bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Queer and Transgender Media Studies
Authors: Zhang Erique , Billard Thomas J 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
This chapter examines queer and transgender theoretical approaches to the study of media as it pertains to social justice. The chapter presents a brief overview of queer and trans theory before tracing how media scholars have approached the question of representation in media. It is shown how critical theoretical frameworks such as queer of color critique have intervened into queer and trans media studies to further shed light on the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. The chapter then explores examples of research in emerging digital media technologies that move the field of queer and trans media studies beyond its traditional focus on legacy media (e.g., film and television). It is argued that media scholars must incorporate empirical methods alongside humanistic inquiry to fully account for the complexity of issues in the contemporary media landscape. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research, focusing on digital media and technology.
Popular Republicanism and Racial Exclusion
Authors: Jagmohan Desmond 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The central claim of this chapter is that Martin R. Delany’s political thought emerged as a counterpoint to two developments in Northern states between 1830 and the mid-1850s. First, these states were disenfranchising their free African American population as they were extending the franchise to propertyless white men. Second, a conventions movement led by free African Americans arose in response to these disenfranchisement efforts. Focusing on both contexts shows that Delany drew on Roman political thought to offer a critique of political inequality that went far beyond the redemptive republicanism of the conventions. Though he emphasized freedom from arbitrary power, his writings centred on political equality, which he said required the right to vote and hold office. Delany also argued that the racialized discourses supporting disenfranchisement would produce social injuries that outlived the laws they ushered into the world. In addressing the political inequality free African Americans suffered in the North, Delany’s writings anticipated the world that emerged after slavery, essentially showing that Jim Crow was a child of the antebellum North that came of age in the postbellum South.
Impact of Agricultural Input Subsidy on Nutritional Outcomes in Malawi
Authors: Novignon Jacob , Chirwa Gowokani Chijere , Frempong Raymond Boadi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
This chapter examined the impact of Malawi’s Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) on nutrition. Household panel data from the Malawi Integrated Household Panel Surveys for 2010 and 2013 was used. Using Poisson and two-stage least square (2SLS) regressions models, results suggest a generally positive impact of the FISP programme on household nutritional status. A gender-disaggregated analysis indicates that while there was no difference in the direction of impact, the magnitude was higher for female-headed households than for male-headed households. There was also evidence of a positive impact of food price fluctuations on nutritional outcomes. The findings emphasize the relevance of farm input subsidy programmes in reshaping agricultural and nutritional outcomes in developing countries.
Constructed Socio-Economic Exclusion
Authors: Manyungwa-Pasani Chikondi Lydia , Nagoli Joseph 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
This chapter highlights gender inequalities that hamper women’s realization of their potential in small-scale fisheries in Malawi. The study uses in-depth analysis of drivers of inequalities and regulatory frameworks in the context of constraints and barriers women face in fish farming based on information from literature on the determinant factors that contribute to marginalization of women. It finds that women have less recourse to legal recognition and protection, lower access to public knowledge and information, and less decision-making power. It notes that law alone cannot guarantee gender equality, hence the need to adopt inclusive and equitable approaches that harness consciousness-raising to enhance women’s participation in small-scale fisheries value chains.
Intensification as a Strategy to Promote Dairy Farming in Malawi
Authors: Kawonga Bettie Sindi , Banda Beatrice 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The Malawi government’s strategy to enhance dairy productivity has focused on applying technological approaches to reinforce ecological (zero-grazing) and genetic (modern breeding technologies) intensification. Despite these concerted efforts, dairy productivity has faced enormous challenges. The objective of this chapter is to shed light on Malawi’s intensification strategies and the pivotal role played by producer groups in driving this process. A survey was conducted over the period 2016–2017, encompassing three distinct groups: cooperatives, conventional groups, and non-conventional groups. The existence of specialized structures for milk bulking and marketing indicates a coordinated effort in both milk production and market facilitation. Nevertheless, significant differences were observed among the groups concerning farmers’ access to inputs and veterinary services. The study suggests the need for intensification strategies to incorporate the unique characteristics of producer groups to allow for more targeted interventions, to ensure that resources are allocated effectively.
