bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
You’re not welcome! Violence and support for an open grazing ban policy in Kaduna, Nigeria
Authors: Tuki Daniel 
Published: December 2024

This study examines the effect of victimization and religious affiliation on support for a policy banning the open grazing of livestock in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna. This policy, which aims to reduce the incidence of conflicts between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers, has been implemented to varying degrees in some states across Nigeria. Kaduna is a suitable case study for investigating these relationships because, despite having the third-highest incidence of farmer–herder conflicts out of Nigeria’s 36 states, the state government has not implemented an open grazing ban policy there. The regression results show that victimization by herders increases the likelihood of supporting the policy. On average, Muslims are more supportive of the policy than Christians. The higher support among Muslims is quite surprising because most of the respondents who have been victimized by herders are Christians. Muslims might be more supportive of an open grazing ban policy due to a contagion effect: the common religion of Islam that they share with nomadic herders could lead to the attribution of blame for farmer–herder conflicts to Muslims, making them more eager to see an end to the conflict. This eagerness might be what leads to increased support for an open grazing ban policy. JEL Codes: D74, N57, Z12
Seismic performance assessment of base isolation systems in five hospitals during the Mw7.8 and Mw7.6 2023 earthquakes in Southeast Turkey
Authors: Kaatsız Kaan , Alıcı F. Soner , Sucuoğlu Halûk , Tanışer Sadun , Kale Özkan 
Published: December 2024

The February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquakes (Mw7.8 and Mw7.6) in Southeast Turkey ruptured a 300 km section of the East Anatolian Fault, resulting in severe ground motions. These two strong earthquakes occurred 9 hours apart and were followed by large-magnitude aftershocks. Strong ground motions from the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were recorded by more than 280 strong motion stations. Nine base-isolated hospital buildings located at distances less than 50 km from the ruptured fault were subjected to strong ground shaking. This paper examines five of the nine hospitals for which seismic isolation designs were available to the authors. The ground motions acting on these hospital buildings were recorded by strong motion stations situated in close proximity. Consequently, the February 6 earthquakes have presented a unique opportunity to assess the seismic performance of base isolation systems during severe earthquakes. All five hospitals were equipped with double spherical sliding (friction pendulum) seismic isolation devices. Subsequently, the authors conducted site visits to the hospitals following the February 6 earthquakes and collected data on maximum and residual response displacements at their isolation levels, as well as on the seismic response of structural and nonstructural components. The maximum response displacements measured at the isolation levels are compared with the maximum displacements calculated by nonlinear response history analysis under the ground motions recorded at the strong motion stations in close proximity to the hospitals.
Is the use of antibiotic stewardship measures in the context of specialized outpatient palliative care sensible and feasible? An interview-based study
Authors: Kaiser Ulrich , Kaiser Florian , Schmidt Jörg , Vehling-Kaiser Ursula , Hitzenbichler Florian 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Specialized outpatient palliative care (SAPV) is a component of palliative care in Germany, which assists approximately 10% of palliative patients. The majority of these patients have a malignant disease and are at increased risk of complications or severe infection. Antibiotic stewardship (ABS) measures are implemented to optimize antibiotic administration; however, there is little data available in this area, particularly for SAPV. Therefore, we examined the extent to which ABS measures can be meaningfully used or implemented in SAPV.

Methods
After establishing a corresponding interview guide, 15 experts from specialized areas were interviewed on this subject by the Institute for Market Research in Healthcare Munich (IMIG) through audio-registered individual interviews. The interviews were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method according to Mayring.

Results
All 15 experts participated. The primary benefits cited were greater safety in the prescription and decision-making process for antibiotics in the areas of SAPV and improved quality of life. The implementation of continuous ABS measures for SAPV was considered difficult in some cases and linked to certain prerequisites, such as supportive advice from existing systems. The possibility of further training for SAPV members in the area of ABS was considered particularly advantageous.

