bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capturing inter-individual variability in stress dynamics with heart rate traces reveals activity in the bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, and insula
Authors: Erhart Mira , Kühnel Anne , Brückl Tanja M. , Fietz Julia , Pöhlchen Dorothee , Yusupov Natan , Elbau Immanuel , Czisch Michael , Binder Elisabeth B. , Sämann Philipp G. , Spoormaker Victor I.
Published: November 2024

Abnormalities in the neural mechanisms of the stress response have the potential to serve as a transdiagnostic marker for stress-related disorders. This potential is rooted in the highly individual and dynamic stress response, which poses a challenge to classical experimentally informed models that focus on specific phases, conditions, or stimuli during a stress task. Here, we integrate individual heart rates (HR) as an immanent index of the stress-response and combine these with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. In this study, 83 healthy participants completed a multimodal psychosocial imaging stress task comprising three different task phases (PreStress, Stress, and PostStress), with each phase consisting of five 60 s blocks of active task interleaved with 40 s of rest, and simultaneous recordings of pulse plethysmography. Participants were asked to solve mental calculations and were exposed to negative social feedback during the Stress phase. We estimated a general linear model (GLM) with individual heart rates averaged per active block as a single parametric modulator of the task regressor across all 15 active blocks irrespective of the task phase. Results revealed a negative correlation between HR and activation in the bilateral amygdala and anterior hippocampus as well as deactivation in the default mode network. Positive correlations with HR were detected in the bilateral insular cortex, bilateral angular gyrus, and parts of the inferior and superior parietal lobes. In summary, our findings emphasize the utility of integrating the commonly assessed cardiovascular stress response (here: HR) as an immediate index of the participant’s stress status. We conclude that by such integration, brain regions involved in regulating the acute stress response, such as the anterior hippocampus and amygdala, are detected more sensitively by tracking the individual’s “stress wave” rather than treating every experimental block uniformly. Our approach may serve as a complementary analysis to the task-regressor based model.
Balancing excitation and inhibition: The role of neural network dynamics in working memory gating
Authors: Herzog Nadine , Cesnaite Elena , Steinfath Paul , Kapralov Nikolai , Fallon Sean J. , Nikulin Vadim , Villringer Arno , Janssen Lieneke K. , Horstmann Annette
Published: November 2024

In the complex landscape of daily life, we continuously balance between maintaining focus despite distractions and flexibly updating focus when needed—a cognitive process governed by a mechanism known as working memory gating. While much research has focused on the neural locus of this mechanism, less is known about the underlying neural dynamics. Here we probe the role of network excitation/inhibition (E/I) dynamics in working memory gating. Utilizing resting-state electroencephalography, we extract two markers of network E/I dynamics: resting-state long-range temporal correlations (LRTCs)—indicative of “critically” balanced E/I dynamics, and the slope of the power spectral density (PSD)—indicative of E/I ratio, and relate them to performance on a working memory gating task, specifically probing distractor-resistant maintenance and flexible updating. Based on previous studies linking stronger LRTCs to enhanced adaptive cognition, we initially expected to observe a similar relation. We find the opposite pattern, however: stronger LRTCs (indicating a more “critical” E/I balance) predicted poorer performance in maintenance-related working memory processes. This challenges the assumption that “near-critical” system dynamics are generally beneficial for cognitive function. Additionally, a flatter PSD slope (indicating a higher E/I ratio) was associated with better maintenance-related performance, particularly in individuals with higher levels of blood phenylalanine and tyrosine (indicating greater central dopamine availability). Notably, both network measures affected performance in all but the updating condition, suggesting a nuanced role of cortical E/I dynamics in overarching maintenance-related working memory processes, distinct from the gating mechanism as such. Our results highlight the complex interplay of network dynamics and neurochemical environments in cognitive function, suggesting implications for targeted interventions in cognitive disorders.
Global Connection and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in the Context of Repatriation of Remains of Overseas Chinese
Authors: Fan Ka-wai
Published: November 2024

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the literature concerning a crucial link that unites mainland China, Hong Kong and overseas Chinese communities. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, a charitable organisation based in Hong Kong, played a key role in the facilitation of the repatriation of the remains of individuals of Chinese descent living abroad. This paper places special emphasis on the value of archival records released by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. It proposes the pursuit of interdisciplinary research and underscores the necessity for comprehensive investigations that encompass publications in different languages. To enhance our understanding of the repatriation of deceased overseas Chinese individuals, there is a resounding need for expanded initiatives to collect and preserve primary historical sources. Comparative studies on burial practices across different regions are also recommended. Such pursuits will offer new insights into the history of overseas Chinese communities.
The Military-Political Complex of the Republic of Letters
Authors: Margócsy Dániel
Published: November 2024

