bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formal policy framework and ICT tools for research data management in academic institutions in Ghana
Authors: Arthur Beatrice , van der Walt Thomas , Arthur Collins , Imoro Osman , Kodua-Ntim Kwame
Published: August 2024

Research data is the fuel that propels scientific advancement. To facilitate research data management in Ghanaian institutions, this study, as part of a broader, more comprehensive study, investigates the availability of the relevant legal and policy framework as well as information and communication technology(ies) in academic institutions in Ghana. The study was conducted as a qualitative study in two public and two private universities in Ghana. The study discovered that none of the four universities that were chosen for the study had formal research data management policies that addressed data curation, technical infrastructure control, cooperative collaborations, and human resource competency. Universities in Ghana do not only lack research data management policies, but also the necessary ICT resources to collect, evaluate, describe, protect, access, reuse, and distribute research data. As a result, researchers keep and protect their research data themselves. According to the study, institutions in Ghana should update their research policy to address issues with research data management, such as data collection, storage, preservation, sharing, and reuse.
Comparison of one-year outcomes and quality of life between radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation in the treatment of lower extremity varicose veins: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Zhang Junyu , Lin Yao , Zhang Lifeng , Geng Caijuan , Huang Wei , Yang Qifan , Zeng Wei , He Chunshui
Published: August 2024

Objective

This study compared the outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (EMA) for treating lower limb varicose veins.

Methods

Patients who underwent RFA ( n = 240) or EMA ( n = 209) at our institute from December 2020 to August 2022 were included in this retrospective investigation. Follow-up outcomes included active vein occlusion rate, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ), and Chronic Insufficiency Venous Quality of Life questionnaire-14 (CIVIQ-14)score.

Results

There was no significant difference in the active vein occlusion rate between the two groups after the operation ( p > .05). Compared to pre-surgery scores, both groups showed substantial improvement in VCSS, AVVQ, and CIVIQ-14 scores( p < .05), there was no significant difference in these scores in either group ( p > .05).

Conclusion

Intravenous radiofrequency and microwave ablation effectively improve the quality of life for patients with lower limb varicose veins, with low post-operative complication and recurrence rates.
Fastball Quality After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Major League Baseball Pitchers
Authors: Lu Yi , Chen Poyu , Sheu Huan , Yang Cheng-Pang , Cheng You-Hung , Chen Alvin Chao-Yu , Chiu Joe Chih-Hao
Published: August 2024

Background:

The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is essential for elbow stability during pitching. In professional baseball, the fastball (FB) is the most commonly used pitch, making postrecovery FB performance after UCL reconstruction (UCLR) a crucial aspect to consider.

Hypotheses:

(1) Pitchers undergoing UCLR would show no significant changes in performance metrics compared with nonoperated pitchers with similar FB velocity and spin rate, and (2) no significant variance would be found in these metrics within the operated pitchers concerning their preinjury anthropometric characteristics and pitching performance metrics.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The study included 91 Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers who underwent primary UCLR between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2021. A matched 1:1 control group of MLB pitchers without UCLR injuries was established. Publicly available pitch metrics and anthropometric data were compared between the study and control groups.

Results:

Disparities in several performance metrics emerged during the first postreturn year (PRY1), including FB use percentage ( P = .029), fielder independent pitching (FIP) ( P = .021), and standardized FB runs above average per 100 pitches (wFB/C) ( P < .001). Subgroup analysis within the UCLR group revealed a negative correlation between presurgery mean FB velocity and its subsequent change ( P < .001) and a positive correlation with changes in FIP ( P = .025) from the index year to PRY1. A negative correlation was observed between FB use percentage in the index year and its change by PRY1 ( P = .002). By the second postreturn year, no significant differences were found in these performance metrics. No factors were significantly related to prolonged recovery time.

Conclusion:

Although FB velocity and spin rate remained consistent, significant differences were observed in FB use percentage, FIP, and wFB/C in PRY1. However, by second postreturn year, these differences were no longer significant. No specific risk factors were identified concerning prolonged recovery time between pre-UCLR FB pitching metrics and the physical anthropometric data. These results suggest that although the short-term postsurgery period may affect more specialized pitching metrics, the basic pitching performance metrics, as hypothesized, remain largely unaffected by UCLR.
Investigation of bending and crush behaviors in polymer lattice structures: Computational approaches and experimental evaluation
Authors: Shamim Reza
Published: August 2024

