bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conjugation of doxorubicin and carbon based-nanostructures for drug delivery against HT-29 colon cancer cells
Authors: Aghdam Kaveh Jafari , Sabeti Bahare , Chekin Fereshteh , Mashreghi Maral
Published: March 2023

Many nanomaterials have been used as novel carriers for cancer therapy. Among them, carbon based-nanomaterials have been extensively used in biological applications. We reported platforms based on graphene oxide (GO), ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) to conjugate with doxorubicin (DOX). The conjugation of DOX with carbon nanomaterial was investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) methods. We showed that graphene oxide was a highly efficient matrix. Efficient loading of DOX, 89%, 78%, and 73.5% at pH 7.0 was seen onto GO, OMC and CNT, respectively. Upon pH 4. 0 after 15 h, 69%, 61% and 61% of DOX could be released from the DOX-GO, DOX-OMC and DOX-CNT, respectively, which illustrated the significant benefits of the developed approach for carbon nanomaterial applications. In addition, the study evaluated the cytotoxicity effect of DOX-GO, DOX-OMC and DOX-CNT on HT29 colon cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity tests showed significantly higher toxicity of DOX/GO, DOX/OMC and DOX/CNT in comparison with GO, OMC and CNT against HT29 colon cancer cells with cell viability of 22%, 40% and 44% after 48 h for DOX-GO, DOX-OMC and DOX-CNT, respectively. Thus, developing nanohybrids based on carbon nanomaterial conjugated to DOX will remarkably enhance the anti-cancer activity.
Clinicopathologic analysis of pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation: a multi-institutional cohort study by the Kyushu Neuro-Oncology Study Group
Authors: Yamashita Shinji , Takeshima Hideo , Hata Nobuhiro , Uchida Hiroyuki , Shinojima Naoki , Yokogami Kiyotaka , Nakano Yoshiteru , Sakata Kiyohiko , Fudaba Hirotaka , Enomoto Toshiyuki , Nakahara Yukiko , Ujifuku Kenta , Sugawara Kenichi , Iwaki Tooru , Sangatsuda Yuhei , Yoshimoto Koji , Hanaya Ryousuke , Mukasa Akitake , Suzuki Kohei , Yamamoto Junkoh , Negoto Tetsuya , Nakamura Hideo , Momii Yasutomo , Fujiki Minoru , Abe Hiroshi , Masuoka Jyun , Abe Tatsuya , Matsuo Takayuki , Ishiuchi Shogo
Published: March 2023

Purpose
Pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation (PPTIDs), which were recognized in the 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) classification, are rare, accounting for less than 1% of all central nervous system tumors. This rarity and novelty complicate the diagnosis and treatments of PPTID. We therefore aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of this tumor.
Methods
At 11 institutions participating in the Kyushu Neuro-Oncology Study Group, data for patients diagnosed with PPTID were collected. Central pathology review and KBTBD4 mutation analysis were applied to attain the diagnostically accurate cohort.
Results
PPTID was officially diagnosed in 28 patients: 11 (39%) with WHO grade 2 and 17 (61%) with WHO grade 3 tumors. Median age was 49 years, and the male:female ratio was 1:2.1. Symptom was headache in 50% (14/28). Surgery was attempted in all 28 patients, and gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 46% (13/28). Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were administered to, respectively, 82% (23/28) and 46% (13/28). The 5-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 64.9% and 70.4% respectively. Female sex (p = 0.02) and GTR (p < 0.01) were found to be independent prognostic factors. Initial and second recurrences were most often leptomeningeal (67% and 100% respectively). 80% (20/25) of patients harbored a KBTBD4 mutation.
Conclusions
Female sex and GTR were independent prognostic factors in our patients with PPTID. Leptomeningeal recurrence was observed to be particularly characteristic of this tumor. The rate of KBTBD4 mutation observed in our cohort was acceptable and this could prove the accuracy of our PPTID cohort.
Changes in Left Ventricular Systolic Function after Transcatheter Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Premature Infants
Authors: Karunanandaa Aravinth , Paolillo Joseph , Cook Amanda , Swayampakala Kamala , Schwartz Matthew C.
Published: March 2023

