bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of Pap test utilisation with comorbidity and functional impairment among middle-aged non-Hispanic black women in the USA: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2018 BRFSS data
Authors: Zhu Zhikai , Wang Yali , Han Jiefei , Li Yang
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Limited evidence exists on the association of Pap test utilisation with comorbidity and functional impairment among middle-aged non-Hispanic black (NHB) women in the USA. We aimed to assess whether middle-aged NHB women with a higher burden of comorbidity and functional impairment have a lower rate of Pap test utilisation.

Design

Nationwide cross-sectional survey in the USA.

Setting

2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Participants

6359 middle-aged NHB women.

Exposures and outcome

The primary exposures were comorbidity and functional impairment. The outcome of interest was whether a woman reported having a Pap test in the last 3 years.

Data analysis

We fit unadjusted and multivariable logistic regression models to calculate ORs and 95% CI for comorbidity and functional impairment. Sensitivity analysis was restricted to women without a history of hysterectomy or cancer. We added interaction terms between exposures and age, as well as lifestyle indicators.

Results

Of the 6359 women, 4141 (65.1%) had comorbidity and 2429 (38.2%) had functional impairment. Middle-aged NHB women with comorbidity (≥2 vs 0, aOR=0.72, 95% CI=0.61 to 0.85, p trend<0.01) or functional impairment (≥2 vs 0, aOR=0.69, 95% CI=0.57 to 0.83, p trend<0.01) had a lower rate of Pap test utilisation compared with healthier counterparts, regardless of histories of hysterectomy and prior cancer. The analyses for age and lifestyle indicators subgroup difference indicated no statistically significant effect (p interaction>0.05). However, the magnitude of these associations was stronger among women with adverse lifestyle factors (eg, comorbidity ≥2 v.s. 0, aOR=0.53, 95% CI=0.40, to 0.71; functional impairment ≥2 v.s. 0, aOR=0.35, 95% CI=0.16, to 0.72 among binge drinkers).

Conclusion

Comorbidity or functional impairment could be a potential barrier to Pap test utilisation among middle-aged NHB women in the USA. Our study highlights the importance of implementing targeted intervention programmes and prioritised health resource allocation to promote Pap test utilisation. Cohort studies with clear temporality and indicators reflecting disease severity will be essential for further understanding this association.
Immune cell topography of head and neck cancer
Authors: Muijlwijk Tara , Nijenhuis Dennis N L M , Ganzevles Sonja H , Ekhlas Fatima , Ballesteros-Merino Carmen , Peferoen Laura A N , Bloemena Elisabeth , Fox Bernard A , Poell Jos B , Leemans C René , Brakenhoff Ruud H , van de Ven Rieneke
Published: July 2024

Background

Approximately 50% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) recur after treatment with curative intent. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are treatment options for recurrent/metastatic HNSCC; however, less than 20% of patients respond. To increase this response rate, it is fundamental to increase our understanding of the spatial tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).

Methods

In total, 53 HNSCC specimens were included. Using a seven-color multiplex immunohistochemistry panel we identified tumor cells, CD163+macrophages, B cells, CD8+T cells, CD4+T helper cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in treatment-naive surgical resection specimens (n=29) and biopsies (n=18). To further characterize tumor-infiltrating CD8+T cells, we stained surgical resection specimens (n=12) with a five-color tumor-resident panel including CD103, Ki67, CD8 and pan-cytokeratin. Secretome analysis was performed on matched tumor suspensions (n=11) to measure protein levels.

Results

Based on CD8+T cell infiltrates, we identified four different immunotypes: fully infiltrated, stroma-restricted, immune-excluded, and immune-desert. We found higher cytokine levels in fully infiltrated tumors compared with other immunotypes. While the highest immune infiltrates were observed in the invasive margin for all immune cells, CD163+macrophages and Tregs had the highest tendency to infiltrate the tumor center. Within the tumor center, especially B cells stayed at the tumor stroma, whereas CD163+macrophages, followed by T cells, were more often localized within tumor fields. Also, B cells were found further away from other cells and often formed aggregates while T cells and CD163+macrophages tended to be more closely located to each other. Across resection specimens from various anatomical sites within the head and neck, oral cavity tumors exhibited the highest densities of Tregs. Moreover, the distance from B cells and T cells to tumor cells was shortest in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC), suggesting more interaction between lymphocytes and tumor cells. Also, the fraction of T cells within 10 µm of CD163+macrophages was lowest in OCSCC, indicating fewer myeloid/T-cell suppressive interactions in OCSCC.

