bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EEG Decoding of Conscious versus Unconscious Representations during Binocular Rivalry
Authors: Krisst Lara C. , Luck Steven J.
Published: February 2025

Theories of visual awareness often fall into two general categories, those assuming that awareness arises rapidly within visual cortex and those assuming that awareness arises more slowly as a result of interactions between visual cortex and frontoparietal regions. To test the plausibility of early theories of consciousness, we combined the temporal resolution of the EEG technique with multivariate pattern classification techniques to assess the latency at which decodable information about consciously perceived stimuli is enhanced relative to information about stimuli that are not consciously perceived. Competing red and green gratings were presented simultaneously to the two eyes, creating rivalry, and observers reported which one of the two colors was perceived on each trial. We then used the pattern of EEG over the scalp to decode the orientation of the grating that was perceived and the orientation of the grating that was suppressed by the rivalry and not perceived. This allowed us to determine when the content of the neural representations differed between the consciously perceived grating and the unconscious grating. Early theories predict that the difference between conscious and unconscious processing would occur within ∼200 msec of stimulus onset (e.g., at the time of the visual awareness negativity). We found that decoding accuracy was significantly greater for the consciously perceived orientation than for the unperceived orientation beginning 160 msec after stimulus onset, as predicted by theories that propose a rapid onset of visual awareness.
Revisiting the Response to the 1977 Book The Myth of God Incarnate
Authors: Revington Robert
Published: February 2025

In 1977, SCM Press published a controversial theological book titled The Myth of God Incarnate. Although the authors had close ties to the Church of England, their book denied the divinity of Christ. It caused an uproar. This study revisits contemporary responses to the book and examines why so many of them were negative. The book was viewed as a failure by many observers because it was supposed to be a work of “popular” theology—though written by serious scholars—but many reviewers found it both inaccessible for a popular audience and too superficial for an academic one. Furthermore, it was publicized in a way that was insensitive to the faith of churchgoers. Finally, the book’s approach is a prime example of what Peter L. Berger called “the self-liquidation of the theological enterprise.” In short, if the book’s conclusions were accepted by the Church, they would undermine the church’s existence.
Divisive Concept Legislation in the Classroom: Assessing Teacher Discretion-as-Perceived
Authors: Barnes Alicia , Grayer Misty
Published: February 2025

In this article, we explore the relationship between divisive concept legislation and perceived discretion among teachers as street-level bureaucrats. Specifically, we surveyed K-12 teachers’ perceptions of their decision-making power after the passage of legislation limiting the discussion of divisive topics in the classroom. Previous scholarship suggests that discretion-as-perceived is affected by the degree of powerlessness street-level bureaucrats feel in the implementation of a policy. The results of our study indicate that teachers perceive a significant loss of discretion following the passage of such legislation. Those views are shaped by personal and professional factors like race and specialization.
The Role of School Climate in School Turnaround
Authors: Harbatkin Erica , Burns Jason , Cullum Samantha
Published: February 2025

Background or Context:

Although a positive school climate is critical to school effectiveness, little is known about whether a focus on school climate may facilitate successful turnaround in the nation’s lowest performing schools. The research suggests two distinct but overlapping ways in which climate may explain a turnaround intervention’s effectiveness. First, schools with a more positive climate at the outset of reform may be better equipped to enact change under turnaround. Second, a turnaround model that explicitly targets climate may improve school outcomes through improvements to climate, such as by setting a clear mission, clarifying staff roles, and prioritizing working conditions.

Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study:

We examine whether school climate appeared to play a role in the effects of a state-level school turnaround intervention implemented in about 100 schools over two implementation cohorts in Michigan.

Research Design:

Drawing on statewide administrative data linked with unique teacher survey data in Michigan, we carry out two sets of analyses. First, we use comparative interrupted time series (CITS) models to examine whether turnaround schools with a more positive climate fared better under turnaround than schools with a more negative climate. Second, we conduct a mediation analysis to explicitly test whether dimensions of climate mediated the relationship between turnaround and student achievement.

Conclusions or Recommendations:

In our CITS analysis, we find that students in schools with a more positive school climate appeared to fare better than their peers in schools with a less positive climate, particularly in math. Our mediation analysis findings suggest that certain elements of climate—relationships and school leadership—also mediated the relationship between turnaround and student achievement. Our findings have implications for school improvement planning, for the design of evaluations of school turnaround initiatives, and for data collection by states aiming to improve their lowest performing schools.
Impact welding process and microstructure of multi-layered Al-Cu joint by vaporizing foil actuator
Authors: Yao Yujie , Deng Jianghua , Fan Zhisong , Ning Hanwei , Tang Weijie
Published: February 2025

