bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Price Transparency for Cervical Spinal Fusion Among High-Performing Spine Centers in the United States
Authors: Yoon James S. , Ng Patrick R. , Hoffman Samantha E. , Gupta Saksham , Mooney Michael A.
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

As of January 1, 2021, all US hospitals are required by the Hospital Price Transparency Final Rule (HPTFR) to publish standard charges for all items and services, yet the state of price transparency for cervical spinal fusion is unknown. Here, we assess the nationwide price transparency landscape for cervical spinal fusion among high-performing spine centers in the United States.

METHODS:

In this cross-sectional economic evaluation, we queried publicly available price transparency websites of 332 “high-performing” spine centers, as defined by the US News and World Report. We extracted variables including gross charges for cervical spinal fusion, payor options, price reporting methodology, and prices relevant to consumers including listed cash prices and minimum and maximum negotiated charges.

RESULTS:

While nearly all 332 high-performing spine surgery centers (99.4%) had an online cost estimation tool, the HPTFR compliance rate was only 8.4%. Gross charges for cervical spinal fusion were accessible for 68.1% of hospitals, discounted cash prices for 46.4% of hospitals, and minimum and maximum charges for 10.8% of hospitals. There were large IQRs for gross charges ($48 491.98-$99 293.37), discounted cash prices ($26 952.25-$66 806.63), minimum charges ($10 766.11-$21 248.36), and maximum charges ($39 280.49-$89 035.35). There was geographic variability in the gross charges of cervical spinal fusion among high-performing spine centers within and between states. There was a significant association between “excellent” discharge to home status and lower mean gross charges.

CONCLUSION:

Although online cost reporting has drastically increased since implementation of the HPTFR, data reported for cervical spinal fusion remain inadequate and difficult to interpret by both providers and patients.
Integrated re-analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic datasets reveals potential mechanisms for Zika viral-based oncolytic therapy in neuroblastoma
Authors: Sherwood Matt , Zhou Yilu , Sui Yi , Wang Yihua , Skipp Paul , Kaid Carolini , Gray Juliet , Okamoto Keith , Ewing Rob M.
Published: November 2023

Background Paediatric neuroblastoma and brain tumours account for a third of all childhood cancer-related mortality. High-risk neuroblastoma is highly aggressive and survival is poor despite intensive multi-modal therapies with significant toxicity. Novel therapies are desperately needed. The Zika virus (ZIKV) can access the nervous system and there is growing interest in employing ZIKV as a potential therapy against paediatric nervous system tumours, including neuroblastoma. Methods Here, we perform extensive data mining, integration and re-analysis of ZIKV infection datasets to highlight molecular mechanisms that may govern the oncolytic response in neuroblastoma cells. We collate infection data of multiple neuroblastoma cell lines by different ZIKV strains from a body of published literature to inform the susceptibility of neuroblastoma to the ZIKV oncolytic response. Integrating published transcriptomics, interaction proteomics, dependency factor and compound datasets we propose the involvement of multiple host systems during ZIKV infection. Results Through data mining of published literature, we observed most paediatric neuroblastoma cell lines to be highly susceptible to ZIKV infection and propose the PRVABC59 ZIKV strain to be the most promising candidate for neuroblastoma oncolytic virotherapy. ZIKV induces TNF signalling, lipid metabolism, the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), and downregulates cell cycle and DNA replication processes. ZIKV infection is dependent on sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-regulated lipid metabolism and three protein complexes; V-ATPase, ER Membrane Protein Complex (EMC) and mammalian translocon. We propose ZIKV non-structural protein 4B (NS4B) as a likely mediator of ZIKVs interaction with IRE1-mediated UPR, lipid metabolism and mammalian translocon. Conclusions Our work provides a significant understanding of ZIKV infection in neuroblastoma cells, which will facilitate the progression of ZIKV-based oncolytic virotherapy through pre-clinical research and clinical trials.
Case Report: Severe ischemic priapism as the clinical presentation in patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated by proximal shunt
Authors: Dahril Dahril , Ramadhan Sangaji
Published: November 2023

Background: Priapism refers to an erection of the penis that persists for four hours or more and is not associated with sexual arousal or stimulation. This condition is thought to be caused by abnormal production of blood cells in the bone marrow, which leads to the release of certain chemicals into the bloodstream. The current article presents a severe ischemic priapism case, and assesses and contrasts the documented instances of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who experienced priapism as their primary clinical symptom over the last two decades.

Case presentation: The 21-year-old male patient presented with persistent and painful erections for three days. Further tests revealed he had CML and ischemic priapism. He was treated with distal shunting and proximal shunting with cytoreductive therapy to resolve the symptoms.