Conclusions

We comprehensively described the TIME of HNSCC using a unique data set of resection specimens. We discovered that the composition, as well as the relative localization of immune cells in the TIME, differed in distinct anatomical sites of the head and neck.
A Brief Review of Electronic and Magnetic Structure of TIF3
Authors: Fernando Gayanath W. , Sheets Donal , Hancock Jason , Ernst Arthur , Matthias Geilhufe R.
Published: July 2024

Materials with perovskite structure are known to exhibit fascinating physical properties such as high-temperature superconductivity, negative thermal expansion (NTE) and colossal magnetoresistance. However, transition metal trifluoride perovskites are less well studied compared to their oxide counterparts though they display marked differences such as NTE behavior in ScF3. Doping of such MF3 perovskites has been the focus of the experimental work of Morelock et al. [ 1 ] which provides a comprehensive structural study of the material class Sc1[Formula: see text]Ti[Formula: see text]F3. As shown in Fig. 1, there is a structural phase transition assumed to be tied to tilting of corner sharing octahedrons in this class of crystal structures which is believed to have an electrostatic dipolar origin, seen for example even in AlF3 [ 2 ]. However, the insulating and magnetic properties of TiF3 are closely related to the transition metal 3d-electrons. The extra valence [Formula: see text]-electron that Ti carries compared to Sc [ 1 , 3 ] gives rise to unusual electronic and magnetic properties.
Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise to Extract Deep Information of Bearing Fault in Steam Turbines via Deep Belief Network
Authors: Wang Yashun , Xu Wei
Published: July 2024

Extracting to enhance the accuracy of diagnosing bearing faults in steam turbines, a novel approach focused on extracting key fault features from vibration signals is introduced. Recognizing the complex, non-linear, and non-stationary nature of bearing vibration signals, our strategy involves a sensitivity analysis utilizing a multivariate diagnostic algorithm. The process begins with collecting vibration data from defective bearings via the TMI system. This data is then subjected to Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN), enabling the integration of adaptive noise for the extraction of in-depth information. Following this, an analysis in both time and frequency domains — post Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) — is conducted on the decomposed signals, forming the basis of a diagnostic features database. To streamline data analysis and boost the model’s computational efficiency, a combination of eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Mutual Information Criterion (MIC) is applied for dimensionality reduction. Furthermore, a deep belief network (DBN) is implemented to develop a precise fault diagnosis model for the bearings in rotating machinery. By incorporating sensitivity analysis, a diagnostic matrix is crafted, facilitating highly accurate fault identification. The superiority of this diagnostic algorithm is corroborated by testing with real on-site data and a benchmark database, demonstrating its enhanced diagnostic capabilities relative to other feature selection techniques.
An Equipment Anomaly Diagnosis Method Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Ren Mingshu , Jiang Qiong , Zhou Chengyi , Liu Yao
Published: July 2024

With the rapid development of intelligent manufacturing technology, the structure of industrial equipment has become more sophisticated, resulting in frequent equipment failures. However, traditional anomaly diagnosis methods suffer the issues of insufficient accuracy and are always unable to identify anomalies in time. To solve the above problems, a deep learning-based equipment anomaly diagnosis method in industrial production scenarios is proposed in this paper. Specifically, a combination model based on Selective Kernel (SK) convolution blocks is designed to improve the accuracy of anomaly identification; a lightweight model based on Depthwise Separable Convolution (DSC) and Attention Mechanism (AM) is proposed to improve the timeliness of anomaly identification; an anomaly analysis and intelligent diagnosis framework is established and implemented to automatically complete anomaly identification tasks for different equipment and practical problems. Finally, we conduct extensive experiments to validate the effectiveness of our methods. The experimental results show that the accuracy of our anomaly identification method is as high as 99.07[Formula: see text], and the calculation amount of the lightweight model is reduced by 84.95[Formula: see text] compared to the baseline model.
A RELIABLE NUMERICAL ALGORITHM FOR TREATMENT OF FRACTIONAL MODEL OF CONVECTIVE STRAIGHT FINS WITH TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
Authors: SINGH JAGDEV , KUMAR JITENDRA , KUMAR DEVENDRA , ALGAHTANI OBAID
Published: July 2024

Fins serve the purpose of enhancing heat transfer between their surroundings and the underlying surface, resembling the function of heat exchangers in various scientific domains. This research undertakes an investigation into the temperature distribution within convective straight fins, considering the impact of both constant and thermally conductive temperature-dependent properties. The chosen approach utilizes a numerical technique known as the Laguerre operational matrix collocation method, which relies on the Laguerre operational matrix and Laguerre collocation method for Caputo fractional derivatives of arbitrary orders. This methodology effectively converts the issue into a set of nonlinear algebraic equations (NLAEs). To evaluate this arbitrary order model, we employed the collocation method to obtain an approximate solution. The numerical results obtained through this approach demonstrate its ease of application and computational efficiency. In addition, we performed a comparative analysis with the Homotopy Perturbation Sumudu Transform Method (HPSTM) and the Variational Iteration Method (VIM). The numerical and graphical presentation of the results underscores the efficacy and precision of the methodologies employed within the scope of this investigation.
Spinor algebra of k-balancing and k-Lucas-balancing numbers
Authors: Prasad Kalika , Kumari Munesh , Mohanty Ritanjali , Mahato Hrishikesh
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we introduce and study a spinor algebra of [Formula: see text]-balancing numbers referred to as the [Formula: see text]-balancing and [Formula: see text]-Lucas-balancing spinors. First, we give [Formula: see text]-balancing quaternions and their some algebraic properties. Then we introduce a spinor family of [Formula: see text]-balancing numbers by defining a linear and injective correspondence between [Formula: see text]-balancing and [Formula: see text]-Lucas-balancing quaternions to spinors. Here, we give various algebraic properties of this spinor such as the Binet form, Catalan’s identity, d’Ocagne identity, generating and exponential generating functions. Moreover, we obtain various partial sum formulae for these sequences in closed form and also give matrix representations.
THE IMPACT OF HETEROGENEOUS ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION ON FIRMS’ GREEN INNOVATION: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM CHINA’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Authors: ZHAO SHULIANG , ZHANG RUI , FAN QI
Published: July 2024