A multi-layered Al-Cu joint is achieved by vaporizing foil actuator welding (VFAW). The process of welding, tensile properties and microstructure of multi-layered Al-Cu joint are systematically investigated using numerical simulations and experiments. Micro-melting at the welding interface contributes to metallurgical bonding. When the impact velocity exceeds 430 m/s, a larger metallurgical bonding area is created between the two neighbouring sheets, which in turn increases the shear strength of the joint. Comparing to the Cu-Cu interface, the Al-Cu interface forms a distinct waveform because of the differences between the base material in hardness and density. Due to the rapid cooling rate of VFAW, a gradient structure containing nanocrystals and amorphous zone is formed between the matrices and the transition zone.
Cutaneous metastases of invasive lobular breast cancer as the first clinical manifestation: a case report
Authors: Karaja Saja , Almohamed Ahmad , Qatza Ayham , Aldolly Ahmed , Mansour Sanaa , Almasri Alae Aldin
Published: February 2025

Cutaneous metastasis (CM) is a rare phenomenon, occurring in only 0.6% to 10.4% of oncology patients. Breast carcinoma represents nearly one-third of all CM cases, although it manifests in a minority of patients with breast cancer (BC). Notably, CMs are detected at the time of primary tumor diagnosis in 6.3% of patients with BC and serve as the initial clinical presentation in only 3.5% of patients. We present a case involving a 53-year-old woman with a 5-month history of asymptomatic infiltrating nodules in the axillae and trunk. Skin biopsy and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed metastatic breast carcinoma with positive estrogen receptor staining. This case underscores the importance of early detection and precise diagnostic techniques in managing metastatic adenocarcinoma with cutaneous manifestations. Despite the promising outcome of the initial treatment, the disease progression in this case highlights the aggressive nature of CMs and the ongoing need for research and advanced therapeutic strategies.
Spatially distributed circumferential strain measurement in an artificial spinal disc using fibre Bragg gratings
Authors: Godfrey Mike , Jantzen Senta , Dickinson Alex , Taylor Andy , Browne Martin
Published: February 2025

Artificial disc replacements (ADRs) are orthopaedic implants designed to replace degenerated intervertebral discs, a common aetiology of chronic back pain. ADRs which emulate the biomechanics of the natural disc promote the natural physiological kinematics, which is important for minimising postoperative deterioration of surrounding structures. By quantifying and comparing the displacements and strains within the ADR and the natural disc, target values can be established for future biomimetic ADR designs. However, measuring internal strain in these devices can be challenging. To this end, this study presents a novel application of fibre optic strain sensing through the use of fibre Bragg gratings. In this proof-of-principle study, an ADR model was fabricated with an embedded fibre optic sensor and subjected to physiological loads. The ADR model consisted of an elastomeric ring reinforced with Kevlar fibre. This simulated the annulus fibrosus (AF) of the natural disc and was left either filled or unfilled with an elastomeric material which simulated the nucleus pulposus (NP) of the natural disc. Fixation of the disc to artificial bone was achieved using three pins on the superior face and three pins on the inferior face of the ADR. Using wavelength division multiplexing of the fibre Bragg gratings, the hoop strain within the AF was monitored with a spatial resolution of 10 mm. Measurements revealed local strain concentrations around the fixation points and that the nucleated configuration increased circumferential strain in the AF by over 10 times for a given axial displacement. The measured strain asymmetry was correlated with lateral bending angle with an accuracy of ±0.5 degrees, which could be applied to tracking changes to the range of motion in load-controlled bending tests, for example. With further development, this technology has the ability to assess future designs during pre-clinical testing.
Energy Advisor: Energy Efficiency and the Smart Grid
Authors: Warren Willard L.
Published: February 2025

Demand response and sub-metering of tenants are just two of the techniques for smarter energy management
Made in India
Authors: Hall Elizabeth
Published: February 2025

Handcrafted and locally grown, the lighting for the Alila Diwa resort celebrates the Goan landscape and culture
The Use of Religion Online by Indian Political Entities During the 2024 Lok Sabha Election: Religiopolitical Propaganda on Social Media?
Authors: Noman Mridha Md. Shiblee , Al-Zaman Md. Sayeed
Published: February 2025

The intersection of politics and religion in India has gained significant scholarly attention, particularly since the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rise to power in 2014. The increasing impact of social media on Indian politics has intensified this concern. However, it is yet to be fully explored how social media was used for religiopolitical purposes during the Indian election in 2024. We computationally analyzed 3082 Facebook posts using BERTopic, word embedding, and cluster analysis to understand how politicians, political candidates, political organizations, and political parties intertwined religion and politics during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. We identified the presence of religiopolitical propaganda, primarily aimed at reviving and recreating Hindu nationalist history and targeting religious minorities, mainly Muslims. The major topics of the posts included ideological legacy, political landscape, party and leadership, celebrations, crime and justice, local politics and governance, politicized demographic trends, public engagements, spiritual and philosophical themes, and the misrepresented reservation issue. The interconnectedness of these issues suggests that the BJP and its allies concentrated on religious matters, from Hindu–Muslim debates to reservations for Muslims and the inauguration of Hindu temples. Data from non-political entities, such as influencers, as well as cross-platform analysis from Twitter and YouTube, can extend and enrich these insights.
From Africa to Amazon.com: Racialized Labor and Global Supply Chains
Authors: Ciccantell Paul S. , Potiker Spencer Louis , Smith David A. , Sowers Elizabeth A. , McKenzie Luc
Published: February 2025