Conclusions: Priapism is a medical emergency that can cause permanent damage to the erectile tissue if not treated promptly. Prolonged and painful erections can cause ischemia, leading to tissue damage and decreased function. If priapism is caused by an underlying medical condition; delaying treatment can allow the underlying condition to progress and become more difficult to treat.
Regional clustering and waves patterns due to COVID-19 by the index virus and the lambda/gamma, and delta/omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants in Peru
Authors: Toyama Melissa , Vargas Lucía , Ticliahuanca Sofía , Quispe Antonio M
Published: November 2023

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impact varies substantially due to various factors, so it is critical to characterize its main differences to inform decision-makers about where to focus their interventions and differentiate mitigation strategies. Up to this date, little is known about the patterns and regional clustering of COVID-19 waves worldwide. Methods We assessed the patterns and regional clustering of COVID-19 waves in Peru by using the weekly mortality rates for each of the 25 regions as an outcome of interest. We obtained the death counts from the National Informatics System of Deaths and population estimates from the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status. In addition, we characterized each wave according to its duration, peak, and mortality rates by age group and gender. Additionally, we used polynomial regression models to compare them graphically and performed a cluster analysis to identify regional patterns. Results We estimated the average mortality rate at the first, second, and third waves at 13.01, 14.12, and 9.82 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively, with higher mortality rates among elders and men. The patterns of each wave varied substantially in terms of duration, peak, impact, and wave shapes. Based on our clustering analysis, during the first wave caused by the index virus, the 25 regions of Peru presented six different wave patterns. However, the regions were clustered in two different wave patterns during the second and third, caused by alpha/lambda/delta and omicron. Conclusions The propagation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) variants behaved in Peru with varying wave patterns and regional clustering. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the weekly mortality rates followed different spatiotemporal patterns with solid clustering, which might help project the impact of future waves of COVID-19.
Security and Privacy of Internet of Things: A Review of Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Lu Yujing
Published: November 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a global and comprehensive network that monitors and controls the physical world by collecting, processing, and analysing data derived from IoT devices. Globally, the IoT is emerging as a trend bringing intelligence and automation to a variety of application domains, presenting both opportunities and security challenges. It is used in various fields, including medical care, smart grids, home automation, smart cities, etc. As the number of devices connected to the IoT increases, there is an increased risk of cyber-attacks, data breaches, and other malicious activities. This means that it is essential to have secure protocols and encryption methods in place to protect the data being exchanged. This paper identifies and synthesizes security issues related to the IoT. Security threats across different layers of the IoT architecture are discussed first, followed by identifying prevalent security and privacy issues. A discussion is also provided on security countermeasures.
Machine Learning Models: A Study of English Essay Text Content Feature Extraction and Automatic Scoring
Authors: Shang Wei , Men Huihua , Du Xiujie
Published: November 2023

Accurate automatic scoring of English essay is beneficial for both teachers and students in English teaching. This paper briefly introduced an XGBoost-based automated scoring algorithm for English essay. To improve the accuracy of the algorithm, a long short-term memory (LSTM) semantic model was introduced to extract semantic scoring features from essays. Finally, the improved XGBoost algorithm was compared with the traditional XGBoost and LSTM algorithms in a simulation experiment using five types of essay prompts. The results indicate that the improved XGBoost algorithm has the best performance for automatic scoring of English essay and also requires the shortest scoring time.
Heat Mitigation in the Southeastern United States: Are Cooling Centers Equitable and Strategic?
Authors: Allen Michael J. , Whytlaw Jennifer L. , Hutton Nicole , Hoffman Jeremy S.
Published: November 2023

abstract: In the face of anthropogenic climate change, the ability of communities to reduce the heat-health burden remains a significant public health issue. This research is the first to identify cooling centers across the southeastern United States, providing a resource for stakeholders. The study evaluates the spatial relationship of these venues for heat-vulnerable populations. Using a survey and publicly available data, researchers identified 1,433 cooling centers, though significant variability exists across states and local jurisdictions. Of the nine states examined, Tennessee was the only location with a health system–supported cooling center network. Only 36 percent of the Southeast's population lives within a fifteen-minute drive of a cooling center. In most states, less than 10 percent of vulnerable populations (elderly, non-white, below poverty) are within this driveshed. Most cooling centers were found in urban environments, although heat vulnerability is not exclusively a city issue. Further research is needed to strengthen cross-agency collaboration and evaluate the effectiveness of cooling centers in areas of both high and low population density. Some states have integrated heat as part of hazard mitigation plans, but additional research is needed to explore how these plans go beyond hazard identification and strengthen vulnerable communities' ability to mitigate heat risk.
Twitter adoption and perceived utility among Israeli news professionals: A mixed-methods study
Authors: Elishar Vered , Ariel Yaron
Published: November 2023

This study examined Israeli news professionals’ adoption and usage of Twitter as a journalistic tool. A mixed-methods approach was used, including a survey and open-ended questions, to gather data from 63 news staff members, including senior news presenters, correspondents and commentators. The results showed that Israeli news staff primarily use Twitter in a professional context and view it as a positive and essential work tool. Most respondents believed Twitter played a significant role in determining the media’s agenda and influencing the atmosphere among news staff. A one-way analysis of variance found that Twitter usage time was related to the perceived importance of the platform as a work tool and its influence on the journalistic field. The study also identified several reasons for adopting Twitter: curiosity, internal encouragement and pressure, access to quick updates and a wider range of sources, the opportunity to present a unique voice and the desire to reach new audiences.
Analysis of the Effect of Experiential Marketing on Customer Loyalty Using Customer Satisfaction as a Intervening Variables
Authors: Idham Muhammad Idham Khalid , Setyono Joko Setyono
Published: November 2023