Green innovation is an essential support to realise sustainable development, while environmental regulation is an influential factor affecting green innovation, and different types of environmental regulation will have differentiated impacts on corporate green innovation. The aim of this paper is to shed light on the relationship between environmental regulation and green innovation and to explore mechanisms based on the institutional theory. Chinese manufacturing enterprises were selected as the study sample and empirically analysed using a multilayer linear regression model. The results show that command-and-control, market-incentive and voluntary environmental regulations all significantly and positively affect firms’ green innovation, but voluntary environmental regulations are more effective; the level of digitalisation technology and the scope of digitalisation application are both conducive to firms’ green innovation and play a partially mediating role between environmental regulations and green innovation. Based on these findings, this paper discusses the implications of regulation and provides an outlook for future research directions.
THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS ON THE REAL SECTOR IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Authors: TAIWO AKINLO
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between information technology and the real sector in sub-Saharan Africa during the period 1995–2019. The study proxied the real sector by industrial value-added, agriculture value-added and total factor productivity, while technological progress is proxied by fixed telephone, mobile phone and internet penetration. To achieve the objective of this study, dynamic models were estimated. The study found that the fixed telephone enhances industrial value-added and total factor productivity, while the mobile phone promotes all the proxies of the real sector. The study found that the internet does not contribute to industrial value-added or agriculture value-added, but it enhances total factor productivity. Sub-Saharan African countries can further benefit from technological advancement by providing infrastructure facilities.
Bandits with Stochastic Experts: Constant Regret, Empirical Experts and Episodes
Authors: Sharma Nihal , Sen Rajat , Basu Soumya , Shanmugam Karthikeyan , Shakkottai Sanjay
Published: July 2024

We study a variant of the contextual bandit problem where an agent can intervene through a set of stochastic expert policies. Given a fixed context, each expert samples actions from a fixed conditional distribution. The agent seeks to remain competitive with the “best” among the given set of experts. We propose the Divergence-based Upper Confidence Bound (D-UCB) algorithm that uses importance sampling to share information across experts and provide horizon-independent constant regret bounds that only scale linearly in the number of experts. We also provide the Empirical D-UCB (ED-UCB) algorithm that can function with only approximate knowledge of expert distributions. Further, we investigate the episodic setting where the agent interacts with an environment that changes over episodes. Each episode can have different context and reward distributions resulting in the best expert changing across episodes. We show that by bootstrapping from

\(\mathcal {O}(N\log (NT^2\sqrt {E}))\)

samples, ED-UCB guarantees a regret that scales as

\(\mathcal {O}(E(N+1) + \frac{N\sqrt {E}}{T^2})\)

for
N
experts over
E
episodes, each of length
T
. We finally empirically validate our findings through simulations.
Adaptive Cellular Radiations and the Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Animal Nervous System Diversification
Authors: Hehmeyer Jenks , Plessier Flora , Marlow Heather
Published: July 2024

In animals, the nervous system evolved as the primary interface between multicellular organisms and the environment. As organisms became larger and more complex, the primary functions of the nervous system expanded to include the modulation and coordination of individual responsive cells via paracrine and synaptic functions as well as to monitor and maintain the organism's own internal environment. This was initially accomplished via paracrine signaling and eventually through the assembly of multicell circuits in some lineages. Cells with similar functions and centralized nervous systems have independently arisen in several lineages. We highlight the molecular mechanisms that underlie parallel diversifications of the nervous system.
Effect of Zr, Sm and Gd Doped CoFe2O4 on Structural, Spectral and Magnetic Properties
Authors: M. Siddeshwar , N. Pavan Kumar , P. Naveen , K. Srinivas , Boda Nehru , Chittury Kanchana Latha
Published: July 2024