What can world-systems analysis of the role of Africa in the creation of the capitalist world-economy tell us about Amazon’s model of control of global supply chains in the 21st century? How did patterns established by European imperialism and enslavement of Africans create long-lasting continuities of racial capitalism and migration that are used by Amazon to profit in the contemporary era? We argue that the analyses of imperialism and racialized labor in Africa that underlay the creation of the capitalist world-system presented by Wallerstein, Rodney, and others, most notably Cedric Robinson, help us understand the continuity of racism and racialized labor over the longue durée. Our analysis of raw materialist lengthened global commodity chains reveals critical continuities and parallels in the central role of racialized exploitation of labor at crucial eras of the modern world-system, including to the enormous rise of Amazon and e-logistics in the contemporary United States.
‘Subjects to be dealt with’: Disability, class, and carceral power in early 20th-century Britain
Authors: Aragon Margarita
Published: February 2025

In this article, I will examine the category ‘subject to be dealt with’, which was established by the 1913 Mental Deficiency Act. Designed to demonstrate the legislation's respect for individual liberty, the boundaries of the category established the grounds on which authorities had the responsibility to act upon those deemed to be ‘mentally defective’. In essence, ‘subject to be dealt with’ became the supposedly rational, measured qualifying category through which the condemnation of ‘defect’ could be operationalized. In both its actual implementation and the realm of possibilities it entailed, the category of ‘subject to be dealt with’ facilitated a range of discourses and practices. It powerfully linked disability and the imperatives of segregation and confinement, a logic that was reinforced even by those critiquing the Mental Deficiency Act, at both its inception and its demise. As a category ‘subject to be dealt with’ at once intensively targeted carceral power on disability, while also working to more deeply ideologically enmesh cognitive and class deviance, naturalizing the broader carceral or institutional archipelago – of asylums, workhouses, special schools, prisons, and so on – to which disabled, poor, and racialized people have been subject.
An investigation of service life behavior of 3D-printed hybrid polymer bearing using fused deposition modeling (FDM) method
Authors: Doğan Burcu Küçükoğlu , Karaçay Tuncay
Published: February 2025

Polymer-bearing usage has been increasing recently, especially in sectors where hygiene is important. These bearings have advantages due to their resistance to corrosion, even with most chemicals. Besides, they do not require additional lubrication. Contrary to the expectation, polymer bearings are generally more expensive than conventional steel bearings. 3D printing of polymer bearings could be a solution to specific requirements; however, additive manufacturing processes have their own problems. Since the materials used in production with the 3D method are polymer-based, whether the bearings produced with this method can be used instead of the original polymer bearings has become a new research topic. Therefore, in this study, in order to examine the distinctive behavior throughout its service life, a new hybrid polymer bearing was developed using steel balls taken from the original polymer bearing, both inner and outer bearings of which were produced with a 3D printer, to create hybrid polymer bearings, using the Fused Deposition Method (FDM) has been obtained. Bearings are tested under load, and vibration data are acquired in order to investigate their fatigue behavior during their service life. The results indicate that Additive Manufacturing offers a workable way to create a polymer hybrid ball bearing. However, when the values obtained for both bearings are examined, it is seen from the test results that the strength of the bearings produced by the FDM method could be better.
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in India: Strengthening Diagnosis, Support, Training and Research
Authors: Gore Manisha , Morgan Julia
Published: February 2025

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a prevalent neuro-developmental disorder marked by inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, affecting children worldwide and often persisting into adulthood. In India, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder prevalence rates align broadly with global figures, but there are significant disparities in diagnosis and treatment due to varying socioeconomic factors and regional differences. This commentary highlights the need for enhanced attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis and support systems within India, emphasizing the gaps in research, professional training, and healthcare infrastructure. Current data indicate a prevalence range of 1.3% to 28.9%, with regional variations and higher rates among males. Notably, underdiagnosis in females and ethnic minorities persists, exacerbated by cultural and systemic barriers. The Indian mental health framework, including the National Mental Health Policy and Mental Healthcare Act, provides guidance but lacks uniform implementation and quality services. To address these issues, the commentary suggests increasing the number of trained mental health professionals, improving school-based support, and culturally adapting interventions. Recommendations include expanding research funding, improving professional training, and developing community-based mental health services. These measures aim to enhance the identification and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, contributing to the well-being of affected individuals and aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 3 for health by 2030.
Hand Coordination Comparison in Adolescents with ADHD: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Amiri Shahrokh , MohammadiBina Zahra , Sadeghi-Bazargani Homayoun , Farahbakhsh Mostafa , Abdi Salman , Azizi Hosein
Published: February 2025

Background:

Impairments in hand coordination and fine motor skills are common among children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly when faced with complex and speedy tasks. The assessment of hand coordination and performance difficulties in adolescents with ADHD compared to healthy children is poorly understood.

