bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Setting the international research agenda for sarcomas with patients and carers: results of phase II of the Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) priority setting partnership
Authors: Roets E. , Schuster K. , Bickley S. , Wartenberg M. , Gonzato O. , Fernandez N. , Kasper B. , Pilgermann K. , Wilson R. , Steeghs N. , van der Graaf W. T. A. , van Oortmerssen G. , Husson O.
Published: August 2024

Background

Typically, researchers and clinicians determine the agenda in sarcoma research. However, patient involvement can have a meaningful impact on research. Therefore, the Patient-Powered Research Network (PPRN) of the Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) set up a Priority Setting Partnership (PSP). The primary objective of this partnership is to identify priorities for research and patient advocacy topics.

Methods

In the first phase of this PSP, including 264 sarcoma patients and carers from all over the world, 23 research topics regarding sarcomas and 15 patient advocacy topics were identified using an online survey. In the second phase, participants were asked to fill in a top five and a top three of research and patient advocacy topics, respectively. Additionally, sociodemographic characteristics and sarcoma characteristics were collected. Social media channels, local national patient advocacy groups and the SPAGN website were used to distribute the survey.

Results

In total, 671 patients (75%) and carers (25%) participated in this survey. The five highest ranked research topics were related to causes of sarcoma (43%), prognosis and risk of recurrence (40%), specific subtypes of sarcoma (33%), the role of immunotherapy, targeted therapy and combined therapy (30%), and hereditary aspects (30%). The three highest ranked patient advocacy topics were improving the diagnostic process of sarcoma (39%), access to tumor DNA analysis (37%) and establishing an international sarcoma registry (37%).

Conclusions

This sarcoma PSP has identified priorities for research and patient advocacy, offering guidance for researchers, assisting funding agencies with assessing project relevance and empowering patient advocates to represent the needs of patients and carers.
Acculturating to multiculturalism: a new dimension of dietary acculturation among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Authors: Tan Judy Y. , Guan Alice , Albers Autumn E. , Canchola Alison J. , Allen Laura , Shariff-Marco Salma , Gomez Scarlett Lin
Published: August 2024

Background

Dietary acculturation is the process by which diet and dietary practises from the environment of origin are retained or changed and/or those prevalent in a new environment are adopted. Despite rapid population growth the U.S., knowledge gaps exist on characterising dietary acculturation among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities (AANHPI). This study characterise dietary patterns in a sample representative of AANHPI on key demographic characteristics.

Methods

Data were from a 2013–2014 population-based case-control study in the San Francisco Bay Area, U.S. Survey items were adapted from dietary acculturation scales developed for AANHPI populations. Validated measures assessed social capital, social standing, discrimination and immigration experiences. A principal components factor analysis was conducted to characterise dietary patterns of acculturation.

Results

Three dietary patterns were identified: “Asian,” “Western,” and a distinct “Multicultural” factor. Respondents reporting a high-Asian diet tended to also report smaller social networks, higher levels of stress, and, among those born outside of the U.S., an educational standing that was better before immigration. Respondents reporting a high-Western diet tended to also report the highest level of discrimination. Those reporting a high-Multicultural diet tended to report higher neighbourhood collective efficacy.

Conclusions

The finding of a distinct “Multicultural” factor beyond the typical “Asian” and “Western” factors may reflect the multidirectional relationships between culture, diet, and dietary behavior, in which origin and destination cultures interact in complex ways and where foods from multiple ethnicities intermix.
Factors affecting nutritional status among children aged below five years in Rwanda’s Western and Southern Provinces
Authors: Sunday Francois Xavier , Ilinde Delice Niyigena , Izabayo Rudatinya Patrick , Kwizera Philemon , Kanimba Philbert , Rutayisire Reverien , Umugwaneza Maryse
Published: August 2024

Background

The state of a child’s nutrition is a critical indicator of their overall health and wellbeing. Public health still faces challenges from undernutrition, especially in developing nations across the globe. In Rwanda, around 33% of children aged under five years suffer from chronic undernutrition. Many factors, such as poverty, illiteracy, poor WASH practices, improper child feeding practices, and insufficient healthcare, are the leading causes of undernutrition. The study aims to assess infant and young child feeding practices, WASH, food security, and their association with the nutritional status of children under five years in Rwanda’s Western and Southern provinces.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study design was applied to study factors affecting the nutritional status of children under five years in 439 households in the Karongi, Nyabihu, and Nyamagabe districts of Rwanda. The study assessed anemia, stunting, underweight, and wasting indicators, and collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.

Results

The study findings indicate that among the children surveyed, 29.2% (128) were identified as stunted, 5.9% (26) were underweight, 2.3% (10) suffered from wasting, and 20.9% (31) had anemia. Factors associated with these conditions included larger household size [AOR = 2.108; 95% CI (1.016–4.371)], positively associated with stunting. Additionally, children from households where the head was above 60 years old were more likely to exhibit stunting [AOR = 4.809; 95% CI (1.513, 15.283)]. Furthermore, a high household dietary diversity score was positively linked to being underweight [AOR = 6.061; 95% CI (1.535,23.942)].