This paper aims to evaluate the manufacturing feasibility of using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing for creating complex lattice structures and exploring the mechanical properties of various lattice designs, focusing on bending and compression behaviors. The comparison centers on the results of bending rigidity and energy absorption capacity, intending to be obtained from simulation and practical outcomes. The research addresses challenges related to achieving consistent mass across lattice structures due to manufacturing parameters. Discrepancies in flexural rigidity and compression behavior among the produced models trigger an exploration into the influence of design factors. The study reveals significant insights into the mechanical properties of six complex lattice structures produced through FDM 3D printing. The Tetrahedron-Cubic lattice stands out with superior bending rigidity at 15.36 N/mm, and variations in performance are attributed to layer orientation and material anisotropy. Specific energy absorption reaches its peak in the Tetrahedron-Cubic lattice at 38.54 J/g. These conclusive results provide considerations for future design and optimization. Through a focus on simplicity, intricacy, and unique geometry, the study effectively tackles manufacturing challenges and resolves discrepancies between experimental tests and simulations.
Preparation and antibacterial ability of photodynamic antibacterial nanoparticles with ammonium cationic groups
Authors: Jiang Zunyu , Yang Rong , Sheng Yang , Sun Yixin , Li Jian , Bradley Mark , Zhang Rong
Published: August 2024

With the increasing infection of drug-resistant bacteria, it has become a great challenge for researchers to find new approaches to eradicate drug-resistant bacteria and their biofilms. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) is an indispensable part of the new anti-bacterial strategy because of its unique anti-bacterial mechanism, which can effectively inactivate drug-resistant bacteria without inducing further drug resistance. In this work, nanoparticles with N-isopropylacrylamide and methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride as monomers, and loaded with a fluorescent conjugated polymer were successfully prepared by microemulsion polymerization. The average particle size ranged from 100 to 200 nm. The nanoparticles could disperse in water steadily according to their zeta potential analysis. The nanoparticles generated singlet oxygen upon exposing to light with wavelength of 500–700 nm. Their PACT efficiency was investigated against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus respectively. The results indicated that the antibacterial ability of nanparticles were excellent as the concentration was more than 0.01 mg/mL and the illumination time was 30 min. When the mass concentration of the nanoparticles was equal to or more than 0.05 mg/mL, the antibacterial mechanism was dominated by cation action, and when the concentration was equal or lower than 0.01 mg/mL, the antibacterial ability of the nanoparticles was improved effectively by photodynamic action. The antibacterial rate of the nanoparticle solutions against the bacteria in the biofilm was quantitatively studied, and it was proved that the nanoparticles eliminated bacteria in the biofilm effectively with a nanoparticle concentration of 0.2 mg/mL or more. The results indicated that the nanoparticles could effectively penetrate the biofilm to kill bacteria inside the biofilm by light illumination.
“I Have More Friends That Died Than Fingers and Toes”: Service Utilization Needs and Preferences for Violence and Substance Use Prevention Among Young Black Boys and Men
Authors: Emezue Chuka N. , Dan-Irabor Dale , Anakwe Adaobi , Froilan Andrew P. , Dunlap Aaron , Karnik Niranjan S. , Julion Wrenetha A.
Published: August 2024

Young Black men (YBM) disproportionately face the most severe forms and consequences of youth violence (YV) and substance use disorders, but are less likely to access and be retained in services for these high-risk behaviors. Investigating service uptake disparities and the role of barrier-reducing intervention delivery models is essential; so is understanding the service needs and preferences of YBM. This study explores the experiences of violence-involved and substance-disordered YBM and service providers working with them from racially and economically diverse communities, focusing on their service needs and preferences. Additionally, we examine the potential benefits and drawbacks of digital health interventions in addressing crucial structural barriers to service access and promoting equity for Black boys in high-violence environments. Individual interviews were conducted with 16 YBM (selected from a larger pool of 300 participants from a pilot study) and 7 service providers (four females, three males). Data analysis utilized an Interpretive Description (ID) approach guided by the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST). Four themes emerged: (1) Revolving Doors and Histories of Violence; (2) Benefits of Violence: “You Do Something to Me, I Do Something to You”; (3) Positive and Negative Perceptions of Violence and Substance Use Prevention Programs; and (4) Need for Equity-Focused and Barrier-Mitigating Digital Health Interventions. Our findings identified avoidance mechanisms utilized by YBM at both individual and community levels and highlighted perceptions of existing community-based programs and digital interventions as crucial tools for mitigating barriers to care. This study also confirms the prevalence of critical service gaps and program uptake issues, even in cities with abundant programs. Thus emphasizing the need for equity-focused interventions co-designed with and for YBM in high-violence and substance use contexts.
Young Women’s Silencing-Type Behaviors in Heterosexual Relationships
Authors: Samardzic Tanja , Barata Paula C. , Morton Mavis , Yen Jeffery
Published: August 2024