Conclusions
The implementation of ABS measures in SAPV is feasible in principle; however, it is difficult to implement under the current conditions. Close cooperation with an existing external ABS expert/team will be helpful. This will provide more security for a small, but relevant proportion of SAPV patients, and for the SAPV team treating them.
Intravascular ultrasound-guided reentry wiring with tip-detection technique for chronic total occlusion of lower extremity artery disease
Authors: Hayakawa Naoki , Miwa Hiromi , Tsuchida Yasuyuki , Ichihara Shinya , Maruta Shunsuke , Kushida Shunichi 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Endovascular therapy is an effective method for revascularization in lower extremity artery disease, but treating chronic total occlusion (CTO) remains challenging. This is particularly true for patients with severe calcification, poor run-off in below-the-knee arteries, or limited access sites, where even guidewire (GW) passage can be difficult and bidirectional approaches are often not feasible. The tip-detection (TD) method has been reported as a useful technique in coronary artery CTO interventions, allowing real-time visualization of the GW tip direction. Here, we applied the TD technique for peripheral CTO intervention.

Case presentation
Case 1 involved a 71-year-old man with a right toe ulcer. Angiography revealed total occlusion from the right anterior tibial artery (ATA) to the proximal dorsalis pedis artery. While attempting IVUS-guided parallel wiring, the GW could not advance through the intraplaque route because of severe calcification. We intentionally advanced the GW and IVUS into the subintimal space of the ATA to bypass the calcified lesion and performed IVUS-guided reentry using the TD technique in the distal ATA, where calcification was less severe. The second GW successfully passed through the intraplaque of the distal ATA and into the true lumen of the dorsalis pedis artery. Case 2 involved a 60-year-old man with bilateral intermittent claudication. Angiography revealed severe stenosis of the right common iliac artery (CIA) and CTO of the left CIA. Because of anatomical limitations and access site challenges, the antegrade approach for the left CIA was unsuccessful, and retrograde intraluminal wiring was difficult because of flexion and calcification. We advanced the GW and IVUS into the subintimal space and performed IVUS-guided reentry using the TD technique to access the true lumen of the proximal CIA. Finally, bilateral VBX stent grafts were implanted using the kissing stent technique.

Conclusions
IVUS-guided reentry wiring with the TD technique may offer a useful solution for passing complex peripheral CTO lesions in cases where only a uni-directional approach is feasible.
A Robust joint coverless image steganography scheme based on two independent modules
Authors: Ren Chang , Wu Bin 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWith the development of deep learning technology, great progress has been made in the field of coverless steganography based on deep learning technology, including some selection-based steganography methods that use deep learning technology and all generation-based steganography methods, however both of which have their limitations. The former is difficult to meet actual communication requirements in terms of communication capacity and completeness due to the limit of the algorithm. Due to the irreversibility of the process of generating secret images from message codeword, the recovery accuracy of the latter is very poor. To this end, this paper designs a robust joint coverless image steganography scheme called Joint Coverless Image Steganography (JoCS). Firstly, this paper proposes the Semantic Factorization Fitting module (SeFF) and the Transform Domain Steganography module (TrDS). The former adds the secret message to the input vector of the low resolution layer in the StyleGAN generator network, which establishs a mapping rule between message codeword and the coarse feature of the generated image, and then the extractor is used to fit the above mapping rule, which has excellent robustness and completeness; the latter encodes the main content area of the image based on the encoder in VQGAN, and then adds secret message to the latent vector of the encoded image, which achieves the steganography in the latent domain of the image. Secondly, we demonstrate the independence between two modules and the advantages of connecting two modules. By using the image generated in the SeFF module as the cover image in the TrDS module, secondary steganography of a single image is achieved, based on which we design the JoCS scheme. The results show that our scheme breaks through the communication capacity limit in the selection-based coverless methods while guaranteeing 100% completeness, excellent image quality and outstanding robustness against various image attacks. Moreover, our scheme exhibits strong security against detection by multiple steganalysis tools and excellent practicality in practical communication. Finally, this paper also discusses the following three points as further elaboration of the scheme: (1) the advantages of the mapping rule in the SeFF module (2) the verification of the independence between the two modules (3) the flexibility of the joint steganography scheme.
Symbolic model order reduction: a new state feedback approach for simplified control and verification
Authors: Mostafa Ali Karim , Mohamed Mostafa S. , Taher Dorrah Hassen 
Published: December 2024

