bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intestinal Inflammation and Permeability in Patients Recovered from SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Gallo Antonella , Murace Celeste Ambra , Corbo Michela Maria , Sarlo Francesca , De Ninno Grazia , Baroni Silvia , Fancello Giovanni , Masucci Luca , Covino Marcello , Tosato Matteo , Landi Francesco , Montalto Massimo ,   Gemelli against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Team
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Different works suggest a close link between long COVID gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations and the post-infection disorders of gut-brain interaction (PI-DGBIs). However, the actual mechanisms underlying long-term GI sequelae are still not clear. Our study was aimed to assess both intestinal inflammation and permeability among subjects recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection and their eventual correlation with long-term GI sequelae. Methods: Eighty-six subjects attending the post-COVID service and recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection for 6 months were investigated for long COVID manifestations. Those subjects complaining of long-term GI symptoms were further evaluated by Rome IV questionnaire to assess PI-DGBIs. Intestinal inflammation (by fecal calprotectin, FC) and permeability (by serum and fecal levels of zonulin) were evaluated in all subjects. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) questionnaires were further provided to all participants. Results: Thirty-seven subjects (43%) complained of long-term GI symptoms, while 49 subjects (57%) did not. Thirty-three subjects fulfilled Rome IV criteria for PI-DGBIs. FC values resulted higher in those subjects who did not complain GI symptoms (p = 0.03), although remaining quite close to the normal range. No significant differences were shown regarding the assessment of intestinal permeability. By GIQLI, long-term GI sequelae were inversely correlated with quality of life (p = 0.009). Conclusion: Long COVID GI complaints unlikely recognize underlying local inflammatory mechanisms. Since the healthcare, economic, and social burden of post‐COVID DGBIs, a deeper understanding of this emerging condition should be encouraged to improve management of the affected subjects.
Neuroimmunomodulation: The History of Science in Psychoneuroimmunology
Authors: Kuhn Alexander M. , Bosis Kelly E. , Wohleb Eric S.
Published: October 2024

Background: From the original studies investigating the effects of adrenal gland secretion to modern high-throughput multidimensional analyses, stress research has been a topic of scientific interest spanning just over a century. Summary: The objective of this review was to provide historical context for influential discoveries, surprising findings, and preclinical models in stress-related neuroimmune research. Furthermore, we summarize this work and present a current understanding of the stress pathways and their effects on the immune system and behavior. We focus on recent work demonstrating stress-induced immune changes within the brain and highlight studies investigating stress effects on microglia. Lastly, we conclude with potential areas for future investigation concerning microglia heterogeneity, bone marrow niches, and sex differences. Key Messages: Stress is a phenomenon that ties together not only the central and peripheral nervous system, but the immune system as well. The cumulative effects of stress can enhance or suppress immune function, based on the intensity and duration of the stressor. These stress-induced immune alterations are associated with neurobiological changes, including structural remodeling of neurons and decreased neurogenesis, and these contribute to the development of behavioral and cognitive deficits. As such, research in this field has revealed important insights into neuroimmune communication as well as molecular and cellular mediators of complex behaviors relevant to psychiatric disorders.
Feasibility and Impact on Diagnosis of Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions under Real-Time Direct Vision by Iriscope®
Authors: Recalde-Zamacona Borja , Alfayate Javier , Giménez-Velando Andrés , Romero Gabriel , Fernández-Navamuel Iker , Flandes Javier
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Interventional pneumology plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs), offering a minimally invasive approach with a low risk of complications. Iriscope® is a novel device that provides a direct and real-time image of PPLs. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and impact of Iriscope® in diagnosing PPLs by analyzing its ability to directly visualize lesions and support accurate sampling during radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS) and electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) combined with rEBUS. Methods: A single-center prospective study was conducted from December 2022 to October 2023 on patients with suspicious PPLs. The diagnostic approach involved either rEBUS alone or in combination with ENB. In all cases, an additional novel technique called Iriscope® (Lys Medical, Charleroi, Belgium) was also applied. Iriscope® findings of each lesion were evaluated individually by three expert interventional pulmonologists. Results: Seventy PPLs suspected of malignancy were included in the study. The PPLs underwent examination by ENB combined with rEBUS (55) or by rEBUS alone (15). Diagnosis was obtained in 68.6% (48/70) of cases. Iriscope® provided a direct, real-time view of 57.1% (40/70) of PPLs with a positive predictive value of 92.5% (37/40). This technique was able to visualize 72% (39/54) of malignant lesions, while only 6.1% (1/16) of benign lesions showed pathologic changes. The most common findings observed with Iriscope® were mucosal thickening and infiltration (92.5%), increased capillary vascularization (82%), pale or grayish mucosa (72.5%), obstruction with accumulation of secretions (50%), and cobblestone mucosa (15%). Conclusion: Iriscope® is a promising technique in the diagnostic process of PPLs, providing real-time pathologic imaging that facilitates accurate sampling. Further studies are needed to evaluate success rate of Iriscope-mediated repositioning and to establish predictive patterns for malignant or even benign diseases.
The Impact of Primary Renal Diagnosis on Prognosis and the Varying Predictive Power of Albuminuria in the NURTuRE-CKD Study
Authors: McDonnell Thomas , Kalra Philip A. , Vuilleumier Nicolas , Cockwell Paul , Wheeler David C. , Fraser Simon D.S. , Banks Rosamonde E. , Taal Maarten W.
Published: October 2024

