bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coleus hakgalensis (Lamiaceae), a new species from Sri Lanka
Authors: ABEYSEKARA SUMEDHA , KASUNIKA OVITI MULLAGE , HALUWANA NISHANTHI , NILANKA NADUN
Published: October 2024

Coleus hakgalensis, a new species in family Lamiaceae, is described from the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The dry specimens of the new species are morphologically similar to Coleus paniculatus specimens but distinguishable by its much branched habit with arcuate branches, stem up to 1m in height, elongated inflorescence, bracts being occasionally persistent and shortly petiolated, having hairs inside the upper lip of calyx, semi-circular lateral lobes of upper lip of corolla being much shorter than median lobes, navicular lower lip of corolla with densely pilose inside, stamens united at base and anterior projection of the disc equal or shorter than ovary with an acute apex. The new species is under high risk of extinction in the wild thus ex-situ conservation measures have been implemented.
Two centuries of ornithological exploration of the Rio Doce Basin, southeastern Brazil. Part II—A catalogue of its birds and a gazetteer
Authors: LOPES LEONARDO ESTEVES , BAPTISTA MICHELLE NORONHA DA MATTA , REIS JÉSSICA NAIARA , FERNANDES ALEXANDRE MENDES , HEMING NEANDER MARCEL , MAGNAGO GUSTAVO , NACIF JOSÉ AUGUSTO , NOGUEIRA WAGNER , RODRIGUES MARCOS , VASCONCELOS MARCELO FERREIRA DE
Published: October 2024

The Rio Doce Hydrographic Basin (RDB) lies almost completely in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a highly threatened tropical rainforest. The RDB has suffered dramatic anthropogenic impacts during the last two centuries and is currently one of the most degraded regions in southeastern Brazil. In this paper, we gathered 140,742 bird records collected since the early 19th by more than two thousand naturalists, professional scientists, and citizen scientists. This vast database was compiled from several sources, including published literature, unpublished technical reports, natural history museums, and citizen science platforms. After checking and standardizing the database, we found high species richness in the RDB, with 689 species recorded to date, from which 675 (98%) were documented by specimens or digital vouchers. This database is presented as a detailed catalogue, including maps containing all localities in which each species has been recorded. We present text accounts for 40 noteworthy species recorded in the RDB, and a complete gazetteer for the 636 localities sampled. Preliminary analyses reveal that the RDB avifauna suffered a dramatic change in its species composition during the last two centuries, mostly due to human activity. Highly sensitive species associated to pristine forests vanished, while species associated to dry and open habitat expanded their ranges in the RDB. Finally, in addition to thoroughly characterization of the RDB avifauna, this paper provides the basis for a series of studies about the avifauna of one of the hottest hotspots of biodiversity in the entire Neotropical region.
Equatorial Dynamics Significantly Weakened the Southward Somali Current Circulation during 1997–98
Authors: Chen Gengxin
Published: October 2024

Based on reanalysis data and numerical model, this study documented an unusually weak southward Somali Current (SSC) circulation, an anticlockwise circulation in the western Arabian Sea, during the winter of 1997 to spring 1998, throughout the two-decade period from 1994 to 2017. Theoretical analysis and model simulations suggest that the exceptionally weak SSC circulation was primarily caused by abnormal wind forcing around the equator, associated with extreme climate events. The strong equatorial easterly anomalies are mainly responsible for the weakening of the SSC circulation north of ∼6°N and contribute to about half of the weakening south of ∼6°N, by regulating the layer thickness along the eastern boundary, following the time-dependent Sverdrup relation. The large negative wind stress curl anomalies near the equator contribute to another half of the weakening south of ∼6°N. This research underscores the dynamic connection between the circulation in the western basin and equatorial dynamics during extreme climate modes.

Significance Statement

The dynamic linkage between the western basin circulation and the equatorial forcing remains elusive. Based on reanalysis data, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulations, this study has confirmed that the exceptionally weak southward Somali Current circulation during the winter of 1997 to spring 1998 was significantly influenced by abnormal wind patterns around the equator, triggered by extreme climate modes.
Evaluation of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Levels in Children With Febrile Seizures: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Kassem Mohamed A. , Abbass Amany , Ahmed Heba A. , Othman Amr A. , Fahim Bishoy , Sadek Abdelrahim A. , Abdelkreem Elsayed
Published: October 2024

