bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empowering Women Artisans in Madhubani Painting: Navigating Digital Challenges for Long-Term Viability
Authors: Singh Neha , Moid Sana , Mehta Mita , Saxena Priti
Published: August 2024

The present study explores how Madhubani painting artisans in Bihar, India, use social media to showcase their skills. It aims to understand the challenges they face in accessing the social media platforms for showcasing their artform and proposes strategies to enhance their online presence and customer base. For the purpose of the study, primary data are used, which was collected through a qualitative investigation incorporating using tools such as interviews, personal narratives and a literature review. A sample of 60 women artisans was collected from Jitwarpur village, Madhubani, Bihar (India) through the focus group discussion method within the village of Jitwarpur on 22 October 2022. The study reveals challenges Madhubani Painting artisans face in utilizing social media for skill display and customer outreach. Insights highlight opportunities for addressing these challenges. A small sample size and a focus on a specific geographic location may limit the generalizability of the findings of the present study. However, the findings offer valuable insights for future research on social media use among artisans involved in other artforms. The present study adds to existing literature by exploring the intersection of traditional art and social media, particularly in Madhubani painting. It offers practical solutions to enhance artisans’ online presence and economic opportunities.
Hepatoprotective Role of Persea americana (Lauraceae) on Eimeria papillata-induced Infection in Mice
Authors: Abdel-Gaber Rewaida , Al-Shaebi Esam M. , Al-Otaibi Tahani , Al-Malki Esam S. , Al-Hoshani Nawal , Quraishy Saleh Al
Published: August 2024

Background

Eimeria papillata is a parasitic protozoan that causes intestinal coccidiosis in mice. Due to the rise of drug-resistant strains, medicinal plants are now employed to treat parasite diseases.

Objectives

This study investigated the beneficial and therapeutic effects of Persea americana extract (PAE) on biological, hematology, biochemical, and oxidative stress markers, as well as trace elements changes in the hepatic tissue of E. papillata-infected mice.

Materials and Methods

The animals were divided (five mice/group), as follows Group 1: Control group for non-infected-nontreated mice, Group 2: Treated group for mice orally treated with PAE (500 mg/kg b.w.), Group 3: Infected group for mice orally infected with Eimeria oocysts, Group 4: Infected-treated group for mice orally infected with Eimeria oocysts and then treated for 5 days with PAE (500 mg/kg b.w.), and Group 5: Infected-treated group for mice orally infected with Eimeria oocysts and then treated for 5 days with amprolium (120 mg/kg b.w.). On the 5th day postinfection, animals were euthanized, and samples (blood and livers) were collected from them.

Results

The coccidial infection caused weight loss of –2.54%, which improved to –1.36% with PAE. PAE therapy reduced the number of oocysts in mice’s feces. Furthermore, the Eimeria infection increased lymphocytes and neutrophils. The infection resulted in severe liver impairment, as evidenced by pathological changes as well as an elevation in liver function parameters such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase. Infection also resulted in a considerable reduction in glutathione reduced and an elevation in nitric oxide, and malonaldehyde. PAE demonstrated significant hepatoprotective activity by increasing these parameters. Our data revealed that E. papillata infection resulted in considerable increases in Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Co concentrations, which were then reduced following PAE treatment.

Conclusion

Our results showed that PAE treatment significantly reduced hepatic damage and oxidative stress caused by E. papillata infections.
Sensemaking and Persuasive Sensegiving: The Thank You North East Regional COVID-19 Campaign, the Brief We Never Wanted!
Authors: Ellis Thomas , Bowman Sarah
Published: August 2024

The article explores the sensemaking/sensegiving dimensions of emotion, temporality and materiality and their relevance in shaping individual and collective behaviour. The impact of COVID-19 with its multitude of conflicting messages relating to ‘considerate behaviour’, provides a backdrop to explore how sensemaking and persuasion in relation to sensegiving are critical components of public communication efforts. A case study interpretivist approach is used, drawing on the UK-focused regional ‘Thank You North East’ campaign. This is underpinned by semi-structured interviews with the planning and creative teams responsible for the campaign.

