bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic concept of a novel recuperative two-phase power cycle process
Authors: Benedikt G. Bederna , Riley Barta , Christiane Thomas
Published: July 2024

The transformation of renewable or waste heat into mechanical power by the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) has become established as a robust and cost-effective technology. However, it must be considered that these applications normally come with a limited temperature difference between the source and the sink, which is why the maximal achievable thermal efficiency is already low in comparison with conventional power plants. In addition, this Carnot efficiency is not achievable by real ORC systems. The reasons for this are not only irreversible components or the necessary temperature differences for heat absorption or rejection, but also the need of preheating the working fluid, which is an immanent characteristic of the Rankine process itself. Thus, the mean temperature of heat absorption differs from that of a Carnot process, resulting in a limited second law efficiency. This publication describes a novel thermodynamic power cycle with the aim of completely avoiding preheating losses, which is called the Recuperative Two-Phase Power Cycle (PC-RTPC). Regarding the state changes, the process resembles the concept of the Ericsson cycle. Deviating from it, the working fluid undergoes a phase change, which implies significant advantages compared to a process using a gaseous working fluid. This is made possible by a non-linear zeotropic mixture composed of a main and an ancillary working fluid. The key element is an internal heat exchanger, which separates the two temperature levels of the source and the sink, while on its low-pressure side a condensation takes place. The primary technical challenge is an expansion into the two-phase region. For the basic cycle, which is intended to convert latent heat sources, an isothermal expansion is required. For the conversion of the sensible heat source this challenge could be avoided. This work illustrates the concept of such a cycle by a theoretical investigation and an exemplary working fluid selection for a latent heat source of 100 °C. The endoreversible cycle with an isothermal expansion is able to reach a second law efficiency of 85.8% applied to the source and sink temperatures.
Viajero frecuente
Authors: García González Luis Deyvi , Vargas-Miranda Bárbara
Published: July 2024

“Viajar es marcharse de casa, es volar conociendo otras ramas, recorriendo caminos, es intentar cambiar” (parte del poema de Gabriel García Márquez, “Viajar es…”). El murciélago magueyero mayor es un mamífero que cada año migra, en busca de las mejores condiciones para su reproducción, lo que implica búsqueda de alimento y refugio para tener sus crías.
Elixir urbano para murciélagos: señalización olfativa de ceiba
Authors: Dzul-Cahuich Henry F.
Published: July 2024

Los murciélagos utilizan diversas estrategias para localizar su alimento, y por su parte las plantas utilizan mecanismos para persuadir a sus potenciales polinizadores, durante esta interacción brindan servicios ambientales para la sociedad.
Historias de vida de un grisón bandeado
Authors: Rojas-Sánchez J. Vladimir , Flores-Martínez José Juan , Gutiérrez-Reyeros Juan Daniel
Published: July 2024

Los mamíferos son animales llamativos por sí mismos, pero algunos son peculiarmente carismáticos. En la selva habita uno cuyo particular pelaje, increíble habilidad para cazar, y su capacidad para sortear cualquier terreno nos ofrece historias de supervivencia.
Briefing: School counselling
Authors: Hayes Derren
Published: July 2024

Guide explains the role of school counselling and how leaders can commission an effective service
Disparity between the discharge of care orders in England and Wales
Authors: Roy Jessica , Stone Beth , Staines Jo
Published: July 2024

Researchers investigate the benefits and pitfalls of different ways in which care orders are discharged, asking what needs to change in policy and practice to better meet the needs of children and families
Children with a parent in prison get timely help
Authors: Józwiak Gabriella
Published: July 2024

Project speeds up process of identifying children affected by parental imprisonment to boost wellbeing and reduce the risk of intergenerational offending
Dynamic response diagnosis of an ultrasound field in water utilizing a birefringence-Zeeman dual-frequency laser
Authors: Sheng Junwen , Jiang Ziran , Fu Shengjie , Wang Zilin , Liu Fen , Gao Fan , Liu Weixin
Published: July 2024

The interesting interaction between the laser and the ultrasound field in a liquid medium has been an issue in optical physics research, attracting a large number of experimental and theoretical studies. To facilitate the real-time detection of dynamic ultrasonic signals within liquid environments, experiments involving laser heterodyne and self-mixing interferometry were employed. In order to achieve the purpose of the research, we designed a birefringent-Zeeman dual-frequency laser for the experiments. Through experimental and simulation studies, we elucidated the physical mechanism of ultrasound signals propagating in liquid media and their modulatory impact on laser systems. Meanwhile, the ultrasonic signal frequency measured via the laser self-mixing interferometry approach exhibits an average error of 0.87%, a signal intensity of −14.55dBm, and sensitivity is 28.9 dB higher than laser heterodyne interferometry. These high-precision, high-resolution optical detection methodologies promise to rectify the shortcomings inherent in traditional ultrasonic detection techniques concerning calibration.
Improving optical thickness monitoring by including systematic and process-influenced transmittance deviations: publisher’s note
Authors: Bruns Stefan , Farr Philipp , Melzig Thomas , Terhurne Jorg , Vergohl Michael
Published: July 2024