In this work, cobalt composite nano ferrites with chemical formula CoZr0.05-xRExFe1.95O4 (x = 0 and 0.025 and RE = Sm, Gd) were prepared using sol-gel synthesis method and studied structural, optical and magnetic properties of them. The Rietveld assessment of XRD data validated the emergence of a single-phase cubic spinel configuration for all compounds. SEM has been used to study the surface morphology of the compounds. Energy gap has been estimated and the values are 2 eV, 1.8 eV and 1.6 eV for CoZr0.05Fe2O4, CoZr0.025Sm0.025 Fe1.95O4, and CoZr0.025Gd0.025 Fe1.95O4 compounds respectively. FTIR and Raman spectra confirmed the structure with the appearance of standard modes. The RE replacement in CoFe2O4 ferrites has an intense impact on magnetic properties. With the substitution of Sm3+ and Gd3+ ions in cobalt-zirconium ferrite, there is a reduction in saturation magnetization (55 emu g−1 of CoZr0.05Fe2O4 reduced to 25 emu g−1 for Gd3+ and to 29 emu gm−1 for Sm3+) as the size of crystallites decreases. A decrease in crystallite size correlates with an increase in the number of spin disorder occurrences in rare Earth-substituted cobalt-zirconium ferrite nanoparticles Further, the decrease in coercivity (2440 Oe of CoZr0.05Fe2O4 reduced to 720 Oe for Gd3+ and to 29 Oe for Sm3+ with rare Earth element doping is due to the crystallite size and large lattice distortion showed an enhancement of magnetocrystalline anisotropy field which effects a shift of resonance frequencies from higher frequencies which is good for the memory storage devices.
Influence of menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive phases on strength performance, neuromuscular fatigue, and perceived exertion
Authors: Dragutinovic Boris , Moser Franziska , Notbohm Hannah L. , Ihalainen Johanna K. , Bloch Wilhelm , Schumann Moritz
Published: July 2024

Although a high intraindividual 17β-estradiol concentration was associated with a lower movement velocity, markers of strength performance and surrogates for nonlocal and local fatigue remained unaffected by MC and OC phases. Blood lactate accumulation was significantly reduced in the mLP. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the impact of the MC phases varies greatly among individuals. Individuals with high fluctuations in sex hormone concentrations may experience relevant changes in the assessed parameters.
Dietary Valine Requirement of Juvenile Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)
Authors: Shin Jaehyeong , Ko Deahyun , Hasanthi Mirasha , Eom Gunho , Lee Kyeong–Jun
Published: July 2024

This study was conducted to estimate dietary valine (Val) requirement for juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). In a feeding trial, a total of 540 fish (initial body weight: 23.0 ± 0.2 g) were stocked into 18 tanks (210 L). Six experimental diets containing graded levels of Val (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 g/kg, dry matter basis) were fed to the fish in triplicate groups for 13 weeks. The lowest growth, feed utilization, and survival were observed in 4 g/kg Val group (P < 0.05). Dietary Val deficiency resulted in significant decreases (P < 0.05) in whole‐body protein and Val concentrations, hepatosomatic index, condition factor and plasma protein and cholesterol levels. Nonspecific immunity and antioxidant activities were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in 4 g/kg Val group than in other groups. Dietary Val deficiency upregulated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and downregulated the expression of anti‐inflammatory cytokines and intestinal tight junction protein (occludin) (P < 0.05). Mucosal fold height and submucosa and muscularis thickness of fish intestine were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in fish fed 4 g/kg Val diet. Relatively lower lipid droplet in hepatic cell was observed in 4 g/kg Val group. Our findings suggested that dietary Val requirements for juvenile olive flounder would be 17.7–18.9 g Val/kg (35.4–37.8 g/kg on the basis of crude protein), estimated by quadratic regression analysis based on the weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, and protein retention efficiency.
Assessment and Qualitative Comparative Analysis of English Local Authority Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies to Improve Health under Austerity Conditions, 2013–2017
Authors: Tompson Alice , Egan Matt , McGill Elizabeth , Rinaldi Chiara , Mead Rebecca , Holland Paula , Alexiou Alexandros , Popay Jennie , Lhussier Monique
Published: July 2024

Background. Local government is important for health equity because local policies often affect place‐based health, health equity, and their wider social determinants of health. In England, local governments must produce Joint Health and Wellbeing (JH&W) Strategies, outlining local strategies for health improvement. These strategies have been produced concurrently with budget cuts to local governments that are associated with adverse health and mortality outcomes. Using a novel approach, we assessed whether English local governments’ strategies for place‐based health and equity help explain why some disadvantaged areas have better mortality trends than others. Methods. We sampled “Joint Health and Wellbeing” (JH&W) Strategies for 20 disadvantaged localities covering the years 2013–2017. We sampled areas to include some with larger and some with smaller budget cuts. We developed a qualitative appraisal process for scoring the extent to which JH&W strategies focused on (i) place‐based social determinants of health and (ii) health equity. Using qualitative comparative analysis, we assessed whether mortality trends might be explained by JH&W scores or wider contextual factors such as budget cuts, population age, and disadvantage. Results. JH&W strategies on place‐based social determinants of health and equity were often underdeveloped. Only a minority of strategies were highly rated (i.e., scoring >2 out of 3) for addressing social inequalities of health (n = 6), and even fewer scored highly for place‐based social determinants of health (n = 3). Our qualitative comparative analysis found that external and contextual factors (e.g., budget cuts and disadvantages) offer more plausible explanations than JH&W strategies for place variations in life expectancy trends. Conclusion. Budget cuts and other contextual factors better explain mortality trends than JH&W strategies. This raises concerns about what such strategies can realistically achieve in the face of structural disadvantage and national policies that restrict local spending.
Modeling and Stability Analysis of the Dynamics of Malaria Disease Transmission with Some Control Strategies
Authors: Ayalew Alemzewde , Molla Yezbalem , Woldegbreal Amsalu
Published: July 2024