Evidence suggests that by recognising the human significance of these three dimensions of sensemaking, Aristotelian modes of persuasion (Pathos, Ethos, Logos and Kairos) can be made more meaningful. By focusing on ‘meaning-making’ as a form of persuasion, belonging and identification are encouraged, improving the perception of empathy within public health communication campaigns. The article provides a new interdisciplinary framework that synthesises scholarship from behaviour sciences, organisational studies and promotional communications and, as such, fills a literary gap where sensemaking in social marketing and communication is currently under-explored. It has further practical value, utilising insights from industry professionals to frame this new sensemaking model against creative execution.
Beliefs, strategic interaction, and Hong Kong’s anti-extradition law movement: A game-theoretic analysis
Authors: Charm Theodore
Published: August 2024

Given the information and beliefs about the possibility of repression, when will the civil society organize protests against the government? Under what conditions will the government repress popular protests? In this paper, I employ a novel signaling game to model the strategic interaction between the regime and civil society during the 2019 Anti-Extradition Law Movement in Hong Kong. I illustrate how information and beliefs influence whether the civil society mobilizes mass protests. Specifically, I examine how government actions shape the civil society’s beliefs about the government type, which in turn determine the protest turnouts and the government’s decision to repress.
Decolonizing the Moroccan University Curriculum Through Incorporating North African Studies: From Eurocentrism to North Afrocentrism
Authors: Guoddar Hanane , Ennam Abdelghani
Published: August 2024

The history of the University started with the great Fatima al-Fihriya establishing Jamia Al Qarawiyyin, the first institution for higher education back in 895 CE in the ancient city of Fes. This started the creation of more establishments for spreading academic teachings. This study aims at highlighting the part that North African Studies play in the decolonization process of the Moroccan University Curriculum. This study uses a Quantitative Research design. A survey distributed to university professors from different public Moroccan universities. The participants advocate for a curriculum reform that includes North African Studies in the Moroccan University.
Clinicopathologic Insights and Molecular Oncogenesis: Understanding Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced B-cell Lymphoproliferations
Authors: Bronson Adam S. , Zhu Yuanzhe , Lilley Cullen M. , Crane Genevieve M. , Mirza Kamran M.
Published: August 2024

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a highly prevalent virus among adults worldwide. In an immunocompetent individual, EBV infection generally results in lifelong latency of the virus and no sequelae. However, in the setting of immune dysfunction, EBV can induce the development of autoimmune disorders, hyperplastic proliferations, and cancers, including lymphoma. Here, we explore the pathogenic and oncogenic role of EBV in Burkitt lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, plasmablastic lymphoma, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders and lymphoproliferative disorders associated with immune deficiency and dysregulation. In addition to describing general mechanisms of EBV-associated oncogenesis, we also discuss EBV-associated oncogenesis in the context of each disorder, as well as their microscopic, phenotypic, and clinical presentations.
The Practice of Supervision in Human Service Organizations: A Descriptive Survey of Canadian Practitioners, Supervisors, and Organizational Leaders
Authors: Sewell Karen M. , Janse van Rensburg Margaret , Peddle Maria
Published: August 2024

Workplace-based supervision within human services is an organizational resource with potential to support practitioners, delivery of services, client outcomes, and organizations. However, little is known about the practice of supervision in organizational settings. This paper reports on a cross-sectional, descriptive study that explored supervision in practice within human services in Ontario, Canada ( N = 375). Web-based surveys were completed by frontline practitioners ( n = 263), supervisors ( n = 85), and leaders ( n = 27) employed in human service organizations. Descriptive statistics present a broad picture of supervision, with differences between employee groups highlighted. A third of frontline practitioners reported their supervision encompassed all supervisory functions (i.e., support, administration, professional development, and quality of care). Using the MCSS-26, 46% of practitioners reported their supervision was effective. Findings emphasize the need for dedicated funding, organizational policies, enhanced training, and feedback mechanisms. Addressing these areas may improve the effectiveness of supervision, supporting staff well-being and in turn, client outcomes.
Comment on “Explicit solutions in Cartesian coordinates for an elliptic hole in an infinite elastic plate” by M. Oore and S. Oore
Authors: Batista Milan
Published: August 2024

This comment discusses the derivation procedure of stress distribution formulas for an infinite elastic plate with an elliptic hole under uniform tension, as presented by M. Oore and S. Oore. While the authors use a heuristic three-step procedure, it is shown that these derivations can be simplified using Maple 2023 or manually. This confirms the exactness of the authors’ formulas, asserting their role as definitive closed-form solutions.
Comparative outcomes of mechanical and transepithelial PRK on the same excimer laser: A contralateral eye study
Authors: Rymer Priscila , Moscovici Bernardo Kaplan , Freitas Marcela Mara Silva , Schor Paulo , Campos Mauro
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Compare refractive results between mechanical PRK (mPRK) and transepithelial PRK (tPRK) with WaveLight Allegretto EX500 excimer laser system (Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX, USA).

Setting

Department of Ophthalmology of the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Design

Prospective and randomized study.

Methods

In 151 eyes of 73 patients with astigmatism and myopia, both eyes had similar refraction before surgery, with a maximum of 15-µm difference in ablation who underwent mPRK in one eye and tPRK in the contralateral eye. The mean age of the patients in this study was 31.45 ± 6.97 years (range, 22 to 54 years).

