bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Knowledge Attitude, and Practice of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Selected Hospital of Somalia
Authors: Osman Abdirashid Mouse , Shahjahan Md.
Published: March 2024

Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar, or glucose), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Diabetes is an important public health problem, one of four priority non-communicable diseases (NCDs) targeted for action by world leaders. Both the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past few decades. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the respondents showed that. Age- majority of the respondent’s age were 33 (25-30%) comprising (33 N=80), 18 (22.5) their age was 30-35, 16 (20.0%) were age 35-40 while 40-45 were 13 (16.2%). Table shows the characteristics of study participants stratified by their gender. The respondent of 49 (61.2%) were males and 31 (38.8%) were females. As see the table above that most of the participants was married while few numbers were windowed and divorced. 15 Were single (18.8%), 58 were Married (72.5%), 3 were widow (3.8%) and 4 were divorced (5.0%). The majority respondents reported to have attained are never go to school education, 53 (66.2%) while of the respondents, secondary education were 8 (10.0%) and also 3 (3.8%) were primary. 12 (15.0%) had Diploma. While 4 (5.0%) was Bachelor degree and above education. The table above shows that majority of the respondents were self employment 33 (41.2%), while the house wife was in second number of respondents were 31 (38.8%) Civil society were 11(13.8) and Health workers also were 5(6.2).
Government Policy or Market Mechanism, Which Is Better for Chinese Private Rocket Enterprises
Authors: Wenhe Sun , Ke Gao , Yuanyuan Chen
Published: March 2024

In 2015, Chinese Government issued the Notice on the National Civil Space Infrastructure Medium - and Long-Term Development Plan (2015-2025), announcing that it would support and guide social capitals to participate in the application and development of national civil space infrastructure construction. Later, Chinese private companies are allowed to apply for launch licenses, breaking the traditional model of allocating funds from the state budget and developing rockets only by the "national teams". Many Chinese private rocket companies were registered and established afterwards, and some of them have successfully launched rockets several times in recent years. At the same time, Chinese private rocket enterprises are also facing with many problems, including the low success rate of rockets, the risk of rocket debris falling, high space insurance rates, space junk, talent competition, and corporate survival, etc. In 2023, the Chinese Government issued Notice on Strengthening the License Management for Civil Space Launch Projects, which requires the third-party liability insurance policy and space debris mitigation plan for launch licenses application, meanwhile the last sub-stage of the launch vehicle should de-orbit according to the regulations after taking measures such as passivation, using government policy tools to regulate and guide the development of private rockets. In conclusion, in order to promote the healthy development of commercial launch service industry, the market mechanism should play a leading role, while appropriately regulation and adjustment from the government policy are also needed. In addition, this paper also suggested that the Chinese government should carry out overall planning for the division of labor and product models of state-owned and private rocket companies.
Study of Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight in the Bounkiling Health District in 2020 (Senegal)
Authors: Camara Maty Diagne , Diarra Bou , Diop Mbathio , Tine Jean Augustin , Bassoum Oumar , Diongue Mayacine , Sougou Ndeye Marieme , Leye Mamadou Makhtar Mbacké , Faye Adama , Seck Ibrahima
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Neonatal mortality is particularly high in developing countries. Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health problem in both developing and developed countries. It accounts for a significant proportion of neonatal deaths. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with the occurrence of low birth weight in the Bounkiling health district in 2020. Methodology: This was a retrospective case-control study of the various factors associated with low birth weight, based on women's delivery records from maternity units in the Bounkiling health district throughout 2020. Mothers' socio-demographic characteristics, obstetrical and medical history, and information on the health status of the newborn in the case group (weight less than 2,500 grams) were compared with those in the control group (weight greater than or equal to 2,500 grams). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Épi info 7 software to identify risk factors associated with LBW. Results: The study showed that low birth weight accounted for 97.05% of LBW, the sex ratio was 0.87 in favor of girls, the Apgar score at birth was not good (below 7) for 31.43% of newborns. Teenage mothers accounted for 17.08%. Women with no schooling accounted for 71.34%, and those living in households with a monthly income of less than 50,000 CFA francs per month were 63.71%. Results of the multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for LBW (p < 0.05) were female sex of the newborn (AOR=1.59 with CI=1.07 - 2.35), Apgar score at birth (AOR=2.79 with CI=1.77 - 4.41), young maternal age under 19 (AOR=2.42 with CI=1.43- 4.12), household income under 50,000 CFA francs, (AOR=1.97 with CI=1.27-3.04), maternal history of low birth weight (AOR=3.62 with CI=2.02-6.50), physical labor during pregnancy (AOR=1.80 with CI=1.20 - 2.69). Conclusion: Improving neonatal health through a reduction in LBW will depend on intensifying the implementation of strategies focused on adolescent reproductive health, strengthening communication with adolescent girls and community leaders on the issue of early marriage and pregnancy, improving pregnancy monitoring at health facilities and raising the socio-economic level of women through their empowerment.
Observed Changes in Extreme Precipitation Associated with U.S. Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Uehling John , Schreck Carl J.
Published: March 2024

