bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability and bifurcation in a two-patch commensal symbiosis model with nonlinear dispersal and additive Allee effect
Authors: Zhong Jin , Chen Lijuan , Chen Fengde
Published: August 2024

In this paper, a two-patch model with additive Allee effect, nonlinear dispersal and commensalism is proposed and studied. The stability of equilibria and the existence of saddle-node bifurcation, transcritical bifurcation are discussed. Through qualitative analysis of the model, we know that the persistence and the extinction of population are influenced by the Allee effect, dispersal and commensalism. Combining with numerical simulation, the study shows that the total population density will increase when the Allee effect constant [Formula: see text] increases or [Formula: see text] decreases. In addition to suppress the Allee effect, nonlinear dispersal and commensalism are crucial to the survival of the species in the two patches.
On rings whose prime ideal sum graphs are line graphs
Authors: Mathil Praveen , Kumar Jitender
Published: August 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be a commutative ring with unity. The prime ideal sum graph of the ring [Formula: see text] is the simple undirected graph whose vertex set is the set of all nonzero proper ideals of [Formula: see text] and two distinct vertices [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] are adjacent if and only if [Formula: see text] is a prime ideal of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we characterize all commutative Artinian rings whose prime ideal sum graphs are line graphs. Finally, we give a description of all commutative Artinian rings whose prime ideal sum graph is the complement of a line graph.
Efficient photocatalytic degradation of statin via optimization on ZnIn2S4/Bi2WO6 Z-scheme heterostructure
Authors: Liu Tingting , Cao Libing , Yan Mengge , Hu Yushan , Ren Tianlong , Wu Zheng
Published: August 2024

Statins are widely used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia disease, which are refractory in the municipal sewage treatment plant. The photocatalytic degradation of statins by the Z-scheme heterostructured photocatalyst is confirmed, but the degradation mechanism of statins needs to be further revealed. In this study, the effects of photocatalyst dosage, solution pH and humic acid (HA) on the photocatalysis of fluvastatin by ZnIn2S4/Bi2WO6 Z-scheme heterostructured photocatalyst (ZIS/BWO photocatalyst) were investigated and the degradation mechanism was proposed. Results showed that adsorption of fluvastatin was improved with the increase of photocatalyst dosage, but photoinduced desorption and light scattering resulted in the decrease of the removal of fluvastatin with high dosage. 0.2[Formula: see text]g/L of the ZIS/BWO photocatalyst was optimal dosage. 65.21% of fluvastatin was removed at pH=9, because high concentration of OH− was conducive to produce ⋅OH. The change of pH, competition of photons and active sites, and trapping of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by carboxyl group of HA combined to inhibit the photocatalysis of fluvastatin in the presence of HA. The C–C, C[Formula: see text]C and C–N bonds of fluvastatin were attacked by a variety of ROS to generate degradable intermediates that were easily mineralized to H2O and CO2.
Multi-Modal Driven Pose-Controllable Talking Head Generation
Authors: Sun Kuiyuan , Liu Xiaolong , Li Xiaolong , Zhao Yao , wang Wei
Published: August 2024

Talking head, driving a source image to generate a talking video using other modality information, has made great progress in recent years. However, there are two main issues: 1) These methods are designed to utilize a single modality of information. 2) Most methods cannot control head pose. To address these problems, we propose a novel framework that can utilize multi-modal information to generate a talking head video, while achieving arbitrary head pose control by a movement sequence. Specifically, first, to extend driving information to multiple modalities, multi-modal information is encoded to a unified semantic latent space to generate expression parameters. Secondly, to disentangle attributes, the 3D Morphable Model (3DMM) is utilized to obtain identity information from the source image, and translation and rotation information from the target image. Thirdly, to control head pose and mouth shape, the source image is warped by a motion field generated by the expression parameter, translation parameter, and angle parameter. Finally, all the above parameters are utilized to render a landmark map, and the warped source image is combined with the landmark map to generate a delicate talking head video. Our experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method is capable of achieving state-of-the-art performance in terms of visual quality, lip-audio synchronization, and head pose control.
What’s Up On The Roof: Tracking Cool Roofs in India with Satellite Imaging
Authors: Lalwani Varchita , Sobti Anupam , Garg Vishal
Published: August 2024

With rapid pace of urbanization, the increase in built up area is leading to urban heat islands which absorb a lot of the heat received through solar radiation. To reduce this effect, reflective coatings on top of building roofs, known as cool roofs are installed. Cool roofs reflect light back through the atmosphere to minimize the heat radiation within the urban space. In this article, we introduce a cool roof tracker. The tracker provides building level information of whether a roof is cool or not, thus indicating if an urban heat island is likely to develop in a region. This information helps policymakers identify the vulnerable regions in a city and track the progress of cool roof implementation in all areas.