Introduction: The definition of CKD is broad, which neglects the heterogeneity of risk across primary renal diseases. Methods: The National Unified Renal Translational Research Enterprise (NURTuRE)-CKD is an ongoing UK, prospective multicenter cohort study of 2,996 adults with an eGFR of 15–59 mL/min/1.73 m2 or eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 with a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) >30 mg/mmol. Outcomes and predictive performance of eGFR and uACR were subcategorized by ERA-EDTA primary renal diagnosis (PRD) codes. Results: 2,638 participants were included, with baseline median eGFR of 33.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 and uACR 29.8 mg/mmol. Over a median 49.2 months follow-up, 630 (23.9%) experienced kidney failure (KF), and 352 (13.3%) died before KF, the median eGFR slope was −1.97 mL/min/1.73 m2/year. There were significant differences in risk across the PRD, persisting after adjustment for age, sex, baseline eGFR, and modifiable risk factors (blood pressure, HbA1c, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors). Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), glomerulonephritis, and familial/hereditary nephropathy were associated with the greatest risk, while tubulointerstitial disease and vasculitis carried a low risk of KF. eGFR had good predictive accuracy across all PRD. However, the addition of uACR showed variable benefit, depending on the PRD. The largest benefit was seen in vasculitis, renal vascular, and DKD groups, but uACR added no predictive value to the familial/hereditary group. Conclusion: Significant differences in the risk of kidney-related outcomes occurred across the various primary renal diagnoses persisting after adjustment for age, sex, baseline eGFR, and modifiable risk factors. Albuminuria’s discriminatory ability as a biomarker of progression varies by diagnosis. CKD care should, therefore, take a personalized approach that always considers the primary renal diagnosis.
Callosal Injuries in Cytomegalovirus Fetopathy: A Neurosonographic Study
Authors: Krajden Haratz Karina , Malinger Gustavo , Miremberg Hadas , Hartoov Joseph , Wolman Igal , Jaffa Ariel , Busilov Michael , Birnbaum Roee
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Among the fetal brain anomalies described in cases of congenital infection, callosal insults are rarely cited in medical literature. The aim of this study was to describe the rate and pattern of callosal injury in cytomegalovirus (CMV) fetopathy. Methods: This retrospective study included fetuses with confirmed CMV-PCR, assessed in a single center. Demographic data including maternal seroconversion info were collected. Dedicated US including neurosonography was performed, with high frequency probes, using TV route whenever feasible. Fetal brain biometry including callosal length and the corpus callosum (CC)/OFD ratio was performed. Length below the 5th centile or morphological abnormalities were considered abnormal. Brain and body morphology were thoroughly assessed, and any abnormal finding reported. Results: Seventy-two patients were included in our cohort. In 76% infection occurred in the 1st T or periconceptional. In 12 patients, the exact time of infection was inconclusive, including two cases of secondary infection. In 34.7%, a callosal anomaly was observed and it was never isolated. CNS abnormalities included: periventricular hyperechogenicity (PVHE) 55.5%, calcifications 52%, ventriculomegaly 33%, periventricular pseudocysts 31.4%, occipital cysts 22.2%, echogenic ganglionic eminence 30.5%, lentostriatal vasculopathy 26.4%, sulcation abnormalities 22.2%, cerebellar findings 18% and HC below −2 SD 18%. In 19 cases, the CC was short with calcifications in four. In one case, the insult was severe and in another the CC was absent. The most common association with CC insult was PVHE (56%) and calcifications (52%). Conclusion: Although not referred as a classic brain structure affected by CMV infection, the CC was injured in one-third of our patients, including cases of late infection. The mechanism of disease and the prenatal patterns of callosal involvement in these cases appear to be different from the postnatal patterns and are not reversible. The presence of a callosal injury would imply a worse prognosis and significant increment to the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment.
Treatment of Renal Artery Aneurysm by ex situ Repair and Autotransplantation: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Fang Yitian , Kimenai Hendrikus J.A.N. , de Bruin Ron W.F. , de Vries Dorottya K. , Petri Bart-Jeroen , Warlé Michiel C. , Tielliu Ignace F.J. , van Laanen Jorinde , Idu Mirza M. , Pol Robert A. , Minnee Robert C. ,   on behalf of the Dutch Kidney Transplant Study Group
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Renal artery aneurysm (RAA) is a rare vascular disease with a mortality rate of up to 80% upon rupture. This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of ex situ repair and autotransplantation for endovascularly untreatable RAA. Methods: A retrospective nationwide cohort study was conducted in RAA patients undergoing ex situ repair and autotransplantation in the Netherlands. Surgical techniques, postoperative complications, and graft outcomes were assessed. Results: Ex situ repair was performed in 9 patients with 11 RAAs. Eight RAAs were located at the first bifurcation, one on the main trunk, one on the first branch, and one on the second branch. Nephrectomy was performed via laparoscopy (n = 7), robotic-assisted laparoscopy (n = 1), and laparotomy (n = 1). Postoperative complications were recorded in 4 patients, including bowel obstruction, delirium, pneumonia, and hydronephrosis due to double-J dislocation. The median estimated glomerular filtration rate was 83 mL/min/1.73 m2 pretransplant and 88 mL/min/1.73 m2 posttransplant. By an average follow-up of 32 months, 2 patients had died due to lung adenocarcinoma and stroke, while all autotransplanted kidneys had good patency and remained functional. Conclusions: Ex situ repair and autotransplantation are safe and feasible for endovascularly untreatable RAA cases. Larger cohorts with longer follow-up periods are necessary to further evaluate the role of this surgical approach.
NOise Reduction with DIstribution Corrected (NORDIC) principal
component analysis improves brain activity detection across rodent and human
functional MRI contexts
Authors: Chan Russell W. , Hamilton-Fletcher Giles , Edelman Bradley J. , Faiq Muneeb A. , Sajitha Thajunnisa A. , Moeller Steen , Chan Kevin C.
Published: October 2024

