bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motivating compliance behaviors in public health through enhanced sense of control
Authors: Li Chan , Jiang Li , Wang Tingting , Sun Yixia
Published: June 2024

Compliance with medical interventions is crucial for the effectiveness of treatment strategies in public health. Approaches to encourage compliance with health interventions vary in both form and methodology. During ordinary times, public health campaigns mainly rely on educational efforts or incentives while in more severe circumstances, governments might take enforcement measures and even penalties for noncompliance. When interventions pose potential risks to personal interests (e.g., health risks of side effects; social risks of exclusion), individuals find it challenging to comply with such medical measures, resulting in negative consequences for both personal healthcare and public welfare. In this paper, we introduce an effective way to promote compliance with such interventions in the area of public health: enhancing sense of control. We explore three specific compliance behaviors: disclosure of personal information, vaccination, and acceptance of water resource reallocation. These behaviors, while beneficial to public health, pose personal risks like privacy breaches and health-related side effects. Through four studies, we demonstrate that the positive effect of sense of control on compliance behaviors with public health interventions is mediated by reducing perceived personal risk of the intervention. Individuals with a higher sense of control perceive lower personal risk of the medical interventions, leading to increased compliance. Additionally, our research identifies a boundary condition that if the interventions pose no harm to personal interests, the effect of sense of control will be attenuated. By concentrating on interventions that could potentially harm personal interests, our study provides deeper insights into the circumstances and reasons behind individuals’ reluctance to comply with public health interventions. The current research sheds light on the psychological processes driving compliance decisions and offers valuable strategies for health professionals and governments to enhance medical adherence.
No evidence of longitudinal association between religiosity and psychological well-being: Challenging prevailing assumptions
Authors: Joshanloo Mohsen
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the bidirectional relationship between religiosity and psychological well-being in a sample of American adults. The study used data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, collected at three time points over approximately 20 years. The results showed a weak positive correlation between religiosity and psychological well-being at the between-person level. However, the results of the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed that within-person changes in religiosity did not predict future changes in psychological well-being, and vice versa. The findings suggest that these variables are not significant predictors of each other, at least in the long term, and that the relationship between the two is most likely not causal. These findings challenge the commonly held belief that religion is beneficial to well-being and suggest the need for further longitudinal research and more rigorous statistical methods.
Not Just Survive, But Thrive: Examining Livelihood Capital, Poverty Reduction, and Sustainable Development in Ethnic Tourism Destinations
Authors: Huang Yanling , Feng Min , (Robert) Li Xiang
Published: June 2024

Understanding the roles of tourism development in poverty reduction and livelihood capital through a microlens is essential to rural ethnic areas’ sustainable development. However, few assessment methods are available to unravel the complex relationships between these three facets, and gaps remain in measuring residents’ livelihood. Based on the sustainable livelihood approach, this paper first selected core components of the sustainable livelihood framework to construct an evaluation index system and then provided specific indicators and evaluative criteria. Taking villages in China’s Longji Rice Terraces as a sample case, this study employed objective approaches (e.g., the entropy weight method and gray relational analysis) to assess residents’ livelihood capital. The aim was to showcase the sustainability of this area’s livelihood through a microlens. Findings offer several important contributions. First, this study presents a reliable measurement development method and a set of evaluation criteria for sustainable livelihood in tourism contexts, including five forms of capital and 21 indicators. Second, local inhabitants were found to benefit from tourism development; their livelihood options were diversified, especially in terms of growing financial capital. Yet these benefits were not evenly distributed, with notable differences observed across communities. Third, farmers’ livelihood capability did not improve uniformly over time. These findings offer valuable insights for tourism and hospitality stakeholders and can help steer rural regions toward a path of prosperity and growth. Strategies for inspiring entrepreneurship should especially be considered. In closing, theoretical implications are discussed, and suggestions for future work are provided.
Platform work and traditional employee protection: The need for alternative legal approaches
Authors: Mangold Sonja
Published: June 2024