There are three key components of the system: building polygon extraction, reflectance features extraction from roof images; and classification into cool vs. non cool buildings. There are a number of satellites operational today which offer different strengths - high resolution, high revisit time, multiple spectral bands, and so on. In this work, we do a mix of quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the efficacy of different satellite modalities for each of the system components, build robust models with extensive experimentation on color space, augmentations, and generalization achieving an F1-score of 97% on our test set. We also develop a prototype dashboard as a demonstration for supporting data-driven decision making for state level heat mitigation plans as well as regulatory and compliance tool for measuring roof reflectance.
ICT-facilitated Health Interventions for Indigenous Communities: A Critical Literature Review
Authors: Vigil-Hayes Morgan , Panguluri Lakshmi , Dececco Harry , Hossain Md Nazmul , Collier Ann , Joseph Darold , Amresh Ashish
Published: August 2024

Despite significant cultural strengths and knowledge, Indigenous people around the world experience substantial health inequities due to the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism. As information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly used as part of health interventions to help bridge equity gaps, it is important to characterize and critically evaluate how ICT-facilitated health interventions are designed for and used by Indigenous people. This critical literature review queried articles from three archives focused on health and technology with the goal of identifying cross-cutting challenges and opportunities for ICT-facilitated health interventions in Indigenous communities. Importantly, we use the lens of decolonization to understand important issues that impact Indigenous sovereignty, including the incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge and engagement with data sovereignty.
Optimizing Dilithium Implementation with AVX2/-512
Authors: Xu Runqing , He Debiao , Luo Min , Peng Cong , Zeng Xiangyong
Published: August 2024

Dilithium is a signature scheme that is currently being standardized to the Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Standard by NIST. It is believed to be secure even against attacks from large-scale quantum computers based on lattice problems. The implementation efficiency is important for promoting the migration of current cryptography algorithms to post-quantum cryptography algorithms. In this article, we optimize the implementation of Dilithium with several new approaches proposed. Firstly, we improve the efficiency of parallel NTT implementations. The overhead of shuffling operations is reduced in our implementations, and fewer loading instructions are invoked for the precomputations. Then, we optimize the sampling and bit-packing of polynomial coefficients in Dilithium. We can handle double the number of coefficients within one register using a new approach for the sampling of secret key polynomials. The approaches proposed in this article are applicable to implementations under AVX2 and AVX-512 instruction sets. Take Dilithium2 as an illustration, our AVX2 implementation demonstrates improvements of 22.7%, 16.9%, and 13.5% for KeyGen, Sign, and Verify compared with the previous implementation.
Prioritized Experience Replay–Based Path Planning Algorithm for Multiple UAVs
Authors: Ren Chongde , Chen Jinchao , Du Chenglie
Published: August 2024

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been extensively researched and deployed in both military and civilian applications due to their tiny size, low cost, and great ease. Although UAVs working together on complicated jobs can significantly increase productivity and reduce costs, they can cause major issues with path planning. In complex environments, the path planning problem, which is a multiconstraint combinatorial optimization problem and hard to settle, requires considering numerous constraints and limitations and generates the best paths for each UAV to accomplish group tasks. In this paper, we study the path planning problem for multiple UAVs and propose a reinforcement learning algorithm: PERDE‐MADDPG based on prioritized experience replay (PER) and delayed update skills. First, we adopt a PER mechanism based on temporal difference (TD) error to enhance the efficiency of experience utilization and accelerate the convergence speed of the algorithm. Second, we use delayed updates in the process of updating network parameters to ensure stability in training multiple agents. Finally, we propose the PERDE‐MADDPG algorithm based on PER and delayed update skills, which is evaluated against the MATD3, MADDPG, and SAC methods in simulation scenarios to confirm its efficacy.
Dental Cavity Grading: Comparing Algorithm Reliability and Agreement with Expert Evaluation
Authors: Qutieshat Abubaker , Salem Abdurahman , Kyranides Melina N.
Published: August 2024

Aim. The current study introduces a novel, algorithm‐based software developed to objectively evaluate dental cavity preparations. The software aims to provide an alternative or complement to traditional, subjective assessment methods used in operative dentistry education. Materials and Methods. The software was tested on cavity preparations carried out by 70 participants on artificial molar teeth. These cavities were also independently assessed by an experienced academic panel. The software, using 3D imaging, calculated cavity dimensions and assigned an error score based on deviation from ideal measurements. Statistical analyses included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Cohen’s kappa, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3k), Spearman’s rho, Kendall’s tau correlation coefficients, and a confusion matrix. Result. The software demonstrated a high degree of accuracy and agreement with the panel assessments. The average software and panel scores were 64.1 and 60.91, respectively. Sensitivity (0.98) was high, specificity (0.55) was moderate, and the ICC3k value (0.857) indicated a strong agreement between the software and the panel. Further, Spearman’s rho (0.73) and Kendall’s tau (0.56) suggested a strong correlation between the two grading methods. Conclusion. The results support the algorithm‐based software as a valid and reliable tool for dental cavity preparation assessments. The software’s potential use in dental education is promising, though future research is necessary to validate and optimize this technology for wider application.
Role of miR‐93‐5p and Its Opposing Effect of Ionizing Radiation in Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Ni Qingtao , Sang Kai , Zhou Jian , Pan Chi
Published: August 2024

