bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overlooked poor-quality patient samples in sequencing data impair reproducibility of published clinically relevant datasets
Authors: Sprang Maximilian , Möllmann Jannik , Andrade-Navarro Miguel A. , Fontaine Jean-Fred
Published: August 2024

Background

Reproducibility is a major concern in biomedical studies, and existing publication guidelines do not solve the problem. Batch effects and quality imbalances between groups of biological samples are major factors hampering reproducibility. Yet, the latter is rarely considered in the scientific literature.

Results

Our analysis uses 40 clinically relevant RNA-seq datasets to quantify the impact of quality imbalance between groups of samples on the reproducibility of gene expression studies. High-quality imbalance is frequent (14 datasets; 35%), and hundreds of quality markers are present in more than 50% of the datasets. Enrichment analysis suggests common stress-driven effects among the low-quality samples and highlights a complementary role of transcription factors and miRNAs to regulate stress response. Preliminary ChIP-seq results show similar trends. Quality imbalance has an impact on the number of differential genes derived by comparing control to disease samples (the higher the imbalance, the higher the number of genes), on the proportion of quality markers in top differential genes (the higher the imbalance, the higher the proportion; up to 22%) and on the proportion of known disease genes in top differential genes (the higher the imbalance, the lower the proportion). We show that removing outliers based on their quality score improves the resulting downstream analysis.

Conclusions

Thanks to a stringent selection of well-designed datasets, we demonstrate that quality imbalance between groups of samples can significantly reduce the relevance of differential genes, consequently reducing reproducibility between studies. Appropriate experimental design and analysis methods can substantially reduce the problem.
The SME tool supporting employers of small- and medium-sized enterprises during the return to work of employees on long-term sick leave: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial and for a process evaluation
Authors: Beerda Donna C. E. , Greidanus Michiel A. , de Rijk Angelique E. , de Wind Astrid , Tamminga Sietske J. , Schaafsma Frederieke G.
Published: August 2024

Background

Returning to work after long-term sick leave can be challenging, particularly in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) where support may be limited. Recognizing the responsibilities and challenges of SME employers, a web-based intervention (hereafter the SME tool) has been developed. The SME tool aims to enhance the employer’s intention and ability to support the sick-listed employee. Based on the Self-Determination Theory, it is hypothesized that this intention is enhanced by intervening in the employer’s autonomy, competences, and relatedness targeted at, e.g., communication with sick-listed employee, involvement of other stakeholders, and practical support. This is achieved by means of providing templates, communication videos, and information on legislation. This article describes the design of an effect and process evaluation of the SME tool.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 6-month follow-up will be conducted with a parallel-group design with two arms: an intervention group and a control group. Sick-listed employees (≤ 8 weeks) of SMEs (≤ 250 employees) at risk of long-term sick leave and their employers will be recruited and randomly allocated as a dyad (1:1). Employers randomized to the intervention group receive unlimited access to the SME tool, while those in the control group will receive care as usual. The primary outcome is the satisfaction of the employee with the return to work (RTW) support provided by their employer. Secondary outcomes include social support, work performance, and quality of work life at the employee level and self-efficacy in providing RTW support at the employer level. Outcomes will be assessed using questionnaires at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. Process evaluation measures include, e.g., recruitment and use of and perceived usefulness of the SME tool. Additionally, semi-structured interviews with employers, employees, and occupational physicians will explore the interpretation of the RCT results and strategies for the national implementation of the SME tool.

Discussion

The SME tool is hypothesized to be valuable in addition to usual care helping employers to effectively support the RTW of their long-term sick-listed employees, by improving the employers’ intention and ability to support.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06330415. Registered on February 14, 2024.
Biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using plant extracts and evaluation of their antibacterial activity
Authors: Elkhateeb Omima , Atta Mohamed B. , Mahmoud Esawy
Published: August 2024

The biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles has received increasing attention in the field of food nanotechnology because of their non-toxicity, high efficiency, high antibacterial power, and decontamination features. Therefore, biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (nFe) was prepared from the leaves of some vegetables, such as cabbage (C) and turnips (T), as well as moringa leaves (M). Alcoholic extracts of these nanoparticles were also tested on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli to evaluate their antibacterial activity. The results revealed that the particle sizes of the biosynthesis nanomaterials studied ranged from 12.99 to 22.72 nm, and the particles were spherical, irregular, and surrounded by black color. It also contains many functional groups and minerals. Iron nanoparticles modified with Moringa oleifera extract at a concentration of 200 ppm had the highest phenol content compared to other biosynthesis nanoparticles studied. TnFe and MnFe at 200 ppm had a maximum zone of inhibition of 25 mm and 24 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. While the minimum inhibition zone of 8.0 mm was observed at 25 ppm for nFe against Escherichia coli. Therefore, it is recommended to use these extracts of biosynthesis iron oxide nanoparticles as antibacterial agents for stored foods.
Prevalence and associated factors of TB and HIV coinfections among adult inmates with presumptive pulmonary TB in a Kenyan prison
Authors: Mwatenga Suleiman Athuman , Musa Ali A. , Muturi Margaret W. , Musyoki Abednego Moki
Published: August 2024

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is more than ten times higher in prisons compared to the general population, and HIV-infected persons are at increased risk of developing active TB and death. In the World Health Organization (WHO) African region, however, where the TB and HIV coinfections are highest, and prisons rarely factored in national disease surveillance, epidemiological data to inform TB control interventions in correctional facilities is limited. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of TB and HIV coinfections, as well as the factors associated with coinfections in our study setting.