Paid work via digital platforms (so-called crowd work and gig work) is gaining in importance in Europe. Platform workers often suffer poor working conditions. Most platform companies treat crowd and gig workers as self-employed or independent contractors and, thus, normally protective labour laws do not apply. In response, initiatives have been taken through case law and legislation to extend the reach of the traditional employmentship to platform work. For example, the German Federal Labour Court ( Bundesarbeitsgericht) reclassified and treated platform workers as employees in high-profile rulings, which are discussed in more detail below. The recently adopted EU Directive on Platform Work enshrines a legal presumption of employment for platform workers. Regulations have also recently been introduced in EU Member States that subsume platform workers under the concept of employee. However, as argued in this article, legal and judicial initiatives aimed at extending the employee status often have limits given the market dynamics and de facto adaptation and circumvention strategies used by platform businesses. Moreover, traditional labour law protection does not always seem to be suitable for tackling the complexities and peculiarities of the various types of platforms. The following theses therefore seem worth discussing: 1. Extending employee status to platform work appears promising if this is already anchored in the socio-economic reality and if a consensus can be reached between the social partners in this regard. An existing example is the Spanish riders’ law, which pursues a sectoral approach and was supported not only by trade union organisations but also by employers’ associations. 2. In addition, the creation of a substantial core of social rights for platform workers, irrespective of employment status, should be strongly focused and legally brought forward. The long-standing scholarly discussion about alternative regulatory approaches to forms of work in the legal grey area between dependent employment and self-employment should be revived and made fruitful for the new phenomenon of digital work platforms. 3. Thirdly, self-regulatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives by platform companies to improve working conditions should be encouraged by legislators and policymakers. As will be shown later in this article, a wide range of CSR efforts by the platforms already exist. In order to counter the risk of window dressing, the platform business operators’ own initiatives should be made effective through appropriate flanking legal measures and public pressure.
Disseminated cerebral cryptococcosis after silent West Nile virus infection in a patient with polycythemia vera: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Colović Nataša , Ljubičić Jelena , Kostić Dejan , Barać Aleksandra , Jurišić Vladimir
Published: June 2024

Although disseminated cryptococcosis can occur occasionally, it is most commonly seen in immunodeficient patients. In 2005, a 43-year-old man was diagnosed with polycythemia vera. Following in 2018, he experienced an unknown-cause fever and headache. To establish the source of the symptoms, a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain was performed, which indicated meningeal and gyral-leptomeningeal thickening and several localized T2 hyperintense lesions measuring up to 10 × 14 mm in diameter. Cryptococcus neoformans was then cultivated from cerebrospinal fluid. Serum IgM antibodies against West Nile Virus were positive. After 8 weeks of treatment with amphotericin B and fluconazole, the overall condition improved, and the cerebrospinal fluid control culture became negative. The symptoms returned shortly after discontinuing antifungal therapy, necessitating the reintroduction of fluconazole. Currently, the patient is stable and responding positively to ruxolitinib. Here, it is demonstrated how a patient with polycythemia vera due to immunological weakness might develop disseminated cryptococcosis of the brain after West Nile virus infection.
Pancreatic masses clinically diagnosed as tuberculosis: Case reports
Authors: Chuabio Vernon , Bandoy Johanna , Ong Aaron , Te Mateo , Maralit Ruter
Published: June 2024

Pancreatic masses are commonly encountered in clinical practice, with concern for the possibility of cancer. Tissue sampling or outright surgical resection may be offered in this setting. However, surgery has been unnecessarily performed in patients with pancreatic masses that proved to be benign. Less invasive options for pancreatic masses that may be benign like tuberculosis should thus be explored. Three adult Filipino patients less than 60 years old presented with symptomatic pancreatic masses suspected of cancer on abdominal imaging studies. Two were smokers without a history of prior tuberculosis. Without any tissue sampling, anti-tuberculosis treatment was eventually given to all three patients due to concomitant diagnoses of extrapancreatic tuberculosis. Endoscopic ultrasound documentation of post-treatment resolution of pancreatic masses was noted in all cases. In endemic regions, although clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis may be possible for pancreatic masses, empiric treatment should still be a last-line option in cases where tissue sampling cannot be done.
How the relationship between education and antisemitism varies between countries
Authors: Nyhan Brendan , Yamaya Shun , Zeitzoff Thomas
Published: June 2024

We investigate the relationship between education and antisemitism using unique individual-level survey data on antisemitism from more than 100 countries. Our findings show that education is associated with greater favorability toward Jews, but the relationship between education and endorsement of antisemitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories varies between countries. In countries that actively supported recent statements condemning Holocaust denial and antisemitism at the United Nations—which we use as a proxy for country-level opposition to antisemitism in education and politics—greater education is associated with reduced endorsement of antisemitic stereotypes. By contrast, more educated people are more likely to endorse antisemitic stereotypes than less educated people in countries that declined to endorse those statements. These descriptive findings provide new evidence about the association between education and intolerance.
Colonic duplication cyst with secondary septic peritonitis in a cat
Authors: Schrock Kelly , Spinner Maureen
Published: June 2024

Case summary

A 5-month-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for acute onset of emesis. Abdominal radiographs identified a suspected colonic foreign body and abdominal-focused assessment with sonography for trauma, triage and tracking (AFAST) evaluation revealed a large amount of peritoneal effusion. Cytology of the peritoneal effusion was consistent with a septic exudate. An exploratory celiotomy identified a ruptured ileocecocolic mass and a resection and anastomosis was performed. No foreign material was identified and histopathology confirmed that the ruptured mass was a colonic duplication cyst. Recurrent septic peritonitis was diagnosed based on cytologic evaluation of fluid from a silicone bulb reservoir of a closed suction drain. No abnormalities were surgically identified, the cat recovered without complication, was discharged at 7 days postoperatively and has continued to remain healthy 8 months after surgical intervention.