Research Aims: This research aims to find the influence of experiential marketing, namely sense, feel, think, act, and relate marketing, on customer loyalty at PT. Bank Syariah Indonesia, using satisfaction customer as variable.
Methodology: This research is quantitative with a causality study. The sample is composed of 127 customers from Bank Syariah Indonesia. This research uses non-probability sampling as a sampling technique with purposive sampling and a questionnaire with a Likert scale as a data collection technique. As well as using SmartPLS 3.0 software for analysing data using structural equation modelling (SEM).
Research Findings: The research reveals that sense and relate variables significantly impact customer satisfaction, while feel, think, and act variables do not. Act has a positive impact on customer loyalty, but other variables have no significant effect. The relationship between satisfaction and loyalty is not significant, and satisfaction cannot mediate the relationship between experiential marketing and customer loyalty.
Originalitity: This research details the elements of experiential marketing, such as sense, feel, think, act, and relate, and evaluates their impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty
Implication: Customer satisfaction can be a critical factor in connecting customer experience to the level of loyalty
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Brazil: An Analysis of 2010-2019 Trends
Authors: Souza Braz Elisiane , Souza Almeida Cleycianne , Gaspar Feitosa Débora , Lima Campelo Guaracyane , Hissa Teixeira Keuler , Félix Gomes José Weligton
Published: November 2023

This study undertakes a succinct literature review to delve into the importance of female entrepreneurship in Brazil, particularly focusing on the period from 2010 to 2019. By scrutinizing Brazilian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data and referencing reports from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), the research effectively situates female entrepreneurship within the Brazilian economic context. Employing metrics such as Total Early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) Rate, Established Business Ownership Rate (EBO), and Total Entrepreneurship Rate (TER), the study delves into the Total Early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity Rate across diverse demographics including age groups, income ranges, education levels, and sectors. Through correlation analysis and dispersion diagrams, intricate connections emerge between early-stage entrepreneurial rates and variables such as age, income, education, and sectors. This research unveils the profile and significance of Brazilian entrepreneurs, underscoring the pivotal role of women in nurturing economic and societal progress. Elevating women's participation in entrepreneurship emerges as a cornerstone for transformative societal change, embodying ideals of self-sufficiency and empowerment. This research is classified within the realms of bibliographic, documentary, descriptive, and exploratory methodologies. Notably, the study reveals that female entrepreneurship significantly contributes to Brazil's economic advancement, fostering both economic and social development.
Educational Disparities in Gender Stereotypes and Beliefs: Examining Gender Interaction among Respondents in Ghana
Authors: Abrefa-Gyan Tina , Fakunmoju Sunday B
Published: November 2023

Within various societies, individuals harbor gender stereotypes and beliefs that frequently shape perceptions and behaviors within intimate relationships. However, the extent to which individuals endorse or reject these stereotypes remains insufficiently explored. This study, utilizing a convenience sample of 303 respondents in Ghana, examined the interaction effects of gender on the relationship between educational background and gender stereotypes and beliefs—specifically focusing on the sexual submissiveness of women, emotional stereotypes about women, and sexual stereotypes about men. The results indicate an effect of gender in the relationships. Notably, ratings regarding emotional stereotypes about women were significantly higher among male respondents with a bachelor's degree, while being lowest among female respondents with a post-graduate degree. Similarly, ratings for sexual stereotypes about men were notably highest among female respondents with a bachelor's degree and lowest among female respondents with a post-graduate degree. Concerning beliefs about the sexual submissiveness of women, respondents with less than a bachelor's degree (i.e., high school/diploma) were more prone to endorse sexual submissiveness compared to those with a bachelor's or post-graduate degree. Additionally, men were more likely to endorse sexual submissiveness of women compared to women. The implications of these findings for theory, research, and policy are discussed.
Global existence for time-dependent damped wave equations with nonlinear memory
Authors: Kirane Mokhtar , Fino Ahmad Z. , Alsaedi Ahmed , Ahmad Bashir
Published: November 2023

In this article, we consider the Cauchy problem for a semi-linear wave equation with time-dependent damping and memory nonlinearity. Conditions for global existence are presented in the energy space

H

1

(

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n

)

×

L

2

(

R

n

)

{H}^{1}\left({{\mathbb{R}}}^{n})\times {L}^{2}\left({{\mathbb{R}}}^{n})

