bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polygenic Risk of Epilepsy and Poststroke Epilepsy
Authors: Clocchiatti-Tuozzo Santiago , Rivier Cyprien A. , Misra Shubham , Zelano Johan , Mazumder Rajarshi , Sansing Lauren H. , de Havenon Adam , Hirsch Lawrence J. , Liebeskind David S. , Gilmore Emily J. , Sheth Kevin N. , Kim Jennifer A. , Worrall Bradford B. , Falcone Guido J. , Mishra Nishant K.
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND:

Epilepsy is highly heritable, with numerous known genetic risk loci. However, the genetic predisposition’s role in poststroke epilepsy (PSE) remains understudied. This study assesses whether a higher genetic predisposition to epilepsy raises poststroke survivor’s risk of PSE.

METHODS:

We conducted a case-control genetic association study nested within the UK Biobank, a large UK-based prospective cohort. Our exposures of interest were 2 distinct polygenic risk scores—generalized and focal epilepsy—modeled as deciles and constructed using genetic variants identified in the latest International League Against Epilepsy genome-wide association study meta-analysis. We aimed to evaluate the association between these polygenic risk scores and their corresponding subtype of PSE—generalized and focal. In sensitivity analyses, we evaluated participants of European ancestry separately and considered focal and generalized epilepsy outcomes in participants without a history of stroke. In secondary analyses, we evaluated the polygenic risk of PSE by stroke subtype (ischemic, hemorrhagic, or any stroke). Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted, adjusting for age, sex, genetic ancestry, and the first 5 principal genetic components.

RESULTS:

Among 17 549 UK Biobank stroke survivors with available genetic information (mean age, 61; 43% female), 185 (1%) developed generalized PSE, while 124 (0.7%) developed focal PSE. Multivariable logistic regression results showed that, when compared against the lowest decile, participants within the highest PRS decile for generalized PSE had 5-fold higher odds of developing generalized PSE (OR, 5.05 [95% CI, 2.37–12.5];
P
trend<0.001). Similarly, when compared against the lowest decile, participants within the highest polygenic risk score decile for focal PSE had 3-fold higher odds of developing focal PSE (OR, 3.20; [5% CI, 1.25–9.82];
P
trend=0.024). Sensitivity analyses among participants of European ancestry yielded similar results.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings suggest that, like other forms of epilepsy, genetic predisposition plays an essential role in PSE. These results underscore the need for future studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying PSE development and to identify novel therapeutic avenues.
Management of Civil Cases by Chinese Courts: A Study on Time Limits for Trial and Adducing Evidence
Authors: Hao Li
Published: November 2024

Management in the light of efficiency is one of the most significant aspects of case management. In Chinese civil actions, people’s courts take control over cases mainly through two systems – the systems of time limits for trial and for adducing evidence – in the name of efficiency. In order to ensure cases are concluded within the correct statutory time limits for trial, the legislature has set out the time limits for trial and adducing evidence in the Civil Procedure Law. The system of time limits for trial places demands on courts and judges to hear cases, while the system of time limits for adducing evidence sets requirements on how the parties need to act. The two systems encourage the most two important participants in litigation – judges and parties – to complete their duties within the proper time limits, which leads to greater efficient in Chinese civil procedure.
Case Management or Case Elimination? A Snapshot from North America
Authors: Woo Margaret Y.K.
Published: November 2024

Around the world, civil procedure reforms abound. Minimizing costs and maximizing efficiency are the ultimate goals of these reforms, often to be achieved by case management methods. However, efficiency does not come without a price. Case management can also be a method of case elimination, as it has in the United States and possibly, Canada. The United States and Canada have moved in the direction of retrenching civil litigation, curtailing collective action and restricting the power of the courts, thus putting the very purpose of civil litigation in question. This article assesses these new limits in the United States and Canada – in personal jurisdiction, class action, discovery, and the effects of upholding arbitration clauses that prohibit collective actions. What are the costs of judicial efficiency?
Attentions Et Inattentions Entre Deux Cultures Du Procès Civil : Regards À La France Du Côté Italien
Authors: Dondi Angelo
Published: November 2024

This article concerns the relationship between Italian and French legal culture in the area of civil procedure. Covering a period of about a century, from the mid-19th to the first half of the 20th century, it considers the progressive movement of the Italian procedural culture towards the German one. In doing so, it deals with the simultaneously abrupt and hesitant corresponding detachment from the more traditional influence of French culture in the context of the law.
A Call For a European Union-Wide Civil Search Order: Identifying the Need and its Proposed Characteristics
Authors: Kyriakides Nicolas , Stefanatos Lexi
Published: November 2024

