bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Problem-Solving Intervention Model Combined with Nano-Silver Gel on Disease Burden and Emotion with Thyroid Microwave Ablation
Authors: Liu Xingyan , Peng Yun , Chen Fuying
Published: March 2024

This study explored the effects of problem-solving intervention model on self-perceived burden and emotion of patients with thyroid microwave ablation. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 166 patients who underwent this procedure in our hospital from October 2019 to October 2022.
Out of these patients, 81 received the problem-solving intervention model and were assigned to the intervention group. Furthermore, after the surgery, nano-silver gel was applied to treat the patients’ wounds in the intervention group. The remaining 85 patients received routine nursing
intervention and were designated as the control group. The disease burden, emotional state and nutritional rehabilitation in both groups were compared. The intervention group had overtly lower FBS, S-AI and T-AI scores at T1 and T2 stages compared to the control group (P < 0.05).
However, no significant differences in FBS, S-AI, and T-AI scores were observed between the two groups at the T0 stage (P > 0.05). Additionally, there was a statistically significant disparity in SGA classification at the T1 stage (P < 0.05), but no significant differences
were found in SGA classification at the T0 and T2 stages (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that the problem-solving intervention model is conducive to reducing the disease burden, alleviating the negative emotions, and promoting the postoperative rehabilitation of patients with
thyroid microwave ablation.
Plant Extract-Mediated Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Anticancer Potentials
Authors: Ahn Eun-Young , Park Youmie
Published: March 2024

Five plant extracts (Ardisia argentea, Aegiceras corniculatum, Polycarpaea corymbosa, Maesa perlaria, and Schima wallichii) were utilized as reducing agents in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through a green route. As the reducing power and total content
of phenolic compounds in the extract increased, the absorbance of the surface plasmon resonance of the resulting AgNPs also increased. The characteristic surface plasmon resonance was clearly observed at 400∼500 nm. The AgNPs were spherical, as shown by field emission transmission electron
microscopy images, with an average size between 10.4±0.3 nm and 22.2±0.8 nm. The cytotoxicity in A549 (lung cancer) and HeLa (cervical cancer) cells increased in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, at the highest dose, the AgNPs synthesized with the A. corniculatum
extract exhibited the highest cytotoxicity and induced high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, it was observed that smaller AgNPs tended to generate higher levels of ROS. Cell death was clearly observed in the treatment with the AgNPs. A G2/M phase arrest occurred in cell
cycle analysis, which induced cell death. The results obtained herein support the potential of natural product-mediated synthesis of AgNPs as a promising anticancer nanomedicine.
Investigating Differences between Tropical Cyclone Detection Systems
Authors: Galea Daniel , Hodges Kevin , Lawrence Bryan N.
Published: March 2024

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are important phenomena, and understanding their behavior requires being able to detect their presence in simulations. Detection algorithms vary; here we compare a novel deep learning–based detection algorithm (TCDetect) with a state-of-the-art tracking system (TRACK) and an observational dataset (IBTrACS) to provide context for potential use in climate simulations. Previous work has shown that TCDetect has good recall, particularly for hurricane-strength events. The primary question addressed here is to what extent the structure of the systems plays a part in detection. To compare with observations of TCs, it is necessary to apply detection techniques to reanalysis. For this purpose, we use ERA-Interim, and a key part of the comparison is the recognition that ERA-Interim itself does not fully reflect the observations. Despite that limitation, both TCDetect and TRACK applied to ERA-Interim mostly agree with each other. Also, when considering only hurricane-strength TCs, TCDetect and TRACK correspond well to the TC observations from IBTrACS. Like TRACK, TCDetect has good recall for strong systems; however, it finds a significant number of false positives associated with weaker TCs (i.e., events detected as having hurricane strength but are weaker in reality) and extratropical storms. Because TCDetect was not trained to locate TCs, a post hoc method to perform comparisons was used. Although this method was not always successful, some success in matching tracks and events in physical space was also achieved. The analysis of matches suggested that the best results were found in the Northern Hemisphere and that in most regions the detections followed the same patterns in time no matter which detection method was used.
Suppressive MJO in April 2014 Downgraded the 2014/15 El Niño
Authors: Wang Jie , Chen Dake , Lian Tao , Li Baosheng , Han Xiang , Liu Ting
Published: March 2024

