bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Experience of the Alien and the Inter-world: From Waldenfels to Merleau-Ponty
Authors: Stanciu Ovidiu
Published: November 2023

This paper aims to lay out the main tenets of Bernhard Waldenfels’s analyses of the experience of the alien and to confront the philosophical thesis underwriting them with a central insight stemming from Merleau-Ponty’s late philosophy. In the first section, I reconstruct the outlines of the experience of the alien, as described by Waldenfels, and show that, on his account, this experience can function as a powerful impetus enabling us to call into question some of the most deeply held commitments of Western philosophical tradition: the sovereignty of the ego, the supremacy of order, the priority of the whole. In the second section, I show how a patient analysis of this experience compels us to undertake an inquiry concerning the “inter-world,” understood as the place of the encounter and the threshold of separation between the own and the alien. Finally, drawing on Merleau-Ponty’s alternative description of the “inter-world,” I maintain that Waldenfels’s account is insufficiently radical and show that the in-between realm cannot be assimilated to an interstice lodged between two insulated spheres. Rather, the “inter-world” should be conceived of as a shared dimension, subtending the partition between the spheres of ownness and alienness, as the one inclusive world.
Religion, Ecology and Human Flourishing
Authors: Anthony Francis-Vincent
Published: November 2023

During the past six decades, there has been an ever-growing awareness of the global ecological crisis threatening human survival. Concern for the future of human life has led to the necessity of upholding environmental rights and sustainable development. As in the case of other human rights, obligations of the state that derive from these need to be complemented by civic engagements, and sustained by shared values in the societal sphere. The question that we raise is if religions can play a significant role in favouring environmental rights, civil engagements and environmental care, given that in varied ways religious traditions appeal to the interdependence of divine-human-cosmic realities. The empirical research that we undertook in the multi-religious context of Tamil Nadu, India, seeks to verify if the religious identity of the senior secondary school students and college students has some influence on their attitude towards environmental obligations, engagements and care. The results show that senior school students are highly sensitive to state’s obligations and civil engagements, but their religious affiliation does not seem to influence it. Instead, college students manifest strong agreement to environmental care, with Hindus displaying higher sensitivity. Besides, variables such as transformative function of religion, religious pluralism, human dignity, and empathy have favourable association with environmental care for Christians, Muslims and Hindus. We conclude with a discussion on the implications of the predictors for eco-education.
Transnational Mobility of Chinese Students in Portuguese-Speaking Countries: The Role of a Non-hegemonic Language
Authors: Gaspar Sofia , 马 德明
Published: November 2023

The idea that the acquisition of and proficiency in non-hegemonic languages can be pivotal to international student mobility has thus far been insufficiently addressed. In this paper, we draw on 23 in-depth interviews with Chinese students to explore this question, showing how the perception of Portuguese-language learning and practice at Lusophone Higher Education Institutions (e.g., in Portugal, Macao, Angola, and Brazil) represents a decisive trigger for studying abroad, and an alternative strategy for acquiring linguistic capital in a non-dominant language in which skills can be converted into competitive resources on future professional paths. We conclude by arguing for the need to address this blind spot in transnational student mobilities, and by positioning “language acquisition and proficiency” as a structuring dimension, not just of the processes by which students decide to move, but also of their imaginaries of preparedness for their future career trajectories.
Literary Mapping of Migration and Multilingualism in São Paulo’s Bom Retiro Neighborhood
Authors: Brune Krista
Published: November 2023

This article examines literary representations of migrant experiences in São Paulo, with a focus on the neighborhood of Bom Retiro. To study how Bom Retiro’s migrant communities of Jews, Koreans, and Bolivians demand new forms of multilingualism, I focus on the 2019 Bolivian novel Seúl, São Paulo by Gabriel Mamani Magne in comparison to Eliezer Levin’s 1972 novel Bom Retiro: o bairro da infância. Whereas Levin employs restricted multilingualism to depict a Jewish diaspora rooted in Brazil, Mamani Magne focuses on migratory flows between Bolivia and more prosperous Latin American countries. By occasionally incorporating unmarked Portuguese and Aymara words into his Spanish prose, Mamani Magne illustrates how movement between languages and places unsettles fixed forms of identity. Taken together, Bom Retiro and Seúl, São Paulo depict how multilingual gestures as part of a minor transnationalism reveal the hierarchies and misunderstandings that constitute life in the global city of São Paulo.
Monolingualism and the novel: It’s complicated…?
Authors: Gramling David
Published: November 2023

In the first issue of the Journal of Literary Multilingualism, we collected together a range of scholars assessing and debating the field of Literary Multilingualism Studies, but we also realised that a single issue could only scratch the surface of this dynamic and growing field of study. Moreover, we were aware of some absences and blind spots and of the need to be constantly revising, questioning and examining the field. This forum, appearing in each issue of the journal, aims to continue the conversation started in Issue 1: it is a space for shorter, more informal reflections on the field and its future, in forms that might include position papers, dialogues between scholars, roundtable discussions, responses to articles within the journal, and responses to recent multilingualism conferences or events. We welcome proposals for Forum contributions, particularly from marginalised perspectives or on neglected aspects of literary multilingualism. Please contact us directly to discuss ideas.

