bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Association Between Body Mass Index and 28-day Mortality in Patients With Sepsis: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Xu , Yuan Weiwei , Li Tingting , Sha Haiwang , Hui Zhiyan 
Published: November 2024

Background Sepsis is a severe clinical syndrome with high morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). Body Mass Index (BMI) shows a rising trend of obese patients being admitted to ICUs. The relationship between BMI and the clinical outcome of sepsis remains highly debated. Methods The data used in this study were sourced from the Intensive Care Information Center IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Baseline information extracted within 24 hours of ICU admission was categorized according to World Health Organization (WHO)’s BMI classifications. A multivariate Cox regression model and curve fitting assessed the independent correlation between BMI and the primary outcome. Results A total of 7836 patients were included in the study and categorized into five groups based on BMI. The overall 28-day mortality rate was 21.94% (1719/7836). Class I obesity (17.14%) and class II/III obesity (13.49%) individuals tended to be younger and male. Compared to patients with normal BMI (32.55%), those with low BMI (5.79%) had a 47% increased risk of 28-day mortality (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.16-1.85, P = 0.0013), while class II/III obesity patients had a 17% lower 28-day mortality rate (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71-0.97, P = 0.0218). Curve fitting revealed a nonlinear relationship between BMI and 28-day mortality. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis highlighted variations in survival rates across the five groups ( P = 0.0123), with underweight patients exhibiting poorer survival outcomes. Conclusion In sepsis patients, a low BMI is related to higher 28-day mortality compared to those with a normal BMI. Conversely, patients with a BMI≥35 kg/m2 have significantly reduced mortality risks.
Superselective Versus Selective Neck Dissection in the Treatment of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Liang Shi , Bellamkonda Nikhil , Tullis Benton , Hunt Jason P. 
Published: November 2024

Background: Superselective lateral neck dissection (SSND), defined as dissection of 2 or less contiguous lateral cervical nodal levels, has emerged as a treatment option for metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), in place of a selective neck dissection (SND). There are few studies exploring outcomes of SSND compared to SND in this context. Materials and Methods: This was a single institution retrospective study. All patients who were diagnosed with PTC and had a lateral neck dissection from 2019 to 2022 were reviewed. Patient demographics and outcomes were compared. Results: A total of 136 patients met inclusion criteria. About 106 (78%) had a SND and 30 (22%) had a SSND. There was no significant difference between patients who underwent SND versus SSND regarding frequency of post-operative complications, length of stay (2.49 vs 2.31 days), post-operative thyroglobulin >10 ng/mL (21 vs 3 patients), regional recurrence (14% vs 17%), reoperation rates (16.7% vs 17.4%), or adjuvant radioactive iodine therapy (75% vs 63%; P > .05). Conclusions: SSND for PTC had similar short-term clinical outcomes when compared to SND.
Do Global Food Commodity Prices Determine Inflation in India?
Authors: Dash Pradyumna , Lugauer Steven 
Published: November 2024

This article investigates whether global food commodity prices and the exchange rate affect domestic food prices and overall inflation in India. We employ the Johansen (1991) cointegration method in conjunction with a single equation error correction model. We find that inflation in India is highly dependent on international food commodity prices and exchange rates. High international food prices contributed about 2 percentage points of the 3.7 percentage point increase in inflation observed during the global food crisis (2007–2008). JEL Codes: C22, E31, E41
The overlooked war in Northern Ethiopia: Examining psychological capital, mental distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder among internally displaced people in Amhara region
Authors: Mamed Gezahegn Eshetu , Tefera Gashaye M , Bitew Mastewal , Yu Mansoo 
Published: November 2024