In this study, we proposed and analyzed a nonlinear deterministic mathematical model of malaria transmission dynamics. In addition to the previous approaches, we incorporated the class of aware people and other control measures. We established the wellposedness of the model, and the asymptotic behavior of the solutions is rigorously studied depending on the basic reproduction number R0. The model system admits two equilibrium points: disease‐free and disease‐persistent equilibrium points. The analytical result of the model system revealed that the disease‐free equilibrium point is both locally as well as globally asymptotically stable whenever R0 < 1 while the disease‐persistence equilibrium point is globally asymptotically stable whenever R0 > 1. Moreover, the forward bifurcation phenomenon of the model system for R0 = 1 was analyzed by using center manifold theory. A sensitivity analysis of the basic reproduction number was performed to identify parameters that will cause to trigger the transmission of malaria disease and should be targeted by control strategies. Then, the model was extended to the optimal control problem, with the use of three time‐dependent controls, namely, preventive measures(treated bednets and indoor residual spraying), continuous awareness campaigns to susceptible individuals, and treatment for infected individuals. By using Pontryan’s maximum principle, necessary conditions for the transmission of malaria disease were derived. Numerical simulations are illustrated by using MATLAB ode45 to validate the theoretical results of the model. The numerical findings of the optimal model suggested that integrated control strategies are better than a sole intervention to eliminate malaria disease.
Enhanced Artificial Rabbits Algorithm Integrating Equilibrium Pool to Support PV Power Estimation via Module Parameter Identification
Authors: Smaili Idris H. , Moustafa Ghareeb , Almalawi Dhaifallah R. , Ginidi Ahmed , Shaheen Abdullah M. , Mansour Hany S. E.
Published: July 2024

This paper proposes a novel innovative version of enhanced artificial rabbit optimization (EARO) algorithm integrating an equilibrium pool (EP) that consists of the best solutions. Furthermore, the detour foraging and hiding mechanisms are modified to amplify the search capability. These modifications enable the algorithm to dynamically focus on exploring various randomized directions emanating from the EP. The proposed EARO is designed to investigate the PV module characteristics identification issue. To obtain the nine parameters of the PV triple diode model (TDM) while taking into account three distinct real‐world PV modules, the novel version of EARO is utilized and evaluated in comparison with to the standard ARO. The novel EARO is tested on three different PV modules: the Ultra 85‐P PV panel, the PVM_752GaAs, and the RTC France. The results corresponding to the novel EARO are compared with respect to several published latest studies. The results of the simulation show that the proposed EARO shows significant overall improvement rates for each of the three modules. A validation of the novel EARO on the common SDM and DDM of the RTC France PV is assessed which illustrates a significant superiority and robustness of the novel EARO over recent published results.
O percurso ficcional do lápis em El lápiz del carpintero: história, guerra e ideologia
Authors: Paramos Cebey María del Mar , Alves Soraya Ferreira
Published: July 2024

O livro de Manuel Rivas, El lápiz del carpintero, publicado em 1998, é ambientado na Galícia durante a Guerra Civil espanhola. Há, porém, uma ligação com o presente, liderada pelo objeto/personagem do título. É por meio desse fio condutor, também, que a narrativa une história real e ficção. A partir da análise do livro, este artigo pretende investigar como esse traço narrativo é traduzido intersemióticamente no filme homônimo do diretor Antón Reixa, de 2003, e também visa compreender a percepção de como nos dois títulos (livro e filme) se aglutinam as experiências referentes à memória e à identidade.
Portugal migrante: ativismo e resistência em tempos de ascensão da extrema-direita
Authors: Zanetti Lucas Arantes
Published: July 2024

In this essay, I present reflections derived from a portion of the field research I conducted in Portugal during the Bepe/Fapesp collaboration with activists and immigrant organizations, such as the Casa do Brasil de Lisboa. This work unfolded amidst both the growth of the extreme right and anti-immigration discourse and the intensification of migratory flows, particularly of Brazilians in the country. With the intention of addressing this theme, I explore my trajectory of connection with the field, detailing my journey in Portugal through interviews and participant observation of the activities and routines of the Casa do Brasil de Lisboa. In this way, I present elements that underscore the resistance of Brazilian immigrants in the face of the fortification of these discourses and the social tensions resulting from intolerance, xenophobia, and racism, phenomena that gain momentum as parties like Chega assume political prominence in the country.
Palestina: do colonialismo e limpeza étnica ao apartheid
Authors: Teles Barbara Caramuru
Published: July 2024

