bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Storage Structure, Cause of Gran Loss, and Methods Used to Control Storage Losses
Authors: Zone Mirab , Woreda Bahir , Kebel Zenzelma , Mamo Tsigehana
Published: September 2024

Post-harvest losses, leading to substantial grain loss, stem from various factors such as insect infestation, mold growth, rodent damage, adverse weather conditions, and inadequate storage practices. This study investigates the storage structures employed by farmers in Zenzelma Kebele and identifies the primary causes of grain loss. Despite the persistence of traditional storage structures like "Gotera" and "Gota," there is a noticeable lack of adoption of improved storage methods. The research highlights insects and rodents as major contributors to grain loss, both in the field and during storage. Farmers mainly use chemical measures to combat these pests, including fumigation and pesticides like Malathion. Additionally, sun drying remains a widely used traditional method. The study's findings underscore the urgent need for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and the development of cost-effective, environmentally sustainable solutions to reduce post-harvest losses. Understanding local farming practices is crucial for designing effective interventions that enhance food security and promote economic sustainability in maize production. By focusing on the specific conditions and practices in Zenzelma Kebele, this study provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for improving grain storage and reducing losses. Tailored interventions, informed by local needs and practices, are essential to address these issues effectively. The adoption of improved storage techniques and IPM strategies can significantly reduce grain losses, thereby boosting food security and supporting the livelihoods of farmers. This research advocates for a holistic approach to pest management and storage practices, encouraging collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and farmers. By promoting sustainable agricultural practices and innovative storage solutions, we can work towards a more secure and prosperous future for maize producers in Zenzelma Kebele and beyond.
Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Modern Beehive Technology in West Hararghe Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Angasu Birhanu , Alemu Gosa , Sime Nimona
Published: September 2024

This study attempted to identify adoption status, factors affecting the adoption decision and intensity, and identify major constraints of beekeepers for modern beehive adoption. Agriculture is a backbone of country economy. Beekeeping is one of an agricultural subsector which is a sustainable and low-investment strategy for poverty reduction. Both qualitative and quantitative data collected from a sample of 180 beekeepers which collected from three districts of West Hararghe zone and analyzed using STATA software. Heckman two-stage model was employed for the analyses. In study area less than half of the beekeepers were adopters of modern beehive technology. Heckman two-stage model of first-stage results revealed that households’ decision to adopt modern beehive were influenced by factors such as age of household head, education level, livestock owned (tlu) and number of extension contact. Furthermore, the second-stage results indicated that intensity of modern beehive adoption of households’ was influenced by factors such as distance from FTC, access to accessory, livestock owned (tlu), access to training and number of extension contact. From policy perspective improving distribution of modern beehive with full package; encourage extension service, and focus on the deliverance of training are crucial for the adoption of beekeeping technologies and increasing honey production.
The Impact of Turkey’s Withdrawal From the Istanbul Convention on Suspicious Female Deaths and Femicides
Authors: Önal Fatma Gülsüm , Marangoz Bahar
Published: September 2024

In recent years, suspicious deaths, often portrayed as “falls from a height,” have been increasingly associated with femicides in Turkey. This phenomenon coincided with the official withdrawal process from the “Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence” (Istanbul Convention). Our study aims to reveal the impact of Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention on femicides and the yet officially unrecognized “suspicious female deaths.” This research, conducted in a descriptive, cross-sectional epidemiological style, draws its population from records of suspicious female deaths and femicides that occurred in Turkey between January 1, 2020, and June 1, 2023. There has been a notable increase in the rate of suspicious female deaths. Additionally, a significant rise has been observed in the proportion of women who were employed, had children, and sought legal protection in these deaths. The study suggests a return to the Istanbul Convention.
Bookshelf: Kappan authors on their favorite reads
Authors: Cucchiara Maia
Published: September 2024

In this regular column, Kappan authors recommend books and articles that have influenced them. In the September Bookshelf, Maia Cucchiara recommends Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for Improvement by Anthony Bryk and Barbara Schneider. Amie Rapaport recommends Becoming by Michelle Obama.
Do We Have to Choose Between Different Concepts of Social Structure? A Comparative Analysis of Approaches and Ideas From Nigel Pleasants, Douglas V. Porpora, and David Easton
Authors: Rundqvist Mikael
Published: September 2024

This study of three different approaches to social structure finds Pleasants’s ideas for the use of different concepts of social structure intriguing but based on an untenable view about the possibility to discern an empirical modality. Porpora’s approach is based on the idea that the relational concept of social structure cannot be bypassed, ontologically speaking. Easton’s idea is to apply the two relational concepts of higher-order and lower-order structure. Relational structures are also salient in the specific scholarly debate studied, which strengthens the idea that it is this concept of social structure that we primarily should focus on.
Multilayer intermediation: Exploring the organization of cultural intermediaries in social media entertainment
Authors: Bizjak Davide , Napolitano Domenico , Cicellin Mariavittoria , Consiglio Stefano , Sicca Luigi Maria
Published: September 2024