Barriers to Crop Insurance Adoption Among Malawian Farmers
Authors: Kamwana Hamilton , Mangisoni Julius , Machila Ken , Makoka Donald 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Although crop insurance is ideal to cushion challenges that are associated with climate change, adoption of the product by smallholder farmers remains low. Several researchers have investigated the challenges that affect the adoption of crop insurance. However, what remains unclear is whether the identified challenges have the same influence on adoption decisions. Likewise, it has not yet been determined which crop insurance attributes are considered important in crop insurance adoption decisions. The study used the Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) and the Relative Importance Index (RII) to rank the problems that hinder crop insurance adoption and crop insurance attributes in relation to adoption decisions. Lack of knowledge about crop insurance, inadequate access to credit, limited access to weather and climate information, and limited access to markets are found to be the main barriers to crop insurance adoption.
The Election Commission of India and Its Evolution
Authors: Bora Banasmita 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Election logistics in India which involves immaculate strategic planning and preparation for around 911 million electorate is however not just about size and magnitude; it is also about enabling the democratic process, while dealing with regional, religious, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity. Over the years, with the emergence of new condition the voting system in India has gone through various changes. The size of the electorate, the number of political parties and candidates contesting elections, election expenditure, and modes of communication have gone up manifold since the first elections. The Election Commission of India has acquired significant public trust in the country and abroad for the remarkable electoral journey in India.
The Party System
Authors: Diwakar Rekha 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of the party system in India in respect of its evolution, key characteristics, determinants, and consequences. It discusses the various phases of the evolution of the Indian party system, beginning with the Congress’s dominance followed by its decline and the rise of regional parties, leading to fragmentation and emergence of coalition politics, and more recently, a shift towards the BJP’s dominance. The chapter’s main argument is that the party system in India has been shaped by various institutional, sociological and contextual factors. It highlights that parties in India function within the institutional framework of a federal structure and the single-member plurality electoral system (SMPS), and that the multiplicity of parties can be viewed as an outcome of the politicisation of the social cleavages of religion, caste, culture and region. The chapter also outlines the recent developments in the Indian party system especially the rise and dominance of the BJP at the national level as the country approaches its 18th national election in 2024. It concludes that the party system in India is likely to remain fluid and continue to reflect the country’s social and regional diversity amid the workings of the SMPS and a federal form of governance.
The Politics of Public Service Delivery in India
Authors: Maiorano Diego 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of public service delivery in India, focusing, in particular, on welfare, health, and education. The starting point of the analysis is the poor record of the Indian state in ensuring good living conditions to a large section of its citizens, as reflected in low human development indicators. The chapter then focuses on a key reason why India is unable to provide essential services evenly and effectively: the lack of state capacity, understood as a lack of financial and human resources. The chapters focus on the political determinants of the lack of state capacity, which results in uneven and poor service delivery.
The Lok Sabha
Authors: Madhavan M. R. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Lok Sabha is the directly elected House of Parliament with the exclusive right to elect the Prime Minister. Its functioning on various parameters—days met, time lost to disruptions, proportion of bills passed through recorded vote—has been declining over the last few decades. In this paper, we discuss two major aspects that need to be addressed for the House to safeguard its role as an institution of accountability. First, we discuss how the antidefection law has weakened the role of members of parliament as national level representatives of citizens. Second, we discuss the role of the Speaker as a neutral arbiter and whether the office acts in an impartial manner.
The Functions and Challenges of Indian Defence Policy
