bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How teachers’ student voice practices affect student engagement and achievement: exploring choice, receptivity, and responsiveness to student voice as moderators
Authors: Conner Jerusha , Mitra Dana L. , Holquist Samantha E. , Boat Ashley
Published: July 2024

Strategies that promote student voice have long been championed as effective ways to enhance student engagement and learning; however, little quantitative research has studied the relationship between student voice practices (SVPs) and student outcomes at the classroom level. Drawing on survey data with 1,751 middle and high school students from one urban district, this study examined how the SVP of seeking students’ input and feedback related to their academic engagement, agency, attendance, and grades. Findings revealed strong associations between this SVP and student engagement. Additionally, results showed that having just one teacher who uses the SVP is associated with significantly greater agency, better math grades, higher grade point averages, and lower absent rates than having no teachers who do so. In models testing interaction effects with choice, responsiveness, and receptivity to student voice, teachers’ receptivity was strongly associated with all outcomes. Few interaction effects were found. This study contributes compelling evidence of the impact of classroom SVPs and teacher receptivity to student voice on desired student outcomes.
Prediction of the free energy of binding for cyclodextrin-steroid complexes: phase solubility and molecular dynamics studies
Authors: Fereidounpour Parisa , Steinmann Casper , Larsen Kim Lambertsen
Published: July 2024

Steroid hormones play a crucial role in the body by acting as chemical messengers. They are, however, poorly soluble in water, and cyclodextrins can increase their solubility thus leading to increased bioavailability when used in drug formulations. Accuracy in the prediction of the free energy of binding of cyclodextrin/steroid inclusion complexes with simulation is important because of the potential value it brings by providing low-cost predictions of the real-life behavior of the cyclodextrin/steroid inclusion complex and the potential for high-through-put screening. Many computational methods exist, and it is therefore important to understand the ability of current theoretical models to accurately predict the free energy of binding for these inclusion complexes. We focused specifically on the estimation of the free energy of binding of inclusion complexes of four steroids: Hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, prednisolone, and 6α-methylprednisolone with native α-CD, β-CD, γ-CD, (2-hydroxy)propyl-β-CD, and sulfobutylether-β-CD by phase solubility as well as with α, β, and γ-CD by simulations. The simulations were assessed with both docking and the molecular mechanics combined with the generalized Born and surface area (MM/GBSA) continuum solvation approach. Considering the phase solubility diagram, (2-hydroxy)propyl-β-CD and sulfobutylether-β-CD dissolved more steroids in the higher concentration range as expected. The assessment of the free energy of binding obtained from the phase solubility and theory showed that the MM/GBSA method has shown promise in reliably generating accurate predictions in the field of calculating the free energy of binding of steroids/cyclodextrins with a correlation coefficient (R2) = 0.94.
Study of magnetocaloric properties of small Bi-doped Pr0.55Ca0.05Ba0.40Mn1−xBixO3 manganites
Authors: Akça Gönül , Kılıç Çetin Selda , Ekicibil Ahmet
Published: July 2024

Here, we investigated the magnetic and magnetocaloric (MC) properties of manganites labeled PrCaBaMnO and PrCaBaMnBiO, with compositions Pr0.55Ca0.05Ba0.40Mn1−xBixO3 (x = 0 and 0.02), respectively. The solid-state reaction method was used for sample preparation, and the structural properties were checked using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Temperature dependence of magnetization (M(T)) measurements was carried out in the range of 5–300 K under 100 Oe field to determine the transition temperature of the manganites. Magnetic entropy change ($$-\Delta {S}_{\text{M}}$$

-
Δ

S
M

) values were computed from field-dependent magnetization (M(H)) measurements. For the 2 T magnetic field values, the $$-\Delta {{S}_{ }}_{\text{M}}^{\text{max}}$$

-
Δ

S

M

max

values for the PrCaBaMnO and PrCaBaMnBiO manganites are 3.15 and 2.86 Jkg-1K-1, respectively. Relative Cooling Power (RCP) values were calculated from the temperature dependence of $$-\Delta {S}_{\text{M}}$$

-
Δ

S
M

(T) curves, resulting in 82.4 and 88.6 Jkg-1 for PrCaBaMnO and PrCaBaMnBiO, respectively. Banerjee’s criterion and Franco’s universal master curve confirmed that the transition type for the studied manganites is second order.
Entropy Spectrum of Lyapunov Exponents for Typical Cocycles
Authors: Mohammadpour Reza
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we study the size of the level sets of all Lyapunov exponents. For typical cocycles, we establish a variational relation between the topological entropy of the level sets of Lyapunov exponents and the topological pressure of the generalized singular value function.
The Impact of a Mobile Phone and Mobile Application-Supported Science Laboratory on the Digital Literacy of Preservice Teachers and Their Disposition Toward Using Technology in Class
Authors: Ürek Handan
Published: July 2024

