bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the diagnostic value of MDCT extramural vascular invasion in preoperative N staging of gastric cancer patients
Authors: Zhu Zhengqi , Mao Mimi , Song Anyi , Gong Haipeng , Gu Jianan , Dai Yongfeng , Feng Feng
Published: January 2024

Background

To explore the diagnostic value of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) in preoperative N Staging of gastric cancer patients.

Methods

According to the MR-defined EMVI scoring standard of rectal cancer, we developed a 5-point scale scoring system to evaluate the status of CT-detected extramural vascular invasion(ctEMVI), 0–2 points were ctEMVI-negative status, and 3–4 points were positive status for ctEMVI. Patients were divided into ctEMVI positive group and ctEMVI negative group. The correlation between ctEMVI and clinical features was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of ctEMVI for pathological metastatic lymph nodes and N staging, The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of pathological N staging using ctEMVI and short-axis diameter were generated and compared.

Results

The occurrence rate of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and proportion of tumors with a greatest diameter > 6 cm in the ctEMVI positive group was higher than that in the ctEMVI negative group (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between ctEMVI and LVI, N stage, and tumor size (P < 0.05). For ctEMVI scores ≥ 3,The AUC of ctEMVI for diagnosing lymph node metastasis, N stage ≥ N2, and N3 stage were 0.857, 0.802, and 0.758, respectively. The sensitivity, NPV and accuracy of ctEMVI for diagnosing N stage ≥ N2 were superior to those of short-axis diameter (P < 0.05), while sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of ctEMVI for diagnosing N3 stage were superior to those of short-axis diameter (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

ctEMVI has important value in diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes and advanced N staging. As an important imaging marker, ctEMVI can be included in the preoperative imaging evaluation of patients, providing important assistance for clinical guidance and treatment.
Expression level and clinical significance of NBAT-1 in human cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Yang , Fan Kedi , Ni Tingting , Zhang Xun Lei , Su Xiaoqin , Yang Lei
Published: January 2024

Purpose

There is an aberrant expression of NBAT-1 in various human cancers, which was proven to limit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumour cells via multiple approaches. Most existing research focuses on sample size and discrete outcomes. Thus, a quantitative meta-analysis was performed to elucidate the prognostic value of lncRNA NBAT-1 expression in cancer patients.

Materials and methods

Using Web of Science and PubMed, two researchers independently identified relevant studies to explore the association between the pathological features of human cancers and NBAT-1 expression levels. Then two scholars conducted literature screening according to exclusion criteria and admission criteria, and finally conducted statistical analysis through data extraction with StataSE 12.0.

Results

A total of 12 eligible studies with 1600 patients were included in the meta-analysis eventually. It is indicated that the low expression level of lncRNA NBAT-1 was closely related to distant metastasis [RR = 0.50, 95% CI (0.33, 0.76), and P = 0.00], deep tumour invasion [RR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.49,0.80), and P = 0.00], poor histological grade [RR = 0.68, 95% CI (0.57, 0.81), and P = 0.00], advanced TNM stage [RR = 0.66, 95% CI (0.55, 0.79), and P = 0.00], large tumour volume[RR = 0.72, 95% CI (0.55, 0.93), and P = 0.01], and lymph node metastasis [RR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.46, 0.84), and P = 0.00], suggesting that it may serve as biomarkers for patients with poor prognosis.

Conclusion

Reduced expression of NBAT-1 can predict poor prognosis in several cancers, as found in the meta-analysis, demonstrating that NBAT-1 can serve as a promising prognostic factor of human cancers.
Clinical efficacy and influencing factors of percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a 10-year follow-up study
Authors: Zhan Zihao , Li Ran , Fu Dongming , Han Hao , Wu Yiang , Meng Bin
Published: January 2024

Background

To date, few reports have evaluated the long-term outcome of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and the factors influencing the long-term outcome of this procedure are uncertain.

Methods

A total of 91 patients underwent PKP for thoracolumbar OVCFs from June 2012 to December 2012. Pain Visual Analogue Scores (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were recorded preoperatively and after 10-year follow-up. Factors that may affect surgical outcome, such as gender, age, height, weight, hypertension, diabetes, cause of injury, fracture segment, length of hospitalization, history of previous spinal surgery, preoperative bone mineral density (BMD), preoperative VAS and ODI scores, length of surgery, bone cement dosage, postoperative standardized anti-osteoporosis treatment, and other new vertebral fractures, were analyzed by multiple linear regression with VAS and ODI scores at the last follow-up. The correlation factors affecting the efficacy were analyzed.

Results

The preoperative and final follow-up pain VAS was 7.9 ± 1.1 and 2.2 ± 1.1. ODI scores were 30.4 ± 4.2 and 10.7 ± 2.6. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Most of the patients were females aged 65–75 years who suffered low-energy injuries, with most of the fracture segments in the thoracolumbar region (T11-L2). At the final follow-up visit, 12 cases (13.19%) developed other new vertebral fractures, and 33 cases (36.26%) continued to adhere to anti-osteoporosis treatment after discharge. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there was a statistical difference between gender and VAS score at the last follow-up (P < 0.05), and between age, cause of injury and postoperative standardized anti-osteoporosis treatment and ODI at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the other factors and the final follow-up VAS and ODI scores (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The long-term outcome after PKP is satisfactory. Age, gender, cause of injury, and standardized postoperative anti-osteoporosis treatment may be factors affecting the long-term outcome.
Influence of occlusal reduction design on the fracture resistance and biomechanical behavior of endocrowns restoring maxillary premolars
Authors: Abbas Mahy Hassouna , Elerian Fatma Abdallah , Elsherbiny Abdallah Ahmed , Elgohary Nesma Mohamed Magdy , Atout Abeer
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To investigate the effect of different occlusal reduction design on stress distribution and fracture resistance of different endocrown systems.