The sudden halting of the extreme 2014/15 El Niño expected by many was attributed to the absence of westerly wind bursts (WWBs) in late spring and early summer 2014 in previous works, yet the cause of the lack of WWBs was overlooked. Using the ERA5 reanalysis and IBTrACS dataset, as well as a set of coupled model experiments, we showed that the absence of WWBs in May efficiently downgraded the intensity of the 2014/15 El Niño from a moderate to a weak event and was closely associated with a strong suppressive MJO originating from the central tropical Indian Ocean in mid-April 2014. The suppressive MJO underwent two pathways once passing through the Maritime Continent in early May. Along the eastward pathway, the strong suppressive MJO prevailed over the western–central equatorial Pacific, directly prohibiting the occurrence of WWBs at the equator via inducing equatorial easterly anomaly. Along the northeastward pathway, the downward motions with relative dry air and strong vertical zonal wind shear associated with the suppressive MJO suppressed the activity of the tropical cyclones in the northwestern tropical Pacific, another source of WWBs. Our results indicate that the contributions of MJO to the development of El Niño from both the direct and indirect ways should be taken into account for improving El Niño prediction.
Strengthened Combined Impact of the Pacific and Atlantic Meridional Modes on Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones since the 1990s
Authors: Sun Qi , Zhao Haikun , Klotzbach Philip J. , Han Xiang , Gao Jun , Wu Jin , Ma Zhanhong
Published: March 2024

There has been increased focus in recent years on the impact of the Pacific meridional mode (PMM) and the Atlantic meridional mode (AMM) on weather and climate events. This study shows an increased synergistic impact of both the PMM and AMM on eastern North Pacific (ENP) extended boreal summer (June–November) tropical cyclone frequency (TCF) since the 1990s. This increase in the combined impact of both the PMM and AMM on ENP TCF is mainly due to a stronger modulation of the AMM on TCF since the early 1990s and of a stronger modulation of the PMM on TCF since the late 1990s. A budget analysis of the genesis potential index highlights the important contribution of changes in vertical wind shear to the recent strengthened AMM–TCF relationship, while potential intensity and vertical wind shear are the two most important drivers of the recent increase in the PMM–TCF relationship. This intensified association is largely explained by changes in the mean state of sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic associated with the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and trade wind magnitude in the subtropical Pacific Ocean associated with the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO). This study highlights an asymmetric effect of the AMO and PDO on these two meridional modes and ENP TC genesis frequency and provides a better understanding of ENP TC activity on interannual-to-decadal time scales.
Self-Calibrated Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for the Quantitative Elemental Analysis of Suspended Volcanic Ash
Authors: Taleb Aya , Dell’Aglio Marcella , Gaudiuso Rosalba , Mele Daniela , Dellino Pierfrancesco , De Giacomo Alessandro
Published: March 2024

Real-time analysis of fine ash in volcanic plumes, which represent magma fragments expelled from the crater during explosive eruptions, is a valuable tool for volcano monitoring and hazard assessment. To obtain the chemical characterization of the juvenile pyroclastic material emitted in volcanic plumes, many analytical techniques can be used. Among them, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is the one that can most easily be adapted to advanced applications in extreme environments. In this paper, LIBS experiments based on self-calibrated approaches are used to determine the elemental composition of suspended volcanic ash. To simulate the conditions of dispersed volcanic ash in the atmosphere, different sizes of volcanic ash samples are suspended in the air by laser-induced shockwaves in a dedicated chamber, and a parametric study is carried out to establish the optimal experimental conditions for recording usable plasma emission spectra for each ash size. The quantitative analysis is performed using a self-calibrated analytical method, including calibration-free LIBS, which is based on the calculation of the spectral radiance of a uniform plasma in local thermodynamic equilibrium. The method accounts intrinsically for self-absorption since it modifies the intensity of spectral lines and thus leads to an underestimation of the elemental fraction. An intensity calibration of the spectra based on the measurements of Fe lines intensities was also used in this work to deduce the apparatus response from the spectrum itself and avoid the use of standard calibration lamps. Results demonstrate the potential of real-time measurements of elemental fractions in volcanic ash with good agreement with the literature composition.
Relationships change everything
Authors: Cookson Peter W.
Published: March 2024

Children need life-affirming and authentic relationships; genuine deeply felt inclusion comes when we share our humanity openly and honestly. This article draws on the research of author Peter W. Cookson Jr., who recently completed a study of success strategies for educating children living in deep poverty. An inclusive school is one where every student, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., is somebody. Creating an inclusive school means educating the whole child, connecting at a deep level, sharing our humanity, healing rather than punishing, leading from the heart and head, and protecting children from harm.
Guarding against book challenges with professionalism and confidence
Authors: Medina Adriana L. , Kuehl Rachelle , Pendarvis Edwina
Published: March 2024

Teaching literacy skills through high-quality trade books that provide diverse cultural perspectives is increasingly difficult due to challenges to teachers’ book selections. To meet their professional responsibilities, teachers must select literature they judge effective for developing students’ awareness and understanding of others’ perspectives. Adriana L. Medina, Rachelle Kuehl, and Edwina Pendarvis discuss how teachers can prepare for challenges by relying on learning standards, consulting book awards lists, and building trust with families. They offer methods for navigating controversy while fostering social responsibility and global competencies and protecting students’ access to literature that teaches perspective-taking and promotes understanding of people with differing backgrounds, experiences, and societal contributions.
Under The Law: That’s so meta: Social media, students, and 21st-century litigation
Authors: Kim Robert
Published: March 2024

