bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disclosing Sexual Victimization Online and In-Person: An Examination of Bisexual+ and Heterosexual Survivors
Authors: López Gabriela , Bhuptani Prachi Hemant , Orchowski Lindsay Marie
Published: December 2023

Bisexual+ (bisexual, pansexual, queer, attraction to more than one gender) people are at elevated risk for sexual victimization relative to their heterosexual counterparts. Disclosure of sexual victimization and social reactions received upon disclosure can play a major role in recovery following an assault. Using an online survey, the current study examined whether bisexual+ and heterosexual survivors of sexual victimization ( N = 657) varied in disclosure of victimization, the type of disclosure (in-person vs. online via #MeToo), and receipt of various social reactions to disclosure in person and online. A chi-square test examined differences in disclosure and differences in types of disclosure (in-person only vs. MeToo across sexual identity). MANOVAS were used to examine whether in-person and online reactions varied across sexual identity. Bisexual+ survivors were more likely to disclose sexual victimization relative to heterosexual survivors. Among those who disclosed, bisexual+ survivors were more likely to disclose in person only whereas heterosexual survivors were more likely to disclose online via #MeToo. Whereas we did not find any significant differences for in-person reactions, we did find significant differences for online social reactions using #MeToo. Heterosexual survivors received higher turning against reactions (e.g., avoided talking to you or spending time with you) and more unsupportive acknowledgment relative to bisexual+ participants. Whereas bisexual+ participants received less turning against reactions and unsupportive acknowledgment during #MeToo/online disclosure, they were also less likely to disclose using #MeToo. Findings suggest that bisexual+ and heterosexual people vary in the way they disclose sexual victimization, and in how they are responded to when disclosing in person and online.
Performance of HVAF sprayed WC-10Co-4Cr coating onto cast 21-4N steel for slurry erosion: Characterization and erosion rate studies
Authors: Rajanna L , Mamatha TG , Prabhuswamy MS , Singh Vikrant , Bansal Anuj
Published: December 2023

In this study, 86WC-10Co-4Cr powder was thermally sprayed onto cast 21-4N steel using High Velocity Air-Fuel (HVAF) technology. The deposited coating exhibited a dense structure with minimal porosity (1.0 ± 0.3%) and excellent fracture toughness (5.1 ± 0.3 MPa m1/2). Slurry erosion tests had shown that the HVAF-coated steel had significantly improved erosion resistance compared to uncoated steel, attributed to its high hardness, fracture toughness, and dense microstructure. Statistical analysis revealed that slurry velocity and impact angle were the most influential parameters. Further, Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) image analysis showed that the coated steel exhibited a brittle mode of material removal, while the bare steel displayed a ductile mode. Overall, the study highlights the effectiveness of HVAF-sprayed 86WC-10Co-4Cr coatings in enhancing erosion resistance, providing valuable insights into the coating’s microstructure and performance under different erosion conditions.
Working mechanisms and dynamic performances for a hydraulically damped bushing with an inertia track
Authors: Zeng Xiangkun , Xu Jiansheng , Wang Xiaoli , Yang Xiaoqing , Yang Chaofeng
Published: December 2023

Hydraulically damped bushings (HDBs), due to their superior elasticity and damping, are frequently employed in vehicle suspension systems to lower levels of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) of a vehicle. Although HDBs have similar configurations with well-known hydraulic engine mounts (HEMs), the working mechanism and dynamic performances of HDBs are still not clearly revealed. In this paper, efforts have been made to explain potential differences in performances of HEMs and HDBs with one inertia track. Comparisons and investigations are carried out in terms of geometry structures, dynamic modeling, and multiple characteristic parameters including equivalent mass and damping amplification ratios, as well as flow and pressure responses of inertia track fluid. Furthermore, a unified analytical model of a bush-type HEM, which is able to control the motion and vibration of an engine with compact powertrain space, is established to investigate dynamic characteristics of either HEM or HDB, so as to optimize NVH performances of a vehicle in the design stage.
A hybrid technique for optimal sizing and performance analysis of hybrid renewable energy sources
Authors: Mahdi Mudassir Syed Mujtaba , Salma U
Published: December 2023

