bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inventory Productivity and Stock Returns in Manufacturing Networks
Authors: Agrawal Deepak , Osadchiy Nikolay
Published: December 2023

Problem definition: We provide a novel, supply network-based perspective on inventory productivity and incentives for its improvement. Methodology/results: Using data from 2003 to 2019, we find that inventory productivity is lower materially and statistically for firms located upstream in the supply network, and higher for high degree and more central firms. Firms with high inventory productivity show high equity valuations and abnormal returns, with both valuations and abnormal returns amplified for upstream, low degree, and peripheral firms. Moreover, the difference in valuations and abnormal returns between best and worst performing firms is greater upstream, suggesting that financial markets offer outsized rewards for improving inventory productivity to upstream firms. Managerial implications: We show that the information about firm’s upstreamness and centrality in the supply network is a valuable predictor of its inventory productivity and financial performance. Our methods for evaluating upstreamness are useful for that purpose. For operations managers and firm executives, our results highlight strong incentives for inventory productivity improvement upstream in the supply network. For investors, we show that supply network position data can sharpen inventory-based arbitrage opportunities.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0229 .
Socio-pedagogical technologies of social adaptation of orphan students in a higher education institution
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Krasnova Nataliia
Published: December 2023

The article considers social adaptation as a stage of the process of socialization and internalization, that is, the formation of a person through the assimilation of social norms, values and other components of the social environment, value orientations, entering into the role structures of society; factors influencing the sociopsychological adaptation of orphan students in a higher education institution are determined, namely: social (socioeconomic status and values and morals of society; social groups to which the individual belongs; social conditions; social roles of the individual) and psychological (individual-psychological features and direction of personality, abilities, level of development of self-awareness, emotional sphere, volitional qualities); the system of determinants of social adaptation of orphan students is characterized (communicative abilities, awareness of the need for selfeducation; motivation for the development of social and professional competence, independence skills in educational and scientific spheres, adaptation to the nature, content, conditions and organization of the educational process at the institution of higher education); socio-pedagogical technologies for the social adaptation of orphan students in a higher education institution containing the following structural components are revealed: organizational (creating a work program); programmatic and methodical (adaptation practice, participation in the work of the scientific student community, volunteer squad, etc.); technological (technology for designing an individual educational route for an orphan student, debates, counseling, discussions, trainings, etc.); diagnostic (tracking the effectiveness of the process of social adaptation of orphan students in a higher education institution).
Features of social and pedagogical work under martial law
Authors:   Cherkasy State Technological University, Arkhypova Svitlana , Smerechak Lesia ,   Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University
Published: December 2023

The article analyzes the challenges, realities and strategies modern education in war conditions; outlines the main tasks of a social teacher in martial law: ensuring the safety and protection of children; formation of national consciousness and patriotism; development of children’s skills and self-defense skills and assistance in case of emergency; formation of moral qualities; development of tolerance, respect for other cultures and nations; creating conditions for the development of creative potential and intellectual activity of children, etc.
Evaluation of response to gemcitabine plus cisplatin-based chemotherapy using positron emission computed tomography for metastatic bladder cancer
Authors: Öztürk Hakan , Karapolat İnanç
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the present study was to examine retrospectively the contribution of 18Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (18FDG-PET/CT) to the evaluation of response to first-line gemcitabine plus cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with metastatic bladder cancer.

AIM

To evaluate the response to Gemcitabine plus Cisplatin -based chemotherapy using 18FDG-PET/CT imaging in patients with metastatic bladder cancer.

METHODS

Between July 2007 and April 2019, 79 patients underwent 18FDG-PET/CT imaging with the diagnosis of Metastatic Bladder Carcinoma (M-BCa). A total of 42 patients (38 male, 4 female) were included in the study, and all had been administered Gemcitabine plus Cisplatin-based chemotherapy. After completion of the therapy, the patients underwent a repeat 18FDG-PET/CT scan and the results were compared with the PET/CT findings before chemotherapy according to European Organisation for the Research and treatment of cancer criteria. Mean age was 66.1 years and standard deviation was 10.7 years (range: 41–84 years).

RESULTS

Of the patients, seven (16.6%) were in complete remission, 17 (40.5%) were in partial remission, six (14.3%) had a stable disease, and 12 (28.6%) had a progressive disease. The overall response rate was 57.1 percent.

CONCLUSION

18FDG-PET/CT can be considered as a successful imaging tool in evaluating response to first-line chemotherapy for metastatic bladder cancer. Anatomical and functional data obtained from PET/CT scans may be useful in the planning of secondline and thirdline chemotherapy.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging study of group independent components underpinning item responses to paranoid-depressive scale
Authors: Stoyanov Drozdstoy , Paunova Rositsa , Dichev Julian , Kandilarova Sevdalina , Khorev Vladimir , Kurkin Semen
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Our study expand upon a large body of evidence in the field of neuropsychiatric imaging with cognitive, affective and behavioral tasks, adapted for the functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (fMRI) experimental environment. There is sufficient evidence that common networks underpin activations in task-based fMRI across different mental disorders.

