bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teachers’ Perception of Plagiarism in Higher Education in Bangladesh
Authors: Younus Md.
Published: September 2024

Plagiarism is a grave concern among academicians and researchers in higher education. Due to this issue, many academicians and researchers have faced unwanted penalties. In Bangladesh, newspapers publish news on plagiarism or academic dishonesty done by students, researchers, and academicians at the higher education level. This paper aims at investigating the factors influencing teachers’ perceptions of plagiarism in higher education in Bangladesh. The researchers used a qualitative research design to answer the research question: What are the perceptions of English teachers about plagiarism at the tertiary level in Bangladesh? For the collection of data, an in-depth interview guide was used to interview 10 English teachers who have ample experience in research and thesis supervision. The data found through the in-depth interview was analyzed thematically. The thematic analysis of the in-depth interviews revealed that the absence of writing courses, the absence of mentioning plagiarism in the course outline, negligence by the teachers and students, the non-existence of plagiarism policy at the institution level, absence of any plagiarism detection software, etc. influence academic writing misconduct. The study ends with a few effective recommendations for reducing plagiarism in higher education for individual and institutional academic behavior in Bangladesh.
Process-Based Evaluation of Intraseasonal Oceanic Kelvin Waves in the Pacific Ocean in CMIP6 Models
Authors: Cui Jingxuan , DeMott Charlotte , Riley Dellaripa Emily , Maloney Eric
Published: September 2024

Oceanic intraseasonal Kelvin waves (KWs) help modulate upper-ocean thermal characteristics, providing feedbacks to important coupled air–sea phenomena in the tropics. The recent availability of daily thermocline depth fields from several phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) models makes it possible to evaluate the performance of KWs and identify potential sources of bias. Most models fail to simulate a realistic spatial distribution of KW variability. Models simulate a large variability of KWs in the western or eastern Pacific rather than in the central Pacific as observed. The modeled KWs propagate slowly (about 1.5 m s−1) compared to observations (about 2.5 m s−1). This slow propagation is also identified in wavenumber–frequency spectra for KWs and meridional KW structures, which is more consistent with a second baroclinic mode structure in models compared to the first baroclinic mode structure in observations. An analysis of the relative contributions of the vertical wavenumber and background ocean stability to KW phase speeds indicates that the high vertical wavenumber bias in models contributes most to the slow propagation, in which the higher-than-observed vertical wavenumbers imply the biased incorporation of higher baroclinic modes in the model KW structure. This finding is further supported by the results of vertical mode decomposition that incorporates background density profiles. These results indicate that a realistic representation of the KW vertical structure is essential to produce realistic KW propagations in models.

Significance Statement

Oceanic intraseasonal Kelvin waves (KWs) play a significant role in regulating the heat content and temperature of the ocean, which provides feedbacks to coupled ocean–atmosphere phenomena in the tropics such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Consequently, identifying the biases in KWs and the potential sources of those biases in state-of-the-art models is essential to improve simulations of ENSO and its diversity and advance forecasts of weather extremes around the globe induced by ENSO. We find that KWs in the models propagate slower than observations, mainly due to biases in their vertical structure, with secondary effects due to biases in model ocean stability. These issues may be potential sources for current imperfect ENSO model simulations and predictions.
Absence of Aerosol Indirect Effect Dependence on Background Climate State in NCAR CESM2
Authors: White Kayla , Liu Dunyu , Persad Geeta
Published: September 2024

The aerosol indirect effect (AIE) dominates uncertainty in total anthropogenic aerosol forcing in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) models. AIE strength depends on meteorological conditions that have been shown to change between preindustrial (PI) and present-day (PD) climates, such as cloud cover and atmospheric moisture. Hence, AIE strength may depend on background climate state, impacting the dependence of model-based AIE estimates on experiment design or the evolution of AIE strength with intensifying climate change, which has not previously been explicitly evaluated. Using atmosphere-only simulations with prescribed observed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and sea ice in the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Earth System Model 2, version 2.1.3 (CESM2), Community Atmosphere Model, version 6.0 (CAM6), model, we impose a PD (2000) aerosol perturbation onto a PI (1850), PD, and PD with a uniform 4 K increase in the SST (PD + 4 K) background climate to assess the dependence of the total aerosol effective radiative forcing (ERF) and AIE on background climate. We find statistically insignificant increases in aerosol ERF when estimated in the different background climates, almost entirely from increases in direct ERF but with some regionally significant compensating signals in PD + 4 K. The absence of an AIE dependence on background climate in our PD simulation may be tied to documented differences in cloud responses to the observed SSTs used in our simulations versus SSTs produced by the fully coupled models from which most cloud feedback studies are derived, known as the “pattern effect.” Our findings indicate that AIE and aerosol forcing overall may not have a strong dependence on the background climate state in the near future but could regionally under extreme climate change.

