bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteomics and Precise Exercise Phenotypes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Study
Authors: Shah Ravi V. , Hwang Shih‐Jen , Murthy Venkatesh L. , Zhao Shilin , Tanriverdi Kahraman , Gajjar Priya , Duarte Kevin , Schoenike Mark , Farrell Robyn , Brooks Liana C. , Gopal Deepa M. , Ho Jennifer E. , Girerd Nicholas , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Levy Daniel , Freedman Jane E. , Lewis Gregory D. , Nayor Matthew
Published: October 2023

Background

While exercise impairments are central to symptoms and diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), prior studies of HFpEF biomarkers have mostly focused on resting phenotypes. We combined precise exercise phenotypes with cardiovascular proteomics to identify protein signatures of HFpEF exercise responses and new potential therapeutic targets.

Methods and Results

We analyzed 277 proteins (Olink) in 151 individuals (N=103 HFpEF, 48 controls; 62±11 years; 56% women) with cardiopulmonary exercise testing with invasive monitoring. Using ridge regression adjusted for age/sex, we defined proteomic signatures of 5 physiological variables involved in HFpEF: peak oxygen uptake, peak cardiac output, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure/cardiac output slope, peak pulmonary vascular resistance, and peak peripheral O
2
extraction. Multiprotein signatures of each of the exercise phenotypes captured a significant proportion of variance in respective exercise phenotypes. Interrogating the importance (ridge coefficient magnitude) of specific proteins in each signature highlighted proteins with putative links to HFpEF pathophysiology (eg, inflammatory, profibrotic proteins), and novel proteins linked to distinct physiologies (eg, proteins involved in multiorgan [kidney, liver, muscle, adipose] health) were implicated in impaired O
2
extraction. In a separate sample (N=522, 261 HF events), proteomic signatures of peak oxygen uptake and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure/cardiac output slope were associated with incident HFpEF (odds ratios, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.50–0.90] and 1.43 [95% CI, 1.11–1.85], respectively) with adjustment for clinical factors and B‐type natriuretic peptides.

Conclusions

The cardiovascular proteome is associated with precision exercise phenotypes in HFpEF, suggesting novel mechanistic targets and potential methods for risk stratification to prevent HFpEF early in its pathogenesis.
Serum Cholesterol and Impact of Age on Coronary Heart Disease Death in More Than 4 Million Veterans
Authors: Nguyen Xuan‐Mai T. , Ho Yuk‐Lam , Li Yanping , Song Rebecca J. , Leung Kenneth H. , Rahman Saad Ur , Orkaby Ariela R. , Vassy Jason L. , Gagnon David R. , Cho Kelly , Gaziano J. Michael , Wilson Peter W. F.
Published: October 2023

Background

The lipid hypothesis postulates that lower blood cholesterol is associated with reduced coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, which has been challenged by reports of a U‐shaped relation between cholesterol and death in recent studies. We sought to examine whether the U‐shaped relationship is true and to assess the impact of age on this association.

Method and Results

We conducted a prospective cohort study of 4 467 942 veterans aged >18 years, with baseline outpatient visits from 2002 to 2007 and follow‐up to December 30, 2018, in the Veterans Health Administration electronic health record system. We observed a J‐shaped relation between total cholesterol (TC) and CHD mortality after a comprehensive adjustment of confounding factors: flat for TC <180 mg/dL, and greater risk was present at higher cholesterol levels. Compared with veterans with TC between 180 and 199 mg/dL, the multiadjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CHD death were 1.03 (95% CI, 1.02–1.04), 1.07 (95% CI, 1.06–1.09), 1.15 (95% CI, 1.13–1.18), 1.25 (95% CI, 1.22–1.28), and 1.45 (95% CI, 1.42–1.49) times greater among veterans with TC (mg/dL) of 200 to 219, 220 to 239, 140 to 259, 260 to 279 and ≥280, respectively. Similar J‐shaped TC‐CHD mortality patterns were observed among veterans with and without statin use at or before baseline.

Conclusions

The cholesterol paradox, for example, higher CHD death in patients with a low cholesterol level, was a reflection of reverse causality, especially among older participants. Our results support the lipid hypothesis that lower blood cholesterol is associated with reduced CHD. Furthermore, the hypothesis remained true when TC was low due to use of statins or other lipid‐lowering medication.
Rurality and Atrial Fibrillation: Patient Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Care
Authors: Mann Harnoor K. , Streiff Meg , Schultz Kevan C. , Halpern David V. , Ferry Danielle , Johnson Amber E. , Magnani Jared W.
Published: October 2023

Background

Patients experience atrial fibrillation (AF) as a complex disease given its adversity, chronicity, and necessity for long‐term treatments. Few studies have examined the experience of rural individuals with AF. We conducted qualitative assessments of patients with AF residing in rural, western Pennsylvania to identify barriers and facilitators to care.