,

n
≥
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.
MiR-1278 targets CALD1 and suppresses the progression of gastric cancer via the MAPK pathway
Authors: Xie Jia-Bei , Zhang Hao , Li Xiao-Fang , Han Shuang-Yin , Li Xiu-Ling
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to investigate the interaction between miR-1278 and Caldesmon (CALD1) in gastric cancer (GC) and the regulatory mechanism. In both GC cells and tissues, the levels of CALD1, miR-1278, migration-related markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Snail), and MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins were clarified using quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting analyses. The effects of miR-1278 and CALD1 on GC cell viability and migration were analyzed using CCK-8 and Transwell assays, respectively. The targeting effect of miR-1278 on CALD1 was investigated using bioinformatics prediction and a dual luciferase reporter assay. The effect of miR-1278 on tumor growth was estimated in vivo using a tumor xenograft assay. In GC, miR-1278 expression decreased, whereas CALD1 was highly expressed. Transfecting an miR-1278 mimic into cells inhibited the viability as well as migration of GC cells, and suppressed Ras, phosphorylated (p)-P38, and p-ERK1/2 protein levels. Moreover, miR-1278 targeted and negatively regulated CALD1 expression. CALD1 overexpression promoted GC cell survival and migration and activated the MAPK pathway. Treatment with an miR-1278 mimic partially rescued the changes caused by CALD1 overexpression. Overall, our study revealed that miR-1278 suppresses the malignant behavior of GC cells by targeting CALD1 and regulating the MAPK pathway.
Social Benefits of Cooperatives - An Economic Perspective
Authors: Wrede Matthias
Published: November 2023

Why and how are cooperatives beneficial to society? The answer is simple: first and foremost, because they are useful for the members. Cooperatives enable them to cooperate and operate economically. Members benefit because they can pool resources, save on transaction costs and hold their own against companies with market power. The purpose and democratic governance protect against exploitation, even in the face of the high opportunity cost of terminating membership. What should the state do? Cooperatives should be supported by structuring their legal form in a way that is appropriate to their purpose and practical. Financial support for cooperatives is recommended if external effects are internalized or more targeted alternative redistribution instruments do not exist.
Nachhaltigkeit von Genossenschaftsbanken
Authors: Thimm Philipp , Blome-Drees Johannes
Published: November 2023

In der vorliegenden Abhandlung werden ausgewählte empirische Ergebnisse einer von der DZ Bank-Stiftung geförderten Studie zum Thema „Nachhaltigkeit von Genossenschaftsbanken" vorgestellt. Die konzeptionellen Überlegungen und empirischen Befunde zeigen, dass die morphologischen Besonderheiten der Genossenschaftsbanken eine nachhaltige Unternehmenspolitik begünstigen können. Die Ausführungen machen weiter deutlich, dass es diese Vorteile strategisch zu nutzen gilt. Dies ist insbesondere mit Blick auf künftige regulatorische Anforderungen von besonderer Relevanz.
The Diffusion of Electrification Policy in U.S. Local Governments: A Case Study of Bellingham’s “Gas Ban”
Authors: Hazboun Shawn , Dixon Erin
Published: November 2023

In the absence of meaningful federal climate policy in the United States, states and local governments are poised to make a substantial contribution to decarbonization efforts. At present, over 70 local jurisdictions and two states have enacted building electrification policies that limit the use of natural gas in buildings and seek to “electrify” the building sector and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In this case study, we examine building electrification policy passed in the City of Bellingham, Washington, in early 2022. We apply concepts from policy innovation and diffusion scholarship and propose a conceptual model that identifies factors likely to help or hinder electrification policymaking in local governments across the United States in the future.
Analysis of an Arctic cold air outbreak during autumn and related air mass transformations forced by surface changes and advection in higher altitudes
Authors: Kirbus Benjamin , Chylik Jan , Ehrlich André , Becker Sebastian , Schäfer Michael , Neggers Roel , Wendisch Manfred
Published: November 2023

During marine cold air outbreaks (MCAOs), cold and dry Arctic air masses are transported from the central Arctic southward across the closed sea ice and much warmer open oceans. They experience significant transformations including a rapid heating and moistening, often leading to cloud formation. While intense wintertime MCAOs have been analyzed widely, the air mass transformations during other seasons have been studied sparsely. We address this gap by investigating an MCAO case observed in September 2020. To study the transformation processes, we combine the fifth generation of atmospheric reanalyses of the global climate (ERA5), trajectory calculations, as well as shipborne and airborne measurements. In the central Arctic, observations acquired from aboard the research vessel (RV) Polarstern during the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition characterized the initial state of the air mass over closed sea ice. Trajectories indicated the pathway the air mass took from RV Polarstern southward to the Fram Strait. For the first 24 h of the southbound drift, the air masses remained quasi-stationary. Then, still 15 h ahead of the marginal sea ice zone, differential advection across the boundary layer flow introduced humidity and clouds at higher altitudes between 1.5 and 2.5 km. ERA5-derived temperature and humidity tendencies indicated complex vertical interactions. Radiative cloud-top cooling, entrainment, and turbulence were significantly reduced in the lower and enhanced in the upper advected cloud layer. Eventually, the lower cloud deck dissipated. After this confluence of 2 different air masses, observations gathered by Polar 5 in Fram Strait as part of the MOSAiC Airborne observations in the Central Arctic campaign revealed cloudy, moist layers throughout the lowest 3.5 km and an increasing boundary layer height. Comparing the initial with the final state 48 h later, the largest net heating of +8 K was found close to the surface, yet the largest net moistening of +2.5 g kg−1 at an altitude of 1 km, as the initial profile was exceptionally dry here. We conclude that the observed air mass transformations were driven by the surface changes from sea ice to open ocean but additionally strongly impacted by the differential advection of clouds and moisture across the near-surface MCAO flow.
Cell‐based allometry: an approach for evaluation of complexity in morphogenesis
Authors: Tarihi Ali , Tarihi Mojtaba , Tiraihi Taki
Published: November 2023