Material and methods

Sixty-four maxillary human premolars with endodontic treatment, prepared for endocrowns were divided into 2 groups (n = 32) according to the occlusal design: Butt joint preparation (B group) and Anatomical preparation (A group). Each group were subdivided into four groups according to ceramic systems: IPS E max CAD (EM group), monolithic zirconia (ZR group), Nacera Hyprid (NH group) and PEKKTON (PE group). After manufacturing of endocrowns and adhesive bonding the specimens were thermomechanically loaded and subsequently they were tested in a universal testing machine for evaluating the fracture resistance. The specimens failure mode was qualitatively assessed. The stress distribution in each group was assessed using three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). 1-way ANOVA and the Post Hoc Tukey HSD test were used to evaluate the data (a = .05).

Results

The fracture resistance values between the groups showed statistically significant variations. The B PE and A PE groups had a higher ratio of fracture resistance values. Regarding failure mode, ceramic endocrowns recorded mainly irreparable failures. FEA showed that anatomical occlusal preparation have reduced the stress concentration under all endocrown systems.

Conclusion

Endocrowns could be used to restore endodontically treated maxillary premolars. PEKKTON endocrowns with anatomical preparations revealed most appropriate restoration. The tested new endocrown systems enhanced the biomechanical performance of the tooth.

Clinical significance

The innovative endocrown systems (PEKK, Nacera Hyprid) can be seen as a promising choice for restoration of severely-destructed endodontic treated premolars, with less stress transmit to the residual tooth structure. Although the traditional endocrown technology might increase the longevity of tooth bonding, it shouldn’t be used for clenching cases since the risk of failure is too great overall.
Organisational and leadership skills towards healthy workplaces: an interview study with registered nurses in Sweden
Authors: Rosengren Kristina , Friberg Malin
Published: January 2024

Background

According to shortage of registered nurses, organisational and leadership aspects grounded in person-centrered approach, are highlighted to ensure high quality of care. Therefore, it is interesting to develop knowledge regarding registered nurses working environment.

Aim

The aim of the study was to investigate registered nurses’ reason to end their employment at a university hospital setting (internal medicine, emergency department).

Method

Qualitative content analysis with an inductive methodological approach was used to analyse registered nurses’ experiences regarding their former employment. Inclusion criteria; all nurses (n = 55) who ended employment during one year (first of July 2020-30th of June 2021) were invited, and 38 semi-structured interviews were conducted.

Results

Three categories were identified: Limited organisational support, Lack of visible leadership, and Limited healthy working environment, followed by six subcategories: Longing for organisational support, Being a tile in a box, Need for professional relationship, Limitation of supportive leadership, Imbalance of work versus personal life, and Ethical stress.

Conclusion

To improve registered nurses working environment and commitment to work, balance between time at work and personal life is significant. Therefore, organisational support and leadership skills grounded in a person-centred approach are crucial to develop a healthy working environment. A person-centred leadership could improve collaboration and shared decision-making in partnership with those involved, managers, nurses, and team members.
Expression profile analysis of LncRNAs and mRNAs in pre-receptive endometrium of women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer
Authors: Xu Xiuhua , Yang Aimin , Tian Pengxiang , Zhang Kun , Liu Yuanyuan , Wang Yizhuo , Wang Ziwei , Wu Yanjing , Zhao Zhiming , Li Qian , shi Baojun , Huang Xianghua , Hao Gui-min
Published: January 2024

Background

To compare the expression levels of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) in pre-receptive endometrium between patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)and normal ovulation undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Methods

Endometrial tissues were collected with endometrial vacuum curette in pre-receptive phase (3 days after oocytes retrieval) from PCOS and control groups. LncRNAs and mRNAs of endometrium were identified via RNA sequencing and alignments. A subset of 9 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 11 mRNAs were validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)in 22 PCOS patients and 18 ovulation patients. The function of mRNAs with differential expression patterns were explored using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG).

Results

We found out 687 up-regulated and 680 down-regulated mRNAs, as well as 345 up-regulated and 63 down-regulated lncRNAs in the PCOS patients in contrast to normal ovulation patients. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of 11 mRNAs, and validated that the expression of these 6 mRNAs CXCR4, RABL6, OPN3, SYBU, IDH1, NOP10 were significantly elevated among PCOS patients, and the expression of ZEB1 was significantly decreased. qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of 9 lncRNAs, and validated that the expression of these 7 lncRNAs IDH1-AS1, PCAT14, FTX, DANCR, PRKCQ-AS1, SNHG8, TPT1-AS1 were significantly enhanced among PCOS patients. Bioinformatics analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved KEGG pathway were tyrosine metabolism, PI3K-Akt pathway, metabolic pathway, Jak-STAT pathway, pyruvate metabolism, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, oxidative phosphorylation and proteasome. The up-regulation of GO classification was involved in ATP metabolic process, oxidative phosphorylation, RNA catabolic process, and down-regulation of GO classification was response to corticosteroid, steroid hormone, and T cell activation.

Conclusion

Our results determined the characteristics and expression profile of endometrial lncRNAs and mRNAs in PCOS patients in pre-receptive phase, which is the day 3 after oocytes retrival. The possible pathways and related genes of endometrial receptivity disorders were found, and those lncRNAs may be developed as a predictive biomarker of endometrium in pre-receptive phase.
Anthropometric parameters as a tool for the prediction of metabolic and cardiovascular risk in childhood brain tumor survivors
Authors: Romano Alberto , Masino Mariapia , Rivetti Serena , Mastrangelo Stefano , Attinà Giorgio , Maurizi Palma , Ruggiero Antonio
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To assess the prevalence of alterations in anthropometric parameters predictive of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk among childhood brain tumor survivors.