This article offers a revisionist interpretation of the early modern Republic of Letters by offering a contextual analysis of explicit mentions of the term by scholars across Europe in the period. The current historiography on the Republic of Letters tends to present it as the place of friendly, solidary and democratic cooperation across national and religious boundaries. This article argues, instead, that members of the Republic of Letters conceptualised it as a battlefield of permanent warfare. Early modern scholars often compared themselves to soldiers of a hierarchically organised army or to fighters in a civil war. It is claimed that a militarised conceptualisation of the Republic of Letters offers the opportunity to re-engage with Reinhart Koselleck’s influential Kritik und Krise. Evidence is presented from fifteenth-century Italy to early nineteenth-century Hungary.
The Concept of Partnership in Book II of the Republic
Authors: Peprah Stephen Oppong
Published: November 2024

This article critically analyses the concept of ‘partnership’ (koinōnia) in Book II of the Republic (Pl. Resp. 369b–374e), a concept it believes grounds Plato’s political thesis. It attempts to determine the nature of the concept, explore the agential capacities of the partnering agents, identify the original and derivative rational principles that could emerge from it, and argue that these rational principles are also moral principles. Platonic social justice spells out one of the rational and moral principles that emerge from the partnership. In this regard, the paper aims to show, inter alia, the connection between Platonic partnership and social justice and how such connection helps to explain, for instance, the quality of relationship that could exist between the rulers and ruled in Kallipolis. Incidentally, the paper compares Platonic partnership in respect of his defence of justice with Glaucon’s contractarian moral thesis in connection with his pean for injustice.
Feeling Minne: Selfhood and Embodied Emotion in Mechthild von Magdeburg’s Mystical Devotions
Authors: Victoria Hannah
Published: November 2024

Minne (love, Middle High German) often appears in thirteenth-century Germanic female mystical texts as an object of devotional affection. In Ein vliessendes lieht der gotheit (The Flowing Light of the Godhead), Mechthild von Magdeburg (1208–1282) frequently portrays her minne as a person, effectively embodying or incarnating the concept of minne through language. In this text, we can consider that minne is an entity in some ways possessed of her own ‘selfhood’ because of her poetic embodiment through language; an embodiment which consequently also allows her to come into contact with other narratively embodied entities. In this essay, I will approach an understanding of the emotion minne – a culturally and linguistically dependent concept – through the feelings – cognitive and somatic concepts – by which she is articulated within the language of the text. I will argue for the linguistic and narrative embodiment of both minne’s selfhood and Mechthild’s selfhood to explore how their narrative interaction creates an understanding of minne by means of the body. I suggest that Mechthild’s minne is a concept which can be experienced, or felt, and understood outside thirteenth-century germanophone culture because of the textual and lexical embodiment that takes place through literary tropes and culturally coded metaphors.
A new species of Andean rosulate Viola (subg. Neoandinium, Violaceae) endemic to the Puna of north-western Argentina
Authors: NICOLA MARCELA V. , SALOMÓN LUCIANA , FLORES ANA R.
Published: November 2024

A new Andean rosulate species of Viola from the Puna of north-western Argentina, V. watsoniana, is described and illustrated here. The new discovery is compared with morphologically and geographically related species within subgenus Neoandinium. Their similarities and differences are discussed, including photos and a species key to distinguish between them in the context of section Rosulatae, in which V. watsoniana is provisionally placed. We also determine the potential conservation status of the new species as Critically Endangered (CR). Thus, V. watsoniana joins the constantly growing list of known species for Andean rosulate violets and contributes to understand part of the morphological and taxonomic diversity of subgenus Neoandinium.
Correlation Between Feeding Pattern and Duration of Hospital Stay in Pneumonia of Infants Below 6 Months of Age
Authors: Jui Farjana , Sonia Umme , Thakur Mukta , Jesmine Jakiya , Sultana Ajmiri , Mridha Md.
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Pneumonia is the most common respiratory disorder among infants and one of the leading causes of hospital admission. Various feeding patterns have multiple impacts on pneumonia and recovery from it. Breast milk provides some protective properties against respiratory tract and gastrointestinal illness to protect infants during the first year of life. This study aimed to find an association between feeding patterns and duration of hospital stay due to pneumonia in infants below 6 months of age. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from February, 2019 to August, 2020. In our study, 200 infants below 6 months of age admitted with pneumonia in the Department of Paediatrics in Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka were enrolled according to selection criteria. Result: Maximum incidence was seen in the 3 to 4 months of age, e.g.40.0% & 36.30% in girls and boys respectively, mean age of the pneumonia patient was 2.9±1.5 months. Out of 200 cases, 55.0% cases were male and 45.0% were female. Among all infants 93.75% of exclusively breastfed infants needed ≤10 days, and 27.88% of non-exclusive breastfed infants needed>10 days in the hospital for recovery from pneumonia. In both cases, the p-value was 0.001. Conclusion: Exclusive breastfed infants have shorter and non-exclusive breastfed infants have longer hospital stays due to pneumonia below 6 months of age.
Awareness Regarding Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Among School Students in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Bhandari Rekha , Sharma Shreesti , Gorkhali Rajendra , Bhandari Sushmita , Onta Mandira
Published: November 2024

