bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tourism Disaster Management: A Social Network Analysis of Nature-based Destinations in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Danzi Lucia , Orchiston Caroline , Higham James , Baggio Rodolfo
Published: September 2024

Collaboration between tourism and emergency management organizations is critical for the safety of tourists and the communities they visit. Using a mixed methods social network approach, this study explores the practices and structural characteristics of tourism disaster management collaboration in Piopiotahi/Milford Sound and Tāhuna/Queenstown, in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our analysis reveals five types of collaborative relationships: acquaintance, communication, resource sharing, business relations, and formal agreements. This insight can assist tourism and emergency management practitioners in developing strategies for network and resource allocation, considering the costs and formality of each relationship type. Our findings also indicate that the networks in Milford Sound and Queenstown have a dense core-periphery structure, with Emergency Management Organizations and Regional Tourism Organizations serving as central and brokering actors. Their central coordinating role suggests a need for increased resources and capacity to effectively perform their critical bridging functions.
Living in a (Mediated) Political World: Mindfulness, Problematic News Consumption, and Political Hostility
Authors: McLaughlin Bryan , Gotlieb Melissa R. , Mills Devin J. , Serra Michael J. , Cloudy Joshua
Published: September 2024

The present research draws from the work in narrative transportation to examine the impact of problematic news consumption (PNC) on increased political hostility among partisans. Because individuals with high levels of PNC tend to become absorbed and fixated on the mediated political world, which is filled with exaggerated depictions of political conflict, they should be more prone to view those who disagree with them as “enemies,” leading to an increased likelihood of getting into fights, flaming, and even becoming radicalized. We explore this relationship, along with the role of dispositional mindfulness as a protective mechanism that reduces susceptibility toward PNC and, in turn, political hostility, across two surveys—a cross-sectional survey and a two-wave longitudinal survey. Our findings provide strong support for our hypothesized model: dispositional mindfulness relates to lower levels of political hostility indirectly through its relationship to PNC, particularly among those with higher levels of conflict-approach orientation.
Elucidating the relationship between high-investment HR systems and workforce engagement: The role of employee education
Authors: Stirpe Luigi , Revilla Antonio J
Published: September 2024

Although high-investment HR systems (HIHRS) help forge a more dedicated workforce, our understanding of their effectiveness across employee profiles is imperfect. Integrating the social exchange perspective with human capital insights, this article investigates the engagement outcomes of HIHRS for employees of different education levels. Analyses on an international sample of 24,976 employees reveal, first, that HIHRS deliver greater marginal engagement outcomes at low to moderate than at moderate to high intensities, defining a concave HIHRS–engagement relationship. Additionally, they show that at low to moderate intensities, the curve rises less steeply for more (versus less) educated employees, suggesting that education lessens the marginal engagement outcomes of HIHRS. However, at moderate to high intensities, these marginal outcomes drop less steeply for more educated employees. Such findings highlight the intricacies of HIHRS as motivational tools and advise cautious use by employers.
Endoscopic-Guided Therapy for Tracheal Glomus Tumor: A Case Report on Radiofrequency Plasma-Assisted Therapy
Authors: She Cuiping , Peng Jiaxin , Li Yufei , Ma Fumei
Published: September 2024

This is a case report on the treatment of tracheal glomus tumor, which is a rare tumor originating from the glomus bodies in the trachea and form spherical or nodular masses. These tumors can lead to obstruction and narrowing of the tracheal lumen, causing symptoms such as dyspnea. The standard treatment for tracheal glomus tumors is typically surgical resection. In this case, the patient underwent a procedure involving low tracheostomy with closure of the airway and mechanical ventilation through the stoma, followed by endoscopic-assisted subglottic tracheal glomus tumor resection using plasma-assisted radiofrequency.
Development and Assessment of a Predictive Model for Ki-67 Expression Using Ultrasound Indicators and Non-Morphological Magnetic Resonance Imaging Parameters Before Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors: Li Hong-e , Cheng Chen
Published: September 2024

