bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Application and Effect of AI Fault Interpretation Technology in the Laoyemiao Area
Authors: Cheng Zeng , Lizhi Sun , Yongbin Bi , Bo Xu , Jian Duan , Yingxin Xu , Liping Qian , Wanfu Zhang , Hao Zhang , Zijuan Ying
Published: April 2024

The complex faults, especially mid-deep faults, in the Laoyemiao area of the Nanpu Sag, the Bohai Bay Basin, are unclearly understood for their characteristics, constraining the structural and geological delineation of the area. The hydrocarbon enrichment in the Laoyemiao area is closely related to the faults, and thus the precise identification of mid-deep faults is of great significance for understanding the structural system and reservoir distribution in the area. In the past twenty years, artificial intelligence (AI) scholars developed new technologies and methods to solve engineering problems. Typically, the AI seismic data interpretation technology plays a critical role in improving the accuracy and efficiency of fault interpretation. In order to define the structural characteristics of the Laoyemiao area, the "2W1H" seismic data were processed by fault-constrained structure-oriented filtering, and then interpreted using the EasyTrack module of GeoEast independently developed by BGP. It is found that the imaging quality and accuracy of mid-deep faults are improved effectively. On this basis, the SN-trending strike-slip fault systems were discovered, and the structural pattern and evolution law of mid-deep faults in the Laoyemiao area were re-understood. The results are of great significance for the structural identification, reservoir evaluation and selection of exploration targets in this area.
Multi-modal Metaphorical Analysis of Children’s Picturebook Little Stone Lion
Authors: Xu Qingli
Published: April 2024

Little Stone Lion stands out as a member of Xiong Liang's "Chinese Illustrated Book" series. This work tells the story from the perspective of the stone lion at the bridgehead of the town, recounting its observations, experiences, and feelings. This book integrates traditional Chinese ink painting techniques with cultural elements, presenting a Chinese-style visual creation. Drawing upon a qualitative research approach, the study employed a comprehensive analysis of Little Stone lion, focusing on identifying and interpreting the verbal, pictorial, and multimodal metaphors employed in the illustrations and their relation to the accompanying text. The study delved into the interplay between visual and textual elements, examining how they contribute to the creation of metaphoric meaning and literary depth in the picturebook. This research sought to uncover metaphorical meanings derived from the situational and conceptual-cognitive contexts as well as the underlying thematic and emotional layers embedded within the picturebook. As the only guardian deity of the town, the little stone lion has witnessed the growth and departures of countless generations, silently guarding this land and its people. Multimodal metaphors identified from camera angles, colors, and its plain monologue are enough to touch the heartstrings and evoke a deep sense of nostalgia for one's hometown and loved ones.
Application of Inflammatory Vital Pulp Therapy in the Treatment of Apical Periodontitis in a deciduous Molar: A Case Report
Authors: Chen Qianer , He Jiahui , Liu Yun , Sun Jin
Published: April 2024

Due to the distinct anatomical characteristics of deciduous teeth, they are particularly susceptible to apical periodontitis when afflicted by deep caries or other endodontic diseases. Conventional, root canal therapy (RCT) has served as the standard treatment protocol all the time by the most pediatric dentists. However, researchers try to find another possible alternative mothods because of its some drawbacks. Hence this report introduces a groundbreaking therapeutic modality - inflammatory vital pulp therapy (IVPT) - which has proven effective in treating apical periodontitis in a deciduous molar. The objective of this study was to assess the practicality and efficacy of IVPT in managing apical periodontitis in deciduous teeth. Through rigorous patient examination and evaluation, IVPT was adopted as the treatment plan, followed by meticulous long-term follow-up observations. The outcomes revealed remarkable clinical improvements, with the periapical lesion healing seamlessly without any complications. Notably, the development of the permanent tooth embryo remained undisturbed and progressed as expected. In summary, this study validates the efficacy of IVPT in treating apical periodontitis in deciduous teeth, opening a new avenue for the management of deciduous tooth diseases. The clinical utilization of this method is anticipated to enhance treatment experiences and prognostic outcomes for patients with deciduous tooth pathologies.
Exploring the Impact of Government Venture Capital (GVC) on Private Venture Capital (PVC) Investment Choices in China's Semiconductor Industry
Authors: Wang Zeqi , Gao Ke , Yang Jingjing
Published: April 2024