This article proposes an optimum size and performance analysis of hybrid renewable energy sources using the atomic orbital search–recalling-enhanced recurrent neural network technique. The system consists of energy sources, like wind turbines and solar panels, energy storage systems, or battery-bank and biodiesel generator methods. The proposed optimization method is the integration of atomic orbital search and recalling-enhanced recurrent neural network and hence it is known as atomic orbital search–recalling-enhanced recurrent neural network technique. The major goal of the proposed method is to reduce the life-cycle cost of the hybrid renewable energy sources while taking into account certain limits by altering decision variables, such as the swept area of wind turbines, solar area, fuel consumption of the biodiesel generator, and battery quality. Solar radiation, wind speed, load demand, and temperature variations are the inputs for the design of hybrid renewable energy sources. In the proposed method, the recalling-enhanced recurrent neural network uses the historical dataset to estimate the load demand in the best possible way. The atomic orbital search method offers an ideal hybrid renewable energy sources setup based on the anticipated load requirement. The proposed method also optimizes a number of other factors, including system overall cost, power generation from different sources, the contribution of different sources, supply continuity for the load demand, and unmet load. The proposed method optimizes the characteristics of hybrid renewable energy sources, and it offers a reliable solution. The proposed method is done in MATLAB and its performance is examined by using the comparative analysis with existing methods.
Electroacupuncture ameliorates hepatic defects in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome induced by letrozole and a high-fat diet
Authors: Huang Shiya , Yu Chuyi , Hu Min , Wen Qidan , Wen Xiaohui , Li Shuna , Li Kunyin , Ma Hongxia
Published: December 2023

Background:

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of low-frequency electroacupuncture (EA) on glucose and lipid disturbances in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) characterized by insulin resistance (IR) and hepatic steatosis.

Methods:

The PCOS rat model was induced by continuous administration of letrozole (LET) combined with a high-fat diet (HFD). Female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups: control, control + EA, LET + HFD and LET + HFD + EA. EA was administered five or six times a week with a maximum of 20 treatment sessions. Body weight, estrous cyclicity, hormonal status, glucose and insulin tolerance, lipid profiles, liver inflammation factors, liver morphology and changes in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt (protein kinase B) pathway were evaluated.

Results:

The rat model presented anovulatory cycles, increased body weight, elevated testosterone, abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, IR, liver inflammation, hepatic steatosis and dysregulation of the insulin-mediated PI3-K/Akt signaling axis. EA reduced fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, area under the curve for glucose, homeostasis model assessment of IR indices, triglycerides and free fatty acids, and alleviated hepatic steatosis. Furthermore, low-frequency EA downregulated mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, upregulated mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, increased protein expression of phosphorylated (p)-Akt (Ser473), p-glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β (Ser9) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), increased the ratio of p-GSK3β to GSK3β and downregulated protein expression of GSK3β.

Conclusion:

An obese PCOS rat model with IR and hepatic steatosis was successfully established by the combination of LET and HFD. EA improved dysfunctional glucose and lipid metabolism in this PCOS-IR rat model, and the molecular mechanism appeared to involve regulation of the expression of key molecules of the PI3-K/Akt insulin signaling pathway in the liver.
Do Prior Financial Events to Share Repurchase Announcements Matter?
Authors: Wang Jo-Yu , Chang Chih-Hsuan , Wang Juo-Lien
Published: December 2023

This study examines the effects of share repurchase announcements on Taiwanese firms after various financial practices and decisions from 2000 to 2020. First, we discuss whether there is a significant abnormal return on the price around share repurchase announcement. Furthermore, we explore whether firms take advantage of buyback announcements to signal the outsiders that the company’s stock price is undervalued. Second, we discuss whether the repurchase announcements have abnormal returns after financing or dividend distribution decisions as companies implement these decisions in response to future operating plans. Further, we explore whether there is a conflict between these funding operation policies and the repurchase announcement.

 According to our results, there is an opposing effect between seasoned equity offering and share repurchase announcements. We found the effect of the announcement of share repurchase after a cash dividend is better than a stock dividend. The results also show that the effect of a share repurchase announcement after the issuance of convertible bonds is better than an ordinary corporate bond issue, especially the firms with a low market-to-book ratio. It means that convertible bonds can reduce liabilities if the investors convert the debt into equity and improve the company’s capital structure.

JEL Codes: G14, G30
Epistemological Deviant, Epistemic Abjection and Lost Opportunities: A Case Study of a Muslim Trans Intersex Student’s Othering and Dehumanisation in an Indian Science Classroom
Authors: Datta Sayantan
Published: December 2023

This article sheds light on the registers of violence through which people from marginalised groups—especially non-normative or minoritised collectivities of gender, sex and religion—are constructed as outsiders in science higher education in India. Further, this article delineates the production and construction of a ‘normal’ sex/gender in a science classroom as distinct from a ‘biological’ sex/gender. Towards these goals, this article uses autobiographical narratives of a Muslim intersex transgender (trans) individual pursuing their masters in a science institution in Bengaluru, India, which it analyses using sociology of science and psychoanalytic lenses to articulate these mechanisms as the construction of the ‘epistemological deviant’ and the employment of ‘epistemic abjection’.
An Analytical Study on Managerial Competencies and Business Performance of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs): A Value Chain Perspective from India
Authors: Prabhavathi Y. , Kishore N. T. Krishna , Siddayya  , Ramachandra C. T.
Published: December 2023

