bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the physico-mechanical and thermal properties of flexible polyurethane foams made with standard and special polyols produced by the variable pressure foaming technique
Authors: Singh Vratika , Gopalasamudram Mahesh N , Maitra Jaya
Published: January 2025

This study demonstrates the technical viability of producing low-density flexible polyurethane foam (14 kg/m³) at low vacuum pressure (600 mbar) using both conventional polyether polyol (Polyol-1) and a special polyether polyol (Polyol-2) with variable pressure foaming (VPF) technology. The foam made with Polyol-2 exhibited superior mechanical properties, including increased elongation, resilience, and softness, compared to Polyol-1. SEM analysis revealed that Polyol-2 foam had a more open, irregular cell structure, contributing to improved elasticity. TGA analysis confirmed that the foam produced from Polyol-2 exhibited greater thermal stability at low vacuum pressure. FTIR characterization confirmed the distinct chemical structure of Polyol-1 and Polyol-2 foam. Low-density foams in the polymer sector are often produced using conventional processes that rely on auxiliary blowing agents such methylene chloride, acetone, pentane, carbon dioxide, trichloroethane, and chlorofluorocarbon. Unfortunately, a lot of these chemicals are restricted because of environmental issues, such as health hazards and ozone layer depletion. In the present research the foams were produced without auxiliary blowing agents (ABA), addressing environmental concerns. This research highlights the potential of Polyol-2 foam for comfort layer applications, offering enhanced mechanical properties, durability, and sustainability over conventional foam production methods.
The Psychosocial and Contextual Predictors of Revenge Desire and Attitudes in Crime Victims: A Scoping Review
Authors: McGaughey Katie , Delaney Rian , McGlinchey Emily , Hanna Donncha , Armour Cherie
Published: January 2025

Criminal victimization is associated with an increased risk of violent offending, which can be motivated by revenge. Experiencing revenge desire could also be harmful for crime victims’ mental health. To limit revenge’s harmful effects, researchers have examined the predictors of revenge desire and attitudes. However, little is known about the predictors of revenge desire and attitudes in crime victims specifically. This scoping review aims to identify the contextual and psychosocial predictors of revenge desire and attitudes from the existing literature. Databases (PsycInfo, PsycArticles, SCOPUS, Web of Science and MEDLINE) were searched in February 2024. Papers published in English, with data pertaining to the psychosocial and contextual predictors of revenge desire and attitudes in crime victims, were included. Quantitative studies and meta-analyses were included. Qualitative studies and reviews were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using JBI’s critical appraisal tools. 3689 records were screened. 10 reports, covering 14 studies, were included. A narrative review was conducted. Four categories of predictors were identified, namely 1) offence-related predictors, 2) mental health predictors, 3) criminal justice system predictors, and 4) demographic predictors. Significant predictors included PTSD symptoms, which were correlated with higher revenge desire, and participation in restorative justice, which was found to lower crime victims’ desire for violent revenge in a series of randomized controlled trials. However, this review highlights the need for further research in this area. Many predictors were merely examined in a single study, so require replication. In addition, studies were largely cross-sectional, limiting conclusions about causation.
Is Transformational Military Leadership Out There? An Exploratory Research Study of Military Teams in Action
Authors: Barfod Jakob Rømer , Clifton Jonathan
Published: January 2025

Transformational leadership has entered the doctrines of many militaries and has become a fundamental aspect of military training and an aspiration in military practice. However, prior research has not sought to analyze the in situ doing of leadership on combat zone service. To address this research gap, using video and audio-recordings of Danish soldiers on combat service in Afghanistan in 2018, this article takes an inductive and qualitative discursive approach to leadership. More specifically, it investigates the extent to which behaviors associated with transformational leadership are observable in the in situ practice of army teams. We present this article as exploratory research which analyzes what is happening in a limited number of cases to come up with tentative conclusions that suggest avenues for further research that may be investigated in more extensive studies.
Trajectory of Cognitive Decline Across Different Racial/Ethnic Groups: The Role of Edentulism
Authors: Liu Ruotong , Qi Xiang , Luo Huabin , Wu Bei
Published: January 2025

This study examines whether age-related cognitive decline varies by race/ethnicity and how edentulism moderates these effects. Data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2020), including 23,669 respondents aged 51 and above across 189,352 person-wave observations were analyzed. Of all respondents, 13.4% were edentulous at baseline, with 65.4% identified as non-Hispanic White, 20.5% non-Hispanic Black, and 14.18% Hispanic. Results from linear mixed-effect models indicated that compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black participants exhibited lower baseline cognition scores but slower cognitive decline with age. For edentulous Hispanic participants, this slower rate of decline was attenuated by 0.03 units per year (95% CI: −0.06, −0.01, p = .049). The findings highlighted the need for targeted interventions and policies to improve oral health, particularly for Hispanic populations. Addressing oral health disparities could help mitigate cognitive decline in this group and reduce cognitive health disparities across racial/ethnic groups.
Development of a Deep Learning Tool to Support the Assessment of Thyroid Follicular Cell Hypertrophy in the Rat
Authors: Naylor Stuart W. , McInnes Elizabeth F. , Alibhai James , Burgess Scott , Baily James
Published: January 2025