Science education at different levels can be supported by various mobile applications that can be downloaded for free onto mobile phones, tablets, and other devices. Such applications can also be used in laboratory work, but it must be said that their use in science laboratories is a relatively new approach. This study is aimed at determining the impact of mobile phone and mobile application-supported laboratory work on the digital literacy of preservice science teachers and on their disposition toward using technology in class. The study was carried out with 17 participants at the second-year level of a Science Teacher Education Program in Turkey. It was a single-group pretest-posttest study, representing a type of weak experimental research design. Data for the study were collected with the Digital Literacy Scale developed by Hamutoğlu et al. (Ege Journal of Education 18(1):408–429, 2017) and the Disposition toward Using Technology in the Classroom Scale developed by Gunuc and Kuzu (Journal of Theory and Practice in Education 10(4):863–884, 2014). The data collection tools were implemented prior to and following a 6-week teaching period, and the quantitative data compiled from the participants were analyzed with the SPSS 21.0 program. The parametric t-test of related samples was used in the pretest/posttest comparison of the data sets. The results of the study demonstrated that science laboratory activities supported by mobile phones and mobile applications provided preservice teachers with increased digital literacy and enhanced their disposition toward using technology in the classroom. It is recommended that preservice teachers make extensive use of experiments supported by the mobile applications in this study.
A simple mechanism for uncrewed aircraft bioaerosol sampling in the lower atmosphere
Authors: Adkins Kevin A. , Li Kevin , Blasko Maximilian N. , Cabrera Jose L. , Neal Blake H. , James Timothy Y. , Hajian-Forooshani Zachary , Brines Shannon , Perfecto Ivette
Published: July 2024

Context

Understanding the movement of bioaerosols, such as spores and pollen, through the atmosphere is important for a broad spectrum of landscape research, including agricultural fungal outbreaks and pollen threats to public health. As spores and pollen can be transported in the air over large distances, the use of aircraft has historically played a role in detecting and mapping their presence in the lower atmosphere.

Objectives

We present a simple alternative to costly and specialized aircraft and associated equipment that are typically used in the study of spores and pollen in the atmosphere.

Methods

We use 3D printable components and common lab supplies mounted on an uncrewed aircraft (UA). Conveniently, this setup does not require additional electronic components to control collection during flight, using the UA landing gear mechanism instead.

Results

We demonstrate that this apparatus can collect fungal spores in the atmosphere and describe potential impacts by the environment and experimental protocol on collection efficiency. These include the effects of: (1) competing airflows from UA rotors, flight trajectories, and wind, (2) flight altitude, and (3) particle size and Petri dish collection medium.

Conclusions

Complex biological mechanisms and atmospheric dynamics dictate the release, transport, and deposition of bioaerosols. Economical methods to sample bioaerosols in the lower atmosphere can increase the amount and type of data collected and unlock new understanding. The methodology presented here provides an economical method to sample bioaerosols that can help improve landscape-level understanding of the dispersal of bioaerosols.
Nature-derived Peptides as Promising Antiparasitic Agents against Neglected Tropical Diseases
Authors: Lim Jia Yee , Yeong Keng Yoon
Published: July 2024

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of at least 20 infectious diseases that primarily affect tropical regions. Despite impacting 1.6 billion people worldwide, these diseases have not received adequate global priority and attention. Currently, NTDs caused by protozoa have limited therapeutic options, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains further exacerbates the situation. In recent years, several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as potential therapeutic candidates against NTDs. This review analyzes the contemporary trends of AMPs, explores their antiparasitic properties, and mechanisms of action against three parasitic protozoan NTDs: Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniasis and one parasitic helminth NTD: lymphatic filariasis. Furthermore, notable drawbacks associated with AMPs are highlighted, and future research directions are proposed. Overall, this review points out the potential of AMPs as therapeutic agents for these three protozoan neglected tropical diseases and one parasitic helminth NTDs as well as emphasizes the imperative need for continued research in this field.
Extracellular matrix-inspired biomaterials for wound healing
Authors: Hosty Louise , Heatherington Thomas , Quondamatteo Fabio , Browne Shane
Published: July 2024

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a debilitating and life-threatening complication of Diabetes Mellitus. Ulceration develops from a combination of associated diabetic complications, including neuropathy, circulatory dysfunction, and repetitive trauma, and they affect approximately 19–34% of patients as a result. The severity and chronic nature of diabetic foot ulcers stems from the disruption to normal wound healing, as a result of the molecular mechanisms which underly diabetic pathophysiology. The current standard-of-care is clinically insufficient to promote healing for many DFU patients, resulting in a high frequency of recurrence and limb amputations. Biomaterial dressings, and in particular those derived from the extracellular matrix (ECM), have emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of DFU. By providing a template for cell infiltration and skin regeneration, ECM-derived biomaterials offer great hope as a treatment for DFU. A range of approaches exist for the development of ECM-derived biomaterials, including the use of purified ECM components, decellularisation and processing of donor/ animal tissues, or the use of in vitro-deposited ECM. This review discusses the development and assessment of ECM-derived biomaterials for the treatment of chronic wounds, as well as the mechanisms of action through which ECM-derived biomaterials stimulate wound healing.
Nonlinear dynamics of diamagnetically levitating resonators
Authors: Chen Xianfeng , de Lint Tjebbe , Alijani Farbod , Steeneken Peter G.
Published: July 2024