NOise Reduction with DIstribution Corrected (NORDIC) principal component analysis (PCA) has been shown to selectively suppress thermal noise and improve the temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR) in human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, the feasibility to improve data quality for rodent fMRI using NORDIC PCA remains uncertain. NORDIC PCA may also be particularly beneficial for improving topological brain mapping, as conventional mapping requires precise spatiotemporal signals from large datasets (ideally ~1 hour acquisition) for individual representations. In this study, we evaluated the effects of NORDIC PCA compared with “Standard” processing in various rodent fMRI contexts that range from task-evoked optogenetic fMRI to resting-state fMRI. We also evaluated the effects of NORDIC PCA on human resting-state and retinotopic mapping fMRI via population receptive field (pRF) modeling. In rodent optogenetic fMRI, apart from doubling the tSNR, NORDIC PCA resulted in a larger number of activated voxels and a significant decrease in the variance of evoked brain responses without altering brain morphology. In rodent resting-state fMRI, we found that NORDIC PCA induced a nearly threefold increase in tSNR and preserved task-free relative cerebrovascular reactivity (rCVR) across cortical depth. NORDIC PCA further improved the detection of TGN020-induced aquaporin-4 inhibition on rCVR compared with Standard processing without NORDIC PCA. NORDIC PCA also increased the tSNR for both human resting-state and pRF fMRI, and for the latter also increased activation cluster sizes while retaining retinotopic organization. This suggests that NORDIC PCA preserves the spatiotemporal precision of fMRI signals needed for pRF analysis, and effectively captures small activity changes with high sensitivity. Taken together, these results broadly demonstrate the value of NORDIC PCA for the enhanced detection of neural dynamics across various rodent and human fMRI contexts. This can in turn play an important role in improving fMRI image quality and sensitivity for translational and preclinical neuroimaging research.
Early Image Processing and Computer Animation in Colorado: Pat Lehman’s Video Vitae in Context
Authors: Pytlinski Deanne
Published: October 2024

In 1976, Pat Lehman screened her experimental video Video Vitae at the New York Women’s Video Festival. Lehman worked in Colorado, where she also started the first video program in the state’s college system. This article examines Video Vitae as an important example of image-processed video and early computer animation in the context of second-wave feminism. The author charts Lehman’s influences and access to the Scanimate computer used to produce Video Vitae, arguing that Lehman’s narrative about a woman’s autonomy is intertwined with her pleasure in the processing of electronic signals.
Our Bodies Demand Their Turn!: Live Synthesizer in Shigeko Kubota’s Riverrun—Video Water Poem
Authors: Robinson Lia
Published: October 2024

Shigeko Kubota presented her seminal multimedia video work Riverrun—Video Water Poem for the feminist performances of Red, White, Yellow, and Black at The Kitchen in New York in December 1972. This article outlines Kubota’s exploration of the mediated production of identity as a networked, social process through live video synthesis. Drawing from discourses surrounding James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake in experimental music and video, Kubota’s distinctive use of live video synthesis and incorporation of sensorial elements in her installation attuned her audience to the multisensory nature of communication as well as the co-constitution of meaning mediated through feedback between artist, audience, and technology. In considering Riverrun as an open work, it is clearer how Kubota resisted singular interpretations, especially readings where the work is reducible to the artist’s identity.
When Image Processing Becomes Image Creation: Gregory Zinman in Conversation with LoVid
Authors: Zinman Gregory , Hinkis Tali , Lapidus Kyle
Published: October 2024