Febrile seizure (FS) is a common pediatric neurological disorder, which may be associated with hypoxia and kidney injury. We aimed to investigate serum levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in children with FS. This case-control study included 50 children with FS, 50 febrile controls (FCs), and 50 healthy controls (HCs). We measured serum NGAL levels using a human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum NGAL/creatinine values showed significant differences within and between study groups with the highest levels for the FS group (1382 ± 215), the middle for FCs (1133 ± 129), and the lowest for HCs (857 ± 97). None of the study participants had abnormal serum creatinine levels, and their values were comparable among the 3 study groups. In conclusion, children with FS may have increased serum NGAL levels despite normal serum creatinine, indicating that FS could contribute to subclinical renal injury without significant loss of excretory kidney function.
Sponsored Content as an Epistemic Market Object: How Platformization of Brand–Creator Partnerships Disrupts Valuation, Coproduction, and the Relationship Between Market Actors
Authors: Arsel Zeynep , Zanette Maria Carolina , da Rocha Melo Carolina
Published: October 2024

Sponsored content allows brands to partner with creators to reach creators’ audiences on digital platforms. However, both creators’ and brands’ incomplete understanding of this object generates two critical ambiguities: how to determine the value of sponsored content and how to effectively coproduce it. To better understand these ambiguities, the authors theorize sponsored content as an epistemic market object: an object that facilitates marketing functions but is only partially understood by the actors who use it . They analyze a dataset of interviews, podcasts, media articles, and third-party platform reviews about—and by—content creators, brands, and intermediaries. The findings show that brands, creators, and intermediaries create and apply knowledge to address valuation and coproduction ambiguities. However, this knowledge work is incomplete, creating asymmetries in value outcomes and power relationships in a brand–creator partnership. This research contributes to marketing literature and practice by highlighting the role of epistemic market objects in transformative market disruptions that alter the roles of, and the relationships between, market actors. The findings are transferable to other substantive areas such as generative artificial intelligence, the metaverse, nonfungible tokens, online news, and the sharing economy.
Addressing Endogeneity Using a Two-Stage Copula Generated Regressor Approach
Authors: Yang Fan , Qian Yi , Xie Hui
Published: October 2024

The ubiquitous presence of endogenous regressors presents a significant challenge when drawing causal inferences using observational data. The classical econometric method used to handle regressor endogeneity requires instrumental variables (IVs) that must satisfy the stringent condition of exclusion restriction, rendering it unfeasible in many settings. Herein, the authors propose a new IV-free method that uses copulas to address the endogeneity problem. Existing copula correction methods require nonnormal endogenous regressors: Normally or nearly normally distributed endogenous regressors cause model nonidentification or significant finite-sample bias. Furthermore, existing copula control function methods presume the independence of exogenous regressors and endogenous regressors. The authors’ generalized two-stage copula endogeneity-correction (2sCOPE) method simultaneously relaxes the two key identification requirements while maintaining the Gaussian copula regressor–error dependence structure. They prove that under the Gaussian copula dependence structure, 2sCOPE yields consistent causal-effect estimates with correlated endogenous and exogenous regressors as well as normally distributed endogenous regressors. In addition to relaxing the identification requirements, 2sCOPE has superior finite-sample performance and addresses the significant finite-sample bias problem due to insufficient regressor nonnormality. Moreover, 2sCOPE employs generated regressors derived from existing regressors to control for endogeneity, and can thus considerably increase the ease and broaden the applicability of IV-free methods for handling regressor endogeneity. The authors further demonstrate 2sCOPE's performance using simulation studies and illustrate its use in an empirical application.
A case of Sudden Cardiac Death with myocardial infarction due to iatrogenic coronary dissection in a patient with coronary vasospasm
Authors: Arachchi Samadhi Dandeniya , Sheppard Mary N
Published: October 2024

Coronary vasospasm and coronary artery dissection are two recognized causes of Sudden Cardiac Death [SCD] in association with Myocardial Infarction in Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery [MINOCA]. This is a case of post procedure death in a 50-year-old female during cardiac angiography, who had a family history of coronary spasm with sudden cardiac death in her mother. She went into cardiac arrest during the procedure with iatrogenic acute coronary dissection which was treated with LMS/LCx vessel stenting. However, she died in 4 days post procedure. Postmortem cardiac examination demonstrated a transmural hemorrhagic infarction of the entire circumferential wall of the left ventricle with normal coronaries both macroscopically and microscopically. Acute coronary dissection was confirmed histologically in the left main stem.

Coronary vasospasm is transient constriction of coronary arteries, which causes partial or complete obstruction of the vessels. The exact pathophysiological mechanism is poorly understood, but atheroma, drugs and a genetic predisposition are common associations. This case highlights the strong genetic link of coronary vasospasm in both mother and daughter and also the complication of iatrogenic coronary dissection which is a rare, but serious complication reported in about 0.1% of coronary angiography. This is the first postmortem report of procedure-related dissection in a patient with vasospasm indicating the cause is functional. Forensic practitioners need to be aware of coronary vasospasm and the complications of coronary angiography as a cause of acute myocardial infarction. Detailed autopsy yields valuable information in this rare condition.
Bookshelf: Kappan authors on their favorite reads
Authors: Gee James Paul
Published: October 2024