Aim:

This study aimed to assess the level of hand coordination and performance difficulty of adolescents with ADHD in comparison with healthy controls.

Methods:

This case-control study included 60 adolescents (30 with ADHD in the case group and 30 healthy individuals in the control group) recruited from patients attending specialized psychiatric clinics in Tabriz, Iran, in 2021. The Conner’s Parent Rating Scale-Revised (CPRS-R) questionnaire and semi-structured diagnostic interview (PL SADS-K) were used to diagnose ADHD. The Vienna Test System (VTS) was utilized to evaluate hand coordination performance. The study groups were compared regarding hand coordination, duration, difficulty level, and error rate.

Results:

No statistically significant differences were found in the mean age of the participants, the age of their parents, or any other demographic or baseline variables between the two groups ( P > .05). The difference between the mean times of hand coordination in the case group (31.4) and the healthy group (29.4) was not statistically significant ( P > .05). However, the case group exhibited a considerably higher mean and level of performance error than the control group (3.48 vs. 1.77), which was statistically significant ( P = .007). In terms of coordination difficulty, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (2.4 vs. 2.29).

Conclusion:

Findings showed no significant statistical differences between the two groups regarding the duration and difficulty of hand coordination tasks. However, the error duration was higher in adolescents with ADHD than in healthy adolescents. Results suggest the potential presence of errors in the hand coordination task among adolescents with ADHD.
Low Back Pain Management Through Bowel Lavage (Panchaprasrutik Basti)—A Single Arm Clinical Trial
Authors: Singh Bhashanjali , Nakade Mamata , Sharma Sidhi
Published: February 2025

Background

Low back pain is a pervasive and often debilitating musculoskeletal condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Low back pain affects 619 million globally (10%) and may rise to 843 million by 2050. It causes 8% years lived with disability and 4.6% disability-adjusted life years in India, with a 1.2%–2.3%. Ayurvedic interventions offer potential relief, specifically Panchaprasrutik Basti (bowel lavage/enema). This study investigates Basti’s therapeutic effects on low back pain.

Purpose

To assess Panchaprasrutik Basti’s efficacy in reducing Katishula (low back pain) using the visual analog scale (VAS). Also, the efficacy of Panchaprasrutik Basti in the restriction of movement and tenderness of Katishula will be assessed using the coin test.

Materials and Methods

This was an interventional, open-label, single-arm, single-center, prospective study of a sample size of 35 patients. Inclusion criteria encompassed patients having symptoms of Katishula (lumbar pain), Katigraha (restriction of movement), Sparshasahatva (tenderness), and ages between 18 and 70 years. Therapeutic intervention in the study compromised Panchaprasrutik Basti (enema) for 7 days. Outcome measures included the VAS for pain severity and the coin test for restriction of movement and tenderness, comparing baseline and post-treatment data.

Results

Thirty-five participants completed the study. Statistical analysis showed significant improvement ( p < 0.05) in low back pain symptoms.

Conclusion

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Panchaprasrutik Basti (480 mL, 7 days) in managing low back pain. Results show significant symptom improvement and enhanced quality of life, validating Ayurvedic medicine as a safe and effective alternative therapy.
Does type of provider matter for staff well-being? a cross-sectional study of residential care home workers’ job demands and resources
Authors: Lindmark Tomas , Trygged Sven , Engström Maria
Published: February 2025

Background: Marketisation trends have introduced new elements in residential care homes, potentially related to the psychosocial work environment and well-being of care workers. Objective: This study examined differences in job demands and resources across public, outsourced, and private residential care home providers and their associations with care workers’ burnout, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. Methods: Data from 253 care workers across 19 residential care homes in three municipalities were analysed using a cross-sectional design, with a 45.3% response rate. We applied the Job Demands-Resources theory and the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire, conducting analyses of variance and multiple regressions with Generalised Estimating Equations to account for nested data. Results: Outsourced care workers reported higher emotional demands than those in the public sector, while private providers offered greater influence and supervisor support compared to public ones. Burnout levels were significantly higher in the medium-sized municipality compared to the small one, while provider type was not significant. Private care workers reported higher job satisfaction, but public sector workers reported better work-life balance. Approximately 60% of respondents considered leaving their jobs at least occasionally, with public sector workers reporting higher turnover intentions than those in for-profit settings. Conclusions: The study highlights the need for targeted work environment improvements, including better leadership and support in the public sector, addressing emotional demands in outsourced settings, and encouraging full-time employment to support work-life balance in the private sector. Stakeholders should prioritise improving job resources to improve care workers’ well-being, especially amid budget constraints and profit goals.
Does dynamic taping affect pain, muscle strength, work-related endurance, and fear avoidance in semiconductor engineers with repetitive low back pain?
Authors: Wang Tian-Hong , Chu I-Hua , Huang Ing-Jer , Liang Jing-Min , Wu Wen-Lan
Published: February 2025

Background

Engineers in the semiconductor industry frequently experience recurrent low back pain (LBP) due to prolonged, repetitive work postures. The operation of machinery in this industry requires a high level of muscle endurance. Dynamic taping can help reduce stress on joints and soft tissues during movement.

