bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transformational accounts of students’ undergraduate education are evoked by their engagement with knowledge
Authors: Ashwin Paul
Published: October 2024

There are strong concerns about students perceiving their undergraduate education in instrumental, rather than transformational, ways. However, it is not clear whether seeing education instrumentally undermines students’ capacity to see their education as transformational. Based on data from a 7-year longitudinal study of chemical engineering students from three countries, this article shows that all students focused on instrumental outcomes from education in their first year of study. However, by their final year, students tended to give instrumental accounts of what they had gained from their overall university experience and transformational accounts of what they had gained from studying their subject. This suggests that, depending on the context evoked, most students can describe instrumental or transformational relationships to their education. However, developing transformational accounts on their education appeared to be dependent on studying knowledge-rich degrees that supported them to engage with the world from the perspective of a particular body of knowledge. This raises serious questions about educational policies that imply that instrumental outcomes are the most important outcomes from students’ educational experiences as such policies obscure the importance of transformational knowledge-focused relationships that change the way that students engage with the world.
Possession and syntactic categories: An argument from Äiwoo
Authors: Roversi Giovanni
Published: October 2024

This paper argues that possession is syntactically category-flexible. While it is clear that in many languages possession is mostly grounded in and operates in the nominal extended projection (Szabolcsi 1983; Kayne 1993), I show that this cannot be universal. The empirical part of this article is a case study of Äiwoo, which I argue has an inherently verbal counterpart of English ’s, an abstract transitive verb I label poss. This verb can be used by itself to form clausal possession: ‘I poss this boat’ ≈ ‘this boat is mine.’ Possessed DPs also contain the verb poss: the object of this verb is extracted, forming a relative clause. Informally, ‘my boat’ really is ‘the boat
i
"Equation missing"’ ≈ ‘the boat that is mine.’ Given this, Äiwoo simply lacks true nominal possessives. The theoretical consequence is that possession can be mapped onto different syntactic categories in different languages. This is a welcome result, as it makes the syntax-semantics mapping as flexible as it needs to be: if possession is just a tool to assert that a certain relation holds between two entities, nothing in our theory of grammar predicts that such a notion should only be limited to a specific syntactic category.
Reconceptualising the Psychological Theory of Generics
Authors: Ralston Tom
Published: October 2024

Generics have historically proven difficult to analyse using the tools of formal semantics. In this paper, I argue that an influential theory of the meaning of generics due to Sarah-Jane Leslie, the Psychological Theory of Generics, is best interpreted not as a theory of their meaning, but as a theory of the psychological heuristics that we use to judge whether or not generics are true. I argue that Leslie’s methodology is not well-suited to producing a theory of the meaning of generics, since it takes speakers’ judgments at face value and ignores the non-semantic factors that might affect these judgments. Leslie’s theory therefore overfits the data of our linguistic intuitions. I present a reconceptualised version of the Psychological Theory of Generics as a theory of how heuristics affect our judgements of the truth values of generics and discuss the application of this reconceptualised theory to some of the puzzles posed by generics, including their apparent content-sensitivity, their inferential asymmetry and their association with stereotyping and prejudice.
Testimonial liberalism and the balance of epistemic goals
Authors: Patrizio Ross F.
Published: October 2024

There are two broad views in the epistemology of testimony, conservatism and liberalism. The two views disagree over a particular necessary condition on testimonial justification: the positive reasons requirement (PRR). Perhaps the most prominent objection levelled at liberalism from the conservative camp stems from gullibility; without PRR, the thought goes, an objectionable form of gullibility looms large for liberals. In this paper I aim to make two main contributions: to introduce a new metric for adjudicating this debate; and to argue that, from the perspective of this new metric, the liberal view is stronger than has been appreciated. Drawing on work from James (The Will to believe and other essays in Popular Philosophy, Harvard University Press, 1896), Goldman (Epistemology and Cognition, Harvard University Press, 1986), and Kelp et al. (Synthese 197:5187–5202, 2020), I firstly countenance the distinction between positive and negative epistemic measures. Positive measures concern, roughly, the acquisition of truths, whereas negative measures concern the avoidance of falsehoods. Both, it is argued, are relevant to epistemic justification, but this debate has proceeded in such a way as to overemphasise the importance of the latter over the former. Once this distinction is made, new conceptual terrain opens for the liberal. Rather than being resigned to a predominantly defensive role—of mitigating worries about negative measures—the liberal can go on the offensive, and explore the independent epistemic strengths of their position. The upshot is that liberals have a new way to dispel their most prominent objection.
Guidelines for reporting research using systematic coding of observed human behaviour (SCOBe)
Authors: Hillen Marij A. , Hoeben Evelien M. , Kok Rianne , McHale Calum , Sexton Melissa M. , van der Asdonk Sabine , van de Bongardt Daphne , Bowman Brett , Brown Richard , Branje Susan , Chorney Jill , Donker Monika H. , Ejbye-Ernst Peter , Geeraerts Sanne , Van der Giessen Danielle , Humphris Gerald , Larsen Helle , Philpot Richard , Portell Mariona , Yuan Siyang , van der Veen Chiel , Noordman Janneke
Published: October 2024