AIM

To investigate whether there exist specific neural circuits which underpin differential item responses to depressive, paranoid and neutral items (DN) in patients respectively with schizophrenia (SCZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODS

60 patients were recruited with SCZ and MDD. All patients have been scanned on 3T magnetic resonance tomography platform with functional MRI paradigm, comprised of block design, including blocks with items from diagnostic paranoid (DP), depression specific (DS) and DN from general interest scale. We performed a two-sample t -test between the two groups-SCZ patients and depressive patients. Our purpose was to observe different brain networks which were activated during a specific condition of the task, respectively DS, DP, DN.

RESULTS

Several significant results are demonstrated in the comparison between SCZ and depressive groups while performing this task. We identified one component that is task-related and independent of condition (shared between all three conditions), composed by regions within the temporal (right superior and middle temporal gyri), frontal (left middle and inferior frontal gyri) and limbic/salience system (right anterior insula). Another component is related to both diagnostic specific conditions (DS and DP) e.g. It is shared between DEP and SCZ, and includes frontal motor/language and parietal areas. One specific component is modulated preferentially by to the DP condition, and is related mainly to prefrontal regions, whereas other two components are significantly modulated with the DS condition and include clusters within the default mode network such as posterior cingulate and precuneus, several occipital areas, including lingual and fusiform gyrus, as well as parahippocampal gyrus. Finally, component 12 appeared to be unique for the neutral condition. In addition, there have been determined circuits across components, which are either common, or distinct in the preferential processing of the sub-scales of the task.

CONCLUSION

This study has delivers further evidence in support of the model of trans-disciplinary cross-validation in psychiatry.
Cholecystoenteric fistula in a patient with advanced gallbladder cancer: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Wang Chun-Yu , Chiu Sung-Hua , Chang Wei-Chou , Ho Meng-Hsing , Chang Ping-Ying
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Cholecystoenteric fistula (CEF) involves the formation of a spontaneous anomalous tract between the gallbladder and the adjacent gastrointestinal tract. Chronic gallbladder inflammation can lead to tissue necrosis, perforation, and fistulogenesis. The most prevalent cause of CEF is chronic cholelithiasis, which rarely results from malignancy. Because the symptoms and laboratory findings associated with CEF are nonspecific, the condition is often misdiagnosed, presenting a challenge to the surgeon when detected intraoperatively. Therefore, a preoperative diagnosis of CEF is crucial.

CASE SUMMARY

We present the case of a 57-year-old male with advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC) who arrived at the emergency room with persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. An abdominopelvic computed tomography scan revealed a contracted gallbladder with bubbles in the fundus connected to the second portion of the duodenum and transverse colon. We suspected that GBC had invaded the adjacent gastrointestinal tract through a cholecystoduodenal fistula (CDF) or a cholecystocolonic fistula (CCF). He underwent multiple examinations, including esophagogastroduodenoscopy, an upper gastrointestinal series, colonoscopy, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; the results of these tests confirmed a diagnosis of synchronous CDF and CCF. The patient underwent a Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy and loop ileostomy to address the severe adhesions that were previously observed to cover the second portion of the duodenum and hepatic flexure of the colon. His symptoms improved with supportive treatment while hospitalized. He initiated oral targeted therapy with lenvatinib for further anticancer treatment.

CONCLUSION

The combination of imaging and surgery can enhance preoperative diagnosis and alleviate symptoms in patients with GBC complicated by CEF.
Intraperitoneal hyaline vascular Castleman disease: Three case reports
Authors: Gao Jia-Wei , Shi Zhe-Yi , Zhu Zhao-Bi , Xu Xiang-Rong , Chen Wei
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Castleman disease (CD) was first reported in 1954. It is a rare non-malignant lymphoproliferative disease with unclear etiology. As the clinical manifestations of CD are different, there are difficulties in its diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, for patients with CD, it is important to establish the diagnosis in order to choose the appropriate treatment.

CASE SUMMARY

In this report, three patients with intraperitoneal CD treated at our center from January 2018 to June 2023 were reviewed, and the clinical and paraclinical examinations, diagnosis, and treatment were analyzed, and all three patients were diagnosed with CD by routine histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations.

CONCLUSION

CD is a complex and rare disease. Because there are no special clinical symptoms and laboratory abnormalities, the diagnosis often depends on routine pathological and immunohistochemical findings.
Empreendedorismo e Sua Relação Com a Educação Financeira dos Universitários
Authors: Sauer Camozzato Elen , Lizote Suzete Antonieta , Teston Sayonara de Fátima , Zawadzki Patrick
Published: December 2023