Results

A comparison was made with all variables between the two groups, and we found that UDVA and SE were worse in the tPRK group at six months than in the mPRK group. In the mPRK group, there was a higher frequency in the +/- 0.50 range and a lower frequency in the +/- 1.50 range. In the tPRK group, however, there was a lower frequency in the +/- 0.50 range and a higher frequency in the +/- 1.50 range. Concerning gain or loss of lines of sight, there was no association between the two groups (chi-square test, p = 0.887).

Conclusion

Both mPRK and tPRK appear to have similar safety. However, mPRK was associated with significantly better UDVA and SE six months post-operatively.
Black and white, both and none: Critical reflections on the limits of positionality discourse in Australia
Authors: Assoulin Elinor , Bacaller Sarah
Published: August 2024

The decades since the seminal writings of Aileen Morton-Robinson on whiteness (2000, 2000/2021, 2013, 2015) are marked with a significant body of contributions by Australian scholars that can be broadly summarised as a call to acknowledge Indigenous sovereignty—to expose the subtle ways in which racism operates to maintain the dominance of whiteness across Australia’s political, social, cultural and academic spheres. Yet, inherent in the indispensable work against the invisibility of whiteness as an essentialist position, the use of binary terms such as coloniser/colonised and black/white have become standard reference points of positionality demarcation for non-Indigenous scholars. While academics who identify as non-white and non-Indigenous are indeed complicit in ‘whiteness’ in the Australian context (Pugliese, 2010), either/or binaries based on ‘black or white’ co-ordinates can in fact reinforce ‘whiteness’ as an essentialist position, threatening to obscure the complexities of cultural biography and foreclosing further discussion. We argue that the value in making (our) invisible outsider/insider, color-elastic positionalities visible is in making room for authentic reflection on positionalities from which to ‘fall out of perspective’ and into the space of Indigenous self-determination within research (Nicoll, 2004b: 17; Shim, 2018). What we share reflects our own struggles in understanding and articulating our place, role and responsibilities in contemporary Australia, and is part of ongoing exploration into identity and positionality in the context of contemporary academic conventions.
Promoting emergent literacy in preschool through extended discourse: Covert translanguaging in a Mandarin immersion environment
Authors: Harvey Robin E , Wong Kevin M
Published: August 2024

Rich oral language practices, including the opportunity and ability to participate in cognitively and linguistically challenging extended discourse, are foundational to early literacy development. To meet children’s needs in their first exposure to the languages of schooling, educators may engage students in extended discourse multilingually. The current study focuses on student-centered translanguaging conversations to examine strategies that preschool teachers employ to support young children’s emerging bilingual and biliteracy development in a Mandarin immersion preschool serving primarily non-heritage learners of Mandarin in the United States. Findings indicate that, despite the school’s Mandarin-only policy, teachers engaged in covert translanguaging practices to extend and deepen discourse. Specifically, teachers used 13 discourse strategies across two critical areas of schooling: translanguaging for (1) socializing students not just into the Mandarin language but into the norms of schooling; and (2) focusing not just on Mandarin language but also on content area learning. The study concludes with implications for schools and teachers.
Research or policy – which lever pushes practice faster? A universal design for learning historical footnote: A response to Guy Boysen
Authors: Edyburn Dave
Published: August 2024

The article by Guy Boysen provides an evidence-based review of sound foundational works in the field of universal design for learning (UDL). As the field of UDL continues to evolve, his work is timely and important. The questions he raises about the foundational research base supporting UDL illustrate the significance of scientific scrutiny about how research is translated into educational policy. Reading the author’s article, I realized that I had first-hand information about one aspect of the critique concerning how the initial UDL research based was identified. The purpose of this article is to provide a historical footnote that may assist the profession in analyzing the UDL evidence base and its connection to educational policy.
Beyond Boundaries: Third Space Leadership in Schools
Authors: Brion Corinne
Published: August 2024

This case study is relevant to practicing and prospective leaders because it raises issues related to third space leadership. I define third space leadership as the spaces/places between school and home, school and before or after school programs, school, and extra-curricular activities, such as the commute in a school bus. Third space leadership is grounded in adaptive leadership, cultural proficiency, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. This teaching case study exposes educational administrators to a holistic approach to leadership that includes the in-between spaces that are integral parts and moments of students’ educational journeys. The Teaching Notes outline key concepts on third space theory, third space leadership, and invitational education.
Forearm access for carotid artery stenting using the dual protection of flow reversal and distal filter: Trans-forearm dual protection technique
Authors: Hanaoka Yoshiki , Koyama Jun-ichi , Kubota Yuki , Nakamura Takuya , Kitamura Satoshi , Yamazaki Daisuke , Horiuchi Tetsuyoshi
Published: August 2024

Background

Although transfemoral carotid artery stenting (CAS) is widely performed for carotid stenosis, serious or even fatal complications such as embolic and access site complications can still occur. We devised a novel dual protection system with continuous flow reversal to the cephalic vein of the forearm in transradial CAS, referred to as the “trans-forearm dual protection” technique.