Relevance and novel information

To our knowledge, this is the first known instance of a histopathologically confirmed non-communicating colonic duplication cyst causing septic peritonitis in the veterinary literature.
Japanese nurses’ confidence in their understanding of telenursing via e-learning: A mixed-methods study
Authors: Kamei Tomoko , Kawada Aki , Kakai Hisako , Yamamoto Yuko , Nakayama Yuki , Mitsunaga Haruhiko , Nishimura Naoki
Published: June 2024

Objective

Telenursing e-learning courses have been shown to enhance nurses’ skills and knowledge; however, the subjective learning experience is unclear. In this study, we identified meta-inferences to quantitatively and qualitatively understand this experience, as well as the types of knowledge gained through an e-learning course and how they are linked to each other, in order to enhance nurses’ confidence in their understanding of telenursing.

Methods

We employed a single-arm intervention with a mixed-methods convergent parallel design. We converged participants’ self-reported pre- and post-course confidence scores with their reflections on the learning experience, which were reported qualitatively as improved or unimproved. A total of 143 Japanese nurses with a mean of 20 years of nursing experience participated in this study.

Results

Among the participants, 72.7% demonstrated improved confidence in their understanding of telenursing after completing the e-learning course. The baseline confidence score was originally higher in the group that reported unimproved confidence (p < .001). Although there was no statistical difference in the usability and practicality scores between the two groups, the qualitative learning experience in these aspects differed in terms of the depth of knowledge of telenursing obtained.

Conclusions

Nurses’ quantitative confidence in their understanding of telenursing after course completion was incongruent with their qualitative perspectives of the learning experience. Nursing educators, healthcare policymakers, and other stakeholders should consider that learners’ overconfidence in their understanding of telenursing and comprehension of e-learning materials may result in their failure to develop key telenursing competencies, skills, and knowledge.
Unjust by default: The political economy of Indonesia's local government policy on infrastructure development
Authors: Hidayat Syarif , Tambunan Derwin , Haning Yesaya
Published: June 2024

The Indonesian government's attention to economic infrastructure development has increased over the last two decades. However, there has been a trend of rampant rent-seeking in infrastructure projects by elites in both local and central governments. Nonetheless, why and how rent-seeking practices in infrastructure projects have been so endemic in Indonesian local government remains poorly understood. This article addresses this by investigating how infrastructure development in local government serves dual functions of economic growth and political commodity by utilising qualitative data obtained from interviews in Central Kalimantan (2016) and East Nusa Tenggara (2020) provinces. This data confirms the existence of infrastructure's dual function, in which official regional development planning documents and accompanying regulations are more likely to function as a legal umbrella for legalising rent-seeking practices. The term ‘unjust by default‘ identifies the practice of rent-seeking by formalising political-economic interests into regional development planning documents and manipulating regulations in order to implement infrastructure development programmes.
Empirical Evidence of Inbound Open Innovation Practice by Ghanaian SMEs
Authors: Sarpong Eric Ohemeng , Yunfei Shao , Coffie Cephas Paa Kwasi , Akrong Godwin Banafo
Published: June 2024

Inbound open innovation (IOI) is credited with high productivity in businesses. However, this is marred by resource and structural constraints in Ghanaian SMEs. Therefore, this study explores the odds of Ghanaian SMEs engaging in inbound open innovation given SMEs characteristics and IOI collaboration modes. Further, we examine the mediating effect of SMEs’ CEO characteristics in increasing or decreasing these odds. Using a sample of 657 registered SMEs’ of the Association of Ghanaian Industries, the survey data is estimated with a stepwise logistic regression model to show the multiplicative effects of the variables. The results show that the odds of engaging in inbound open innovation is higher for; SMEs located in urban areas, SMEs with partnership or company ownership structure, SMEs with research and development departments, SMEs not collaborating with universities, manufacturing SMEs, and SMEs that are relatively bigger in size. Further, these odds increase when the characteristics of CEOs of the sampled SMEs are accounted for in the model. Thus, the characteristics and traits of CEOs are only useful given the right resources and environment. Relying on the major (main) outcomes of the study further feasible suggestions are recommended.
Perceptions and Uses of Public Open Spaces During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Prevention Measures as Endangering Possibilities of Active Ageing
Authors: Ye Xi , Chen Ke , Chen Jinxuan , Chan I-Tong
Published: June 2024

