bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Additions to the knowledge of the genus Parancistrocerus Bequaert, 1925 from China (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae)
Authors: QIN JIONG , CHEN BIN , LI TING-JING
Published: March 2023

In this paper, three new species, namely Parancistrocerus fragilitergus sp. n. from Guangxi (China), P. elatitergus sp. n. from Sichuan (China), and P. extentitergus sp. n. from Chongqing and Guizhou (China) are described and illustrated in detail. In addition, P. irritatus Giordani Soika, 1972, P. jaferpaloti Girish Kumar & Carpenter, 2016, and P. sulcatus Giordani Soika, 1994 are newly recorded from China. An updated key to the Chinese species of the genus Parancistrocerus is provided.
Analysis of genetic polymorphisms and environmental risk factors related to sarcopenia combined with atherosclerosis by means of magnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Zhou Liufang , Wei Baomin , Liu Wenjing , Wang Tianhua , Wei Xi , Zhou Liuping , Wei Liuqing , He Bin , Lin Jianyong
Published: March 2023

Sarcopenia is an aging syndrome characterized by decreased muscle function and skeletal muscle strength or quality. It is often accompanied by atherosclerosis (AS), which poses a great threat to the health and quality of life of the elderly. However, the relationship between sarcopenia
and AS is poorly understood, so the clinical establishment of preventive measures for sarcopenia combined with AS requires further investigation. This paper aims to explore the genetic and environmental risk factors of sarcopenia complicated with AS. The clinical data of 252 non-blood-related
patients with sarcopenia admitted to our hospital from May 2016 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed and allocated to AS and non-AS groups basing on whether they had concurrent AS. Univariate analysis found statistically significant (P <0.05) differences between the two groups’
vitamin D receptor (VDR) FokI loci genotypes and alleles, XbaI XX loci genotypes and alleles, ages, family history of AS, merge inflammation, growth hormone (GH) levels, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, testosterone levels, estrogen levels, insulin resistance
(IR), vitamin D deficiency, and bone density. A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed VDR FokI loci genotypes and alleles, XbaI XX loci genotypes and alleles, merge inflammation, GH levels, IGF-1 levels, low testosterone levels, low estrogen levels, and vitamin
D deficiency were independent risk factors of sarcopenia combined with AS. Therefore, corresponding preventive measures should be taken for the above risk factors in clinical practice to reduce the incidence of sarcopenia combined with AS.
Mechanical and durability performance of sustainable concrete with the inclusion of alternative fine aggregate
Authors: Lokesh S. , Chandrasekaran P.
Published: March 2023

Natural river sand has become less readily available in recent years due to the expansion of the building sector. Due to the scarcity of river sand, researchers seek an alternative fine aggregate material that does not compromise strength and durability. The sustainability advantages
of using coal bottom ash, steel slag, eco sand, and quarry dust as a potential substitute for traditional fine aggregates can be attributed to the following: the eradication of the necessity to discard these wastes in landfills, as well as the provision of an alternate source for natural raw
materials. Consequently, the adverse environmental effects linked with the processing and mining of natural aggregates are avoided. Natural river sand and quarry sand are utilised to partially replace them with industrial residues such as Steel Slag (SS), Coal Bottom Ash (CBA), and Eco Sand
(ES). Microstructural characteristics of alternative fine aggregates, such as SEM and EDS were analysed. This article discusses the mechanical, fresh, and durability characteristics of concrete using alternative fine aggregate. The test findings were compared with those of concrete made from
a control mix. Mix-A with 17.5% coal bottom ash and 12.5% eco sand achieved the highest mechanical strength properties, while Mix-B with 15% steel slag and 85% quarry sand achieved the highest mechanical strength properties. The test findings from this study showed that concrete made from
industrial waste materials including CBA, ES, and SS performed well in terms of durability and strength. Therefore, the well-graded coal bottom ash, eco sand, and steel slag improved the concrete’s strength and provided a reliable source for concrete production.
Scaling for Saturated Moist Quasigeostrophic Turbulence
Authors: Brown Marguerite L. , Pauluis Olivier , Gerber Edwin P.
Published: March 2023

