bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth Overcoming Obstacles as a Clinical Nurse Educator: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Choi Gi Won , Chang Sun Ju , Lee Kyoung‐eun , Kim Joo Ri , Jeong Ha Na
Published: November 2024

Clinical nurse educators (CNEs), responsible for nursing education, have begun to address unresolved issues in nursing education overlooked by preceptorship. However, research on this topic is lacking in South Korea, despite the government's 2019 launch of the CNE support project. This study explored the role experience of CNE in South Korea, focusing on their role challenges and the process of overcoming them. Fifteen CNEs from tertiary or secondary general hospitals in South Korea participated in semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews conducted between August and December 2023. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for conventional content analysis. Four categories emerged: challenges in the role of CNE, personal strategies for growth as a CNE, external support systems for growth as a CNE, and role evolution and emerging challenges for CNEs. This study demonstrates previously unexplored CNE role experiences in South Korea and provides valuable recommendations for enhancing CNE support projects.
Studies in Neotropical Araliaceae. X. Four new species of Sciodaphyllum P.Browne from Ecuador, each named in honor of a Danish botanist
Authors: Lowry Porter P. , Neill David A. , Rodrigues-Vaz Carlos , Plunkett Gregory M.
Published: November 2024

Four new species of Sciodaphyllum (Araliaceae) from Ecuador are described, S. balslevii, S. borchsenii, S. oellgaardii and S. pedersenii, each named in honor of a Danish botanist who collected extensively in the country in the late 20th century while contributing to the multi‐decade collaborative botanical research program run by Aarhus University, the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, and the Universidad Nacional de Loja. These new taxa increase to 27 the total number of described species in Ecuador belonging to Sciodaphyllum (whose members were formerly included in Schefflera J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.), which also has an additional 75 new species that remain to be described. Color photos are provided for three of the species along with a scan of the holotype of the fourth taxon. Distribution maps are provided along with preliminary risk of extinction assessments (following the IUCN Red List criteria); S. balslevii is assessed as Least Concern (LC), whereas S. borchsenii and S. oellgaardii are Endangered (EN), and S. pedersenii is Vulnerable (VU).
ApoEVs Transfer Mitochondrial Component to Modulate Macrophages in Periodontal Regeneration
Authors: Liu Xiaodong , Lyu Yun , Yu Yejia , Wang Zhuo , Sun Yanping , Li Maojiao , Liang Chao , Tian Weidong , Liao Li
Published: November 2024

Objective

Macrophages are key players in the host immune response to periodontal pathogens and tissue repair. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of apoptotic cell‐derived extracellular vesicles (ApoEVs) in modulating the mitochondrial function of macrophages as a mean to enhance periodontal tissue regeneration.

Subjects and Methods

ApoEVs were extracted from periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and characterized to observe their effects on macrophage function. In vivo experiments, ApoEVs were mixed with hyaluronic acid and injected into the periodontal pockets of rats with periodontitis to observe their impact on periodontal tissue regeneration and the immune microenvironment. Functional assays were conducted to confirm whether ApoEVs contained mitochondrial components and which specific components were transferred to regulate macrophage function.

Results

The experimental findings showed that treatment of ApoEVs efficiently restored the homeostasis of macrophage and improved tissue regeneration in a periodontitis rat model. Mechanism investigation demonstrated that the efferocytosis of ApoEVs resulted in the transfer of mitochondrial components from PDLSCs to macrophage. The increased mitochondrial components within macrophages improved mitochondrial function and polarization of macrophages towards the anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotype, resulting in the improvement of inflammatory environment in periodontal tissues.

Conclusion

ApoEVs can transfer mtDNA to enhance mitochondrial function in macrophages, fostering their transition to an anti‐inflammatory phenotype. Ultimately, this process improves the immune microenvironment in periodontitis and promotes periodontal tissue regeneration.
Invasive plants grow taller under experimental warming, but mediated effects of biotic interactions are species‐specific
Authors: Ivison Katy , Vange Vibekke , Speed James M. , Dawson Wayne
Published: November 2024

Understanding the responses of non‐native plants to climate change while accounting for biotic interactions is key to predicting and mitigating future invasion risks. Non‐native invasive plants may benefit from or decline in the face of climate change, relative to native competitors. Non‐native plants might also suffer less than native plants from natural enemies such as herbivores, which could give non‐natives a competitive advantage. However, we lack an understanding of how non‐native plants will compete with native plants in a warming climate, while accounting for the effects of herbivore pressure. To test the potential interactions between warming, herbivore pressure and competition, we set up a common‐garden experiment in Trondheim, Norway, using five non‐native plants growing either alone or in competition with a native plant community. These plants were subjected to herbivore exclusion and artificial warming treatments, using open‐top chambers. We found that under warming, three non‐native species had greater biomass and all five species were taller than when grown without warming. Competition with native species reduced the biomass of three non‐native species and herbivore exclusion resulted in taller plants for three non‐native species. Native community biomass was not affected by either warming or herbivore exclusion. Furthermore, the native community was not affected by competition with any non‐native plant except Centaurea montana, which resulted in lower native community biomass, suggesting that C. montana is likely to be the most detrimental of these non‐native species to native communities. Competition with natives reduced the positive effects of warming on biomass for only one species, Alchemilla mollis. Our study strongly suggests that a warming climate may benefit invasive plants more than native plants, but for some species these effects will be mediated by biotic interactions in idiosyncratic ways, depending on the identity of both native and non‐native species. This will present a challenge to predicting plant invasion success under climate change while accounting for biotic interactions.
Zero‐curvature subconformal structures and dispersionless integrability in dimension five
Authors: Kruglikov Boris , Makhmali Omid
Published: November 2024