For this first forum, we asked David Gramling, who has recently spoken about ‘breaking up’ with multilingualism, how his attitude to the field has changed in recent years, and why. We also asked him to think of the direction Literary Multilingualism Studies should take in the future, in terms of its objects, its theories, and the genres it treats.
Stop the Immigration Bill: Fighting to End Human Rights Violations and Xenophobia in Japan
Authors: Funyu Yuu
Published: November 2023

In March 2023, the Japanese Cabinet submitted a controversial amendment bill to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law to the ordinary Diet session. As an association working with refugees and foreign workers living in Japan, we strategically formed a protest movement against the bill both inside and outside the parliament. The parliament ignored opposition voices and approved the bill, but this result was far from the opposition’s defeat. The protest movement helped reveal multiple facts that had been concealed by Immigration and caused a drastic increase in recognition of Immigration issues in Japan.
Deep Water Polymastiidae (Porifera, Polymastiida) from the South West Pacific
Authors: EKINS MERRICK , ERPENBECK DIRK , WÖRHEIDE GERT , HOOPER JOHN N.A.
Published: November 2023

This study reports on some deep water sponges in the family Polymastiidae collected during the 2017 Abyss Cruise off the East Coast of Australia and the 2003 NORFANZ Expedition to the Lord Howe and Norfolk Ridges in the Tasman Sea, Southwest Pacific Ocean. Species of Radiella, Spinularia, Ridleia, Tentorium and Polymastia were collected from abyssal and bathyal depths. From these collections, seven new species were discovered: Radiella nidula sp. nov., Radiella pumix sp. nov., Radiella sclera sp. nov., Spinularia flagellata sp. nov., Tentorium labium sp. nov., Ridleia echidna sp. nov. and Polymastia norfanzii sp. nov. In addition, two species previously known are redescribed based on the new collections: viz. Polymastia zitteli and Polymastia invaginata.
Misunderstandings
Authors: Weizsäcker Georg
Published: November 2023

What do we expect when we say something to someone, and what do they expect when they hear it? When is a conversation successful? The book considers a wide set of two-person conversations, and a bit of game theory, to show how conversational statements and their interpretations are governed by beliefs. Thinking about beliefs is suitable for communication analysis because beliefs are well-defined and measurable, allowing to differentiate between successful understandings and their less successful counterparts: misunderstandings.

The book describes the theoretical framework and empirical measurements of misunderstandings – written by an economist, but in simple words and using interdisciplinary concepts. The material will benefit students and researchers of behavioural economics and its neighbouring fields, and anyone interested in human language.
1. Introduction
Authors: Weizsäcker Georg
Published: November 2023

Chapter 1 introduces three illustrative examples, each with a different font color, that serve as running examples throughout the book. The chapter also gives an overview of the book’s 11 chapters.
2. Having a conversation
Authors: Weizsäcker Georg
Published: November 2023

Chapter 2 introduces the assumptions that underlie the book’s analysis. Two interlocutors, a talker and a listener, carry out a simple conversation where the talker says something and the listener reacts. The chapter formulates the conversation, and its surrounding circumstances, as an abstract two-player interactive game where each player maximizes his or her subjective expected utility. This formulation allows the conversation to be suitably described by the beliefs that justify the chosen actions and statements. For illustrations, the chapter discusses how each of the three running examples may be simplified so that it fits the abstract discussion.
3. Seeing what we don’t see
Authors: Weizsäcker Georg
Published: November 2023

Chapter 3 addresses the interlocutor’s ex-ante beliefs: what they expect from the conversation before the talker talks – without conditioning on the nature of the statement. The chapter formulates the book’s first empirical questions, in a way that is held constant throughout the book: they ask whether the interlocutors’ beliefs differentiate enough with respect to the available information. The emphasis of the distinction between beliefs and information is borrowed from linguistics and the chapter argues that this distinction is well suitable for measurement with the methods of experimental economics and experimental psychology. The chapter also begins the book’s description of such measurements, including results, and continues the running examples.
6. Seeing what they don’t see
Authors: Weizsäcker Georg
Published: November 2023

Chapter 6 turns the table and describes how the interlocutors put themselves into the shoes of others. The chapter describes second-order beliefs: beliefs about beliefs. More precisely, the beliefs that each interlocutor has about the other person’s beliefs of the kind described in Chapter 3. Second-order beliefs may be inaccurate due a number of psychological biases, such as the “illusion of transparency”, and the chapter presents some measurements of second-order beliefs that, once again, point towards an under-conditioning of beliefs. Following up on earlier discussions, the chapter also discusses how second-order beliefs affect issues such as asking questions or politeness.
An Increase in the Antarctic Surface Mass Balance during the Past Three Centuries, Dampening Global Sea Level Rise
Authors: Wang Yetang , Xiao Cunde
Published: November 2023