Objectives

This study investigated the effect of dynamic taping in workers with recurrent LBP, focusing on pain levels, muscle strength, work-related endurance, and fear avoidance behaviors.

Methods

This crossover study recruited 28 engineers with repetitive LBP from the semiconductor industry. Each participant underwent two interventions: dynamic taping and no taping. Participants completed a maximal isometric back extensor strength test, three muscle endurance tests (Biering–Sorensen, kneeling forward lean, and repetitive lifting), and two LBP questionnaires (visual analog scale [VAS] and Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire 2 [FABQ2]) in each scenario. MicroFET2 was used to assess back extensor strength. Electromyography (EMG) was performed to determine peak or mean values and median frequencies of the erector spinae muscle before and after endurance tests. Total endurance test durations and posttest VAS scores were recorded. FABQ2 scores were evaluated again 3 days after taping.

Results

The results of the paired t test revealed that dynamic taping significantly improved performance in the kneeling forward lean test (p < 0.01) and increased maximum isometric strength (p < 0.01). Furthermore, dynamic taping reduced VAS scores after three endurance tests (all p < 0.01) and FABQ2 score (p = 0.03). Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance revealed significant time effects in the Biering–Sorensen on average EMG activation (p < 0.01) and median frequencies during fatigue monitoring (p < 0.01). Significant time effects were also found in the kneeling forward lean test on median frequencies (p < 0.01). In addition, significant interaction effects were found in the Biering–Sorensen test on average EMG activation (p < 0.01) and in the kneeling forward lean test on median frequencies (p < 0.01). Compared with the no-taping group, the taping group exhibited a more significant decrease in erector spinae muscle activity and maintained median frequencies during fatigue tests.

Conclusion

The use of dynamic tape significantly enhanced maximum isometric strength, improved performance in work-related endurance tests without increasing muscle activity, and reduced FABQ2 scores among semiconductor engineers with recurrent LBP.
Penile Carcinoma Cuniculatum: A Case Report of an Extremely Rare Subtype of Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Lenz Jiří , Michalová Květoslava , Fiala Luděk , Tichý Michal , Tichý František , Němcová Jana , Kavka Miroslav
Published: February 2025

Carcinoma cuniculatum is a very rare subtype of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma affecting several anatomical locations, including the penis. In this paper, we describe a case report of penile carcinoma cuniculatum highlighting some unusual clinical features. The patient was 61-year-old with a cauliflower-like tumor of the glans penis of less than 1-year duration. Microscopic examination revealed a p16-negative well-differentiated squamous proliferation characterized by narrow and cystic spaces extending through the lesion. Carcinoma cuniculatum is characterized by a strong tendency to deep penetration, typically presenting in patients in their seventh to eighth decades and with a long duration of the disease. In contrast, the tumor presented herein occurred in a younger patient with a shorter disease duration and showed only shallow growth into the underlying structures. Since penile carcinoma cuniculatum is a local disease without metastatic potential (regardless of tumor size and disease duration), awareness of this entity is important, especially for distinguishing it from other more aggressive subtypes of squamous cell carcinoma, which require different therapeutic approaches.
A Comparative Study of Physical Activity Levels Between Rural and Urban Settings in Zimbabwe
Authors: Manyeruke Norman , Vermaak Kerry , Mudonhi Nicholas , Nunu Wilfred Njabulo
Published: February 2025

Background:

Zimbabwe lacks information on physical activity levels, the available information is based on estimates.

Aim:

This study compared physical activity levels in rural and urban settings. The relationship between the level of physical activity and metabolic risk factors for non-communicable diseases was also analysed.

Setting:

The study took place in Bulawayo city (urban) and Mashonaland East province (rural).

Methods:

Multi-stage probability-based sampling was used to select 200 male respondents from Bulawayo Province (urban) and 200 male respondents from Mashonaland East Province (rural). The study used the enumeration areas (EAs) used during the 2012 census and represented wards. In total, 10 enumeration areas were randomly selected, and 40 households were randomly selected in each of these enumeration areas. Logistic regression was used for all statistical analyses.

Results:

Rural respondents were 62% more likely to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) required physical activity level than urban respondents. The rural group was 158% more likely to have intermediate physical activity levels (600-2999 METs) than the urban group. Those meeting the WHO recommended physical activity level were 51% less likely to have elevated blood glucose. Facilities to promote physical health are not being used.