Background: Conflict-induced displacement is a greater risk factor for mental health challenges, especially in countries where people have limited access to mental health services. This study examined the prevalence of mental distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and their relationship with key demographic variables and psychological capital among conflict-induced Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the Wag-Hemra Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional quantitative design, and simple random sampling was used to recruit 367 IDPs from the Weleh IDP camp in Sekota town. The Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ 12), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K 10), and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder–Civilian Version (PCL-C) scales were used to collect data. STATA version 2021 was used to analyze data. Results: The prevalence of mental distress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was 63% and 48 %, respectively. Mental distress and PTSD were higher among female participants ( M = 27.4, 45.7), those who experienced rape ( M = 32.6, 55.5), witnessed murder ( M = 25.2, 46.1), widowed ( M = 30.9, 44.9), illiterate ( M = 28.1%, 47.2), and adolescents ( M = 27.6, 45.5). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that psychological capital is a significant negative predictor of mental distress and PTSD ( p = .000), with 26% mental distress and 20.9% variance in PTSD accounting for psychological capital, with self-efficacy being the strongest predicting component of psychological capital. Conclusion: The study underlined that mental health efforts should target enhancing psychological capital as the critical element in mitigating the psychological impacts of war and displacement. Training on improving self-efficacy, utilizing the solid spiritual and religious base of the IDP community to raise hope and optimism, and leveraging the communal culture to foster resilience could help reduce mental distress and the effects of PTSD among IDPs in the study area.
Psychological problems and work ability in unemployed people diagnosed with a mental illness
Authors: Hussenoeder Felix S , Koschig Maria , Pabst Alexander , Gatzsche Katharina , Bieler Luise , Alberti Mathias , Riedel-Heller Steffi G , Stengler Katarina , Conrad Ines 
Published: November 2024

Background: Research shows that unemployed individuals are more often affected by mental illness, and that mental illness can impede an individual’s work ability, creating a significant obstacle to (re)entering the workforce. Aims: The objective of this study is to examine the relationships between psychological symptoms and work ability in unemployed individuals with mental illnesses (UMIs). This will enable us to identify the symptoms that are most relevant for future research and application. Method: Our study is based on a sample from the project LIPSY, which aims to maintain and/or restore the employability of UMIs. We conducted regression analyses with the outcome variable work ability in a sample of unemployed individuals with a mental illness (ICD-10: F-diagnosis). In the initial analysis, age, gender, education, and cohabitation status were used as predictors; in the final model, all nine symptom dimensions (SCL-90) were added, that is, (1) Somatization, (2) Obsessive-Compulsive, (3) Interpersonal Sensitivity, (4) Depression, (5) Anxiety, (6) Anger-Hostility, (7) Phobic Anxiety, (8) Paranoid Ideation, and (9) Psychoticism. Results: Our sample comprised 402 participants, with a mean age of 35.7 years, 52.5% were female. In the final analysis, we found significant positive associations between education, Paranoid Ideation, and work ability, and a significant negative one between Depression and work ability, but no other significant associations. Conclusions: The elevated scores on all SCL-90 dimensions, along with the associations between two dimensions and work ability, underscore the need for psychological screening, diagnosis, prevention, and therapy (Depression) as well as additional public health attention and research (Paranoid Ideation) in this high-risk population.
Impact response of thermoplastic composites – Experiments and modeling
Authors: Voleti Sreenivasa R. , Rao Prabhakar M. , Pereira J. Michael 
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the impact response of thermoplastic composite materials. The material system under consideration is a carbon fiber reinforced low melt semi-crystalline resin TC1225 LMPAEK reinforced with T700 G (T700/LMPAEK). Several High Energy Dynamic Impact (HEDI) tests were performed wherein an aluminum projectile impacted T700/LMPAEK panels at different velocities. In the impact experiment studied herein, the projectile impacted the T700/LMPAEK panel at 73.8 m/s and rebounded. The ensuing damage to the T700/LMPAEK panel was characterized via ultrasonic C-scans, which enabled visualizing delamination extent and through-thickness matrix cracks as the boundaries between delaminations at individual interfaces. Since the projectile rebounded after impact in the current test, the fiber damage mode, while present, was not as significant as in the case of tests wherein the projectile perforated the panel. The impact event was modeled using a combined continuum damage mechanics and cohesive zone analysis approach with the commercially available hydrocode LS-DYNA®. The dynamic deformation and damage of the continuum, that is, the plies in the T700/LMPAEK laminate, were modeled using a Deformation Gradient Decomposition (DGD) material model, that is, MAT299 available within LS-DYNA. The interlaminar regions were treated as zero-thickness cohesive zones, wherein the dynamic delamination mechanics were modeled using a traction-separation formulation. Mixed-mode delamination growth was captured using the Benzegaggh-Kenane (B-K) traction-separation interpolation law. Strain-rate sensitivity of interlaminar fracture toughness was included using approximations based on published literature. The outcomes of the modeling effort demonstrate good correlations with test data regarding panel deflection, panel-projectile interactions, damage modes and damage extent.
Peers’ Disclosure of Investment Plans and Market Feedback to Managers
Authors: Aaron Aurelius , Jia Xiaoli , Ng Jeffrey 
Published: November 2024