Methods and Results

We conducted 8 semistructured virtual focus groups with 42 individuals living in rural western Pennsylvania using contextually tailored questions to assess participant perspectives. We inductively analyzed focus group transcripts using paragraph‐by‐paragraph and focused coding to identify themes with the qualitative description approach. We used Krippendorff α scoring to determine interreviewer reliability. We harnessed investigator triangulation to augment the reliability of our findings. We reached thematic saturation after coding 8 focus groups. Participants were 52.4% women, with a median age of 70.9 years (range, 54.5–82.0 years), and most were White race (92.9%). Participants identified medication costliness, invisibility of AF to others, and lack of emergent transportation as barriers to care. Participants described interpersonal support and use of technology as important for AF self‐care, and expressed ambivalence about how relationships with health care providers affected AF care.

Conclusions

Focus group participants described multiple social and structural barriers to care for AF. Our findings highlight the complexity of the experience of individuals with AF residing in rural western Pennsylvania.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT 04076020.
Ecumenism Begins at Home: Orthodoxy and the Romanian Greek Catholic Church
Authors: Ladouceur Paul
Published: October 2023

This article examines the relations of the Romanian Orthodox Church (RoOC) towards the Romanian Greek Catholic Church (rgcc), a Byzantine rite church formed around 1700. Until World War ii, the rgcc was a substantial ecclesial entity, but in 1948 the new communist leaders of Romanian dissolved the ugcc and seized its properties, allowing the RoOC the use of most religious properties. Former rgcc clergy who did not join the RoOC were persecuted, but the church survived underground, emerging in 1989 with considerably fewer adherents than in 1948. Attempts by the rgcc to recover properties seized in 1948 were met with strong resistance by RoOC hierarchy and parishes. Notwithstanding the involvement of the RoOC in ecumenical undertakings, it has not acted in accordance with Christian principles and in conflict with its commitment to ecumenism, by supporting the dissolution of the rgcc, and its opposition to the restoration of seized properties.
Shikhat, Nashat and (Un)serious Theory
Authors: El Maarouf Moulay Driss , Belghazi Taieb , El Maarouf Farouk
Published: October 2023

In nashat-loaded circles, the shikha, claiming the center of her pedestal, asks the question: ‘al-hlawa fin kayna?’ (sweetness, where is it?). She pauses tantalizingly and looks around, but no one offers an answer. She inquires again with a smile. As she proceeds, what seems like mere initiation into eroticism and sensuality becomes a deeply philosophical pursuit of the rather far-flung meanings of the female and her body. While the shikha is no academician, she constructs through dance and lyrics a body of thought that navigates across a constellation of dialectics: female prevailing/alternative realities, gaming/thinking, play/seriousness and representation/agency. This article discusses female performers not as the embodiment of the carnivalesque, parodism, playfulness, profanity and voyeurism but as potential theorists in the domain of nashat where speculations on the existence of sweetness can easily become about its absence, deficiency and lack. It also addresses shikhat as potential theory-makers and proto-philosophers oscillating between epistemic margins and centers while leading the popular musical and performative scenes with primordial advice, guidance, teaching and wisdom.
The Changing Landscape of Medieval Chinese Customs: Focusing on Sitting Positions
Authors: Gu Tao
Published: October 2023

From the Wei-Jin through Tang-Song periods, social structures and customs in China underwent great change. In the case of sitting positions, these periods saw a shift from the “floor-sitting era” prior to the Qin to the “era of raised sitting” following the Tang and Song dynasties. In the interim, there was a period where the seated squat (juzuo 踞坐) made an appearance. This position is depicted in the “Man seated on foreign stool” detail of the scroll painting, Bei Qi jiaoshu tu 北齊校 書圖. During the Liu Song dynasty, monks at the Qihuan Temple ate in a seated squat and were vehemently lambasted by scholar-officials led by Fan Tai, instigating political debate around the sitting position. From a Confucian point of view, sitting positions are divided into two categories based on whether the calves or the bottoms of one’s feet touch the ground: the first includes kneeling, the sitting kneel, and the lotus positions, while the second includes squatting, sitting with legs outstretched, and the seated squat positions. Shifts in sitting positions reflect not only subtle changes taking place across various aspects of Chinese social customs and daily life, but also structural change on a systemic level. On the ideological front, obscure learning of the Wei and Jin dynasties exposed abuses of Confucian ethics. Compounded with the onslaught of foreign cultural influences such as Buddhism, it is no wonder, in this context of great historical upheaval, that efforts to preserve Confucianism would end in failure.
Song Dynasty Family Rituals and the Reconstruction of Confucian Daily Life
Authors: Lu Minzhen
Published: October 2023