Farmer producer organizations (FPOs) act as an effective institutional mechanism in addressing the constraints of small holders in India. But only a very few FPOs are prospering in their life stages, demanding a need for competent managerial team to understand the business dynamics and improve the organization performance. Hence, the present study attempted to understand the relation between business competencies and financial performance of FPOs operating in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India mediated through business approach. A proportionate representative sample of 4 FPOs and 11 FPOs registered under cooperatives act and companies act, respectively, were selected randomly. Primary data from 50 % of managerial team of FPOs ( n = 94) and secondary data from audited financial reports from 2019–2020 to 2021–2022 were obtained. The major findings of the study showed that business competencies and financial performance of market-centric approached FPOs are significantly higher over production-centric FPOs. A strong and significant correlation existed between competencies and performances. Variables namely education, business exposure, leadership role in community-based organizations and digital media exposure showed moderate correlation with various competency spheres. Due to relatively higher level of these factors in the respondents of market-centric approached FPOs over their counterparts, they possessed comparatively higher business competencies and as such identified business opportunities on the upstream value chain (market-centric) and accordingly showed better financial performance over the FPOs that identified opportunities on the downstream value chain (production-centric). Thus, a strong relationship existed between business approach, business competencies and financial performance.
Whose Neighborhood Needs? Assessing the Spatial Distribution of Federal Community Development Funds
Authors: Stokan Eric , Overton Michael , Deslatte Aaron , Zhang Christine
Published: December 2023

Local governments must balance their growth ambitions against needs arising from social inequities. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program aims to redress these disparities by directing funds toward disinvested tracts. We ask whether a city's institutional design, public and private actor composition, and resource availability influence the decision to invest in communities with greater levels of social need. Utilizing a social equity framework, we connect place-level procedural fairness mechanisms with neighborhood-level access equity consequences. Combining U.S. local government survey data over two decades with census tract-level CDBG expenditures, we find that in neighborhood where 51 percent or more of the families are low-to-moderate income (LMI), its likelihood of receiving funds increases with its share of LMI population relative to the city's, but at a diminished rate compared to non-LMI tracts. Further, city-level factors moderate this relationship (e.g., including community development corporations in planning processes).
Microvascular changes after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair: A comparative study based on gas tamponade agent
Authors: Machairoudia Genovefa , Kazantzis Dimitrios , Chatziralli Irini , Theodossiadis George , Georgalas Ilias , Theodossiadis Panagiotis
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of gas tamponade on microvascular changes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods

Participants in this study were 48 patients with RRD, who were treated with PPV and gas tamponade without internal limiting membrane peeling. All participants underwent slit-lamp examination, fundoscopy, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography at month 6 postoperatively. The fellow untreated eyes were also examined and served as the control data.

Results

A statistically significant enlargement in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in both the superficial (p = 0.002) and the deep capillary plexus (p = 0.01) was noticed 6 months postoperatively in patients with RRD treated with PPV compared to the fellow eyes. The foveal avascular zone perimeter was increased in the operated eyes in the deep capillary plexus (p = 0.0003) and the foveal avascular zone circularity was decreased in both the superficial (p = 0.045) and the deep capillary plexus (p < 0.001) compared to the fellow eyes. The vessel density was not significantly different between the operated and the fellow eyes in the superficial and the deep capillary plexus. The vessel density and the foveal avascular zone parameters were comparable between the C3F8 and SF6 groups.

Conclusion

Specific microvascular indices as measured by OCTA were statistically different between the operated and the fellow eyes in the superficial and deep capillary plexus. C3F8 and SF6 as gas tamponades did not seem to differ in their impact on the microvascular parameters.
An improved acoustic model for mixed lubrication contact interface
Authors: Wang Xingyuan , Lou Zhifeng , Wang Yue , Zhang Lixun , Lin Tian
Published: December 2023

Mixed lubrication interfaces are widespread in engineering. The measurement of contact stiffness is a challenge for device performance evaluation. The ultrasonic reflection method is an effective method, but the difficulty of accurate construction of the acoustic model limits the measurement accuracy. In this study, an improved acoustic model is proposed to analyze the contact stiffness of the mixed lubrication interface. The model is constructed using a quasi-static spring model, virtual material model, statistical microcontact model, and multilayer acoustic model. The mixed lubrication interface is equivalent to a homogeneous and isotropic virtual material layer. Then, the mechanical, geometric, and acoustic parameters of the virtual layer are determined by introducing thickness coefficients. The contact stiffness is obtained with the proposed model and compared with the quasi-static spring model and the virtual material layer model. The reflection coefficient of the interface can also be calculated using a multilayer acoustic model based on the calculated parameters. The proposed model is verified by comparing the predicted reflection coefficients with the published experimental results.
“Is my culture influencing me?”: Client experiences of mental illness and psychotherapy in a transitional Indian culture
Authors: Gopal Baiju , Charles Deborah Yazhini , Raval Vaishali V , P Padmakumari , Thomas Elizabeth
Published: December 2023