Conclusion

Household characteristics like size, dietary diversity, and the age of the household head affect children’s nutritional status. Improving these conditions would enhance children’s nutritional status.
A 15-year experience in pediatric palliative care: a retrospective hospital-based study
Authors: Schiavon Mirella , Lazzarin Pierina , Agosto Caterina , Rusalen Francesca , Divisic Antuan , Zanin Anna , Mercante Anna , Mirisola Valentina , Papa Simonetta , Giacomelli Luca , Benini Franca
Published: August 2024

Background

The current Italian scenario of pediatric palliative care (PPC) services is characterized by inadequate coverage of the territory. Therefore, it is important to improve the referral of patients to the most appropriate setting (community care, general PPC, or specialized PPC) and to improve the delivery of PPC care.

Methods

Aiming at obtaining information about the referrals to the Padua Pediatric Hospice that could help estimate the investments needed to improve the provision of care, a retrospective analysis has been carried out. The rate of proper referral and discharge, the number of patients followed at the hospice, the mortality rate, and the length of follow-up were analyzed, and, when possible, data were stratified by oncological and non-oncological diseases.

Results

The analysis showed that of the 870 patients referred to the Padua Pediatric Hospice between 2008 and 2022, 76% were affected by non-oncological conditions. 82% of patients referred were taken in charge and most of the remaining patients have been inappropriately referred. The analysis showed a growing number of total referrals, which increased by 195% from 2008 to 2022. An increase in proper referrals and referrals of non-oncological patients was observed alongside a decrease in oncological patient referrals and a trend toward a decrease in discharge rates. A decreased mortality was observed in patients with non-oncological conditions, with only 6% of deceased patients in 2022. Moreover, a longer survival with a median follow-up length of 43 months was observed among patients with non-oncological conditions who were followed up at the Padua Pediatric Hospice for more than 12 months. Conversely, the short survival rate observed for oncological patients suggests that those patients should have been referred to PPC earlier to benefit from palliative care for longer periods.

Conclusions

Considering these data, it is expected that the number of patients needing PPC services will steadily increase in the next years. Hence, there is a need to invest resources to provide the best care delivery model encompassing specific pathways for the transition into adulthood, the establishment of networks within all the Italian regions, and an efficient referral to the more suitable setting of care.
Pediatric rehabilitation delivery: discussion is an antidote to disconnection and discontent
Authors: Beeri Maurit
Published: August 2024

Pediatric rehabilitation is fundamentally different from that of adults. Child physiology differs significantly from that of adults, necessitating specialized rehabilitation approaches. Unique injuries and varying metabolic rates underscore the need for tailored care, which changes over the years as the child grows and develops. Waiserberg’s paper, “When Everyone is Responsible, No One Takes Responsibility”: Exploring Pediatric Physiotherapy Services in Israel,” sheds light on a critical issue. While senior practitioners oversee policy implementation and service delivery, practical physiotherapy treatment lacks continuous monitoring. This is a critical issue. Ideally, every child who requires long-term clinical therapeutic interventions to keep up with peers in mobility, communication and cognitive skills should be assessed by specialists several times throughout the school years, and their personalized rehabilitation plan discussed, reviewed, and adjusted according to their progress. The absence of a standardized protocol for overseeing and directing comprehensive rehabilitation plans leaves therapists feeling alone and adrift, whether working in schools or medical settings. Such an assessment would be an opportunity to create a registry, which is currently nonexistent. The collected data would be a priceless resource in policy decision-making and service planning.
Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell transplantation recovers immune defects and prevents lymphomas in Atm-deficient mice
Authors: de Oliveira Bruna Sabino Pinho , Giovinazzo Alessandro , Putti Sabrina , Merolle Matilde , Orsini Tiziana , Tocchini-Valentini Giuseppe D. , Lancrin Christophe , Naro Fabio , Pellegrini Manuela
Published: August 2024

Background

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare autosomal recessive multi-system and life-shortening disease, characterized by progressive cerebellar neurodegeneration, immunodeficiency, radiation sensitivity and cancer predisposition, with high incidence of leukemia and lymphoma. A-T is caused by mutations in the gene encoding for ATM protein that has a major role in maintaining the integrity of the genome. Because there are no cures for A-T, we aimed to tackle immunodeficiency and prevent cancer onset/progression by transplantation therapy.

Methods

Enriched hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), collected from bone marrow of wild-type mice, were transplanted in the caudal vein of 1 month old conditioned Atm−/− mice.

Results

Genomic analyses showed that transplanted Atm positive cells were found in lymphoid organs. B cells isolated from spleen of transplanted mice were able to undergo class switching recombination. Thymocytes were capable to correctly differentiate and consequently an increase of helper T cells and TCRβhi expressing cells was observed. Protein analysis of isolated T and B cells from transplanted mice, revealed that they expressed Atm and responded to DNA damage by initiating an Atm-dependent phosphorylation cascade. Indeed, aberrant metaphases were reduced in transplanted Atm-deficient mice. Six months after transplantation, Atm−/− mice showed signs of aging, but they maintained the rescue of T cells maturation, showed DNA damage response, and prevented thymoma.