Feminist researchers have demonstrated that engagement in silencing of the self (i.e., self-restrictive and sacrificial behaviors reflecting how women “should” be in relationships) remains a prevalent strategy for relationship maintenance. However, little is known about (young) women silencing themselves in relationships where abuse is present. Young women’s experiences of silencing and other partner-focused behaviors (e.g., sexual compliance) within their relationships were thus explored. Young, partnered women ( Mage = 21; N = 146) completed an online survey and open-ended questions about their current intimate relationships. Comparing between groups (abuse, n = 108; non-abuse, n = 38), the former scored higher on measures of total self-silencing, sexual compliance, and non-constructive communication and lower on measures of constructive communication (all p < .001). A mixed inductive and deductive content analysis found that while the importance of communicating with their partner was a preferred strategy for conflict management, multiple participants still emphasized self-suppression as an important part of their experience of relational conflict. Also, most participants indicated feeling as though they could be their authentic selves in their relationships, which suggests that their silencing may be situational and strategic in nature. These findings nuance previous understandings of self-silencing as inherently harmful and instead frame it as something sporadic and done strategically. They also bring forth questions about the extent to which young women’s emphasis on communication and insistence that they can be authentic are a product of changing societal expectations of women in today’s society compared to the 1980s/1990s when much of the foundational work on self-silencing was being done.
“It’s Your Own Fault”: Factors Influencing Victim Blaming
Authors: Witte Louisa Pauline , Flechsenhar Aleya
Published: August 2024

This study examined the association between victimization and victim blaming using a sample of n = 142 participants in a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with the influence of subject gender, victim stereotyping level, threat level, and victim gender for victim blaming. Belief in a just world was included in the model as a covariate. Mediation analyses were conducted with the degree of identifiability with the victim and attitudes toward traditional role models as explanatory approaches. In addition, acceptance of rape myths was considered. The GLMM analyses suggest that victim blaming by male subjects was significantly higher on average than by female subjects when all other predictors were held constant. As an explanatory approach for these effects of the subjects’ gender on victim blaming, partial mediation was found with the degree of identification with the victim as a mediator. No main effects were found for the other influencing factors, but only a statistically significant three-way interaction. This indicates a differential effect of the level of stereotyping for male and female victims in conditions that end in high threat. The finding of the main effect of subjects’ gender seems to be particularly important for the legal system, as it appears to make a difference in who is asked in terms of victim blameworthiness. This finding highlights the importance of considering a victim’s personal characteristics and the need for future research with an additional focus on the characteristics of the sentencers to help clarify potential biases.
A Path Toward Racial Justice in Education: Anti-Racist Policy Decision Making in School Districts
Authors: Diem Sarah , E. Iverson Deonte , Welton Anjalé D. , Walters Sarah W. Foster
Published: August 2024

The U.S. education system has been a critical site in the nation’s ongoing fight for racial equity. Yet, despite many attempts to promote equity within and across schools, efforts fall short in a system designed to uphold norms rooted in whiteness and white supremacy. We need anti-racist educational leaders who can identify and push back at the racial bias embedded in educational policies. Through a research-practice partnership with a Midwestern high school, we sought to understand how an anti-racist policy decision-making protocol can be used to redress inequitable policies to be racially just. The anti-racist policy decision-making protocol promotes social justice by empowering school practitioners to become policy agents. Implications from our findings point to the need for school practitioners to be critically introspective and identify and directly address the politics of whiteness that can ensue when working in partnership to do anti-racist policy change.
Applying co-production principles in research: Reflections from young people and academics
Authors: MacLachlan Alice , Pemmasani Praveena , Jamieson-Mackenzie Isla , McMellon Christina , Cunningham Emily , Lewis Ruth , Tisdall E. Kay M.
Published: August 2024

Co-production, a form of collaborative working, is guided by principles including valuing all participants, building on individual strengths, blurring distinctions between roles, delivering benefits for all participants, building support networks and supporting people to deliver work themselves. This article explores how co-production is understood by young people and researchers and how co-production principles can be applied within a research context. We identify challenges of implementing existing co-production frameworks in research and key areas to consider for future work.
Plural temporalities in New World Slavery: An intellectual and personal journey with Dale W. Tomich
Authors: Marquese Rafael de Bivar
Published: August 2024

The problem of historical time constitutes one of the central themes of Dale W. Tomich’s work. In his texts on African slavery in the Caribbean sugar industry, Tomich presented a profoundly innovative perspective by drawing attention to the temporal discontinuity of the phenomenon, in particular the overlap of different time strata in the same historical moment. This approach gave him the basis for proposing an equally innovative alternative to formal methods of historical comparison, in what he called substantive historical comparison. This article seeks to examine these two subjects through an autobiographical exposition, in which I try to clarify how I came into contact with these aspects of Dale W. Tomich’s intellectual trajectory.
How excellent can centres of excellence be? The impact of prevalence on service quality
Authors: Foreman David Martin
Published: August 2024