Authors: Tarapore Arzan 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The three core functions of Indian defense policy are the defense of India’s territorial boundaries, the management of sub-conventional threats, and the projection of regional influence. The military has carried out these functions with a mixed record in decades past—but whatever its historical performance, India faces a rapidly evolving set of challenges in fulfilling each core function. This chapter takes a functional view, to assess India’s ability to execute the top priorities of its defense policy.
Drivers of India’s South Asia Policy
Authors: Jacob Happymon 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
New Delhi has had a troubled relationship with its immediate neighbourhood, the South Asian region, despite being the region’s biggest state in every sense of the term. The chapter argues that the following key drivers have broadly shaped India’s regional policy, and its troubled relationship with the neighbourhood, since its independence from the British colonial rule in 1947: remnants of the British colonial legacy, India’s Regional Primacy in South Asia, great power aspirations, sense of insecurity, worries about an ascendant China, and New Delhi’s lacklustre desire for regionalism.
Financial Incentives for Improving Maternal Health: A Review of Ethical Considerations
Authors: Jegan Roshni , Rose Anuradha , Dierickx Kris 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Maternal health is considered a key global priority by the World Health Organization, and several strategies are used to promote it. Especially in lower- and lower-middle-income countries, one widely used strategy employs financial incentives to motivate pregnant women to access available healthcare. While such interventions have been extensively empirically evaluated, their normative aspects appear to have received less attention. To address this gap, we systematically searched and reviewed normative and qualitative literature to map and analyze the ethical considerations of using financial incentives to promote maternal health. Twenty-three articles (four normative and 19 qualitative) were included in the review. We grouped ethical considerations under six categories, namely the program structure, promoting institutional births, of the ethical significance of cash, justifying conditionalities for maternal health, effects on individuals’ decision-making and the experiences of vulnerable groups. While incentives could be used for beneficent goals, we show how they may emphasize global rather than local solutions, impose unfamiliar sociocultural values, unfairly expect behavior change and disempower individuals and groups. We argue that future maternal health policy, especially those targeting vulnerable groups and minorities, would benefit from taking these normative considerations into account.
Moments of Artin–Schreier L-functions
Authors: Florea Alexandra , Jones Edna , Lalin Matilde 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
We compute moments of L-functions associated to the polynomial family of Artin–Schreier covers over $\mathbb{F}_q$, where q is a power of a prime p &gt; 2, when the size of the finite field is fixed and the genus of the family goes to infinity. More specifically, we compute the $k{\text{th}}$ moment for a large range of values of k, depending on the sizes of p and q. We also compute the second moment in absolute value of the polynomial family, obtaining an exact formula with a lower order term, and confirming the unitary symmetry type of the family.
On the up and up: the job mobility of skilled return migrants
Authors: Jacobs Elizabeth 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThis paper examines the labor market incorporation of skilled Indian migrants returning home after working in the United States. I analyze a novel dataset of 7,177 time-varying transnational employment histories from LinkedIn using logistic regression and survival analysis. I find that skilled Indian migrants experience occupational upgrades when re-entering their home labor market, buoyed by foreign human capital and compensating for US legal status restrictions. While immigrants often face initial occupational downgrades and job mobility constraints in foreign labor markets, return migrants experience stability, promotions and accelerated rates of job mobility at home. The paper contributes to the literature on return migration, a significant but understudied dimension of international migration due to data constraints. I offer LinkedIn employment histories as digital data source to address these limitations and leverage their rich spatio-temporal information. These data help expand prior research on return migrant wages to broader questions about transnational migrant career trajectories. The findings shed light into where high-demand migrants might maximize their career growth, and have implications for understanding the policies shaping the recruitment and retention of skilled workers in the global labor market.
What Patient-related Factors Most Strongly Influence Autologous Fat Grafting Volume Retention in Breast Augmentation?
Authors: Utsunomiya Hiroki , Maruyama Naoki , Onodera Takaaki 
Published: September 2024

