Complex Connections Research Articles

Globalization and the Environment: A Path to Sustainable Development for SAARC Nations

This study examines the complex connection between globalization, environmental sustainability, and international climate policy via the lens of the Environmental Kuznets Curve model. Therefore, it examines the aspects of globalization and the consequent CO2 emissions in certain South Asian countries. The paper analyses panel data from 1991 to 2023, employing multiple econometric approaches to substantiate the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory, which elucidates the inverted U-shaped relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution. The study illustrates that economic globalization facilitates technology transfers and the adoption of sustainable practices, resulting in decreased emissions. Conversely, political globalization obstructs environmental advancements due to inadequate governance and the inability to enforce global agreements. Although social globalization now exerts a minimal positive influence on environmental awareness and sustainability, there appears to be an increase in these characteristics. Therefore, the current research advocates for the advancement of contextualized methodologies, emphasizing institutional frameworks, international cooperation, and climate financing. This study contributes to the literature on balancing economic growth with environmental preservation in a highly integrated global economy and provides policy recommendations for developing countries.

Intersectional Stigma's Consequences on Transgender Students' Mental Health, Motivation, and Academic Performance

This study examines a complex connection among intersectional stigma and the academic performance of transgender pupils in Pakistan. The research highlights the additional difficulties that transgender students encounter at the university level due to numerous types of stigma, including gender-based, religious-based, and class-based prejudice. The presence of intersectional stigma, which refers to the combined effects of many social classifications, has a considerable negative influence on the mental health, motivation, and involvement of these students in their educational endeavors. The study employs Kimberlé Crenshaw's intersectionality theory to demonstrate how several types of oppression, rooted in social identities such as race, socioeconomic class, and disability, overlap with gender identity. The study utilizes a qualitative approach with a grounded theory design, conducting semi-structured interviews with transgender students enrolled at both public and private universities in Islamabad. This method offers a comprehensive comprehension of the impact of intersectional stigma on academic performance, social marginalization, and absence of support systems. The results indicate that the combination of intersectional stigmas leads to substantial obstacles in achieving academic success and well-being, resulting in discrimination, exclusion, and insufficient assistance from institutions. These challenges have a detrimental impact on mental well-being, drive, self-worth, and overall scholastic achievement. The report asserts that it is imperative to tackle structural problems such as discriminatory regulations, inadequate teacher training, and limited resources in order to cultivate an inclusive and supportive university atmosphere. By implementing gender-neutral facilities, encouraging tolerance and acceptance, and offering dedicated support services, the academic and emotional experiences of transgender students can be improved, allowing them to reach their maximum potential.

Decoding impact of human papillomavirus in gynecological oncology: a narrative review.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a key factor in gynecological oncology. This narrative review investigates the complex connection between HPV and various gynecological cancers. For a comprehensive exploration, we examined the association between persistent HPV infection and cervical cancer and its global prevalence. Beyond the cervix, we navigated the linkages between HPV and other gynecological malignancies, shedding light on vulvar, vaginal, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. The narrative extends to discuss the critical role of HPV vaccination in preventing these cancers and exploring challenges, controversies, and future perspectives in the field. As we have described the impact of HPV, this review underscores the significance of ongoing research and public health endeavors in shaping the trajectory of gynecological oncology.

Chronological Effects of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Circadian rhythm is a physiological process that oscillates in a 24 h cycle. It has a complex connection with the function of the human immune system and even with the development of tumours. Previous studies demonstrated the time-dependent effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy; however, there are few studies on the timing effects of immunotherapy. Here, we explored the differences in the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) administered at different circadian rhythm times in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). C57BL/6N lung Lewis cancer mice models were constructed. Then, mice were intraperitoneally injected with saline or anti-PD-1 antibody at 7 AM or 7 PM, The expression of PD-L1 was detected by flow cytometry, and the expressions of clock gene BMAL1 and PER2 were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after treatment. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with NSCLC who received ICIs in our department from June 2020 to December 2022. Animal experiments showed that mice treated with ICIs in the morning showed slower tumour growth and smaller tumour volumes than those in the afternoon, accompanied by increased expression of BMAL1 and PER2 and suppression of PD-L1 expression. Retrospective analysis showed that patients who received ICIs in the afternoon (after 12:00) had significantly longer progression-free survival than those in the morning (before 12:00) (median was 16.5 months versus 9.8 months, respectively, p = 0.031, hazard ratio = 1.87). These findings suggest that immunotherapy may have time dependence, offering a novel therapeutic strategy.