Taking its cue from the introduction of the European Account Preservation Order (Regulation (EU) No. 655/2014), this article seeks to encourage a continued specific approach in the harmonisation of provisional and protective measures in the EU through the creation of an EU-wide civil search order. The current framework for obtaining such an order is extremely complex and depends heavily on procedures available in individual Member States. In order to ensure efficiency and certainty in the preservation of evidence in civil justice across the EU – and, ultimately, support the functioning of the Single Market – this article outlines a procedural framework for the preservation of evidence in cross-border litigation within the EU, using the common law Anton Piller order as a model. While EU legislation encouraging judicial cooperation in the taking of cross-border evidence currently exists (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1206/2001), the Regulation falls short of the desired characteristics of an EU-wide civil search order as it does not provide a uniform procedure, nor does it allow for orders to be granted on an ex parte basis.
Le Futur De La Preuve : Perspective Canadienne En Temps De Pandémie
Authors: Piché Catherine
Published: November 2024

Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the judicial system has tried to minimise delays and lessen the impact of the crisis on litigants by showing openness by allowing, among other things, remote interrogations and virtual trials. The pandemic, as a potential catalyst for transformation, has justified and continues to justify a rapid shift in litigation towards the technological world. The changes experienced are a priori carriers of efficiency in the administration of justice, an efficiency necessary in times of pandemic austerity. Candid in the face of the changes experienced, the courts have shown themselves to be flexible and innovative, embracing new technologies in a judicious manner. So even though the pandemic has shown major cracks in the infrastructure of the justice system, it has also prompted a change in society’s relationship to justice. Faced with this state of the “new normal”, it is obvious that society can no longer retreat. The present article assesses the nature and extent of the transformation of civil justice and the changes in the law of evidence experienced in the times of the pandemic, in order to structure the normative framework applicable to evidence once the pandemic has ended. We discuss transformations of justice and inherent mutations in evidence, theory of change and evolution of rituals and fundamental principles of judicial law according to the pandemic. One conclusion suggests three broad guidelines for future evidence law, consistent with pandemic values.
Analyse Comparative / Comparative Perspectives
Authors: Cao Zhixun
Published: November 2024

In the time of a global pandemic, it is hardly possible to insist on regular judicial activities in most cases. Rather, many jurisdictions have had to adjust to the usage of online dispute resolution (ODR), which has also been adopted by the Chinese court system. China is running an ongoing reform experiment, which has a separate part on improving electronic litigation. Among others, the filing of civil lawsuits, submission of evidence and the proceedings of hearings have special arrangements compared to ordinary civil justice. Although internet justice in China has proved itself to be a very successful system which is still developing rapidly, it definitely encounters some difficulties and challenges too. There may be specific fields in which ODR has been proved especially effective at resolving disputes, and, on the other hand, some types of cases that are not suitable for being tried online. The principle of due process requires the internet-based judiciary to provide a suitable dispute resolution mechanism. Improper behaviour during online hearings need to be addressed. Special procedural and evidential difficulties arise in electronic proceedings which call for specific solutions. It is ODR which must be fit for circumstances in the national context, and not the other way around.
Challenges for Orality in Times of Remote Hearings: Efficiency, Immediacy and Public Proceedings
Authors: Inchausti Fernando Gascón
Published: November 2024

Remote or virtual hearings have been used to maintain judicial activity in times of pandemic. Initially conceived as a functional equivalent of face-to-face hearings – restricted for public health reasons – they have proved useful to boost the efficiency of civil justice. This success is urging many national legislators to generalise their use in a post-pandemic scenario, within the broader framework of a technological modernisation of the administration of justice. This generalisation, however, is not without dangers, especially for hearings in which evidence is taken and on which the outcome of the process may depend. Essential principles and procedural safeguards, associated with the option of orality, such as immediacy and publicity, are at stake.
Analyse Comparative / Comparative Perspectives
Authors: Wendelstein Christoph
Published: November 2024

This article analyses the treatment of claims relating to trading cryptocurrencies under Brussels Ibis. There are essentially two ways to trade cryptocurrencies online: trading with crypto brokers and trading with other entities on crypto exchanges. Each of these possibilities raises specific issues of European civil procedure law. In particular, the distinction between the jurisdiction over contracts (Article 7(1) Brussels Ibis) and the tort jurisdiction (Article 7(2) Brussels Ibis) and the localisation of the place where the damage occurs in the sense of Article 7(2) Brussels Ibis causes problems. In addition, the jurisdiction over consumer contracts causes difficulties. Other fundamental problems can arise because the parties are pseudonymous or anonymous.
Justice in Ukraine Under Martial Law
Authors: Kravtsov Serhii
Published: November 2024

