bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Use of Automated Insulin Delivery around Physical Activity and Exercise in Type 1 Diabetes: A Position Statement of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD)
Authors: Moser Othmar , Zaharieva Dessi , Adolfsson Peter , Battelino Tadej , Bracken Richard M. , Buckingham Bruce A. , Danne Thomas , Davis Elizabeth A. , Dovc Klemen , Forlenza Gregory P. , Gillard Pieter , Hofer Sabine E. , Hovorka Roman , Jacobs Peter J. , Mader Julia K. , Mathieu Chantal , Nørgaard Kirsten , Oliver Nick S. , O’Neal David N. , Pemberton John , Rabasa-Lhoret Remi , Sherr Jennifer L. , Sourij Harald , Tauschmann Martin , Yardley Jane E. , Riddell Michael C.
Published: December 2024

Regular physical activity and exercise (PA) are cornerstones of diabetes care for individuals with type 1 diabetes. In recent years, the availability of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems has improved the ability of people with type 1 diabetes to achieve the recommended glucose target ranges. PA provides additional health benefits but can cause glucose fluctuations, which challenges current AID systems. While an increasing number of clinical trials and reviews are being published on different AID systems and PA, it seems prudent at this time to collate this information and develop a position statement on the topic. This joint European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)/International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) position statement reviews current evidence on AID systems and provides detailed clinical practice points for managing PA in children, adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes using AID technology. It discusses each commercially available AID system individually and provides guidance on its use in PA. Additionally, it addresses different glucose responses to PA and provides stratified therapy options to maintain glucose levels within the target ranges for these age groups.
Sex differences in stroke in a Sri Lankan cohort
Authors: Ranawaka Udaya K. , Mettananda Chamila D. , Nugawela Miyurangi , Pathirana Jithmi , Chandrasiri Jayalath , Jayawardena Champa , Amarasekara Deepa , Hettarachchi Raja , Premawansa Gayani , Pathmeswaran Arunasalam
Published: December 2024

Introduction :
Stroke characteristics, subtypes and risk factors in women may differ from men. Data on sex differences in stroke are scarce in developing countries, especially the South Asian region. We aimed to describe the sex differences in patients with stroke admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka.
Methods:
Consecutive patients with stroke enrolled in the Ragama Stroke Registry over 3 years (2020-2023) were studied. Sex differences in demographics, presentation delays, clinical characteristics, stroke subtypes, risk factors, stroke severity and early functional outcomes were compared using chi-square test, independent sample t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Associations of early functional dependence were studied using multiple logistic regression.
Results:
Of 949 patients with stroke, 387 (40.8%) were women, with a median age of 66 (IQR 57-73) years compared to 63 (IQR 54-70) years in men (p<0.001). Women had more ischaemic strokes (85.8% vs 78.6% in men, p=0.005). Swallowing difficulty (p=0.039) and bladder involvement (p=0.001) were more common in women, whereas dysarthria (p=0.002) and cerebellar signs (p=0.005) were more common in men. More women had hypertension (74.4% vs 59.4%, p<0.001) and diabetes (52.2% vs 41.6%, p=0.001), whereas smoking (35.1% vs 0.3%, p<0.001), alcohol use (55.0% vs 0.3%, p<0.001) and other substance abuse (5.2% vs 0.8%, p<0.001) were almost exclusively seen in men. No differences were noted in delays to hospital admission (delay ≥4.5 hours: women- 45.4% vs men-41.3%, p=0.222). There were no sex differences in the rates of CT scanning (women- 100% vs men- 99.6%, p=0.516) or thrombolysis for ischaemic stroke (women- 7.8% vs men- 10.2%, p=0.458), but more men received stroke unit care (men- 45.4% vs women- 37.2%, p=0.012). No differences were noted between sexes in the clinical (Oxfordshire classification, p=0.671) or aetiological (TOAST criteria, p=0.364) subtypes of stroke. Stroke severity on admission was similar between sexes (median NIHSS score; women- 8.0 vs men- 8.0, p=0.897). More women had a discharge Barthel index (BI) <60 than men (62.6% vs 53.5%, p=0.007), but female sex was not associated with BI<60 on multivariate logistic regression (p=0.134). There was no difference in in-hospital mortality (women-5.9% vs. men- 5.9%, p=0.963).
Conclusions:
Women with stroke in this South Asian cohort were older, had different risk factor profiles and clinical stroke characteristics, and had more ischaemic strokes. Female sex was not independently associated with functional disability on discharge or in-hospital mortality.
Metabolic analysis of three-dimensional cultured gastrointestinal cancer cells suggests that L-arginine inhibits tumor growth by affecting the urea cycle
Authors: Tanaka Eri , Taniura Naoko , Mukaisho Ken-ichi , Kageyama Yusuke , Noujima Mai , Ishigaki Hirohito , Nakayama Takahisa , Kushima Ryoji
Published: December 2024