Methods

Anthropometric parameters predictive of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk were analyzed [height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR, blood pressure] of 25 patients who survived childhood brain tumors.

Results

21 patients (84%) showed alteration of at least one predictive anthropometric parameter. 11 patients (44%) showed a BMI > 75th percentile and 19 patients (76%) showed a pathological WHR value. A pathological WHtR (> 0.5), was identified in 17 patients (68%); the average WHtR observed was 0.53. 9 patients (36%) showed an alteration of all three anthropometric parameters considered. Comparing this subpopulation with the subpopulation with less than three altered parameters, a greater prevalence of the combined alteration was observed in the female sex compared to the male sex (67% vs. 26%). No significant differences were observed regarding the age of diagnosis and end of treatment nor the treatments carried out (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, steroid therapy) between the two groups.

Conclusion

These results suggest that this population is at high risk of presenting pathological values of BMI, WHR and WHtR with consequent high risk of developing metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.
Upper body thermal images and associated clinical data from a pilot cohort study of COVID-19
Authors: Rojas-Zumbado Sofia , Tamez-Peña Jose-Gerardo , Trevino-Ferrer Andrea-Alejandra , Diaz-Garza Carlos-Andres , Ledesma-Hernández Meritxell , Esparza-Sandoval Alejandra-Celina , Ortiz-Lopez Rocio , Torre-Amione Guillermo , Cardona-Huerta Servando , Trevino Victor
Published: January 2024

Objectives

The data was collected for a cohort study to assess the capability of thermal videos in the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Using this data, a published study applied machine learning to analyze thermal image features for Covid-19 detection.

Data description

The study recorded a set of measurements from 252 participants over 18 years of age requesting a SARS-CoV-2 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test at the Hospital Zambrano-Hellion in Nuevo León, México. Data for PCR results, demographics, vital signs, food intake, activities and lifestyle factors, recently taken medications, respiratory and general symptoms, and a thermal video session where the volunteers performed a simple breath-hold in four different positions were collected. Vital signs recorded include axillary temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. Each thermal video is split into 4 scenes, corresponding to front, back, left and right sides, and is available in MPEG-4 format to facilitate inclusion into pipelines for image processing. Raw JPEG images of the background between subjects are included to register variations in room temperatures.
On a composite obtained by a mixture of a dipolar solid with a Moore–Gibson–Thompson media
Authors: Marin Marin , Vlase Sorin , Neagu Denisa
Published: January 2024

Our study is dedicated to a mixture composed of a dipolar elastic medium and a viscous Moore–Gibson–Thompson (MGT) material. The mixed problem with initial and boundary data, considered in this context, is approached from the perspective of the existence of a solution to this problem as well as the uniqueness of the solution. Considering that the mixed problem is very complex, both from the point of view of the basic equations and that of the initial conditions and the boundary data, the classical methods become difficult. That is why we preferred to transform it into a problem of Cauchy type on a conveniently constructed Hilbert space. In this way, we immediately proved both the existence and uniqueness of the solution, with techniques from the theory of semigroups of linear operators.
A phone-based tobacco use cessation program for people living with HIV in Uganda and Zambia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wipfli Heather , Arinaitwe Jim , Goma Fastone , Atuyambe Lynn , Guwatudde David , Phiri Masauso Moses , Rutebemberwa Elizeus , Wabwire-Mangen Fred , Zulu Richard , Zyambo Cosmas , Guy Kyra , Kusolo Ronald , Mukupa Musawa , Musasizi Ezekiel , Tucker Joan S.
Published: January 2024

Background

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and short messaging service (SMS)-based tobacco cessation interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing tobacco use in many populations, but evidence is needed on which tailored treatments are most efficacious in meeting the complex medical and psychosocial factors confronting people living with HIV (PLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper describes the protocol of a study to test the efficacy of both NRT and a tailored SMS-based tobacco use cessation intervention among PLWH in Uganda and Zambia.

Methods

In a randomized controlled trial, 800 adult PLWH who use tobacco will be recruited by health care professionals at HIV treatment centers where they are receiving care. Participants will be randomized to one of the four study arms: (1) standard of care [SOC; brief clinician advice to quit combined with HIV education and information aimed at encouraging HIV treatment adherence (with no mention of tobacco) delivered via text messages]; (2) SOC + 12 weeks of NRT; (3) SOC + 6 weeks of SMS text messages to support quitting tobacco use (SMS); or (4) SOC + NRT + SMS. Participants will receive a cell phone and solar panel with power bank for charging the phone. The main outcome is cessation of tobacco use by study participants verified by urinary cotinine (< 15 ng/mL) at 6 months post-enrollment. As a secondary tobacco use outcome, we will measure 7-day point-prevalence abstinence (7 consecutive days of no tobacco use) measured by self-report and biochemically-verified at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 months post enrollment.

Discussion

Our study will provide insight into the efficacy, feasibility and applicability of delivering tobacco cessation interventions through health care professionals combined with tailored tobacco cessation SMS text messaging in two countries with different tobacco use patterns, policy environments, and health care resources and provide needed information to providers and policymakers looking for cost-effective tobacco cessation interventions. The previously tested SMS-platform to be used in our study is uniquely positioned to be scaled in low- and middle-income countries worldwide, in which case evidence of even modest success in reducing the prevalence of tobacco consumption among PLWH could confer enormous health and economic benefits.

Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05487807. Registered August 4, 2022,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT05487807
Unveiling the complexities of lung transplantation in situs inversus
Authors: Kurihara Chitaru , Kaiho Taisuke , Bharat Ankit
Published: January 2024

Background

Lung transplantation for situs inverse is considered technically challenging because of the reverse positioning of the organs. By providing a detailed description of the surgical procedure, perioperative care, and post-transplant follow-up, we aim to contribute valuable information to the existing knowledge base. We presented two cases of successful bilateral sequential lung transplantation in situs inverse patients.

Case presentation

Our first patient was a 28-year-old, non-smoking woman with Kartagener syndrome and advanced bronchiectasis that developed into pneumonia and required repeated hospital admissions. She underwent double lung transplantation. During the lung transplant procedure, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) support was provided. The recipient’s morphologically right (anatomically left) lung was explanted. The right main bronchus was anastomosed, followed by the pulmonary artery and left atrial anastomoses. Afterward, we proceeded with the left side. Similar to the right side, left pneumonectomy and implantation were performed using the same methods. The duration of VA ECMO support was 147 min with a 328-min ischemic time. Because of the significant size mismatch, nonanatomic lung volume reduction over the right middle and left upper lobes was necessary. The patient had no complications postoperatively and was discharged on post-operative day (POD) 12. Our second patient was a 51-year- old man with scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease with situs inversus. Bilateral sequential lung transplantation was performed. Similar to case 1, a clamshell incision was made at the fourth intercostal space entry. The patient then received VA ECMO support identical to that in case 1. The total VA ECMO support time was 155 min with 295 min of ischemic time. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on POD 13.

Conclusions

Lung transplantation for situs inverse can be a viable treatment option without modifying established transplantation procedures.
Public awareness, attitude, and practice regarding food labeling, Alexandria, Egypt
Authors: Mehanna Azza , Ashour Ayat , Tawfik Mohamed Doaa
Published: January 2024

Background

Food labeling is an important public health tool allowing consumers to make informed and healthy choices. Considering how important it is for consumers to be aware of food labels while choosing healthy foods, this study aims at assessing public awareness, attitude, and practice regarding food labeling in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt.

Methods

A cross sectional study using a predesigned interview questionnaire to collect data from 719 adult consumers from both sexes (28.2% males: 71.8% females), recruited from different branches of one of the largest supermarkets in Alexandria.

Results

More than half of the participants (55.6%) reported reading food labels. The most frequently read information was production/ expiry date (76.8%), product name (68.3%), and ingredients (38.0%) while the least frequently read was nutritional facts (29.9%). More than half of the study sample (50.9%) had low awareness about the content of food labels, nevertheless, having higher scores on awareness about food labels predicted reading practice. Nearly three-quarters of the respondents had average to good food label reading practice. Most respondents (81.8%) had a favorable attitude about food labeling in its present form, however, higher attitude scores did not seem to influence their use of food labels. Being older (β = 0.045, CI; 0.014–0.076, p = 0.005), being female (β = 1.162, CI; 0.541–1.784, p = 0.000), having secondary education or equivalent (β = 1.042,CI; 0.050–2.034, p = 0.040), having university education or beyond (β = 3.090, CI; 2.132–4.048, p = 0.000), and having higher scores on awareness about food labels (β = 1.407, CI; 1.324–1.490, p = 0.000) were significant predictors of reading food labels.

Conclusions

Most of the studied consumers had a positive attitude towards food labeling, however, more than half of them had low awareness of food labeling content. Nutritional facts were the least frequently read by consumers. Reading food labels was significantly predicted by having higher education, being older, being a female, and having better awareness.
Pharmacy Assistance Programs for Oral Anticancer Drugs: A Narrative Review
Authors: Ragavan Meera V. , Swartz Scott , Clark Mackenzie , Chino Fumiko
Published: January 2024

Oral anticancer medications (OAMs) are high priced with a significant cost-sharing burden to patients, which can lead to catastrophic financial, psychosocial, and clinical repercussions. Cost-conscious prescribing and inclusion of low-cost alternatives can help mitigate this burden, but cost transparency at the point of prescribing remains a major barrier to doing so. Pharmacy assistance programs, including co-payment cards and patient assistance programs administered by manufacturers and foundation-based grants, remain an essential resource for patients facing prohibitive co-payments for OAMs. However, access to these programs is fraught with complexities, including lack of trained financial navigators, limited transparency on eligibility criteria, onerous documentation burdens, and limits in available funding. Despite these drawbacks and the potential for such programs to incentivize manufacturers to keep list prices high, assistance programs have been demonstrated to improve financial well-being for patients with cancer. The increasing development of integrated specialty pharmacies with dedicated, trained pharmacy staff can help improve and standardize access to such programs, but these services are disproportionately available to patients seen at tertiary care centers. Multistakeholder interventions are needed to mitigate the burden of cost sharing for OAMs, including increased clinician knowledge of financial resources and novel assistance mechanisms, investment of institutions in trained financial navigation services and centralized platforms to identify assistance programs, and policies to cap out-of-pocket spending and improve transparency of rates charged by pharmacy benefit managers to a health plan.
Volumes of Transindividuation
Authors: Bishop Ryan , Simone AbdouMaliq
Published: January 2024

The role of transindividuation is one of many key elements in Stiegler's thought. It concerns how expectations of a future (protentions) are generated and how collective protentions coalesce in a horizon. Transindividuation, as an individual and collective process of becoming, provides the means by which the local begins to enter into the mix of the global rendered as planet and biosphere. Therein resides a number of processes accelerating and perpetuating the various crises bundled together under the rubric of the Anthropocene: a rubric teeming with metonymic shorthands for the various crises facing humanity and its existence on the earth in the first quarter of the twenty-first century. In this article, the authors ask what becomes of the urban in light of the acceleration of extant technologies for visualization and calculation—the very organization of locality, its scales and volumes? In raising this question, we argue that spaciousness becomes not only an ontological concern but also an epistemological and biotechnological one straddling material and noetic localities.
Crowd Control and Mobilization with Nature in the China–Hong Kong Context
Authors: Lo Kwai-Cheung
Published: January 2024