To formulate a predictive model for assessing Ki-67 expression in breast cancer by integrating pre-treatment ultrasound features with non-morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, encompassing functional and hemodynamic indicators. A retrospective study was conducted on 167 patients. All patients underwent a breast mass biopsy for histopathological and Ki-67 analysis prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) treatment. Additionally, all patients underwent ultrasonography and MRI examinations prior to the biopsy. The recorded variables were Ki-67, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, Max Slope, time to peak (TTP), signal enhancement ratio (SER), early enhancement rate (EER), time-signal intensity curve (TIC), tumor maximum diameter, tumor margins and boundaries, aspect ratio, microcalcification, color Doppler flow imaging grading, resistance index (RI), and axillary lymph node metastasis. Statistical analysis was performed using the R software package. Normally distributed continuous data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), skewed continuous data as median, and categorical variables as frequency or percentage. The dataset was randomly divided into a modeling group and a validation group following a 7:3 ratio, employing a predetermined random seed. The selection of variables was conducted using the random forest algorithm. Specifically, in the initial analysis, we trained a random forest model using all available variables. By evaluating the Gini importance scores of each variable, we identified those that contributed the most to predicting Ki-67 expression. The predictive model for Ki-67 expression was constructed using selected variables: Maximum Diameter, ADC value, SER value, Max Slope value, TTP value, and EER value. Within the validation group, the evaluation metrics demonstrated an Area under the curve of 0.961 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.865 to 0.995. The model achieved a kappa score of 1.00, precision of 0.949, recall of 1, an F1 score of 0.974, sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 85.71%, a positive predictive value of 94.87%, and a negative predictive value of 100%. The combination of non-morphological MRI parameters and pre-treatment ultrasound features in a breast cancer prediction model powered by RF machine learning demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes and improved diagnostic performance.
The Limits of Polycentric Governing Regimes: Preventing Athlete Abuse in the United States
Authors: Dowling Mathew , Harris Spencer , Johnson Nicole
Published: September 2024

The egregious, global problem of athlete abuse, particularly the physical and mental manipulation and exploitation of young athletes, continues unabated. Within the United States, high profile media cases such as the USA Gymnastics scandal led to the passing of specific legislation which restructured and empowered the U.S. Centre for SafeSport to end athlete abuse. Despite these developments, significant challenges remain, with many stakeholders questioning SafeSport's ability to keep athletes safe. We theorize recent developments through a polycentric governance lens, demonstrating how ongoing events can be explained by poorly conceived structural arrangements and inadequate processes that have led to ineffective co-ordination across the regime. Findings present the challenges with the analysis examining causes and the implications for the future of SafeSport.
Towards an Intersectional Understanding of Women With Diverse Experiences of Disability: Addressing the Policy Gap in Australian Disability Sport
Authors: Munro-Cook Georgia , Fullagar Simone , Pavlidis Adele , Kendall Elizabeth
Published: September 2024

This article explores how gender and disability inequity is addressed in research, policy and organisational strategies that shape the Australian sporting landscape. By examining the most current annual reports and strategic plans of 31 national sport organisations, national disabled sport organisations, peak bodies, and government agencies, we identify the implications of siloed thinking that considers gender and disability to be separate forms of diversity. Our analysis outlines the limitations of organisational strategies, specific plans and even participation data for women with disability. We argue that an understanding of the nuanced experiences of women with disability is needed to inform policies and practices that advance equitable sport provision, making visible what women's disabled bodies can do and become through sport.
Stigmatised and stressed: UK cannabis patients living in the context of prohibition
Authors: Metcalf McGrath Lindsey , Beckett Wilson Helen
Published: September 2024

UK cannabis patients occupy a complex policy space in which prescribing has been lawful since 2018, but the drug remains otherwise illegal. This article draws on qualitative interviews from the first UK sociological study of cannabis patient experiences. The findings demonstrate that contradictory policies; a lack of training for professionals; and the legacy of prohibitionist constructions of cannabis result in a range of harms, including inequality and stigma. We employ the concepts of ‘stigma power’ and the ‘stigma machine’ to situate these experiences within the UK's contemporary neoliberal agendas and subsequent commitment to prohibition. Patients are not passive recipients of this stigma, employing what we term concealment, (re)construction and evangelism, to resist these processes. Like many of them, we call for comprehensive professional and public education about the legality of medical cannabis. We argue that to reduce stigma and inequality, this must be accompanied by critical reforms of drug policies.
Effect of hardness distribution in rolling contact fatigue performance of high-speed train axlebox bearings
Authors: Liu Su , Yang Zhiyong , Liu Tao , Li Zhiqiang , Cong Tao , Zhuang Quan , Jiang Le
Published: September 2024

To investigate the effect of hardness distribution on rolling contact fatigue (RCF) properties of axlebox bearings under deeper carburizing conditions, a two-dimensional finite element model based on continuum damage mechanics was developed. A method combined with an artificial neural network and genetic algorithm was used to search the hardness distribution with the longest RCF lifetime within the process parameters. The results showed that a hardness distribution with high surface hardness and proper carburized case depth had a higher RCF lifetime. The surface hardness of 693 HV and case depth of 1.71 mm were more suitable. It is expected that the results could promote the understanding of the heat-treatment process of carburized bearings and ensure more reliable carburized bearings production.
Estimation of cerebrovascular reactivity amplitude and lag using breath-holding fMRI and the global BOLD signal: Application in diabetes and hypertension
Authors: Nanayakkara Nuwan D , Meusel Liesel-Ann , Anderson Nicole D , Chen J Jean
Published: September 2024