Introduction: There is evidence for the anticancer effects of L-arginine (arginine); however, the direct effects on cancer cells and mechanism of action are unclear. Methods: Various upper gastrointestinal cancer cells (OE19, OE33, MKN1, MKN45, MKN74, and AGS) were divided into arginine-treated and untreated groups and cultured using two-dimensional and three-dimensional culture systems. Proliferation was evaluated using the MTT assay to identify arginine-sensitive (OE33) and arginine-insensitive (OE19) strains. Furthermore, effects of arginine were evaluated using a mitochondrial stress test, cell cycle assay, comprehensive metabolic analysis, and tracer study using [¹³C₆] L-arginine. Results: In OE33 (but not in OE19), the maximal respiratory capacity of mitochondria was lower in the treated group than in the control group. In OE33, S phase cells (determined using BrdU) were significantly reduced. In a comprehensive metabolic analysis of OE33, citrulline/ornithine levels were significantly lower in arginine-treated than in untreated cells. Using OE33, carbamoyl aspartic acid (CAA) levels were significantly lower in arginine-treated than in untreated cells. A tracer study suggested that arginine promotes the urea cycle. Conclusion: Arginine affected urea cycle metabolism, thereby decreasing CAA, which is required for pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. These findings provide insight into the mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of arginine.
Correlation between dynamic balance, lower limb muscle power, and speed performance in sprinters: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chivate D. , Chakkalathy S. , Motimath B.
Published: December 2024

The ability to balance and generate muscle force are critical components of sprint performance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between speed, lower limb muscle power, and dynamic balance in sprinters. A total of 75 sprinters, aged 18-30 years, from various sports academies and clubs in Belagavi, were recruited for this observational study. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Modified Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and Multiple Single Leg Hop Stabilization Test (MSLHST), while muscle power was measured through the Sargent Jump Test. Speed was evaluated using the 30 m Sprint Test. Data analysis using Pearson’s correlation revealed a moderate positive correlation between speed and both dynamic balance (dominant leg r = 0.336, non-dominant leg r = 0.320) and muscle power (r = 0.32). Statistically significant correlations were observed between dynamic balance and speed (dominant leg , non-dominant leg ), and between muscle power and speed (). These findings suggest that improvements in dynamic balance and muscle power are associated with increased speed, highlighting their importance in sprint performance training.
Reviewing as a New Style of Reasoning in the Early Modern Period
Authors: Sgarbi Marco
Published: December 2024

This paper explores the emergence of a new style of reasoning in early modern thought, that of reviewing, and how it changed the way of doing science and philosophy. It shows (1) how reviewing produced new objects of knowledge—that is, reviews in all their various formats; (2) how reviewing generated authorities and monopolies of knowledge, establishing new criteria for truth and falsehood, and affirming new trends and spheres of influences; (3) how reviewing created a new mode of intellectual work for scientists and philosophers, establishing articulated ways of sharing knowledge with an expectation of specific standards; (4) how reviewing as a form of testing knowledge and at the same time a way of making public the test follows the same pattern as the experimental style of reasoning, but while the latter was based on experimentation, the former used the dissemination of ideas as a warrant of their validity.
Korea’s State Practice of International Law: a Multifaceted Evaluation through Regional Perspectives
Authors: Lee Seokwoo
Published: December 2024

This article provides a multifaceted evaluation of South Korea’s state practice of international law through diverse regional perspectives from Asian scholars. It examines Korea’s role as a middle power in shaping regional and global legal frameworks, the impact of its historical and geopolitical context on legal approaches, and its contributions to various areas of international law. The analysis highlights Korea’s active engagement in international organizations, commitment to human rights and environmental governance, and efforts to balance traditional alliances with new partnerships. The paper also emphasizes the importance of legal education in sustaining Korea’s engagement with international law and explores how Korea’s experiences offer valuable lessons for regional legal development. By synthesizing these varied viewpoints, this study offers insights into Korea’s evolving role in the international legal order and its potential to influence the future landscape of international law in Northeast Asia and beyond.
Philippines
Authors: Casis Rommel J.
Published: December 2024

This article explores South Korea’s evolving role and state practice in the realm of international law since its admission to the United Nations in 1991. It highlights Korea’s transformation from a recipient of international aid to an active contributor to global peacekeeping, development assistance, and international criminal justice. The analysis delves into key aspects of Korea’s international engagement, including its approach to territorial disputes, constitutional commitment to peace, and participation in human rights treaties. Particular attention is given to Korea’s domestic implementation of international legal obligations and its complex relationship with third-party dispute resolution, as exemplified by the Liancourt Rocks dispute with Japan. By evaluating Korea’s state practice and legal commitments, the article sheds light on its broader implications for international law and diplomacy.
Iran
Authors: Askari Pouria
Published: December 2024