Antarctic surface mass balance (SMB) is a direct regulator of global sea level changes, but quantification of its long-term evolution at the ice sheet scale is challenging. Here, we combine for the first time a recently complied dataset of ice core records with the outputs of five different reanalysis products and two regional climate models to produce a reconciled 310-yr reconstruction of spatially and temporally complete SMB over the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS). Despite greatly variable signs and magnitudes of reconstructed SMB trends in the different regions, a significant positive trend (3.6 ± 0.8 Gt yr−1 decade−1) is observed for SMB over the entire AIS during the past 300 years, with a larger increase rate since 1801. The increased SMB cumulatively dampened global sea level rise by ∼14 mm between 1901 and 2010, which did not account for the ice sheet dynamical imbalance. The first and second modes of empirical orthogonal function analysis (EOF1 and EOF2) capture 38.0% and 24.6% of the total variability in reconstructed SMB, respectively. EOF1 consists of an east–west dipole of SMB changes over West Antarctica, primarily driven by Southern Annular Mode (SAM) variability. EOF2 represents a strong signal over the whole Antarctic Peninsula and coastal West Antarctica, which is not associated with SAM, but with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) at the decadal scale.
The Impact of Mental Health Symptoms in Children With Tinnitus and Misophonia: A Multi-disciplinary Approach
Authors: Chan Kenny H. , Baker Amanda , Gilbert Deborah , Tong Suhong , Rinaldi Julie , Cypers Scott , Zhu Austin , Schoenborn Alyssa
Published: November 2023

Tinnitus and misophonia are important “sound annoyance” disorders in pediatric otolaryngology and audiology practices. There is scant published literature to suggest increased anxiety and depression symptoms in these disorders. This study aimed at assessing the clinical characteristics of these 2 disorders and their prevalence in mental health–related symptoms in a 2-year retrospective chart review of a multi-disciplinary (otolaryngology, audiology, and psychology) clinic cohort. Analyses were based on 54 (tinnitus = 33 and misophonia = 21) children consisting of 19 males and 35 females with a mean age (standard deviation) of 14.3 (3.0) years. The entire cohort was negatively affected by diagnosis-based symptom severity instruments as assessed by Tinnitus Functional Index and Amsterdam Misophonia Scale. Both subgroups exhibited elevated anxiety and depression symptoms in psychometric instruments as assessed by Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders and Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire. Evidence-based management of these disorders is lacking, and clinical trials are needed.
‘Brick’ or ‘Bridge’? – The roles and functions of Chinese social workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Tang Ning , Zhang Donghang , Sun Fei , Leung Charles Tong-Lit
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has been shaping Chinese social workers to contribute to public health. To study the details, this article aims to explore the roles of social workers during the pandemic in China’s mainland and how social workers fulfilled their roles. The study used a cross-sectional design with a convergent parallel-mixed methodology. Its findings provide another piece of evidence demonstrating the functions of social work practitioners during a health crisis worldwide. However, the ambiguities of the social work profession in addressing public health emergencies were also unveiled in the case of China.
An Examination of the Association between Emotion Regulation and Emetophobia Symptoms
Authors: Petell Jennifer A. , Bilsky Sarah A.
Published: November 2023

Background

Specific phobia of vomiting, referred to as emetophobia, is a specific phobia characterized by persistent and severe fear of vomit. Individuals with emetophobia engage in a variety of emotional and behavioral avoidance strategies to distance themselves from perceived vomit-related threat. As such, individuals may struggle to effectively use emotion regulation (ER) skills; however, to date, limited work has examined the association between emotion regulation and emetophobia symptoms. The present study aimed to address this gap in the literature and examine the association between ER and emetophobia symptoms.

Methods

Participants ( N = 508) were a remote, clinical sample of individuals recruited via social media forums dedicated to the disorder who self-identified as experiencing emetophobia. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to assessed unique contributions of ER to emetophobia symptoms. Age, gender, and depressive symptoms were entered as covariates in the hierarchical regression.

Results

Results demonstrated ER was significantly related to emetophobia symptoms above and beyond the effects of depressive symptoms, age and gender in the current sample.

Conclusions

The findings provide initial support for an association between ER and emetophobia, and suggest future directions for refining the conceptualization of emetophobia. Limitations and considerations include the recruitment strategy via social media websites for individuals with emetophobia, limited diversity of the sample, and cross-sectional nature.
The Influence of Probe Frequency on Self-Reported Mind Wandering During Tasks With Different Cognitive Loads
Authors: He Hong , Li Hong
Published: November 2023