The multidisciplinary artist duo LoVid have been making art that combines analog and digital media, as well as handmade and code-based methods, for nearly a quarter century. Topics discussed in this interview include image processing, generative art, Web3, and sociality in contemporary media art.
Auschwitz and Hiroshima: Günther Anders
Authors: Traverso Enzo
Published: October 2024

Widely translated into several Western languages (with the exception of English), Günther Anders (1902–92) has, in the last two decades, attained the status of a classic figure within twentieth-century critical thought, close to Herbert Marcuse and the Frankfurt School without ever becoming one of its members. This article analyses his intellectual trajectory and his body of work, which includes many articles, essays, short stories, and even a novel. It focuses on his Jewish roots, which made him a paradigmatic representative of the ‘non-Jewish Jew’: a Jew confronted with antisemitism, an internationalist standing before the Jewish tradition. The crucial premises of his original theory, the author emphasises, were Auschwitz and Hiroshima, the extermination of European Jewry, and the atomic bomb. Set out in his most ambitious work, The Outdatedness of Human Beings (Volume 1, 1956; Volume 2, 1980), Anders’ thought appears as a kind of dialectical sublation, from a Marxist perspective, of Heidegger’s philosophy of technique (where technique has replaced human beings as the subject of history), articulated with a radical criticism of Heidegger’s political ontology.
The Psychological Type and Temperament Profile of Ordinands at Cranmer Hall, Durham, 2008–2016
Authors: Cook Christopher C. H. , Francis Leslie J. , McKenna Ursula
Published: October 2024

This study explores the psychological type and temperament profile of 117 male and 80 female ordinands training at Cranmer Hall, Durham, over a nine-year period alongside earlier studies of Church of England stipendiary clergy. The data confirm the prominence of the Apollonian (NF) Temperament accounting for 41% of male and 54% of female ordinands. Among male ordinands there were preferences for extraversion (58%), intuition (70%), feeling (61%), and judging (60%). Among female ordinands there were preferences for extraversion (56%), intuition (64%), feeling (74%), and judging (74%). The implications of these finding are discussed for the future shape of ministry.
Unpacking the Multiplicity of Chineseness: a Case Study of the Guanyin Shrine in Mueang Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Authors: Sriratanaban Suphacha
Published: October 2024

This paper aims to examine the origins and development of the Guanyin Shrine in Mueang Mae Hong Son, Thailand, and to investigate how its construction of Chineseness is informed by various factors at intra-ethnic, local, and national levels. Through ethnographic fieldwork, it was found that the Chineseness embodied in the Shrine is a paradigm encompassing the identities of overseas Chinese from different backgrounds. The Shrine is characterized by its use of universally recognized symbols in Chinese culture, including the selection of Guanyin as the main deity and the creation of unique trademarks using common motifs such as yin-yang and bagua. The Shrine represents a hybridization not only of Chineseness and national identity but also of Chineseness and local identity, as seen through the application of national symbols such as the Thai monarchy and Theravada Buddhism, the ritual of inviting Tai Yai guardian deities, and the procession of ethnic groups during the Annual Celebration.
Parliaments in Europe – International Conference on the Occasion of Day of Parliamentarianism
Authors: Tóth László , Verebélyi Viktória
Published: October 2024

The Centre for Parliamentary Research at the Ferenc Deák Faculty of State and Law of Széchenyi István University organized between 9–10. May 2024 for the ninth time this year an overview of Hungarian and international parliamentary research within the framework of the Day of Parliamentarianism conference series. On the first day of the two-day international conference “Parliaments in Europe”, researchers shared their research results in Hungarian, while on the second day, attendants could listen to lectures in English.
Rethinking Innovation Management—How AI Is Changing the Way We Innovate
Authors: Füller Johann , Tekic Zeljko , Hutter Katja
Published: October 2024

This paper examines the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on innovation management, highlighting the profound organizational shifts necessary to fully leverage its potential. As AI adoption surges, organizations face unprecedented opportunities to accelerate their innovation processes, from early trend identification to product diffusion. However, realizing these benefits requires a comprehensive strategic alignment. This includes rethinking innovation strategy, restructuring organizational set-up, redefining roles, and collaborative practices. By examining these pivotal aspects, this paper identifies critical knowledge gaps and further poses thought-provoking questions designed to stimulate both academic inquiry and managerial innovation. Our goal is to inspire researchers and managers to rethink their approach to innovation management in an AI-driven landscape.
Coloring Multilayer Zirconia May Affect Its Optical and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Čokić S.M. , Li M. , Huang S. , Vleugels J. , Van Meerbeek B. , Zhang F.
Published: October 2024