This article examines South Korea’s implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, emphasizing its commitment to integrating human rights within corporate governance. As a major global economy, Korea has adopted a national action plan focused on corporate accountability, mandatory human rights due diligence, and protection for whistleblowers. The article explores Korea’s efforts to align corporate practices with human rights standards, highlighting strategies that could inform the UN’s development of a legally binding instrument on business and human rights. Korea’s approach serves as a model for both developed and developing countries, offering a practical framework for advancing human rights within the business sector.
Fukushima Daiichi ALPS-Treated Water Discharge: Bolstering Norms to Protect the Marine Environment
Authors: Cheong Denise , S Nivedita
Published: December 2024

The discharge of the ALPS-treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station raises complex issues regarding the normative framework governing its impact on the marine environment. Due to its cross-cutting nature, international norms from both the nuclear and ocean domains are potentially applicable. While the International Atomic Energy Agency’s safety review has focused on assessing the consistency of Japan’s actions with the safety standards, less attention has been paid to international conventions relevant to the discharge. This article aims to (i) clarify the key international norms for marine environmental protection from both domains and consider how they interrelate; and (ii) identify governance challenges associated with these norms. It examines governance concerns related to safety standards and key international conventions, concluding with recommendations to strengthen and develop the normative framework.
La navigation funéraire de Khnoumhotep à Béni-Hassan
Authors: Servajean Frédéric
Published: December 2024

The aim of lexicography is not simply to restore the lexicon of a language. Words express the world and its categories. The only way to find their exact meaning, i.e. to precisely delimit their semantic field, is to carry out a genuine ethnographic survey. The aim of this article is to show that, with a good knowledge of the principles of Egyptian navigation and the words used by boatmen, it is possible to find several ideas that are merely suggested behind a figuration accompanied by a banal inscription. We will consider here the example of a navigation scene and an inscription from the tomb of Khnumhotep II at Beni-Hassan (Twelfth Dynasty). The researcher might think that these ideas were hidden, as they were intended for initiates, but this is not the case. Any Egyptian observer looking at the scene and reading the inscription could find them without difficulty.
Ethnic registration and tertiary-level education of children of mixed native couples: Register-based evidence from Finland
Authors: Härtull Camilla , Saarela Jan
Published: December 2024

Using population register data, we examine how intermarried parents’ choice of ethnic registration of their children is associated with the offspring's probability of having a tertiary-level education. The study context concerns two ethnic groups, Finnish speakers and Swedish speakers in Finland, which are native and have equal constitutional rights, but have unequal admittance rates to tertiary-level education. We find that a mixed background per se does not play any crucial role for educational attainment, but that own ethnic affiliation matters. Swedish-registered males and females with mixed background are more likely to be higher educated than their Finnish-registered counterparts. The difference is more pronounced if it is the father and not the mother who is Swedish registered. These findings illustrate that intermarried parents’ ethnic registration of their children may have far-reaching consequences for the children's educational opportunities. Intermarried parents may well opt for the minority group if the choice may promote the child's future educational chances.
Depth Psychology in Action: The Corps of Depth Healers’ Vision for Collective Healing
Authors: Gamlen Tyler W. , Schneider Kirk J.
Published: December 2024

The Corps of Depth Healers, founded by Kirk Schneider in 2023 and assisted by Tyler Gamlen, emerged in response to escalating social, political, and environmental crises. The Corps addresses contemporary challenges such as political polarization, mental health disparities, and societal fragmentation through emotionally restorative relationships, depth healing, and bridge-building. Key initiatives include Experiential Democracy Dialogues, based on Schneider’s work, which promote depolarization and empathy in a polarized world. Central to the Corps’ philosophy is Schneider’s concept of awe—an experience that fosters profound connection and meaning. The organization operates through a consortium model, collaborating with like-minded groups committed to social justice and depth psychology. Its Depth Dialogues podcast further extends its outreach by engaging scholars and activists. Looking ahead, the Corps envisions systemic mental health advocacy, proposing the creation of a Psychologist General and a national Office of Psychological Advisors. It is also developing a comprehensive training program to equip professionals with depth psychological tools for social healing, uniting individuals across various fields to address existential and societal crises through transformative depth healing and community restoration.
Research on surface roughness of high-speed milling 7075-T6 aluminum alloy using nanofluid/ultrasonic atomization minimal quantity lubrication system
Authors: Ho Wen-Hsien , Tsai Jinn-Tsong , Huang Wei-Tai
Published: December 2024

This study employed a self-developed nanofluid/ultrasonic atomization minimal quantity lubrication system. The use of ultrasonic cavitation can effectively improve the accumulation of nanofluids via van der Waals force bonding and enhance their efficiency. This system is a high-speed milling manufacturing innovation in lubrication technology. Two types of nanoparticles (multiwalled carbon nanotubes and MoS2 nanoparticles) were used to facilitate the mixing of nanofluids and their lubrication in the high-speed milling of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. The surface roughness of each group of experimental results was used as the characteristic index. The surface roughness obtained from the optimization of the experimental results was 0.51 μm, while the worst group, which was based on the original orthogonal table, had a surface roughness of 1.05 μm, demonstrating an improvement of 51.43% in the quality characteristics. Results of comparative experiments demonstrated that using a nanofluid mixed with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and MoS2 nanoparticles exerted better effects on surface roughness, tool wear, and workpiece burrs than using only nanofluids with single nanoparticles. This finding can be attributed to the mixed nanofluid, which simultaneously possesses the good grinding capability of MoS2 and the excellent heat transfer property of multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
Block cipher construction using minimum spanning tree from graph theory and its application with image encryption
Authors: Rasheed Muhammad Waheed , Mahboob Abid , Bilal Muhammad , Shahzadi Kiran
Published: December 2024