Systematic coding of observed human behaviour (SCOBe) is used across disciplines and topics but methodological reporting is often incomplete. We developed internationally generated, interdisciplinary guidelines for methodological reporting of such research. Using Delphi methodology, a working group of 22 experts sought group consensus in three rounds. Participants first assessed an initial set of reporting criteria (round 1). Next, in interactive meetings participants revised these criteria and reached consensus on reporting content (rounds 2 & 3). We present 20 criteria constituting the first comprehensive reporting guidelines for SCOBe research using existing, newly developed, or modified coding systems. The criteria encompass three procedural domains: 1. Research context; 2. Properties of the coding scheme; and 3. Application of the coding scheme. The presented guidelines will assist in substantiating and assessing the quality of SCOBe research. We encourage researchers to adopt these guidelines, to enhance quality of mono- and interdisciplinary research.
Being Your Own Boss: Network Determinants of Young People’s Orientations Towards Self-Employment
Authors: Vacchiano Mattia , de Bel Vera , Widmer Eric
Published: October 2024

Young people today are expected to navigate their precarious careers in an entrepreneurial way. Self-employment is gaining ground on wage labour as one attractive strategy for winning the battle with precariousness. From Granovetter’s studies to the present day, one of the most prolific lines of research on the factors influencing the strategies of job insertion emphasises the key importance of personal networks. Based on social capital theory, this article tests (1) whether the composition of young people’s personal networks is associated with their desire to move towards independent careers; and (2) whether, among the mechanisms associated with this orientation, there is the ability to mobilise contacts’ resources, for example, avoiding conflict and exploiting different forms of social support. Analysing data on the personal networks of a sample of 7827 young people in Switzerland, our results show that the orientation towards self-employment is more likely for those who access contacts with an unfavourable position in the labour market, such as people with lower educational levels and a foreign background. Although receiving social support plays a role, our results show that, for young people wishing to become self-employed, an even more important predictor is the presence of conflicts in their networks. In the context of the precarization of young people’s labour pathways, these results suggest that self-employment can serve as a coping strategy for the most vulnerable, as well as an escape from difficult relationships.
Urban green spaces with high connectivity and complex vegetation promote occupancy and richness of birds in a tropical megacity
Authors: Oropeza-Sánchez Marco T. , Solano-Zavaleta Israel , Cuandón-Hernández Wendy Lizett , Martínez-Villegas Jorge Arturo , Palomera-Hernández Vianey , Zúñiga-Vega J. Jaime
Published: October 2024

Urban growth often leads to land-use changes that result in biodiversity loss and reduced human benefits. In urban zones, green areas facilitate physicochemical processes (such as carbon capture, reducing environmental temperature and noise pollution), offer multiple benefits to human beings (e.g., water filtration and purification), and support numerous vertebrate populations, including birds. In the tropics, the capacity of green spaces to maintain bird populations is regulated by characteristics of these areas (e.g., vegetation structure) and environmental seasonality. In order to generate ecological knowledge to help conserve bird diversity in large urban settlements, this study aimed to (1) identify the most influential variables on the distribution of bird species in green areas of a tropical megacity, and (2) assess how bird richness varies between the dry and rainy seasons. Across two dry and rainy seasons between 2021 and 2022, detection records of 108 bird species were obtained from 101 green areas. Air temperature and sampling time were the primary factors influencing bird detection. Bird occupancy and richness were higher in parks near other green areas in first dry and increased with tree richness during the rainy seasons. Floral abundance explained the occupancy and richness in the second dry season. In 2021, the highest richness was observed during the dry season, while in 2022, the highest richness was estimated during the rainy season. These findings highlight the importance of resource availability and spatial arrangement in urban green areas for bird diversity, offering insights for conservation and maintaining ecosystem benefits in urban environments.
Mapping the marginals: predicting unplanned human settlements in urban protected areas of Bogotá, Colombia
Authors: Hurtado-Moreno Angela P. , Martínez Natalia M. Ramírez , Goyes Diego F. Rubio , González-Maya José F.
Published: October 2024