In this work, we demonstrate a data-driven approach for estimating cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) amplitude and lag from breathhold (BH) fMRI data alone. Our approach employs a frequency-domain approach that is independent of external recordings. CVR amplitude is estimated from the BOLD frequency spectrum and CVR lag is estimated from the Fourier phase using the global-mean BOLD signal as reference. Unlike referencing to external recordings, these lags are specific to the brain. We demonstrated our method in detecting regional CVR amplitude and lag differences across healthy (CTL), hypertensive (HT) and hypertension-plus-type-2-diabetes (HT + DM) groups of similar ages and sex ratios, with a total N of 49. We found CVR amplitude to be significantly higher in CTL compared to HT + DM, with minimal difference between CTL and HT. Also, voxelwise CVR lag estimated in the Fourier domain is a more sensitive marker of vascular dysfunction than CVR amplitude. CVR lag in HT is significantly shorter than in CTL, with minimal difference between CTL and HT + DM. Our results support the importance of joint CVR amplitude and lag assessments in clinical applications.
Collateral is brain: Low perfusion triggers spreading depolarization and futile reperfusion after acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Törteli Anna , Tóth Réka , Bari Ferenc , Farkas Eszter , Menyhárt Ákos
Published: September 2024

Futile reperfusion is a phenomenon of inadequate perfusion despite successful recanalization after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). It is associated with poor patient outcomes and has received increasing interest due to its clinical diagnosis becoming more common. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, and experimental studies are focused on the pathological background of futile reperfusion. Our recent study has confirmed that poor primary collateralization plays a crucial role in the insufficiency of reperfusion after AIS in mice. Specifically, the absence of primary collaterals in the circle of Willis (CoW) promoted the development of spreading depolarizations (SDs) during AIS. In our experimental stroke model, the occurrence of SDs during ischemia always predicted futile reperfusion. Conversely, in mice with a complete CoW, no SDs were observed, and reperfusion was complete. Importantly, the human CoW displays variation in the primary collaterals in approximately 50% of the population. Therefore, futile reperfusion may result from SD evolution in AIS patients. Our purpose here is to emphasize the crucial role of SD in the development of futile reperfusion. We propose that adequate collateral recruitment can prevent SD occurrence, leading to improved reperfusion and AIS outcomes.
Are important predictors of adverse outcome in children with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection overlooked in clinical settings?
Authors: Đaković Ivana , Kostović Ivica , Vulin Katarina , Prvčić Iva , Tešović Goran , Krakar Goran , Gojmerac Tomislav , Sekelj Fureš Jadranka , Mejaški Bošnjak Vlatka
Published: September 2024

Objective

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is a common, frequently unrecognized cause of childhood disability. The aim of the present study was to determine the symptoms that raise the suspicion of cCMV, define the neurodevelopmental outcomes, and assess their correlations.

Methods

This longitudinal observational study comprised 78 children with symptomatic cCMV who underwent neuropediatric follow-up for 4 to 17.9 years.

Results

Symptoms of central nervous system involvement, hearing/visual impairments, and hepatic involvement were mostly recognized. The average age of disease suspicion was 3.3 months. In terms of outcomes, 10.53% of the children developed complex minor neurological dysfunction and 23.68% developed cerebral palsy. Visual and hearing impairments occurred in 38.16% and 14.47% of patients, respectively. Intellectual disability was present in 30.26% of patients, and epilepsy in 21.05%. Microcephaly and hearing impairment was significantly associated with overall neurodevelopmental outcome. Microcephaly was also associated with poor motor outcomes, hearing impairment, and severe visual impairment. Furthermore, microcephaly and intrauterine growth restriction were significantly associated with poor cognitive outcomes.

Conclusion

Symptoms that raised the suspicion of cCMV—especially microcephaly, hearing impairment, and intrauterine growth restriction—were important parameters that were associated with outcomes; however, their recognition was often insufficient and/or late.
Racialized downgrading and upgrading: Dis/articulation and the Fijian kava commodity chain
Authors: Bertana Amanda , Gaytán Marie Sarita
Published: September 2024

Dis/articulation offers critical insight into exclusionary practices embedded in global commodity chains. In Fiji, powerful actors engage in dis/articulation strategies to limit access to kava consumption domestically while ensuring its availability to Western audiences. Repurposing colonial rhetoric associated with Fijian kava consumption, state officials and lead firms portray kava as over-consumed, unhealthy and harmful in relation to Indigenous Fijians who are its primary producers, harvesters and domestic consumer base. These same actors (e.g. state officials and lead firms) promote kava to Western markets, publicizing it as healthful and beneficial to primarily white consumers. Their marketing and promotional efforts perpetuate colonial tropes and racialized discourses in an effort to simultaneously decrease value domestically (via downgrading) and increase value abroad (via upgrading). This study advances our understanding of the lesser-known historical and relational dimensions of race in global commodity chains.
Conceptualising Chinese transnational infrastructure projects in Europe and beyond
Authors: Schaefer Florian , Mohan Giles
Published: September 2024