In this regular column, Kappan authors recommend books that have influenced their thinking about education. In this issue, James Paul Gee recommends The Ignorant Schoolmaster: Five Lessons in Intellectual Emancipation by Jacques Rancière, and Ayesha Hashim recommends Suddenly Diverse: How School Districts Manage Race and Inequality by Erica O. Turner.
Re-engaging students in the post-pandemic era
Authors: Hashim Ayesha K. , Wright Clark , Stephens Sonya , Davison Miles
Published: October 2024

The pandemic responses of Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, North Carolina, offer insights on how navigating the COVID-19 crisis can inform district and school practices to curb student absenteeism and support student engagement in learning. Guilford used ESSER money to develop pandemic response programs that addressed wide-ranging and shifting student needs stemming from the pandemic. Authors Ayesha K. Hashim, Clark Wright, Sonya Stephens, and Miles Davison discuss seven key insights into how the district transitioned those programs to help engage students after the pandemic while working to ease absentee rates.
Policy Solutions: The case for sensory civics education
Authors: Collins Jonathan E.
Published: October 2024

Civics education should include ways for students to experience civic life and to understand how voting affects their lives. Jonathan E. Collins writes that civics education is currently perceived as a luxury. It is, instead, a societal necessity that will help build and maintain our civic infrastructure.
Under the Law: Virtually an education
Authors: Kim Robert
Published: October 2024

The closure of school buildings during the pandemic made virtual instruction necessary. Since schools have reopened, its use has become more normalized than it was pre-COVID. Bob Kim discusses some of the civil rights issues education leaders and policy makers must consider if they choose to assign certain students to virtual instruction. Some students, particularly students from low-income families, students with disabilities, and English learners, may have difficulty accessing virtual instruction or receiving the full benefit of instruction when it is delivered virtually.
Reactive arthritis in connective tissue diseases; one should be vigilant for joint tuberculosis
Authors: Qian-Ying Leng , Yao Chen
Published: October 2024

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is increasing worldwide. Bone and joint TB are the most common types of extra-pulmonary TB, but can easily be misdiagnosed, since articular TB commonly mimics other joint diseases, including reactive and degenerative arthritis, and articular manifestations associated with systemic autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, patients with systemic auto-immune diseases are often more prone to mycobacterial infection. The diagnosis of joint TB can be made using a combination of the following methods: clinical evaluation, imaging, tuberculin skin test, interferon-gamma release assays, nucleic acid amplification tests, and Gene X-pert MTB/rifampicin assay.
Personality, Attachment, and Pornography: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Akbari Mehdi , Jamshidi Shiva , Hosseini Zahra Sadat , Sheikhi Sonay , Asadi Asadabad Rezvaneh , Zamani Mahshid , Wright Paul J.
Published: October 2024

Since Internet pornography (IP) is widespread and can become problematic for some users, investigating the personality traits which correlate with its consumption is important. Though many studies have been conducted on the relationship between IP, personality traits, and attachment, no meta-analysis has been conducted to synthesize this literature. We aimed to address this gap through a meta-analysis comprising 51 studies with 45,808 individuals (female = 35.19%, mean age = 37.81). The strongest correlation was found for sexual compulsivity ( r = .372), followed by impulsivity ( r = .273), self-control ( r = −.210), narcissism ( r = .172), and conscientiousness ( r = −.147). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between impulsivity ( r = .245), (sexual) compulsivity ( r = .392), neuroticism ( r = .114), and anxious attachment ( r = .131) with problematic use of IP. The correlations between conscientiousness and both general IP ( r = −.145) and problematic use of IP ( r = −.149) were statistically significant and negative. Moderator analyses revealed that the internal consistency of pornography measurement moderated the relationship between IP and neuroticism.
Writing Workshops in a Research Methods Course
Authors: LaPaglia Jessica A.
Published: October 2024

Background

Students in research methods courses often engage in the research process and write about their findings in an APA Style report. This process can be intimidating and challenging for students.

Objective

The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the use of writing workshops in teaching students to write research reports.

Method

The Writing Workshop Model included pre-writing worksheets, in-class writing, peer review, and self-evaluation. This method was compared to a more Standard Model that included writing instruction and peer review.

Results

Students under the Writing Workshop Model had higher scores on the research report than those under the Standard Model. The pre-writing worksheets, in-class writing, and self-evaluation were rated higher than the peer review component of the Writing Workshop Model.

Conclusions

The Writing Workshop Model may be an effective way to provide support for students during the writing process, thereby enhancing the quality of APA Style research reports.