The ultimate isolation offered by levitation provides new opportunities for studying fundamental science and realizing ultra-sensitive floating sensors. Among different levitation schemes, diamagnetic levitation is attractive because it allows stable levitation at room temperature without a continuous power supply. While the dynamics of diamagnetically levitating objects in the linear regime are well studied, their nonlinear dynamics have received little attention. Here, we experimentally and theoretically study the nonlinear dynamic response of graphite resonators that levitate in permanent magnetic traps. By large amplitude actuation, we drive the resonators into nonlinear regime and measure their motion using laser Doppler interferometry. Unlike other magnetic levitation systems, here we observe a resonance frequency reduction with amplitude in a diamagnetic levitation system that we attribute to the softening effect of the magnetic force. We then analyze the asymmetric magnetic potential and construct a model that captures the experimental nonlinear dynamic behavior over a wide range of excitation forces. We also investigate the linearity of the damping forces on the levitating resonator, and show that although eddy current damping remains linear over a large range, gas damping opens a route for tuning nonlinear damping forces via the squeeze-film effect.
Inner awareness: the argument from attention
Authors: Giustina Anna , Kriegel Uriah
Published: July 2024

We present a new argument in favor of the Awareness Principle, the principle that one is always aware of one’s concurrent conscious states. Informally, the argument is this: (1) Your conscious states are such that you can attend to them without undertaking any action beyond mere shift of attention; but (2) You cannot come to attend to something without undertaking any action beyond mere shift of attention unless you are already aware of that thing; so, (3) Your conscious states are such that you are aware of them. We open by introducing more fully the Awareness Principle (§ 1) and explicating the crucial notion of “mere shift of attention” (§ 2). We then develop the argument more fully, first in an intuitive form (§ 3) and then more formally (§ 4), before replying to a series of objections (§§ 5–7).
Bicarbonate is a key regulator but not a substrate for O2 evolution in Photosystem II
Authors: Vinyard David J. , Govindjee Govindjee
Published: July 2024

Photosystem II (PSII) uses light energy to oxidize water and to reduce plastoquinone in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. O2 is produced as a byproduct. While most members of the PSII research community agree that O2 originates from water molecules, alternative hypotheses involving bicarbonate persist in the literature. In this perspective, we provide an overview of the important roles of bicarbonate in regulating PSII activity and assembly. Further, we emphasize that biochemistry, spectroscopy, and structural biology experiments have all failed to detect bicarbonate near the active site of O2 evolution. While thermodynamic arguments for oxygen-centered bicarbonate oxidation are valid, the claim that bicarbonate is a substrate for photosynthetic O2 evolution is challenged.
The Affordances of Metaphors in Meaning-Making of Nutrient Uptake in Upper Primary School
Authors: Pettersson Alma Jahic , Danielsson Kristina , Rundgren Carl-Johan
Published: July 2024

Previous research suggests that the use of metaphors in science education have both possibilities and challenges. In this study, we analyse the role of metaphors in meaning-making in the upper primary science classroom. We investigate the potential of metaphors about nutrient uptake occurring in classrooms in which an animation was used. To identify metaphors in the classroom interaction, we have applied an analysis according to systemic-functional grammar (SFG), rooted in social semiotic theory. The present study indicates that the use of metaphors can play an important role in scientific meaning-making, since, in that way, students and teachers can make meaning about scientific processes and functions before having access to the scientific terminology. However, if metaphors are to be functional tools for meaning-making in science education, the teacher has an important role to play in, among other things, explicitly connecting the metaphors and everyday language to scientific concepts. We argue that metaphors based on functional similarity have a high affordance for making meaning about complex processes, such as nutrient uptake.
Towards a Theory of the Imaginative Dialogue: Four Dialogical Principles
Authors: Boven Martijn
Published: July 2024

This paper seeks to initiate a theory of “imaginative dialogues” by articulating four dialogical principles that enable such a dialogue to occur. It is part of a larger project that takes the Socratic dialogue, a widely utilized conversation technique in philosophy education, as a starting point and aims to reinterpret it by shifting emphasis to the pre-reflective, pre-linguistic, and multimodal aspects of dialogues, involving both their verbal and embodied dimensions. To integrate the verbal dimensions of a dialogue with its more elusive embodied dimensions, the paper will examine the notion ‘dialogue’ from the perspective of two different strategies. The first strategy chiefly focuses on the dialogic encounter. The ‘in-between’ of this dialogic encounter enables something to emerge that transcends the individual perspective of the speakers involved. The second strategy is primarily concerned with internal differentiation. The minor differences that constitute this internal differentiation, differentiate a dialogue from within. These strategies are not mutually exclusive but indicate a variation in starting point and orientation. This paper proposes to combine these two strategies by linking accounts of the productive moments in verbal dialogues to an account of the imaginative potential of embodied dialogues. This will enable the articulation of four dialogical principles (derived from Lev Yakubinsky, Oswald Ducrot, Martin Buber, and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz) through which an imaginative dialogue can proceed.
Wild sulphur-crested cockatoos match human activity rhythms to access food in the urban environment
Authors: Fehlmann G. , Martin J. M. , Safi K. , Aplin L. M.
Published: July 2024

