bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Comparison of Lossy Mode Resonance Refractive Index Sensors on Structures Based on Graphene and MoS2
Authors: Taufiq Nurrohman Devi , Chiu Nan-Fu
Published: March 2024

2D materials such as graphene and MoS2 play an essential role in improving the performance of optical sensors. This paper numerically investigates a lossy mode resonance (LMR) sensor that uses MgF2 as its matching layer. The transfer matrix method was chosen to determine the reflectance curve of LMR sensors with different thicknesses of MgF2 and 2D materials. The computational results show that the LMR sensor generated with s-polarized light has a better resonance. The existence of exciton in MoS2 also has a dominant contribution to the resulting resonance. There are two absorption peaks around the wavelengths of 610 nm and 652 nm, which are caused by the presence of excitons A and B in MoS2. When graphene and MoS2-based chips are compared, MoS2-based chips display a wider detection range with better signal stability. A sensitivity of 70.37°/RIU can be achieved with MgF2 (200 nm)/MoS2 (5 layers). In addition, the proposed LMR sensor has penetration depth that is 2 times higher than the conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, making it possible to replace SPR sensors that rely heavily on gold as their transducer.
The Association of Anticoagulation Intensity with Outcomes in Hospitalized COVID‐19 Patients
Authors: Zheng Rena , Solomon Alexandra , DiLorenzo Madeline , Rajendran Iniya , Park Joseph , Dhongade Vrushali , Garcia Michael A. , Eberhardt Robert T. , Sloan John Mark , Weinberg Janice , Klings Elizabeth S.
Published: March 2024

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk is increased in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). A key question was whether increased intensity of anticoagulation would help prevent VTE and improve patient outcomes, including transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality. At the start of the coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) pandemic, our institution, Boston Medical Center, instituted a VTE risk stratification protocol based on patients’ initial D‐dimer levels, medical history, and presence of thrombosis to determine whether they should receive standard‐dose prophylaxis, high‐dose prophylaxis, or therapeutic anticoagulation. We performed a retrospective observational cohort study examining the association of degree of anticoagulation with outcomes in 915 hospitalized COVID‐19 patients hospitalized initially on the general inpatient wards between March 1,, 2020, and June 1, 2020. Patients directly hospitalized in the ICU were excluded. Most, 813 patients (89%), in our cohort were on standard‐dose prophylaxis; 32 patients (3.5%) received high‐dose prophylaxis; 70 patients (7.7%), were treated with therapeutic anticoagulation. VTE occurred in 45 patients (4.9%), and the overall in‐hospital mortality rate was 5.4% (49 deaths). On multivariable analysis of clinical outcomes in relation to type of anticoagulation, in the high‐dose prophylaxis group, there was a trend towards increased in‐hospital mortality (odds ratio 2.4 (0.8–7.5, 95% CI)) and increased ICU transfer (odds ratio 2.2 (0.9‐5.7, 95% CI)). Our results suggest that patients receiving high‐dose prophylaxis had more severe disease that was not mitigated by intermediate‐dose anticoagulation.
Adaptive Threshold Learning in Frequency Domain for Classification of Breast Cancer Histopathological Images
Authors: Liu Yujian , Liu Xiaozhang , Qi Yuan
Published: March 2024

Breast cancer has become the most common cancer in the world, and biopsy is the most reliable and widely used technique for detecting breast cancer. However, observation of histopathological images is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Currently, CNN has become the mainstream method for breast cancer histopathological image classification research. However, some studies have found that the optical microscope-generated histopathological images have noise, and the output of a well-trained convolutional neural network in image classification tasks can change drastically due to small variations in the input. Therefore, the quality of the image significantly affects the accuracy of the classification. Wavelet transform is a commonly used denoising method, but the selection of the threshold is a difficult problem, and traditional methods are difficult to find the appropriate threshold quickly and accurately. This paper proposes an adaptive threshold selection method that combines threshold selection steps with deep learning methods by using the threshold as a parameter in the CNN model to train. In this way, we associate the threshold with the classification result of the model and find the appropriate value for that image and task by back-propagation in training. The method was experimented on publicly available datasets BreaKHis and BACH. The results in BreaKHis (40x: 94.37%, 100x: 93.85%, 200x: 91.63%, 400x: 93.31%), and BACH (91.25%) demonstrate that our adaptive threshold selection method can improve classification accuracy and is significantly superior to traditional threshold selection methods.
The Novel ATR Inhibitor Tuvusertib (M1774) Induces Replication Protein Overexpression and Broad Synergy with DNA-targeted Anticancer Drugs
Authors: Jo Ukhyun , Arakawa Yasuhiro , Zimmermann Astrid , Taniyama Daiki , Mizunuma Makito , Jenkins Lisa M. , Maity Tapan K. , Kumar Suresh , Zenke Frank T. , Takebe Naoko , Pommier Yves
Published: March 2024

Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) checkpoint kinase inhibitors are in clinical trials. Here we explored the molecular pharmacology and therapeutic combination strategies of the oral ATR inhibitor tuvusertib (M1774) with DNA-damaging agents (DDAs). As single agent, M1774 suppressed cancer cell viability at nanomolar concentrations, showing greater activity than ceralasertib and berzosertib, but less potency than gartisertib and elimusertib in the small cell lung cancer H146, H82, and DMS114 cell lines. M1774 also efficiently blocked the activation of the ATR-CHK1 checkpoint pathway caused by replication stress induced by TOP1 inhibitors. Combination with non-toxic dose of M1774 enhanced TOP1 inhibitor-induced cancer cell death by enabling unscheduled replication upon replicative damage, thereby increasing genome instability. Tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomics uncovered that M1774, in the presence of DDA, forces the expression of proteins activating replication (CDC45) and G2−M progression (PLK1 and CCNB1). In particular, the fork protection complex proteins (TIMELESS and TIPIN) were enriched. Low-dose of M1774 was found to be highly to be synergistic with a broad spectrum of clinical DDAs including TOP1 inhibitors (SN-38/irinotecan, topotecan, and exatecan), the TOP2 inhibitor etoposide, cisplatin, the RNA polymerase II inhibitor lurbinectedin, and the PARP inhibitor talazoparib in various models including cancer cell lines, patient-derived organoids, and mouse xenograft models. Furthermore, we demonstrate that M1774 reverses chemoresistance to anticancer DDAs in cancer cells lacking SLFN11 expression, suggesting that SLFN11 can be utilized for patient selection in upcoming clinical trials.
Exposome Impact on Nail Health
Authors: Prudkin Ludmila , Cedirian Stephano , Santamaria Júlia , Jourdan Eric , Piraccini Bianca Maria
Published: March 2024

Background: The nail unit is a complex system with various components, each serving distinct functions. The exposome, encompassing external and internal factors such as UV radiation, air pollution, dietary habits, and cosmetic product usage, substantially influences nail health and can lead to premature nail aging. Summary: Internal and external exposomal factors can impact differently on nail health, inducing a variety of different clinical conditions. Effective therapeutic strategies exist, but a comprehensive understanding of how the exposome affects nails is lacking. This article aims to bridge this knowledge gap by exploring the relationship between the exposome and nail health, emphasizing it as a central focus of our analysis. Key Messages: (1) The exposome, comprising various external and internal factors, may significantly influence nail health negatively, leading to premature nail aging. (2) Different nail conditions may arise due to the exposomal influence on nails. (3) Understanding the exposome’s impact on nail health is crucial for developing solutions to mitigate negative effects and improve overall nail well-being.
Alpha-180 spin-echo-based line-scanning method for high-resolution
laminar-specific fMRI in animals
Authors: Choi Sangcheon , Hike David , Pohmann Rolf , Avdievich Nikolai , Gomez-Cid Lidia , Man Weitao , Scheffler Klaus , Yu Xin
Published: March 2024

Laminar-specific functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been widely used to study circuit-specific neuronal activity by mapping spatiotemporal fMRI response patterns across cortical layers. Hemodynamic responses reflect indirect neuronal activity given the limitation of spatial and temporal resolution. Previously, a gradient-echo-based line-scanning fMRI (GELINE) method was proposed with high temporal (50 ms) and spatial (50 µm) resolution to better characterize the fMRI onset time across cortical layers by employing two saturation RF pulses. However, the imperfect RF saturation performance led to poor boundary definition of the reduced region of interest (ROI) and aliasing problems outside of the ROI. Here, we propose an α (alpha)-180 spin-echo-based line-scanning fMRI (SELINE) method in animals to resolve this issue by employing a refocusing 180˚ RF pulse perpendicular to the excitation slice (without any saturation RF pulse) and also achieve high spatiotemporal resolution. In contrast to GELINE signals which peaked at the superficial layer, we detected varied peaks of laminar-specific BOLD signals across deeper cortical layers using the SELINE method, indicating the well-defined exclusion of the large draining-vein effect using the spin-echo sequence. Furthermore, we applied the SELINE method with a 200 ms repetition time (TR) to sample the fast hemodynamic changes across cortical layers with a less draining vein effect. In summary, this SELINE method provides a novel acquisition scheme to identify microvascular-sensitive laminar-specific BOLD responses across cortical depth.
Re-enchanting Paul?
Authors: Potgieter Annette
Published: March 2024