We extend the recent paradigm “Integrability via Geometry” from dimensions 3 and 4 to higher dimensions, relating dispersionless integrability of partial differential equations to curvature constraints of the background geometry. We observe that in higher dimensions on any solution manifold, the symbol defines a vector distribution equipped with a subconformal structure, and the integrability imposes a certain compatibility between them. In dimension 5, we express dispersionless integrability via the vanishing of a certain curvature of this subconformal structure. We also obtain a “master equation” governing all second‐order dispersionless integrable equations in 5D, and count their functional dimension. It turns out that the obtained background geometry is parabolic of the type . We provide its Cartan‐theoretic description and compute the harmonic curvature components via the Kostant theorem. Then, we relate it to 3D projective and 4D conformal geometries via twistor theory, discuss symmetry reductions and nested Lax sequences, as well as give another interpretation of dispersionless integrability in 5D through Levi‐degenerate CR structures in 7D.
Acute introduction of monomeric or multimeric α‐synuclein induces distinct impacts on synaptic vesicle trafficking at lamprey giant synapses
Authors: Román‐Vendrell Cristina , Wallace Jaqulin N. , Watson Aurelia Hays , Celikag Meral , Bartels Tim , Morgan Jennifer R.
Published: November 2024

Synaptic aggregation of α‐synuclein often occurs in Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and other synucleinopathies and is associated with cognitive deficits and dementia. Thus, it is important to understand how accumulation of α‐synuclein affects synapse structure and function. Native, physiological α‐synuclein comprises a mixture of tetramers and related physiological oligomers (60–100 kDa) in equilibrium with monomeric α‐synuclein. We previously demonstrated that acutely increasing the levels of physiological α‐synuclein impaired intracellular synaptic vesicle trafficking and produced a pleiotropic phenotype, raising questions about which aspects of the synaptic phenotype were due to multimeric versus monomeric α‐synuclein. Here, we address this by taking advantage of the unique features of the lamprey giant reticulospinal (RS) synapse, a vertebrate synapse that is amenable to acute perturbations of presynaptic processes via microinjection of purified proteins. α‐Synuclein monomers and multimers were purified from HEK cells and separately introduced to lamprey synapses. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that both multimeric and monomeric α‐synuclein impaired intracellular vesicle trafficking, leading to a loss of synaptic vesicles and buildup of endosomes. However, while monomeric α‐synuclein additionally induced atypical fusion/fission at the active zone and impaired clathrin‐mediated endocytosis, multimeric α‐synuclein did not. Conversely, multimeric α‐synuclein led to a decrease in synaptic vesicle docking, which was not observed with monomeric α‐synuclein. These data provide further evidence that different molecular species of α‐synuclein produce distinct and complex impacts on synaptic vesicle trafficking and reveal important insights into the cell biological processes that are affected in PD and DLB.

image

Key points

α‐Synuclein accumulation at synapses is associated with cognitive decline and dementia in Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies.

We previously showed that acute introduction of excess human brain‐derived α‐synuclein to lamprey giant synapses caused pleiotropic phenotypes on synaptic vesicle trafficking, probably due to the mixture of molecular species of α‐synuclein.

Here, we dissected which aspects of the synaptic phenotypes were caused by monomeric (14 kDa) or multimeric (60–100 kDa) α‐synuclein by purifying each molecular species and introducing each one separately to synapses via axonal microinjection.

While monomeric α‐synuclein inhibited clathrin‐mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis, multimeric α‐synuclein primarily impaired endosomal trafficking.