Introduction
Changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic function have not been well described in premature neonates after transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure.
Methods
We retrospectively identified all premature neonates < 3kg who underwent transcatheter PDA closure at our center between 1/1/15 and 1/31/21. LV indices before and after closure were extracted and analysis performed.
Results
23 patients were included with a mean procedural weight of 1894 ± 622 gm. At 24 hrs after closure, the median LVEF (66% IQR 12 vs. 61% IQR 12, p< 0.001) and median LV end diastolic dimension z-score (3.3 IQR 1.8 vs. 1.4 IQR 2.6, p<0.001) both decreased and 5 (22%) patients had an LVEF < 55%. Patients who had an LVEF < 55% at 24 hrs had a higher pre-procedure LV end-diastolic dimension z-score (4.2 IQR 1.2 vs 2.8 IQR 1.6, p=0.01), a higher pre-procedure LV end-diastolic volume (19 ml IQR 4 vs. 11 ml IQR 11, p=0.03), a higher birth weight (940 gm IQR 100 vs. 760 gm IQR 140, p=0.04), and were more likely to receive intravenous calcium during the procedure (60% vs. 11%, p=0.04) compared to those with an LVEF ≥ 55% at 24 hrs after closure. Of those with LVEF < 55% at 24 hrs, all normalized before discharge.
Conclusion
In preterm neonates who underwent successful transcatheter PDA closure, 23% developed abnormal LVEF after closure and those with significant LV dilation prior to the procedure were at increased risk for the development of LVEF < 55% after closure.
Maternal hypercholesterolemia during gestation is associated with elevated lipid levels of two- day-old neonates
Authors: VS¹ Jayalekshmi , RS¹ Jagannath , S³ Sreelekshmi , P³ Rafeekha , R³ Vidyalekshmy , Ramachandran Surya
Published: March 2023

Maternal hypercholesterolemia (MHC) during pregnancy is associated with the risk of developing aortic lesions in fetuses. There is also a possibility of faster progression of atherosclerosis in offspring born to hypercholesterolemic mothers (HCM) during their adulthood. We investigated whether elevated maternal cholesterol levels during pregnancy influence the lipid levels in offspring. We analyzed the lipid profile of mothers during the three trimesters, cord blood (CB) at birth, and neonatal blood (NB) on Day 2 postpartum in the offspring. Cholesterol levels of HCM significantly increased throughout gestation when compared to normocholesterolemic mothers (NCM). CB lipid levels of newborns of HCM were similar to the newborns of NCM. While NB of offsprings of HCM had elevated levels of triglycerides (TG) (p<0.01) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (p<0.01) when compared to the offspring of NCM. MHC also resulted in low newborn birthweight (p<0.05) and low placental efficiency (ratio of newborn birth weight to placental weight) (p<0.01) but no change was observed in umbilical cord length or placental weight. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed no significant changes in the protein expression of genes involved in TG metabolisms such as LDLR, VLDLR, CETP, and PPARG. We report that MHC in mothers decreases placental efficiency and newborn birthweight while increasing lipid levels in neonates on the second postpartum day. Given that TG levels modulate the circulating Low-Density lipoproteins, the increase in these levels in neonates gains importance. Whether these consistently high levels cause atherosclerosis in early adulthood warrants further investigation.
Association between ROX index with 28-day mortality in sepsis: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Dong Yukang , huang rui , Fu Jiangquan
Published: March 2023

Background: The ROX index (peripheral oxygen saturation / fraction of inspired oxygen to respiratory rate) can help clinicians assessing patients' conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of time-weighted average ROX (ROX-TWA) index on short-term mortality in sepsis patients.
Methods: In this retrospective study, clinical data of patients diagnosed as sepsis was extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-III database (version 1.4). The septic patients were further categorized by quartiles of their ROX-TWA levels. The associations between ROX-TWA levels and 28-day mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards model and verified by two-piecewise linear regression model.
Main results: By smooth curve fitting, we find that a non-linear relationship between ROX-TWA index and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients, and inflection point was 8. The risk of developing mortality decreased significantly with an increase in ROX-TWA value until plateaued at a level of 8 (HR 0.75 (0.71, 0.80), P<0.001). Moreover. Subgroup analysis showed, a similar relationship between ROX-TWA index and 28-day mortality in patients using or not using mechanical ventilator.
Conclusion: The relationship between ROX-TWA index and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients is non-linear. ROX-TWA index is an independent risk factor of 28-day mortality in sepsis patients when ROX-TWA is less than 8.
A Feature Selection Committee Method Using Empirical Mode Decomposition for Multiple Fault Classification in a Wind Turbine Gearbox
Authors: Felix Leonardo Oldani , Martins Dionísio Henrique Carvalho de Sá Só , Monteiro Ulisses Admar Barbosa Vicente , Castro Brenno Moura , Pinto Luiz Antônio Vaz , Martins Carlos Alfredo Orfão
Published: March 2023