The Galatian community is disrupted with different notions of the gospel than Paul intended. Paul, surprised that this community is confused so easily, sets out in Gal 3 to explain what justification by faith entails. Paul and his letter to the Galatians are products of a first century CE context. The problem when faced with Galatians, particularly Gal 3:1–14, is that research on rhetoric abounds, but the curse language, which is an embedded in Paul’s context is often dismissed or ignored. My focus here is to trace Paul’s meaning, specifically focusing on curse language in the argument of Gal 3 in order to show that Paul is embedded in a apotropaic imaginary as befits his socio-cultural setting and Greco-Roman discursive reality.
Phylloporia vietnamensis sp. nov. (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) from Vietnam
Authors: WEI HAO-WEN , ZHAO JING , WANG YAN , LIU SHI-LIANG , WANG XUE-WEI , ZHOU LI-WEI
Published: March 2024

Phylloporia, belonging to Hymenochaetaceae, Hymenochaetales, is a cosmopolitan genus; some species are plant pathogens and possess medicinal properties. The species diversity of Phylloporia has been extensively explored; however, there is still no known record available from certain regions. Phylloporia vietnamensis is described here, as a new species from Vietnam based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. This is the first report of the genus Phylloporia in Vietnam. Phylloporia vietnamensis is characterized by annual, terrestrial, eccentrically stipitate basidiomes with small pores (9–11 per mm) and thick stipe (up to 1.5 cm in diam), a dimitic hyphal system in the upper tomentum, and the presence of cystidioles. Phylogenetically, P. vietnamensis occupied an independent lineage within the Phylloporia clade. This work will hopefully attract more attention to taxonomic works on Phylloporia in Vietnam.
A New Epistemological Insight of the Coniacian-Santonian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE3)
Authors: Ismail Ahmed Aly
Published: March 2024

Eighteen planktic and eleven benthic foraminiferal species were recorded from the dark grey to black shale facies of the Matulla Formation in Abu Zeneima area, West-Central Sinai, Egypt. The faunal assemblage is dominated by cosmopolitan whiteinellids, marginotruncanids, Dicarinellids, Contusotruncanids and Heterohelicids. The planktic species with high taxonomic diversity were used to zone the Coniacian and Santonian stages, as well as define the Coniacian/ Santonian boundary, while benthic foraminifera is of minor contribution in age assignment. The stratigraphic analysis of the relations and ranges of these fauna led to the recognition of five biozones; Dicarinella primitiva or Huberella huberi or Marginotruncana sinuosa for the Coniacian, while Dicarinella concavata and Dicarinella asymetrica for the Santonian. Also, the Coniacian/Santonian boundary was delineated, considering the appearance of Dicarinella concavata and disappearance of Huberella huberi, as well as the increase of Marginotruncanids (M. renzi, M. sigali, M. marginata, M. pseudolinneiana….etc.). Furthermore, the black shales found in the middle part of the Matulla Formation were attributed to the Coniacian-Santonian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE3). The occurrence of black shales with planktic foraminifera during the Coniacian–Santonian interval in several countries belonging to five continents, was the main impetus to render this event a global event.
Infantile Acute Subdural Hematohygroma: A Clinical and Neuroimaging Analysis of 18 Cases
Authors: Aoki Nobuhiko
Published: March 2024

Objective: Even after the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), few studies have focused on the clinical profiles and neuroimaging characteristics of acute subdural hematohygroma (ASDHy) in infants. The present study attempted to elucidate the pathogenesis of ASDHy by analyzing the clinical and neuroimaging findings of ASDHy. Materials & Methods: The subjects were 18 patients (eight males and ten females) younger than 2 years with ASDHy. Their median age at diagnosis was 3.8 months (range: 2-10 months), and 15 (83%) were younger than 4 months. Imaging studies found no evidence of any primary brain injury. Results: Five patients experienced a fall, and 13 (72%) had no history of head trauma. The presenting symptoms and signs were the acute onset of generalized convulsive seizures and or repeated vomiting. Retinal hemorrhage occurred in 14 patients (78%). The imaging studies revealed a large amount of bilateral, subdural fluid collection with an intensity higher than that of cerebrospinal fluid on MRI. Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space (BESS) was found in 14 patients (78%), an enlarged sylvian fissure (LSF) was found in all the patients (100%), and greater, left-sided enlargement was evident in 16 patients (89%). Two patients underwent subdural drainage, and 16 patients (89%) were conservatively managed. All the patients had a favorable outcome. Conclusions: ASDHy is a self-limiting disorder associated with retinal hemorrhage and a benign clinical course. Most cases develop in early infancy. LSF presumably loosens the tight fixation of the temporal lobes at the middle cranial fossa, thereby increasing the rotational force of the brain even during mild or unnoticeable impacts. Increased cranio-cerebral disproportion, including BESS and LSF, is a structural vulnerability which can lead to ASDHy in early infancy.
Clients’ Satisfaction with Antenatal Care Services at Pumwani Maternity Hospital and NCCK Huruma Community Clinic
Authors: Gitonga Antony Murithi , Kimani Makobu
Published: March 2024