Thyroid tissue is sensitive to the effects of endocrine disrupting substances, and this represents a significant health concern. Histopathological analysis of tissue sections of the rat thyroid gland remains the gold standard for the evaluation for agrochemical effects on the thyroid. However, there is a high degree of variability in the appearance of the rat thyroid gland, and toxicologic pathologists often struggle to decide on and consistently apply a threshold for recording low-grade thyroid follicular hypertrophy. This research project developed a deep learning image analysis solution that provides a quantitative score based on the morphological measurements of individual follicles that can be integrated into the standard pathology workflow. To achieve this, a U-Net convolutional deep learning neural network was used that not just identifies the various tissue components but also delineates individual follicles. Further steps to process the raw individual follicle data were developed using empirical models optimized to produce thyroid activity scores that were shown to be superior to the mean epithelial area approach when compared with pathologists’ scores. These scores can be used for pathologist decision support using appropriate statistical methods to assess the presence or absence of low-grade thyroid hypertrophy at the group level.
Withholding Knowledge in Healthcare: The Effect of Perceived Injustice on Organizational Performance
Authors: Shaukat Hira , Shuakat Iqra , Shoukat Muhammad Haroon , Selem Kareem M.
Published: January 2025

This research investigates the pivotal role of perceived organizational injustice (POI) on organizational performance (OPE). Additionally, this study explores knowledge hiding (KH) and perceived organizational politics as moderating boundary effects. We gathered data from 275 private hospital employees in Pakistan. PLS-SEM was employed to assess the measurement and structural models, while PROCESS v.4 was used to test hypotheses. Our findings provide insightful results into the dynamic effect of POI on OPE, highlighting significant interactions that influence KH within healthcare organizations. These findings offer valuable implications for researchers in healthcare and organizational behaviour, suggesting pathways to improve organizational practices and encouraging future research to examine these relationships in diverse healthcare contexts.
Retributive punishment: Between vindication and healing
Authors: Cesur Halil
Published: January 2025

This article engages with the mental and emotional transition of victims in the post-violation process in light of recent retributive theories. It argues that two separate yet related needs of victims must be addressed by legal intervention: normative vindication and therapeutic recovery. Retributive punishment can be said to right the wrong done to victims, expressing the message that they are violated and should be vindicated. It achieves this by reaffirming their normative status while also addressing and redressing their sense of injustice and moral vulnerability: normative restoration. However, the senses of injustice and moral vulnerability are different from those of injury, loss, and grief. Even if retributive punishment provides a means of communicating solidarity with victims in a normative sense, it is doubtful how it provides healing for the losses and injuries left unrepaired. Victims also require a therapeutic intervention, allowing them to come to terms with the sufferings of violation: ethical restoration. This article claims that recent victim-oriented retributivism highlights a dimension of punishment that has not been sufficiently explored in penal theory by providing normative restoration, but it is not clear whether it is structurally well positioned to address and heal the deeper wounds caused by criminal violation.
Aberrant alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in the lateral ventricle of Ccdc85C knockout rats
Authors: Jannat Nure , Hasan Md. Mehedi , Tokuno Hisaki , Tanaka Miyuu , Izawa Takeshi , Yamate Jyoji , Kuwamura Mitsuru
Published: January 2025

Coiled-coil domain containing 85c ( Ccdc85c) is a causative gene for genetic hydrocephalus found in hemorrhagic hydrocephalus ( hhy) mice. The Ccdc85c knockout (KO) rat has subcortical heterotopia with frequent brain hemorrhage as seen in hhy mice. In this study, we report aberrant alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in the wall of lateral ventricle of the Ccdc85c KO rats. The α-SMA-positive cells were distributed at the dorsal, medial, and lateral regions of the lateral ventricle of KO rats. The expression of α-SMA was first observed on postnatal day 20 (P20) and became noticeably stronger at P26 when hydrocephalus was prominent. Double immunofluorescence showed co-expression of α-SMA with nestin, vimentin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein in the ventricular lining of KO rats. Therefore, we conclude that α-SMA-positive cells may represent an immature subpopulation of cells at adult age around the lateral ventricle of Ccdc85c KO rats.
An Environmentally Conscientious Workplace
Authors: Goldstick Karen
Published: January 2025

Current technologies can turn back global warming
Biparametric magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic tool for differentiating RCC and renal pseudotumor in CKD patients
Authors: Raj Himanshu , Lal Hira , Rustagi Sanchit , Yadav Arpan , Singh Uday Pratap , Baid Anil , Sureka Sanjoy Kumar
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

Pseudotumors are benign lesions which may mimic like a malignant tumor on conventional imaging. They are formed in kidneys which are scarred and deformed by chronic pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, trauma or infarction. There is a diagnostic dilemma in most of the cases as to differentiate RCC and pseudotumors. Our study shows bp-MRI (T2w, DW MRI) can distinguish pseudotumors from RCCs and offers a non-contrast non-invasive alternative in CKD patients.