AbstractSymbolic model order reduction (SMOR) is an efficient technique for simplifying high dynamics models with a large number of states into fewer states by eliminating states with minimal impact and focusing the control design process on the dominant states. The reduction process facilitates the control design, and the resulting controller is verified using both the full and reduced models. In this study, a new symbolic model order reduction (SMOR) methodology is proposed, based on a state-feedback technique. The model is derived symbolically, and the contribution of each state to the input signal, along with the corresponding gains, is calculated symbolically as a function of the model’s physical parameters. Ultimately, the dominant and non-dominant states are identified, and the non-dominant states are eliminated. It is important to note that the physical parameters of the system remain in the reduced model to maintain a one-to-one correspondence, ensuring that both the inputs and outputs of the reduced model match those of the original model. The gains are calculated based on the reduced model, and the control law is verified using both the full and reduced models in the proposed algorithm and the Model Reducer Tool from MATLAB to ensure the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Survival Impacts of Mitochondrial Status in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Sugawara Kotaro , Sakashita Shingo , Fukuda Takashi , Murakami Chiaki , Oka Daiji , Amori Gulanbar , Ishibashi Kumiko , Kobayashi Yasuhito , Kanda Hiroaki , Motoi Noriko 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Little is known about the survival impacts of mitochondrial status in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients who undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery.

Methods
In total, 260 pre-NAC samples from ESCC patients were analyzed. Mitochondrial status was estimated employing an objective, immunohistochemistry-based system (Mito-score). Mito-scores were dichotomized according to the median value of our cohort. We also evaluated the immune microenvironment (CD4, CD8, Foxp3, HLA class-1, Ki-67 and programmed death ligand-1) on pre-NAC specimens. Multivariate Cox hazards models were applied to determine independent predictors of poor overall survival (OS).

Results
Patients with cT3–4 tumors had higher Mito-scores than those with cT1–2 tumors (p = 0.06), and good responders to NAC had significantly higher Mito-scores than poor responders to NAC (p = 0.04). CD8 cells and Ki-67 expression were significantly higher in Mito-high than Mito-low tumors (p = 0.017 and p < 0.001, respectively). Patients with low Mito-scores had significantly poorer OS than those with high Mito-scores (3-year OS: 57.6% vs. 68.2%; p = 0.03). A survival difference by Mito-score was evident in cStage III–IV patients (3-year OS: low 50.6% vs. high 66.1%; p = 0.006). Multivariable analysis revealed that a low Mito-score (hazard ratio 1.59, 95% confidence interval 1.12–2.24; p = 0.009) as well as pT3–4 disease (p < 0.001) and pN2–3 disease (p < 0.001) were independently associated with poor OS outcomes.

Conclusions
A low Mito-score before NAC had a significant survival impact in ESCC patients, especially in those with advanced disease. Mitochondrial status might be associated with tumor aggressiveness and responsiveness to NAC, thereby possibly affecting the survival outcomes of ESCC patients.
Feasibility of Lobectomy in Selected Patients with Unilateral N1b Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Li Danxia , Zhang Guojun , Li Xinna , Xu Shuo , Sun Haiqing , Liu Yang , Wu Guochang , Zheng Haitao , Zhang Xiaoli , Zheng Guibin 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Total thyroidectomy (TT) is usually recommended for unilateral papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM), but no significant improvement in recurrence-free survival (RFS) is seen upon treatment. As an initial surgery, lobectomy may have advantages in appropriately selected unilateral PTC with ipsilateral LLNM.

Objective
This study aimed to explore the feasibility of lobectomy for selected unilateral PTC with ipsilateral LLNM.