Numerous recent tropical cyclones have caused extreme rainfall and flooding events in the CONUS. Climate change is contributing to heavier extreme rainfall around the world. Modeling studies have suggested that tropical cyclones may be particularly efficient engines for transferring the additional water vapor in the atmosphere into extreme rainfall. This paper develops a new indicator for climate change using the enhanced rainfall metric to evaluate how the frequency and/or intensity of extreme rainfall around tropical cyclones has changed. The enhanced rainfall metric relates the amount of rain from a storm over a given location to the 5-yr return period rainfall in that location to determine the severity of the event. The annual area exposed to tropical-cyclone-related 5-yr rainfall events is increasing, which makes it a compelling climate change indicator. Quantile regression illustrates that the distribution of tropical cyclone rainfall is also changing. For tropical storms, all quantiles are increasing. However, major hurricanes show large increases in their most extreme rainfall. This study does not attempt to make any detection claims (vs natural variability) or attribution of the observed trends to anthropogenic forcing. However, the sensitivity of the results to natural variability in tropical cyclone frequency was somewhat constrained by comparing 2 decades from the previous active era (1951–70) with two from the current era (2001–20). This comparison also shows that both the mean rainfall and the maximum rainfall associated with tropical cyclones are increasing over most areas of the eastern CONUS with the most significant increases from northern Alabama to the southern Appalachians.

Significance Statement

The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes in frequency and magnitude of extreme precipitation events associated with tropical cyclones with the goal of developing a new indicator for climate change. This is important because heavy rainfall and associated flooding is one of the primary causes of tropical cyclone destruction and fatalities, especially in inland locations away from where storms initially make landfall. Our results show that both the frequency and magnitude of extreme rainfall events from tropical cyclones have increased over the CONUS. The strongest storms (major hurricanes) also show more of an increase in extreme rainfall than storms of weaker intensities.
Evaluation of Probabilistic Forecasts of Binary Events with the Neighborhood Brier Divergence Skill Score
Authors: Stein Joël , Stoop Fabien
Published: March 2024

A procedure for evaluating the quality of probabilistic forecasts of binary events has been developed. This is based on a two-step procedure: pooling of forecasts on the one hand and observations on the other hand, on all the points of a neighborhood in order to obtain frequencies at the neighborhood length scale and then to calculate the Brier divergence for these neighborhood frequencies. This score allows the comparison of a probabilistic forecast and observations at the neighborhood length scale, and therefore, the rewarding of event forecasts shifted from the location of the observed event by a distance smaller than the neighborhood size. A new decomposition of this score generalizes that of the Brier score and allows the separation of the generalized resolution, reliability, and uncertainty terms. The neighborhood Brier divergence skill score (BDnSS) measures the performance of the probabilistic forecast against the sample climatology. BDnSS and its decomposition have been used for idealized and real cases in order to show the utility of neighborhoods when comparing at different scales the performances of ensemble forecasts between themselves or with deterministic forecasts or of deterministic forecasts between themselves.

Significance Statement

A pooling of forecasts on the one hand and observations on the other hand, on all the points of a neighborhood, is performed in order to obtain frequencies at the neighborhood scale. The Brier divergence is then calculated for these neighborhood frequencies to compare a probabilistic forecast and observations at the neighborhood scale. A new decomposition of this score generalizes that of the Brier score and allows the separation of the generalized resolution, reliability, and uncertainty terms. This uncertainty term is used to define the neighborhood Brier divergence skill score which is an alternative to the popular fractions skill score, with a more appropriate denominator.
Can Encounters With the State Improve Minority-State Relations? Evidence From Myanmar
Authors: Jap Jangai
Published: March 2024

What explains ethnic minorities’ attachment to the state? Our current understanding has primarily considered structural factors, particularly access to political power and modernization. Diverging from existing explanations, I theorize that mundane experiences with the state, in street-level bureaucracy, can inform ethnic minorities’ attitudes toward the state. What they see and experience in street-level bureaucracy signals to ethnic minorities what their prospects might be in a country that is politically dominated by another ethnic group. Leveraging extensive fieldwork in Myanmar, I show that ethnic minorities who have had positive encounters with street-level bureaucrats express stronger attachment to the state. This is the case even when an ethnic group is in direct conflict with the state. I also find that service experiences are more relevant in explaining ethnic minorities’ attachment to the state compared to factors highlighted in existing research.
Policing and the Safety Logic in the School Context: Perceptions of Danger and Definitions of Law Enforcement
Authors: Higgins Ethan M. , Fisher Benjamin W. , Overstreet Suzanne , Dawson-Edwards Cherie
Published: March 2024