Capex guidance disclosed by a firm’s peers provides useful information about their peers’ investment plans. In this study, we find a positive association between peers’ capex guidance and managerial learning about investment opportunities from stock prices as captured by the sensitivity of investment to Tobin’s Q, which is consistent with peers’ disclosure of investment plans encouraging investors’ information processing and thereby providing stock price–based feedback to managers. In cross-sectional analyses, we find this relationship is more pronounced when peer guidance is more informative, when managers have a greater incentive to learn from stock prices, and when the market can aggregate more information. We also find that investment corresponding to peer-capex-guidance–affected Tobin’s Q correlates with higher future performance, suggesting that improvement in managerial learning leads to better performance. Overall, our results offer insights into how peers’ disclosure of their investment plans influences information feedback from the market to the focal firm. JEL Classification: G31; M4; M41
Antecedents of employee engagement: Examining the moderating role of work life conflict for flight attendants
Authors: Riaz Adnan , Joo Baek-Kyoo (Brian) , Jamil Syed Ahsan , Bakhsh Rasool 
Published: November 2024

Background Flight attendants have direct contact with customers and are believed to be the face of the company. Therefore, factors causing employee engagement of flight attendants are important to understand. Objectives The purposes of this study are two-fold: (a) to investigate the impact of authentic leadership and group cohesiveness on employee engagement; (b) to examine the moderating role of work-life conflict on the hypothesized relationships. Methods Data was collected from 253 flight attendants from different Pakistani airlines with two separate time frames. This research study applies the hierarchical linear model to analyze the survey data. Results Results confirmed the significant and positive relationship between authentic leadership and group cohesiveness with employee engagement. In addition, work-life conflict was found to be a significant moderator for the relationships between the authentic leadership and flight attendants’ engagement. However, if there is a high level of work-life conflict, flight attendants who perceived a strong group cohesiveness turned out to indicate a high engagement level. Conclusion This study is the first to examine the work-life conflict faced by female flight attendants in association with authentic leadership, group cohesiveness, and employee engagement and the boundary conditions created by work-family conflict.
The Relationship Between Energy and Capital: Insights from The Wealth of Nations
Authors: Mair Simon 
Published: November 2024

To deliver low-carbon transitions, we must understand the dynamics of capital. To this end, I develop a theory of energy-capital relations by reading Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations from an energy-analysis perspective. I argue that, for Smith, capital is any resource used to support production with the intention of generating profits through market exchange. In The Wealth of Nations, capital enables access to new sources of energy and increases energy efficiency. This theory of energy-capital relations explains trends seen in historical energy data: because it is profit driven, capital does not save energy, it redirects it to new uses. This suggests that low-carbon investment can only enable a low-carbon transition if coupled to a systematic challenge to the profit drive. JEL Classification: B12, O44, P18, Q43, Q57
Credit and Its Legal Context in Sharecropping Relations in Postbellum Mississippi Delta: From Ownership to Controlling of Laboring Bodies
Authors: Kayatekin Serap Ayșe 
Published: November 2024