Chondroitin Sulfate and Proteinoids in Neuron Models.

This study examines the relationship between chondroitin sulfate, proteinoids, and computational neuron models, with a specific emphasis on the Izhikevich neuron model. We investigate the effect of chondroitin sulfate-proteinoid complexes on the behavior and dynamics of simulated neurons. Through the use of computational simulations, we provide evidence that these biomolecular components have the power to regulate the responsiveness of neurons, the patterns of their firing, and the ability of their synapses to change within the Izhikevich architecture. The findings suggest that the interactions between chondroitin sulfate and proteinoid cause notable alterations in the dynamics of membrane potential and the timing of spikes. We detect adjustments in the features of neuronal responses, such as shifts in the thresholds for firing, alterations in spike frequency adaptation, and changes to bursting patterns. The findings indicate that chondroitin sulfate and proteinoids may have a role in precisely adjusting neuronal information processing and network behavior. This study offers valuable information about the complex connection between the many components of the extracellular matrix, protein-based structures, and the functioning of neurons. In addition, our analysis of the proteinoid-chondroitine system using game theory uncovers a significant Prisoner's Dilemma scenario. The system's inclination toward defection, due to the appeal of cheating and the significant penalty for cooperation, with a mean voltage of -9.19 mV, indicates that defective behaviors may prevail in the long term dynamics of these neuronal interactions.

Quality Metrics and Reordering Strategies for Revealing Patterns in BioFabric Visualizations.

Visualizing relational data is crucial for understanding complex connections between entities in social networks, political affiliations, or biological interactions. Well-known representations like node-link diagrams and adjacency matrices offer valuable insights, but their effectiveness relies on the ability to identify patterns in the underlying topological structure. Reordering strategies and layout algorithms play a vital role in the visualization process since the arrangement of nodes, edges, or cells influences the visibility of these patterns. The BioFabric visualization combines elements of node-link diagrams and adjacency matrices, leveraging the strengths of both, the visual clarity of node-link diagrams and the tabular organization of adjacency matrices. A unique characteristic of BioFabric is the possibility to reorder nodes and edges separately. This raises the question of which combination of layout algorithms best reveals certain patterns. In this paper, we discuss patterns and anti-patterns in BioFabric, such as staircases or escalators, relate them to already established patterns, and propose metrics to evaluate their quality. Based on these quality metrics, we compared combinations of well-established reordering techniques applied to BioFabric with a well-known benchmark data set. Our experiments indicate that the edge order has a stronger influence on revealing patterns than the node layout. The results show that the best combination for revealing staircases is a barycentric node layout, together with an edge order based on node indices and length. Our research contributes a first building block for many promising future research directions, which we also share and discuss. A free copy of this paper and all supplemental materials are available at https://osf.io/9mt8r/?view_only = b70dfbe550e3404f83059afdc60184c6.

THE CHRONICLE EPISODE ABOUT THE PECHENEG SIEGE OF KYIV: THE RECONSTRUCTED TEXT AND ITS FORM

The article shows the complex connections that exist between the history of a text and its poetics, as well as other levels of linguistic organisation, in particular, syntax. One fragment from the Tale of Bygone Years demonstrates the possibilities of textual reconstruction and its implications for understanding the poetic form of texts that were previously considered purely prose.

Visualization of the infratemporal fossa: enhancing anatomical learning through three-dimensional modeling.

The infratemporal fossa and pterygopalatine fossa are critical pathways for blood vessels and nerves leading to the orbit, nasal cavity, and oral cavity. Anatomical observation of these areas is challenging for learners due to their complex connections with surrounding structures and their deep location within the body. Since it is not easy to understand this area in three dimensions with only textbook images, there is a need to produce three-dimensional (3D) content. Most existing 3D data have reconstructed the digital imaging and communication in medicine files from computed tomography images with high accuracy; however, the surrounding structures often obstruct the view. For this reason, this project utilized Cinema4D (R18) software to refine the modeled bones and to create 3D models of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves that accurately represent their anatomical shapes and pathways. To facilitate easier access for learners via PC, the content was converted into PDF format. This enables the educational materials to be more easily viewed and the main structures more clearly observed using a computer-based viewer.