The client therapy experience has been the focus of many bodies of literature in psychotherapy, even across cultures. While researchers have emphasized on the use of indigenous approaches in Indian psychotherapy, how much of this is applicable in the present scenario? The experience has become increasingly tricky to understand given the complexities arising from the influence of urbanization and westernization. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the experience of mental illness and psychotherapy in modern day India. Using the integrated, holistic idea of the person and their needs, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with ten cis-gender, urban Indian participants between 21 and 39 years of age. Data analysis using thematic analysis uncovered the global theme of “Transitional Culture Impacting the Therapeutic Experience.” The major organizing themes and basic themes have been elaborated as well. In essence, the study concludes that the increased awareness and acceptance of psychotherapy in urban India, combined with the exposure to Western methodologies, may be related to an increase in the expectations for similar therapeutic services. Implications and recommendations have been discussed.
Géographicité, material agency and the thickness of the Earth: rediscovering Eric Dardel beyond ‘nature/culture’ dualisms
Authors: Ferretti Federico
Published: December 2023

This paper reassesses and rediscovers the intellectual legacy of French geographer Eric Dardel (1899–1967). First discovered by geographers in the 1970s and 1980s, Dardel’s book L’Homme et la Terre was considered as a work predating alternatively humanistic approaches and postmodern critiques of positivism, which justifies why it passed substantially unperceived when it was first published in 1952. Yet, most of these authors have manifestly only read that book despite Dardel’s production was much larger, labelling Dardel as a ‘phenomenologist’ in a quite reductive way. Drawing upon recent literature on material agency and on phenomenology/post-phenomenology in geography, and based on the analysis of Dardel’s complete body of work, I argue that the contribution of the French geographer cannot be reduced to matters of phenomenology and subjective perception. To this end, I especially focus on Dardel’s references to the 19th-century tradition of Naturphilosophie that argued for a consubstantiality of ‘humankind’ and ‘nature’. Hence, I show how Dardel’s willingness to take seriously the materiality and agency of ‘the Earth’ through his notion of géographicité [geographicity or geographicalness] can give new and original insights to current geographies dealing with materiality, affect, human-nature hybridity and relational ontologies. Questioning dualisms such as humankind/nature, subject/object and nature/culture, early geographical understandings of the planet as a complex living being can foster the relevance of geography for both the ‘material turn’ advocating for plural agencies and for critical debates denying the principle of human supremacy over the planet.
Effect of electron beam radiation on the mechanical, electrical, heat shrinkable and morphological properties of linear low-density polyethylene/polyolefin elastomer blends
Authors: Agarwal Rohini , Singh Manjeet , Ray Chowdhury Subhendu , Pant Harish Jagat
Published: December 2023

The blending of polymers is an efficient means for developing new materials in a less hazardous and more economical way compared to the synthetic route. Polymers with different properties are blended to obtain a new material with combined properties. In this study, a thermoplastic elastomer blend is prepared by melt mixing a metallocene-based polyolefin elastomer (Engage 8003, abbreviated as EN) with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE, abbreviated as LL) using a twin-screw extruder in various compositions. To investigate the effect of the electron beam on the properties, LL, EN and their blends are irradiated in the 50–250 kGy dose range. The samples are subjected to gel fraction, mechanical, dynamic mechanical, hardness, heat shrinkability, volume resistivity and morphological studies. The % gel fraction, hardness and heat shrinkability of a sample increase with an increase in the irradiation dose. With increasing LL content, Young’s modulus and ultimate tensile strength of the blends are increased, maintaining the % elongation at break in an attractive region. LE64 (60 wt% LL and 40 wt% EN) and LE46 (40 wt% LL and 60 wt% EN) blends show optimized mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. Irradiation further increases the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of LE64 up to 150 kGy and LE46 up to 200 kGy. The volume resistivity of the LE64 blend increases tenfold and quadruples for LE46 compared to non-irradiated blends when irradiated at 200 kGy. The morphological structures of the non-irradiated and crosslinked blends support the outcome of the obtained properties nicely.
Health-Related Social Needs Screening: Promising Practices From the Accountable Health Communities Model
Authors: Bosold Alyssa , Abrams Weintraub Toni , Cowen Kelsey , Talwar-Hebert Maya , Abowd Johnson Katherine , Barolín Natalia
Published: December 2023

Health-related social needs (HRSNs), such as food insecurity and housing instability, drive health and well-being. The socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the prevalence of HRSNs and highlighted the critical need for strategies to address those needs, particularly in communities experiencing health disparities. Implementing HRSN screening requires adopting effective strategies to overcome common challenges. This report synthesizes promising implementation approaches and lessons learned from the Accountable Health Communities Model, a national effort funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center to systematically screen for and address HRSNs in clinical settings. Key strategies include increasing patient engagement and building trust through culturally tailored language and outreach; using and sharing data for monitoring and improvement; using technology to expand access to screening and referrals; dedicating staff to screening roles; integrating screening into existing workflows; and building buy-in among staff by communicating the impact of screening and encouraging peer connections.
A Composite Counterstory of Latinx Faculty Navigating and Resisting a Culture of Niceness
Authors: Liera Román , Villarreal Cynthia D. , Ortega Guillermo
Published: December 2023

