bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A proteção de áreas naturais pelo Condephaat: estrutura, conceitos, critérios e diretrizes
Authors: Paes Maria Tereza Duarte
Published: January 2025

Condephaat, Conselho de Defesa do Patrimônio Histórico, Arqueológico, Artístico e Turístico do Estado de São Paulo, was created in 1968 and wassubordinated at the time to the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Department. It played an important role in developing methodologies and conceptual and operational criteria for the preservation of natural areas. In the 1970s and 1980s, the agency embraced innovation by incorporating natural heritage into its scope of activity, adopting landscape as its guiding concept, and by reaching a record number of approvals in its heritage listing proposals. From the 1990s onwards, Condephaat’s management and operationalstructure was weakened and the listing process of natural areas was passed over to the environmental protection agencies, undermining the agency’s own view of the protection of nature as a function of historical, territorial, and scenic processes of socio-cultural appropriation. This paper, based on literature review and on direct research at Condephaat’sDocumentation Center, brings to light a historical account which otherwise would remain largely forgotten in the listing proceedings archives.
Movimentos de paisagem na poesia de Herberto Helder: desdobramentos
Authors: Damião Solange
Published: January 2025

This article intends to present the landscape in Herberto Helder's poetry, based on the analysis of some of the author's poems.  Thus, through the concept of landscape as the perception of a space, of which the process takes place in the dependence between subject, place and representation, each poem unfolds in different landscapes from the horizon through which it is perceived by the lyric subject. For the different images generated, contribute references to the aesthetics of the poet who, with the landscapes created, manages to manifest in a sharp way the intensity of being a body in motion in the world.
Uma imaginação concreta
Authors: Nascimento Aline Leão do
Published: January 2025

Since the book was published in 1959 in Portugal, the poems in Tempo Espanhol by Murilo Mendes have attracted the attention of critics because of their focus on the concrete, both in form and content. The objective dimension of language as a means of expressing the experience of travelling are read as defining instances of Murilo Mendes' poetics practised during his European residence, in which the writing of poetry takes place concomitantly with the writing of memorial prose, both focused on the cultural-geographical universe. This article proposes to surround the notion of concrete attributed to Murilo Mendes' poems with references that point to a certain poetic tradition in Spain, dating back to the 17th century, as well as the modernist tradition, also conceived under the influence of the surrealist avant-garde. These different nuclei allow us to understand how the concrete experience of language in Spanish Time is realised inseparably from the author's imaginative process in the face of Hispanic cultural matter, which reveals the materialities of earth, fire, liquid and air. In this sense, it is appropriate to consider thinking and feeling as reconcilable dimensions in this direction of reading.
O surrealismo através do espelho: reflexão e aranhografia em Mário Cesariny e Maria Helena Vieira da Silva
Authors: Araujo Raphael Felipe Pereira de
Published: January 2025

This article discusses the concept of criticism developed by Mário Cesariny, through the close-reading of “A Grafiaranha Maior” and “O navio de espelhos”. The dialogue Cesariny establishes with Maria Helena Vieira da Silva’s paintings is related to a continuous reflection on art and poetic creation. According to Mário Cesariny, surrealism must be conceived as a research, which implies not only sailing through an interior sea – investigating the unconscious – but also mirroring the work of other artists. “A Grafiaranha Maior” and “O navio de espelhos” can be read as metapoems, and they lead us to a discussion about the epistemological possibilities established by the surrealist movement, about the impurity of language and the dialogue between writing and painting.
Prosodic information extraction and classification based on MFCC features and machine learning models
Authors: Gill Sajid Habib , Mahar Javed Ahmed , Mahar Shahid Ali , Razzaq Mirza Abdur , Mehmood Arif , Choi Gyu Sang , Ashraf Imran
Published: January 2025

Punjabi is an old Indo-Aryan language spoken across the world, particularly in Pakistan and India. Punjabi is a tonal and low-resourced language therefore; significant research work has not been done so far, especially in the South Punjab belt. This language is divided into different dialects and finding the diversity of tonal qualities in the Majhi Punjabi dialect is the core objective of this research. Speech-processing applications are usually influenced by prosodic properties such as pitch, amplitude, and duration. A speech corpus was collected from 241 native speakers, encompassing spoken words totaling 7712, and representing various age groups and genders. The proposed prosodic model using the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) system is used to extract the prosodic features from collected speech utterances of the Majhi Punjabi dialect. The examination of the results suggests that tonal and dialectal word information demonstrates a considerable impact on the information delivered by the speaker. Gender-specific variations in tonal word amplitudes are shown by the model. The extracted prosodic information is classified with support vector machine, logistic regression, random forest, K nearest neighbor, gradient boost (GB), and extra tree classifier (ETC). The ETC and GB models performed well with the highest accuracy of 97%. The four deep learning models are also implemented for performance comparison with machine learning, however, deep learning models do not perform well on this dataset. The highest accuracy is gained by CNN which is 86%. This research endeavor will be beneficial for Punjabi speech-processing applications. Additionally, the impact of dialectal variations elucidates the rich diversity present in spoken language, hinting at the importance of considering regional nuances in future investigations.
Content and Item Response Theory Analysis of ChatGPT-4-Generated Multiple-Choice Items
Authors: Young Roger , Courtney Emily , Kah Alexander , Wilkerson Mariah , Chen Yi-Hsin
Published: January 2025