Gearboxes are widely used in various industries such as aircrafts, automobiles, wind turbines, ship industries among others. Due its complex configuration, it is a challenging task to identify fault and failures patterns. Its internal components, such as bearings and gears, have different fault patterns, that can appear in one or in both components. The vibration signals were processed using the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) to select the significant IMFs and then 18 features were extract from this IMFs. Four features ranking techniques (ReliefF, Chi-Square, Max Relevance Min Redundancy (mRMR) and Decision Tree) were used in a committee to select the best feature set, among the 10 with the highest rank, that appears at least in 3 of the 4 methods. The new feature set was used as an input to Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) algorithms. The results showed that the use of the PCC value as a tool for selecting the significant IMFs, combined with the feature committee led to good results for this classification problem. In this case study, the ANN model outperformed the SVM and the RF algorithms, by using only 4 features to achieve 95.42% of accuracy and 6 features to achieve 100% of accuracy.
Prediction at term using Clinical and Ultrasound methods at Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State: A comparative Approach
Authors: Ojurongbe Adegoriola Olubisi , Fijabiyi Matthew Olusegun , Odekunle Jelil Olansile , Taiwo William Oladiran , Akanni Oluwasegun Ajala , Abubakar Usman Abdulfatai , Fijabiyi Toyin Oluwumi
Published: March 2023

Objective:The study sought to compare the predictive accuracy of clinical and ultrasound fetal weight estimation in predicting the actual birth weight of pregnant women at term at the FMC, Keffi, North central Nigeria.Materials and Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 360 consecutive pregnant women at term (37 weeks + 0day - 41weeks +6days), who met the inclusion criteria between 10thDecember 2018 to 25thJuly 2019. Informed consent was obtained from participants and a proforma was interviewer-administered. The clinical estimate was done using the Dare’s formula in the lying- in ward and labour ward. The ultrasound fetal weight estimation was done using an ultrasound scan machine imputed with the Hadlock formula mode (BPD, HC, AC, and FL) while the actual birth weight was measured in the labour room using the infant weighing scale. The data collected were analyzed using the Pearson’s Chi- square or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate, Pearson’s correlation analysis and student’s t test. Accuracy was determined using percentage error, absolute error, and proportion of estimates within 10% of actual birth weight; and compared using the Poisson’s z-test for two proportions. All analyses were performed, using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20.0. (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA) and Minitab, version 18.Results:Analysis showed that the clinical fetal weight estimation within 10% of the actual birth weight was not significantly lower than that of ultrasound fetal weight estimation for babies of all birth weight ( 41.5% vs. 55.0%, P = 0.064). The actual birth weight had a strong correlation with both clinical and ultrasound fetal weight estimation (r = 0.53, P <0.001 and r = 0.55, P < 0.001 respectively). The mean percentage error and mean absolute percentage error for normal weight babies (2.5- 3.99kg) was significantly higher in clinical method than ultrasound method (-13.29kg vs. 4.49 kg, P< 0.001) and (14.14kg vs. 9.47 kg, P< 0.001) respectively. Overall in most cases, the clinical method of fetal weight estimation overestimated the actual birth weight.Conclusion: It was concluded that, ultrasound method of fetal weight estimation is a better predictor of actual birth weight than the clinical method. However, clinical weight estimation can still be used in a low-resource setting such as ours.
Transition analysis of boundary-based active configurations in temporal simplicial complexes for ingredient co-occurrences in recipe streams
Authors: Fujisawa Koudai , Kumano Masahito , Kimura Masahiro
Published: March 2023

Aiming at knowledge discovery for temporal sequences of cooking recipes published in social media platforms from the viewpoint of network science, we consider an analysis of temporal higher-order networks of ingredients derived from such recipe streams by focusing on the framework of simplicial complex. Previous work found interesting properties of temporal simplicial complexes for the human proximity interactions in five different social settings by examining the configuration transitions before and after triplet interaction events corresponding to 2-simplices. In this paper, as an effective extension of the previous work to the case of higher dimensional n-simplices corresponding to newly published recipes, we propose a novel method of configuration transition analysis by incorporating the following two features. First, to focus on changes in the topological structure of temporal simplicial complex, we incorporate analyzing the transitions of boundary-based configurations. Next, to focus on the temporal heterogeneity in usage activities of ingredients, we incorporate analyzing the transitions of active configurations by introducing the activity degree of configuration. Using real data of a Japanese recipe sharing site, we empirically evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, and reveal some characteristics of the temporal evolution of Japanese homemade recipes published in social media from the perspective of ingredient co-occurrences.
Multi-granularity three-way decision scheduling optimization based on cloud cluster bursty load
Authors: Wang Hui
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we analyze, predict and classify the load information in a multi-granular way based on the information of cloud platform cluster data released by Google 2019 to build three burst load prediction models. By analyzing the load on a single cloud machine, we predict its burst load in some future period. We combine the three-way decision theory to classify the machines into calm, intermediate, and active states based on the prediction results. We summarize the load characteristics of three machine states to establish three burst load models and propose different scheduling optimization strategies for the three models using the Colocation method to achieve the overall load balancing of cloud services.
WITHDRAWN: The Nexus Between HR Analytics and Organizational Performance in the UAE
Authors: Chino Farah
Published: March 2023