Can government venture capital (GVC) change the investment choice of private venture capital (PVC) to fulfill its political mission? Most of the previous literatures on GVC and PVC focus on the post venture capital (VC), while there are few studies on the impact of GVC on PVC before venture capital investment. This phenomenon is more obvious in previous studies with China as the research background. Based on the background of China's semiconductor industry, which is strongly supported by the Chinese government, this paper studies whether GVC can affect the investment niche and venture capital investment mode of PVC. Through empirical analysis of the VC data of semiconductor industry in Anhui, Beijing, Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces from 2012 to 2022, I found that in the semiconductor venture capital market of the above four provinces and cities, GVC effectively played a role of leverage and effectively attracted PVC to invest in the semiconductor industry. And as the number of semiconductor GVC data as a percentage of all semiconductor VC data continues to decline year after year, PVC is more inclined to invest in semiconductor R&D firms, and more inclined to invest the firms whose location has served as a target region for government semiconductor related guided funds, and the investment form of PVC is more inclined to syndicate investment with government venture capitalists. It can be said that GVC has effectively influenced the investment decisions of PVC and fulfilled its political mission of promoting the independence of technology and production in China's semiconductor industry.
L-proline Interaction with Methyl Linoleate Oxidation Products Formation in Dry System and at Temperatures: For Understanding in Low-Moisture Foods
Authors: Shah Viral , Buonopane Gerald , Fleck Louis
Published: April 2024

Dry and low-moisture foods could experience a significant loss in nutritional value due to the process of methyl linoleate oxidation. L-proline could interact with lipid oxidation products, potentially modifying their formation and reaction path. However, there was a lack of research on the interaction between L-proline and methyl linoleate oxidation products in dry and low-moisture food matrices, which was a concern given the potential impact on food safety and nutrition. To address this knowledge gap, a study investigated the interaction between L-proline and the oxidation products of methyl linoleate in a dry system. The study examined the formation of methyl linoleate oxidation products such as conjugated dienes, hydroperoxide, and hexanal in the absence and presence of varying moles of L-proline at different temperatures. The formation of conjugated diene, hydroperoxide, and hexanal was analyzed using UV spectrometer analysis, xylenol orange, and DNPH derivatization HPLC-UV analysis. The results showed that adding proline to methyl linoleate samples stabilized conjugated diene and decreased hydroperoxide and hexanal levels as temperature increased, compared to the control sample. This suggests that L-proline effectively interacted with methyl linoleate oxidation products and altered their formation and oxidation path in the dry system. Overall, this study provided a basis for significantly enhancing understanding of the reactions between L-proline and methyl linoleate oxidation products in dry and low-moisture foods, offered practical implications for the food industry, and paved the way for future research.
Psychological Flexibility Skills and Mental Wellbeing in Athletes: An Exploration of Associations and Gender Differences
Authors: Ronkainen Hannaleena , Lundgren Tobias , Kenttä Göran , Ihalainen Johanna , Valtonen Maarit , Lappalainen Raimo
Published: April 2024

Psychological flexibility skills (PFS) have shown to be an important aspect of wellbeing among the general population, however, there is a gap in research exploring flexibility skills among athletes. The present study examined the effects of PFS on young athletes’ (n = 106, M = 19.9) psychological wellbeing, symptomatology, and gender differences. Data was investigated using correlations and linear regression analyses. Higher PFS was associated with subjective wellbeing, recovery experiences, self-esteem, and lower levels of perceived stress, and depression symptoms (r = 0.30-0.53). Among the PFS, value-based actions acted as the strongest predictor for mental wellbeing and symptoms. In addition, avoidance of distressing thoughts and emotions related to sport was a significant predictor for self-esteem, symptoms of stress and depression but not for subjective wellbeing and recovery experience. Also, our results highlighted gender disparities, with female athletes reporting higher stress and depressive symptoms, while males exhibited better mental wellbeing, psychological recovery, self-esteem, and higher psychological flexibility skills. Overall, engagement in value-based actions may enhance athletes’ mental wellbeing. Further, it might be important to pay attention to individual differences related to gender both when assessing psychological flexibility skills and when applying interventions aimed at enhancing mental wellbeing among athletes.
An Evaluation of the Innovative Funding Models on Effective Administration of Secondary Schools in Imo State, Nigeria
Authors: Mezieobi Kelechi , Ossai Juliet , Iwang Anashie , Ukor Destiny
Published: April 2024

There is room for innovations at every given point in time including in the financial management of educational institutions. Innovative funding models are contemporary funding models explored and used in effective and efficient financial maintenance of an institution. This institution can be educational, financial, religious, business, and so on. This study examined the influence of innovative funding models on administration of secondary schools in Imo State. Two research questions guided the study while two hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study was 297 principals which comprised 83 males and 214 females. There was no sampling procedure because the population was manageable. The questionnaire used for data collection was a 15-item structured titled “Innovative Funding Models on Effective Administration of Secondary Schools Questionnaire (IFMEASSQ)”. The questionnaire was validated by three research experts, two experts in Educational Management from the Department of Social Science Education and one expert in Measurement and Evaluation unit of Department of Educational Foundations, all from Faculty of Education, Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri. Cronbach Alpha statistic was used to compute the internal consistency of the instrument which yielded .83 and .81 for clusters 1 and 2 with an overall reliability index of .82 which indicates that the instrument was reliable. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested with t-test statistic. The findings of the study showed that community involvement and corporate sponsorships influence the administration of secondary education in Imo State to a great extent. Based on the findings, the study recommended that Imo State government should create attractive policies that would enhance massive participations of individuals and corporate bodies in the funding administration of secondary schools.
A Novel Preparation and Purification of Ethyl-β-Cyclodextrins
Authors: Yongjiang Gan , Xiangping Wei , Zhen Zhou , Yimin Zhang
Published: April 2024