Background

Multiple-choice item (MCI) assessments are burdensome for instructors to develop. Artificial intelligence (AI, e.g., ChatGPT) can streamline the process without sacrificing quality. The quality of AI-generated MCIs and human experts is comparable. However, whether the quality of AI-generated MCIs is equally good across various domain- and task-specific prompts remains to be determined. Therefore, we ask whether AI can generate high-quality MCIs to assess learning outcomes from a psychology textbook chapter reading.

Objective

In an exploratory study, we enlist Item Response Theory analysis and expert reviewers to assess MCIs generated by ChatGPT-4 from a psychology textbook chapter.

Method

We submitted a prompt and textbook chapter to ChatGPT-4 requesting 20 MCIs. One hundred ninety undergraduate participants read the chapter before responding to the MCIs. Expert reviewers assessed the MCIs for learning outcome alignment and quality.

Results

ChatGPT-4-generated MCIs were low in difficulty and high in discrimination. Expert reviewers found that nearly all items were logically sound, aligned with learning objectives, and met prevailing standards of MCI quality.

Conclusion

When carefully prompted, ChatGPT-4 can rapidly generate high-quality MCIs to test comprehension of a psychology textbook chapter. However, due to the uniformly low difficulty of the items, we recommend enlisting ChatGPT-4 to write MCIs for formative, but not summative, assessments.
Supermarket politics: personality and political consumerism
Authors: Pruysers Scott
Published: January 2025

Research suggests that citizens are increasingly turning to the market to express their political beliefs and values. Termed ‘political consumerism’, such behaviour can take a variety of forms—including boycotts and buycotts. While recent research has uncovered many of the sociodemographic and attitudinal correlates of political consumer behaviour, other individual differences, such as those rooted in personality, have been less studied. Drawing on a sample of more than 2500 voting-aged Canadians, we consider the relationship between individual differences in personality traits and political consumerism (boycotting and buycotting). Results reveal that, even after controlling for other known correlates such as age, gender, education, income, ideology, and political interest, differences in personality matter. We show that this is the case for both general and antagonistic traits.
Factors impeding the implementation of spatial data infrastructure in lower middle-income economies: A case study from Pakistan
Authors: Ali Asmat , Ahmad Munir , Nawaz Muhammad , Sattar Farha
Published: January 2025

The economy of a country has a direct impact on the development, provision, and management of information such as spatial information that refers to the location of objects on earth. Spatial information is considered vital in policy planning and economic decision-making. For standardization and sound decision making, spatial information such as geology, climate change, topographic needs to be assembled and shared through spatial data infrastructure (SDI) framework. Although SDIs are being implemented for the last four decades. However, their implementation is still challenging, especially in developing countries. The focus of the paper is to identify factors that impede SDI implementation in Lower-Middle-Income Economies (LMIEs), with emphasis on the case of Pakistan. The paper briefly presents the concept of SDI and the rationale for its development across the world. Then it reports on LMIEs along with their stages towards developing SDIs, concentrating on the issues met during the process of implementation. The case study of Pakistan is presented with emphasis on the range of challenges appearing during the implementation phase. To outline the challenges being faced in the implementation of NSDIs in Pakistan, the study makes use of a survey and subsequent semi-structured interviews with stakeholders of the NSDI. We find that the key factors hindering SDI implementation in LMIEs include, institutional, technical, and human-related issues. Overall, the paper addresses an important research gap and provides valuable insights into SDI implementation challenges in LMIEs. Finally, the findings of the case study are discussed, together with prospects for future research to structure policies for the support of the implementation of SDIs in LMIEs.
Exploring the experiences of cardiovascular perfusionists during philanthropic cardiac surgery in low-income countries
Authors: Jakkaraddi Bhumika , Araujo Lorena , Weinberg Allison , Kaur Ramandeep , Collins Julie
Published: January 2025

Background: Medical mission trips address the global burden of cardiac disease, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where limited access to cardiac surgery exacerbates challenges faced by affected individuals. However, a lack of literature exists on the experiences of perfusionists involved in these missions, despite their crucial role in delivering cardiac surgery services. Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate the experiences of cardiovascular perfusionists involved in philanthropic cardiac surgery in low-income countries.