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o relacionamento entre a intenção empreendedora de estudantes universitários com sua educação financeira. Buscou também avaliar se as disciplinas de empreendedorismo e finanças aumentam sua intenção empreendedora e educação financeira, respectivamente. Para tanto, foi feita uma pesquisa descritiva com abordagem quantitativa, realizando-se uma survey com os alunos do curso de Administração de todos os níveis de três Instituições de Ensino Superior da Região Sul do Brasil.  A amostra esteve composta por 420 estudantes. Para o processamento dos dados, utilizou-se a Análise Fatoria Exploratória, Análise Fatorial Confirmatória e Análise de Variância. Os resultados apontaram que a  hipótese que testou se os alunos que cursaram disciplina de empreendedorismo têm uma maior intenção empreendedora não foi confirmada, já aquela que verificou se aqueles que cursaram disciplinas relacionadas com finanças têm uma maior educação financeira confirmou-se. Não foi confirmada a relação entre os constructos para a amostra completa, mas quando desagregada por estado se constatou que a educação financeira influencia positivamente a intenção empreendedora nos alunos do Paraná.
Effects of methotrexate, Moringa oleifera, and Andrographis paniculata extracts on the myocardial and aortic tissue of streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced hyperglycemic rats
Authors: Pamungkas Dimas Bathoro Bagus , Kalanjati Viskasari Pintoko , Abdurachman  , Aditya Dwi Martha Nur , Nasution Muhammad Husni Fansury , Syamhadi Maya Rahmayanti
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND Methotrexate (MTX) could lower glucose levels in type 1 diabetes mellitus, while Moringa oleifera and Andrographis paniculata supplementations have similar effects on hyperglycemia. This study aimed to analyze the effects of MTX, M. oleifera, and A. paniculata leaf extracts on the myocardial interleukin (IL)-6 and the histopathology of the left ventricle and aorta.

METHODS 49 rats were divided equally into 7 groups: negative control and diabetic induced by streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) injection consisting of positive control (STZ-NA only), M. oleifera (500 mg/kgBW/day), A. paniculata (500 mg/kgBW/day), MTX (7 mg/kgBW/week), MTX (7 mg/kgBW/week)+M. oleifera (500 mg/kgBW/day), and MTX (7 mg/kgBW/week)+A. paniculata (500 mg/kgBW/day). We analyzed oral MTX, M. oleifera, and A. paniculata leaf extracts’ effects on random blood glucose, myocardial IL-6, and cardiac histopathology of STZ-NA-induced hyperglycemic male rats. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Wallis tests.

RESULTS Myocardial IL-6 in the M. oleifera group was significantly lower compared to the positive control group (p = 0.041). Compared to the positive control group, the myocardial necrosis and aortic intima–media thickness in the MTX+A. paniculata group were significantly reduced (p = 0.005 and 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS MTX, M. oleifera, and A. paniculata showed antihyperglycemic effect, both individually and in combination. A. paniculata leaf extract had a significant cardioprotective effect in STZ-NA-induced hyperglycemia.
Complex roles of families in enabling sex trafficking in Edo, Nigeria
Authors: Agwu Prince , Levy Susan , Okoye Uzoma
Published: December 2023

Families are an expected haven for their members but can present threats in some contexts. Part of a large-scale PhD study with 101 participants, empirical findings on the roles played by families in encouraging sex trafficking in Edo, Nigeria, are presented here. Using in-depth interviews and group discussions, data were elicited from actors within trafficking in persons. Core findings included the exploitation of roles and responsibilities in families towards enabling sex trafficking, the abuse of shared meanings of family in communities and the exploitation of vulnerable families. Vulnerable families were identified as lacking fathers or those whose parents were older adults and/or uneducated. Thus, poor women in such families were at greater risk of being trafficked. For a conceptual understanding of these family roles in sex trafficking, we employed structure–agency insights. In all, anti-sex trafficking interventions must begin with families as the smallest unit of interventions.
Carnival for change: involving consumers in food systems issues by challenging stereotypical media representations using arts-based methods
Authors: Fiala Valentin
Published: December 2023

Recently, the role of civil society in shaping food systems has been increasingly recognised, as has the role of active ‘food citizens’ who take political and practical responsibility for transforming food systems. However, consumers still play a rather passive role in conventional value chains and, due to limited direct interaction with producers, stereotypical and nostalgic representations of agriculture and food in the mass media can hinder people’s active participation in food issues. In this article I use Bakhtin’s concept of ‘carnival’ to introduce an arts-based method – the Reflective Photobooth – that uses such stereotypical media images as a resource to challenge representations of food and farming and by doing so thus hopefully motivate people to engage in food-related issues. For the case study of Austrian organic farming, I show how two advertising campaigns created stereotypical and nostalgic images of this movement and discuss how such representations could hinder rather than encourage active engagement of the audience. Based on these findings, I organised two Reflective Photobooth workshops in which participants joyfully played with the stereotypical media images in a series of re-enactments. This ‘carnival’ led to critical reflections and discussions on the media representations and on Austrian organic agriculture. The Photobooth is certainly not a silver bullet for changing participants’ food practices, but the findings provide new ideas for promoting critical reflection on dominant discourses about food and agriculture and inform us about how ‘carnival’ could be used to engage people in food system issues and promote food citizenship.
We are not about to reopen the air raid shelters …
Authors: Rousso Henry
Published: December 2023