Centres of Excellence (CEs) are thought to provide better quality services for their speciality than Generic Services (GS). However, clinical test theory suggests this may arise from differences in the prevalence of these specialities’ conditions in their referral populations, which affects the services’ ability to detect diagnoses accurately, even with similar diagnostic sensitivities and specificities. Furthermore, GS’ insensitivity to rarer diagnoses is necessary to avoid serious overdiagnosis despite using skills equivalent to CEs. Good GS can perform as well as CEs for disorders of 15% to 20% or greater prevalence in their referral populations, depending on the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) decided for their diagnoses’ positive predictive values or degree of bias. CEs are necessary for rare disorders and have a role in determining MCIDs and the sensitivity and specificity of new measures. Sensitivity, specificity, positive & negative predictive values, and true diagnostic prevalence should be routine outcome measures.
Toward the emancipation of “medically unexplained” and energy-limiting conditions: Contesting and reimagining psy through the lens of feminist disability studies
Authors: Hunt Joanne
Published: August 2024

Indictment of hegemonic psy construction of the “ideal” subject, and its marginalisation of the Other, is common to both feminism and (critical, feminist) disability studies. However, feminist literature largely lacks both an appreciation of the gendered, intersectional nature of disability as constituted and propagated by psy, and an exploration of how integrating disability as a category of analysis can strengthen critical feminist endeavours to transform psy. This article seeks to address this gap, espousing a feminist disability studies lens and taking as its subject energy-limiting chronic illnesses that are socially and clinically othered, notably via a strategic positioning of these illnesses as medically unexplained and recoverable through compliance with psy knowledge regimes. After discussing how power-laden gendered, dis/abled, and more fully intersectional constructions of the idealised subject, bolstered by psy–corporate–state agendas relating to welfare reform, have oppressively shaped dominant representations and practices in this arena, I consider how psy (chiefly, psychotherapy) might benefit from integrating thinking from within feminist disability studies. I conclude that feminist disability studies can help transform psy in an emancipatory direction through reimagining disability in a socioculturally and biopolitically cognisant, embodied, and maximally inclusive manner. The case of “medically unexplained” and energy-limiting chronic illness exemplifies this assertion.
A RELIC theory of love: The role of interpersonal, intrapersonal, and extrapersonal elements in love
Authors: Sternberg Robert J. , Sternberg Karin
Published: August 2024

This article presents a new, RELIC (Real Love In Context) theory of love. The theory contains three subtheories. Two of them constitute an endosystem, or inner system of love. The triangular theory, an interpersonal theory, describes love in term of the intimacy, passion, and commitment one feels toward another person. The theory of love as a story, an intrapersonal theory, describes stories that characterize one’s ideal depiction of what love should and potentially could be. The third, extrapersonal subtheory constitutes an ecosystem, or outer system of love. Drawing on the work of Urie Bronfenbrenner, it describes five hierarchically nested environmental systems (microsystem, mesosystem, exosytem, macrosystem, chronosystem) in which love is embedded and that continually affect the love one feels for another. The forces of the ecosystem act upon the endosystem in ways that can bring couples (or larger groups) together or drive them apart.
Effects of Industrialization on Business and Economic Climate in Nigeria: Evidence from Sectoral Analysis
Authors: Udoh Ben Etim , Enemuo Joy Ifeoma , Samuel Udo Emmanuel , Jack Akpan Ededem , Ugar Ogogo Austin , Caroline Nkwonta Nkechi
Published: August 2024

This study assessed the dynamics of industrialization in Nigeria from 1999 to 2022 and the ripple effect on environmental quality, business and the economic landscape. This study anchors on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to assess the interactive effect of industrialization on sectoral value addition while also considering its implications for clean energy, economic growth, innovation and climate change in Nigeria. The autoregressive distributed lag model was employed for its capability to incorporate variables of diverse orders of integration and assess the short- and long-run dynamics of industrialization and its impact on various facets of Nigeria’s economy, business sector and environmental quality. The data set was sourced and collated from the World Bank Development Index. The findings reveal a positive and significant relationship between industrialization and economic growth. The positive nexus is propelled by private sector credit specifically geared towards business development and the pivotal role of net foreign direct investment, for economic expansion alongside industrial activities. Exchange rate volatility limits access to reliable energy sources and impedes sectoral additions. The effect of industrialization on environmental quality stems from heavy reliance on fossil fuels. This study advocates for strategic investments in sustainable and renewable energy sources, adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and implementation of stringent environmental quality guidelines. To address the dual challenge of fostering economic growth through industrialization, ensuring environmental sustainability and offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in Nigeria’s development trajectory.
Archaic and Living Traditions: Ethnoarchaeology of Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago
Authors: Prakash P. Vijaya
Published: August 2024

