bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motif Hafızası: Memlûkler Örneği
Authors: Özkara Güler Hatice
Published: December 2024

Tarihî perspektifinde bir toplumun kumaş, maden, cam ve seramik desenlerinin incelenmesi o toplumun sosyal kimliğini semboller üzerinden tanımlama yapmayı mümkün kılar. Ancak gözden kaçırılmaması gereken bir husus vardır ki; milletlerin bugünlere taşınan görsel ruhunun yansımaları yani motif hafızaları vardır. Bu çalışmanın amacı “geçmiş sadece yazılı kaynaklarda mı aranmalıdır; yoksa her toplumun tarih serüvenlerinin tamamlayıcı unsurları olan kendilerine has kullandıkları semboller üzerinden okumalarla da sağlıklı verilere ulaşılabilir mi” sorusuna cevap bulabilmektir. Motif hafızası yoklandığında bu sembollerin çoğu zaman birbirini tekrarladığı görülebilirken, sosyal ya da siyasî hayatın dinamiklerinin sonucu olan farklılar da olmuştur. Hafızayı; iz takibi olarak tanımlamak gerekirse ve dokumanın tarihi Orta Asya’ya kadar uzanabiliyorsa Türk kültürünün hafızasını motifler üzerinden takip edilebilir olduğunu gösterme amacında olan bu çalışma genel manada Türk kültür mirası keşfinin bir basamağı olarak Memlûk Devleti safhasını daha anlaşılır kılacaktır. Motifin tarihi üzerine yapılan bu inceleme; sadece Memlûk devleti için değil, aynı zamanda günümüze kadar uzanan süreçte kendisiyle bir şekilde ilgili devletlerle etkileşimleri içerdiği için çalışmanın başlığında “hafıza” ifadesine yer verilmiştir.
Bilindiği üzere tarihsel bakış açısı ile bakıldığında motifler dünyaya çok hızlı bir şekilde yayılmıştır. Bahse konu olan Memlûk Devleti’nin bu bağlamdaki cihan-şümûl katkıları ile beslenen ve Osmanlı Devleti kanalı ile bıraktığı miras dünya tarihinde yerini almıştır. Araştırmanın ilk bölümünde Memlûklerde motiflerin tarihine dair envanter hakkında bilgi verildikten sonra diğer bölümlerde motif içeren belli başlı malzeme, bulgular çerçevesinde incelenerek değerlendirilmiştir. Mimarîye ait motiflerin konusu çok daha kapsamlı olduğu ve ayrı bir inceleme alanında değerlendirileceği için bu çalışmaya dahil edilmemiştir.
FENERBAHÇE TARAFTARININ TEZAHÜRATLARINDA UYARLAMA TEZAHÜRATLARIN YERİ
Authors: Demirkaya Barış , Kayhan Shurubu
Published: December 2024

Bağlı bulundukları takımların menfaati doğrultusunda yapılarını şekillendiren ve belirli amaçlarla bir araya gelerek etkileşim içerisine giren taraftar gruplarının, zaman içerisinde kendilerine ait bir gelenek oluşturdukları görülmektedir. Bir geleneğin taşıyıcı olarak kar-şımıza çıkan sözlü, yazılı ve görsel üretimler meydana getiren, olaylar karşısında ortak davranış kalıpları sergilemesi açısından bir grup olarak değerlendirebileceğimiz Fenerbahçe taraftar grubunun ise maç öncesi ve sonrası ritüelleri, pankartları, tezahüratları, koreografi-leri, bedenlerine giyinmiş oldukları ürünleriyle taraftar folkloruna malzeme olan verimlerle şekillendiği anlaşılmaktadır.
Bu çalışmamızda Türk futbolunun önemli takımları arasında yer alan Fenerbahçe takımı ve onun taraftarının uyarlama tezahüratlarına odaklanılmıştır. Makalemize konu olan tezahü-ratlar sürdürmekte olduğumuz doktora tez çalışması sürecinde yapılan birebir görüşmeler, doğrudan gözlem ve derlemeler ile elektronik kültür ortamından elde edilen verimlerden oluşmaktadır. Tespit ettiğimiz tezahüratların temelde Türk sanat müziği, Arabesk müzik, Türk pop müziği, halk edebiyatı verimlerinden yararlanılarak şekillendiği görülmektedir. Bir grup özelliği gösteren Fenerbahçe taraftarının üretimlerinde verimli bir alan olarak karşımıza çıkan tezahüratları ve onların oluşum süreçlerini ele almak dünyadaki taraftar gruplarında da karşılaştığımız tezahürat üretim sürecindeki benzerliği ortaya koymaktadır. Bu olguya Fenerbahçe taraftar grubu özelinde ve genel çerçevede değinmek taraftar grupla-rının verimlerini üretme ve şekillendirme yollarını anlamak noktasında önemli bir veri sunmaktadır.
Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: an exemplar of surgical and engineering collaboration
Authors: Gill Richie H. S. , Haddad Fares S.
Published: December 2024

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(12):1120–1122.
Incorporating Volumetric Water Content (Capacitance) Sensors as an Automated Data Entry Solution for Irrigator Pro
Authors: Gallios Ioannis , Butts Christopher L. , Sorensen Ronald B. , Porter Wesley , Vellidis George
Published: December 2024

Highlights

A new version of Irrigator Pro that pulls volumetric water content data from capacitance probe APIs was developed.