Methods

A 75-year-old man with a diagnosis of symptomatic left cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis underwent CAS using the trans-forearm dual protection technique.

Results

A 4F sheath was introduced into the cephalic vein of the right forearm. After an 8F balloon-guiding catheter was navigated into the left common carotid artery (CCA) via right sheathless radial access, a distal filter protection device was advanced into the high cervical ICA. The 8F balloon-guiding catheter was inflated and connected to the 4F sheath with a blood filter interposed. Under the dual protection of flow reversal and distal filter, the CAS procedure was performed. The postprocedural course was uneventful. Diffusion-weighted imaging 2 days after the procedure showed no evidence of ischemic stroke. The patient was discharged home without any complications 1 week after the procedure. Carotid duplex ultrasound performed 9 months after the procedure showed no signs of restenosis.

Conclusions

This method allows for CAS under the dual protection of flow reversal and filter device protection via the trans-forearm access, reducing the risk of embolism and access site complications. Therefore, the trans-forearm dual protection technique can be a useful option for CAS.
Comparison of safety of lumbar drain versus external ventricular drain in symptomatic hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Chao Kuo , Martin Daniel , Tsouvalas Charles , Wiginton James , Torres Fernando , Nguyen Nathan
Published: August 2024

Background and objective

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion is typically performed with an external ventricular drain (EVD) for symptomatic hydrocephalus (HCP) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Lumbar drain (LD) has also been studied to reduce the incidence of vasospasm after SAH but not HCP. We performed a single center retrospective analysis to evaluate the safety of LD versus EVD for symptomatic HCP following aneurysmal SAH in a naturally randomized patient population.

Methods

Patients admitted for aneurysmal SAH who developed symptomatic HCP were treated with EVD or LD depending on neurosurgeon on call. Of the 10 neurosurgeons on call, five would place EVD in all patients while the other five would request LD be placed by interventional neuroradiology; however, the distribution on call was not evenly distributed. We retrospectively compared these two groups for drain complications and outcomes with Modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

Results

From 2018 to 2021, there were a total of 77 patients with aneurysmal SAH requiring CSF diversion for HCP. There were 56 cases of EVD placement and 21 cases of LD placement. Overall drain complications were 32.0% of cases with EVD and 9.5% with LD, p = .0773. EVD versus LD complications consisted of hemorrhage (1.8% vs 0%, p = 1.0000), infection (7.1 vs 0%, p = .5698), clogged (25% vs 0%, p = .008), dislodgement (1.8% vs 4.6%, p = .4737) and replacement (16% vs 4.8%, p = .2698). No case of cerebellar tonsillar herniation occurred. mRS between EVD versus LD obtained at baseline (0.3 vs 0.3, p = .3943), discharge (3.8 vs 2.7, p = .047), 90 days (2.9 vs 2.0, p = .060), and 1 year (2.6 vs 1.6, p = .081). One year mortality rates between EVD versus LD (26.8% vs 19.0%, p = .483).

Conclusion

Symptomatic HCP after aneurysmal SAH can be effectively and safely treated with LD. LD had lower overall complications than EVD with no hemorrhage, infection or malfunction. Further prospective randomized control study may be helpful in elucidating optimal CSF diversion for patients with symptomatic HCP.
Injury of the superficial femoral artery and posterior tibial artery associated with an atherectomy device
Authors: Afifi Ahmed M , Dunseith Samuel C , Nazzal Munier
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Rotational atherectomy can offer a viable treatment for occlusive peripheral artery disease; maintaining the minimal invasiveness of an endovascular procedure, while allowing for a more complete lesion debridement compared with balloon angioplasty. This case report outlines a complication of guidewire entrapment associated with rotational atherectomy in the superficial femoral artery (SFA).

Methods

A 57-year-old male underwent an atherectomy with Rotorex for left lower limb foot pain. During the procedure, the guidewire was suctioned into the atherectomy device, preventing any further advancement of the device and damaging the SFA and posterior tibial artery (PTA).

Results

The atherectomy device was withdrawn and a new vascular access site was gained in the left PTA. A covered stent was inserted to treat the original SFA lesion, and balloon angioplasty was used to repair the device-induced damaged to the PTA.

