bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA Analysis in Meningiomas with Different Degrees of Tissue Stiffness: A Potential Tool for Effective Preoperative Planning
Authors: Duba Milos , Al Tukmachi Dagmar , Samoilenko Tetiana , Vecera Marek , Ruckova Michaela , Vankova Tereza , Radova Lenka , Kerkovsky Milos , Dostal Marek , Koprivova Tereza , Roskova Ivana , Mrlian Andrej , Hrdy Ondrej , Duba Jaroslav , Kren Leos , Smrcka Martin , Slaby Ondrej , Fadrus Pavel , Sana Jiri
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Meningioma, the most common primary intracranial tumor, presents challenges in surgical treatment because of varying tissue stiffness. This study explores the molecular background of meningioma stiffness, a critical factor in surgical planning and prognosis, focusing on the utility of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic biomarkers of tissue stiffness.

METHODS:

Patients with meningiomas treated surgically at the University Hospital Brno were included in this study. Total RNA, isolated from tumor tissue samples, underwent quality control and small RNA sequencing to analyze miRNA expression. Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, and their association with tumor stiffness was assessed.

RESULTS:

This study identified specific miRNAs differentially expressed in meningiomas with different stiffness levels. Key miRNAs, such as miR-31-5p and miR-34b-5p, showed significant upregulation in stiffer meningiomas. These findings were validated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, revealing a potential link between miRNA expression and tumor consistency. The expression of miR-31-5p was most notably associated with the stiffness of the tumor tissue (sensitivity = 71% and specificity = 83%).

CONCLUSION:

This research highlights the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for determining meningioma tissue stiffness. Identifying specific miRNAs associated with tumor consistency could improve preoperative planning and patient prognosis. These findings pave the way for further exploration of miRNAs in the clinical assessment of meningiomas.
Cerebellopontine Angle Meningiomas: A Multi-Institutional Cohort Study
Authors: Mehta Neel H. , Patel Ruchit V. , Gupta Saksham , Arora Harshit , Nawabi Noah L. , Karanth Rayha , Sadler Samantha , Medeiros Lila , Jha Rohan , Chavarro Velina S. , Bernstock Joshua D. , Smith Timothy R. , Arnaout Omar
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Cerebellopontine angle (CPA) meningiomas present challenges given their proximity to neurovascular structures. Postoperative complications and persistent symptoms can debilitate patients, and our ability to predict recovery course remains variable. Here, we examine the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with CPA meningiomas.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed CPA meningiomas resected at Mass General Brigham, using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to identify predictors of progression or recurrence.

RESULTS:

In total, 95 patients were identified (median age 59.1 years, 82.1% female) who presented most commonly with hearing loss (49.5%), ataxia (42.1%), and headaches (29.5%). The retrosigmoid (78.9%) or transmastoid retrosigmoid (17.9%) approaches were most frequently used for resection, with gross total resection (GTR) achieved in 62.1% of patients: Simpson grade 1 (32.6%), grade 2 (17.9%), and grade 3 (11.6%). Smaller tumor size (t = 3.17, P = .002) is associated with GTR. For tumors with intracanalicular invasion, drilling the internal auditory canal (IAC) was also associated with GTR (χ2 = 21.8, P < .001). Among cases with invasion, GTR was achieved in 88.5% of cases when the IAC was drilled vs 11.8% of cases when the IAC was not drilled. The cranial nerve VII/VIII complex was frequently inferior (45.6%) or superior (19.1%) to the meningioma. Postoperative hearing loss was stable (38.7%) or improved (54.8%) in most of patients at the final clinical follow-up (median: 39.4 months). 25.3% of patients had progression/recurrence, with some difference between World Health Organization grade 1 (median: 3.0 years, IQR: 2.9 years) and World Health Organization grade 2 (median: 1.6 years, IQR: 2.8 years) tumors. After multivariate adjustment, Simpson grade I (P = .02), Simpson grade II (P = .01), or being of older age (P = .003) were associated with lower odds of progression/recurrence.

CONCLUSION:

GTR remains critical to achieve optimal symptom control and reduce progression/recurrence rates for CPA meningiomas. Drilling the IAC is an important predictor of GTR in tumors with intracanalicular invasion.
Global trends in research of Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among surgeons: Bibliometric analysis and visualization from 1991 to 2024
Authors: GORCE Philippe , JACQUIER-BRET Julien
Published: November 2024