The model was evaluated in replicated field trials for two years at two locations in Georgia, USA.

The new version performs at least as well as the other versions of Irrigator Pro.

The model was released and is publicly available on web and smartphone platforms.

Abstract. Irrigator Pro (IP) is a public domain irrigation scheduling decision support tool (DST) developed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Peanut Research Laboratory (NPRL), which is widely used by peanut farmers and consultants in the southeastern U.S. The original version of the DST utilizes min/max soil temperature and precipitation to provide yes/no irrigation decisions for peanut. Recently, scientists at NPRL developed a sensor-based soil water balance model version of Irrigator Pro that automates the data collection process. This version allows either manual data entry or automated entry of soil matric potential data from sensors located at 0.1-, 0.2-, and 0.4-m depths. To make Irrigator Pro more accessible to growers and consultants, the work described here focused on incorporating volumetric water content (VWC) also sensed by capacitance probes as an automated data entry solution for Irrigator Pro. The deliverable of this project was to release a new version of Irrigator Pro that uses VWC data directly from capacitance probes. During the 2021 growing season, data were collected from two field sites in southwestern Georgia, USA, using replicated plot studies to develop the VWC version of Irrigator Pro. The VWC version was evaluated during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons by comparing its performance to that of the other two versions of Irrigator Pro and to other advanced irrigation scheduling tools. The results indicated that the VWC version performed at least as well as the temperature and matric potential versions of Irrigator Pro in terms of irrigation water use and peanut yields. The VWC version of Irrigator Pro was then integrated into the Irrigator Pro platform and made available for public use. Ongoing evaluation of the model will continue in subsequent growing seasons with on-farm trials. Keywords: Decision support tools, Irrigation scheduling, Peanut irrigation, Precision agriculture, Smartphone application.
Reliability Estimation of Parallel Systems with Diverse Failure Modes: Semi-Markov Model Approach
Authors: Baloda Priya , Kumar Amit , Garg Vikas
Published: December 2024

This paper introduces a novel system consisting of two dissimilar units operating in parallel, each with distinct failure modes. This flexibility in units characteristics minimizes the risk of simultaneous failures due to common causes. The system’s mathematical model is developed using a semi-Markov approach, and a numerical method based on the regenerative point technique is applied to estimate various reliability measures, such as the mean time to system failure (MTSF) and system availability. Failure rates are modeled as exponentially distributed, while repair rates are allowed to follow arbitrary distributions. Additionally, the proposed model undergoes graphical analysis to evaluate system performance under varying parameters.
Examining the Empirical Relationship Between Quality of Service (QoS) and Trust Mechanisms of Cloud Services
Authors: Goyal Pooja , Deora Sukhvinder Singh
Published: December 2024

Service selection has emerged as a prominent challenge due to the flourishing demand for computing services and the dynamic nature of its resources. The increasing demand for cloud services makes it challenging to choose a provider offering equal services and facilities at costs that match those of competing providers. Apart from educating customers in the process of choosing cloud services, trust mechanisms include user reviews, reputation systems, and certifications assist to boost consumers’ confidence in cloud services. The service measurement index (SMI) offers a disciplined framework combining both functional and non-functional quality of service indicators concurrently, therefore easing decision-making. The main emphasis of the research is on the fundamental elements influencing the choice of cloud services in the present environment, the identification of extra characteristics of cloud services transcending SMI, and the identification of the most suitable approach for some services. By means of the measurement of customer enjoyment and experience, QoS traits provide some insight on the impact of trust mechanisms on service acceptance. Comparisons of SMI and QoS measurements before and after trust mechanism deployment provide insightful analysis. Empirical research guides these comparisons. This study aims to clarify the interactions among QoS, trust mechanisms, and cloud service adoption as well as highlight the implications these elements have for customers and service providers. Furthermore, presented in this paper is an algorithm using a comprehensive method to trust estimation in order to ascertain the degree of confidence worthiness of certain people.
A Data Alignment Method for Network Packet Capture Based on DBSCAN
Authors: Lu Jiarui , Su Qinggang
Published: December 2024

This paper investigates the issues of packet alignment and consistency among PLC devices based on industrial network environments, aiming to ensure the integrity and accuracy of packets from sender to receiver. To achieve this goal, we propose an anomaly detection method that combines the DBSCAN clustering algorithm with the 3-sigma principle to identify and handle abnormal packets that may occur during transmission. By comparing the data between the sending and receiving ends, and analyzing based on timestamps and data content, we validate the alignment of packets in the network environment. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively detects and corrects packet loss or delay jitter, thereby enhancing the reliability of communication between PLC devices and the consistency of data transmission. The scheme presented in this paper enables quicker and more precise identification of packet loss and delays, adapting well to various network load conditions. Further experimental analysis indicates that this method excels in reducing both false positive and false negative rates, and it exhibits good scalability, making it applicable to data alignment and consistency verification in other industrial automation scenarios. Ultimately, this novel solution provides stability and accuracy for data transmission among devices in a network environment.
Questions, questions and more questions
Authors: Sayers Rob
Published: December 2024

Can we find the right answers to the problems facing the NHS?
Has the Leeds Improvement Method improved again? An update on neurosurgical patient flow
Authors: Meacock J , Smedley A , Mukherjee S , Sheikh A
Published: December 2024