In modern cryptography, Substitution Boxes (S-boxes) are critical in introducing confusion into ciphertext, significantly enhancing encryption security. With the rising sophistication of hacking techniques, there is a growing need to develop stronger and more dynamic S-boxes. This paper proposes a novel method for constructing cryptographically secure S-boxes using graph theory, specifically based on the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) of cycle graphs. The process begins by converting plaintext into vertices, forming a cycle graph. Special characters are incorporated, and ASCII-based values are assigned to vertices. The distance between vertices is calculated using their intersections, leading to the creation of an MST graph. The final step involves obtaining the adjacency matrix, which is further processed to generate the S-box. The S-box's unpredictability is enhanced by employing the S256 permutation from the symmetric group. Various cryptographic tests are conducted to evaluate the proposed S-box's performance, with results demonstrating its robustness when compared to existing S-box designs. Furthermore, this S-box is applied to an image encryption scheme, and its efficacy is thoroughly assessed. The findings highlight the potential of the proposed method to contribute significantly to cryptographic security.
Of broken promises cities are made. Gambling, urbanisation, and belonging in Macau
Authors: Zandonai Sheyla S
Published: December 2024

Few places on Earth have experienced recent economic growth at the same level as Macau during the years of its gambling boom, which lasted for about a decade from when the first casinos after the liberalisation started to emerge in 2004. It may come as no surprise that, through gambling, the city was transformed under a broader strategy of human and urban ‘management’ in which neoliberal rationalities mediated investment, social welfare, and city development. A lot of ink has been devoted to analysing the economic, political, and social impact of Macau’s gambling governance throughout the golden years of the liberalisation and beyond, but few works have offered a platform to ‘voice’ lived experience. Drawing on ethnographic work, this article documents the reactions of Macau locals ( gentes de Macau, 本地人, bun dei jan) to the potent wave of gambling-led economic growth and urbanisation, adding a layer of novelty and complexity to this debate. It re-evaluates this incredible moment in Macau’s contemporary history under the notion of the right to the city, as argued by Lefebvre and other urban theorists (Jacobs, Harvey, Massey), who see this as the right to claim a shaping power over the processes of urbanisation that affect the ways in which cities are made and remade. Ultimately, the paper argues that, despite material accumulation, the people of Macau felt somewhat dispossessed of ways to influence the course of development and robbed of their sense of belonging and city ‘ownership’.
Where do neighbourhood reputations come from? Analysing Chicago community areas using a systematic neighbourhood reputation score, 1985–2020
Authors: Stuart Forrest , Collins Charles R , Wade Bocar , Gleit Rebecca D , Louis Moore Caylin
Published: December 2024

A longstanding maxim of urban research is that neighbourhood reputations matter. The subjective narratives and stereotypes about a neighbourhood influence a range of consequential processes, outcomes and inequalities. Yet, there remains considerable ambiguity regarding the primary drivers of the neighbourhood status hierarchy. What are the primary factors responsible for neighbourhood reputations? How and why do reputations change over time? Unfortunately, efforts to answer such questions have been hampered by methodological limitations, most notably the lack of a universal measure allowing comparisons between every neighbourhood in a given city. In an effort to address this shortcoming, this article offers a novel computational approach for generating a systematic measure, which we refer to as a ‘neighbourhood reputation score’. Leveraging a sentiment analysis method to examine every newspaper article published by the Chicago Tribune mentioning at least one of Chicago’s 77 community areas across five decades, we find that neighbourhood reputation scores are negatively associated with the proportion of Black residents in a neighbourhood. Although the strength of the relationship between ethno-racial composition and reputation increases over time, neighbourhoods in Chicago did not experience sufficient compositional shifts to assess whether demographic changes lead to reputational changes. These findings represent the most systematic evidence to date in support of the theory that ethno-racial stigma is the most influential driver of the neighbourhood status hierarchy.
Emancipatory Rural Politics in Latin America 2010-2020: Alliance-Building, Right-Wing Populisms and Political Transitions
Authors: Coronado Sergio
Published: December 2024

The 2010s could be defined for Latin America as a period of multiple and interrelated transitions. The decay of the “Pink Tide” and the reemergence of different strands of right-wing, authoritarian, and populist political projects was shaped by the impacts of convergent social and ecological crises in the region, particularly in the disputes over extractivism and environmental affairs. This paper examines such transitions in the Latin American region by considering the emancipatory character of different forms of rural political mobilization that confront not only the rise of contemporary forms of right-wing populism and authoritarianism but also their political source, that is, the social fragmentation produced by decades of enforcement of economic and political neoliberalism.
Concomitant Nasopharyngeal and Otomastoid Tuberculosis: a Report of 3 Cases and a Review of Literature
Authors: Zhu Xiang-Song , Xu Hai-Yan , Dong Yan-Bo , Liu Yu-He , Gong Shu-Sheng , Li Wan-Xin
Published: December 2024