This essay examines how crowd empowerment and its control inscribe the agency of nonhuman nature in the social movement and the governmental strategy within the context of China–Hong Kong connections. Concerning the 2019 Hong Kong protest movement, it examines how the agency is dispersed among the interactions of human crowds and nonhuman forces in particular environments. Humans look to nature as a source of inspiration for their conduct, even if nature is never one thing. As the notions of nature are mediated by culturally specific prejudices, people only talk about their society's ideas about nature when they talk about “nature” and any appeals to nature are highly ideological. In the first part, the essay discusses the excessive use of tear gas to weaponize the atmosphere functions as a medium and message that articulates a communicative politics connecting the protesters and the larger community for interaffective attunement. The atmospheric change unravels an attunement to possibilities opening to some people who throw themselves to be affected and push a situation into an event. In the second part, the essay analyzes how the collective climbing of Lion Rock, a mountain symbolizing the ethos and values of the Hong Kong community, during the protest movement transcends the physical limitation of the protesters’ perception to an expanded view and a higher status beyond human to confront a changing and incommensurable world below.
Seeding the Forest
Authors: Guha Pujita
Published: January 2024

In 1968 the American military launched Operation Igloo White (OIW), seeding the mountainous forests of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos and Vietnam with a network of seismic, olfactory, and auditory sensors that picked up and relayed signals to data bunkers in Thailand where enemy locations were mapped in real time. The author argues that operating in such a continually evolving, mosaiclike environment required the American military to develop a fine-graine attunement to the forested trail in which they could track an elusive enemy. Attunement, or this intimate spatial knowledge, was both a media habit developed and enforced through sensors and their monitoring of environments, as well as a form of a priori knowledge required to develop and operationalize sensors in a forested space (in the first place). The operation, and thus this essay, writes a history of media habits and practices like militarized attunement—in which the capture of textured environmental data (of the forest) becomes tethered to the capture of the enemy. The author narrativizes this militarized attunement to the forest via deployment (the attunement to forest and its biogeographical considerations that shape sensor-embedding practices), detection (the registering and interpretation of the sensory data of the forest and the enemies in it), and deception (the use of camouflage and the tactical deception to the sensors the North Vietnamese respond with)—the three sensory practices that roughly map onto the biography of OIW itself.
A Roundtable on Collectivism
Authors: Braxton Charlie R. , Henderson Ash-Lee Woodard , Maher Geo , Marino Angela , Struch Rebecca , Ugueto-Ponce Meyby
Published: January 2024

This article presents a discussion among activists, artists, and scholars to center communalism as a political process and methodology in and across geographical and cultural political “Souths.” One of the central questions that this article raises is how to create diverse and heterogeneous strategies for the sustainability and creation of the collective spirit during the conjunctural and structural crises of the Global South and the exhaustion that it produces among those living there. Among themes in the discussion are art, culture, and spirituality as decolonial practices with a historical and ethnic perspective of Black communalism of the South in the context of the United States and Venezuela based on collective life existing before and beyond the European legacies of the commune.
Una mesa redonda sobre colectivismo
Authors: Braxton Charlie R. , Henderson Ash-Lee Woodard , Maher Geo , Marino Angela , Struch Rebecca , Ugueto-Ponce Meyby
Published: January 2024

Este artículo presenta una discusión entre activistas, artistas y académicos para centrar el comunalismo como un proceso político y una metodología en y a través de los “Sures” políticos geográficos y culturales. Una de las preguntas centrales que plantea este artículo es, cómo crear diversas y heterogéneas estrategias para la sustentabilidad y creación del espíritu colectivo, durante las crisis coyunturales y estructurales del Sur Global, así como también para enfrentar el agotamiento que produce entre quienes lo vivencian. Entre los temas de discusión se encuentran el arte, la cultura y la espiritualidad como prácticas descoloniales con una perspectiva histórica y étnica del comunalismo negro del sur, en el contexto de los Estados Unidos y Venezuela, a partir de la vida colectiva existente antes y más allá de los legados europeos de la comuna.
Διερεύνηση παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν το μαθησιακό αποτέλεσμα σε ηλεκτρονικές πλατφόρμες μάθησης
Authors: Βλαχογιάννη Προκοπία
Published: January 2024