The use of thought-probe methodologies during tasks with varying loads has become commonplace. The current study aimed to investigate whether there exists an interaction between probe frequency and task load on responses of mind wandering episodes, using within-subject designs. In Experiment 1, We performed 0-back, 1-back, and 3-back tasks, in which low-frequency and high-frequency thought probes were presented to the participants. The results indicated that fewer probes led to more reported mind wandering episodes during 0-back and 1-back tasks. Conversely, a significant increase in mind wandering was observed in the 3-back task when higher-frequency probes were used. Experiment 2 introduced the probe relatedness dimension to the medium- and high-load tasks. Both experiments demonstrated that increasing probe frequency reduced mind wandering during the low- and medium-load tasks, but increased it during the high-load task. Additionally, Experiment 2 revealed that higher probe frequency resulted in more probe-related mind wandering during the high-load task, but not during the medium-load task. The current findings reveal the interaction effect of probe frequency and task load on mind wandering and offer possible explanations.
Curating cognition in higher degree art education
Authors: Heaton Rebecca
Published: November 2023

This article shares research, an empirical psychological case study, about cognition in higher degree art education. It proposes cognitive curation as a concept and practice that can develop knowledge and learning autonomy in and beyond the academy. Informed by the autoethnographic stories, interviews, and artworks of three academic art educators, this article’s research demonstrates how cognition and its curation can manifest and develop in the teaching, research, and practice of higher degree art education. Open coding and framework alignment (cognitive, nexus orientated and visual) helped understand, locate, and exemplify cognition and curation in the research. Informed by the data, this article acknowledges how movement, identities, and frameworks, as learning strategies, can help facilitate cognition and cognitive curation. Cognitive curation provides means to responsibly form and follow learning, it is consequently relevant to the arts, education, and life. Art education’s cognitive value is often questioned, this article dialogically contributes to the defense of its cognitive integrity whilst foregrounding cognitive curation.
Clonidine safety and effectiveness in the management of suspected paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity post-traumatic brain injury: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Alshaya Abdulrahman I , Aldhaeefi Mohammed , Alodhaiyan Nada , Alqahtani Maha , Althewaibi Sarah , Alshahrani Wala , Al Sulaiman Khalid , Al Harbi Shmeylan A. , Vishwakarma Ramesh , Aldabbagh Tariq
Published: November 2023

Introduction:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In addition, TBI may cause paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH), which is associated with poor clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of clonidine in patients with TBI and suspected PSH.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study for critically ill patients with TBI with suspected PSH admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) from 1 May 2016 to 31 January 2020 at a tertiary academic medical center. Eligible patients were categorized based on clonidine use during their ICU stay (Clonidine group vs. Control group). The primary outcome was the improvement in functional outcomes during ICU stay, defined by a delta Glasgow Coma Score (GCS). Secondary outcomes included ICU and hospital length of stay, heart rate variation, and 90-day mortality.

Results:

A total of 2915 patients were screened, of which 169 were included. Based on multiple regression analysis, patients who received clonidine showed better improvement in functional outcomes by a higher mean delta GCS than patients who did not (Beta Coeff. 0.41; CI: 0.07 – 0.74; P = 0.02). In addition, the patient's GCS upon ICU discharge and IV opioids requirement on day three were higher in the clonidine group than control (beta coefficient (95% CI): 0.18 (0.03, 0.32); p = 0.02 and beta coefficient (95% CI): 1.38 (0.24, 2.52); p = 0.02, respectively). No statistical differences were observed in any of the other secondary outcomes after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusion:

This study found that patients who received clonidine had better functional outcomes during their ICU stay, as shown by their delta GCS than those who did not. Other outcomes were similar between the groups. More data are needed to explore the role of clonidine in patients with TBI with suspected PSH.
From Books to Airplanes: The Materiality of Global and Urban Entanglements
Authors: Dantas Mariana , Nightingale Carl
Published: November 2023

The articles in this special section employ histories of cities to examine the relationship between human ambitions and the transformation of space, the development of power discrepancies, and unequal access to material and natural resources. They also reveal the relevance of this quintessential human creation to global dynamics on our planet by unveiling the complex and often messy intersection between urban trajectories, local, imperial, or national histories and longue durée global developments. More than a case study, each article delves into the details of the materiality of the urban history they examine to explain how cities exist in the world, or in Richard Harris’s words, “how cities matter” to our shared planetary past and present. In this manner, they answer the call for new conversations about the historical relationship between our urban past and our broader global reality.
Using Debriefing as a Tool to Enhance the Educational Value of Undergraduate Research Participation
Authors: Flynn Maureen K. , Bordieri Michael J.
Published: November 2023

Background

Limited research exists on enhancing the educational value of research participation among undergraduate research participants.

Objective

The aim of the current studies was to examine the impact of extended debriefings and incentives on actual learning and perceptions of research participation.

Method

Three undergraduate samples were recruited from introductory psychology courses. A total of 943 students participated across the three studies by completing a series of assessments online.

Results

Findings from this series of studies suggest that extended video debriefings, especially when combined with instructions that incentivize attending to debriefing content, may be an effective tool to increase the educational value of undergraduate research participation.

Conclusion

Extended debriefings and incentives may enhance learning associated with research participation among undergraduates.