This article investigates the phenomenon of the platformization of cultural production within social media entertainment, describing the peculiar interaction between creators and publishing groups. It relies on the case of the Italian video-making company The Jackal and their distinctive economic, organizational, and creative connection with the publishing group CiaoPeople. Starting from Bourdieu’s definition of cultural intermediaries, the article interrogates the role of social media creators as new cultural intermediaries occupying spaces between creativity and economy, acting as co-producers, tastemakers, selectors, and managers of cultural goods and services. Through a longitudinal study, the article argues that social media entertainment enacts a “multilayer intermediation” between brands, creators, consumers, and digital platforms, where legacy media companies may provide creators with tools to resist the entrance of platforms into creative production.
Dyadic Appraisals of Family Decisions and Health Tasks in Midlife-Older Couples
Authors: Lyons Karen S. , Han Sae Hwang , Kim Kyungmin , Miller Lyndsey M.
Published: September 2024

Shared appraisals and collaboration within couples play important roles in optimizing health. Less is known about concordance regarding collaboration, factors associated with concordance, and implications for health. Data from 2,761 couples from the Health and Retirement Study (2014/2016 and 2016/2018 waves) were examined to determine within-couple concordance in completion of two tasks (family decisions and medical forms). The majority of couples were concordant regarding who makes family decisions (69.7%) and who completes medical forms (64.4%); 62% agreed they make family decisions collaboratively versus 25.5% completing medical forms collaboratively. Concordance was significantly associated with greater marital support and longer marital duration. Concordance was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms 2 years later, but the link between concordance in making major family decisions and self-rated health differed by age and gender. Future research at the intersection of concordance and collaboration may shed important light on how older couples navigate tasks and decisions.
Commodifying Passage: Ethnographic Insights into Migration, Markets, and Digital Mediation at the Darién Gap and Mexico–Guatemala Border
Authors: Cruz-Piñeiro Rodolfo , Hernández Hernández Alberto , Ibarra Carlos S.
Published: September 2024

This paper examines transit migration through the Darién Gap and the Mexico–Guatemala border, focusing on the commodification of migration, the transformative role of digital platforms, and the socio-economic impacts on local economies. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and in-depth interviews conducted from 2021 to 2023, we explore how migration has evolved into a commodified journey where services and safety are bought and sold, often exploiting migrants’ vulnerabilities. We analyze how digital platforms have become essential tools for navigation and community building among migrants, yet also introduce new risks and inequalities. Our findings highlight the dual nature of local economic adaptations, which both capitalize on and are reshaped by the migratory flows, leading to significant economic and social transformations. The paper argues for a reevaluation of migration policies that integrates these elements and supports a migration governance framework that prioritizes human dignity and rights. Through exposing these dynamic and interlinked phenomena, we aim to contribute to a better understanding of migration that goes beyond traditional paradigms of border security and control, advocating for policies that are just, equitable, and respectful of human experiences and challenges.
Timber Industry, Cosmopolitics, and Ontology of Trees in Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Pérez Gil Laura
Published: September 2024

Since they were first contacted in the early 1960s, the Yaminawa people of Comunidad Nativa de Raya (Mapuya River, Peruvian Amazon) have been involved in the timber exploitation industry. Over the following decades, most of the Raya men were recruited to locate, cut, and transport valuable timber resources in the forest and even to become minor bosses within the habilitación system. This seems, in some way, contradictory with their sociocosmology that shares perspectival features with those of other Amerindians. Certain animals and plants have agency, desires, and habits analogous to humans and play a central role in the process of the social fabrication of persons. I focus here on some species of large trees and their ontology. Their relationship with human beings should be characterized as ambivalent. On the one hand, they have an intense predatory agency; on the other, they are the source of shamanic power. On the basis of this conception of the vegetal world, I explore the transformation of ideas about the agency of trees in recent decades, which occurred in interaction with the cosmology of the regional society, and enquire about how the Yaminawa people articulate the existence of these predatory human-like tree entities with their, also predatory, involvement in the timber industry.
Assessment of multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging for glioma based on a deep learning reconstruction approach with the denoising method
Authors: Sun Jun , Xu Siyao , Guo Yiding , Ding Jinli , Zhuo Zhizheng , Zhou Dabiao , Liu Yaou
Published: September 2024

Background

Deep learning reconstruction (DLR) with denoising has been reported as potentially improving the image quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Multi-modal MRI is a critical non-invasive method for tumor detection, surgery planning, and prognosis assessment; however, the DLR on multi-modal glioma imaging has not been assessed.

Purpose

To assess multi-modal MRI for glioma based on the DLR method.