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) is a priority program in Nepal, yet significant knowledge gaps persist among adolescents. This study aimed to assess the awareness of ASRH among school adolescents and identify factors that influence their knowledge. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Bageshowari Higher Secondary School in Bhaktapur Municipality, Nepal, involving 330 students aged 14-18 years. Participants were selected using a probability simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire that covered pubertal changes, sexually transmitted infections, family planning, and abortion. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. The results revealed that 54.8% of adolescents demonstrated adequate ASRH awareness. Age was a significant factor, with older adolescents (≥16 years) showing higher awareness (46.6%) compared to younger adolescents (8.1%). Gender differences also existed, with females demonstrating higher awareness (35.1%) than males (19.6%). Ethnicity influenced awareness, with advantaged Janajatis showing higher awareness (31.1%). Grade-wise analysis indicated that awareness increased with higher grades, peaking at grade twelve (19.4%). Domain-specific analysis revealed the highest awareness for sexually transmitted infections (83.9%) and the lowest for abortion (35.2%). The study concluded that while ASRH awareness was moderate, there are significant gaps, especially concerning abortion. The findings suggest the need for targeted interventions, particularly for younger adolescents and male students, and recommend incorporating ASRH topics into school curricula along with specialized awareness programs focusing on underperforming areas.
The Effect of Variety and Fungicide Application on Yellow Rust (Pucciniastriiformisf.sptritici) Disease of Bread Wheat (TriticumaestivumL.) in East Gojjam, Ethiopia
Authors: Wondmaneh Adane , Negash Belete , Kefale Hirut
Published: November 2024

The study was conducted to evaluate effects of bread wheat variety and fungicide application on yellow rust epidemics under natural field conditions at Debre Markos University research site, East Gojjam Zone in the main cropping season of 2021/2022 year. Three different fungicides (Tilt (25EC), Natura (250 EW), and Takeoff (293 SC) including fungicide unsprayed combined with five improved wheat varieties (Honkolo, Wane, Liben, Lemu and Kakaba) were used in the experiment and the experiment was laid out in RCBD design with factorial arrangement and replicated three time. Disease data’s (severity, AUDPC, incidence and grain yield were recorded. The maximum disease incidence (100 %), initial and final disease severity (39.75 at 57 DAP and 66.66% at 78 DAP) and AUDPC (1770.71 %-day) recorded from fungicide unsprayed plot on Honkolo variety. But the lowest disease incidence (1.50 %), initial and final severity (1.89 % at 57 DAP and 2.36 % at 78 DAP) and AUDPC (78.93 % - day) were recorded from the combination of Liben variety with Natura (250% EW) fungicide treatment. Moreover, the maximum grain yield (6.00 t/ha) was obtained from combination of Kakaba variety and Natura (250 EW) fungicide treatment plot. While the minimum yield (3.00 t/ha) was recorded from fungicide unsprayed Honkolo variety. Natura (250 EW) fungicide sprayed varieties were effective to against yellow rust and gave the highest values of yield over unsprayed plots and other fungicides application. However, Combination of Kakaba variety and Natura (250 EW) fungicide application was more feasible than other treatments.
Piper guineensis Extract in Maize-soybean, Maize-okra Intercropping Systems: Its Role in Mitigating Maize (Zea mays) Pests and Boosting Soil Fertility
Authors: Tabi Oben , Ekole Paul , Achiri Tange , Andoh Mbah , Bechem Eneke
Published: November 2024