These findings reveal that different molecular species of α‐synuclein have distinct impacts on synapses, suggesting different cellular and molecular targets.
Rock glacier inventory and predictive modeling in the Mackenzie Mountains: predicting rock glacier likelihood with a generalized additive model
Authors: Thiessen Rabecca , Bonnaventure Philip P. , Lapalme Caitlin M.
Published: November 2024

Rock glaciers have been the subject of extensive research in recent years due to their potential to serve as indicators of past and present climate conditions and their potential impacts on water resources. Location and descriptive rock glacier data within the Mackenzie Mountains were used to build a rock glacier inventory that will serve as a valuable resource for future research and monitoring efforts. Additionally, this study maps the likelihood of rock glacier presence using extracted variables in a generalized additive model (GAM). The model incorporates attribute data, including potential incoming solar radiation (PISR), topographic position index (TPI), slope, elevation, and lithology as controls for rock glacier development. Topographic data were compiled for three study regions of the Mackenzie Mountains from a 30 m digital elevation model (DEM). The analysis of the GAM showed that the most significant explanatory variables were PISR, elevation, slope, and TPI. The GAM model had an accuracy of 0.87 with a sensitivity of 0.92. This study provides important insights into the controls, distribution, and dynamics of rock glaciers in the Mackenzie Mountains, as well as both the limitations and the potential of statistical models in predicting their occurrence.
Single-Cell Technologies for Studying the Evolution and Function of Mitochondrial DNA Heteroplasmy in Cancer
Authors: Boscenco Sonia , Cumming Erin M. , Kim Minsoo , Lareau Caleb , Reznik Ed
Published: November 2024

The mitochondrial genome, which encodes genes essential for respiration and cellular homeostasis, is the target of abundant and highly diverse somatic alterations in cancers. Somatic alterations to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) nearly always arise heteroplasmically, producing heterogeneous ensembles of mtDNA within single cells. Here, we review new insights derived from exponential increases in genomic sequencing data that have uncovered the nature of, selective pressure for, and functional consequences of cancer-associated mtDNA alterations. As many discoveries have been limited by their ability to determine cell-to-cell variation in mtDNA genotype, we describe a new generation of single-cell sequencing approaches that resolve otherwise indeterminate models of mtDNA heteroplasmy. In tandem with novel approaches for mtDNA editing and modeling of mutations, these advances foreshadow the quantitative dissection of dosage-dependent mtDNA phenotypes that underlie both tumor evolution and heterogeneous response to therapies.
Sleep Health Disparities
Authors: Gueye-Ndiaye Seyni , Redline Susan
Published: November 2024

Sleep is an important and potentially modifiable determinant of many severe health outcomes. Sleep health disparities exist and are exemplified by reported differential rates of prevalence, severity, and outcomes among minority groups and low-socioeconomic-status backgrounds. In this review we highlight the concept of sleep health, review the evidence for disparities in sleep health, examine risk factors and consequences of poor sleep health, and discuss policy implications.
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in Metabolism: A New Frontier for Therapeutics
Authors: Bennett Anton M. , Tiganis Tony
Published: November 2024

The increased prevalence of chronic metabolic disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes and their associated comorbidities, are among the world's greatest health and economic challenges. Metabolic homeostasis involves a complex interplay between hormones that act on different tissues to elicit changes in the storage and utilization of energy. Such processes are mediated by tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signaling, which is coordinated by the opposing actions of protein tyrosine kinases and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Perturbations in the functions of PTPs can be instrumental in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases. The goal of this review is to highlight key advances in our understanding of how PTPs control body weight and glucose metabolism, as well as their contributions to obesity and type 2 diabetes. The emerging appreciation of the integrated functions of PTPs in metabolism, coupled with significant advances in pharmaceutical strategies aimed at targeting this class of enzymes, marks the advent of a new frontier in combating metabolic disorders.
Stagnating Life Expectancy Among American Indians and Alaska Natives: Understanding the Drivers and Recommendations for Research, Policy, and Practice
Authors: Jernigan Valarie Blue Bird , Maudrie Tara L. , Lopez Susanna V.
Published: November 2024

Life expectancy among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) has declined from 72 years in 2019 to 68 years in 2021. This current life expectancy for AI/ANs is equivalent to the overall life expectancy in the United States population in the 1940s. The significant and persistent nature of AI/AN health inequities, and the lack of clarity around what is driving them, requires urgent action. The purpose of this article is threefold. First, we provide a comprehensive conceptual framework of health that presents Indigenous perspectives of health and recognizes settler colonialism as a key structural determinant of the health of AI/ANs. Second, we underscore the importance of Tribal self-determination and sovereignty in public health research and practice and identify successful initiatives centering these efforts. Finally, we conclude with recommendations for future research, practice, and policy.
Certain Structural Properties for the Direct Product of Cayley Graphs and Their Theoretical Applications
Authors: Wang Li , Ye Xiaohan , Yang Weihua
Published: November 2024

Symmetry properties are of vital importance for graphs. The famous Cayley graph is a good mathematical model as its high symmetry. The normality of the graph can well reflect the symmetry of the graph. In this paper, we characterize the normality of the direct product of Cayley graphs and give a sufficient and necessary condition for the direct product of two graphs to be a Cayley graph. Moreover, a sufficient and necessary condition for judging the normality of the direct product of two graphs is given.
DeePathNet: A Transformer-Based Deep Learning Model Integrating Multiomic Data with Cancer Pathways
Authors: Cai Zhaoxiang , Poulos Rebecca C. , Aref Adel , Robinson Phillip J. , Reddel Roger R. , Zhong Qing
Published: November 2024

