available information influencing tourists’ decision-making processes. This phenomenon also impacts the selection tactics of market entities, raising concerns about shared market value loss. By applying the value co-creation theory, wherein consumers and businesses collaborate to generate value, understanding the dynamics between businesses and tourists, as well as the motivations behind price discrimination, becomes more accessible. Furthermore, this study explores price discrimination behavior in the tourism market through the lens of value co-creation, employing a combination of prospect theory and mental accounting theory (PT-MA). Through the development of an evolutionary game model encompassing tourists, tourism enterprises, and the government, strategic decisions made by these stakeholders are analyzed. Besides, simulation and the in-depth examination of the model’s evolution using Matlab software reveal several key findings: (1) tourists tend to opt for compromise strategies due to their aversion to transactional costs associated with complaints; (2) reputational loss and sensitivity to loss aversion are inversely related to the likelihood of enterprises engaging in price discrimination; and (3) proactive and effective regulatory measures by the government prove successful in curtailing price discrimination in the tourism market, whereas fine policies demonstrate less efficacy. This study contributes to establishing a theoretical framework for selecting strategies aimed at achieving value co-creation in tourism.
Self-Efficacy, Group Effectiveness, and Individual Work Performance in Saudi Employees with Disabilities: The Mediation Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
Authors: Khayat Abeer Hussien , El Keshky Mogeda El Sayed , Elewiat Shaden Khalil Hussain
Published: September 2024

There are well-established relationships among self-efficacy, group effectiveness, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, and work performance in employees. However, little is known about these relationships among employees with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediation roles of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in the association between self-efficacy and individual work performance and between group effectiveness and individual work performance in Saudi employees with disabilities. A sample of 176 employees (59.1% female) with disabilities (visual, auditory, mobility, and learning disabilities) participated in the study. A set of structural equation models was built to establish the relationships. There were positive relationships between self-efficacy and both task and contextual performance. Furthermore, intrinsic and integrated regulation mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and task performance, and identified integrated regulation mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and contextual performance. Group effectiveness was related to work performance only through motivational regulations. Therefore, it is crucial for organizations to design psychological training to increase self-efficacy beliefs in employees with disabilities and to teach them how to internalize external forces in the workplace to promote individual work performance and organizational progress.
How to Convert Entrepreneurial Alertness into the Performance of New Ventures via Entrepreneurial Bricolage: The Moderating Effect of Environmental Dynamism
Authors: Wang Chao , Zhang Xiu-e , Zhang Shushan , Le Yuan , Li Qing
Published: September 2024

Building on resource-based view (RBV) and contingency theory (CT), the purpose of this study is to explore how entrepreneurial alertness (EA) can promote entrepreneurial bricolage (EB), and then contributes to improving the new venture performance, with the environmental dynamism as the moderating variable. This study adopted a hierarchical regression analysis to test our hypotheses, using data from 463 founders of new ventures in China. The study found that: (1) EA has a positive effect on new venture performance, (2) EB mediates the effect of EA on new venture performance, (3) environmental dynamism (ED) moderates the relationship between EB and new venture performance, and (4) the mediating effect of EB is also moderated by ED. This article provides valuable and novel insights both theoretically and practically, that makes outstanding contributions to improving the performance of new ventures.
Providers’ Perceptions of the Collaborative Challenges and Assistance Provided to Families in Pre-Employment Transition Services
Authors: Chang Wen-hsuan , Zhang Dalun , Boroughani Tahereh , Gilson Cindy , Zhao Yingying , Davila Carolina
Published: September 2024

Family involvement in transition planning has been associated with improved outcomes for youth with disabilities. However, limited research exists on providers’ in-depth views regarding family–professional collaborations in pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS). The present qualitative study examined the perspectives of Pre-ETS providers on the challenges and assistance provided to students with disabilities during their transition from high school to postsecondary education or work, with a specific focus on family–professional collaborations. We conducted 24 in-person focus groups across six regions in Texas with 162 Pre-ETS providers (i.e., vocational rehabilitation counselors and transition educators). We used thematic analysis to analyze the data, which unveiled three themes about barriers and facilitators to family–professional collaborations: The Need to Support Family Directly, The Need to Promote Family–Professional Communication, and The Need to Promote Community Support. Findings underscore the imperative for Pre-ETS providers to acknowledge and address varying familial emotions, feelings, and expectations regarding their children’s employment, influenced by diverse cultural backgrounds. We discuss limitations and recommendations for future research and practice.
Shaping the Future Orientation of At-Risk Young Adults: The Role of Social Networks
Authors: Melkman Eran P. , Sulimani-Aidan Yafit
Published: September 2024