This research paper highlights the importance of HR Analytics in enhancing HR efficiency in the UAE. The study provides evidence of the positive relationship between the use of HR Analytics and strategic approaches to HR efficiency, suggesting that organizations that adopt HR Analytics are more likely to have a strategic approach to managing their human resources. The study used a survey approach to collect data from HR professionals in various industries in the UAE and found that the use of HR Analytics enhances the HR efficiency of organizations. The findings of this study have important implications for organizations in the UAE. By adopting HR Analytics, organizations can make data-driven decisions that lead to a more efficient and effective management of their human resources. This can contribute to the overall effectiveness and competitiveness of organizations in the UAE. The study concludes that HR Analytics is an important tool for organizations to enhance their HR efficiency and gain a competitive advantage. Further research in this area can help to advance the understanding of HR Analytics and its impact on organizational performance in the UAE context.
“I can get to a happy place by visiting nature”: The benefits of implementing nature walking groups within mental health services
Authors: Olcon Katarzyna , Allan Julaine , Destry Peter , Astell-Burt Thomas
Published: March 2023

There is a growing interest in nature-based interventions (NBIs) to improve mental health symptoms. This article describes the experiences of ten mental health consumers who participated in a pilot Nature Walking Group implemented within community mental health services. Data include ethnographic observations of the walks, focus group and interviews with the participants. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes which capture the impacts experienced by the mental health consumers: 1) “I can get to a happy place by visiting nature” 2) “Knowing that you are not alone” and 3) “It was really rewarding and helpful”. The article discusses the implications of these findings for mental health services and the directions for future research.
Investment project for implementing a closed water circulation system at an industrial company
Authors:   Branch of OJSC “HMS Neftemash”, Vurdova Nadejda G. , Yuriev Yuriy Y. ,   Volgograd State Technical University
Published: March 2023

Due to the considerable costs involved in industrial wastewater treatment, the introduction of open (low-discharge) and closed water circulation systems is the most sensible way to prevent environmen-tal pollution at industrial companies. Since the level of circulating water treatment can be much lower than that required for discharge into a water body, the installation of closed water circulation systems can achieve both the economic and total effects of environmental protection. Despite the seemingly obvious advantages of this approach, it requires a serious feasibility analysis. The life cycle costs of a construction project can be estimated according to GOST R 58785-2019 Water Quality. Life Cycle Cost Estimation for Efficient Operation of Water Supply and Sanitation Systems and Facilities. However, at the initial (pre-project) stage, the analysis can be based on benchmarks. Large industrial companies make extensive use of foreign estimation methods. The paper presents the results of a feasibility analysis obtained using different methods to justify investments in the reconstruction of wa-ter treatment facilities at an oil refinery.
Anthropogenic influence on water quality of Lake Baikal
Authors:   Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Dorofeeva Natalia L. , Babik Alisa V. ,   Irkutsk National Research Technical University
Published: March 2023

In this work, the anthropogenic influence on the water quality in Lake Baikal was evaluated, since Lake Baikal contains 19% of the total freshwater resources. The use of data on the water quality near the Listvyanka village allows the changes in the content of ammonia, sulphates, nitrates, iron, phosphates and other substances suspended in water to be monitored. The characteristics of collected water samples were compared to previously obtained data. The evaluation of sample quality involved various techniques, including photometry using spectrophotometers, "blue ribbon" filters and desiccators. The obtained results showed that some of the indicators, for example, the amounts of suspended solids, sulphates and nitrates, significantly exceed those obtained in 2016 and 2020. The comparative analysis of samples collected in different years indicated a significant deterioration in water quality over this period. This can be explained by the lack of funds for the development and reconstruction of water and wastewater treatment facilities, along with an unregulated touristic flow, requiring the appropriate walkways, routes and utility systems in order to reduce the anthropogenic impact on the waters of Lake Baikal.
On the choice of allowable cross-sections of conductor material in internal electrical networks when building individual households
Authors:   Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Naumov Igor V. ,   Irkutsk State Agrarian University named after A. A. Yezhevsky
Published: March 2023