Methods: A descriptive survey research design was conducted among perfusionists who have participated in cardiac mission trips. The survey link was distributed in February 2024 via the Liv Perfusion LLC social media account. The survey included questions regarding years of experience, countries visited, adequacy of equipment and personnel, language and cultural barriers, and establishment of long-term care.

Results: A total of 23 respondents completed the survey, 15 of which were included in the study. All of the survey takers were perfusionists with a mean clinical experience of 10.67 ± 7.96 years and 67% held a master’s degree. All of the survey respondents were either very satisfied or satisfied with their cardiac mission trip experience. Despite high satisfaction, 60% reported language differences, and 40% reported cultural barriers and legal restrictions as significant challenges in their delivery of care. Additionally, 67% reported having adequate medical equipment and 80% reported having adequate personnel during the mission trip.

Conclusion: In summary, cardiovascular perfusionists reported high satisfaction with philanthropic cardiac missions but faced challenges such as language barriers, and cultural and legal constraints. Addressing these issues could improve mission effectiveness and patient care in low-income countries.
An in vitro study of contrast agent optimization for MR hysterosalpingography
Authors: Ding Jin , Ding Huanzhi , Wang Ximing
Published: January 2025

Background

Gadolinium-iodine mixed contrast agents can significantly improve the visualization of the fallopian tubes in magnetic resonance hysterosalpingography (MR-HSG). However, the mixing ratio of gadolinium-iodine contrast agents has not yet been standardized.

Purpose

To explore the optimal mixing ratio of gadolinium-iodine contrast agents suitable for MR-HSG.

Material and Methods

A total of 16 mixing ratios of gadolinium and saline mixtures (Gd-NS), gadolinium and iopromide mixtures (Gd-I370), and gadolinium and iodixanol mixtures (Gd-I320) were formulated for an in vitro study. These mixed contrast agents were scanned on 1.5 T and 3.0 T using T1 contrast enhancement sequences. For qualitative assessment, contrast agent imaging quality was graded on a subjective 3-point scale (good, moderate, and poor). For the quantitative evaluation, differences in the signal intensity (SI) of the three contrast agents, as well as the SI variations between 1.5 T and 3.0 T, were compared.

Results

Gd-I370 and Gd-I320 exhibited the highest SI and good image at a 1:300 ratio on 1.5 T and a 1:200 ratio on 3.0 T. The difference in the SI among the three contrast agents was not statistically significant at 1.5 T ( P > 0.05). At 3.0 T, the comparison between the SIs of Gd-I370 and Gd-I320 was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). The SIs of contrast agents on 3.0 T were higher than those on 1.5 T ( P < 0.05).

Conclusion

A gadolinium-iodine contrast agent with a 1:300 mixing ratio may be more suitable for 1.5 T MR-HSG, while a 1:200 mixing ratio may be more suitable for 3.0 T MR-HSG. Additionally, the contrast agent SI is higher on 3.0 T than on 1.5 T.
(Non) Cooperative and (Non) Digital Modalities in Home Care Provision in the Basque Country: Implications for Labor Autonomy of Domestic Workers
Authors: Barba Mikel , Garcia-Azpuru Amaia , Besozzi Sheida
Published: January 2025

This article explores the various forms of physical and digital intermediation in the provision of home care services in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and their impacts on the segregation and labor autonomy of migrant and native women employed in the sector. We analyze autonomy from three different approaches: understood as flexibility, from a post-operaist perspective and as conviviality. A qualitative methodology was employed, based on in-depth interviews with care workers, along different kinds of intermediaries, such as placement agencies, uberized platforms and care cooperatives with different levels of digitalization. While uberized platforms primarily mediate in precarious and short-term temporary jobs and tend to reduce workers’ autonomy in the three analyzed aspects, cooperatives emerge as a model that can improve autonomy across all business models, especially in the case of migrant workers.
Treatment of recurrent shoulder dislocation by arthroscopic subscapularis augmentation using the long head of the Biceps tendon
Authors: Wang Jun , Huang Danlei , Ye Zhiyang , Weng Weizong , Wang Guangze , Liu Haoyuan , Huang Jianming
Published: January 2025

Background

Recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation is a common shoulder problem, usually caused by a force from the front when the shoulder joint is abducted and externally rotated. In the present study, we investigated the effect of arthroscopic subscapularis augmentation using the long head of the biceps tendon on shoulder motion after restoring anterior stability of the joint in patients with 13.5–20% of scapular glenoid defects.

Methods

Fifty patients admitted to our department with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation between April 2017 and July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups (groups A and B, n = 25 each) with comparable age, sex, hand dominance, and articular glenoid bone loss. Patients in group A were treated with arthroscopic Bankart repair and subscapularis augmentation, whereas those in group B underwent arthroscopic long head of the biceps transposition and subscapularis augmentation. All patients in both groups were followed up for more than 1 year, with a mean follow-up period of 20.1 ± 0.7 months (range, 13–28 months). The primary outcomes were changes in the visual analog scale score, Rowe classification, and Constant–Murley shoulder outcome score.