Materials and Methods:

Prospective evaluation of 80 CKD patients (CKD IV/V), having suspicious renal mass <4 cm on Ultrasound, were subjected to bp-MRI. Two groups were defined on the basis of restriction pattern on DWI. ADC values were calculated. Group I (suspected RCC or malignant tumor) underwent surgical management according to the institutional protocol. Group II (suspected pseudotumor) were subjected to biopsy. ROC curves were drawn to find out area under curve for differentiation of groups and cut-off ADC values calculated so as to achieve highest average sensitivity and specificity. A p-value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results:

Sixty patients (Group I) had restricted pattern on DWI imaging whilst 20 had no restriction (Group II), hence ruling out malignancy. It showed a sensitivity of 81.82%, specificity 96.55% in the correct diagnosis. Mean ADC-value for CKD pseudotumors (Group II) was significantly higher than RCCs and surrounding diseased parenchyma (2.20 vs 1.52 (×10−3 mm2/s; p < 0.0001) and 1.99 (×10−3 mm2/s; p = 0.0001) respectively). ROC analysis for differentiating CKD pseudotumors and RCC yielded high sensitivity (85%) and specificity (99%) for cut-off ADC-value of 1.71 (×10−3 mm2/s).

Conclusion:

bp-MRI is a highly reliable imaging modality for the evaluation of renal lesions. Its ability to accurately differentiate pseudotumors from renal cell carcinomas, even in the absence of contrast administration can be a boon in the diagnostic armamentarium.
A systematic review of plastic recycling: technology, environmental impact and economic evaluation
Authors: Jiang Xiaoli , Bateer Buhe
Published: January 2025

In this systematic review, advancements in plastic recycling technologies, including mechanical, thermolysis, chemical and biological methods, are examined. Comparisons among recycling technologies have identified current research trends, including a focus on pretreatment technologies for waste materials and the development of new organic chemistry or biological techniques that enable recycling with minimal energy consumption. Existing environmental and economic studies are also compared. The findings highlight differences in the environmental characteristics of various recycling methods, including their ability to recover plastic resins, carbon footprint, electricity consumption and gas emissions. The comparisons also reveal the challenges associated with these methods: mechanical recycling often encounters economic barriers due to contamination and inefficiencies in sorting and cleaning processes; thermolysis is constrained by high energy demands and operational costs, whereas chemical and biological recycling faces limitations related to scalability and material costs. Additionally, current challenges, emerging research areas and future directions in plastic recycling are discussed. For example, the role of innovative techniques, such as artificial intelligence, in refining recycling processes is emphasized. The importance of incorporating circular economy principles in the integrated sustainable analysis of recycling processes is also highlighted. The innovative contribution of this review is to address both technological developments and their environmental and economic implications. The focus is placed on literature from the past 10 years to ensure coverage of the most recent advancements. Overall, the insights of this review article aim to guide researchers, policymakers and industry stakeholders in improving sustainable management practices for plastic waste.
Defining and Conceptualizing Technology-Facilitated Abuse (“Tech Abuse”): Findings of a Global Delphi Study
Authors: Koukopoulos Nikolaos , Janickyj Madeleine , Tanczer Leonie Maria
Published: January 2025

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) describes the misuse or repurposing of digital systems to harass, coerce, or abuse. It is a global problem involving both existing and emerging technologies. Despite significant work across research, policy, and practice to understand the issue, the field operates within linguistic, conceptual, and disciplinary silos, inhibiting collaboration. To address this, the present study used the Delphi technique to reach a consensus on TFA conceptualization, definition, terminology, and measurement among subject experts. Following a literature review, a global, cross-disciplinary sample of academics, practitioners, and policymakers ( n = 316) reflected on TFA across three survey rounds. The results showed both aligned and opposing perspectives. “Technology” and “facilitated” were the most preferable terms. Still, there was uncertainty regarding the need for additional terminologies to denote the scope of abuse, such as gendered descriptors. Participants had little familiarity with existing TFA measurement tools, with two-thirds unaware of any. Most experts agreed on conceptualizing TFA based on the perpetrator’s behavior, the victim’s harm and impact, and consent. They also supported an expansive TFA definition, beyond intimate relationships, that can involve groups and communities as perpetrators or targets. However, they were more reluctant to perceive TFA as a distinct abuse form, or one guided by social norms, legal thresholds, or involving child perpetrators. The findings are discussed in the context of the current TFA landscape, along with study limitations and steps to achieve a more unified TFA understanding.
A four-level model of political polarization over science: Evidence from 10 European countries
Authors: Rekker Roderik
Published: January 2025