Multiomic data analysis incorporating machine learning has the potential to significantly improve cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Traditional machine learning methods are usually limited to omic measurements, omitting existing domain knowledge, such as the biological networks that link molecular entities in various omic data types. Here, we develop a transformer-based explainable deep learning model, DeePathNet, which integrates cancer-specific pathway information into multiomic data analysis. Using a variety of big datasets, including ProCan-DepMapSanger, Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, and The Cancer Genome Atlas, we demonstrate and validate that DeePathNet outperforms traditional methods for predicting drug response and classifying cancer type and subtype. Combining biomedical knowledge and state-of-the-art deep learning methods, DeePathNet enables biomarker discovery at the pathway level, maximizing the power of data-driven approaches to cancer research. DeePathNet is available on GitHub at https://github.com/CMRI-ProCan/DeePathNet.

Significance:

DeePathNet integrates cancer-specific biological pathways using transformer-based deep learning for enhanced cancer analysis. It outperforms existing models in predicting drug responses, cancer types, and subtypes. By enabling pathway-level biomarker discovery, DeePathNet represents a significant advancement in cancer research and could lead to more effective treatments.
Women Entrepreneurship
Authors: Dela Cruz Maybelle Natividad
Published: November 2024

Today's women are better equipped than ever to carry out all activities required for a dominant portion of a community to be recognized and accepted. Every society needs women more than anything else, but they do not receive much social recognition for their commitment to community development. Although it is generally accepted that men should handle commercial matters, a considerable wage difference between men and women has been established, and independent women are regarded as having significantly less value by society. The study systematically reviewed some pieces of literature on Women Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Review of Current Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities. Women's entrepreneurship. It utilized a pragmatic research philosophy to improve the world by creating and disseminating knowledge. The literature was taken from published, peer-reviewed journals and scientifically written in English. Similarities in women's entrepreneurship were established and quoted difficulties experienced by these entrepreneurs in their endeavors. Furthermore, a few recommendations were cited to address these difficulties; hence, women's entrepreneurial development should be continuously recorded.
Financial Performance among Selected Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Retail Stores in Talisay City, Cebu
Authors: Romero Charlotte , Polinar Mark Anthony N. , Delantar Alexander Franco A.
Published: November 2024

The Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) sector plays a noteworthy part in the local economy, supplying essential energy resources for residential and commercial use. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought massive distractions that significantly affect the financial performance of companies, regardless of the sector they belong to, and this sector is not exempted.  This study examined the financial performance of these LPG retail stores in Talisay City, Cebu, to know if they recovered financially, particularly in recent economic downturns and market forces.  After examining the financial data for the years 2022 and 2023 using the identified financial ratios, the authors found that all participating LPG retail stores showed a positive financial performance in terms of their net profit margin, current ratio, debt-to-equity, asset turnover, and cash flow to debt ratios. This implies that LPG retail stores operate efficiently, maintain robust profitability, manage financial obligations correctly, and ensure sufficient liquidity. Additionally, it can give owners a positive perspective on the growth and stability in Talisay City, Cebu.
A Study on The Relationship between Parental Involvement and Reading Performance of Grade VI Students in Pajo Elementary School
Authors: Yopo Mea
Published: November 2024

This study looks into the relationship between parental involvement and reading performance of Grade VI students in Pajo Elementary School, Tarangan, Samar. Specifically, it aimed to identify the reading proficiency of students in Grade VI at Pajo Elementary School in general and grouped in terms of: a) frustration b) Instructional and c) Independent; determine how do parents view parental involvement practices in relation to their child's reading performance; and to know if there is a significant correlation between parents' involvement practices and their children's reading ability. Descriptive and quasi-experimental design were employed in the study. Numerical and non-numerical data were gathered from both the student-respondents and parents-respondents. Interview guide was employed for the focus group discussion with the parents.
A importância dos conceitos de “paisagem” para o ambientalismo brasileiro
Authors: Andrade Júnior José Roberto Porto de
Published: November 2024

This article intends to contribute to the debate on the importance of the concepts of “landscape”  for national environmentalism, especially in the context of socio-environmental collapse we are currently experiencing, marked by the intensification of the negative consequences of climate change. The discussion starts with a characterization and critical analysis of the use of the concepts of “landscape” in three fields: Ecology, Environmental Education, and Law by means of a non-systematic bibliographic review and  analysis of secondary data.
From Apocalypse to Empowerment: Reframing Climate Action
Authors: Steinberg Paul F.
Published: November 2024