Much of our conceptual understanding of midlatitude atmospheric motion comes from two-layer quasigeostrophic (QG) models. Traditionally, these QG models do not include moisture, which accounts for an estimated 30%–60% of the available energy of the atmosphere. The atmospheric moisture content is expected to increase under global warming, and therefore, a theory for how moisture modifies atmospheric dynamics is crucial. We use a two-layer moist QG model with convective adjustment as a basis for analyzing how latent heat release and large-scale moisture gradients impact the scalings of a midlatitude system at the synoptic scale. In this model, the degree of saturation can be tuned independently of other moist parameters by enforcing a high rate of evaporation from the surface. This allows for study of the effects of latent heat release at saturation, without the intrinsic nonlinearity of precipitation. At saturation, this system is equivalent to the dry QG model under a rescaling of both length and time. This predicts that the most unstable mode shifts to smaller scales, the growth rates increase, and the inverse cascade extends to larger scales. We verify these results numerically and use them to verify a framework for the complete energetics of a moist system. We examine the spectral features of the energy transfer terms. This analysis shows that precipitation generates energy at small scales, while dry dynamics drive a significant broadening to larger scales. Cascades of energy are still observed in all terms, albeit without a clearly defined inertial range.

Significance Statement

The effect of moist processes, especially the impact of latent heating associated with condensation, on the size and strength of midlatitude storms is not well understood. Such insight is particularly needed in the context of global warming, as we expect moisture to play a more important role in a warmer world. In this study, we provide intuition into how including condensation can result in midlatitude storms that grow faster and have features on both larger and smaller scales than their dry counterparts. We provide a framework for quantifying these changes and verify it for the special case where it is raining everywhere. These findings can be extended to the more realistic situation where it is only raining locally.
The Role of Anthropogenic Forcings on the Regional Climate of Summertime Diurnal Variations over North China
Authors: Lin Zhongxi , Chen Guixing
Published: March 2023

Anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) and anthropogenic aerosols (AA) have changed radiation balance and regulated the regional climate at seasonal or longer time scales. Based on station observations, reanalyses, and satellite observations, this study examines how anthropogenic forcings affect surface temperature and strongly regulate the regional climate at a diurnal time scale over the North China plains (NCP) in July and August. As AA cooling is dominant in the daytime over low-lying plains, it leads to a cooler day–warmer night temperature trend that decreases the diurnal temperature range over NCP but increases the thermal contrast between NCP and its west highlands. In response to the daytime cooling, the weakened vertical thermal contrast decreases the boundary layer turbulent mixing in the daytime and reduces friction to low-level winds, which leads to anomalous southerlies at 2000 LST over NCP. In contrast, nighttime warming results in anomalous northerlies at 0200 LST. On the other hand, in response to the enlarged horizontal thermal contrast, the stronger mountain–plain circulation helps to intensify low-level ascent over the plains at 0200 LST. These human-induced changes in the diurnal variation of regional circulations are conducive to the increased moisture convergence at 2000 and 0200 LST over NCP. The nighttime proportion of precipitation accordingly exhibits an increasing trend over NCP, though the seasonal precipitation decreases because of the weakened monsoon background. These findings highlight that the diurnal cycle of regional circulations can express a strong dynamic response to the radiation effect of anthropogenic forcings and thus affect the long-term change in regional climate.
An Origin of North American Monsoon Retreat Biases in Climate Models
Authors: Ye Jiacheng , Wang Zhuo
Published: March 2023

Many coupled climate models suffer from a late retreat bias in North American monsoon (NAM) simulations, which is manifested by overestimated precipitation in October. The overestimated precipitation has long been attributed to the negative sea surface temperature (SST) biases in the tropical Atlantic and insufficient model resolution to resolve mesoscale features. However, we found little correlation between CMIP6 model resolutions and the simulated NAM retreat-season precipitation in October. Instead, we showed that tropical eastern North Pacific SST biases and the associated large-scale circulation biases play a dominant role in inducing the retreat-season biases, with SST biases in other ocean basins playing a secondary role. As revealed by simulations using a hierarchy of models, the positive SST biases in the tropical eastern North Pacific enhance local convection and lead to positive diabatic heating biases throughout the troposphere; the diabatic heating biases generate a Matsuno–Gill type of response that strengthens the subtropical high over the North Atlantic and weakens the subtropical high over the North Pacific, enhancing the low-level northward moisture transport from the tropics to the NAM region. The conclusion is robust across phase 6 of CMIP (CMIP6) models. The precipitation seasonality in the NAM region is used to constrain future projection. The “good” CMIP6 models project that the timing of the NAM peak season remains the same, but the peak-season precipitation is reduced and monsoon retreat is delayed, while the “poor” CMIP6 models project a delayed monsoon peak season with slightly enhanced peak-season precipitation. Both model groups project a drier dry season in the NAM region.
Improving Best Track Verification of Tropical Cyclones: A New Metric to Identify Forecast Consistency
Authors: Ditchek Sarah D. , Sippel Jason A. , Marinescu Peter J. , Alaka Ghassan J.
Published: March 2023