Conclusion

We can conclude that wild-type enriched HSPCs transplantation into young Atm-deficient mice can ameliorate A-T hematopoietic phenotypes and prevent tumor of hematopoietic origin.
The influencing factors of green technology innovation in renewable energy companies based on hyper-network
Authors: Sun Hui , Yan Yan , Han Yonghua
Published: August 2024

Green technology innovation is a critical factor in ensuring the long-term stable development of renewable energy enterprises. Based on the super network theory, this paper constructs a network model of green technology innovation influencing factors of renewable energy enterprises, which includes the knowledge sub-network of green technology innovation of renewable energy enterprises, the research and development member sub-network of green technology innovation team of renewable energy enterprises and the policy sub-network of green technology innovation of renewable energy enterprises. It explores the mechanism of its influence on innovation in the preparation stage. Simulation analysis by Netlogo software concludes that innovation knowledge sharing, R&D membership, and innovation policy all have a significant positive impact on green technology innovation in renewable energy companies.
LcMPK3 and LcMPK6 positively regulate fruitlet abscission in litchi
Authors: Wang Fei , Liang Zhijian , Ma Xingshuai , He Zidi , Li Jianguo , Zhao Minglei
Published: August 2024

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades have been discovered to play a fundamental role in regulating organ abscission. However, the identity of protein substrates targeted by MAPK cascades, as well as whether the role of MAPK protein cascades in the abscission process is conserved across different plant species, remain unknown. Here, the role of homologs of MPK3 and MPK6 in regulating fruit abscission were characterized in litchi. Ectopic expression of LcMPK3 or LcMPK6 in Arabidopsis mpk3 mpk6 mutant rescued the deficiency in floral organ abscission, while silencing of LcMPK3 or LcMPK6 in litchi significantly decreased fruitlet abscission. Importantly, a total of 49 proteins interacting with LcMPK3 were identified through yeast two-hybrid screening, including two components of the MAPK signaling cascade, five transcription factors, and two aquaporins. Furthermore, the interaction between LcMPK3/6 with LcBZR1/2, core components in brassinosteroids signaling that suppress litchi fruitlet abscission, was confirmed using in vitro and in vivo assays. Moreover, phos-tag assays demonstrated that LcMPK3/6 could phosphorylate LcBZR1/2, with several phosphorylation residues identified. Together, our findings suggest that LcMPK3 and LcMPK6 play a positive regulatory role in fruitlet abscission in litchi, and offer crucial information for the investigation of mechanisms underlying MPK3/6-mediated organ abscission in plants.
Far-Right Orientalism and the Uyghurs: Revisiting Gunnar Jarring
Authors: Eden Jeff
Published: August 2024

No scholar has had a greater impact on the study of Xinjiang and the Uyghurs than the Swedish Orientalist and diplomat Gunnar Jarring (1907–2002). This is thanks, above all, to the remarkable archive of manuscripts from the region that he collected and curated. Known as the Jarring Collection, it may be the largest assemblage of manuscripts by Xinjiang Muslims held anywhere in the world outside China. How was this collection created, and what biases may have informed its development? By exploring the context in which the core of the Jarring Collection was developed, this article reveals unsettling allegations about Jarring’s activities during a shadowy, little-known period in his life — a dark period in Sweden’s history, during which academic and political elites were in thrall to a far-right zeitgeist that dovetailed with Germany’s Nazi movement. The article concludes by considering some implications of the Jarring Collection's biases for the study of Xinjiang and the Uyghurs.
Proletarian Melodrama: Censorship, Popularization, and Consumerism in Colonial Korea
Authors: Bae Sangmi
Published: August 2024

This article introduces the 1933 novel After the Doll’s House by Ch’ae Mansik as an example of how revolutionary messages were presented through melodramatic narratives in colonial Korean proletarian literature. Between 1928 and 1930, several members of the Korea Artista Proleta Federacio (KAPF), most notably Kim Kijin, insisted that melodrama—a narrative form widely distributed in popular newspapers—could circumvent censorship to introduce revolutionary representations to the public. Although few proletarian authors initially agreed with Kim’s approach, many proletarian novels, especially those serialized in newspapers such as After the Doll’s House, adopted key elements from melodrama. Accordingly, this article explores how modern melodrama in colonial Korea as imported from Japan and Europe was uniquely adapted and transformed to deliver Marxist messages through localized literary symbols and tropes, despite strict censorship under the Government-General of Korea and the commercial demands of the publication market. After the Doll’s House thereby evidences how melodramatic narrative in colonial Korean proletarian literature was an effective strategy for expressing radical ideas within the restrictions of colonial rule as well as for creating a hybrid literary form under oppressive social conditions.
“Flat Surface” as Material Metaphor: “Bad” Cover Design, “Good” Storytelling, and Post-Fordist Sensibility in Chinese Web Novels
Authors: Yang Renren
Published: August 2024