In this work, a software package was developed in order to investigate the applicability of conductors having different cross-sections for installing internal electrical networks in individual households. A combination of general scientific methods, including circuit theory, numerical analysis and visualisation using MATLAB graphical editor, was used. The state of individual households in the Irkutsk region was analysed. It was confirmed that one of the most common causes of combustion associated with the construction of internal electrical networks of individual households involves unbalanced phase cur-rents, leading to additional heat losses, which give rise to fire hazards. A thermal calculation of the electric network functioning under normal operating conditions was carried out in order to obtain ex-pressions for determining the maximum permissible values of the neutral conductor current of the in-ternal electrical network of the house. These algorithms and programs were used to tabulate the limit values of the zero sequence currents for different cross-sections of the conductor material and tem-perature ranges. The efficiency of using balanced/unbalanced converters to mitigate the negative ef-fects of unbalanced power consumption was demonstrated by a field test. It can be concluded that one of the most efficient ways to reduce fire hazards in individual houses involves balancing the operating modes of the internal electrical network. The obtained data may therefore be used by construction or-ganisations, as well as the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation, which monitors the fire safety of individual houses.
Regional planning and management of rural settlements in Eastern Siberia in 19th – early 20th centu-ries
Authors:   Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Pulyaevskaia Evgeniia V.
Published: March 2023

This article studies territorial transformations, along with the management of rural settlements, carried out by the Russian government in the 19th–early 20th centuries. The methods of historiographic and cartographic analysis, as well as the study of archival sources and statistical data, were used. The work was carried out in two stages: identification of the land-use pattern at the state level within the contem-porary borders of administrative structure; study of the management of the relocation process and def-inition of basic principles in the planning of migration sites. A retrospective analysis of the land use as-sociated with a rural community was presented as diagrams and cartographic materials reflecting the state of territorial development in migration areas. The collected historiographic materials, statistical data and regulatory support reflect the main methods for managing the relocation process and the ex-perience of planning rural settlement at the state level. The migration areas were allocated from free state reserves in the form of individual farms and plots of land. The process management was based on a system of committees involving various specialists, whose tasks included the organisation of so-cial and engineering infrastructure. The performed study of the settlement territory, the allocation of lands for farming societies and minorities, the ordering of the existing land use and the identification of the economic and agricultural potential of the region comprise the methods of the preliminary compre-hensive analysis of the territory during settlement planning. The obtained results are essential for ana-lysing the dynamics of territorial development and studying methods and practices of territorial plan-ning of the rural settlement system.
Spatial organisation in the INRTU library with respect to renovation of educational environment
Authors:   National Research University Higher School of Economics, Tarasova Alexandra N. , Zakharchuk Marina G. ,   Irkutsk National Research Technical University
Published: March 2023

In this work, the challenges of modernising space in the scientific library of the Irkutsk National Re-search Technical University within the framework of the program of renovation of the educational envi-ronment are addressed. The interiors of the IRNTU library were used as a design object. It is neces-sary to reconstruct the educational landscape following the changes in the educational process, given the new forms and methods of teaching at the university reflected in the development of the library structure, as well as the brand. The new requirements of visitors are both simple and complex: the main advantages of the library should be openness, accessibility and comfort. On the one hand, comprehensive data should be provided through mobile, open-source library collections, which meet the growing demands of users; on the other hand, comfortable conditions should ensure this process. A modern library visitor evaluates the technological potential, as well as the organisation of the internal subject-spatial environment. The spatial model focuses on the needs of students and teachers (as the social composition of the audience in the educational organisation) for accessibility, flexibility, usability and technical resources. Social and age stratification of space dictates functional, compositional and colour solutions. The development of a new university environment is proposed, with a comprehensive design process being presented. A unique public space is created by a conceptual solution, followed by the subsequent development of a design project.
Challenges and Breakthroughs of Female Department Chairs Across Disciplines in Higher Education
Authors: Mullen Dr. Carol A.
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study is to explore the department chair role relative to challenges and breakthroughs women leaders experience both inside and outside the discipline of education. The research reported is an exploration of relatively uncharted territory, adding to the data-based studies that exist of female leadership in this post-secondary context. Incorporated into this survey-based study are constructs established in the literature around relational and organizational aspects of leadership behavior. While attention is given to gender and leadership issues reported by 121 female department chairs, the discussion is broader than gender considerations. Focus is on the major challenges that practicing leaders have encountered, particularly within the domains of administration and scholarship. Included is discussion of these leaders' initiatives, reflections, and advice, complete with verbatim quotes, thematic analyses, and relevant tables. One recommendation is that more research be conducted of the issues and work of female department chairs, with consideration of the gender dynamics involving work-role identity. Other recommendations include the advocacy of women faculty members as college-level leaders who are effectively mentored.
Transformational Learning in Women's Leadership Development Training
Authors: Debebe Dr. Gelaye
Published: March 2023

Recent years have seen a sharp increase in interest in women's leadership development. However, the nature of change for women in leadership development training and the processes within the training setting that produce change remain under-explored. This paper examines the learning processes within training settings in the context of the Women's Leadership Series (WLS), a leadership development initiative for scientists and managers within the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It documents this process within a multi-stage framework and concludes that transformational learning can indeed take place in the context of a classroom and in the specific setting of leadership development training.
Female High School Principals: Leadership Practices and Individual Traits
Authors: Giese Dr. Tony Horst , Slate Dr. John R. , Brown Dr. Michelle Stallone , Tejeda-Delgado Dr. Carmen
Published: March 2023