Background Surgeons are highly exposed to Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Assessing the prevalence of these disorders, both overall and by body area, has become a focus of interest, and numerous articles have been published on the subject. Methods Journal articles and reviews focused on WMSDs published until today and referenced in PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Science.gov, Mendeley and Google Scholar were analysed. VOSviewer version 1.6.20 and Microsoft Excel were used to perform a bibliometric and visualization analyses. Overall distribution of publications by year, sources with country and related indicators, research areas, authors with their affiliations, references and keywords were studied. Results Of the total 2338 items identified, 184 articles (174 articles and 10 reviews) published between 1991 and 2024 were included. Results showed an increase in the number of publications over the years, with a significant increase from 2016 onwards (R2 = 0.8693). The United States is the leader in the field, with 89 publications (37.6%) and 2,631 citations. Hallbeck MS (USA) is the most prolific author (11 publications and 601 citations). World Neurosurgery and Work were the journals with the highest number of publications (n=7). Applied ergonomics has the highest number of citations. Medicine is the research area most present. Epstein’s work has the most citations worldwide, while Park et al’s work is the most cited of the 184 studies considered. “Ergonomics”, “musculoskeletal disorders”, “surgeons”, and “work-related musculoskeletal disorders” are the keywords most used by authors. Their use increased significantly since 2016, with an average year of publication around 2020. Conclusions The study of WMSDs in surgeons is a young research topic that is evolving significantly. North America, Europe and Asia have been the main contributors, with the USA in the lead. Subjective prevalence analysis based on questionnaires and ergonomic assessment using quantitative tools are the two main lines of research.
Cryptocurrencies: Opportunities and Challenges for the African Economies
Authors: Ntonga Efoua Fabien Clive , Okah Efogo Françoise , Mvodo Yanick Fredy
Published: November 2024

This paper proposes a reflection on the opportunities and the challenges of the use of digital means of payment (decentralised and regulated ones) in the African economies. In this perspective, we structure our reasoning around three axes. First, we try to show that digital currencies can serve as a lever for financial inclusion and the revolution of means of payment in an increasingly digitalization context. Second, we discuss the technical and the infrastructural constraints (deployment of the blockchain, electricity and Internet access) which condition the effective use of digital currencies. Third, we discuss the trade-offs and the possible implications that arise from the circulation of the Bitcoin, the Altcoins and the Stablecoins on the one hand, and the Govcoins on the other. In our view, the African authorities should first focus on overcoming infrastructural and institutional obstacles, rather than rushing the adoption of cryptocurrencies. Some policies implemented in this direction would in fact offer the continent the opportunity to anchor itself once and for all to progress. Classification JEL : D73, E00, E58, G18, O33, O55
ENDOPHYTIC STRAINS OF BACTERIA IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF CORN CULTIVATION FOR GRAIN
Authors: Mikhaylova Marina , Minikaev Rogat , Kolesar Valeria , Sabirova Razina , Sochneva Svetlana
Published: November 2024

The study of the effect of endophytic bacterial strains on the formation of the general habitus of the corn plant during the growing season, as well as the effect on grain yield, was carried out in the conditions of the Ancestral region of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2022-2023. The soil of the experimental site was represented by a subtype of gray forest, the variety was heavy loamy. Endophytic bacterial strains were used in corn crops in the form of leaf dressing with a rate of 1.0 l/ha during the growing season in the 7-8 leaf phase. The technology of cultivation of corn for grain was generally accepted for the Republic of Tatarstan. A two-factor experiment was laid: hybrids (factor A) - early maturing Nur and ROSS-195, mid-early ‒ Krasnodarskiy-230; preparations of endophytic bacterial strains (factor B) - without application (control), KS-25, KS-31, KS-38, KS-54, Consortium and PS-17 (standard). The years of research were characterized as moderately arid in terms of climatic conditions. The preparations had a positive effect on the height of plants, above-ground mass and leaf area, which were determined in the phases of paniculation, cob formation and milk ripeness. The Nur hybrid responded positively to the treatment of crops with preparations KS-25, KS-38 and KS-54, the ROSS-195 hybrid - Consortium, KS-31 and KS-38, Krasnodarskiy-230 - KS-31 and KS-54. The highest aboveground mass in the experiment in the milk ripeness phase of the Nur hybrid was noted in the variant with KS-38 (48.25 t/ha), in the ROSS-195 and Krasnodarskiy-230 hybrids ‒ with KS-54 (67.38 and 58.25 t/ha, respectively). The largest leaf area was observed in the cob formation phase of the Nur hybrid when used in the KS-31 variants, in the ROSS-195 and Krasnodarskiy-230 hybrids when treated with the Consortium preparation. The grain yield of the Nur hybrid in variants with the PS-17, KS-38 and KS-25 preparations increased by 9.6…27.6%, the ROSS-195 hybrid when sprayed with KS-38 and KS ‒ by 15.3…19.7%, the Krasnodarskiy-230 hybrid when using KS-25, KS-54 and PS-17 ‒ by 9.0…28.1%. Preparations with endophytic bacterial strains increased the protein content in the hybrid grain by 0.15…0.73%.
INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF ELECTROZONING ON THE SHELF LIFE OF RIPE STRAWBERRIES
Authors: Belov Evgeniy , Dolgov Nikita , Khafizov Kamil , Galiev Ilgiz , Adigamov Nail
Published: November 2024