The reconstruction of Confucianism during the Song dynasty is an important issue in the history of Chinese thought. Song scholar-officials not only introduced ideological innovations and founded the new type of Confucianist “School of Universal Principle” known as “Neo-Confucianism,” but also, in their reconstruction of Confucianism, attended to the specific rituals and introduced the concepts and values of the school into people’s daily life and habits. The observance of ritual privately at home – using ritual to “instruct” and “admonish” the family – became the way for scholar-officials to embody Confucian values effectively in daily life. Song family rituals developed differences from previous eras with respect to text, structure, and meaning. However, as rituals that comprehensively arranged the order of Confucian daily life, they were not merely a static Neo-Confucian text and system. Rather, scholar-officials’ ritual activities were always the concrete, dynamic aspect of the Confucian revival movement. Therefore, we must begin the discussion of family rituals from a wider perspective, first by exploring the motivation and goals of scholar-officials’ rituals. We will then discover how frustrated and compromised scholar-officials of the period felt when the pattern of daily life they had created proved difficult to accommodate to the real world. We will finally take note of the value system that this pattern was meant to demonstrate.
Two new species of Phalangium (Opiliones: Phalangiidae) from Turkey
Authors: KURT KEMAL , ERDEK MELEK , KURT PINAR
Published: October 2023

Two new harvestmen species, Phalangium nalanae sp. n. and Phalangium taylani sp. n., are described, diagnosed and illustrated based on male material from Hakkari Province, Turkey. Also, the differences between two new species and similar species of the genus Phalangium are discussed.
A Review of the Interactions between Tropical Cyclones and Environmental Vertical Wind Shear
Authors: Rios-Berrios Rosimar , Finocchio Peter M. , Alland Joshua J. , Chen Xiaomin , Fischer Michael S. , Stevenson Stephanie N. , Tao Dandan
Published: October 2023

Tropical cyclone (TC) structure and intensity are strongly modulated by interactions with deep-layer vertical wind shear (VWS)—the vector difference between horizontal winds at 200 and 850 hPa. This paper presents a comprehensive review of more than a century of research on TC–VWS interactions. The literature broadly agrees that a TC vortex becomes vertically tilted, precipitation organizes into a wavenumber-1 asymmetric pattern, and thermal and kinematic asymmetries emerge when a TC encounters an environmental sheared flow. However, these responses depend on other factors, including the magnitude and direction of horizontal winds at other vertical levels between 200 and 850 hPa, the amount and location of dry environmental air, and the underlying sea surface temperature. While early studies investigated how VWS weakens TCs, an emerging line of research has focused on understanding how TCs intensify under moderate and strong VWS (i.e., shear magnitudes greater than 5 m s−1). Modeling and observational studies have identified four pathways to intensification: vortex tilt reduction, vortex reformation, axisymmetrization of precipitation, and outflow blocking. These pathways may not be uniquely different because convection and vortex asymmetries are strongly coupled to each other. In addition to discussing these topics, this review presents open questions and recommendations for future research on TC–VWS interactions.
Recognition and Surgical Management of Aberrant Right Hepatic Duct Originating From the Cystic Duct
Authors: Liggett Marjorie R. , Rossi Isolina , Rossi Matthew B.
Published: October 2023

An aberrant right hepatic duct is a rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system. Failure to recognize these anomalies can result in serious complications. In this case, we present a patient who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic cholecystitis. Post-operatively she developed a bile leak for which she underwent reoperation. On re-exploration, she was discovered to have a cystic stump leak and a rare Hisatsugu type V anatomic anomaly of the right hepatic duct originating from the cystic duct. She was subsequently managed with oversewing of the cystic duct stump and drainage. This case demonstrates the importance of recognizing these rare anomalies and the challenges of management in a rural, resource-limited setting.
A Bayesian Semi-parametric Modelling Approach for Area Level Small Area Studies
Authors: Thompson Marten , Chatterjee Snigdhansu
Published: October 2023

We present a new semiparametric extension of the Fay-Herriot model, termed the agnostic Fay-Herriot model (AGFH), in which the sampling-level model is expressed in terms of an unknown general function [Formula: see text]. Thus, the AGFH model can express any distribution in the sampling model since the choice of [Formula: see text] is extremely broad. We propose a Bayesian modelling scheme for AGFH where the unknown function [Formula: see text] is assigned a Gaussian Process prior. Using a Metropolis within Gibbs sampling Markov Chain Monte Carlo scheme, we study the performance of the AGFH model, along with that of a hierarchical Bayesian extension of the Fay-Herriot model. Our analysis shows that the AGFH is an excellent modelling alternative when the sampling distribution is non-Normal, especially in the case where the sampling distribution is bounded. It is also the best choice when the sampling variance is high. However, the hierarchical Bayesian framework and the traditional empirical Bayesian framework can be good modelling alternatives when the signal-to-noise ratio is high, and there are computational constraints.