Social media companies are increasingly being called to account for how their apps are affecting young people. Robert Kim explores In re: Social Media Addiction, a lawsuit that combines multiple cases that have been brought against social media companies for their addictive effects. The cases illustrate the tension between product liability and free speech laws. To what extent can companies be held liable for consequences resulting from speech on their platforms? And what aspects of the products’ design fall under speech laws and what aspects fall under product liability laws?
Career Confidential: Principal lets students get away with too much
Authors: Fagell Phyllis L.
Published: March 2024

In Career Confidential, Phyllis Fagell answers work-related questions from educators. This month’s column includes a teacher who is frustrated that the principal isn’t much help when she sends students to him for their behavior.
Discrete-event simulation of continuous-time systems: evolution and state of the art of quantized state system methods
Authors: Castro Rodrigo , Bergonzi Mariana , Marcosig Ezequiel Pecker , Fernández Joaquín , Kofman Ernesto
Published: March 2024

In this work, we attempt to bring together the origins, main results, and recent advances on discrete-event simulation of continuous-time systems. Starting from the early approaches that aimed to represent continuous-time dynamics within the discrete-event system specification (DEVS) formalism framework, the work shows how these ideas gave place to the formalization of the quantized state system (QSS) family of numerical integration algorithms. Then, we describe the QSS algorithms, their properties, their extensions, and the main practical software tools implementing them. We also present a selection of simulation examples illustrating the main features and advantages through comparisons with state-of-the-art continuous-time simulation solvers.
Patient Readmission for Ischemic Stroke: Risk Factors and Impact on Mortality
Authors: Liu Chuang , Luo Li , He Xiaozhou , Wang Tao , Liu Xiaofei , Liu Yiyou
Published: March 2024

Patient readmission for ischemic stroke significantly strains the healthcare and medical insurance systems. Current understanding of the risk factors associated with these readmissions, as well as their subsequent impact on mortality within China, remains insufficient. This is particularly evident in the context of comprehensive, contemporary population studies. This 4-year retrospective cohort study included 125 397 hospital admissions for ischemic stroke from 838 hospitals located in 22 regions (13 urban and 9 rural) of a major city in western China, between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018. The Chi-square tests were used in univariate analysis. Accounting for intra-subject correlations of patients’ readmissions, accelerated failure time (AFT) shared frailty models were used to examine readmission events and pure AFT models for mortality. Risk factors for patient readmission after ischemic stroke include frequent admission history, male gender, employee’s insurance, advanced age, residence in urban areas, index hospitalization in low-level hospitals, extended length of stay (LOS) during index hospitalization, specific comorbidities and subtypes of ischemic stroke. Furthermore, our findings indicated that an additional admission for ischemic stroke increased patient mortality by 16.4% ( P < .001). Stroke readmission contributed to an increased risk of hospital mortality. Policymakers can establish more effective and targeted policies to reduce readmissions for stroke by controlling these risk factors.
Understanding Primary Care Physician Perspectives on the Diagnosis and Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Heredia Natalia I. , John Jemima C. , Singh Sonia , Hwang Jessica P. , Strong Larkin L. , Balakrishnan Maya , McNeill Lorna H.
Published: March 2024

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are well suited to manage patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the limited, existing research suggests inadequate knowledge about the natural history, diagnostic methods, and management of NAFLD. The purpose of this qualitative study is to further understand the knowledge and practices for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD among PCPs. We conducted in-depth interviews with PCPs in the Greater Houston area, addressing current clinical practices used for diagnosing and managing NAFLD, as well as the perceptions of the PCPs regarding the burden of NAFLD on patients. We recorded interviews, transcribed them, coded transcripts, and identified patterns and themes. The interviewed PCPs (n = 16) were from internal or family medicine, with a range of experience (1.5-30 years). We found variations in NAFLD diagnosis and management across practices and by insurance status. Patients with abnormal liver imaging who had insurance or were within a safety-net healthcare system were referred by PCPs to specialists. Uninsured patients with persistently elevated liver enzymes received lifestyle recommendations from PCPs without confirmatory imaging or specialist referral. The role of PCPs in NAFLD management varied, with some helping patients set dietary and physical activity goals while others provided only general recommendations and/or referred patients to a dietitian. The diagnosis and management of NAFLD vary widely among PCPs and may be impacted by patients’ insurance status and clinic-specific practices. The increasing burden of NAFLD in the U.S. medical system highlights the need for more PCPs involvement in managing NAFLD.
Book review: K. G. Kannabiran. The Speaking Constitution: A Sisyphean Life in Law
Authors: Lokaneeta Jinee
Published: March 2024