Urban areas are growing rapidly across the globe. Such environments present specific challenges to wildlife. Resources can be highly fragmented in space and time, accompanied by specific risks and opportunities that can emerge from proximity with humans. Overall, these have been shown to lead to specific activity patterns in wildlife, which tend to restrict their space use accordingly to avoid encounters with humans. Yet, some foraging opportunities supplied by humans can also attract wildlife. Urban-dwelling species would therefore benefit from learning when and where to exploit human derived food. Here, we investigate how birds exploit areas of different degrees of urbanization and if they do so with specific time patterns. We used the example of feeding sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) in Sydney, Australia. We combined tracking birds to identify key resources, and a citizen science approach to investigate human-wildlife interactions in the urban landscape. Our data suggest that SCC do not use all parts of their home range equally, but use green spaces as roosting and foraging areas, while facultatively using more urbanized areas at specific times when they are the most rewarding. This implies a role for sophisticated time and place learning, with birds matching activity to human patterns. This study builds on the literature investigating human-animal interactions, expanding our understanding of animals’ exploitation of human behavior. Our results highlight the unique opportunity that studies on urban wildlife have for understanding urban biodiversity establishment, maintenance, and cognitive ecology.
The Helicobacter pylori infection alters the intercellular junctions on the pancreas of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)
Authors: Hurtado-Monzón Edgar G. , Valencia-Mayoral Pedro , Silva-Olivares Angélica , Bañuelos Cecilia , Velázquez-Guadarrama Norma , Betanzos Abigail
Published: July 2024

Helicobacter pylori is a common resident in the stomach of at least half of the world’s population and recent evidence suggest its emergence in other organs such as the pancreas. In this organ, the presence of H. pylori DNA has been reported in cats, although the functional implications remain unknown. In this work, we determined distinct features related to the H. pylori manifestation in pancreas in a rodent model, in order to analyse its functional and structural effect. Gerbils inoculated with H. pylori exhibited the presence of this bacterium, as revealed by the expression of some virulence factors, as CagA and OMPs in stomach and pancreas, and confirmed by urease activity, bacterial culture, PCR and immunofluorescence assays. Non-apparent morphological changes were observed in pancreatic tissue of infected animals; however, delocalization of intercellular junction proteins (claudin-1, claudin-4, occludin, ZO-1, E-cadherin, β-catenin, desmoglein-2 and desmoplakin I/II) and rearrangement of the actin-cytoskeleton were exhibited. This structural damage was consistent with alterations in the distribution of insulin and glucagon, and a systemic inflammation, event demonstrated by elevated IL-8 levels. Overall, these findings indicate that H. pylori can reach the pancreas, possibly affecting its function and contributing to the development of pancreatic diseases.

Graphical Abstract
Practical Implications of Sum Scores Being Psychometrics’ Greatest Accomplishment
Authors: McNeish Daniel
Published: July 2024

This paper reflects on some practical implications of the excellent treatment of sum scoring and classical test theory (CTT) by Sijtsma et al. (Psychometrika 89(1):84–117, 2024). I have no major disagreements about the content they present and found it to be an informative clarification of the properties and possible extensions of CTT. In this paper, I focus on whether sum scores—despite their mathematical justification—are positioned to improve psychometric practice in empirical studies in psychology, education, and adjacent areas. First, I summarize recent reviews of psychometric practice in empirical studies, subsequent calls for greater psychometric transparency and validity, and how sum scores may or may not be positioned to adhere to such calls. Second, I consider limitations of sum scores for prediction, especially in the presence of common features like ordinal or Likert response scales, multidimensional constructs, and moderated or heterogeneous associations. Third, I review previous research outlining potential limitations of using sum scores as outcomes in subsequent analyses where rank ordering is not always sufficient to successfully characterize group differences or change over time. Fourth, I cover potential challenges for providing validity evidence for whether sum scores represent a single construct, particularly if one wishes to maintain minimal CTT assumptions. I conclude with thoughts about whether sum scores—even if mathematically justified—are positioned to improve psychometric practice in empirical studies.
Sludge reduction, nitrous oxide emissions, and phosphorus removal by oxic-settling-anaerobic (OSA) process: the effect of hydraulic retention time
Authors: Mannina Giorgio , Cosenza Alida , Di Trapani Daniele , Mofatto Paulo Marcelo Bosco
Published: July 2024