Preserving the freshness of fruits and berries is of great importance not only for their taste, but also for preserving their nutritional properties. Ozonation is one of the highly effective methods for destroying bacterial microflora and preserving food for a long time. Ozone is a strong disinfecting gas with a powerful disinfecting effect; biochemical processes are greatly reduced in ozonated products. Studies to study the effect of ozonation on the preservation of freshness and appearance of berries were conducted on the example of strawberries of the "Black Prince" variety. Experiments on electrozoning of ripe strawberries were carried out in laboratory conditions in the Chuvash State Agrarian University. For this purpose, an experimental installation was developed and implemented to study the effects of ozonation. In a series of one-factor experiments, the preservation, appearance of berries and the amount of microflora after 6 days of storage were determined. Ozonation of berries was carried out in special containers at an ozone concentration of 6 mg / m3, lasting 2 hours - 2 times a day. The appearance and taste of strawberries treated with ozonation for six days has not changed; the number of microorganisms on the surface of berries during storage for up to six days corresponds to the standards of GOST 29187-91. A visual inspection of the berries in the control sample on the sixth day of storage showed that 90% of the berries were affected by mold fungi. Unprocessed berries lost their shape, softened, putrefactive microflora appeared; the surface area affected by mold fungi reached more than 90%. Thus, ozonation has shown high efficiency in preserving the freshness, appearance and quality of strawberries during storage. Ozone treatment significantly reduces the development of pathogenic microflora and prevents spoilage of berries. This method can be recommended to extend the shelf life of fruits and berries in the food industry.
TO THE METHOD OF FORMING A DIGITAL TWIN OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS OF DRYING ORGANIC TIMOTHY SEEDS
Authors: Smelik Viktor , Valiev Ayrat , Dobrinov Aleksandr , Perekopskiy Aleksandr
Published: November 2024

An important specific feature of the functioning of machines and equipment in the technologies of post-harvest processing of grain and seeds is the probabilistic variability of external conditions that negatively affect the efficiency of their work. The drying process is also characterized by non-stationarity in its probabilistic and statistical characteristics. The methods of forming digital twins of stationary processes are quite well mastered, but the construction of digital twins of non-stationary processes is a much more complex task, the solution of which requires taking into account the nature of non-stationarity, as well as the features and internal structure of the processes being modeled. The purpose of the research is to build a digital twin of the non-stationary process of drying timothy seeds and assess the reliability of the resulting model. The experimental data were obtained by drying Leningradskaya 204 timothy grass seeds from the field organic crop rotation using a universal drying unit with a Fauna PMDR4 digital seed moisture meter equipped with submersible flow sensors. As a result of the experimental studies, realizations of random processes of change in seed moisture content at the final stage of drying were obtained for constructing mathematical models using statistical identification methods. Discrete analogs of the processes under study were constructed using experimental correlation functions approximated by the corresponding functions to obtain the parameters of the modeling recurrent equations. The considered algorithm for modeling the dryer operation allows reproducing processes of unlimited length and modeling various conditions and operating modes to find the specified optima for quality, energy consumption and environmental friendliness. The accuracy of the simulation results was determined based on the convergence of the moment functions of the experimental and modeled technological processes. Estimates of statistical characteristics of the simulated process of drying timothy grass seeds with 95% probability correspond to statistical estimates of the drying process obtained in the course of experimental studies, and the graphs of their normalized correlation functions clearly confirm the identity of the processes. The obtained mathematical dependencies of the technological process of drying organic timothy grass seeds are its digital twin, allowing the methods of simulation modeling to solve optimization problems.
Round-Robin Beyond Additive Agents: Existence and Fairness of Approximate Equilibria
Authors: Amanatidis Georgios , Birmpas Georgios , Lazos Philip , Leonardi Stefano , Reiffenhäuser Rebecca
Published: November 2024

Fair allocation of indivisible goods has attracted extensive attention over the last two decades, yielding numerous elegant algorithmic results and producing challenging open questions. The problem becomes much harder in the presence of strategic agents. Ideally, one would want to design truthful mechanisms that produce allocations with fairness guarantees. However, in the standard setting without monetary transfers, it is generally impossible to have truthful mechanisms that provide nontrivial fairness guarantees. Recently, Amanatidis et al. [Amanatidis G, Birmpas G, Fusco F, Lazos P, Leonardi S, Reiffenhäuser R (2023) Allocating indivisible goods to strategic agents: Pure Nash equilibria and fairness. Math. Oper. Res., ePub ahead of print November 30, https://doi.org/10.1287/moor.2022.0058 ] suggested the study of mechanisms that produce fair allocations in their equilibria. Specifically, when the agents have additive valuation functions, the simple Round-Robin algorithm always has pure Nash equilibria, and the corresponding allocations are envy-free up to one good (EF1) with respect to the agents’ true valuation functions. Following this agenda, we show that this outstanding property of the Round-Robin mechanism extends much beyond the above default assumption of additivity. In particular, we prove that for agents with cancelable valuation functions (a natural class that contains, e.g., additive and budget-additive functions), this simple mechanism always has equilibria, and even its approximate equilibria correspond to approximately EF1 allocations with respect to the agents’ true valuation functions. Furthermore, we show that the approximate EF1 fairness of approximate equilibria surprisingly holds for the important class of submodular valuation functions as well, even though exact equilibria fail to exist.