Latinx faculty play a significant role in supporting the success of Latinx students. However, a culture of niceness at Historically White Serving Institutions with Hispanic-Serving Institution designations could reproduce inequities for Latinx faculty and thus contribute to their departure. We created a composite counterstory from interview data with Latinx faculty to illustrate how Latinx faculty created validating and supporting environments to critique and collectively transform the culture of niceness.
Comparing the Intensity of Pain and Incidence of Flare Reaction Following Trigger Finger Injections Using Betamethasone and Methylprednisolone: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sraj Shafic , Schick Samuel , Wasef Kareem , Haft Mark , Braga Skylar , Taras John S. , Lese Andréa B. , Prud’homme B. Joseph
Published: December 2023

Background:

Considerable evidence supports corticosteroid injection as an effective treatment for trigger finger. One common side effect, the flare reaction, is a well-documented phenomenon of increased pain following steroid injections. Its incidence and intensity may be related to steroid composition. The purpose of this study was to determine whether betamethasone and methylprednisolone injections for trigger fingers have differing intensity of pain or incidence flare reaction.

Methods:

Patients with symptomatic trigger finger were recruited during their hand surgery visits. Patients were randomized into 2 treatment groups: betamethasone (40 mg) and methylprednisolone (6 mg) mixed with lidocaine 1%. Treatment group assignment was blinded to the patients and investigators. Visual analog scale pain measurements were taken prior to injection, 5 minutes postinjection, and daily thereafter for 7 days.

Results:

Sixty-four patients were randomized into the 2 treatment groups. Patients in the betamethasone group reported slightly higher baseline pain compared with the methylprednisolone group, but lower pain on day 1. None of the following days showed a statistically significant difference.

Conclusions:

The incidence of flare and severe flare reactions of betamethasone injections for trigger finger management was roughly double that of methylprednisolone, but this difference was not statistically significant. Further studies are required to evaluate the relative course of nonflare postinjection pain for different corticosteroid injections for trigger finger injections.
Computation of non-Newtonian quadratic convection in electro-magneto-hydrodynamic (EMHD) duct flow with temperature-dependent viscosity
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Bhatti Muhammad Mubashir , Bég Osman Anwar , Ellahi Rahmat , Öztop Hakan F
Published: December 2023

Motivated by novel developments in smart non-Newtonian thermal duct systems, a theoretical study has been presented in this article for electro-magneto-hydrodynamic (EMHD) buoyancy-driven flow of a fourth-grade viscoelastic fluid in a vertical duct with quadratic convection. The viscosity of the fourth-grade fluid model is assumed to be temperature-dependent, and the Reynolds exponential model is deployed. Viscous heating and Joule dissipation effects are included. The duct comprises a pair of parallel electrically insulated vertical flat plates located a finite distance apart. Via suitable scaling transformations, a nonlinear boundary value problem is derived for the momentum and heat transport. A homotopy perturbation method (HPM) solution is obtained coded in Mathematica symbolic software. There is a considerable enhancement in wall skin friction with an increment in fourth-grade fluid parameter, Brinkman number, electrical field parameter, thermal buoyancy parameter, and quadratic thermal convection parameter. However, skin friction is strongly reduced with a rise in variable viscosity parameter, Hartmann (magnetic) number, and electromagnetic heat generation to conduction ratio. Nusselt number magnitudes are elevated with increase in variable viscosity parameter, thermal buoyancy parameter, and quadratic thermal convection parameter, whereas they are significantly suppressed with increment in fourth-grade fluid parameter, Brinkman number, and Hartmann magnetic number.
Maternal and umbilical cord blood levels of leptin in pre-eclamptic and healthy pregnant women: A comparative cross-sectional study
Authors: Okafor Lazarus Ugochukwu , Eleje George Uchenna , Ikechebelu Joseph Ifeanyichukwu , Ugwu Emmanuel Onyebuchi , Nwosu Obi Betrand , Ikpeze Okechukwu Christian , Udigwe Gerald Okanandu , Eke Ahizechukwu Chigoziem , Okoli Samuel A , Oguejiofor Charlotte Blanche , Ogabido Chukwudi Anthony , Malachy Divinefavour Echezona , Ofor Ifeanyichukwu Jude , Okafor Chigozie Geoffrey
Published: December 2023

Background:

Pre-eclampsia is a multi-systemic disease with its attendant increased maternal and perinatal morbidities and mortality. It has been hypothesized that leptin contributes immensely to the natural history of pre-eclampsia. However, there is considerable disagreement in the reports of existing research work on the link between fetomaternal serum leptin levels and pre-eclampsia.