Abstract: This essay, originally published as an editorial in the French newspaper Libération in November 2015. It argues that President François Hollande was correct when he announced that France was in a "state of war" following the 13 November 2015 attacks by Islamist terrorists that killed 180 people and wounded scores more. Following on the model established by Clausewitz defining what it means to be at war, the author enumerates those features in relation to the current situation in France following the attack. He also draws comparisons between the France in the days after the terrorist attacks and similar moments of conflicts in France's recent past, including the outset of World War I and the Algerian conflict several decades later.
Multi-channel synthetic aperture infrared imaging and experimental research
Authors: Wu J. , Li D. , Gao J. , Cui A. , Li R. , Wu S.
Published: December 2023

The synthetic aperture infrared radio imaging method based on laser local oscillator coherent detection has potential application value for astronomical observations. This paper studies the multi-channel synthetic aperture infrared imaging method and conducts experimental verification using a principle prototype. In the short-wave infrared band, five beam-expanding fiber collimators are used to build an observation structure of five laser local oscillator coherent detection channels at a near-field distance of 5 m to carry out physical experiments. The laser local oscillator wavelength is 1.55 µm, and the AD sampling rate is 4 GHz. For the infrared radiation source signal, the phase relationship of the infrared signals between channels acquired by the prototype principle is stable, and the five-channel synthetic aperture imaging results are consistent with the computer simulated results. The experiment verified the effectiveness of the laser local oscillator comprehensive aperture infrared radio imaging method.
Reference-free in situ rapid regional calibration of phase-only spatial light modulators
Authors: Nam Kibum , Park Jung-Hoon
Published: December 2023

Spatial light modulators (SLMs) have become an indispensable element in modern optics for their versatile performance in many applications. Among various types of SLMs, such as digital micromirror devices (DMD), liquid crystal-based phase-only spatial light modulators (LC-SLMs), and deformable mirrors (DM), LC-SLMs are often the method of choice due to their high efficiency, precise phase modulation, and abundant number of effective pixels. In general, for research grade applications, an additional SLM calibration step is required due to fabrication imperfection resulting in non-flat liquid crystal panels and varying phase responses over the SLM area. Here, we demonstrate a straightforward approach for reference-free orthogonal calibration of an arbitrary number of SLM subregions which only requires the same measurement time as global calibration. The proposed method requires minimal optical elements and can be applied to any optical setup as is. As a benchmark performance test, we achieved a 2.2-fold enhancement in correction efficiency for wavefront shaping through scattering media utilizing the calibrated 2160 subregions of the SLM, in comparison with a single global look-up table (LUT).
Universal silicon ring resonator for error-free transmission links
Authors: Zhu Junbo , Zhang Weiwei , Li Ke , Pant Bharat , Ebert Martin , Yan Xingzhao , Banakar Mehdi , Tran Dehn T. , Littlejohns Callum G. , Gan Fuwan , Reed Graham , Thomson David J.
Published: December 2023

We report the design, fabrication, and characterization of a universal silicon PN junction ring resonator for C band error-free communication links operated up to 50 Gb/s with co-designed optical modulation and detection performance. The universal p-n junction ring device shows co-designed detection responsivity up to 0.84 A/W, in conjunction with a modulation efficiency of ∼4  V·mm and >8  dB optical modulation extinction ratio, enabling C band 50 Gb/s NRZ communication link with a bit error rate ≤3×10−12. Individually, the speed of modulation and detection is measured up to 112 Gb/s and 80 Gb/s, respectively. The principle of co-designing the PN junction ring modulator and detector performance required for error-free communication links can significantly ease the fabrication yield challenges of ring structures by reducing the number of types of devices. The principle can also be applied to O band wavelengths. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, a device of this type has achieved both error-free modulation and detection operation up to 50 Gb/s in the C band individually or in conjugation as an error-free communication link, which paves the way to realize a >1.6  Tb/s all-silicon WDM-based error-free optical transceiver link in the future and is essential for future programmable photonics circuits.
Eine Taxonomie zur Rollendefinition von Chief Digital Officers im Zeitalter der Digitalen Transformation
Authors: Höhener Daria
Published: December 2023

Die Anforderungen an einen Chief Digital Officer (CDO) unterliegen Veränderungen und die Ausgestaltung dieser Rolle nimmt je nach organisationaler Struktur eine unterschiedliche Bedeutung an. Die CDO-Rollentaxonomie dient Unternehmen als nützliches Werkzeug, um die Integration dieser Rolle in die organisatorischen Gegebenheiten zu vollziehen und die erforderlichen Kompetenzen und Aufgabenbereiche (zum Beispiel bei der Neuausschreibung des Profils) festzulegen. Die Taxonomie basiert auf dem adaptierten Extended Taxonomy Design Process (ETDP). Dies ermöglicht einen zugleich wissenschaftlich basierten und praxisorientierten Blick auf die benötigten Kompetenzen eines CDOs im Kontext der Digitalen Transformation.

Aufbauend auf einer Literature Review wurden Dimensionen und Charakteristiken, gemäß den initialien Meta-Charakteristiken, den Managerrollen von Mintzberg, geclustert. In drei Iterationszyklen wurde die Taxonomie erarbeitet und mit Erkenntnissen aus Stellenbeschreibungen ergänzt. Die Evaluierung erfolgte durch Interviews mit Praktikern aus dem Executive Search Bereich.