Funding: This work was supported by the Horizon 2020 European Research Council Advanced Grant “AMDROMA: Algorithmic and Mechanism Design Research in Online Markets” [Grant 788893], the Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca Research project of national interest (PRIN) “ALGADIMAR: Algorithms, Games, and Digital Markets,” the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Veni Project “Algorithmic Fair Division in Dynamic, Socially Constrained Environments” [Grant VI.Veni.192.153], and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0 funded by the European Union under the NextGenerationEU Program [Grant MIS 5154714].
Female Entrepreneurs Targeting Women: Strategic Redirection Under Scientific Decision-Making
Authors: Gagliardi Luisa , Novelli Elena
Published: November 2024

This paper explores whether and to what extent a scientific approach to decision-making can be a useful tool for helping entrepreneurs overcome limitations in the commercial exploitation of their idea, particularly when these limitations stem from their status as users of the products or services. Using data from a variety of sources, including three randomized control trials and LinkedIn data, and focusing on female entrepreneurs who develop a value proposition targeting female consumers as a case of user entrepreneurs, this paper shows that exposure to a training that encourages entrepreneurs to develop theoretical maps about their business propositions and validate them with evidence prompts more radical pivots on their initial ideas compared with entrepreneurs with a value proposition that does not target women explicitly. In turn, treated female entrepreneurs with a female-targeted value proposition who pivot radically show better performance in launching and sustaining their ventures compared with those who have not pivoted.

Funding: This work received funding support from the ICRIOS—Invernizzi Center for Research in Innovation, Organization, Strategy & Entrepreneurship at Bocconi University, the Innovation Growth Laboratory, the Strategy Research Foundation, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the U.K. Government (project 104754, “A Scientific Approach to SMEs Productivity”), City, University of London, The Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (PRIN project prot. 2017PM7R52, CUP J44I20000220001), and the Polytechnic of Turin. This research was approved by Bocconi Research Ethics Committee with protocol references 2016-III/13.696, 77133-2 and by City Ethics Committee with reference ETH1819-0351. The four studies presented in this article are included in the AEA RCT Registry [AEARCTR-0006578, AEARCTR-0002205, AEARCTR-0006579, AEARCTR-0003875].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.17235 .
Theory-Driven Strategic Management Decisions
Authors: Camuffo Arnaldo , Gambardella Alfonso , Pignataro Andrea
Published: November 2024

This paper studies strategic decisions under uncertainty for which past data are not available. It provides microfoundations of the theory-based view of the firm by showing that the strategic problem starts with the selection of theories rather than choosing actions and that theories are selected through experiments. The value of experimenting with theories increases with the number of theories and with their uncertainty. Moreover, uncertainty makes theories superadditive—that is, experimenting with a more uncertain theory increases the benefits of experimenting with other more uncertain theories. The paper also shows that decision makers should experiment with more “surprising” theories because in this case experiments are more informative and enable more learning. A leading example helps to illustrate our concepts throughout the paper.

Funding: A. Camuffo and A. Gambardella acknowledge support from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme [Grant 101021061].
Disruption of Pastoral Nomadism: The Impacts of Russian Colonialism on the Kazakh Steppe during the 19ᵗʰ and 20ᵗʰ Centuries
Authors: Teğin Emre
Published: November 2024

This study examines the multifaceted impacts of Russian colonization on the Kazakh Steppes during the 19ᵗʰ and 20ᵗʰ centuries. The colonization process caused significant destruction in various fields in the region, including migration routes, livestock herds, socioeconomic life, trade networks, housing and dietary patterns of nomadic communities. Russian expansionism, aimed at establishing control over the steppe, led to the blockage of ancient migration routes and the restriction of nomadic economic resources. The blockage of migration routes, forced transition to capitalism, forced sedentarization and interaction with sedentary life transformed the livestock herds of the nomads. Socio-economic life and trade were restructured by the Tsardom for reasons such as integration into the Russian Empire market, change of commercial centers and concentration of wealth. The changing structure of pastoral nomadism also led to transformations in housing and diet. Comprehending the complex dynamics of Russian colonialism on the Kazakh Steppe will reveal the destruction of nomadic life by scrutinizing the historical and contemporary sociocultural landscape of the region.
Bir 19. Yüzyıl Edibinin Portresi: İbn-i Kemal Giritli Süleyman Nüzhet ve Edebî Kişiliği
Authors: Aydın Satar Nesrin
Published: November 2024