Objective:

To determine and compare the maternal and umbilical cord sera levels of leptin in women with pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnant women.

Study design:

This is an analytical cross-sectional study.

Methods:

The study involved consenting 120 pregnant participants (60 on each arm). Pregnant women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia constituted the investigation group, while the controls were normotensive pregnant women. They were matched for maternal age and body mass index. Venous blood specimens were obtained from the participants for assessment of the serum leptin concentration while umbilical cord blood samples were obtained following delivery of the neonate in advance of the removal of the placenta. The collected blood samples were analysed for the levels of leptin in a blinded pattern. The primary outcome measures were maternal serum leptin levels and umbilical cord serum leptin levels.

Results:

Mean maternal serum leptin concentration in the pre-eclampsia group was significantly higher than that in the control group (24.88 ± 3.92 vs. 15.03 ± 2.98ng/mL, p < 0.001). Similarly, maternal serum leptin concentration was significantly higher in participants with severe pre-eclampsia compared with those with mild pre-eclampsia (25.91 ± 3.5 vs. 22.83 ± 4.02ng/mL, p = 0.003). However, the mean umbilical cord serum leptin level in the pre-eclampsia group was significantly lower than in the control group (6.43 ± 2.08 vs. 7.27 ± 2.24; p = 0.034). There was a weak positive correlation between maternal serum leptin level and neonatal umbilical serum leptin level in the pre-eclamptic group ( r = 0.21, p = 0.04).

Conclusion:

Maternal serum leptin concentration is significantly increased in women with pre-eclampsia, compared with their normotensive counterparts. This increase becomes even more pronounced as the severity of the disease progresses. Maternal serum leptin assessment has the potential to become a veritable tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.
Investigation of the effect of a nitro group as an anchor group in dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Aytan Kılıçarslan Fatma , Erden İbrahim
Published: December 2023

As a result of the increasing in the world population, the development of technology to meet increasing energy needs and to find other energy resources is one of the biggest tests for society. Triphenylamine and its derivatives attract the attention of researchers due to their many applications such as in solar cells, electronics, and medicine. The nitro group, an electron-accepting chromophore, is a good candidate for D–π–A sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells. In this study, the power conversion efficiency of an anchor nitro group in dye-sensitized solar cells and the synthesis of new compounds containing a donor triphenylamine unit, functionalized with a nitro group as an anchor group and possessing a π-conjugated structure are investigated. The structures of the compounds are determined by FTIR, UV-Vis spectrometry, NMR, and MS. Considering the photovoltaic performance of the produced dye-sensitized solar cell devices, the anchor group, and its acceptor effect, it is observed that the efficiency increases, in the order, F2 < F1. The highest power conversion efficiency value of 0.45% was obtained with the F1-based dye-sensitized solar cell under amplitude modulation irradiation (100 mW cm−2). From the obtained results, it can be seen that an increase in the number of electron-donor groups located close to the anchor group increases the power conversion efficiency.
On the point process with finite memory and its application to optimal age replacement
Authors: Langston Amy , Finkelstein Maxim , Cha Ji Hwan
Published: December 2023

There has been extensive study of various repair models in the literature, mostly under the assumption that these repairs are minimal or imperfect/better than minimal. Although this is often a realistic assumption, it may not be sufficient to model instances where the repair is worse than minimal. The generalized Polya process (GPP) that has been used to describe this type of repair takes into account all previous events/repairs, which is not often the case in practice. Therefore, in this paper, we define a new process with finite memory that starts as the GPP but, after a certain number of events or elapsed time, becomes the non-homogeneous Poisson process of repairs (minimal repairs). The corresponding age replacement policy is defined and the optimal solutions that minimize the long-run expected cost rate are analyzed. The detailed numerical examples illustrate our findings.
Intercostal Nerve Transfer for Biceps Reinnervation in Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy: A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Individual Patient Data Systematic Review using Individualized Fusion and Comparison to Supraclavicular Exploration and Nerve Grafting
Authors: Abdelmalek George , Mina George Ehab , Pant Krittika , Zheng Zheshi , Mahajan Jasmine , Srinivasan Nivetha , Gupta Shivani , Shafei Jasmine , Levidy Michael F , McGrath Aleksandra , Chu Alice
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

The objective of this study was to search existing literature on nerve reconstruction surgery in patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy to determine whether treatment with supraclavicular exploration and nerve grafting produced better elbow flexion outcomes compared to intercostal nerve transfer.

Methods:

This study was a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Individual Patient Data guidelines. A systematic search was conducted using multiple databases. An ordinal regression model was used to analyze the effect of using supraclavicular exploration and nerve grafting or intercostal nerve on elbow flexion with the two scores measured: elbow flexion Medical Research Council scores and Toronto active movements scale scores for elbow flexion.