Despite the MOH policies on the right to safe motherhood, right to access information and quality services by women throughout pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal period, accessibility and satisfaction with ANC services by pregnant mothers remain a challenge. Client satisfaction with antenatal care services affects accessibility to these services by pregnant women, which in turn affects the outcomes of pregnancy. Client’s concerns, suggestions, desires and expectations of health care services need to be seriously examined due to their potential influence on utilization of health services and satisfaction. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study which sought to determine antenatal clients’ satisfaction with antenatal care services among mothers attending antenatal clinic at Pumwani Maternity Hospital and N.C.C.K Huruma community clinic. The study targeted pregnant women aged between 18-49 years seeking antenatal services in both clinics. Simple random sampling technique was used to recruit the subjects. Fischer’s formula was applied to calculate a sample size of 265 antenatal mothers. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data. Bivariate analysis of data was done using SPSS Version 21software; cross-tabulation was done to obtain association between variables and null hypothesis was tested using Chi-square. Clients portrayed high levels of overall satisfaction with services at 92.8% (60.6% satisfied and 32.2% very satisfied). However, some of the reasons given for dissatisfaction were long waiting time, poor health workers support and high cost of services. Satisfaction was influenced by the type of facility attended i.e. public or Faith-based and a significant association was observed between type of facility and satisfaction levels (p-value 0.000). Age and level of education had no association with antenatal clients’ satisfaction with services (p-value 0.254 and 0.292 respectively). Family income was not seen to influence satisfaction (p-value 0.503). Waiting time for services (p-value 0.000) and health worker support (p-value 0.000) played a significant role in clients’ satisfaction. There was a statistically significant difference in the level of antenatal clients’ satisfaction with services between Pumwani Maternity Hospital clinic and N.C.C.K Huruma clinic. As much as the overall satisfaction with services was high, there is need to address reasons for dissatisfaction with antenatal services in order to increase antenatal clinic attendance, improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce maternal mortality rates.
Factors Associated with the Completion of Antenatal Care in Podor Health District in 2020 (Senegal)
Authors: Ndiaye Ibrahima , Bassoum Oumar , Diagne-Camara Maty , Diallo Amadou Ibra , Faye Adama , Seck Ibrahima
Published: March 2024

Introduction: The Ministry of Health and Social Action recommends at least four antenatal care (ANC). This indicator is not sufficiently documented in Podor health district. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the completion of ANC in this district. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 19 to 22 June 2020 in Podor health district, located 490 km away from Dakar in northern Senegal. The study population included women who had given birth in the 24 months preceding the survey. A two-stage cluster sampling was carried out. Data were collected during a face-to-face interview using an electronic questionnaire created with Open Data Kit Collect (ODK Collect) software. The adjusted Odds ratio (aOR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI95%) were calculated. Results: A total of 832 women were interviewed. Their average age was 26.5 ± 6.6 years, and they were mainly uneducated (54.1%), married (96.2%), and from rural areas (72.8%). The study showed that 51.20% of women surveyed underwent at least four ANC. Married women (aOR= 4.14), those who walked to reach health facilities (aOR=1.69), and those who watched television at least once a week (aOR=1.66) were significantly more likely to undergo at least four ANC. Conclusion: We need to raise awareness among women of reproductive age and resource persons through the mass media, and improve the geographical accessibility of health facilities to increase ANC coverage.
Early Postoperative Cardiac Rehabilitation in LVAD Patients: A Case Report
Authors: Cao Yi-qi , Zheng Guo-qiang , Zhong Li-min , Chen Ke-yi , Wang Gang , Mou Zhi-wei
Published: March 2024

This study emphasizes the crucial role of early mobilization and proactive physical therapy for individuals undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy in the context of chronic or end-stage heart failure. Given the intricate medical complexities and prolonged hospitalizations inherent in this patient cohort, specialized cardiac rehabilitation (CR) strategies emerge as indispensable components in cardiovascular medicine. Detailed herein is a case study featuring a 62-year-old male patient who underwent LVAD implantation and participated in a 7-week cardiac rehabilitation program. The observed outcomes revealed substantial improvements in exercise capacity and muscle strength, assessed through standardized physical assessments. Importantly, echocardiographic evaluation demonstrated no adverse effects on left ventricular function. This case underscores the pivotal significance of early rehabilitation intervention during the postoperative phase, particularly in patients exhibiting stable vital signs and hemodynamics. The findings contribute to the refinement of tailored rehabilitation approaches for LVAD recipients, thereby fostering enhanced clinical outcomes and an elevated quality of life in this specialized patient population. The study underscores the critical importance of implementing early rehabilitation strategies in the holistic care paradigm for LVAD recipients, with potential implications for optimizing therapeutic protocols and improving long-term patient outcomes in the field of cardiovascular rehabilitation.
Switched-Capacitor Enhanced Circuits for Voltage-Boosting DC-DC Converters: Principles and Applications
Authors: Pan Yuanqing , Lv Dong , Lu Chuan , Lu Jiankan
Published: March 2024