Ethyl-β-cyclodextrin can be widely used for controlled release of drugs, but its application is greatly limited due to the use of toxic ethylation reagents such as diethyl sulfate, chloroethane, and iodoethane in previous synthesis processes. This article expands the application range of ethyl-β-cyclodextrin by using green ethylation reagent instead of previously toxic ethyl reagents to synthesize ethyl-βcyclodextrin. Ethyl-β-cyclodextrins were studied by reaction with diethyl carbonate and β-cyclodextrin in DMF using anhydrous potassium carbonate as catalyst, During the reaction process, in order to avoid oxidation, the samples were kept in a protective atmosphere of N2 flow. A new green synthesis process for ethyl-cyclodextrins, using silica gel chromatography to synthesize and purify four substituted 6-O-ethyl-cyclodextrins. Their structures were characterized by IR, MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. The final product with a yield of 4% was obtained by chromatographic separation using acetonitrile-concd aq NH3-H2O-EtOAc (6:1:3:1) as the eluent. IR data indicate that the obtained product is the expected product. 13C-NMR characterization indicates that the substitution position of the product is at position 6, 1H-NMR, and MS characterization indicate that the degree of substitution of the product is 4. This synthesis method takes full advantage of the spatial selectivity of β-cyclodextrin. The method is green and simple. The target product is synthesized in one step, which is superior to previous reports.
Analysis of the Nearpod Content Application to Test Creative Writing Skills
Authors: Sa'adeh Rana , Mohammad Yuslina
Published: April 2024

This study aims to analyze the content of the “Nearpod” application that engages students in interactive learning experiences; where students could participate in virtual reality; Using e-learning websites, tablet applications and smart devices to achieve the best student responses in the field of distance learning to improve the creative writing skills of Grade 10 students in Arabic language. The study targets students of the second stage to identify the availability of the digital elements that make up the application on both writing and reading axes, The study aims to measure effect of the interactive activities in the Nearpod to improve the standards of “Creative writing” which builds students writing skills (Fluency, Originality, Flexibility, Expansion). Based on the results obtained, which showed that the application included interactive activities that could be effectively invested in the design of virtual classes for creative writing in the Arabic language, which depends largely on the teacher’s effort in creating distinguished classes to attract students, monitor their responses, and follow up their interaction and development, The researcher presented a preliminary conception or proposal for the written expression classes and made recommendations regarding the necessity of exploiting the electronic content of the application “Nearpod” in designing the preparatory creative writing classes before the post-test writing.
The Interdecadal Changes in the Spatial Structure of the South Pacific Oscillation and Its Implication for ENSO Diversity
Authors: Min Qingye , Zhang Renhe
Published: April 2024

The South Pacific Oscillation (SPO), characterized by a north–south dipole-like pattern of sea level pressure anomalies, is one of the key factors in understanding tropical–extratropical interactions in the South Pacific. We show that in boreal summer (June–August), the center of the northern lobe sea level pressure anomalies in the SPO is shifted to the east gradually after the 1960–70s. This study focuses on the relationship between the boreal summer SPO and following winter El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diversity before and after the eastward shift of the SPO’s subtropical lobe. The eastward shift of the SPO’s subtropical lobe altered both the seasonal footprint mechanism and the trade wind charging mechanism associated with the SPO and thus profoundly influenced the ENSO diversity. It is revealed that when the northern lobe of the SPO shifts to the west of its average location, it tends to strengthen the eastern Pacific (EP) El Niño mainly via the seasonal footprint mechanism. But after the SPO’s northern lobe shifts to the east of its average location, it tends to promote the development of central Pacific (CP) El Niño mainly via the trade wind charging mechanism. The changes in the spatial structure of convection over the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans may be one of the possible causes for the eastward shift in the SPO’s northern lobe. The findings in the present study have implications for a better understanding of ENSO diversity.