Significance Statement

Diverse model representations of aerosol–cloud interactions strongly contribute to uncertainty in historical anthropogenic aerosol forcing and are associated with uncertainty in climate sensitivity. This study aims to highlight the dependence of aerosol indirect effects on the background climate state in Community Earth System Model 2, version 2.1.3 (CESM2), Community Atmosphere Model, version 6.0 (CAM6), by identifying microphysical and meteorological changes between aerosol-driven atmospheric responses in present-day and preindustrial climate states to understand anthropogenic aerosol-driven forcing more thoroughly.
Comments on Suraj Yengde’s lecture
Authors: Devji Faisal
Published: September 2024

Emerging out of religious conflict in early modern Europe, the terms race and caste as we understand them today went on to define hierarchical relations in different parts of the globe. Yet, they have never completely parted ways and Suraj Yengde’s essay explores these hidden connections in the use that American sociologists made of both categories. They generally did so by setting one term against the other in the attempt to account for racial discrimination in the United States. Race and caste were mediated by class in these debates, a category seen as being more modern and progressive than either of them. The comments that follow argue that caste and race are not simply the precursors of class and continue to interact with each other without the latter’s mediation. Anti-race and anti-caste politics are also more connected to religious forms of universality.
The Virtue of Religion and the Act of Doing Sacred Theology
Authors: Sherwood David Francis
Published: September 2024

In the theological tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas, this paper will argue that the practical actions of studying, contemplation, and teaching sacred theology are acts proper to the infused Christian virtue of religion. To understand this, the framework of Thomistic moral theology and anthropology is necessary. After introducing this background, St. Thomas’s understanding of the virtue of justice is explained alongside the virtue of religion, which is a potential part of this cardinal virtue. The second part of the paper moves into a description of the practical actions of theologizing, as distinguished from the essential nature of sacred theology. The way that these actions are variously elicited or commanded by the infused virtue of religion are then shown to be properly due to God as His just right.
Book review: Anna Sailer, Workplace Relations in Colonial Bengal: The Jute Industry and Indian Labour 1870s–1930s
Authors: Jaiswal Shivangi
Published: September 2024

Anna Sailer, Workplace Relations in Colonial Bengal: The Jute Industry and Indian Labour 1870s–1930s (New Delhi: Bloomsbury, 2022), 312 pp.
Book review: Francesca Orsini, East of Delhi: Multilingual Literary Culture and World Literature
Authors: Majeed Javed
Published: September 2024

Francesca Orsini, East of Delhi: Multilingual Literary Culture and World Literature (New York: Oxford University Press, 2023), 312 pp.
Portfolio Diversification Opportunities between Europe and India do Exist
Authors: Mohapatra Arup Bramha , Bhanotu Venkateswara Rao
Published: September 2024

In this article, a humble effort has been made to check the volatility transmission from European stock markets (FTSE100, DAX30, CAC40 and SMI20) to the Indian stock market (NIFTY50) to determine whether there is any opportunity for portfolio managers to diversify their portfolio. Various statistical tools and econometric models, such as vector autoregression (VAR) and dynamic conditional correlation (DCC)-multivariate generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (MGARCH), are used to detect the volatility transmission from the European market to the Indian market. The FTSE100 and the NIFTY50 have been found to have bidirectional causality. VAR results suggest that only the DAX30 and SMI20 (Germany and Switzerland) markets have an impact on the Indian market. Finally, using DCC-MGARCH, the researcher found that information spillover takes place from all European countries to India over a longer period of time, but portfolio diversification between the London market (FTSE) and the Indian market (NIFTY) and German market (DAX) with Indian market (NIFTY) is possible over a shorter period of time.

JEL Codes: C01, G1, G17
Acceleration of HDL-Mediated Cholesterol Efflux Alleviates Periodontitis
Authors: Tran T.-T. , Lee G. , Huh Y.H. , Chung K.-H. , Lee S.Y. , Park K.H. , Kim J.-H. , Kook M.-S. , Ryu J. , Kim O.-S. , Lim H.-P. , Koh J.-T. , Ryu J.-H.
Published: September 2024