Teaching Implications

Instructors of psychology courses could consider incorporating writing workshop components such as pre-writing worksheets, self-evaluations, and in-class writing opportunities to support student writing. Although peer review may be helpful, it is generally unpopular among students.
Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to Increase the Readability of Patient Education Materials in Pediatric Otolaryngology
Authors: Rothka Andrew J. , Lorenz F. Jeffrey , Hearn Madison , Meci Andrew , LaBarge Brandon , Walen Scott G. , Slonimsky Guy , McGinn Johnathan , Chung Thomas , Goyal Neerav
Published: October 2024

Objectives: To identify the reading levels of existing patient education materials in pediatric otolaryngology and to utilize natural language processing artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the reading level of patient education materials. Methods: Patient education materials for pediatric conditions were identified from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) website. Patient education materials about the same conditions, if available, were identified and selected from the websites of 7 children’s hospitals. The readability of the patient materials was scored before and after using AI with the Flesch-Kincaid calculator. ChatGPT version 3.5 was used to convert the materials to a fifth-grade reading level. Results: On average, AAO-HNS pediatric education material was written at a 10.71 ± 0.71 grade level. After requesting the reduction of those materials to a fifth-grade reading level, ChatGPT converted the same materials to an average grade level of 7.9 ± 1.18 ( P < .01). When comparing the published materials from AAO-HNS and the 7 institutions, the average grade level was 9.32 ± 1.82, and ChatGPT was able to reduce the average level to 7.68 ± 1.12 ( P = .0598). Of the 7 children’s hospitals, only 1 institution had an average grade level below the recommended sixth-grade level. Conclusions: Patient education materials in pediatric otolaryngology were consistently above recommended reading levels. In its current state, AI can reduce the reading levels of education materials. However, it did not possess the capability to reduce all materials to be below the recommended reading level.
Does Your Sales Curriculum Need a Refresh? Insights on How to Align Sales Curriculum With the Modern Sales Environment
Authors: Scribner Lisa L. , Delpechitre Duleep , Lastner Matthew M.
Published: October 2024

Sales education has experienced significant growth recently, both in the number of schools offering sales programs and in the amount of pedagogical attention dedicated to advancing the field. However, one area that has not been given adequate attention is the sales curriculum. To date, few scholarly articles have examined sales curricula from a broad perspective. More concerningly, the field of sales has changed significantly due to recent technological, generational, and pandemic-related shifts in the market. Accordingly, in the present article, we examine the current state of sales curricula by reviewing the existing curricula of the 70 member schools of the University Sales Center Alliance (USCA) in the United States. Furthermore, we conduct focus groups with former sales students now working in sales, as well as hiring personnel affiliated with USCA schools, to address how sales curricula should be evolved to reflect the modern sales role. In addition, we triangulate and validate these insights with data gathered from sales academics. Our findings suggest sales educators should rethink the composition of the standard sales curriculum.
A Constructivist Approach to Integrating AI in Marketing Education: Bridging Theory and Practice
Authors: Richter Shahper , Giroux Marilyn , Piven Inna , Sima Herbert , Dodd Patrick
Published: October 2024

AI advancements in higher education have reshaped marketing education, posing challenges for educators in integrating AI into curricula. This integration is essential for aligning with industry advancements and fostering responsible AI utilization among students. The purpose of this study is to provide insights into how marketing educators can incorporate AI into their curriculum practices. Central to our inquiry is the application of constructivist learning principles in leveraging AI to foster a dynamic, engaging, and deeply impactful educational environment. This approach advocates for active student engagement and the development of learning through direct interaction with AI technologies, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Employing a dual-strategy methodology, this research provides a case study on an undergraduate digital marketing course to highlight practical considerations for responsible and purposeful integration in the classroom. These insights inform practical implications for marketing educators and guide future research directions.
Interpretable prediction of sinter particle size distribution based on multi-task learning and bidirectional gated recurrent unit
Authors: Yang Huan , Fan Jinxin , Song Xiaolong , Wu Zhaoxia
Published: October 2024

The particle size distribution of sintered ore is the key indicator reflecting the quality of sintered ore products. Aiming at the problems of low accuracy and lack of interpretability of the existing sinter ore particle size distribution prediction models, this paper proposes a multi-task learning prediction model that uses the bidirectional gated recurrent unit as an information sharing layer to predict the particle size distribution of sinter ore. Firstly, features with high correlation with different particle size ranges (<5 mm; <10 mm) are selected as model inputs by the feature selection method. Secondly, a bidirectional gated recurrent unit is used as the information-sharing layer to construct a multi-task learning model, and the information sharing between two tasks is used to obtain their coupling information to consider the correlation between different particle sizes and improve the prediction accuracy of the model. Additionally, the Shapely interpretation method is introduced to analyse the interpretability of the important features of the model to enhance the predictive model interpretability. Finally, the model proposed in this article is compared with the rest of the combined models, and the results show that the proposed model has high prediction accuracy. This method provides a new direction for the high-quality production of sintered ore.
Efficacy of eptinezumab in non-responders to subcutaneous monoclonal antibodies against CGRP and the CGRP receptor: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Triller Paul , Blessing Virginia N. , Overeem Lucas H. , Fitzek Mira P. , Hong Ja Bin , Lange Kristin S. , Reuter Uwe , Raffaelli Bianca
Published: October 2024