Although future orientation (FO) is considered an important resiliencepromoting factor among at-risk youth, little is known concerning the FO of at-risk young adults. The current study explored the FO of at-risk young adults, including its motivational, cognitive and behavioral components, and investigated the contribution of various attributes of youths’ social networks. Participants were 230 at-risk young adults (18–25) who participated in Yated, the national program for at-risk young people in Israel. Results indicated relatively high levels of FO across its three components, with motivational FO being significantly higher than the behavioral and cognitive components. Attributes of the social network contributed significantly to young people’s FO. Specifically, adequacy of support was associated with motivational and behavioral FO, whereas having larger networks predicted higher levels of cognitive and behavioral FO. These findings highlight the multifaceted nature of FO and the significant yet differential impact of attributes of at-risk youths’ social networks.
Controlling the Apex in Early Onset Scoliosis Through Active Apex Correction (APC) Non Fusion Growth Modulating Technique, Is It a Myth?
Authors: Ahmad Alaaeldin , Dwaik Majed , Vo Nam , Shah Abdullah , Yaseer Walid , Armouti Mohammad , Shahin Farah , Awad Mohammad , Warasna Haya , Banat Mohamad , Awad Bashar , Hammad Ahmad , Bromboly Yehia
Published: September 2024

Study Design

A multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives

To determine the rate of Apex facet fusion in children with Early Onset Scoliosis treated surgically with the Active Apex Correction (APC) technique.

Methods

Seventeen patients were treated with the APC technique as index surgery for Early Onset Scoliosis with more than 1 year of follow-up. A 3D CT scan was done to determine the facet fusion rate in the deformity’s apex controlled with posterior tethering.

Results

The average follow-up time was 26.4 months (12-56), Average age at index surgery was 81.2 months (30-132), and average number of surgeries done 1.3. Apical vertebrae studied for facet fusion were the 3 vertebrae in the apex in each patient that were subjected to posterior tethering according to the APC technique. In total they were 86 apical vertebrae (172 Facets studied with 86 convex side, 86 concave side). Our observations showed that 29 facet joints were fused (16% of the total facets studied),15 were on the convex, 14 on the concave side (no statistically significant difference). Regarding the facet joint distance in the non-fused facets was 0.99 mm on the convex side and 1.08 mm on the concave side with no statistical significance difference.

Conclusion

APC for Early Onset Scoliosis achieves apical growth modulation and control utilizing posterior tethering without inducing fusion. This study demonstrated that APC is an effective non-fusion technique through the low incidence of facet fusion levels at the Apex, limiting the crankshaft phenomena seen in cases with apex control through arthrodesis.
Contemporary Capitalism and the World of Work
Authors: Patnaik Prabhat
Published: September 2024

The most significant feature of contemporary capitalism in relation to the world of work is its inability to provide work to a substantial proportion of persons looking for it. This has diverse implications, ranging from hunger and crime to socio-psychological distress and to the boost it provides to the upsurge of fascism. This lecture discusses the structural dynamics in capitalism that produces unemployment and the expansion of the ranks of the reserve army of labor. Moreover, it argues that a theory of imperialism is essential to explaining the perpetuation of the reserve army of labor and the reproduction of contemporary capitalism itself.
Working in Chains: African Informal Workers and Global Value Chains
Authors: Meagher Kate
Published: September 2024

This article examines how global value chains alter the processes of value creation by reshaping the institutional systems that govern the livelihoods of poor rural workers in contemporary Africa. In connecting rural workers to distant markets, global value chains reconfigure local modes of organization and resource use, translating and redistributing value in unexpected ways. The capacity of global linkages to resolve problems of rural poverty and disaffection is explored in the context of informal workers in horticultural farms in South Africa and precarious women producers of exotic oil in the Argan forests of south-western Morocco. Particular attention is focused on the mechanisms through which global linkages reconfigure institutional systems in the creation of transnational value chains, realigning labor regimes, livelihoods, and local commercial systems, followed by a consideration of the social tensions created by the economic and organizational realignment needed to make global value chains work.
The Export Value Chain of Baby Corn in India: Governance, Inclusion and Upgrading
Authors: Singh Sukhpal
Published: September 2024