We explore how the Toyota Production System is revolutionising patient flow in critical care, using lean principles to reduce inefficiencies, enhance coordination, and improve surgical outcomes.
The return of the Technologist 1.0: generative AI as a personal coach
Authors: Kerstein Ryan
Published: December 2024

Our original Technologist returns to discuss the use of generative AI as a coaching tool for surgeons.
Comment from the Dean
Authors: Eckhardt Charlotte
Published: December 2024

Our Dean looks at the innovative uses of AI being implemented into dental healthcare.
The changing market of dentistry in England
Authors: Spillane Benjamin , Gallagher Jenny , Witton Robert , Patel Rakhee
Published: December 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing access challenges in NHS dentistry in England. In this paper, we offer a snapshot of the dental market in post-pandemic England. Using Care Quality Commission and NHS Business Services Authority online datasets, we compared the number of dental providers with and without an NHS contract. We identified the two regions in England with the most and least progress made in COVID-19 recovery in terms of access to dental services since the pandemic: the London and South West regions respectively. In London, there has been growth in the dental market but only among private dental sites. In South West England, there has been a stagnation in the market but with a transition from NHS to private providers. These data show a concerning trend in the privatisation of the dental market, which is widening health inequalities across England.
Optical frequency comb generation based on spectral broadening of a self-injection locked directly modulated microcavity laser
Authors: Shi Yang , Yang Yue-De , Hu Zun-Hao , Hu Bi-Wei , Dong Zhong , Xiao Jin-Long , Chen You-Ling , Huang Yong-Zhen
Published: December 2024

A coherent optical frequency comb (OFC) with suppressed linewidth is demonstrated based on the spectral broadening of a directly modulated semiconductor microcavity laser with self-injection locking. Due to the high electro-optical response, the directly modulated microcavity laser provides a 10-GHz-spaced seeding OFC with 9 comb teeth in a 10 dB flatness window. Besides, an optical feedback fiber loop with two sub-loops is introduced to reduce the linewidth of the microlaser and suppress the undesired longitudinal modes. Self-injection locking is realized at the feedback power of 72 µW, and the laser linewidth is narrowed from 10 MHz to 14.5 kHz. Moreover, spectral broadening and pulse compression are used to broaden the optical spectrum and compress the pulse width, which results in an OFC with 36 comb lines in a 10 dB power deviation and a 1.8 ps optical pulse. Owing to the high coherence of the directly modulated OFC, all comb lines feature narrow linewidths in the range of 14.5∼18.2 kHz.
A computational model for angular velocity integration in a locust heading circuit
Authors: Pabst Kathrin , Gkanias Evripidis , Webb Barbara , Homberg Uwe , Endres Dominik
Published: December 2024

Accurate navigation often requires the maintenance of a robust internal estimate of heading relative to external surroundings. We present a model for angular velocity integration in a desert locust heading circuit, applying concepts from early theoretical work on heading circuits in mammals to a novel biological context in insects. In contrast to similar models proposed for the fruit fly, this circuit model uses a single 360° heading direction representation and is updated by neuromodulatory angular velocity inputs. Our computational model was implemented using steady-state firing rate neurons with dynamical synapses. The circuit connectivity was constrained by biological data, and remaining degrees of freedom were optimised with a machine learning approach to yield physiologically plausible neuron activities. We demonstrate that the integration of heading and angular velocity in this circuit is robust to noise. The heading signal can be effectively used as input to an existing insect goal-directed steering circuit, adapted for outbound locomotion in a steady direction that resembles locust migration. Our study supports the possibility that similar computations for orientation may be implemented differently in the neural hardware of the fruit fly and the locust.
Sporotrichosis during pregnancy: A retrospective study of 58 cases in a reference center from 1998 to 2023
Authors: Freitas Dayvison Francis Saraiva , Cunha Rodrigo Pernas , de Oliveira Raquel de Vasconcellos Carvalhaes , de Macedo Priscila Marques , do Valle Antonio Carlos Francesconi , Rezende Ana Paula Marinho Barbosa , Eiras Rosangela Vieira , Curi André Luiz Land , Carvalho Erika Moreira , de Moraes Raissa Lima , Almeida-Paes Rodrigo , Zancopé-Oliveira Rosely Maria , Gutierrez–Galhardo Maria Clara
Published: December 2024

Background

Pregnant women constitute a vulnerable population occasionally affected by zoonotic sporotrichosis. Treatment is challenging due to potentially teratogenic oral medications (itraconazole and saturated potassium iodide solution) or lack of clinical experience during pregnancy (terbinafine). Literature is scarce on sporotrichosis and pregnancy, mainly consisting of case reports.

Methodology/principal findings

This study consists of a cohort of 58 cases of pregnant women with sporotrichosis attended in a reference center in Rio de Janeiro from 1998 to 2023. The median age was 27 years old; the majority were black (64.4%); comorbidities prior to pregnancy were reported by 20.7% (including two people living with HIV/AIDS–PLHIV) and 6.8% developed conditions that are unique to pregnancy. In 75.9% of patients, they were pregnant when they acquired sporotrichosis, with a median gestational age of 17 weeks, and 24.1% became pregnant during treatment for sporotrichosis. The lymphocutaneous form occurred in 63.8% of patients, followed by the fixed form (19%), disseminated cutaneous form (12%) and extracutaneous/disseminated forms (5.2%). Thermotherapy was indicated for all (except 2) patients and cryosurgery was performed in 22 (37.9%). Amphotericin B was indicated for a patient with external ocular sporotrichosis and for the PLHIV with osteomyelitis in the right tibia. Cure occurred in 100% of those followed (n = 44) with the remainder lost to follow-up (n = 14)