Results:

A final patient database from 6 published articles consisted of 83 supraclavicular exploration and nerve grafting patients (73 patients with Medical Research Council and 10 patients with Toronto score) and 7 published articles which consisted of 131 intercostal nerve patients (84 patients with Medical Research Council and 47 patients with Toronto scores). Patients who underwent supraclavicular exploration and nerve grafting presented with an average Medical Research Council score of 3.9 ± 0.72 and an average Toronto score of 6.2 ± 2.2. Patients who underwent intercostal nerve transfer presented with an average Medical Research Council score of 3.9 ± 0.71 and an average Toronto score of 6.4 ± 1.2. There was no statistical difference between supraclavicular exploration and nerve grafting and intercostal nerve transfer when utilizing Medical Research Council elbow flexion scores (ordinal regression: 0.3821, standard error: 0.4590, p = 0.2551) or Toronto Active Movement Scale score for elbow flexion (ordinal regression: 0.7154, standard error: 0.8487, p = 0.2188).

Conclusion:

Regardless of surgical intervention utilized (supraclavicular exploration and nerve grafting or intercostal nerve transfers), patients had excellent outcomes for elbow flexion following obstetric brachial plexus palsy when utilizing Medical Research Council or Toronto scores for elbow flexion. The difference between these scores was not statistically significant.

Type of study/Level of evidence:

Therapeutic Study: Investigating the Result of Treatment/level III.
Comparison of the diagnostic utility of CHOKAI, STONE and STONE PLUS scores in predicting ureteral stones larger than 5 mm
Authors: Tatliparmak Ali Cankut , Yilmaz Sarper , AK Rohat , Hokenek Nihat Mujdat
Published: December 2023

Objective:

The objective of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CHOKAI, STONE, and STONE plus scores in detecting ureteral stones larger than 5 mm.

Methods:

This comparative diagnostic accuracy study was performed in a tertiary care emergency department (ED) and included consecutive patients who presented to the ED with flank pain over a 1-year period. The performance of these scoring scales in detecting ureteral stones measuring >5 mm was determined by area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) comparison.

Results:

Ureteral stones were detected in 270 (70.3%) of 384 patients included in the study. While 146 patients (54.1%) had ureteral stones measuring <5 mm, 124 patients (54.1%) had stones measuring 5 mm or more in size. The performance of the CHOKAI score in predicting ureteral stones was superior to that of the STONE PLUS score; STONE PLUS score was also superior to STONE score ( p < 0.001). Analysis of the diagnostic value of CHOKAI score and STONE PLUS scores in predicting >5-mm stones showed no statistically significant difference ( p = 0.59).

Conclusion:

CHOKAI and STONE PLUS scores are useful in predicting >5-mm ureteral stones and have similar diagnostic utility to each other. STONE score does not provide accurate diagnostic information about ureteral stones larger than 5 mm.

Level of evidence:

Level 2b
Construction of a predictive model based on MIV-SVR for prognosis and length of stay in patients with traumatic brain injury: Retrospective cohort study
Authors: Pan Yifeng , Fang Cheng , Zhu Xueling , Wan Jinghai
Published: December 2023

Objective

To investigate the mean impact value (MIV) method for discerning the most efficacious input variables for the machine learning (ML) model. Subsequently, various ML algorithms are harnessed to formulate a more accurate predictive model that can forecast both the prognosis and the length of hospital stay for patients suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Participants

The study retrospectively accrued data from 1128 cases of patients who sought medical intervention at the Neurosurgery Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, within the timeframe spanning from May 2017 to May 2022.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of patient data obtained from the Neurosurgery Center of the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, covering the period from May 2017 to May 2022. Following meticulous data filtration and partitioning, 70% of the data were allocated for model training, while the remaining 30% served for model evaluation. During the construction phase of the ML models, a gamut of 11 independent variables—including, but not limited to, in-hospital complications and patient age—were utilized as input variables. Conversely, the length of stay (LOS) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores were designated as output variables. The model architecture was initially refined through the MIV methodology to identify optimal input variables, whereupon five distinct predictive models were constructed, encompassing support vector regression (SVR), convolutional neural networks (CNN), backpropagation (BP) neural networks, artificial neural networks (ANN) and logistic regression (LR). Ultimately, SVR emerged as the most proficient predictive model and was further authenticated through an external dataset obtained from the First Hospital of Anhui Medical University.

Results

Upon incorporating the optimal input variables as ascertained through MIV, it was observed that the SVR model exhibited remarkable predictive prowess. Specifically, the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of the SVR model in predicting the GOS score in the test dataset is only 6.30%, and the MAPE in the external validation set is only 7.61%. In terms of predicting hospitalization time, the accuracy of the test and external validation sets were 9.28% and 7.91%, respectively. This error indicator is significantly lower than the error of other prediction models, thus proving the excellent efficacy and clinical reliability of the MIV-optimized SVR model.