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή διερευνά τους παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν το μαθησιακό αποτέλεσμα σε ηλεκτρονικές πλατφόρμες μάθησης. Σε μια εποχή που οι ηλεκτρονικές πλατφόρμες μάθησης έχουν γίνει αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της μαθησιακής διαδικασίας κρίνεται απαραίτητο να διερευνηθούν οι παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν την μαθησιακή επίδοση σε αυτό το πλαίσιο. Συγκεκριμένα, τέθηκαν δύο επιμέρους στόχοι. Αρχικά, διερευνήθηκε κατά πόσο τα χαρακτηριστικά της προσωπικότητας, όπως αυτά αποτιμήθηκαν με τη χρήση Big Five Personality Test, επηρεάζουν την αξιολόγηση της αντιλαμβανόμενης ευχρηστίας (σύμφωνα με την κλίμακα System Usability Scale) εννιά ευρέως χρησιμοποιούμενων ηλεκτρονικών πλατφορμών μάθησης. Βρέθηκε πως η δεκτικότητα σε νέες εμπειρίες και η εξωστρέφεια είχαν την ισχυρότερη θετική συσχέτιση με την αξιολόγηση της αντιλαμβανόμενης ευχρηστίας για τις περισσότερες από τις πλατφόρμες που εξετάστηκαν. Επιπρόσθετα, καθορίστηκαν τα επίπεδα αντιλαμβανόμενης ευχρηστίας των συστημάτων εκπαιδευτικής τεχνολογίας μέσα από δύο εκτεταμένες βιβλιογραφικές ανασκοπήσεις με χρήση των εργαλείων System Usability Scale και Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire. Επίσης, διερευνήθηκε η σχέση ανάμεσα στα χαρακτηριστικά της προσωπικότητας των φοιτητών, την αντιλαμβανόμενη ευχρηστία της ηλεκτρονικής πλατφόρμας μάθησης και το μαθησιακό όφελος των φοιτητών. Βρέθηκε πως οι τελικές επιδόσεις των φοιτητών ήταν στατιστικά σημαντικά υψηλότερες από τις αρχικές επιδόσεις τους (p = 0,000, s) και το μαθησιακό τους όφελος από το pretest στο posttest ήταν 29,66%. Ακόμη, το μαθησιακό όφελος των φοιτητών βρέθηκε να σχετίζεται στατιστικά σημαντικά με την αντιλαμβανόμενη ευχρηστία της πλατφόρμας Zoom (r=0,294, p=0,002, s). Τέλος, δημιουργήθηκε ένα προβλεπτικό μοντέλο σύμφωνα με το οποίο η αντιλαμβανόμενη ευχρηστία της πλατφόρμας και τα χαρακτηριστικά της προσωπικότητας των φοιτητών προέβλεπαν το 14,6% της συνολικής διακύμανσης του μαθησιακού οφέλους.
Sade / Fourier
Authors: Ηροδότου Κωνσταντίνος
Published: January 2024

Η αφορμή για το θέμα της διατριβής προήλθε από το έργο του Roland Barthes, Sade, Fourier, Loyola (1971). Καθώς όμως το ζητούμενο της έρευνας δεν ήταν, με λογοτεχνικούς όρους, η «απόλαυση του κειμένου», αλλά η επεξεργασία της σύνδεσης ουτοπίας και σεξουαλικότητας κατά το πέρας της περιόδου του Γαλλικού Διαφωτισμού, παραλείφθηκε το έργο του Loyola. Η διδακτορική διατριβή συνδέθηκε ευθύς εξαρχής με την ιδέα ενός διανοητικού «ρίσκου», την αποστασιοποίηση από τη γενική παραδοχή σύμφωνα με τον οποία ο «πορνογραφικός» χαρακτήρας του έργου Sade συνιστά τον κυριότερο, σχεδόν αποκλειστικό, ορίζοντα ανάγνωσης του έργου του, καθώς και την κριτική εξέταση της κατάταξης του Fourier στη χορεία των σοσιαλιστών στοχαστών, την οποία εισηγήθηκε ο Friedrich Engels. Η διατριβή στηρίχθηκε όχι τόσο στις δευτερογενείς, θεωρητικές επεξεργασίες, όσο στις πηγές και στην αρχειακή έρευνα.
Η δύναμη της τέχνης στην προώθηση της περιβαλλοντικής συμπεριφοράς και αγωγής στο σχολικό σύστημα
Authors: Θεοδούλου Ιωάννης
Published: January 2024

Η ανάπτυξη της ευαισθητοποίησης για τα περιβαλλοντικά ζητήματα του πλανήτη περιλαμβάνει θεωρητικές και βιωματικές πρακτικές, μέσω των οποίων οι πολίτες μπορούν να ασκήσουν επιρροή στην εφαρμογή μιας αποτελεσματικής περιβαλλοντικής πολιτικής. Μία προσέγγιση αποκλειστικά εστιασμένη στη γνώση ωστόσο δεν μπορεί να επηρεάσει τις βαθιές αξίες που μπορεί να παρακινήσουν ένα άτομο να αλλάξει τη συμπεριφορά του/της, ενώ αντιθέτως οι καλλιτεχνικές δραστηριότητες έχουν δείξει ενθαρρυντικά ευρήματα ως προς την ευαισθητοποίηση μέσω της περιβαλλοντικής εκπαίδευσης. Η Trash Art συμβάλλει στην δημιουργία ασφαλών οικοσυστημάτων, ενώ διάφοροι άνθρωποι αλληλεπιδρούν με τα απορρίμματα για διαφορετικούς σκοπούς. Η περιβαλλοντική ευαισθητοποίηση μέσω της Trash Art αναπτύσσεται δημιουργώντας συναισθήματα στο άτομο, συνεπώς κρίθηκε ως κατάλληλη για εφαρμογή στην παρούσα έρευνα. Συγκεκριμένα, το “Καλλιτεχνικό Εργαστήρι Ψηφιδωτών και Έργων Τέχνης Ανακυκλώσιμων Υλικών”, γνωστό και ως «Trash Art», είναι μια πρωτοποριακή δράση η οποία έχει εισάγει ένα νέο τρόπο πρακτικής άσκησης σε θέματα περιβαλλοντικής εκπαίδευσης προωθώντας μία υπεύθυνη περιβαλλοντική συμπεριφορά. Για τους σκοπούς αυτούς επιλέχθηκε ένας ποσοτικός συγχρονικός/συγκριτικός σχεδιασμός με σκοπό να διερευνηθούν τα επίπεδα ευαισθητοποίησης των εκπαιδευτικών και η συσχέτιση με την φιλο-περιβαλλοντική συμπεριφορά τους, οι διαφορές στα επίπεδα μεταξύ διαφορετικών βαθμίδων εκπαίδευσης, και το κατά πόσο οι στάσεις/απόψεις των εκπαιδευτικών για τα περιβαλλοντικά προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζει ο πλανήτης μπορούν να προβλέψει τις στάσεις/απόψεις τους για την αξιοποίηση της τέχνης ως εργαλείο περιβαλλοντικής ευαισθητοποίησης μετά την συμμετοχή στο εργαστήριο. Τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσης έρευνας κρίνονται ως ενθαρρυντικά και τα ευρήματα ορίζονται ως σκόπιμα για πρακτικές εφαρμογές, που αναμένεται να φέρουν θεαματικές επιδράσεις στην περιβαλλοντική εκπαίδευση και αξιολόγησης του επιπέδου ευαισθητοποίησης και γνώσης των κοινωνιών, σε θέματα περιβαλλοντικής υγείας.
Θεωρία πολυπλοκότητας, επιστημολογικά και μεθοδολογικά ζητήματα στην έρευνα των κοινωνικών επιστημών
Authors: Γκέβρου Μαρία
Published: January 2024