Background

Morphogenesis is a complex process in a developing animal at the organ, cellular and molecular levels. In this investigation, allometry at the cellular level was evaluated.

Methods

Geometric information, including the time‐lapse Cartesian coordinates of each cell’s center, was used for calculating the allometric coefficients. A zero‐centroaxial skew‐symmetrical matrix ( CSSM), was generated and used for constructing another square matrix (basic square matrix: BSM), then the determinant of BSM was calculated ( d). The logarithms of absolute d (Lad) of cell group at different stages of development were plotted for all of the cells in a range of development stages; the slope of the regression line was estimated then used as the allometric coefficient. Moreover, the lineage growth rate (LGR) was also calculated by plotting the Lad against the logarithm of the time. The complexity index at each stage was calculated. The method was tested on a developing Caenorhabditis elegans embryo.

Results

We explored two out of the four first generated blastomeres in C. elegans embryo. The ABp and EMS lineages show that the allometric coefficient of ABp was higher than that of EMS, which was consistent with the complexity index as well as LGR.

Conclusion

The conclusion of this study is that the complexity of the differentiating cells in a developing embryo can be evaluated by allometric scaling based on the data derived from the Cartesian coordinates of the cells at different stages of development.
Some features of air pollution monitoring as a component of the microclimate of the premises
Authors:   General Energy Institute of NAS of Ukraine, 172, Antonovycha St., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine, Zaporozhets Artur ,   State Institution "Center for evaluation of activity of research institutions and scientific support of regional development of Ukraine of NAS of Ukraine", 54, Volodymyrska St., Kyiv, 01030, Ukraine, Babak Vitalii ,   General Energy Institute of NAS of Ukraine, 172, Antonovycha St., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine, Kostenko Ganna ,   General Energy Institute of NAS of Ukraine, 172, Antonovycha St., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine, Sverdlova Anastasia ,   General Energy Institute of NAS of Ukraine, 172, Antonovycha St., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine, Dekusha Oleg ,   General Energy Institute of NAS of Ukraine, 172, Antonovycha St., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine, Kornienko Serhii ,   TOV "Bud-Bud", 33 B, Drahomanova St., Lubny, 37500, Ukraine
Published: November 2023

The quality of living space largely depends on the quality of indoor air. The physical and chemical properties of the air people breathe can affect their health and comfort. Indoor air pollution in residential and workplace environments can occur due to various activities of occupants or employees, such as cooking, smoking, and using electronic devices, as well as emissions of pollutants from building materials and the use of certain products. Pollutants that can be present indoors include carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, aerosols, biological contaminants, and more. To effectively monitor the quality of atmospheric air, it is necessary to determine the main sources of air pollution, which is the purpose of this study. Naturally, the quality of indoor air cannot be clearly separated from the ambient air quality. The first factor affecting the microclimate is the level of air pollution near the building. Air from the street enters the room through windows, doors, or the building's ventilation system. If the state of the surrounding environment is unfavorable, the concentration of harmful substances indoors may also exceed the norm. However, indoor sources of air pollution in any building can have a much greater impact on the health and comfort of the people inside it. Materials used in construction, such as concrete or mineral insulation, may contain ammonia, formaldehyde, and other substances that are released from building structures over time and deteriorate indoor air quality. Ensuring control and monitoring of indoor air quality is an extremely important task. This includes measuring concentrations of pollutants and identifying their sources. It is also important to adhere to standards and recommendations developed by health and environmental organizations to ensure safety and comfort indoors. To reduce indoor air pollution, various measures can be implemented, such as selecting appropriate building materials, and ventilation, installing purification systems, controlling sources of pollution, and limiting the impact of human activity. Keywords: air pollution, microclimate parameters, air quality monitoring, harmful substances.
The Intersectional Logic of “Bad Religion”
Authors: Geiger Leonie C
Published: November 2023

Using an example of German Christian development cooperation, this paper examines strengths and weaknesses of an intersectional analysis in relation to “religion.” I will make a twofold argument. First, I will argue that the rhetoric of “bad religion” present in development cooperation is based on an intersectional logic and reproduces marginalization. Second, I will present that intersectional approaches often conceptualize “religion” in an essentialist way. By doing so, I will explore the common features of “development” and “intersectionality,” referred to here as the intersectional logic of development, describe the role of “religion” within it and demonstrate a dualistic logic of reading positions as hegemonic and non-hegemonic within this intersectional logic of development. Drawing on the concept of assemblage developed by Jasbir Puar (2007), this essay concludes by proposing some programmatic considerations that allow addressing these challenges and further developing intersectional studies as well as the critical study of religion.
Zombies Roaming Around the Pantheon
Authors: Ambasciano Leonardo
Published: November 2023