Citizens’ trust in science increasingly depends on their political leaning. Structural equation models on survey data from 10 European countries ( N = 5306) demonstrate that this science polarization can be captured by a model with four levels of generalization. Voters of populist parties distrust the system and elite in general, which indirectly fuels a broad science skepticism. At another level, right-wingers have less trust in science as a whole than left-wingers. After accounting for this general skepticism, left-wingers and right-wingers are, however, similarly prone to contest ideology-incongruent research fields and specific claims. These findings have three implications. First, research on science skepticism should carefully consider all four levels and their interplay. Second, the science polarization between populist and non-populist voters has fundamentally different origins than the effect of left–right ideology. Third, a four-level model can expose ideological symmetries in science rejection that have previously remained largely undetected in observational studies.
Economic Policy Uncertainty and Corporate Dividend: Does the Presence of Government Shareholders Play a Role?
Authors: Tran Ly Thi Hai , Bao Ho Hoang Gia
Published: January 2025

This article examines the effect of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on the dividend policies of Vietnamese listed firms moderated by the role of government shareholders. A wide range of control variables and different regression methods are used to ensure the reliability of the results. We find that firms distribute more cash to shareholders under increased EPU. Notably, the presence of the government shareholder reduces the effect of EPU on dividends. Further analyses indicate that firms with state ownership cut dividends for increasing capital expenditures rather than other purposes such as cash hoarding, debt reduction, inventory expansion, or dealing with declined profits. This article enhances the understanding about the connection between government ownership, EPU, and dividend policy.

JEL Codes: C30, C32, C35
Association Between BMI and Neurocognitive Functions Among Middle-aged Obese Adults: Preliminary Findings Using Machine-learning (ML)-based Approach
Authors: Magan Dipti , Yadav Raj Kumar , Aneja Jitender , Pandey Shivam
Published: January 2025

Background

Studies suggest that obesity predisposes individuals to developing cognitive dysfunction and an increased risk of dementia, but the nature of the relationship remains largely unexplored for better prognostic predictors.

Purpose

This study, the first of its kind in Indian participants with obesity, was intended to explore the use of quantification of different neurocognitive indices with increasing body mass index (BMI) among middle-aged participants with obesity. Additionally, machine-learning models were used to analyse the predictive performance of BMI for different cognitive functions.

Methods

In the cross-sectional analytical study, a total of 137 ( n = 137) participants were included. Out of the total, 107 healthy obese (BMI = 23.0–30.0 kg m−2; age between 36 and 55 years of both genders) were recruited from the out-patient department of the Department of Endocrinology and General Medicine, and 30 participants were recruited as the control group, between March 2023 to February 2024. The participants underwent neuropsychological assessments, including mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Results

Significant ( p < .05) differences were observed for neurocognitive functions for the obese group versus the control group. According to the correlation heatmaps, BMI was significantly ( p < .05) negatively associated with BDNF. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed a substantial ( p < .05) decline in BDNF with a change in BMI, accenting its significant impact on cognitive ageing. Additionally, consistent decreasing trends were observed across the MoCA and MMSE, confirming the robustness of the findings across diverse analytical methodologies. Furthermore, the linear regression model and super vector machine model contributed additional evidence to the consistency of the trends in cognitive decline linked to BMI variations.

Conclusion

The preliminary results of the present study support that increased BMI is an important physiological indicator that influences neurocognition and neuroplasticity in individuals with obesity.
Nurturing Wellness: Development and Evaluation of a Novel Herbal Formulation with Immunomodulatory Activity
Authors: Maru Saurabh , Belemkar Sateesh
Published: January 2025

Background

Disease prevention prevailed in the post-COVID world. The global trends are trailing toward prevention and immunity enhancement with alternative therapies and herbal drugs.

Purpose

The current research was performed to prepare and standardize a herbal formulation reported to have multiple health benefits including immunomodulation.

Methods

Ethanolic extracts of Asparagus racemosus, Tinospora cordifolia, and Trigonella foenum-graecum were prepared and used in the proportion of 1:1:1. The extracts were analyzed for phytochemicals and further standardized by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) with analytical standards for all three drugs, that is, shatavarin IV, trigonelline, and berberine. The A. racemosus, T. cordifolia, and T. foenum-graecum extract blend (ATTEB) was tested for neutrophil adhesion and carbon clearance to check for overall immunomodulatory activity. The effervescent tablets were formulated and evaluated for various pharmacopoeial parameters. Accelerated stability studies of the formulations were done for 6 months duration as per the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines.

Results

The phytochemical and HPTLC results confirmed the presence of bioactive constituents in extracts and formulation. The blend of extract ATTEB (neutrophil adhesion: 52.17 ± 0.79, phagocytic index: 0.0292 ± 0.002) enhanced neutrophil adhesion by approximately 35% from the control group (16.91 ± 1.94), with almost five-fold higher phagocytic index compared to the control group (0.0056 ± 0.004) and even higher compared to the standard drug group (0.022 ± 0.001). A ready-to-use formulation of effervescent tablets was prepared and evaluated. The B7 batch showed a suitable formulation based on the various evaluation parameters. The formulation was found to be stable under 6-month accelerated stability studies.