The aim of this article is to analyse the legislation on reform of the trial in Ukraine under martial law. These reforms incorporate many new rules of civil procedure into the codes in order to ensure effective, fair, impartial and timely protection of rights and freedoms before the courts. For Ukraine, the period since 2014, when Russia began hostilities in eastern Ukraine, has brought difficult times. Some courts have been suspended and changes in territorial jurisdiction have been handled very quickly. Since February 2022, Ukraine has been experiencing a full-scale war. Problematic issues remaining include the possibility of conducting legal proceedings in temporarily occupied territories, the protection of the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens who have remained in such territories, and the recognition and implementation of the decisions of self- named bodies of the occupied territories. In addition, the granting to Ukraine on 23 June by the European Parliament of the status of candidate for EU membership will be a huge impetus for the integration of European legislation in the field of justice into the national legal system.
No, Your Honour! Do Judicial Reasoning Styles Influence The Degree Of Acceptance Of Court Rulings By The General Public?
Authors: van Boom Willem , Giesen Ivo , de Jong Elbert , Strohmaier Niek
Published: November 2024

In deciding private law disputes, courts give reasons. Yet, their styles of reasoning differ: they apply different styles of narration, persuasion and argumentation. Some courts may shape their reasoning by applying a formalistic style, referring to code articles and precedents and applying logical deduction rhetoric. Others may apply a more venerable, sacral style, referring to grand principles of law and ethical considerations that are presented as inescapably leading to one right solution. Undoubtedly, such differences are steeped in legal culture and history. They may, however, fall short of convincing the general public. For this public court reasoning styles may read and sound redundantly archaic, cold, fuzzy, impenetrable or worse. As a result, in recent years legal systems have witnessed a call for a more free-spoken, deliberative style of judicial reasoning. Some suggest that such a style would offer a clearer and more palpable alternative to the unnecessarily formalistic or venerable styles. Indeed, some even argue that a deliberative style would enhance the level of approval of court decisions by the lay public. This article reviews the evidentiary basis of such claims. What evidence is there on the relationship between judicial reasoning styles and acceptance of court decisions by the general public? To answer this question, we presented a sample of the general public in the Netherlands with one of three legal cases describing a court verdict and its reasoning. We gauged the influence of reasoning style on the degree of acceptance by using one of three styles, i.e., formalistic reasoning, venerable or sacral reasoning, and deliberative reasoning. Overall, the results show that reasoning styles do not influence the degree of acceptance by the public. Rather, the key predictor of accepting court decisions appears to be the moral support one has for the outcome of the case. This humbling outcome puts the push among legal scholars for less opaque and more transparent reasoning styles into perspective.
A new species of Aglaothamnion (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from Korea, Aglaothamnion inkyui sp. nov.
Authors: SHIM EUNYOUNG , KIM SOO YEON , KIM YONG TAE , ZUCCARELLO GIUSEPPE C. , KIM GWANG HOON
Published: November 2024

The genus Aglaothamnion has been separated from Callithamnion based on several characters, most notably the presence of a single nucleus per cell in Aglaothamnion versus multi-nucleate Callithamnion. Few studies have investigated whether these genera are genetically monophyletic. Several species of Aglaothamnion have been reported from Korea, but no phylogenetic studies have been conducted on them. We collected a specimen resembling the genus Aglaothamnion from the east coast of Korea, which is characterized by alternate branching, long axial cells and uninucleate cells. Phylogenetic analyses using rbcL sequences and two DNA-based species delimitation analyses revealed that this specimen is a new species closely related to A. pseudobyssoides. Morphologically, the new species was distinguished by longer axial cells and shorter determinate branches compared to A. pseudobyssoides. The new specimen did not show any reproductive features. Our new species and A. pseudobyssoides are distantly related to other sequences used in the analysis. Our phylogenetic analyses, using our samples and sequences deposited in Genbank, suggests that the named genera, Callithamnion and Aglaothamnion, are not monophyletic, or that the samples were incorrectly named before being submitted to Genbank. While the taxonomy of these two genera requires further analysis, with more markers and type specimens sequenced, it is clear that our new sample is a distinct genetic species. Therefore, we propose the establishment of a new species of Aglaothamnion from Korea, Aglaothamnion inkyui sp. nov.
A contribution to the knowledge of Namibian Atherigona Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae), with the descriptions of four new species and two new subspecies
Authors: DEEMING JOHN C. , KIRK-SPRIGGS ASHLEY H.
Published: November 2024