This paper presents a study on reducing sewage sludge by an oxic-settling-anaerobic (OSA) pilot plant compared to the conventional activated sludge (CAS) process in view of resource recovery and moving towards plant carbon neutrality. The OSA plant was supplied with real wastewater and the anaerobic reactor was operated under two hydraulic retention times (HRT) (4 and 6 h). Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were monitored for the first time to determine the OSA process’s production mechanism. The results highlighted that under the lowest HRT (4 h), the removal efficiencies of COD and PO4−P, increased from 75 to 89% and from 39 to 50% for CAS and OSA configurations, respectively. The observed yield coefficient was reduced from 0.58 gTSS gCOD−1 (CAS period) to 0.31 gTSS gCOD−1 (OSA period). A remarkable deterioration of nitrification efficiency under OSA configuration was obtained from 79% (CAS) to 27% (OSA with HRT of 6 h). The huge deterioration of nitrification significantly affected the GHG emissions, with the N2O-N fraction increasing from 1% (CAS) to 1.55% (OSA 4 h HRT) and 3.54% (OSA 6 h HRT) of the overall effluent nitrogen, thus suggesting a relevant environmental implication due to the high global warming potential (GWP) of N2O.

Graphical abstract
The Russo-Ukrainian War and the Brazilian Perspective on the International Order
Authors: Schorlemer Lena
Published: July 2024

In the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war, which Western policymakers widely perceive as a critical juncture shaping the global order and exacerbating the rift between the West and the Global South, this paper seeks to explore whether Brazil, a key voice of the Global South, has reassessed its perspectives on the global order and its aspirations for its role in the wake of the war. Not only is Brazil a key player in the Global South, set to host the G20 and BRICS summits in 2024, but its strategically ambiguous response to the war, which has been relatively consistent under the Bolsonaro and subsequent Lula administrations, has surprised the West and has often been misinterpreted as explicit support for Russia. Based on semistructured interviews with Brazilian diplomats and foreign policy experts, this paper argues that Brazil did not see the Russo-Ukrainian war as a trigger for a major shift in the international order, but rather as symptomatic of a widespread perception in the Global South that the so-called rules-based order defended by the West is inadequate to address global challenges and disruptions. Seeing the war as a confirmation of the need to reform the multilateral architecture, Brazil feels emboldened to actively promote reform processes and foster consensus among Global South countries. Engagement in informal organisations and on issues such as climate change and inclusive social development, where Brazil holds substantial influence, will be central to its efforts to enhance its soft power and promote reform of multilateral institutions.
Al- and Ta-Modified Alloy 740 Superalloy Castings Produced in Non-vacuum Conditions—Microstructure and Selected Properties
Authors: Grudzień-Rakoczy Małgorzata , Rakoczy Łukasz , Lech Sebastian , Dudziak Tomasz , Rząd Ewa , Goły Marcin , Paćko Marek , Chrzan Konrad , Cygan Rafał , Poletti Cecilia
Published: July 2024

The work focuses on characterizing the microstructure and selected properties of Al- (1.3 or 2.8 wt pct) and Ta-modified (2 or 3 or 4 wt pct) Alloy 740 Ni-based superalloy after heat treatment. The observations and analyses were conducted using thermodynamic simulations, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, steam oxidation, hardness, tensile, and stress rupture tests. The castings exhibit a typical dendritic structure, with the presence of fine γ′ precipitates, Nb-rich Laves phase precipitates, MC carbides, and MN nitrides are found in all modified castings. However, the presence of the η phase, G phase, and M23C6 is dependent on the superalloy’s chemical composition. At room temperature, the reference cast superalloy had an ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of 655 MPa and 477 MPa, respectively. In modified castings, the ultimate tensile strength and YS are higher, respectively, 713–1046 MPa and 705–903 MPa. After steam oxidation at 760 °C/1000 h, the mass gain of the modified castings was in the range of 0.339–0.429 mg/cm2. The addition of tantalum resulted in decreased oxidation resistance and the formation of the TiTaO4 oxide at the Cr2O3/superalloy interface.
One size does not fit all: Optimizing size-inclusive model photography mitigates fit risk in online fashion retailing
Authors: Zhang Yerong , Ikonen Iina , Eelen Jiska , Sotgiu Francesca
Published: July 2024

Despite retailers’ interest in moving away from thin-model photography to embrace body-size diversity, online fashion shopping predominantly features thin models. While concerns about negative consequences for sales impede industry-wide changes, we demonstrate that consumers and retailers benefit from optimally portraying diverse bodies. Three studies unveil the “Dissimilarity-Risk Deterrence Effect,” wherein thin models dissuade consumers with larger clothing sizes from online purchasing due to perceived body-size dissimilarity and heightened fit-risk perception. Eight experiments demonstrate that models of consumers’ own size mitigate the effect, enhancing online purchase decisions, while controlling for mechanisms like positive affect, authenticity and social identification. The effect extends across various clothing items but attenuates when body size matters less to fit evaluation. Moreover, the effect is concealed by retailers’ risk-reducing strategies, such as measurement information and free product return policies. This research underscores the strategic significance of diverse product imaging to improve supply chain efficiency and consumer well-being.
Hope(lessness) in the Stories of Abraham and Sisyphus
Authors: Vičanová Gabriela
Published: July 2024