Background

Migraine patients unresponsive to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)(-receptor, -R) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) may benefit from switching between CGRP(-R) mAbs. However, some patients do not tolerate or respond to any subcutaneous mAbs. This study evaluates the efficacy of the intravenous CGRP mAb eptinezumab in these therapy-refractory patients.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, patients with migraine who previously failed erenumab and at least one CGRP mAb (fremanezumab and/or galcanezumab) received eptinezumab 100 mg, followed by a second dose of 100 mg or 300 mg after 12 weeks. Monthly headache days, monthly migraine days, acute medication days, and migraine pain intensity were recorded from standardized headache diaries during the four weeks before the first infusion (baseline), and during weeks 9–12 and 21–24 of treatment. Patient-reported outcomes were analyzed at baseline, weeks 12, and 24.

Results

From January 2023 to February 2024, 41 patients received eptinezumab 100 mg. Of these, 38 (93%) received a second infusion after 12 weeks, with 29 (71%) increasing the dose to 300 mg. The percentage of patients with a ≥30% reduction rate in monthly migraine days was 23.1% at week 12 and 29.7% at week 24. Monthly migraine days decreased from 16.3 ± 8.0 at baseline to 15.4 ± 8.1 days during weeks 9–12 and 14.4 ± 8.0 days during weeks 21–24 ( p = 0.07). During weeks 21–24, 38.5% reported a clinically meaningful reduction in HIT-6 scores and 52.4% in MIDAS scores. No adverse events were reported.

Conclusions

Eptinezumab may be an effective and well-tolerated option for some treatment-refractory migraine patients unresponsive to subcutaneous CGRP-(R) mAbs.
Marx-Biased Technical Change and International Profit-Rate Convergence: The Case of Mexican Manufacturing
Authors: Ibarra Carlos A.
Published: October 2024

The article studies the fall in the output/capital (OC) ratio in Mexican manufacturing, contrasting the hypotheses of high labor costs versus convergence toward the United States as drivers of Marx-biased technical change. While econometric estimations reject the labor-cost hypothesis—as do the evidence from wage-profit curves—they support the convergence one, showing in addition that convergence increased with the degree of US-Mexican industrial integration. Downward OC convergence, moreover, led to downward convergence in profit rates. Convergence aside, capital accumulation itself pushed the OC ratio down, confirming a tendency of accumulation to depress the profit rate. The estimations—for the change in the profit rate and the OC ratio—rely on a comprehensive annual panel of 17 Mexican manufacturing industries over the period 1992–2019.

JEL Classification: C23, F15, F63, O14, O33
Identifying Key Instructional Practices in Rational Number Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Krowka Sarah K. , Jayanthi Madhavi , Schumacher Robin F. , Gersten Russell , Haymond Kelly S. , Newman-Gonchar Rebecca A.
Published: October 2024

Impacts of rational number interventions among U.S. students in Grades 3 through 9 with mathematics difficulties are examined using a systematic review and meta-analysis. The primary goal of the meta-analysis was to identify instructional practices that are key drivers of student impacts. From approximately 1,200 published and unpublished study records, we identified 28 studies that met our inclusion criteria and coded the interventions for their instructional practices, intervention characteristics, and study design features. The random-effects mean effect size across all 28 studies (90 effect sizes) was 0.68 ( SE = 0.08, p < .001, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.51, 0.85]). The 95% prediction interval was −0.36 to 1.8. Using meta-regression techniques, we found the teaching of mathematical language ( β = 0.50) and the use of the number line ( β = 0.47) during intervention to be significantly associated with positive impacts when adjusted for controls. We discuss implications for intervention practice and study limitations along with the challenges of examining complex, multifaceted interventions.
Decoding Metadiscourse Markers in Estonian Academic Texts: A Language-Specific Perspective
Authors: Hint Helen , Lemendik Helena , Johansson Christer , Leijen Djuddah A. J.
Published: October 2024

This article presents the development of a specialized data set for analyzing Estonian metadiscourse markers in academic usage, extending Hyland's interpersonal metadiscourse model to a non–Indo-European language. Our goal is to show how metadiscourse, as a feature of a writing tradition, can reveal aspects of writing in languages other than English, complementing the traditionally Anglo-centric perspective in metadiscourse research. By analyzing 21 Estonian linguistics research articles, we offer a transparent procedure to address methodological issues in metadiscourse studies and demonstrate the need for language-specific adjustments in the framework. We introduce statistical methods for analyzing multidimensional associations among marker categories, linguistic level, and rhetorical text structure. The findings suggest that Hyland’s metadiscourse model can be adjusted for specific languages, highlighting the influence of language structure on metadiscourse category variation and linguistic expression levels. The study reinforces that the distribution and manifestation of metadiscourse are shaped, among other factors, by unique writing traditions.
From fragmentation to functionality: Enhancing coherence of digital health integration in health systems
Authors: Petrie Samuel , McLeod Shelley , Ho Kendall
Published: October 2024