Conclusions

Pregnant women with cutaneous sporotrichosis in this study recovered following physical therapies, suggesting these therapies may be effective. In cases of extracutaneous and disseminated forms, amphotericin B was indicated due to its safety profile in this population. Management of sporotrichosis during pregnancy requires a delicate assessment of the balance between maternal benefit and fetal risks.
Bayesian and non-bayesian analysis for stress-strength model based on progressively first failure censoring with applications
Authors: Alyami Salem A. , Hassan Amal S. , Elbatal Ibrahim , Albalawi Olayan , Elgarhy Mohammed , El-Saeed Ahmed R.
Published: December 2024

This article examines the estimate of ϑ = P [T < Q], using both Bayesian and non-Bayesian methods, utilizing progressively first-failure censored data. Assume that the stress (T) and strength (Q) are independent random variables that follow the Burr III distribution and the Burr XII distribution, respectively, with a common first-shape parameter. The Bayes estimator and maximum likelihood estimator of ϑ are obtained. The maximum likelihood (ML) estimator is obtained for non-Bayesian estimation, and the accompanying confidence interval is constructed using the delta approach and the asymptotic normality of ML estimators. Through the use of non-informative and gamma informative priors, the Bayes estimator of ϑ under squared error and linear exponential loss functions is produced. It is suggested that Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques be used for Bayesian estimation in order to achieve Bayes estimators and the associated credible intervals. To evaluate the effectiveness of the several estimators created, a Monte Carlo numerical analysis is also carried out. In the end, for illustrative reasons, an algorithmic application to actual data is investigated.
External load transition practices from pre-season to in-season. A case study in elite female professional soccer players
Authors: Oliveira Rafael , Morgans Ryland , Fernandes Renato , Brito João Paulo , Espada Mário C. , Santos Fernando J.
Published: December 2024

The study aim was to compare the external load during varying microcycles (M1-M4 during pre-season and M5 during the in-season) in elite female Portuguese soccer players and to describe external load variations between differing Ms. Fourteen first-team players participated in the study (age 23.29 ± 3.19 years, weight 59.14 ± 6.87 kg, height 1.66 ± 0.08 m). Load measures included total distance, high-speed running (HSR) distance (≥15 km/h), number of accelerations and decelerations [acceleration 1 (ACC1), >1–2 m/s; acceleration 2 (ACC2), >2–3 m/s; acceleration 3 (ACC3), >3–4 m/s; acceleration 4 (ACC4), >4 m/s] and decelerations [deceleration 1 (DEC1), <1–2 m/s; deceleration 2 (DEC2), <2–3 m/s; deceleration 3 (DEC3), <3–4 m/s; deceleration 4 (DEC4), <4 m/s]. M1 showed higher values of total distance, ACC1, ACC2, ACC3, DEC2, DEC3 and DEC4 than M2 (p = <0.001–0.04), although HSR was higher in M2 (p < 0.001). M2 showed lower values of HSR, ACC1, DEC1, DEC2, DEC3 than M3 (p = 0.001–0.04). M3 reported higher values of total distance, ACC1, ACC2, DEC1, DEC2 than M4 (p = <0.001–0.03), while M4 only found higher values of ACC4 and DEC4 than M5 (both, p = 0.01). The highest values occurred in M3 for the majority of external load metrics (except ACC3, ACC4, and DEC4 which were higher in M4). However, during the transition from M4 to M5, only ACC4 and DEC4 decreased with all other measures maintained, thus supporting the notion to maintain similar loading patterns during official competition.
A national cross-sectional survey of health literacy of caregivers attending Canadian pediatric emergency departments
Authors: Rajagopal Manasi , Ali Samina , Ma Keon , Yaskina Maryna , Morrison Andrea , Schreiner Kurt , Leung Julie , Scott Shannon , Beer Darcy , Clerc Paul , Crawford Tyrus , Gouin Serge , Poonai Naveen , Principi Tania , Stang Antonia , Weingarten Laura , Curran Janet ,   on behalf of the Pediatric Emergency Research Canada Family Needs Study Team
Published: December 2024

Background

Health literacy assessment is key to better meeting family needs and developing informed strategies to promote positive health outcomes for children. The objective of this study was to describe the health literacy of caregivers who use Canadian pediatric emergency departments and relate it to demographic and visit-specific variables.

Methods

This study utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design with medical record review. A bilingual survey was electronically administered to caregivers presenting to 10/15 Canadian pediatric emergency departments. Health literacy was assessed using the Newest Vital Sign tool.

Results

1957 caregivers completed the Newest Vital Sign assessment. Caregivers’ mean age was 37.8 ± 7.7 years, 74.3% (1449/1950) were mothers and 51.9% (993/1912) had a university/professional degree. 12.0% (235/1957) had a high likelihood of limited health literacy, 16.5% (323/1957) had possible limited health literacy and 71.5% (1399/1957) demonstrated adequate health literacy. Adequate health literacy scores were associated with having a university/professional degree [aOR 1.47 (95% CI 1.11–1.94)] and having a household annual income of over $25,000 [aOR 4.10 (2.66–6.31)]; they were inversely associated with having a total of 4 or more children [aOR 0.61 (0.40–0.91)] and having a main language at home other than English or French [aOR 0.32 (0.23–0.43)].