Der wissenschaftliche Praxisbeitrag macht die CDO-Rolle mittels einer Taxonomie, die mit vier Meta-Charakteristiken, neun Dimensionen und insgesamt 26 spezifischen Charakteristiken ausgestaltet ist, fassbar. Die einzelnen Charakteristiken sind dabei den Meta-Ebenen organisatorisch, entscheidungsrelevant, interpersonell und informativ zugeordnet, was eine strukturierte und zielorientierte Rollendefinition erleichtert.
Hearing the voices of midwives through reflective writing journals: Qualitative research on an educational intervention for Respectful Maternity Care in Zimbabwe
Authors: Ray Sunanda , Mudokwenyu-Rawdon Christina , Bonduelle Myriam , Iliff Ginny , Maposhere Caroline , Mataure Priscilla , Jacobs Cecilia , Van Schalkwyk Susan C.
Published: December 2023

Women attending public and private sector health facilities in Africa have reported abuse and neglect during childbirth, which carries a risk of poor health outcomes. We explored from the midwives’ perspective the influence of an educational intervention in changing the attitudes, behaviour and practices of a group of midwives in Zimbabwe, using transformative learning theory as the conceptual framework. The twelve-week educational intervention motivating for Respectful Maternity Care consisted of a two-day workshop and five follow-up sessions every two weeks. Thematic analysis was conducted on eighteen reflective journals written by the midwives with member-checking during follow-up discussions and a further one-day participative workshop a year later. The midwives reported being more women-centred, with involvement of birth companions and use of different labour positions, stronger professional pride and agency, collaborative decision-making and less hierarchical relationships which persisted over the year. Their journal narratives included examples of treating birthing women with more compassion. Some categories aligned with the phases of transformative learning theory (self-examination of prior experience, building of competence and self-confidence into new roles and relationships). Others related to improving communications and effective teamwork, providing role-models of good behaviour, use of scientific knowledge to inform practice and demonstrating competence in management of complex cases. This study shows that innovative educational initiatives have the potential to change the way midwives work together, even in challenging physical environments, leading to a shared vision for the quality of service they want to provide, to improve health outcomes and to develop life-long learning skills.
Ebola incidence and mortality before and during a lockdown: The 2022 epidemic in Uganda
Authors: Izudi Jonathan , Komakech Allan , Morukileng Job , Bajunirwe Francis
Published: December 2023

On September 20, 2022, an Ebola Disease (EBOD) outbreak was declared in Mubende district, Central Uganda. Following a rapid surge in the number of cases and mortality, the Government of Uganda imposed a lockdown in the two most affected districts, Mubende and Kassanda. We describe the trends in EBOD incidence and mortality nationally and in the two districts before and during the lockdown and the lessons learned during the epidemic response. We retrieved data from the Ministry of Health situation reports from September 20, 2022, when the EBOD outbreak was declared until November 26, 2022, when the lockdown ended. We graphed trends in EBOD morbidity and mortality during a 3-week and 6-week lockdown, computed the EBOD case fatality rate, and summarized the major lessons learned during the epidemic response. We found case fatality rate during the pre-lockdown, 3-week lockdown, and 6-week lockdown period was 37.9% (22/58), 39.3% (53/135), and 38.7% (55/142), respectively. In the early weeks of the lockdown, EBOD incidence and mortality increased nationally and in Kassanda district while Mubende district registered a decline in incidence and stagnation in mortality. With the extension of the lockdown to six weeks, the EBOD incidence and mortality during the 4-6-week lockdown declined compared to the pre-lockdown period. In conclusion, the EBOD incidence and mortality remained higher in the early weeks of the lockdown than during the pre-lockdown period nationally and in one of the two districts. With extended lockdown, incidence and mortality dropped in the 4-6-week period than the pre-lockdown period. Therefore, reliance on known public health measures to control an EBOD outbreak is important.
A novel motorized office chair causes low-amplitude spinal movements and activates trunk muscles: A cross-over trial
Authors: Schäfer Hendrik , Schäfer Robin , Platen Petra
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Inactivity and long periods of sitting are common in our society, even though they pose a health risk. Dynamic sitting is recommended to reduce this risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of continuous passive motion (CPM) conducted by a novel motorized office chair on lumbar lordosis and trunk muscle activation, oxygen uptake and attentional control.

Study design

Randomized, single-session, crossover with two periods/conditions.

Methods

Twenty office workers (50% women) sat for one hour on the motorized chair, one half with CPM, the other not. The starting condition (CPM/no CPM) was switched in half of the sample. The participants were equipped with a spirometric cart, surface EMG, the Epionics SPINE system and performed a computer-based test for attentional control (AX-CPT). Outcomes were lumbar sagittal movements and posture, number of trunk muscle activations, attentional control and energy expenditure.

Results

The CPM of the chair causes frequent low-amplitude changes in lumbar lordosis angle (moved: 498 ± 133 vs. static: 45 ± 38) and a higher number of muscle activations. A periodic movement pattern of the lumbar spine according to the movement of the chair was observed in every participant, although, sitting behavior varied highly between individuals. Attentional control was not altered in the moved condition (p = .495; d = .16). Further, oxygen uptake did not increase higher than 1.5 MET.