Methods
From January 2014 to December 2021, we retrospectively reviewed patients with PTC and LLNM who were treated at our center. Patients preoperatively diagnosed with unilateral PTC and ipsilateral LLNM were recruited. Overall, 102 patients who chose lobectomy as their initial surgery were included in the lobectomy group and 96 patients who chose TT were included in the control group, defined as the TT group.

Results
The mean follow-up time of the lobectomy group was 47.5 ± 22.2 months. Patients in the lobectomy group had a significantly lower rate of hypoparathyroidism than those in the TT group (0% vs. 11.5%; p < 0.001). RFS after lobectomy was comparable with that after TT according to Kaplan–Meier curve analysis (log-rank p = 0.80). Lobectomy achieved a significantly lower incidence of unsatisfactory TSH control than TT (5.9% vs. 20.8%; p = 0.006).

Conclusions
Lobectomy may be an appropriate initial therapy for selected unilateral PTC with ipsilateral LLNM. A randomized prospective study with long-term follow-up is warranted.
iPad-eology in Higher Education
Authors: Borbasi Sally , Brand Jeff , Mathew Trisha , Kordyban Ron , Wong Wai-Leng , Williams Paula , Green Ian , Smith Simon , Carrington Allan 
Published: December 2024

This interactive symposium will examine the iPad as a pedagogical tool and will explore its potential to transform higher education. 'Padagogy', and 'Podagogy' are swiftly becoming mainstream terms. Whilst this symposium will focus primarily on the role of the iPad in the classroom it will also make reference to other personal computing and mobile devices available to learners.