This publisher’s note reports corrections in Appl. Opt. 62, B141 (2023)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.475076.
Optical matrix computing for optical forward error correction encoding
Authors: Guo Tianyan , Du Jiangbing , Zhang Wenjia , He Zuyuan
Published: July 2024

Forward error correction (FEC) has been widely used in today's communication systems, implemented by electronics. For optical communications, on-the-fly optical processing is highly desired for reduced optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversions, so as to reduce the latency and cost. In this work, we present a proof-of-concept study of an optical FEC encoding method based on optical matrix computing by wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) with time-wavelength interleaved manipulation. The optical FEC encoder realized by optical fiber devices features nearly equivalent net encoding gain compared with the theoretical electrical encoder. The experimental results indicate effective error correction, with 2-dB net gain in on-off keying (OOK) transmission at 20 Gb/s, supporting the realization of transmission-computing-merged systems. Meanwhile, the proposed method also supports the whole realization of FEC with both encoding and decoding.
Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks
Authors: Brazaola-Vicario Aitor , Ruiz Alejandra , Lage Oscar , Jacob Eduardo , Astorga Jasone
Published: July 2024

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a cryptographic technique that enables secure private key exchange between geographically distant parties over an insecure channel, protecting confidentiality against potential eavesdroppers. QKD has evolved significantly since its inception with the BB84 protocol proposed by Bennett and Brassard in 1984. Its theoretical foundation relies on quantum physics, particularly the uncertainty principle, the no-cloning theorem, and particle entanglement, which ensures its information-theoretic security when combined with the one-time-pad cryptographic algorithm. However, certain security loopholes persist in terms of practical implementation in commercial devices. Some vulnerabilities are associated with side-channel vectors linked to commonly used optical subcomponents, while others are more related to how existing protocols handle encoding and communication pipelines. In this work, we aim to comprehensively study the current state of security loopholes affecting QKD technology in commercial devices. We also provide a concise overview of the existing types of QKD implementations. Additionally, we offer insights into current trends and vulnerability countermeasures, paving the way for future research and novel mechanisms to enhance the implementation security of commercial QKD devices.
AI-assisted Single-Image Full-Frame Camera Calibration for Space-Constrained Stereoscopic Systems
Authors: TATA PRASANT , MALLICK SATYA , MAKWANA SHUBHAM , Rajput Gaurav , Singh Ranjeet , Subramanya Adithya , Gopal Ram , Sharma Vandana
Published: July 2024

Camera calibration plays a fundamental role in the wake of the newly emerging image data-driven technologies, where pinpoint accuracy in data is vital to the successful functioning of these systems. Conventional camera calibration algorithms require manual object placement, a process that can be exceptionally time-consuming and labor-intensive, particularly in scenarios where space constraints or delicate equipment are involved.
We present an innovative calibration object and AI-aided pre-calibration routine with a specific emphasis on space-restricted environments. The proposed methodology obviates the need for manual multi-image acquisition. This is achieved by fabricating the novel calibration object, which contains 20 checkerboards in different positions and orientations. The precursor routine, assisted by an AI model, isolates and processes the individual checkerboards, which is then used as input for the camera calibration. We report an accuracy of 99.92% for ML-assisted checkerboard separation, with procedure time improved by nearly 64x and overall corrected reprojection error consistently below 0.5 pixels. Incorporating the proposed calibration routine into a 3D vascular imaging stereovision system, we demonstrate a depth resolution of 0.5mm.
High-fidelity distribution of triggered polarization-entangled telecom photons via a 36 km intra-city fiber network
Authors: Strobel Tim , Kazmaier Stefan , Bauer Tobias , Schäfer Marlon , Choudhary Ankita , Lal Sharma Nand , Joos Raphael , Nawrath Cornelius , Weber Jonas H. , Nie Weijie , Bhayani Ghata , Wagner Lukas , Bisquerra André , Geitz Marc , Braun Ralf-Peter , Hopfmann Caspar , Portalupi Simone L. , Becher Christoph , Michler Peter
Published: July 2024

Fiber-based distribution of triggered, entangled, single-photon pairs is a key requirement for the future development of terrestrial quantum networks. In this context, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for deterministic sources of on-demand polarization-entangled photon pairs. So far, the best QD polarization-entangled-pair sources emit in the near-infrared wavelength regime, where the transmission distance in deployed fibers is limited. Here, to be compatible with existing fiber network infrastructures, bi-directional polarization-conserving quantum frequency conversion (QFC) is employed to convert the QD emission from 780 nm to telecom wavelengths. We show the preservation of polarization entanglement after QFC (fidelity to Bell state Fϕ+,conv=0.972±0.003) of the biexciton transition. As a step toward real-world applicability, high entanglement fidelities (Fϕ+,loop=0.945±0.005) after the propagation of one photon of the entangled pair along a 35.8 km field-installed standard single mode fiber link are reported. Furthermore, we successfully demonstrate a second polarization-conserving QFC step back to 780 nm preserving entanglement (Fϕ+,back=0.903±0.005). This further prepares the way for interfacing quantum light to various quantum memories.
Association between preferred language and use of mental health services among home care recipients with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders: A retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada, 2010 to 2015
Authors: Carson Sarah , Scott Mary M. , Rhodes Emily , Batista Ricardo , Tang Patrick , Prud’homme Denis , Tanuseputro Peter , Webber Colleen
Published: July 2024