K. G. Kannabiran. The Speaking Constitution: A Sisyphean Life in Law (Translated from Telugu by Kalpana Kannabiran). Harper Collins, 2022, 340 pp., ₹699, ISBN 978-93-5629-314-4 (Paperback).
Organizational Engagement With Poverty: A Review and Reorientation
Authors: Soundararajan Vivek , Sahasranamam Sreevas , Rogerson Michael , Bapuji Hari , Spence Laura J. , Shaw Jason D
Published: March 2024

Recognizing the potential contributions businesses can make to address the grand challenge of global poverty, management scholars have increasingly turned research attention to poverty. We conducted an integrative review of poverty studies in the organizational literature spanning from 1985 to 2022. Based on the review, we clarify poverty as a significant lack of market-oriented resources, opportunities, and capabilities. Further, we develop a framework that captures the ways in which organizational practices offer the poor, or deprive them of, resources, opportunities, and capabilities, and thereby contribute to poverty alleviation or aggravation respectively. Moreover, our framework identifies the necessary support conditions for an organization to effectively combat poverty. We conclude by proposing a research agenda aimed at advancing management scholarship on poverty.
The Role of Social Cognition in Depression and Its Relationship to Early Maladaptive Schemas
Authors: Ghosh Debaleena , Halder Susmita
Published: March 2024

Background:

Social cognition is the capacity to detect, comprehend, and evaluate environmentally relevant information and serves as a critical skill for effective interpersonal functioning. A significant clinical characteristic of depressive illness is the impairment in social and interpersonal functioning. Given the increasing prevalence of interpersonal difficulties among individuals with depression, it is crucial to get a greater insight into the underlying cognitive mechanisms leading to these social deficits. Alongside, early maladaptive schemas (EMS) also serve as proximal cognitive risk factors for depression. Altered socio-cognitive functioning in individuals with can help to draw a connection between impaired social cognition and EMS. In this context, the present study explores the role of social cognition in individuals with depression in relation to EMS.

Methods:

In this study, individuals of both genders ( N = 60) were pooled based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and screened for depression through the Beck Depression Inventory. Emotion Recognition and Theory of Mind (ToM) were assessed using the Reading Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and Theory of Mind Assessment Scale (TH.O.M.A.S), respectively. EMS was assessed using the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form.

Results:

Results indicate individuals with depression were found to be impaired in both domains of social cognition-emotion recognition and ToM. Individuals with depression also exhibited a greater number of EMS. A significant association was found between EMS and social cognition in depression. Moreover, few of the EMS emerged as significant predictors for social cognition in depression.

Conclusion:

Individuals with depression exhibit impairment in “reading” social interactions. Moreover, they exhibit specific EMS that emerges as significant predictors of social cognition. Implications of the study focus on recognizing EMS as a tool for addressing the socio-cognitive impairment in depression.
Associations Between Both Adaptive and Maladaptive Personality Constructs and Emotional Load and Content of Adult Dreams
Authors: Komasi Saeid , Nazari Amin , Faridmarandi Behrooz , Saeidi Mozhgan , Bahremand Mostafa , Shadman Taherh , Mirani Atefeh , Nazarpour Parisa , Kiani Zhaleh , Zakiei Ali
Published: March 2024

Background:

It seems that personality and dreams are relatively stable interwoven constructs that show many shared characteristics across cultures. The present study aimed to predict the emotional load and content of dreams using both original constructs and two extracted spectrum factors of adaptive and maladaptive personalities.

Methods:

The cross-sectional study data was collected from 704 Iranian adults using the brief version of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5, the brief version of the Big Five Inventory, Schredl’s Dream Emotions Manual, and the Content Analysis of Dreams Manual. Pearson correlations, hierarchical regressions, exploratory factor analysis, and analysis of variance were used to analyse the data.

Results:

Factor analysis revealed two factors for the adaptive and maladaptive spectrums of personality. Adaptive and maladaptive constructs of personality are almost equally related to both the negative and positive loads of dreams, while the negative load of dreams is more strongly predicted by the maladaptive spectrum factor ( R2: 13% vs. 7%, ∆ R2: 8% vs. 2%). Negative load is characterized by low agreeableness and high negative affectivity, while positive load is characterized by high agreeableness and low detachment. Compared to most negative dream content such as distress, dreamers with happy content reported higher adaptive traits and lower maladaptive traits.