Chinese actors have emerged as major funders and developers of large-scale transnational infrastructure projects in Europe and beyond. Despite this profound shift, geographers have not yet arrived at a clear conceptualisation of such projects. We show how the literature is overly reliant on a functional view of the Chinese state, structural economic factors, single case studies, and bilateral relations, generating monocausal explanations of outcomes. We develop a new conceptual framework emphasising variegation driven by shifting assemblages of actors, dynamic strategic coupling, and multi-scalar processes of territorialisation. To operationalise our framework, we draw on process tracing and incorporated comparisons across cases.
'I use the library sometimes just to lose myself': School libraries supporting students' wellbeing and flourishing
Authors: Loh Chin Ee , Binny Amanda Louise
Published: September 2024

This study draws on data from a larger design-based research study on the impact of library redesign in three Singapore secondary schools, focusing on students’ responses about their revitalised library spaces. Focus group data ( N = 42) were analysed. Findings revealed that students appreciated a comfortable, peaceful and welcoming learning environment, and valued choice and opportunities for diverse activities within the library. Reading for pleasure, known to enhance wellbeing, was also supported by a well-resourced and designed school library. Crucially, students valued choice for quiet or noise-tolerant spaces within the library for different activities. The study underscores school libraries’ significance as multifaceted environments that foster student wellbeing, highlighting the need for continued investment in the enhancement and promotion of school library spaces. Recommendations for supporting student wellbeing through school libraries are offered, as well as suggestions that school libraries consider their role to support student flourishing.
Flexible inner surface of polysulfone membranes prevents platelet adhesive protein adsorption and improves antithrombogenicity in vitro
Authors: Takatsuji Ryo , Koremoto Masahide , Fujimoto Yoko , Saida Yuko , Hatanaka Yoshihiro
Published: September 2024

Background:

We investigated whether the condition of the inner surface of hollow fibers affects the blood compatibility of hemodialyzers.

Methods:

We used scanning probe microscope/atomic force microscopy (SPM/AFM) to investigate the height of the swelling and flexible layers (thickness and softness) on the inner surfaces of the hollow fibers. Next, we tested the blood compatibility between dialyzers comprising a hollow fiber membrane, in which the other dialyzers, except for PVP, were additionally coated using PS membranes coated with other materials. After blood was injected into the dialyzer and plugged, dynamic stimulation was performed by slightly rotating the dialyzer for 4 h, although there was no blood circulation.

Results:

The vitamin E-coated polysulfone (PS) membrane showed a higher thickness and softness of the flexible layer than the asymmetric cellulose triacetate membrane without polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and the PS membranes with PVP. We found that the dialyzer with vitamin E coating significantly suppressed the decrease in platelets, increase in β-TG, and increase in PF4 compared to those coated with NV polymer. Additionally, as the adsorbed protein on the inner surface, the total protein, fibronectin, and vWF levels were significantly lower in the vitamin E-coated dialyzer.

Conclusion:

The thickness and softness of the flexible layer of the inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane in vitro affect differences in blood coagulation performance in clinical research. Future clinical trials are required to confirm our results.
En-bloc resection of non-muscle invasive urinary bladder tumors using low power Holmium laser—A new promise
Authors: Choudhury Sunirmal , Ahmed Shahbaaz , Sasmal Surajit , Patel Prakhar
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

Urinary bladder tumors are one of the most common urological malignancies. Traditionally, it has been initially managed with conventional trans-urethral resection of urinary bladder tumors (cTURBT) which has certain drawbacks and complications. Efforts have been made to find newer methods for management. In this study, we have used low power Holmium laser en-bloc resection and have assessed its safety, efficacy and feasibility.

Materials and methods:

Forty patients have been included in this prospective observational study who underwent low power Holmium laser en-bloc resection of urinary bladder tumor after taking Institutional ethical committee clearance and informed consent from all the patients. Intra-operative and post-operative data were collected.

Results:

The average tumor size was 21.68 ± 9.55 mm. Out of those, 65% of the patients had a tumor less than 3 cm in size. Fourteen patients (35%) had tumors at multiple sites. The average duration of resection per tumor was 24.84 ± 6.83 min. None of the cases required conversion to cTURBT. There was no obturator reflex or urinary bladder perforation in any of the cases. Detrusor muscle was present in the histopathology reports of 92.5% patients. The average duration of catheterization was 1.82 ± 0.61 days.