When looked at under the perspective of hope, existential philosophers Albert Camus and Søren Kierkegaard are typically seen as inverted images of one another: Kierkegaard embraces hope, which for him is a religious sentiment that he describes at length in Fear and Trembling through the character of Abraham. Camus – on the other hand – rejects hope, seeing both Kierkegaard and Abraham as individuals who had committed what Camus terms a ‘philosophical suicide.’ Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus can thus be understood as an answer to Kierkegaard’s Abraham: Sisyphus – unlike Abraham – is an individual who had accepted the absurd nature of the world, rejected hope, and thus achieved happiness. In my paper, I will argue that Camus’ criticism of Kierkegaard and of Abraham is not final – I will argue that Camus, in fact, sees hope as an existentially important phenomenon. I will show that Camus does not reject hope in The Myth of Sisyphus but that he merely temporarily suspends it, only to return to it in his later writings. The Myth of Sisyphus is therefore only one of the many ‘stages on life’s way,’ and I will argue that hope is an important aspect of human existence not only for Kierkegaard but also for Camus. That said, Camus’ understanding of hope will not be the same as Kierkegaard’s; hope will exist not in relation to God, but in a relationship with other human beings.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of the Rapid Access Lung Cancer Clinic
Authors: Ghassemi-Rad Mohammad J. , Dennehy Colum , Lyons Noreen , Henry Michael T. , Kennedy Marcus P. , O’Reilly Éilis J. , Connolly Roisin M.
Published: July 2024

Background

The Rapid Access Lung Cancer Clinic (RALC) experienced fewer referrals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland.

Aims

Our aim was to determine the impact of the pandemic on the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the Cork University Hospital (CUH) RALC, using a retrospective chart review of the referrals and attendances.

Methods

The medical charts of patients referred to CUH-RALC from 03/2019 to 02/2020 (period I), and from 03/2020 to 02/2021 (period II) were reviewed. Performance of the RALC was determined based on average wait time from referral to 1] acquisition of the first CT scan, 2] consultation, and 3] receiving a cancer diagnosis, and compared between periods I and II.

Results

Average monthly referrals (57.3 vs 42.1, p = 0.0078) and RALC reviews (24.3 vs 22, p = 0.0310) were lower in period II compared to period I. However, no difference was seen in the length of time from referral to review at RALC or time to receive cancer diagnosis. There were shorter wait times from referral to CT scan (11.2 vs. 8.7 days, p = 0.0011) and to surgery (109.0 vs 79.3 days, p = 0.0236) in period II.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic had minimal impact on the performance of RALC at our institution. Fewer referrals to RALC in period II may relate to hesitancy in attending general practitioner (GP) and/or GPs raising the thresholds for referrals to RALC during the early lockdown period of the pandemic. A national evaluation will be required to fully determine the impact of this pandemic on lung cancer in Ireland.
Blood Cancer Network Ireland (BCNI) and National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) collaboration: challenges and utility of an Enhanced Blood Cancer Outcomes Registry (EBCOR) pilot
Authors: Millar Seán R. , Mohamed Mohamed Bakri , Mykytiv Vitaliy , McMorrow Rose , Donnelly Conan , O’Leary Eamonn , Orfali Nina , Murphy Philip , Browne Paul V. , Quinn John , O’Gorman Peter , Ryan Mary F. , Clifford Ruth , Hassadi Ezzat El , O’Shea Derville , Gilligan Oonagh , Krawczyk Janusz , O’Dwyer Michael E. , Szegezdi Eva , Cahill Mary R.
Published: July 2024

Background

The Blood Cancer Network Ireland and National Cancer Registry Ireland worked to create an Enhanced Blood Cancer Outcomes Registry (EBCOR). Enhanced data in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) included an extensive data dictionary, bespoke software and longitudinal follow-up.

Aims

To demonstrate the utility of the database, we applied the data to examine a clinically relevant question: Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) usefulness in predicting AML patients’ survival.

Methods

A software designer and consultant haematologists in Cork University Hospital worked together to standardise a data dictionary, train registrars and populate a database. One hundred and forty-one AML patients underwent enhanced data registration. Comorbidities identified by chart review were used to examine the capability of the CCI and age at diagnosis to predict mortality using Kaplan–Meier curves, Cox regression and receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

In regression analysis, a dose–response relationship was observed; patients in the highest CCI tertile displayed a greater risk (HR = 4.90; 95% CI 2.79–8.63) of mortality compared to subjects in tertile 2 (HR = 2.74; 95% CI 1.64–4.57) and tertile 1 (reference). This relationship was attenuated in an analysis which adjusted for age at diagnosis. The area under the curve (AUC) for the CCI was 0.76 (95% CI 0.68–0.84) while the AUC for age at diagnosis was 0.84 (95% CI 0.78–0.90).