Material and Methods

We assessed multi-modal images of 107 glioma patients (49 preoperative and 58 postoperative). All the images were reconstructed with both DLR and conventional reconstruction methods, encompassing T1-weighted (T1W), contrast-enhanced T1W (CE-T1), T2-weighted (T2W), and T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR). The image quality was evaluated using signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and edge sharpness. Visual assessment and diagnostic assessment were performed blindly by neuroradiologists.

Results

In contrast with conventionally reconstructed images, (residual) tumor SNR for all modalities and tumor to white/gray matter CNR from DLR images were higher in T1W, T2W, and T2-FLAIR sequences. The visual assessment of DLR images demonstrated the superior visualization of tumor in T2W, edema in T2-FLAIR, enhanced tumor and necrosis part in CE-T1, and fewer artifacts in all modalities. Improved diagnostic efficiency and confidence were observed for preoperative cases with DLR images.

Conclusion

DLR of multi-modal MRI reconstruction prototype for glioma has demonstrated significant improvements in image quality. Moreover, it increased diagnostic efficiency and confidence of glioma.
The Arthroscopically Guided Bristow-Latarjet Procedure With Cortical Button Fixation: A Minimum 10-Year Follow-up
Authors: Descamps Jules , Greco Valentina , Chelli Mikael , Boileau Pascal
Published: September 2024

Background:

Despite improved visualization, the use of arthroscopic surgery to perform the Latarjet procedure has not decreased the rates of complications and glenohumeral osteoarthritis (OA) in the long term. Many of the reported complications are related to the use of screws for bone block fixation with freehand drilling.

Purpose:

To evaluate the long-term (at a minimum 10-year follow-up) clinical and radiological outcomes of the arthroscopic Bristow-Latarjet procedure using a posterior guided drilling technique and suture button for coracoid bone graft fixation.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Consecutive patients who underwent the arthroscopic Bristow-Latarjet procedure with suture button fixation between 2011 and 2013 were reviewed by 2 independent evaluators. Complications and revision surgery were recorded, and we evaluated patient-reported outcomes including subjective scores, recurrence of shoulder instability (dislocation or subluxation), range of motion limitations, and return to sports. Patients had radiographs taken at least 10 years after surgery to assess glenohumeral OA according to the Samilson-Prieto classification system and computed tomography scans to assess bone block positioning and healing.

Results:

A total of 65 consecutive patients (68 shoulders) with a mean follow-up of 135 months (range, 120-156 months) were included. The mean age at the time of surgery was 25 ± 8 years; 7 patients had previous failed Bankart repair. At follow-up, 94% (64/68) of the shoulders had no recurrence of instability. The 4 cases of instability recurrence were traumatic and occurred at 3 weeks (a fall), 4 months, 2 years, and 7 years after surgery. No hardware failures, coracoid fractures, or neurological complications were observed. Overall, 61 patients (94%) were still participating in sports, with 44 (68%) at the same or higher level. Range of motion showed nonsignificant restrictions in external rotation with the arm at the side (7° ± 9°) and with the arm at 90° of abduction (9° ± 10°) compared with the contralateral side. Additionally, 11 shoulders (16%) had some residual anterior apprehension on clinical examination. At last follow-up, 77% (47/61) of the shoulders had no OA development or progression. Previous failed Bankart repair was a risk factor for the development of OA. Patients with OA had significantly lower Subjective Shoulder Value scores (79% vs 91%, respectively; P = .01) and decreased external rotation with the arm at the side (40° vs 65°, respectively; P = .001) compared with patients with no or little OA.

Conclusion:

The arthroscopically guided Bristow-Latarjet procedure with suture button fixation is a safe and durable surgical treatment method for recurrent anterior shoulder instability, allowing a high rate of return to sports without significant motion restrictions and no or little OA in the long term.
Evaluation of efficacy of cholecalciferol and silymarin in improving lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Valipour Reza , Narouie Behzad , Momeni Hamidreza , Radpour Negar , Torabinavid Parham , Momeni Amirreza , Jowzi Ali
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) mainly leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in aging men. The present study investigates the role of cholecalciferol, Silymarin, and their combined administration in patients with BPH suffering from LUTS.

Methods:

This double-blind, randomized, controlled trial enrolled 80 participants (50–80 years) diagnosed with BPH, from March 2019 to March 2020. Based on serum 25-(OH) vitamin D levels we formed subgroups, each receiving specific interventions. Measurements of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Maximal Urinary Flow Rate (Q-max), Prostate Volume (PV), Post-Void Residual (PVR), and Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) were recorded at baseline and following 3 months of follow-up.