This paper introduces a new tool for verifying tropical cyclone (TC) forecasts. Tropical cyclone forecasts made by operational centers and by numerical weather prediction (NWP) models have been objectively verified for decades. Typically, the mean absolute error (MAE) and/or MAE skill are calculated relative to values within the operational center’s best track. Yet, the MAE can be strongly influenced by outliers and yield misleading results. Thus, this paper introduces an assessment of consistency between the MAE skill as well as two other measures of forecast performance. This “consistency metric” objectively evaluates the forecast-error evolution as a function of lead time based on thresholds applied to the 1) MAE skill; 2) the frequency of superior performance (FSP), which indicates how often one forecast outperforms another; and 3) median absolute error (MDAE) skill. The utility and applicability of the consistency metric is validated by applying it to four research and forecasting applications. Overall, this consistency metric is a helpful tool to guide analysis and increase confidence in results in a straightforward way. By augmenting the commonly used MAE and MAE skill with this consistency metric and creating a single scorecard with consistency metric results for TC track, intensity, and significant-wind-radii forecasts, the impact of observing systems, new modeling systems, or model upgrades on TC-forecast performance can be evaluated both holistically and succinctly. This could in turn help forecasters learn from challenging cases and accelerate and optimize developments and upgrades in NWP models.

Significance Statement

Evaluating the impact of observing systems, new modeling systems, or model upgrades on TC forecasts is vital to ensure more rapid and accurate implementations and optimizations. To do so, errors between model forecasts and observed TC parameters are calculated. Historically, analyzing these errors heavily relied on using one or two metrics: mean absolute errors (MAE) and/or MAE skill. Yet, doing so can lead to misleading conclusions if the error distributions are skewed, which often occurs (e.g., a poorly forecasted TC). This paper presents a new, straightforward way to combine useful information from several different metrics to enable a more holistic assessment of forecast errors when assessing the MAE and MAE skill.
The Effects of Opioid Use during Pregnancy on Infant Health and Well-Being
Authors: Pac Jessica , Durrance Christine , Berger Lawrence , Ehrenthal Deborah B.
Published: March 2023

We estimate the causal effects of infants’ exposure to opioids in utero on their health at birth and on the likelihood that their parents will be the subjects of subsequent reports to child protective services. We use administrative data on 259,723 infants born to 176,224 mothers enrolled in Medicaid between 2010 and 2019. Results suggest that an infant experiencing withdrawal symptoms after birth or needing admission to intensive care is strongly associated with prenatal opioid exposure, and that this effect is concentrated among those whose mothers used illicit opioids or were undergoing medication-assisted opioid treatments in their first and third trimesters. Prenatal opioid exposure is also associated with referrals of parents to child protective services and with being born preterm, low birthweight, or small for gestational age. We find smaller effects among infants exposed to prescription opioids, but these effects are not trivial, supporting current recommendations to balance the potential for infant adverse effects with the benefits of pain management during pregnancy.
The Social and Community Consequences of the Opioid Epidemic
Authors: Darolia Rajeev , Heflin Colleen
Published: March 2023

We provide a brief orientation to the articles that comprise this volume, which is an effort to understand the consequences of the opioid epidemic in a variety of societal and community domains. These domains include child welfare, living arrangements, education, food insecurity, housing, and public budgets, and they are often paid scant attention compared to research that focuses on the direct effects of opioid use. We give an overview of the articles that comprise this volume and discuss the ways in which they contribute new empirical insights on the consequences of the opioid crisis in the U.S. and Canada. We conclude with thoughts on the challenges inherent in this work, insights about how this volume of research might help us understand the broader reach of the epidemic, and how it helps in the development of prosocial public policies.
Course of depression during the first 2 years postpartum among Brazilian women enrolled in a conditional cash transfer program
Authors: Santos Ina S , Blumenberg Cauane , Munhoz Tiago N , Matijasevich Alicia , Santos Júnior Hernane G , dos Santos Letícia Marques , Correia Luciano L , de Souza Marta Rovery , Lira Pedro IC , Bortolotto Caroline C , Barcelos Raquel , Altafim Elisa , Chicaro Marina Fragata , Macana Esmeralda Correa , da Silva Ronaldo Souza , Victora Cesar G
Published: March 2023

Background:

Women living in low- and middle-income countries are more exposed to known risk factors for depression occurrence and persistency over time.