Significance Statement

Previous studies have demonstrated that the South Pacific Oscillation (SPO), as an important El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) precursor in the South Pacific, has the potential to provide an enhancement of the prediction of specific ENSO flavor. However, the historical variation in the SPO’s spatial structure and related changes in the relationship with the diversity of ENSO are still unclear. In this paper, we show that the subtropical lobe of the boreal summer (June–August) SPO is shifted to the east gradually after the 1960–70s. The changes in the spatial structure have also altered both the seasonal footprint mechanism and the trade wind charging mechanism which play important roles in the developmental processes of different types of ENSO. Our work highlights the importance of the interdecadal changes in the spatial structure of the SPO in understanding the relationship between the SPO and ENSO diversity.
Exploring the state of Qatar’s child protection system through the lens of frontline social workers
Authors: Alhajaji Asmaa , Aref Ahmed , Lansford Jennifer E
Published: April 2024

The child protection system in Qatar is newly developed and still fragmented and lacking a comprehensive legal framework. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of social workers in civil society organizations within the Qatar Social Work Foundation to understand barriers encountered by social workers in child protection and strategies used to overcome these barriers. Findings suggest that policy makers should establish a national framework for child protection and a national referral system that supports social workers in case management. Policies for social worker safety are needed, as are permanent supervisors who are specialized in child protection.
Book review: Raktima Mukhopadhyay, Itishree Pattnaik and Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt, Becoming a Farmer: Women in Rural West Bengal, India
Authors: Singh Saubhagya Laxmi
Published: April 2024

Raktima Mukhopadhyay, Itishree Pattnaik and Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt, Becoming a Farmer: Women in Rural West Bengal, India. Hyderabad: Orient BlackSwan, 2023, xiii+230 pp., ₹925 (paperback). ISBN: 978-93-5442-604-9.
Institutional reforms and entrepreneurial growth ambitions
Authors: Darnihamedani Pourya , Block Joern Hendrich , Jansen Justin
Published: April 2024

Institutional reforms have resulted in deep transformations of the global economy. Yet, the theoretical development and accumulating insights about the effects of institutional reforms on entrepreneurial outcomes have been inconclusive. Our study applies categorisation theory to argue that flexibility- and stability-enhancing reforms may affect entrepreneurial growth ambitions in distinct ways, depending on whether more innovative versus less innovative entrepreneurs perceive specific reforms as an opportunity or a threat. Our study employs a multi-source, repeated cross-sectional dataset of approximately 150,000 entrepreneurs from 65 countries, covering the period from 2002 to 2016. Our findings indicate that flexibility-enhancing reforms lead to higher growth ambitions. They are particularly favoured by less innovative entrepreneurs. On the contrary, stability-enhancing reforms do not affect growth ambitions of entrepreneurs in general but rather increase growth ambitions of more innovative entrepreneurs. Our study provides important theoretical and practical implications about the consequences of institutional reforms on growth ambitions of entrepreneurs with different levels of innovation.
A novel immune cell signature for predicting glioblastoma after radiotherapy prognosis and guiding therapy
Authors: Huang Rong , Lu Xiaoxu , Sun Xueming , Wu Hui
Published: April 2024

Background: Glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumor, poses a significant clinical challenge, particularly in the context of radiotherapy. In this study, we aimed to explore infiltrating immune cells and identify immune-related genes associated with glioblastoma radiotherapy prognosis. Subsequently, we constructed a signature based on these genes to discern differences in molecular and tumor microenvironment immune characteristics, ultimately informing potential therapeutic strategies for patients with varying risk profiles. Methods: We leveraged UCSC Xena and CGGA gene expression profiles from post-radiotherapy glioblastoma as verification cohorts. Infiltration ratios were stratified into high and low groups based on the median value. Differential gene expression was determined through Limma differential analysis. A signature comprising four genes was constructed, guided by Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment results and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. We evaluated differences in cell infiltration levels, Immune Score, Stromal Score, and ESTIMATE Score and their Pearson correlations with the signature. Spearman’s correlation was computed between the signature and patient drug sensitivity (IC50), predicted using Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) and CCLE databases. Results: Notably, the infiltration of central memory CD8+T cells exhibited a significant correlation with glioblastoma radiotherapy prognosis. Samples were dichotomized into high- and low-risk groups based on the optimal signature threshold (2.466642). Kaplan–Meier (K-M) survival analysis revealed that the high-risk group experienced a significantly poorer prognosis ( p = .0068), with AUC values exceeding 0.82 at 1, 3, and 5 years, underscoring the robust predictive potential of the signature scoring system. Independent validation sets substantiated the validity of the signature. Statistically significant differences in tumor microenvironments (p < .05) were observed between high- and low-risk groups, and these differences were significantly correlated with the signature ( p < .05). Furthermore, there were significant correlations between high and low-risk groups regarding immune checkpoint expressions, Immune Prognostic Score (IPS), and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) scores. Conclusion: The immune cell signature, comprising SDC-1, PLAUR, FN1, and CXCL13, holds promise as a predictive tool for assessing glioblastoma prognosis following radiotherapy. This signature also offers valuable guidance for tailoring treatment strategies, emphasizing its potential clinical relevance in improving patient outcomes.
Release of exosomes from injectable silk fibroin and alginate composite hydrogel for treatment of myocardial infarction
Authors: Ni Yunjie , Hua Yinjian , He Zhengfei , Hu Weilv , Chen Zhiyun , Wang Diqing , Li Xintong , Sun Yanfang , Jiang Guohua
Published: April 2024