Conclusions:

The emotional load and content of dreams are significantly related to both specific constructs and spectrum factors of adaptive and maladaptive personalities. Psychologists can refer to personality profiles when analysing the emotional load and content of dreams of adults.
Mental Health Insurance in India: An Examination of Policy Implementation Post-MHCA 2017
Authors: Avula Vijaya Chandra Reddy , Godi Sangha Mitra , Munivenkatappa Shashidhara , Amalakanti Sridhar
Published: March 2024

Purpose of review:

Owing to the high cost of care and huge treatment gap associated with mental illnesses in India, this review investigated the implementation of mental health insurance coverage in India following the mandate of the Mental Health Care Act of 2017 (MHCA 2017).

Collection and analysis of data:

We systematically identified health insurance providers in India through the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) website. We meticulously searched and obtained policy documents from either the IRDAI website or the respective insurance company websites. Our classification process involved determining if a policy explicitly covered mental illness, which we discerned by examining definitions of mental illness, indemnification clauses or the presence of International Classification of Diseases-10 codes within the policy.

Conclusion:

We evaluated 235 policies provided by 30 insurance companies and found that 37.5% (88) of policies covered mental illnesses, 11.5% (28) covered persons with disabilities, whereas 51% (119) did not offer any coverage. The majority of the companies did not cover suicide and substance use disorders. There are disparities in the outpatient care offerings, including extended waiting periods for coverage of mental illness.  This review highlights the importance of aligning insurance practices with MHCA 2017s provisions to promote mental health equity in India. It also advocates for comprehensive mental health coverage that includes outpatient care, substance use disorders and suicide as well as a need for standardized definitions and transparent policy communication.
Finnish music class studies and extracurricular playing in promoting grit and sisu, the inner fortitude: Reconceptualizing sisu as a predecessor of flow, growth and flourishing
Authors: Olander Katri , Saarikallo Suvi
Published: March 2024

This article investigates musical grit and sisu, inner fortitude, as predecessors of flow, flourishing and personal growth. Grit has been identified as an important factor for success. Our aim was to increase knowledge of the benefits of intensified music education for building grit, resilience and fortitude. Data were collected with mixed methods in 2020 from two schools and 96 children. Surveys were filled out by students in both music and regular classes. Qualitative data about music education experiences were collected through interviews and writing tasks from the music class students and interviews with their teachers. Music classes scored higher than regular classes in perseverance, certain dimensions of flow and musical flourishing. Musical flourishing correlated with playing years and had high correlation with self-efficacy, flow experiences and general well-being. The sequence of facing, but also beating, challenges as a group in musical performances and then feeling flow and flourishing seemed to be beneficial for children’s personal growth. Students in music classes learned not only musical skills, but also resilient and optimistic thinking related to their challenges. The theoretical model of Trust, Hope and Love was revised to display how sisu, the inner fortitude, advances flourishing.
Nonprofit perspectives on managing food-insecurity operations during crisis
Authors: Tometi Peter , Wise Nicholas
Published: March 2024

Food insecurity is an international concern. There is a need to address and discuss the challenges of food distribution during times of crisis. This In Perspective paper investigates the vital role of nonprofit organizations when it comes to managing food-insecurity during a pandemic when needs and demands change. Given diverse needs and changing logistical patterns experienced during the pandemic, nonprofits had to alter how offered support to those requiring help in urban areas. This paper positions directions noted in the literature before offering insights from interviews with three nonprofits based in the Phoenix metro area of Arizona in the United States. Findings are organized into two sections: 1. addressing need, and 2. organizational coordination of navigating a crisis. Both sections address challenges that nonprofits saw and faced through the pandemic over the past few years. Noted managerial implications and policy recommendations address the importance of evaluating changing demands and how to manage operations through abrupt transition.
Dynamic Lane Assignment and Signal-Timing Collaborative Optimization Considering the Effect of Lane Switching
Authors: Wang Jiawen , Feng Yang , Zhao Jing , Zhang Cheng , Chen Yanxin
Published: March 2024

Dynamic lane assignment (DLA) is an effective method to improve traffic flow and optimize urban road resources. However, lane switching can disrupt traffic under dynamic control due to clearance time and driving characteristics. Traditional rule-based methods hinder the selection of optimal schemes for DLA systems. On-site data analysis shows that lane switching increases saturated headway by 18.4% and reduces lane group utilization by 17.8% compared to fixed lanes in the same direction. To address these challenges, this study proposes an optimization method that integrates DLA and signal timing, considering the impact of lane switching. The proposed model aims to minimize total delay at intersections by optimizing the number and timing of lane switches within a given interval. Case studies and extensive numerical analyses demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the rule-based approach, reducing total intersection delay by 1.91%. Additionally, the average number of lane switches decreases by 13.8%, reducing safety risks associated with frequent lane switching. Sensitivity analysis reveals the superiority of the proposed method when the utilization rate of variable lanes is below 0.4 and the saturated headway caused by lane switching exceeds 2.9 seconds. Moreover, the proposed method outperforms inductive and adaptive control schemes when the traffic flow deviation coefficient is less than 0.3. This makes it suitable for implementation in cities where drivers have limited experience with variable lanes during the initial stage, when historical and real-time data are more consistent. Overall, the proposed method offers significant improvements in traffic flow efficiency and safety in DLA systems.
Middle-class Fathers, Sons, and Mental Illness in Late Victorian and Edwardian England
Authors: Ugolini Laura
Published: March 2024