Periodontitis (PD) is a common inflammatory disease known to be closely associated with metabolic disorders, particularly hyperlipidemia. In the current study, we demonstrated that hypercholesterolemia is a predisposing factor in the development of PD. Logistic regression analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between PD and dyslipidemia. Data from in vivo (PD mouse model subjected to a high cholesterol diet) and in vitro (cholesterol treatment of gingival fibroblasts [GFs]) experiments showed that excess cholesterol influx into GFs potentially contributes to periodontal inflammation and, subsequently, alveolar bone erosion. Additionally, we compared the protective efficacies of cholesterol-lowering drugs with their different modes of action against PD pathogenesis in mice. Among the cholesterol-lowering drugs we tested, fenofibrate exerted the most protective effect against PD pathogenesis due to an increased level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, a lipoprotein involved in cholesterol efflux from cells and reverse cholesterol transport. Indeed, cholesterol efflux was suppressed during PD progression by downregulation of the apoA-I binding protein (APOA1BP) expression in inflamed GFs. We also demonstrated that the overexpression of APOA1BP efficiently regulated periodontal inflammation and the subsequent alveolar bone loss by inducing cholesterol efflux. Our collective findings highlight the potential utility of currently available cholesterol-lowering medications for the mitigation of PD pathogenesis. By targeting the acceleration of high-density lipoprotein-mediated cellular cholesterol efflux, a new therapeutic approach for PD may become possible.
Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry: Learnings from the EU AI Act
Authors: Ducret M. , Wahal E. , Gruson D. , Amrani S. , Richert R. , Mouncif-Moungache M. , Schwendicke F.
Published: September 2024

Artificial intelligence systems (AISs) gain relevance in dentistry, encompassing diagnostics, treatment planning, patient management, and therapy. However, questions about the generalizability, fairness, and transparency of these systems remain. Regulatory and governance bodies worldwide are aiming to address these questions using various frameworks. On March 13, 2024, members of the European Parliament approved the Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA), which emphasizes trustworthiness and human-centeredness as relevant aspects to regulate AISs beyond safety and efficacy. This review presents the AIA and similar regulatory and governance efforts in other jurisdictions and lays out that regulations such as the AIA are part of a complex ecosystem of interdependent and interwoven legal requirements and standards. Current efforts to regulate dental AISs require active input from the dental community, with participation of dental research, education, providers, and patients being relevant to shape the future of dental AISs.
Local business capacity to scale new hybrid maize seeds: Insights from a decade of tracking sales in Mexico
Authors: Donovan Jason , Peña Meliza , Rutsaert Pieter
Published: September 2024

The return on investments from public-sector hybrid maize breeding depends heavily on the capacities of locally owned, small- and medium-sized seed enterprises (maize SMEs) to build market share for new products. In Mexico, between 2011 and 2020, dozens of maize SMEs obtained new genetic material through a hybrid maize breeding program funded by the Mexican government and led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). To examine the maize SMEs’ ability to expand sales of new seed products, we tracked sales for 16 maize SMEs between 2014 and 2022. Our analysis captured variation in capacity by grouping the SMEs by seed sales volumes: emerging group (EG), small-sized group (SG), and medium-sized group (MG). The results showed the capacity of the MGs to launch and scale new seed products and remove older products from the market. The EGs and SGs expanded sales of new products, but also maintained production of older products, including open-pollinated varieties. However, during the observation period we detected little growth in total sales volumes across the three groups. The findings suggest that future efforts to promote local maize SMEs will benefit from a balanced approach between technology transfer and seed system development. We recommend that future seed systems investments consider: (1) support for innovation in seed-product marketing, (2) coordinated public-sector purchases that prioritize new products, and (3) innovation in product design for niche market development. These lessons may also serve future efforts to design regional-level programs in support of smallholder rainfed hybrid maize production.
Reliability and Validity of the Trunk Control Measurement Scale in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Bulut Numan , Aydın Yağcıoğlu Güllü , Yardımcı-Lokmanoğlu Bilge Nur , Alemdaroğlu-Gürbüz İpek , Yılmaz Öznur , Karaduman Ayşe
Published: September 2024

While trunk control is essential for daily activities and motor function, there is currently sparse information regarding the psychometric properties of the outcome measures used for assessing trunk control in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), characterized by proximal muscle weakness. The Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) was developed to assess trunk control in children with cerebral palsy. We aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the TCMS for children with DMD. We determined the functional level of 52 children with DMD (median age: 8.83 years) with the Vignos Scale, and we further evaluated them with the Motor Function Measure (MFM), a gold standard for determining the validity of the TCMS. Internal consistency of the Turkish TCMS was excellent with a Cronbach’s alpha of .95. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values for intra-rater reliability were between 0.90–0.96 and for inter-rater reliability were between 0.91–0.95. We reported positive moderate to strong correlations between the TCMS and trunk flexors strength ( p < .001, r = 0.77), back extensors strength ( p < .001, r = 0.68) and MFM ( p < .001, r = 0.85). Thus, we found the Turkish version of TCMS to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing trunk control of children with DMD in clinical and research settings.
Presocialisation and police misconduct: Exploring new tools for predicting officer exposure to misconduct investigations
Authors: Stubbs Gareth , Haberfeld Maria , Fera Adam
Published: September 2024