The coloring process of monolithic dental zirconia caused considerable debate on the possible effects of different coloring methods. The main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of pigments in 3 multilayer 5-mol% yttria partially stabilized zirconia (5Y-PSZ) disks (Lava Esthetic A2 [Zr-AGG_A2] and Bleach [Zr-AGG_BL], both 3M Oral Care, and Katana STML A2 [Zr-NoAGG], Kuraray Noritake). The influence of pigment addition on the translucency parameter (TP00), fracture toughness, Vickers hardness, biaxial strength, and hydrothermal stability was assessed and correlated with the microstructure and phase composition. The pigment composition and distribution were evaluated by light and fluorescence microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and nano–scanning electron microscopy. The chemical and phase composition and aging behavior were assessed using X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction, respectively, while the aging sensitivity of the pigments was evaluated using micro-Raman spectroscopy. In contrast to Zr-NoAGG, possessing a typical 5Y-PSZ microstructure, the pigment additions in both Zr-AGG_A2/BL zirconia resulted in large yellow and blue fluorescent Er-, Hf-, and Al-containing agglomerates composed of small grains (0.57 µm and 0.38 µm, respectively, vs. 0.92 µm for the surrounding grains) with lower Y2O3 content. Zr-AGG_A2 had the lowest aging resistance, with transformation degradation occurring exclusively within the pigment agglomerates. All zirconia grades had a high Y2O3 content (4.2%–5.7 mol%) tetragonal ZrO2 phase and a high (42%–55 wt%) cubic ZrO2 phase content. Although no statistical differences were measured for hardness and toughness, Zr-NoAGG had a significantly higher TP00, higher flexural strength, and lower mechanical reliability compared to both Zr-AGG_A2/BL zirconia. The rare-earth oxide-containing zirconia agglomerates that were added as pigments to the multilayered monolithic Zr-AGG_A2/BL zirconia are the cause for their lower optical and mechanical properties and reduced aging resistance.
Testing for normality: a user’s (cautionary) guide
Authors: Gosselin Romain-Daniel
Published: October 2024

The normality assumption postulates that empirical data derives from a normal (Gaussian) population. It is a pillar of inferential statistics that enables the theorization of probability functions and the computation of p-values thereof. The breach of this assumption may not impose a formal mathematical constraint on the computation of inferential outputs (e.g., p-values) but may make them inoperable and possibly lead to unethical waste of laboratory animals. Various methods, including statistical tests and qualitative visual examination, can reveal incompatibility with normality and the choice of a procedure should not be trivialized. The following minireview will provide a brief overview of diagrammatical methods and statistical tests commonly employed to evaluate congruence with normality. Special attention will be given to the potential pitfalls associated with their application. Normality is an unachievable ideal that practically never accurately describes natural variables, and detrimental consequences of non-normality may be safeguarded by using large samples. Therefore, the very concept of preliminary normality testing is also, arguably provocatively, questioned.
Investigating Advanced School Surveillance Practices and Disproportionality: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sheikh Sidra , Stolberg Alexis , Gilmour Allison F.
Published: October 2024

This review synthesizes research on advanced school surveillance practices, where schools routinely monitor and sort students and their data in pursuit of safety and security goals. Our review of 31 studies confirms the concentrated presence of surveillance technologies in schools serving predominantly poor and minoritized students, and their mixed effects on students’ perceived safety. However, we find research lags behind contemporary school security practices. Little attention is paid to the advanced capabilities of available school security technologies, the ways they are incorporated into schools’ academic and disciplinary structures, and their effects on disparate student groups’ school outcomes.
‘That Kind of Role Models it!’ Dynamics of Intergenerational Reinforcement and Disruption of Stigma Towards People Who Use Drugs
Authors: Flam-Ross Juliet Miko , Zampini Giulia Federica
Published: October 2024

Background

Stigma towards people who use drugs (PWUD) is a dangerous phenomenon with far-reaching effects. Research shows that parents play a powerful role in the shaping of their children's views of people with mental illness, but no similar research exists to investigate the shaping of views towards PWUD. This qualitative study explores dynamics of intergenerational reinforcement and disruption of stigma towards PWUD.

Methods

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eight people split equally into two categories: 1) Participant-children: people between 18 and 30 and 2) Participant-parents: people of any age with experience as a parent of a child. Participants had some experience of using drugs or alcohol, but this was not a criterion for selection. Interviews elucidated the influence of parents’ views, opinions, narratives, discussions, and disclosures on views towards PWUD. Interviews included questions about stigma and its intergenerational development. Grounded theory was used to analyze the data.

Results

Three major themes in theory development were elicited for their role in the reinforcement and disruption of stigma towards PWUD: 1) conflation of drug use with other stigmatized characteristics; 2) the telling of stories around problematic drug use; and 3) the use of secrecy or disclosure of personal drug use.