This article explores the impact of mental illness on the relationship between middle-class fathers and sons in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century England. Using sources that include autobiographies, oral histories, press reports of violence, and records of appeals against conscription, the article argues that shame was not the dominant reaction. Many mentally ill men lost masculine status and agency within the family, but both fathers and sons were much more likely to respond to illness with loving concern, attempts at negotiation and pacification, than to use their power over vulnerable relatives with attempts to confine and hide them from sight.
Analysis of fire extinguishing performance and mechanisms in transformer oil pool fires by large-scale compressed nitrogen foam: Impact of different nozzle pressures
Authors: Shang Fengju , Zhang Jiaqing , Zhu Taiyun , Su Wen , Li Kaiyuan , Zou Yanyan , Guo Yi
Published: March 2024

This article investigates the suppression of transformer oil pool fires using compressed nitrogen aqueous film-forming foam extinguishing agents with varying nozzle pressures (0.1–0.4 MPa), and a comprehensive analysis of fire extinguishing behavior and resistance to re-ignition was conducted. The research findings indicate that at a nozzle pressure of 0.4 MPa, there is a significant enhancement in fire extinguishing efficiency, with a reduction in extinguishing time by 15.0%–29.2%, and an increase in resistance to re-ignition by 32.2%–48.2%, making it the optimal choice. In comparison to the 0.1 MPa condition, the maximum instantaneous emissions of CO and SO2 at 0.4 MPa are only 66.7%. The interaction of various effects, such as atomization, results in a significant enhancement of flame intensification and fire extinguishing effects when compressed nitrogen aqueous film-forming foam is sprayed at high nozzle pressures. The study provides valuable insights for firefighters in the practical use of foam extinguishing agents.
Decolonising the social sciences
Authors: Khoo Su-ming
Published: March 2024

This article unpacks some complexities of ‘decolonising’ in Ireland, a complicated semiperipheral ‘mixed colony’, in which rhetorics, logic, and grammar are simultaneously colonial and decolonial, interrupting and complicitly reproducing divisive and dehumanising colonialities of knowledge and being. The global call to decolonise academia invites Irish social scientists to confront significant social divisions, economic precarities, and epistemic erasures. I present ‘decolonial repair’ as a doubled figure of return and mending, engaging the decolonial work of double translation: centring anti-colonial thought and enacting horizontal dialogue. Facing partly obscured colonial wounds that remain difficult to countenance, a doubled repair re-approaches transformation via renewed engagements between non-Occidental demands for decolonisation and ambiguous legacies of extraversion. Unpacking elisions, complicities, and precarities of Irish social science, this article teases out what ‘decolonising social science’ might entail in a semiperipheral, white(ly) post-colony. In keeping with the scope of this journal and the defining role of sociology in the social sciences, this article focusses on sociology as a lens for discussing the broader, constitutive elisions, turns, and complicities of Irish social science. The broader aim and hope is to help unpack some of the challenges, projects, and pitfalls involved in this Special Issue's focus on ‘decolonising academia’.
Yield and Utility of Routine Epilepsy Panel Genetic Testing Among Young Patients With Seizures
Authors: Grew Emily , Reddy Mayuri , Reichner Hayley , Kim Jinsoo , Salam Misbah , Hashim Anjum
Published: March 2024

Objective: We examined the yield of routine epilepsy panel genetic testing in pediatric patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed epilepsy genetic panel results routinely performed in the hospital or clinic on patients <8 years old from July 2021 to July 2023. We evaluated demographics, family history, seizure type, severity, and frequency, development, tone and movement abnormalities, dysmorphism, and electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results as predictors of results. Results: 65 patients were included with mean age 4.5 years. Sixty percent of patients were male; 11 patients had pathogenic variants (16.9%), 7 were carriers for autosomal recessive conditions (10.8%), 36 had variants of uncertain significance (55.4%), and 11 tested negative (16.9%). Pathogenic variants and variants of uncertain significance were unassociated with demographics, clinical features, imaging, or family history. Conclusion: Variants identified have potential implications for treatment ( SCN1), comorbidity screening ( TSC1), reproduction ( ATAD1, PSAT1, and CLN8), and prognostication ( FOXG1). Patients not routinely screened for a genetic cause of epilepsy by our standard practices had clinically relevant results.
Research on the centre-of-mass adjustment method for the head of an anthropometric test device based on a head impact biomechanics model
Authors: Fan Zhengqi , Liu Zhixin , Liu Hai , Liu Weidong , Zhang Hanxiao , Ji Yuechen
Published: March 2024