Police literature in the area of presocialisation for police recruits is sparse, with growing but limited empirical evidence as to its effect upon police performance and conduct. There are studies that measure the influence of police personality within recruitment processes, and subsequent studies that address the potential for misconduct prediction in serving officers, but this has not been developed to a level that justifies widespread operationalisation. This study investigates prior socialisation and motivation before police employment as potential predicting factors in exposure to misconduct investigation. The study represents a survey ( n = 214) that was disseminated via social media to retired police officers in the United Kingdom ( n = 94) and the United States (US) ( n = 120). The participants were asked to disclose their prior socialisation to policing through family or friendship contact, alongside their prior motivations for becoming an officer. These were then compared to examine if that prior socialisation influenced motivation type, and then both sets of variables were compared with self-reported exposure to misconduct procedure by the participants. The results show that gender and the originating country are significantly correlated with exposure to misconduct investigation in both bivariate and univariate analysis. Males are more likely to be exposed to misconduct investigation, and those in the US are also more likely to be exposed to misconduct investigation. Variability of job content and economic motivations approach significance but may require large sampling to explore properly. These results show that aspects of motivation were less influential than geographic location and gender in determining exposure to misconduct investigation, and illuminate several avenues of future research in this area.
Difference between Global South cities: Mexico City, Freetown and the global division of urban informal labour
Authors: McDermott Joshua Lew
Published: September 2024

This work pursues a new explanatory framework for understanding some of the variance and homogeneity of informal work between cities in the Global South. Rooted in a materialist approach to informality, it seeks to explain the dynamics of informal work in different urban contexts via a novel application of the global division of labour, termed the global division of urban informal labour. Through a comparative analysis of the urban labour regimes of Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Mexico City, Mexico, the work argues that each city’s respective location within the global capitalist system largely determines the nature of their informal economies. It posits that a city’s informal labour regime is shaped by whether a city’s economy is predominantly defined by financial, industrial or extractive capital, and explores the ramifications of the financialised economy of Mexico City and the extractivist economy of Freetown for shaping informal work in each city. Such an approach attempts not only to explain urban and labour regime variance but also to highlight the essential and foundational nature of informal work in global capitalism today. It also seeks to aid in the task of recentring capitalism and class considerations into understandings of the internal and external dynamics of Global South cities in general.
Will I Be the Same? Enhancing Academic Tourism Through Transformative Tourism Experiences
Authors: Amaro Dina , Caldeira Ana Maria , Seabra Cláudia
Published: September 2024

The growing relevance of transformative tourism experiences calls for further empirical research across different contexts. This study tests a comprehensive conceptual model within international academic tourism, incorporating co-creation theory and experience economy framework. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey ( N = 704) and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results substantiate the proposed conceptual model, revealing a positive influence of activating factors on perceived transformation outcomes. Additionally, transformative tourism experiences confirm a significant impact on place attachment and positive memories, influencing behavioral intentions. Notably, perceived safety influences solely behavioral change, as opposed to personal change, meriting further investigation into this differential effect on transformative tourism experience outcomes. This study enhances understanding of the interrelationships among academic transformative tourism experiences components, namely by exploring the intended achievements’ role. It also elucidates transformative tourism experiences’ impacts on students’ destination perceptions and attitudes. Findings highlight the need for educational and tourism stakeholders to promote stimulating environments and impactful programs that actively engage students, fostering memorable life-changing experiences, place attachment, and loyalty.
Building Bridges: Exploring Support Systems of Justice-Involved Individuals
Authors: D’Amato Christopher , Schweitzer Smith Myrinda
Published: September 2024

Having access to a person who encourages prosocial behavior and discourages antisocial behavior for justice-involved individuals is a key factor in the reentry process. The gender-responsive literature suggests that social support is an especially salient factor for justice-involved women. However, limited research has examined positive support person’s willingness to become involved in the reentry process. Using a sample of 179 justice-involved men and women enrolled in a reentry program designed to train support persons in rehabilitative skills, the current study aims to examine the willingness of support persons of justice-involved individuals to attend a reentry program. The findings demonstrated that less than half of justice-involved individuals had support persons participate in the program. Furthermore, women were significantly less likely to have support persons attend the reentry program than men. The implications of these findings for reentry and the gender-responsive framework are discussed.
Sister Outsider: Superwoman Schema, Emotion Regulation, and Psychological Distress Among Black College Women
Authors: Nelson Tamara , Cherry Mariah
Published: September 2024

Black women may adhere to the Superwoman Schema (SWS), which may be associated with psychological distress in particular contexts. Emotion regulation may be an important factor in understanding the relationship between SWS and psychological distress. In this cross-sectional study of 167 college Black women, we examined the relationship between dimensions of SWS and psychological distress. We also investigated if two aspects of emotion regulation, expressive suppression, and cognitive reappraisal, mediated these relationships. Findings indicated that all dimensions of SWS were positively associated with psychological distress. Expressive suppression mediated these relationships for all dimensions except for an obligation to suppress emotions and an obligation to help others. However, the intense motivation to succeed, despite limited resources, was positively associated with cognitive reappraisal, which was inversely associated with psychological distress. Findings underscore the complex nature of the Superwoman Schema and highlight the importance of understanding and addressing emotional regulation strategies in clinical settings to support Black women’s mental well-being effectively.
Exploratory Study of Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Growth Hormones and Inflammatory Factors in Children
Authors: Tan Junlong , Zhang Jie , Li Kunpeng , Wu Yunxiao , Zheng Li , Xu Zhifei , Ni Xin
Published: September 2024