Language is an important demographic factor that may impact patients’ interactions with the healthcare system. This may become more apparent for individuals with a mental illness. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether individual language was associated with the use of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services among home care recipients with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using health administrative data. The study population included all individuals aged 18–105 with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, identified via a validated algorithm, who were receiving home care in Ontario, Canada between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015. Home care data was used to identify patients’ primary language, categorized as Anglophone, Francophone, or Allophone. Mental health service use was evaluated over a one-year period following their first home care assessment in the study period and included the rate of outpatient psychiatrist visits and mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. Multivariable regression evaluated the association between primary language and mental health service use. The cohort consisted of 9,436 patients (85.8% Anglophones, 3.3% Francophones, 11.0% Allophones). Mental health service use was low among all linguistic groups during the one-year study period, with 53.4% with no outpatient psychiatrist visits and 83.3% and 83.0% with no mental health-related hospitalizations or ED visits, respectively. Francophones had a higher rate of mental health-related hospitalizations compared to Anglophones (adjusted relative risk = 1.36, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.80), with no differences in hospitalization rates between Allophones and Anglophones. Language was not associated with the rate of outpatient psychiatrist visits or mental health-related ED visits. Mental health service use among homecare patients with schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders was low. While Francophones had a higher hospitalization rate than Anglophones, language was otherwise not associated with mental health service use.
Development and validation of systems for genetic manipulation of the Old World tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia duttonii
Authors: Jackson-Litteken Clay D. , Guo Wanfeng , Hogland Brandon A. , Ratliff C. Tyler , McFadden LeAnn , Fullerton Marissa S. , Voth Daniel E. , Rego Ryan O. M. , Blevins Jon S.
Published: July 2024

Relapsing fever (RF), a vector-borne disease caused by Borrelia spp., is characterized by recurring febrile episodes due to repeated bouts of bacteremia. RF spirochetes can be geographically and phylogenetically divided into two distinct groups; Old World RF Borrelia (found in Africa, Asia, and Europe) and New World RF Borrelia (found in the Americas). While RF is a rarely reported disease in the Americas, RF is prevalent in endemic parts of Africa. Despite phylogenetic differences between Old World and New World RF Borrelia and higher incidence of disease associated with Old World RF spirochete infection, genetic manipulation has only been described in New World RF bacteria. Herein, we report the generation of genetic tools for use in the Old World RF spirochete, Borrelia duttonii. We describe methods for transformation and establish shuttle vector- and integration-based approaches for genetic complementation, creating green fluorescent protein (gfp)-expressing B. duttonii strains as a proof of principle. Allelic exchange mutagenesis was also used to inactivate a homolog of the Borrelia burgdorferi p66 gene, which encodes an important virulence factor, in B. duttonii and demonstrate that this mutant was attenuated in a murine model of RF. Finally, the B. duttonii p66 mutant was complemented using shuttle vector- and cis integration-based approaches. As expected, complemented p66 mutant strains were fully infectious, confirming that P66 is required for optimal mammalian infection. The genetic tools and techniques reported herein represent an important advancement in the study of RF Borrelia that allows for future characterization of virulence determinants and colonization factors important for the enzootic cycle of Old World RF spirochetes.
Nematocida displodere mechanosensitive ion channel of small conductance 2 assembles into a unique 6-channel super-structure in vitro
Authors: Berg Alexandra , Berntsson Ronnie P.-A. , Barandun Jonas
Published: July 2024

Mechanosensitive ion channels play an essential role in reacting to environmental signals and sustaining cell integrity by facilitating ion flux across membranes. For obligate intracellular pathogens like microsporidia, adapting to changes in the host environment is crucial for survival and propagation. Despite representing a eukaryote of extreme genome reduction, microsporidia have expanded the gene family of mechanosensitive ion channels of small conductance (mscS) through repeated gene duplication and horizontal gene transfer. All microsporidian genomes characterized to date contain mscS genes of both eukaryotic and bacterial origin. Here, we investigated the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the bacterially derived mechanosensitive ion channel of small conductance 2 (MscS2) from Nematocida displodere, an intracellular pathogen of Caenorhabditis elegans. MscS2 is the most compact MscS-like channel known and assembles into a unique superstructure in vitro with six heptameric MscS2 channels. Individual MscS2 channels are oriented in a heterogeneous manner to one another, resembling an asymmetric, flexible six-way cross joint. Finally, we show that microsporidian MscS2 still forms a heptameric membrane channel, however the extreme compaction suggests a potential new function of this MscS-like protein.
Stable isotope and fatty acid variation of a planktivorous fish among and within large lakes
Authors: Höök Tomas O. , Kalejs Nicholas I. , Axenrot Thomas , Ogonowski Martin , Sandström Alfred
Published: July 2024