It is important to understand the implications of participation in global value chains (GVCs) in horticulture for farmer and worker upgrading/downgrading. This article examines the functioning and dynamics of supermarket driven GVCs in a high-value export crop, baby corn, to understand the significance of standards in farms and pack houses in India. It explores patterns of governance, smallholder inclusion, economic and social upgrading, or lack of it, and its determinants and changing nature of farmer and labor linkages. This article presents case studies of farmers and various types of labor on farms and in pack houses, based on interviews with the exporter and facilitator management staff, field visits to the operations and a personal interview survey of 76 farmers and workers across the entire value chain of baby corn in western India conducted during 2011–2012.
The Food Consumption Pattern of the Free Market: The Mexican Experience Under NAFTA
Authors: Baca Andrea Santos
Published: September 2024

This article accesses the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), now the US, Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA), on the Mexican food system, specifically on the country’s food consumption patterns. The double burden of malnutrition, that is, the coexistence of undernutrition with obesity, is identified as one of the most significant global health challenges. The article explores the main explanations for this malnutrition crisis and the links between the free-market policies pursued under NAFTA and the perverse change in food consumption patterns that affect Mexico, and mainly developing countries. The Mexican experience is presented in terms of the change in food consumption patterns and the food-system transformation over the past decades. It is argued that free-market policies do not merely change the origin of the food consumed but also affect its quality and the general consumption and production patterns. Under the NAFTA, the Mexican food system suffered a restructuring process that struck at its heart, by subsuming maize under capitalist logic.
Neoliberalism and Fascism
Authors: Patnaik Prabhat
Published: September 2024

Fascist, semi-fascist, protofascist, or neofascist movements exist in almost every modern society as fringe phenomena. These movements must be distinguished from the general right-wing parties and movements of different hues. The latter would no doubt appear to shade into the former; nonetheless the sui generis character of the former must be underscored. This article explores the characteristics specific to these movements and poses the following questions: under what conditions do these fringe movements come to occupy center stage? What is the class basis for their coming to power? How do we explain the rise of these movements in contemporary times? And how can we visualize, in the current conjuncture, the further journey of these movements in situations where they happen to have actually come to power?
Adjunctive intra-arterial tenecteplase after successful endovascular thrombectomy in patients with large vessel occlusion stroke (POST-TNK): Study rationale and design
Authors: Huang Jiacheng , Guo Changwei , Yang Jie , Shi Xiaolei , Liu Chang , Song Jiaxing , Li Fengli , Kong Weilin , Fan Shitao , Peng Zhouzhou , Yang Shihai , Ma Jinfu , Xu Xu , Li Linyu , Wang Zhixi , Yu Nizhen , Sun Wenzhe , Yue Chengsong , Liu Xiang , Yang Dahong , Huang Cheng , Wang Duolao , Nogueira Raul G , Nguyen Thanh N , Saver Jeffrey L , Chen Yangmei , Zi Wenjie
Published: September 2024

Rationale:

Adjunct intra-arterial alteplase has been shown to potentially improve clinical outcomes in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke who have undergone successful endovascular thrombectomy. Tenecteplase, known for its enhanced fibrin specificity and extended activity duration, could potentially enhance outcomes in stroke patients after successful reperfusion when used as an adjunct intra-arterial therapy.

Aim:

To explore the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial tenecteplase after successful endovascular thrombectomy in patients with LVO stroke.

Sample size:

To randomize 498 participants 1:1 to receive intra-arterial tenecteplase or no intra-arterial adjunctive thrombolysis therapy.

Methods and design:

An investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized, open-label, blind-endpoint multicenter clinical trial. Eligible patients with anterior circulation LVO stroke presenting within 24 h from symptom onset (time last known well) and excellent to complete reperfusion (expanded Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) scale 2c–3) at endovascular thrombectomy are planned to be randomized.

Outcomes:

The primary outcome is freedom from disability (modified Rankin Scale, mRS, of 0–1) at 90 days. The primary safety outcomes are mortality through 90 days and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 48 h.