With rapid advancement of DC-DC converter, the non-isolated dc-dc converters has caught much attention from academia and industry, owing to its advantages including low cost and compacted structure. Especially, the non-isolated dc-dc converters have taken the dominant position in topology design of power source. This paper introduces the concept of output section evolution in non-isolated dc-dc converters, with the aim of integrating high ratio voltage boosting capacity. To achieve this, a series of novel output enhanced circuits are proposed and discussed in detail. These circuits are structured using capacitors and diodes, making them applicable to various positive output dc-dc converters. Notably, the derived topologies in this paper eliminate the need for additional power switches and transformers. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through application cases based on both the classical boost converter and the developed voltage-lift SEPIC converters. These cases showcase the practical application and benefits of the proposed method. By following the topology construction method outlined in the paper, engineers can gain valuable insights and guidelines for designing circuits in the field of power electronics. Theoretical analysis has been verified in experimental prototype and the provided resources also serve as an educational tool for those studying power electronics engineering.
Use of Abzolem ® in Pressure Injuries: Experience of an Exploratory Study
Authors: Valenzuela Fernando , Altbir Catalina Retamal , Schatloff Dan Hartmann , Bustos Roberto , Moya Nicolas
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Pressure injuries represent a significant and prevalent public health problem in bedridden and institutionalized patients. The correct management of pressure injuries is essential for preventing complications, enhancing patient well-being, and reducing the overall burden on healthcare systems. It underscores the importance of a holistic and patient-centered approach to wound care. Preventive measures and the action of a multidisciplinary team are essential to the correct treatment of pressure injuries. There are multiple active dressings and topical solutions to treat and protect the wounds, among them the hyperoxygenated fatty acids, such as Abzolem®. Objective: Evaluate and verify the effectiveness and safety of the use of Abzolem® in the treatment of patients with pressure injuries grade I and II. Materials and methods: an exploratory study was carried out on 6 patients residing in a long-term establishment in Santiago of Chile with grade I and II pressure injuries in which Abzolem® was used for twice-daily dressings. Results: The use of Abzolem® led to a significant improvement in grade I pressure injuries in 10 ± 3 days and grade II pressure injuries in 15 ± 3 days, without related adverse events and with good tolerance by patients. Conclusion: The use of hyperoxygenated fatty acids, such as Abzolem® corresponds to a safe therapeutic alternative, easy to apply, and effective in the treatment of grade I and II pressure injuries.
The Effects of Stress and Chatbot Services Usage on Customer Intention for Purchase on E-commerce Sites
Authors: Matini Abed , Lekata Stanley , Kabaso Boniface
Published: March 2024

In the rapidly evolving digital marketplace, customer service has become a critical factor influencing consumer behaviour. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly chatbots, customer service companies are increasingly leveraging technology to enhance user experience. This study explores the relationship between customer emotions, detected during interactions with e-commerce chatbots, and their subsequent purchase intentions. Emotion detection within Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a vital area of research, as specific emotions, such as joy or frustration, can significantly impact marketing effectiveness and consumer decision-making. This research aims to understand how emotional responses to chatbot interactions can predict customer's intention to purchase, thereby offering insights for businesses to optimize their AI-driven customer service strategies. The study analyzes four diverse datasets – EmotionLines, CARER, GoEmotion, and EmotionPush – to identify emotion-labelled sentences indicative of purchase intention. Our findings reveal that Neutral and Joyful emotions are predominant in influencing customers' purchase intentions, highlighting the importance of understanding these emotional states in e-commerce settings. While Neutral emotion is most influential, Joy consistently plays a significant role in positive customer engagement. This research underscores the need for e-commerce businesses to focus on emotional intelligence in chatbots, enhancing customer experience and potentially driving sales. Future research directions include examining real chatbot-customer interactions to further understand the impact of AI-driven customer service on consumer emotions and behaviours.
The Economic Model of the Fixed Exchange Rate in Bolivia: Towards Price Stability and Economic Instability
Authors: Diaz Cesar Daniel Vargas , Dorado Hernan Delgadillo , Copali Eloy Wilson Villca
Published: March 2024