The symposium will be conducted face to face and via webinar, with input from remote presenters and involvement from (selected) remote participants. ASCILITE delegates and outside participants will be able to comment via a twitter stream, which will be displayed at the venue, and will be able to collaborate more extensively via an ASCILITE wiki.
The symposium will be run as a panel session. Each of the representatives from the three institutions will provide an initial five-minute overview of their experiences in using iPads as teaching & learning devices, exploring the pedagogical opportunities, challenges and risks that iPads and mobile devices present. Immediately following each presentation there will be opportunity for the audience to ask questions and/or make comment. At the end of the panel presentations, delegates, virtual participants and the panel members will have further opportunity to engage in broad ranging exchanges about the value and uses of mobile learning devices and where their future might lead. This dialogue will be transcribed live onto a collaborative site which will remain available for ongoing deliberation at the end of the session. The symposium will be podcast for future online dialogue through the ASCILITE 2011 website.
Analysis of Smooth Cepstral Peak Prominence in Hypokinetic Dysarthria Associated With Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Li Qiang , Wallace Abigail , Davis Wesley , Roth Beau , Langhofer Laura , Narayana Shalini , Cannito Michael 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPs) is a measurement of the distance from the prominent cepstral peak to the linear regression line directly beneath it. Variations of CPPs data acquisition and analysis lead to the complexity of the clinical cut-off values, and there are no agreeable values for a specific voice disorder, such as hypokinetic dysarthria associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study examined the CPPs in people with hypokinetic dysarthria associated with PD compared with healthy participants. Results demonstrated significant differences in speech tasks of sustained vowel and connected speech, with CPPs of connected speech more sensitive to dysphonia and gender difference in PD participants. Males in PD participants presented higher CPPs for sustained vowels and lower CPPs for connected speech than females. It is implied that a consistent clinical application protocol is necessary, and multiple acoustic measures are needed to ensure the accuracy of clinical decisions.
Mapping the Research Landscape of Language Development in Autistic Children: A Preliminary Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Wu Zhonghua , Cheng Le 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often encounter difficulties in language learning and utilization, a concern that has gained significant academic attention, particularly given the widespread occurrence of ASD globally. Previous reviews, however, have relied on empirical observations rather than a more rigorous selection criterion. This preliminary study seeks to systematize the scientific knowledge base regarding language development in autistic children by utilizing the analysis tool Citespace 6.2.R5. We visualized and analyzed research patterns and trends regarding autism by drawing data from the Web of Science. Through document citation and emerging trend analyses, seven key research clusters and their chronological associations are identified, along with research hotspots such as language disorder diagnosis and intervention, social communication, language acquisition, and multilingual and multicultural influences. Research findings show that there exist some issues with the current research, including small sample sizes, the need for further investigation into receptive language development, and a lack of cross-cultural comparative studies. Meanwhile, the scope and depth of interdisciplinary research on language development in autistic children also need to be further enhanced. The research contributes to the extant literature by providing valuable references for autism researchers and practitioners.
Middle voice in Cháoyáng Mǐn
Authors: Xiao Yang , Gerner Matthias 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Cháoyáng Mǐn, a dialect originating from Southeast China, exemplifies a unique instance of an isolating language featuring a middle voice. Historically, the middle voice in Cháoyáng Mǐn emerged as the culmination of a sequential transformation involving causative, passive, and anticausative constructions as intermediate stages. This unexpected alternation between valency-increasing and valency-decreasing constructions can be attributed to the grammaticalization of pro-drop (zero-anaphora) within serial verb constructions. The formal marker of all these constructions is the coverb khiɁ ‘give’ which is further merged with the expletive human pronoun i ‘s/he’ into khiɁi as a marker of the last two constructions: anticausative and middle voice. We claim that khiɁi serves as a genuine synthetical middle voice marker, whereas khiɁ fails one crucial set of data to qualify for an analytical middle voice marker.
Kinetic and thermodynamic study of maize stalk biomass using thermogravimetric analysis
Authors: Khalid Rida , Din Muhammad Imran , Hussain Zaib , Rehman Sania , Hussain Tajamal , Ata Sadia , Yousaf Samia , Parveen Aneeqa , Zahra Zirwa Tuz , Ahmad Shahbaz 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Investigating thermodynamic and kinetic aspects is crucial for assessing efficiency of converting biomass into energy. This study presents kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of maize stalk using thermogravimetric analysis. The novelty of this research stems from the combination of kinetic and thermodynamic analysis, the application of multiple kinetic models and understanding of pyrolysis-based bioenergy production process from maize stalk. Analysis was performed using a temperature range of 25–650 °C employing 5, 10, 15 and 20 °C/min heating rate. The temperature range of 250–650 °C was selected to analyze the complete decomposition of the three main components of maize stalk i.e. hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin and to prevent the decomposition of inorganic substances such as CaCO3 which decompose at high temperature. The apparent activation energy values were evaluated using Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Friedman and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW) models. The resulting mean apparent Ea values calculated for KAS, Friedman and OFW were 167.86, 177.34 and 162.96 kJ/mol, accordingly. Additionally, Gibbs free energy (ΔG) values were 164.17 kJ/mol, enthalpy (ΔH) −178.31 J/molK and entropy (ΔS) 285.59 kJ/mol, respectively. These findings suggest that maize stalk holds promise as a potential bioenergy source, aligning with sustainable goals and waste-to-energy strategies.
Strategic Visions, Volume 24, Number 1 (Fall 2024)
Authors: Parker Grace Anne 
Published: December 2024

This issue of Strategic Visions, Volume 24, Issue 1 (Fall 2024), features the usual "News from the Director" and "Note from the Davis Fellow" sections, in which we reflect on this past semester’s colloquium series. Additionally, we are excited to share interviews with Aaron Gell, a journalist for The New Republic, who discusses campus protests related to Gaza, and Dr. Nikolas Gvosdev, Professor of Naval Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, who provides insights into foreign policy in President-Elect Trump’s second term.
Two of our graduate students, Andrew Santora and Jake Wolff, have contributed pieces detailing their archival research, which has been supported in part by CENFAD. Additionally, PhD candidate Audrey Rankin offers a review of Kathleen Murphy's Captivity's Collections: Science, Natural History, and the British Transatlantic Slave Trade (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2023).