The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal has been the home of three sects of people and cultures, namely, the natives, hybrids of convicts, and recent immigrants. The initial inhabitation of the islands is known through the study of shell middens and subsequent peopling by early ethnographic accounts and contemporary issue-based studies. The artifact-centric cultural inferences from such excavation reports, ethnographic accounts, material evidence, and living traditions are of immense value in understanding the cultural history of the archipelago. The cultural inferences derived from such studies under five categories—(a) settlements of the coast and the inland, (b) midden artifacts and native practices, (c) osseous trophies and wooden sculptures, (d) pottery and division of labor, and (e) seasons and preservation practices—are of ethnoarchaeological significance, despite the theoretical debate to consider the erstwhile ethnographic studies and museum collections as evidence for ethnoarchaeological interpretation.
Politics and Social Connotations of Feasts of Merit Among the Poumai Nagas in Northeast India
Authors: Singh Oinam Premchand
Published: August 2024

This article examines the politics of the megalith building tradition based on an ethnoarchaeological survey conducted in Liyai Khullen, an unexplored village inhabited by the Poumai Naga tribe in the Indian state of Manipur. I documented and mapped 554 stone monuments in and around the village, revealing a concentration in the habitation area and near footpaths leading to terraced fields. Additionally, I explored the stages of “feasts of merit” and the megalith building tradition through ethnography. Examining the tradition of feasting and building megaliths from the theoretical framework of “paleo-political ecology” reveals that sponsors of such costly undertakings received material benefits. These benefits include a larger share of meat and premium-quality rice beer in the feasts of others, the exclusive right to adorn homes with horns, the privilege of wearing status shawls, acquiring prestigious titles, and gaining more influence within the village. Based on the results, I argue that sponsors derived not only higher status but also material benefits within the traditional socio-political structure. The findings presented herein have archaeological implications for discussing megalithic remains among the Nagas and in Northeast India.
Exploring the Intersections of Cultural Constructs and Parental Beliefs: Autism Spectrum Disorder in Indian Families
Authors: Vats Tanya , Sinha Anil Kishore , Arun Priti
Published: August 2024

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder whose prevalence has continually increased over the years but its definitive cause remains unknown and thereby parental perceptions and beliefs about its cause are shaped by existing cultural notions. However, research has rarely focused on understanding the nature of these beliefs and their influence on parenting behaviors. India is home to several culturally diverse groups, but little attention is put toward understanding the diversity in cultural beliefs and perceptions of parents of children with autism. Drawing on semi-structured, in-depth interviews, this study demonstrates the cultural beliefs about ASD and elucidates the experiences of 20 parents who have a child with ASD from Chandigarh-Tricity, India. The study employs a qualitative methodology, and the analysis revealed different themes that are explored in the article.
Anticancer Effects of Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. through HOTAIR/miR-124/Notch1 Axis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rat: A Biochemical, Molecular, Immunohistochemical, and Histopathological Approaches
Authors: Zhou Chengchen , Qin Xiaoling , Wang Jingyi , Liu Yongchang
Published: August 2024

Background and Purpose

We investigated the effectiveness of Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. fruit extract (VAFE) in protecting hepatocytes against N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by exploring its impact on biochemical, molecular, and antioxidant pathways, as well as its role in regulating the HOTAIR/miR-124/Notch1 axis pathway.

Materials and Methods

In the present study, 50 Wistar rats in 5 groups ( n = 10/group) of normal, HCC (80 mg/kg DEN), HCC rats receiving 200 and 400 mg/kg DEN + VAFE, and normal rats receiving 400 mg/kg VAFE were divided. The serum concentrations of liver function indices (bilirubin, total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, C-reactive protein, and alkaline phosphatase), inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-6) and oxidants parameters (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity and nitric oxide levels) were measured. Liver tissue HOTAIR, miR-124, Notch1, and Jagged1 genes and proteins were measured. p53-positive cells of liver hepatocytes were evaluated by immunohistochemical technique.

Results

DEN induced significant changes in body and liver weight, serum liver enzymes, antioxidant levels, inflammatory markers, and HOTAIR/miR-124/Notch1 axis genes/proteins expression related to liver pathways. VAFE demonstrated dose-dependent effects in countering these changes, significantly improving weight, liver health, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory responses, especially at 400 mg/kg. The histopathological evaluation showed improvements in liver tissue structure with VAFE treatment.