Conclusion

While guidewire complications have been previously reported, this case report details the first reported case, to our knowledge, of guidewire entrapment while using a rotational atherectomy device. Knowledge of this possible complication of rotational atherectomy can aid in clinical decision making when choosing between treatments for peripheral vascular disease.
Incremental structure building in the processing of ellipsis
Authors: Kim Hyosik , Orth Wesley J , Yoshida Masaya
Published: August 2024

This article presents the results of two experiments conducted to examine how ellipsis sites are processed during the processing of backward sluicing, which is superficially similar to non-sluicing wh-filler-gap dependencies. Previous studies on long-distance wh-filler-gap dependencies established that the processing of these dependencies is sensitive to the syntactic structure of materials within the dependency: CP vs. NP. Results from two maze experiments show that backward sluicing processing is sensitive to the same structural factors, confirming that the same processing mechanism underlies both constructions. We suggest that an active search mechanism is operating at the core for these structures and with the interaction of the ellipsis-specific mechanism, e.g., a word-by-word copying mechanism, the parser builds antecedent structure within the ellipsis site incrementally during the processing of backward sluicing.
Personal sense of power predicts financial risk-taking propensity: But only when risk-related decisions are made without cognitive load
Authors: Sekścińska Katarzyna , Jaworska Diana , Rudzińska-Wojciechowska Joanna
Published: August 2024

A significant relationship between a sense of power and financial risk-taking has been established in the literature. However, the boundary conditions for this relationship remain unclear. This article presents the results of an online experimental study ( N = 192) that explores the moderating role of cognitive load in the relationship between power and financial risk-taking in the domains of gambling and investing. The findings validate a positive association between a sense of power and financial risk-taking, alongside a negative impact of cognitive load on financial risk. Notably, cognitive load moderates the relationship between power and financial risk-taking in a way that the link is positive when individuals have full access to their cognitive resources, but it becomes nonsignificant when they are under cognitive load.
The effects of values and principles in sports coach education course designed to promote values-driven coaching styles
Authors: Koh Koon Teck , Komar John , Tarkington Newman , Tan Eliza Shi Ru
Published: August 2024

The ability of youth sport coaches to intentionally teach athletes values is often recognised as a critical pursuit throughout youth sport research. However, as coach education programmes and coach development systems seek to enhance the knowledge and skills of coaches, there is a need to investigate the effects that these initiatives have on coaching practices. The purpose of this multi-methods study was to investigate the effectiveness and perceived benefits of the Values and Principles in Sport (VPS) coach education course, specifically regarding values-driven coaching practices. Twenty-seven coaches and athletes from their teams ( n = 85) participated in the study. Fourteen coaches attended the VPS course, which aimed to equip coaches with knowledge and skills for promoting values-driven coaching practices. Among this group, quantitative data were collected using a coach-centric systematic observation tool and an athlete survey, while qualitative data were collected through individual interviews with coaches and focus groups with athletes. Additionally, the 13 coaches who did not attend the VPS course – as well as athletes from their teams – were included in a control group and completed the quantitative measures. Quantitative results that are related to teaching values suggest that coaches who attended the VPS course did not perform better than those in the control group. However, the course did impact coaching style, suggesting high inter-individual differences in coaching styles (i.e., reserved, average, engaging, purposeful, and VPS-active). Qualitative results highlight that, among coaches who attended the VPS course, the course contributed to understanding and awareness related to teaching values in sport and the transfer of values outside of sport. Taken together, the study underscores the value of incorporating practical components in designing a VPS course, as well as the potential for individualising coach development pathways based on coaching style.
How Malaysian States and Their Strongmen Shape Urban Development: An Examination of the Sibu Municipal Council
Authors: Ik-Tien Ngu , Pey-Wen Liaw
Published: August 2024

In the Federation of Malaysia, the state government has a dominant role in the management and administration of local authorities as well as in allocating resources. This paper takes a bottom-up perspective to look at the dependence of the Sibu Municipal Council on the Sarawak state government and strongman. It begins by showing how the existing legal and political frameworks enable the formation of a strongman government and then addresses the state government's control over resources for local development. Then, it zooms into the local politics of Sibu, showcasing the patron–client relations between the state strongman and local business groups in Sarawak. However, it argues that the power of strongman politicians is not unchecked but constrained by the political framework. The later part of this paper features the political-economic networks of the state strongman in Johor to show that the strongman phenomenon is not particular to Sarawak.
Exploring the Potential Pharmacological Basis and Mechanism of HJT Activity in the Treatment of CHD Based on UPLC-QE-MS and Network Pharmacology
Authors: Qi Wang , Jianyuan Zhong , Wenxia Zhang , Yinghan Ren , Yang Yang
Published: August 2024

Objective

To identify the blood-entering components of HanJing Decoction (HJT) after administration based on UPLC-QE-MS/MS, and the key components, therapeutic targets and mechanisms of HJT therapeutic coronary heart disease (CHD) were analyzed using network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Method

The UPLC-QE-MS/MS was used to analyze the blood-entering components of HJT before and after administration. The targets of blood-entering components were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction. Targets related to CHD were collected using multiple databases. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were used to predict the mechanisms of HJT therapeutic CHD, and PPI and “Components-Targets-Pathways” network were used to identify and elucidate the core targets. The key blood-entering components aimed at the core target are screened by molecular docking and QSAR analysis.