Conclusion

The results of the study provide an understanding of the dynamics of stigma reinforcement and disruption. Each of the actions described in the themes can work towards either reinforcing or disrupting stigma.
An enhanced sparrow search algorithm for model order reduction of proton exchange membrane fuel cell system
Authors: Ayvaz Alisan
Published: October 2024

Recently, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have gotten attention due to their many advantages such as low operating temperature, fast start-up capability, and high current density. As a result of growing interest in PEMFC technology, issues related to the operation and control of the PEMFC are also showing an increasing trend. A PEMFC system consists of several subsystems and thus is described by a higher-order model. It is known that such models have some drawbacks in terms of difficulty in controller design and computational complexity in real-time analysis. Considering the importance of applying proper control actions in a short time to avoid any damage, the need to develop a reduced-order model for the PEMFCs arises. This paper proposes an enhanced variant of the sparrow search algorithm (SSA), named ESSA, for model order reduction of the PEMFC system. The aim is to get a second-order model with minimum loss in important features of the original model. To examine the performance of the proposed method, a comparison is done with other meta-heuristic-based methods and some other literature approaches. Results validate the robustness of the proposed method for PEMFC system order diminution as well as its applicability to other complex systems.
The Academic Impact of Enrollment in International Baccalaureate Diploma Programs: A Case Study of Chicago Public Schools
Authors: SAAVEDRA ANNA ROSEFSKY
Published: October 2024

Background:

In schools accredited as “IB World Schools ” by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), teachers use IB curriculum and pedagogy to teach a range of courses that are intended to prepare IB-enrolled students for college. Over the past 18 years, the number of U.S. schools that implement IB programs has increased nearly tenfold, from 133 in 1994 to 1,390 in 2013. Despite the IB program’s rapid expansion, little is known about whether IB enrollment causally improves students’ academic outcomes, including their high school academic achievement, probability of high school graduation and/or subsequent probability of college enrollment.

Purpose:

This study examines whether enrollment in the IB Diploma Program increases students’ academic achievement as measured by their composite ACT college admissions examination scores, probability of high school graduation, and probability of college enrollment, and whether the estimates differ by gender.

Setting, Population, & Data:

This study uses data on the demographic characteristics, IB enrollment status, ACT scores, high school graduation status and college enrollment status of 20,422 students attending 13 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high schools from 2002-2008. Data sources include the CPS and the National Student Clearinghouse.

Research Design:

The analytic strategy is to first assume students are selected into the IB Diploma Program based on their observed characteristics, and then to use a propensity score approach to estimate the impact of IB enrollment on three measures of students’ academic success. The second step, following Rosenbaum (2002), is to test the sensitivity of the estimates to different levels of selection bias.

Results:

This study shows that IB enrollment increases students’ academic achievement, probability of high school graduation and probability of college enrollment. Though selection bias may contribute to overstating the propensity score estimates, the conclusion from the sensitivity analyses is that it is unlikely that this internal-validity challenge negates the principal finding. All estimates are greater for boys than for girls. Calculations demonstrate that the IB Diploma Program is a cost-effective way to increase high school graduation rates. Conclusions: The results are valuable for three reasons. First, they provide valuable information with which to make decisions about future investments in IB. Second, they contribute to knowledge of the means through which to improve high school education for disadvantaged urban youth. Finally, the results suggest that IB enrollment is especially beneficial for boys, for whom the probability of graduating from high school and enrolling in college—in CPS and at the national level—is substantially less than for girls.
Toward an Understanding of Economic Development in Post-2003 Iraq
Authors: Yousif Bassam , El-Joumayle Omar
Published: October 2024

Citizen inclusion in politics and voluntary organizations, a vibrant press and media, regular elections, or greater “political inclusion” more generally are often presented—both by international organizations as well as some researchers—as elements likely, even necessary, to promote “economic inclusion” and a more equitable distribution of material benefits. We avoid structural approaches that emphasize oil and instead utilize institutional analysis to understand Iraq’s post-2003 economic and social trajectory. Specifically, we analyze how Iraq’s post-2003 political settlement along with its already deteriorating economic institutions and unfavorable economic and social conditions have combined to shape poor economic outcomes. We show, using the World Bank’s World Governance Indicators as well as other data that the more inclusive political institutions that were established in Iraq post-2003 have worked to impede economic development and inclusion. That is, increased political openness and inclusion has not resulted in greater economic inclusion; instead, Iraq’s political institutions have worked to constrain economic inclusion and a more egalitarian distribution of oil income. This revisits a classic debate in development economics and casts doubt on the reliability of the often-promoted relationship between political pluralism and economic development.
the effects of play oriented curriculum on creativity in elementary school children
Authors: Sefer Jasmina
Published: October 2024

An interdisciplinary play-oriented program, based on drama, group research, and various games was designed to stimulate students, creativity and was implemented in one urban and one rural public elementary school in Yugoslavia at ages 7 - 11. Results of qualitative formative and summative evaluations from a five-year longitudinal study show that the program produces highly significant improvement in students creativity, motivation to learn, and expressive behaviors. The program successfully integrates different subjects, cultural contents and cognitive, affective, conative, and social goals of education.
Using the SAT-M to identify the mathematically talented in Singapore
Authors: Lim Tock Keng
Published: October 2024