This paper provides an account of all species of Atherigona Rondani known from Namibia, all of which are known from males. The study is based largely on material deposited in the National Museum of Namibia, Windhoek, supplemented by some material deposited in other museums. Fifty-three taxa are listed in total, 14 of which were previously recorded from the country and 33 representing new country records for Namibia. Four species are described and figured as new to science and a further two as subspecies. The new species are: A. (s. str.) australis Deeming, sp. nov., A. (s. str.) maraisi Deeming, sp. nov., A. (s. str.) mulleri Deeming, sp. nov. and A. (Acritochaeta) tsumeb Deeming, sp. nov. and the new subspecies: A. (s. str.) robertsi okavango Deeming, ssp. nov. and A. (Acritochaeta) yorki namibiensis Deeming, ssp. nov. Character states differentiating A. (Ac.) tsumeb, sp. nov. from its closest congener, A. (Ac.) gracilipalpis Deeming, 1971, are presented in a tabulated form and an identification key is provided to separate Afrotropical species with pale yellow vibrissae. The previously undescribed female tergite 8 is figured for the first time for four species, viz., A. (s. str.) angulata Deeming; A. (s. str.) corrugata Deeming; A. (s. str.) parvihumilata Muller; and A. (s. str.) pulla (Wiedemann). Additional new country records are indicated with voucher specimens as follows: A. (s. str.) falcata (Thomson): Bhutan and Thailand; A. (s. str.) humeralis (Wiedemann): Botswana; A. (s. str.) nigrapicalis Deeming: Senegal; A. (s. str.) occidentalis Deeming: Zambia; A. (s. str.) pulla (Wiedemann): Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Ethiopia, Israel and Tunisia; A. (s. str.) tomentigera Emden: Zambia; and A. (Acritochaeta) yorki ssp. yorki Deeming: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia and Ghana. Cereal crop production in Namibia is briefly discussed and a table provided of potential or suspected pest species associated (in the larval stages) with Namibia’s main cereal crops.
Review of the genus Statherotis Meyrick, 1909 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae) from Thailand, with description of a new species
Authors: PINKAEW NANTASAK , MUADSUB SOPITA , JAIKLA SORAYA
Published: November 2024

The genus Statherotis belongs to the tribe Olethreutini and is mostly distributed in the Oriental region. Four Statherotis species have been recorded from Thailand. S. muangmaithongi Pinkaew, sp. nov. is described from World Heritage Site, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand. Illustrations of adult and genitalia are provided. A key to species of the genus Statherotis from Thailand is also provided. This new taxon increases the number of described Statherotis species in Thailand to five.
A new species of Diatraea Guilding, 1828, feeding on sugarcane from Nayarit, Mexico, and a lectotype designation for Diatraea magnifactella Dyar, 1911 (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Crambinae)
Authors: ROBLES-PÉREZ RAFAEL , SOLIS M. ALMA
Published: November 2024

Between 2022 and 2023, over a thousand larvae and pupae of sugarcane borers in the genus Diatraea Guilding, 1828, were collected in the state of Nayarit, Mexico, and reared to adults to identify them based on the morphology of genitalia. Although two species, Diatraea considerata Heinrich, 1931, and D. magnifactella Dyar, 1911, had been reported to occur in western Mexico, we discovered a new species of sugarcane borer, Diatraea nayaritella Robles & Solis, sp. nov., from Nayarit, Mexico. It had been preliminarily identified as D. considerata, which was described from the state of Sinaloa, Mexico. Additionally, we designate a lectotype for D. magnifactella, new lectotype, from Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, to stabilize the name and identity of this species. The distribution of D. magnifactella is discussed.
Foreign Direct Investment and Energy Demands: What Drives Economic Growth in Emerging Economies?
Authors: Edeh Jude , Chowdhury Piyali Roy , Edeh Chris
Published: November 2024

This study addresses two central questions: (a) Do inward foreign direct investment (FDI) spillovers drive economic growth in emerging economies? and (b) How do the interconnectedness of inward FDI and energy demands cause economic growthin emerging economies? For the analysis, the study uses data from the World Development Indicators and Penn World Table 10.0, covering the period between 1994 and 2019. The results show evidence of bi-directional causality between inward FDI spillover and economic growth, and the relationships are negative. These results indicate that FDI inflows are less critical in economic growth in emerging economies and vice versa. Furthermore, non-renewable energy positively causes both economic growth and FDI inflows, whereas renewable energy negatively causes economic growth. More so, our results reveal a presence of bi-directional causality between FDI inflows and renewable energy in emerging economies. Finally, as these empirical insights have profound implications for governments and policymakers in these economies, the article proposes policies targeting sustainable economic growth and diffusions of renewable energy technologies through inward FDI spillover.

JEL Codes: 047, F35, P18, P52, C10
Free-market institutions and income inequality: Did the link persist around the world even in times of falling within-country inequality, 2000–2021?
Authors: Rutar Tibor
Published: November 2024

High or rising economic inequality can exacerbate political inequalities and is plausibly linked with some social harms, such as health problems and declines in happiness and trust. Within-country income inequality increased sharply across most of the world since the 1980s. One prominent critical sociological account of this occurrence points toward institutions of free-market capitalism, or “neoliberalism,” as a key cause that unleashed inequality during the globalization age. This article empirically operationalizes free-market institutions with the use of Fraser Institute’s index of economic freedom and examines the issue with fixed-effects regressions in a novel dataset of 130 countries between the years 2000 and 2021. It finds a substantial positive correlation between the two variables in the developing, though not the developed, world. This finding is robust to a variety of alternative specifications. Moreover, across specifications, modest size of government and freedom of international trade stand out as the two clear components of economic freedom driving the aggregate relationship. Finally, mediation analysis suggests there also exists an indirect ameliorative relationship between economic freedom and inequality through the conduit of economic development.
Communication, Contact, and Intergenerational Dynamics: Aging in Not-So-Normal Times
Authors: Harwood Jake
Published: November 2024