Conclusion:

For NMIBC’s, low power Holmium laser en-bloc resection is a safe procedure with minimum risk of complications. High rate of detrusor-positive specimens indicates its efficacy and feasibility.
Melding technologies? Shipbuilding around the Indian Ocean after the arrival of European ships
Authors: Unger Richard W.
Published: September 2024

When Portuguese sailors confirmed that there was an all-sea route to South Asia from Europe, they introduced new ship designs and building methods to the Indian Ocean World. They found sophisticated maritime skills and a long history of trade over water, both local and long distance. The meeting of the two successful technologies led to some borrowing of different methods and materials, and European use of vessels of Asian design. There were cases of borrowing specific design features, mostly by Asian shipbuilders, but there was surprisingly little melding of aspects of construction. There was some specialization, with Europeans concentrating on building and using larger seagoing cargo carriers. The arrival of steam propulsion for ships after 1800 changed all maritime technologies beyond recognition.
“I guess that’s why they call it the blues”: Personality and the interplay between emotion and genre
Authors: Goyal Yash , Hanji Shivani , Carlson Emily , Surana Aayush , Kala Divy , Alluri Vinoo
Published: September 2024

Research over several decades has demonstrated modest and moderately consistent relationships between personality and music preference, but has primarily relied on self-reported data and lab-based listening experiments. Recently, music preference research has begun to take advantage of online listening data from platforms such as Spotify and Last.fm to more directly link listening behavior to individual differences. This study extends this new line of research by investigating the associations between naturally occurring music listening behaviors and personality traits, utilizing listening data acquired from Last.fm. We examined social-tagging data by extracting tags related to musical genre and emotion from frequently listened tracks of each participant and clustered them into broader categories to study their association with OCEAN traits. We further evaluated preferences in terms of co-occurring genre and emotion tags and analyzed listening patterns over time to better understand natural patterns of listening as they relate to personality. Our results corroborated previous research, demonstrating a positive correlation between Extraversion and high-arousal music genres such as hip-hop and rap, while Openness was linked with jazz sub-genres. Several novel and nuanced associations were unveiled, such as Extraversion being associated with nostalgic hip-hop and jazz, and Neuroticism correlating with calming music from unconventional genres like shoegaze. Finally, we comment on existing music preference frameworks and their relevance to naturally occurring music listening behavior.
Attitudes Towards Dementia Among a Diverse Group of Refugees Resettled in the United States
Authors: Kaki Dahlia A. , Bridi Lana , Mwendwa Purity , Aso Maryam , Behnam Rawnaq , Bencheikh Nissma , Albahsahli Behnan , Khan Xara , Aljenabi Raghad , Sideman Alissa Bernstein , Moore Alison , Al-Rousan Tala
Published: September 2024

Background

Forced migration results in exposure to trauma, interrupted access to healthcare, and loss of social support and may increase dementia risk. Literature on refugees’ knowledge of dementia and its risk factors is scant. This study investigates refugee perspectives on dementia and their access to cognitive healthcare in the United States (US).

Methods

We conducted 6 focus groups and 30 individual in-depth interviews (total of 69 participants) with Arab, African, and Afghan refugees resettled in San Diego, California. Data was coded using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Organized by the socioecological model of health, the following themes emerged: (1) mental trauma due to migration was linked to dementia (individual); (2) fear of dementia and burdening caregivers due to limited support systems (interpersonal); (3) reliance on virtual communities for dementia information and the stress of local community loss increasing dementia risk (community); (4) healthcare providers, both in the US and in refugee camps, didn’t address cognitive health concerns (institutions); and (5) discriminatory immigration and healthcare policies as barriers to healthy aging (policy).

Discussion

Despite being a heterogeneous group, refugees share specific experiences, knowledge gaps, and barriers to healthy aging. Tailored interventions and policies are needed to address this population’s cognitive health needs. This includes addressing their mental health and social support concerns as well as training clinicians to screen for/discuss dementia with aging refugee patients.
The Use of Art to Develop Holistic Nurses and Clinical Judgment: An Educational Intervention
Authors: Moorman Meg , Decker Kim A. , Minix Amy , Huddle Jacqueline
Published: September 2024

Background: Artwork can be used to practice the development of holistic care for nursing students. This activity was designed for senior nursing students to develop their holistic nursing skills through a series of in-class activities while viewing Frida Kahlo's The Broken Column. Aim: This study's aim was to design an educational experience to develop a more holistic approach to caring for patients for nursing students. Method: Students submitted their initial impressions of the painting via an anonymous quiz. After a guided Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) session, students submitted impressions of the artwork. A VTS facilitator read a history of an accident which revealed the cause of Kahlo's medical and emotional pain. Students then wrote about their perceptions of the painting's meaning and how they might use VTS in caring for their patients. Answers were analyzed using Braun and Clark's thematic analysis. Results: The themes identified were emotions and feelings, metaphor, life/story, and listening to inform perspective. Most found that VTS changed their impressions and enhanced their ability to question patients and inform their care. Conclusion: Students found that VTS expanded their view of patient care and helped them see the patient more holistically, aligning with the development of clinical judgment.
Bio-based phthalonitrile resin derived from quercetin as a sustainable molecular scaffold: Synthesis, curing reaction and comparison with petroleum-based counterparts
Authors: Berrouane Abdelwahed , Derradji Mehdi , Khiari Karim , Mehelli Oussama , Abdous Slimane , Habes Abdelmalek , Liu Wenbin , Khadraoui Azzedine
Published: September 2024