Interpretation

With over 1/4 caregivers facing health literacy challenges, health care providers in emergency departments must be cognizant of their communication and education approach when caring for families and providing at-home care guidance. Clinicians should consider applying health literacy principles to all family encounters to help address healthcare disparities.
Colliding public health priorities: A call to improve the understanding of autistic individuals utilizing housing assistance
Authors: Shea Lindsay , Roux Anne , Wilson Amy Blank , Ventimiglia Jonas , Carlton Conner , Lee Wei-Lin , Cooper Dylan , Frisbie Shelby
Published: December 2024

The objective of this study was to identify utilization of housing support provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) among autistic people in the U.S. Using 2008 and 2016 Medicaid data, we identified autistic individuals birth to 61 years and linked them to national HUD data. We characterized demographics, co-occurring conditions, and HUD program involvement. Autistic Medicaid enrollees enrolled in HUD increased by 70% between 2008 and 2016. Among 846,350 autistic Medicaid enrollees in 2016, 10.4% (n = 88,315) were HUD-assisted. HUD-assisted autistic individuals, versus non-HUD-assisted, were more likely to be Black/African American and less likely to have private insurance. Most lived in urban areas and were enrolled in the Housing Choice Voucher program. Approximately 2,600 autistic individuals (3%) were homeless at HUD entry. Growing numbers of HUD-assisted autistic individuals point toward an urgent need for federal data to understand and address public health contexts of housing affordability and instability to complement existing clinical autism research investments. Integrated public health, housing, and disability supports must address equitable income supports and housing assistance needed to support the health needs of autistic individuals.
Performance analysis of dual-hop mixed RF-FSO systems combined with NOMA
Authors: Hung Tran Cong , Nguyen Tan N. , Nhan N. H. K. , Le Anh-Tu , Son Pham Ngoc , Pham Thu-Ha Thi , Voznak Miroslav
Published: December 2024

This paper investigates the performance of hybrid radio frequency/free space optical (RF/FSO) systems combined with non-orthogonal multiple access communications technology. We examine a scenario where the source and destination are separated by a large distance, with no direct link between them. The relay, denoted R, operates using the decode-and-forward (DF) protocol. Under the DF relaying scheme, the relay employs successive interference cancellation (SIC). In this setup, the FSO link from the source to the relay follows a Gamma-Gamma distribution, while the RF link from the relay to multiple users follow a Nakagami-m distribution. Based on this system model, we analyze the outage probability (OP). Our findings indicate a direct relationship between SIC and OP performance: the higher the SIC capability, the more effective the system. In addition, the system’s performance is dependent on the parameters of the FSO channel. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations are presented to further validate our framework and findings.
Vitamin D binding protein genetic isoforms, serum vitamin D, and cancer risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial
Authors: Weinstein Stephanie J. , Parisi Dominick , Mondul Alison M. , Layne Tracy M. , Huang Jiaqi , Stolzenberg-Solomon Rachael Z. , Ziegler Regina G. , Purdue Mark P. , Huang Wen-Yi , Abnet Christian C. , Freedman Neal D. , Yu Kai , Albanes Demetrius
Published: December 2024

Associations between vitamin D biochemical status and cancer may be modified by vitamin D binding protein isoforms which are encoded by GC (group-specific component). We examined interactions between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], the Gc isoforms Gc1-1, Gc1-2, and Gc2-2, and cancer risk within the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial cohort based on 3,795 cases and 3,856 controls. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of cancer risk according to 25(OH)D quantiles, stratified by Gc isoform. Separately, the GC-cancer risk association was examined using proportional hazards regression among 109,746 individuals with genetic data and 26,713 diagnosed with cancer. Specific vitamin D binding protein isoform subtypes were delineated and analyzed, including Gc1-1 subtypes (Gc1s-Gc1s, Gc1f-Gc1s, and Gc1f-Gc1f) and Gc2 subtypes (Gc1s-Gc2, Gc1f-Gc2, and Gc2-Gc2). For most cancers, the GC genotype did not modify the risk associations for 25(OH)D; e.g., the OR for high vs. low vitamin D quintile was 1.09 (0.89–1.33) for overall cancer risk among individuals with the Gc1-1 isoform and 1.04 (0.83–1.31) among those with either the Gc1-2 or Gc2-2 isoforms. ORs for high compared to low vitamin D tertile for colorectal, lung, breast, and prostate cancer among those with the Gc1-1 vs. any Gc2 isoforms were, respectively, 0.60 vs. 0.73, 1.96 vs. 1.03, 1.30 vs. 1.18, and 1.19 vs. 1.22 (all p-interaction ≥0.36). However, GC qualitatively modified the vitamin D-bladder cancer risk association: OR = 1.70 (95% CI 0.96–2.98) among those with the Gc1-1 isoform and 0.52 (0.28–0.96) among those with any Gc2 isoforms (p-interaction = 0.03). When modeled without regard for 25(OH)D, Gc isoforms were generally not associated with cancer risk, although melanoma risk was significantly lower among individuals with the “f” subtype of the Gc1-1 isoform, specifically HR = 0.83 (95% CI 0.70–0.98) for Gc1f-1s and 0.67 (0.45–1.00) for Gc1f-1f, compared to individuals with the Gc1s-Gc1s isoform. Vitamin D binding protein genetic isoforms may be associated with melanoma risk but do not modify the association between vitamin D status and cancer, with the possible exception of bladder cancer.
Magical metropolis: The Shanghai surreal
Authors: Walden Lauren
Published: December 2024