Conclusion

Overall, our study demonstrates the administration of VAFE can anticancer effects of DEN-induced HCC.
Age at Menarche and Its Association With Adult-Onset Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders in Women: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Nationally Representative Sample Over 10 Years
Authors: Kwan Byung-Soo , Yang Juseok , Jo Hyen Chul , Baek Jong Chul , Kim Rock Bum , Park Ji Eun
Published: August 2024

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as related social costs and efforts is increasing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between age at menarche and the risk of MetS, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women over 30 years, using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2020). The analysis of 30 916 participants showed that early menarche (before 11 years) significantly increased the risk of obesity, diabetes, and MetS compared with the median age of 14 years. Late menarche (after 17 years) was also linked to MetS and related disorders. The relationship between age at menarche (at <10 years and >19 years) and the risk of MetS and related disorders exhibited a reversed J-shaped (し) pattern characterized by a pronounced increased risk among those who experience early menarche, whereas the increased risk associated with late menarche was less consistent. These results will help to decrease the risk of MetS and related disorders by enabling early intervention in early and late menarche age groups.
Other Specified Paraphilic Disorder: Patterns of Use in Sexually Violent Predator Evaluations
Authors: Graham Nicole , Calkins Cynthia , Jeglic Elizabeth
Published: August 2024

“Sexually violent predator” (SVP) legislation requires, in part, that an individual has a mental abnormality that causes difficulty in controlling sexual behavior. Previous research has found paraphilia not otherwise specified (NOS) as one of the most prevalent diagnoses proffered in SVP evaluations. However, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) modified paraphilia NOS diagnosis in two ways. First, this diagnosis was divided into two new diagnostic categories: other specified paraphilic disorder (OSPD) and unspecified paraphilic disorder. Second, OSPD required an added specifier to indicate the individual’s source of sexual arousal. To date, no study has systematically explored how the revision to paraphilia NOS has affected diagnoses within SVP evaluations. The current study explored the frequency and diagnostic reliability of paraphilic disorders in a sample of 190 adult men evaluated for SVP civil commitment using the DSM-5. Results indicated that OSPD was the second most common paraphilic disorder, next to pedophilic disorder. However, there was poor to fair agreement ( kappa = 0.21,  p < .01) between independent evaluators in providing this diagnosis. Additionally, the two most common OSPD specifiers were non-consent and hebephilia, despite recent debate and rejection of these constructs from the DSM-5. While these constructs were the most prevalent, the specifiers contained quite varied terminology, suggesting vague diagnostic tendencies within these evaluations. Given that the presence of a mental abnormality is the cornerstone to the constitutionality of SVP commitment, diagnostic practices should be based in reliable and valid techniques.
The Relationship Between Stalking, Homicide, and Coercive Control in an Australian Population
Authors: Sheed Abigail , Brandt Cleo , McEwan Troy E.
Published: August 2024

Stalking-precipitated homicide is a recognized phenomenon with devastating consequences, yet there is no literature identifying its population-level prevalence. This study examined all homicide-related deaths between 1997 and 2015 ( n = 855) that were reported by a court in the Australian state of Victoria. Three aims were addressed: (1) to identify how often homicide is precipitated by stalking, (2) to describe characteristics of cases of stalking-precipitated homicide and explore differences between cases involving ex-partners and other relationships, and (3) to investigate the association between stalking and coercive control in homicide cases involving a current or former partner. Data were extracted from three state- and national-level databases. Stalking was clearly present in 6.41% ( n = 54) of all homicide-related deaths and 63.41% ( n = 26) of Ex-Partner homicides. Both ex-partner and other homicide offenders were mostly male (93.10%/96.15%), and nearly half (44.83%/46.15%) were born outside Australia. Evidence of planning, a trigger event, and last-resort thinking were found in most stalking precipitated homicides (67.31%–88.37%). Evidence of previous coercive control was present in 30.77% ( n = 8) of ex-partner stalking-precipitated homicides compared to 12.50% ( n = 2) ex-partner homicides without stalking and 21.93% ( n = 25) of current partner homicides.
Research on entity relation extraction for Chinese medical text
Authors: Lu Yonghe , Chen Hongyu , Zhang Yueyun , Peng Jiahui , Xiang Dingcheng , Zhang Jinxia
Published: August 2024

Currently, the primary challenges in entity relation extraction are the existence of overlapping relations and cascading errors. In addressing these issues, both CasRel and TPLinker have demonstrated their competitiveness. This study aims to explore the application of these two models in the context of entity relation extraction from Chinese medical text. We evaluate the performance of these models using the publicly available dataset CMeIE and further enhance their capabilities through the incorporation of pre-trained models that are tailored to the specific characteristics of the text. The experimental findings demonstrate that the TPLinker model exhibits a heightened and consistent boosting effect compared to CasRel, while also attaining superior performance through the utilization of advanced pre-trained models. Notably, the MacBERT + TPLinker combination emerges as the optimal choice, surpassing the benchmark model by 12.45% and outperforming the leading model ERNIE-Health 3.0 in the CBLUE challenge by 2.31%.
Current status and future prospects of Chinese mobile apps for hypertension management
Authors: Song Tiantian , Tang Jia , Kuang Ming , Liu Hongying
Published: August 2024

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the current situation of Chinese mobile apps for hypertension management and explore patients’ real requirements for app use, providing a theoretical basis for the future improvement of hypertension apps.