Results:

Participants with serum concentration of 25-(OH) vitamin D below 20 ng/ml simultaneously received cholecalciferol and Silymarin that significantly improved IPSS, irritation, obstruction, PV, and PVR. In those with concentrations ⩾20 ng/ml, a single use of Silymarin significantly reduced IPSS, irritation, obstruction, and PVR. Adjustment of confounding variables revealed independent and significant effects of both cholecalciferol and Silymarin on PVR, IPSS, and obstruction. Cholecalciferol also improved irritation, while Silymarin reduced prostate volume. These findings highlight potential therapeutic benefits for BPH-associated LUTS, encouraging further exploration and clinical consideration.

Conclusions:

In this investigation, combination therapy with cholecalciferol at 50,000 IU/w for 8 weeks and Silymarin at a dosage of 480 mg for 3 months resulted in a notable improvement in the IPSS score, PV, and PVR, as well as both irritative and obstructive symptoms. However, the total PSA and free PSA amounts did not reach a significant difference.
Occupational exposure to arsenic and leukopenia risk: Toxicological alert
Authors: Bidu Nadielle Silva , Lemos Diogo Sousa , Fernandes Bruno José Dumêt
Published: September 2024

Arsenic and its inorganic compounds affect numerous organs and systemic functions, such as the nervous and hematopoietic systems, liver, kidneys, and skin. Despite a large number of studies on arsenic toxicity, rare reports have investigated the leukopenia incidence in workers exposed to arsenic. In workplaces, the main source of workers’ exposure is the contaminated air by the inorganic arsenic in mines, arsenic or copper smelter industries, and chemical factories. Erythropoiesis inhibition is one of the arsenic effects and it is related to regulatory factor GATA-1. This factor is necessary for the normal differentiation of early erythroid progenitors. JAK-STAT is an important intracellular signal transduction pathway responsible for the mediating normal functions of several cytokines related to cell proliferation and hematopoietic systems development and regulation. Arsenic inactivates JAK-STAT by inhibiting JAK tyrosine kinase and using the IFNγ pathway. The intravascular hemolysis starts after the absorption phase when arsenic binds to the globin of hemoglobin in erythrocytes and is transported into the body, which increases the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups in hemoglobin. So, this article intends to highlight the potential leukopenia risk via inhalation for workers exposed to arsenic and suggests a possible mechanism for this leukopenia through the JAK-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway inhibition.
Value-Based Radiology in Canada: Reducing Low-Value Care and Improving System Efficiency
Authors: Yan Tyler D. , Jalal Sabeena , Harris Alison
Published: September 2024

Radiology departments are increasingly tasked with managing growing demands on services including long waitlists for scanning and interventional procedures, human health resource shortages, equipment needs, and challenges incorporating advanced imaging solutions. The burden of system inefficiencies and the overuse of “low-value” imaging causes downstream impact on patients at the individual level, the economy and healthcare system at the societal level, and planetary health at an overarching level. Low value imaging includes those performed for an inappropriate clinical indication, with little to no value to the management of the patient, and resulting in healthcare resource waste; it is estimated that up to a quarter of advanced imaging studies in Canada meet this criterion. Strategies to reduce low-value imaging include the development and use of referral guidelines, use of appropriateness criteria, optimization of existing protocols, and integration of clinical decision support tools into the ordering provider’s workflow. Additional means of optimizing system efficiency such as centralized intake models, improved access to electronic medical records and outside imaging, enhanced communication with patients and referrers, and the utilization of artificial intelligence will further increase the value of radiology provided to patients and care providers.
Does the Media’s Partisanship Influence News Coverage on Artificial Intelligence Issues? Media Coverage Analysis on Artificial Intelligence Issues
Authors: Chang Mikyung
Published: September 2024

This study aims to analyze news coverage on artificial intelligence (AI) issues and highlight the characteristics and differences in reporting based on media partisanship. By examining AI-related news in the South Korean media, this study reveals how conservative and progressive outlets frame the issue differently. The analysis found that conservative media coverage predominantly focuses on positive aspects, emphasizing development value frames such as the benefits and societal progress brought by AI. In contrast, progressive media often highlight crisis value frames, focusing on issues like side effects, ethical concerns, and legislation surrounding AI. These partisan differences reflect fundamental societal priorities and influence public discourse and policy agendas. Understanding media framing is crucial for fostering informed public dialogue on the societal significance of AI and promoting evidence-based decision-making. By recognizing partisan biases and critically evaluating media coverage, citizens can engage in constructive discourse beyond ideological divides. This study underscores the role of the media in promoting interdisciplinary discussions about the future trajectory of AI and in preparing society for its impacts. Ultimately, evidence-based public discourse is essential for shaping responsible AI policies and mitigating potential risks in the digital age.
Experimental study on grinding process of Al-Mg2Si aluminum matrix composites
Authors: Sun Hailong , Gao Qi , Wang Quanzhao , Zhao Bintong , Yun Dake
Published: September 2024