The article deploys the material metaphor of “flat surface” to read the unexpected cross-modal affinities between amateurish cover design and professional storytelling in Chinese web novels. Canvassing the ways visual and verbal artifacts put into play metaphoric associations with “flat surface,” this essay interprets the popular fascination with flatness as a symptom of China's alignment with ubiquitous computing in its transition to a post-Fordist cultural economy when the world is increasingly conceived as a flat horizon. The author first exhibits a selection of spoof covers and argues that their willful indulgence in two-dimensionality is an antidote to the uncanny similarity of illusionist covers born out of what Mario Carpo calls “mass customization” in the digital era. Then the author turns to examine the web novel Zhuixu 赘婿 (Matrilocal Son-in-Law) by Fennu de Xiangjiao 愤怒的香蕉 (Angry Banana), a highly acclaimed alternate history fiction with a curiously lousy cover, focusing on how Angry Banana's cover designs and narrative storytelling convey the flattening effect. The author attributes the fascination with flatness to the rise of post-Fordism in China's cultural economy by demonstrating how the protagonist in Zhuixu succeeds in flattening “all under heaven” (tianxia 天下) by way of nonhumanizing his existence and weaponizing an internet of things (IoT) while embracing a post-Fordist network of work, life, and governance. Finally, the author furnishes a few more examples to suggest the broader trends toward flatness in Chinese web novels and concludes by discussing the critical edge of the metaphor of flatness in its applicability to post-Fordist cultural analysis.
Ηλεκτρονικά σπορ
Authors: Κανελλόπουλος Αθανάσιος
Published: August 2024

Η ψηφιακή τεχνολογία άλλαξε τη σύγχρονη αθλητική κουλτούρα και οδήγησε σε νέες μορφές σπορ, όπως είναι τα ηλεκτρονικά σπορ. Τα ηλεκτρονικά σπορ αποτελούν μία οργανωμένη ανταγωνιστική ανθρώπινη δραστηριότητα με βιντεοπαιχνίδια, μέσω διαδικτύου ή τοπικού δικτύου (LAN). Διαθέτουν τη δική τους ιστορική διαδρομή που αναδεικνύει και εξηγεί τα σημερινά τους χαρακτηριστικά: κοινωνική αλληλεπίδραση, ανταγωνισμός, οικονομικο-πολιτισμικά στοιχεία, ψυχαγωγία, δημοφιλία, και επαγγελματισμός. Πολλοί υποστηρίζουν ότι τα ηλεκτρονικά σπορ, συγκροτώντας ένα παρόμοιο οικοσύστημα με αυτό των συμβατικών σπορ, και διαθέτοντας όλα εκείνα τα εξωγενή και εγγενή χαρακτηριστικά, αλλά και λειτουργίες των συμβατικών σπορ, μπορούν να θεωρηθούν, και αυτά, έστω και υπό περιορισμούς, σπορ. Η θέση που υποστηρίζεται στην παρούσα μελέτη είναι ότι τα ηλεκτρονικά σπορ δεν μπορούν να ταυτιστούν με τα συμβατικά σπορ επειδή η ανθρωπινότητα, ως θεμελιώδες στοιχείο των σπορ, βιώνεται σε αυτά, από τους παίκτες τους, με διαφορετικό τρόπο και επειδή εμπεριέχουν ένα εγγενές πρόταγμα υπερανθρωπισμού. Πρόκειται για μία φιλοσοφική μελέτη που ισορροπεί μεταξύ οντολογίας και ηθικής, αξιοποιώντας στοιχεία της αναλυτικής μεθόδου, καθώς και της ερμηνευτικής μεθόδου της φιλοσοφίας. Η σημασία της μελέτης έγκειται στην ανάπτυξη μιας διαφορετικής φιλοσοφικής προσέγγισης για τις νέες τεχνολογίες και τον αθλητισμό, καλύπτοντας ένα ερευνητικό κενό στο πεδίο της Φιλοσοφίας του Αθλητισμού. Επιπλέον, συμβάλλει στην πλουραλιστική πληροφόρηση για τα ηλεκτρονικά σπορ, αλλά και στην ανάδειξη της ανθρωπιστικής αξίας του αθλητισμού και της ανάγκης διατήρησης της ανθρωπινότητας στη σύγχρονη ψηφιακή κοινωνία και στον αθλητισμό, εν μέσω της τεχνολογικής καταιγίδας της εποχής. Τα ηλεκτρονικά σπορ διαφοροποιούνται από τα συμβατικά σπορ, στο ότι λαμβάνουν χώρα σε έναν υβριδικό κόσμο. Οι παίκτες τους ενεργώντας, ταυτόχρονα, στον πραγματικό κόσμο και στον εικονικό κόσμο των βιντεοπαιχνιδιών, αποκτούν υβριδική υπόσταση και υβριδικές ικανότητες, υιοθετώντας χαρακτηριστικά ριζοσπαστικού κυβερνο-οργανισμού. Αυτά τα χαρακτηριστικά επηρεάζουν τον τρόπο με τον οποίο βιώνεται η ανθρωπινότητα των παικτών των ηλεκτρονικών σπορ. Αγωνίζονται στους εικονικούς κόσμους με έναν άλλον εαυτό μιας ασώματης τεχνικής ετερότητας, τροποποιείται η ηθική τους αυτοκατανόηση, περιορίζεται η ελευθερία του πράττειν, σε σχέση με αυτήν των συμβατικών σπορ, και υποβαθμίζονται τα φυσικά τους χαρίσματα. Προκειμένου να διαφυλαχθεί ο ανθρωπιστικός χαρακτήρας του αθλητισμού, η οποιαδήποτε πολιτική ανάπτυξης και διάδοσης των ηλεκτρονικών σπορ θα πρέπει να βασιστεί στην αρχή της πρόληψης των όποιων κινδύνων, και προς την κατεύθυνση της προφύλαξης του στοιχείου της ανθρωπινότητας. Ο σύγχρονος αθλητισμός, αλλά και η σύγχρονη κοινωνία, που βιώνουν την επέλαση μιας πληθώρας εφαρμογών τεχνητής νοημοσύνης, έχουν την ανάγκη ενός ψηφιακού ανθρωπισμού, έτσι ώστε να επιβιώσουν στο μέλλον με τον ανθρωπιστικό τους χαρακτήρα.
The Impact of Situational Achievement Goals on Online Learning Behavior: Results from Field Experiments
Authors: Mousavi Nasim , Golara Sina , Bockstedt Jesse
Published: August 2024