Purpose: In children, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with growth hormone level abnormalities and chronic systemic inflammation. This study was performed to investigate the relationship of the degree of OSA with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and inflammatory cytokines in pediatric OSA and the inter-relationship between inflammatory cytokines and growth hormones. Methods: Children with OSA and controls without OSA participated in the study. Information included polysomnography followed by measurement of IGF-1 and inflammatory marker levels. In total, 226 patients aged 2 to 12 years were divided into 4 groups: non-OSA, n = 57 (25.2%); mild OSA, n = 116 (51.3%); moderate OSA, n = 23 (10.2%); and severe OSA, n = 30 (13.3%). Results: Body height was not significantly different among the 4 groups. However, the minimum oxygen saturation and IGF-1 significantly differed among the different OSA groups ( P = .0001 and P = .036, respectively). IGF-1 was significantly higher in the non-OSA group ( P < .05) and mild OSA group ( P < .01) than in the severe OSA group. As the severity of OSA increased, the interleukin-5 level significantly increased, which caused a difference between mild OSA and moderate OSA ( P < .05) and between mild OSA and severe OSA ( P < .001). In the univariate quantile regression analysis of IGF-1, there was a negative relationship between IGF-1 and IL-5 ( P < .001). IGF-1 was positively correlated with age, height, and minimum oxygen saturation. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between the IGF-1 level and the severity of OSA. Quantile regression analysis on the multivariable analysis of the IGF-1 association showed that height, sex, and severity of OSA played important roles in affecting IGF-1 levels. Conclusion: High IL-5 levels may lead to the low secretion of growth hormone level (IGF-1) in children, thus affecting growth and development.
Cultural Tightness-Looseness and Individual Differences in Non-Normativeness Predict Stigmatization of Out-Groups: A Multilevel Cross-Cultural Study
Authors: Ikizer Elif G. , Fischer Ronald , Kunst Jonas R. , Dovidio John F.
Published: September 2024

Although a large body of research has focused on the determinants of stigma, multilevel approaches that can identify both micro- and macro-level influences are rarely employed. We adopted a multilevel perspective with data from 174,325 participants from 80 countries in two waves—Wave 5 (Study 1) and Wave 6 (Study 2) of the World Values Survey. We examined how country-level normative tightness-looseness and individual-level non-normativeness relate to stigma toward racial and ethnic out-groups and groups deviating from social standards. Preregistered analyses showed that for both waves individuals in normatively tighter (vs. looser) societies exhibited more stigma generally. Also, for both waves, individuals higher in non-normativeness demonstrated a greater level of stigma toward members of immigrant, racial, or ethnic out-groups while exhibiting a lower level of stigma toward groups deviating from social standards. The current work thus reveals how characteristics of both individuals and culture jointly affect stigma.
The effects of self-oriented perfectionism in an experimental personnel selection context: a self-validation analysis / Los efectos del perfeccionismo auto-orientado en un contexto experimental de selección de personal: un análisis desde la auto-validación
Authors: Gil Rafael , Horcajo Javier
Published: September 2024

This study analysed the effects of perfectionism on the formation of attitudes and expectations of organisational behaviour in potential recruiters. Specifically, the dimensions of perfectionism proposed by Hewitt and Flett were analysed in relation to the meta-cognitive process of thought self-validation. Participants were randomly exposed to the résumé (strong vs. weak) of a job candidate that produced either favourable thoughts (strong résumé) or unfavourable thoughts (weak résumé) about the candidate and the résumé. As hypothesised, participants perceived their thoughts as more perfect the higher their self-oriented perfectionism. Consequently, this led them to be more certain and confident in the thoughts generated. This greater cognitive validation of their own thoughts, in turn, gave rise to more polarised attitudes (either in favour of or against the candidate) and expectations about performance, adaptation and organisational commitment, according to the thoughts generated (favourable vs. unfavourable). The implications for research in persuasion and its application in personnel selection are discussed in this article.
Development and Validation of a Workshop-Based Educational Module: “Basic Course in Electroconvulsive Therapy” for Medical Students
Authors: Praharaj Samir Kumar , Udupa Suma T. , Jammigumpula Ashok , Vadakedom Suresh S.
Published: September 2024

Background:

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe and effective treatment option for various psychiatric disorders. However, its widespread use is limited by prevalent negative attitudes and stigma, not only within the general public but also among healthcare professionals. This study aimed to develop and validate a workshop-based educational module, titled the “Basic Course in ECT,” for medical students.