Public open space is an essential component of support for active ageing in place, whilst in a high-density, high-rise housing context, it plays a more crucial role. The public health field has provided much research on the association between public open spaces and active ageing. However, changes to public open spaces during the Covid-19 crisis, including movement restriction, lockdown, social distancing and isolation, have a severe impact on the quality of life among the older group. This study examined the quality of life among older people living in densely populated districts during the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating how changes to public open spaces due to pandemic prevention impeded active ageing, and further explored pandemic-resilient urban strategies. Macau, a densely populated ageing city, was selected for case study. Forty-five in-depth interviews were conducted in two high-density districts of Macau with the aim of understanding the perceptions and uses of public open spaces among older people during pandemic conditions. The results indicate that the active ageing process has been impacted to a large degree by prevention measures, particularly in regard to movement and accessibility, everyday activities, social interaction, and emotional health. It is difficult for denser urban spaces to effectively guarantee an active life for older people during the emergent crisis. However, older people’ adaptive responses to pandemic conditions have reduced the negative impact on active ageing. Moreover, the active ageing principle is not applicable to all, since subjective well-being can be perceived and defined differently, and people have unique aging principles as they age. It is important to pay more attention to the well-being of older people by exploring pandemic-resilient strategies which would take into account both the target of active ageing and pandemic prevention.
The Differences in Spillover Effects of International Monetary Policy on Southeast Asian Economies
Authors: Kim Thi Tran Oanh , Nguyen Anh Viet Hong
Published: June 2024

The aim of this study is analyzing the spillovers of monetary policies from three nations including the US, Japan, and China to the Southeast Asian economies through macroeconomic linkages. By using BVAR model, the research results present distinct responses of economic growth, interest rate and inflation index in Southeast Asia to external shocks of interest rate according to specific characteristics. In particular, nations adopting pegged regime have stronger responses to the changing of the Fed rate and Japanese monetary policy while the opposite trend is found in volatility of Chinese interest rate. However, nations with higher trade openness might have more sensitive reaction to monetary policy of all three countries. On the other hand, the impact of international monetary policies on Southeast Asian countries is explained quite different between the group having higher capital openness and the other one. In general, the results are consistent with many previous studies as well as Mundell-Fleming’s impossibility triple theory.

JEL Classification: E52, F42, N10, O11.
Analysis of a Collaborative Research Network of Botulinum Toxin Clinical Trials
Authors: Jang Jiseon , Ahn Hyeongjin , Park Eunil
Published: June 2024

Recently, pharmaceutical companies have been striving to occupy a greater percentage of the global market with clinical research actively being conducted through mutual collaboration networks. In particular, the international Botulinum toxin (BT) market is characterized by intensifying competition. The majority of BT research has been conducted in the United States and Europe, whilst various countries have started their regional research through international collaboration networks. With this trend, this study aimed to examine the current collaboration trend and network of clinical trial research in the field of BT by employing both bibliometric and collaboration network analyses with one of the global academic and research databases. Based on the collaboration network, which is organized by 8,296 articles and 10,298 institutes, four centrality measures successfully present several international and regional clinical BT research leading institutes. Moreover, there are some hidden active institutes in this area, which are not highlighted in this paper’s bibliometric analysis. This study contributes to improving the understanding of clinical trials in BT research, a relevant medical topic. Moreover, collaboration network analysis is one of the most valuable approaches of examining the international and regional clinical research.
Driving Educational Excellence: A Data Envelopment Analysis Study for Decision-Making Enhancement
Authors: Luangpaiboon Pongchanun , Phinkrathok Chiramet , Atthirawong Walailak , Aungkulanon Pasura
Published: June 2024

The education faculty aims to assess departmental effectiveness by analyzing the relationship between service levels, output variables, and input variables. This objective is coupled with the formulation of faculty development strategies tailored to enhance efficiency while accommodating individual professionals’ unique requirements and aspirations. Furthermore, beyond the annual University Evaluation System, faculty members conduct thorough evaluations to identify discrepancies in departmental reports detailing service levels and input components (factors of production) over a three-year period. Through descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing, reliable data guides the decision-making process regarding the optimal level for data envelopment analysis (DEA). The study employs four simulated scenarios to evaluate the overall performance of five departments using DEA. Findings reveal varying efficacy ratings across departments, with the Department of Health and Physical Education achieving a moderate rating and the Educational Technology Department exhibiting the lowest efficacy. Conversely, departments such as Art Education, Music Education, and Business Education showcase exemplary efficacy levels. Insights gleaned from quantitative analysis and questionnaires contribute significantly to faculty development, enhancing knowledge, competencies, values, attitudes, and future endeavors. Recommendations provided advocate for the widespread implementation of efficacious approaches to bolster faculty efficacy. Moreover, the study underscores the potential to enhance the efficiency and quality of service across faculties through the adoption of best practices and initiatives.
Narrative Retellings of Children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Morphosyntax, Socio-Cognitive Abilities and the Effect of Prosody
Authors: Martzoukou Maria , Nousia Anastasia , Nasios Grigorios , Tsimpli Ianthi-Maria
Published: June 2024