This editorial argues that the modern and contemporary Shanghai cityscape revolves around the dialectical reconciliation of opposing forces, such as communism and capitalism, east and west, colonial and cosmopolitan, in line with the surrealist movement’s ‘supreme point’ (1929). Empirically speaking, this was fleshed out in 1924 when Shanghai was termed as both a ‘magical’ and ‘demonic’ city by the Japanese traveller, Shofu Muramatsu, who identified a sordid underbelly beneath Shanghai’s façade of colonial glamour. The editorial brings together twelve articles and one conversation responding to this conceptual stimulus over the course of a century.
Flies and other signs of rot: Surrealism and social critique in Manhua Shenghuo and Manhua he Shenghuo
Authors: Emrich-Rougé Elizabeth
Published: December 2024

Accused of being self-centred or disconnected from the needs of the nation or society, surrealism as a movement was given short shrift by some of the more Left-leaning members of the Chinese art world during the Republican era. Rather than Wei rensheng er yishu (‘Art for life’s sake’), surrealist artists (and modern oil painting in China generally at this time) were associated with the philosophy of Wei yishu er yishu (‘Art for art’s sake’) by politically engaged commentators and roundly criticized. However, this article demonstrates that surrealist themes and images in the work of artists Cai Ruohong (1910–2002) and Bide (likely Huang Shiying, n.d.) were in fact found in the pages of Manhua Shenghuo (Cartoon Life) and the magazine that continued its mandate, Manhua he Shenghuo (Cartoons and Life), and were effective vehicles for the dissemination of pointed Leftist social critique.
Negotiating private and public relational boundaries of the Chinese female body through the lens of past and present
Authors: Seah Rachel
Published: December 2024

The social transformation of the reform era saw healthy economic development alongside the rise of consumerism and increased levels of corruption and unemployment. The effects of this rapid transformation greatly influenced the growing new generation who were readily exposed to the commodity economy and consumerist ideology. The contemporary private photography (Si Sheying) movement in China is said to have risen under such circumstances, pioneered and further developed by post-1980s and post-1990s individuals who grew up in urban cities with a knack for information technology. Driven by individualism, consumerism and technological modernization, these photographers have created some of the most controversial and sexualized photographs of their era. Yet, little research has been done to suggest a plausible historical provenance contributing to the rise and development of Chinese contemporary private photography, particularly in their depiction of the Chinese female body. This article seeks to draw from Republican-era (1928–36) photographers who have contributed to Shanghai pictorial magazines such as Liangyou, Shanghai Manhua, Shidai Manhua and Ling Long and have explored the different representations of the Chinese female imagery. It will further suggest how historical art movements like surrealism underpinned the ways in which the Chinese female body was discussed and displayed in printed media with considerations of the changing eroticization of the male gaze caught in a different mass consumption era. This article will then reveal the formation of the tripartite symbolism drawn from naturism, surreal humour and Rabindranath Tagore’s humane east that is inherent in the above analysis to suggest a surrealistic yet anarchistic transformation in contemporary private photography in China. Finally, it will draw this article to a close with the favourable conditions of the private–public, inner–outer (Nei-Wai) boundary, allowing the Republican-era Chinese females to be empowered to move between the two spheres and where Chinese contemporary private photographers continually use to break down binary divides that continue to hinder in today’s conditions.
A space for imagination: The surreal experience of Shanghai’s Yu Garden
Authors: Zhou Yang
Published: December 2024

Shanghai is usually conceived of as a modern metropolis. Yet the city retains historical spaces, for instance the Yu Garden, first built in 1559. Literati gardens were created by the scholar-officials of dynastic China, known as wenren, intellectual elites well-versed in poetry, calligraphy and sometimes painting, while taking up positions in the government. Originally private spaces, these sites are recognized as cultural heritage and open to the public today, and could be seen as surreal spaces where past and present, dream and reality blend. Taking Shanghai’s Yu Garden as a case study, this article investigates how an anachronistic perspective of the surrealistic lens could connect the literati gardens to contemporary visitors and reveal values beyond their inherent ones as heritage sites. Via empirical accounts of my visits to the Yu Garden and briefly tracing the history of the site, I explored the surreality of the garden itself so as to provide the context. In the second part, I look at photographic representations of the Yu Garden with different creative intentions by the following photographers: Marc Riboud, Hu Jieming, Yu Wenhao and Dong Wensheng. Through visual analysis, I reveal how these representations chime with the surrealist discourses in different ways and how they bring about new ways to engage with historical sites. Having contextualized these contemporary representations, in the final part, I reflect upon my photographic practice. I make no apology for focusing on my own work, because my representation of the Yu Garden intends to evoke experiences not only of surreality, but even of transcendence, which will reclaim a space for spirituality much needed by Shanghai, the metropolis.
Surrealist strategies to capture the urban experience of Shanghai: Hybridization and polymorphism in the contemporary metropolis public space
Authors: Ortiz Martínez de Carnero Rafael
Published: December 2024