Conclusions:

The rural group was more physically active than the urban group. High physical activity reduces the risk of metabolic risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.

Contribution:

Promotion of good health by reducing risk factors for non-communicable diseases.
Impact of Different Metabolic Indicators on Ventricular Repolarization Indices in Obese Children: A Case Control Study
Authors: El Sehmawy Asmaa A , Fawaz Rasha Abd El Samad , Agiba Nadia Ahmed , Elsherbiny Eman Aziz , Agaba Nglaa Fathi , Sayed Mohammed Doaa , Mahmoud Nasr Haidy , Diab Fatma Elzhraa AE , Ahmed Amal M , Issa Mahfouz Shorouk , Okda Heba T , Ahmed Doaa Sadek
Published: February 2025

Background:

Obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia may impact ventricular repolarization in children.

Objectives:

The study aimed to identify the relationship between various metabolic indicators and ventricular repolarization indices among obese children compared to healthy ones.

Methods:

A case-control study included 90 children, divided into two groups: 45 obese children (cases) and 45 children with normal weight (controls). Electrocardiogram (ECG) readings were analyzed to calculate several parameters, including corrected QT (QTc), QTc dispersion (QTcd), JTc dispersion, and the TpTe interval, using 12-lead surface ECGs. Both groups were also assessed for lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and serum insulin to calculate the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR).

Results:

Obese children had significantly higher serum levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR compared to controls. Also, they significantly had longer mean values of QTcd and JTcd with no significant difference in TpTe interval between both groups. A significant positive correlation was detected between QTc and JTc dispersion and the following variables: waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR index, and LDL. Additionally, no significant difference was revealed between obese children with and without metabolic syndrome regarding ventricular repolarization ECG parameters.

Conclusion:

Greater JTc dispersion (ms) and QTc dispersion (ms) were observed in obese children with a positive correlation to waist circumference, BMI, and insulin resistance.
Online election campaigning in changing political environments: A comparison of the 2014 and 2019 European Parliament elections
Authors: Stier Sebastian , Popa Sebastian A , Theocharis Yannis , Boyle Brian
Published: February 2025

It has long been assumed that social media would equalize election campaigning by providing cheap means of communication for smaller parties who lack a strong mass media presence. Yet given the increased political importance of social media, parties with more professional staff and resources could also gain the upper hand in online campaigns. So far, knowledge of the development of online campaigning in a rapidly changing political and technological landscape remains limited, as only few studies have taken a longitudinal and cross-country approach so far. This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of more than 12,000 unique candidates from all 28 European Union (EU) member states in the 2014 and 2019 European Parliament (EP) elections. We theorize and empirically assess how party size and parties’ EU position relate to the presence, the activity and the salience of the EU among EP candidates on Twitter (now X). In the 2019 election, parties with a bigger national vote share and Europhile parties were more likely to be present and use Twitter more frequently to tweet about the EU. Overall, the findings point to a “normalization” of online election campaigning and a further convergence of first and second-order elections.
Trust in the healthcare system declines after exposure to information about the harms and benefits of breast cancer screening
Authors: Parmet Tamar , Yoder Grant , Morse Brad , Cappella Joseph , Schapira Marilyn , Lewis Carmen , McCaffery Kirsten , Smyth Heather , Hersch Jolyn , Scherer Laura D
Published: February 2025

Conflicting health messages negatively impact trust. Breast cancer screening (BCS) is one area of healthcare where conflicting messages are common. We examined whether women’s healthcare system trust was impacted after exposure to information about harms and benefits of BCS. We enrolled 497 women into this study. Participants were administered a decision aid (DA) containing information about the harms and benefits of BCS and reported their healthcare system trust pre- and post-DA exposure. We observed a significant decrease in healthcare system trust from pre- to post-DA. This decrease in trust was associated with participants’ perception that the message conflicted with their previously held beliefs and not the reactions it elicited. When people receive information about BCS that conflicts with past health messages, they may lose trust in the healthcare system. This underscores the importance of adopting consistent messages about BCS.
Impression formation through social interaction: The effect of ethnicity in the Dutch context
Authors: Traast Iris J. , Doosje Bertjan , Amodio David M.
Published: February 2025

Research conducted in the United States shows that White Americans form more positive impressions of White than Black interaction partners through instrumental learning. We asked whether this pattern generalizes to the cultural context of the Netherlands, which differs in norms for expressing intergroup bias. In three preregistered studies ( Ns = 66, 83, 80), White Dutch participants played a money-sharing game, based on a reward reinforcement task, with White and Moroccan partners. Although players shared at different rates, average sharing rates for White and Moroccan players were equated. Unexpectedly, and despite anti-Moroccan explicit and implicit attitudes, participants displayed a pro-Moroccan choice preference across studies. Nevertheless, computational modeling indicated the same learning effects of ethnicity as in past research: ethnicity biased initial reward expectations, and these were updated via group-specific learning rates. We discuss potential explanations for this unexpected pattern and broader implications for cross-cultural research on intergroup social cognition.
Defamilization typology revisited: Is the state or the market the driving force behind childcare defamilization?
Authors: Lee Chae-Jeong
Published: February 2025