The views of 56 female high school principals in the State of Texas were obtained regarding their leadership practices in three areas (i.e., relationship building and decision making, giving and seeking information, and influencing people) which they believed had been beneficial in their positions as high school principals. Respondents viewed supporting employees by being helpful, developing employee skills, and managing conflict as being essential to their success as principals. Moreover, they reported involving their employees in decision-making practices, particularly when critically important decisions must be made. Motivating and inspiring employees was rated highly, although providing tangible rewards was regarded as less important. Individual traits of communication skills, trustworthiness, honesty and sincerity, and good listening skills were very important factors in their success as high school principals. The two individual traits deemed to be less relevant for success in their positions were aggressiveness and tolerance for ambiguity. Finally, cautions regarding generalizability are offered.
Learning about the Human Aspect of the Scientific Enterprise: Gender Differences in Conceptions of Scientific Knowledge
Authors: Peters Burton Dr. Erin E.
Published: March 2023

Calls for new ways to teach science include an emphasis on the human endeavor of science and for making science more relevant to a feminine perspective. This quasi-experimental intervention study of 166 middle school students approaches the teaching of the nature of science in an explicit and reflective way that also enhances the humanistic perspective of scientific knowledge construction. Girls in the experimental group significantly outperformed both boys in the experimental group and boys and girls in the comparison group on nature of science knowledge and on content knowledge. Differences were also found in the qualitative results. Girls saw the process of cognition as a group endeavor, whereas boys reported the process as being generated by themselves, with guidance from books or from the teacher. Additionally, girls in the experimental group tended to rely more on evidence in making conclusions and boys relied more on authority when they developed the "big ideas" in their inquiry.
Gender Equality for Learning Leadership in Undergraduate Business Schools
Authors: Brock Dr. Sabra E.
Published: March 2023

Some scholars suggest that business schools are failing the challenge of providing 21st century skills and in particular, they are failing women. As a conceptual model of how people can better adapt to change, the lens of transformational learning was used to shed light on whether women are at a disadvantage to men in transformational learning when exposed to the same experiences at undergraduate business school. Transformational learning occurs when a student's worldview is challenged and when the learner moves beyond old assumptions to see things in a new way. In this quantitative study of 256 undergraduate business students, women experienced comparable rates of transformational learning to their male counterparts and reported experiencing the same learning stimuli in personal relations, class room activities, and life events. It would appear that when exposed to the same stimuli, female undergraduate students are not at a disadvantage to male undergraduate students in learning how to be business leaders through transformational learning.
Women-only Leadership Positions in the Middle East: Exploring Cultural Attitudes towards Syrian Women for Sport Career Development
Authors: Megheirkouni Majd
Published: March 2023

Based on the gender ratios in the leadership positions of general sport organisation in Syria, this article aims to explore the reasons behind the low level of women in sport leadership positions. Leadership training used in the general sport organisation in Syria for high-skilled leaders serves to understand the how individual leaders develop in sport bodies, but it fails to explain the reasons for the low level of women in senior sport administrative positions. In this study, I attempt to analyze the cultural aspects to find out: the nature of challenges surrounding women's' career development; and how Syrian women learn and develop within the institutional-cultural context of Syria. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews with ten Syrian women leaders: eight from sports governing bodies, one from the National Olympic Committee, and one from the high executive committee. Implications for addressing the challenges for the low level of women in top management in Syrian sport are outlined.Keywords: national culture, leadership, development, Syrian women, and sport.
Career Experiences of Women Working in Paralympic Sport Organizations Internationally
Authors: Itoh Maki , Bower Glenna , Hums Mary
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify and understand the career factors considered important for women working in leadership positions in the Paralympic Movement. This study relied on in-depth interviews and demographic information as the primary means of collecting data. Formal semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants who have worked in leadership positions in the Paralympic Movement for a minimum of 5 years. The three parts of the interview were (a) personal life history including demographics and career path, (b) career experiences including the most/least enjoyable and greatest challenges as a woman working in the Paralympic Movement, and (c) career aspirations and career advice. The results provide insight into the career challenges and work climate for women working in Paralympic sport.Keywords: Women , Paralympic sport, Social Role Theory
Leadership Style and Career Success of Women Leaders in Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Jones Elwin , Jones Ronald
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between the leadership styles and the career success of women in nonprofit organizations.  The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire served as the instrument to identify transformation, transactional, and passive leadership styles. The development of a career success index through summing the coded values of data regarding job satisfaction, work-life balance, tenure in the nonprofit industry, tenure in current position, and compensation level facilitated correlational analysis with leadership style. The Gulf Coast region of the United States was the geographic region for the study. The results indicated a significant and positive correlation between the transformational and transactional leadership styles and the career success index, p = 0.024 for Pearson's Product Moment; p = 0.038 for Spearman's rho, and p = 0.012 for Pearson's Product Moment; p = 0.022 for Spearman's rho, respectively.  No significant relationship existed between passive leadership style and the career success index, with p = 0.81 for Pearson's Product Moment and p = 0.983 for Spearman's rho.  Keywords: Women in leadership, leadership style, career success of women, nonprofit leadership
Beyond Colleagues: Women Leaders and Work Relationships
Authors: Davidson Sherwin
Published: March 2023