Objective: Concomitant nasopharyngeal and otomastoid tuberculosis (TB) is an extremely rare clinical condition. So far, there have only been 2 such cases reported in English literature, and another 2 such cases have been reported in Chinese literature. The objective of this work is to summarize our experience dealing with this condition and to review the literature. Methods: A retrospective review of cases with concomitant nasopharyngeal and otomastoid TB treated at 2 tertiary medical institutions between June 2022 and May 2024 was undertaken. Data were retrieved from case notes and analyzed. Results: In total, 3 cases were included (2 male patients were from the former institution, and 1 female patient was from the latter). One case was bilateral, and the other 2 cases were unilateral. Their age was between 23 years old and 49 years old (average and median age was 36.3 and 37 years old, respectively). Presenting symptoms included ear fullness, hearing loss, otorrhea, facial paralysis, and otalgia. Careful diagnostic work-up led to the discovery of both otomastoid and nasopharyngeal lesions in all patients. Surgical procedures were planned, and histopathological examination of lesions of both sites was suggestive of TB for all cases, while polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All patients were subjected to 6 months of anti-TB treatment. The median duration of follow-up was 10 months. No recurrence was documented. A summary of all 7 such cases was also presented. Conclusions: Concomitant nasopharyngeal and otomastoid tuberculosis is very rarely encountered. Surgery or surgical biopsy is important for both treatment and diagnosis. After confirmation of TB by histopathology and PCR, anti-TB treatment is very important for the prevention of recurrence. Symptoms could generally be improved, although not always optimistic.
How Do Reputation Systems Affect Commitment and Social Cohesion in Economic Exchange?
Authors: Strahringer Lenard , Corten Rense
Published: December 2024

With the rise of the platform economy, economic interaction increasingly takes place under the regime of online reputation systems, which reduce uncertainty by publicizing others’ past behavior. Uncertainty, however, is central to the development of stable and cohesive relationships. The fundamental concerns are that reputation systems render personal, stable relationships obsolete and erode social cohesion. Grounded in social exchange theory, we propose two mechanisms through which reputation systems reduce commitment and inhibit social cohesion. These hypotheses are tested in a lab experiment simulating economic exchange with and without reputation systems. Contrary to our theoretical expectations, we find that reputation systems slightly reduce interactions between strangers and do not inhibit the development of cohesive ties. Although reputation systems reduce the expressive value of cooperation, they offset this undesired effect by increasing cooperation. Alleviating concerns about the social ramifications of the platform economy, the relationship structure appears largely unaffected by the reputation system. We conclude that actors interpret acts of cooperation differently in the presence of a reputation system, and market participants develop relationships not for purely functional reasons but as emotion-based by-products of economic exchange.
A Comparative Study of the Severity Ranking of Risks in the Indian Automobile Manufacturing Supply Chain Using PROMETHEE, VIKOR and TOPSIS
Authors: Surange Vinod G. , Bokade Sanjay U.
Published: December 2024

The supply chains in automobile manufacturing face numerous risks, impacting organisational performance due to improvised responses and inadequate contingency plans. This study employs the PROMETHEE methodology to identify and rank critical risk factors (CRFs) in the Indian automotive manufacturing supply chain. Thirteen risks were evaluated across five industry criteria using entropy methodology to ensure a robust and objective assessment of each risk factor. Risks related to delays, management, and suppliers emerged as the most severe. A comparison with VIKOR and TOPSIS methods was conducted. Prioritising risk factors through this approach aids organisations in addressing threats effectively.
Prevalence of hospital malnutrition in patients using nutritional support
Authors: de Almeida Santos Arimluz , de Abreu Silva Luciana , Mendes Chagas Gicele , Rodrigues Da Silva Vanessa , Duarte Camila Kümmel
Published: December 2024

Objective

To investigate the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients using nutritional support, considering it’s difficult to achieve nutritional goal and great risk to increase malnutrition.

Methods

A cross-sectional study with 102 patients over 18 years in use of enteral and/or parenteral nutritional therapy and monitored by the Nutritional Therapy Committee between December 2021 and August 2022. All data were collected from electronic medical records. Patients were diagnosed with Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) tools by the researchers.

Results

A total of 102 patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 57.5 years (±16.7) and 63.7% were male. According to the SGA, 26.5% were classified as moderately and 44.1% as severely malnourished. According to the GLIM, 19.6% were moderately and 43.1% were severely malnourished. The two diagnoses showed a moderate agreement (0.46). When evaluating only the 26 patients with overweight or obesity, the GLIM identified one patient with malnutrition and the SGA identified six patients.