Myocardial infarction (MI) is considered as a significant cause of death globally. Exosomes (EXOs) are essential for intercellular communication and pathophysiology of several cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the short half-life and rapid clearance of EXOs leads to a lack of therapeutic doses delivered to the lesioned area. Therefore, an injectable silk fibroin and alginate (SF/Alg) composite hydrogel was developed to bind folate receptor-targeted EXOs (FA-EXOs) derived from H9C2 cells for the therapy of myocardial injury following myocardial infarction-ischemia/reperfusion (MI-I/R). The resulting composite exhibits a variety of properties, including adjustable gelation kinetics, shear-thinning injectability, soft and dynamic stability that adapts to the heartbeat, and outstanding cytocompatibility. After injected into the damaged rat heart, administration of SF/Alg + FA-EXOs significantly enhanced cardiac function as demonstrated by improved ejection fraction, fractional shortening and decreased fibrosis area. The results of real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining show a remarkable up-regulation in the expression of proteins (CD31) and genes (VWF and Serca2a) related to the heart. Conversely, expression of fibrosis-related genes (TGF-β1) decreased significantly. Therefore, the obtained SF/Alg + FA-EXOs system remarkably enhanced the intercellular interactions, promoted cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and achieved an outstanding therapeutic effect on MI.
Maintenance and transformation method for a multi-AUV dense formation
Authors: Chen Kuo , Zhang Jin , Yu Jiancheng
Published: April 2024

Accurate formation maintenance and safe formation transformations are significant challenges for multiple autonomous underwater vehicle (multi-AUV) dense formations. To address these problems, an innovative control method for a multi-AUV dense formation is proposed. First, a model predictive controller (MPC) that considers AUV input constraints and external disturbances is designed such that a multi-AUV dense formation can accurately maintain a desired formation while tracking a reference trajectory. After that, at the kinematics level, an optimal path for a safe and efficient multi-AUV dense formation transformation is generated based on the Hungarian method. Furthermore, considering an underactuated and nonlinear AUV dynamics model at the dynamics level, a potential function based on collision avoidance is established. It is added to the MPC objective function to further guarantee the potential of the formation transformation. Finally, a multi-AUV dense formation maintenance simulation shows that the proposed method can guarantee higher trajectory tracking accuracy than other algorithms. A multi-AUV dense formation transformation simulation shows that the proposed method avoids the occurrence of cross paths and a safe distance between AUVs is always maintained. The above results demonstrate that multi-AUV dense formations can achieve accurate maintenance and safe transformations, and the proposed method is feasible and effective.
From Financial Risk Management to Promotive Health: A Paradigm Shift in Employer-sponsored Health Insurance?
Authors: Mendoza Roger Lee
Published: April 2024

Health insurance serves to contain financial loss arising from an insured individual’s healthcare costs. We investigate an evolving paradigm shift in employer-sponsored health insurance by which workplace health promotion has increasingly gained coverage. The question for analytical investigation is why and how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) succeeded in integrating health promotion into private health insurance in the United States. Survey data (2008–2020) from the Employer Health Benefits, Annual Survey was disaggregated by insurance attributes and employer characteristics relative to health promotion benefits. Pertinent regulatory policies were content-analysed. The ACA offers a viable policy vehicle for mandating strategic, ex ante coverage of preventive and wellness services, and chronic disease management, nudging insurers to offer related benefits. Such policy is underpinned by insurer and employer incentives, including state-based individual mandates, the medical loss ratio, state-driven workplace initiatives and employee participation rewards. While health promotion reduces long-run healthcare costs and risk of disease and improves worker health and productivity, absent carefully devised incentives and rewards, compelling insurers and employers to cover promotive health is unlikely to achieve the objectives and imperatives of healthcare reform. Such policy could even have adverse, albeit unintended, consequences that outweigh their intended outcomes, as insurers may devise ‘backdoor’ strategies once regulatory costs become burdensome.
Do Drug Cost Containment Measures in India Increase Affordability of Cancer Drugs? Evidence from Spending on and Cost of Cancer Medicines
Authors: George Sobin , Balachandran Arun , K N Anushree
Published: April 2024

The article examines the drug pricing policy and cost containment measures in India by drawing on the data of spending on and price variations of cancer drugs. Results show that medicines held the highest share in the out-of-pocket (OOP) cancer medical expenditure in private and public sectors, and it was more pronounced for private sector and in outpatient care. Medicine expenditure has a positive and significant causal association to OOP medical expenditure of cancer patients even when other medical costs, type of care and socio-economic backgrounds are controlled for. Further, there were significant price variations for recently approved anticancer medicines across brands, which are under and outside price control. The results confirm the ineffectiveness of price control measures for cancer drugs under market-based pricing policy and the inadequacy of existing risk protection measures in India. This calls for the adoption of appropriate cost containment measures, which include expanding the scope of all forms, types and severities of cancer and anticancer medications under health insurance and adoption of a uniform treatment protocol across private and public sectors.
From principles to practice: Clarifying new obligations under Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022
Authors: Katterl Simon
Published: April 2024

Objective

To explain the new test for complying with the mental health principles under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 (Vic).