The present contribution explores how the field of Roman History has formalized and justified the absence of “belief”—and religious belief in particular—as part of its standard research programme. In positing an unbridgeable gap between ancient Romans and modern human beings mainly based on the idea that “belief” and “faith” are modern Protestant concepts, Roman History inadvertently transmogrified its subjects of study into a legion of zombies incapable of holding meta-representations of their own religious (and non-religious) beliefs. While Roman History might have been an outlier in its staunch commitment to this exclusionary approach, the post-1970s move towards the abandonment of “belief” insofar as the study of ancient religion(s) is concerned was part of a widespread paradigm shift within the Humanities, which only very recently has been questioned. The history of the concept of “belief” in both Roman History and anthropology, as well as its rejection from the former’s disciplinary toolbox, are tackled, while the peculiar disciplinary concepts of Roman “orthopraxy” and “demythicization” (sometimes hailed as explananda or replacements for the absence of “belief” in Roman antiquity) are also explained. Finally, a cognitive rebuttal of this absence is provided through a reappraisal of David Chalmers’ “philosophical zombies” mental experiment.
Allowing Belief
Authors: Barrett Jacob
Published: November 2023

Following the events at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 where a protest led to the later-termed armed insurrection, congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) was removed from her committee assignments for the role she played and her beliefs in QAnon. Greene’s passive language in her apology about being “allowed to believe things that weren’t true” landed, for her critics, as a disingenuous attempt to absolve herself of any blame. From a scholarly standpoint, however, her remarks provide a particularly useful case study for an examination of how the modern discourse on belief works. We normally talk about beliefs not as something one is “allowed” to have, rather as something an individual internally has and then only later expresses. Greene’s comments, though, point toward a rather different understanding of how beliefs—or better, belief claims—function than many might realize. This article uses two specific parts of Greene’s comments to reframe how we understand belief and suggests that we adopt a performative theory of belief, studying belief as a socio-rhetorical tool used to create and maintain a strategically useful but fictive internal space that functions as a mechanism of governance to manage dissent instead of a set of naturally occurring and internal convictions.
Does Anyone Sincerely Believe in Science? and Several Other Questions
Authors: McCrary Charles
Published: November 2023

This piece, a sort of epilogue to the special issue, reflects on different ways to study “religious belief.” It identifies two broad types of scholarly questions. The first concerns religious beliefs themselves, how they are held, what work they do in societies, etc. The second interrogates “religious belief” itself as a category. And yet, these two types, while having seemingly quite distinct aims and assumptions, often overlap. The piece concludes with a discussion of “scientific beliefs,” as a way of asking what, if anything, is distinctive about religious beliefs, approached through either type of question.
Factors of ESG ratings assigned to commercial banks – the cultural and credit risk dimensions
Authors: Niedziółka Paweł , Bernardelli Michał , Korzeb Zbigniew
Published: November 2023

The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of cultural differences and credit ratings on the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores assigned to commercial banks. The analysis was performed using ordered logistic regression. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) and the statistical significance of the explanatory variables were used as the method of comparing the models. Count R2 and adjusted count R2 were chosen as the measure of goodness of fit, but a non-diagonal element analysis of the contingency table was also performed. Based on the data of 330 banks from 50 countries the study proved that among all the clusters considered, the region with the highest ESG risk attributable to banks was the Arab countries, whereas regions with the lowest ESG risk were Western European and Nordic countries. Cultural variables found to influence ESG ratings were MAS (masculinity vs. femininity), PDI (power distance index), LTO (long-term orientation vs. short-term orientation), and UAI (uncertainty avoidance). In addition, a relationship between banks’ ESG and credit ratings was observed, i.e. an increase in the average credit rating reduces the chance of classifying a bank as high or medium ESG risk vs. ESG low risk. This is the first study focused on binding the cultural characteristics of a given country with the results of ESG risk assessments of banks registered in this jurisdiction as well as assessing the relation between ESG and credit risks. This kind of clustering with the use of an econometric model allows for capturing the interrelationships of many factors simultaneously with full interpretability of the results. An added advantage was the excellent accuracy of the model, even though the maximisation of the predictive power was not the key aspect of the research.
The evolution of maternity attitudes in Polish society: A longitudinal perspective
Authors: Genge Ewa
Published: November 2023