Protected areas are essential for safeguarding ecosystems and their associated environmental services. In urban environments, they serve as crucial conservation zones, protecting against human encroachment. However, even with robust territorial planning, protected areas remain vulnerable to informal settlements. This study employs a landscape ecology approach to identify hotspots within Parque Entrenubes, an urban protected area in Bogotá, D.C., Colombia, that are susceptible to future informal settlements. We utilized a logistic regression model to predict potential invasions by assessing the likelihood of settlements occurring in cells with different characteristics compared to unoccupied areas. Variables considered included distance to creeks, secondary roads, main roads, legalized neighborhoods, elevation, and slope. The results indicate a clustered pattern of settlements influenced by various spatial factors, suggesting that informal settlements are not randomly distributed. Steeper slopes, higher elevations, and greater distances from main roads have higher probabilities of occupation, while areas closer to water, roads, and existing neighborhoods are more likely to suffer illegal settlements. Our study represents the first spatially explicit prediction approach for unplanned settlements in Bogotá. This spatial analysis can inform strategic actions to prevent, contain, and control new informal settlements. Furthermore, the findings can be integrated into urban planning initiatives to mitigate the negative impacts of such settlements on protected areas and the environment.
Challenges for Formal Organizations Engaging Volunteers During Regular and Crisis Times According to Polish and Italian Volunteer Coordinators
Authors: Nowakowska Iwona , Duda Ewa , Ellena Adriano Mauro , Poli Martinelli Daniela , Szulawski Michał , Pozzi Maura
Published: October 2024

The recent crises in Europe impacted the volunteering patterns within formal organizations that provide support in regular and crisis times. In our paper, we investigated how volunteer coordinators from formal entities (public/governmental and non-governmental) perceive (1) the patterns of volunteering engagement (long-term versus episodic) in regular and crisis times, (2) the processes of retaining volunteers during crises; (3) the trust of the community toward various types of organizations during social crises; (4) the role of informal support groups in relation to the tasks of their organization. Between June and October 2023, we performed an online-based study (total N = 55)—in Poland (N = 28) and Italy (N = 27). The survey had multiple-choice and open-ended questions, and the results were analyzed qualitatively using the thematic analysis framework. The findings indicated that volunteer coordinators reckon that long-term and episodic volunteers play crucial and complementary roles in helping organizations achieve their objectives. This implies that organizations should recognize the value of both types of volunteers and consider them essential resources for pursuing organizational goals. The results also suggest that the volunteer retention strategies are worth outlining or revisiting within organizations, and attention should be paid to psychological support. According to coordinators, trust in non-governmental organizations is perceived as crucial in the beneficiaries' decisions about where to seek help. Collaboration with informal groups is advised, given that the goals can be achieved together, mutually using the resources provided by both types of helping entities.
A Meta-Analysis of Water Institutions and Their Performance: Implications for Water Resource Management
Authors: Apio Alfred Tunyire , Thiam Djiby Racine , Dinar Ariel
Published: October 2024

This paper uses meta-regression analysis to investigate the empirical literature on the performance of water institutions. This pioneering study synthesizes and quantifies the overall water institution-performance effect using data extracted from 23 original studies. A bivariate meta-regression and funnel asymmetric test are estimated and conducted, respectively, and for our multivariate meta-regressions (MMRs), four different fixed and random effects weighted least square models are estimated. Both bivariate and MMRs confirm the presence of a publication selection bias that favors the positive impact of water institutions on performance. Once this bias is corrected, evidence of a genuine empirical effect of water institutions on the performance is evident. Also, the variations in this literature are attributable to differences in the way these studies capture water institutions, the variables used to capture performance, and the estimation strategies, among others. Primary studies that use the water law, water policy, and/or some aspects of these to capture performance tend to report a greater impact of water institutions on performance. This paper contributes not only to improving the quality of research, reporting, review, and publication in the water space but also provides further insights for additional development, facilitation, and strengthening of water laws, policies, and administration to lower transaction costs in the water space.
Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants and Potential Inconsistencies with FDA-Approved Dosing for Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Real-World Analysis Across Nine US Healthcare Systems
Authors: DeLor Bonnie , Glover Jon J. , Hartman Timothy J. , Manzey Laura L. , Ateya Mohammad , Kelsh Shelby , Taylor Katie , Zemrak Wesley R. , Gowen Jaclynne R. , Parks Ann , Gust Carmen , Medico Charles , Akpoji Ukwen C. , Naylor Shane , Chou Carolyn W. , Fakelmann Gregory , Hart Sara , Wiethorn Eryne E. , Trinh Thach , Wilson William W. , Bowen Rachel , Stanton Jennifer , Duvall Laura , Davis Lynette T. ,   for the D-DARE Consortium, Ansara Alexander , Child Ashley , Dettloff Richard W. , Haqu Saira Naim , Sarsam Saba , Somand Heather , Wadsworth Christina
Published: October 2024

Background

Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are recommended to reduce risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, DOAC dosing inconsistent with FDA-approved product labels is common and associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Objectives

Identify DOAC dosing inconsistent with FDA-approved product labels in ambulatory care patients with NVAF; identify variables associated with dosing lower and higher than label.

Design

Retrospective analysis using electronic health records from nine US healthcare systems.

Patients

Adults with NVAF receiving DOAC therapy in 2022.

Main Measures

Rates of label-inconsistent dosing; multivariable regression analysis to identify demographic and clinical variables associated with dosing lower and higher than label.