Aquatic food webs are spatially complex, potentially contributing to intraspecific variability in production pathway reliance of intermediate trophic level consumers. Variation in trophic reliance may be described by well-established trophic indicators, like stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N), along with emerging trophic indicators, such as fatty acid composition. We evaluated stable isotope ratios and fatty acid profiles of European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) among and within distinct regions of three large Swedish lakes (Hjälmaren, Mälaren, Vättern) which differed in trophic status. We expected that smelts in more oligotrophic lakes and regions would be characterized by distinct stable isotope signatures and fatty acid profiles, with particularly high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) relative levels. However, we acknowledge that frequent movement of smelts among regions may serve to spatially integrate their diet and lead to limited within-lake variation in stable isotope ratios and fatty acid composition. As expected, in comparison with more productive lakes (i.e., Hjälmaren and Mälaren), smelts from ultra-oligotrophic Vättern were characterized by low δ15N, high δ13C and high percent of a dominant PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Smelts from different regions of the morphometrically complex Mälaren displayed differential stable isotope ratios and fatty acid relative concentrations, which were consistent with within-lake differences in productivity and water residence times, suggesting that smelts in this lake forage locally within distinct regions. Finally, at the individual smelt level there were particularly strong and consistent associations between a well-established trophic indicator (δ13C) and percent DHA, suggesting that the relative concentration of this fatty acid may be a useful additional trophic indicator for smelt.
Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with breech presentation in planned community (home and birth center) births in the United States: A prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Schafer Robyn , Bovbjerg Marit L. , Cheyney Melissa , Phillippi Julia C.
Published: July 2024

Objective

Investigate maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with breech presentation in planned community births in the United States, including outcomes associated with types of breech presentation (i.e., frank, complete, footling/kneeling)

Design

Secondary analysis of prospective cohort data from a national perinatal data registry (MANA Stats)

Setting

Planned community birth (homes and birth centers), United States

Sample

Individuals with a term, singleton gestation (N = 71,943) planning community birth at labor onset

Methods

Descriptive statistics to calculate associations between types of breech presentation and maternal and neonatal outcomes

Main outcome measures

Maternal: intrapartum/postpartum transfer, hospitalization, cesarean, hemorrhage, severe perineal laceration, duration of labor stages and membrane rupture

Neonatal: transfer, hospitalization, NICU admission, congenital anomalies, umbilical cord prolapse, birth injury, intrapartum/neonatal death

Results

One percent (n = 695) of individuals experienced breech birth (n = 401, 57.6% vaginally). Most fetuses presented frank breech (57%), with 19% complete, 18% footling/kneeling, and 5% unknown type of breech presentation. Among all breech labors, there were high rates of intrapartum transfer and cesarean birth compared to cephalic presentation (OR 9.0, 95% CI 7.7–10.4 and OR 18.6, 95% CI 15.9–21.7, respectively), with no substantive difference based on parity, planned site of birth, or level of care integration into the health system. For all types of breech presentations, there was increased risk for nearly all assessed neonatal outcomes including hospital transfer, NICU admission, birth injury, and umbilical cord prolapse. Breech presentation was also associated with increased risk of intrapartum/neonatal death (OR 8.5, 95% CI 4.4–16.3), even after congenital anomalies were excluded.

Conclusions

All types of breech presentations in community birth settings are associated with increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. These research findings contribute to informed decision-making and reinforce the need for breech training and research and an increase in accessible, high-quality care for planned vaginal breech birth in US hospitals.
TabDEG: Classifying differentially expressed genes from RNA-seq data based on feature extraction and deep learning framework
Authors: Feng Sifan , Wang Zhenyou , Jin Yinghua , Xu Shengbin
Published: July 2024

Traditional differential expression genes (DEGs) identification models have limitations in small sample size datasets because they require meeting distribution assumptions, otherwise resulting high false positive/negative rates due to sample variation. In contrast, tabular data model based on deep learning (DL) frameworks do not need to consider the data distribution types and sample variation. However, applying DL to RNA-Seq data is still a challenge due to the lack of proper labeling and the small sample size compared to the number of genes. Data augmentation (DA) extracts data features using different methods and procedures, which can significantly increase complementary pseudo-values from limited data without significant additional cost. Based on this, we combine DA and DL framework-based tabular data model, propose a model TabDEG, to predict DEGs and their up-regulation/down-regulation directions from gene expression data obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Compared to five counterpart methods, TabDEG has high sensitivity and low misclassification rates. Experiment shows that TabDEG is robust and effective in enhancing data features to facilitate classification of high-dimensional small sample size datasets and validates that TabDEG-predicted DEGs are mapped to important gene ontology terms and pathways associated with cancer.
Development of mental health first aid guidelines for psychosis for Brazil: A Delphi expert consensus study
Authors: Requena Simone Scotti , Loch Alexandre Andrade , Mendes Kathlen Nataly , Reavley Nicola J.
Published: July 2024