How police construct definitions of law enforcement has been a longstanding inquiry in criminology. This research has demonstrated that police subculture values, such as how police are socialized to hyperfocus on danger and safety, can have a strong influence on officer decisions. These cultural logics can intersect with conditions of the environment to shape definitions of law enforcement. Particularly, school police offer an opportunity to elucidate how these cultural logics are used to construct definitions across contexts. We draw from 26 interviews with school police to investigate what cultural logic is used to construct law enforcement definitions. We illustrate how definitions were driven by a safety logic, which structured wide-ranging student behaviors as underspecified signals of danger mandating legal intervention.
The Unintended Effects of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in a Maximum-Security Prison for Women: Weaponization, Bullying, and Compulsory Heterosexuality
Authors: Dunton Creaig A. , Smith Hayden P. , Ferdik Frank
Published: March 2024

Research on the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) has overwhelmingly focused on male correctional institutions, neglecting female ones. Sexual violence is also of concern within female prisons, and the need arises to understand whether PREA is achieving the goal of eradicating sexual misconduct in prisons housing women, or if the policy is having unintended effects. Based on results from surveys collected from women (N = 369) incarcerated in a Southeastern U.S. prison, both positive and negative aspects of the act were cited. In terms of the former, the legislation resulted in improvements to prison climate, yet for negatives, participants noted how PREA was being weaponized by staff and peers against other incarcerated women via false allegations. Policy implications are discussed.
Navigating intimacy and queer entrepreneurship: Relational work in Taiwanese lesbian couples’ business endeavors
Authors: Wang Hong-zen
Published: March 2024

This study addresses the significant gap in the entrepreneurship literature concerning the experiences of sexual minority groups, particularly Taiwanese lesbian entrepreneurs. The prevailing focus on heterosexual men has overshadowed the distinct motivations and dynamics in queer entrepreneurship. Drawing on Zelizer’s concept of relational work and incorporating feminist perspectives, this investigation explores how Taiwanese lesbian couples engage in entrepreneurial pursuits in unique local gender culture. Taiwan’s gender cultural context, mainly shaped by Confucianism and Taoism, contributes to the relative acceptance of lesbian relationships and marriages, reducing social criticism. By skillfully utilizing the cultural repertoire of filial piety, lesbian entrepreneurs strengthen their bonds with parents, facilitating both their business endeavors and intimate relationships. In addition, lesbian entrepreneurship is often overlooked and subsumed under gay entrepreneurship, leading to the assumption of ‘gay ordinariness’. The study highlights a significant difference between Taiwanese lesbian entrepreneurs and gay counterparts; the former perform intimate relational work and prioritize emotional ties in entrepreneurial pursuits, while the latter emphasize rational economic outlook. The findings underscore that entrepreneurial motivations are multifaceted, encompassing liberation, empowerment, family bonding, and self-identity construction. Taiwanese lesbian entrepreneurs exemplify the importance of intimate relational work, challenging the dominant masculine economic orientation in entrepreneurship. This research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of queer entrepreneurship and calls for greater recognition of diverse motivations and dynamics in entrepreneurial pursuits.
Is Less Sometimes More? An Experimental Comparison of Four Measures of Perceived Usability
Authors: Gräve Elisa , Buchner Axel
Published: March 2024

Objective

In usability studies, the subjective component of usability, perceived usability, is often of interest besides the objective usability components, efficiency and effectiveness. Perceived usability is typically investigated using questionnaires. Our goal was to assess experimentally which of four perceived-usability questionnaires differing in length best reflects the difference in perceived usability between systems.

Background

Conventional measurement wisdom strongly favors multi-item questionnaires, as measures based on more items supposedly yield better results. However, this assumption is controversial. Single-item questionnaires also have distinct advantages and it has been shown repeatedly that single-item measures can be viable alternatives to multi-item measures.

Method

N = 1089 (Experiment 1) and N = 1095 (Experiment 2) participants rated the perceived usability of a good or a poor web-based mobile phone contract system using the 35-item ISONORM 9241/10 (Experiment 1 only), the 10-item System Usability Scale (SUS), the 4-item Usability Metric for User Experience (UMUX), and the single-item Adjective Rating Scale.

Results

The Adjective Rating Scale represented the perceived-usability difference between both systems at least as good as, or significantly better than, the multi-item questionnaires (significantly better than the UMUX and the ISONORM 9241/10 in Experiment 1, significantly better than the SUS in Experiment 2).

Conclusion

The single-item Adjective Rating Scale is a viable alternative to multi-item perceived-usability questionnaires.