Individual attitudes toward motherhood depend on one’s particular culture, values and beliefs. These, however, are usually transformed in the public’s opinion into aspects related to maternity and the image of a child. The negative attitudes toward maternity, in turn, affects the current demographic crisis in many countries in Europe. The study evaluated the changing attitudes toward motherhood in Poland in recent years (2009- -2015) on the basis of the Social Diagnosis longitudinal data. To show family-related behaviour and the changes over time, the author adopted latent mixed models to characterise the two groups of individuals (with a different number of states) at the beginning of the period of observation and to follow their evolution over time. The analysis of the changing propensity of childrearing in Poland seems to be pertinent especially because of the changes in Poland’s new child benefit programme, i.e. extending to one-year the length of maternity and paternity leaves, Family 500+, the first of which entered into force in the analysed period. Hence, the study presents the initial and transition probabilities estimated for five recognized states in two groups of Poles (one with traditional, and the other with more modern attitudes to motherhood). Despite the extension of social benefits, the author observed the negative tendency to childrearing of Polish society in the analysed period of time.
Study on the survival rate of foreign direct investments in the countries of the Visegrad Group using event history analysis
Authors: Salamaga Marcin
Published: November 2023

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a process that starts at a point in time and may end over time or continue uninterrupted throughout the observation period. Certain economic conditions may incline investors to divest by liquidating a business entity or selling their shares in the company in which the FDIs were made. Therefore, this is an analogy with the occurrence of censored cases, which allows for the use of survival analysis tools in the examination of the duration of FDIs. The aim of this article was to compare the patterns of ‘survival’ of foreign direct investments in individual Visegrad Group countries based on the relevant tables showing ‘the duration of FDIs’ and the survival curves obtained using the Kaplan-Meier estimator according to the criteria of sector and country of origin of the foreign capital. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to model the risk of foreign divestment. Based on the results obtained, the rate of decline in the cumulative probability of FDI survival shows differences between countries; FDI survival medians also vary across countries. In particular, it is demonstrated that the highest probability of foreign direct divestment in Poland applies to projects which are approximately 13.5 to 15 years long. In Czechia, this concerns projects which are approximately 18 to 21 years old, while in Slovakia and Hungary it is projects which are longer than 21. The study also shows that in all Visegrad countries, FDIs with German capital lasted the shortest, while projects with French capital lasted the longest (in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary). In the majority of the Visegrad Group countries, the highest risk of divestment is typical of projects in sectors other than industrial processing and financial, insurance and other services. The data for the computations are from the Orbis and Zephir databases.
A Teoria da Carga Cognitiva e Teoria Cognitiva da Aprendizagem Multimídia nos currículos de formação de professores de Física no Brasil
Authors: Neto Antonio A.M. , Braga Aline N. , Souza Nelson P.C. de , Filho Silvio C.F. Pereira , Alves Danilo T.
Published: November 2023

A Teoria da Carga Cognitiva (TCC) e a Teoria Cognitiva da Aprendizagem Multimídia (TCAM) têm sido largamente estudadas nos últimos 30 anos, sendo fundamentais para a elaboração de materiais instrucionais para a aprendizagem que levem em conta as limitações na memória de trabalho humana. Apesar da relevância da TCC e da TCAM, evidenciamos uma lacuna na abordagem a ambas as teorias nos currículos dos cursos de licenciatura plena em Física de universidades públicas brasileiras (federais e estaduais). Nosso objetivo, levantando essa questão, é contribuir com discussões que possam levar a TCC e a TCAM a serem incorporadas aos currículos de formação de professores de Física nas universidades do país.
Regimes de visibilidade na era das mídias sociais: transformações e continuidades
Authors: Campanella Bruno Roberto
Published: November 2023

Resumo O presente artigo reflete sobre transformações de longo prazo em regimes de visibilidade no ocidente e a crescente necessidade de o indivíduo ser reconhecido no contexto das mídias sociais. Argumenta-se que os desafios enfrentados por pessoas que buscam ser visíveis e reconhecidas nas plataformas de mídia social atualizam dilemas constituintes da subjetividade moderna, assim como introduzem novos elementos ligados ao processo de datificação e aprofundamento do neoliberalismo nas relações sociais. Essas transformações são exploradas por meio do: i) exame de obras que investigam manuais de comportamento e regulação de sentimento publicados nos últimos séculos; ii) da análise de vídeos e tutoriais contemporâneos direcionados a influenciadores digitais e pessoas comuns que buscam ganhar proeminência em mídias sociais.
Masculinidades negras nas artes visuais: Performances contemporâneas e suas narrativas de incômodo, fuga e fabulação1
Authors: Meirinho Daniel , Carrera Fernanda
Published: November 2023

Resumo No debate sobre masculinidades negras, entende-se que homens negros historicamente são reduzidos a imagens de controle, fundamentadas por imaginários a serviço da colonialidade e do dispositivo de racialidade. No entanto, há a emergência de práticas performáticas artísticas importantes na construção de estratégias de ressignificação, buscando questionar o regime racializado de representação e propondo novos modos de fabular o corpo e as subjetividades do homem negro. Este trabalho analisa como as performances dos artistas contemporâneos Antonio Obá e Tiago Sant’Ana buscam estratégias contranarrativas de contestação dos artefatos simbólicos representacionais. Suas obras apresentam o corpo negro masculino inscrito enquanto tática fabulatória de resistência em raça e gênero.
Aplicação de uma matriz de análise de planejamento em infraestrutura verde no município de São José dos Campos
Authors: Villanova Luana Braz , Travassos Luciana Rodrigues Fagnoni Costa
Published: November 2023