Este artigo tem como objetivo lançar luz ao processo de limpeza étnica da Palestina, de forma a elucidar o contexto de ocupação e os atuais desdobramentos no que tange à relação entre a potência ocupante e a ocupada, a partir de uma análise cronológica e antropológica. Desta forma, seguindo à proposta de uma análise de longa duração à luz de uma perspectiva pós-colonial, neste artigo analisarei o processo de ocupação da Palestina. Primeiramente retomarei os eventos que conformam esse processo, tendo em vista o contínuo da limpeza étnica desde primórdios do século XX com a expansão do sionismo moderno até a atualidade, em Gaza e na Cisjordânia. Na segunda parte, analisarei a segregação e necropolítica, como parte deste projeto, intitulado pelos palestinos de uma Nakba continua. A análise aqui desenvolvida é fruto de um trabalho de campo ocorrido entre os anos de 2015 e 2023 com pessoas palestinas na Palestina e, essencialmente, na diáspora.
Pathophysiologic Vasodilation in Cardiogenic Shock and Its Impact on Mortality
Authors: Chavez Miguel A. , Anderson McHale , Kyriakopoulos Christos P. , Scott Monte , Dranow Elizabeth , Maneta Eleni , Hamouche Rana , Taleb Iosif , Leon Jacy , Kogelschatz Benjamin , Goldstein Jake , Billia Filio , Baran David A. , Tehrani Behnam , Goodwin Matt , Selzman Craig H. , Tonna Joseph E. , Fang James C. , Drakos Stavros G. , Hanff Thomas C.
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

Cardiogenic shock (CS) mortality remains near 40%. In addition to inadequate cardiac output, patients with severe CS may exhibit vasodilation. We aimed to examine the prevalence and consequences of vasodilation in CS.

METHODS:

We analyzed all patients hospitalized at a CS referral center who were diagnosed with CS stages B to E and did not have concurrent sepsis or recent cardiac surgery. Vasodilation was defined by lower systemic vascular resistance (SVR), higher norepinephrine equivalent dose, or a blunted SVR response to pressors. Threshold SVR values were determined by their relation to 14-day mortality in spline models. The primary outcome was death within 14 days of CS onset in multivariable-adjusted Cox models.

RESULTS:

This study included 713 patients with a mean age of 60 years and 27% females; 14-day mortality was 28%, and 38% were vasodilated. The median SVR was 1308 dynes•s•cm
−5
(interquartile range, 870–1652), median norepinephrine equivalent was 0.11 µg/kg per minute (interquartile range, 0–0.2), and 28% had a blunted pressor response. Each 100-dynes•s•cm
−5
decrease in SVR below 800 was associated with 20% higher mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.23;
P
=0.004). Each 0.1-µg/kg per minute increase in norepinephrine equivalent dose was associated with 15% higher mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.12;
P
<0.001). A blunted pressor response was associated with a nearly 2-fold mortality increase (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.74;
P
=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS:

Pathophysiologic vasodilation is prevalent in CS and independently associated with an increased risk of death. CS vasodilation can be identified by SVR <800 dynes•s•cm
−5
, high doses of pressors, or a blunted SVR response to pressors. Additional studies exploring mechanisms and treatments for CS vasodilation are needed.
Bridging the COSMOS: How the Inclusion of and Collaboration with Faith-Based Understandings and Indigenous Knowledges Can Transform the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise
Authors: Martinez Carlos J. , Das Debanjana , Bloomfield Emma Frances , Abraham James D. , Knox John A. , Simmonds Ricardo , Hilderbrand Douglas C. , Giovannettone Jason , Gouw Arvin M. , RoyChowdhury Abhishek
Published: July 2024

Climate change is a global existential threat with far-reaching implications for natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and human societies. Adapting to and mitigating climate change require global cooperation and participation from all mindsets and belief systems, including the traditionally western weather, water, and climate enterprise (WWCE), faith-based understandings (FBUs), and Indigenous Knowledges (IKs). Epistemological differences and language barriers between knowledges and the historical marginalization and exploitation of IKs by western ideologies and some FBUs make coproduction and relationship building challenging. Acknowledging their historical tensions and distinctions, there is meaningful overlap between the WWCE, FBUs, and IKs on environmental stewardship, justice, and mental health. This article highlights three themes at the intersection of FBUs, IKs, and environmentalism: 1) increasing faith-based and Indigenous community resilience to weather extremes; 2) developing kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) and collegiate weather, water, and climate education that weaves FBUs and IKs; and 3) increasing communication flows between weather, water, and climate science, and faith-based and Indigenous communities. These initiatives aim to foster relationships and trust between the WWCE, faith-based, and Indigenous communities; transform the WWCE into a multiknowledge enterprise; and promote a climate-resilient society. The American Meteorological Society’s Committee on Spirituality, Multifaith Outreach, and Science (COSMOS) plays a pivotal role in facilitating dialogue and collaboration on these themes while acknowledging distinctions and historical tensions between FBUs, IKs, and the WWCE. Collaborative efforts between the WWCE, faith-based, and Indigenous communities hold immense potential for addressing climate challenges, fostering resilience, and building a more inclusive and sustainable future grounded in mutual respect and understanding.
Ambivalent Subjectivities: Young Women in Leftist Muslim Activism in Java
Authors: Hornbacher-Schönleber Sophia
Published: July 2024