Discussion:

The POST-TNK trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial tenecteplase in patients with LVO stroke and excellent to complete reperfusion.
Feeling safe to be empowered: Psychological safety and psychological empowerment in threatening work environments
Authors: Creon Laura Elisabeth , Schermuly Carsten Christoph
Published: September 2024

Jobs are changing. Less routinized and more knowledge-intensive and creative jobs call for psychologically empowered employees. To achieve results in complex jobs, employees need to work together. Working together with others comes with interpersonal risks such as conflict, misunderstandings, and competition. Psychological safety captures the extent to which people feel safe to face these interpersonal risks. Based on the social information processing perspective, we shed light on when workers feel psychologically safe to be empowered. We investigate two complexities of this relationship to explain variations in the relationship: differences regarding the four dimensions of psychological empowerment (i.e. meaning, competence, self-determination, and impact) and influences from threats in the environment (i.e. global crises and perceived subgroups in the team). To test the hypotheses, we utilized data from three studies in working samples. Results indicate that employees indeed need to feel safe to be empowered. This relationship varies depending on the psychological empowerment dimension in focus and depending on the presence of threats in the environment. The findings shed light on precursors and boundary conditions to psychological empowerment in a complex and interdependent working world. Practitioners should be aware that under certain circumstances, employees need to feel psychologically safe to be empowered.
Mainstreaming of Siddhi Tribe in Gujarat: Exploring Issues and Challenges
Authors: Kumar Diwakar , Dubey Maneesh
Published: September 2024

This study examines the complex gender dynamics and female empowerment among Siddhi communities in Gujarat, India. Gender roles in the largely African-descended Siddhi group in India are shaped by a history and culture that set them apart from the rest of India. It attempts to offer insight on how Siddhi women’s empowerment is influenced by sociocultural, economic and political variables as well as the difficulties they encounter in their quest for gender equality. In order to offer a complete comprehension of the issue, the study uses a mixed-methods approach. The results show that while the Siddhi community has made tremendous progress towards empowerment, they still face a number of structural obstacles that are related to their socio-economic status; these are the things discussed in the introduction part under the interview background and historical legacies. The study encompasses a range of dimensions pertaining to the Siddhi tribes in Gujarat, encompassing their historical background, cultural practices, socio-economic conditions and gender-related concerns. The article concludes with certain actions and policies that can be formulated and implemented to help Siddhi women gain empowerment in Gujarat.
Photoreceptor Characteristics in Diabetic Retinopathy vs Controls Using Adaptive Optics Imaging: Systematic Review
Authors: Grad Justin , Hatamnejad Amin , Pattathil Niveditha , Golding John , Choudhry Netan
Published: September 2024

Purpose: To assess the differences in morphological photoreceptor outcomes measured using adaptive optics (AO)–assisted imaging between individuals with diabetes or prediabetes and healthy controls. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases from January 2000 to June 2023. Studies that used AO-assisted imaging modalities to quantitatively compare photoreceptor outcomes in patients with diabetes or prediabetes with healthy controls were included. Results: Eleven studies consisting of 551 eyes were included. Most studies reported significant differences in photoreceptor outcomes between diabetic and healthy populations, particularly as diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity increased. Cone regularity was the most sensitive parameter for detecting significant differences between groups. AO imaging was less reliable in distinguishing individuals with diabetes without DR or with mild DR severity from controls. Conclusions: AO imaging showed promise in detecting significant differences associated with diabetes and DR, in particular with increasing disease severity. Further research is warranted to assess AO’s utility as a diabetes and DR screening tool. Standardizing imaging protocols in future studies is recommended to allow for more direct quantitative comparisons. These findings highlight the current evidence on photoreceptor changes in patients with diabetes and the potential of AO in advancing diabetic eye care.
The birth of the Chinese character ‘奈’: Reflections on semantic differentiation
Authors: Shin Seri
Published: September 2024

In this study, ‘奈’, is the earliest character in Ancient Chinese to derive its meaning from a single character. It was derived and developed from the sounds and characters corresponding to ‘奈’, ‘柰’ and ‘祟’. Thus, the formation and elimination of sounds in Ancient Chinese can be viewed through the one-sided development of Chinese characters from the time of the oracle bone script period to the present, but it can be seen that sound components are not all components of lexical variation, and thatW the process of character differentiation is ultimately influenced by the similarity of characters, their meaning and their development. The article describes a study to examine the development of lexical meaning and the relationship between its semantic elements: first, the original meaning of the characters and the extended meaning; second, the development of sound and dialect from the Ancient Chinese period to the Middle Chinese period; and third, the grammatical implementation and function that can be checked through it, and the semantic analysis elements found in the Chinese characters, excavated texts and traditional texts.
Visualization of Composite Plots in R Using a Programmatic Approach and smplot2
Authors: Min Seung Hyun
Published: September 2024