Conclusion

The effects of the motorized chair can be particularly useful for people with static sitting behavior. Further studies should investigate, whether CPM provides the assumed beneficial effects of dynamic sitting on the spine.
Reproducibility in cytometry: Signals analysis and its connection to uncertainty quantification
Authors: Patrone Paul N. , DiSalvo Matthew , Kearsley Anthony J. , McFadden Geoffrey B. , Cooksey Gregory A.
Published: December 2023

Signals analysis for cytometry remains a challenging task that has a significant impact on uncertainty. Conventional cytometers assume that individual measurements are well characterized by simple properties such as the signal area, width, and height. However, these approaches have difficulty distinguishing inherent biological variability from instrument artifacts and operating conditions. As a result, it is challenging to quantify uncertainty in the properties of individual cells and perform tasks such as doublet deconvolution. We address these problems via signals analysis techniques that use scale transformations to: (I) separate variation in biomarker expression from effects due to flow conditions and particle size; (II) quantify reproducibility associated with a given laser interrogation region; (III) estimate uncertainty in measurement values on a per-event basis; and (IV) extract the singlets that make up a multiplet. The key idea behind this approach is to model how variable operating conditions deform the signal shape and then use constrained optimization to “undo” these deformations for measured signals; residuals to this process characterize reproducibility. Using a recently developed microfluidic cytometer, we demonstrate that these techniques can account for instrument and measurand induced variability with a residual uncertainty of less than 2.5% in the signal shape and less than 1% in integrated area.
Scheduled and urgent inguinal hernia repair in Ontario, Canada between 2010 and 2022: Population-based cross sectional analysis of trends and outcomes
Authors: Habbous Steven , Gomez David , Urbach David , Hellsten Erik
Published: December 2023

Introduction

We examine trends in inguinal hernia repairs with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic and secular trends in Ontario, Canada.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study. Hernia repairs performed January 1, 2010-December 31, 2022 were captured from health administrative inpatient and outpatient databases. Patients managed in three clinical settings were examined: public hospital in-patient, semi-private hospital in-patient (Shouldice Hospital), and public hospital out-patient. We examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical volumes, clinical setting, patient characteristics by setting, time from diagnosis until surgery, hospital length-of-stay, and patient outcomes (90-day readmissions, 1-year reoperations). We used multivariable logistic regression to examine whether patient outcomes were comparable between the COVID-19 period and the pre-pandemic period, adjusted sociodemographic and clinical factors. Shouldice Hospital is the only semi-private hospital in Ontario specializing in hernia repair (patients pay for the mandated admission, but not for the procedure).

Results

During the pandemic (March 2020-December 2022), there were 8,162 fewer (15%) scheduled inguinal hernia repairs than expected, but the age-sex standardized rate of urgent repairs remained unchanged. Shouldice Hospital performed more surgeries in the COVID-19 era than pre-pandemic and had a shorter average LOS by 24 hours, despite treating more patients with older age, higher ASA score [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.13 (1.93–2.35) III vs I-II] and greater comorbidity [aOR 1.36 (1.08–1.70) for 2 vs none] than pre-pandemic. Patients treated in the COVID-19 era experienced a longer time until surgery, being the longest in 2022 (median 133 days). Ninety-day readmissions and 1-year reoperations were lower in the COVID-19 era and lower for patients receiving surgery at Shouldice Hospital.

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 8,162 fewer scheduled hernia repairs than expected, longer wait-times until surgery, shorter length-of-stay, and more patients with comorbidities, but outcomes were not worse compared with the pre-pandemic period.
Editor’s Introduction
Authors: Felando Cynthia
Published: December 2023

The ‘Editor’s Introduction’ notes the interviews and articles in Issue 13.2. The interviews are with Egyptian filmmaker Maggie Kamal about Microbus and Marco Calvani about The View from Up Here. The articles include those that address the goals and programming practices at the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur festival and its commitment to Ukrainian shorts and filmmakers; Peggy Rajski’s groundbreaking LGBTQ+ short Trevor; Peggy Ahwesh’s experimental horror short Nocturne; and four essays that focus on the issue’s featured short The View from Up Here.
Hierarchical textual compositions and (post-)colonial framing in The View from Up Here
Authors: Batori Anna
Published: December 2023

The article analyses the hierarchical visual compositions and framing of Marco Calvani’s The View from Up Here and argues that its carefully structured compositions create a metaphorical imbalance in power between the two main characters, an American housewife and a Syrian refugee. The repeated use of low-angle camera positions and the claustrophobic framings adds a connotative layer to the film that emphasizes the subaltern refugee’s inferior status in the view of the American.
Corregidores, redes mercantiles y corrupcion en el Perú virreinal: la red del marqués de Negreiros (1705-1721)
Authors: Andújar Castillo Francisco
Published: December 2023