Methods

This was a prospective cross-sectional study among 157 adult (≥ 18 years) prisoners presenting with symptoms of pulmonary TB at Shimo La Tewa Prison, Kenya, between January and June 2023. The study excluded those with a history of anti-TB drugs use or on treatment follow-up and collected demographic and clinical characteristics data using a questionnaire. Sputum samples were collected and processed immediately using Xpert® MTB/RIF assay or stored at 4 °C for three (3) days in case of delay.

Results

The overall prevalence of TB among inmates with presumptive pulmonary TB was 10.2%, 95% CI 6.37–16.91% (16/157), HIV 19.1%, 95% CI 13.73–25.97% (30/157). All the TB cases were positive for HIV (16/16, 100%), translating to TB/HIV coinfection of 10.2%, 95% CI 6.37–16.91% (16/157), and there was no rifampicin resistance. TB and HIV coinfection cases were found among underweight (100%, 16/16) prisoners. The independent factors associated with TB and HIV coinfections were education level (adjusted OR = 0.17, p = 0.007), smoking history (adjusted OR = 3.01, p = 0.009) and illegal drug use history (adjusted OR = 4.55, p = 0.044).

Conclusion

We report a high prevalence of pulmonary TB and HIV coinfections among adult inmates with presumptive pulmonary TB in Kenya, with education level, smoking status, and illegal drug use as the independent factors associated with the coinfection. The authority should take measures to protect HIV-positive prisoners from TB, focusing on education, nutrition, smoking, and illegal drug use.
The heart of celiac disease: understanding dilated cardiomyopathy, pathophysiology, and care—a systematic review
Authors: Yadavalli Rajesh , Nawaz Sarosh , Althwanay Abdulaziz Mohammed , AlEdani Esraa M. , Kaur Harleen , Kasapoglu Malik , Hamid Pousette Farouk
Published: August 2024

Background

Cardiac manifestations are infrequently reported in association with celiac disease, but clear link has not been established. The aim of this study was to explore the connection of dilated cardiomyopathy in celiac disease. This systematic review also provides a comprehensive overview of the association between celiac disease and various cardiac manifestations with pathophysiology and management.

Main body

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, and Springer nature databases through June 4th 2023 for preferred studies related to our topic using MeSH and Regular keywords. After comprehensive search analysis, data extraction and quality appraisal 19 studies were included in the study. Although results varied across studies, majority of the studies revealed a positive link. Notably, some studies suggested an association between celiac disease and dilated cardiomyopathy, while others did not. These discrepancies could be attributed to differences in methodologies, study populations, and regional variations. Several studies have shown the association of various cardiac manifestations in celiac disease.

Conclusion

Although dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with celiac disease in majority of the studies, there are also studies that conflict with the association. The complex relationship between celiac disease and cardiovascular manifestations potentiates the need for further research with standardized methodologies, larger sample sizes, and consideration of regional variations. Such insights are vital for improving clinical practice by establishing preventive strategies, active screening, early diagnosis, mitigating risks which helps in optimizing cardiovascular health in individuals with celiac disease.
A Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Receptor Agonist in Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials in Healthy or Obese Persons
Authors: Smith William B , Nguyen David , Clough Timothy , Schofield Jül , Kagan Mark R , Kompa Jill , He YanLing , Maratos-Flier Eleftheria , Jamontt Joanna , Vong Linh , Schwartzkopf Chad D , Layne Joseph D , Usera Aimee R , O’Donnell Christopher J , Heldwein Kurt A , Streeper Ryan S , Goldfine Allison B
Published: August 2024

Background

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a divergent member of the TGF-β superfamily, signals via the hindbrain glial-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like and rearranged during transfection receptor co-receptor (GFRAL-RET) complex. In nonclinical species, GDF15 is a potent anorexigen leading to substantial weight loss. MBL949 is a half-life extended recombinant human GDF15 dimer.

Methods

MBL949 was evaluated in multiple nonclinical species, and then in humans, in 2 randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trials. In the phase 1, first-in-human, single ascending dose trial, MBL949 or placebo was injected subcutaneously to overweight and obese healthy volunteers (n = 65) at doses ranging from 0.03 to 20 mg. In phase 2, MBL949 or placebo was administered subcutaneously every other week for a total of 8 doses to obese participants (n = 126) in 5 different dose regimens predicted to be efficacious based on data from the phase 1 trial.