Application

Extremely short instruments can be recommended to measure perceived usability, at least for simple user interfaces that can be considered concrete-singular in the sense that raters understand which entity is being rated and what is being rated is reasonably homogenous.
To Plan or Not to Plan? Experiences and Challenges of Older Swiss Adults Facing End-of-Life Decisions
Authors: Castelli Dransart Dolores Angela , Maggiori Christian , Burnier Daniel , Geiser François , Lapierre Sylvie
Published: March 2024

End-of-life (EoL) planning and the drafting of advance care directives (ACD) are challenging for older adults. As part of a mixed study, the content of 18 semi-structured interviews with Swiss community-dwelling older adults was analyzed to investigate contextual and interactional aspects that might influence their choice to complete ACD. Results show that EoL planning vary greatly. Three types of planners were highlighted: the solo planners, the collaborative planners, and the delegators. Each represents a specific way of conceiving autonomy, the usefulness of ACD and of involving third parties in the decision-making process. Whereas for solo planners, ACD is a personal, rational affair, for collaborative planners and delegators, reflection and decisions on EoL issues are interactional and iterative processes. The results suggest that health and social care professionals would benefit from taking into consideration the various types of planning, in order to provide the best support to older adults for ACD completion.
Religious deconversion in adolescence and young adulthood: A literature review
Authors: Hardy Sam A , Taylor Emily M
Published: March 2024

In the present article, we review the theory and research on religious deconversion with a focus on adolescence and young adulthood. First, we present the relevant terminology (e.g. religious deconversion, religious disaffiliation, and religious deidentification) and statistical trends (e.g. the prevalence of religious Nones and Dones). We define religious deconversion as any movement away from religion. Religiosity decreases across adolescence and into young adulthood, and these developmental periods also have heightened rates of religious deidentification, at least in many Western cultures. Second, we review the theory and research on processes, predictors, and outcomes of religious deconversion. Deconversion is discussed both in terms of individuals becoming less religious and possibly deidentifying from religion. In terms of processes of deconversion, we discuss various theoretical models and self-expressed reasons for deconversion. Religious deconversion tends to progress in phases, often initiated by religious and spiritual struggles. In terms of predictors, we identify predictors at the level of the individual (e.g. demographics, personality, norm-violating behavior, and dimensions of religiosity), family (e.g. parent and family religiosity, family dynamics such as parenting styles, and religious socialization), peers (e.g. peer religiosity and religious conversations with peers), religious communities (e.g. supportiveness, engagement, and dialogue), formal education, and social media. In line with developmental systems perspectives, religious deconversion is a complex and dynamic process involving numerous individual and contextual factors. In terms of outcomes of deconversion, we identify potential individual and relational outcomes that are considered both negative and positive. Finally, we outlined 10 promising future directions for research on religious deconversion.
American Support of Public Programs for Veterans: Estimates From a National Survey Including a Discrete Choice Experiment
Authors: Coe Jessie , Schwam Daniel , Ramchand Rajeev , Farmer Carrie
Published: March 2024

Do Americans see veterans as particularly deserving or simply as other members of their community? From a nationally representative survey fielded between June and September 2021 with over 2,000 respondents, we find that Americans state high levels of support for veterans and are willing to pay additional tax dollars to provide assistance programs. We find that most Americans support free health care, free college, and affordable housing for all Americans, and the support is notably stronger for programs for veterans. From a discrete choice experiment, we find that Americans are willing to pay hundreds of dollars in additional taxes to provide assistance programs to either veterans or to all community members, and Americans are willing to pay significantly more for certain programs for veterans. In addition, we look at differences in willingness to pay based on military and political affiliation and find significant differences in willingness to pay by political affiliation.
School psychologists’ training to support inclusive education in Portugal: Trainers’ perspectives of opportunities, challenges, and improvements
Authors: Carvalho Marisa , Serrão Rosário , Azevedo Helena , Cruz Joana , Alves Diana , Martins Cristina , Marques Elisabete , Fonseca Marisa , Tormenta Nuna , de Jesus Teresa , Ramalho Sofia
Published: March 2024

School psychologists can support schools in implementing inclusive practices. In Portugal, the Decree-Law 54/2018 has set the country on the path to inclusive education based on whole-school approaches. This policy shift demands a change in school psychologists’ practices to be agents for systems change versus traditional roles (such as assessing and counseling students). An e-learning training course was developed and implemented by nine psychologists through a partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Portuguese Psychology Association, focused on the Multi-tiered Systems of Support framework for constructing inclusive schools. The main aim was to empower school psychologists to support adequate, inclusive, and multi-tiered intervention responses in their schools, resourcing a collaborative and supervised approach. From all Portuguese regions, 327 psychologists participated in the training from October 2020 to April 2021. This article focuses on the trainers’ experiences of training, collected through a focus group, reflecting on the challenges, opportunities, and necessary improvements for future training in school psychologists in Portugal on this topic. Trainers have identified organizational and pedagogical aspects as critical to the training delivery and quality that should be addressed in future training courses for school psychologists.
Prenatal Experiences and Desires With Early Intervention for Families of Children With Down Syndrome
Authors: Keilty Bonnie , Jackson Melissa A. , Smith JaneDiane
Published: March 2024