This article investigates the experiences of young women involved in progressive Muslim youth activism in Java, Indonesia. Hailing from the Indonesian periphery, many of them encounter leftist ideas for the first time as they enter university. As male intellectual leaders emphasize a shift from personal to social morality in their theological exegesis as a foundation for leftist Islam, young women feel encouraged to engage in this mixed-gender movement. However, this turn away from the personal also conceals discourses that challenge the young women’s full involvement in the movement, namely the masculine connotations of youth activism, and hegemonic strictly observant, and colonial notions of “female nature” as docile, caring, and domestic. As a result, female activists experience ambivalence between being Muslim and leftist, and concerns about their future involvement in activism as adult women.
Political Corporate Social Irresponsibility and Lebanon’s Garbage Mountain
Authors: Merkbawi Rayan , Rhodes Carl , Dalton Bronwen
Published: July 2024

This article contributes to research in Political Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR) by developing the idea of “political corporate social irresponsibility” (PCSiR). PCSiR occurs when corporations provide what are expected to be public goods but, in so doing, create or exacerbate public problems and diminish social welfare. We examine PCSiR through the case of a “garbage mountain” located near Tripoli City, Lebanon. This accumulation of solid waste is a potent symbol of the corporate failure in delivering contracted social services. We question how and to what extent has the power and influence of political actors in Lebanon hindered environmental protection and sustainable business practices. In response, we investigate the relations between corporations, the state and civil society that led to the garbage mountain and corporate response to political activism. Drawing on a neo-Gramscian approach to PCSR, we show how an interplay of consent and coercion fosters effective PCSiR, shielding those in power from responsibility for their self-serving behavior.
Home care for profit: Intermediary agencies and digital platforms brokering migrant women’s labour in Spain
Authors: Martínez-Buján Raquel , Moré Paloma
Published: July 2024

This article explores the recent proliferation of intermediary agencies and digital platforms that provide senior home care in Spain. Based on qualitative fieldwork consisting of semi-structured interviews ( n = 20) and participatory workshops ( n = 3), the aim is twofold: on one hand, it identifies the underlying causes of the proliferation of these brokers, such as changes to legislation regulating domestic work and increased collaboration between the welfare regime and private enterprise in the provision of home care, particularly since the 2020 health emergency, and on the other hand, it analyses how brokering has affected the nature of the sector and the migrant women’s working conditions. The results indicate that the rise in the number of intermediary agencies marks a new phase in the commodification of care in Spain. Our analysis highlights the contradictions between the business model of these agencies and platforms, which define themselves as organisations able to guarantee the ‘professionalisation’ and ‘formalisation’ of home care work, and the harsh reality of the dire working conditions encountered by workers, mostly migrant women from Latin America.
The impacts of stress and loneliness on gambling and gaming problems: A nationwide longitudinal study
Authors: Vuorinen Ilkka , Savolainen Iina , Sirola Anu , Oksanen Atte
Published: July 2024

Background:

Problems related to gambling and digital gaming have been a topic of concern for years. Less attention has been paid to the probable psychosocial factors behind these problems. While previous studies have established links between stress, loneliness, and addiction, there is a lack of longitudinal research investigating how stress and loneliness affect addictive behaviors, including problem gambling and gaming.

Aims:

This study uses multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear models to analyze the between- and within-person effects of stress and loneliness on gambling and gaming problems. The interaction between stress and loneliness was also investigated.

Methods:

A representative sample of Finns ( N = 1,530) answered a survey in 6-month intervals between spring 2021 and autumn 2023; 49.22% of the sample took part at all six time points. The Problem Gambling Severity Index and the Internet Gaming Disorder Test were used to measure gambling and gaming problems. The three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale was used to assess loneliness, and the Perceived Stress Scale was used to evaluate stress.

Results:

After controlling for gender and age, loneliness was found to increase only gaming problems at both the between- and within-person levels, but not gambling. In contrast, stress enhanced both gambling and gaming problems at the between- and within-person levels. Additionally, loneliness and stress were found to have negative interaction suggesting that their combined effect was lower than their separate effects.

Conclusion:

The findings provide longitudinal insight into the psychosocial vulnerabilities behind problem gambling and gaming, which can be helpful in designing targeted interventions.
The relationship between online searches and suicide
Authors: Acosta-González Nicolás , Gallegos Francisco , Mosquera Diana
Published: July 2024

Aims:

In this study, we examined the relationship between 131 suicide related Google search terms, grouped into nine categories, and the number of suicide cases per month in Ecuador from January 2011 to December 2021.

Methods:

First, we applied time-series analysis to eliminate autocorrelation and seasonal patterns to prevent spurious correlations. Second, we used Pearson’s correlation to assess the relationship between Google search terms and suicide rates. Third, cross-correlation analysis was used to explore the potential delayed effects between these variables. Fourth, we extended the correlation and cross-correlation analyses by three demographic characteristics – gender, age, and region.

Results:

Significant correlations were found in all categories between Google search trends and suicide rates in Ecuador, with predominantly positive and moderate correlations. The terms ‘stress’ (.548), ‘prevention’ (.438), and ‘disorders’ (.435) showed the strongest associations. While global trends indicated moderate correlations, sensitivity analysis revealed higher coefficients in men, young adults, and the Highlands region. Specific patterns emerged in subgroups, such as ‘digital violence’ showing significant correlations in certain demographics, and ‘trauma’ presenting a unique temporal pattern in women. In general, cross correlation analysis showed an average negative correlation of −.191 at lag 3.