Teaching Implications

Psychology departments could consider using extended debriefings and incentives to enhance learning and quizzes to assess learning outcomes associated with research participation.
The Effect of Foreign and Domestic Graduate Degrees on the Earnings of Immigrants to the U.S.
Authors: Akee Randall , Jones Maggie R.
Published: November 2023

Using a novel panel dataset of recent immigrants to the United States, we identify return migration rates and earnings trajectories for two immigrant groups: those with foreign graduate degrees and those who immigrate and acquire a U.S. graduate degree. We focus on immigrants (of both genders) to the United States who arrive in the same entry cohort and from the same country of birth over the period 2005–2015. In linked demographic and administrative data, we find that downward earnings trajectories are predictive of return migration for immigrants with degrees acquired abroad. Meanwhile, immigrants with U.S. graduate degrees experience mainly upward earnings mobility while in the United States, but we find that the return migrants in this population have earnings that, on average, are lower than their permanent counterparts.
A prospective feasibility trial exploring novel biomarkers for neurotoxicity after isolated limb perfusion
Authors: Corderfeldt Keiller Anna , Axelsson Markus , Bragadottir Gudrun , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Olofsson Bagge Roger
Published: November 2023

Background

Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is a regional cancer treatment in which high-dose chemotherapy is administered in an isolated extremity. The main side effect is regional toxicity, which occasionally leads to nerve damage. Measuring neuroaxonal biomarkers, might be a method predicting such complications. Therefore, the primary aim of the study is to investigate if neuronal biomarkers are measurable and alters in an isolated extremity during ILP. Secondly, if postoperative regional toxicity, alterations in sensitivity, and/or muscle strength are correlated to the biomarker levels.

Methods

Eighteen scheduled ILP-patients were included in the study. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light (NfL), and tau concentrations were measured in plasma sampled preoperatively, at the start and end of the ILP, on days 3 and 30, using ultrasensitive Single molecule array (Simoa) technology. The patients were assessed by a physiotherapist pre- and postoperatively.

Results

At ILP end, significantly higher NfL and tau levels were measured in the extremity than in the corresponding systemic circulation (NfL; 17 vs 6 ng/L, p < .01, tau; 1.8 vs 0.6 ng/L, p < .01), and the extremity levels were significantly increased at ILP end (NfL; 66 ± 37%, p < .001, tau; 75 ± 45%, p = .001). On days 3 and 30, significantly increased NfL and GFAP levels were measured systemically (NfL day 3: 69 ± 30%, p < .001; day 30: 76 ± 26%, p < .001; GFAP day 3: 33 ± 22%, p < .002; day 30: 33 ± 23%, p ≤ .004). Finally, no significant correlations were found between regional toxicity or between postoperative muscle or sensitivity decrease and biomarker release.

Conclusion

During ILP, NfL and tau levels increased significantly. No obvious correlations were observed between biomarker release and regional toxicity or decreased muscle strength or sensitivity, although large-scale studies are warranted.
Static autoregulation in humans
Authors: Wang Yufan , Payne Stephen J
Published: November 2023

The process by which cerebral blood flow (CBF) remains approximately constant in response to short-term variations in arterial blood pressure (ABP) is known as cerebral autoregulation. This classic view, that it remains constant over a wide range of ABP, has however been challenged by a growing number of studies. To provide an updated understanding of the static cerebral pressure-flow relationship and to characterise the autoregulation curve more rigorously, we conducted a comprehensive literature research. Results were based on 143 studies in healthy individuals aged 18 to 65 years. The mean sensitivities of CBF to changes in ABP were found to be 1.47 ± 0.71%/% for decreased ABP and 0.37 ± 0.38%/% for increased ABP. The significant difference in CBF directional sensitivity suggests that cerebral autoregulation appears to be more effective in buffering increases in ABP than decreases in ABP. Regression analysis of absolute CBF and ABP identified an autoregulatory plateau of approximately 20 mmHg (ABP between 80 and 100 mmHg), which is much smaller than the widely accepted classical view. Age and sex were found to have no effect on autoregulation strength. This data-driven approach provides a quantitative method of analysing static autoregulation that can be easily updated as more experimental data become available.
Tank Bromeliads as a Water Reservoir Used by Humans: An Important Overlooked Ecosystem Service in Xerophytic Forests
Authors: Barberis Ignacio M. , Freire Rodrigo M. , Montero Guillermo A.
Published: November 2023

The Bromeliaceae are known for providing numerous ecosystem services. Tank bromeliads that collect water in the bases of their leaves have been an important source of water for people in semiarid regions such as the Gran Chaco. In this large area characterized by xerophytic vegetation grows Aechmea distichantha, the only Chaquenian terrestrial tank bromeliad. We carried out a literature review on water consumption from this tank bromeliad by people in this region. Then, we analyzed the variations in the amount of water stored in the tanks of plants from observational studies as well as the effects of the amount and frequency of water addition on the hydrology of water retained in the tank from an irrigation experiment study. We found 85 reports on the consumption of water from A. distichantha plants by people, including several Indigenous Groups, Criollos, and Soldiers. According to these reports, the tank accumulates about a liter of relatively fresh and clear water that lasts for several weeks. Our observational study showed a large variation in the amount of water held in the tank among years and sites, and our irrigation experiment showed that even plants receiving low and unevenly distributed rainfall conserved some water in their tanks. All these results support the importance of this tank bromeliad for surviving when moving in Eastern Chaco during dry periods until the beginning of the twentieth century. At present, it seems that people living in sedentarism no longer frequently use it for water provision, highlighting that the relative importance of a plant species for providing ecosystem services depends on the historical context.
Prevalence of LUTS in young female population attending tertiary care centre
Authors: Negi Saurabh Kumar , Vyas Nachiket , Desai Sandip , Faujdar Gaurav , Priyadarshi Shivam
Published: November 2023