Part C early intervention (EI) starts no earlier than birth, even with a prenatal diagnosis resulting in automatic eligibility. Despite other early U.S. home visiting programs beginning prenatally and the increasing likelihood of uncovering certain diagnoses prenatally, pregnant families cannot access EI. This study sought to understand families’ perspectives on their desire for prenatal EI and how EI could support them. Seventeen primarily White non-Hispanic mothers with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome shared their prenatal experiences through retrospective, qualitative interviews. Three themes emerged: (1) prenatal period as a time to connect to EI, (2) different families, different prenatal desires, and (3) postnatal EI experiences and prenatal EI hopes. Families saw benefits to starting prenatally to enroll in and understand EI, and to prepare for their baby’s arrival through individualized outcomes. Families appreciated their postnatal EI and envisioned similar supports prenatally. Participants’ shared experiences are discussed in relation to pre- and postnatal EI.
Risk Factors for Rerupture After Proximal Hamstring Avulsion Injury Including the Optimal Timing for Surgery
Authors: Lefèvre Nicolas , Freiha Kinan , Moussa Mohamad K. , Valentin Eugénie , Bohu Yoann , Meyer Alain , Hardy Alexandre
Published: March 2024

Background:

Despite the prevalence of proximal hamstring avulsion injuries (PHAIs), the understanding of rerupture risk factors and the influence of injury chronicity on these rates remain limited.

Purpose:

To investigate the rerupture rate after PHAI repair and identify its associated risk factors and the optimal time to primary surgery.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Method:

This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the French Proximal Hamstring Avulsion Surgery Cohort Study targeting patients surgically treated for PHAI between 2002 and 2022. The primary outcome measure of this study was the rerupture rate of PHAI repair. The secondary outcome measures included the assessment of the potential risk factors for rerupture as well as the investigation of the incidence rate of rerupture for 100 person-years depending on various injury-surgery delay definitions.

Results:

This study analyzed 740 patients with a mean age of 45.9 years (SD, 13.6 years) and followed up for a mean of 4.9 years (SD, 3.9 years). The rerupture rate was 4.59% (34/740). Most reruptures (75%) occurred within the first 6 months after surgery (median, 88.5 days; interquartile range, 39.5-182 days), and 74% were atraumatic. Univariate analysis identified potential risk factors: longer initial surgery delay (hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04; P = .04) and initial complete ruptures (HR, 4.47; 95% CI, 1.07-18.7; P = .04). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis found the optimal injury-surgery delay cutoff predicting rerupture to be 32 days (area under the curve, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.53-0.71). The relative Youden index was calculated at 0.24, corresponding to a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 59%. Surpassing this cutoff showed the highest HR (2.56), narrowest 95% CI (1.27-5.17), and highest incidence of rerupture (1.42 per 100 person-years) ( P = .01). In the multivariate analysis, an injury-surgery delay of >32 days (HR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.24-5.06; P = .01) and initial complete ruptures (HR, 4.33; 95% CI, 1.04-18.08; P = .04) emerged as significant risk factors for rerupture.

Conclusion:

This study found a 4.59% rerupture risk after PHAI repair. Most reruptures (75%) occurred within the first 6 months after surgery. Risk factors for rerupture included chronicity and initial complete injury. The optimal threshold for chronicity of PHAI lesions, based on rerupture rate, was marked by an injury-surgery delay of >32 days.
Locally Directed Recombinant Adeno- Associated Virus–Mediated IGF-1 Gene Therapy Enhances Osteochondral Repair and Counteracts Early Osteoarthritis In Vivo
Authors: Peifer Carolin , Oláh Tamás , Venkatesan Jagadeesh K. , Goebel Lars , Orth Patrick , Schmitt Gertrud , Zurakowski David , Menger Michael D. , Laschke Matthias W. , Cucchiarini Magali , Madry Henning
Published: March 2024

Background:

Restoration of osteochondral defects is critical, because osteoarthritis (OA) can arise.

Hypothesis:

Overexpression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) via recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors (rAAV-IGF-1) would improve osteochondral repair and reduce parameters of early perifocal OA in sheep after 6 months in vivo.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Osteochondral defects were created in the femoral trochlea of adult sheep and treated with rAAV-IGF-1 or rAAV- lacZ (control) (24 defects in 6 knees per group). After 6 months in vivo, osteochondral repair and perifocal OA were assessed by well-established macroscopic, histological, and immunohistochemical scoring systems as well as biochemical and micro–computed tomography evaluations.

Results:

Application of rAAV-IGF-1 led to prolonged (6 months) IGF-1 overexpression without adverse effects, maintaining a significantly superior overall cartilage repair, together with significantly improved defect filling, extracellular matrix staining, cellular morphology, and surface architecture compared with rAAV- lacZ. Expression of type II collagen significantly increased and that of type I collagen significantly decreased. Subchondral bone repair and tidemark formation were significantly improved, and subchondral bone plate thickness and subarticular spongiosa mineral density returned to normal. The OA parameters of perifocal structure, cell cloning, and matrix staining were significantly better preserved upon rAAV-IGF-1 compared with rAAV- lacZ. Novel mechanistic associations between parameters of osteochondral repair and OA were identified.