AMS subject classification: 62D05; 62F15
The effect of non-medical cannabis retailer proximity on use of mental health services for psychotic disorders in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Wootten Jared C , Rodrigues Rebecca , Gilliland Jason , Carter Brooke , Shariff Salimah Z , Zhong Shiran , Archie Suzanne , Edwards Jordan , Elton-Marshall Tara , Myran Daniel Thomas , Palaniyappan Lena , Perlman Christopher M , Seabrook Jamie A , Murray Robin M , Anderson Kelly K
Published: October 2023

Background:

Cannabis is associated with the onset and persistence of psychotic disorders. Evidence suggests that accessibility of substances is associated with an increased risk of use-related harms. We sought to examine the effect of residing in proximity to non-medical cannabis retailers on the prevalence of health service use for psychosis.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional study using linked health administrative data, and used geospatial analyses to determine whether people in Ontario, Canada (aged 14–60 years) resided within walking (1.6 km) or driving (5.0 km) distance of non-medical cannabis retailers (open as of February-2020). We identified outpatient visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations for psychotic disorders between 01-April-2019 and 17-March-2020. We used zero-inflated Poisson regression models and gamma generalized linear models to estimate the association between cannabis retailer proximity and indicators of health service use.

Results:

Non-medical cannabis retailers were differentially located in areas with high levels of marginalization and pre-existing health service use for psychosis. People residing within walking or driving distance of a cannabis retailer had a higher rate of psychosis-related outpatient visits, ED visits, and hospitalizations, compared to people living outside these areas. This effect was stronger among those with no prior service use for psychosis.

Conclusions:

Proximity to a non-medical cannabis retailer was associated with higher health service use for psychosis, even after adjustment for prior health service use. These findings suggest that opening of non-medical cannabis retailers could worsen the burden of psychosis on mental health services in areas with high-risk populations.
Using z-pinning to improve the low-velocity impact performance of composite skin/stringer structures
Authors: Wang QingQuan , Yan Bin , Li Yuan , Hou Rui , Shen LiangJi , Zhu ShengWei , Jiang WenTao , Kang WenLi
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the effect of the z-pin pre-hole inserted (ZPI) process on the impact resistance and post-impact flexural properties of skin/stringer composite structure with different z-pin parameters. The responses of the specimens are characterized in terms of impact denting & cracking length, load-carrying capacity, energy absorption and so on. Experimental results demonstrate that the z-pin cannot inhibit the initiation of debonding cracks at the skin/stringer interface. However, the z-pin forms a bridging traction zone across the cracking and prevent it from developing, which ensures the skin/stringer structure preserve higher peak loading and impact resistance. The specimens with the highest z-pin density have better impact resistance and outstanding residual flexural post-impact properties. Moreover, z-pins play a bridging role through its own failure. One is the inter-fiber debonding and splitting or shear failure of z-pins due to “snubbing effect,” the other is the sliding friction of z-pins and z-pins’ elastic deformation. These results could provide some guidance for designing z-pinning connection of composite skin/stringer structure.
Deaths related to drowning in Antalya, an important tourism center in the Mediterranean region: A 10-year retrospective study
Authors: Sarın Abdullah Benna , Dündar Ahmet Sedat , Karagöz Yaşar Mustafa
Published: October 2023

Objectives: Drowning is one of the most common causes of accidental deaths in all age groups. This study aims to compare the sociodemographic data, scene of incident findings, clinical characteristics, and autopsy findings of Turkish and foreign victims of drowning in Antalya, one of the most popular global holiday destinations. Study Design: This study is the most extensive case series of drowning in Turkey. Methods: A retrospective examination was made of 7775 autopsies, of which 692 (8.9%) were identified as drowning cases. Results: Almost half of the cases were elderly males of foreign nationality, with a chronic disease and high alcohol consumption, who were found wearing swimming clothes and had died accidentally, mostly in the sea or swimming pools. The majority of Turkish victims were male children and adolescents, found wearing normal daily clothes, who died from a fall or while performing high-risk activities, such as jumping from height. Most of these cases died at the scene of the incident due to an accident or suicide. Conclusions: Such incidences of deaths in Antalya could be reduced with the implementation of precautions, with adjustments made according to the increased risks and, particularly, the mobility of the older age group. Significantly, chronic disease is an important risk factor in cases of drowning.
Assessment of Obsessive Thoughts About COVID-19 in 7 Latin American Countries: Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Obsession With COVID-19 Scale
Authors: Caycho-Rodríguez Tomás , Rivera-Calcina Renzo , Vilca Lindsey W. , Carbajal-León Carlos , Valencia Pablo D. , Yupanqui-Lorenzo Daniel E. , Arias Gallegos Walter L. , Reyes-Bossio Mario , Oré-Kovacs Nicol , Rojas-Jara Claudio , Gallegos Miguel , Polanco-Carrasco Roberto , Cervigni Mauricio , Martino Pablo , Lobos-Rivera Marlon Elías , Moreta-Herrera Rodrigo , Palacios Segura Diego Alejandro , Samaniego-Pinho Antonio , Figares Andrés Buschiazzo , Puerta-Cortés Diana Ximena , Camargo Andrés , Torales Julio , Monge Blanco J. Arkangel , González Pedronel , Smith-Castro Vanessa , Petzold-Rodriguez Olimpia , Calderón Raymundo , Matute Rivera Wendy Yamilet , Ferrufino-Borja Daniela , Muñoz-del-Carpio-Toia Agueda , Palacios Jorge , Burgos-Videla Carmen , Eduviges Florez León Ana María , Vergara Ibeth , Vega Diego , Noe-Grijalva Martin , Shulmeyer Marion K. , Urrutia Rios Hassell Tatiana , Lira Lira Arelly Esther , Lee Sherman A.
Published: October 2023