The objective of this article is to demonstrate and analyze whether the fixed exchange rate is a variable that benefits or harms the Bolivian economy in the short term, medium term and long term. Because it is a fundamental economic variable, mainly to keep prices stable, that is, low and controlled inflation in national prices, this fixed exchange rate has been frozen since 2011. In addition, it regulates or affects foreign trade, i.e., imports and exports, which have been dragging a deficit in the trade balance, which favors imports and smuggling to the detriment of national production and a growing informal labor market. The Bolivian economy is especially dependent on exports without specialization and added value, such as natural gas, minerals, mainly gold, legally and illegally, among others. In addition, the significant deterioration of macroeconomic variables, as reflected in historical data, such as the collapse of savings due to the gradual fall in net international reserves since 2014, leaving the vaults of the Central Bank of Bolivia with scarce reserves in gold and foreign currency, as well as the significant increase in internal and external public debt, Both of them have reached the Gross Domestic Product, at the same time, the increase in public spending in the public sector and public administration in general and the addition of public strategic companies, the latter seeking to replace imports of the productive apparatus, generating a more robust state apparatus and with levels of fiscal deficit recorded in the last ten years and taking into account the progressive subsidies for imports of fuels such as gasoline and diesel in the face of the growing demand for these fuels legally due to the growing vehicle fleet and illegally due to drug trafficking, generating a deficit in the balance of trade. Finally, the levels of corruption and country risk reflected in recent months by specialized institutions in 2023 show a deterioration of the Bolivian economy. Thus, this research will demonstrate the effects of the economic, social, community and productive model with a fixed exchange rate on the Bolivian economy and the effects on macroeconomic variables.
Spiritual Disorientation: A Study of Place in Linda Hogan’s Solar Storms from the Perspective of Human Geography
Authors: Xiaofang Sun
Published: March 2024

Linda Hogan is a Chickasaw writer grown up in the Native American Renaissance, who feels much obliged to figure out an effective way of guiding the colonized native people out of ecocide and ethnocide wrought by the Euro-American colonization. As an author wholly drenched in the indigenous cosmology, Hogan bestows great concern on the issue of place in the literary creation, which is a pivotal cosmological element in the native epistemological system and thus can be taken as a means for her to decolonize her people. This paper is to investigate the issue of colonization and decolonization through the lens of place in the register of human geography by exploring the spiritual disorientation attributed to land loss represented in her novel Solar Storms (1995). Based on detailed textual analysis, it is unfolded that the spiritual disorientation in the Indian community has been overtly embodied in two aspects: native men’s alcoholism and their conceding to white masculinity, and child abuse conducted by women for their suffering from intergenerational trauma, which truly represents the mental or psychological crisis of indigenous peoples triggered by and attendant to the land loss. In conclusion, the decolonizing process in Hogan’s fiction necessitates reviewing the horrible outcome of the native people’s land loss history so as to enhance their recognition of the communal place, stimulate their sense of community and develop new sites and strategies of resistance.
Family Climate and Personal Resilience Among Children Victims of Sexual Abuse in Abidjan
Authors: Daboné Inoussa , Kouassi Ettié Silvie , Haïdara Aminata
Published: March 2024

In Ivory Coast, the proportion of children victims of sexual abuse has become increasingly worrying since the post electoral crisis of 2011. This study aims to analyze the effect of family climate on the personal resilience construction of children victims of sexual abuse. It is so based on the working hypothesis that children victims of sexual abuse who benefit from a supportive family climate are more resilient than those who evolve in a non-supportive family climate. The study was conducted following a qualitative methodological approach with a descriptive aim, with 22 children of both sexes, victims of sexual abuse and aged from 06 to 13 years old. These children were selected by a reasoned choice at the Infant Guidance Center of Abidjan. They were subjected to a semi-structured interview from May 09 to August 10, 2022. The results, interpreted in the light of the theory of attachment, indicate that the family climate is decisive in the construction of personal resilience in children victims of sexual abuse. These results show the importance of raising awareness about the children sexual abuse and the need to provide support to the families of sexually abused children with a view to strengthening their capacity of resilience when facing such a serious phenomenon.
The Statutory Interpretation of Renewable Energy Based on Syllogism of British Government Constitutional Forms towards Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Llarena Zharama
Published: March 2024

The current production for energy consumption generates harmful impacts of carbon dioxide to the environment causing instability to sustainable development goals. The constitutional reforms of British Government serve to be an important means of resolving any encountered incompatibilities to political environment. This study aims to evaluate green economy using developed equation for renewable energy towards political polarization of corporate governance. The Kano Model Framework is used to measure the equivalency of 1970 Patents Act to UK Intellectual Property tabulating the criteria for the fulfillment of sustainable development goals in respect to the environment, Artificial Intelligence, and dynamic dichotomy of administrative agencies and presidential restriction, as statutory interpretation development to renewable energy. The constitutional forms of British Government satisfy the sustainable development goals needed to fight climate change, advocate healthy ecosystem, promote leadership of magnates, and delegate responsibilities towards green economy. The presidential partisanship must be observed to delineate parties of concerns and execute the government prescriptions in equivalence to the dichotomous relationship of technology and the environment in fulfilling the rights and privileges of all citizens. Hence, the Political Elites can execute corporate governance towards sustainable development of renewable energy promoting environmental parks and zero emission target of carbon dioxide discharges. The economic theory developed in statutory interpretation for renewable energy serves as a tool to reduce detrimental impacts of carbon dioxide to the environment, mitigate climate change, and produce artefacts of bioenergy and Artificial Intelligence promoting sustainable development. It is suggested to explore other vulnerabilities of Artificial Intelligence to prosper economic success.
New Directions, New Perspectives, and New Pathways in the Development of Subspecialties in General Medicine
Authors: Yanli Shi , Liu Chao , Xiuli Lu
Published: March 2024