Head injury is the primary cause of serious lesions or death in automobile accidents. During crash tests, the mass and centre-of-mass position of the head of anthropometric test devices are crucial factors determining the accuracy of head injury test data. However, owing to the irregular shape as well as complex structure and material composition of the head of dummies, problems such as uneven mass distribution easily occur, resulting in deviations between the actual and designed positions of the centre-of-mass of the head. This study conducted research on head impact biomechanics and the centre-of-mass adjustment method for the head of dummies. Specifically, the biomimetic mechanical equivalent of the head was investigated, and head impact mechanics were analysed. Then, a predictive model was established for head drop mechanical response; the accuracy of this model was verified through head drop experiments. Based on the model, the law of centre-of-mass influence on the mechanical response of the dummy head was investigated, yielding an evaluation method for the different mechanical responses of the head. Using the rotational centre-of-mass measurement method, the mass and centre-of-mass position of the head were obtained. The distributed centre-of-mass adjustment method based on the principle of torque equilibrium was utilized to solve the deviations in the centre-of-mass position, the geometric dimensions of the counterweights and the centre-of-mass itself. Two counterweights were distributed on both sides of the internal cavity wall of the dummy head, resolving the positioning issue of the counterweights in the head cavity. The rationality of the centre-of-mass adjustment results was analysed using the predictive model for head impact mechanical response. The analysis results indicate that the centre-of-mass-adjusted dummy head better aligned with the mechanical response of the head in real collision scenarios, providing a new approach for the adjustment of the centre-of-mass of the head of dummies.
Comparative Assessment of External Third Party Administrators and In-house Teams of Insurers in Health Insurance Claims Settlement Process in Bangalore, India
Authors: Pareek Manoj
Published: March 2024

Claim servicing in health insurance is an important area for insurers. Third party administrators (TPAs) are a critical link in India that process health insurance claims. Several insurers have started in-house claim teams for health insurance claims instead of outsourcing the work to TPAs. The study aims to explore the role played by external TPAs in terms of value addition done by them for insurers, policyholders and healthcare providers. The study aims to find the benefits of roping in an in-house team to settle health claims and the benefits accruing out of this decision to policyholders and hospitals. The role of TPAs in claim processing, issues faced by customers while making a claim, and improvement areas in the process have also been examined. The author has tried to explore and research this area so that policyholders can choose a health insurance company without bias whether it has an in-house claim settlement process or engages an external TPA. The study brings out the concerns of customers and hospitals regarding the settlement of health insurance claims and suggests improvement areas required for both TPAs and in-house teams in claim settlements by evaluating the same.
The Knight in Shining Armour: JSW Steel Ltd’s Acquisition of Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd
Authors: Mistry Janki
Published: March 2024

This case revolves around the acquisition of Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd (BPSL) by JSW Steel Ltd BPSL faced severe financial difficulties, prompting its lenders, including prominent Indian banks, to initiate insolvency proceedings under Section 7 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code in 2019. JSW Steel Ltd entered the competition to acquire BPSL’s assets and secured the bid. However, complications arose as the Enforcement Directorate and BPSL’s promoters raised objections, leading to delays in the insolvency process.

The case spotlights a significant Indian corporate reform represented by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and the establishment of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). This reform proved essential as it provided an alternative to distressed companies, which previously had no choice but to cease operations, adversely affecting both employees and lenders. The NCLAT has since introduced a win-win solution for most stakeholders.

Furthermore, the case delves into the crucial characteristics of the steel industry, an indispensable product utilized across various global industries, and how these features significantly impact strategic decision-making. It underscores the strategic value of JSW Steel Ltd’s acquisition of a struggling company. In summary, it offers a comprehensive perspective on the insolvency process, the roles of the NCLAT and Enforcement Directorate, and the value generated through the acquisition.
Oyo Hotel’s Expansion Spree: Too Much, Too Fast?
Authors: Bhattacharya Arijit
Published: March 2024

Established in 2013, Oyo Hotels & Rooms, an Internet startup in the Indian hospitality sector, experienced an astonishing journey, culminating in a valuation of USD 5 billion by the end of 2018. The remarkable success of Oyo left many observers astounded. This meteoric rise was attributed to Oyo’s innovative business model, strategically targeting the fragmented budget segment of hotels beset by inefficiency. Oyo addressed these challenges by providing access to hotel rooms in prime locations, ensuring standardized services and offering affordability to customers.