Aim:

Our aim was to investigate the course of depression in the first 2 years postpartum among Brazilian women enrolled in a cash transfer program.

Method:

Longitudinal analysis of baseline (T0; mean 3.7 months postpartum) and first follow-up data (T1; mean 18.6 months postpartum) from a trial to assess the impact of a child development promotion program in 30 municipalities from six Brazilian states. The program does not include any interventions against maternal depression. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at cutoff ⩾10 was applied. Women were categorized into four groups based on EPDS at T0 and T1: absence of depression, persistence, discontinuity, or emergence pattern. Adjusted Poisson regressions were run using a multilevel hierarchical model.

Results:

Two thousand eight hundred sixty-three women were assessed. Prevalence of depression was 26.4% [24.8, 28.1] at T0 and 24.4% [22.8, 26.0] at T1. Persistence, discontinuation, and emergence were found in 14.1% [11.3, 17.6%], 12.8% [11.4, 14.3%], and 10.2% [8.0, 13.0], respectively. In adjusted analyses, the persistence pattern was directly associated with parity and inversely associated with schooling of the woman and of the child’s father. Living with husband/partner and support from the child’s father and family members during pregnancy were protective against persistence. The discontinuity and the emergence patterns were not associated with any of the exposure variables.

Conclusions:

Depressive symptoms were highly prevalent during the first 2 years postpartum. About half of the women with depression at T1 were persistent cases that could have been detected earlier. Screening for maternal depression should be an essential component in every encounter of women with health professionals in primary health care settings.
The struggle over pedestrians: Defining the problems of walking in the 1960s and 1970s
Authors: Männistö-Funk Tiina
Published: March 2023

This paper considers the negotiations around walking in Finland in the 1960s and 1970s as a symbolic struggle. Quickly changing urban environment and high traffic fatality numbers brought pedestrians into the focus of public discussions during this era. Two major groups making claims over pedestrians were the traffic safety organisation Talja and its successor Liikenneturva as well as the traffic policy association Enemmistö. Traffic safety actors highlighted pedestrians’ responsibility as a traffic mode among others, but also framed them as reckless and weak. Traffic policy activists used pedestrians as a lens to the unfairness of the car-centred traffic system and urban environment. Both tried to steer away from the simple antagonism between cars and pedestrians, but with little success. Whereas pedestrians were difficult to govern, due to their non-vehicle flexibility, they were also difficult to advocate for. The struggle ended in a compromise that rendered pedestrians invisible.
Sustained Effect of Auditory Entrainment With Coordinated Movement Varies With Temporal Complexity of Sequential Tapping
Authors: Wen Xiao-Qian , Zhang Jun , Ren Jie
Published: March 2023

While the ability to coordinate movements temporally with rhythmic auditory stimuli is universal, previous investigators showed that accurate rhythm reproduction depends on temporal complexity. To date, the effect of multiple pitches on the timing of rhythmic movements has been assumed. Exploring a possible sustained entrainment effect of auditory stimuli on sequential movement might further elucidate the role of temporal complexity and its interaction with multiple pitch engagement. Thus, we investigated the sustained effect of auditory entrainment and the interaction between temporal complexity and pitch on predefined sequential tapping with tapping sequences predefined before a synchronization-timekeeping task. Temporal complexity was manipulated by increasing the number of non-integer ratios in temporal rhythm. The rhythm sequences were presented with either multiple pitches or a single pitch. We found a reduction in mean asynchronies and ratio error in three rhythms with non-integer ratios, while inter-response interval error was reduced in the integer rhythm and the rhythm with one repetitive integer ratio and one non-integer ratio. Ratio error remanence was less in rhythms with two non-integer ratios. We found no significant difference between the two pitch types. There was a sustained entrainment effect of sequential tapping that varied with differing temporal complexity, and pitch information was not essential for auditory entrainment. These findings provide support for possible interventions aimed at motor learning.
The Moderating Role of Perceived Partner Responsiveness Between Implicit Theories of Relationships and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction
Authors: Li Peishan , Chen Wei-Wen , Zhang Lu Ran
Published: March 2023