Psychotic symptoms can be highly debilitating for those experiencing them. Community members, including family and friends, can play a crucial role in providing support to a person during the early stages of psychosis, provided they have the necessary resources. Mental health first aid guidelines for psychosis have been developed for high-income countries and this study aimed to adapt those guidelines for Brazil. A Delphi expert consensus method was used to gather the views and opinions of 28 health professionals and 24 individuals with lived experience of psychosis in Brazil over two survey rounds. Firstly, 403 statements were translated from English to Brazilian-Portuguese. In the Round 1 survey, participants were asked to rate each statement based on how important they believed it was for it to be included in the Brazilian guidelines. They were also asked to suggest new actions if they wished. Consensus was reached on 257 statements. Eight new statements were created and endorsed from panelists’ comments, and a further 45 statements were unique to the Brazilian guidelines. There was a modest level of similarity between the English-language and Brazilian guidelines. However, the Brazilian guidelines had a greater focus on the importance of family support for people with psychosis and stigma as a possible barrier for openly discussing help-seeking actions for mental health problems in Brazil.
Citation network analysis for viewpoint plurality assessment of historical corpora: The case of the medieval rabbinic literature
Authors: Ben-Gigi Nati , Zhitomirsky-Geffet Maayan , Katzoff Binyamin , Schler Jonathan
Published: July 2024

Citation networks enable analysis of author groups, defining in-group dynamics, and mapping out inter-group relationships. While intellectual diversity and inclusiveness is one of the important principles of modern scholarship, it is intriguing to explore the extent to which these principles apply to historical communities of leaders and intellectuals. This paper introduces a novel methodological framework aimed at assessing the degree of viewpoint plurality and diversity of historical scholarship communities, through an in-depth analysis of the citations used in their literature, which has become possible due to the recently developed advanced computational analysis techniques. To achieve this goal, we have devised a set of new network-based indicators grounded in standard network metrics. These indicators can be applied at both the individual author and community levels. The developed methodology was applied to a citation network automatically constructed from a corpus of Rabbinic Halachic literature spanning the 10th to 15th centuries. This corpus includes over 5,000 citations from hundreds of books authored by approximately 140 Rabbinic scholars from six diverse geographic communities. We found that most of the authors and communities cite many more external resources from other communities than their own reflecting a willingness to engage with a diverse range of viewpoints. A more in-depth analysis based on the novel proportional diversity measures unveils more intriguing insights. Contrary to expectations, communities with the greatest number of external citations, such as Spain and Ashkenaz, surprisingly exhibit lower levels of viewpoint plurality compared to others, such as Italy and North Africa, elucidating a key finding of the study.
Implementing the patient partnership approach to quality improvement of care and services: A multiple case study protocol
Authors: Deslauriers Tania , Gaboury Isabelle , Jackson Mathieu , Vachon Brigitte
Published: July 2024

Context

Patient and family partners are being increasingly engaged worldwide in processes aimed at the quality improvement (QI) of healthcare services. There is also growing interest in documenting these engagement processes within organizations to share and improve them. To support the provincial implementation of this approach, the Quebec’s ministry of health and social services published, in 2018, the “Framework for the partnership approach between patients, their families and health and social service stakeholders”. However, while this framework provides guidelines by describing each partner’s role and the ways in which patient and family partners should be engaged in QI processes, it remains unclear how these recommendations were actually used and implemented by different healthcare organizations. The aim of this paper is to present the protocol of a multiple case study that is being conducted to document how this approach was implemented in different large healthcare organizations in Quebec. This study is being conducted in partnership with a patient partner/co-researcher.

Methods

This qualitative multiple case study will be conducted in four large healthcare organizations in Quebec. Twelve to 15 key respondents will be recruited for each case. Data will be collected from multiple sources: 1) semi-structured individual interviews with the key respondents, 2) non-participant observations of the meetings of the QI committee engaging PFPs and 3) analysis of documents describing the implementation context, vision, structures and/or processes. The framework method will be used to conduct intracase and intercase qualitative data analysis.