Key Results

Among 51,128 NVAF patients (56.1% male, 94.3% White, mean [SD] age 73.5 [10.5] years), 5008 (9.8%) were prescribed label-inconsistent doses of DOACs (6.8% lower and 3.0% higher than label). Age ≥ 75 years, renal impairment, and hypertension were significantly associated with inconsistent dosing both higher and lower than label. Female sex and higher weight were significantly associated with dosing lower than label, as were heart failure, vascular or liver disease, and bleeding history. Dosing higher than label was significantly associated with male sex, race (African American/Black), weight < 60 kg, and use of drugs with potential drug-drug interactions. When prescribed by primary care physicians, DOAC doses were 37% (95% CI, 27–49%) more likely to be lower than label and 30% (95% CI, 16–46%) more likely to be higher than label than when prescribed by cardiologists or electrophysiologists. Label-inconsistent dosing varied (6.7 to 15.8%) across participating systems.

Conclusions

DOAC dosing inconsistent with label varied by demographics, clinical characteristics, prescriber specialty, and healthcare system, suggesting a need to monitor and assess dosing decisions in NVAF. Identification of variables associated with dosing inconsistencies may enable targeted interventions to ensure label-consistent dosing in vulnerable populations.
Feasibility study of opportunistic osteoporosis screening on chest CT using a multi-feature fusion DCNN model
Authors: Pan Jing , Lin Peng-cheng , Gong Shen-chu , Wang Ze , Cao Rui , Lv Yuan , Zhang Kun , Wang Lin
Published: October 2024

Summary

A multi-feature fusion DCNN model for automated evaluation of lumbar vertebrae L1 on chest combined with clinical information and radiomics permits estimation of volumetric bone mineral density for evaluation of osteoporosis.

Purpose

To develop a multi-feature deep learning model based on chest CT, combined with clinical information and radiomics to explore the feasibility in screening for osteoporosis based on estimation of volumetric bone mineral density.

Methods

The chest CT images of 1048 health check subjects were retrospectively collected as the master dataset, and the images of 637 subjects obtained from a different CT scanner were used for the external validation cohort. The subjects were divided into three categories according to the quantitative CT (QCT) examination, namely, normal group, osteopenia group, and osteoporosis group. Firstly, a deep learning–based segmentation model was constructed. Then, classification models were established and selected, and then, an optimal model to build bone density value prediction regression model was chosen.

Results

The DSC value was 0.951 ± 0.030 in the testing dataset and 0.947 ± 0.060 in the external validation cohort. The multi-feature fusion model based on the lumbar 1 vertebra had the best performance in the diagnosis. The area under the curve (AUC) of diagnosing normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis was 0.992, 0.973, and 0.989. The mean absolute errors (MAEs) of the bone density prediction regression model in the test set and external testing dataset are 8.20 mg/cm3 and 9.23 mg/cm3, respectively, and the root mean square errors (RMSEs) are 10.25 mg/cm3 and 11.91 mg/cm3, respectively. The R-squared values are 0.942 and 0.923, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients are 0.972 and 0.965.

Conclusion

The multi-feature fusion DCNN model based on only the lumbar 1 vertebrae and clinical variables can perform bone density three-classification diagnosis and estimate volumetric bone mineral density. If confirmed in independent populations, this automated opportunistic chest CT evaluation can help clinical screening of large-sample populations to identify subjects at high risk of osteoporotic fracture.
Patient Preferences Concerning Humanoid Features in Healthcare Robots
Authors: Gogoshin Dane Leigh
Published: October 2024

In this paper, I argue that patient preferences concerning human physical attributes associated with race, culture, and gender should be excluded from public healthcare robot design. On one hand, healthcare should be (objective, universal) needs oriented. On the other hand, patient well-being (the aim of healthcare) is, in concrete ways, tied to preferences, as is patient satisfaction (a core WHO value). The shift toward patient-centered healthcare places patient preferences into the spotlight. Accordingly, the design of healthcare technology cannot simply disregard patient preferences, even those which are potentially morally problematic. A method for handling these at the design level is thus imperative. By way of uncontroversial starting points, I argue that the priority of the public healthcare system is the fulfillment of patients’ therapeutic needs, among which certain potentially morally problematic preferences may be counted. There are further ethical considerations, however, which, taken together, suggest that the potential benefits of upholding these preferences are outweighed by the potential harms.
Women’s response regarding timing of genital surgery in congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Authors: Falhammar Henrik , Holmdahl Gundela , Nyström Helena Filipsson , Nordenström Anna , Hagenfeldt Kerstin , Nordenskjöld Agneta
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To study what adult women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) thought about the timing of genital surgery.

Methods

As part of a larger follow-up study performed between the years 2002–2005 there were questionnaires concerning genital surgery, type of surgery, their thoughts about timing of genital surgery and experience of information about surgery. Early surgery was defined as ≤4 years of age and late ≥10 years. The medical and surgical files were reviewed.