Resumo Diante de um cenário de crescente ocupação urbana e impermeabilização do solo, as áreas verdes passaram a atuar combatendo inúmeros impactos provenientes da produção do espaço urbano. Unificar as áreas verdes para que formem uma rede interconectada de espaços verdes oferta às cidades inúmeros benefícios em serviços ecossistêmicos. Considerando que planejar e gerir áreas verdes tal qual uma infraestrutura verde é um grande desafio aos planejadores e iniciativas responsáveis, o presente trabalho pretende contribuir ao construir uma matriz de análise de planejamento em infraestrutura verde, aplicada à análise das políticas de áreas verdes municipais. A partir de literatura sobre planejamento e infraestrutura verde, elaborou-se um quadro de elementos de áreas verdes, assim como uma matriz analítica de planejamento de infraestrutura verde a ser aplicada na leitura de planos, programas e projetos municipais. Assim sendo, o quadro de elementos de áreas verdes, a matriz analítica e sua aplicação permitem compreender, considerando os instrumentos escolhidos, que ocorreram avanços no planejamento de infraestrutura verde em São José dos Campos, mas que ainda existem dificuldades para que seja implementada.
Trajetória do estoque residencial formal – São Paulo, 2000/2020
Authors: Marques Eduardo , Minarelli Guilherme
Published: November 2023

Resumo Esse artigo apresenta e discute de forma pioneira a trajetória do estoque imobiliário residencial formal no Município de São Paulo entre 2000 e 2020. Apesar da grande importância do tema, praticamente inexistem estudos sobre o tema. Partindo de dados detalhados inéditos do cadastro imobiliário municipal, exploramos o quadro geral do estoque residencial e suas transformações por tipologia e valores nas duas últimas décadas. São Paulo sofreu profundas transformações em seu estoque, passando de predominância horizontal de padrão baixo para liderança de imóveis verticais de padrão médio, com também crescimento significativa dos imóveis verticais de padrão alto. O efeito dos principais instrumentos urbanísticos parece ter sido bem reduzido sobre a trajetória do estoque. A dinâmica dos valores do imposto cobrado, por outro lado, indica uma expressiva apreciação dos valores, mais elevada entre imóveis de alto padrão, em especial horizontais, mas também verticais. Tais elevações ocorreram continuamente, mas se concentraram nas novas tabelas de valores. Essa contínua elevação indica decisão de acompanhar as elevações verificadas no mercado, provavelmente por razões orçamentárias, mas resultando em valores medianos mais diferenciados por padrão, e a estrutura de cobrança mais progressiva.
A dissonância musical n’O nascimento da tragédia
Authors: Barros Fernando R. de Moraes
Published: November 2023

Resumo: O propósito geral do presente artigo é investigar o sentido e o alcance da noção de dissonância musical n’O nascimento da tragédia. Ao passar em revista as possíveis definições explicativas de tal conceito, dentro e fora do âmbito teórico-especulativo próprio do primeiro livro de Nietzsche, esperamos descerrar um caminho que nos leve a repensar a assim chamada “metafísica de artista”, e, em especial, aquilo que geralmente se entende por música dionisíaca.
Desempenho de pré-escolares e escolares no protocolo ProNOH: aspectos macroestruturais
Authors: Rossi Natalia Freitas , Xavier Ana Carolina , Rosa Kriscia Gobi , Giacheti Célia Maria
Published: November 2023

RESUMO Objetivo Investigar se o escore narrativo obtido por meio da aplicação do “Protocolo de Avaliação da Narrativa Oral de História (ProNOH)” permite discriminar os grupos etários estudados, bem como sua relação com o nível de coerência global da história. Método Participaram 97 pré-escolares e escolares com desenvolvimento típico de linguagem, entre 5 e 12 anos, ambos os sexos que frequentavam escola pública. Foi aplicado o “Protocolo de Avaliação da Narrativa Oral de História (ProNOH)” e calculado o escore narrativo na dimensão macroestrutural a partir dos elementos estruturais previstos no modelo da gramática de história. Esses mesmos elementos foram usados para obter o nível de coerência global da história, segundo proposta de análise de Spinillo e Martins (1997). Resultados Diferença estatisticamente significante foi encontrada entre os grupos etários, principalmente entre as idades fronteiriças de 5-6 anos, 7-8 anos, 9-10 anos e 11-12 anos. Correlação positiva e estatisticamente significante foi encontrada com a idade e o escore narrativo e a coerência global, bem como entre o escore narrativo e o nível de coerência global. Conclusão O protocolo mostrou ser útil para identificar o repertório de elementos típicos da gramática de história na narrativa oral como uma medida objetiva que diferenciou a narrativa oral de grupos etários. Os resultados indicaram ainda que o escore narrativo pode ser uma medida norteadora do nível de coerência da história, apesar deste valor não substituir uma análise específica.