Objective:

To obtain the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in young female population in tertiary care centre.

Method:

We conducted a descriptive and analytic study with ques tionnaire based data collection. All subjects were interviewed using conventional method and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) Female LUTS form in the urology outpatient department, SMS medical college and hospital, Jaipur (India).

Result:

Total 1278 patients enrolled in study. Using the well-structured questionnaire using ICIQ-FLUTS form, the prevalence of LUTS was 78.01% while conventional method having only 35.8%. This result revealed that LUTS is a common condition among young Indian female population with vaginal delivery as the common risk factor.

Conclusion:

Screening for LUTS using a structured questionnaire identified a significantly higher prevalence of LUTS than the conventional method. The ICIQ-FLUTS form is a robust questionnaire that can be recommended for use in epidemiological research as well as routine clinical practice.
Camposampiero tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (tPCNL): Easy, quick, effective, safe
Authors: De Gobbi Alberto , Lupi Amalia , Massari Domenico , Stellato Alberto , Behr Astrid Ursula , Costa Giuseppe , Fiorello Mario
Published: November 2023

Objectives:

To describe our technique to perform tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (tPCNL) using hemostatic matrix (i.e. Floseal®) for the closure of the percutaneous tract, developed through the experience gained in our endourology specialized center. To evaluate the procedure efficacy and safety.

Methods:

tPCNL performed in our center with Floseal® application from February 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and surgical data were collected in order to evaluate the success of the procedure and possible complications. Camposampiero technique is reported in detail.

Results:

Sixty-nine patients (45 males, mean age 58 years old) were included. In all patients the procedure was completed successfully and in 88% of subjects no further treatments were necessary; a low complication rate (6.9%) was reported.

Conclusion:

In our experience, tPCNL with Floseal application is feasible, safe, and effective.
Update on Management and Outcomes of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
Authors: Wild K. Taylor , Hedrick Holly L. , Ades Anne M. , Fraga Maria V. , Avitabile Catherine M. , Gebb Juliana S. , Oliver Edward R. , Coletti Kristen , Kesler Erin M. , Van Hoose K. Taylor , Panitch Howard B. , Johng Sandy , Ebbert Renee P. , Herkert Lisa M. , Hoffman Casey , Ruble Deanna , Flohr Sabrina , Reynolds Tom , Duran Melissa , Foster Audrey , Isserman Rebecca S. , Partridge Emily A. , Rintoul Natalie E.
Published: November 2023

Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) benefit from comprehensive multidisciplinary teams that have experience in caring for the unique and complex issues associated with CDH. Despite prenatal referral to specialized high-volume centers, advanced ventilation strategies and pulmonary hypertension management, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, mortality and morbidity remain high. These infants have unique and complex issues that begin in fetal and infant life, but persist through adulthood. Here we will review the literature and share our clinical care pathway for neonatal care and follow up. While many advances have occurred in the past few decades, our work is just beginning to continue to improve the mortality, but also importantly the morbidity of CDH.
Polyamidoamine dendrimer-mediated hydrogel for solubility enhancement and anti-cancer drug delivery
Authors: Bi Xiangdong , Watts Darra B , Dorman Ian , Kirk Casianna M , Thomas Marisa , Singleton Isaiah , Malcom Colleen , Barnes Taylor , Carter Colby , Liang Aiye
Published: November 2023