Results

62 women with CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, mean age 28 years (18–63) were included. The age at first genital surgery was 3 years (0–28 years) in the 52 patients (84%) who had had genital surgery, with 60% had early surgery (≤4 years) and 29% late (≥10 years). Almost half of the cohort had a positive experience of the information about surgery, a third had no opinion and a fifth had a negative experience. Of the women 39% thought that early surgery was good, while 19% thought it should be done during or after puberty and 42% had no opinion. Of those preferring early surgery 70% had early surgery themselves. Vaginal surgery was less common among those favoring early surgery. Age, phenotype, genotype, decade of surgery and experience of the information about surgery did not differ significantly between the three groups.

Conclusion

Equal numbers of women had no opinion regarding age at surgery or preferred early surgery while 19% thought it would be preferred to have surgery during or after puberty.
Traceology suggests an unexpected use of antler cheekpieces from the Early Iron Age site at Gzin, Poland
Authors: Gackowski Jacek , Osipowicz Grzegorz , Kowalski Łukasz , Chudziakowa Jadwiga , Sokół Albin , Brzozowska Michalina , Gaczorek Aleksandra Lisowska , Szostek Krzysztof , Kowalski Andrzej P. , Kukuczka Jacek , Kozicka Magdalena
Published: October 2024

Archaeological data confirm the widespread use of horse tack throughout the North European Bronze Age and the succeeding Hallstatt period in an inventory that included metal cheekpieces, phalerae, rein-knobs and other horse-related accessories. Similar usage has been assumed in the region of northern Poland, which has also furnished evidence for the use of horse gear accessories made of antler. This paper reports the results of traceological, isotopic and experimental research on three antler cheekpieces found at the Early Iron Age stronghold of Gzin in northern Poland and relates them further with archaeological and ethnographic patterns of horse exploitation. The results indicate that the artefacts from Gzin have rare comparanda and are isotopically consistent with the δ18Ow range of the site location, which can both be taken as evidence of their local origin. Moreover, traceological and experimental evidence from this study places the function and use of the analysed objects into a new light, undermining their use for horseback riding and suggesting that they were employed as cheekpiece coverings. Combined with the ethnographic record, ceramic iconography and archaeolinguistics, our findings fuel a discussion of deer valorisation during the Lusatian period in Poland, showing that the cheekpieces from Gzin may have served as elements of deer headgear.
2D nonlinear inversion of DC resistivity measurements, a case study; southeastern part of Ras El Dabaa, Northwestern coast, Egypt
Authors: Zarif Fardous , Barseem Mostafa , Elshenawy Ahmed , Ulugergerli Emin U
Published: October 2024

The southern Mediterranean coast suffers from limited water resources as a result of exploitation of water supply, population growth, and climate change. Spatial lineaments and Seawater Intrusion (SWI) were detected at the southeast portion of Ras El Dabaa, on Egypt’s northwest coast, using the direct current resistivity (DCR) method. The Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) data were acquired using Schlumberger array along four profiles and inverted both independently and jointly, aiming to obtain Two Dimensional (2D) geoelectrical images. The results of the one Dimensional (1D) inversion of VES data at each profile were stitched to form pseudo-2D sections on which the resistivity values and aquifer thickness in the southwest of the region appeared to be generally increasing, indicating a potential improvement in water quality.However, the results did not fully image the lateral variation but focused on the horizontal boundaries of the subsurface. On the contrary, the results of 2D inversion of the same data sets successfully managed to provide images that depicted resistivity distribution in both lateral and vertical directions. The detected sets of lineaments and fractured zones within the oolitic limestone and fossiliferous limestone units control the occurrence of groundwater in the region. The 2D inversion scheme revealed a low resistivity zone that indicated the presence of SWI and/or the dissolution of marine salts from the marine limestone bedrock of these aquifers in the northern portions of the studied area. Additionally, analysis of the 2D apparent porosity section shows how aquifers are connected by secondary porosity, which is defined by structures that resemble channels. The current approach offers valuable structural information for future planning and development of such complex geological coastal locations, taking into consideration the vulnerability of the groundwater system.
Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Delivered by Mobile Phone on Perinatal-Specific Stress and Neonatal Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Xie Weiyi , Wang Man , Ng Siuman , Lu Shuang , Yeung Albert , Chan Ka Po , Lo Herman Hay Ming
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Whereas some women may perceive pregnancy as a welcome challenge and a source of satisfaction, self-development, and maturity, others may experience perinatal-specific stress (PSS). Emerging evidence has demonstrated the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for perinatal women. Given the debate about the effects of MBIs on PSS reduction, as well as the limitations of existing studies, such as practical concerns and small sample sizes, the current study aimed to contribute further evidence by utilizing a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effects of mobile-delivered MBIs on women’s PSS and neonatal outcomes, compared with outcomes from a mobile-delivered psychoeducation intervention.

Method

One hundred and seventy-eight adult pregnant women were randomized into two groups––one to receive a mobile-delivered eight-session MBI (n = 93) and the other to receive a web-based perinatal education program (n = 85). Outcomes included perinatal distress, mindfulness, and neonatal outcomes.