Research Background: General medicine integrates content from clinical medicine, rehabilitation medicine, and social humanities. In the field of clinical medicine, its horizontal scope encompasses internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and other related disciplines. Research Objectives: The subspecialty development of general medicine aims to establish a specialized field with distinctive features based on the foundation of general medicine. It provides an explanation for the in-depth development and research in general medicine. This approach makes it easier to retain and attract outstanding talents, fully unleashing the interests of general practitioners. The development of subspecialties in general medicine aligns with the practical needs of China's primary healthcare institutions. It seeks to break the deadlock of general medicine being broad but not precise, addressing issues such as reducing patient medical expenses, improving patient satisfaction, and truly solving difficulties in seeking medical care. This allows large specialized hospitals to focus on researching tumor diseases and various specialized surgical procedures, thereby enhancing the diagnosis and treatment rates of tumors and rare diseases. Research Results: With the progress and practical experiences in society, the development of subspecialties in general medicine is set to become a goal, a new direction, a new perspective, and a new pathway for the global development of primary healthcare institutions. Research Conclusions: Cultivating doctors with expertise in subspecialties of general medicine for grassroots healthcare is essential to address the spectrum of specialized diseases, truly embodying a patient-centric approach and ensuring tangible benefits for patients. Currently, the development of subspecialties in general medicine is still in the exploration stage.
Relationship between the Uncertainty of Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) Modes and Sampling Sizes in Climate Models
Authors: Shen Tong , Lu Riyu
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the relationship between the uncertainty of empirical orthogonal function (EOF) modes and sampling size in climate models, using simulated results of preindustrial control (piControl) experiments in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6), and taking the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as examples. The results indicate that this relationship can be quantified by a concise fitting function [i.e., y = a/(x − b)]. Here, y is the 5%–95% confidence interval of congruence coefficient, x is the sampling size, and a and b are two parameters depending on models or observations. As compared with b, which modulates the sampling size in the fitting function, the parameter a scales the sampling size and thus plays a much more important role. Further analysis indicates that the parameter a, or the uncertainty of EOF1 mode, decreases dramatically with the increase of the difference between variance fractions of EOF1 and EOF2 modes, approximately in the form of a power function. The minimum sampling size to ensure a reliable EOF mode can also be estimated by the fitting function and shows a great diversity among models both for the NAO and ENSO. The diversity suggests the importance of estimating the minimum sampling size before model evaluations on climate variability modes and projections on the future change in modes, particularly when the EOF2 mode explains the variance close to EOF1 mode.

Significance Statement

Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis, principal component analysis, or eigenvector analysis has been widely used in various research fields. However, it remains as an open question as to how large the sampling size is required to be to obtain reliable modes through the EOF method. In this study, we investigate the relationship between the uncertainty of EOF results and sampling size in current climate models, using adequately long simulated data, and we find that this relationship can be depicted by the fitting function y = a/(x − b). Here, y represents the uncertainty, x is the sampling size, and a and b are parameters. The parameter a is closely related to the difference between variance fractions of first and second EOF modes and plays a more important role in the fitting function. The minimum sampling sizes that are required to obtain reliable EOF modes can also be estimated by the fitting function and vary greatly from model to model. The results provide a basis for judging the reliability of EOF modes, particularly when the first and second EOF modes explain similar variance fractions.
Nonstationarity in Extreme Precipitation Return Values along the U.S. Gulf and Southeastern Coasts
Authors: Jorgensen Savannah K. , Nielsen-Gammon John W.
Published: March 2024

This study estimates extreme rainfall trends across the Gulf Coast and southeastern coast of the United States while applying methods for extending the temporal record and aggregating across spatial trend variations. Nonstationary generalized extreme value (GEV) models are applied to historical annual daily maximum precipitation data (1890–2019) while using CMIP5 global mean surface temperature (GMST) as the covariate. County composites and multicounty regions are used for local data record extension and pooling. Unlike most previous studies, return periods as long as 100 years are analyzed. The local trend estimates themselves are found to be too noisy to be reliable as estimates of climate-driven trends. However, application of a Gaussian process model to the spatial distribution of observed trends yields overall trend detection at the 95% significance level. The overall historical increase due to nonstationarity across the study region, with associated 95% confidence intervals, is 9% (3%, 15%) for the 2-yr return period and 16% (4%, 26%) for the 100-yr return period. A trend is also detectable in the Gulf Coast subregion, but not in the smaller southeast subregion. Recent weather events and nonstationarity have caused the official return value estimates for parts of North and South Carolina to be much lower than the return values estimated here.