Background. Radiation therapy is an effective local therapy for lung cancer. However, the interaction between genes and radiotherapy is multifaceted and intricate. Therefore, we explored the role of miR‐93‐5p in the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration abilities of A549 cells. Simultaneously, we also investigated the interactions between miR‐93‐5p and ionizing radiation (IR). Methods. Cell Counting Kit‐8, transwell, and apoptotic assay were performed to measure the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis abilities. The expression levels of miR‐93‐5p and its target gene in lung cancer were predicted using starBase v3.0. Then, data were validated using qPCR and western blot. Results. miR‐93‐5p significantly promoted the proliferation (P < 0.01) and migration abilities (P < 0.001) of A549 cells. Gasdermin E (GSDME) was identified to be a putative target of miR‐93‐5p and had a negative correlation with miR‐93‐5p (P < 0.001). Overexpression of miR‐93‐5p significantly decreased GSDME in A549 (P < 0.001). Interestingly, miR‐93‐5p decreased cell proliferation (P < 0.01) and cell migration (P < 0.01) and increased apoptosis (P < 0.01) in A549 cells after exposure to IR. Conclusions. miR‐93‐5p is presumed to play an oncogenic role in lung cancer by enhancing A549 cell proliferation and migration. It can enhance the sensitivity of radiotherapy under IR conditions. We speculate that the miR‐93‐5p/GSDME pathway was inhibited, activating the GSDME‐related pyroptosis pathway when the cells were exposed to IR. Therefore, miR‐93‐5p can overcome resistance to radiotherapy and improve the efficacy of radiotherapy.
Ectopic Salivary Gland Found in the Vocal Cord: A Rare Case
Authors: Tajima Shori , Tayama Niro , Matsumoto Fumihiko
Published: August 2024

Introduction. Ectopic salivary gland is rarely found in the vocal cords; only two cases have been reported in the English literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third reported case of this anomaly. Case Presentation. A 78‐year‐old man with hoarseness two years ago visited our department. There were no other symptoms such as cough or sore throat. He had no history of smoking. Laryngeal endoscopic examination revealed a smooth mass in the anterior right vocal cord. We performed surgery under general anesthesia to remove the polyps and improve hoarseness. The histopathological specimen was reported to be salivary gland tissue. We diagnosed ectopic salivary glands of the vocal cord. Conclusion. It is necessary to consider the possibility of ectopic salivary glands as mass lesions of the vocal cords. Surgical resection is required and long‐term follow‐up is necessary after surgery.
Development of Combination Rapid Propagation Techniques for Diverse Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Cultivars in an Aeroponic System
Authors: Moun Sovannara , Kaewrahun Supawadee , Janket Anon
Published: August 2024

Cassava serves as a crucial raw material and sustenance staple in developing countries, extensively used in the production of starch, bioethanol, and various bioproducts. However, the cultivation of cassava is increasingly challenged by diseases, particularly the cassava mosaic virus. Therefore, efficient propagule systems are needed to provide disease‐free plants to sustain production. This study aimed to develop a rapid propagation method to increase the production of planting material. Various propagation media were assessed for their impact on root formation and plantlet vigour using a 3 × 4 factorial in a Randomized Complete Block Design during April 2023 to September 2023. Three cassava cultivars (KU50, RY9, and HB60) were tested against four media (distilled water, 250 mg·L−1 IBA, SAH solution, and IBA + SAH combination). Subsequently, the optimal medium was used to compare three propagation techniques (leaf bud, mini, and normal cutting) across the cassava cultivars. Aeroponic systems were then employed for further shoot multiplication, evaluating growth and survival metrics. In the first experiment, RY9 had better growth parameters, while KU50 had the highest survival rate at 82%. Applying the SAH was the optimal solution when compared to other media tested. It significantly enhanced the plantlet height (7.30 cm), survival percentage (71.61%), plantlet vigour index (1513.60), and allometric coefficient (0.55). The leaf bud technique had the highest multiplication trait values, whereas the mini‐cutting method had the highest survival rate, and normal cutting had superior performance compared to leaf bud and mini‐cutting for the plant growth parameters. Plantlets produced through mini‐cutting (93%) and leaf bud propagation (92%) had a higher survival rate than those produced using normal cutting (46%) in the aeroponic system under greenhouse conditions. The study revealed a homogeneity in growth and survival traits across the cassava cultivars evaluated in aeroponic cultivation. These findings demonstrated the potential of using leaf bud or mini‐cutting propagation techniques for multiplication in aeroponic cultivation to produce high‐quality plantlets on a large‐scale production.
Therapeutic Effects of Nigella sativa Oil and Whole Seeds on STZ‐Induced Diabetic Rats: A Biochemical and Immunohistochemical Study
Authors: AlSuhaymi Naif
Published: August 2024