Maize (Zea mays) is an important staple grown worldwide including Cameroon, for its carbohydrate rich grains in addition to minerals and vitamins, therefore providing food for human consumption, and fodder for livestock. Production in Cameroon especially Buea which is the main hub is constraint by several factors among them, pests including the Fall Army Worm (FAW), Snail (Limicolaria sp.) and soil infertility are of high importance. The use of botanicals has been successful in mitigating pests on crops while intercropping economic crops with legumes increases soil fertility. This study therefore aimed at evaluating the efficacy of extract of Piper guineense on maize-okra, and maize-soybean intercropped on the incidence and severity of these pests and soil primary macronutrients. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with six treatments replicated three times at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea. FAW, snail incidence and severity, maize grain weight, and soil primary macronutrients were recorded. Data collected was subjected to statistical analysis (P< 0.05). FAW and snail incidence and severity differed significantly (P<0.05). FAW incidence was highest in the control (69.2%) and lowest in Maize + soybean + Piper (21.8%) while snail was highest in control (62.8%) and lowest in Maize + soybean + Piper (15.4%). The severity of fall armyworm was highest in control (41.3%) and lowest in Maize + soybean + Piper (12.7%), while that of snail was highest in control (18%) and lowest in Maize + soybean + Piper (4.3%). The maize grain yield differed significantly (P<0.05), with the highest in Maize + soybean + Piper (5.2 t/ha) and lowest in Maize + okra (2.8 t/ha). Total nitrogen differed significantly with the highest in Maize + soybean + Piper (0.19%) and lowest in Maize + okra (0.13%). Maize yield was positively correlated with total nitrogen (r = 0.77) and negatively correlated with maize pests (r = -0.73 for FAW, r = -0.76 for snail). Thus maize-soybean intercropping using Piper as insecticide is of high importance and a good sustainable alternative to synthetic inputs for maize pest control, optimizing primary macronutrient and maize yield.
Exploring the Cultural Significance, Medicinal Properties, and Agricultural Practice Achievements of Timiz (Piper capense) in Ethiopia
Authors: Shehasen Mohammedsani
Published: November 2024

Piper capense, widely known as Timiz, is an important spice from the Piperaceae family, native to East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia’s southwestern areas. Traditionally used for a myriad of health issues, Timiz holds a significant place in Ethiopian cuisine, embodying cultural traditions. The plant is distinctive in its morphology, with "timiz" in Amharic indicating its curly form. The flavor profile of Timiz is notably unique, exhibiting a milder and sweeter taste that is reminiscent of cloves and cardamom, which enhances its culinary versatility. Typically, the harvested and dried seed spikes are appreciated for their aromatic properties, which are further enhanced through traditional smoking methods. This review explores the traditional medicinal uses of Timiz, relying on ethnobotanical data that illustrate its employment among various African communities for treating ailments like digestive issues, respiratory infections, and other health problems. The results of research on the collection, conservation of accessions, agronomic practices such as watering frequency and media types, as well as propagation methods, are also highlighted. Furthermore, the review identifies challenges within the value chain, such as a lack of awareness regarding processing methods and quality control, stressing the necessity for improved practices to boost Timiz's marketability. Future directions for research, production, and market integration of Timiz in Ethiopia are also discussed, underscoring the multifaceted significance of this spice in Ethiopian culture and medicine while advocating for sustainable agricultural methods to support its cultivation and conservation.
Importance of Reliability and Validity in Research
Authors: Karnia Richard
Published: November 2024

The goal developing a new research tool is to ensure that the measurement tool has a high level of external validity to be generalizable and have a broader reach and also is highly reliable and able to consistently gather the same result. Researchers need to determine the validity and reliability of each assessment to ensure that they are not misleading their readers and the data can be trusted based on statistical evidence to support their conclusions. Reliability is the ability of consistency of the results over multiple tests. This process can be calculated by determining various measurements such as test-retest reliability, parallel-form reliability, split-half reliability by calculating a correlation coefficient or a t-test. Validity is the extent in which a test will measure what is said to test, which can be established by looking and measuring face validity, content validity, criterion-related validity, and construct validity. Validity can be established by using various experts to determine if a test is clear and relevant using a tool such as content validity index. If statistically reliability and validity is established, the research will increase the impact on the research and generalizability can be established.
Entrepreneurial Education and Intention as a Panacea for Sustainable Development Goals: Evidenced Among Public and Private University Students in Southwest, Nigeria
Authors: Abigael Ogunwoye , Olusegun Oladele , Olayiwola Opatola
Published: November 2024

The study was carried out to investigate the impact and also compare the motivational impact level of sustainable entrepreneurship education on sustainable entrepreneurial intention among public and Private University Undergraduate in Southwest, Nigeria. It adopted survey research design, a sample size of 3,542 out of 26,898 university undergraduates from the selected Public and private universities in Ogun, Osun, and Oyo States were selected. Primary data was sourced using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was adopted to get the mean and standard deviation of the constructs for the variable under investigation, while Mann-Whitney U-test was used to examine the differences in the impact level and Linear Regression was used to analyse the impact of sustainable entrepreneurship education of sustainable entrepreneurial intention. Findings showed that sustainable entrepreneurship education have significant impact (F1, 3540 = 21187.94; R2 = 0.8568; P < 0.0000) on Sustainable Entrepreneurial intentions. Also, the public Universities (μR=1584.96) students have more of motivational impact level in terms of sustainable entrepreneurship education compared to students in private Universities (μR=2035.35). The study recommends based on its findings that the Federal government should also contribute towards putting in place infrastructure for entrepreneurial and skill acquisition in private Universities.
Environmental Injustice and Multilateral Financing: Conflicts Between International Financial Institutions and Communities in Latin America
Authors: Silva Douglas , Fantin Marcel
Published: November 2024