Results

A total of 14 blood-entering components were detected in serum samples of rat after administration, and the 32 potential targets of HJT therapeutic CHD were screened out. The result of PPI network showed that the core targets of HJT for the treatment of CHD include MMP1, GSK3B, EGFR and PTGS2, and the 5 key components with high degree were screened out. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicate that HJT therapy for CHD is associated with the IL-17 and cGMP-PKG signaling pathways. The result of molecular docking indicate that the binding energy of coroglaucigenin to PTGS2 is the largest and it may be the key pharmacological component of HJT, and the QSAR analysis showed that Boldine and Coroglaucigenin had excellent activity in inhibiting PTGS2.

Conclusions

In this study, the blood-entering components of HJT were preliminarily identified, Combined network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses revealed that the PTGS2 may be a core target, and the IL-17 and cGMP-PKG signaling pathways may be the key pathways. Moreover, the coroglaucigenin and boldine may be the key pharmacological components of HJT.
Intranasal Trigeminal Function in Aging Adults
Authors: Feit Noah Z. , Kloosterman Nicole , LaPointe Kristina A. , Pitiranggon Charn , Finnegan Isabel E. , Smith Carter D. , Gregoski Mathew J. , Rowan Nicholas R. , Soler Zachary M. , Schlosser Rodney J.
Published: August 2024

Background

Intranasal trigeminal function is important in detecting environmental stimuli. The impact of age-associated chemosensory dysfunction upon taste and olfaction is well described, but an understanding of trigeminal loss (chemesthesis) is lacking.

Objective

The goal of this study was to characterize trigeminal function in a cohort of older adults and explore potential impacts.

Methods

Twenty-eight participants over 50 years of age were recruited from the community as part of an aging cohort study. This nested cohort completed chemosensory questionnaires, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and psychophysical testing for taste (taste strips), olfaction (Sniffin’ Sticks), and trigeminal function (eucalyptol lateralization). Data were analyzed for associations between trigeminal function, olfactory, and taste psychophysical performance, patient-reported metrics, and demographic risk factors.

Results

Patient-reported trigeminal impairment is less severe than other chemosensory loss, with mean visual analog scores (VAS, rated 0-100 from least to most severe) for smell (32.9 ± 34.2), taste (20.6 ± 28.4), and trigeminal sensation (9.5 ± 12.8). Despite low VAS scores, psychophysical trigeminal dysfunction was present in 10 (35.7%) subjects. Psychophysical olfactory and taste dysfunction were present in 16 (57.1%) and eight (28.6%) participants respectively. Hypercholesterolemia was associated with psychophysical trigeminal dysfunction (mean lateralization performance in hypercholesterolemia 57.7% ± 17.1 vs. 74.1% ± 10.4, p = .008).

Conclusion

Intranasal trigeminal impairment is present in nearly one-third of aging adults when assessed by psychophysical methods but is under-recognized. Hyperlipidemia may be associated with trigeminal impairment. Future inquiries should better characterize these findings in larger and prospective cohorts.
Off-grid? Resistant media operations by delivery gig workers in response to app-based tracking
Authors: Randerath Sebastian , Friedrich Kathrin
Published: August 2024

Tracking by mobile media has become key to coordination and surveillance of delivery gig work. Through their daily app-based media operations, delivery gig workers contribute to the capitalisation and establishment of platform companies’ spatiotemporal regimes. But this app-based tracking has been a source of tension and conflict, particularly in the face of growing organised and unionised resistance by delivery gig workers in Germany. App-based tracking is evolving into an arena for negotiating resistance, conducting counter-surveillance and (temporarily) disrupting platform-based supply chains. These forms of labour resistance and counter-surveillance by individual riders, works councils or trade unions are either 1) directed against app-based tracking itself or 2) seek to operationalise resistance through the use of app-based tracking. Drawing on an empirical analysis of different forms of resistance, this article offers a critical media studies perspective on resistant mobile media operations in response to app-based tracking. Based on a digital ethnography of resistance by German delivery gig workers, it shows how different forms of resistance in delivery gig work are negotiated against and through app-based tracking. We present local and non-hegemonic perspectives on mobile media operations of spatiotemporal coordination and surveillance that enable a critical analysis of the (non-)human power and information asymmetries involved in gig work resistance.
Subcutaneous ureteral bypass for treatment of proximal ureteral obstruction secondary to retroperitoneal fibrosis after renal transplantation in a cat
Authors: Laminette Peter J , Hardie Robert J
Published: August 2024