Framed by the Stone Center's relational-cultural theory (Fletcher, 2007), which proposes that mutual growth occurs through connection, this qualitative exploratory study examines relationships with women colleagues that contribute to the quality of women's leadership experiences in higher education. Women leaders are affected by gendered organizational culture and by stereotypes of leadership that are predominantly male. They also face contradictions concerning their relationships with each other. Women are perceived to be relationally-oriented and socially responsive, but also back-biting and competitive; expected to show relational skills, but with no acknowledgement of what their skills contribute to organizations; expected to practice solidarity but also perceived as "queen bees." In the face of these contradictions, interviews with 15 women in leadership at five U.S. universities illuminate the character and contributions of select relationships that women leaders themselves identify as contributing factors to the quality of their leadership experiences. Ten benefits, which accrue both to the women and their institutions, emerged. Two of these benefits are: (1) strategizing and problem-solving; and (2) clarity of ideas, knowledge, and perspective. The benefits loosely align with the five positive outcomes associated with the Stone Center's relational-cultural model. Results offer alternative ways to think about women leaders' work-related relationships, recasting the usually invisible skills women bring to them as skills critical to enhancing their leadership, beneficial to the organization, and a means of challenging the status quo of gendered institutional culture. Keywords: women, leadership, colleagues, relational-cultural theory, support, friendship, work relationships
Women Leaders and Narratives: The Power of Reflecting on Purpose and Career
Authors: Smith Deborah Nelson , Suby-Long Sallie
Published: March 2023

This qualitative study explored ten women leaders' perspectives about the processes associated with constructing their leadership and purpose stories or narratives.  The study participants first wrote, and then talked about their stories in a semi-structured interview.  An overarching theme emerged from the data - narrative sharing was a challenging, yet beneficial process for the participants.  Three sub-themes also emerged from the collective narratives.  First, the process of reflection helped women identify times when their actions and decisions were purposeful, even though they may not have recognized it at the time.  Second, reflection on purpose led participants to a clearer identification and articulation of leadership philosophy. Third, citing that sharing their narratives helped them identify times of leadership authenticity, participants indicated they intended to use similar practices to make current and future leadership/career decisions.  Recommendations are included for organizations, educational institutions, and individuals who are interested in using narrative sharing as a leadership development tool.
Navigating the Labyrinth of Leadership in Sport: A Community of Practice of Femininity
Authors: Kraft Erin , Culver Diane M. , Din Cari , Cayer Isabelle
Published: March 2023

The following qualitative study examines a social learning initiative to support the leadership development of women in sport. Specifically, a Community of Practice (CoP) of femininity was cultivated to inspire women (and male allies) to develop their leadership capacities in the androcentric field of sport. Data were generated from 12 sport leaders (10 women and two men) over a year and a half to collect their experiences of participating in this initiative. Data collection included interviews, observations, surveys, and informal discussions and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The themes discussed include: supports to develop confidence, improved leadership skills, self-awareness of leadership capacity and influence, increased leadership opportunities, men supporting women in leadership development, and the value of social learning. The authors hope these findings will inspire others to implement similar initiatives to fields where masculinity is dominant. This may allow other CoPs of femininity to emerge to support women in their leadership development.
Women Perceive Barriers to Corporate Advancement as Self-imposed
Authors: DeSimone Kimberly
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study is to address a disconnect between women’s perceptions of their advancement potential / barriers to success in upper echelon corporate roles and their actual level of representation within such roles in companies in the S&P 500. This study involves the use of semi-structured phone interviews with 13 women in an organization in the S&P 500, who have been identified by organizational leadership as having high advancement potential. The results are evaluated using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to ensure an understanding of respondents’ experiences and perceptions in connection with their own process of meaning-making. In the findings, the participants’ responses indicate a disconnect between primarily positive perceptions on advancement opportunities for women, low levels of gender bias, and diversity initiatives and the actual outcomes regarding numbers of women in top leadership roles. Further, participants consistently espouse a strong sense of personal responsibility and a perception that barriers they encounter are self-imposed. This is consistent with an overall institutional narrative that organizational initiatives have mitigated the problem of women’s barriers to advancement in the corporate pipeline, which serves to reinforce the illusion of an equitable and effective meritocracy. By drawing on a phenomenological research design and prioritizing the experiences and perceptions of women on the edge of advancement into upper echelon corporate roles, it becomes evident that corporate narratives and diversity initiatives may be serving to reinforce, rather than ameliorate, the status quo of gender disparity in Corporate America. Both scholars and institutional stakeholders can build on the results of this study to move toward improving the corporate pipeline for women’s advancement to executive-level roles.
Keywords: gender, women’s advancement, corporate pipeline, stereotypic attribution bias
Promoting Diverse Leadership: An Examination of Professional Experiences and Career Advancement Perceptions of Black Women in Higher Education
Authors: Delisa Johnson  , Delmas Peggy
Published: March 2023