Results

None of the patients in either group had experienced recurrent dislocation at 1-year follow-up. The visual analog scale scores decreased, and the Rowe and Constant–Murley scores improved significantly compared to the preoperative scores. Significant differences were observed in the forward flexion, abduction, and internal rotation angles of the shoulder joint in both groups at 1-year follow-up compared to baseline. The postoperative forward flexion ( P = 0.143), abduction ( P = 0.778), and internal rotation angles ( P = 0.609) did not differ significantly between the two groups. At 1-year follow-up, the loss of angles of external rotation at the side and external rotation at 90° abduction in group B exhibited significantly less angular loss than group A.

Conclusion

Arthroscopic subscapularis augmentation using the long head of the biceps transposition technique was effective at restoring anterior stability in patients with 13.5–20% scapular glenoid defects. It was more effective at restoring the external rotational function of the shoulder joint than arthroscopic Bankart repair and subscapularis augmentation.
Multivariate contaminated normal linear mixed models applied to Alzheimer’s disease study with censored and missing data
Authors: Lin Tsung-I , Wang Wan-Lun
Published: January 2025

The article proposes a robust approach to jointly modeling multiple repeated clinical measures with intricate features. More specifically, we aim to expand the scope of the multivariate linear mixed model by using the multivariate contaminated normal distribution. The proposed model, called the multivariate contaminated normal linear mixed model with censored and missing responses (MCNLMM-CM), is designed to handle minor outliers effectively, while simultaneously accommodating censored measurements and intermittent missing responses. An expectation conditional maximization either algorithm is developed to estimate the parameters of the proposed model in situations involving missing at random responses. We also provide techniques for approximating the asymptotic standard errors of the parameters, recovering censored data, imputing missing values, and identifying outliers. A simulation study is conducted to evaluate the finite-sample properties of the parameter estimators and demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed model compared to existing models. The proposed methodology is inspired by and applied to data from the Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative cohort study, which involves longitudinal clinical measurements of patients with mild cognitive impairment.
Innovative hybrid approach for broadband vibration suppression: Integrating semi-active piezoelectric shunt damping and passive acoustic black hole effect
Authors: Wang Heng , Ji Hongli , Wu Yipeng , Qiu Jinhao
Published: January 2025

Vibration control remains a pivotal challenge in engineering, demanding solutions that offer wideband and low-frequency effectiveness with minimal energy. This paper introduces a hybrid vibration control method, combining semi-active piezoelectric (Piezo), and passive acoustic black hole (ABH) techniques. The semi-active approach, similar to Bang-Bang control, efficiently curtails low-frequency vibrations without precise control modes, using scant external energy. Concurrently, passive strategies exploit the ABH effect to absorb medium-high frequency waves through focused damping. The integration of Piezoelectric integrated ABH (Piezo-ABH) structures showcases the feasibility of broad-spectrum vibration dampening, with experimental outcomes revealing significant vibration reduction across 20 ∼ 2000 Hz, averaging an 8.0 dB decrease.
Bacillus cereus Sepsis in Preterm Neonates Caused by Central Venous Catheter: A Case Report
Authors: Xiaoxiao Li , Dianfa Long , Hui Xu , Min Yang
Published: January 2025

In recent years, Bacillus cereus infection has emerged as a main concern in the field of children’s public health. This bacterium, known to be a pollutant, can be found in various settings such as hospital wards, equipment, breast milk, nutrient solution, and so on. With its high pathogenicity and toxicity, Bacillus cereus infection can lead to severe and life-threatening symptoms, particularly in premature infants. This case report documents the death of a preterm infant due to Bacillus cereus sepsis, septic shock, meningitis, and pneumonia, all of which were linked to the use of a central venous catheter.
Translinguistic apposition: Structure and function of a language choice practice in Kinyarwanda news articles
Authors: Gafaranga Joseph
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

This paper investigates the structure and function of translinguistic apposition in Kinyarwanda news articles. In the structure, a Kinyarwanda noun phrase and a French / English noun phrase are juxtaposed as if the second clarified the first. Two major issues are identified, namely the possibility of translinguisticc apposition as practical action and its implicativeness relative to preceding and subsequent choices. These issues are identified against the background of two important discourse organisational principles, namely the principle of progressivity and that of the preference for same language discourse.

Methods:

Data were collected in two media blogs in Rwanda, namely Igihe.com and Umuseke.com using the method of theoretical sampling. They were analysed, in the tradition of the Ethnomethodology of Written Discourse, using a conversation-analysis-inspired qualitative analysis.