Background. Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) is an increasing health problem that has negative impacts on patients and healthcare systems, worldwide. The development of new therapies with better efficacy, fewer side effects, and lower prices are urgently needed to treat this disease. Aim. To evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) seed and oil on the biochemical parameters and regeneration of pancreatic islets (or islets of Langerhans) of streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods. The diabetic rat model was prepared by administering a single dose of STZ (35 mg/kg body weight). The whole seed or the oil of N. sativa was administered to the diabetic and control groups for a period of 28 days, but not to the negative and STZ controls. Serum blood glucose, liver enzymes, lipid profile, and renal function tests (uric acid, albumin, total protein, urea, and creatinine) were measured in all groups. After the rats were euthanized, their pancreases were extracted, and then sectioned and fixed on slides in preparation before staining with H&E stain and immunohistochemical study. Results. Treatment of STZ‐diabetic rats with N. sativa seeds or oil significantly improved their serum glucose levels, lipid profiles, and liver and renal functions as well as preserved the integrity of pancreatic β cells. Conclusion. N. sativa seeds and oil demonstrate significant therapeutic improvement effects on DM and its related complications including effective protection of islets of Langerhans. The therapeutic benefits of N. sativa seeds and oil on DM and its related complications are comparable.
As Anacreônticas e a imagem de Anacreonte na Antiguidade
Authors: Antunes Carlos Leonardo B.
Published: August 2024

The image we have of the greek poets is closely related to the stories attributed to them and to the interpretations that the ancients made of their poetry. In order to briefly line out the image of Anacreon, I present a poetic translation of the so-called Anacreontea, an anthology of poems in the manner of (or paying hommage to) Anacreon, introduced by a small selection of poems about the poet from Teos. Although they are more likely to be the product of legend than an accurate account of the poet’s life and personality, these poems are relevant as a means to glimpse at what might have been the image of Anacreon in ancient times.
Uma ars poetica ovidiana: metapoesia e ilusionismos na Ars amatoria
Authors: Trevizam Matheus , Avellar Júlia Batista Castilho de
Published: August 2024

In this paper, after the inclusion of Ovid’s Ars amatoria in the ancient literary branch of didactic poetry, we try to demonstrate why this poem shall not be considered as an example of true loving teaching. Thus, strange elements such as lies, mutually recommended to men and women as part of their strategies of seduction; treasons that they must endure when confronted with the magister amoris; and ironies that they may submit themselves to as learners force us to consider the text as a meta-literary exercise about the art of Roman love elegy.
The Mouse of the Mysteries
Authors: Walsh Robyn Faith
Published: August 2024

This article presents an imaginative exercise in which a fictional author from the year 4025 details results from excavations of archaeological sites dating to the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Based on analyses of small domestic finds, as well as the discovery of a monumental complex utilizing similar imagery, the author concludes that people must have worshipped an anthropomorphic mouse god – the Historical Mouse – in the Mechano-Digital Age, keeping devotional votives in their homes and traveling at least once a year to a primary space of worship centered around the experience of various ritual mysteries. This article calls upon students to perform a self-evaluation about their own assumptions and approaches to the ancient world as they witness a hypothetical historian make outrageous, yet plausible, errors in the course of trying to describe an ‘ancient’ religion.
Adab and Islamic Education in Singapore
Authors: Ismail Fadhil , Matthews Julie
Published: August 2024

This paper explores the concept of adab in Islamic education in Singapore and argues that it is an integral but relatively misunderstood and neglected concept. Adab is a term that embraces holism and forms the basis of an epistemic framework of an Islamic way of knowing. It is concerned with the education of the intellect and the spirit in the development of a morally upright person. Adab is also considered to be a set of ethical values serving as a spiritual beacon to provide order and clarity to knowledge. Unfortunately, due to colonisation and the secularisation of the Islamic education system in Singapore, adab has suffered a diminution, both in meaning and application. It is now taken to refer almost entirely to notions of good etiquette and reduced only to traditional understandings of social grace. Based on interviews with Islamic education subject matter experts, we identify and clarify the correct understanding and value of this concept. The paper also suggests that the correct and proper consideration of adab provides us with the opportunity to examine and reconsider the core values of Islamic education and its relevance in secular education.
Burned Wood as a Cultural Marker? Ancient Ligneous Landscapes and Firewood Use at Bonneville Estates Rockshelter, Nevada, USA
Authors: Liard Aurélie , Rhode Dave , Goebel Ted , Graf Kelly , Hockett Bryan , Henry Auréade
Published: August 2024