Digital health programs continue to be implemented within Canadian health systems at a steady pace. The effectiveness of digital health initiatives has been rigorously analyzed, with both benefits and drawbacks extensively commented on. While the discussion about digital health continues, both positive and negative perspectives of it are approaching saturation in their themes. Accepting that digital health is here to stay post-pandemic, the focus should shift to strategies and supports needed to avoid the fragmentation of care through digital health implementation. This short article poses three questions which policy-makers and decision-makers should explore as part of a level-setting exercise with involved stakeholders at the outset of a digital health program’s consideration. An implementation team should design the digital health program to have equity as its foundational focus, conduct value-based evaluations, and position the program in a learning health system framework to guard against the fragmentation of care.
The role of social entrepreneurship education and corporate social responsibility in shaping sustainable behaviour in the education sector of Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Muneeb , Yousaf Hummaira Qudsia , Naseer Memoona , Rehman Sumaira
Published: October 2024

Social Entrepreneurship Education (SEE) has the potential to benefit society by reducing poverty and advancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability. This study examines how SEE enhances students’ perception of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and leads to more sustainable behaviour among students. Additionally, this study explores how the Institutional Environment strengthens the connection between SEE and perceived CSR, both crucial for cultivating sustainable behaviour. The theory of planned behaviour serves as the foundation for this study. A questionnaire-based survey was completed by purposively selected 271 undergraduates from private universities in Lahore, Pakistan. The findings indicate that social entrepreneurial education positively impacts the students’ perception of CSR and sustainable behaviour. Additionally, the study found that CSR plays a mediating role, which is statistically significant. The findings also suggest that the institutional environment acts as a moderator. This study contributes significantly to the existing knowledge and is a valuable guide for educational institutions to develop policies for education programs based on social entrepreneurship courses and training.
The spatiotemporal distribution and environmental suitability evaluation of Neolithic settlements in the Western Guanzhong Basin of China
Authors: Zhang Junhui , Guan Yunjiu , Xin Yihua , Wang Hao , Wang Yaxin , Wu Bowen , Liu Xin , Li Jingyi , Guo Junli , Chen Liang , Zhang Jian , Zhang Cheng , Zhang Hucai
Published: October 2024

Illustrating the relationship between past settlement changes and human-land could help us to understand the complex interactions among climate, human activities, and the environment. Based on archeological literature and fieldworks, this paper combines dating techniques and GIS analysis to explore the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and human diffusion of Neolithic settlements in the Western Guanzhong Basin (WGB), and to quantitatively analyzes the relationship between human activities and natural geographic factors by index model. The results show that: (1) There was a continuity of Neolithic cultures in the WGB and the absolute chronological sequence of human activities ranges from 7500 to 3900 a BP; (2) The distribution of settlements tends to be on river terraces and Loess tableland, and with the evolution of Neolithic cultures, human activities shifted from near-water to far-water distributions and expanded to areas of high gradient. The center of activity of the settlement spreads from a single nucleus (the Wei River) to multiple nuclei (the Wei River, the Qian Rivers, and the Qishui River) and back to a single nucleus on the northern bank of the Wei River in the area of present Qishan-Fufeng, laying the foundation for the development and strength of the Western Zhou Dynasty Cultures in this area; (3) The suitability level of the natural geographic environment in the WGB gradually decreased from the Wei River to the north and south, and settlements were mainly distributed in the highly and moderately suitable zones; (4) It was found that as early as the Neolithic period, mankind had already grasped certain laws of nature, and the spatial distribution of settlements reflected mankind’s awareness of disaster avoidance and “compromise and reconciliation.”
Ambiguous Loss Experienced by Georgian Workers Living in Italy
Authors: Odilavadze Mariam , Khechuashvili Lili , Kvitsiani Mariam , Mestvirishvili Maia , Martskvishvili Khatuna
Published: October 2024

An ambiguous loss describes a loss that lacks closure due to its ambiguity and uncertainty. The study applies to those who have experienced separation from the family and struggle with keeping their family members psychologically present, namely, immigrants. The study aimed to explore the phenomenology of ambiguous loss experienced by Georgian immigrants. Fifteen narratives collected via face-to-face in-depth interviews were analyzed using the deductive content analysis strategy. Participants describe feelings of loss, such as being unable to live together as a family, uncertainty about going back, stress, and worry about family members. While physically absent, the psychological family is evident in their thoughts and concerns. Family boundaries can remain clear as family members reconsider their roles and responsibilities. The main challenge is to remain resilient, which is connected to identity reconstruction.
Cultural Adaptation of an Iranian Suicide Safety Plan Intervention Website: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Asgari Zahra , Naghavi Azam , Teismann Tobias
Published: October 2024