This article examines the role of credit and its framing by lien and vagrancy laws in the postbellum Mississippi delta. It is argued that the credit system that was established after the abolition of slavery ensured the control of the formerly enslaved population through the institution of “furnishing.” The credit system of postbellum South represented a new mode of control of the bodies of the laborers through a direct and personal control of their necessary labor. This control was nourished by a legal framework that secured the priority of the landowner's share of the crop over the merchant's and the laborer's. Another important dimension of the mode of control over the bodies of the sharecroppers was the vagrancy laws through the restriction of the mobility of the newly freed laboring populations. All these conditions were embedded in a context of structural and direct violence. Further analyses of this history are necessary in order to understand better some of the existing patterns of racialized capitalism in the United States. JEL Classification: K0, N5, P0, Q1
Effect of irradiation on Co0.72Sr0.07Ni0.21Fe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles and their catalytic efficiency in water treatment
Authors: Elbasiony AM , Alkhaldi Huda , Ghobashy Mohamed Mohamady , Madani Mohamed , Ghoneim Amina I , Al-Gahtany Samera Ali , Shaban Mohamed , Alharthi Salha , AlGhamdi Hind A , AlZahrani Yasmeen M , Alharthi Sarah , Al-Shaalan Nora Hamad , Darwesh Reem , Boraie Waleed E , Attia Mohamed S , Sharshir AI 
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the magnetic, thermal, and electrical properties of Co0.72Sr0.07Ni0.21Fe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles under different conditions, including as-prepared, irradiated (at a dose of 100 kGy in CO2 atmosphere), and aged (at 1000°C). The magnetic properties are analyzed using M-H loops, revealing that the aged sample exhibits the highest magnetization values. The observed decrease in magnetization after irradiation and increase after aging is consistent due to the presence of a new phase (γ-FeOOH) in the irradiated sample that XRD confirms. Electrical conductivity measurements demonstrate that the aging sample exhibits the highest electrical conductivity due to increased grain boundaries, while the irradiated sample shows increased conductivity attributed to oxygen vacancies. As well as the nanocomposite of PVP and Co0.72Sr0.07Ni0.21Fe2O4 nanoparticles aged (at 1000°C) is found to be effective in degrading the Toluidine Blue (TB) dye through catalytic oxidation and photodegradation mechanisms. The catalytic degradation of TB dye provides valuable insights into the potential application of these ferrite nanoparticles in environmental remediation and wastewater treatment. Also, nanocomposite demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against five pathogenic bacterial strains commonly found in contaminated water, with superior effectiveness against Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, suggesting its potential as an effective water treatment agent. The novelty and the aims are to analyze the changes in magnetization and conductivity of the nanoparticles under different conditions, including as-prepared, irradiated, and aged samples. Additionally, the catalytic efficiency of the aged nanoparticles in degrading Toluidine Blue (TB) dye is examined, providing insights into their potential application in environmental remediation and wastewater treatment.
Compliance with good storage practices in drug import warehouses in Syria
Authors: Al-Hawasli Hasan , Rajab Anas 
Published: November 2024

Background Ensuring the quality of pharmaceutical products is essential for effective healthcare delivery. Good storage practices (GSPs) play a crucial role in maintaining drug integrity and safety. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the adherence of Syrian drug import warehouses to GSP and identify key factors influencing compliance. Methods A mixed-methods research design was employed, involving questionnaires and observations of drug import warehouses in Syria. Data were collected from June to August 2022. The first questionnaire assessed the reality of applying GSP, while the second explored perceived benefits and obstacles. The majority of respondents (>80%) had at least 6 years of working experience in the drug warehouse field. Results Twenty-three public and private warehouses participated out of the 26 warehouses that were the subject of our study (88%). The study found that in Syria, a significant difference has been detected between existing requirements in drug import warehouses and the needed requirements for the successful implementation of GSP ( p = 0.000). Key constraints to GSP implementation included a lack of a quality-oriented culture among warehouse owners (100%) and inadequate equipment (87%). Regarding the benefits of GSP application, respondents identified ensuring the quality of sensitive products (100%) and reducing waste and damage (96%) as the most important. Conclusions To enhance GSP adherence, warehouses should prioritize staff training, adopt electronic data loggers, secure fuel for generators, obtain GSP certificates, and raise public awareness. Government agencies and international organizations should support these efforts and provide financial incentives.
Proliferative Effects of Curcuma zedoaria Extract on Ovarian Tumor Cells
Authors: Song Na , Wang Xiuyun , Yuan Mingxing 
Published: November 2024