Conclusion

This study unequivocally substantiates that the incorporation of MIV for selecting optimal input variables can substantially augment the predictive accuracy of machine learning models. Among the models examined, the MIV-SVR model emerged as the most accurate and clinically applicable, thereby rendering it highly conducive for future clinical decision-making processes.
Mediatized Love: A Materialist Phenomenology of Tinder
Authors: Berger Viktor
Published: December 2023

The article scrutinizes the mediatization of dating and love as part of a broader mediatization process of the life-world, with a focus on the experience of using the popular dating app Tinder. Central to the analysis is how interfacial features, algorithmic structuration, and user perceptions create the affordances of the application and, in the process, shape the experience of using it. The experience of using Tinder is characterized by a “swipe logic,” marked by speediness, visuality, and (self-)objectification, but also by the prevalence of cynicism and boredom on the platform. Under these circumstances, users of Tinder are confronted with new challenges, and to tackle these, they make use of their life-world knowledge as well as creating novel forms of knowledge. While using Tinder, they apply and modify their life-world stock of knowledge. Tinder as a tool of online dating is marked by the duality of reflectivity versus impulsive affectivity, superficiality versus depth, and instrumentality versus striving for relations thought of as authentic. All in all, the mediatization of partner selection is interpreted as a special form of the colonization of the life-world.
How Profit Efficient is Indian Life Insurance Industry: A DEA Study
Authors: Siddiqui Shoaib Alam , Shaddady Ali
Published: December 2023

The cost and profit efficiency of all Indian life insurance businesses is examined in this article using the data development analysis technique for the years 2017 through 2021. The Tobit regression is also used in this study to look into how well life insurance performs in relation to company factors. Cost efficiency scores were higher than profit efficiency ratings, as shown by the study. According to this, one of the most important inefficiencies for Indian life insurance is revenue inefficiency. In addition, state-owned life insurance firm in India is more profitable and economical than private ones, according to this study. In general, joint life insurers are more cost-effective than domestic life insurance companies, whereas domestic life insurance companies are more profit-efficient than joint venture insurers. The profitability and cost-effectiveness of life insurers are positively impacted by the claims ratio. While there are favorable effects of the distribution ratio and market share, respectively, effects on profit and cost-effectiveness. During the study period, the Indian life insurance businesses were relatively cost and profit efficient, according to empirical evidence. This study is the first to examine the profit and cost efficiencies of all Indian life insurance businesses. Decision-makers, top management, regulators, and other industry stakeholders will all gain from the research.
Do Corporate Consolidations Affect the Competitive Positioning of Non-Financial Firms in China?
Authors: Osiichuk Dmytro , Wnuczak Paweł
Published: December 2023

In a quest for economies of scale, access to technologies, and, most importantly, expansion of market share, Chinese public companies have been engaged in several consecutive waves of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) involving mostly domestically domiciled non-listed targets from the same or adjacent industries. Relying on a comprehensive panel dataset of 7,998 transactions completed between 1993 and 2020 by 2,842 publicly listed acquirers domiciled in China, the paper attempts to establish whether M&A deals allow acquirers to improve their market share and, consequently, their relative market position. We use dynamic panel regression and ordered logit models to establish and quantify the link between deal characteristics and the post-deal market share of the combined entities. Our empirical findings demonstrate that corporate consolidations exercise no significant impact on the relative competitive positioning of firms. Only acquisitions by industry leaders produce a sizeable increase in the latter’s market share and lead to higher industry concentration. Most consolidations occur among outsiders exhibiting a high degree of similarity, relatively lower profitability, and stagnant market shares within the more competitive industries with higher rates of firm creation. These consolidations, often in the form of mergers, are not effective in advancing the combined entities’ competitive positioning. Despite the fact that the bulk of corporate consolidations appears unlikely to constitute a threat to competition in the medium term, careful regulatory oversight may be warranted within the currently fragmented and highly commoditized industries, which appear likely to consolidate at the fastest pace.

JEL Classification: G30, G32.
Design and Analysis of Fabric Antenna for Medical and Wireless Applications
Authors: Awasthi Shruti , Jain Priyanka
Published: December 2023

This study aimed toward the wearability of the antenna by inspecting the probability of designing and fabricating a wearable microstrip antenna operating from 2 to 6 GHz, centered at 2.5 GHz and 5.3 GHz. The antenna is fabricated from jeans material with dielectric constant εr= 1.7 and a thickness of 1 mm. The proposed design is simulated on High-Frequency Simulation Software (HFSS) version 2015, followed by fabrication using a 50-µm copper film on a jeans substrate. Anritsu MS2038C VNA Master then tests the fabricated design. Also, specific absorption rate (SAR) values are computed for medical applications to account for tumor detection in human breast tissue.