Conclusion:

Local rAAV-mediated IGF-1 overexpression enhanced osteochondral repair and ameliorated parameters of perifocal early OA.

Clinical Relevance:

IGF-1 gene therapy may be beneficial in repair of focal osteochondral defects and prevention of perifocal OA.
How a Canadian federal organization integrated synoptic reporting and quality improvement tools to drive a national learning health system in cancer surgery
Authors: Arnaout Angel , Brehaut Jamie , Hillis Christopher , Presseau Justin , Seely Andrew , Daly Corinne , Stuart Gavin , Fung Kee Fung Michael
Published: March 2024

Accurate and complete surgical and pathology reports are the cornerstone of treatment decisions and cancer care excellence. Synoptic reporting is a process for reporting specific data elements in a specific format in surgical and pathology reports. Since 2007, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer has led the implementation of synoptic reporting mechanisms across multiple cancer disease sites and jurisdictions across Canada. While the implementation of synoptic reporting has been successful, its use to drive improvements in the quality of cancer care delivery has been lacking. Here we describe the 4-year, national multi-jurisdictional quality improvement initiative to catalyse the use synoptic data to drive cancer system improvements. Resources provided to the jurisdictions included operational funding, training in quality improvement methodology, national forums, expert coaches, and ad hoc monitoring and support. The program emphasized foundational concepts including data literacy, audit and feedback reports, communities of practice, and positive deviance methodology.
That’s Gonna Leave a Mark: Positionality and Secondary Trauma in Researching Mass Killing and Genocide
Authors: Nelson Todd H.
Published: March 2024

In this article, I describe two fieldwork experiences dealing with traumatic subject matter: a three-month trip to the Russian Federation, researching the crimes of Stalin against the Soviet population, and a two-week odyssey across Poland, researching memorialization of the Holocaust as it occurred there. I had a much more difficult time on the Polish trip. These trips took place at different times, and my positionality had changed dramatically between the two experiences. The other relevant factor in each case was the nature of the material itself and the extent to which I was exposed to it. The Stalinist Terror is much more submerged in Russian society, for example, and it was often challenging to find evidence that it had occurred, as this involved travel to often far-flung Gulag and mass execution sites. In the Polish case, however, the Holocaust narrative and evidence of its occurrence was front and center in my experiences there, to the extent that the ubiquity of sites where terrible events occurred became overwhelming. The interaction of my positionality and the extent to which I was exposed to different types of traumatic experience, led to widely differing emotional tolls on my psyche in each case. I hope an analysis of this interaction, and the differing effects it produced provides information about planning and executing research on traumatic subjects that is valuable to others preparing to undertake it. (Or perhaps it will provide a cautionary tale about what to avoid). This article adds to the literature on personal negative outcomes experienced by those researching traumatic subject matter, particularly in the social sciences.
Poststructural Analysis of Anti-LGBTQ + Educational Policies
Authors: Williams Dennis , Crimmins Patricia
Published: March 2024

We draw on several critical paradigms, disciplines, and theories to interrogate 13 anti-LGBTQ+ educational policy texts. Using Institutional Theory (Anagnostopoulos et al., 2010; Carpenter & Feroz, 2001) and Poststructural Policy Analysis (Bacchi & Goodwin, 2016), we explore how these texts may cause separations between policy and practice, how they construct “teachers” and “students” as subjects and objects of the state, and how they promote cisheteropatriarchy. The terms reactive evasion and identity evasiveness are presented to describe central discursive mechanisms in the texts. The term identity specificity, or the humanizing practices of recognizing diverse identities, is coined as a fundamental component of educational quality. We situate our work as an enunciation of critical resistance within anti-oppressive discourses and assert three main arguments: (a) these dictates will adversely affect educational institutions; (b) a fundamental component of educational quality is identity specificity; and (c) policy not centered on the humanizing testimony of those about whom that policy is generated reinforces oppressive regimes.
Bridging the Access Gap: A Decade of Narrowing the Digital Divide for Hispanic Older Adults in the United States
Authors: Wang Kun , Chen Xiayu Summer , Dong Yanjun , Sanabria Véaz Karla G. , Gu Danan
Published: March 2024

Objectives: This study examines the digital divide between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White older adults in the United States from 2011 to 2021, using an intersectionality perspective. Methods: Eleven waves of data from the National Health and Aging Trend were analyzed through multilevel logistic regression, focusing on the intersection between race/ethnicity and time (measured by survey waves) within gender, education, and income subgroups. The digital divide was measured by Internet access. Results: Despite the enduring digital access gap, the longitudinal analysis revealed a narrowing digital divide between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White older adults, especially those with low education and income. Discussion: The observed trend signifies progress in digital inclusivity initiatives yet highlights ongoing challenges in fully bridging the divide for the Hispanic older adult community. Future efforts should not only focus on access but also on enhancing the effective usage of digital technologies to promote health equity and well-being.
Infusing Evidence-Based Instruction in Two Middle School Settings
Authors: Jayanthi Madhavi , Gersten Russell , Schumacher Robin F. , Dimino Joseph , Wavell Samantha
Published: March 2024