Η παρούσα εργασία αποτελείται από δυο διακριτά, αλλά άμεσα σχετιζόμενα μέρη. Στο πρώτο παρουσιάζεται μια επισκόπηση και θεωρητική ανάλυση των επιστημολογικών και μεθοδολογικών ζητημάτων στις κοινωνικές επιστήμες, η οποία αφορά τις κυρίαρχες, φιλοσοφικά, τάσεις του θετικισμού και τον κονστρουκτιβισμού. Εξετάζονται οι διαφορές τους, τα κοινά σημεία τους, οι αντιφάσεις και οι αδυναμίες τους, ενώ αναδεικνύονται οι δυνατότητες μιας νέας προοπτικής που βασίζεται στη Θεωρία της Πολυπλοκότητας. Το μετα-θεωρητικό αυτό πλαίσιο υιοθετεί τις οντολογικές παραδοχές των πολύπλοκων δυναμικών συστημάτων, και συνιστά σε επιστημολογικό και μεθοδολογικό επίπεδο ένα διαφορετικό παράδειγμα για την έρευνα των κοινωνικών επιστημών. Σε αυτήν την προοπτική, εξετάζονται η Ανάλυση Δικτύων και η Θεωρία Καταστροφών, για εφαρμογές που αφορούν εμπειρικά δεδομένα ψυχολογικής και εκπαιδευτικής έρευνας. Το δεύτερο μέρος της διατριβής παρουσιάζει την εμπειρική έρευνα που πραγματοποιήθηκε υπό το πρίσμα της πολυπλοκότητας για τη διερεύνηση των γνωσιολογικών αντιλήψεων των φοιτητών. Αξιοποιήθηκαν δύο διαφορετικοί τρόποι συλλογής δεδομένων, ο πρώτος αξιοποίησε το ερωτηματολόγιο αυτό-αναφοράς για τις πεποιθήσεις σχετικά με τη φύση της επιστήμης (Nature of Science, NOS) και ο δεύτερος πραγματοποιήθηκε μέσω της συλλογής γραπτών δοκιμίων, τα οποία αναφέρονταν σε οντολογικές παραδοχές για την πραγματικότητα, τη φύση της γνώσης per se, και τις πιθανές μεθοδολογικές επιλογές. Οι συμμετέχοντες στην έρευνα ήταν φοιτητές και φοιτήτριες των κοινωνικών, ανθρωπιστικών και φυσικομαθηματικών επιστημών. Για τα γραπτά δοκίμια ακολουθήθηκε η Ανάλυση Περιεχομένου με την υποστήριξη του λογισμικού Leximancer, και η εξαγωγή εννοιολογικών χαρτών, οι οποίοι ερμηνεύτηκαν ως σημασιολογικά δίκτυα. Για τα δεδομένα του ερωτηματολογίου εφαρμόστηκε η Ανάλυση Δικτύων, όπου το σύστημα πεποιθήσεων αναπαρίσταται ως δίκτυο σχέσεων που αξιολογείται και ερμηνεύεται με βάση τα ποιοτικά και ποσοτικά χαρακτηριστικά του, αναδεικνύοντας τους σημαντικούς και κρίσιμους κόμβους. Επιπλέον, στις μεταβλητές του ερωτηματολογίου εφαρμόστηκε το μοντέλο Cusp της θεωρίας καταστροφών για την ανίχνευση κρίσιμων πεποιθήσεων, όπως η πολιτισμική διάσταση της γνώσης, που εισάγουν μη γραμμική συμπεριφορά. Εν κατακλείδι, η παρούσα διατριβή συμβάλλει στην ανάπτυξη του νέου παραδείγματος της πολυπλοκότητας, τόσο με την εφαρμογή νέων μεθοδολογικών εργαλείων σε εμπειρικά δεδομένα, όσο και με τη θεωρητική και επιστημολογική ανάπτυξή του στις κοινωνικές επιστήμες.
Transformation of Urban Space before and after the Greek Revolution
Authors: Ansel Esra
Published: January 2024

This article aims to uncover the links between the 1821 Greek Revolution and the transformation of the social topography and landscape in Mega Revma (Arnavutköy), a Bosphorus village with a large Greek Orthodox population. In the eyes of the sultan, the Phanariots were the ones who “misled the loyal Greek reaya to rebel against their rightful sovereign”. Thus, it is not surprising that Mega Revma, as a centre of Phanariot life, was a place transformed by the crisis of 1821. The processes of social and religious restructuring of Mega Revma took place in two main phases. While the first phase (1821–1828) consisted of more violent and immediate responses to the revolution, the second phase was a long process that aimed to Islamise the village using conciliatory measures and building projects.
Between Historical Reality and Poetic Imagination
Authors: Kalinowska Maria
Published: January 2024