The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) among seven Latin American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Although the OCS has been used in several countries and languages, there is a need for approaches that better integrate the cross-cultural equivalence of the scale. A total of 3185 people participated in the study. The results indicated the presence of a unidimensional structure and good reliability indices for the OCS in each country. The alignment method indicated that the OCS is an invariant measure of COVID-19 obsession among the populations of seven Latin American countries. The findings based on IRT analysis indicated that all OCS items had adequate discrimination and difficulty parameters. The findings contribute to the understanding of the internal structure of the scale in different countries at the same time, something that has been pending evaluation.
The Resilience of Pediatric Nurses in Context: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: White Benjamin M. , Walsh Elaine , Willgerodt Mayumi
Published: October 2023

Background:

Resilience, an individual’s ability to cope with and recover from stressors, is supported by contextually specific factors. Factors in the work environment may support or hinder nurses’ resilience to the specific stressors present in pediatric nursing, an understudied population.

Objective:

We aimed to explore the contextual factors in the work environment of pediatric nurses with varying levels of resilience, including social support, the work environment, and opportunities for coping from an individual approach.

Methods:

This study is a secondary mixed-methods analysis using ordinal logistic regression and a meta-matrix of survey responses and semi-structured interview transcripts from 30 pediatric nurses.

Results:

5 themes, 3 supporting and 2 hindering resilience, emerged from the interviews. Nurses described their resilience as supported by sharing the burden, support from administration, and taking a break. Participants described resilience as hindered when they found it challenging to provide quality nursing care and when they felt unappreciated or undervalued. No theme significantly changed the odds of having higher resilience.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that nurses recognize resources and conditions within their work environment as influencing their resilience. However, workplace resources and conditions are only one contributor to pediatric nurse resilience. Encouraging breaks and informal opportunities for nurses to support each other may support resilience in pediatric nurses. In addition, nursing leaders can support pediatric nurse resilience by regularly spending time connecting with nurses. Finally, health care organizations should consider how changes in the work environment may hinder nurse resilience by adding stress or changing access to supportive factors.
‘I lost over 700 tubers of yam but am glad I am still alive’: Implications of victimhood and displacement on conflict management – Insights from displaced farmers in North Central Nigeria
Authors: Achem Victor Onyilor , Aderinto Adeyinka Abideen
Published: October 2023

This study investigates the victimisation and challenges faced by the displaced agricultural community in North-Central Nigeria. The study argues that the significant loss and suffering experienced within this victimisation context contribute to the emergence of post-displacement stressors and act as catalysts for further acts of violence. A sample of 42 participant was selected using a combination of convenience sampling, snowball sampling, and purposeful sampling techniques. The participant were chosen from Daudu camps 1 and 2 (Mbawa), the Gbajimba internally displaced person (IDP) camp (Nzorov), and the Naka IDP camp (Ikyaghev). Data collection involved 8 focus group discussions with victims and 42 in-depth interviews with primary, secondary, and reintegrated victims, as well as representatives of herders. In addition, 14 key informant interviews were conducted with personnel from active non-governmental organisations (NGOs), IDP camp officials, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) officials, police and army personnel, the head of a local vigilante group, and traditional district heads. Qualitative data analysis was performed thematically using NVIVO 12 Plus, a qualitative data analysis software. The findings highlight that food insecurity emerges as the primary challenge faced by the displaced population. Other challenges include poor living conditions, inadequate healthcare, a lack of employment opportunities, a high number of out-of-school children, emotional difficulties, and water and sanitation problems. Returnees face challenges in reconstructing damaged properties, establishing water sources, and ensuring adequate security. Most participant rely on support from SEMA, humanitarian NGOs, and donations from private individuals and groups. Based on the research results, the study proposes relevant policies for the government and other agencies involved in assisting displaced populations. It emphasises the need for the government to engage with individuals and groups to provide long-term assistance for victims’ rehabilitation, reintegration, and recovery.
Distributed agency: Care, human needs, and distributive struggles in Portugal
Authors: Alves de Matos Patrícia
Published: October 2023