Experiences by the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) at Johns Hopkins University indicated that the mathematical section of the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT-M) is an excellent measure of mathematical ability for youths belowl3 years of age. In an attempt to search out the mathematically talented in Singapore, the SAT-M was administered to 2361 Secondary 1 students (equivalent to Grade 7) from 8 good schools. STEPWISE regression identified performance in primary level Mathematics as the major predictor of the SAT-M. The other significant predictors were stream, primary level English grade, gender and language spoken at home. Seven boys and a girl scored above a standard score of 700M (proportion of 1:4600 in the Secondary 1 cohort). These students were interviewed to explore their family background, educational level of parents, interests and career aspirations.
Autoethnography as Pedagogical Strategy to Understand Subsistence Consumers
Authors: Jagadale Sujit Raghunathrao
Published: October 2024

Premier management institutes in India often lack the inclusion of issues that negatively impact marketing system outcomes and the appropriate pedagogical strategies in their marketing curricula, with some exceptions. In these institutes, students, a culturally homogenous group, are far removed from the life worlds of subsistence consumers and cannot relate to them, creating pedagogical challenges for instructors. To address this, we introduced ‘autoethnography’ complemented by research-based exercise of ‘students graphies’ as pedagogical strategy in our Rural and Inclusive Marketing (RIM) course. Autoethnography legitimizes personal experiences as a knowledge source. The course seeks to sensitize students toward subsistence consumers from rural India, who comprise 65% of the Indian population. We integrated the socio-culturally situated life experiences of both instructors and students as sites for knowledge creation. We propose this strategy as a macromarketing pedagogy to understand ‘macro’ wicked problems, such as poverty and inequality, through the ‘micro’ lens of the lives of subsistence consumers. Qualitative findings indicated increased awareness and sensitivity among students toward subsistence consumers and their issues. However, students also highlighted the subjectivity of individual life experiences as a limitation of this strategy. We finally offer ways in which autoethnography can be used as a pedagogical strategy to increase awareness about wicked problems and improve the outcomes of the marketing system.
Financial decision dynamics: Environmental, social, and governance factors and managerial choices in emerging markets
Authors: Wasan Pratibha , Mulchandani Kalyani
Published: October 2024

This study examines the linkage between the ESG performance of firms and managerial decision-making. It uses 8 years of ESG performance data of 110 Indian firms collected from the Thomson Reuters database. The study finds that high ESG performance mitigates a firm’s cost of debt more than equity cost. Furthermore, increases in ESG performance are associated with higher capital expenditures, lower investment cash flow sensitivity, higher cash holdings, and lesser payout of increased cash flows to shareholders. The findings are in sync with the Slack resources view, suggesting that the requirement of financial Slack for ESG-related innovations and risk-bearing is large and impacts the major managerial decisions of firms. While the effects of environmental and social performance on these decisions are similar to that of the composite ESG performance, governance performance shows an independent impact on the payout decisions of firms. The Granger Causality test reveals a bi-directional association between debt issues and ESG performance. The main results obtained from the multiple panel regressions are robust to additional tests involving lead-lag analysis. The overall findings of this study highlight the importance of ESG performance screening in the managerial decision-making process of investors who would not like to risk growth potential for a short-term increase in dividends.
Association between motor neuron disease and HIV infection: A systematic review of case reports
Authors: Fernandes João Paulo Moreira , Garcia Leonardo Peixoto , Gouhie Felipe Araújo , Pereira Raquel Campos , Santos Diogo Fernandes dos
Published: October 2024

Background

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a well-known group of neurodegenerative diseases, with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) being the most common form. Since 1985, a possible association between MND/ALS and HIV infection has been described.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of case reports and case series involving people living with HIV with MND/ALS through PubMed, Bireme, Embase, and Lilacs databases. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool for Case Reports.

Results

We analyzed 36 articles presenting 88 cases. The mean age was 41.6 years. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was used by 89.8% and riluzole by 16.9%. First signs and symptoms were similarly present on cervical/upper (25%) and lumbosacral/lower limbs (23.9%), mostly with fasciculations (69.8%) and hyperreflexia (58.8%). MND had a progressive course in 32.9% patients and a clinical improve in 54.6% following ART. The mean survival of the 32 patients who died was 12.3 months and the mean survival of the living patients was 62 months. Respiratory failure was the main cause of death (35.7%).