Bu çalışma, bugüne kadar neredeyse üzerinde hiç durulmamış bir 19. yüzyıl edibi olan İbn-i Kemal Giritli Süleyman Nüzhet’in (187?- 19??) edebî portresini ortaya çıkarmayı hedeflemektedir. Şiirleri, hikâyeleri, makaleleri, telif ve tercüme eserlerine rağmen Süleyman Nüzhet hakkındaki bilgiler, kendisinin yazılarında ve şiirlerinde açık ettiklerinin dışında yok denecek kadar azdır. Dahası, oldukça kısıtlı veriyle şekillenen biyografisi, yazarın eserleri hakkında yanlış ve eksik bilgileri de ihtiva eder. Örneğin, az sayıdaki araştırmada yazarın, kaynaklarda ismi geçmesine rağmen rastlanamayan Şu’ûn-ı Edebiyye isimli kitabından bahsedilir. Süleyman Nüzhet’in edebî görüşleri hakkında bilgiler içeren, yazı ve şiirlerini ihtiva eden bu kitabın asıl adı Bir Şey Değil’dir. Bu makalede hem İbn-i Kemal Süleyman Nüzhet’in hayatına dair bilgilere yer verilmiş hem de kaleme aldığı eser ve yazılar dikkate alınarak edebiyat anlayışı ve edebî yöneliminden bahsedilmiştir. Yazarın, dönemin edebiyat dergilerinde ve Bir Şey Değil isimli kitabında yer alan şiir, makale ve hikâyeleri göz önünde bulundurularak Süleyman Nüzhet’in döneminin edebiyat dünyasındaki yeri değerlendirilmiştir.
Early adverse outcomes remain challenging to prevent in morbidly obese patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Dugdale Evan M. , Uvodich Mason E. , Pagnano Mark W. , Berry Daniel J. , Abdel Matthew P. , Bedard Nicholas A.
Published: November 2024

Aims

The prevalence of obesity is increasing substantially around the world. Elevated BMI increases the risk of complications following total hip arthroplasty (THA). We sought to evaluate trends in BMI and complication rates of obese patients undergoing primary THA over the last 30 years.

Methods

Through our institutional total joint registry, we identified 15,455 primary THAs performed for osteoarthritis from 1990 to 2019. Patients were categorized according to the World Health Organization (WHO) obesity classification and groups were trended over time. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis controlling for confounders was used to investigate the association between year of surgery and two-year risk of any reoperation, any revision, dislocation, periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), venous thromboembolism (VTE), and periprosthetic fracture. Regression was stratified by three separate groups: non-obese; WHO Class I and Class II (BMI 30 to 39 kg/m2); and WHO Class III patients (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2).

Results

There was a significant increase in the proportion of all obesity classes from 1990 to 2019, and the BMI values within each WHO class significantly increased over time. Risk of any reoperation did not change over time among non-obese or WHO Class I/II patients, but increased for WHO Class III patients (hazard ratio (HR) 1.04; p = 0.044). Risk of dislocation decreased over time for non-obese (HR 0.96; p < 0.001) and WHO Class I/II (HR 0.96; p = 0.002) patients, but did not change over time for WHO Class III (HR 0.94; p = 0.073) patients. Risks of any revision and PJI did not change over time for any group.

Conclusion

The proportion of patients undergoing THA who are obese has increased dramatically at our institution between 1990 and 2019. Despite BMI values increasing within all WHO classes over time, two-year complication risks have remained stable or decreased in WHO Class I/II patients. However, continued efforts will be required to mitigate risks in the heaviest WHO Class III patients.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(11):1223–1230.
Changing culture and behaviour in operating theatres: our role in leading a bottom-up approach in surgery
Authors: Davidson M , Brennan E , Mortensen NJ , Brennan PA
Published: November 2024

How can we encourage trainees and medical students to feel confident in asking questions and challenge practices?
Latinx/e Midwest Archives: Fostering Querencia Using Digital Humanities Projects
Authors: Foulis Elena , Alex Stacey
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This article analyzes the use of Latinx/e digital archives about the Midwest as critical digital humanities projects that highlight the long history of Latinx/es in the region. Within a framework of querencia , or belonging through a connection between place and identity, we argue that the archives can be used to foster inclusive learning environments that integrate culturally sustaining pedagogy. The archives can also be used as a vehicle to challenge dominant narratives about what counts as knowledge and who can produce it. The archives examined include Cartas a la familia / Family Letters (Nebraska), Migration Is Beautiful (Iowa), Oral Narratives of Latin@s in Ohio, and Listening to Puerto Rico (Michigan and Indiana).
"Kansas Women Are Awake": Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Journeys in Kansas and the Origins of Women and Economics
Authors: Billingham Chase M.
Published: November 2024