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a disorder which affects not only speech-motor planning but also language ability more broadly. The present study attempts to explore the morphosyntactic, socio-cognitive, and prosody comprehension skills of children with CAS. Twenty preschool children with CAS and 20 typically developing children listened to a story, while viewing a wordless PowerPoint, picture presentation on a computer screen. Then, they were instructed to retell the story. Each participant listened to two stories, one with “lively” and one with “flat” prosody. The results revealed poor socio-cognitive abilities which were also evident in the use of verb-complement clauses, and poor prosody comprehension skills in the group with CAS. These findings affirm that morphosyntactic deficits are not the core characteristic of CAS, and suggest a connection between the production and comprehension of prosody, and between prosodic and (socio)-cognitive skills.
The application of surgeon-administered ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic nerve block in foot and ankle injuries
Authors: Chow Chun Lok , Siu Yuk Chuen , Ma Chun Man , Lui Tun Hing
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic nerve block has been described as a safe and consistent form of regional anesthesia for foot and ankle surgery. Little studies have been performed to prove the effectiveness of surgeon self-administered regional anesthesia for foot and ankle injury requiring an operation. This study aimed to assess the applicability and safety in surgeon-administered ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic nerve block in providing anesthesia for foot and ankle fracture.

Material and Methods

Patients with foot and ankle injury who underwent operation under surgeon-administered ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic nerve block were evaluated in this retrospective study. A total of 7 patients (3 females and 4 males) with a mean age of 46) were evaluated by the diagnosis, side of injury, comorbidities in American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification (ASA), duration of operation, blood loss, pain control in visual analog scale (VAS) intra-operatively, degree of motor blockage, post-operative pain control and hospital length of stay.

Result

Average age of the study population was 46. Of all the patients, two of them were of ASA I four of them were of ASA II and one of them was of ASA III. Complete sensory and motor blockages were achieved for all patients. Average operative time was 117 min. Average blood loss was 16.4 mL. Average post-operative inpatient stay was 3.57 days. There was no regional anesthesia-related complication arising from the procedure.

Conclusion

Surgeon-administered popliteal sciatic nerve block is a safe procedure and can provide excellent pain control throughout the operation according to our experience. Foot and ankle fracture fixation can be performed by orthopedic surgeons under this technique.
Is There a Baby in the Lung? A Case of Placental Transmogrification of the Lung
Authors: Abdulelah Mohammad , Kasher Nicole , Primera Gabriella , Matta Jessika , Patel Ruchi , Anis Karim , DiNino Ernest
Published: June 2024

Pulmonary nodules are commonly encountered in pulmonary practice. Etiologies could include infectious, inflammatory, and malignant. Placental transmogrification of the lung is an extremely rare etiology of pulmonary nodules. Such condition often presents as unilateral lesions in asymptomatic men. In general, such nodules are generally stable and grow extremely slowly. We highlight an unusual case of placental transmogrification of the lung (PLC) identified in a young female. The patient’s bilateral nodules were larger than what has been previously cited in the literature and exhibited growth over an 8-year follow-up period.
Cultural Dynamics of Irregular Ethiopian Migration: Insights From Kembata Emigrants to the Republic of South Africa
Authors: Megersa Hailu , Tafesse Tesfaye
Published: June 2024

Executive Summary

This paper examines the cultural influences on irregular migration to South Africa from the Kembata-Tembaro Zone of Ethiopia. It reports on a mixed methods study, with a cross-sectional household survey ( n = 316) to examine indicators about society’s perceptions, cultural values, and the impact of remittances on migration. In-depth interviews ( n = 24) with migrant returnees and experts in the Kembata-Tembaro Zone Labor and Social Affairs Office explored their experiences and perceptions of irregular migration. The study established a connection between cultural influences and irregular migration of Ethiopians to the Republic of South Africa.