From Justice to Prosperity: The Rule of Law’s Impact on Economic Performance in the European Union

The rule of law plays an important role in fostering and advancing economic growth, not just within the EU, but on a global scale. The purpose of this article is to provide insight into the complex connections between law and economic development by combining empirical research and theoretical perspectives, and thus to further contribute to a deeper understanding of their complex dynamics. Certain correlations that are commonly acknowledged are confirmed, along with few notable exceptions. The findings underscore the imperative to cultivate a nuanced comprehension of how the rule of law influences economic performance, as such understanding is crucial for the decisionmaking processes of policymakers and companies, allowing them to adopt informed and well-founded decisions.

Exploitation, slavery, and protest in the global north: the silicon ‘plantations’ of Salento (Italy) – the tecnova case

This study analyses the Tecnova case in Salento (2009-2011), a paradigmatic example of the exploitation of migrant labour in the context of renewable energy, a sector often celebrated for its innovative and sustainable potential. Through a sociological analysis combining qualitative interviews with privileged observers and the Protest Event Analysis approach, the complex connections between racialisation, precarious labour and the dynamics of global capitalism are explored. Migrant workers, employed in conditions of extreme exploitation, have given rise to spontaneous protests that, while achieving concrete results in terms of immediate demands, have failed to undermine the deep structures of racialised capitalism and the migration policies that fuel its existence. Using the concepts of the coloniality of power and the racialisation of labour, the study highlights how even sectors related to the energy transition can reproduce the extractive, hierarchical and oppressive logics typical of contemporary capitalism. Finally, the research sheds light on the structural limits of traditional unionisation in supporting migrants' forms of spontaneous resistance and reflects on the theoretical and practical possibilities of building broader movements capable of challenging the racial hierarchies and extractive logics underpinning the global economic system.

Boat-shaped fibulae from the Early Iron Age sites of Érd and Százhalombatta

AbstractThe primary aim of this study is to present some Early Iron Age brooches found at Érd-Hosszúföldek, including an attempt to clarify some of the cultural connections of the area. The pair of boat-shaped fibulae connected by a chain, the three-footed vessels, and the ribbed cysts indicate a complex and widespread connection network in the period.

Anatomical and Biochemical Pathogenesis of Motor Pathway Disruption in Cerebral Palsy: A Narrative Review

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor impairments caused by brain lesions that affect motor pathways. Objective: This review describes the complex interaction between the thalamus and cerebral cortex in CP, the understanding of which would explain its pathophysiology and treatment strategies. Discussion: Cerebral palsy classification is based on motor impairment presentation, each with specific neurological deficits related to the disruption of specific motor pathways. The thalamus serves as a crucial relay station in these pathways, transmitting ascending and descending signals to the cortex via thalamocortical and corticothalamic tracts. Brain injuries like periventricular leukomalacia, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or malformations disrupt these pathways, leading to motor deficits. Advanced imaging techniques such as diffusion and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveal altered connectivity patterns in CP, offering insights into its pathophysiology and aiding diagnosis. Studies have highlighted the variability of clinical presentations in CP and the correlation with specific brain regions affected. Deep brain stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting the thalamus emerge as promising therapeutic opportunities to restore motor function in CP by addressing pathway disruptions. Conclusion: This review provides a comprehensive overview of motor pathways in CP, emphasizing the role of the thalamus and cortical connectivity in motor impairments. Understanding this complex connectivity provides an avenue for optimum and targeted therapeutic interventions to improve outcomes for individuals with CP.

Assessing the Theoretical Scope of Environmental Justice in Contemporary Literature and Developing a Pragmatic Monitoring Framework

The environmental justice (EJ) movement has evolved over five decades, encapsulating diverse theories, principles, frameworks, and practices. Despite considerable advancements in this field, the nuances of EJ in the Anthropocene era, along with its monitoring and evaluation, remain ambiguous. This paper endeavors to bridge this gap by amalgamating more than 200 review and empirical articles and theoretical literature to delve into a comprehensive exploration of the EJ discourse to date, utilizing the Planetary Justice Research Framework (PJRF). First, we build on the existing knowledge by using three dimensions of EJ from the PJRF, acknowledging historical legacies, and explaining them with practical examples. Second, we create a comprehensive framework to evaluate (in)justice in real-world applications, highlighting the contextual relationships (intra-, inter-, and transdisciplinary) and the role of spatial, temporal, and contextual factors. Finally, we explore the complex connections between living beings and non-living components, showing how (un)just actions impact the balance within and between planetary systems. Consequently, the newly devised monitoring framework highlights potential instances where questions of (in)justice may arise in practical settings, thereby guiding the formulation of measuring indicators and procedural methodologies.