As an aluminum-based reinforcement, Mg2Si particles have excellent properties such as high hardness, high melting point, and high elastic modulus compared with other reinforcements and are widely used in aerospace and automobile fields. However, there is little research on the cutting mechanism of this material. In order to explore the surface grinding mechanism of Mg2Si/Al composites, Grinding simulation of low-volume fraction Mg2Si/Al composites was carried out by ABAQUS, and the influence of different positions of matrix and particle removal on the surface quality of Mg2Si/Al composites was expounded. The plane reverse grinding test was carried out by using CBN (boron nitride) grinding wheel. The L16(43) orthogonal test and three groups of single factor tests were designed. The orthogonal results show that the linear velocity of the grinding wheel has the greatest influence on the surface roughness, and the feed rate and grinding depth are significantly smaller. The range analysis shows that the optimal grinding parameters are: vs = 35 m/s, vw = 0.75 m/min, ap = 0.015 mm. The regression equation for surface roughness was established by using MATLAB. The single factor results show that the surface quality is obviously improved by increasing the linear velocity of the grinding wheel and reducing the feed rate and grinding depth through the observation of the morphology of the processed specimen. The analysis results show that defects such as pits, protrusions, burrs, and a small amount of fish-scale-like on the machined surface are mainly caused by the linear velocity of the grinding wheel, the pulling force of the grinding wheel, and the adhesion of the debris. The defects such as particle micro-cracks, particle pull-out, and matrix cracking on the subsurface, are mainly caused by the compressive stress of the grinding wheel and the stress concentration of the particles. The research results have guiding significance for future composite material cutting research and actual cutting processing.
Optimization of gas metal arc welding parameters for dissimilar steel welds: A case study on duplex stainless steel 2205 and stainless steel 316L
Authors: Sengottaiyan Veerakumar , Kasilingam Krishnamurthy , Balasubramaniam Meenakshipriya , Munimathan Arunkumar
Published: September 2024

The significance of welded connections in steel structures necessitates precise structural designs and processing adaptations to ensure robust mechanical strength and durability. Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) employing controlled curves presents advantages over conventional methods, offering enhanced weld bead properties, improved aesthetics, and reduced thermal inputs. This research investigates the impact of GMAW parameters using controlled curves on the microstructure and geometry of welds between dissimilar structural steels—duplex stainless steel 2205 and stainless steel 316L grade 50—commonly employed in construction. The aim is to optimize the GMAW welding process with controlled curves and surface tension transfer between these dissimilar steels. Through a 23-factorial experimental design encompassing feed speed (Va), arc focus (FC), and peak-to-base amplitude (APB), the study examines welding energy, geometry, deposition efficiency, microstructure, microhardness, tensile strength, and corrosion properties. Optimal welding energy fosters refined microstructures and uniform hardness, aiding in predicting weld throat area. Higher energy levels expand the heat-affected zone and coarse grains, while lower energies escalate variability. Predictive models facilitate fine-tuning welding energy and throat area for desirable properties and penetration while minimizing disruptions. This process optimization can be achieved by employing derived equations that limit welding energy and curve parameters, striking a desired balance between cost, structural integrity, and reliability.
Thermally radiative chemically reactive flow of Reiner-Rivlin nanofluid through porous medium with Newtonian conditions
Authors: Nasir Sana , Shehzad Sabir Ali , Khattab Tabinda
Published: September 2024

The nanofluids have well-known implications in pharmaceutical industries, microelectronics, heat exchangers, engine cooling, hybrid-powered engines, thermal management of vehicles, refrigerator, machining, chillers, grinding, and in boiler fuel to reduce the gas temperature. Due to such dominant implications of nanofluids, the boundary layer Reiner-Rivlin nanomaterial flow over chemically reactive stretched sheet is considered. Radiation term is incorporated in the energy equation for heat transportation analysis. Newtonian thermal and solutal conditions are implemented at the boundaries of the surface. Similarity variables are utilized for the conversion of nonlinear partial differential equations into the system of one independent variable equations. The resulted system of equations is calculated analytically with the help of homotopy analysis method. Convergence of the calculated results is verified through plots and numeric benchmark. The results of various pertinent parameters on quantities of physical importance are drawn and discussed in detail. Results revealed that the incremented cross viscous constraint resulted higher velocity and lower temperature profiles. An augmentation in radiative constraint gives rise to temperature field. Concentration and temperature have reverse trends against the rising Brownian motion constraint values.
Efficacy of acupuncture on drinkers with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome: secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Zhu Lili , Sun Yuanjie , Yan Shiyan , Liu Xiaoxu , Wang Xinlu , Liu Zhishun
Published: September 2024

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in drinkers with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Methods:

We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial across multiple centers, involving 224 drinkers. Patients received either acupuncture or sham acupuncture treatment. The primary outcome was the proportion of responders, defined as participants who had a reduction of 6 points or more from baseline in the National Institute of Health—Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) total score at weeks 8 and 32. Secondary outcomes measures included the Global Response Assessment (GRA), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5).