Austerity policies in Portugal unleashed a violent crisis of well-being and social reproduction which intensified the ‘triple burden’ placed upon women, making them the primary ‘shock absorbers’ of the crisis. This article addresses the critical role of working-class women’s various forms of paid and unpaid care work in responding to the material and immaterial needs of impoverished individuals and working-class households. It is shown that women’s care-based responses and distributive struggles sought to minimise the risks that the agency of those they cared for could be compromised in the present and the future. Expanding feminist approaches and broader contributions decentring agency from the ends of individual choice and freedom, the article argues that agency is a distributed capacity and potentiality produced by, and productive of, embedded interdependent caring practices, relationships and investments across space and time to define, fulfil and negotiate the inescapable existence of fundamental needs.
Cigarette smoking history (personal and secondary childhood exposure) in non-cluster headache trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias: A clinic based study
Authors: Rozen Todd D.
Published: October 2023

Objective

To look at cigarette smoking history (personal and secondary exposure as a child) in non-cluster headache trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias seen at a headache clinic and to determine smoking exposure prevalence utilizing previously published data.

Methods

Retrospective chart review and PubMed/Google Scholar search

Results

Forty-eight clinic patients met ICHD-3 criteria for non-cluster headache trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Four had paroxysmal hemicrania, 75% were smokers and secondary exposure was noted in all. 16 patients had short lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) or short lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with autonomic symptoms (SUNA), 12.5% were smokers and secondary exposure was noted in 91%. Twenty-eight patients had hemicrania continua, 21% were smokers and secondary exposure was found in 62.5%. Since 1974 there have been 88 paroxysmal hemicrania, 50 SUNCT or SUNA and 89 hemicrania continua patients with a documented smoking exposure history. From current data and previous studies, a smoking history was noted in 60% paroxysmal hemicrania, 18% SUNCT and SUNA and 21% hemicrania continua patients.

Conclusion

A cigarette smoking history appears to be connected to paroxysmal hemicrania (personal and secondary exposure) and possibly to SUNCT/SUNA (secondary) and hemicrania continua (secondary).
Policy and Strategic Responses to Food and Nutrition Security in Ethiopia
Authors: Brhanu Genanew Agitew , Ayele Zewdu Berhanie , Gebreselassie Samson Gebremedhin
Published: October 2023

Background:

Food and nutrition insecurity continues to be one of the persistent challenges in Ethiopia. The country has been responding to the challenges in various ways to foster sustainable development.

Objectives:

The objective of the study is to assess national food and nutrition security policy and strategic responses.

Method:

A qualitative review of policies, strategies, programs, guidelines, and a government commitment, document was conducted. Interviews with experts from food and nutrition-implementing governmental and nongovernmental organizations were also employed. Thematic analysis with description was used.

Results:

The results of the study revealed that global initiatives stimulated Ethiopia to progressively take various strategic directions to address the ongoing food and nutrition challenges. In addition to various policy directions, the country has been implementing nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs under the multisectoral approach. The concepts and practices of food and nutrition security shifted from simply balancing the demand and supply of food to a broader and more inclusive food system approach with the involvement of multiple actors. However, more has been said than done. The policy, strategic objectives, and initiatives have not been adequately translated into practices. Actions toward ensuring food and nutrition security, on the other hand, are constrained by institutional, environmental, technological, and emerging priorities like an outbreak of a pandemic and political instability.

Conclusion:

The study concluded that available policy and strategic intents have sufficiently addressed food and nutrition challenges in documents and need to be fully translated into practices.
Recent pollen spectra from Shimla water catchment sanctuary, Kufri (HP): Implications to interpret Holocene pollen records
Authors: Trivedi Anjali , Morthekai P. , Shukla Alka , Nag Anupam , Singh Dhruv Sen
Published: October 2023

A better understanding on the connection between pollen assemblages and the vegetation that produced them is crucial to reconstruct past habitats and vegetation. Hence, it is necessary to comprehend the level of representation of plants in the modern pollen rain in a given study area. To ascertain the composition of pollen deposited on the surface sediments, palynological analysis of 19 surface soil (SS) samples and moss cushions (MSs) taken from various sites on the surface of the Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary (SWCWS), Kufri, Himachal Pradesh (India) was used in the current study. The dominance of arboreal pollen (trees and shrubs) over the non-arboreal pollen (herbs) was observed. Among the trees, conifers such as Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana, Picea smithiana and Abies pindrow were found in MSs as well as in SS samples. The representation of these taxa corresponds with their factual presence in the forest floristics in the region. The moist and shady habitats loving broad-leaved tree elements such as Quercus and Rhododendron were also found in good numbers. Two multivariate statistical methods, cluster analysis and principal components analysis, were used to study the associations of studies pollen taxa and the variability among them. All the 19 samples were clustered into four. This analysis will help to interpret the palaeodata whether the landscape was influenced by anthropogenic activities or not in the recent past.
György Márkus, 75% mensch: On the occasion of the publication of the English version of How Is Critical Economic Theory Possible?
Authors: Grumley John
Published: October 2023