Overall, the study demonstrates that the culture of migration among the Kembatas is primarily driven by a cumulative migration experience facilitated through migrant social networks. Economic incentives, such as prospects of better income and improved living conditions, are the main drivers for individuals to embark on this migratory journey. In addition, social factors, including familial networks, community ties, and remittances from migrants, significantly influence households’ attitudes toward migration. The paper ends with recommendations to address the problems related to irregular Ethiopian migration to South Africa, to enhance the well-being of Kembata emigrants, and to maximize the benefits of migration.
FDI spillovers on Colombian Multilatinas: Upgrading capabilities through indirect ties and humbleness
Authors: Pla-Barber José , Villar Cristina , Mesa Callejas Ramón Javier , Botella Andreu Ana
Published: June 2024

This study examines how Colombian Multilatinas leverage spillovers from foreign direct investments to enhance their capabilities and expand internationally. Employing a qualitative, exploratory multi-case study approach grounded in inter-organizational learning theory, we find that indirect ties, through vicarious learning via observation and emulation, are pivotal in facilitating the acquisition of new knowledge. This learning is key for Multilatinas to improve their technological and organizational capabilities locally, thereby strengthening their position in global markets. In addition, our analysis reveals that the challenges inherent to the Colombian context encourage a distinctive internationalization model characterized by humility and collaborative partnerships. These findings offer actionable insights for managers aiming to leverage international spillovers for capability development and global growth.

JEL CLASSIFICATION: M16; M21; M14
The use of slime molds as a design guide in urban design, A case of Turkey/İzmir/Karabağlar
Authors: Kale İrem , Altun Tutku Didem
Published: June 2024

Urban design is a complex and challenging process that encompasses many disciplines, such as urban planning, architecture, and landscape. On the urban design scale, it’s important to consider short paths compatible with pedestrian behaviors, especially in public spaces, in terms of designing healthier and more accessible urban areas. But conventional design processes, which are mostly based on the designer’s observations or intuitions, fail to satisfy user behaviors in usage. Studies reveal that P. polycephalum slime molds have the potential to guide good urban planning. However, it is noteworthy that there are not enough studies yet in the disciplines of architecture and urban design on the design of pedestrian ways in small-scale areas, and there is a need for research. In this direction, this study is the first step of a method that is aimed at being developed for the disciplines of architecture and urban design in the long process. The main hypothesis is that a design template can be created as a result of graphical analysis of living slime mold experiments on the map, especially in undesigned empty urban areas, for architects and planners, and it can provide creative suggestions to the designer. In this direction, in this study, a graphic design template proposal was created based on live cell experiments at a site in Izmir, Turkey, which the local government aims to design as a pedestrianized zone and open for competition. Slime molds are used directly as a computer rather than as inspiration for a computer, and a pedestrian-oriented design template proposal develops with the behavioral models of slime molds. Compared to the award-winning designs developed for the same area, it has been shown that even within the framework of simple graphical measurements, it gives better results and creates more optimal routes on main and side roads. It is envisaged that this study can play a pioneering role for studies involving more detailed mathematical models that can begin in the field of architecture and urban design.
Self-efficacy of Menstrual Hygiene Management and Menstrual Absenteeism Among Students of a College in Kolkata
Authors: Datta Mousumi , Yasmin Shamima , Guchhait Debjani
Published: June 2024

Background:

Gender inequality, cultural taboos, poverty and lack of proper information can cause menstrual health needs to go unmet. It restricts mobility, personal choices, work participation and well-being. Nevertheless, self-efficacy in the menstrual hygiene management of college students has been relatively unexplored.

Objectives:

We aimed to assess the self-efficacy of menstrual hygiene management and its association with college absenteeism, demographic and academic profiles. The study also aimed to explore concerns and beliefs related to menstruation.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional descriptive mixed-method study was conducted to assess the self-efficacy of the menstrual hygiene management (using a novel scale) of students from a general college in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The study also explored concerns and beliefs related to menstruation among the study subjects. The sample size was calculated to be 96. For the qualitative part, 30 willing students were purposively chosen.

Results:

The mean age of participants was 19.38 years (SD ± 1.23). Predominantly they belonged to nuclear families (65.6%) with a median family income of ₹12,000. Absenteeism for menstrual reasons was 12 (12.5%). There were 50 (52.1%) participants who reported facing religious restrictions. Self-efficacy had a mean score of 29.90 (standard error of mean = 0.513) and a median score of 31. The presence of religious restrictions, any restrictions and type of family were significantly associated with college absenteeism by the chi-square test ( P < .05). The logistic regression model showed a significant association with religious restriction.