Abstract: Writer, speaker, theorist, and activist Charlotte Perkins Gilman published her most influential work of nonfiction, Women and Economics , in 1898. This examination of family structure, gender inequality, and utopian social reforms influenced generations of sociologists, feminist scholars, and activists. However, Gilman, who suffered from chronic bouts of depression and exhaustion, struggled for months to begin work on the project, despite the fact that its contents drew heavily upon the lectures that she delivered from coast to coast during the mid-1890s. In 1897, during a month-long tour of the state of Kansas, Gilman finally found the inspiration to begin work on the book. In this article, I retrace Gilman's travels throughout Kansas, examining the speeches that she delivered, her reactions to her Kansas audiences, and her impressions of the suffragists, women's rights activists, and other individuals she encountered. Drawing upon diaries, letters, newspaper accounts, and other sources, I explore how Gilman's work on behalf of the suffrage movement in Kansas advanced her professional career and academic reputation and contributed to the creation of this seminal text.
How Disability (re)Invents Poetry
Authors: Richman Jared S.
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This article centers the role of disability in shaping British poetry of the long eighteenth century (1660–1830). Framed by a methodology of disability poetics, the essay examines verse written by Alexander Pope, Lord Byron, William Wordsworth, and John Keats to consider the relationship between aesthetic form and corporeality. Disability poetics, it argues, does not merely address the representation of non-normative figures in poetic verse but rather accounts for the vital relationship between subject and form that, rather than marginalize or mask what early modern writers understood to be deformed, defective, deviant, or disabled, functions as a crucial catalyst for poetic experimentation and invention.
Asynchronous event stream noise filtering for high-frequency structure deformation measurement
Authors: Bian Yifei , Guan Banglei , Liu Zibin , Su Ang , Zhu Shiyao , Shang Yang , Yu Qifeng
Published: November 2024

Large-scale structures suffer high-frequency deformations due to complex loads. However, harsh lighting conditions and high equipment costs limit measurement methods based on traditional high-speed cameras. This paper proposes a method to measure high-frequency deformations by exploiting an event camera and LED markers. First, observation noise is filtered based on the characteristics of the event stream generated by LED markers blinking and spatiotemporal correlation. Then, LED markers are extracted from the event stream after differentiating between motion-induced events and events from LED blinking, which enables extracting high-speed moving LED markers. Ultimately, high-frequency planar deformations are measured by a monocular event camera. Experimental results confirm the accuracy of our method in measuring high-frequency planar deformations.
Perioperative mortality in low-, middle-, and high-income countries: Protocol for a multi-level meta-regression analysis
Authors: McIntyre Kevin J. , Choi Yun-Hee , John-Baptiste Ava , Lizotte Daniel J. , Chan Eunice Y. S. , Moodie Jessica , Stranges Saverio , Martin Janet
Published: November 2024

Background

Surgery is an indispensable component of a functional healthcare system. To date there is limited information regarding how many people die during the perioperative period globally. This study describes a protocol for a systematic review and multilevel meta-regression to evaluate time trends regarding the odds of perioperative mortality among adults undergoing a bellwether surgical procedure while accounting for higher order clustering at the national level.

Methods

Published studies reporting the number of perioperative deaths from bellwether surgical procedures among adults will be identified from MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, LILACS and Global Index Medicus. The primary outcome will be the rate of perioperative mortality across time and the secondary outcome will be investigating cause of death over time as a proportion of overall perioperative mortality. Two reviewers will independently conduct full text screening and extract the data. Disagreements will first be resolved via consensus. If consensus cannot be reached a third reviewer will be included to arbitrate. Due to human resource limitations, a risk of bias appraisal will not be conducted. From the included studies a multilevel meta-regression will be constructed to synthesize the results. This model will conceptualize patients as nested in studies which are in turn nested within countries while taking into account potential confounding variables at all levels.

Discussion

The systematic review and multilevel meta-regression that will be conducted based on this protocol will provide synthesized global evidence regarding the trends of perioperative mortality. This eventual study may help policymakers and other key stakeholders with benchmarking surgical safety initiatives as well as identify key gaps in our current understanding of global perioperative mortality.

Trial registration

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number 429040.
Night-time hot spring bathing is associated with improved blood pressure control: A mobile application and paper questionnaire study
Authors: Yamasaki Satoshi , Kashiwado Yusuke , Maeda Toyoki , Horiuchi Takahiko
Published: November 2024

Hot spring bathing practice helps to manage hypertension. However, the details of the relationship between hot spring bathing and hypertension remain unknown. Older people are thought to be less adept than younger people at using digital devices such as mobile applications. Whether mobile application questionnaires, which have been increasing in recent years, can be used by older people is unclear. To address the knowledge gap regarding the management of older patients with hypertension, we prospectively evaluated mobile application and paper questionnaires regarding night-time hot spring bathing in respondents who had a choice of which to use. Changes in blood pressure because of hot spring bathing were evaluated. To investigate the effects of night-time hot spring bathing on blood pressure in adults, 1116 volunteers at 14 institutions in Beppu completed the study, including 562 in the mobile application questionnaire group and 556 in the paper questionnaire group. A total of 474 of 477 (99.3%) respondents aged ≥65 years used paper questionnaires. There was a significantly lower drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure after using hot springs in respondents aged ≥65 years than in respondents aged <65 years (p<0.001). An age ≥65 years, hypertension with medication, arrhythmia, depression, and using a chloride hot spring were independently and significantly associated with a lower drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure after night-time hot spring bathing (p<0.001). Night-time hot spring bathing was significantly associated with reduced blood pressure in older adults (p<0.001). Extending this research by examining how psychosocial factors in respondents aged ≥65 years influence preferences for mobile and paper questionnaires may be beneficial, and further investigation is warranted.
AI-powered mechanisms as judges: Breaking ties in chess
Authors: Anbarci Nejat , Ismail Mehmet S.
Published: November 2024