Conclusions

The SGA and the GLIM tool identified a high prevalence of malnutrition in patients using nutritional support in the hospital. The use of GLIM for diagnosis of malnutrition in hospitalized patients using nutritional support proved to be an excellent and practical tool, despite being less sensitive for patients with obesity. Subjective Global Assessment was a more sensitive tool in evaluating patients with malnutrition and using nutritional support. More studies are needed to confirm the use of lean mass reduction markers to identify the degree of malnutrition defined by GLIM in hospitalized patients.
Sri Lankan Migrants to Australasia: From Indo to Pacific
Authors: Jayawardena Pavithra
Published: December 2024

This article examines what the geopolitical term ‘Indo-Pacific’ means for people in South Asia who have moved to Australia or New Zealand, thereby crossing multiple borders between the Indosphere and the Pacific region, which the geopolitical term ‘Indo-Pacific’ presents as linked. Seeking to understand how these migrants’ imaginations of Indo-Pacific borders are constructed, 49 interviews were conducted with Sri Lankan forced and voluntary migrants in Australia and New Zealand. The findings show that the respondents perceived these two spheres not only as territorial, physical and legal entities but also as ideological and cultural opposites affecting their own border crossing. Thus, the geostrategic concept of the Indo-Pacific appears to be mainly an artificial category used and enforced by state-centric and global geopolitical agendas. It is not a directly relevant concept underpinning manifestations of new forms of identity construction among South Asian people migrating within the Indo-Pacific region.
The pattern of the distribution of incompetent segments within the great saphenous vein at C2 lower extremity: A report conforming to the 2024 IAC standards and guidelines
Authors: Hong Ki-Pyo , Kim Hyo-Hyun , Kim Do-Kyun
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To analyze the distribution of incompetent segments in the great saphenous vein (GSV) in Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, Pathophysiological (CEAP) classification C2 limbs to provide a reference for appropriate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Methods

We analyzed the distributions of incompetent segments in the GSVs of the C2 lower extremity undergoing duplex ultrasound from September 2017 to December 2023. The examined segments were the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ), GSV at the proximal thigh, GSV at the knee, and GSV below the knee.

Results

A total of 696 lower limbs from 540 patients (male 256, female 440) was analyzed. The mean age was 56 (ranging from 18 to 86), and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.0 kg/m2. There were 15 types of distribution of incompetent segments within the GSV, with the most common type (32.6%) being reflux from the SFJ to the GSV below the knee. Among the lower limbs with reflux at the SFJ, GSV at the proximal thigh or knee was competent in 10% of lower limbs. In the lower limbs with reflux at the proximal thigh GSV, 26% did not have reflux at the SFJ. The presence of reflux in each segment did not differ by sex, but those with reflux in the below-knee segment were older than those without reflux( p = .003). In each of the three segments above the knee, limbs with reflux had a higher BMI than those without reflux.

Conclusions

The most common distribution type was reflux from the SFJ to the below-knee segment, although this only accounted for about one-third of the cases. Various distribution types of incompetent segments within the GSV were identified, suggesting that reflux testing in multiple segments according to the latest guidelines for ultrasound examination of the lower extremity veins is necessary to avoid unnecessary treatment of segments without reflux.
Intelligent evaluation and operation recommendation system of sintering process based on analytic hierarchy process–entropy weight method–technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (AHP–EWM–TOPSIS)
Authors: Liu Xiaojie , Li Yifan , Li Hongwei , Duan Yifan , Zhang Yujie , Li Xin , Li Hongyang , Lv Qing
Published: December 2024

Fluctuations in the sintering process have a significant impact on the overall performance and outcomes of sintering production. It is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of the sintering operation in a timely manner in order to minimise process fluctuations and ensure the stability of sinter production. In this paper, a sintering process evaluation model is presented, which is based on the analytic hierarchy process–entropy weight method–technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (AHP–EWM–TOPSIS) and is constructed using data from a steel plant sintering production process. Firstly, the evaluation indices input to the system are selected by combining the principle of the sintering process and actual production requirements. The subjective and objective weights of the indices are then calculated using the AHP–EWM method, and the weights are combined through the principle of minimum discriminatory information to construct the set of weighted indices. Subsequently, the sintering process was evaluated by the TOPSIS model, and the results of this evaluation were compared with the actual fluctuation situation at the sintering site. This was done by combining the model results with the differential level method. It was found that the model can accurately reflect the fluctuation situation that occurs in the sintering process. Furthermore, the comprehensive matching rate reached 95.42%, which demonstrates that the model is capable of accurately evaluating the operation of the sintering process. The statistical analysis of historical data provides a basis for the optimised operation of the sintering production process by summarising the optimal range of each parameter when the sintering operates efficiently. Ultimately, a sintering process evaluation system is constructed through the use of computer technology, thereby facilitating the transformation of sintering production into an intelligent system. The model is capable of rapidly ascertaining the actual status of the sintering process in real time. The established system is designed to facilitate the optimisation of sintering production operations and to promote long-term stability in sintering.
Doing Feminist Research on Conflict, Violence and Peace: Ethical and Methodological Dilemmas
Authors: Martín de Almagro María , Zulver Julia Margaret , Anctil Avoine Priscyll , Tapias Torrado Nancy R. , Berry Marie
Published: December 2024