This article examines a personal practice-based research developed during the 2010s that explores the contemporary urban experience of the metropolis of Shanghai, identifying features and attributes of its public space from the inhabitant perspective. The urban space of Shanghai, in connection with the surreal, is labyrinthine, interconnected and heterogeneous. It has an ambiguous hierarchy and order, where anything can be linked to another, and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is simulated. Culturally polymorphic and borderline, this space does not belong to any particular historical place or period. It only exists in the present, in continuity, in constant transformation, on scales where the small, accessible and domestic coexist with the territorial, public and impenetrable. The support of these spaces of hybrid nature where the technological, the animal and the vegetal coexist is the city in constant expansion, which assimilates the transformation for the development of activity and where masses of people and vehicles stream from everywhere in every direction. Through photography and digital manipulation techniques, the project captures and enhances the perception of the atmosphere and spatial relationships as elements that condition activity patterns in their inhabitants along with sociocultural guidelines. On the other hand, chromatic and surface/print media treatments explore aesthetic aspects related to elements of traditional and popular artistic representation characteristic of East Asian cultures. Thus, together with highly contrasting styles of black and white and even negatives, bright and sharp colours coexist with strongly contrasted and outlined contours over metallic supports that evoke everything from the traditional to the technological.
Street to screen carnivalesque: Labour, identity and resistance at the 2023 Shanghai Halloween Parade
Authors: Zeng Burong
Published: December 2024

The 2023 Shanghai Halloween Parade marked a significant shift from previous years, transforming from a modest festivity into a carnivalesque spectacle that served as a platform for cultural resistance and collective expression. This study examines the parade’s evolution in the context of post-COVID-19 China, exploring its manifestation both on the streets and in digital spaces. Drawing on Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of the ‘carnivalesque’, Franco Berardi’s notion of the ‘cognitariat’ and Judith Butler’s analysis of the potentiality of gender parody, the research investigates how the parade reflected local sociopolitical tensions, particularly those stemming from pandemic-related traumas and economic stagnation. The parade saw unprecedented participation from diverse groups, notably young urban professionals (the ‘cognitariat’) and the LGBTQ community, who used the event to voice dissent against exploitative work cultures and identity erasure, respectively. The street celebrations were characterized by low-key costumes and performances that blended black humour with critical commentary on recent social issues. Crucially, the parade’s impact extended beyond physical spaces into the digital realm. Social media platforms amplified the carnivalesque atmosphere, enabling broader participation and preserving the event’s legacy through memes and creative expressions. However, this online dimension also highlighted ongoing censorship, with certain discussions quickly disappearing from view. This research contributes to understanding how festivals of western originals like Halloween are localized and repurposed in Shanghai, serving as vehicles for negotiating identity and resistance in the face of social and political constraints. It also sheds light on the interplay between physical and digital manifestations of cultural resistance in contemporary China.
Who Makes the Franchise? Essays on Fandom and Wilderness Texts in Popular Media, Rhonda Knight and Donald Quist (eds) (2022)
Authors: Alberto Maria K.
Published: December 2024

Review of: Who Makes the Franchise? Essays on Fandom and Wilderness Texts in Popular Media, Rhonda Knight and Donald Quist (eds) (2022)

Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., 264 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-47668-415-4, p/bk, $65.00
Los centros del consuelo. Las peluquerías trans de la 9 de Octubre en Cuenca (Ecuador)
Authors: Machado Arévalo María José
Published: December 2024

Este artículo examina las experiencias laborales de mujeres trans en peluquerías, una de las pocas salidas laborales junto con la prostitución. Se destaca la estrecha relación entre ambas actividades en Ecuador y otros contextos latinoamericanos. Las jerarquías de género, raza, sexualidad y clase influyen en estas dinámicas, reproduciendo la exclusión de cuerpos no conformes a la heteronormatividad. El trabajo muestra que las peluquerías, dirigidas por personas LGBTQ+, no solo ofrecen empleo, también funcionan como refugios ante violencia familiar y exclusiones educativas y laborales. El encuentro con redes de apoyo facilita la inserción laboral y mejoras en la movilidad social, aunque la mayoría aún enfrenta exclusión y crímenes de odio. La pandemia acentuó el cierre de peluquerías, históricamente conocidas como «centros del consuelo», refugios para disidentes sexuales. No obstante, el trabajo emocional de las peluqueras trans contrasta con la disminución de estos espacios.
Application of e-learning platforms by higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Polish perspective
Authors: Sułkowski Łukasz , Kolasińska-Morawska Katarzyna , Brzozowska Marta , Morawski Paweł , Seliga Robert
Published: December 2024

Contemporaneity, in its complexity, brings progressive and degressive factors that shape the lives of organisations and individuals. Covid-19, as an unforeseen black swan event, was a massive challenge for universities in Poland and around the world. The education system has been transformed as digitisation of documentation and the use of online platforms during classes have become the only way to maintain the continuity of the education process. This article aims to evaluate the effectiveness of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic within the Polish context and to identify potential future opportunities for digital transformation in university teaching through the virtualisation of education. The hypothesis put forward in the paper is that the black swan of Covid-19 and the resulting technological boom have sparked the acceleration of change in higher education. The research data were obtained from secondary and primary sources, using qualitative and quantitative methodology. Using the Web of Science and Scopus databases, the desk research method was used. A diagnostic survey using the Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) technique was used to obtain the primary data. The research findings reveal opportunities for virtualising teaching processes in higher education through e-learning platforms beyond the pandemic.
Detecting fraudulent financial reporting: Heptagon fraud model
Authors: Pamungkas Imang Dapit , Irwandi Soni Agus
Published: December 2024