Results

Women in the MBI group showed a significantly greater reduction in their PSS levels from baseline to the follow-up-timepoint (T2) compared with the control group. The MBI group had a significant enhancement of mindfulness, and their newborns had higher Apgar scores compared with the control group. Mindfulness improvement levels after the intervention significantly mediated the intervention effect in reducing the participating women’s PSS levels.

Conclusions

With a reasonably high participation rate (approximately 75%), the MBI delivered by mobile phone can be a feasible, desirable, and efficacious intervention for reducing perinatal-specific stress throughout pregnancy and enhancing neonatal outcomes.
The intersection of Indian citizenship amendment act 2019 and religious persecution
Authors: Ananda D.
Published: October 2024

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, focusing on its origins, objectives, and far-reaching consequences, particularly concerning its alignment with the constitutional principles of secularism and equality. The CAA facilitates the acquisition of Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, explicitly excluding Muslims. This has sparked national and international debate over its potential to undermine the secular fabric of the Indian Constitution, particularly concerning Article 14, which guarantees equality before the law. Through a legal and constitutional lens, the paper critically examines the broader implications of the CAA on religious minorities, its intersection with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and concerns about statelessness. Drawing on scholarly critiques, it explores the Act’s impact on India’s inclusive identity, the potential marginalization of minority communities, and the socio-political challenges posed by its implementation. The paper advocates for re-evaluating citizenship laws to align with India’s democratic principles, ensuring social cohesion and protection of human rights.
Soldiers of Uncertain Rank
Authors: Lambert David
Published: October 2024

The West India Regiments were an anomalous presence in the British Army. Raised in the late eighteenth-century Caribbean in an act of military desperation, their rank-and-file were overwhelmingly men of African descent, initially enslaved. As such, the regiments held a unique but ambiguous place in the British Army and British Empire until their disbandment in 1927. Soldiers of Uncertain Rank brings together the approaches of cultural, imperial and military history in new and illuminating ways to show how the image of these regiments really mattered. This image shaped perceptions in the Caribbean societies in which they were raised and impacted on how they were deployed there and in Africa. By examining the visual and textual representation of these soldiers, this book uncovers a complex, under-explored and illuminating figure that sat at the intersection of nineteenth-century debates about slavery and freedom; racial difference; Britishness; savagery and civilisation; military service and heroism.
Implementation of a Pedagogical Model of Ocean Citizenship: Students’ Perspective
Authors: Schio Caroline , Reis Pedro
Published: October 2024

This article evaluates the implementation of the pedagogical model by Schio and Reis (2024), aimed at promoting ocean citizenship within basic education. The evaluation is based on a pilot project from the 2021/2022 school year, which involved 543 students, aged 10 to 11, from 10 Blue Schools located along the Portuguese coast. This paper reports on phases 3 and 4 of the Design-Based Research cycle, corresponding to the implementation and evaluation phases of the pedagogical model. Preliminary results allowed us to verify the emergence of new knowledge, skills, values, critical thinking and attitudes, reflecting the development of ocean citizenship competencies among students. These outcomes affirm the model’s applicability and its potential to seamlessly integrate ocean citizenship into the basic education curriculum. However, it was observed that the activism dimension requires additional emphasis. Further testing in diverse educational settings is crucial to refine the model, adjust to local nuances and maximise its impact on nurturing future generations committed to ocean sustainability.
Héritage colonial et développement
Authors: Dumas Christelle
Published: October 2024

Après avoir rappelé quelques leçons du livre de Denis Cogneau (Un empire bon marché), je m’intéresse à trois points. Le premier porte sur les effets des différents types de colonisation et questionne l’idée communément admise que les colonies de peuplement sont moins nocives que les colonies d’exploitation ; le deuxième plaide pour une prise en compte fine, au niveau local, du legs colonial dans l’analyse des structures actuelles ; enfin, le dernier reprend la question du modèle de coopération Nord-Sud.
L’interprétation d’une sainte trace
Authors: Sarzeaud Nicolas
Published: October 2024