Plant resources have been widely relied upon by past hunter-gatherer societies; their remains uncovered at archaeological sites can serve as precious archives of the lives of past humans. However, while faunal remains are generally well preserved, botanical materials are usually charred, and less commonly preserved under conditions of desiccation, imbibition or freezing. Bonneville Estates Rockshelter (BER), Nevada, was intermittently occupied by humans from the end of the Pleistocene to recent times and has yielded a rich archaeobotanical corpus consisting of both charred and dessicated remains that have been only partially studied. The present work is an analysis of about 2500 wood charcoal fragments recovered from the PaleoIndigenous (ca. 13 000–10 500 cal. BP) and Early Archaic (ca. 8200–4800 cal. BP) strata of the site. We present the plants selected for firewood during different occupations, question whether this selection is related to cultural and/or environmental factors and compare our results with data on current firewood use by the native populations of the arid American West.
C-Reactive Protein: An Important Inflammatory Marker of Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease
Authors: Zhao Xiaona , Gao Cheng , Chen Hongfang , Chen Xi , Liu Tonggong , Gu Dayong
Published: August 2024

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death worldwide, with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD) accounting for the majority of events. Evidence demonstrates that inflammation plays a vital role in the development of CHD. The association between C-reactive protein (CRP), a representative inflammatory biomarker, and atherosclerosis (AS), CHD, and inflammation has attracted attention. Therefore, we conducted an extensive search on PubMed using the aforementioned terms as search criteria and identified a total of 1246 articles published from January 2000 to April 2024. Both review and research-based articles consistently indicate CRP as a risk enhancer for CVD, contributing to the refinement of risk stratification and early identification of apparently healthy at-risk populations. Additionally, CRP reflects disease progression and predicts the prognosis of recurrent cardiovascular events. Anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies targeting CRP also provide new treatment options for patients. This review focuses on the link between CRP and CHD, highlighting how CRP is involved in the pathological progression of AS and its potential value for clinical applications.
Risk Factors for Intravenous Immunoglobulin Non-responsiveness and Coronary Ectasia in Korean Patients With Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Park Jung Min , Seol Jae Hee , Yun Bongsic , Yang Donghwa
Published: August 2024

We aimed to determine the risk factors for non-responsiveness to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and coronary ectasia in Korean children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and compare the efficacy of previously published Japanese and Chinese risk scoring systems in the same cohort. We retrospectively reviewed 459 KD cases diagnosed from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2022. Age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.983; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.968-0.999), change in extremities (OR: 3.308; 95% CI: 1.530-7.151), neutrophils (OR: 1.078; 95% CI: 1.049-1.108), and alanine aminotransferase (OR: 1.002; 95% CI: 1.000-1.004) were identified as independent risk factors for IVIG non-responsiveness, and age (OR: 0.945; 95% CI: 0.902-0.989), C-reactive protein (OR: 1.092; 95% CI: 1.004-1.188), and creatinine kinase (OR: 1.004; 95% CI: 1.001-1.006) were identified as independent risk factors for coronary ectasia. Among previously published risk scoring systems, the Egami (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve [AUC]: 0.695; 95% CI: 0.651-0.737) for IVIG non-responsiveness and the Tang score (AUC: 0.726; 95% CI: 0.578-0.874) for coronary ectasia showed the highest predictive value for our study cohort.
Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) With COVID-19 and Kidney Involvement: Poor Outcomes in a Case Series
Authors: Alghamdi Nora S. , Aletani Lujain , Sandokji Ibrahim , Aljefri Hasan , Alhasan Khalid , Shalaby Mohammad A. , Kari Jameela A.
Published: August 2024

Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (Mis-C) has emerged in May 2020 as a serious complication of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). A total of 6 children presented to tertiary care hospitals with Mis-C, of which 5 (83%) have died during hospitalization. All included patients presented with respiratory symptoms (ranged from mild to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome) and gastrointestinal symptoms. Most of the patients are known to have medical illnesses. Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) IV score ranged from 3 to 87. All patients developed acidosis and varying stages of acute kidney injury and electrolyte disturbances. All were treated for coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, bacterial infections as well as antiviral medications (either ritonavir or lopinavir). Most patients had chest X-ray changes either unilateral or bilateral lung changes. Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome is a rare, yet serious complication of SARS-CoV2 infection in children. Multisystem involvement should be anticipated and promptly treated.
Reducing Capillary Leak Syndrome Mortality in Extremely Premature Infants: A Pilot Investigation
Authors: Boly Timothy J. , Lozano-Chinga Michell M. , Reyes-Hernandez Melanie E. , Elgin Timothy G. , Ballas Zuhair , Bermick Jennifer R.
Published: August 2024

Neonatal capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is a rare, but life-threatening condition following neonatal sepsis or inflammatory injury. The objective of this study was to describe a standardized treatment approach for CLS that improves mortality and neonatal outcomes. A retrospective cohort study of 10 infants born at 22 to 26 weeks of gestation who developed CLS following a significant inflammatory insult was performed. Time to diagnosis and treatment approaches over 2 epochs were recorded and described. In epoch 2, with increased clinical awareness of CLS and implementation of a standardized treatment approach, there was a non-statistically significant decrease in the time to treatment with a significant decrease in mortality. An early targeted treatment approach for neonatal CLS can decrease mortality rates in this highly morbid condition.
ICT Diffusion, Trade Openness and Growth: Empirical Evidence from Asian Countries
Authors: Chhabra Megha , Verma Anushka , Giri Arun Kumar
Published: August 2024