Methods:

The curriculum development framework was used to develop the educational module. The content of the educational module was developed through expert consensus involving two rounds of the Delphi method. Faculty members provided feedback to validate the workshop content. A total 33 interns participated in the workshop. Student satisfaction was assessed using a feedback questionnaire.

Results:

Eight content areas were identified through a literature review. The Delphi consensus with 15 experts resulted in 10 topics being incorporated into the educational module. The module demonstrated strong face validity, as indicated by a content validity index of 1. Participants expressed high satisfaction with the workshop module regarding content, teaching methods, and time allocation. Feedback indicated an improvement in knowledge and a positive attitude toward ECT.

Conclusions:

The “Basic Course in ECT” was developed using expert consensus and validated for use with medical students. It can be integrated into the undergraduate curriculum.
The Antimanic Effect of Endoxifen in Patients with Bipolar Disorder with Renal Comorbidities: Case Series
Authors: Kuraria Astut , Vishwanath Rashmi , Nagaraj Anil Kumar M. , Soman Savitha , Kamath Avinash
Published: September 2024

The conventional and standard pharmacological approaches in the management of bipolar disorders include mood stabilizers and second-generation antipsychotics. However, renal problems owing to the gold standard mood stabilizer, lithium, is three times that of the general population. As bipolar I disorder (BPD I) is associated with overactive protein kinase C (PKC) intracellular signaling, a novel approach in the management of acute mania/mixed affective states of bipolar disorder includes the use of PKC inhibitors, such as Tamoxifen and its derivative metabolite molecule, Endoxifen. Our objective is to report two cases of bipolar disorder that presented in acute manic episodes, with preexisting renal disease, and safe use of Endoxifen as an adjunct/monotherapy for rapid control of symptoms. According to our study, Endoxifen can be used as an anti-manic agent, either as monotherapy or as an adjunct, in patients with renal disease. It can also be used as an effective cover therapy for bipolar disorder patients requiring steroids for the treatment of renal pathology, though long-term studies are needed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy.
Social support for food access and budget construction predict food insecurity among university sophomores
Authors: Lunan Rebekah , Gutschall Melissa D. , Farris Alisha R. , Fasczewski Kimberly S. , Holbert Donald , McArthur Laura H.
Published: September 2024

Background: Food insecurity means having limited or uncertain access to an adequate, nutritious, and safe diet. Rates among US college students range from 10% to 75%, and the problem is associated with mental and physical health disorders and unfavorable academic outcomes. Aims: This study examined the associations between the food security status of sophomores attending a university in the Southeastern US and their need for social support, food access behaviors, and budgeting knowledge. Methods: Data were collected during the spring 2019 semester using an online questionnaire. Food security was measured using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Security Survey, and the independent variables were measured from scales grounded in pertinent literature. Descriptive and inferential procedures were applied, and significance was p ≤ 0.05. Results: Participants were 222 sophomores (75% female and 85% white). Food insecurity was 46.4%, and significant predictors ( p < 0.001) were need for social support accessing food and the requested educational activity “learning how to make a budget.” Mean budgeting knowledge scores of food secure and insecure students, respectively, were 11.5 ± 1.8 versus 11.1 ± 2.4 ( p = 0.42) out of 14 points. Food access behaviors used “sometimes” or “often” by food secure and insecure sophomores included buying food on sale and buying the store brand of a food, while creating a budget that includes food purchases and getting free food from food pantries were “seldom” or “never” used. Conclusions: Food insecurity was high. Learning activities, such as budgeting education, should be tested as strategies for decreasing food insecurity.
Mapping research data landscape in Africa using the Re3data and data citation Index
Authors: Buhomoli Obadia Shadrack , Onyancha Omwoyo Bosire
Published: September 2024

Despite the efforts made by most African countries in incubating the practice of research data sharing, little is known on the status of the research data sphere in the African landscape. This study was conducted to establish the status of research data and research data repositories (RDRs) in Africa. Specifically, the study intended to identify the country-wise contributions in terms of research data and research data repositories, trends of publication of research data by African countries, content type and the nature of research data repositories hosted by African countries. The study applied the quantitative research approach. The registry of research data repositories (re3data), which is the prominent worldwide registry for the research data repository, and the data citation index (DCI) hosted by the Web of Science were used in this study. Re3data and DCI index research data repositories and datasets respectively, from almost all the countries around the world. The study identified parameters that were extracted from re3data and DCI using the browse and search facilities. The extracted data were recorded into Google Sheets, refined, and analysed using MS Office Excel. The study found little contribution from the African countries regarding research data and research data repositories to re3data and DCI. The study found further that, despite the presence of a few repositories, most of them had restricted access to external users. This study concludes that African countries are still having a lot to do for the research data practices to be fully incubated. The study suggests that governments and other stakeholders should improve the facilitating conditions, including establishing relevant policies and infrastructures for the practice to be fully embraced.
Dangerous dichotomies and misunderstandings in L2 research
Authors: Truscott John , Sharwood Smith Mike
Published: September 2024