Results:

One hundred and twelve drinkers were included in each group (n = 224 in total). The proportion of responders in terms of NIH-CPSI was 58.9% versus 40.3% in the acupuncture group (AG) and sham acupuncture group (SAG), respectively, with a statistically significant difference of 18.6% ( p = 0.002) at week 8. Higher proportions of responders with respect to NIH-CPSI ( p < 0.001 at week 32) and GRA ( p < 0.001 at week 8 and p = 0.01 at week 32) were observed in the AG compared with the SAG. No between-group differences were found in the changes in IPSS at any assessment time point. Changes in IIEF-5 score were significantly higher in the AG than in the SAG at weeks 20 and 32, while the difference was not statistically significant at week 8.

Conclusion:

Acupuncture appeared to alleviate the symptoms of pain among drinkers with CP/CPPS and improve their quality of life, but had no demonstrable effect on urinary tract symptoms or erectile function among these patients.

Trial registration number:

NCT03213938 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
A Study of Patriarchy and Misogyny in the Context of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Forest of Enchantments
Authors: Athreya Deekshita , Patil Surekha
Published: September 2024

The Ramayana penned by Valmiki around 200 BCE is regarded as his magnum opus and is held in esteem as one of the greatest epics in history. Consisting of 24,000 shlokas or verses, it has served as a basis for moral conduct and gallantry for humans around the world. However, in recent times, there have been concerns about its supposed promotion of patriarchy. With feminists feeling that the epic has suppressed the voices of its female characters, numerous adaptations have emerged. The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is one such work, which aims to advocate the suffering of its female lead, Sita. The aim of this article is to analyse instances of feminism, gynocentrism and misogyny in the above-mentioned work and also to argue and support the claims that the condition of women since all those years ago has not changed. It critically examines the actions and thought processes of the author’s myriad characters, extracts the values from them and endeavours to relate it with the condition of women in the twenty-first century. The article does not make a comment on the original epic written by the revered Valmiki, all conclusions drawn are based on The Forest of Enchantments alone.
Pastoral Care for Christian and Muslim Women Regarding Radicalism in Indonesia
Authors: Natar Asnath N
Published: September 2024

Women are known as those who give birth to life and maintain life. However, the conflict that occurred in Indonesia has destroyed lives and made many women victims. In subsequent developments, women are not only victims but also perpetrators or victimizers, particularly in religious-based conflicts because of their involvement in radicalism movements. This happens a lot among Muslim women to defend their religion. The question that arises is whether the same thing also happens among Christian women as a result of the pressure and oppression they experience from the majority group, namely Muslims. Research on this topic was carried out using a mixed method between quantitative and qualitative research. This topic is reviewed from a feminist perspective. This research will be carried out in pastoral care to prevent women from being involved in radical movements and encourage them to become agents of peace who seek positive radicalism or peaceful radicalism.
All Is Well Until It Isn’t: Socioemotional Wealth Congruence and Employee Behavior in Family Firms
Authors: Vardaman James M. , McLarty Benjamin D. , Carter Min Z.
Published: September 2024

This article explores the counterintuitive notion that congruence in the importance family firm supervisors and their employees place on socioemotional wealth is negatively associated with employee citizenship and proactive behaviors, while incongruence has positive effects. Results from polynomial regression analysis of data collected from 159 family firm supervisor–employee dyads support our complacency theory-based model, suggesting that congruence creates attentional lethargy and complacency toward organizational citizenship and proactivity while incongruence makes the need to engage in beneficial behaviors more salient. The negative effects of congruence are alleviated by higher levels of leader–member exchange. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Information Freshness in Service Queues With Strategic Customers
Authors: Xu Jin , Duan Lingjie , Shou Biying , Huang Jianwei
Published: September 2024

We examine a scenario in which a service provider updates its queue length information to customers at a specific frequency. Customers decide whether to join the queue based on the most recent update. Our objective is to determine the optimal updating frequency that benefits both the service provider and customers. Using a two-dimensional continuous-time Markov process, we model the actual and announced queue length processes. By proving the identical distributions of these two processes under a Poisson updating scheme, we derive closed-form solutions for customers’ utility functions. Our findings demonstrate that customers adopt a generalized mixed-threshold strategy at equilibrium, and their certainty about whether to join the queue or balk does not always increase with fresher information. Furthermore, we reveal that due to customers’ different sensitivities to information freshness, system performance metrics such as throughput and total customer utility exhibit non-monotonic behavior in response to the updating frequency. Consequently, providing fresher information does not necessarily lead to improved system performance. To address this, we propose algorithms to determine the optimal updating frequency for each system performance metric and identify the conditions under which different updating frequencies are optimal. We demonstrate that any positive updating frequency can achieve customer utility no worse than the no-information system. Additionally, in systems with high customer arrival rates, updating with a positive updating frequency can improve throughput. Furthermore, we prove conditions under which a positive and finite updating frequency can yield higher throughput and total customer utility compared to real-time information systems.
Renegotiations in the Presence of Supply Disruptions
Authors: Katok Elena , Tan Lijia
Published: September 2024