Aim: Suicide safety planning is an intervention to help people stay safe during a suicidal crisis. This qualitative study aimed to explore professionals’ feedback regarding a cultural adaptation of an Iranian online suicide safety plan intervention (SPI). Furthermore, users’ reactions to this adapted website were investigated. Method: Eleven professionals (72.7% male; Mage = 41.18; SDage = 7.11; range: 33 to 57 years), specialized in working with individuals at risk of suicide and 14 patients/users (57.1% male; Mage = 24.57; SDage = 5.19; range: 20 to 36 years) took part in the study. Think-aloud, methods and semi-structured interviews were used to gather participants’ feedback. Data was analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Results: Three main themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (1) Benefits of the safety plan intervention website, (2) Challenges of the safety plan intervention website, and (3) Suggestions for improving the safety plan intervention website. Conclusion: By incorporating cultural considerations and user preferences, the Iranian SPI website might serve the needs of its users and contribute to the overall well-being of the community.
Surgical Tray Optimization in the Setting of Cleft Lip and Palate Reconstruction: Implications for Operative Cost and Efficiency
Authors: Laspro Matteo , Groysman Leya , Perez Rivera Lucas R. , Geolingo Anna Mae , Tong Henry , Nakos-Athanasiou Marina , Tran David L. , Staffenberg David A. , Flores Roberto L.
Published: October 2024

Objectives

To assess surgical instrument usage in cleft lip (CL) and cleft palate (CP) surgery and create an optimized surgical tray with an associated cost-savings analysis.

Design

Prospective, observational study.

Setting

Single institution, 6-month prospective review.

Patients/Participants

A total of 10 primary CL surgeries and 10 primary CP surgeries were included in this study.

Intervention

Complete lists of surgical instruments utilized in CL and CP surgeries were collected.

Utilization fractions (UFs) were calculated as the percentages of average used instruments to averaged opened instruments per case. New optimized CL and CP surgical trays were idealized by removing instruments not used in at least 20% of cases, and a cost analysis was performed to identify potential savings. Calculation of annual potential savings was also conducted based on institutional caseload.

Results

The average instrument UFs were 26.0% for CL and 22.6% for CP. The estimated costs were $33.15 to $290.29 for the original CL surgical tray and $10.20 to $63.80 for the optimized tray. For CP, the original tray's cost was estimated at $38.25 to $319.00, and the optimized tray at $9.18 to $57.42. This demonstrates a cost reduction of $22.95 to $226.49 for CL and $29.07 to 261.58 for CP.

Conclusions

The idealized surgical instrument tray could contribute to reducing healthcare expenditures and promoting operating room efficiency, patient safety, and environmentally friendlier operating theaters.
Naturalists’ Technology Use Supports Nature Education
Authors: Thomas Aimée K. , St. Clair Aubin M. R. , Bucklin Carrie J. , Zipperer Jill , Daniel Kristy L.
Published: October 2024

Naturalists act as a link between scientific knowledge and the public’s understanding of natural history and conservation efforts. For them to be successful, they need access to current content and resources. Incorporating tablet technology into naturalists’ endeavors can serve as an interpretation tool that facilitates participation and offers needed support to new/emerging naturalists. Our study, guided by an Attention Participation Framework, used a qualitative approach to explore the naturalists’ use of tablets during a technology-enhanced nature education program. We developed an app to support nature hikes for students led by naturalists-in-training ( n = 72). We investigated how naturalists used tablet-based technology to support nature hike activities and their perspectives on technology as a tool for nature education. We found that naturalists relied on the app for reference throughout the hikes. Additionally, all of the naturalists held a positive perspective toward using tablets as an interpretive tool and recommended them for future use.
Six Weeks to Wellness: The Role of Breathing Exercises Based on Motor Development Pattern in Improving Fitness and Quality of Life in Overweight Elderly Women
Authors: Mohammad Rahimi Fatemeh , Sohrabi Mehdi , Saberi Kakhki Alireza , Mohammad Rahimi Nasser
Published: October 2024

Background: Being overweight is a major global health epidemic of the 20th and 21st centuries, which can affect the movement system function of older adult women. This study evaluated the effects of a breathing exercise based on motor development patterns on functional fitness and quality of life in overweight older adult women. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 40 community-dwelling women aged 65–75. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group, which completed a 6-week breathing exercise program (three supervised and three home-based sessions per week), or a control group, which maintained usual routines. Outcome measures included cardiovascular fitness, upper and lower body flexibility, muscle strength, dynamic balance, and quality of life, assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in cardiovascular fitness ( p < .001, ES = 0.652), upper body flexibility ( p < .001, ES = 0.652), lower body flexibility ( p < .001, ES = 0.538), upper body strength ( p < .001, ES = 0.538), lower body strength ( p < .001, ES = 0.538), and dynamic balance ( p < .001, ES = 0.475) compared to the control group. Quality of life also significantly improved in the intervention group ( p < .001, ES = 0.475). Conclusion: Breathing exercises based on motor development patterns significantly enhance functional fitness and quality of life in overweight older adult women. Incorporating these exercises into regular physical activity routines may promote health and independence in older adults. Further research should explore long-term benefits and optimal exercise parameters for older adults.
Interactional space for agency: Discussing photography with preschoolers
Authors: Rissanen Mari-Jatta , Alasuutari Maarit , von Bonsdorff Pauline
Published: October 2024