This article proposes empowerment as a new frame for analyzing, communicating, and practicing climate action. I first discuss the role of collective action frames in social movements and the limitations of the predominant apocalyptic climate narratives. I then elaborate the concept of empowerment, which has received little attention from political scientists, who have emphasized “power-over” rather than “power-to.” Empowerment has long been a focus of attention within critical social work, feminist theory, community psychology, and social movement theory. Drawing on these literatures and others, I identify three dimensions of empowerment—critical awareness, resources and opportunities, and autonomy—and consider practical steps that climate leaders can take to empower others to simultaneously pursue personal development and social transformation.
A new species of Quilessa Fennah from Saint Martin (Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoroidea: Kinnaridae: Prosotropini)
Authors: HAAS MATTHÉ CORNELIS DE , BARTLETT CHARLES R.
Published: November 2024

A new Kinnaridae species, Quilessa martinensis sp. nov. is described from Saint Martin in the Dutch Antilles. The new species differs from its congeners mainly in the shape of male genitalia, notably the shape of the aedeagus and anal tube. As in most other Quilessa species, the new species is an island-endemic. The high percentage of island-endemism suggests a higher species diversity in the Caribbean than is currently known.
Two new species of Eupariini Schmidt, 1910 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Indonesia
Authors: MINKINA ŁUKASZ , JÁKL STANISLAV
Published: November 2024

Two new species of Eupariini Schmidt, 1910 are described and illustrated: Airapus malaitaensis Minkina & Jákl, new species from Solomon Islands (Malaita Island) and Saprosites mapiaensis Minkina & Jákl, new species from Indonesia (New Guinea). New species are compared with their close relatives, Airapus burrundieae Stebnicka & Howden, 1996 and Saprosites crockerensis Stebnicka, 1991, respectively.
The Impact of Non-trauma Factors on Trauma Patient Mortality and Hospital Resource Utilization: Population-Based Retrospective Review
Authors: Javier Mariel , Luque Ilko , Kliewer Jaclyn , Lopez Nicole Yordan , Ritchie David , Dominguez Beatriz Cobo , Morejon Orlando
Published: November 2024

Background

The death of trauma patients with low injury severity scores (ISS) may not be fully explained by the severity of their injuries. Our objective was to evaluate preexisting conditions (PECs) that may contribute to the mortality rate of and hospital resources consumed by patients with low ISS.

Methods

Trauma patients with ISS <9 were selected from the National Trauma Database Bank [NTDB] [2019-21]. Bivariate and multivariate analysis identified the risk factors associated with mortality, adjusting for secondary PECs, mechanism of injury, AIS body region, vital signs, and blood transfusion. A t test was used to compare PEC status with intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS) for significant differences ( P < .05).

Results

1,689,392 patients suffered mild injuries [59.1% male, mean age 45.2, 8579 expired (0.5%)]. Mortality was associated with the presence of several risk factors, especially advanced directive [OR = 9.13, P < .001], cirrhosis [OR = 8.55, P < .001], disseminated cancer [OR = 8.53, P < .001], congestive heart failure (CHF) [OR = 6.62, P < .001], chronic renal failure (CRF) [OR = 6.16, P < .001], chemotherapy for cancer [OR = 5.64, P < .001], peripheral arterial disease (PAD) [OR = 5.32, P < .001], myocardial infarction (MI) [OR = 4.96, P < .001], dementia [OR = 4.62, P < .001], and functionally dependent health [OR = 4.57, P < .001]. In addition, there was a relationship between the presence of several PECs and increased ICU and hospital LOS, especially cirrhosis, CRF, CHF, and PAD.

Discussion

Nontraumatic factors and preexisting conditions are associated with increased mortality and hospital resource consumption in trauma patients with a low ISS. They should be considered during clinical decision-making for these patients, who may otherwise masquerade as part of a low-risk population.
Enlarged Frontal Sinusotomy and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: An Effective Strategy to Control the Disease
Authors: Saccardo Tommaso , Nicolas Valentine , Chebib Emilien , Manca di Villahermosa Stefano , Verillaud Benjamin , Vinciguerra Alessandro , Herman Philippe
Published: November 2024

Introduction:

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a disease with a strong impact on the quality of life (QoL) which treatment is based on local intranasal corticosteroids (ICS) and iterative courses of systemic corticosteroids (SCS) in case of relapse. When medical treatment is insufficient, surgery is indicated. We investigated the impact of enlarged frontal sinusotomies (EFS: Draf IIb or Draf III) on QoL and annual SCS consumption of patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP.

Methods:

This is a retrospective cohort study of 38 patients, who underwent EFS at Lariboisière University Hospital (CHU) in Paris, France, between 2006 and 2020. All patients were asked to complete SNOT-22 questionnaires concerning pre- and post-op status. Patients’ medical and sinus surgery history as well as the number of SCS treatments per year before and after surgery were also collected.