Methods

We reviewed hypertension management apps from mobile app platforms, and summarized their functional characteristics. In addition, we conducted an online survey among 1000 hypertensive patients, collected valid responses, and analyzed the feedback data.

Results

Forty hypertension management apps were analyzed, with 72.5% offering no more than six functions, indicating limited coverage of advanced and comprehensive functionalities. Among the 934 valid survey responses, patients emphasized four main functions in apps for hypertension management: long-term dynamic blood pressure monitoring, scientific lifestyle management, strict medication management and systematic health knowledge delivering.

Conclusion

The existing hypertension management apps mainly serve as “Digital Health” tools with unclear clinical efficacy. The future development of these apps lies in how they transition to “Digital Therapeutics” solutions to better meet patients' needs and provide clear clinical advantages.
Communities for impact: Empowering early-career researchers in the pursuit of impact
Authors: Wierenga Marleen , Heucher Katrin , Chen Suwen , Grewatsch Sylvia , Montgomery A Wren
Published: August 2024

Impact-driven early-career researchers are conducting research that matters and generating insights that help tackle grand challenges. While this group is passionate about transforming organizations and society, these researchers tend to be held back by institutional barriers and to be marginalized in academia. We propose the concept communities for impact as spaces to help researchers (especially early-career researchers) cope with the challenges of impact-driven research. These communities can give their members a voice, legitimate their actions, and provide resources for unleashing the impact potential of their research. Communities for impact may be able to mitigate the uncertainties and challenges experienced by early-career researchers, but they cannot eliminate persistent institutional barriers. Therefore, we invite scholars at all career stages to join a community for impact to help change the narrative and empower early-career researchers to meaningfully address grand challenges.
Systematic Review of Trauma-Informed Approaches and Trauma-Informed Care for Forced Migrant Families: Concepts and Contexts
Authors: Burgund Isakov Anita , Markovic Violeta
Published: August 2024

In the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the forced migrant and refugee population in Europe. As the journey to arrive at the country of destination is mostly irregular, research has shown that forced migrants survive a number of traumatic experiences trying to reach safety and ensure the well-being of themselves and their families. Since research shows that exposure to traumatic experiences refugee and migrant families endure on their journey is severe, a systematic literature review was conducted to understand the concept of trauma-informed approaches for migrant and refugee families. A total of seven research databases have been a part of this study, and the search resulted in 45 papers that were analyzed and their results presented. The following inclusion criteria were considered: (a) migrant/refugee families living with their children and (b) migrant/refugee families approaching care (health, social, educational, legal). Inclusion criteria refer to phenomenological studies, consider trauma/resilience of migrant/refugee families, include studies that are published in English language only; published literature only; 2013 onwards, and only full-text studies. The results of this analysis imply that papers are more focused on the experiences of trauma than on the approaches to treat it. However, this analysis did result in identifying approaches, interventions, and tools in working with trauma refugee and migrant families. Trauma-informed approaches for forced migrant families require a culturally adapted response provided across all sectors of family support to refugees and migrants.
Design and simulation optimization of key device of water jet grassland root cutting machine
Authors: Qin Jianguo , Yang Bo , Cen Haitang , Gong Haixia , Yang Hongyan , Zou Yunhe , Guo Sijia
Published: August 2024

In view of the current situation of gradual degradation of grassland, this paper designs a water jet grassland root cutting machine based on root cutting improvement technology. The machine achieves the purpose of restoring grassland by the impact of high-pressure fluid on soil. In order to improve the working efficiency, an adaptive position adjustment device (following is referred to as APA device) is designed, which can ensure the adaptability of the fluidic sprinkler to the ground. In this regard, the overall structure and working principle of the water jet grassland root cutting machine are first analyzed. Furthermore, the dynamic model of the APA device is established based on the Lagrange equation, and the motion process of the device is simulated by MATLAB/SimMechanics. The results show that the APA device has good working efficiency in the smooth ground, and there is a significant vibration response in the protuberant ground. In order to reduce the vibration interference, the structure of the APA device is optimized based on the simulation results. The optimized simulation results show that the vibration response generated during the operation of the APA device is reduced, the vibration interference is reduced, and the optimization effect is significant.
Simultaneous heat, moisture, and salt transfer in porous building materials considering osmosis flow: Part 1: Theoretical modeling based on nonequilibrium thermodynamics
Authors: Takatori Nobumitsu , Ogura Daisuke , Wakiya Soichiro
Published: August 2024