Background Curcuma zedoaria is a common traditional herbal medicine that contains mainly curcumin and volatile oils with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effects of C. zedoaria extract on the biological behavior of ovarian cancer (OC) cells. Methods Active compounds were extracted from C. zedoaria, and the content of different active compounds was quantified. Their scavenging abilities against DPPH and -OH free radicals were analyzed, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against different bacterial strains were determined. The human OC cell line SK-OV-3 was divided into four groups and cultured in media containing C. zedoaria extract at concentrations of 0.0, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 g/L. The proliferation, inhibition, migration, and apoptosis of primary OC cells were then assessed using the methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, the scratch-healing assay, and flow cytometry. Tumor cell invasion and clonogenicity were also assessed. Finally, the status of MEK/ERK signaling in the cells was examined by protein imprinting. Results C. zedoaria extract contained 0.18% curcumin, 0.04% demethoxycurcumin, and 0.02% bisdemethoxycurcumin. When the concentration of C. zedoaria extract was ≥10 mg/mL, it exhibited a scavenging rate of over 85% for DPPH and -OH free radicals. In addition, C. zedoaria extract effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, with lower MICs observed for gram-positive bacteria. MTT cell proliferation and scratch assay results showed significant inhibition of SK-OV-3 cell proliferation and migration by C. zedoaria extract. Flow cytometry results indicated that the extract strongly promoted apoptosis in SK-OV-3 cells. Compared with the control group, the invasive and clonogenic abilities of SK-OV-3 cells decreased with increasing concentration of the extract. Protein imprinting results showed that treatment with C. zedoaria extract led to a concentration-dependent decrease in p-MEK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 protein levels in SK-OV-3 cells. Conclusion C. zedoaria extract possesses potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor properties. In addition, C. zedoaria extract can suppress the activation of MEK/ERK signaling, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and migration of SK-OV-3 cells, inducing apoptosis, and reducing the invasive and clonogenic potential of SK-OV-3 cells. It provides a theoretical basis for the discovery of novel drugs using C. zedoaria extract and its clinical applications in the treatment of OC.
CBL syndrome presenting with severe EBV infection and panuveitis masquerade
Authors: Abramowicz Stéphane , Chabbi Inès , Fardeau Christine , Touhami Sara , Bodaghi Bahram 
Published: November 2024

Purpose To describe a case of CBL syndrome presenting with life-threatening pediatric Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and sight-threatening rod-cone dystrophy (RCD) masquerading as severe panuveitis. Methods Single case report with results of whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis in the proband and his parents. Data were collected from July 2009 to December 2022. Results A 35-month-old boy presented with severe primary EBV infection complicated by encephalitis and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The clinical picture abated with systemic corticosteroids. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous germline pathogenic variant in the CBL gene c.1141T > G (p.Cys381Gly). At 6 years old, he developed a severe bilateral panuveitis requiring multiple lines of immunosuppressants, mostly to control refractory cystoid macular edema (CME). During follow-up, intraretinal pigment deposits and peripheral retinal atrophy started to appear. Full-field electroretinogram (ffERG) revealed a pattern consistent with RCD. Repeat WES targeting known inherited retinal disease (IRD) genes was negative. A diagnosis of CBL syndrome complicated by RCD masquerading as severe bilateral panuveitis was made, and CME treatment was switched to oral acetazolamide. Conclusions CBL syndrome can present with severe EBV infection early in life. RCD masquerading as severe panuveitis is also a possible feature of CBL syndrome. RCD should be kept in mind in patients with this syndrome who present with idiopathic intraocular inflammation and are refractory to IMT. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAI) should be tried early to treat CME.