Quercetin (Q), one of the most abundant molecules in nature, remains relatively unexplored in the realm of bio-based thermosets. In line with the pursuit of sustainability, we report the successful synthesis of a novel bio-based phthalonitrile (PN) monomer (Q-Ph) using Q. The synthesis involved a nitro displacement reaction with 4-nitrophthalonitrile (4-NPN). Confirmation of the monomer’s structure utilized hydrogen and carbon nuclear magnetic resonances (1H and 13C NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and elemental analysis. Curing characteristics were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and polymerization was analyzed using FTIR. The resulting monomers showed a wide processing window and low melt viscosity via rheological analysis. Thermal and thermomechanical properties were assessed using dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), revealing lower curing and polymerization temperatures compared to petroleum-based counterparts. The synthesized resin achieved a high Tg exceeding 400°C, a char yield of 79% at 1000°C, and T5% and T10% values of 564 and 660°C, respectively. The Q-Ph polymer demonstrated superior performance, with evidence of an autocatalytic curing mechanism. These results highlight quercetin as a promising petrochemical replacement for the preparation of self-curable PN thermosets, especially for high-performance applications.
Optimal control strategy for vehicle starting coordination based on driver intention recognition
Authors: Shang Xianhe , Zhang Fujun , Zhang Zhenyu , Cui Tao
Published: September 2024

To enhance the starting performance of heavy-duty vehicles under different starting conditions, a vehicle starting coordinated optimal control method based on driver intention recognition is proposed. This method uses the Gaussian Mixture Model-Hidden Markov Model (GMM-HMM) for starting intention recognition, dividing the starting intentions into three categories: gentle start, normal start, and emergency start. The GMM-HMM starting intention recognition model is validated using real vehicle data. Based on the recognition results of driver intentions, a performance index function is defined as a weighted sum of smoke limit restriction time, 0–20 km/h acceleration time, and starting jerk. By assigning different weight coefficients, the allocation of requirements for starting power and comfort is achieved. Based on the principle of minimizing values, the coordinated control parameters (upshift speed and starting fuel quantity) are optimized, resulting in the optimal combination of coordinated control parameters under different starting intentions. This enables the optimal control of vehicle starting coordination based on the driver’s different starting intentions.
Environmental dynamics in the international trade of Spanish wine protected designations of origin (PDOs)
Authors: Carchano Marcos , García Cortijo María Carmen , Carrasco Inmaculada , Castillo Valero Juan Sebastián , Gómez Borja Miguel Ángel
Published: September 2024

International trade has significantly expanded over the past few decades, mainly due to globalization and economic liberalization. This growth has brought attention to the environmental risks of exchanging goods and services among nations. While a growing body of literature has discussed the potential environmental advantages of international trade using the environmental Kuznets curve framework, the findings still need to be more conclusive. In this context, this study has explored the dynamic relationships between international trade, carbon emissions, and the competitiveness of Spanish wineries integrated into origin appellations to investigate how the increase in exports influences environmental degradation. With an autoregressive vector model, it has been found that the expansion of international trade is a limitation for the strategy of fighting climate change in the short term, but that the efforts made to reduce the carbon footprint are effectively consolidated and counteract the disruptions to the goal caused by the expansion of international trade. Such findings are relevant to the wine sector, providing insight into effectively reducing carbon emissions and maintaining competitiveness in an ever-evolving international trade landscape.
Blurred lines of responsibility: The antecedents of air pollution-reducing behavior against transnational particulate matter
Authors: Kim Hana , Kim Gyuhwan , Yang Soeun , Zajchowski Chris A.B. , Lee Joohee
Published: September 2024