Conclusion:

The study revealed multiple concerns of college-going students regarding menstrual hygiene despite reported high self-efficacy for menstrual hygiene management.
The Effectiveness and Tolerability of Switching Patients from Sacubitril/Valsartan, ARNI to Perindopril in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: EFFICIENT Trial
Authors: Jariwala Pankaj , Gude Dilip , Reddy Peddi Sridhar , Jabbar Abdul , Jariwala Anusha
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is an advancing illness that can be managed with various drugs. In this study, we present data on the tolerance of perindopril in patients with HFrEF who were switched from angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) to perindopril because of issues with the former’s tolerability or increased medication costs.

Methods

A total of 125 patients with HFrEF were switched to perindopril in this retrospective study carried out at the heart failure clinic. Of those, 109 patients had data accessible for a 6-month follow-up. The data of the patients who switched from ARNI to perindopril between June and December 2023 were collected. Data such as the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, N-terminal pro hormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were compared at baseline and 6-month follow- up with those collected after the switchover.

Results

During the transition, the average age was 58 ± 13 years (mean ± standard deviation), the disease duration was 2.6 ± 1.4 years, and 29.6% of the patients were female. The average period of follow-up following the transition was 5.7 ± 1.5 months. The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) reduced from 344 ± 106 to 319 ± 85 m ( P = .056), but the NT-pro BNP levels increased from 478 ± 170 to 490 ± 137 pg/mL ( P = .56) after the transfer. All patients continued to maintain their NYHA functional class after the transition, with no significant difference seen ( P = .37). There was a little improvement in LVEF from 40% ± 4% to 41.5% ± 5% ( P < .001) during the follow-up after the switchover. Following the transition, no changes were observed in vital indicators, serum electrolytes, and creatinine levels. All patients successfully tolerated the transition to perindopril.

Conclusions

The transfer from ARNI to perindopril was both well tolerated and safe. The patients’ functional condition remained unchanged, as did their NT-pro BNP levels. A modest improvement in LVEF was noted. In India, switching from ARNI to perindopril is less expensive.
Teaching multimodality in the museum through embodied experiences
Authors: Wünsch-Nagy Nóra
Published: June 2024

This reflection focuses on the integration of a museum visit into a higher education course for the purpose of teaching multimodality in an embodied way. Informed by the social semiotic approach to multimodality, the course aims to help students critically interact with multimodal texts using multimodal concepts. In this pedagogical process, exhibitions as multimodal texts gain a special place. This reflection highlights four activities which were designed to support the embodied learning of multimodality during a visit to a youth gallery with a group of university students. These activities included two types of explorations, responding to guiding questions, group discussions and map drawing. This reflection concludes with some thoughts on the benefits of the embodied teaching of multimodality through museum visits in higher education.
Community-Based Participatory Research for Epidemiology, Health Equity, and Community Goals: Insights From Brazil, France, and USA
Authors: Cohen Alison K. , Snyder Robert E.
Published: June 2024

Background

Community-based participatory research coproduces knowledge by emphasizing bidirectional exchanges between participants, communities, and researchers.

Purpose, Research Design, and Study Sample

We highlight three studies in historically marginalized communities on separate continents (Richmond, CA, USA; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Marseille industrial zone, France) to exemplify how community-based participatory research improves research, offers tangible community benefits, and values residents more than traditional research methods.

Data Analysis

We provide insights into the process of conducting meaningful community-based participatory epidemiologic research.

Results

In each of these communities, community-based participatory research led to high-quality research that helped inform context-appropriate policies and programs to improve health and advance health equity in these communities.

Conclusions

We recommend that researchers consistently engage with community members during all phases of research so that they can engage more participants, more deeply in the research process, build local capacity, improve data collection and data quality, as well as increase our understanding of research findings to inform future applied research and practice.
The meanings of postcolonial critique
Authors: Tsang Philip
Published: June 2024

This essay examines the recent debates on critique and postcritique and how they might inform postcolonial studies. In particular, the essay argues for the critical purchase of colonial attachments. It demonstrates that the very impropriety of those attachments makes them effective tools for critique. Turning to Sam Selvon’s last novel Moses Migrating, the essay shows that the protagonist’s unwavering devotion to Britain, far from being uncritical, in fact troubles or even displaces two paradigms of self-positioning in the postcolonial world: citizenship and lineage. The novel thus models a postcolonial critique that derives its force less from a holistic opposition to colonial mentality than from a willingness to attend to, dwell on, and stay with colonial attachments.
Island of dreams: Post/colonial imaginaries in contemporary Cypriot Anglophone literature
Authors: Alexander Phoenix
Published: June 2024