Whether people believe their romantic relationship quality can be improved or not could largely influence the relationship consequences. However, relatively fewer studies have focused on the potential factors that account for the association between such beliefs and romantic relationship satisfaction (RS). In the current research, we aimed to investigate the relation between implicit theories of relationships (ITRs) and RS and the potential moderating role of perceived partner responsiveness (PPR) in such relation. An online survey was administered to 300 Chinese young adults (aged 18–35) who were currently in romantic relationships, measuring their implicit beliefs about romantic relationships, PPR, and RS. Results indicated that (a) growth beliefs of ITRs and PPR were positively associated with RS, respectively; (b) destiny beliefs of ITRs were not significantly associated with RS; and (c) PPR moderated the relation between growth beliefs of ITRs and RS. Growth beliefs were significantly positively correlated with RS in lower PPR conditions but not in higher PPR conditions. We further discussed the theoretical and practical implications of these results.
Love, laughter and solidarity on the docks in Liverpool, c.1950s–1990s
Authors: Copestake Emma
Published: March 2023

By focusing on love and humour, this article examines the role of positive emotions in the making and remaking of solidarity on the docks in Liverpool to demonstrate that solidarity was, and still is, embedded within power dynamics that shaped daily life. After outlining the persistent insecurities dock workers and their families faced due to the casual system of employment in place until 1967, the dangerous nature of work and the impact of containerisation, I assess how experiences during this period were remembered. A combination of oral history interviews and archival records of the National Dock Labour Board and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company are used to highlight the significance of family support, the dockers’ bucket and nicknames to understanding the emotional dimensions of class. Ultimately, I outline that solidarity action should not be understood as overt moments of political struggle alone as it was sustained by creating moments of happiness and joy.
Online Parameter Estimation for Student Evaluation of Teaching
Authors: Chen Chia-Wen , Liu Chen-Wei
Published: March 2023

Student evaluation of teaching (SET) assesses students’ experiences in a class to evaluate teachers’ performance in class. SET essentially comprises three facets: teaching proficiency, student rating harshness, and item properties. The computerized adaptive testing form of SET with an established item pool has been used in educational environments. However, conventional scoring methods ignore the harshness of students toward teachers and, therefore, are unable to provide a valid assessment. In addition, simultaneously estimating teachers’ teaching proficiency and students’ harshness remains an unaddressed issue in the context of online SET. In the current study, we develop and compare three novel methods—marginal, iterative once, and hybrid approaches—to improve the precision of parameter estimations. A simulation study is conducted to demonstrate that the hybrid method is a promising technique that can substantially outperform traditional methods.
Weight gain, poor mental health and increased sedentary hours among Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ng Guo Fu , Cheng Shi-Hui
Published: March 2023

Background

The Movement Control Orders (MCO) in Malaysia due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the lifestyle behaviours, weight changes, and mental health of the population.

Aim

To determine the changes in physical activity, sedentary behaviour, body weight status and mental health status among Malaysian adults before and during the pandemic.

Methods

A total of 338 Malaysian adults participated in this cross-sectional online study. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were self-reported. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) while the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) were used to examine stress, depression and anxiety, respectively. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28.0.

Results

The results showed an average weight gain of 0.6 kg among the participants with 45.5% of them experiencing weight gain. In addition, sedentary behaviour ( p < 0.001), PSS-10 score ( p < 0.001), PHQ-9 score ( p = 0.002) and GAD-7 score ( p = 0.001) were significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic whereas the level of physical activity was significantly decreased ( p = 0.003) during the pandemic. Weight changes during the pandemic were found to be associated with age, sedentary hours, and PHQ-9 score. Through binary logistic regression, sedentary hours (AOR = 1.068, 95% CI = 1.002–1.139, p = 0.043) were identified to be a risk factor for weight gain during the pandemic.