This article draws attention to the obstacles created by imprecise definitions and misleading dichotomies. In this case the focus is on second language and multilingualism research literature. Despite the obvious benefits of reformulating otherwise complex ideas and approaches in simpler terms in order to distill their essential meaning, misunderstandings and misrepresentations can too easily arise. These can then proliferate within and beyond these research fields and hinder productive debates between proponents of different theoretical approaches. A selection of classic examples relating to issues of language cognition are discussed in this article. They include definitions of terms like cognitive, nativist, innatist, interactionist, usage-based, and dynamic. Simple contrasts introduced to improve readability and to introduce a longer discussion can become highly misleading where the context fails to include clarification. Incorrect inferences may otherwise be drawn by less well-informed readers. In other cases, dichotomies can be just wrong. We discuss the choice and phrasing of various terms and distinctions and argue that more care is needed by all involved. Discussions can still be carried out in a combative style if discussants so wish but not to the point of introducing conceptual confusion in debates that should serve to advance understanding in second language acquisition research.
Influence of panic disorder and paroxetine on brain functional hubs in drug-free patients
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Yan Haohao , Han Yiding , Shan Xiaoxiao , Li Huabing , Liu Feng , Li Ping , Zhao Jingping , Guo Wenbin
Published: September 2024

Background:

The effects of panic disorder (PD) and pharmacotherapy on brain functional hubs in drug-free patients, and the utility of their degree centrality (DC) in diagnosing and predicting treatment response (TR) for PD, remained unclear.

Aims:

This study aimed to assess the effects of PD and paroxetine on brain functional hubs in drug-free patients and to identify neuroimaging biomarkers for diagnosing and predicting TR in patients with PD.

Methods:

Imaging data from 54 medication-free PD patients and 54 matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent DC and functional connectivity (FC) analyses before and after a 4-week paroxetine treatment. Diagnosis and prediction of TR models for PD were constructed using support vector machine (SVM) and support vector regression (SVR), with DC as features.

Results:

Patients with PD showed aberrant DC and FC in the anterior cingulum, temporal, and occipital areas compared with HCs at baseline. After treatment, DC of the patients increased in the calcarine cortex, lingual gyrus, and cerebellum IV/V, along with improved clinical symptoms. Utilizing voxel-wise DC values at baseline, the SVM effectively distinguished patients with PD from HCs with an accuracy of 83.33%. In SVR, the predicted TR significantly correlated with the observed TR (correlation coefficient ( r) = 0.893, Mean Squared Error = 0.009).

Conclusion:

Patients with PD exhibited abnormal DC and FC, notably in the limbic network, temporal, and occipital regions. Paroxetine ameliorated patients’ symptoms while altering their brain FC. SVM and SVR models, utilizing baseline DC, effectively distinguished the patients from HCs and accurately predicted TR.
Vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm: a rare cause of posterior circulation infarction in a middle-aged man
Authors: Li Wentao , Jing Yingchao
Published: September 2024

Pseudoaneurysm of the vertebral artery is a rare cause of posterior circulation stroke. Treatment for this condition can be achieved through microscopic surgery or endovascular therapy. We report a case of a 36-year-old middle-aged male patient who presented with left limb numbness as the sole complaint. On a magnetic resonance imaging examination, multiple infarcts were observed in the left cerebellar tonsil. A subsequent head and neck computed tomography angiography examination led to the diagnosis of a pseudoaneurysm in the left vertebral artery. Following standard antiplatelet therapy, the patient underwent endovascular intervention. The patient’s left limb numbness gradually subsided after surgery. A follow-up angiography performed 1 week after discharge showed no recurrence. These findings suggest that covered stent placement is an effective method of treating pseudoaneurysm of the vertebral artery.
Orthodontic Extrusion of Fractured Tooth with Clear Retainer
Authors: Nagar Namit , Agarwal Shreya , Dave Anupa
Published: September 2024

Tooth fracture at the cervical margin is frequently seen, and orthodontic extrusion of the same can be carried out to achieve a “ferrule effect” for successful restoration.

Various techniques incorporating conventional removable and fixed orthodontics have been employed to facilitate orthodontic extrusion of the fractured tooth. The clear aligner can be used to facilitate the extrusion of a fractured tooth using the “bootstrap” arrangement. Bootstrap mechanics involve placing bonded buttons at the gingival margins on the facial, lingual, or both surfaces of a tooth that is lagging.