Results:

Translinguistic apposition is found to be possible as practical action because, organised as a parenthetical, it is shielded off from the reach of the preference for same medium discourse. It is also found to serve as a discourse-based language management strategy. Its implicativeness derives from this function.

Discussion:

Implications for the study of bilingual language use and for the practice of lexical development at the macro level are discussed.
Regulatory Effects of Cooperativity and Signal Profile on Adaptive Dynamics in Incoherent Feedforward Loop Networks
Authors: Yildirim Necmettin , Brew Thomas , Ay Ahmet
Published: January 2025

Cellular adaptation to external signals is essential for biological functions, and it is an important field of interest in systems biology. This study examines the impact of cooperativity on the adaptation response of the Incoherent Feedforward Loop (IFFL) network motif to various signal profiles. Through comprehensive simulations, we studied how the IFFL motif responds to constant and pulse-type signals under varying levels of cooperativity. The results of our study demonstrate that positive cooperativity generally enhances the system’s ability to adapt to different signal profiles. Nevertheless, given specific signal profiles, higher levels of cooperativity may decrease the system’s adaptability. On the other hand, the adaptive response breaks down for negative cooperativity. For constant signals, increased positive cooperativity leads to a response with higher amplitude, and it accelerates the response time but delays the return time required to settle back down to the pre-stimulus state. Upon signal cessation, high positive cooperativity not only slows the system’s response and return times but, in some cases, can lead to a complete temporary halt in response. For the pulse-like signal, cooperativity increases the maximum amplitude of the oscillatory response. These insights highlight the delicate balance between cooperativity and signal profile in cellular adaptation mechanisms involving the IFFL network motif.
The optimization effect of traffic speed prediction on travel path based on improved LSTM
Authors: Zhang Jin
Published: January 2025

The high-speed growth of big data and various cloud computing technologies has accelerated the process of various intelligent transportations. How to more comprehensively alleviate traffic congestion has become a key issue in urban construction. In view of this, this study proposes a traffic speed prediction and travel plan optimization method built on improved long short-term memory. In the process, an improved memory network model is established to predict the driving speed at the future end of the road section, and the improved ant colony optimization algorithms is integrated to optimize and re-plan the route of the traffic congestion travel plan. The results showed that when testing different datasets, the research method had a maximum fitness value of 97.21 when the number of training sessions was 82. When the number of iterations of the system is 85, the average absolute percentage error of the research method on the test set begins to approach 0. At this time, the error values of the three algorithms in the literature, the improved graph convolutional neural network, and the improved long short-term memory model are 0.018%, 0.034%, and 0.035%, respectively, which are significantly greater than the research methods. From the perspective of overall traffic speed prediction, the research method can achieve a fit of 95.42% when predicting the next 10 minutes speed time. All the above results show that the research method has a high adaptability to traffic speed prediction, can achieve dynamic programming of travel plan congestion paths, and provides reliable technical support for urban congestion mitigation methods.
The efficacy and safety of Vonoprazan and Tegoprazan in Helicobacter pylori eradication: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Jin Ting , Wu Wei , Zhang Lei , Xuan Han , Zhang Haixiang , Zhong Li
Published: January 2025

Background:

Potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB)-based therapies are emerging as promising alternatives for eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the comparative efficacy of P-CAB-based therapy versus proton-pump inhibitor (PPI)-based therapy in treating H. pylori infection remains uncertain.

Objectives:

This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of P-CAB-based therapies, including Vonoprazan (VPZ) and Tegoprazan (TPZ), compared to PPI-based therapies for H. pylori infection. Subgroup analysis assessed the influence of drug history, experimental drug, treatment duration, combination therapies, and geographic regions on treatment outcomes.

Design:

Meta-analysis.

Data sources and methods:

Comprehensive searches were conducted in major databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, up to January 1, 2024. The primary outcome was the eradication rate, analyzed by intention-to-treat (ITT). Secondary outcomes included adverse events. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the χ2 test and the I2 test. I2 > 50% or p < 0.05 indicated significant heterogeneity.

Results:

The analysis totally included 28 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 37 studies and 8818 patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection. Of these, 14 RCTs, including 20 studies and 4286 patients, compared P-CAB-based therapy with 14-day bismuth-based quadruple therapy (BQT). P-CAB-based therapy exhibited superior eradication rates compared to both 14-day BQT and PPI-based therapy (ITT analysis: 87.0% vs 79.8%, risk ratio (RR) = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04–1.12, p < 0.0001; and 85.6% vs 77.8%, RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05–1.12, p < 0.00001, respectively). This enhanced efficacy was particularly pronounced in patients with clarithromycin-resistant infections (73.7% vs 41.5%, RR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.07–2.20, p = 0.02). Subgroup analysis demonstrated higher eradication rates with P-CAB-based therapy in treatment-naïve participants, VPZ recipients, and those receiving 7- or 14-day regimens (dual, triple, or quadruple therapy). However, no significant differences were observed in treatment-experienced subgroups, TPZ recipients, or those on 10-day regimens. In addition, P-CAB-based therapy showed a lower incidence of adverse events than PPI-based treatments (RR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63–0.86, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

P-CAB-based therapies are more effective than traditional PPI-based treatments for eradicating H. pylori infection, with a reduced incidence of adverse events.