Results

In nonclinical species, MBL949 was generally safe and effective with reduced food intake and body weight in mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys. Weight loss was primarily from reduced fat, and metabolic endpoints improved. A single ascending dose study in overweight or obese healthy adults demonstrated mean terminal half-life of 18 to 22 days and evidence of weight loss at the higher doses. In the phase 2, weight loss was minimal following biweekly dosing of MBL949 for 14 weeks. MBL949 was safe and generally tolerated in humans over the dose range tested, adverse events of the gastrointestinal system were the most frequent observed.

Conclusion

The prolonged half-life of MBL949 supports biweekly dosing in patients. MBL949 had an acceptable safety profile. The robust weight loss observed in nonclinical species did not translate to weight loss efficacy in humans.
Data-driven Thyroglobulin Cutoffs for Low- and Intermediate-risk Thyroid Cancer Follow-up: ITCO Real-world Analysis
Authors: Grani Giorgio , D’Elia Silvia , Puxeddu Efisio , Morelli Silvia , Arvat Emanuela , Nervo Alice , Spiazzi Giovanna , Rolli Nicoletta , Zatelli Maria Chiara , Ambrosio Maria Rosaria , Ceresini Graziano , Marina Michela , Mele Chiara , Aimaretti Gianluca , Santaguida Maria Giulia , Virili Camilla , Crescenzi Anna , Palermo Andrea , Rossetto Giaccherino Ruth , Meomartino Letizia , Castagna Maria Grazia , Maino Fabio , Trevisan Matteo , De Leo Simone , Chiofalo Maria Grazia , Pezzullo Luciano , Sparano Clotilde , Petrone Luisa , Di Dalmazi Giulia , Napolitano Giorgio , Tumino Dario , Crocetti Umberto , Bertagna Francesco , Deandrea Maurilio , Antonelli Alessandro , Mian Caterina , Carbone Antonella , Monti Salvatore , Porcelli Tommaso , Brigante Giulia , Barbaro Daniele , Alfò Marco , Ferraro Petrillo Umberto , Filetti Sebastiano , Durante Cosimo
Published: August 2024

Context

The utility of thyroglobulin (Tg) in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer has been well-documented. Although third-generation immunoassays have improved accuracy, limitations persist (interfering anti-Tg antibodies and measurement variability). Evolving treatment strategies require a reevaluation of Tg thresholds for optimal patient management.

Objective

To assess the performance of serum Tg testing in 2 populations: patients receiving total thyroidectomy and radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA) or treated with thyroidectomy alone.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Centers contributing to the Italian Thyroid Cancer Observatory database.

Patients

We included 540 patients with 5 years of follow-up and negative anti-Tg antibodies.

Interventions

Serum Tg levels assessed at 1-year follow-up visit.

Main Outcome Measure

Detection of structural disease within 5 years of follow-up.

Results

After excluding 26 patients with structural disease detected at any time point, the median Tg did not differ between patients treated with or without radioiodine. Data-driven Tg thresholds were established based on the 97th percentile of Tg levels in disease-free individuals: 1.97 ng/mL for patients undergoing thyroidectomy alone (lower than proposed by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center protocol and ESMO Guidelines, yet demonstrating good predictive ability, with a negative predictive value of 98% and 0.84 ng/mL for patients receiving postsurgical RRA. High sensitivity and negative predictive value supported the potential of these thresholds in excluding structural disease.

Conclusion

This real-world study provides evidence for the continued reliability of 1-year serum Tg levels. The data-driven Tg thresholds proposed offer valuable insights for clinical decision-making in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy with or without RRA.
Approach to the Patient With Suspected Hypotonic Polyuria
Authors: Newell-Price John , Drummond Juliana Beaudette , Gurnell Mark , Levy Miles , McCormack Ann , Cooper Deborah , Wass John , Christ-Crain Mirjam , Verbalis Joseph G
Published: August 2024

Investigation and management of hypotonic polyuria is a common challenge in clinical endocrinology. The 3 main causes, recently renamed to arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D, formerly central diabetes insipidus), arginine vasopressin resistance (AVP-R, formerly nephrogenic diabetes insipidus), and primary polydipsia (PP) require accurate diagnosis, as management differs for each. This new nomenclature more accurately reflects pathophysiology and has now been adopted by the Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED). Advances in diagnosis over the last few years have centered around the use of copeptin measurement. Here, we use 3 patient case histories to highlight the use of this approach, and to demonstrate how it can succeed where other approaches, such as the water deprivation test, sometimes fail. We discuss the overall approach to each type of patient and the strengths and limitations of diagnostic strategies, illustrating the use of the new nomenclature.
Thyroid Hormone Receptors Function in GABAergic Neurons During Development and in Adults
Authors: Flamant Frédéric , Richard Sabine
Published: August 2024

The nuclear receptors of thyroid hormone exert a broad influence on brain development and then on adult brain physiology. However, the cell-autonomous function of the receptors is combined with their indirect influence on cellular interactions. Mouse genetics allows one to distinguish between these 2 modes of action. It revealed that 1 of the main cell-autonomous functions of these receptors is to promote the maturation of GABAergic neurons. This review presents our current understanding of the action of thyroid hormone on this class of neurons, which are the main inhibitory neurons in most brain areas.
State of Fear
Authors: Barker Joshua
Published: August 2024