Case summary

A 5.5-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 2-year history of progressive chronic kidney disease. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed bilateral chronic renal degeneration, nephrolithiasis, cortical hyperechogenicity and infarction. Left orthotopic renal transplantation was performed using the Synovis vascular coupling system for end-to-end anastomosis of the renal arteries and veins. Two months after transplantation, renal values were elevated, and abdominal ultrasonography revealed hydronephrosis and hydroureter of the transplanted kidney. Fluoroscopic antegrade pyelography identified a proximal ureteral stricture. Proximal neoureterocystostomy was performed and renal values normalized postoperatively. The cat was re-evaluated for acute stranguria and severe azotemia 12 months later. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed severe hydronephrosis of the transplanted kidney, obstruction of the proximal ureter and adhesions to the urinary bladder. Upon exploration, retroperitoneal fibrosis was found covering the transplanted kidney. Given the clinical situation, a subcutaneous ureteral bypass device (SUB) was placed. Clinicopathologic analyses, trough cyclosporine levels, aerobic urine cultures and ultrasonographic evaluations of the transplanted kidney were monitored every 1–3 months. Patency of the SUB was reassessed every 3–6 months. At 15 months after placement, the SUB occluded due to kinking of the cystostomy catheter and was replaced. At 28 months after SUB placement, renal function and clinical status deteriorated, and the cat was euthanized.

Relevance and novel information

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a SUB device being used for management of ureteral obstruction in a transplanted kidney in a cat.
A Mixed-Method Exploratory Approach to Identifying the Utilitarian Functions of Music Listening
Authors: Henry Noah , Maloney Liam , Egermann Hauke
Published: August 2024

Advances in portable music listening technology have increased the extent to which music is integrated into everyday life, providing it with the ability to accompany listeners at any time, anywhere. Previous research has attempted to understand and parse the functions of music listening (FML). However, there is a tendency for subsequent models to be oriented towards purely cognitive domains (e.g., mood regulation), without considering the impact that contexts may have on listeners’ experiences. Rarely do such models provide a unified construct that captures the breadth of functionality more broadly (i.e., contextually-determined utility). In this study, we employed a mixed-methods exploratory approach to initially assess FML qualitatively through bibliometric analysis and a comparative experience sampling method (ESM) study, resulting in an exhaustive model of FML with 53 distinct functions. Following this, a list of 114 items intended to reflect the content of these functions was generated. This reflected the conceptual content of the qualitative model. These items were rated through an online survey, leading to dimension reduction through factor analyses. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) implied a latent construct across five dimensions to explain the resulting underlying construct of FML ( Identity and Social Bonding, Emotion Regulation, Focus and Concentration, Background and Accompaniment, and Physiological Arousal). This was subject to model constraints through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in which a measure containing 23 items based on the stabilized EFA was fit. The five-factor model was a good fit for the observed data, presenting a latent structure of utilitarian FML generated from the previously identified qualitative framework. This article concludes with suggestions regarding the potential re-application of this model to ecologically valid data to cross-validate this psychometric structure in future work.
Psychological Distress and Its Associated Factors Among Parents of Children With Congenital Heart Disease: A Cross-Sectional Mixed Method Study at the National Cardiothoracic Center, Ghana
Authors: Entsua-Mensah Kow , Tetteh John , Ekem-Ferguson George , Swaray Swithin M. , Adzamli Innocent I. , Yao Nana-Akyaa , Tettey Mark M.
Published: August 2024

Background

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among parents of children with congenital heart disease (PCCHD) receiving treatment at the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC), Accra.

Methods

A cross-sectional mixed method study involving 248 parents of children with congenital heart disese receiving treatment at the NCTC was employed. Systematic sampling was used to select participants. The outcome variables were depression, anxiety, and somatization, assessed using the brief symptom inventory. A semistructured interview guide was used to understand the contextual factors that contribute to parents’ psychological distress. Poisson regression and inductive thematic analyses were employed for quantitative and qualitative data, respectively.

Results

The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and somatization was 42.9% [95%CI = 36.7-49.3], 42.4% [95%CI = 36.3-48.9], and 41.2% [95%CI = 35.1-47.6] respectively. Parents who were divorced [aPR (95%CI) = 1.60(1.02-2.51)], hadonly basic level education [aPR (95%CI) = 2.13(1.34-3.39)], were without a religious affiliation [aPR (95%CI)= 2.24(1.58-3.19)], and in the low asset quintile significantly increased the likelihood of psychological distress. Delay/postponement of scheduled surgery, worsening state of child's condition, feeling a sense of helplessness, societal stigma, and lack of funding or health insurance for the treatment of the condition were contextual factors that contributed to increased psychological distress among parents.