Recently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology use has been rising in sports to reach decisions of various complexity. At a relatively low complexity level, for example, major tennis tournaments replaced human line judges with Hawk-Eye Live technology to reduce staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. AI is now ready to move beyond such mundane tasks, however. A case in point and a perfect application ground is chess. To reduce the growing incidence of ties, many elite tournaments have resorted to fast chess tiebreakers. However, these tiebreakers significantly reduce the quality of games. To address this issue, we propose a novel AI-driven method for an objective tiebreaking mechanism. This method evaluates the quality of players’ moves by comparing them to the optimal moves suggested by powerful chess engines. If there is a tie, the player with the higher quality measure wins the tiebreak. This approach not only enhances the fairness and integrity of the competition but also maintains the game’s high standards. To show the effectiveness of our method, we apply it to a dataset comprising approximately 25,000 grandmaster moves from World Chess Championship matches spanning from 1910 to 2018, using Stockfish 16, a leading chess AI, for analysis.
A new estimator of between study variance of standardized mean difference in meta-analysis
Authors: Albayyat Ramlah H. , Aljohani Hajar S. , Alnagar Dalia K.
Published: November 2024

Meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of different environmental experiments regarding the populations, location, time, and so on. These results will differ more than the within-study variance, and the true effects being evaluated differ between studies. Thus, heterogeneity is present and should be measured. There are different estimators that were introduced to estimate between-study variance, which has received a lot of criticism from previous researchers. All of the estimators encountered the same problem, which was the correlation. To minimize the potential biases caused by interventions between the three estimators (i.e., overall effect size, within-study variance, and between-study variance), we proposed a new measure of heterogeneity known as the Environmental Effect Ratio (EER), the treatment-by-lab variability relative to the experimental error, under individual participant data (IPD) using the linear mixed model approach. We assume different between-study variances instead of constant between-study variances. The simulation of this study focuses on the performance of meta-analyses with small sample sizes. We compared our proposed estimator under two different expressions (τ ^ 1 E E R 2, and τ ^ 2 E E R 2) with the best estimator nominated from previous studies to determine which one is the best performance. Based on the findings, our estimator (τ ^ 2 E E R 2) was better for estimating between-study variance.
The implementation of an integrated workplace health promotion program in Dutch organizations ‐ A mixed methods process evaluation
Authors: Smit Denise J. M. , van Oostrom Sandra H. , Engels Josephine A. , Mooren-van der Meer Suzan , Proper Karin I.
Published: November 2024

Objective

To gain insight into 1) the degree of implementation of an integrated workplace health promotion program (WHPP) 2) the perceptions of employers and employees regarding an integrated WHPP and 3) the contextual factors that hindered or enhanced implementation.

Methods

Data were collected by means of questionnaires, interviews among 19 employees, supervisors and HR-professionals, monitoring charts and observations at 6–10 months after the start of the implementation of the integrated WHPP. To evaluate the implementation process, ten process indicators from the evaluation frameworks of Nielsen & Randall and Wierenga were assessed. Descriptive analyses were performed for the process indicators as measured by questionnaires, monitoring charts and observations. Interviews with employers and employees were recorded, transcribed and then coded by two researchers independently by means of thematic coding.

Results

The results cover the following topics: implemented activities, the working group, engagement of employees, the role of management and policy and organizational preconditions. Although the criteria of the WHPP were not completely met, various activities were implemented in all participating organizations. Working groups consisting of Human Resources professionals, supervisors and employees, who selected and implemented activities, were composed within each organization. 22% of the employees did not feel involved in the implementation process. The absence of organizational policies regarding WHP hampered implementation. Organizations had the intention to continue with the integrated WHPP, which requires sufficient time and budget.

Conclusions

The implementation of the integrated WHPP appeared to be challenging and complex. Working groups indicated that they made the first important steps in integrating WHP in their organization and had the intention to continue with the implementation. However, to increase the impact, employers and employees should have the opportunity to implement and participate in WHP. Hence, organizational policies regarding WHP and active support of higher management are expected to be essential.
Selecting optimal software code descriptors—The case of Java
Authors: Bugayenko Yegor , Kholmatova Zamira , Kruglov Artem , Pedrycz Witold , Succi Giancarlo
Published: November 2024