Conclusion

The research study successfully developed a novel formulation of the blend with immunomodulatory activity.
A Case Report on Hypothalamic Hamartoma—An Odd Cause of Unusual Seizure Presentation and Drug-resistant Epilepsy in Children
Authors: MV Vijitha , MO Nirmala , Vilanilam George C , L Suja Raj
Published: January 2025

Background

Hypothalamic Hamartoma (HH) is a rare benign mass in the hypothalamus that typically manifests as gelastic seizures (GS) (epileptic events characterized by bouts of laughter inappropriate to the context) resulting in treatment-resistant epilepsy, central precocious puberty (CPP), cognitive decline, or behavioral abnormalities in children.

Purpose

To find out the menifestations and management of child with HH.

Methods

We report the case of a two-year-old child diagnosed with HH, which manifested as refractory GS, development of secondary sexual characteristics, and aggressive behavior.

Results

The child was managed successfully by surgical resection of the mass. The postoperative phase was uneventful, with a good outcome. Timely detection of the condition, parental counseling and education, and early management of the case is important for the best outcome.
How to Reduce Knowledge Hiding among Teachers? Exploring the Predictive Role of Organizational Politics 1
Authors: Alev Sedat , Balkar Betül
Published: January 2025

Teachers’ generosity in sharing knowledge is one of the contributing factors in the development of schools’ learning organization capacity and organizational performance. To encourage teachers to share knowledge, favorable organizational conditions should be provided. Therefore, this research investigated the association between the organizational politics perceived by teachers at school and teachers’ knowledge hiding behaviors. The sample of this correlational study consisted of 318 secondary school teachers in Türkiye. Data was collected through self-reported questionnaires. After establishing the reliability and validity of measures, structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. Two models, including “the perception of organizational politics” and “the perception of organizational-oriented and individual-oriented organizational politics,” were tested for predictiveness of knowledge hiding behavior. Results showed that both organizational politics perception and organizational-oriented and individual-oriented politics perceptions predicted teachers’ behavior of hiding knowledge from colleagues. Managerial implications for school principals, limitations, and future research directions were discussed.
If I Learn to Ride a Bicycle, I Will Turn From Gay to Straight”: Decoding ‘Masculine Behaviour’ and Gay Voice in Vasudhendra’s Mohanaswamy
Authors: Ruchi Kumari , Jha Smita , Mahapatra Aruni
Published: January 2025

This article discusses the representation and reciprocation of masculinity in gay men, primarily from non-urban setups in India, which has been underrepresented in South Asian masculinity studies. Vasudhendra’s coming-out book, Mohanaswamy (2013/2016), set in the Indian state, Karnataka, paves the way for the study of the impact of hegemonic masculine behavior and ideal masculinity in gay men in the transition from rural to urban setup. The imposition of ‘idealistic’ masculine behavior seeks scrutiny of the critical question: how does the hegemonic masculinity impact gay masculinities in the non-urban Indian setup in Mohanaswamy? This study seeks to provide answers to pertinent questions and create space for a more inclusive study of men through a detailed examination of the deconstruction of hegemonic masculinity in Indian gay masculinity, deriving from the theoretical framework by the scholars of masculinity studies.
Symptomatic Accessory Navicular Treated With Endoscopic Accessory Navicular and Partial Navicular Resection
Authors: Nakajima Kenichiro
Published: January 2025

Background:

This study aims to report the results of the patients with symptomatic accessory navicular (AN) who underwent endoscopic AN and partial navicular resection.

Methods:

The medical records of patients with type 2 symptomatic AN who underwent the aforementioned surgery at our hospital from November 2019 to May 2022 with a follow-up of >2 years were reviewed. Data on clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes were obtained.

Results:

The analysis included 29 patients (20 females; mean age, 19.6 years; mean body mass index, 21.5) with a mean follow-up duration of 39.5 months. Comparing the preoperative and postoperative scores, visual analog scale score improved from 74.6 to 5.4, and the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot score improved from 63.0 to 95.9. We had one wound dehiscence and no other recognized complications. Magnetic resonance and ultrasonographic imaging done 1 year postoperatively revealed that the empty space that remained after resection of the AN was filled with tendonlike tissue.