The application of hydrogels for anti-cancer drug delivery has garnered considerable interest in the medical field. Current cancer treatment approaches, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, often induce severe side effects, causing significant distress and substantial health complications to patients. Hydrogels present an appealing solution as they can be precisely injected into specific sites within the body, facilitating the sustainable release of encapsulated drugs. This localized treatment approach holds great potential for reducing toxicity levels and improving drug delivery efficacy. In this study we developed a hydrogel delivery system containing polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer and polyethylene glycol (PEG) for solubility enhancement and sustained delivery of hydrophobic anti-cancer drugs. The three selected model drugs, e.g. silibinin, camptothecin, and methotrexate, possess limited aqueous solubility and thus face restricted application. In the presence of vinyl sulfone functionalized PAMAM dendrimer at 45 mg/mL concentration, drug solubility is increased by 37-fold, 4-fold, and 10-fold for silibinin, camptothecin, and methotrexate, respectively. By further crosslinking of the functionalized PAMAM dendrimer and thiolated PEG, we successfully developed a fast-crosslinking hydrogel capable of encapsulating a significant payload of solubilized cancer drugs for sustained release. In water, the drug encapsulated hydrogels release 30%–80% of their loads in 1–4 days. MTT assays of J82 and MCF7 cells with various doses of drug encapsulated hydrogels reveal that cytotoxicity is observed for all three drugs on both J82 and MCF7 cell lines after 48 h. Notably, camptothecin exhibits higher cytotoxicity to both cell lines than silibinin and methotrexate, achieving up to 95% cell death at experimental conditions, despite its lower solubility. Our experiments provide evidence that the PAMAM dendrimer-mediated hydrogel system significantly improves the solubility of hydrophobic drugs and facilitates their sustained release. These findings position the system as a promising platform for controlled delivery of hydrophobic drugs for intratumoral cancer treatment.
Engagement with Preventive Health Behaviors and Safe Firearm Storage Practices Using the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Authors: Asa Nicole , Buchbinder Stephanie A. , Bonnell Tyler , Mills Brianna , Littman Alyson
Published: November 2023

Purpose

“Behavioral bundling” is a theory that explains how some health behaviors reinforce one another. This study aims to investigate the relationship between preventive health behaviors (PHBs) and safe firearm storage.

Design

This study used a cross-sectional design using 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data.

Setting

Survey participants resided in California, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.

Subjects

There were 12,817 people living in households with a firearm included in this study.

Measures

We classified individuals’ engagement in 5 PHBs: cholesterol screening, influenza immunization, physical activity, primary care, and seatbelt use. We defined safe firearm storage as storing a firearm unloaded, or loaded but locked.

Analysis

Using Poisson regression models, we calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to estimate the association between engagement in the five PHBs with safe firearm storage.

Results

Most firearm owners reported safe firearm storage (80.3%). The prevalence of safe firearm storage was 3% higher for each additional PHB engaged in (aPR = 1.03 [1.01, 1.05]). There was a higher prevalence of safe firearm storage among those who always wore a seatbelt while driving or riding in a car compared to those who did not (aPR = 1.12 [1.05, 1.18]).

Conclusion

This study found preliminary evidence to suggest that engagement in seatbelt usage may be bundled with safe firearm storage, though we are not able to determine causality.
A generalized closed-form model of cutting energy for arbitrary-helix cylindrical milling tools and its applications
Authors: Ozoegwu Chigbogu
Published: November 2023

The knowledge of energy consumption of different machine tool production processes leading to products is necessary for energy labeling of machined parts in the increasingly sustainability-aware world thus the need for better machining energy modeling techniques. The milling process dynamics is complicated thus numerical and averaging techniques are hitherto usually applied in the cutting energy modeling thus limiting decision-making. This work proposes a generalized force-based closed-form model for the milling process cutting energy. To the best of the author’s knowledge, the model is the first closed-form cutting energy model for milling which not only applies to the conventional cylindrical milling tools with constant helix angle but also to cylindrical milling tools with any helix angle variation. The demonstrated applications of the proposed model include modeling of milling machine electrical energy consumption, modeling/optimization of milling project energy/efficiency and helix angle optimization for passive reduction of cutting energy. The proposed model is checked with experimentally-verified results in literature. For example, the model agrees with numerically computed cutting energy in literature by absolute error of 0.0320%–0.4025% and modeling of milling machine electrical energy consumption using the proposed model recorded the goodness-of-fit indices of 0.9980 [Formula: see text]-value and −0.1271 mean percentage error compared to a published experimental data. A parametric plot and an optimization based on genetic algorithm showed that increase of helix angle increases cutting energy due to increased influence of edge forces, and the effect is more pronounced at higher helix angles. Various potential applications of the presented model are highlighted in the concluding section.
Comprehensive extraction technology of key quality characteristics of meta-action unit for CNC machine tools design
Authors: Zhang Zhongxi , Li Junfa , Shi Chongyue , Li Yulong , Zhang Genbao
Published: November 2023

The QCs (quality characteristics) of MAU (meta-action unit) determine the quality of CNC (computer numerical control) machine tools. For improving the accuracy of MAU QCs analysis, and solving the problems that the current methods either only have subjective analysis, or only have objective analysis, or the analysis process that includes both subjective and objective analysis methods is relatively complex, a comprehensive identification method of MAU QCs according to the improved MAHP (multiplicative analytic hierarchy process) method and Shannon entropy is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the QCs of the MAU are divided into quality layer and index layer. Secondly, the expert evaluation weight is introduced to improve the MAHP, then the sub quality layer of the meta-action unit was subjectively analyzed. Thirdly, the index layer of the MAU is objectively analyzed by the Shannon entropy. Finally, the results obtained by WMAHP (weighted multiplication analytic hierarchy process) method and Shannon entropy method are synthesized, and the Pareto principle is adopted to extract the key QCs of the MAU. The proposed method combines the advantages of both subjective and objective analysis, and it can reduce the fluctuation of the analysis results caused by data changes. Meanwhile, the analysis process is relatively simple. Its applicability and superiority have also been confirmed by an experiment and comparisons with various methods. The proposed method is of great significance to improve the quality of CNC machine tools.
Heat transfer augmentation of solar air heater using discrete transverse sinewave corrugations
Authors: Sankalp Shekar Sai , Nagaraj Madhwesh , Mallashetty Shivamallaiah Manjunath
Published: November 2023