PROSPERO registration:

CRD42024503665.
Non-motor symptoms in prodromal Parkinson's disease are linked to reduced quality of life
Authors: Röttgen Sinah , Lindner Marie-Sophie , Seger Aline , Kickartz Johanna , Weiß Kim-Lara , Doppler Christopher EJ , Fink Gereon R , Ophey Anja , Sommerauer Michael
Published: January 2025

Isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) highlights an early α-synucleinopathy. This study compared health-related quality of life (hrQoL) in 62 individuals with iRBD with 19 healthy controls (HC) and 29 individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and identified factors linked to poorer hrQoL. HrQoL was significantly lower in individuals with iRBD (83.33 ± 16.96) compared to HC (92.29 ± 5.49, p = 0.027). Poorer hrQoL in individuals with iRBD was linked to severity of multiple non-motor symptoms, most prominently fatigue and depressive symptoms being significant predictors ( p < 0.001, adjusted R 2  = 0.81). This study highlights the importance of non-motor symptoms for hrQoL in prodromal PD.
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Enzyme Inhibitory Effects of Essential Oils of Alpinia gagnepainii K.Schum Wild-Grown in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam
Authors: Ngan Nguyen Thi , Nguyen Trang H.D. , Vu Danh C. , Van Sy Vo , Huyen Trang Dinh Thi , Vi Thuan Thi , Trung Hoang Van , Thuy Ngo Thi , Tam Le Nhat
Published: January 2025

Objective/Background: Alpinia gagnepainii K.Schum, a member of the ginger family, is predominantly found in northern Vietnam. Methods: Essential oils (EOs) of A. gagnepainii leaves and rhizomes were extracted through hydrodistillation and their chemical composition was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity of the EOs was assessed via DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, and their in vitro inhibitory effects on α-amylase and tyrosinase were also evaluated. Results: The leaf EO comprised 46 compounds (95.83% of the total composition), while the rhizome EO contained 49 compounds (98.37%). β-Pinene was identified as the most abundant component, accounting for 27.09% in the leaf EO and 20.45% in the rhizome EO. The former demonstrated a stronger DPPH radical scavenging ability (IC50 = 1070.35 ± 9.17 μg/mL), whereas the latter was more effective against ABTS radicals (IC50 = 1519.18 ± 112.58 μg/mL). No significant difference in antityrosinase activity was observed between the two EOs; however, the rhizome EO (IC50 = 195.14 ± 6.49 μg/mL) exhibited a more potent anti-α-amylase activity than the leaf EO. Conclusion: This study reported the chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-α-amylase, and antityrosinase activities of A. gagnepainii EOs for the first time. The bioactivities of the plant indicate their potential applications in the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries.
Visual Attributes of Wayfinding in Care Facilities by Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Authors: Ghamari Hessam , Golshany Nasrin
Published: January 2025

Navigating unfamiliar environments poses significant challenges, especially for individuals with cognitive impairments. These individuals often struggle with maintaining orientation, recalling routines, and traveling through new environments due to their limited cognitive capacity. The current state of research on visual environmental attributes of wayfinding reveals a gap, particularly regarding individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), compared to healthy older adults. Few studies have objectively identified the visual cues and environmental factors that influence wayfinding in those with cognitive impairments. This study addresses this research gap by objectively identifying the visual environmental attributes influencing wayfinding among MCI subjects in a memory care facility compared to healthy older adults. Using eye-tracking technology, we investigated which visual environmental attributes attract eye fixation during wayfinding in care facilities. Forty-eight subjects, categorized into MCI and non-MCI groups, navigated through unfamiliar indoor environments while their eye movements were tracked. The results, in agreement with previous research, showed that MCI group exhibit significant reduced success rates and longer navigation times compared to non-MCI group. Findings of the eye-fixation rank-order analysis showed that MCI subjects prioritized directional signs and architectural features, while non-MCI subjects focused on identifying signs and informative elements. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored design practices for care facilities, highlighting specific visual cues crucial for guiding navigation in individuals with MCI. The study provides insight to guide architects and healthcare professionals in creating inclusive environments that support independence and well-being for older adults with cognitive impairments, advocating for interventions to enhance wayfinding in care facilities.
Visualizing the change of “viewpoints” in 3D virtual art exhibition
Authors: Matsumoto Kazuki , Okada Takeshi
Published: January 2025