Discussion

The multiple cases included will allow for comparisons between different ways of engaging PFPs in QI processes within an organization, the factors influencing these practices, their advantages and disadvantages, and their implementation outcomes. The conclusions drawn from this study will allow us to make recommendations regarding PFP engagement in the QI of care and services and to propose implementation examples for other organizations wishing to design and implement PFP engagement initiatives in their context in Quebec or elsewhere.
Isoproterenol induced cardiac hypertrophy: A comparison of three doses and two delivery methods in C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Perez-Bonilla Patricia , LaViolette Brianna , Bhandary Bidur , Ullas Soumya , Chen Xian , Hirenallur-Shanthappa Dinesh
Published: July 2024

Heart Failure (HF) continues to be a complex public health issue with increasing world population prevalence. Although overall mortality has decreased for HF and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a precursor for HF, their prevalence continues to increase annually. Because the etiology of HF and HCM is heterogeneous, it has been difficult to identify novel therapies to combat these diseases. Isoproterenol (ISP), a non-selective β-adrenoreceptor agonist, is commonly used to induce cardiotoxicity and cause acute and chronic HCM and HF in mice. However, the variability in dose and duration of ISP treatment used in studies has made it difficult to determine the optimal combination of ISP dose and delivery method to develop a reliable ISP-induced mouse model for disease. Here we examined cardiac effects induced by ISP via subcutaneous (SQ) and SQ-minipump (SMP) infusions across 3 doses (2, 4, and 10mg/kg/day) over 2 weeks to determine whether SQ and SMP ISP delivery induced comparable disease severity in C57BL/6J mice. To assess disease, we measured body and heart weight, surface electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiography recordings. We found all 3 ISP doses comparably increase heart weight, but these increases are more pronounced when ISP was administered via SMP. We also found that the combination of ISP treatment and delivery method induces contrasting heart rate, RR interval, and R and S amplitudes that may place SMP treated mice at higher risk for sustained disease burden. Mice treated via SMP also had increased heart wall thickness and LV Mass, but mice treated via SQ showed greater increase in gene markers for hypertrophy and fibrosis. Overall, these data suggest that at 2 weeks, mice treated with 2, 4, or 10mg/kg/day ISP via SQ and SMP routes cause similar pathological heart phenotypes but highlight the importance of drug delivery method to induce differing disease pathways.
Poverty, childcare responsibilities, and stigma hinder adolescent mothers from returning to school in a low-income urban informal settlement in Kenya
Authors: Mukabana Sheila , Abuya Benta , Kabiru Caroline W. , Ajayi Anthony Idowu
Published: July 2024

Background

While a few studies have examined barriers to school re-entry among adolescent mothers, studies focusing on the experiences of girls in low-income informal settlements are scarce. We examined the factors that hindered parenting girls living in a resource-constrained urban setting from re-enrolling in school.

Study setting

We conducted the study in Korogocho, a low-income urban informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya.

Methods

Barriers to school re-entry were documented through inductive thematic analysis of 32 in-depth interviews with pregnant and parenting adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years (N = 22), parents/guardians (N = 10), and 10 key informant interviews with teachers (N = 4), and community leaders (N = 6).

Results

Interviewed girls blamed their being out of school on their childcare responsibilities, poverty, stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes from students and teachers, and withdrawal of parental support. While parents, teachers, and community leaders agreed that poverty and lack of childcare support hindered parenting girls from returning to school, they contended that robust support systems encompassing childcare and financial support, and less hostile school environments constituted facilitators of school re-entry among parenting adolescents.

Conclusion

While the 2020 National Guidelines for School Re-entry in Kenya seek to deter the exclusion of adolescent mothers from education thereby ensuring retention, transition and completion at all basic education levels, the findings underscore the need for programs that ensure that pregnant and parenting adolescents have the requisite financial, material, and childcare support to facilitate their retention or re-enrollment in school in line with the Guidelines. School administrators and the Ministry of Education should develop and implement interventions that make the school environment less hostile for parenting girls.
Editorial: Community music and ‘making easy’
Authors: Mantie Roger
Published: July 2024

Facilitation is a key aspect of community music. While only two of the articles in International Journal of Community Music (IJCM) 17.2 have the word ‘facilitators’ explicitly in the title, all the articles in this issue speak, in their distinct ways, to facilitation/facilitators in community music. Most direct in this regard is the systematic review of research on group singing facilitators by J. Yoon Irons and associates. Other articles in this issue study the activities of the Ostend Street Orkestra in Belgium (Verneert et al.), the Pizzicato Effect in Hume, Australia (Smith et al.), Tàlaidhean Ùra – a Scottish implementation of The Lullaby Project (Tanner, Wilson and Wight), the theatre troupe Sex Worker’s Opera (Flower) and the DocSong method used at in an all-male minimum- and medium-security state prison in the United States (Kirchner). Taken together, the articles in issue 17.2 add to the growing research base on facilitation in community music settings.
Face-to-face vs. online delivery of the Lullaby Project: A therapeutic community music group for mothers of infants
Authors: Tanner Jessica , Wilson Philip , Wight Daniel , Thompson Lucy
Published: July 2024