Conclusion

The prevalence of psychological distress was quite high among parents of children with congenital heart disease in Ghana and was associated with both parent and patient factors. Psychosocial care should be integrated into the clinical health services of this group of patients and their parents to improve psychological health outcomes.
Rural Collective Property Rights System Reform and Urban-Rural Income Gap: A County-Scale Big Data Analysis in China
Authors: Pan Dan , Zhou Jinlong , Yu Yi , Chen Shengdong
Published: August 2024

Property rights reform has been widely regarded as a powerful tool to narrow the urban-rural income gap (URIG). A recent nationwide property rights reform in China, namely, the rural collective property rights system reform (RCPRSR) was implemented in 2015, offering rural residents rights to rural collective assets, especially land assets. However, whether it can help to narrow URIG or not remains controversial. Based on 2,322 county-level big panel data in China from 2010 to 2019, this paper takes RCPRSR as a quasi-natural experiment and empirically evaluates its impact and mechanism on URIG by using a time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) model. The findings suggest that RCPRSR can decrease URIG by 4.2%, and this conclusion is still reliable after six robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the positive effect of RCPRSR on narrowing URIG is significant in eastern and northeastern China, but not in central and western China. Mechanism analysis shows that RCPRSR can decrease URIG mainly through optimizing the industrial structure and improving the agricultural mechanization level. This study provides a reference on how to mitigate URIG through property rights reform in developing countries.

JEL Classification: O20, D31, D63.
Predicting Continuance Intention to Use Learning Management Systems among Undergraduates: The Moderating Effect of Intrinsic Motivation
Authors: Song Renjie , Zheng Yaru
Published: August 2024

Learning Management Systems (LMS) are crucial in modern educational technology, enhancing education through personalized support, efficient resource management, and data-driven decision-making. LMS holds a pivotal position in contemporary higher education. This research explores undergraduate students’ continued learning intentions, grounded in the Expectation-Confirmation Model and Flow Theory, while assessing the moderating effect of intrinsic motivation within this context. From January to August 2023, an online survey gathered self-reported data on satisfaction, confirmation, perceived value, continued intention, flow experience, and intrinsic motivation from 232 undergraduate students across three universities in Henan Province using the Questionnaire Star platform. Analysis using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) confirmed all research hypotheses except for the insignificant impact of flow on satisfaction and continued intention, demonstrating the model’s significant explanatory power for continued intention, explaining 90.8% of the variance. The adjusted R2 was 90.6%, and the Q2 value reached 78.5%. Intrinsic motivation was found to moderate the relationship between satisfaction and continued intention positively, but it did not affect the relationship between perceived value and continued intention. The findings underscore the importance of LMS in educational settings and provide insights into enhancing user experience, student engagement, and satisfaction. Recommendations include the need for developers to improve the LMS interface and functionalities, for educators to enrich learning resources, and for students to recognize the value of LMS and set clear goals to foster their intrinsic motivation.
Emerging Adults’ Perspectives of Received Youth Worker Support and Their Personal and Structural Barriers to Find Employment or Further Education: A Qualitative Study From Sweden
Authors: Wells Michael B. , Blom Lisa , Modin Asper Michaela , Lindberg Lene
Published: August 2024

Transitioning successfully into the workforce is an essential step toward adulthood; yet there are significant challenges many emerging adults face. In Sweden, there is a noticeable gap in research concerning the perspectives of these individuals, particularly regarding their barriers and support needs. To bridge this knowledge gap, a qualitative study was conducted, involving semi-structured interviews with 22 Swedish emerging adults who were neither employed nor engaged in education or training (NEET). The aim was to delve deeper into their views on the necessary personal and systemic support to secure employment or pursue further education. The analysis revealed three main themes: Flawed capabilities, Support systems, and Emerging adults’ determination. While the participants acknowledged the benefits of personal and systemic support, they also expressed that obstacles within these support structures hindered their progress towards employment or education. Reducing these barriers could significantly enhance the prospects for NEET young adults to obtain work or continue their education.
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Associated With Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Ribeiro Leonardo , Nwanwene Kemnasom , Anwar Khurram , Abdallah Mahmoud , Shenouda Mina
Published: August 2024

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) represents a spectrum of myeloid disorders occasionally linked to autoimmune diseases. Here, we present a case of a 60-year-old man demonstrating an unusual coexistence of MDS with warm-autoantibody autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA). Diagnostic evaluation, including positive direct antiglobulin testing, confirmed the autoimmune etiology of his anemia despite his low-risk MDS classification. Prompt initiation of prednisone therapy resulted in significant hematological and clinical improvement, allowing for a conservative management approach without transfusion requirements. This case underscores the importance of identifying the relationship between wAIHA and MDS, particularly in low-risk scenarios. Moreover, these findings suggest the efficacy of corticosteroids in managing autoimmune anemia in the context of concomitant wAIHA and MDS.