This Epilogue extends themes from the Special Issue, with a particular focus on how communication operates during times of social disruption. Three forms of disruption are discussed: societal-global disruption (manifested in the Covid-19 pandemic), individual-relational disruption (manifested in a dementia diagnosis), and societal progress (manifested in technological change). The Epilogue discusses how these disruptions affect the quality and quantity of intergenerational contact, and feed into hostile and benevolent forms of ageism. The conclusions discuss connections between disruptions and the Communication Ecology Model of Successful Aging, as well as links to societal segregation, thus suggesting the multiplicity of ways that communication serves as a platform for healthier approaches to aging in society.
Are the Kids Alright? An Examination of Antisocial Behavior During Emerging Adulthood Among Justice-Involved Teen Parents
Authors: Young Brae , Lloyd Kristin M.
Published: November 2024

Research has highlighted the role that childbearing and parenting can have in reducing involvement in antisocial behavior among adults. While some studies have similarly examined the short-term implications of parenthood for teen parents, very little research has considered the role that parenthood might have as they enter emerging adulthood. Accordingly, using data from the Pathways to Desistance study, the current study examines whether, among justice system involved young people, adolescent parenthood is associated with offending, incarceration, and drug dependency during emerging adulthood. Results indicate that adolescent parents, particularly teen fathers, are more likely to have continued justice system involvement during emerging adulthood. The opposite is true, however, for teen parents who live with their children (residential parents).
Remittance investment climate analysis: Ascertaining the local development potential of overseas remittances in Philippine rural hometowns
Authors: Opiniano Jeremaiah M. , Ang Alvin P.
Published: November 2024

This paper analyzed the potential of remittances in developing the rural hometowns of migrants and their families. Researchers employed a mixed methods tool, the Remittance Investment Climate Analysis in Rural Hometowns (RICART), for over eight years in six municipalities in the Philippines. We found that there is no common trend among municipalities that combining a sound investment climate, an ample number of financial institutions, high levels of residents’ financial literacy and an active program for migrants and their families all ensure remittances-induced hometown investing. Improving rural residents’ financial knowledge and instituting investment climate reforms may help direct remittances to local development.
A Systematic Review of Point-of-View Video Prompting to Teach Daily Living Skills to Individuals With Autism
Authors: Wertalik Jennifer L. , Duke Madisen L. , Poole Denise
Published: November 2024

The acquisition of daily living skills (DLS) represents an important component in establishing independence and increasing the quality of life for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Video prompting has become a popular intervention to teach DLS and researchers have used different perspectives when filming the video (e.g., point-of-view, spectator view). This literature review sought to systematically examine research on the use of the point-of-view perspective when using video prompting to teach DLS to individuals with autism. This review investigated the overall quality of the evidence, based on the What Works Clearinghouse standards for single-case experimental design and used Tau-U to calculate the effects of the interventions. Additionally, the researchers examined and summarized various descriptive variables found within this literature. Overall, point-of-view video prompting produced larger to very large effects. Suggestions for future research and considerations are discussed.
Information seeking behaviour of informal caregivers at the premier tertiary teaching hospital in Nigeria
Authors: Nwagwu Williams Ezinwa , Akanji Helen Adedolapo
Published: November 2024

This study was conducted to examine the information behaviour of informal caregivers in a university college hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. Informal caregivers in the teaching hospitals constitute critical pubic health care players whose information behaviours have not been studied. Data was collected from 208 caregivers using a questionnaire that consisted of structured and open-ended questions. The study found that healthcare providers were the primary source of health for caregivers, with 34.1% actively seeking information from them. The caregivers seldom utilised sources like the internet, community organizations, books, family, and friends. The preference for healthcare providers as sources is due to their accessibility and ability to provide prompt and accurate answers. Caregivers have diverse information needs, including medication-related information, first aid techniques, nutrition, exercise, mental health, and lifestyle choices. They seek this knowledge to make informed decisions that improve their loved ones’ well-being. The study also revealed that caregivers heavily rely on information technology for health information due to its accessibility and reliability. The study highlights the need for ongoing training and proactive information sharing by healthcare providers to better support informal caregivers in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of integrated support systems within healthcare facilities. To meet diverse information needs, healthcare institutions should diversify dissemination strategies, including culturally sensitive materials and digital literacy programs, while developing tailored mobile applications and online support communities for caregivers. Policymakers must focus on creating supportive healthcare policies, funding caregiver programs, and expanding insurance coverage to alleviate financial burdens, ensuring that caregivers have access to necessary resources and information.
An investigation into the contributing factors to survival of ARDS patients supported by veno-venous ECMO
Authors: Majithia-Beet Gavin , Naemi Roozbeh , Issitt Richard
Published: November 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to identify characteristics associated with survival during and post Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A retrospective observational study on 94 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 induced ARDS supported by ECMO was carried out 49/94 (52.7%) patients survived to hospital discharge.