The Interplay Between Obesity and Aging in Breast Cancer and Regulatory Function of MicroRNAs in This Pathway.

Breast cancer (BC) is a significant contributor to cancer-related deaths in women, and it has complex connections with obesity and aging. This review explores the interaction between obesity and aging in relation to the development and progression of BC, focusing on the controlling role of microRNAs (miRNAs). Obesity, characterized by excess adipose tissue, contributes to a proinflammatory environment and metabolic dysregulation, which are important in tumor development. Aging, associated with cellular senescence and systemic changes, further exacerbates these conditions. miRNAs, small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression, play key roles in these processes, impacting pathways involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cancer metastasis, either as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Importantly, specific miRNAs are implicated in mediating the impact of obesity and aging on BC. Exploring the regulatory networks controlled by miRNAs provides valuable information on new targets for therapy and predictive markers, demonstrating the potential for using miRNA-based interventions to treat BC in obese and elderly individuals. This review emphasizes the importance of integrated research strategies to understand the complex connections between obesity, aging, and miRNA regulation in BC.

Grit and workplace spirituality on psychological well-being among faculties of higher education institutions

The present research investigates the complex connection between grit, workplace spirituality, and psychological well-being among faculty members in higher education institutions. The study was focused on faculty members of public state universities in India (Bihar). The data was gathered through surveys and then examined using multiple regression analysis. Findings offer valuable insights into the factors that influence psychological well-being among faculty members. Precisely results indicate that grit and workplace spirituality are strong predictors of various aspects of psychological well-being. The study also revealed an interesting facet of workplace spirituality as the workplace spirituality was positively associated with psychological well-being, but a further analysis of its components showed a more complex relationship. The spiritual orientation dimension, representing an individual's adherence to their spiritual ideals at work, was discovered to adversely affect psychological well-being. This contradictory discovery indicates that an overemphasis on spiritual orientation in higher education could result in a contradiction between personal values and professional requirements, ultimately reducing psychological well-being. It emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach to workplace spirituality that enables individuals to incorporate their spiritual beliefs into their work without facing excessive stress or conflict. The results provide significant information for enhancing the welfare of educational professionals and may have wider significance for the education sector and occupational psychology.

Impact of Clindamycin on the Oral-Gut Axis: Gastrointestinal Side Effects and Clostridium difficile Infection in 45 Patients.

Introduction The use of antibiotics such as oral clindamycin has been effective in treating bacterial infections. However, this medication often comes with significant side effects, particularly those affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) system. This studyaims to evaluate the impact of different doses of clindamycin on GI health, specifically examining side effects like stomach upset, diarrhea duration, stomach pain, and recovery time. Given that clindamycin is frequently prescribed, understanding its impact on the oral-gut axis is critical to optimizing antibiotic therapy and reducing adverse events. Background Clindamycin, a lincosamide antibiotic, is widely used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. It acts by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis but, like many antibiotics, also has unintended consequences for human gut health. The oral-gut axis represents a complex connection where antibiotics, such as clindamycin, can significantly alter the microbiota, leading to imbalances that manifest as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other digestive issues. This study aims to explore these effects in depth by comparing two common doses of clindamycin, 300 mg versus 600 mg, and the impact of each dose on the severity and duration of GI side effects. Materials and methods This study involves 45 patients prescribed clindamycin for various bacterial infections. The patients were evaluated in two groups: 22 patients who received 300 mg and 23 patients who received 600 mg. Treatment duration ranged from seven to 10 days. Data collection focused on patient-reported symptoms, including the presence and duration of stomach upset, the length of diarrhea episodes, the persistence of stomach pain, and the overall recovery time. Statistical analysis included independent t-tests to compare symptom severity between the groups and chi-squared tests to assess differences in the incidence of side effects, while regression analysis was used to examine predictors of prolonged GI symptoms. Results The results of the study showed that 98% of patients experienced some side effects from oral clindamycin. Among those receiving the 600 mg dose, the frequency and severity of side effects were significantly higher compared to the 300 mg group. Specifically, the average duration of diarrhea in the 600 mg group was five days, compared to three days in the 300 mg group. Similarly, the average length of stomach pain in the higher dose group was seven days, compared to four days for those taking the lower dose. Chi-squared analysis indicated a significant association between the higher dose and increased incidence of GI symptoms. Regression analysis further showed that the 600 mg dose was a significant predictor of prolonged GI disturbances, underscoring a dose-dependent relationship. Conclusion The findings of this case study highlight that oral clindamycin, particularly at higher doses, is associated with increased GI side effects, including prolonged diarrhea and stomach pain. Almost all patients experienced side effects, with those on the 600 mg dose suffering more severe and prolonged symptoms compared to those on the 300 mg dose. The results suggest avoiding the prescription of oral clindamycin unless absolutely necessary, to reduce adverse outcomes and improve compliance. It is recommended to prioritize first-line antibiotics and reserve oral clindamycin as a secondary option. Further research is needed to investigate strategies for prescribing.