Conclusion

The principles carry over limitations from the previous Mental Health Act 2014 (Vic) while also containing new features. The ‘all reasonable efforts to comply’ and ‘proper consideration’ tests resemble the existing test under section 38(1) of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) that also apply to public mental health services. Taking these duties together, public mental health services, including hospital and community mental health boards, clinical directors and clinical governance processes, will need to show concrete evidence of specific rights and/or principles being deliberated in their decisions.
Changes in Spinal Instability After Conventional Radiotherapy for Painful Vertebral Bone Metastases
Authors: Nakata Eiji , Sugihara Shinsuke , Nakahara Ryuichi , Katayama Haruyoshi , Itano Takuto , Ozaki Toshifumi
Published: April 2024

Objective: Precise assessment of spinal instability is critical before and after radiotherapy (RT) for evaluating the effectiveness of RT. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of RT in spinal instability over a period of 6 months after RT, utilizing the spinal instability neoplastic score (SINS) in patients with painful spinal metastasis. We retrospectively evaluated 108 patients who received RT for painful vertebral metastasis in our institution. Mechanical pain at metastatic vertebrae, radiological responses of irradiated vertebrae, and spinal instability were assessed. Follow-up assessments were done at the start of and at intervals of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months after RT, with the pain disappearing in 67%, 85%, 93%, 97%, and 100% of the patients, respectively. The median SINS were 8, 6, 6, 5, 5, and 4 at the beginning and after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months of RT, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that posterolateral involvement of spinal elements (PLISE) was the only risk factor for continuous potentially unstable/unstable spine at 1 month. In conclusion, there was improvement of pain, and recalcification results in regaining spinal stability over time after RT although vertebral body collapse and malalignment occur in some irradiated vertebrae. Clinicians should pay attention to PLISE in predicting continuous potentially unstable/unstable spine.
Authoritarians and “revolutionaries in reverse”: Why collective narcissism threatens democracy
Authors: Golec de Zavala Agnieszka
Published: April 2024

Collective narcissism is a belief that the ingroup deserves but is denied special treatment and recognition. It is a projection of the narcissistic need to be recognized as better than others on the social level of the self. It is an aspect of ingroup identification, one of the ways group members favour their ingroup. National narcissism is associated with collective narcissism of advantaged national subgroups (e.g., Whites, men). National collective narcissism and collective narcissism of advantaged groups similarly predict discrimination of disadvantaged national subgroups (e.g., racial minorities, women) and legitimization of group-based inequality. Members of disadvantaged groups who endorse national narcissism internalize beliefs legitimizing inequality. Ultraconservative populists propagate national narcissism to undermine the political system that does not sufficiently serve the interests of advantaged groups. National narcissism predicts patriotism and nationalism. Once the three forms of national favouritism are differentiated, it becomes clear that patriotism does not come at the expense of nationalism, discrimination, societal polarization, or erosion of democracy. Instead, it may be a remedy against them.
r/The_Donald Had a Forum: How Socialization in Far-Right Social Media Communities Shapes Identity and Spreads Extreme Rhetoric
Authors: Ferrillo Vivian
Published: April 2024

Can engagement with far-right social media communities socialize users into a new political identity? This study addresses concerns about the spread of far-right groups on mainstream social media platforms by examining how newcomers are affected by their engagement with these groups. I theorize that changes in social identity expression indicative of socialization will be measurable in the language users use to express themselves on social media, and that the magnitude of this linguistic change will intensify with more frequent far-right engagement. I develop a custom dictionary of far-right-relevant terms sourced from communities like The Daily Stormer and Stormfront. Using an original dataset of Reddit user posting histories from 2015–2017, I test for increases in the frequency of this far-right vocabulary. I find that users who engage often with a far-right community like r/The_Donald begin to sound more like white nationalists within three months. Socialized users also use far-right vocabulary more frequently in other spaces on their platform, contributing to the spread and normalization of far-right rhetoric.
Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Abuse Causes Cardiac Dysfunction
Authors: Momoh Rabiu
Published: April 2024