The island of Cyprus has for centuries been a contested terrain, and occupied by various colonial powers. I use Cyprus joining the Commonwealth in 1960 as a starting point to explore the relationship between Cyprus and specifically British colonial rule in the twentieth century, read through the lens of two works by contemporary Anglophone Cypriot authors Polis Loizou and Alexandra Manglis. I examine how these authors undermine colonial imaginaries of the island, using speculative and literary forms to emphasize the slippages, instabilities, and fugitive nature of colonial subjects. Enfolding the complex history of the island within these readings, I posit Cyprus as a mythologically rich and boundary-vexing “island of dreams”, and foreground imaginative writing from Cypriot authors in counterpoint to historical colonial attitudes.
Sharing data and code facilitates reproducible and impactful research
Authors: Baker Jack W , Crowley Helen , Wald David , Rathje Ellen , Au Siu-Kui , Bradley Brendon A , Burton Henry , Cabas Ashly , Cattari Serena , Cauzzi Carlo , Cavalieri Francesco , Contreras Santina , Costa Rodrigo , Eguchi Ronald T , Lallemant David , Lignos Dimitrios G , Maurer Brett W , Molina Hutt Carlos , Sextos Anastasios , Seyhan Emel , Silva Vitor , Sucuoğlu Haluk , Taciroglu Ertugrul , Thompson Eric M
Published: June 2024

Modern research often involves the collection or analysis of data and the use of specialized computer algorithms. Traditional text articles thus provide only partial documentation of a research study. Readers have limited ability to reproduce or utilize work if the source data are not available or if it relies on an algorithm that is described, but code is not provided. Fortunately, a wide variety of tools are now available to support the publication of research data and code. The effort required to publish data is now relatively small, and the benefits can be immense. This opinion article discusses trends toward increased sharing in academic publishing. It describes opportunities and resources to support data and code sharing and describes the benefits for both authors and readers. Finally, it discusses how Earthquake Spectra is providing resources and enhancing its policies to establish the sharing of data as the default procedure when publishing in the journal, and encourage the sharing of code and other resources.
Analysis of polyfunctionality for enhanced BAFF-R CAR T-cell therapy for hematologic malignancies
Authors: Dong Zhengyuan , Budde L. Elizabeth , Oh Elizabeth , Szymura Szymon , Anderson Aaron , Del Real Marissa , Cha Soung-chul , Forman Stephen J. , Kwak Larry W. , Wang Xiuli
Published: June 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has emerged as a promising immunotherapeutic strategy for eradicating human cancers. Their therapeutic success and durability of clinical responses hinges, in large part, on their functional capacity, including the ability of these engineered cells to simultaneously expand and persist after infusion into patients. CD19 CAR T-cell polyfunctionality, assessing the simultaneous functions of cytokine production, proliferation, and cytotoxicity has been reported to correlate with clinical outcomes. Assay optimization is potentially limited by the heterogeneous nature of CAR T-cell infusion products and target specificity. We optimized a single-cell platform for polyfunctionality using CAR T-cell products manufactured from healthy donors, engineered against a novel target, B-cell–activating factor receptor (BAFF-R) and validated the protocol using CD19 CAR T cells. We observed distinct qualitative differences between BAFF-R and CD19 CAR T cells relative to the proportions of stimulatory vs effector cytokines, based on target antigen density, and, generally, CD19 CAR T cells exhibited lower indices of polyfunctionality. Finally, we applied our assay to the autologous BAFF-R CAR T-cell product generated from the first patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated in an ongoing clinical trial who had progressed after prior CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. We observed robust indicators of polyfunctionality, which correlated with successful CAR T-cell expansion after infusion and achievement of durable complete remission ongoing after 18 months. The precise identification of factors determining the role of BAFF-R CAR T-cell fitness in toxicity and clinical outcome will require the application of this robust assay in the analysis of additional treated patients. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT05370430.
Biomedical applications of graphene-based nanomaterials: recent progress, challenges, and prospects in highly sensitive biosensors
Authors: Baruah Arabinda , Newar Rachita , Das Saikat , Kalita Nitul , Nath Masood , Ghosh Priya , Chinnam Sampath , Sarma Hemen , Narayan Mahesh
Published: June 2024

Graphene-based nanomaterials (graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphene quantum dots, graphene-based nanocomposites, etc.) are emerging as an extremely important class of nanomaterials primarily because of their unique and advantageous physical, chemical, biological, and optoelectronic aspects. These features have resulted in uses across diverse areas of scientific research. Among all other applications, they are found to be particularly useful in designing highly sensitive biosensors. Numerous studies have established their efficacy in sensing pathogens and other biomolecules allowing for the rapid diagnosis of various diseases. Considering the growing importance and popularity of graphene-based materials for biosensing applications, this review aims to provide the readers with a summary of the recent progress in the concerned domain and highlights the challenges associated with the synthesis and application of these multifunctional materials.