Online delivery of community music groups has become more widely accepted following the COVID-19 pandemic, and may reduce barriers to attendance for certain demographics, including mothers with caring responsibilities. However, different interaction patterns may affect group processes, altering a programme’s underlying mechanisms of change when adapted for online delivery. This research compares in-person and videoconference delivery of the Lullaby Project, a therapeutic community music group for mothers with infants aged under 3. It explores engagement, participation and group processes, and elucidates the mechanisms of change for both modes of implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine mothers and seven musicians who had experienced one of three delivery methods: (1) face-to-face; (2) face-to-face and online combination and (3) online. Interviews were analysed inductively using thematic analysis and eleven sub-themes were identified within three overarching themes: (1) engagement; (2) group processes and (3) change mechanisms. Mothers perceived benefits and formed meaningful relationships in-person and online, although the distinct group processes and change mechanisms suggest the delivery methods constitute distinct interventions. Specifically, relationships were formed on an individual level during in-person delivery, whereas group-based connections were more likely with online delivery. Further research is needed to explore a diversity of experiences, and to evaluate the efficacy of online delivery of community music groups.
Love/Hate as lyrical sociology: Mapping the spaces of urban crime
Authors: Holohan Conn
Published: July 2024

This article considers the sociological function of television drama via the Irish television crime series Love/Hate, which aired over five seasons between 2010 and 2014 on RTÉ, Ireland’s public service broadcaster. Drawing on Andrew Abbot’s concept of ‘lyrical sociology’, it will examine how media discourse surrounding Love/Hate consistently foregrounded the connection between its fictional events and real-life crime scenarios. Media coverage of Love/Hate, as well as the content of the series itself, it will be argued, posed the problem of sympathy between audience and its violent protagonists in spatial terms, as a question of belonging or otherwise in a shared social space. In particular, the experiential quality of home as a space of belonging will be explored as a central organizing structure in the series, one which ambiguously connected the lived spaces of its domestic television audience to the highly gendered home and city spaces of Love/Hate’s story world.
Crime, the city and the Congo: Family, race and the urban in recent Belgian cinema
Authors: Hartford Jason
Published: July 2024

Pieter Van Hees’s Waste Land (2014) situates Belgian national anxiety in the country’s White supremacist past and present, both of which milieux are shared by its language communities. The film suggests, perhaps in spite of itself, that the claim by Brussels to be a centre of power is ethnically, as well as ethically, problematic. It breaks a taboo in confronting Belgium’s colonial past, on the eve of the 150th anniversary of Leopold II’s accession (1865). Yet, it ultimately reproduces the economy of the racialized system it tries to critique, becoming particularly problematic from the point of view of Black women. The ineffability of spatial spectacle would betray the way in which its protagonist’s narrative is ‘mapped’ onto the space of Brussels, with the character’s breakdown – hence, a failed attempt at constructing his own narrative, at mapping his life in Brussels – bearing further unintentional testimony to the city’s abject history beneath it.
A hagyományos női szereprepertoár és a reformtörekvések megjelenésének ambivalenciája Gyertyánffy István munkáiban
Authors: Szűts-Novák Rita
Published: July 2024

Az emlékezéskultúra utóbbi évtizedben bekövetkezett erősödése előhívta bennem azt az igényt, hogy a pedagóguskutatáshoz egy új, komplexebb megközelítést használjak. Fontosnak tartom, hogy ahogy a történészek és egyéb diszciplínák gondozói teszik, a különböző korok műveltségét történeti kategóriaként értékőrző és értékhordozó sajátosságaiban vizsgáljam. Az utóbbi években egyik kutatói célom volt, hogy Gyertyánffy István (1834–1930) korszerű neveléstörténeti narratívája megszülessen. A mikrotörténeti metodika szinte azonnal nyilvánvalóvá vált, amikor felfedeztem az Országos Széchényi Könyvtár Kézirattárában a pedagógussal kapcsolatos primer dokumentumokat. Ezúttal a pedagóguskutatás keretén belül tervezem a nemzetnevelő nőneveléssel kapcsolatos korai, a 19. század utolsó harmadából származó gondolatait górcső alá venni. Véleményem szerint Gyertyánffy oktatással kapcsolatos megállapításai hiánypótlónak számítottak a maga korában, még ha a mai olvasó számára időnként elavult nézeteket is tartalmaznak. Ideáját egyértelműen a századfordulós hazai törekvések és mozgalmak kontextusában érdemes vizsgálni, és mikrotörténeti elemzéssel felfedni, hogy milyen kül- és belföldi személyek, illetve nemzetközi és hazai áramlatok voltak hatással a pedagógusra.
Assessing the Performance of ChatGPT in Answering Questions Regarding Congenital Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Authors: Barua Mousumi
Published: July 2024

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, such as ChatGPT, are widely being used in academia as well as by the common public. In the field of medicine, the information obtained by the professionals as well as by the patients has significant advantages while posing valid concerns regarding healthcare delivery and utilization.