The present study contributes to the existing literature of trade-growth and information and communication technology (ICT)-growth nexus by examining the impact of ICT-trade nexus on economic and inclusive growth in 17 developing Asian countries for the time period 2005–2019. Using system generalised method of moments (GMM), the study confirms whether ICT diffusion enhances or distorts the impact of trade on growth. ICT diffusion is measured through a composite index of ICT (mobile, telephone, broadband, internet) constructed using principal component analysis (PCA) along with trade (per cent of GDP), GDP per capita and human development index (HDI) as a proxy for trade openness, economic growth and inclusive growth, respectively. Findings confirm positive impact of ICT diffusion and trade openness on both economic growth and inclusive growth. Thus, trade openness and ICT can be outlined as essential contributors to the growth of the major emerging Asian economies. The study concludes with policy implications focusing on investment in ICT sector and human capital development, which will consequently foster trade and uplift growth.

JEL Codes: C23, F14, F43, O33
Making Global Pharma Supply Chain Resilient: Will the PLI Scheme of India make it a Reliable Alternative to China for the Supply of APIs?
Authors: Joseph Reji K. , Kumar Ramaa Arun
Published: August 2024

The COVID-19-induced disruptions in the global supply chains and growing geopolitical sensitivities of governments and multinational corporations (MNCs) are increasingly resulting in China plus one strategy in order to ensure supply chain resilience. This strategy is expected to benefit countries like India in sectors such as pharmaceuticals. Having faced the brunt of excessive reliance on a single country for supplies during the pandemic, India launched a product linked incentive (PLI) scheme in July 2020, covering 41 products, to incentivise domestic production of key starting materials (KSMs), drug intermediates (DIs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with the objective of reducing dependence on China. Launching at a time when countries and firms were actively considering the strategy of supply chain diversification, this scheme was perceived to be perfectly timed. However, the response of the industry was not on the expected lines. This article analyses the early trends coming from the implementation of the scheme and looks into the reasons for the lukewarm response of the industry. It identifies three areas—creating confidence among the investors, accommodating micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and involving public sector enterprises—where more attention is needed to make India self-reliant in APIs and their DIs and KSMs.

JEL Codes: F02, F13, L24, L65, L78, O30
Protecting Digital Assets: Government Initiatives and NGOs Participation
Authors: Sharma Anupam
Published: August 2024

Digital assets are an indispensable part of human life and have taken shape as valuable assets in sentimental and monetary forms. Being valuable, these digital assets need to be protected with a specific security set-up including a trained army of technocrats, government machinery, NGOs and experts engaged in similar activities. This army of all stakeholders will help to protect the people and motivate them to protect their digital assets. The number and role of NGOs have grown dramatically in a welfare society and they have become a bridge between government and the common people. These NGOs are generally formed by like-minded persons and organisations such as government machinery, technocrats, private organisations, lawyers, academicians, techno-savvy people, police personnel and students to bring awareness to the common people on protecting digital assets. The present research article shows that in future, a new set of institutional linkage between state agencies and NGOs needs to be explored and researched into.
Book review: Amitabh Ghosh, The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis
Authors: Nanda Samar
Published: August 2024

Amitabh Ghosh, The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis. Penguin Random House India, 2021, 339 pp., ₹599. ISBN 9780670095629 (Hardbound).
Social work students and teachers responding to internally displaced persons’ need of shelter in Ukraine in spring 2022: Service learning and recognition
Authors: Cuadra Carin Björngren , Wallengren-Lynch Michael , Kokoiachuk Yuliia , Rapeli Merja
Published: August 2024

In the spring of 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, social work teachers and students in Lviv provided shelter support to internally displaced people. This article explores the challenges faced as well as adapting pedagogy to the crisis. An online transnational collaboration and retrospective analysis approach was employed to gather information from the teachers and students. Through a descriptive analysis, informed by Honneth’s theory of recognition and service-learning model pedagogy, the results highlight the complex challenges inherent in humanitarian assistance. This article contributes to a heightened understanding of the role social work plays in armed conflicts.
The role of social workers in long-term care for older adults: A mixed-methods systematic review in Europe and North America from 2000 to 2022
Authors: Elices Acero Álvaro , Prieto-Lobato Juan Mª , Rodríguez-Sumaza Carmen
Published: August 2024

Demographic ageing implies increased care needs, in which social workers play a key role. However, knowledge about their practice is limited and fragmented. This mixed-methods systematic review integrates evidence from 19 studies published between 2000 and 2022 on the roles of long-term care social workers in Europe and North America. The findings reveal that service and case management, direct support, personalisation of care and community engagement are leading roles. Limitations with implications for practice are also detected, such as lack of specialisation, paperwork burden, and work overload, which should be overcome to maximise social work’s contribution to care quality.
Holding our Ground in the Face of Public Mistrust: The Future of Professionalism in Teaching and Teacher Education
Authors: Becher Ayelet
Published: August 2024