This article aims to review available literature evidence about the harmful effects of long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse on the heart. A review of 11 existing literature articles regarding this association has been used in the development of this review article. There is increasing medical literature documentation of the eventual harmful effect of AAS misuse or abuse on the heart. Individuals who misuse these steroids are susceptible to significant debilitation and loss of productive person-hours, and in severe cases, it can lead to death. Raising awareness about this potentially deleterious effect of anabolic steroids is crucial to prevent its misuse or abuse.
Reaction to the Death of the Girlboss: Critical Feminist Epistemology and Implications for HRD
Authors: Hernandez Geo N. , Nieto Bolivar X.
Published: April 2024

Girlboss is an archetype made popular in the 2010s that defined women’s success in terms of their individual determination and hard work. In their critique “The Death of the Girlboss: Critical Feminist Epistemology and Implications for HRD,” the authors problematize the girlboss archetype’s noting it’s individualistic nature and how it fails to acknowledge and account for the systemic barriers that all women continue to face at work. This reaction paper shares an alternative perspective on the girlboss archetype by expanding the definition of gender and women, discussing the need for collective acknowledgment of women’s successes, a proposing an evolution for girlboss.
Using virtual reality to manage pain and anxiety during dental treatments in patients with stroke: A case series
Authors: Tesfaye Essete Makonnen , Garito Isabella Patricia , Lewis-Fung Samantha , Calabia Dale , Schlosser Robert , Appel Lora
Published: April 2024

Dental anxiety is common post-stroke, with many patients unable to receive standard anesthetics. Virtual reality has been increasingly used to manage pain and anxiety in dentistry, though its use in individuals with stroke is largely unexplored. A case series of two patients with a history of stroke and dental anxiety was conducted at a specialized dental clinic. Patients watched 360°-virtual reality videos in a dental chair using a head-mounted display. Outcomes (patient: dental anxiety and pain, reactions to virtual reality; dental team: system usability, impact on workflow) were assessed using a standard observation tool, questionnaires, and interviews. Both patients wore virtual reality throughout the procedure and reported that the device was comfortable, provided a distraction, and had potential to reduce anxiety/pain. The dentist reported a positive impact on patient anxiety and time to complete procedures, and intends to continue using virtual reality with other stroke patients and clinical populations.
Do long constitutions really hamper economic performance? A comment on Tsebelis and Nardi (2016a)
Authors: Flick Witzig Martina , Vatter Adrian
Published: April 2024

In their contribution, Tsebelis and Nardi (2016a) examine the impact of constitutional design on economic performance. The authors find evidence of a significant negative relationship between constitutional length and economic performance. As we will show here, the results of Tsebelis and Nardi (2016a) are not robust. Several minor adjustments to the models, each on its own, reduce or eliminate the presumed relevance of constitutional length. Moreover, conceptual considerations raise doubts whether the focus on constitutional length is a promising path to follow.
Limitations of ELP Tests in Predicting Academic Achievement in the Middle East: A Case Study of the University of Sharjah’s EFL Students Majoring in Business
Authors: Ben Douissa Ismail , Besbes Khaled
Published: April 2024

This article discusses the limitations of language proficiency tests in predicting academic performance among business students at the University of Sharjah. It focuses on EFL students who had been instructed in Arabic before joining the university. Using a regression analysis model, the article demonstrates that students’ weakness in writing proficiency cannot be predicted by standardized tests such as the TOEFL and the IELTS. The proposed method uses several alternative variables that can more resourcefully investigate such weakness. The study ended with germane recommendations to EFL teachers and syllabus designers for the enhancement of writing proficiency among this category of students.
Google Trends–Assisted Analysis of the Readability, Accountability, and Accessibility of Online Patient Education Materials for the Treatment of AMD After US FDA Approval of Pegcetacoplan
Authors: Cohen Samuel A. , Brant Arthur , Rayess Nadim , Rahimy Ehsan , Pan Carolyn , Fisher Ann Caroline , Pershing Suzann , Do Diana
Published: April 2024

Purpose: To evaluate the readability, accountability, accessibility, and source of online patient education materials for treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to quantify public interest in Syfovre and geographic atrophy after US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Methods: Websites were classified into 4 categories by information source. Readability was assessed using 5 validated readability indices. Accountability was assessed using 4 benchmarks of the Journal of the American Medical Association ( JAMA). Accessibility was evaluated using 3 established criteria. The Google Trends tool was used to evaluate temporal trends in public interest in “Syfovre” and “geographic atrophy” in the months after FDA approval. Results: Of 100 websites analyzed, 22% were written below the recommended sixth-grade reading level. The mean (±SD) grade level of analyzed articles was 9.76 ± 3.35. Websites averaged 1.40 ± 1.39 (of 4) JAMA accountability metrics. The majority of articles (67%) were from private practice/independent organizations. A significant increase in the public interest in the terms “Syfovre” and “geographic atrophy” after FDA approval was found with the Google Trends tool ( P < .001). Conclusions: Patient education materials related to AMD treatment are often written at inappropriate reading levels and lack established accountability and accessibility metrics. Articles from national organizations ranked highest on accessibility metrics but were less visible on a Google search, suggesting the need for visibility-enhancing measures. Patient education materials related to the term “Syfovre” had the highest average reading level and low accountability, suggesting the need to modify resources to best address the needs of an increasingly curious public.
Rheological properties of magnesium bentonite and sepiolite suspensions after dynamic ageing at high temperatures
Authors: Christidis Georgios E. , Athanasakis Nikolaos , Marinakis Dimitrios
Published: April 2024