Particulate matter (PM) poses a serious threat to public health and well-being worldwide. Given the transboundary characteristics of PM, previous studies focused on causal and responsibility attribution of PM pollution; however, the role of perceived risk and individual efficacy in this process has been minimally explored. Our study presents an integrated framework combining motivation protection theory, attribution theory, and responsibility preconditions. Using the case of South Korea, we investigated (a) the relationship between causal attribution and responsibility allocation concerning the PM crisis and (b) how individuals’ PM reduction actions are associated with their perceptions of PM risk, mitigation efficacy, causation, and responsibility. Through structural equation modeling, we analyzed responses of 513 Seoul citizens and developed two key findings. First, we found clear patterns in how key factors influence responsibility allocation: people tend to allocate responsibility in agreement with their perception of causal attribution. Efficacy and risk perception had different effects on responsibility allocation: self-efficacy drives self-responsibility, whereas perceived risk susceptibility leads individuals to transfer responsibility to foreign countries. Second, self-causation had a strong and direct influence on PM reduction actions. Self-efficacy was also found to be a strong positive driver of individual-level PM reduction efforts. Together, our findings illuminate the potential of individuals’ contributions to PM reduction through constructive self-causation and self-efficacy, which were found more influential than a sense of responsibility in motivating action. Our findings offer implications for alleviating transnational environmental challenges with blurred causal and responsibility attribution.
Characteristic features of late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: An observational study of data from the Lupus Registry of Nationwide Institutions
Authors: Sakurai Natsuki , Yoshimi Ryusuke , Yajima Nobuyuki , Hidekawa Chiharu , Kunishita Yosuke , Kishimoto Daiga , Sugiyama Yumiko Kawahara , Kojitani Noriko , Suzuki Naoki , Yoshioka Yuji , Komiya Takaaki , Takase-Minegishi Kaoru , Kirino Yohei , Sada Ken-ei , Miyawaki Yoshia , Ichinose Kunihiro , Ohno Shigeru , Kajiyama Hiroshi , Sato Shuzo , Shimojima Yasuhiro , Fujiwara Michio , Nakajima Hideaki
Published: September 2024

Objective

Late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (LoSLE) is known to possess characteristics different from those of early-onset SLE (EoSLE), thereby making their diagnosis difficult. This study aimed to assess the characteristic features of LoSLE in Japan, a model country with a super-aged society.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Lupus Registry of Nationwide Institutions, which includes a multicenter cohort of patients with SLE in Japan who satisfied the 1997 American College of Rheumatology revised classification criteria for SLE. Data were compared between patients with LoSLE (≥50 years old at onset) and EoSLE (<50 years old at onset). To identify factors associated with LoSLE, binary logistic regression was used for the multivariate analysis, and missing values were complemented by multiple imputations. We also conducted a sub-analysis for patients diagnosed within 5 years of onset.

Results

Out of 929 enrolled patients, 34 were excluded owing to a lack of data regarding onset age. Among the 895 remaining patients, 100 had LoSLE, whereas 795 had EoSLE. The male-to-female ratio was significantly higher in the LoSLE group than in the EoSLE group (0.32 vs 0.11, p < 0.001). With respect to SLEDAI components at onset, patients with LoSLE exhibited a higher frequency of myositis (11.9% vs 3.75%, p = 0.031), lower frequency of skin rash (33.3% vs 67.7%, p < 0.001), and lower frequency of alopecia (7.32% vs 24.7%, p = 0.012). No significant differences in overall disease activity at onset were observed between the two groups. Regarding medical history, immunosuppressants were more commonly used in EoSLE. A multivariate analysis revealed that a higher male proportion and a lower proportion of new rash at onset were independent characteristic features of LoSLE. We also identified late onset as an independent risk factor for a high SDI score at enrollment and replicated the result in a sub-analysis for the population with a shorter time since onset.

Conclusions

We clarified that LoSLE was characterized by a higher male proportion, a lower frequency of skin rash and a tendency to organ damage. Now that the world is faced with aging, our results may be helpful at diagnosis of LoSLE.
Breast cancer mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mattiuzzi Camilla , Lippi Giuseppe
Published: September 2024

Several lines of evidence suggest that breast cancer screening and treatment may have been compromised during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER database, we estimated the age-adjusted mortality rates for female breast cancer between 2018 and 2023. We found that the age-adjusted death rate for breast cancer decreased gradually from 2018 to 2019 and 2020. This downward trend reversed in 2021, with an increase in breast cancer mortality, which then declined further in 2022 and 2023. These findings indicate that breast cancer mortality may have increased slightly in 2021, possibly as a result of limited access to screening and timely treatment during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, although the age-adjusted mortality rate continued to decline in the following two years.
Reworking the Aesthetics of Language Use: The Multilingual Challenge for NEP 2020
Authors: Pandey Avinash , Ozarkar Renuka
Published: September 2024

This article focuses on the ever-increasing stress on multilingual education (MLE) in policy documents, especially its pairing with mother tongues in education (MTE). This focus brings into relief the relationship between MTE, the preservation of linguistic diversity and social democracy. We argue that the outcome of this relationship crucially depends on the nature of processes involved in bringing the mother tongues into the premise of education and transforming them into the languages of stage discourse. The challenges before a substantive vision of MLE include adopting a bottom-up, inclusive approach rather than a top–down, authoritarian one, thereby challenging the existing elitist linguistic aesthetics. We contend that it is only through such a challenge that we can move towards an inclusionary multilingual approach to educational practices. These aesthetic principles constitute the bastion of hegemonic practices of the elite through which they determine the citizenship of the languages in the public sphere that is the world of texts. Without an undoing of this bastion, the article argues, we would simply be furthering the ongoing genocide of our languages and cultures. From this perspective, we offer a close reading of the recently implemented National Education Policy 2020 of India (NEP 2020) as it explicitly focuses on MLE/MTE. We demonstrate that NEP 2020 interprets multilingualism from a monolingual perspective. We show that this perspective stems from its attempts to replace English-centric elitism with a Sanskrit-centric one. Thus, the major challenge before NEP 2020 is to break the confines of elitism and engage with the multiplicities of linguistic practices.
Brittleness evaluation and damage evolution of sandstone under hydromechanical coupling
Authors: Zhang Kuan , Wang Wei , Cao Yajun , Liu Shifan , Duan Xuelei
Published: September 2024