The Effects of Childhood Trauma and Peer Relationships on Well-being

As more and more people begin to talk about traumatic childhood experiences, the topic has gradually become a hot topic in society. Childhood trauma (CT), which stems from various sources such as family instability, social environments, and personal experiences, can lead to long-term psychological issues that diminish an individual's perception of happiness. Most people believe that CT can affect happiness, and that peer relationships are equally important in an individual's upbringing, and can even affect happiness. This essay explores the complex connections between peer relationships, well-being, and early trauma, with an emphasis on how these interactions affect happiness. Therefore, through the investigation of existing data and literature, the results show that people who have experienced CT are less likely to experience happiness, while people who have positive peer relationships are better able to experience happiness. The results highlight how important peer interactions and CT are to an individual's overall wellbeing. Despite the extensive scope of the available studies, there remains a void in research examining happiness beyond the college years. This research argues that in order to fully comprehend these processes, more comprehensive studies of happiness throughout various life phases are required. All things considered, promoting long-term well-being and happiness requires resolving CT and cultivating strong peer relationships.

The Complex Connection Between Myocardial Dysfunction and Cancer Beyond Cardiotoxicity: Shared Risk Factors and Common Molecular Pathways.

Cardiovascular diseases and cancer represent the largest disease burden worldwide. Previously, these two conditions were considered independent, except in terms of cardiotoxicity, which links cancer treatment to subsequent cardiovascular issues. However, recent studies suggest that there are further connections between cancer and heart disease beyond cardiotoxicity. It has been revealed that myocardial dysfunction may promote carcinogenesis, indicating that additional common pathophysiological mechanisms might be involved in the relationship between cardiology and oncology, rather than simply a connection through cardiotoxic effects. These mechanisms may include shared risk factors and common molecular pathways, such as persistent inflammation and neurohormonal activation. This review explores the connection between myocardial dysfunction and cancer, emphasizing their shared risk factors, similar biological mechanisms, and causative factors like cardiotoxicity, along with their clinical implications.

TUH-NAS: A Triple-Unit NAS Network for Hyperspectral Image Classification.

Over the last few years, neural architecture search (NAS) technology has achieved good results in hyperspectral image classification. Nevertheless, existing NAS-based classification methods have not specifically focused on the complex connection between spectral and spatial data. Strengthening the integration of spatial and spectral features is crucial to boosting the overall classification efficacy of hyperspectral images. In this paper, a triple-unit hyperspectral NAS network (TUH-NAS) aimed at hyperspectral image classification is introduced, where the fusion unit emphasizes the enhancement of the intrinsic relationship between spatial and spectral information. We designed a new hyperspectral image attention mechanism module to increase the focus on critical regions and enhance sensitivity to priority areas. We also adopted a composite loss function to enhance the model's focus on hard-to-classify samples. Experimental evaluations on three publicly accessible hyperspectral datasets demonstrated that, despite utilizing a limited number of samples, TUH-NAS outperforms existing NAS classification methods in recognizing object boundaries.

Combined topological and spatial constraints are required to capture the structure of neural connectomes

Abstract Volumetric brain reconstructions provide an unprecedented opportunity to gain insights into the complex connectivity patterns of neurons in an increasing number of organisms. Here, we model and quantify the complexity of the resulting neural connectomes in the fruit fly, mouse, and human and unveil a simple set of shared organizing principles across these organisms. To put the connectomes in a physical context, we also construct contactomes, the network of neurons in physical contact in each organism. With these, we establish that physical constraints—either given by pairwise distances or the contactome—play a crucial role in shaping the network structure. For example, neuron positions are highly optimal in terms of distance from their neighbors. Yet, spatial constraints alone cannot capture the network topology, including the broad degree distribution. Conversely, the degree sequence alone is insufficient to recover the spatial structure. We resolve this apparent mismatch by formulating scalable maximum entropy models, incorporating both types of constraints. The resulting generative models have predictive power beyond the input data, as they capture several additional biological and network characteristics, like synaptic weights and graphlet statistics.