This study employs fuzzy set analysis to categorize childcare policies across 19 OECD member countries, emphasizing defamilization strategies focusing on policy tool mixes. It investigates whether these strategies are state-centered or market-centered by analyzing the directness of funding, service creation, and the coerciveness of quality regulations. Key variables include the co-payment proportion of dual-income families, public preschool utilization rates, and monitoring intensity of childcare services, with women’s employment rates as the outcome. The analysis identifies six childcare service models based on government involvement and market dynamics, revealing that women’s employment rates tend to be higher when childcare services are predominantly market-driven. This suggests that market forces play a significant role in the defamilization of childcare, particularly as women’s participation in the labor market grows.
The Commercial Determinants of Nonalcoholic Beer: Redemption, Revenue, or Men’s Harm Reduction?
Authors: Oliffe John L. , Gao Nina , Kelly Mary T. , Goodyear Trevor , Drummond Murray , Levesque Christine , White Katherine
Published: February 2025

Public awareness about the connections between men’s alcohol use and poor health outcomes, including increased male suicide risk, has led to reduced consumption and increased use of nonalcoholic beverages—most prominently nonalcoholic beer (NAB). Marketed as a healthy substitution option (i.e., periodically switching to an NAB rather than abstaining from alcoholic beer), the rapidly growing NAB sector might be somewhat redemptive, wherein the alcoholic beer industry (as the predominant producers of NAB) is selling harm reduction to men, albeit for profit. The commercial determinants of NAB are, however, complex and have significant implications for legislation and policy. For example, in Canada, NAB is exempt from alcoholic beer excise duty but considered beer for the goods and services and harmonized sales taxes. Coupled with industry production costs and profit margins, these taxes contribute to NAB and alcoholic beer retail price parity. From a public health perspective, there are also concerns about increasing alcoholic beer brand recognition and sales revenue by extending NAB visibility in more places (e.g., supermarkets), contexts (e.g., taking medication), and activities (e.g., driving). The current article highlights (1) the connections between men’s alcohol use and health risks, ahead of discussing, (2) the rise of NAB, and mapping (3) NAB legislation and policy implications. We conclude with a discussion about the redemption, revenue, and men’s harm reduction potentials, pragmatically arguing the need to both regulate and incentivize NAB. Proposed are promising directions for future research with the goal of reducing men’s alcohol use and associated harms.
Association Between Nature Attitudes and Physical Activity in Youth From Low-Income Families
Authors: Zarr Robert , Chan Wing Yi , Han Bing , Estrada Erika , Zhong Haoyuan , Cohen Deborah A.
Published: February 2025

We conducted a clinical trial on nature prescriptions measuring baseline moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). 433 children between 6-16 years old completed baseline measures (49.2% female, 50.8% male). Participants self-identified as Latino (88.2%), African-American (9.7%), Asian (0.5%), and other or unknown (1.6%). The mean BMI% was 94.9 (SD 6.2), and mean age is 10.4 years (SD 2.7). The mean MVPA was 16.6 minutes, the mean daily accelerometer wear time was 728.8 minutes (SD 126.6), and the average number of days the participant wore the accelerometer for >8 hours (per day) was 6.8 (SD 3.8). Multivariate regression analysis showed that age was not associated with MVPA. However, boys engaged in 38 more minutes of MVPA per week than girls ( P < .0001). Season was associated with MVPA with 5.4 more minutes of MVPA/day in the Fall ( P < .01) and 4.8 more minutes in Spring ( P < .01) as compared to winter and summer. Participant attitude toward nature was significantly associated with MVPA. One unit of positive increase in individual attitude toward nature was associated with 3 additional minutes of MVPA per day (β = 3.1, P < .001), or 21.7 minutes per week.
The influence of cobalt and graphitic carbon nitride on the efficiency of zirconium oxide for photodegradation of an organic dye in wastewater
Authors: Bandoh Charles Kwame , Adu-Poku David , Haruna Moro , Pinto Ophelia , Danu Bernice Yram , Tutuwaa Agnes , Agorku Eric Selorm , Ampong Francis Kofi , Nkum Robert Kwame
Published: February 2025