A partir de correspondencia y cuentas privadas se estudia la red mercantil que se articuló desde el puerto de Arica en los primeros años del siglo XVIII bajo la dirección del corregidor Jorge Negreiros, marqués de Negreiros desde 1721. Se compara su actividad mercantil con las que mantuvieron su predecesor y sucesor en el cargo, y se demuestra que la corrupción de quienes ejercían como corregidores fue un fenómeno estructural en una coyuntura en la que el comercio ilícito de los mercaderes de Saint Malo inundó por completo todos los puertos de la Mar del Sur. Se estudian los dos principales ámbitos de negocios que mantuvo Jorge Negreiros, uno con otros corregidores-mercaderes que se hallaban en el entorno más cercano a Arica, y otro con los capitanes-comerciantes franceses.
Aproximación bayesiana a las dinámicas secuenciales de los campos de hoyos. El caso de Camí de Missena (La Pobla del Duc, València)
Authors: Escribá Ruiz Pilar , Jiménez-Puerto Joaquín Rafael , Bernabeu Auban Joan , Pascual-Beneyto Josep
Published: December 2023

Los poblados de hoyos presentan una problemática particular a la hora de interpretar su evolución a lo largo del tiempo a causa de su peculiar estratigrafía discontinua. Uno de estos lugares es el Camí de Missena, que fue clasificado como un asentamiento típico del iii milenio cal AC, aunque desde el principio se vieron ciertos datos arqueológicos que remitían a momentos muy anteriores.
Se ha utilizado la estadística bayesiana para relacionar las dataciones radiocarbónicas disponibles con características concretas de elementos clave de la cultura material presente con el fin de solucionar este problema, establecer la evolución del asentamiento y para comprobar la validez de la aplicación de este novedoso método en este tipo de lugares y a esta escala.
El resultado ha permitido tanto la ubicación temporal de abundantes estructuras negativas no datadas como el establecimiento de diferentes periodos cronoculturales, de forma que se ha concretado más la evolución interna del yacimiento a nivel micro. Estos resultados sugieren la validez del método de predicción bayesiana para este tipo de problemas arqueológicos y su gran potencial en la aplicación tanto a gran escala –macro– como a nivel interno –micro–.
STANDARDS OF LIVING OF YOUTH IN THE REGION: DYNAMICS OF SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENTS
Authors: Kosygina Kseniya E. , Zaharov Nikita Gennadievich
Published: December 2023

Priority strategic documents approved in the Russian state in the last decade directly relate to improving the living standards of the population. One of the key tasks is to create conditions for the realization of the existing resource potential of the younger generation, which is impossible without increasing incomes and improving their living standards. The purpose of this article is to assess the standard of living of the younger generation in the regional context based on sociological data (subjective assessments). The empirical base of the study was the data of public opinion monitoring conducted in the territory of the Vologda Oblast (N=1500). The theoretical and methodological part of the article presents the main scientific approaches to the categories of «standard of living» and «youth». The main results (empirical part) analyze the subjective assessments of the living standards of the younger generation in dynamics for 2018–2022 in terms of purchasing power indicators, self-assessment of the financial situation, social self-identification and dependence on state support. It was revealed that young people in the region have low consumer opportunities, the majority freely dispose of their income only within the framework of basic needs (purchase of food, clothing, payment for necessary services); the groups of low-income and middle-income young people remain predominant. The conclusion is made about higher subjective assessments of the quality of life of the younger generation, in contrast to the assessments of the older generation.
INTERDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS OFCLIMATE-FORCED LANDSCAPE CHANGES IN THE HIGHLANDS OF ALTAI: NATURAL SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
Authors: Maximova Svetlana G. , Ganyushkin Dmitry A. , Omelchenko Daria A. , Noyanzina Oksana E. , Pryakhina Galina V. , Bantсev Dmitry V. , Rasputina Valeria A.
Published: December 2023

Mountain territories are the object of close attention of scientists due to the ongoing changes in the cryosphere. Altai is one of the world centers of glaciation, where climatic changes occur most intensively. The article presents the results of an interdisciplinary geographical and sociological study of climatic changes in the highlands of the Altai Republic, conducted in 2022 by scientists from Altai State University and St. Petersburg State University. On the basis of geological-landscape study on the reconstruction and cataloging of glaciers of the Little Ice Age and the forecast of dangerous exogenous processes, landscape changes and socio-economic parameters, settlements for sociological surveys were selected (six settlements of Kosh-Agach and Ulagan districts, n = 347). The research showed that glaciers of the North Chuysky Ridge have lost 61% of their area since the Little Ice Age, with 7% of the area reduced in the last 20 years. There have been qualitative changes in glacier melting - currently, large glaciers are experiencing the greatest degradation. The population of high-mountainous areas perceive climate change as significant, affecting their daily and economic life. Living near changing glaciers is associated with difficulties and additional costs for agriculture, destruction of communication and engineering infrastructure. Meanwhile, the climate agenda is not overly actualized, the population of high-mountainous areas demonstrates a high potential for adaptation, including due to traditional knowledge of nature management and living in harsh climates.
YOUTH IN THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONS OF THE FUTURE: POSITIONING AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
Authors: Zinich Alla V. , Maximova Svetlana G. , Omelchenko Daria A. , Revyakina Yulia N.
Published: December 2023