This piece offers a space for critical debate and reflection on the methodological and epistemological foundations that underpin feminist research on conflict, violence and peace. Taking stock of the variety of approaches and theoretical standpoints, we examine the (feminist) politics of knowledge production in academia and its limitations. We discuss how ontological and epistemological assumptions shape what counts as (feminist) academic knowledge and what is considered to be possible in (policy) practice. The article makes three contributions. First, we argue that the production of knowledge within disciplinary boundaries, and in particular, International Relations, is closely related to the discipline’s history of positivism and exclusion. Second, to counter that, we propose a close engagement with Black and decolonial feminist methods of feeling-knowing, storytelling and collaboration. Third, we highlight that embracing uncertainty means accepting incommensurability and heterogeneity, as well as a shift away from the urge to accumulate knowledge towards paying attention to the process of co-constructing it.
Moving forward – staying put: Social science postgraduates’ Covid-19 (im)mobilities
Authors: Marshall Tom
Published: December 2024

When the Covid-19 pandemic began, social science postgraduates (PGRs) in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland were instantaneously prevented from undertaking their carefully planned in-person fieldwork. The pandemic disrupted many PGRs’ temporalities, often resulting in both academic and existential immobility. During Covid-19, PGRs reacted in varying ways to the tensions of wanting to move forward with their PhD toward their future selves, yet often experienced staying put. This article explores the influences on several PGRs’ attempts to (re)gain control over their temporal (im)mobilities. It also analyses the impact of PGRs’ social and academic (im)mobilities resulting from Covid-19 on their (un)well-being. The research reflected on how Covid often interrupted PGRs’ hoped-for futures as their spatial immobilities became bound up with (im)mobilities related to their PhD. The article also directs attention to how ethnographic apprenticeship must encompass strategies to prepare PGRs for their PhD work as an aspect of their future-making.
Mobility cause lawyering: Contesting regimes of (im)mobility in the Canary Islands migration route to Europe
Authors: Fradejas-García Ignacio , Loftsdóttir Kristín
Published: December 2024

This article analyses cause lawyering as a critical form of resistance to uneven European Union (EU) mobility regimes. Grounded in the proclamation of a migration crisis during 2020–21 in the Canary Islands, Spain, when newly arrived racialized migrants in irregular situations faced different types of (im)mobilization during their transits to continental Europe, the article shows that cause lawyering is a significant strategy for disputing exclusionary dimensions of law and policy, and/or (im)mobility regulations when rules are arbitrarily applied or violated. The case is illustrated ethnographically and follows various expert lawyers in migration working within formal or informal structures, as well as non-lawyer allies such as ombudsmen, activists, friends, or migrant families, who facilitate the navigation of migrant mobilities using human rights and national and international laws and regulations. The analysis focuses on their actions in practice and shows how they challenge specific mobility rules within the EU’s mobility regimes, create procedures to deal with bureaucracies and problems regarding access to legal services, and strategically litigate individual cases in local, national and supranational jurisdictions. By drawing attention to the plurality of actors performing mobility-related cause lawyering to challenge uneven regimes of (im)mobility, the article contributes to the critical work that analyses practices of migrant resistance by going beyond the portrayals of unauthorized migrants battling alone against the odds as victims or heroes.
Respiratory-rate Oxygenation index for Predicting Noninvasive Ventilation Associated With High-flow Nasal Cannula Failure in Acute Respiratory Failure Due to SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Blakeley Camille , Pons Stéphanie , Pardo Emmanuel , Baron Elodie , Claviéras Noémie , Battisti Valentine , Assefi Mona , Constantin Jean-Michel
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The respiratory rate-oxygenation (ROX) index is used to predict high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) success in acute respiratory failure, including in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, no study has described its performance to predict failure of alternating sessions of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and HFNC in severe COVID-19 patients.

Material and methods

We conducted a monocentric retrospective cohort study. COVID-19 patients admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) for acute respiratory failure were treated by alternating sessions of HFNC and NIV. The primary endpoint was the ability for ROX index at 2 hours (h) of NIV initiation to predict HFNC/NIV failure defined by orotracheal intubation (OTI) within 7 days after noninvasive support initiation.

Results

One hundred and five patients were included in analysis, of which 47% ( n = 49) required OTI by day seven. ROX index values were significantly lower in intubated group at all time points but 24 h. In multivariate analysis, a ROX index at 2 h < 4.88 was associated with a higher risk of HFNC/NIV failure (Hazard Ratio 1.90 [95% Confidence Interval 1.03-3.51], p = 0.039). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for ROX index at 2 h was 0.702 [0.608-0.790]. Optimal cut-off value was 5.22. Sensitivity and specificity for predicting intubation with this threshold were 71.4% and 63.3%, respectively.