This study focuses on the process of viewers’ engagement with artwork in virtual spaces. Specifically, we propose a methodology that combines two approaches: (a) measuring movements within virtual spaces, and (b) using non-immersive virtual reality. We attempt to demonstrate the effectiveness of this methodology through experimentation. In the experiment, we recorded the exploration of sculptures in virtual spaces of 317 participants using a newly developed system (Virtual Exhibition Space for Tracking and Analyzing system). Results from multiple statistical analyses, including hierarchical Bayesian analysis, indicated differences in view-angles and distances traveled while viewing the artworks under different experimental conditions (where different instructions were given prior to viewing). These findings support the theoretical expectation that the “mode” of viewing artworks is influenced by instructions given before viewing, which is further corroborated by the observed differences in the pattern of psychological measurements between conditions. Based on previous research and these experimental results, we discuss the effectiveness and generalizability of our methodology in capturing variations in the art-viewing process as a tool for studying art-viewing behavior not only in virtual but also in real environments.
The fabrication of synthetic data promises: Tracing emerging arenas of expectations and boundary work1
Authors: Ravn Louis
Published: January 2025

Synthetic data, denoting artificially produced data that are used for data science tasks, are increasingly held as a promising solution to digital societies’ predicaments. While burgeoning research has investigated the implications of synthetic data, the fabrication of synthetic data promises remains understudied. This article draws on the sociology of expectations and the concept of boundary work to interrogate emerging arenas of expectations and attendant boundary work practices through which synthetic data promises are fabricated. To this end, it draws from a wide range of empirical materials, including scientific literatures, promissory reports, industry webinars, and interviews. First, it shows that scientific literatures reveal a strong increase in interest and three transformations in the framing of synthetic data in recent decades: from vernacular term to scientific concept, from possibility to inevitability, and from research technique to social promise. Second, it demonstrates that promissory organizations’ reports on synthetic data are generically performative as they circulate widely and constitute a source of authority for various stakeholders. Finally, it highlights three types of boundary work in relation to synthetic data: stipulations of its epistemic superiority, negotiations concerning most apt methodologies, and contestations regarding whether synthetic data are “fake.” I conclude by arguing that a sociology of expectations approach can productively question the hyperbolic promises attributed to synthetic data. Overall, this article contributes to germinal social studies of synthetic data by highlighting the constitutive role of expectations and boundary work in the fabrication of synthetic data promises.
“Cash Masters” Coming Out as “Straight”: Social Media and the Changing Dynamics of Gender and Sexuality
Authors: Basturk Sozen
Published: January 2025

This article explores a novel concept called “straight cash master” emerging on social media platforms, especially X. The concept refers to relationships where self-identified straight men act as masters and primarily gay individuals take on the role of slaves. Several factors make this concept worthy of examination. First, these relationships are complex, involving dimensions of financial domination, sexuality, emotionality, and psychology. Second, while elements of sex work, fetishism, and BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, and Masochism) culture are present, categorizing these masters solely as sex workers or performers and using a single theoretical framework for analysis may be inadequate. Third, the “straight” identity of these cash masters does not orient them toward the opposite sex but rather involves same-sex interactions. Thus, their “straightness” lacks the opposite sex and can only be articulated if relied on the same-sex slaves, thereby queering the notion of straightness. Finally, while social media perpetuates traditional norms of gender, sexuality, and masculinity, it also enables such relationships to emerge, having a queering effect. Despite its relevance, there is a noticeable gap in the literature addressing the interplay between social media and this concept. Drawing on unstructured, in-depth interview and qualitative content analysis methods, this article represents the first attempt, to the best of the author’s knowledge, to address this gap and offers a queer reading of it.
Global trends in research related to ecotourism: A bibliometric analysis from 2012 to 2022
Authors: Jin Zhi , Gao Ming
Published: January 2025

This study aims to analyze the current state, research hot spots and research trends of ecotourism research. We searched document data on ecotourism from the Web of Science core collection database and retrieved 2,998 articles from 2012 to 2022. CiteSpace, Bibliometrix, and VOSviewer software were utilized to visualize the countries, institutions, authors, research hotspots and trends of ecotourism research. The number of ecotourism-related articles published annually has increased significantly. The United States leads other countries in the number of publications, followed by China and Australia. The analysis of keywords co-occurrence shows that nature conservation, residents’ interests, tourists’ attitudes and behaviors, and sustainable management are the current research hot spots of ecotourism research. The timeline view of the reference co-citation analysis indicated that motivation, ecotourism cognition, social media, COVID-19, and destination social responsibility represent the emerging frontiers in the research of ecotourism. This bibliometric study provides the current status and trends in the research of ecotourism, which may offer some guidance for more extensive and in-depth ecotourism-related studies in the future.
How Do Turkish Primary School Teachers Reflect Upon Their Priorities Regarding Their Classroom Practices in Meeting Their Gifted Students’ Special Needs?
Authors: Akgül Savaş , Kaplan Sayı Ayşin
Published: January 2025