Results

Non-survivors were found to have significantly ( p < .05) higher: Pre-ECMO International normalized ratios (INR), carbon dioxide partial pressure ( pCO2), Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) scores and blood urea levels. Also, lower pre-ECMO peak inspiratory pressures (PIP), mean arterial pressure, saturation of arterial oxygen (SaO2), blood bicarbonate levels (HCO3), blood Ph and fewer trials off ECMO with shorter combined trial off times. Patients that did not survive were more likely to have renal impairment and have received peri-ECMO haemofiltration. Poor prognosis was significantly associated with: receiving pre-ECMO nitric oxide (HR = 3.047, CI = 1.247-7.447, p = .015), renal impairment (HR = 3.023, CI = 1.586-5.763, p < .001), AKI of 2 (HR = 3.611, CI = 1.382-9.441, p = .009) or 3 (HR = 3.275, CI = 1.235-8.685, p = .017), peri-ECMO haemofiltration (HR = 2.412, CI = 1.310-4.442, p = .005) and the ABO blood group B (HR = 3.103, CI = 1.335-7.212, p = .008). pre-ECMO high CO2 (HR = 1.134, CI = 1.031-1.248, p = .010), blood lactate (HR = 1.350, CI = 1.156-1.576, p < .001), INR (HR = 2.571, CI = 1.438-4.598, p=<0.001) and lower blood Ph (HR = 0.023, CI = 0.002-0.210, p < .001).

Conclusions

Commonly used mortality scores may not be of use in a COVID-19 cohort of ECMO patients. The initiation of ECMO needs to be implemented prior to metabolic derangements, renal and fulminant respiratory failure.
Effect of repeated intra-articular administration of collagen as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a case report
Authors: In Yong , Alshammari Saad Mohammed , Kim Man Soo
Published: November 2024

Intra-articular injections aimed at correcting underlying pathophysiological processes and providing pain relief are essential for managing knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Collagen, the primary component of articular cartilage, has a long half-life, making it a promising candidate for intra-articular injections with a low risk of serious side effects. The first of the two cases in this report involved a woman in her early 70s with a 6-year history of persistent left knee pain. The second case involved a woman in her mid-50 s with a >7-year history of right knee pain. Both patients received hyaluronic acid injections every 6 months, totaling 10 injections over 5 years. They were diagnosed with Kellgren–Lawrence grade 2 KOA. The patients received two 3-mL intra-articular injections of 6% collagen, administered at baseline and 6 months later. Improvements in clinical outcomes, including visual analog scale scores and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores, were observed and maintained in both patients, with no side effects reported. In summary, when collagen injections were administered to these two patients with KOA, clinical improvements lasted approximately 6 months, and repeated treatments demonstrated efficacy and safety similar to the initial course.
Sjögren’s syndrome positive for isolated anti-Ro52/SS-A antibody and anti-centromere antibody
Authors: Nakamura Hideki , Tsukamoto Masako , Nagata Kinya , Nagasawa Yosuke , Akiya Kumiko , Inomata Hirotake , Nishihara Masahiro , Asatani Shin-Ya , Kitamura Noboru , Kitano Hisataka , Shoji Jun , Iwabuchi Yu , Ishige Toshiyuki , Hao Hiroyuki
Published: November 2024

This current case report describes a Japanese woman in her 80s with xerostomia who presented with salivary gland dysfunction. She was positive for isolated anti-Ro52/SS-A antibody as determined by a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay and positive on a fluorescence enzyme immunoassay that recognizes both Ro52 and Ro60 antigens. A high serum concentration of anti-Ro52/SS-A antibody was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A high anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) titre was also observed. Although Raynaud’s phenomenon or a high serum immunoglobulin G concentration were not observed, Masson-trichrome staining of the patient’s labial salivary glands showed considerable fibrosis. Her serum type I and type II interferon concentrations were normal. The present patient is the first with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) to exhibit isolated anti-Ro52/SS-A antibody and ACA without anti-Ro60/SS-A antibody. This current case report presents her case together with those of four other SS patients who were positive for isolated anti-Ro52/SS-A antibody. The SS literature also includes cases positive for ACA and describes clinical characteristics. The other four SS patients with isolated anti-Ro52/SS-A antibody described here had no ACA; interstitial pneumonia and polyneuropathy were observed in these cases, although there was no consistent tendency regarding types I and II interferon.
Life After High School: The Employment Experiences of Autistic Young Adults
Authors: Kraemer Bonnie R. , Rentschler Lindsay F. , Tomaszewski Brianne , McIntyre Nancy , Dawalt Leann , Hume Kara A.
Published: November 2024