In State of Fear, Joshua Barker reckons with how fear and violence are produced and reproduced through everyday practices of rule and control. Examining the ethnographic and historical genealogies of Indonesian policing, Barker focuses on the city of Bandung, which is permeated by anxieties about security, in spite of the fact that it’s a relatively safe city according to the data. Drawing from his fieldwork there during the latter years of the authoritarian New Order regime, Barker traces the complex relationship between the state and vigilante groups like neighborhood watch patrols and street gangs. Through interviews with police officers, vigilantes, and street-level toughs, he uncovers a struggle between two visions of social control that continues to animate policing in Indonesia: the modern, bureaucratic approach favored by the state, and a territorial approach that divides the city into fiefdoms overseen by charismatic individuals of authority. Synthesizing insights from in-depth ethnographic, historical, and theoretical work, Barker reveals how authoritarianism can take root not just from the top down but also from the bottom up.
Fasciotomy and Occupational Separation among US Service Members with Lower Extremity Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome
Authors: NELSON D. ALAN , KAZMAN JOSH B. , NELSON KENNETH , EDGEWORTH DANIEL B. , LINDOW MICHAEL F. , EMANUELE PETER , CLIFTON DANIEL R. , CHOI Y. SAMMY , SHELL DONALD , DEUSTER PATRICIA A.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Lower extremity chronic exertional compartment syndrome (LE-CECS) can limit rigorous physical activity, particularly in the US military, and fasciotomy is a potential treatment. Associations between LE-CECS, fasciotomy, and occupational outcomes appear understudied. We studied active-duty US service members to identify whether LE-CECS diagnoses and fasciotomy for LE-CECS predict military service separation.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1,103,417 individuals who entered service during 2011 to 2017. Distributions of separation statuses and independent variables were tabulated, and sex-specific multivariable regression models were computed for separation outcomes.

Results

LE-CECS was associated with a 474% medical service separation risk in men (95% confidence interval (CI) for adjusted risk ratio: 5.21 to 6.33) and a 282% increase in women (CI: 2.99 to 4.88). Among 1947 patients with LE-CECS, men saw a 57% nonmedical separation risk increase (CI: 1.27 to 1.93) and women had a 119% increase (CI: 1.10 to 4.35) when anterior and/or lateral compartment procedures occurred. Men with LE-CECS and any posterior procedures saw a 47% nonmedical separation risk increase (CI: 1.17 to 1.86). Men with anterior and/or lateral procedures and any posterior procedures experienced 36% (CI: 1.09 to 1.71) and 78% (CI: 1.40 to 2.26) medical separation risk increases, respectively. No statistically significant risk increases for the outcomes were otherwise seen for women.

Conclusions

LE-CECS was associated with increased military service discharge risks. Among the affected patients, positive effects on career longevity were not seen in association with fasciotomy. However, fasciotomy could simply serve as a marker of the most refractory cases that are least likely to continue service. More study is needed to clarify causal pathways and identify patients who may derive career benefits from surgical treatment.
What is known from the existing literature about the treatment of Mallet Injury using 3D printed splints? A Scoping Review Protocol
Authors: Cronin Una M. , Shannon Alice , ó hAodha Micheal , O'Sullivan Aidan , Cummins Niamh M. , OSullivan Leonard
Published: August 2024

Background Mallet finger injuries are a frequent cause of hospital attendance, being the fifth most common injury in the body. They are therefore a frequent cause of hospital visits. To date, these injuries have primarily been managed using generic splints. As a generic splint provides a generic fit, patients who receive these are not provided with a custom splint experience. As the size and fit of these splints are not bespoke to the patient’s anatomy, patients may not always find the fit comfortable and may find complying with these splints difficult at times. However, an opportunity is developing within healthcare where custom splinting can be obtained for some using Three-D (3D) printing. The rationale for this review is to gain an understanding of the research that has been conducted on 3D printing of mallet injury splints. Objective The objective of this scoping review is to map the current literature on 3D printing associated with mallet finger injury. Methods The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews will be used throughout along with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Two researchers will search the databases that will include CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane, EbscoHost, Medline/Pubmed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The search will include a hand search of sources falling outside the chosen databases. Screen titles, abstracts, and full-text articles will be reviewed by two researchers independently using Rayaan software. The data extracted from the literature will first be presented in a tabulated chart followed by a narrative synthesis. Registration The protocol was registered on 6th September 2023, with the Open Science Framework. Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/FSJPK
A matter of choice: a cross-sectional study examining the impact of the overturning of Roe v Wade on U.S. medical students’ perceptions and career decisions
Authors: Conklin Alissa , Saeed Zeb , Sharp Sacha
Published: August 2024