Conclusions

In our study, the ROX index had a good predictive power for alternating sessions of HFNC and NIV failure in patients with acute respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2.
Taguchi-Gray based performance optimization of a helical coil integrated chilled water system for enhanced space cooling and water chilling applications
Authors: Bargah Vikas , Sahoo Debi Prasad , Almasri Belal , Mohapatra Taraprasad , Gupta Aryan , Shahbaaz Syed , Nandi Vijay , Sahoo Swastik Prasad
Published: December 2024

This study experimentally investigates the performance of a helical coil integrated chilled water system (HCCWS) used for simultaneous cooling of hot air (HA) and water (HW). The current HCCWS operates with three fluids in which chilled water (CW) flows inside the shell while hot water and air pass through the helical coil and innermost tube. Nusselt number, friction factor, and JF factor are measured as performance of the HCCWS corresponding to variations in inlet temperature, flow rate, and velocity of different fluids respectively. Temperature distribution of different fluids along the length of the HCCWS test section was determined. From results, it is observed that Nusselt number increases considerably as the flow rate of CW increases, reaching a maximum of 150.01 at a flow rate of 200 liter per hour (LPH) and an inlet temperature of 13°C. As the flow rate of chilled water increases, the friction factor drops. The lowest friction factor measured was 0.016 with a flow rate of 200 LPH and an inlet temperature of 13°C. The chilled water inlet temperature and hot water flow rate significantly affect the JF factor of CW, HW, and HA with a contribution of 33.47%, 33.7%, and 32.69%, respectively. The Taguchi-Grey technique was used to optimize the overall JF factor corresponding to input parameters. The optimal HCCWS performance was achieved at 13°C inlet temperature, 100 LPH chilled and hot water flow rates, and 4 m/s hot air velocity, raising the grey relation grade to 1.
Learning in Transition: Exploring Factors Shaping Students’ Motivation Across Diverse Learning Modalities
Authors: Sheokand Karamvir , Garima  , Deswal Ritu , Jyoti
Published: December 2024

The goal of this study is to examine the approach and avoidance elements that influence students’ motivation to learn in three different learning environments: online learning, blended learning, and conventional face-to-face learning. In-depth online interviews were conducted using purposive sampling technique. Thematic content analysis was used to examine the original data. Five motivating factors for the approach to online learning and four motivating factors for the approach to traditional learning were found in this study. The majority of the motivational variables, such as social contact, campus life experience, physical well-being, and flexibility, were also present in the blended learning strategy.
Power and Political Verve of Teachers Unions: A Fitful Five Years for America's Teachers, 2018–2023
Authors: Waite Melissa
Published: December 2024

This paper provides an overview of major public school teacher union issues that made headlines in the demi-decade from 2018 to 2023, weaving several threads to present a current look at America's educators, the unions that represent them, and the institutional structures that influence our nation's schools. Consideration is given to the U.S. Supreme Court Janus ruling that outlawed agency fees and its impact on teacher unions, the Red for Ed groundswell of union protests that swept the nation in 2018–2019, educator activism reflected in the increased cadence of teacher strikes post-COVID, levers of power being flexed by state politicians, and membership trends of the National Education Association, the nation's largest labor union. Using Malin's (2012) analogy of “tsunami” to describe the rollbacks of ten states’ public sector collective bargaining rights from 2010 to 2012, another round of seismic sea waves characterized the 2018–2023 period, their energy and awe on full display.
Benign Glomus Tumor of the Urinary Bladder: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Ma Xiaoling , Pan Chenglong , Xu Anqi , Guo Xiaojing , Yao Yanfei , Li Ziqi , Zhao Youmei , Wang Chunyan , Nie Zhi
Published: December 2024

Glomus tumor is a rare neoplasm, typically found in superficial soft tissues and extremities, particularly in the subungual region. However, it can also occasionally affect deep soft tissue or viscera, such as the bladder, albeit infrequently. Our patient was a 51-year-old man presenting with recurrent hematuria of unknown etiology, accompanied by a blood clot that resolved spontaneously after 1 day. Abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple calculi in the right kidney, whereas cystoscopy showed mucosal edema on the left side of the bladder. A magnetic resonance image of the bladder identified an ovoid mass on the left side, measuring approximately 3.1 cm × 2.7 cm × 2.1 cm. This mass demonstrated a slightly increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images and an intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images. These findings suggested a malignant tumor in the urinary bladder with a nonfunctional right kidney. The patient underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove the right kidney and part of the bladder. Histologically, the tumor primarily consisted of round cells and abundant eosinophilic or pale cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated diffuse positivity for smooth muscle actin and vimentin, and focal positivity for synaptophysin. The final pathological diagnosis was a bladder glomus tumor. At 15 months after resection, the patient was in good health with no recurrence or metastasis. The clinical manifestations and imaging features of bladder glomus tumors can pose diagnostic challenges for urologists. Therefore, it is imperative to consider this tumor in the differential diagnosis of bladder tumors and to enhance the understanding among urologists and pathologists regarding this entity.