Given the widespread adoption of online learning, it is crucial to examine how these platforms can effectively maintain learners’ motivation and engagement. This study suggests that the prevalent hands-off, self-directed design approach, which relies heavily on learners’ intrinsic motivation, can potentially neglect crucial aspects like achievement emotions and lead to disengagement. Our findings show that online learning providers can address this issue through motivational interventions based on situational achievement goals. Specifically, our results indicate that among three achievement goals, learning, performance-prove and performance-avoidance, the performance-prove goal is the most effective one in enhancing learner engagement and performance. Additionally, we discuss that a one-size-fits-all course design may not be the most effective strategy for maintaining high engagement. Customizing interventions based on learners’ motivational behavior, prior performance, and social activity can significantly improve engagement. Learners with stronger prior performance benefit more from the performance-prove goal, whereas those with moderate performance levels gain from the performance-avoidance goal, and those with lower prior performance are positively influenced by the learning goal. Socially isolated learners respond best to performance goals.
Dynamic Control of Service Systems with Returns: Application to Design of Postdischarge Hospital Readmission Prevention Programs
Authors: Chan Timothy C. Y. , Huang Simon Y. , Sarhangian Vahid
Published: August 2024

Dynamic Control of Service Systems with Returns

Postdischarge interventions (e.g., follow-up phone calls, outpatient appointments) are commonly used to reduce unplanned hospital readmissions. Such interventions have been shown to be effective (to varying degrees) in reducing the probability of readmission (or return). The interventions are, however, costly, and hence, their benefits need to be carefully balanced with the costs. In “Dynamic Control of Service Systems with Returns: Application to Design of Postdischarge Hospital Readmission Prevention Programs,” Chan, Huang, and Sarhangian investigate how postservice interventions should be dynamically allocated, accounting for their costs as well as their benefits in terms of reducing returns and congestion costs. To this end, they study a transient queueing control problem and examine the structure of the optimal policy by analyzing associated fluid-control problems. The structural results motivate the design of intuitive surge protocols whereby different intensities of interventions are provided based on the congestion level of the system.
'Sexual Poverty,' or, The Price of Love for Old Men
Authors: Counter Andrew J.
Published: August 2024

Abstract: While the notion of 'sexual poverty' is rightly contested in contemporary discourse, the phrase usefully describes a style of economic thinking about sex that can be found in a variety of nineteenth-century French texts, in which sex is imagined as a scarce resource and a bodily need. The emblematic figure of such deprivation is the vieillard , the old man imagined as desiring but obviously undesirable in erotic terms. I trace this figure in writings by Chateaubriand, Balzac, Fourier, and Baudelaire, and draw out the ironies and ambiguities of how these writers present old men as 'victims' of sexual poverty.
Blurred Humanity: The Grandparental Fantastic and the Values of Aging
Authors: Miner Margaret
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Within storytelling economies of nineteenth-century France, grand-parental authors and narrators operate ambiguously, often relegated to the outworn periphery of social life but still central to the circulation of inheritable tradition and cultural wealth. Further, Charles Nodier suggests, grandparents' age gives them privileged access not so much (or not only) to the heights of wisdom but also to the strangely "intermediary" and often devalued realm of the fantastic. This article sets off to explore Nodier's suggestion by means of five tales—by Clémence Robert, Delphine de Girardin, Madame de Ségur, George Sand, and Victor Hugo—in which encounters with the nonhuman push the grandparental fantastic to scrutinize the unstable values of intergenerational exchange.
Motherhood, Building, and Dynasty in the Roman de Melusine
Authors: Bolton Kirsty
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This article explores the intricate connections between motherhood and construction in the fourteenth-century French Roman de Melusine . Presine can be viewed as a model for her daughter, in that she uses physical space to exert her influence on women's networks of family and dynasty. Melusine's legacy is enacted through both prolific reproduction and construction, as she gives birth to ten sons and founds multiple castles and towns. This article argues that Jean d'Arras uses the crusader queen Melisende as another model for his heroine Melusine, indicating that motherhood and construction were connected in history as well as in literature.
Finite element modeling of stress distribution and safety factors in a Ti-27Nb alloy hip implant under real-world physiological loading scenarios
Authors: Amjad Muhammad , Badshah Saeed , Ahmad Sajjad , Badshah Mujahid , Jan Sakhi , Yasir Muhammad , Akram Waseem , Alam Shah Imtiaz , Muhammad Riaz , Khan Muhammad Imran , Yasmeen Tabassam
Published: August 2024