In the context of the crisis of multilateralism following the 2008 financial crisis, projects financed by multilateral organizations have exacerbated socio-environmental conflicts in the Global South, particularly in Latin America. The conflict mediation processes conducted by Accountability Mechanisms are expected to result in socio-environmental reparations, a claim that has been disputed by affected communities. This article analyzes the conflicts surrounding International Financial Institution (IFI) Financing in development projects for cities and regions in the Global South. The question is: how have Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) addressed environmental injustices resulting from projects financed by International Financial Institutions? To understand this issue, the objective of the research is to understand the accountability strategies of the Independent Mechanisms and the sustainability discourse of Multilateral Organizations. The research focus was defined based on the activities of Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs), which organized several virtual meetings with civil society during 2020 and 2021. The methodology employed participant observation, with findings documented in a field notebook. The theoretical framework draws on the concept of environmental justice, both in its American version, as articulated by Dr. Robert Bullard, and its Latin American counterpart, often referred to as the 'environmentalism of the poor,' by Joan Martínez Alier. The results revealed the limitations of IAMs in mediating and investigating violations of social and environmental safeguards. Socio-environmental reparations for communities affected by projects funded by International Financial Institutions (IFIs) fall outside the scope of IAMs' activities. Additionally, the IFIs have not established socio-environmental reparation funds for these affected communities. The data collected through participant observation and recorded in the field notebook were interpreted and analyzed within this theoretical framework. These findings can provide valuable insights to improve decision-making processes, promoting greater equity and sustainability in the relationships between IFIs and communities impacted by large-scale projects in Latin America.
Adipose‐derived adult stem cells for cartilage tissue engineering
Authors: Guilak Farshid , Awad Hani A. , Fermor Beverley , Leddy Holly A. , Gimble Jeffrey M.
Published: November 2024

Tissue engineering is a promising therapeutic approach that uses combinations of implanted cells, biomaterial scaffolds, and biologically active molecules to repair or regenerate damaged or diseased tissues. Many diverse and increasingly complex approaches are being developed to repair articular cartilage, with the underlying premise that cells introduced exogenously play a necessary role in the success of engineered tissue replacements. A major consideration that remains in this field is the identification and characterization of appropriate sources of cells for tissue‐engineered repair of cartilage. In particular, there has been significant emphasis on the use of undifferentiated progenitor cells, or “stem” cells that can be expanded in culture and differentiated into a variety of different cell types. Recent studies have identified the presence of an abundant source of stem cells in subcutaneous adipose tissue. These cells, termed adipose‐derived adult stem (ADAS) cells, show characteristics of multipotent adult stem cells, similar to those of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and under appropriate culture conditions, synthesize cartilage‐specific matrix proteins that are assembled in a cartilaginous extracellular matrix. The growth and chondrogenic differentiation of ADAS cells is strongly influenced by factors in the biochemical as well as biophysical environment of the cells. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that the interaction between the cells, the extracellular biomaterial substrate, and growth factors regulate ADAS cell differentiation and tissue growth. Overall, ADAS cells show significant promise for the development of functional tissue replacements for various tissues of the musculoskeletal system.
Considerations on the use of ear chondrocytes as donor chondrocytes for cartilage tissue engineering
Authors: van Osch Gerjo J.V.M. , Mandl Erik W. , Jahr Holger , Koevoet Wendy , Nolst‐Trenité Gilbert , Verhaar Jan A.N.
Published: November 2024

Articular cartilage is often used for research on cartilage tissue engineering. However, ear cartilage is easier to harvest, with less donor‐site morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether adult human ear chondrocytes were capable of producing cartilage after expansion in monolayer culture.

Cell yield per gram of cartilage was twice as high for ear than for articular cartilage. Moreover, ear chondrocytes proliferated faster. Cell proliferation could be further stimulated by the use of serum‐free medium with Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) in stead of medium with 10% serum. To evaluate chondrogenic capacity, multiplied chondrocytes were suspended in alginate and implanted subcutaneously in athymic mice. After 8 weeks the constructs demonstrated a proteoglycan‐rich matrix that contained collagen type II. Constructs of ear chondrocytes showed a faint staining for elastin. Quantitative RT‐PCR revealed that expression of collagen type II was 2‐fold upregulated whereas expression of collagen type I was 2‐fold down regulated in ear chondrocytes expanded in serum‐free medium with FGF2 compared to serum‐containing medium. Expression of alkaline phosphatase and collagen type X were low indicating the absence of terminal differentiation.