Si le Suaire de Turin est au cœur d’une controverse médiatique intense centrée sur la question de son authenticité, sa place dans la recherche historique académique est longtemps restée limitée. Il a surtout été l’objet d’une littérature parascientifique, la sindonologie, autoproclamée « science du linceul » qui a cherché à écrire une « préhistoire » de la relique avant son apparition dans la documentation, au xive siècle, mais s’est peu intéressée à la riche trajectoire de l’objet, passant du statut d’image, à Lirey, en Champagne, à celui de relique de la Passion, à Chambéry puis à Turin. Plusieurs travaux récents ont contribué à combler cette lacune. Parmi eux, une monographie d’Andrea Nicolotti, professeur à l’université de Turin, ambitionne à la fois de répondre aux théories fantaisistes qui entourent l’objet et de retracer sa longue histoire. Parmi les questions que cette longue histoire éclaire, celle de l’évolution des régimes de preuve : les linges funéraires, laissés dans le tombeau du Christ, sont traités par l’exégèse comme preuve de la résurrection, et le Suaire de Turin ajoute des indices visibles de la présence d’un corps. Du Moyen Âge à nos jours, le regard sur cette relique a été guidé par la volonté d’interpréter ces traces comme des preuves qui attestent l’histoire sainte, voire en documentent certains détails que les Évangiles ne décrivent pas. Elle met donc en lumière une généalogie ecclésiale, encore trop peu considérée, du paradigme de la preuve par la trace.
A high prevalence of antibiotic use at two large teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a point prevalence survey
Authors: Merga Kassa Haile , Getachew Edlawit Mesfin , Fujita Ayako Wendy , Abayneh Mahlet , Jacob Jesse T. , Ali Solomon , Melesse Hayat Oumer , Babiker Ahmed , Getachew Liya Sisay , Hailu Tsegaye , Mohammed Jemal , Solomon Bethelhem , Rebolledo Paulina A. , Abdissa Alemseged , Kempker Russell R.
Published: October 2024

Objective:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) renders many bacterial infections untreatable and results in substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Understanding antibiotic use in clinical settings including hospitals is critical to optimize antibiotic use and prevent resistance.

Design:

Hospital antibiotic point prevalence survey (PPS).

Methods:

The study was conducted in two large, teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We performed two survey rounds in December 2021 and January 2022 through real-time chart review using the World Health Organization PPS methodology. Data were collected using a web-based database, and descriptive statistics were performed to analyze antibiotic use by various characteristics.

Results:

Among 1020 hospitalized patients, 318 (32%) were ≤14 years and 370 (36%) had surgery during the current hospitalization. A total of 662 (65%) were receiving an antibiotic on the day of survey and 346 (39%) were receiving ≥2 antibiotics. A community-acquired infection (43%) was the most common indication for an antibiotic followed by surgical prophylaxis (27%) and hospital-acquired infection (23%). Antibiotic use was highest among those ≤24 months in age and among patients in trauma, surgical, and pediatric wards. Cephalosporin (42%) and penicillin (16%) antibiotics were the most frequently prescribed classes. Only 11% of patients on antibiotics had samples collected for microbiological testing; hence, almost all antibiotic therapy was empiric.

Conclusions:

Despite global and national efforts to improve antimicrobial stewardship, antibiotic use remains high in urban teaching hospitals in Ethiopia. Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship activities and microbiology utilization are needed to guide antimicrobial selection and curtail antibiotic overuse.
Precision psychiatry needs causal inference
Authors: Bernstorff Martin , Jefsen Oskar Hougaard
Published: October 2024

Objective:

Psychiatric research applies statistical methods that can be divided in two frameworks: causal inference and prediction. Recent proposals suggest a down-prioritisation of causal inference and argue that prediction paves the road to ‘precision psychiatry’ (i.e., individualised treatment). In this perspective, we critically appraise these proposals.

Methods:

We outline strengths and weaknesses of causal inference and prediction frameworks and describe the link between clinical decision-making and counterfactual predictions (i.e., causality). We describe three key causal structures that, if not handled correctly, may cause erroneous interpretations, and three pitfalls in prediction research.

Results:

Prediction and causal inference are both needed in psychiatric research and their relative importance is context-dependent. When individualised treatment decisions are needed, causal inference is necessary.

Conclusion:

This perspective defends the importance of causal inference for precision psychiatry.
DISCREPANCY BOUNDS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF RANKIN–SELBERG L-FUNCTIONS
Authors: PENG XIAO
Published: October 2024

We investigate the discrepancy between the distributions of the random variable
$\log L (\sigma , f \times f, X)$
and that of
$\log L(\sigma +it, f \times f)$
, that is,
$$ \begin{align*} D_{\sigma} (T) := \sup_{\mathcal{R}} |\mathbb{P}_T(\log L(\sigma+it, f \times f) \in \mathcal{R}) - \mathbb{P}(\log L(\sigma, f \times f, X) \in \mathcal{R})|, \end{align*} $$