Globally, enduring skepticism around professionalism in education systems has questioned the efficiency in which teachers meet students’ educational needs and their authority to do so. Presently, efforts toward professionalization in teacher education (TE) are threatened by neoliberal reforms promoting alternative pathways into teaching and performance-based accountability mechanisms to monitor teachers and schools. In the face of public mistrust and external threats, this conceptual paper aims to envision the future of TE in light of the complexities inherent to the notion of professionalism. To this end, two competing ideals of teaching, which represent co-existing conceptions of professional work in education are examined: The teacher as an expert clinician ideal entrenched in expertise-driven professionalism and the teacher as a democratic pedagogue grounded in democratic professionalism. I offer ways in which these competing discourses could be fused to set the discussion about professionalism in teaching and its implications for TE on firmer grounds.
“It doesn’t Always Have to Be an Expert”: Professionals’ Perceptions of Practical Aspects of the Existential Dimension of Care for People Approaching Death
Authors: Bäckersten Carl , Molander Ulla , Benkel Inger , Nyblom Stina
Published: August 2024

‘Existential’ can be seen as a broad term for issues surrounding people’s experiences and way of thinking about life. This study examined availability of existential care and found that many different staff categories performed existential care. Existential care is associated with conversations and experienced as both easy and difficult; several factors were cited, e.g. insufficient time, stress and the difficulty of addressing existential questions for oneself. Respondents reported need for education, guidance and reflection around existential issues and care. Existential care is described as a natural part of patient care that all professional categories have a responsibility to offer.
Scaffolding collective hope and agency in youth activist groups: ‘I get hope through action’
Authors: Nairn Karen , Showden Carisa R. , Matthews Kyle R. , Kidman Joanna , Sligo Judith
Published: August 2024

We argue youth-led social justice movements are key sites for building collective hope in the face of the existential threats of colonisation, climate change and sexual violence. Building on the concepts of projective agency and affective scaffolding, we create an analytical framework to understand how collective hope was created and challenged in the work of six activist groups in Aotearoa New Zealand. The groups in our study encompassed a spectrum of intersecting causes – Indigenous rights, climate justice, feminist and queer rights, and social and economic justice. We attended campaigns and meetings and followed the groups’ social media between 2018 and 2021, and conducted interviews with a total of 90 participants, asking about what inspired, and sustained, their activism. We found that activists created collective hope in the groups they were part of through being, and acting, together. The commitment to shared goals, a sense of community, a belief in mutual efficacy through democratic participation, and courage to take action are integral to building collective hope. To sustain a sense of projective agency in the face of intractable issues required a variety of strategies, including affective scaffolding and support, to keep moving forward.
Transforming epistemological disconnection from the more-than-human world: (inter)nodes of ecologically attuned ways of knowing
Authors: Strausz Erzsébet
Published: August 2024

Drawing out resonances across art-based practice and critical imaginations in the discipline, this paper maps out conceptual, creative and experiential resources for re-rooting International Relations for the climate and the needs of the more-than-human world. I trace what I describe as ecologically attuned ways of knowing along two main inspirations: L. H. M. Ling’s Imagining World Politics and the 7000 HUMANS participatory initiative designed by Shelley Sacks. Writing with a rhizomatic sensibility and foregrounding ways of knowing that may emerge in and through encounters with trees, I explore imaginative possibilities for transforming epistemological disconnection from vegetal life into embodied, integrative, life-enhancing modes of relating to both ourselves and the more-than-human world.
Event-triggered leader-following consensus of nonlinear semi-Markovian multi-agent systems via improved integral inequalities
Authors: Lu Yu , Zheng Cheng-De
Published: August 2024

This paper studies the leader-following event-triggered consensus of multi-agent systems with nonlinear dynamics and semi-Markov jump. The information on transition rates is incompletely known. First, by applying weighted orthogonal polynomials, two new integral inequalities are established, which include some existing ones. Second, an event-triggered scheme is presented to save the precious communication resources. After constructing an augmented Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, a few sufficient conditions are derived to achieve the leader-following event-triggered consensus by utilizing the presented inequalities to manipulate the derivative of the functional. Finally, numerical simulation shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The impact of human resource management practices on managerial work: Institutional constraints, strategic actions and organizational outcomes
Authors: Hassard John , Morris Jonathan
Published: August 2024