We conclude that ear chondrocytes can be used as donor chondrocytes for cartilage tissue engineering. Furthermore, it may proof to be a promising alternative cell source to engineer cartilage for articular repair.
Calling the Police via 911 Versus a Non-Emergency Number: Variation Among Telephone Reporting Methods and their Implications for Public Safety
Authors: Simpson Rylan
Published: November 2024

Much police activity occurs at the request of the public. Most requests from the public are received by the police via telephone. I assessed and compared the characteristics of ~255,000 police calls for service generated via calls to 911 and non-emergency numbers. Dispatched calls for service generated via 911 calls were, on average, higher priority and dispatched faster and to more officers who arrived quicker and spent longer on-scene than dispatched calls for service generated via non-emergency calls. Nonetheless, many emergent events were reported via non-emergency numbers. I highlight the implications of telephone reporting methods for public safety, interrogate the concept of an “emergency” as it applies to policing, and describe the importance of non-emergency call handling for policing operations.
The social space of Italian leading sociology journals: A network and field-theoretic analysis of sociologists’ interlocking editorships
Authors: Serino Marco , Picardi Ilenia , Agodi Maria Carmela
Published: November 2024

This article focuses on the boards of Italian top-ranked sociology journals by conceiving of them as an affiliation network formed by scholars participating in the same journals’ editorial boards as members. We consider the space formed by editorial memberships in these journals as a social space and analyse it by means of network-analytic and factorial techniques, providing a field-theoretic representation of such space. Through Cluster Correspondence Analysis, we look at how the different clusters (network positions) relate to each other and to what extent journals’ patterns of board participation differ through clusters. Our findings show how this social space is structured along dimensions that oppose journals and scholars by reason of their mutual relationships ( interlocking editorships), thus highlighting the relative positions of journals with similar or distinct patterns of board membership and the positions of scholars linked by common participation in various editorial boards. We interpret this participation as a form of ‘position-taking’ in Bourdieu’s sense, reflecting the adjustment of boards’ composition to meet the recent demands of the journals’ accreditation system.
Old age from the perspective of LGBTQ+ and heterosexual young: A comparative study
Authors: Boyacıoğlu Nur Elçin , Irmak Hatice Selin , Bozkurt Uzan Şeyma
Published: November 2024

Background:

In today’s world, the challenges and achievements of LGBTQ+’s throughout their lives are increasingly gaining attention. However, the specific needs of LGBTQ+’s in the aging process and potential challenges they might face during this period are often overlooked.

Aims:

This study aims to demonstrate LGBTQ+’s and heterosexual young’s perspectives on old age.

Method:

This descriptive, cross-sectional comparative study collected data from 230 LGBTQ+ and 201 heterosexual individuals. Data were collected using a digital survey comprising an 8-item Personal Information Form and a 17-item Questionnaire for Opinions Regarding Old Age.

Results:

Compared to others, LGBTQ+’s consider old age to be a more problematic period. In this study, it was determined that LGBTQ+’s perceive old age as a bigger problem compared to those in the heterosexual group. It was determined that the possible difficulties that LGBTQ+’s expect to face in old age are mostly related to basic needs such as the need for care and lack of social support. In the heterosexual group, concerns about age-related physical changes such as loss of youth were observed more frequently.

Conclusion:

It is recommended that studies to be conducted and services to be offered in this area should be of nature that would ensure safety of LGBTQ+’s, protect their basic humanitarian rights and respond to their needs.
“It Just Galls Me, as a Taxpayer”: Trust Implications of School Closure Decision-Making in Ontario
Authors: Thompson Carise , Collins Patricia A. , Dean Jennifer
Published: November 2024

More than 400 publicly funded schools in Ontario, Canada, permanently closed between 2011 and 2017. This study examines the impact of highly criticized closure decisions on trust, guided by the OECD competence-values framework for citizens’ trust in public institutions. Interviews with key informants reveal factors affecting trust, including timing and format of public consultations, reliability of data informing closure recommendations, silencing of community concerns, timeliness of government coordination, asset management horizons, and system-wide approaches to planning. This study underscores the need for an alternative school-closure decision-making model for Ontario.
We Are (Not) on the Same Team: Understanding Asian Americans’ Unique Navigation of Workplace Discrimination
Authors: Li Christina S. , Goering Daniel D. , Liao Huiyao , Zhang Qi
Published: November 2024