Currently, the digitalization of technological and business processes leads to serious changes in the labor market. The article presents an analysis of the main trends of youth behavior in the labor market due to the accelerating processes of digitalization of the economy. Empirical data were obtained as a result of a survey conducted on the basis of a sociological study of 2021 in ten regions of the Siberian Federal District. Its main purpose was to assess the main concerns associated with the gradual displacement of a person from the world of professions and widespread robotics, the introduction of artificial intelligence systems, machine learning, etc. As a result, the attitudes of young people towards their future in the context of digital business transformation are revealed. New are the results that allow us to assess the formation and necessity of supra-professional skills that are in demand in the digital economy, taking into account the geographical factor. The ideas of professional self-determination of modern youth and the importance of the process of realizing their professional potential are investigated. It is revealed that young people are quite optimistic, looking at the horizon of their professional future, understanding the need to receive additional education and improve in order to fit into the realities of the new digital economy. When building their professional trajectories, young people pay great attention not only to financial issues, but also to having the opportunity to "benefit" society.
Relações entre Mineração e Recursos Hídricos Subterrâneos
Authors: Miguel Rodrigo , Campos José
Published: December 2023

De forma geral a relação entre mineração e recursos hídricos subterrâneos segue dois caminhos: i) excesso de água que requer o rebaixamento da superfície potenciométrica para viabilizar a lavra do minério; ii) ou escassez de água que resulta em demandas externas para viabilizar o tratamento do minério lavrado. Na região da mina de Capão Xavier, e no Quadrilátero Ferrífero como um todo, há um conflito entre a atividade mineral e a expansão urbana que pode ser considerado crítico. Na região a disponibilidade de água subterrânea é elevada, sendo associada principalmente aos aquíferos intergranulares vinculados aos espessos mantos de intemperismo e aquíferos fraturados hospedados em rochas de diferentes naturezas (granitos, metassedimentos terrígenos e químicos, metabasaltos e carbonatos). Para o tratamento dos dados de testes de bombeamento o método que apresentou maior coerência foi o que considera o meio de dupla porosidade. Este método apresentou elevada consistência, não porque os aquíferos sejam enquadrados no modelo conceitual de dupla porosidade, mas porque os poços captam água de solos, saprolitos e rochas fraturadas, resultando em sistemas de captações mistos, isto é, com entradas de água a partir de seções com porosidade intergranular e secundária planar (fraturas) em dois aquíferos sobrepostos. No caso da área da mina de Capão Xavier e adjacências, parte das águas produzidas pelo bombeamento para rebaixamento é destinada para complementação do abastecimento público. A própria cava da mina funciona como uma área indutora da recarga e pode compensar, em parte, a explotação da reserva permanente do aquífero que sofre rebaixamento. A possibilidade de ampliação de áreas de lavra é limitada em função da presença de núcleos urbanos e rodovias federais. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os aquíferos da região e demonstrar que a questão entre mineração, expansão urbana e recursos hídricos subterrâneos na Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte pode ser considerado um caso singular que afeta o desenvolvimento das diferentes atividades econômicas.
El registro imaginario como organizador del posicionamiento subjetivo en formadoras de formadores
Authors: Manrique María Soledad
Published: December 2023

El posicionamiento subjetivo designa la forma en que un sujeto habita una posición establecida o construye una nueva, desde la cual interpreta cualquier fenómeno. En un aula constituye la base sobre la cual se toman las decisiones pedagógicas. En este trabajo buscamos caracterizar el posicionamiento subjetivo de dos formadoras de formadores en un dispositivo de formación enfocado en la reflexión sobre las prácticas realizado en Buenos Aires. Aplicamos análisis de contenido (Krippendorf, 1990) a siete reuniones de supervisión y una entrevista a las dos formadoras. El análisis permitió elaborar cuatro hipótesis. 1– Es posible identificar seis dimensiones que configuran el posicionamiento subjetivo de un formador —la dimensión vincular, la del sentido de la formación, la de los fundamentos conceptuales, la de los valores, la de los afectos y la de la lectura de la situación presente. 2– La última funciona como eje organizador de las otras. 3– En ella participa de manera preponderante el registro imaginario, que organiza las otras dimensiones. 4– Los posicionamientos de ambas formadoras pueden ser considerados como exponentes de dos imaginarios sociales en torno a la formación actualmente en tensión: el de la formación como proceso de comprensión racional de situaciones y el de la formación como elaboración psíquica.
Itinerarios y trayectorias universitarias en áreas STEM
Authors: Gonzalez Giselle
Published: December 2023

El artículo propone caracterizar comparativamente las trayectorias universitarias en áreas STEM a partir de un examen sobre el acceso y permanencia a carreras de ingeniería en dos universidades públicas de Buenos Aires. En la Argentina reciente, las políticas definen a las ingenierías como carreras “estratégicas” por su incidencia en el desarrollo futuro. Por la misma razón son objeto de incentivos para aumentar el acceso de aspirantes. Desde una perspectiva socio-político y universitaria, se plantea un hiato entre políticas y resultados concretos para beneficiar la equidad. El diseño del estudio es cualitativo y utiliza un enfoque multimétodo a partir del trabajo de campo realizado entre 2020-2022. Los resultados son negativos en términos de democratización e inclusión social.