Conclusion:

Google search data do not provide further information about users, such as demographics or mental health records. Hence, our results are simply correlations and should not be interpreted as causal effects. Our findings highlight a need for tailored suicide prevention strategies that recognize the complex dynamics of suicide risk across demographics and time periods.
Improving responsible Media Reporting on Student Suicide to Reduce Negative Public Opinion: Text Mining Based on Sina Weibo in China
Authors: Chu Meijie , Lee Chun-Yang , Huang Shiling , Zhang Xiaoke , Wang Lijie , Chen Tianmu , Chiang Yi-Chen
Published: July 2024

The aims of this study were to explore whether student suicide reporting is consistent with media recommendations for suicide reporting; analyze public opinion and sentiments toward student suicide reports. A keyword search was performed on the WeiboReach platform. This study included 113 student suicide report posts and 176,262 readers’ comments on suicide news reports. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling was used to analyze the relationships between adherence to reporting recommendations and negative emotions in readers’ comments. None of the media reporting of student suicide was consistent with all of the media recommendations for suicide reporting. Netizens were less likely to post negative comments when the reports describe the suicide method used (OR 1.169, 95% CI 1.022∼1.337), and not specifying the cause of suicide was a protective factor for public negative emotion (OR 0.799, 95% CI 0.707, 0.905). The findings suggest improving responsible media reporting on student suicide to reduce negative public emotion.
Higher cerebral blood flow on four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging in young women
Authors: Yamada Shigeki , Kawano Hiroto , Otani Tomohiro , Ii Satoshi , Ito Hirotaka , Okada Ko , Iseki Chifumi , Tanikawa Motoki , Yoshida Kazumichi , Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Wada Shigeo , Oshima Marie , Mase Mitsuhito
Published: July 2024

We investigated the reduction in regional brain volume and cerebral blood flow (CBF) with aging and explored potential sex differences in healthy brains. Three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography, and four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI were performed on 129 healthy volunteers aged 22–92 years. The brains of healthy volunteers were segmented into 21 subregions using 3D T1-weighted MRI and CBFs in 16 major intracranial arteries were measured using 4D flow MRI. The cortical gray matter volume decreased linearly with aging, whereas the cerebral white matter volume increased until the 40s and then decreased, and the subcortical gray matter volume changed little with aging. The cortical gray matter volume was significantly associated with the total CBF of the major intracranial arteries distal to the circle of Willis; however, the cerebral white matter and subcortical gray matter volumes were not. Generally, women have higher total CBF than men, particularly in their 40s and younger, despite the smaller intracranial volume and smaller diameters of intracranial arteries than men. This may contribute to the higher incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage due to cerebral aneurysms and migraine in women.
An effective deep learning-based approach for splice site identification in gene expression
Authors: Ali Mohsin , Shah Dilawar , Qazi Shahid , Khan Izaz Ahmad , Abrar Mohammad , Zahir Sana
Published: July 2024

A crucial stage in eukaryote gene expression involves mRNA splicing by a protein assembly known as the spliceosome. This step significantly contributes to generating and properly operating the ultimate gene product. Since non-coding introns disrupt eukaryotic genes, splicing entails the elimination of introns and joining exons to create a functional mRNA molecule. Nevertheless, accurately finding splice sequence sites using various molecular biology techniques and other biological approaches is complex and time-consuming. This paper presents a precise and reliable computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) technique for the rapid and correct identification of splice site sequences. The proposed deep learning-based framework uses long short-term memory (LSTM) to extract distinct patterns from RNA sequences, enabling rapid and accurate point mutation sequence mapping. The proposed network employs one-hot encodings to find sequential patterns that effectively identify splicing sites. A thorough ablation study of traditional machine learning, one-dimensional convolutional neural networks (1D-CNNs), and recurrent neural networks (RNNs) models was conducted. The proposed LSTM network outperformed existing state-of-the-art approaches, improving accuracy by 3% and 2% for the acceptor and donor sites datasets.
‘A Home Away from Home’: Space, Ritual and Performance at an Elite Boys’ School in England
Authors: Taylor Emma
Published: July 2024

This article advances ethnographic understandings of the distinctive micro-practices of the formation of elites taking place within Fortune Park School, a private boys’ school in England. It focuses primarily on two related axes of the elite school environment; the layout, use and presentation of the school’s physical space, and an analysis of school ritual. I argue that the veneer of formality presented by the school is a ‘frontstage’ performance, disguising a network of interactions or ‘backstage’ performances that are characterised by a sense of informality or ease. Therefore, I show that the rituals taking place within the school buildings reflect a constant tension between formal and informal states of being. Learning to navigate this tension becomes part of the everyday experience of a Fortune Park School student, contributing towards the acquisition of valued forms of embodied capital that have been demonstrated as advantageous for those with it in their possession.