The present study examined the employment landscape for 129 autistic young adults. Data were collected over multiple waves including high school and early adulthood. Parents participated in interviews and responded to questions regarding young adult employment outcomes, on-the-job supports, job match, and overall job satisfaction. The predictive relationship between in-school variables and employment outcomes was examined. Findings indicate over 50% of the sample had at least one job working independently in the community for pay. Parents reported the need for both formal and informal support to both obtain and sustain employment. Over half of the parents reported that the young adult’s job was aligned with their interests/strengths and that the young adult was satisfied. Predictive analyses indicated a relationship between work-based learning experiences in high school and general education involvement during high school and later paid employment in adulthood. Future research, limitations, and implications for practice are discussed.
The Internationalization of #BlackLivesMatter: Solidarity From Minneapolis to Gaza
Authors: Badran Sammy , Lusk Jeniece
Published: November 2024

This article aims to better understand the contemporary nature of Black-Palestinian solidarity by directly speaking to activists and explain why US-based Anti-Police Brutality Movements, like Black Lives Matter, share a sense of common solidarity with Palestinians. We argue that solidarity by US-based anti-police brutality movement activists with Palestinians has become more salient since the 2014 Ferguson Protests and especially since the 2020 George Floyd protests that started in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Interviews with activists in Minnesota reveal that interviewees tend to highlight a shared sense of oppression with Palestinians, which is largely perceived through symbolic images and videos shared on social media. Moreover, we find that the Covid-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for the unprecedented mass mobilization that followed the murder of George Floyd. The Covid-19 pandemic, the simultaneous struggle with similar injustice frames occurring in both Ferguson and Gaza, and the powerful images and videos of oppression and police brutality all influenced increasing solidarity and connections among these two disparate struggles.
Joint modelling of longitudinal ordinal and multi-state data
Authors: Alafchi Behnaz , Tapak Leili , Mahjub Hossein , Talebi Ghane Elaheh , Roshanaei Ghodratollah
Published: November 2024

Joint modeling of longitudinal and survival data is increasingly used in biomedical studies. However, existing joint models are not applicable to model the longitudinal ordinal responses with non-ignorable missing values caused by the occurrence of events in a multi-state process. In this article, we introduce a joint model for longitudinal ordinal measurements and multi-state data. Our proposed joint model consists of two sub-models: a proportional odds sub-model for longitudinal ordinal measurements and a multi-state sub-model with transition-specific proportional hazards for times of transitions between different health states, both linked by shared random effects. The model parameters were estimated employing the maximum likelihood method for a piecewise constant baseline hazard function. The proposed joint model is evaluated in a simulation study and, as an illustration, it is fitted to real data from people with human immunodeficiency virus.
Meta-analysis of Genetic Factors Responsible for Syndromic Anorectal Malformations in Children
Authors: Bhardwaj Arushi , Mathur Praveen , Nimesh Surendra , Chatterjee Sreemoyee , Gupta Nidhi
Published: November 2024

Aim

Anorectal malformation (ARM) is a congenital malformation that affects the anus or rectum area in children with an average age of 4 years. Different types of ARM are observed in males and females, each with distinct characteristics. The malformation is generally detected in the postnatal period, with a mortality rate between 3% and 16%. The study is conducted to understand the clinical significance of the mutation in the genes that are responsible for enhanced incidences of syndromes and their direct correlation with ARM.

Methods

Meta-analysis was performed using MedCalc statistical software, and we explored a strong association between ARM and syndromes using an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

In total, 18 syndromes were found with the clinical characteristics of ARM. A maximum number of cases were reported about Currarino syndrome, with the minimum and maximum association of 30% and 100%, respectively. The results obtained for the pooled studies were I2 = 92.85%, P value ≤ .0001, and CI = 91.36-94.08.

Conclusion

A strong association has been identified between ARM and various congenital syndromes, highlighting the fact that genetic factors play a significant role in its occurrence. This association can help in the early diagnosis of the anomaly so that proper management can be presented at the earliest.
Lawton et al. v. Success Academy Charter Schools, Inc. (2018): Charter School Disciplinary Approaches and Students With Disabilities
Authors: Rapa Luke J. , Katsiyannis Antonis , Edwards-Bowyer Meghan
Published: November 2024

By being public entities, charter schools must meet U.S. federal legislative mandates (e.g., Section 504) in providing a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities—just as their traditional district public school counterparts must do. This legal update reviews a prominent case, Lawton et al. v. Success Academy Charter Schools, Inc. (2018). The case, which eventually settled for $1.1 million plus legal fees (nearly $1.3 million), serves as an illustration of challenges involving students with disabilities in charter schools using no-excuses disciplinary practices. After the review of the case is presented, ramifications for charter schools failing to accommodate students with disabilities in disciplinary matters are considered. Implications for practice are also discussed.
Development and Validation of a Blood-Biomarker-Based Predictive Model for HBV-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Tan Yafeng , Xia Wei , Sun Fenglan , Mei Bing , Ouyang Yaoling , Li Linyun , Chen Zhenxia , Wu Song , Tan Jufang , Pubu Zhaxi , Sang Bu , Jiang Tao
Published: November 2024