Conclusion:

Endoscopic AN and partial navicular resection for treating symptomatic AN resulted in good outcomes and only one case with wound complications.
Health and Economic Impact Estimation of Ambient Air Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Pollution in Addis Ababa Using BenMAP-CE Model
Authors: Getachew Mulugeta , Mekonnen Andualem , Fitsum Desta
Published: January 2025

Exposure to ambient air particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution presents a significant public health and economic challenge in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This thesis used the Environmental benefits mapping and analysis program-community edition (BenMAP-CE) software tool to estimate health and economic impact of ambient air PM2.5 pollution. The study evaluated the impact of decreasing the annual average PM2.5 concentration in 2019 (32.8 µg/m3) to different international and national air quality standards, including World health Organization’s guidelines and the Ethiopian National Ambient Air Quality standard (NAAQS). Results showed that Addis Ababa exceeded both WHO’s and Ethiopia’s ambient air quality standards in 2019. The study estimated the attributable deaths from cardiovascular, ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lower respiratory infection (LRI) due to PM2.5 exposure across 3 reduction scenarios. Additionally, economic benefits associated with avoided deaths were quantified using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Value of Statistical Life (VSL) methodology. The finding demonstrated that reducing PM2.5 pollution levels led to a notable decrease in mortality rates from various health conditions in Addis Ababa. Moreover substantial economic benefits, amounting to millions of dollars, were observed across all health endpoints, indicating significant societal savings. This study underscores the importance of implementing interventions to mitigate PM2.5 pollution for improved public health and economic well-being in Addis Ababa and similar urban settings.
How does infrastructure investment boost tourism development? Evidence from China
Authors: Zhao Lei , Li Qian , Chen Jamie M
Published: January 2025

Despite infrastructure investment being an essential means to boost tourism development, empirical specifications are needed to examine the different effect of infrastructures on tourism. Based on the infrastructure-led development theory, this study utilizes panel data from China’s 30 provincial-level administrative units and categorizes infrastructure investment into three types: traditional, technology, and livelihood. The findings reveal that all three types of infrastructure investment contribute to tourism development. Notably, the livelihood infrastructure investment emerges as the most impactful factor, while the technology infrastructure investment demonstrates relatively minor impacts. The impact of infrastructure investments on tourism development is mediated by market integration, with positive moderating effects of tourism resource endowment. Heterogeneity analyses show that the positive impact of infrastructure investment on tourism development also varies across different regions. This study enriches the infrastructure-led growth theory and provides valuable empirical evidence to guide the effective utilization of infrastructure investment for tourism development.
Children as concealed commodities: Ethnographic nuances and legal implications of kidfluencers’ monetisation on TikTok
Authors: Divon Tom , Annabell Taylor , Goanta Catalina
Published: January 2025

Our article delves into the emergence of ‘kidfluencers’ within the content creator economy, highlighting how children’s participation intertwines their identities with monetisation strategies on platforms. Focusing on TikTok, we blend ethnographic and legal analysis of 215 videos from 23 kidfluencers in Israel, New Zealand and the Unites States, illuminating the complexities of monetising childhood across cultures. We highlight four monetisation and visibility practices in which children are exposed, mobilised and commodified in their parents’ content: (1) kids as props; brands as playmates, (2) transactional childhood, (3) aspirational child-ification and (4) regulative parenthood. Our analysis shows how children become concealed commodities, with varying degrees of (in)visibility in monetisation practices, from playful participation in branded content to embodying idealised notions of childhood for brand visibility. We situate our analysis within regulatory frameworks, revealing how TikTok’s policies conceal children’s role in monetised content, and reflect on platform liability under the European Union’s Digital Services Act.
Enhancing ride comfort of semi-active suspension through collaboration control using dung beetle optimizer optimized Fuzzy PID controller
Authors: Zhang Kunlun , As’arry Azizan , Zhu Liucun , Hairuddin Abdul Aziz , Hassan Mohd Khair , Md Zain Mohd Zarhamdy
Published: January 2025

The enhancement of automobile quality is a significant area of modern research and development, with a focus on improving ride comfort and driving experience. This is achieved not only through structural improvements but also through the optimization of suspension control strategies. To enhance the ability of online real-time adjustment and overcome the limitations of fuzzy control, this study combines dung beetle optimizer (DBO), Fuzzy control, and Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control to propose a reduced optimization complexity control method to improve MR damper control. The control parameters generated by fuzzy control are utilized as the initial values for DBO iteration to obtain the optimal solution, which is subsequently fed into the PID controller to regulate changes in the actuator’s magnetic field. Use MATLAB/Simulink to build a quarter semi-active suspension model with magnetorheological (MR) dampers for simulation analysis. Under sinusoidal and random disturbances, compared with the passive suspension, the vehicle acceleration of the Fuzzy-DBO-PID controller is reduced by 51%, 50.82%, 47.56% and 11.42%. Compared with Fuzzy-PID, the vehicle acceleration of Fuzzy-DBO-PID is reduced by 25.98%, 32.86%, 29.41%, and 7.19% on sinusoidal and random disturbances, which improves the ride comfort and verifies the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Evaluation of mental disorder related to colposcopy procedure during the COVID period: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Bochicchio Ilaria , Catalano Martina , Deiana Giovanni , Roviello Giandomenico , Marino Pasquale , Calenda Fabrizia , Lettini Alessandro R , Sanseverino Francesca
Published: January 2025

Background:

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on healthcare organizations, leading to a reduction in screening. The pandemic period has caused important psychological repercussions in the most fragile patients.