Results:

Of the 38 patients, 33 underwent a Draf III procedure and 5 a Draf IIb, with no major complications reported. Surgery resulted in a significant improvement in SNOT-22 scores (−32.7 ± 19.3, P < 0.001), with 19/22 items improving significantly. The number of annual SCS treatments decreased significantly from a mean of 4.8 ± 4.3 to 0.6 ± 1.2 ( P < 0.001). During the follow-up (mean 88 months), 95% of our patients showed a satisfying disease control and only 2 patients required revision surgery for poor disease control 5 years after EFS.

Conclusion:

EFS appears to be an effective and durable therapeutic option to improve the QoL of patients with severe CRSwNP and to reduce their SCS consumption without major complications.
Learning or Leaking? Enforcement Spillover Effects Within and Beyond the Firm
Authors: Li Zhengyan , Lyon Thomas P.
Published: November 2024

We posit and find evidence consistent with a new mechanism of intra-firm enforcement spillovers: the leakage of scarce compliance resources across facilities within a firm. Using a facility-level panel data set of Clean Air Act (CAA) enforcement actions from 2005 to 2017, we find a facility is more likely to violate the CAA following penalties on its same-industry-same-state siblings. In contrast, there is no significant spillover across firms. We show that the intra-firm spillover is not due to changes in regulatory attention or production shifting. Instead, our results suggest it may result from the redeployment of scarce compliance resources across siblings. Consistent with this mechanism, we find compliance leakage only occurs at privately held firms and facilities that lack the resources to invest in pollution prevention. The findings contribute to understanding the efficacy of environmental enforcement and have important implications for intra-firm management of environmental performance and regulatory enforcement approaches.
Bivariate Generalized Exponential Distribution with Positive Probability at (X = 0, Y = 0) and Estimation of Parameters for a Particular Case
Authors: George Saju Verghese , Dixit Vaijayanti Ullas
Published: November 2024

Kundu and Gupta, 2009, J Multivar Anal, 100, 581–593, provided a bivariate generalized exponential distribution (BVGED [Formula: see text]), which is a bivariate continuous lifetime distribution. In practice, however, sometimes both the components may fail instantaneously. Thus, we get a mixture bivariate distribution with positive probability at instantaneous failure of each component. The main aim of this article is to define a BVGED with positive probability at instantaneous failure of each component (BVGEDP [Formula: see text]), where PX=0P(X = 0) and P(Y = 0) is a function of parameter [Formula: see text]. It is observed that the joint probability density function and the cumulative distribution function can be expressed in compact forms. Several properties of the distribution have been discussed. For a particular case (BVGEDP ([Formula: see text] 1, 1, 1)), moment type estimators are obtained which are in closed form and maximum likelihood estimators of parameters ([Formula: see text]) are obtained using an iterative procedure. Also, their finite sample and asymptotic properties are discussed using simulation. A final section presents an application to a real data set on which the proposed BVGEDP ([Formula: see text], 1, 1, 1) distribution is fitted.

AMS Subject Classification: 62E99
The Arab Woman In Israel In A Tight Spot: Academia And Career Versus Marriage And Family
Authors: Shiri Igal , Hitman Gadi , Lewin Eyal
Published: November 2024

This study concentrates on the impact that marriage has on the personal development of Israeli Arab women in the field of higher education and employment. These women are a minority within a minority as they belong to Israel’s Arab ethnic community but are also a gender-segregated minority within their patriarchal society. Whereas other studies touch on the overall struggle of Arab women to reach personal fulfillment despite intense family life, the focus of this study is specifically the marriage itself as a watershed in the young Arab Israeli woman’s life. To fully understand the challenges constructed by marriage, 25 Israeli Arab women were interviewed in-depth on a university campus. The findings indicate the negative effect that traditional marriage has on these women’s personal futures. The study concludes on the optimistic note that the interviews also revealed a deep awareness among young Arab women of their personal rights and liberties.
From Agency to Responsibility: Gestalt Therapy Trainees’ Experience of Engaging in Personal Therapy
Authors: Cavanagh Alex , Root Emma , Ouzia Julia
Published: November 2024

Personal therapy is a common mandatory element of counseling and psychotherapy training in the United Kingdom. Previous research has established that this practice provides trainees with a unique learning space but also is associated with financial and emotional costs. Furthermore, some argue that the practice of personal therapy is ethically questionable. At the heart of many relational modalities, such as Gestalt psychotherapy, lies the relationship between client and therapist and more research is needed to explore how trainees perceive established training methods. The current study recruited 11 trainee Gestalt practitioners and conducted one-to-one semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences of engaging in personal therapy. A number of themes emerged in reflexive thematic analysis: trainees perceived personal therapy to be associated with professional and personal gains as well as financial and emotional costs; they also viewed personal therapy to be an essential component of their training but would like to be involved in discussions around how it is shaped. We recommend that training providers and professional bodies offer such a dialogic space, and that future research and practice further considers the barriers of minority clients and trainees in particular.
From science-and-religion to science-engaged theology
Authors: Leidenhag Joanna
Published: November 2024