Background In June 2022, the Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections. In states with restrictive abortion laws such as Indiana, which also has the country’s largest medical school and the third worst maternal mortality rate, the impact of this ruling may be huge on the medical field. The purpose of this study was to analyze perceptions of medical students in Indiana in their third and fourth years of education after the Dobbs decision to assess if the state’s current abortion restrictions impact their career choice. Methods Between December 2022 and March 2023, an anonymous survey was carried out at Indiana University School of Medicine, which included questions about personal beliefs on abortion and the current abortion laws in Indiana, as well as priorities when choosing residency training and practice locations. Results Our survey found that four-fifths of medical students in Indiana disagreed with the Dobbs decision. While most students (71.4%) had not considered state abortion laws when selecting a medical school, since the Dobbs decision, 66.3% of third-year and 40.3% of fourth-year students indicated that they would take abortion laws into account when choosing a residency program. 47.5% of female students stated that they will be seeking residency in a state where abortion is legal and 55.3% of single students were more likely to leave Indiana to practice medicine. Conclusion Our research suggests that physicians who are more liberal in their views on abortion may now be much less likely to practice in conservative states which will compound the healthcare outcomes secondary to the Dobbs decision. We emphasize the role that abortion laws have in shaping the landscape of healthcare workforce and the need for a more nuanced understanding of how societal structures impact women's reproductive decisions and career paths in medicine.
Estimating Parameters of Structural Models Using Neural Networks
Authors: Wei Yanhao (Max) , Jiang Zhenling
Published: August 2024

We use neural networks for structural model estimation, achieving both accuracy and computational efficiency, particularly for models with high simulation costs.
On a Network Centrality Maximization Game
Authors: Catalano Costanza , Castaldo Maria , Como Giacomo , Fagnani Fabio
Published: August 2024

We study a network formation game where n players, identified with the nodes of a directed graph to be formed, choose where to wire their outgoing links in order to maximize their PageRank centrality. Specifically, the action of every player i consists in the wiring of a predetermined number di of directed out-links, and her utility is her own PageRank centrality in the network resulting from the actions of all players. We show that this is a potential game and that the best response correspondence always exhibits a local structure in that it is never convenient for a node i to link to other nodes that are at incoming distance more than di from her. We then study the equilibria of this game determining necessary conditions for a graph to be a (strict, recurrent) Nash equilibrium. Moreover, in the homogeneous case, where players all have the same number d of out-links, we characterize the structure of the potential-maximizing equilibria, and in the special cases d = 1 and d = 2, we provide a complete classification of the set of (strict, recurrent) Nash equilibria. Our analysis shows in particular that the considered formation mechanism leads to the emergence of undirected and disconnected or loosely connected networks.

Funding: This research was carried out within the framework of the Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca (MIUR)-funded Progetto di Eccellenza of the Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche G. L. Lagrange, Politecnico di Torino [CUP: E11G18000350001]. It received partial support from the MIUR-funded project PRIN 2017 “Advanced Network Control of Future Smart Grids” and from the Compagnia di San Paolo.
DİVANÜ LÜGATİ’T-TÜRK’TE “BİLİG” KAVRAMI
Authors: Düzgün Dilaver , Tomo Bilgi
Published: August 2024

Bin yıl öncesinin Türk toplum hayatı ile ilgili birçok bilgiye yer veren Divanü Lügati’t-Türk, üzerinde çok çalışılması gereken önemli bir eserdir. Eser üzerinde yapılacak çalışmalar Türk dilini, kültürünü ve tarihini anlamak ve gelecek kuşaklara aktarmak bakımından önemlidir. Bu çalışma, söz konusu eserde bilig kelimesinin anlamı ve eserin yazıldığı dönemde kazandığı kavramsal çerçeveyi belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Divanü Lügati’t-Türk’te bilig kavramı üç ayrı yerde madde başı açıklaması şeklinde verilmiş, ilim, hikmet ve akıl anlamlarıyla Arapçaya çevrilmiştir. Bunlardan başka bilig kelimesinin yalın veya çekimli hali 24 ayrı cümle, kelime grubu veya dizede kullanılmıştır. Örnek kullanımlarda bilig kelimesi akıl, ilim ve hikmetten başka edep, fazilet, tedbir ve izzet anlamlarıyla da kullanılmıştır. Kelimenin anlam yelpazesindeki bu genişlik, Kâşgarlı Mahmud’un araştırma ve derleme yaptığı Türk boyları arasında günlük dildeki anlam farklılıklarını ve zenginliğini yansıtmaktadır. Divan’da bilig’e verilen Arapça karşılıklar, kelimenin daima üstün değerleri ifade etmekte kullanıldığını göstermektedir. Bu nedenle biligli olmak sürekli tavsiye edilirken biligsizlik, kaçınılması önerilen bir özellik olarak sunulmuştur.
British Working-Class Literature, Higher Education and Identity Politics: Elevating Working-Class Voices in New Literary Pedagogies
Authors: Attridge John D.
Published: August 2024