We study the ability to renegotiate in a supply chain setting with the possibility of supply disruption. Disruptions are a real threat to supply chains, especially as the supply chains become longer and more complex. When buyers and sellers write a purchase contract, specifying every possible contingency related to disruptions may not be realistic. However, the ability to renegotiate once a disruption occurs can help buyers and suppliers find efficient solutions. We conducted a controlled laboratory experiment consisting of three studies, each exploring different conditions regarding relationship length, bargaining power, and communication. Our findings indicate that the ability to renegotiate increases buyer profit and decreases disruption inefficiency in short-term relationships but not in long-term ones. In free bargaining, where bargaining power is equal, the impact of renegotiation is greater than in ultimatum bargaining, where bargaining power is unequal. Additionally, when communication is not allowed in ultimatum bargaining, renegotiation significantly enhances buyer profit and reduces disruption inefficiency. These insights can assist managers in designing and negotiating incomplete contracts in environments prone to supply disruptions. The findings can aid managers in designing and negotiating incomplete contracts in environments with supply disruptions.
Replicating Visuo-Motor Remapping in the Laparoscopic Environment
Authors: Howe B. , Klein M.I. , Turkowski Z. , Yadak A. , Iloanusi M. , Brito A. , Monico C.
Published: September 2024

Laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique, requires precise visuo-motor coordination. Because the surgical field is viewed through a camera which may need to be placed to one side of the would-be direct line of sight, rotational distortion is a concern. This study investigates adaptation to rotational distortions by replicating previous computerized two-dimensional perceptual-motor experiments, and measurement methods, using a non-virtual low-fidelity laparoscopic training simulator. This replication was chosen for the opportunity to observe the best-established adaptation mechanisms (gradual and axis-inversion) and carryover effects. To our knowledge, this is the first time that circular statistics are used to analyze directional error data collected in the laparoscopic environment. Results strongly indicated that gradual adaptation occurs with distortions below 90°, and there is leading evidence that axis-inversion occurs in distortions above 90°. This confirms previous observations of task performance decrement in the laparoscopic environment and provides clarification for new research directions.
Investigating Drivers’ Awareness of Automated Vehicle Modes Using the State Diagram Method
Authors: Rheem Hansol , Lee Joonbum , Lee John D. , Szczerba Joseph F. , Mathieu Roy , Rajavenkatanarayanan Akilesh
Published: September 2024

Driving automation introduces multiple driving modes to maximize the system’s benefits, but drivers must monitor and stay aware of these modes, which can sometimes lead to mode confusion. We modified Degani and Heymann’s state diagram method to assess the mode structure of a hypothetical driving automation system and the likelihood of discrepancies between drivers’ mode awareness and the system’s actual mode. We used the modified method and driving simulation data from participants who weren’t fully informed about all automation modes. The modified method visualized all possible combinations of automation modes and drivers’ mode awareness, highlighting where they diverge and estimating the frequency of the divergence. The diagram identified areas where human-machine interface (HMI) design can help drivers maintain accurate mode awareness. The modified state diagram method provides actionable insights for designing HMIs to reduce mode confusion and can be used to develop computational models of automation mode structures.
The Use of Computational Modeling and Simulation to Design and Evaluate a Distributed Work System
Authors: Paladugu Abhinay , Fernandes Alicia , IJtsma Martijn
Published: September 2024

Designing integrated systems of humans and automation involves envisioning how work will be performed, how it is affected by technological capabilities, and what will be helpful to support system performance. This is challenging as interactions and dynamics can create emergent effects that are difficult to predict. This demonstration aims to demonstrate the power of computational simulation in designing, verifying, and validating integrated systems of humans and automation. The demo will include an introduction to the simulation framework Work Models that Compute (WMC) used for our ongoing research, how to develop a work model in WMC, a demo of the simulation, and a demo of postprocessing visualization to analyze the simulation results. The approach can be applied in all stages of system design. With an example in aviation, we show how we use computational modeling and simulation to evaluate the robustness of envisioned operations of humans working with automated systems.
Future of Team Research: On Teamness and Dimensions of Variability in Teams
Authors: Cohen Myke C. , Cooke Nancy J. , Gorman Jamie C. , Fiore Stephen M. , Gray Wayne , Banerjee Sounak , Hirshfield Leanne , Nguyen Daniel
Published: September 2024