Asian Americans (AsAms) carry unique group identifications that likely impact how they navigate workplace racial discrimination. Yet, extant workplace discrimination research has not thoroughly considered the implications associated with such unique group identifications, especially given the context of American society’s increasingly polarized views of AsAms as outsiders versus insiders. To gain insights into these aspects, we conducted three studies using qualitative and quantitative methods. Our qualitative interviews (Study 1) with AsAm employees during COVID-19 reveal that AsAms have internalized society’s polarization of their American and Asian group identifications and navigate their workplace discrimination accordingly. Integrating these findings with group identification research, we develop a dual-serial-mediation navigation process model, whereby AsAms with strong American group identification intend to leave their organization via blaming and then not forgiving their offenders (i.e., “suffering path”), whereas those with strong Asian group identification intend to stay in the organization via perspective taking and then forgiving their offenders (i.e., “protected path”). In a different sample of AsAms who faced workplace discrimination, we found support for our model (Study 2). Finally, we largely replicated these results in a third sample of AsAms who faced workplace discrimination and found that such navigation processes were largely unique to AsAms versus other racial-minority groups (Study 3). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Administrative Burden in the Cafeteria: Evidence from School Meal Participation in Shared Buildings
Authors: Han Jeehee , Rothbart Michah W.
Published: November 2024

School meal programs have positive effects on student nutrition and academic outcomes, but participation is far from universal. A set of recent school food policies, such as Universal Free Meals (UFM) and Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC), aim to reduce the administrative burden of participating students. While studies find UFM and BIC are effective in increasing participation, little is known about how schools’ physical capacity constraints may limit the effectiveness of these policies or further impose administrative burden. In this study, we use longitudinal school-level data from New York City public schools for academic years 2010–2014 and find that UFM is less effective in schools that share buildings with other schools (“co-located”), especially for low-income students. BIC, however, appears to be similarly effective regardless of school co-location status, suggesting that decentralizing locations for school meal distribution and consumption may serve as an effective policy lever in capacity-constrained settings. We find “overcrowding,” another capacity constraint, does not moderate the effectiveness of either UFM or BIC. Our study provides new evidence of physical barriers in public school settings that may impede policies that aim to increase take-up of school meal programs and the extent to which this burden is unevenly borne by low-income students, which in turn may result in inequitable nutritional, health, and academic outcomes.
Forgetting and fictionalizing: French historical narratives and the case of the Breton League
Authors: Martin Hélène C.
Published: November 2024

This article examines how historical narratives of the League in Brittany (1589–1598) contributed to the creation of a contradictory depiction of the war as it happened in the region. Focusing on the narratives of the three main historians who described these lesser-known events at length (Jacques-Auguste de Thou, Agrippa d’Aubigné and Pierre Victor Palma Cayet), this article shows that representations of the war in Brittany responded both to the political exigence of ‘oubliance’ and the philosophical exigence of transitioning from war to peace at the end of the sixteenth century. This article argues that early modern French historians negotiated these exigencies through the creation of a compensating fiction. They adopted similar rhetorical strategies which included blurring the lines of conflict, shifting the narrative focus away from the enemy victory and representing Mercœur as following a path of transgression, repentance and ultimately salvation. While these historians wrote independently, all three operated in similar ways, showing the extent of the ‘oubliance’ doctrine and the need, at the end of the sixteenth century, to provide a new historical narrative.
Regimes of value: Economic transformations, ecological livelihoods, and salt cooperatives on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast
Authors: Antonova Anna S.
Published: November 2024

This article investigates changing regimes of value in the salt flats on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast as a way of exploring how diverse economic practices reflect communities’ relations with their environment. Combining a feminist political economy (FPE) lens with postsocialist analysis of social change in Bulgaria, I trace the salt flats’ transformation from cooperatively managed local ecological livelihood to passive property rendered most valuable when sold for development into the now-dominant tourist industry. In contrast, I also outline contemporary diverse economic practices inspired by the salt flats, which seek alternative means of conceiving the economy. Drawing on these experiences, I argue that the postsocialist lens can offer a robust perspective on conceptualizations of the diverse economy.
Battling the barriers to compassion in organizations
Authors: Paakkanen Miia , Martela Frank , Pessi Anne Birgitta
Published: November 2024

Compassion at work has been linked to many important work outcomes, including improved well-being, leadership capability, cooperation, and commitment. However, what prevents compassion at work has not been adequately studied, with only a few research studies on the barriers to compassion; those that exist are mainly limited to healthcare. This empirical article explores the barriers to compassion through interviews with 14 groups of managers and employees ( N = 81) from five different organizations in a variety of fields. We identify barriers in five dimensions: mindset, behavior, culture, system, and leadership. Importantly, we have discovered that the barriers are often interrelated within and across dimensions, revealing their interdependence. Failing to recognize not only barriers as such but also their systemic interrelations may present a major barrier to the management of compassion at work. In fact, understanding the systemic nature of barriers can make the battle against barriers to compassion more effective and systems intelligent. We discuss the theoretical contributions as well as the practical implications of our findings for managers and offer a blueprint for optimizing compassion on an individual, community, and leadership levels.