Salt weathering is a common deterioration phenomenon that affects outdoor cultural properties, and it is important to precisely predict the heat, moisture, and salt transfer in porous materials to suppress salt weathering. Osmosis and osmotic pressure were considered in the field of soil research, especially in clay research, but not in the field of outdoor cultural properties and building materials, which are the main target of salt weathering. Osmosis in clay is supposed to be caused by its surface charge. However, it has been suggested that sandstones and bricks that constitute cultural properties and buildings also have surface charge as clay. Thus, osmosis and osmotic pressure can occur in building materials, which may lead to materials degradation. In this study, we derive basic equations, based on nonequilibrium thermodynamics, for the simultaneous heat, dry air, water vapor, liquid water, cation, and anion transfer in building materials by considering osmosis. This equation was compared with existing model for heat and moisture transfer equations as well as models that considered the salt transfer. Based on the previous research for osmosis in clay, we summarized conditions under which osmosis occurs in building materials and presented an outlook for modeling the physical properties of materials related to osmosis.
The International Operations of China’s Hidden Champions—Based on Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Authors: Zhao Tian , Ma Rui , Chen Shuai
Published: August 2024

Hidden champions are SMEs with strong global competitiveness in specialized fields but low profile. China’s hidden champions show less internationalization compared to their global peers, despite niche market dominance. Consequently, an exploration of the internationalization trajectories and determinants for China’s hidden champions is essential. This study utilizes fsQCA to investigate the internationalization strategies of 91 hidden champions, from China, using the “Efficiency-Structure-Environment” analytical framework. Five principal causal pathways for international operations are illustrated, categorized into three main driving models: “Efficiency-Environment,”“Efficiency-Structure,” and “System Interaction,” with the first model being the most dominant. The study further classifies hidden champions by ownership, finding that both state-owned and private enterprises predominantly follow the “Efficiency-Structure” driving model. Additionally, when classified by certification types, all categories are found to align with the “System Integration” model. Notably, the international path for cultivation hidden champions is also well-explained by the “Efficiency Dominance” model. Lastly, the study delineates industry-specific models: general equipment manufacturers employ the “Efficiency-Structure” model, special equipment manufacturers use the “Structure-Environment” model, and the computer industry follows the “System Integration” model.
A Two-Part Classroom Exercise to Discern the Complexity of Work Arrangement Decisions
Authors: Tarr Emily K. , Shum Vanessa
Published: August 2024

Work arrangements (e.g., remote work, in-person work) are at the forefront of discussions among managers and employees alike. However, there exists a noticeable void in evidence-based guidance for managers, making it difficult to teach about this concept in management courses. This article presents a two-part exercise that guides students through the multitude of considerations and different perspectives associated with work arrangement decisions. In Part 1, instructors guide students to reflect on their experiences of in-person and online learning in an academic context to discern the considerations associated with different work arrangements from an employee and then from a managerial perspective in a work context. In Part 2, students apply their deeper understanding of work arrangement considerations to different scenarios of organizational contexts and propose appropriate work arrangement strategies. Through this activity, students develop greater understanding of the complex decisions surrounding work arrangements and profound impact on employees and organizations.
Outbreak Investigation of a “Mystery Illness” Among Students in a Coastal School in North Kerala, India
Authors: Vaman Raman Swathy , Augustine Anu Elizabeth , Kalyanasundaram Madhanraj , Murhekar Manoj
Published: August 2024

An outbreak of acute headache, weakness, breathing difficulty and gastrointestinal symptoms occurred among schoolchildren who went near the seashore of a coastal school in North Kerala, India. This article describes a field investigation conducted in response to this outbreak. The overall attack rate was 47% among schoolchildren on the seashore, with a higher rate of 76% among girls. The symptoms subsided uneventfully within 1 day. The investigation team suspected heat stress, mass hysteria or harmful algal blooms. Our team could not identify the cause of the outbreak even after extensive environmental investigations. We recommend training and capacity building for public health specialists in the district’s rapid response team on environmental epidemiological methods to promptly respond to future events.
From petrodollars to licenses: South Sudan’s post-oil political economy
Authors: Craze Joshua
Published: August 2024

This paper examines the trajectory of South Sudan’s political economy following the dethronement of oil rents as the major source of regime stability. From 2005 to 2012, relations among competing elite actors in South Sudan were organized through a rentier political marketplace in which payments derived from oil rents were used to purchase the loyalty of armed groups. During the same period, marketization and the politics of state-building remade South Sudan’s underlying political economy. With the partial collapse of the country’s oil revenues followed by the outbreak of civil war in 2012 to 2013, it was this transformed political economy that enabled the state to maintain its grip on power, as the government distributed appointments and licenses to local actors, who then used such affordances to tax, raid, and otherwise immiserate the populations under their control. This shift to a political economy predicated on the apportionment of positions and licenses has intensified inequality in South Sudan and enabled continued elite domination. The emergence of a market economy has facilitated the transformation of the political marketplace. While this form of elite domination is likely durable, it will not be peaceful.