This article reports on a project implemented to help middle school teachers provide evidence-based instruction and intervention to students with mathematics learning disabilities (MLD) and mathematics difficulties (MD). Multiple sources—interviews, surveys, and field notes from formal and informal observations—were used to gather data on teacher perceptions and feedback on what worked and what did not in this professional development effort. We also examined the mathematics achievement of students with MLD and MD and compared their growth to that of their typically performing peers at the two participating schools. We highlight and discuss the key issues and concerns that emerged from this implementation study.
Development of a machining strategy to manufacture SiSiC nuts by EDM
Authors: Torres-Salcedo Alexia , Puertas-Arbizu Ignacio , Luis-Pérez Carmelo Javier
Published: March 2024

Today, the high-precision manufacturing of small cavities in difficult-to-machine materials is still a challenge, even more so if they need to be threaded. The machining time, the wear suffered by the electrodes and the surface finish are determining factors in the efficiency of the threading process. However, there is scant literature on this subject so there is a need to study the process and the parameters involved. Thus, this study presents a novel machining strategy for the manufacture of nuts using die-sinking electrical discharge machining (EDM). Moreover, the novelty of this strategy is that it is carried out in a single stage and with a conventional EDM generator. To do so, a design of experiments (DOE) methodology has been followed. First, the optimal machining conditions are determined by studying the influence of EDM parameters on operation variables and mathematical models are developed using multiple linear regression. These models allow the behavior of the response variables under study to be predicted. Finally, this machining strategy developed from the previous experimental results is validated in the manufacturing process of a final part, specifically a square nut. It can be concluded that the mathematical model is good enough to predict the experimental results. Thus, the new method presented and described in this present study allowed a nut to be obtained with a real arithmetic mean deviation of the roughness profile (Ra) value of 1.27 μm whereas the predicted value from the model was 1.28 μm. To do so, the machining conditions selected were: 4 A (current intensity), 5 µs (pulse time) and 0.4 (duty cycle), which also gave a material removal rate (MRR) value of 0.5370 mm3/min. The machining strategy proposed here may be used for future research works related to the manufacturing of mechanical joints made of conductive ceramic materials.
Tribological, corrosion, mechanical, and metallurgical behavior of clay and Al2O3-reinforced aluminum-based composite material
Authors: Dwivedi Shashi Prakash , Sharma Shubham
Published: March 2024

Aluminum-based composite materials have garnered considerable attention in recent years owing to their outstanding mechanical and tribological properties. The integration of clay and Al2O3 into the aluminum matrix has notably elevated its tribological, corrosion, mechanical, and metallurgical characteristics. An examination of the metallurgical properties involved a thorough analysis of the material's microstructure and wettability. Notably, the composite material demonstrated enhanced wettability and a more uniformly distributed reinforcement, leading to improved mechanical attributes when incorporating 5% alumina and 5% clay particles. This composition resulted in heightened strength, improved hardness, and increased fatigue strength. Specifically, the addition of a mixture of ball-milled 5% alumina and 5% clay particles led to substantial improvements, with tensile strength, hardness, and fatigue strength increasing by approximately 40.49%, 44.11%, and 62.15%, respectively. However, this enhancement came at the cost of reduced toughness in aluminum, decreasing by about 46.66% following the addition of the ball-milled mixture. Tribological assessments, involving wear tests under varying loads and speeds, demonstrated that the inclusion of 5% clay and 5% Al2O3 substantially improved wear resistance. Furthermore, corrosion resistance was evaluated, revealing that the composite material exhibited enhanced corrosion resistance attributed to the passivation of the surface. Altogether, these findings underscore the promising potential of aluminum-based composite materials for various applications, particularly when tailored with specific ratios of alumina and clay particles.
The “Jungle Lord” and the Natural Order: Adi Narratives About the Epom
Authors: Scheid Claire S.
Published: March 2024

Among the Adi in the Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India, in the far eastern Himalayan foothills, fear of the Epom—a dangerous, tree-dwelling, non-human entity—impacts human navigation of the wilderness. The Epom inhabits the peripheral corners of Adi society and polices his environment, kidnapping or killing those who violate it in continuation of an ancestral feud, functioning as a sinister regulator of the natural order. This article examines the relationships among the Epom, the Adi, and the foreign in contemporary Arunachal Pradesh.
Sarcopenia and All-Cause Mortality Risk in Community-Dwelling Rural Malaysian Older Adults
Authors: Ramoo Karthikeyanathan , Hairi Noran Naqiah , Yahya Abqariyah , Choo Wan Yuen , Hairi Farizah Mohd , Ismail Norliana , Peramalah Devi , Kandiben Shathanapriya , Ali Zainuddin Mohd , Ahmad NurSakinah , Abdul Razak Innayah , Bulgiba Awang
Published: March 2024