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful orthopaedic interventions globally, with over 450,000 procedures annually in the U.S. alone. However, issues like aseptic loosening, dislocation, infection and stress shielding persist, necessitating complex, costly revision surgeries. This highlights the need for continued biomaterials innovation to enhance primary implant integrity and longevity. Implant materials play a pivotal role in determining long-term outcomes, with titanium alloys being the prominent choice. However, emerging evidence indicates scope for optimized materials. The nickel-free β titanium alloy Ti-27Nb shows promise with excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. Using finite element analysis (FEA), this study investigated the biomechanical performance and safety factors of a hip bone implant made of nickel-free titanium alloy (Ti-27Nb) under actual loading during routine day life activities for different body weights. The FEA modelled physiological loads during walking, jogging, stair ascent/descent, knee bend, standing up, sitting down and cycling for 75 kg and 100 kg body weights. Comparative analyses were conducted between untreated versus 816-hour simulated body fluid (SBF) treated implant conditions to determine in vivo degradation effects. The FEA predicted elevated von Mises stresses in the implant neck for all activities, especially stair climbing, due to its smaller cross-section. Stresses increased substantially with a higher 100 kg body weight compared to 75 kg, implying risks for heavier patients. Safety factors were reduced by up to 58% between body weights, although remaining above the desired minimum value of 1. Negligible variations were observed between untreated and SBF-treated responses, attributed to Ti-27Nb’s excellent biocorrosion resistance. This comprehensive FEA provided clinically relevant insights into the biomechanical behaviour and integrity of the Ti-27Nb hip implant under complex loading scenarios. The results can guide shape and material optimization to improve robustness against repetitive stresses over long-term use. Identifying damage accumulation and failure risks is crucial for hip implants encountering real-world variable conditions. The negligible SBF effects validate Ti-27Nb’s resistance to physiological degradation. Overall, the study significantly advances understanding of Ti-27Nb’s suitability for reliable, durable hip arthroplasties with low revision rates.
Diagnosis with Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) technology and real-time PCR for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron detection using various nasopharyngeal swabs in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron
Authors: Li Sujuan , Zhang Yuanhang , Tong Pengcheng , Yang Wei
Published: August 2024

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, with the main subtypes BA.5.2 and BF.7 in China, led to off-target effects on the S and N genes from December 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023. The kits used for studying and developing these agents were not adequately and independently evaluated. It is important to verify the performance of commercial Real-Time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) tests.

Objective

We conducted a clinical evaluation of two Real Time SARS-CoV-2 Omicron assays to verify their performance using various detection reagents and clinical specimens.

Methods

We performed clinical evaluations of two existing Chinese SARS-CoV-2 Omicron RT-qPCR kits 2019-nCoV nucleic acid diagnostic kits (Fosun Biotechnology, National instrument registration 20203400299, Shanghai, China) and COVID-19 nucleic acid detection kits (eDiagnosis Biomedicine, National instrument registration 20203400212, Wuhan, China) and using BSD (Bondson) (Guangzhou Bondson Biotechnology Co. Ltd, batch number 2022101), quality controls provided by the inspection center and a large number of clinically confirmed specimens.

Results

The concordance rates for the Fosun and eDiagnosis kits were 95% and 100%, respectively. The detection limit for the Fosun and eDiagnosis kits was verified to be 300 copies/mL and 500 copies/mL. The Fosun assay exhibited the largest coefficient of variation (CV) for ORF1ab and N gene at the detection limit concentration (4.80%, 3.49%), whereas eDiagnosis showed a smaller CV (0.93%, 1.10%). In the reference product from the Hangzhou Clinical Laboratory Center test, it was found that Fosun had the lowest sensitivity of 93.47% and a specificity of 100%, while eDiagnosis exhibited 100% for both sensitivity and specificity. The lowest single target gene detection rate of Fosun reagents was 68.7% for the ORF1ab gene and 87.5% for the N gene, while eDiagnosis detection rate was 100%. Among the clinical group S specimens, the missed detection rate of the Fosun reagent was 10.9%, which was higher than the 3.9% of eDiagnosis. However, there was no significant difference in the clinical diagnostic efficiency of the two reagents.