Background:
Regarding autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation, the factors influencing volume retention are unclear. Few studies have assessed which factors, particularly patient-related variables, could affect volume retention and to what extent, without performing multivariate analysis. In this study, we performed three-dimensional breast volume measurements before and after autologous fat grafting, calculated the volume and volume retention, and investigated factors that may affect volume retention.

Methods:
A total of 204 breasts that underwent autologous fat grafting by the same surgeon at our hospital between May 25 and December 25, 2021 were included. Volumetric measurements were taken preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively using a three-dimensional camera; volume retention was calculated. Linear mixed model analysis was performed to examine the effects of age, body mass index, number of total autologous fat grafting procedures, pregnancy and lactation history, smoking status, fat processing techniques (sedimentation versus centrifugation), preoperative volume, and weight change at the 3- and 6-month postoperative volume retention analyses.

Results:
Using multivariate analysis, the preoperative volume was found to be a significant factor at 3 and 6 months. The preoperative volume affected fat volume retention rate by 0.004 (P = 0.001) and 0.008 (P = 0.011) per 10 mL at 3 and 6 months, respectively.

Conclusions:
The preoperative volume likely affected fat volume retention. Specifically, a 100-mL increase in the preoperative breast volume might increase the volume retention by 4%–8%. Preoperative volume is an important confounding factor for future studies.
Persistent (Nav1.9) sodium currents in human dorsal root ganglion neurons
Authors: Zhang Xiulin , Hartung Jane E. , Gold Michael S. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Nav1.9 is of interest to the pain community for a number of reasons, including the human mutations in the gene encoding Nav1.9, SCN11a, that are associated with both pain and loss of pain phenotypes. However, because much of what we know about the biophysical properties of Nav1.9 has been learned through the study of rodent sensory neurons, and there is only 76% identity between human and rodent homologs of SCN11a, there is reason to suggest that there may be differences in the biophysical properties of the channels in human and rodent sensory neurons, and consequently, the contribution of these channels to the control of sensory neuron excitability, if not pain. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize Nav1.9 currents in human sensory neurons and compare the properties of these currents with those in rat sensory neurons recorded under identical conditions. Whole-cell patch clamp techniques were used to record Nav1.9 currents in isolated sensory neurons in vitro. Our results indicate that several of the core biophysical properties of the currents, including persistence and a low threshold for activation, are conserved across species. However, we noted a number of potentially important differences between the currents in human and rat sensory neurons including a lower threshold for activation, higher threshold for inactivation, slower deactivation, and faster recovery from slow inactivation. Human Nav1.9 was inhibited by inflammatory mediators, whereas rat Nav1.9 was potentiated. Our results may have implications for the role of Nav1.9 in sensory, if not nociceptive signaling.
The association between bullying victimization and back pain in young people: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Authors: Phillips Nichole , Brown Benjamin T. , Jones Michael P. , Magson Natasha , Beynon Amber , Swain Michael S. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Back pain is a common and recurrent health complaint in adolescence. Psychosocial factors may be associated with the onset and persistence of back pain symptoms. This systematic review aims to determine the association between bullying victimization and back pain in young people. Observational studies that quantified the association between bullying victimization and back pain in participants were included in this systematic review. Estimates of associations and confidence intervals were extracted. A random effects meta-analysis of estimates of association was performed. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. Database searches yielded 18,311 citations. Nineteen studies (n = 212,058, 51.4% female) were included in our review. Meta-analysis showed a positive association between bullying victimization and back pain (odds ratio 1.93, confidence interval 1.75-2.13). Subgroup analysis showed no statistically significant effect of sex, age, bullying type, pain type, recall periods, bullying frequency, back pain frequency, risk estimate adjustment, and study critical appraisal rating. All studies were rated at moderate-high risk of bias. Our synthesis of evidence found a weak-moderate association between bullying victimization and back pain in young people. Methodological shortcomings and heterogeneity in the field limit causal inference. Future longitudinal studies are required.
Single center experience developing sustainable genetics clinical care: a model to address workforce challenges in medical genetics
Authors: Kinney Aaron , Dalton Shelisa A. , McCarrier Julie , Basel Donald 
Published: September 2024

Purpose of review
The national workforce shortage in genetics is being evaluated in order to identify a sustainable solution to the increasing demand for genomic services. An innovative solution to the short term needs is to integrate advanced practice providers (APPs) and embed genetic counselors into both outpatient and inpatient specialty care. Incorporating APPs into a genetic service is not unique in itself, but the method of implementation at Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) was, at the time, unchartered.

Recent findings
There are >100 vacancies for board certified medical geneticists across the nation, training programs are not enrolling sufficient trainees to meet demand and more than a third of the current workforce plan to retire within the next 10 years.

Summary
The integration of advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants etc.) into both primary and specialty care has been an evolving practice since the mid-1900s and incorporating APPs into a genetic service was not unique in itself but the method of implementation was new at that time. This is a model to successfully develop a clinical practice model around a team-based structure incorporating nurse clinicians, advanced practice providers, genetic counselors, nutritionists, and physicians into an academic clinical genetics practice.
A Retrospective Study on Botulinum Toxin Injection in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Related Tremor: A Treatment Option Worth Trying
Authors: Gonul Oner Ozge , Erturk Cetin Ozdem , Serkan Demir 
Published: September 2024

Objectives
Multiple sclerosis (MS)-related tremor remains a disabling problem that often responds poorly to medical treatments. This study aims to evaluate the effect of botulinum toxin type A on MS-related upper limb tremor.

Methods
This retrospective observational cohort study included 8 patients who received intramuscular injections of onabotulinum toxin type A for medically refractory MS-related tremor. Hospital records before and 4–6 weeks after treatment, including the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor rating scale (FTM-TRS), electrophysiological tremor analysis, neurological examination findings, and videos, were reviewed retrospectively.

Results
There was significant improvement after botulinum toxin injection in the FTM TRS part A score for tremor (P = 0.011), FTM TRS part B score for hand function (P = 0.011), FTM Part score for activities of daily living (P = 0.012), and FTM TRS total score for overall evaluation (P = 0.012). Electrophysiological tremor analysis revealed maximal tremor amplitudes between 700–2000 μV (before treatment) and between 300–1000 μV (after treatment). The mean tremor amplitudes before and after treatment were 1350 μV and 725 μV, respectively. No adverse reactions were observed after botulinum toxin treatment.

Conclusions
BoNT may improve upper limb tremor and functionality in MS-related tremor. The treatment involved administering BoNT under EMG guidance, with careful muscle selection based on clinical assessment and EMG findings. This approach aimed to optimize treatment efficacy while minimizing potential adverse effects. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.