Science-engaged theology has become all the rage lately. But what is ‘science-engaged theology’ and how does it relate to the pre-existing field of science-and-religion? This article argues that the field of science-and-religion and science-engaged theology seek to answer quite different questions. Science-and-religion asks about the relationship between separate disciplines or beliefs. Science-engaged theology asks how scientific research can be a source for Christian thought and practice. In so doing, science-engaged theology destabilizes the concepts ‘science’, ‘religion’ and ‘theology’ upon which both these approaches depend.
You Can Sit with Us, but under Our Terms: The Recognition of Indigenous Self-Determination by Nation-States throughout the Abya Yala
Authors: Márquez Duarte Fernando David
Published: November 2024

In this paper I discuss Indigenous self-determination in our continent (the Abya Yala and Turtle Island) and how most nation-states address this issue from a standpoint of “you can sit with us, but under our terms.” This position preaches the inclusion of Indigenous peoples in society, but only under the western liberal standard of assimilation, characteristic of neoliberal and neocolonial capitalism. I argue that Indigenous self-determination, based in Indigenous, decolonial and Marxist thought, includes two elements: the right to effectively exercise autonomy in their communities, and the right to participate in decision-making in the nation-state. I then demonstrate that less than a third of the countries in the continent formally recognize Indigenous self-determination in their Constitutions, and that most nation-states with formal recognition only include one of the two elements of Indigenous self-determination, with almost no existing mechanisms in place allowing Indigenous groups to effectively exercise it.
Topical Therapies for Management of Olfactory Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: Steroid-Eluting Stents
Authors: Zhang Zhidi , Zuo Qiang , Du Yali , Jiang Hailing , Wang Jiayue , Ma Furong , Zhang Yinghong
Published: November 2024

Objectives:

Steroid-eluting stent implantation after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) effectively alleviates postoperative symptoms and polyp recurrence in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, the efficacy of steroid-eluting stents for the treatment of olfactory dysfunction in CRSwNP and the influencing factors therein have not been studied.

Methods:

Fifty-nine patients with CRSwNP with olfactory dysfunction from Peking University Third Hospital who were hospitalized for ESS were recruited and randomly divided into a stent group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 29), and were assessed for symptom scores, olfactory function, endoscopic findings, and type 2 inflammatory mediators (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-33, eotaxin-3, periostin) expression.

Results:

Postoperative olfactory Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, T&T olfactometer scores, SNOT-22 scores, and Lund-Kennedy (LK) scores were reduced in patients with CRSwNP ( P < .01). Postoperative olfactory VAS scores, T&T olfactometer scores, SNOT-22 scores, and LK scores, IL-5, IL-13, and periostin were significantly lower in the stent group than in the control group ( P < .05). Correlation analysis was performed and found that the postoperative olfactory VAS scores were strongly correlated with IL-5 and IL-13 ( r = .496, P < .001 and r = .289, P = .026), and the postoperative T&T olfactometer scores were strongly correlated with IL-5 and IL-13 ( r = .553, P < .001 and r = .398, P = .002).

Conclusions:

Steroid-eluting stent implantation after ESS is an effective treatment for olfactory deficits in patients with CRSwNP and may be related to the stent’s more effective reduction of local type 2 inflammatory mediators in the nasal cavity.
Developing Problem Representations in Organizations: A Synthesis across Literatures and an Integrative Framework
Authors: Ananth Poornika , Baer Markus , Deichmann Dirk
Published: November 2024

Organizational research has long suggested that when working with problems that are complex and ill-defined it is imperative for organizational members to understand and represent these problems in order to effectively address them. However, research on the topic has remained fragmented across different organizational literatures resulting in the development and persistence of ambiguities in our understanding of the activities that compose the process of developing problem representations, the temporal patterns through which they unfold, and the associated mechanisms and outcomes. In this paper, we review and synthesize research across seven different literatures—all of which examine different organizational contexts that involve complex and ill-defined problems—and offer a framework that integrates research across these different literatures. Our framework delineates the different activities constituting the process of developing problem representations, provides insights about different approaches to developing problem representations, elaborates our understanding of the mechanisms associated with the process, and broadens our understanding of the different outcomes of the process. In so doing, our review and framework not only offer clarity and coherence on the topic but also highlight new opportunities for theoretical and methodological advancements.
Offshore Market Design in Integrated Energy systems: A Case Study on the North Sea Region towards 2050
Authors: Gea-Bermúdez Juan , Kitzing Lena , Keles Dogan
Published: November 2024