The article asks what the main consequences have been for managerial work arising from changes to human resource management (HRM) practices during an era of neoliberal corporate restructuring. The authors answer this by making two contributions: (a) theorizing a range of HRM and organizational practices emerging in different socio-economic contexts, and (b) presenting qualitative empirical evidence on changes to managerial work associated with these practices across economies. For the former the authors analyse divergent and convergent human resources trends in relation to national contexts, drawing on wider debates on Varieties of Capitalism (VoC). For the latter, they examine implications for HRM and managerial work arising from firms introducing new organizational forms in Japan, the UK, the US and Brazil. Contending that HRM practices have commonly been researched within a contextual vacuum, the authors develop a position that moves ‘beyond the enterprise’ to explain HRM in ways situated within wider organizational, economic and political domains.
Errata and Corrigenda in the OHNS Literature
Authors: Bentan Mihai A. , Fenton John E. , Coelho Daniel H.
Published: August 2024

Objectives: To analyze trends in error publication in the top Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery ( OHNS) journals. Methods: A retrospective bibliometric analysis utilizing journal-specific search engines of the top 30 OHNS journals (by impact factor) were queried for “errata OR erratum OR corrigenda OR corrigendum OR correction OR corrections,” utilizing errors published between 2000 and 2023. Corrections were classified into “erratum” for errors originating from the journal and “corrigendum” for errors originating from the author. Error severity was categorized as trivial, minor, or major, based on the magnitude of their impact on outcomes or their interpretation by the reader. Results: Of the 739 analyzed errors, 62.5% (n = 462) were errata and 37.5% (n = 277) corrigenda, averaging 26.39 (±27.5) errors per journal. There was no correlation between impact factor and error occurrence ( P = .979). Trends demonstrated growing numbers of errors published over the years. Mean duration between the publication date of the original article and the error was 10.8 months (±19.4 months), but there was no significant correlation between impact factor and this duration ( P = .953). Most corrected articles were original research articles (n = 568, 76.9%), predominantly with the first author from the United States (n = 262, 36.1%). Most errors involved authorship (n = 273, 36.9%) and were “Trivial” in severity (n = 544, 73.6%). However, 72 (9.7%) errors were “Major” and altered the article’s findings or interpretation significantly. Conclusion: A multitude of errors exist in the otolaryngology field. Despite most being insignificant and affecting authorship, roughly 10% significantly affect an article’s conclusions/outcomes.

Level of Evidence: 4
The Quantitative Indicator-Based Evaluation for Rural Development
Authors: Stankulova Alexandra , Barreca Alice , Rebaudengo Manuela , Rolando Diana
Published: August 2024

The last century has been characterised by very fast industrialisation and population growth, causing strong outmigration from the rural territories, further increasing the socio-economic gap between the rural and urban areas. To counteract these problems, a lot of scholars have started studying rural development and the methodologies that could be applied to its evaluation. The main research objective of the present work is to investigate on a worldwide scale how rural development is being evaluated and, more in detail, to study the quantitative indicator-based approaches used for this kind of evaluation. Bibliometric analysis was performed with the aim of understanding in a better way the state of the scientific development of the research topic. Its duality, reflected by the nature of the phenomenon (negative or positive) from which the studies have origin from, has been confirmed. During the process of research has also encountered a new perspective – a more neutral one, with central concept the quality of life. Regarding the study of the quantitative indicator-based approaches, 47 selected papers have been analysed in detail and an extensive database containing 32 dimensions, 72 sub-dimensions and 892 indicators was created. Some universal dimensions and indicators have been encountered, although it cannot be known whether they are truly comparable due to the lack of transparency present in different research. For the future development and dissemination of these approaches, it is necessary to achieve greater transparency in how they are calculated and greater availability of open data.
‘We cracked a hole in this very white structure’: Indigenous journalism practices in mainstream Australian news organisations
Authors: Thomas Archie
Published: August 2024

A new wave of anti-racist politics is challenging the racialised dynamics of news media reporting. This paper explores the experiences of Indigenous journalists working in mainstream news media organisations in Australia in this changing context, and their strategies to navigate the racial political economy and news values of the industry. While many have observed the growing number of Indigenous journalists working in mainstream news, Indigenous journalists’ experiences and practices in these contexts have rarely been canvassed. I analyse 11 in-depth interviews with practicing journalists in Australia to explore how they have their mediated their positions. I suggest that Indigenous journalists engage in a specifically Indigenous journalistic practice, informed by connections to place, community and culture. This can be understood as a contested practice of Indigenous sovereignty. It also highlights the racialised presumptions of news values, including notions of objectivity, authority and balance.
Book review: Sarvani Gooptu (Ed), Wandering Women: Travel Writings in Bengali Periodicals 1900–1940
Authors: Santra Barsha
Published: August 2024

Sarvani Gooptu (Ed), Wandering Women: Travel Writings in Bengali Periodicals 1900–1940 (Delhi: Primus Books, 2023), xiv + 451 pp.
Book review: Francesca Orsini, East of Delhi: Multilingual Literary Culture and World Literature
Authors: Sharma Dolly
Published: August 2024

Francesca Orsini, East of Delhi: Multilingual Literary Culture and World Literature (New York: Oxford University Press, 2023), xix + 288 pp.