This article interrogates the absence of working-class literature modules at the UK undergraduate level before evaluating various attempts at incorporating working-class voices and working-class literature within new and emerging literary pedagogies. It begins by outlining the current state of (predominantly British) working-class literary studies, and questions why working-class voices and working-class texts haven’t been granted similar or equal footing for undergraduate academic study within the UK higher education sector. It then goes on to consider how the rise of identity politics has impacted attempts at defining, representing and accounting for working-class experiences. While acknowledging that other disciplines which have emerged from recent shifts toward identity politics (including gender studies, postcolonial studies, and queer theory) all seek, in varying degrees, to decentre the white patriarchal experience and disrupt and decolonise the status quo, this article determines that the inclusion of working-class perspectives at the same level remains confused, vague, and sometimes taboo – putting genuine working-class voices at risk of assimilation, marginalisation, and/or ostracization. The article goes on to qualitatively evaluate a number of recent pedagogical attempts at rectifying this issue, resisting demands to position class-consciousness in diametric opposition to popular models of identity politics, and making the case instead for valuable, insightful, and intersectional literary pedagogies which identify and showcase working-classness as a formative aspect of identity-making on par with other important aspects of self-identity. Consequently, it promotes the need for continued research into how British working-class literature might be defined, taught, and disseminated to a new generation of students in UK higher education, primarily to prevent working-class voices becoming (or remaining) a peripheral concern in new literary pedagogies.
“A small step forward can be as important as a big one” – Parliamentary debate about the first abortion law in Sweden in 1938
Authors: Gustafson Magnus
Published: August 2024

“A small step forward can be as important as a big one”. So says the social democrat Agda Östlund in the Second Chamber of the Swedish Parliament on Wednesday May 18, 1938, when she justifies her support for a new abortion law.[1] The law gives the right to abortion for women with faltering health and many children, but not for those who suffer financial hardship or social disgrace after becoming pregnant out of wedlock. The debate, and the bill, is characterized by a spirit of cooperation and willingness to compromise. An exception is the conflict between the female members. Voting takes place by standing up and only a few votes against the bill. Previous research has not considered class as central to this debate. However, as we shall see, the debate is about the working-class woman.
[1] Andra kammaren 1938:35, Ang. förslag till lag om avbrytande av havandeskap, p. 27.
College Major Selection, Social Class, and the Gender Pay Gap in the United States
Authors: Eppard Lawrence M. , Linker Annie , Laughman Madison , Bonomo Katie
Published: August 2024

Although researchers have made plausible arguments about the contributions of several factors, occupational segregation and the “motherhood penalty” are widely considered to be two of the most important causes of the gender pay gap in the United States today. In this article we discuss some of the most important findings in the gender pay gap research in the U.S. We then summarize an exploratory study we conducted in spring 2024 into one particular stage in the process of occupational segregation: the choice of college major. We hypothesized that (a) female students would be overrepresented in lower-paying majors and (b) working-class females, while still overrepresented in these majors, would be more likely to choose higher-paying majors, given their backgrounds and the greater salience of economic security for them compared with their non-working-class female peers. Using enrollment data from a university in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., our first hypothesis was supported: females were overrepresented, to a significant degree, in majors with the lowest starting salaries. Our second hypothesis was not supported: the distribution of working-class females in lower-paying majors was virtually identical to that of non-working-class females. We discuss these results as well as survey responses from a convenience sample of 38 students at that university, responses which further illuminate our quantitative findings. We plan to develop this study into a full empirical investigation in fall 2024.
Utilizing John Deere’s Harvest Identification System in Cotton Fiber Quality Mapping
Authors: Fuhrer Luke , Porter Wesley , Barnes Edward M. , Rains Glen C. , Snider John L. , Virk Simerjeet , Ward Jason K.
Published: August 2024

Highlights

Cotton fiber can now be tracked from the field through the ginning process.

The methodology illustrates how cotton fiber quality can be georeferenced and visualized.

Future project works include developing a deeper understanding of fiber quality variation.

Abstract. Due to the innovation and adoption of module-building cotton pickers, cotton harvest has experienced improvements in field efficiencies and harvest operations. Yield maps for post-harvest analysis of in-season production decisions on most major crops are becoming common practice. For a crop such as cotton, the quality of the fiber is impactful on the final price received, and growers are currently unable to geographically visualize said quality to make more informed decisions for future seasons. The main objective of this project was to demonstrate and utilize harvest identification (HID) data to create a useful grower tool to aid in the decision-making process for cotton growers through the development of net profit, fiber quality, yield, and other field parameter maps. Through the utilization of a machine-generated harvest path, HID file, and bale report from the gin, the creation of module-resolution georeferenced fiber quality maps makes it possible for growers to visualize cotton fiber quality as another metric for crop performance. Through the development of this methodology, a process for utilizing HID data to pair fiber quality data with the machine travel path has successfully shown that tracking and mapping of fiber quality is possible. Keywords: Cotton, Cotton fiber, Cotton harvest, Fiber quality.
Evaluation of Vacuum Drying on Aroma Compounds of Dried Hops
Authors: Naziemiec Magdalena , Ciolkosz Daniel , Anantheswaran Ramaswamy , Elias Ryan
Published: August 2024

Highlights

Vacuum drying of hops led to better retention of alpha pinene, beta pinene, linalool, caryophyllene, and humulene.

Vacuum dried hops tended to have the most geraniol, and the least oxidation products such as caryophyllene oxide.

Vacuum dried hops also had the most alpha acids, beta acids, and free polyfunctional thiols.