Offshore grids, with multiple interacting transmission and generation units connecting to the shores of several countries, are expected to have an important role in the cost-effective energy transition. Such massive new infrastructure expanding into a new physical space will require new offshore energy market designs. Decisions on these designs today will influence the overall value potential of offshore grids in the future. This paper investigates different possible market configurations and their impacts on operational costs and required congestion management, as well as prices and emissions. We use advanced integrated energy system optimisation, applied to a study case on the North Sea region towards 2050. Our analysis confirms the well-known concept of nodal pricing as the most preferable market configuration. Nodal pricing minimises costs (0.2–1.6 b€/year lower) and CO2 emissions (0.6–5.6 Mton/year lower) with respect to alternative market designs investigated. The performance of the different market designs is highly influenced by the overall architecture of the offshore grid, and the rest of the energy system. E.g., flexibility options help reducing the spread between the designs. But the results are robust: nodal pricing in offshore grids emerges as the preferable market configuration for a cost-effective energy transition to carbon neutrality.
Humanising health care: Assessing the impact of an educational resource to share real patient stories with eye care students
Authors: Nollett Claire , Ryan Barbara , Latham Keziah
Published: November 2024

Depression is prevalent in people with low vision and is often not acknowledged or treated. Eye care practitioners are well placed to identify suspected depression and refer patients for support. But first, they need to view this as an appropriate aspect of their role and receive relevant training. Patients can play an important role in their education. In this project we invited four individuals with vision impairment to share their personal stories with eye care students in short film clips. These were provided to educators alongside written materials and filmed role plays of screening and referring for depression to use in their teaching. The impact of the resources on students was evaluated using pre- and post-use surveys. Educators and patients also provided feedback. Students experienced an increase in understanding, knowledge and confidence around addressing depression. They reported an increased appreciation of the patient perspective and would be more likely to communicate about mental health in future. Educators felt more confident in teaching students about depression and patients felt more able to talk to others about the psychological impact of vision loss. Sharing real patient stories via film clips proved a useful way of educating eye care students about depression.
Promising strategies for the prevention of alcohol-related brain damage through optimised management of acute alcohol withdrawal: A focussed literature review
Authors: Quelch Darren , Lingford-Hughes Anne , John Bev , Nutt David , Bradberry Sally , Roderique-Davies Gareth
Published: November 2024

There is an increasing awareness of the link between chronic alcohol consumption and the development of cognitive, behavioural and functional deficits. Currently, preventative strategies are limited and require engagement in dedicated long-term rehabilitation and sobriety services, the availability of which is low. The acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome is an episode of neurochemical imbalance leading to autonomic dysregulation, increased seizure risk and cognitive disorientation. In addition to harm from symptoms of alcohol withdrawal (e.g. seizures), the underpinning neurochemical changes may also lead to cytotoxicity through various cellular mechanisms, which long-term, may translate to some of the cognitive impairments observed in Alcohol-Related Brain Damage (ARBD). Here we review some of the pharmacological and neurochemical mechanisms underpinning alcohol withdrawal. We discuss the cellular and pharmacological basis of various potential neuroprotective strategies that warrant further exploration in clinical populations with a view to preventing the development of ARBD. Such strategies, when integrated into the clinical management of acute alcohol withdrawal, may impact large populations of individuals, who currently face limited dedicated service delivery and healthcare resource.
Correlation between common iliac vein geometry and the risk of deep vein thrombosis in patients with May-Thurner syndrome
Authors: Ngo Dac Hong An , Nguyen Quoc Bao , Vo Quoc Huy , Le Minh Tuan , Huyen Ton Nu Hong Hanh , Nguyen Thanh Thao , Le Trong Binh
Published: November 2024

Background

May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is a continuous pathological change of the left common iliac vein intraluminal wall due to compression between the right common iliac artery and a lumbar vertebra, with clinical signs of compromised venous drainage of the left leg, which eventually leads to development of left-sided deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Purpose

To analyze the correlation between iliac vessel geometry and probability of DVT in patients with MTS.

Material and Methods

This study consists of two age-matched female groups: DVT (n = 21) and control (n = 28). Iliac vein geometry, including left common iliac vein (LCIV) diameter, percentage of stenosis, angle between LCIV and right common iliac vein (RCIV), tilt angle of each CIV with horizontal line, and crossing angle between right common iliac artery (RCIA) and LCIV, were measured on computed tomography venography (CTV) images. The probability of DVT development was assessed using logistic regression.

Results

Comparing the DVT and control groups, the mean LCIV diameter was 2.4 mm and 3.7 mm ( P = 0.001), and mean LCIV stenosis was 77.7% and 68.3% ( P = 0.001), respectively. After age-adjustment, the odds of left DVT in patients with MTS correlated with LCIV diameter (odds ratio [OR]=0.25, P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.11–0.54), LCIV stenosis (%) (OR=1.12, P = 0.003, 95% CI=1.04–1.21), LCIV tilt angle (OR=0.95, P < 0.038, 95% CI=0.91–0.99), and angle between two CIVs (OR=1.04, P < 0.039, 95% CI=1.00–1.09).

Conclusion

LCIV diameter and percentage of stenosis, LCIV tilt angle, and CIV angle were independent risk factors for the development of DVT in patients with MTS.