Conclusions

Results suggest that the CCI provides no additional prognostic information beyond that obtained from age alone at AML diagnosis and that an EBCOR can provide a rich database for cancer outcomes research, including predictive models and resource allocation.
Approach to the patient with eosinophilia in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and biologicals
Authors: Lübke Johannes , Metzgeroth Georgia , Reiter Andreas , Schwaab Juliana
Published: July 2024

Purpose of Review

In this review, we aim to explore the optimal approach to patients presenting with eosinophilia, considering recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Specifically, we focus on the integration of novel therapies into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.

Recent Findings

Advanced insights into the clinical and genetic features of eosinophilic disorders have prompted revisions in diagnostic criteria by the World Health Organization classification (WHO-HAEM5) and the International Consensus Classification (ICC). These changes reflect a growing understanding of disease pathogenesis and the development of targeted treatment options. The therapeutic landscape now encompasses a range of established and novel therapies. For reactive conditions, drugs targeting the eosinophilopoiesis, such as those aimed at interleukin-5 or its receptor, have demonstrated significant potential in decreasing blood eosinophil levels and minimizing disease flare-ups and relapse. These therapies have the potential to mitigate the side effects commonly associated with prolonged use of oral corticosteroids or immunosuppressants. Myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia and tyrosine kinase (TK) gene fusions are managed by various TK inhibitors with variable efficacy.

Diagnosis and treatment rely on a multidisciplinary approach. By incorporating novel treatment options into clinical practice, physicians across different disciplines involved in the management of eosinophilic disorders can offer more personalized and effective care to patients. However, challenges remain in accurately diagnosing and risk-stratifying patients, as well as in navigating the complexities of treatment selection.
Diagnostic dilemma in Cushing’s syndrome: discrepancy between patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations
Authors: Motomura Yuma , Urai Shin , Bando Hironori , Yamamoto Masaaki , Suzuki Masaki , Yamamoto Naoki , Iguchi Genzo , Ogawa Wataru , Fukuoka Hidenori
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Early diagnosis and immediate treatment of Cushing’s syndrome (CS) are critical for a better prognosis but remain a challenge. However, few comprehensive reports have focused on this issue or investigated whether patient-reported manifestations are consistent with physician-assessed symptoms of CS. This study aimed to clarify the differences in patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations of signs and symptoms of CS that prevent early diagnosis.

Methods

This single-center retrospective study included 52 patients with CS (16 with Cushing’s disease and 36 with adrenal CS). Upon clinical diagnosis, medical records were used to independently review the patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations of typical (such as purple striae and proximal myopathy) and nonspecific features (such as hirsutism and hypertension). The correlations and differences between the patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations were then analyzed.

Results

We observed a positive correlation between the total number of manifestations of nonspecific features reported by patients and those assessed by physicians, but not for typical features. Moreover, manifestations reported by the patients were less frequent than those assessed by physicians for typical features, leading to discrepancies between the two groups. In contrast, there were no differences in most nonspecific features between the patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations. Notably, the concordance between patient-reported and physician-assessed manifestations of typical features was not associated with urinary free cortisol levels.

Conclusion

Regardless of disease severity, patients often do not complain of the typical features of CS that are crucial for formulating a diagnosis.
Prenatal affective bond: a longitudinal study in women who achieved pregnancy through assisted reproduction
Authors: Navarro-Aresti Lucía , Gordo Leire , Iriarte Leire , Iraurgi Ioseba , Estévez Ana , Martínez-Pampliega Ana
Published: July 2024

The prenatal maternal affective bond can be understood as the emotional relationship that a pregnant woman establishes with her unborn child. This prenatal relationship develops gradually during the entire pregnancy. To study the prenatal maternal affective bond, and the variables involved therein, over the entire gestation for women who achieved pregnancy through assisted reproduction techniques (ART). We conducted a longitudinal study in which we evaluated 49 women at the three gestational trimesters: after the ultrasound confirmation of heart beat (from the 6th – 7th week of pregnancy), around the 20th week of gestation, and as of week 34. This study reflects, among other issues, that the prenatal maternal affective bond is very high from the beginning of pregnancy and increases trimester-by-trimester, showing very high levels at the end of the pregnancy. While the small number of participants has limited the statistical power, the data obtained are a first approximation to the studied reality that allows us to identify variables on which to continue working in future studies.
Informal Learning in Business Internships in Higher Education – Findings from a Diary Study
Authors: Brodsky Alexander , Rausch Andreas , Seifried Jürgen
Published: July 2024

Internships offer the opportunity to gain experience and skills by working in organisations or to establish a professional network, and there is empirical evidence of the positive effects of practical experience in higher education. However, there are only a few studies on the characteristics of workplace tasks that facilitate learning during internships. In this paper, we address this research gap by conducting a diary study to examine students' work tasks at the beginning and end of an eight-week business internship period, their perceptions of the tasks, and the influence of task characteristics on self-perceived learning. Analyses of approximately 2,000 work tasks documented by 51 students show that the frequencies of different work tasks did not differ substantially between the first and last week of the business internship. At both times of data collection, many students were engaged in organisational routine and administrative tasks, especially those with a domain-specific focus. However, the values for the assessment of task characteristics (such as challenge/difficulty) were higher at the beginning of the internship than towards the end. Causal analyses revealed that task characteristics such as novelty or feedback (from colleagues or supervisors) were positive predictors of self-perceived learning during both weeks, whereas the predictive power of other task features changed. For example, help received (from colleagues or supervisors) was a significant predictor in the first week of the internship but not in the last; the opposite was the case for autonomy. From these results, we derive implications for both future research and the active design of internships in the higher education context.
Contextually Sensitive Polyvictimization Profiles and Physical and Mental Health Outcomes among South African Adolescents from Low-Resource Communities: An Extended Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Franchino-Olsen Hannabeth , Spreckelsen Thees , Orkin Mark , Meinck Franziska
Published: July 2024