where the supremum is taken over rectangles
$\mathcal {R}$
with sides parallel to the coordinate axes. For fixed
$T>3$
and
$2/3 <\sigma _0 < \sigma < 1$
, we prove that
$$ \begin{align*} D_{\sigma} (T) \ll \frac{1}{(\log T)^{\sigma}}. \end{align*} $$
The concentration of hemoglobin is associated with the dietary iron availability, food insecurity and the use of oral contraceptives among women in socially vulnerable areas of a capital city in northeastern Brazil
Authors: dos Santos Thays Lane Ferreira , Ataide Terezinha da Rocha , De Carli Eduardo , Bueno Nassib Bezerra , Bádue Gabriel Soares , Florêncio Telma Maria de Menezes Toledo , Silva-Neto Luiz Gonzaga Ribeiro
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to assess hemoglobin concentration and its association with oral contraceptive (OC) use, food insecurity (FI) and dietary iron availability (DIA) in adult women of reproductive age (20–44 years). This is a population-based cross-sectional study that analysed 505 women living in favelas and urban communities in a capital city in northeastern Brazil. Hemoglobin concentration was determined using capillary blood samples. FI and DIA were assessed using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale and the 24-h food recall, respectively. Association analysis was carried out using logistic regression. A directed acyclic graph (DAG) was designed to illustrate the causal paths between hemoglobin concentration and DIA. A significance level of 5 % was adopted. Low hemoglobin concentrations (11·2 g/dl: (1·79)) and a high prevalence of anaemia (64·0 %) were observed; 28·7 % used OC (28·7 %) and 76·4 % were in FI. An average energetic intake of 1495 kcal/d (482·0) and 0·46 mg/d (0·27) of DIA were also observed. In the DAG-guided multivariable analysis, it was observed that hemoglobin concentrations ≥ 12 mg/dl were directly associated with higher DIA (OR: 1·67; 95 % CI (1. 08, 2·59)) and OC use (OR: 1·67; 95 % CI (1·10, 2·55)) and inversely associated with mild FI (OR: 0·60; 95 % CI (0·37, 0·96)) or severe FI (OR: 0·37; 95 % CI: (0·18, 0·76)). Women taking OC and with a higher DIA were less likely to have low hemoglobin concentrations, while those in the context of FI were in the opposite situation.
Unveiling symbiotic bacterial communities in insects feeding on the latex-rich plant Ficus microcarpa
Authors: Naveed Waleed Afzal , Liu Qian , Lu Congcong , Huang Xiaolei
Published: October 2024

The diversity and health of insects that feed on plants are closely related to their mutualistic symbionts and host plants. These symbiotic partners significantly influence various metabolic activities in these insects. However, the symbiotic bacterial community of toxic plant feeders still needs further characterisation. This study aims to unravel bacterial communities associated with the different species of insect representing three insect orders: Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, and Lepidoptera, along with their predicted functional role, which exclusively feeds on latex-rich plant species Ficus microcarpa. By using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing, the analysis was able to define the major alignment of the bacterial population, primarily comprising Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, and Acidobacteriota. Significant differences in symbiotic organisms between three insect groups were discovered by the study: hemipterans had Burkholderia and Buchnera, and lepidopterans had Acinetobacter. At the same time, Pseudomonas was detected in high abundance in both lepidopteran and thysanopteran insects. Furthermore, these symbionts exhibit consistent core functions, potentially explaining how different insects can consume the same host plant. The identified core functions of symbionts open avenues for innovative approaches in utilising these relationships to develop environment-friendly solutions for pest control, with broader implications for agriculture and environmental conservation.
Preparing early economic evaluations for the development and management of health service interventions
Authors: Partington Andrew , Crotty Maria , Laver Kate , Greene Leanne , Haji Ali Afzali Hossein , Karnon Jonathan
Published: October 2024

Objectives

We draw from the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) literature to propose how hospitals and local health networks can prepare the key components of early economic evaluations to support the development and management of health service interventions.

Methods

Using the case example of a proposed intervention for older people in the Emergency Department (ED), a conceptual logic model of a new health service intervention is articulated to inform the structuring and population of a decision-analytic model using observed data on the existing care comparator and structured elicitation exercise of initial stakeholder expectations of intervention effects.

Results

The elicited patient pathway probabilities and lengths of stay quantities profile which of the existing types of patients are expected to avoid the ED and how this impacts the lengths of stay across the system. The exercise also quantifies the stakeholders’ uncertainty and disagreement, with qualitative insights into why. The elicitation exercise participants draw upon the rationale for how the intervention is expected to affect a change within the local context, as captured within the logic model, together with the descriptive analyses of the characteristics and utilization of their target population. Feedback indicates the methods are acceptably robust yet pragmatic enough for healthcare delivery settings.

Conclusions

As proposed in this paper, HTA methods can be used to capture how key stakeholders initially expect a service intervention to affect a change within their local context. The example results can be used in a decision-analytic model to guide the development and management of an intervention.
A note on allowing state bankruptcy
Authors: Deng Minjie
Published: October 2024

U.S. states are sovereign entities and can’t declare bankruptcy as cities and municipalities. This paper examines the impact of a switch in sovereign bankruptcy rules that allows declaring bankruptcy from an economics model perspective. Allowing bankruptcy increases ex-ante risks for the government to refuse repayment, but provides ex-post benefits of reducing default costs and saving federal bailouts. This paper provides a simple framework to analyze this tradeoff. Event analysis shows that an unexpected switch in bankruptcy rules that allows for bankruptcy would decrease government debt-to-GDP ratio by 9.2 percentage points, increase consumption by 0.69 percent, but increase spread by 1.1 percentage points.