Teams are essential for most modern work. But who or what is a team? With today’s rapidly diverse team contexts and the diversity of research frameworks for studying them, there is no longer a definitive answer to this question. Thus, Cooke et al. introduced “teamness,” a construct through which future research can describe teamwork as a function of the many dimensions of variability between and within teams. In this multidisciplinary panel moderated by the two lead authors, we discuss the current state and future directions of team cognitive science in light of teamness as a guiding construct, along with its implications for human factors practice.
Dynamic uncertainty propagation analysis framework for nonlinear control problem based on manifold learning and optimal polynomial method and its application on active suspension system
Authors: Liu Jie , Ding Fei , Wang Jingzheng , Zhang Jinhe , Wu Jianguo
Published: September 2024

A novel uncertainty propagation method based on manifold learning and optimal polynomial model is proposed to quantify and analyze the dynamic uncertainties of the nonlinear feedback control system. To deal with the multiple objectives and constraints of the nonlinear control problem, a barrier Lyapunov-function-based nonlinear filtered backstepping controller is developed and applied to active suspension system to obtain superior ride comfort performance under limited structural constraints. Considering the errors in the production, manufacturing, and assembly, the probability density function is employed to quantify the structural parameter uncertainties in the nonlinear control system. Moreover, to reveal the dynamic propagation mechanism of uncertainties in the system with nonlinearity, the manifold learning method is proposed to reduce the dimensionality of the dynamic system to avoid the complexity of uncertainty propagation. Simultaneously, data-driven optimal polynomial model is utilized to accurately approximate the internal mechanism of nonlinear filtered backstepping control system. Based on that, the response uncertainties of the nonlinear control system are accurately and quickly quantified through dynamic moment information and uncertain fluctuation space. Finally, an active suspension system with nonlinearities and uncertainties is developed to verify the effectiveness of the controller with improved ride comfort and better handling safety and the superiority of the framework in terms of efficiency and accuracy of the dynamic uncertainty propagation analysis for nonlinear control problem.
Peripheral Embodiment: Polish Women Rebuilding Their Lives After Domestic Violence Through Their Bodies
Authors: Sosnowska-Buxton Patrycja , Studsrød Ingunn
Published: September 2024

In deeply Catholic Poland, domestic violence (DV) is often denied, downplayed, or justified, hindering its recognition as a pressing societal issue. This study addresses the scarcity of research on the experiences and recovery of Polish women from DV. Through feminist interviews with 13 women in Norway and Poland who survived DV, our findings reveal a complex entanglement of embodied experiences with history, religion, society, and gender hierarchies during their recovery processes. Participants emphasized the significance of “body works,” such as running and using makeup, as essential for empowerment and regaining control of their battered bodies and minds.
Backward and in Heels . . . Mabel Purefoy FitzGerald's Extraordinary Journey to Discovery at High Altitudes
Authors: Tissot van Patot Martha
Published: September 2024

In 1911, Mabel Purefoy FitzGerald (1872–1973) conducted a study in the mountains of Colorado that offered invaluable insights into how the body responds to chronic hypoxia. Researchers awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine 2019 cited her work as critical in unravelling the hypoxia sensing system. The astounding career situation in which FitzGerald found herself while conducting this study offers important insights into the challenges faced by women in science at the turn of the twentieth century. Like Ginger Rogers dancing with Fred Astaire, FitzGerald did the equivalent of everything her male colleagues did, only backward and in high heels. Although it is tempting to believe that such inequities for women are relegated to history, the career challenges faced by 2023 Nobel Laureate Katalin Karikó highlight evidence that the struggle for equality of women in science remains a significant problem.
Self-Stigma of Canadian Youth With ADHD and Their Parents
Authors: Jelinkova Kristina , Charabin Emma , Miller Courtney , Climie Emma A.
Published: September 2024

Objective:

ADHD is subject to stigma from the general population. Exposure to stigma poses the risk of developing self-stigma of youth and parents, but few studies have focused on self-stigma of ADHD. Furthermore, parental factors have been implicated in self-stigma of youth, but no previous research has assessed the association between self-stigma of parents and youth. Therefore, the objective of this study was to better understand the experience of self-stigma of youth and their parents in the context of ADHD.

Method:

Fifty-five youth with ADHD (aged 8-17) and one parent reporter per youth completed surveys to report their experiences.

Results:

The results of this study found that both youth and parents reported significantly lower self-stigma scores compared to most previously published research. Parents of boys reported higher self-stigma scores compared to parents of girls. Youth who reported higher self-stigma also reported lower self-esteem. Self-stigma scores in youth were predicted by inattentive symptoms but not hyperactive/impulsive symptoms or parental self-stigma.

Conclusion:

Results emphasize the importance of understanding self-stigma of ADHD, symptom severity, and the need for interventions for families with ADHD.