Conclusions

The ORF1ab and N assays of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron on the eDiagnosis platform yielded higher values compared to those on the Fosun platform. Consequently, the eDiagnosis kit has also been used as standard detection reagents. Considering that the Fosun reagent has a relatively low detection limit and targets three single genes, it is more advantageous as a confirmatory reagent for the new museum.
Associations of dietary pattern, insulin resistance and risk of developing metabolic syndrome among Chinese population
Authors: Kou Liyong , Sun Jing , Wu Ping , Cheng Zhou , Zhou Ping , Li Nana , Cheng Liang , Xu Pengfei , Xue Yunzhuo , Tian Jiamin , Chen Wei
Published: August 2024

Evidence regarding the role of dietary patterns in metabolic syndrome (MetS) is limited. The mechanistic links between dietary patterns, insulin resistance, and MetS are not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between dietary patterns and the risk of MetS in a Chinese population using a longitudinal design. Data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, a nationally representative survey, were analyzed. MetS cases were identified based on biomarker data collected in 2009. Factor analysis was employed to identify dietary patterns, while logistic regression models were utilized to examine the association between dietary patterns and MetS. Mediation models were applied to assess multiple mediation effects. Two dietary patterns were revealed by factor analysis. Participants in the higher quartiles of the traditional Chinese dietary pattern had lower odds of MetS than those in the lowest quartile (Q1) (OR = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.69 for Q4; OR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.63, 0.89 for Q3). Conversely, participants in the higher quartiles of the modern Chinese dietary pattern had higher odds of MetS compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1) (OR = 1.40, 95%CI: 1.17, 1.68 for Q4; OR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.52 for Q3). Significant associations between dietary patterns and MetS were mediated by insulin resistance. Therefore, dietary patterns in Chinese adults are associated with MetS, and these associations appear to be mediated through insulin resistance. These findings underscore the critical role of dietary patterns in the development of MetS and establish a foundation for culturally tailored dietary interventions aimed at reducing rates the prevalence of MetS among Chinese adults.
G-Net: Implementing an enhanced brain tumor segmentation framework using semantic segmentation design
Authors: D. S. Chandra Sekaran , Clement J. Christopher
Published: August 2024

A fundamental computer vision task called semantic segmentation has significant uses in the understanding of medical pictures, including the segmentation of tumors in the brain. The G-Shaped Net architecture appears in this context as an innovative and promising design that combines components from many models to attain improved accuracy and efficiency. In order to improve efficiency, the G-Shaped Net architecture synergistically incorporates four fundamental components: the Self-Attention, Squeeze Excitation, Fusion, and Spatial Pyramid Pooling block structures. These factors work together to improve the precision and effectiveness of brain tumor segmentation. Self-Attention, a crucial component of G-Shaped architecture, gives the model the ability to concentrate on the image’s most informative areas, enabling accurate localization of tumor boundaries. By adjusting channel-wise feature maps, Squeeze Excitation completes this by improving the model’s capacity to capture fine-grained information in the medical pictures. Since the G-Shaped model’s Spatial Pyramid Pooling component provides multi-scale contextual information, the model is capable of handling tumors of various sizes and complexity levels. Additionally, the Fusion block architectures combine characteristics from many sources, enabling a thorough comprehension of the image and improving the segmentation outcomes. The G-Shaped Net architecture is an asset for medical imaging and diagnostics and represents a substantial development in semantic segmentation, which is needed more and more for accurate brain tumor segmentation.
Patient experience with hospital care following the Maryland global budget revenue model: A difference-in-difference analysis
Authors: Shammas Ronnie L. , Li Jenna , Matros Evan , Aliu Oluseyi
Published: August 2024

Introduction

As a result of the success of Maryland’s full risk capitated payment model experiment (Global Budget Revenue) in constraining healthcare costs, there is momentum for expanding the reach of such models. However, as these models are implemented, studies analyzing their long-term effects suggest unintended spillover effects that may ultimately influence patient experiences. The aim of this study was to determine whether implementation of the GBR was associated with changes in patient experience.

Methods

Cross-sectional study using a difference-in-difference analysis to examine changes in patient experiences according to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) domains before and after implementation of the GBR model. Acute care hospitals from 2010–2016 with completed HCAHPS surveys were included. Hospitals identified for inclusion were then matched, based on county location, to area level characteristics using the Area Health Resource File.

Results

A total of 844 hospitals were included. Compared to hospitals in non-GBR states, hospitals in GBR states experienced significant declines in the following HCAHPS domains: “would definitely recommend the hospital to others” [Average treatment effect (ATT) = -1.19, 95% CI = -1.97, -0.41)] and 9–10 rating of the hospital (ATT = -0.93, 95% CI = -1.71, -0.15). Results also showed significant increases in the HCAHPS domains: “if patient’s rooms and bathroom were always kept clean” (ATT = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.20, 2.00). There were no significant differences in changes for the other domains, including no improvements in: nursing communication, doctor communication, help from hospital staff, pain control, communication on medicines, discharge information, and quietness of the patient environment.