In this article I give an overall interpretation of the development of the Budapest School in Australia as political emigres, who initially worked and wrote in Melbourne and Sydney until the final years when Heller and Feher moved on to New York in the mid-1980s and then back to Budapest in 1993. The translation of How Is Critical Economic Theory Possible? has allowed us to better grasp the motivations and theoretical innovations of the Budapest School, to appreciate their internal disputes and to recognise fundamental continuities and difference in these two key thinkers. This book was a gallant retrieval of democratic potentials in Marx. It excavated Marx’s own appreciation of needs produced by, and critical of, the alienations of the capitalist system. Ultimately, this early work was unable to realise its ambition to educate the diverse progressive movements of the times. I will show later that the retrieval of progressive potentials took a more social democratic form in the work of Maria Márkus on needs as she encountered them later in the Hawke Labor Government of Australia from 1983. Introducing the world media to the Budapest School in The Times Literary Supplement on 15 February 1971, Lukács described Márkus as ‘75% mensch’. When Lukács first met him, George already had his own philosophical interests, which he would bring with him when he became a key figure in ‘the Budapest School’. Márkus had studied in Moscow where he wrote his dissertation on the topic History and Consciousness and met his Polish wife, Maria. George used to modestly say that he was an expert only on the works of Karl Marx. That was despite that he had taught the history of modern philosophy at Eotvös Loránd University to Hungary’s most promising philosophers for a decade and later to philosophy students at Sydney University for the next 20 years. In the early 1970s, George invited Janos Kis and György Bence to work on his next project that would become the Hungarian version of Überhaupt, which was to become How Is Critical Economic Theory Possible? The new English translation published by Brill this year opens this important rethinking of the work of Marx to an international readership.
Conceptualizing Flexibility in Programming-Based Mathematical Problem-Solving
Authors: Ye Huiyan , Ng Oi-Lam , Cui Zhihao
Published: October 2023

Computational thinking (CT) has received much attention in mathematics education in recent years, and researchers have begun to experiment with the integration of CT into mathematics education to promote students’ CT and mathematical thinking (MT) development. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence and new theoretical perspectives on the mechanisms of interaction between CT and MT. To address this research gap, this study analyses the participants’ thinking processes in solving programming-based mathematical problems from a flexibility perspective, focusing on the interplay between computational and mathematical thinking, that is, how CT and MT work together to influence and determine the problem-solver’s choice of solution strategy. Using data collected from a large design-based study, we summarise two types of flexibility and six subtypes of flexibility demonstrated by participants in the programming-based mathematical problem-solving process using thematic analysis. These different types of flexibility provide researchers and mathematics educators with new theoretical perspectives to examine the interplay of CT and MT. Findings will also contribute toward student learning characteristics in programming-based mathematical problem-solving to sketch the big picture of how CT and MT emerge in complementary or mismatching ways.
Promoting Green Energy Transition Through G20
Authors: Mishra Sitakanta , Manhas Neeraj Singh
Published: October 2023

The G20, a leading multilateral forum for global cooperation and decision-making, is taking the lead to foster dialogue and deliberation on green energy transition through energy collaboration and action agenda. The G20 countries are accountable for more than three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions collectively. Individually, all the members have net-zero emissions domestic pledges and action plans to gear up their transition towards green energy regimes. Although most countries have submitted stronger NDC targets over time, their overall implementation is still insufficient to meet 1.5°C goal. India, as the current President of the group, strived to build consensus on decarbonisation, rationalisation of energy mix, and financing the transition to green energy. The article, while examining G20’s attempts in this direction, examines India’s constraints on the way to building consensus on green energy transition for net-zero emissions.
Compensation for non-material damage under Article 82 GDPR: A review of Case C-300/21
Authors: Li Shu
Published: October 2023

The Court of Justice of the European Union delivered a decision in Case C-300/21 to address three questions on how to compensate a data subject for the non-material damage suffered from a violation of GDPR provisions. First, infringement by itself does not give rise to compensation. Actual damage must be demonstrated by the data subject. Second, the right to compensation is not limited to non-material damage that reaches a certain threshold of seriousness. Third, since the GDPR does not provide an explicit guideline for assessing damages, it falls to Member States to establish such a criterion. The criterion, nevertheless, must comply with the principle of equivalence and effectiveness. The judgment, together with the Advocate General's opinion, touches upon several fundamental issues at the intersection of risk, harm and tort damage.
The COVID-19 Impact on Employment for LGBT Individuals With Disabilities: An Examination of the 2021 Household Pulse Survey
Authors: Surfus Chris R.
Published: October 2023