The rheological properties of three Na-activated, trioctahedral Mg-bentonites (hectorite clay from the CMS Source Clay Project repository, saponite clay from Spain and stevensite clay from Rhassoul, Morocco) and a sepiolite clay from Greece were examined after dynamic ageing at temperatures up to 230°C. The 5% w/v suspensions were prepared by dispersing the clay mineral samples in distilled water. The suspensions underwent dynamic, thermal ageing for 16 h before determination of the viscosity, filtration loss, filter cake thickness and pH and the concentration of dissolved Na+ and Mg2+. Thermal ageing contributed to the dispersion of clay particles, with a direct effect on plastic and apparent viscosity, introducing pseudoplastic behaviour. With the exception of the stevensite clay at 230°C that displayed limited dissolution at 230°C and partial conversion to kerolite, the clays were stable at high temperatures. The Na-activation of all clays except for stevensite was not adversely affected by thermal ageing. Thermal ageing of stevensite at 230°C facilitated Na exchange and yielded suspension with high viscosity and low filtrate loss. Only the suspensions of hectorite and those of stevensite aged at 230°C met with American Petroleum Institute specifications. The thermal behaviour and rheological properties of the clays might be interpreted according to the intrinsic properties of the clay minerals, such as layer charge and charge distribution.
Study on the regulatory alienation effect of China's Environmental Protection Tax Law during the strict epidemic control period: based on a sample test of 1000 tax personnel
Authors: Ming-jun Chen , Jian-ya Zhou
Published: April 2024

The enactment of the Environmental Protection Tax Law was a major event in the process of China's economic and social development. This law has achieved certain results in the first two years since enactment, but there have also been many problems. During the three-year strict pandemic control period, the normal process of Environmental Protection Tax Law implementation was impacted, causing alienation and reducing the quality of implementation. This study empirically reveals the alienation mechanism in the implementation of the Environmental Protection Tax Law by taking 1000 Chinese tax professionals, and randomly divides the sample equally into two parts, utilizing 500 samples for the initial test and another 500 samples for the robustness test. This research shows that pollutant emission monitoring (correlation coefficient is 0.07), preferential tax policies (correlation coefficient is 0.03) and the quality of tax personnel (correlation coefficient is 0.06) are not conducive to realizing the crowding-out effect of the Environmental Protection Tax Law, while preferential tax policies (correlation coefficient is 0.05), information-sharing platforms (correlation coefficient is 0.06) and the quality of tax personnel (correlation coefficient is 0.05) hinder the incentive effect, and the remaining elements passed the correlation coefficient test within certain confidence intervals. Therefore, the implementation of China's Environmental Protection Tax Law should be improved in the following ways: the accuracy of the environmental protection departments' supervision of pollutant emissions as well as the scientificity and rationality of preferential tax policies should be improved, the construction of environmental protection tax information-sharing platforms should be strengthened, and compound tax collection and management talent should be created.
Assessing the reliability of point mutation as data augmentation for deep learning with genomic data
Authors: Lee Hyunjung , Ozbulak Utku , Park Homin , Depuydt Stephen , De Neve Wesley , Vankerschaver Joris
Published: April 2024

Background

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have the potential to revolutionize our understanding and treatment of genetic diseases. An inherent limitation of deep neural networks, however, is their high demand for data during training. To overcome this challenge, other fields, such as computer vision, use various data augmentation techniques to artificially increase the available training data for DNNs. Unfortunately, most data augmentation techniques used in other domains do not transfer well to genomic data.

Results

Most genomic data possesses peculiar properties and data augmentations may significantly alter the intrinsic properties of the data. In this work, we propose a novel data augmentation technique for genomic data inspired by biology: point mutations. By employing point mutations as substitutes for codons, we demonstrate that our newly proposed data augmentation technique enhances the performance of DNNs across various genomic tasks that involve coding regions, such as translation initiation and splice site detection.

Conclusion

Silent and missense mutations are found to positively influence effectiveness, while nonsense mutations and random mutations in non-coding regions generally lead to degradation. Overall, point mutation-based augmentations in genomic datasets present valuable opportunities for improving the accuracy and reliability of predictive models for DNA sequences.