Methods: To demonstrate the immense utility as well as potential concerns of using ChatGPT to gather medical information, a set of questions were posed to the chatbot regarding a hypothetical patient with congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), and the answers were recorded and reviewed for their authenticity and utility.

Results: While the ChatGPT provided detailed information about clinical pictures, treatment, and outcomes regarding BAV, the authenticity of the information could not be verified due to a lack of citations. Further, human aspects that would normally emerge in a nuanced doctor-patient communication were missing in the ChatGPT output.

Conclusions: Although the performance of AI in medical care is expected to grow, imperfections and ethical concerns will remain a huge challenge in utilizing information from the chatbots alone without adequate communications with health providers despite having numerous advantages of this technology to society in many walks of human life.
The 3C method can rejuvenating SA Education.
Authors: Bekker Marelise
Published: July 2024

Within the sphere of empirical inquiry, my qualitative research design (MED) uncovers the profound impact of 'epiphany moments.' These moments are evidence of the extraordinary sensory pathways ignited by curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking within the learning environment. This impact is particularly evident during inclusive learning methodologies and a holistic pedagogical approach. These moments represent significant realisations that can profoundly impact learners, teachers, and parents; therefore, I propose the Three C triangle method (3C): Curiosity, Creativity, and Critical Thinking as a pathway to facilitate such epiphanies in the inclusive learning landscape.

The findings during my MED research in Primary schools, in Komani, in the Eastern Cape, among the teachers, parents, learners, and stakeholders that participated in questionnaires alluded the need for understanding of a holistic approach in education. Inspired by Alfred Tomatis's theory, I ground my research approach in Audio-Psycho-Phonology (APP), which is a method of listening re-training sensory integration, and the eight bits of intelligence theory by Howard Gardner, who created the theory of multiple intelligences, which focuses on people with different kinds of intelligence. The incorporation of the 3C methods into a comprehensive learning approach aligns with the focus on auditory processing for cognitive and emotional development advocated by Audio-Psycho-Phonology (APP), and it also supports the accommodation of Howard Gardner's eight intelligences theory within the educational experience of students, teachers, and parents.

The study highlights the diversity of learners in an instant gratification world and how education needs to rethink methods that convey new knowledge in the Foundation Phase. Tested in Southbourne Primary, Eastern Cape, the study confirms through the holistic approach and inclusive 3C method, that by holistically engaging learners, training and activating educators, motivating and involving parents in the method; a remarkable impact on the performance of learning took place.
The two-year research study in primary schools within the Chris Hani District focuses on the implementation of the 3C method in all learning areas and the development of learners. The preliminary findings indicate positive outcomes related to epiphany moments of learners, within the context of empowering teachers holistically.
Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Desconexión Moral Colectiva en el Aula en adolescentes peruanos
Authors: Puma-Maque Carlos , White Michael , Cárdenas-Zúñiga María del Carmen
Published: July 2024

Introducción: la desconexión moral colectiva (DMC) emplea mecanismos que distorsionan la percepción moral y justifican comportamientos cuestionables en un grupo, y permiten que estos se desvinculen éticamente de acciones perjudiciales. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Desconexión Moral Colectiva en el Aula en adolescentes peruanos. Método: se analizaron 646 adolescentes peruanos de siete instituciones educativas secundarias (edad promedio 13.73 años). La escala se tradujo al español y se evaluó mediante el análisis factorial confirmatorio y teoría de respuesta al ítem. Resultados: se encontró que el instrumento sigue un modelo unidimensional con 17 ítems, presentando adecuados índices de ajuste y confiabilidad (a = .97; w = .97). La invarianza por sexo y edad se confirmó, demostrando equivalencia en ambos grupos. Los resultados de la Teoría Respuesta Ítem (TRI) respaldaron la fiabilidad y validez de la escala. Conclusiones: se ha demostrado que la escala posee niveles destacados de calidad psicométrica, lo que la hace idónea para su aplicación en la evaluación de estrategias que podrían representar un riesgo para el ambiente escolar de esta población.
ANALISIS PEMENUHAN KEBUTUHAN INFORMASI KEAGAMAAN PADA KOMUNITAS ONE DAY ONE JUZ (ODOJ)
Authors: Srimulyo Koko , Alifiana Amalia Ayu
Published: July 2024

This study aims to determine cognitive conditions before and after fulfilling religious information needs as a concern (gap) in the One Day One Juz (ODOJ) community, as well as to find out the ways ODOJers achieve to reduce or eliminate cognitive anxiety (cognitive gap) information. Subjects and methods: The sample stratification is 100 ODOJers in the Surabaya area with qualifications to participate in NGAOS/KOMINEX activities at least 4 times a month, take part in ODOJ online studies at least 4 times, and they are 15 years old. The conclusion is, there is confusion among ODOJers before the fulfillment of information occurs due to the large and varied data. This was immediately resolved after the fulfillment of the information needed (applicable) and disseminated to others. There is satisfaction that is achieved after the fulfillment of religious information needs.