Sarcopenia is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including frailty, disability, and mortality. Since the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 guidelines, which were published in 2020, are relatively new, studies on the association between sarcopenia as defined by these guidelines and mortality are limited in the Asian region. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the all-cause mortality risk associated with sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults in rural Malaysia. This cohort study included 2404 older adults residing in Kuala Pilah District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia who were followed up for 83 months. The prevalence rates of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia were 5.0% and 3.60%, respectively. Older adults with sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia had a 114% (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.14) and 146% (HR: 2.46) increased mortality risk compared with those without sarcopenia (HR: 2.14). Our findings indicate that early intervention is recommended to prevent sarcopenia in older adults.
The Influence of Workplace Violence, Psychosocial Working Conditions on Depressive Symptoms Among Female Workers in South Korea
Authors: Yi Jee-Seon , Im Eun-Ok
Published: March 2024

Workers’ depression is an important issue, with the prevalence higher in women than in men. This study aimed to identify the effects of workplace violence exposure and psychosocial working conditions on depressive symptoms in female workers in South Korea. This study included 15 605 female wageworkers who participated in the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey. Logistic regression analyses were implemented to identify the factors that affected their depression. The female workers reported increased frequency of symptoms of depression when there was humiliating behavior from co-workers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.999) or physical violence from clients (aOR = 1.609). In psychosocial working environments, they reported a greater frequency of depressive symptoms with high quantitative demands (aOR = 1.498), high emotional demands (aOR = 1.085), lower colleague’s support (aOR = 1.566), or lack of support from supervisors at the workplace (aOR = 1.707). An emphasis should be put on preventing humiliating behaviors from co-workers as well as violence from clients in the workplace.
Prevalence of Co-Occurrence of Physical Frailty and Malnutrition and Its Associated Factors Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in a Rural District, Malaysia
Authors: Mustaffa Musastika , Hairi Noran Naqiah , Majid Hazreen Abdul , Choo Wan Yuen , Hairi Farizah Mohd , Peramalah Devi , Kandiben Shathanapriya , Ali Zainudin Mohd , Abdul Razak Inayah , Ismail Norliana , Sooryanarayana Rajini , Ahmad Nur Sakinah , Bulgiba Awang
Published: March 2024

Frailty and malnutrition commonly co-occur but remains undetected and untreated in community settings. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of co-occurring frailty and malnutrition, and its associated factors among community-dwelling older adults in a rural setting in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged ≥ 60 residing in Kuala Pilah district, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Physical frailty and nutritional status were assessed using the Fried phenotype and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), respectively. Among 1855 participants, 6.4% had co-occurring frailty and at-risk/malnutrition and 11.3% had co-occurring prefrailty and at-risk/malnutrition. Older age, fair-to-poor self-rated health, long-term disease, polypharmacy, activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs’ disabilities, cognitive impairment, and poor social support were associated with higher odds of co-occurring frailty and malnutrition. Therefore, beside early identification, targeted intervention is crucial to prevent or delay the progression of frailty and malnutrition in this population.
Integrating Biofeedback and Artificial Intelligence into eXtended Reality Training Scenarios: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Blackmore Karen L. , Smith Shamus P. , Bailey Jacqueline D. , Krynski Benjamin
Published: March 2024

Background

The addition of biofeedback and artificial intelligence (AI) in simulation training and serious games has shown promising results in improving the effectiveness of training and can lead to increased engagement, motivation, and retention of information. This systematic literature review explores the integration of biofeedback and artificial intelligence into eXtended reality (XR) training scenarios and is the first review to provide a consolidated overview of applied biofeedback and AI technologies in this area.

Method

This review was conducted using keywords related to biofeedback, AI, XR, and training and included papers that: contained the use of biofeedback and AI in XR training scenarios; reported on at least one outcome related to training effectiveness; were published in English; were peer-reviewed; date from 1 January 2016 – 7 February 2022.

Results

The results indicate that many studies collect two or more biosignals using a single biosensing device. This is particularly relevant in applied settings, where ease of use and minimal interference in training/education activities is desired. Also, that light, portable devices such as wrist bands, wireless straps, or headbands are preferred. Additionally, eye tracking, electrodermal activity (EDA), and photoplethysmograms (PPG) present as particularly useful biomarkers of stress and/or cognitive load in XR training contexts. A wide variety of machine learning (ML) approaches were used to support biofeedback systems in XR environments. However, a limited number of studies employed real-time analysis of biosignals (just 1% of studies) which indicates current challenges in implementing such systems.

Conclusion

The majority of papers meeting the selection criteria were from the fields of education and healthcare. Further research in other domains, such as defense and general industry, is needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential for biofeedback and AI integration in XR training scenarios used in these domains.