Objective

This study aims to explore the optimal predictors of HBV-associated HCC using Lasso, and establish a prediction model.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent CBC and CRP testing between January 2016 and March 2024. The study population comprised 5441 cases divided into three cohorts: non-HBV-infected (1333 cases), HBV-infected (1023 cases), and HBV-associated HCC (3085 cases). A value of CRP <10 mg/L was used to exclude cases of acute bacterial infections. Baseline data and blood parameters were compared across the three groups (control group (n = 1049), the HBV-infected group (n = 789), and the HBV-associated HCC group (n = 1367)). HBV-infected group and the HBV-associated HCC group were used as modeling subjects which 70% were classified as training set (n = 1512) and 30% were classified as validation set (n = 644). Lasso regression and logistic regression were employed to identify the most effective predictors of HBV-associated HCC, which were subsequently incorporated into a predictive model by training set.

Results

Significant variations in age, gender, and blood parameter indices were observed between individuals with acute bacterial infections and non-infections in the study population, and also between three groups. The optimal predictors identified for HBV-associated HCC included gender, age, MONO, EO%, MCHC, MPV, and PCT.

Conclusions

The study highlights the significant impact of acute bacterial infections on immune status, erythrocyte system, and platelet system. After excluding acute bacterial infections, factors such as gender, age, MONO, EO%, MCHC, MPV, and PCT are effective predictors for clinical prediction of HCC development in HBV-infected patients.
‘People of the barracks’: Meta-beliefs of a migrant community in West Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Minza Wenty Marina , Mashuri Ali , Rahmi Tuti , Mahadewa Kristoforus Lintang , Surya Sofyan Hadi
Published: November 2024

Literature discussing contents of meta-beliefs, or beliefs about other beliefs, and what effects they have on intergroup relationships, specifically among disadvantaged groups are rare. Our study aims to explore meta-beliefs among the resettled Sambas Madurese community, in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, who were affected by the 1999 Sambas Conflict. We adopted an ethnographic approach, with a three-month live-in duration, conducting interviews, casual conversations, and taking part in community activities. Our findings reveal two important contents of meta-belief held by the Sambas Madurese migrants: ‘people of the barracks’, and ‘evil and criminal’. As a disadvantaged group, the Sambas Madurese resort to more covert and subtle forms of resistance, mainly through reappropriation and daily life changes to disprove meta-beliefs. Here, reappropriation of those negative meta-beliefs, mainly linked to moral superiority, is employed. It is observed that the contents of meta-belief go beyond cognitive aspects, including strong emotive components and behavioral responses. Our study hopes to contribute to a discussion on intergroup relationships among host and disadvantaged migrant communities from ethnic conflict backgrounds.
“It definitely was consensual, but…”: Normative tensions about gendered heterosexuality and young women’s mixed feelings about sex
Authors: Littlejohn Krystale E , Weiss Benjamin R
Published: November 2024

Sexual ambivalence—sex that is simultaneously wanted and unwanted—is not unusual in young women’s experiences with heterosex. Elucidating how gender and sexuality contribute to ambivalence is important for understanding how social forces shape oft-hidden sexual behaviors that affect women’s well-being. We draw on 20 interviews with young women in the United States to argue that mixed feelings about sex (psychological ambivalence) could stem from conflicting norms about heterosex (sociological ambivalence). Participants recalled wanting sex with partners because the characteristics met one set of social norms that valorized the encounters, but also discussed simultaneously not wanting those same experiences because of coexisting norms that stigmatized their behaviors. Such mixed feelings contributed to some women’s unease about experiences that they understood as explicitly consensual. In the end, the study highlights the importance of attending to the sociological study of ambivalence and its role in theorizing access to pleasurable, not just consensual, sex.
Design of multi-hidden-layer Bayesian neural networks for model updating
Authors: He Yuxuan , Yin Tao , Wang Xi
Published: November 2024

Structural health monitoring (SHM) based on artificial neural networks (ANN) has received a lot of attention in recent decades, especially the Bayesian neural network (BNN) approach, which is more robust to noise for training and generalization. Since building a high-quality BNN architecture suitable for a specific task depends highly on user experience, the existing literature generally studies BNNs with simple single-hidden-layer architectures designed by empirical formulas or very few tailor-made algorithms. Multiple hidden layer BNN (MBNN) has a more complex architecture than single hidden layer BNN (SBNN) and is expected to achieve better generalization performance for complex problems. But the corresponding architectural design problem is much more complex, and there is no previous experience in the literature. To achieve this for MBNN, this paper proposes two feasible algorithms to optimize the number of neurons in each hidden layer simultaneously, where a logarithmic evidence metric is introduced to quantitatively characterize the performance of MBNN for a given multi-hidden-layer architecture. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by the finite element (FE) model updating of both a planar truss model and a real-life pedestrian bridge. The verification results show that the second algorithm is much more computationally efficient for the optimal design of the MBNN architecture and has the potential for practical application.