Conclusions

MND/ALS may present differently in the people living with HIV as a rapidly progressive disease in younger people but with the potential to improve weakness and survival through antiretroviral therapy.
A useful parametric specification to model epidemiological data: Revival of the Richards’ curve
Authors: Mingione Marco , Alaimo Di Loro Pierfrancesco , Maruotti Antonello
Published: October 2024

A useful parametric specification for the expected value of an epidemiological process is revived, and its statistical and empirical efficacy are explored. The Richards’ curve is flexible enough to adapt to several growth phenomena, including recent epidemics and outbreaks. Here, two different estimation methods are described. The first, based on likelihood maximisation, is particularly useful when the outbreak is still ongoing and the main goal is to obtain sufficiently accurate estimates in negligible computational run-time. The second is fully Bayesian and allows for more ambitious modelling attempts such as the inclusion of spatial and temporal dependence, but it requires more data and computational resources. Regardless of the estimation approach, the Richards’ specification properly characterises the main features of any growth process (e.g. growth rate, peak phase etc.), leading to a reasonable fit and providing good short- to medium-term predictions. To demonstrate such flexibility, we show different applications using publicly available data on recent epidemics where the data collection processes and transmission patterns are extremely heterogeneous, as well as benchmark datasets widely used in the literature as illustrative.
Unleashing the Mechanism in Green Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility and Shareholders Wealth: Insight from Quantile GMM
Authors: Katper Naveeda , Salman Syed Muhammad , Mohy-ud-Din Kamran
Published: October 2024

Corporate green finance is imperative to safeguard socio-economic practices to achieve sustainable growth. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is considered the catalyst to create a balance in communities through sustainable business performance. In this vein, the investigation is focused on the function of green finance, which encompasses green investment for accomplishing social responsibility goals and shareholders’ wealth in the S&P 1500 firms. Panel data for 451 firms listed in the S&P 1500 index were collected over the period 2012–2023. A panel-fixed model was employed to investigate the proposed hypotheses. Moreover, endogeneity bias was addressed by the quantile-generalized method of moments (GMM). The findings of the study revealed that the green finance score positively contributes to US CSR. However, a U-shaped association was found between the green finance index and social responsibility funds allocation. In the context of shareholders, green finance has a positive impact on wealth maximization and dividend payouts. Furthermore, green finance and its associated environmental practices and green supply chain also support shareholders’ wealth maximization. The findings of the study confirm stakeholder theory, social justice theory and shareholders’ theory.
Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Cerebral and Splanchnic Regional Saturation in Healthy Indian Neonates During the First Hour of Life
Authors: Palanisamy Ashwin Sangamesh , Venkatachalam Suresh Dhanam , Soundararajan Deepika , Viswanathan Suresh , Ramakrishnan Santhanakrishnan
Published: October 2024

Background

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measures regional tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) and is used in Western neonatal intensive care units (ICUs) to monitor early organ dysfunction, but its effectiveness on Indian neonates is not well documented.

Objectives

We evaluated cerebral, splanchnic regional oxygen saturation (CrSO2 and SrSO2) and fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE) in healthy Indian neonates using an U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved NIRS device.

Study Design

A prospective observational study.

Participants

Healthy neonates above 34 weeks gestation born at private tertiary hospital were studied. The study excluded babies with congenital anomalies, low APGAR scores, and babies requiring respiratory support.

Intervention

An INVOSTM 5100 C Regional Oximeter with two sensors were attached to the baby’s forehead and infraumbilical area for an hour following the initial transition period of the first ten minutes of life.

Results

Mean CrSO2 was significantly higher than SrSO2 by 10.87, p < 0.0001. Late preterm and low birth weight babies had higher CrSO2, while late preterm infants had lower SrSO2 than term infants. There was no significant SrSO2 difference based on weight. Regional saturations and calculated FTOE’s at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes were reported.

Outcomes

Findings indicate similar rSO2 and FTOE ranges as described in literature.

Conclusion

CrSO2 was higher than SrSO2, with notable differences among late preterm and lower-weight infants compared to term infants. Larger studies involving Indian neonates are warranted.
Urbanization and Equitable Welfare for Migrants: Analysing Disparities and Local Potential in Blora Regency, Indonesia
Authors: Aini Yulinda Nurul , Sacipto Rian , Wahyono Eko , Handitya Binov
Published: October 2024

Urbanization in Indonesia, propelled by a population of 200 million, confronts challenges related to achievement of equitable welfare for migrants. This study examines the disparities in migrant well-being within the rapidly urbanizing region of Blora Regency, Indonesia, focusing on socio-demographic characteristics and local potential for enhancing equitable welfare. Using data from the national socio-economic survey (SUSENAS), March 2017 and 2018 editions and fieldwork conducted in July 2023, this research evaluates migration trends and wealth index calculation constructed from seven asset-based indicators and analysed using structural equation modelling with the partial least squares method and ordinal logistic regression. Results indicate that technology ownership and housing quality are key determinants of migrants’ well-being. In rural areas, migrants, particularly women, older individuals, those with lower education levels and those who are non-working exhibit lower wealth levels. To address these disparities, the study suggests targeted interventions to enhance employment opportunities, career diversification and resource quality. The study’s recommendations propose the development of tourist villages and village-owned enterprises (BUMDesa), and utilization of forest lands for livestock, necessitating collaboration from local governments, agriculture departments and investments in production machinery to enhance the equitable welfare of all migrants.