Over the last 25 years, a considerable proliferation of software metrics and a plethora of tools have emerged to extract them. While this is indeed positive concerning the previous situations of limited data, it still leads to a significant problem arising both from a theoretical and a practical standpoint. From a theoretical perspective, several metrics are likely to result in collinearity, overfitting, etc. From a practical perspective, such a set of metrics is difficult to manage and companies, especially small ones, may feel overwhelmed and unable to select a viable subset of them. Still, so far it has not been fully understood what is a viable subset of metrics suitable to properly manage software projects and products. In this paper, we attempt to address this issue. We focus on the case of programs written in Java and we consider classes and methods. We use Sammon error as a measure of the similarity of metrics. Utilizing both Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Algorithm, we adapted a method for the identification of a viable subset of such metrics that could solve the mentioned problem. Furthermore, we experiment with our approach on 800 projects coming from GitHub and validate the results on 200 projects. With the proposed method we got optimal subsets of software engineering metrics. These subsets gave us low values of Sammon error at more than 70% at class and method levels on a validation dataset.
Generation of isogenic models of Angelman syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome in CRISPR/Cas9-engineered human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Gilmore Rachel B. , Gorka Dea , Stoddard Christopher E. , Sonawane Pooja , Cotney Justin , Chamberlain Stormy J.
Published: November 2024

Angelman syndrome (AS) and Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), two distinct neurodevelopmental disorders, result from loss of expression from imprinted genes in the chromosome 15q11-13 locus most commonly caused by a megabase-scale deletion on either the maternal or paternal allele, respectively. Each occurs at an approximate incidence of 1/15,000 to 1/30,000 live births and has a range of debilitating phenotypes. Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been valuable tools to understand human-relevant gene regulation at this locus and have contributed to the development of therapeutic approaches for AS. Nonetheless, gaps remain in our understanding of how these deletions contribute to dysregulation and phenotypes of AS and PWS. Variability across cell lines due to donor differences, reprogramming methods, and genetic background make it challenging to fill these gaps in knowledge without substantially increasing the number of cell lines used in the analyses. Isogenic cell lines that differ only by the genetic mutation causing the disease can ease this burden without requiring such a large number of cell lines. Here, we describe the development of isogenic human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines modeling the most common genetic subtypes of AS and PWS. These lines allow for a facile interrogation of allele-specific gene regulation at the chromosome 15q11-q13 locus. Additionally, these lines are an important resource to identify and test targeted therapeutic approaches for patients with AS and PWS.
The significance of miR-124 in the diagnosis and prognosis of glioma: A systematic review
Authors: Ghasemi Elham , Mondanizadeh Mahdieh , Almasi-Hashiani Amir , Mahboobi Elyar
Published: November 2024

Glioma is a type of cancer that affects the central nervous system and necessitates a non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic assessment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in glioma and can provide valuable information about the prognosis of patients with this condition. MiR-124 is associated with molecules that play crucial roles in cellular processes, and any disruption in its expression can have a detrimental effect on cells, potentially leading to cancer. Therefore, miR-124 can be a valuable biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in glioma. This review aims to highlight the role of miR-124 as a diagnostic and prognostic factor in glioma. To address this issue, we systemically reviewed and used various search strategies across three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus) and then yielded 3046 records from inception to September 2023. Records that did not meet our inclusion criteria were excluded. Following the screening process, our analysis included and summarized 13 eligible studies that not only measured miR-124 in serum, plasma, and tissue of glioma patients but also provided insights intomiR-124 as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker. Thirteen studies were included for diagnostic accuracy, and five were considered for prognostic importance of miR-124. Based on our results, a single study showed an increase in miR-124 levels in exosomes obtained from patient serum, whereas the data from the 12 studies analyzed consistently pointed towards a reduction in miR-124 levels in various glioma samples. In conclusion, our findings suggest that miR-124 may be a useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in glioma. However, further investigations are required to draw more definitive conclusions.
Effects of Tai Chi on anxiety and theta oscillation power in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Min , Chi Shuxun , Wang Xingze , Wang Tongling
Published: November 2024

Background

College students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, face substantial psychological stress. This study investigates the impact of Tai Chi (TC) practice on anxiety levels and theta oscillatory power activation characteristics among college students, aiming to provide empirical evidence for their psychological well-being.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial with 45 healthy college students, brainwave activity and changes in anxiety levels were measured. A 2 (TC group vs control group)×2 (pre-test vs post-test) factorial design was analyzed to explore TC’s regulatory effects on brainwave activity and anxiety.

Results

Following 12 weeks of TC practice, the TC group exhibited a significant decrease in state-trait anxiety differences (-6.14±14.33), state anxiety differences (-3.45±7.57), and trait anxiety differences (-2.68±7.43), contrasting with an increase in the control group. Moreover, contrasting with a decrease in the control group, TC group demonstrated significance increased theta oscillatory power in C3, C4, F4, P3, T7, and T8, and a significant negative correlations were observed between state anxiety and F4-θ (r = -0.31, p = 0.04), T7-θ (r = -0.43, p = 0.01), and T8-θ (r = -0.30, p = 0.05).

Conclusion

The positive influence of TC on college students’ psychological well-being and brain function is evident, leading to reduced anxiety levels and increased theta oscillatory activity. While encouraging further research to delve into the mechanisms of TC on anxiety and theta brainwave characteristics, the study recommends actively promoting TC practice among college students to enhance mental health and address post-pandemic psychological challenges.