The 2021 Household Pulse Survey (HPS) was examined as it relates to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the impact on employment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and members with disabilities. The purpose of the study was to understand the effect of COVID-19 on both groups as it relates to employment, specifically focusing on work loss. In analyzing the HPS, the population of the LGBT community was estimated as 7.6%, while members with disabilities accounted for 13.2% of the total U.S. population; 5.5% more LGBT than non-LGBT, 9.8% more members with disabilities than without disabilities, and 18.3% more LGBT with disabilities than non-LGBT and not disabled members reported work loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. I found that the LGBT community and members with disabilities were more likely to have work loss and face employment challenges during the pandemic. I attributed these findings to LGBT and members with disabilities having been more likely to work in a service sector position. In addition to work loss, data on the LGBT and disabled population and the prevalence of disability in the LGBT community were presented.
CICO-Secondary: A Single-Case Experimental Study in High School
Authors: Kittelman Angus , Cohen Lissman Dana , Strickland-Cohen M. Kathleen , McGrath Kato Mimi , Flannery K. Brigid , Horner Robert H. , Izzard Sara , St. Joseph Stephanie , Mowery Aaron
Published: October 2023

Check-in/check-out (CICO) is an evidence-based multicomponent intervention widely implemented in elementary and middle schools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an adapted CICO intervention, with CICO components designed to be more developmentally appropriate for adolescents and contextually relevant for high schools, could be implemented with procedural fidelity and improve outcomes for students with and at risk for disabilities. The study included three ninth-grade students (two with Individualized Education Programs) in one U.S. public high school. We used a non-concurrent multiple baseline design conducted over two academic years during the COVID-19 pandemic to experimentally evaluate the effects of CICO-Secondary on student academic engagement. Results demonstrated that students participated with adequate procedural fidelity and that there was a functional relation between implementation of CICO-Secondary and improved student academic engagement. Students and school personnel also perceived CICO-Secondary to be socially valid. Implications for both future research and practice are discussed.
Novel trocar assisted intraocular lens and capsular bag complex fixation
Authors: Parkash Rohit Om , Gurnani Bharat , Kaur Kirandeep , Parkash Tushya Om , Vajpayee Rasik B.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To describe the innovative technique of trocar-assisted intraocular lens (IOL) and capsular bag complex fixation.

Methods

In this technique, initial pupil dilatation is achieved either with intracameral adrenaline or with the help of iris hooks. Automated anterior vitrectomy is performed in cases with vitreous prolapse. A 25 G trocar cannula is placed at the limbus through a paracentesis opposite the zonular dialysis area. The cannula lumen act as a guide to pass the double-arm polypropylene suture attached to the needle. This prevents any inadvertent corneal injury and acts as a perpendicular tract to pass the needle through IOL capsular bag complex.

Results

We performed this technique in 9 cases with an excellent outcome with a minimum of 3 months of follow-up. All patients had well-centred IOL. There was no incidence of corneal injury, Descemet membrane detachment, iris trauma, IOL tilt, decentration, dislocation, vitreous prolapse or retinal detachment. All patients achieved excellent visual acuity ranging from 6/12-6/6 postoperatively.

Conclusion

The novel trocar-assisted IOL bag complex fixation technique is very effective and allows smooth IOL fixation in technically challenging cases with IOL subluxation. The trocar acts as a guide to prevent injury to the surrounding tissue, and IOL fixation is achieved with minimal manipulations in the anterior chamber. It also prevents the need for IOL explantation in these cases.
The MoXFo Initiative: Using consensus methodology to move forward towards internationally shared vocabulary in multiple sclerosis exercise research
Authors: Mansoubi Maedeh , Learmonth Yvonne Charlotte , Mayo Nancy , Collet Johnny , Dawes Helen
Published: October 2023

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) exercise terminology lacks consistency across disciplines, hindering research synthesis.

Objective:

The ‘Moving exercise research in MS forward initiative’ (MoXFo) aims to establish agreed definitions for key MS exercise terms.

Methods:

The Lexicon development methodology was employed. A three-step process identified key exercise terminology for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS): (1) consensus and systematic review, (2) Delphi round 1 and consideration of existing definitions and (3) Delphi round 2 for consensus among MoXFo steering group and exercise experts. Final definitions and style harmonisation were agreed upon.

Results:

The two-stage Delphi process resulted in the selection and scoring of 30 terminology definitions. The agreement was 100% for resistance exercise, balance and physical activity. Most terms had agreement >75%, but ‘posture’ (60%) and ‘exercise’ (65%) had a lower agreement.

Conclusion:

This study identified key terms and obtained agreement on definitions for 30 terms. The variability in agreement for some terms supports the need for clearly referencing or defining terminology within publications to enable clear communication across disciplines and to support precise synthesis and accurate interpretation of research.