The professional experiences and career advancement perceptions of Black, female, higher education professionals were examined in an effort to obtain qualitative and quantitative data that could positively impact practice and policy in higher education leadership. Data were collected using a mixed questionnaire that included survey items, open-ended questions, and demographic inquiries.  One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVAs) was conducted to assess the difference in mean perception career advancement scores based on participants’ professional classification, highest level of education, and years of professional experience.  No statistically significant differences (p > .05) were found.  The lack of differences across demographics indicates that Black, female, higher education professionals have similar perceptions of career advancement, regardless of professional classification, education achieved, or years of experience.
Toward an Ethical Attitude in Mathematics Education Research Writing
Authors: Andersson Annica , Le Roux Kate
Published: March 2023

In this article, the authors propose a set of multi-level questions as a guide for developing an ethical attitude in researcher--participant and researcher--researcher relations during the research writing process. Drawing on the sociopolitical turn in mathematics education, the authors view these relations in terms of power and positionings, in the dialectic between the micro-level of research writing and the wider, macro-level context of mathematics education. The authors illustrate the use of the proposed questions through a back-and-forth dialogue. The dialogue draws on experiences from a writing collaboration in which the authors--"the researchers"--wrote up for publication research conducted in their respective contexts of the Political North and Political South. Both research projects focused on how mathematics students--"the participants"--narrate and hence position themselves and are narrated and positioned by mathematics education and sociopolitical discourses in research publications.
I, Too, Am America!
Authors: Goffney Imani , Leonard Jacqueline , Lewis Chance
Published: March 2023

The authors introduce the articles in this special issue of JUME, which address the current social and political climate of the United States and how this relates to mathematics education.
Does That Count?
Authors: Ladson-Billings Gloria
Published: March 2023

Many mathematics educators feel that their work is not amenable to questions of diversity, equity, or justice. However, this article argues that “numbers” are not neutral. What we count and how we count are directly related to basic issues of human difference and social disparity. It also argues that mathematics knowledge and skills are fundamental to civic participation and engagement. Mathematics educators do have a stake in helping us achieve equitable social outcomes.
Learning Mathematics in a Borderland Position: Students’ Foregrounds and Intentionality in a Brazilian Favela
Authors: Skovsmose Ole , Scandiuzzi Pedro Paulo , Valero Paola , Alro Helle
Published: March 2023

In this article the authors introduce a theoretical framework for discussing the relation between favela students’ life conditions in relation to their educational experiences and opportunities. A group of five students from a favela in a large city in the interior of the state of São Paulo in Brazil was inter-viewed. The students were invited to look into their future and explore whether or not there could be learning motives relating mathematics in school and possible out-of-school practices, either in terms of possible future jobs or further studies. Four themes were identified: discrimination, escape, obscurity of mathematics, and uncertainty with respect to the future. Students in a favela could experience what the authors call a borderland position, a relational space where individuals meet their social environment and come to terms with the multiple choices that cultural and economic diversity make available to them.
Teaching Mathematics for Social Justice: Reflections on a Community of Practice for Urban High School Mathematics Teachers
Authors: Gonzalez Lidia
Published: March 2023

In this article, the author reports on a study that explored, in part, the developing identities of seven New York City public high school mathematics teachers as teachers of mathematics and agents of change. Meeting regularly as a community of practice, the teachers and author/researcher discussed issues of teaching mathematics for social justice; explored activities and lessons around social justice; and created a unit of study that attempted to meet high school level mathematics standards, while addressing a social justice issue affecting the lives of urban students. The author reports on the mathematics teachers’ growing awareness of and concerns about infusing issues of social justice into their teaching as well as the teachers’ evolving conceptions of what it might mean to teach mathematics in an urban school, of the nature of mathematics itself, and of what their roles as educators might include.