Abstract. Vacuum drying of fresh hops was conducted at various pressures (0.2, 1 atm) and temperatures (40°C, 50°C, 60°C), and its impact on flavor and aroma compounds was evaluated. It was observed that hops dried faster at higher temperatures and at lower pressures, and a regression model was developed that calculates the drying time as a function of process conditions. Vacuum drying hops at 50°C and 60°C led to the retention of more aroma-active compounds (beta pinene, myrcene, limonene, linalool, caryophyllene, humulene, geraniol), humulones (alpha and beta acids), and free polyfunctional thiols such as 3MHA compared to drying hops without vacuum at high temperatures. Vacuum-dried hops tended to have the most mono- and sesquiterpenes and the least oxidation products, such as caryophyllene oxide. Vacuum-dried hops also had the most alpha acids, beta acids, and free polyfunctional thiols. These results indicate that more aroma retention results from vacuum drying compared to hot air drying. Keywords: Hops, Quality, Vacuum drying.
Multifaceted personas in context: mental health social worker perspectives on the intersection of mental health, social work and professional identity in England and Wales
Authors: Tucker Laura , Jobling Hannah , Webber Martin
Published: August 2024

Mental health provision in England and Wales has fluctuated between promoting social work as a valued, distinct contributor and viewing it as an adjunct to a generic workforce. Perspectives are divided on whether the profession should emphasise social work, mental health work or a cross-disciplinary blend, and definitional attempts have proved challenging, with wide variation in practice. This article explores how mental health social workers view their professional identity across practice contexts. Using a mixed-methods approach, 248 mental health social workers completed an online survey, and 30 undertook a subsequent semi-structured interview. Survey data were statistically analysed using Kruskal–Wallis H-tests to explore differences across settings. Qualitative interview data were analysed using a framework thematic approach. Participants demonstrated a strong but flexible professional identity, adopting a multifaceted, fluid sense of self that prioritised the aspect of identity most relevant to the context. Contrary to narratives of poor articulation, this was framed within a specialist knowledge- and values-based perspective that influenced practice approaches and accommodated context without requiring external validation. This fluidity suggests a need to move away from restrictive task-based definitions of social work in order to actively engage the workforce in developing professional roles that embrace this flexibility to offer holistic services.
Dances of Style and Cultures of Movement in the Literary Criticism of Longinus and Dionysius of Halicarnassus
Authors: Melzer Alyson
Published: August 2024

summary: One task of the Greek literary critic was to help his reader understand how style moves audiences. This paper explores the implications of such a task and thereby reveals how Greco-Roman dance traditions were reflected by and embedded in conceptualizations of verbal art in antiquity. Kinaesthetics—a system of physiological and psychological responses to movement—is offered as the key to unlocking style’s kinetic essence and the far-reaching influences of performance over theories of verbal art. As the criticism of Longinus and Dionysius of Halicarnassus demonstrates, dance offered aesthetic lessons that could be translated into a variety of contexts.
Erotic Epistemology, Cult Didactic Rhetoric, and the “Mysteries of Venus” in Ovid’s Ars amatoria 2.601–40
Authors: Vazquez Adriana
Published: August 2024

summary: This article considers the adaptation of mystery cult language and discursive modes to the erotodidactic program of Ovid’s Ars amatoria , with a special focus on the sustained engagement with cult of Ars am . 2.601–40. In this passage, Ovid introduces the concept of cult secrecy in a lesson in erotic discretion, inviting a reconsideration of the intimacies available to elegy on the model of the cultic. Ovid’s engagement with cult terminology has implications for the epistemic entailments of the erotic, the figure of Ovid’s teacher-poet as a hierophant, and the consideration of his poem as a hieros logos .
The Geopolitics of Turkey's Rise as a Drone Power
Authors: Demiryol Tolga , Soyaltin-Colella Digdem
Published: August 2024

Abstract: The evolution and proliferation of drone technologies have emerged as pivotal factors in the transformation of global geopolitics. While the United States and Israel once dominated the drone market, the industry now witnesses a growing number of contenders, including China, Iran, and Turkey. This article examines the geopolitical implications of Turkey's rising prominence in the drone sector while exploring the subsequent challenges and opportunities it poses to Turkey's relations with Russia, the United States, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). While the long-term strategic implications for global politics remain to be seen, Turkey's drones have enabled it to pursue its regional interests and assert its role as a global drone power, while also exposing it to diplomatic tensions. The paper also discusses the need for a global framework to regulate the drone industry.
Corporate Governance and Firm Legitimacy: Chaebol Governance and Political Corruption in South Korea
Authors: Oh Ingyu , Rowley Chris
Published: August 2024

Abstract: As the imprisonment of Samsung's heir, Lee Jae-Yong, indicates, South Korean conglomerate groups (chaebol) face enormous difficulties in protecting their private property via father-son inheritance. However, the chaebol structure, having put the democratically elected government officials under their payroll, is one of the most resilient forms of corporation governance and highly effective in adapting to changing environments. Given the deadlock between the reform-minded government and the unrelenting chaebol-government collusion, we suggest that adopting a Swedish governance model may be a solution. It would legitimize ownership concentration by founding families while allowing the chaebol to own financial firms. It would also reduce inheritance taxes for male heir succession in the chaebol to guarantee private property rights. The consequences of a Swedish governance model include the fading of the need for state-chaebol collusion in so far as the presidential pardon of the imprisoned chaebol owners is no longer allowed.
Optical fiber-based homogeneous illumination system for microscopy applications
Authors: Perales-Hernandez Josue A. , Garcia-Cordero Jose L. , Guzman-Sepulveda Jose R.
Published: August 2024