Over the years, Oyo gradually diverged from its core business as a mere aggregator of hotel rooms. It ventured into leasing hotels in the mid and premium segments, tapped into the Indian wedding segment, acquired companies and expanded its footprint into numerous foreign markets. This case aims to scrutinize whether this accelerated growth strategy could compromise the fundamental service promise of standardization. Additionally, it investigates whether the financially robust company, particularly after securing a USD 1 billion investment in September 2018, risks losing touch with reality as it becomes entangled in various controversies.
Critical Appraisal of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (J. Graham) Mabb. Extraction Methods, Pharmacological Activities, and Future Prospects
Authors: Gayakwad Shivani , Shirolkar Amey , Dixit Apurva , Gaidhani Sudesh , Pawar Sharad
Published: March 2024

Nothapodytes nimmoniana (J. Graham) Mabb., commonly known as Narkya, holds immense potential as a medicinal plant, exhibiting a wide array of pharmacological activities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the methods used for extracting bioactive compounds from different plant parts, along with an exploration of their diverse pharmacological activities. The plant’s significance stems from its high content of camptothecin (CPT), a potent anti-cancer alkaloid. We delve into the plant’s anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-helminthic, anti-malarial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, we highlight the challenges faced by N. nimmoniana (J. Graham) Mabb., due to overexploitation and its endangered status. To address these concerns, the review underscores the importance of sustainable conservation strategies and the implementation of advanced techniques like plant tissue culture and endophyte production for increased CPT production. This holistic analysis not only sheds light on the plant’s multifaceted benefits but also underscores the need for responsible utilization and conservation efforts.
Psychotherapeutic Approach to the Treatment of a Youth with Schizophrenia and OCD: A Case Report
Authors: St. George Teaford Henry
Published: March 2024

Schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which are often first detected during adolescence, commonly co-occur. Individually, they are some of the most complex and challenging psychiatric disorders to manage. This article reports on a case of an adolescent with co-morbid schizophrenia and OCD and the use of exposure and response prevention (ERP) for the treatment of OCD in the context of management of his schizophrenia and addressing developmental issues. This contributed to the overall stabilization of the youth’s condition.
Does Teacher Training of ESD Help In-service Teachers to Implement ESD in School?
Authors: Rundgren Shu-Nu Chang , Yamada Naoya
Published: March 2024

Education for sustainable development (ESD) has for decades been a focus internationally and has been embraced in the Japanese curriculum since 2008. Given UNESCO’s emphasis on teacher training for ESD and well-established in-service teacher training programmes in Japan, the aim of this study is to explore whether ESD teacher training could help Japanese in-service teachers to implement ESD in school. Semi-structured individual interviews with 12 in-service teachers from primary to lower secondary schools were conducted via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was found that in-service teacher training for ESD had a positive impact on transforming the teachers in both their professional and personal lives. However, challenges remain regarding the promotion of ESD in schools because of lack of common ground with other teaching colleagues and time constrains. The implications of implementing global ESD in schools are discussed.
Increased symptoms of stiffness after opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy are associated with worse postoperative knee function outcomes and lower patient satisfaction rate
Authors: Yu Jiahao , Song Bixuan , Zhu Yanbin , Wang Juan , Zhang Yingze
Published: March 2024

Background

Symptoms of knee stiffness after open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OW-HTO) can significantly affect surgical effectiveness, but no studies have reported risk factors for knee stiffness after OW-HTO.

Methods

Patients treated with OW-HTO for the first time between 2018 and 2021 were included. Data were collected on patient demographics, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Short Form (SF) 12 scores, hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) and patient satisfaction before and after surgery. Patients with worse WOMAC stiffness scores at 1 year were defined as the 'increased stiffness' group and the other cohort as the 'non-stiffness' group. The primary outcome of the study was to compare postoperative knee function scores (WOMAC and SF-12), HKA and patient satisfaction rate between the two groups. The secondary outcome was the use of logistic regression to analyze independent predictors of increased postoperative stiffness symptoms.

Results

At 1 year postoperatively, 95 (11.3%) patients had a significant increase in stiffness. Patients had significantly ( p < .001) less improvement in pain, function, and total WOMAC scores, and SF-12 score than those in the non-stiffness group ( n = 745). However, the differences in WOMAC and SF-12 scores in increased stiffness group at 1 year post-operatively were statistically significant ( p < .001) compared to the non-stiffness group. There was no statistically significant difference in HKA in the increased stiffness group (172.9° ± 2.3°) compared to non-stiffness group (173.4° ± 2.6°) at 1 year postoperatively ( p = .068). Patient satisfaction was significantly lower in the increased stiffness group ( p < .001). Logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (odds ratio (OR) 1.809, p = .034) and preoperative WOMAC stiffness score of 44 or less (OR 4.255 p < .001) were predictors of increased stiffness.

Conclusions

Patients with increased stiffness after OW-HTO had worse functional outcomes and lower patient satisfaction rates and patients at risk of being in this group should be informed pre-operatively.