In this pearl, an innovative and economical prerestorative orthodontic method, based on the biomechanical principles of the “bootstrap” arrangement used in aligners, is developed for the successful extrusion of a fractured tooth using a clear retainer and orthodontic elastics. The amount of extrusion of the fractured tooth was 2.5 mm and was achieved in a time frame of 3 weeks.

The appliance is patient-friendly and cost-effective. Moreover, the appliance omitted the use of fixed orthodontic treatment mechanics.
Effect of MgO on solidification crystallisation behaviour of high SiO2 content MnO–SiO2–Al2O3-based inclusions in Si–Mn-killed steel
Authors: Lei XuBo , Li JianLi , Xu Qi , Muvunyi RodrigueArmel , Meng YaoQing
Published: September 2024

Aiming at avoiding the formation of high-hardness crystalline phase in inclusions, the effect of MgO on the solidification crystallisation behaviour of high SiO2 content MnO–SiO2–Al2O3-based inclusions was investigated. The results showed that the high SiO2 content MnO–SiO2–Al2O3 inclusions precipitated the pure SiO2 phase during the solidification process. With the increase of MgO content in inclusions, the content of the SiO2 phase decreased continuously, while the MgSiO3 phase began to precipitate and the content increased gradually. Besides, 20 wt.% MgO content inclusions first precipitated the Mg2SiO4 phase, and the MgSiO3 phase was formed in the subsequent solidification process. Thermodynamic calculation results indicated that the beginning of crystallisation temperature first decreased and then increased with the increase of MgO content in inclusions. However, the calculation results were partially different from the experiment results, because inclusions became the undercooling system during solidification and led to crystallisation hysteresis. The increase of MgO content in inclusions decreased the content of bridging oxygen and resulted in the depolymerisation of complex network structures, which promoted the crystallisation of inclusions. Moreover, the crystalline phase formed in inclusions transformed along the route of “SiO2 phase–MgSiO3 phase–Mg2SiO4 phase” with the increase of MgO content in inclusions.
Performance study of dual heart assisted control system based on SL-SMC physiological combination controller
Authors: Wang Fangqun , Xu Fan , Zhu Fenglian , Wang Shaojun , He Chenyang , Ding Litao , Li Mengping
Published: September 2024

The main challenges of Biventricular Assist Devices (BiVAD) as a treatment modality for patients with Bicardiac heart failure heart failure are the balance of systemic blood flow during changes in physiological activity and the prevention of ventricular suction. In this study, a model of the Biventricular Circulatory System (BCS) was constructed and a physiological combination controller based on Starling-Like controller and Sliding Mode Controller (SMC) was proposed. The effects of the physiological controller on the hemodynamics of the BCS were investigated by simulating two sets of physiological state change experiments: elevated pulmonary artery resistance and resting-exercise, with constant speed (CS) control and combined Starling-like and PI control (SL-PI) as controllers. Simulation and experimental results showed that the Starling-like and Sliding Mode Control (SL-SMC) physiological combination controller was effective in preventing the occurrence of ventricular suction, providing higher cardiac output, maintain balance of systemic blood flow, and have higher response speed and robustness in the face of physiological state changes.
Inflammatory markers related to survival in breast cancer patients: Peru
Authors: De La Cruz-Vargas Jhony Alberto , Roldán-Arbieto Luis , Malpartida Palomino Robert , Ferrer Ponce Diana , Fernández Anccas Cesar , Correa López Lucy , Beltrán Gárate Brady Ernesto , Vela Ruiz José Manuel
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Breast cancer is a disease with high global prevalence. Clinical inflammatory biomarkers have been proposed as prognostic indicators in oncology. This research aims to determine the relationship between inflammatory markers and overall survival in breast cancer patients from four representative hospitals in Lima, Peru.

Methods

This is a multicentric, analytical, longitudinal retrospective cohort study with survival analysis in female patients with breast cancer, from 2015 to 2020, who had received at least one complete treatment regimen. The dependent variable was overall survival, and the independent variables were inflammatory markers neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), albumin, and red cell distribution width; intervening variables included age, clinical stage, molecular subtype, and other known prognostic factors. The Kaplan–Meier method was applied to generate survival curves with the Log-Rank test, and finally, Cox regression, to find crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HR).

Results

Of 705 evaluated patients, 618 were analyzed. The mean age was 56.6 ± 12.3 years, 18.0% of patients were pure HER2 positive, 39.3% luminal A, 29.9% luminal B, 11.0% triple-negative, and 81.4% showed overweight and obesity. The average overall survival was 51.1 months. In the multivariate analysis, factors significantly related to lower overall survival were PLR > 150 (adjusted HR: 2.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22, 4.44) and stage III (adjusted HR: 4.15; 95% CI: 1.35, 12.83).

Conclusions

The Elevated Platelet-Lymphocyte Index and advanced clinical stage were associated with lower overall survival in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, PLR >150 proved to be an independent prognostic factor for mortality.