Objectives:

This study aimed to assess the levels of depression, anxiety, peri-traumatic stress, and physical symptoms in patients undergoing colposcopy during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare these data with the post-pandemic period.

Design:

This longitudinal study included 96 individuals undergoing colposcopy, aged between 22 and 64, who were examined between March 2020 and December 2023.

Methods:

Participants were assessed at four distinct time points, referred to as T0, T1, T2, and T3. T0 encompassed the pandemic period, ranging from March 2020 to August 2020, while T1 occurred 1 year later, T2 and T3 correspond to data collected in 2022 and 2023. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various psychological variables. Descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations, and frequency distributions, were calculated for each psychological variable within each time period.

Results:

Our findings revealed a significant reduction in peri-traumatic stress and pain levels in the post-pandemic (from 2021 to 2023) period compared to the pandemic period. Conversely, anxiety and depression levels exhibited a statistically significant increase in the post-pandemic period and then gradually decrease in the subsequent follow-up.

Conclusion:

This study provides valuable insights into the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological distress experienced during the pandemic period itself, as well as its enduring effects on anxiety and depression in the subsequent period.
Association of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor genotypes and haplotypes with acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk
Authors: Al-Tamimi Jameel , Alomar Suliman , Aljuaimlani Ali , Mansour Lamjed
Published: January 2025

Background

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are key molecules used by natural killer (NK) cells to interact with target cells. These receptors exhibit extensive genotypic polymorphism which has been associated with varying outcomes in immune responses against diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between KIR genotypes and haplotypes with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Saudi patients.

Methods

A total of 259 Saudi subjects including 145 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 114 healthy controls living in Riyadh were genotyped for 16 KIR genes and the two HLA-C1 and -C2 allotypes using PCR-SSP genotyping method.

Results

A significant high frequency of the two inhibitory KIR genes; 2DL1 (OR = 2.4; p < 0.0001) and 3DL1(OR = 10.87; p = 0.0068) in ALL compared to healthy group was observed. In contrast, the activating 2DS4 gene was significantly higher in healthy controls (OR = 0.15, p < 0.0001) compared to ALL patients. Haplotype analysis shows that BX haplogroup was strongly associated with the occurrence of ALL (OR = 4.39; p < 0.0001). Further combinatory analysis of KIR genes with their HLA-C1 and -C2 ligands demonstrated strong statistically protective effect of the 2DS1-C2 combination from ALL (OR = 0.06; p = 0.0003).

Conclusion

This study presents strong evidence supporting the connection between certain KIR genotypes, haplotypes, and KIR-HLA combinations with acute ALL in the Saudi population. The heightened occurrence of inhibitory KIR genes ( 2DL1 and 3DL1) and the BX haplotype in ALL patients indicates a possible involvement of these genetic variability with the dysfunctional of NK cells in the context of ALL disease.
Sexual Afterglow: How Long Does It Last and Does It Vary by the Relative Importance of Sex, Who Initiates It, or Who Rejects It?
Authors: Breedin Olivia W. , Meltzer Andrea L. , Turner Jordan A. , Hicks Lindsey L. , French Juliana E. , Altgelt Emma E. , McNulty James K.
Published: January 2025

Pioneering research suggested that sexual afterglow (lingering sexual satisfaction following an act of sex) lasts 2 but not 3 days and predicts subsequent relationship satisfaction. Nevertheless, recent research highlights the importance of considering the differential impacts of sexual acceptance and rejection. We used 2-week, daily-diary data from 576 participants to demonstrate that sexual afterglow lasted at least 1 day on average, particularly following partner-initiated and mutually initiated sex, and did not depend on individual differences in the importance of sex or sexual rejection, though negative aftereffects of sexual rejection lasted 3 days. Furthermore, lingering sexual (dis)satisfaction often predicted subsequent relationship satisfaction. Mini-meta-analyses of the current data with all published data suggest sexual afterglow lasts at least 1 day and predicts relationship quality whereas sexual rejection did not reliably produce aftereffects. Conclusions focus future research on other factors that may contribute to differences in sexual afterglow and reactions to other discrete events.
Automatic tool for the reconciliation of serious adverse events for pharmacovigilance: design and implementation of Reconciliaid
Authors: Contu Sara , Schiappa Renaud , Chateau Yann , Chamorey Emmanuel
Published: January 2025

Background:

Reporting serious adverse events (SAEs) is crucial to reduce or avoid toxicities that can lead to major consequences for patient’s health due to treatments tested in clinical trials. Its exhaustiveness is often inadequate, and we observe discrepancies between data published by pharmacovigilance organizations and clinical databases.

Objectives:

While the process of reconciliation aims at reducing these differences, it remains a very time-consuming and imprecise task. We propose a tool to automate this process.