The influence of discretely placed sinewave corrugations on the effective thermal performance of the solar air heater system is presented using numerical methodology. The effect of forward and backward arrangement, normalised wavelength and amplitude on heat transfer enhancement is evaluated for different Reynolds number ranging between 6000 and 24,000. The non-dimensional wavelength and amplitude is varied as 0.0125–0.05 and 0.05–0.2 respectively while the non-dimensional pitch is taken as 1.875. The results show that the forward arrangement pattern of sinewave corrugation provides better thermo-hydraulic performance than the backward arrangement. For any given non-dimensional wavelength, lower non-dimensional amplitude exhibits greater thermal enhancement factor while for a fixed non-dimensional amplitude, the wavelength ratio of 0.025 provides greater thermal enhancement factor. The corrugation having amplitude ratio of 0.1 and wavelength ratio of 0.025 exhibits the highest thermal enhancement factor of 1.69 at Reynolds Number of 6000. It is also observed that, for Reynolds Number lesser than 9000, the configuration of amplitude ratio of 0.1 is found to exhibit higher thermal enhancement factor for any given non-dimensional wavelength. However, for Reynolds Number greater than 9000, the configuration of amplitude ratio of 0.05 is found to exhibit higher thermal enhancement factor for any given non-dimensional wavelength.
Understanding tool chip interaction through experimental and numerical analysis during vibration assisted turning of AISI D3 steel
Authors: Dutta Pranesh , Bartarya Gaurav
Published: November 2023

Vibration Assisted Turning (VAT) is a hybrid machining process where the material is machined with the help of a tool vibrating at ultrasonic frequency. VAT results in significant changes in process characteristics compared to conventional machining, like reducing the machining forces and tool wear. The chips produced during the machining operation can provide valuable insight into the process characteristics like machining zone temperature, friction at the tool-chip interface and chip load that primarily alter the process performance. One can understand and have a better control on the machining process performance by studying the formation of these chips and the tool-chip interaction. The work presents an experimental and numerical study to analyze the chip formation during VAT while machining AISI D3 steel. The chips formed while machining at different vibration amplitudes were observed to be of different colors, widths, and thicknesses. These were found to correlate to the forces generated and the surface integrity produced. A decrease in the chip width and thickness was observed with an increase in the amplitude that helps to reduce the chip load and hence forces. Also, the temperature at the machining zone increased with an increase in amplitude as seen from different color of chips produced and carbon content of the chip. The numerical model, developed to analyze the effect of the vibration amplitude on the contact pressure at the chip-tool interface, showed that the average contact pressure reduced upon applying ultrasonic vibration to the tool, thereby reducing the coefficient of friction and frictional forces. Also, with increase in vibration amplitude, the coefficient of friction was found increasing but it still remained lower than that in conventional turning. The study would help to understand the reduction the overall machining forces and chip morphology and thereby to have a better control on the process performance.
Viscoelastic and vibrational studies of nano hybrid fibre metal laminates
Authors: Kali Naresh , Kumar Raju Arockia , Korla Srikanth
Published: November 2023

Employment of distinct fibres (glass/carbon etc.) in Fibre Metal Laminates (FMLs) is one way of enhancing the durable life of an FML and its performance under dynamic loads. In the present work, carbon fibre is employed in GLARE (Glass/Aluminium laminated epoxy) to enhance the vibration (natural frequency) and viscoelastic (storage modulus ( E′), loss modulus ( E″) and Tan δ) properties. Similarly, the influence of 1 wt% of Al2O3 (alumina), ZrO2 (zirconium oxide) and TiO2 (titanium oxide) nano particles are also studied in hybrid (carbon/glass) FML. The mean particle size of Al2O3 (5.1 nm), ZrO2 (25.3 nm) and TiO2 (63.2 nm) were estimated using the Scherer equation with the aid of X-ray diffractometer analysis. Hybridisation resulted in a 22%, 10% and 2% increase of natural frequencies from mode 1 to mode 3 and 36.3%, 15% and 13.2% of E′, E″ and Tanδ, respectively, when compared to GLARE (glass fibre reinforced aluminium laminated epoxy). TiO2-reinforced hybrid FML shows the highest natural frequencies among all nanohybrid FMLs. The results summarise that natural frequencies and viscoelastic properties of nanohybrid FMLs are sensitive to the type of fibre, nano particle reinforcement and its size. A stereo microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to analyse the defects at the interface and the nanoparticle dispersion in the matrix, respectively. Further, a numerical model was developed to perform free vibration analysis, and it was noticed that the results were similar to experimental values.