This study synthesized semiconducting cobalt-doped zirconium oxide–graphitic carbon nitride (Co-ZrO2/g-C3N4) nanocomposites using a simple technique with low production cost and investigated the collective impact of Co and g-C3N4 on the efficiency of ZrO2 photocatalyst in degrading eosin yellow (EY) dye in synthetic wastewater. The Co-ZrO2/g-C3N4 composites were synthesized via the chemical co-precipitation technique. They were systematically analysed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Structural analysis not only confirmed the successful integration of Co and g-C3N4 into ZrO2 but also showed the transformation of the monoclinic ZrO2 into the cubic phase on the addition of the dopant. The UV-vis characterization showed a slight enhancement in light absorption capacity by the Co-ZrO2/g-C3N4 composite system on increasing the concentration of cobalt with an associated decrease in the bandgap from 3.82 to 3.11 eV. The addition of Co and g-C3N4 into ZrO2 nanoparticles improved the performance of the virgin ZrO2 with degradation efficiencies from 30% up to 98% and rate constants (k) from [Formula: see text] up to [Formula: see text]. The research emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance in cobalt doping and underscores the potential of ZrO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposites as effective catalysts, for water treatment applications.
Predicting cytomegalovirus infection and graft-versus-host disease using QuantiFERON-CMV and Monitor in pediatric transplants: a proof-of-concept study
Authors: Souan Lina , Rihani Rawad , Sughayer Maher A.
Published: February 2025

Background:

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Early detection of CMV infection is crucial for managing its impact.

Aim:

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of QuantiFERON-CMV® (QF-CMV) and QuantiFERON-Monitor® (QFM) tests in predicting CMV infection and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients to enhance patient outcomes and support personalized prevention strategies.

Methods:

The QF-CMV and QFM tests were used to predict CMV pp65 antigen and GvHD in 24 pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Results:

Data showed that positive CMV antigenemia (CMV-Ag) increased the risk of GvHD by 21.2%. QF-CMV and QFM were associated with CMV-Ag, with QF-CMV inversely predicting GvHD. Lymphocyte and neutrophil counts were positively linked to both tests.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that QF-CMV and QFM tests could predict GvHD and CMV infection risk and help identify high-risk patients, contributing to personalized prevention strategies and improving CMV treatment. Despite the small sample size, this study is an essential proof of concept due to the unique patient population of pediatric bone marrow stem cell transplant recipients. Further multicenter studies are needed to validate these results.
A Study on the Traditional Number System, Measurements and Ethnic Calendar of the Little Known Karbi Tribal Group in Assam
Authors: Bhattacharjee Somenath , Rongpi Bamonkiri
Published: February 2025

Oral traditions are the core part of a tribal communication system. Generation wise it is transmitted among them. It is part of their cultural tradition and is intimately associated with their socialisation process. Such a method of traditional communication is the prime essential aspect of the regular mode of livelihood. In any tribal society, the process of traditional communication can be divided into a number of sections. Among them, the number system method and measurements are very significant. It is a very crucial aspect for them particularly related to their traditional economic organisation and livelihood. The present study is focused on the traditional method of number system, measurements and ethnic calendar among the Karbi tribal people of Karbi Anglong, Assam.
Recent Trends in Quadriceps Tendon and Patellar Tendon Injuries in the National Football League
Authors: Baumann John R. , Garlapaty Ashwin R. , Cook James L. , DeFroda Steven F.
Published: February 2025

Background:

While quadriceps tendon (QT) and patellar tendon (PT) tears are relatively rare in the National Football League (NFL), the impact they can have on a player’s season and career is significant. Despite the importance of extensor tendon injuries within the NFL, there is a lack of recent literature describing their risk factors, incidence, and impact on performance.

Purposes:

To determine the incidence and impact of QT and PT injuries in the NFL between the 2009-2010 and 2022-2023 seasons and to explore the impact that player and injury characteristics have on injury risk, return to play (RTP), and player performance.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

Publicly available data were reviewed to capture all PT and QT tears reported in the NFL between the 2009-2010 and 2022-2023 seasons. RTP and performance metrics were recorded for each player during the season before injury and the first 2 seasons postinjury. Data were analyzed to determine statistically significant differences in proportions using chi-square tests, Fisher exact tests, or McNemar tests. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.

Results:

A total of 80 extensor tendon tears (24 QT tears, 56 PT tears) were identified between the 2009-2010 and 2022-2023 NFL seasons. Risk factors for QT injury included body mass index ≥31, age ≥26 years, and >4 years of NFL experience. The risk for QT injury was higher in offensive and defensive linemen compared with skill players. The risk for PT injury was higher for offensive linemen compared with other position groups. Overall, 96.3% of extensor tendon injuries were season ending. The RTP rate for QT injuries was greater (58.3%) than that for PT injuries (55.4%). QT injuries resulted in a greater rate of return to prior performance level and a quicker return to performance compared with PT injuries.

Conclusion:

The rates of QT and PT injury were higher in this study compared with those found in prior NFL studies. This study found similar RTP rates after QT injury but significantly lower RTP rates after PT injury compared with the previous literature. This highlights the significant, devastating, and increasing impact that extensor tendon injuries have on NFL players.