Significance Statement

Protection of people and infrastructure from flooding relies on accurate estimates of potential extreme rainfall intensity. Some official estimates of extreme rainfall near the Gulf Coast and southeastern coast of the United States are over 20 years old. We show that, across this region, there is a clear trend in daily rainfall so extreme that it only has a 1% chance of happening in any given year (the so-called 100-yr rainfall). This trend means that many existing estimates of extreme rainfall are too low, both now and in the future, so flooding risks based on those estimates would be underestimated as well.
Sharing with the public at large? Yes! But a risky business: Possible roles, if any, of scholars of religion regarding promotion of public knowledge and understanding of religion
Authors: Jensen Tim
Published: March 2024

Based on decades of experience as a scholar who has engaged with the public through media interviews and writings in popular outlets, this article reflects on the possible roles of and methodological challenges for the scholar of religion offering his/her expertise to the broader public. The author encourages colleagues to “go public” but also warns them: it is a risky business.
Promised land?
Authors: Gorringe Tim
Published: March 2024

The conflict between the State of Israel and Hamas in Gaza calls into question the Deuteronomic command to ‘utterly destroy’ the existing nations in Palestine, in order to realize God’s promise of the land. It raises questions about how we understand Scripture as God’s word, about what constitute rights as regards occupation of land, and about how we understand cultural difference.
Psychological Type and the life of faith
Authors: Lloyd John B.
Published: March 2024

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTITM) is widely used in Christian churches as an aid to deeper understanding of one’s own personality and that of one’s fellow believers. It is also presented as a guide to those practices that will be most helpful in developing a Christian’s spiritual life and discipleship. The article examines and critiques the latter notion, concluding that it is unwise to displace and ignore tried-and-tested classical spiritual disciplines on the grounds of incompatibility with one’s personality. Instead, knowing one’s Personality Type should help identify the spiritual disciplines that are attractive and congenial and also those equally important but less congenial disciplines, which may well require determined effort.
Variability in Reproductive Choices: A Comprehensive Analysis of Women’s Working Status and Fertility Behavior in Pakistan
Authors: Atif Muhammad , Ayub Gohar , Zeb Javed , Farooq Muhammad , Ilyas Muhammad , Shafiq Muhammad , Shah Syed Habib
Published: March 2024

The relationship between women’s working status and fertility behavior has been a topic of interest for researchers and policymakers. The societal shifts over time, particularly the increasing participation of women in the workforce, have transformed traditional roles. Women, once primarily perceived as caregivers, are now assuming roles of economic independence. This transformation prompts a re-evaluation of the traditional association between women’s working status and fertility behavior. This study aims to investigate the impact of women’s working status on fertility behavior using a multistage stratified sampling design. A total of 408 women aged 15 to 49 years were recruited from 2 strata: working and non-working women. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, and generalized additive models were used for in-depth analysis of the dataset. An examination of fertility patterns indicates that, on average, working women bear 2.90 live children, while their non-working counterparts have an average of 3.52 children. Stillbirth was reported in 13% of housewives and 15.1% of working women. However, further analysis revealed that the relationship between women’s employment status and fertility behavior varied depending on Social and Cultural Norms, Reproductive Rights, Workplace Policies, Economic Independence, Age, and Life Stage. Our findings suggest that promoting access to family-friendly policies and services, as well as challenging gender norms and cultural values, could help address the impact of women’s employment on fertility behavior.
Emergency Tracheostomy: Complications, Anesthetic Techniques, and Outcomes
Authors: Sutthipongkiat Ekanong , Chumpathong Saowapark , Boonmak Lapatrada , Panyamee Sriwimon , Vorasanon Khanittha , Mangmeesri Peerachatra
Published: March 2024

Objectives: Acute upper airway obstruction is a critical medical condition that presents considerable challenges to anesthesiologists. This study aims to provide a formal report on the incidence and outcomes of perioperative complications, as well as the factors that influence unstable intraoperative hemodynamics. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed patients aged 18 years and older who underwent emergency tracheostomy between January 2013 and October 2021. Data on perioperative complications and outcomes within the first 24 hours and 7 days after surgery were subjected to analysis. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to examine the results. Results: A total of 253 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 61.5 ± 12.9 years. Malignancy was detected in 78.3% of the patients. General anesthesia was administered to 43.9% of the patients. The incidence of intraoperative complications was 51.8%, with hypotension and hypertension occurring in 30.4% and 22.5% of the cases, respectively. Desaturation and cardiac arrest were observed in 4.7% and 0.8% of the patients, respectively. The mortality rate at 7 days after surgery was 1.6%. Multivariate analysis revealed that monitored anesthesia care [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-3.00] and hypertensive patients (adjusted OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.01-2.86) were associated with unstable intraoperative hemodynamics. Conclusions: Cardiovascular instability represented the majority of the complications observed. Monitoring anesthesia care and hypertension were significant prognostic factors for unstable intraoperative hemodynamics. We recommend extensive communication between ear, nose, and throat surgeons and anesthesiologists to determine the appropriate choice of anesthesia.