Conclusion

These findings suggest there should be efforts made to ascertain and mitigate potential adverse effects of care transformation initiatives on patient experience. Patients are stakeholders and their inputs should be sought and incorporated in care transformation efforts to ensure that these models align with improved patient experiences.
Protein ligand binding site prediction using graph transformer neural network
Authors: Ishitani Ryuichiro , Takemoto Mizuki , Tomii Kentaro
Published: August 2024

Ligand binding site prediction is a crucial initial step in structure-based drug discovery. Although several methods have been proposed previously, including those using geometry based and machine learning techniques, their accuracy is considered to be still insufficient. In this study, we introduce an approach that leverages a graph transformer neural network to rank the results of a geometry-based pocket detection method. We also created a larger training dataset compared to the conventionally used sc-PDB and investigated the correlation between the dataset size and prediction performance. Our findings indicate that utilizing a graph transformer-based method alongside a larger training dataset could enhance the performance of ligand binding site prediction.
The impact of multiple discrimination on labor misallocation of China: Based on fsQCA method
Authors: Guo Rongwang , Wang Jianxiu , You Yuntian
Published: August 2024

Discrimination in the labor market hinders efficient labor allocation, impeding socio-economic health. With the rapid population aging in China, addressing multifaceted discrimination to enhance labor allocation efficiency emerges as a crucial area of research. To explore the relationship between five types of discrimination (age, gender, hukou, educational background, and occupation) and labor misallocation, this paper based on intersectionality theory, employs the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method to conduct a configurational analysis of data from China. The research findings indicate that none of the five forms of discrimination can be deemed a necessary condition for achieving high-level labor misallocation. The study identifies five distinct pathways of multiple discrimination to form high-level labor misallocation, which can be classified into four interaction modes: age-hukou, gender-hukou, gender-occupation, and age-gender-educational background. Meanwhile, there are four configuration paths for the absence of labor misallocation. This study reveals the intricate mechanisms by which multiple forms of discrimination contribute to labor misallocation in China’s labor market, and provides valuable insights for addressing employment discrimination and improving the efficiency of labor allocation.
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DisguiseData" A Proposed Method for Creating Synthetic Data Based on The Geometric Structure of The Original
Authors: Dahman Deniz
Published: August 2024

Data holds a crucial role in the standard system of input, processing, and output, particularly representing the input. With high-quality data, there is an assurance of a smooth process and an effective outcome. However, the issue of privacy in data acquisition has become a significant concern in recent years, forming the core of numerous research studies. This paper introduces a novel approach to generating synthetic data that retains the same statistical structure as the original, based on the geometrical representation of each data point. This newly generated synthetic data can act as a substitute for the original, ensuring the integration of privacy into any application utilizing the data. Experimental results on two datasets of varying sizes demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively produce synthetic data with the same statistical structure and a comparable level of accuracy for predictive tasks as the original data
Alcohol in Tang and Song Dynasties’ Poetry: A Way to Combat Loneliness and Insecurity
Authors: Guan Furui
Published: August 2024

During the Tang and Song Dynasties in ancient China, alcohol and poetry were deeply connected. This paper aims to look at mentions of alcohol, or Jiu (酒), in poems written in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and explore what these mentions of alcohol tell us about the lives, emotions, and identities of the poets. Different drinking occasions are examined in this paper, including drinking alone, drinking with friends, drinking games, and farewell drinking. It is argued here that for the poets in the Tang and Song Dynasties, drinking was a way to combat their loneliness and insecurity associated with their government positions and personal experiences by connecting themselves to others.During the Tang and Song Dynasties in ancient China, alcohol and poetry were deeply connected. This paper aims to look at mentions of alcohol, or Jiu (酒), in poems written in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and explore what these mentions of alcohol tell us about the lives, emotions, and identities of the poets. Different drinking occasions are examined in this paper, including drinking alone, drinking with friends, drinking games, and farewell drinking. It is argued here that for the poets in the Tang and Song Dynasties, drinking was a way to combat their loneliness and insecurity associated with their government positions and personal experiences by connecting themselves to others.
Review Of Approaches Towards Building AI Based Career Recommender & Guidance Systems
Authors: Shah Arya , Pati Rajashree , Pimplikar Aishwarya , Puthran Shubha , Singh Amanpreet
Published: August 2024

With the expansion of the Internet, users have access to a massive amount of data, which can lead toi nformation overload and has to be organized. Students struggle to choose a career. Personality, aptitude, academic achievements, and academic and personal environments influence students' job choices. In underdeveloped and even developed countries, students have struggled to acquire effective, free job advice. Due to this disparity, many students are unable to network with professionals in their dream careers. Based on the above facts and pain points, a systematic assessment of AI-based career recommendation and guidance system techniques has been presented in detail. Addressing career recommendation system bias followed in various ways. The study shows that AI-based Data Mining & ML is the optimal method for career prediction for students and early professionals.
Cultivating Transnational Coalitional Subjectivity
Authors: Yam Shui-yin Sharon
Published: August 2024

In this article, I perform what Wendy Hesford calls “intercontextual reading” to trace how the coalitional potential between the Hong Kong anti-authoritarian movement and the U.S. Black Lives Matter protests is eclipsed by appropriation, disinformation, and misalignment, fueled specifically by Beijing and apologists for authoritarian non-Western regimes, that pitch grassroots movements, activists, and potential allies against each other. I then examine the rhetorical strategies deployed by Hong Kong public intellectuals to harness the “coalitional moments” between the two movements as they both struggle against state violence and police brutality. By doing so, I argue that as social movement discourse travels transnationally on digital spaces, we need to draw on methodologies in transnational rhetorical studies in order to fully contextualize the complex geopolitical, discursive, and political networks in which these rhetorical actions take place.