Investigating the brittleness characteristics and damage evolution of deep rock masses under hydromechanical coupling has important significance. The variations in mechanical properties and brittleness characteristics of sandstone under different confining pressures and pore pressures were studied. Based on the stress threshold evolution and energy conversion analysis of the full stress-strain behavior characteristics of the rock, the new brittleness evaluation indexes were proposed, which effectively described the rock brittle failure mode and verified the reliability and applicability of the brittleness index. Additionally, from the perspective of rock pore micro-elements and the growth of matrix particle defects, the strain statistical damage theory was introduced to establish a rock statistical damage evolution model capable of accounting for the influence of pore pressure, thereby effectively capturing the nonlinear soft hardening of porous rocks under hydraulic coupling conditions. The correlation between rock brittleness and rock soft and hardening characteristics was reasonably expressed by constructing a new brittleness evaluation index, discovered from the relationship between rock damage parameters and brittleness characteristics. Eventually, based on the proposed nonlinear expression and statistical damage evolution model, the development trend of sandstone lateral strain is predicted well. The theoretical validation has good consistency with the experimental data and illustrates the rationality of the model.
Understanding the Relationship Between Race and Career Intent of Teachers Serving Students With Emotional and Behavior Disorders
Authors: Scott LaRon A. , Bell Nicholas
Published: September 2024

We used structure equation models to examine the career intent of special education teachers serving students with emotional and behavior disorders (EBD). Known factors of special educator attrition, including race and characteristic of students served, were considered in analyzing career intent. A total of 841 special education teachers across the United States completed the survey. Results showed that, although nuanced, teachers serving students with EBD had lower intent to stay in the profession over teachers serving students in other disability categories. Intent was higher for special education teachers of color serving students with EBD, particularly when certain supports (e.g., administrator support, time support, mentor support) were prominent. Implications for specialized supports and practices to retain teachers serving students with EBD are discussed.
The Impact of Social Support and Social Strain on Depression Among Older American Adults
Authors: Mussa Kadija S. , McIntosh Doneila L , Tadros Eman
Published: September 2024

Depression is a widespread concern among older adults worldwide, often linked to social isolation and inadequate social support. This study investigates the distinct components of social support and their influence on the mental health of Americans aged 60 and above, particularly regarding depressive symptoms. The existing literature notes that aging correlates with heightened risks of anxiety and depression, with developing nations exhibiting higher prevalence rates than developed ones. Insufficient social support emerges as a prevalent risk factor for depression in this demographic. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the specific elements of social support affecting older adults’ mental health. Analyzing data from 3248 older adults, the study explores the impact of spouse, children, family members, and friends’ support on depressive symptoms. Results demonstrate a significant inverse relationship between overall social strain and depressive symptoms, with spouse support emerging as the most influential predictor of lower depressive symptoms. These findings underscore the positive link between social support and older adults’ mental well-being, emphasizing the need to discern individual elements’ effects on mental health.
Design Intervention for Reduction of Risk of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Tyre Cutting Units in Jabalpur, India
Authors: Nataraja Pandian Aparna Gomathi , Joshi Gautam
Published: September 2024

The risk of Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in the unorganized sector of tyre cutting units of Jabalpur was found to be very high and requiring immediate intervention. Based on the study, a handheld tool was designed and its impact was measured in helping reduce the risk factors contributing to WMSDs for the workers. Further studies are encouraged with some suggestions to help reduce the impact on the reduction of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the informal sector.
Plane-stress analysis of a holed membrane at finite equibiaxial stretch
Authors: Friedberg Idan Z , deBotton Gal
Published: September 2024

An equibiaxially stretched thin neo-Hookean circular membrane with a hole at its center under plane-stress condition is analyzed within the framework of finite deformation elasticity. Initially, we introduce a novel form for the differential governing equation to the problem. This enables the introduction of a closed-form solution in the limit of infinite stretch. Comparison of this solution to corresponding finite element simulations reveals a neat agreement for stretch ratios larger than 2.5. In the practically important case of a small hole, at the circumference of the hole, the stress concentration factor is 4 and the tangential stretch ratio is twice the applied far-field stretch ratio. These values are double the corresponding ratios in the well-known limit of infinitesimal deformation.