Design:

We have developed and tested Reconciliaid, an application that compares the SAEs of the databases of clinical trials collected according to a standard inspired by the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium, and of pharmacovigilance collected according to the international standards ICH-E2B (R3). It generates a reconciliation file that indicates precisely what information does not coincide in the two databases to facilitate the identification of inconsistencies.

Methods:

Reconciliaid was tested to create 13 reconciliation files, containing 290 SAEs. We inspected these files to determine their ability in identifying the inconsistencies and compared the manual and semi-automated reconciliation time. Four users answered the System Usability Scale (SUS) to measure its usability.

Results:

The application identified all variables of interest in all reconciliations. Different formats and libraries were automatically harmonized, allowing a perfect identification of inconsistencies for all variables. The matching of the same SAE in the two databases was correct in 97.2% of the reconciliations. Reconciliaid is six times faster than the manual approach for senior data managers (range = 3–24 times). A novice data manager performed three reconciliations 4.8 faster with the help of Reconciliaid than manually (29 min vs 134 min) and with fewer mistakes. Mean SUS score was 92.5.

Conclusion:

Reconciliaid has a high level of usability, can increase the quality of reconciliation, and reduces considerably the reconciliation time, allowing to increase the frequency of reconciliation processes and to focus resources on patient safety and medical assessment.
On the Statistical Analysis of Experiments With Manipulation Checks
Authors: Mathur Maya B.
Published: January 2025

Psychologists are often interested in the effect of an internal state, such as ego depletion, that cannot be directly assigned in an experiment. Instead, they assign participants to a manipulation intended to produce this state and use manipulation checks to assess the manipulation’s effectiveness. In this article, I discuss statistical analyses for experiments in which researchers are primarily interested in the average treatment effect (ATE) of the target internal state rather than that of the manipulation. Often, researchers estimate the association of the manipulation itself with the dependent variable, but this intention-to-treat (ITT) estimator is typically biased for the ATE of the target state, and the bias could be either toward the null (conservative) or away from the null. I discuss the fairly stringent assumptions under which this estimator is conservative. Given this, I argue against the status-quo practice of interpreting the ITT estimate as the effect of the target state without any explicit discussion of whether these assumptions hold. Under a somewhat weaker version of the same assumptions, one can alternatively use instrumental-variables (IVs) analysis to directly estimate the effect of the target state. IVs analysis complements ITT analysis by directly addressing the central question of interest. As a running example, I consider a multisite replication study on the ego-depletion effect, in which the manipulation’s partial effectiveness led to criticism and several reanalyses that arrived at varying conclusions. I use IVs analysis to directly account for the manipulation’s partial effectiveness; this corroborated the replication authors’ reported null results.
Analyzing and optimizing fused deposition modeling parameters for dimensional accuracy of microturbine impellers
Authors: Pawar Shrikrishna , Dolas Dhananjay
Published: January 2025

Additive manufacturing (AM) processes are gaining widespread applications due to their ability to produce complex parts with reduced lead times. Fused deposition modeling (FDM), a promising AM process, demands precise control over its process parameters to optimize the performance. This article investigates the impact of FDM process parameters on dimensional accuracy of a microturbine impeller used in an organic rankine cycle (ORC). A full factorial design was employed to analyze the impact of FDM parameters including layer thickness, infill density, and infill angle. Dimensions of the impeller were measured using a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), and these experimental results were further used to establish the relationship between process parameters and dimensional accuracy. The adequacy of a developed predictive quadratic regression model was verified through analysis of variance (ANOVA). Individual and interaction effects of selected parameters were identified and discussed. The analysis revealed that layer thickness is significantly impacting the dimensional accuracy. Further, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the FDM process for enhanced dimensional accuracy. This study presents a significant method to enhance the adoption of the FDM process for manufacturing complex and functional parts.
Re-entry of Teenage Mothers into  Zimbabwe’s Education System: Implications  for Social Work  and Policy
Authors: Kurevakwesu Wilberforce , T. Mabeza Tinos , Masungwa Daniel , Matanga Anesu A. , Chirangwanda Ketty , Mavuka Anotida , Muridzo Noel G.
Published: January 2025

This article examines the institutional environment necessary for the re-entry of teenage mothers into Zimbabwe’s education system. Zimbabwe’s government recently adopted a re-entry policy, and despite its importance, the media is inundated with news of parental and or community resistance. Furthermore, it is clear that this is an area for social workers, but the roles that they can play have not been established. To address these issues, we conducted a qualitative study and interviewed 13 parents of re-entered girls, 8 social workers and 2 teachers from Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park—to capture their views on measures that can be taken to create a conducive environment for re-entry. Through thematic analysis, we identified that there is a need to provide school fees, support in childcare, community sensitisation, teacher training and the recruitment of school social workers. We then recommended that for the creation of a conducive institutional environment for re-entry, social workers can provide support at different levels of intervention (individual, family, community and institutional). We also suggested that the government should consider the recruitment of school social workers and the expansion of available social protection programmes, among other recommendations.