This study aims to examine the role of corporate governance mechanisms in detecting fraudulent financial reporting (FFR) based on the fraud heptagon model. Quantitative method is used to analyze secondary data obtained from annual reports of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period of 2019-2022. Sampling is carried out using purposive sampling method. This study uses 80 samples which are processed using WarpPLS 8.0 with the logistic regression analysis method. The results show that pressure and rationalization have an effect on fraudulent financial reporting. In contrast, other elements such as opportunity, capabilities, arrogance, ignorance, and greed do not have a significant effect on fraudulent financial reporting. Corporate governance mechanisms only moderate the effect of arrogance and ignorance on fraudulent financial reporting. It is expected that regulatory authorities in State-Owned Enterprises understand the reliability of the fraud heptagon model in detecting financial reporting fraud and provide guidance on fraud detection priorities. The novelty of this study is that it places corporate governance mechanisms as a moderating variable in the effect of fraud heptagon model on financial reporting fraud in State-Owned Enterprises in Indonesia.
Association between pioglitazone use and bladder cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Baddam Sujatha , Varshini Banka Amulya , Divity Shravani , Sandesara Maharshikumar , Vityala Yethindra
Published: December 2024

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) remains a significant global health concern, and its incidence is influenced by a wide array of factors, including geography, sex, and socioeconomic status. Objective: This systematic review evaluated the potential association between pioglitazone use and the risk of BC. We sought to determine whether pioglitazone, used in diabetes management, is associated with an increased risk of BC by reviewing recent studies. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for relevant studies published between January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2024. From an initial pool of 212 articles, 176 were excluded due to failure to meet the inclusion criteria, 24 were removed for inadequate data or unclear conclusions, and six were eliminated due to inaccessibility. Ultimately, six eligible studies were included in the final review. Results: Of the included studies, two suggested a potential association between pioglitazone use and an increased risk of BC, whereas four reported no statistically significant correlation. Conclusion: These mixed findings highlight the need for further research that accounts for confounding factors, such as treatment duration and patient demographics. This systematic review emphasizes the importance of cautious interpretation regarding the safety profile of pioglitazone in relation to BC risk.
Trends in Cardiovascular Disease–Related Mortality in Texas
Authors: Usman Muhammad Shariq , Jamil Adeena , Chunawala Zainali , Alam Mahboob , Nambi Vijay , Abushamat Layla A. , Misra Arunima , Virani Salim S. , Ballantyne Christie M. , Taffet George E. , Nasir Khurram , Goel Sachin , Al-Kindi Sadeer , Butler Javed , Minhas Abdul Mannan Khan
Published: December 2024

Background:

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with high mortality in the United States, but the burden of CVD mortality is unevenly distributed between demographic and geographic subgroups, with poor characterization of state-specific trends. In this study, the disparities in CVD-related mortality trends in Texas and the United States from 1999 to 2019 were assessed.

Methods:

Trends in CVD-related mortality were evaluated through analysis of the Multiple Causes of Death Files from the National Center for Health Statistics. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 population with associated annual percentage changes were determined. Joinpoint regression was used to assess trends in the CVD-related mortality rates.

Results:

Between 1999 and 2019, 29,455,193 CVD-related deaths were reported in the United States, of which 1,937,166 occurred in Texas. After an initial decline in the overall AAMR in Texas (annual percentage change, −2.5 [95% CI, −2.8 to −2.1]), a steady level was maintained from 2009 to 2019 (annual percentage change, 0.2 [95% CI, −0.5 to 0.2]). In the United States, after initial decline, AAMR plateaued from 2011 to 2019. Overall, CVD-related AAMR was slightly higher in Texas than in the overall United States (AAMR, 674.1 [95% CI, 673.2-675.1] vs 654 [95% CI, 653.8-654.3]). Men, non-Hispanic Black people, and people 85 years of age and older had the highest AAMRs in Texas and nationwide. Nonmetropolitan areas, both nationally and in Texas, consistently had higher mortality rates. The AAMRs also varied significantly by county within Texas.

Conclusion:

Despite an initial period of decline, CVD-related mortality rates have plateaued in Texas and the United States. Higher AAMRs were observed in Texas than in the overall United States. Prevalent disparities also exist based on demographic and geographic subgroups.
Selected aspects of the agricultural land lease under public law
Authors: Łobos-Kotowska Dorota , Stańko Marek
Published: December 2024

The subject of the considerations is the public law aspects of a lease agreement of agricultural land, particularly the land from the Agricultural Property Stock of the State Treasury. These aspects emerge when the lessor is the National Support Centre for Agriculture and when the object of the lease is a state-owned land, and therefore the process of concluding the tenancy or lease agreement as well as some elements of its performance are based not only on private law but also on public law. The analysis is therefore concerned with those elements of the lease agreement which affect the position of the parties to the lease relationship, such as the process of selecting a potential lessee (tenant), the determination of rentals or the termination of the lease agreement. An important element of a land lease is the entitlement to direct payments that the lessee may collect, on the one hand, and the public burdens in the form of agricultural tax on the other. As shown in the conclusions, however, the public law provisions have been increasingly interfering in the leasehold relationships, which in consequence results in an excessive preference of a public entity in relation to the tenant.