We have engineered an optical fiber-based system for homogeneous laser
illumination and tested it on a home-built 3D-printed microscope in
reflection mode. The sample is illuminated using an array of multimode
fibers (MMFs) strategically positioned around a custom-made objective
lens. Homogeneous illumination is achieved through the superposition
of dynamic speckle patterns emerging from the illuminating MMFs that
accumulate over the camera’s exposure time. Time-varying speckle
patterns are generated by imparting random perturbations at a rate of
tens of kilohertz with a radial piezoelectric actuator, around which
the MMFs are tightly coiled. At the output facet of each MMF, the
speckle contrast is reduced in the first decimal digit, which then
results in a uniform illumination over the entire field-of-view
regardless of wavelength and the magnification of the imaging system.
The spatial extent of the region of homogeneous illumination is
determined by the characteristics of the MMFs and their geometrical
arrangement, not by the imaging lens. We present detailed descriptions
of both the optimization of the speckle reduction strategy and the
characterization of the intensity distribution obtained with different
numbers of illuminating fibers. Ultimately, we demonstrate that the
proposed fiber-based system provides homogeneous laser illumination at
three different wavelengths across the visible spectrum and confirm
its suitability for low-cost fluorescence imaging.
Biomedical optics: illuminating paths to enhance health equity in the Philippines
Authors: Perez Phoebe Nicole G. , Calpito Karell Jo Angelique C. , Jimenez Sarah Jane A.
Published: August 2024

Advancements in biomedical optics have significant potential to improve healthcare in low-to-middle-income countries, where preventable and treatable diseases remain prevalent. However, limited integration of relevant sciences hinders the development and application of optical techniques to medical research. Improving the biomedical optics research landscape requires comprehensive curriculum reforms, professional development initiatives, and the establishment of appropriate research infrastructure. Additionally, effective strategies for translating research into practical healthcare solutions include securing targeted funding grants, promoting interdisciplinary collaborations, and fostering international partnerships. These efforts can bridge the gap between advanced optics research and its real-world application, enhancing healthcare outcomes in resource-constrained settings.
Cascaded dual-parameter SPR fiber sensor for RI and pH simultaneous detection based on Ag film and an Ag/self-assembled nanofilm structure
Authors: Zhang Zhibing , Yin Zhiyong , Li Shuguang , Hu Linchuan
Published: August 2024

To achieve more accurate analysis and detection of changes in liquid parameters, we propose a dual-parameter surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor that can measure refractive index (RI) and pH simultaneously. In this paper, we compare and analyze the transmission spectrum when the SPR effect is excited by the cladding mode of a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and the core mode of the no-core fiber. The results show that the SPR effect excited using the cladding mode is stronger and the sensor has better loss peaks, which is more conducive to realizing the detection of the external environment. Therefore, the sensor uses PCF as the substrate and utilizes a cascade composite film structure, and the area where a silver film is deposited on the surface of the PCF is selected as the RI sensing area. Another part of the PCF, after the silver film is deposited, uses a high-sensitivity polyacrylic acid/chitosan self-assembled nanofilm as the pH-sensitive film. Experimental results show that the maximum sensitivity is 4122.44 nm/RIU and -57.82 nm/pH when the RI range is between 1.333 and 1.385 and the pH range is between 3.11 and 8.63, respectively. In addition, we experimentally verified that the sensor had good stability and repeatability. The design of the sensor provides new possibilities for real-time monitoring and precise control, helping to advance scientific research and the development of industry.
Silicon-based quantum random number generator with untrusted sources and uncharacterized measurements
Authors: Zhao Zhengeng , Hua Xin , Du Yongqiang , Xu Chenyu , Xie Feng , Zhang Zhenrong , Xiao Xi , Wei Kejin
Published: August 2024

Random numbers are essential resources in science and engineering, with indispensable applications in simulation, cybersecurity, and finance. Quantum random number generators (QRNGs), based on the principles of quantum mechanics, ensure genuine randomness and unpredictability. Silicon photonics enables the large-scale deployment of integrated QRNGs due to its low cost, miniaturization, and compatibility with CMOS technology. However, current integrated QRNGs are typically based on perfect or partially perfect device models, deviating from real-world devices, which compromises the unpredictability of quantum random numbers. In this study, we implemented a silicon-based QRNG that makes no assumptions about the source and only uses trusted but uncharacterized measurement devices. In experimental demonstration, we show that our setup can generate secure random numbers with different choices of intensities of laser light, and achieve an optimized random number generation rate of up to 4.04 Mbps. Our work significantly advances the security, practicality, and commercial development of QRNGs by employing imperfect devices.