Adolescents in South Africa may experience violence victimizations in many forms (abuse, bullying, assault) and across many contexts (home, school, community). Polyvictimization is a valuable framework to examine the diversity of violence in adolescents’ lives, particularly when employed alongside person-centered methods such as latent class analysis. This study builds on previous work examining contextually sensitive patterns of polyvictimization among South African adolescents and uses longitudinal Young Carers data (n = 3401) from highly-deprived, low-resource settings to investigate the associations between latent class polyvictimization profiles and physical and mental health outcomes using the Bolck–Croon–Hagenaars (BCH) method. Key results found that adolescents who experienced high polyvictimization alongside contextual factors (poverty, disability, etc.) had greater odds of suicidality and higher scores for depression and anxiety measures than their peers who experienced moderate or low polyvictimization. These outcomes were often worse within the high polyvictimization classes for those participants experiencing burdens of HIV/AIDS and disability. Results were mixed for the physical health outcomes (chronic health condition; recent poor health) and when distinguishing between the moderate and low polyvictimization classes, as some classes characterized by decreased polyvictimization had worse health outcomes. These findings highlight the need to consider polyvictimization as a relevant health risk and contextual factor when addressing the health and well-being needs of South African adolescents. Health programming and policy efforts should seek to screen for and address the causes of and distress from polyvictimization when targeting adolescents and provide a cohesive response to the adolescent violence and health burdens in low-resource communities.
Nano Photo Bleaching Method of Cotton Fabrics for a Sustainable Finishing
Authors: Basyigit Zeynep Omerogullari , Ciğeroğlu Zeynep
Published: July 2024

In modern textile-bleaching methods, H2O2 is commonly preferred due to its less harmful effects on the environment. The use of hydrogen peroxide in bleaching processes, although biodegradable on its own, increases the waste load due to the high amount of auxiliary chemicals used. The long processing times and high-temperature requirements of hydrogen peroxide bleaching led to increased energy consumption. Moreover, the high-water consumption required for post-treatment is also a disadvantageous factor. In other words, while the use of a high amount of auxiliary chemicals in hydrogen peroxide bleaching increases the waste load, long time and high-temperature requirements also increase energy consumption, and the high-water consumption required for post-treatment has a disadvantageous effect. In this study, raw cotton fabric is subjected to chemical finishing treatments that either oxidize or reduce it as part of the bleaching process. The results of photo bleaching were compared with conventional hydrogen peroxide finishing applications. Our findings showed that nano-TiO2-treated cotton had a better whiteness value than treated with H2O2 cotton according to the color spectrum whiteness indexes. It is strongly considered that this method could be a new alternative way for bleaching textile materials in the finishing departments.
The Effect of Sediment Mud Content on Primary Production in Seagrass and Unvegetated Intertidal Flats
Authors: Flowers Georgina J. L. , Needham Hazel R. , Bulmer Richard H. , Lohrer Andrew M. , Pilditch Conrad A.
Published: July 2024

As a consequence of anthropogenic activities and climate change, accelerated terrestrial sediment runoff is causing the gradual mudification of soft sediment estuarine habitats worldwide. Increased sediment mud content (< 63 µm) has been recognised to alter seagrass morphology and cause declines in primary production in unvegetated habitats. However, the effect of increased mud content on primary production in seagrass meadows remains largely unknown. To address this, primary production in intertidal seagrass meadows (Zostera muelleri) and adjacent unvegetated habitats was measured in situ using benthic incubation chambers across an existing sedimentary gradient (nine sites spanning 5–33% mud content). An additional two unvegetated mudflat sites (39–49% mud content) were also sampled to expand the gradient. Seagrass net (NPP) and gross primary production (GPP) was greater than in the adjacent unvegetated habitat and did not vary with mud content, even after standardising GPP by photosynthesising biomass (i.e. photosynthetic efficiency). In contrast, in the adjacent unvegetated habitat, photosynthetic efficiency declined with increasing mud content. Inclusion of the additional mudflat sites negatively impacted NPP, GPP, and photosynthetic efficiency in the unvegetated habitat. Thus, while primary production in seagrass meadows may have some resilience to future increases in mud content (up to ~33%), further degradation and loss of seagrass habitats could result in the expansion of unvegetated habitats and ultimately lead to production losses, likely to be most acute in areas with high mud content (≥ 39%).