This article is a literary-historical interpretation of the works of the Polish Romantics. Many of the outstanding Polish Romantic writers were fascinated by the 1821 Greek Revolution. Poland had been subjugated since the end of the eighteenth century so the uprising was an important revolutionary model for Poles. The space and time of the poetic vision of the Greek War of Independence in those Romantic texts was of great importance for historiosophical and existential reflection. The Polish Romantics mentioned many different places that were connected with the Greek Revolution, such as Psara, Chios, Jassy, Kleisova islet and Messolongi. The choice to focus on these places, as well as the contexts of their representation, are significant. A variety of interpretations of the Greek War and Greek heritage emerge from these texts, such as the Greek Uprising as an important event integrating the European tradition and as the embodiment of the main existential and political problems of the nineteenth century, as well as the heroic interpretation of the revolution as an ideal to be emulated by enslaved nations. The Polish Romantic texts under discussion contain various poetic images of the space and time of the Greek War of Independence.
Islands on Fire?
Authors: Gekas Sakis
Published: January 2024

This article focuses on some aspects of the fascinating histories of islands in the Aegean and the Ionian seas during the Greek Revolution, drawing on documents of the time and histories of the revolution written during or soon after the big event. It looks at the dynamics of the revolution, as seen in the changing perceptions of space in the Aegean Archipelago and the Ionian Seas. It suggests ways to follow the “conceptual or political turn” and the “spatial” turn in the history of the revolution, and argues for exploring the political, fiscal and maritime territorialisation that took place, and by historicising the ambiguity that prevailed during the revolution.
Female Fatherlands
Authors: Papalexopoulou Elisavet
Published: January 2024

This article examines the patriotic discourses of a few female thinkers who were connected with the Greek cause, before and during the Greek Revolution. It examines how they understood Greece and Europe as social, political, geographical and revolutionary spaces and how they understood the gendered character of the war. It seeks to challenge traditional localities of the Greek Revolution by including women who lived in areas that were not encompassed by the Greek nation-state after its inception and did not necessarily use the Greek language in their writings.
Areti Adamopoulou, Τέχνη και ψυχροπολεμική διπλωματία: Διεθνείς εικαστικές εκθέσεις στην Αθήνα (1950–1967)
Authors: Teneketzis Alexandros
Published: January 2024

Review of Areti Adamopoulou, Τέχνη και ψυχροπολεμική διπλωματία: Διεθνείς εικαστικές εκθέσεις στην Αθήνα (1950–1967) [Art and Cold War diplomacy: International art exhibitions in Athens, 1950–1967]. Thessaloniki: University Studio Press, 2019. 422 pp.
Leda Papastefanaki and M. Erdem Kabadayı, eds., Working in Greece and Turkey: A Comparative Labour History from Empires to Nation-States, 1840–1940
Authors: Ginio Eyal
Published: January 2024

Review of Leda Papastefanaki and M. Erdem Kabadayı, eds., Working in Greece and Turkey: A Comparative Labour History from Empires to Nation-States, 1840–1940. New York and Oxford: Berghahn, 2020. xviii + 468 pp.
Review of Milena B. Methodieva, Empire and Nation: Muslim Reform in the Balkans
Authors: Naxidou Eleonora
Published: January 2024

Review of Milena B. Methodieva, Empire and Nation: Muslim Reform in the Balkans (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2021), 331 pp.
Elli Lemonidou, Ο Α΄ Παγκόσμιος Πόλεμος (1914-1918): Ιστορία μιας οικουμενικής καταστροφής
Authors: Theodosiou Christina
Published: January 2024

Review of Elli Lemonidou, Ο Α΄ Παγκόσμιος Πόλεμος (1914-1918): Ιστορία μιας οικουμενικής καταστροφής [The First World War (1914–1918): History of a universal catastrophe]. Athens: Estia, 2020. 216 pp.
Leda Papastefanaki and Nikos Potamianos, eds., Labour History in the Semi-Periphery: Southern Europe, 19th-20th Centuries
Authors: Hantzaroula Pothiti
Published: January 2024

Review of Leda Papastefanaki and Nikos Potamianos, eds., Labour History in the Semi-Periphery: Southern Europe, 19th–20th Centuries. Oldenbourg: De Gruyter, 2021. 375 pp.
Nikos Potamianos, ed., Εκδοχές της ηθικής οικονομίας: Ιστορικές και θεωρητικές μελέτες
Authors: Efstathiou Christos
Published: January 2024

Review of Nikos Potamianos, ed., Εκδοχές της ηθικής οικονομίας: Ιστορικές και θεωρητικές μελέτες [Variants of moral economy: Historical and theoretical studies]. Rethymno: Institute for Mediterranean Studies, 2021. 399 pp.
Nikos Potamianos, “Της αναιδείας θεάματα”: Κοινωνική ιστορία της Αποκριάς στην Αθήνα, 1800–1940
Authors: Sergidou Katerina
Published: January 2024

Review of Nikos Potamianos, “Της αναιδείας θεάματα”: Κοινωνική ιστορία της Αποκριάς στην Αθήνα, 1800–1940 [Spectacles of insolence: The social history of carnival in Athens, 1800–1940]. Iraklio: Crete University Press, 2020. 310 pp.
Odette Varon-Vassard, Des Sépharades aux Juifs grecs: Histoire, mémoire et identité
Authors: Tseti Angeliki
Published: January 2024

Review of Odette Varon-Vassard, Des Sépharades aux Juifs grecs: Histoire, mémoire et identité. Paris: Le Manuscrit, 2019 (2nd rev. ed., 2021). 291 pp.