In psychology and human neuroscience, the practice of creating multiple subplots and combining them into a composite plot has become common because the nature of research has become more multifaceted and sophisticated. In the last decade, the number of methods and tools for data visualization has surged. For example, R, a programming language, has become widely used in part because of ggplot2, a free, open-source, and intuitive plotting library. However, despite its strength and ubiquity, it has some built-in restrictions that are most noticeable when one creates a composite plot, which currently involves a complex and repetitive process with steps that go against the principles of open science out of necessity. To address this issue, I introduce smplot2, an open-source R package that integrates ggplot2’s declarative syntax and a programmatic approach to plotting. The package aims to enable users to create customizable composite plots by linearizing the process of complex visualization. The documentation and code examples of the smplot2 package are available online ( https://smin95.github.io/dataviz ).
Not burning, but rebuilding: The ABCS of anthropology using multimodal methodologies and DEAF values
Authors: Fagan Robinson Kelly
Published: September 2024

In 2019, Ryan Cecil Jobson made the case for ‘letting anthropology burn’, arguing that: “the field of anthropology cannot presume a coherent human subject as its point of departure but must adopt a radical humanism as its political horizon” (2019:328). In this article, Robinson upholds Jobson’s mandate to adopt a radical humanism, though not by burning, but methodologically rebuilding anthropology using multimodal ethnographic praxis, drawing on learnings from time spent working and learning from DEAF spaces. She charts her intellectual and affective journey from working with deaf artists and educators, through studies in anthropology, and towards transformative encounters with multimodal social semiotics. Through learning to listen and evaluate in DEAF ways, she found that non-deaf, majority-centred ways of conducting research naturally receded, thereby re-scaffolding ethnographic methods, proffering a ready-made approach to inclusive anthropological knowledge-making and a potential means for democratising anthropology from the ground up. Robinson argues that approaching ethnographic praxis in a way that both de-prioritises English-text and prioritises participant-led approaches by default reshapes what constitutes valuable anthropological knowledge, facilitating broader participant inclusion and legibility, while also rendering more apparent entrenched power hierarchies and epistemic imbalances.
Walking memories, future dreams: Exploring design through cartographies, speculation, and AI
Authors: Bruscato Portella Grazielle
Published: September 2024

This paper summarizes a design practice (“Take the Memory Out for a Future Walk”) conducted with undergraduate students in a park in Barcelona. Through walking, sensory mapping, artificial intelligence exploration, and prototyping, participants explored the interplay between embodied experiences, memory, future speculation, and design intervention. Walking the park fostered sensory engagement, shaping students’ understanding of the site and its history. This informed the development of projects addressing environmental concerns and promoting sustainable practices through reimagined spaces or objects. Students employed AI tools to generate ideas where they envisioned alternative futures and challenged existing norms. This process encouraged non-canonical reflection, urging students to move beyond conformistic approaches while fostering future-oriented critical thinking. The practice yielded valuable insights for design education. Firstly, it showed why the integrating walking and sensory mapping into design processes can challenge space determinism. In addition, it contributed to the potential of speculative design and future studies to foster alternative imagination and address pressing issues like climate change, promoting planetary awareness. Further iterations could benefit from expanding on-site exploration and incorporating material limitations to deepen student engagement with the natural surroundings, community and project sustainability.
Multilinearity in ‘reading’: Bridging cultural psychology and autoethnography
Authors: Tsuchimoto Teppei
Published: September 2024

Reading is not a linear process. In this commentary on Struppe-Schanda’s autoethnographic work, I explore the multilinear nature of reading from the experience of being able or unable to ‘read’ her work. This commentary attempts an autoethnography that emphasises the subjective feelings of the researcher and resists the traditional modalities of ‘science’. In determining the starting point for this commentary, whether as an autoethnographer or cultural psychologist, I discovered numerous potential directions for further development. Presented as a fictional conversation with my other self, this commentary delves into the implications of deliberative autoethnography, which seeks to explore subjectivity differently from mainstream evocative autoethnography.