JEL Classification: O15 Human Resources/Human Development
Introduction to the Special Issue: ‘Critical Theory Today: One hundred years of the Frankfurt School’
Authors: Boland Tom , Stypinska Diana
Published: November 2024

The Irish ‘Decade of Centenaries' closed in 2023, coinciding with the centenary of the founding of the Frankfurt School. The SAI Social Theory group gathered members and guests to a Symposium at University of Galway in March 2023 to consider the legacy of the Frankfurt school, marking the centenary of the establishment of the Institute for Social Research (Institut für Sozialforschung). Rather than following a rather well-established academic custom and focusing on commentaries and exegeses, the contributors embraced the ethos of Critical Theory by exploring the present-time relevance of the passions and aspirations of the Frankfurt School scholars. This article introduces the Special Issue ‘Critical Theory Today: One hundred years of the Frankfurt School’, which consists of papers inspired by the symposium, the product of reflections and conversations. The collection centers on the critical conundrum of the contemporary coexistence of the tendencies towards containment and instigation of radical socio-political change.
Assessing the Role of Blood Gas Analysis in COVID-19 Patients for Early Warning and Clinical Guidance
Authors: Wang Youji , Liu Tielian , Du Hualongyue , Wang Yongliang , Xiao Gang , Lyu Xiaoming
Published: November 2024

Objective

To assess the role of blood gas analysis as an auxiliary tool for detecting and predicting the progression of COVID-19 in patients.

Research Methodology/Design

A consecutive cohort study was conducted of 106 patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. Patients were divided into two groups based on age and the course of the disease (mild to moderate and severe). Blood gas analysis parameters were measured for all participants and results were compared between groups.

Setting

This study was conducted in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Main Outcome Measures

Arterial/alveolar oxygen partial pressure ratio, reduced hemoglobin fraction, sodium ion, lactic acid, oxygen saturation, oxygen partial pressure, and oxyhemoglobin fraction.

Results

Findings indicated statistically significant differences between the two groups in the measured parameters.

Conclusion

Blood gas analysis has the potential to more accurately assess the progression of COVID-19 in elderly patients, specifically related to respiratory and acid-base balance issues.

Implications for Clinical Practice

This study underscores the importance for bedside nurses to pay close attention to acid-base balance, lung ventilation/ventilation function, and hypoxia status in elderly critically ill patients with COVID-19, in order to more effectively diagnose and predict the progression of the disease.
The Influence of Earning Industry Certifications on High School Graduation: Evidence from Florida
Authors: Glennie Elizabeth , Dalton Ben , Studley Roger , Lauff Erich
Published: November 2024

Dropping out of high school creates barriers to economic self-sufficiency. Career and technical education (CTE) may help students engage with school by showing the connection between school and work. Prior research has shown that high school CTE participation promotes positive academic outcomes including high school graduation. This paper uses a quasi-experimental design to examine the association between certifications and on-time high school graduation. Our findings indicate that certifications exert a meaningful influence on the likelihood of high school graduation, and that the effect is stronger for students who are at risk for dropping out or are economically disadvantaged.
Research on digital twin-assisted dual-channel parallel convolutional neural network-transformer rolling bearing fault diagnosis method
Authors: Wang Denglong , Li Yonghua , Lu Chong , Men Zhihui , Zhao Xing
Published: November 2024

The existing data-driven fault diagnosis methods face some significant problems in practical applications. Many traditional methods rely on a large number of high-quality labeled data for training, but in the industrial environment, the actual fault data obtained is often limited and unbalanced. This data scarcity seriously limits the diagnostic ability of the model and is prone to insufficient diagnostic accuracy. In addition, the data-driven method has a strong dependence on data, and it is prone to misjudgment in the face of complex environments such as noise interference and equipment state changes. These problems jointly restrict the application effect of fault diagnosis methods in industrial actual scenarios. Based on this, this paper proposes a new method of rolling bearing fault diagnosis based on digital twin technology and improved convolutional neural network (CNN)-Transformer deep learning model. Firstly, the geometric characteristics and motion mechanism of rolling bearings are analyzed in depth, and a high-fidelity virtual twin model is established. A balanced simulation data set is generated by numerical simulation. Secondly, we improve the traditional CNN, combined with the Transformer deep learning framework, to enhance the ability of the network to extract features. By performing wavelet transform on the test data obtained from the rolling bearing acceleration test bench and the simulation data generated by the twin model, a dual-channel signal of parallel convolution is formed, and a fault diagnosis model based on dual-channel parallel CNN-Transformer is constructed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by ablation experiments. The results show that the proposed method can accurately and efficiently identify different rolling bearing fault modes and has superior diagnostic performance. At the same time, the model can also be further extended to related fields to provide new ideas and technical references for fault diagnosis of other mechanical equipment.