According to the latest research in both arts education and childhood studies, young children's agency is relational, entangled and negotiated. However, in early childhood visual arts education, modernist practices emphasising the independent and self-expressive child–agent are still recognisable. In this article, early childhood artistic activities are seen as a shared venue for interaction, social exchange and joint meaning-making, thereby providing a specific forum for displaying agency. Informed by conversation analysis, we explore discussions between 14 preschoolers and a researcher on contemporary art and children's self-authored photographs in a workshop in an early childhood education and care centre. By examining our discussions as turn-by-turn procedures, we identify children's displays of agency. The findings illustrate children's agency as a multifaceted and complex interactional phenomenon based on verbal and non-verbal communication and demonstrating both imaginative, progressively oriented talk and modes of resistance. While a shared playful stance appeared as a suitable means to approach art/creative photographs, it simultaneously became an essential interactional resource for inviting and promoting children's agency. Collaborative play with photographs provided an interactional space in which the fixed child/children–adult binary could be questioned and different types of agency were available for both children and the adult.
Optimization study of diesel engine emission prediction based on neural network model cluster
Authors: Guo Yong , Chen Tao , Fan Zhenyang , Ding Xu , Hu Jin , Shi Minshuo , Pei Yiqiang , Wu Binyang
Published: October 2024

This study aims to reduce the testing volume and cost of engine bench tests. By combining neural network models and ensemble learning algorithms, a model cluster prediction method is proposed to predict engine emissions. The core of this method is to use a large number of neural network models for prediction, taking the average of the prediction results as the final prediction result, thereby reducing prediction errors and improving accuracy. The findings reveal that this cluster-based approach significantly outperforms a single optimal model in forecasting steady-state emissions of NOx, HC, and CO in diesel engines. Notably, the performance of the model cluster is highly dependent on both the quality and the number of constituent sub-models, with enhanced predictive capabilities observed when higher-quality sub-models are included. Additionally, the study identifies a stabilization in predictive accuracy as the number of models increases, particularly within the range of 50 to 100 models, and achieving robust stability beyond 100 models. The research also underscores the importance of the training dataset size on the effectiveness of neural network modeling. A reduction in the training dataset from 28% to 18% leads to a decline in the coefficient of determination ( R2) for NOx emissions prediction in a single neural network model from 0.6954 to 0.6539, a 5.97% decrease. For the model cluster method, the R2 similarly drops from 0.8633 to 0.8154, a reduction of 5.55%. Notably, the neural network model suffers from distortion in predicting the peak position of NOx emissions. After supplementing specific operating condition training data in a targeted manner, the model training amount was increased from 18% to 25%. The model cluster method showed a good improvement in the prediction of NOx emissions, with the prediction coefficient increasing from 0.8154 to 0.8997, with an improvement rate of 10.34%. Through planning of training data, the study demonstrates that employing just 25% of experimental data for model clustering can effectively predict the engine emission trends for the remaining 75% of data in the target conditions. This approach offers a substantial reduction in experimental requirements while maintaining high prediction accuracy.
Application of pre-programmed lighting control scenarios: A mixed-methods pilot study in Swedish residential environments
Authors: Aries MBC , Tabbah A , Fischl G
Published: October 2024

Everyday light exposure plays a vital role in circadian entrainment, especially during twilight. Electric lighting can supplement daylight anytime, enabling unlimited human activity; hence, many struggle to combine a healthy sleep regime with social constraints. Dusk/dawn simulators have been developed to compensate for the lack of twilight exposure and are typically applied in residential environments, where people usually sleep. Innovations in tuneable lighting control enable home-integrated dusk/dawn simulation, but it is essential to understand their performance and acceptance in real-life situations. A pilot field study was executed in 14 Swedish apartments and tested 3 lighting control scenarios for effects on behaviour, well-being and sleep patterns during the winter. Data were collected using wearable actigraphy, weekly surveys and interviews. The light intervention influenced wake- and bedtimes and contributed to slightly more consistent sleep schedules. Subjective responses emphasised that the dawn simulation assisted in a calm and peaceful wake-up, providing extra time for morning activities. The dusk simulation was a reminder to go to bed, but not all participants appreciated the light quality. Satisfaction and acceptance of the pre-programmed dusk/dawn control system were very high, provided there would be increased control for the residents.