This study aims to determine what factors the primary school teachers working with gifted students prioritize and give importance to in their curriculum designs and explore how these are reflected upon their teaching practices. The research was carried out in the fall semester of the 2020 to 2021 academic year in Türkiye, with the participation of 58 primary school teachers. Data were collected through online semistructured interviews and were analyzed using inductive-oriented content analysis. The findings indicate that the participant teachers are aware of the needs of their gifted and talented students and put some effort into addressing these. However, it is also evidenced that the participant teachers fail to fully provide the support required to improve the students’ skills. Our findings imply that it is crucial to focus particularly on individualized education and differentiated teaching in teacher education and in-service training programs to better address the special needs of students.
Assessing Board Diversity: Has the Deck Been Fairly Shuffled?
Authors: Walsh Anne , Reardon Karen
Published: January 2025

Although legislation has altered the structure and scope of corporate boards in the past decade, the composition of many boards remains homogeneous. Often structural elements related to board tenure, and standing committees can impact board diversity and the selection of new board members. This experiential exercise was designed to enable student teams in an MBA graduate course to understand how specific structural components such as board size, board composition, and committee assignments influence board diversity. Student teams assume the role of a consultant hired by a Fortune 500 company to identify potential issues related to board diversity in their company as well as to develop recommendations to improve board diversity in the future.
Heterogeneous treatment effects of BCG vaccine on Alzheimer's disease risk
Authors: Chaudhuri Irfan , Das Sudeshna
Published: January 2025

Background

This project has investigated the role of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine as a potential treatment against Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADRD).

Objective

To further establish that BCG treatment results in lower risk of ADRD through novel machine learning methods and to analyze the heterogeneity of treatment effects.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted from May 28, 1987 to May 6, 2021, in patients who were 50 years or older and were diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Follow-up duration was 15-years. Machine learning algorithms using survival analysis and the random forest algorithm were the primary methods of data analysis.

Results

The research has found that on average, NMIBC patients who received BCG treatment had a 6.9% (95% CI: 0.43%, 13.4%) lower risk of developing ADRD compared to those who did not. Heterogeneous treatment effects were also detected for those with a history of mental health disorders and also for those with a history of respiratory diseases. Those with mental health disorders were at a 14.7% (95% CI: 0.6%, 28.9%) reduced risk of ADRD if they received BCG treatment compared to no BCG treatment. Additionally, those taking BCG with respiratory diseases increased risk of ADRD by 13.6% (95% CI: 1.1%, 26.1%) compared to those with no BCG treatment.

Conclusions

BCG is associated with a lower risk of ADRD through novel analysis methods and has detected heterogeneity of treatment effects. This presents BCG as a potential low-cost method, with few side-effects, to prevent ADRD.
Reliability of nociceptive monitors vs. standard practice during general anesthesia: a prospective observational study
Authors: Norbeck Daniel Widarsson , Lindgren Sophie , Wolf Axel , Jildenstål Pether
Published: January 2025

Background

Inadequate or excessive nociceptive control during general anesthesia can result in significant adverse outcomes. Using traditional clinical variables, such as heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate, to assess and manage nociceptive responses is often insufficient and could lead to overtreatment with both anesthetics and opioids. This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of three nociception monitoring techniques Nociception Level Index (NOL), Skin Conductance Algesimeter (SCA) and heart rate monitoring in patients undergoing image-guided, minimally invasive abdominal interventions under general anesthesia.

Method

This prospective observational study collected data from 2022 to 2024. All patients were anesthetized according to the department’s routine, and predetermined events were recorded. Two commercially available nociception monitors, the PMD-200 from Medasense (NOL) and PainSensor from MedStorm (SCA), were used, and their data were collected along with various hemodynamic parameters. The three nociception monitoring techniques were compared during predetermined events.

Result

A total of 49 patients were included in this study. NOL and SCA demonstrated higher responsiveness than HR for all events except for skin incision. The comparison of the values above and below the threshold for each nociceptive stimulus showed significance for all measurements using the SCA and NOL. However, using HR as a surrogate for nociception with a threshold of a 10% increase from baseline, the difference was significant only at skin incision. There was no variation in the peak values attributable to differences in patients’ age. Weight was a significant predictor of the peak NOL values.

Conclusion

NOL and SCA demonstrated superior sensitivity and responsiveness to nociceptive stimuli compared to HR, effectively detecting significant changes in nociceptive thresholds across various stimuli, although responses during skin incision showed no such advantage.

Trial registration

Clinical trial - NCT05218551.