Conclusion

The findings suggested that public health interventions to prevent weight gain should focus on strategies to increase physical activity for sedentary lifestyles.
Complications during transport of adult patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Barrigoto Cleide , Fortuna Philip , Silva Pedro Eduardo , Bento Luís
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Transport on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a risky and complex procedure. Although most published data support the feasibility of interhospital transport on ECMO, data concerning intra-facility transportation and frequency and severity of complications during ECMO transport of adult patients are still scarce. The aim of this study was to assess transport arrangements and complications during intra and interhospital ECMO-supported patients transport at a high-volume ECMO center.

Methods

Retrospective single-center descriptive study evaluating the prevalence and severity of complications associated with the transportation of adult patients on ECMO support between 2014 and 2022 in our ECMO center.

Results

We performed 393 transfers of patients on ECMO support. Those comprised 206 intra-facility, 147 primary, 39 secondary and one tertiary transports. For primary and tertiary transportations, the average transfer length was 118.6 km (range 2.5–1446) and the mean total transport time was 5 h 40 min. The majority of transportations were made by ambulance (93.2%). Complications occurred in 12.7% of all transports and were more frequent in intra-facility and primary/tertiary transfers. Most complications were patient (46%) and staff related (26%). Risk category two was the most frequent (50%), and only five complications were classified as risk category 1 (10%). No deaths occurred during all patient transport.

Conclusions

Most transports carry minor problems that entail a negligible risk to the patient. When ECMO-supported transport is performed by an experienced team, the severe complications are not related with an increased morbimortality.
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder: An exploratory placebo-controlled, fixed-order trial
Authors: Sloshower Jordan , Skosnik Patrick D. , Safi-Aghdam Hamideh , Pathania Surbhi , Syed Shariful , Pittman Brian , D’Souza Deepak Cyril
Published: March 2023

Background:

Several early phase studies have demonstrated that psilocybin-assisted therapy has rapid-acting and persisting antidepressant effects from just one or two doses. However, methodological limitations (e.g., placebo-control, blinding) limit interpretability of the existing literature.

Methods:

In an exploratory placebo-controlled, within-subject, fixed-order study, individuals with moderate to severe major depressive disorder were administered placebo ( n = 19) followed by psilocybin (0.3 mg/kg) ( n = 15) 4 weeks later. Dosing sessions were embedded within an manualized course of psychotherapy. Enhanced blinding procedures were used. Depression, anxiety, and quality of life were measured over a 16-week study period.

Results:

Depression and anxiety significantly improved following both placebo and psilocybin with no significant difference in the degree of change between the two conditions. However, antidepressant effect sizes were larger after psilocybin ( d′ = 1.02–2.27) than after placebo ( d′ = 0.65–0.99) and there were high rates of response (66.7%) and remission (46.7%) following psilocybin administration. Antidepressant effects following psilocybin persisted, on average, for 2 months and there were persisting improvements in mood-related quality of life domains. The strength of mystical-type experience during psilocybin dosing was not correlated with subsequent antidepressant effects.

Conclusions:

The results of this exploratory study highlight the complex interplay between expectancy, therapy effects, and drug/placebo effects in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy studies. Nonetheless, the acute and persisting clinical improvements observed following psilocybin support further study of its potential in the treatment of major depression. Future studies should more explicitly mitigate and measure expectancy effects and assess the impact of repeated dosing and different forms of psychotherapeutic support.
Distraction Gap Needed for Safe Central Compartment Access in Hip Arthroscopy
Authors: Tang Hao-Che , Sadakah Mohammed , Chen I-Jung , Wirries Nils , Dienst Michael
Published: March 2023

Background:

Sufficient distraction of the hip is the key to a safe central compartment (CC) approach in hip arthroscopy. However, an adequate distraction gap has not been scientifically identified.

Purpose:

To determine the sufficient amount of distraction that could predict a successful CC access as well as to identify the risk factors for a failed or difficult CC access.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

All patients who underwent hip arthroscopy by a single surgeon between January 2018 and April 2019 were prospectively enrolled. We analyzed gaps of the hip on 4 C-arm fluoroscopic images: nondistraction, preoperative manual traction, preoperative maximal traction (without distension), and intraoperative maximal traction (at the end of CC procedures in a successful CC approach or after peripheral compartment procedures in a failed or difficult CC approach). A failed CC approach was defined as failure in introducing the anterolateral portal to the CC under arthroscopic control; a difficult CC approach was defined as the presence of an incomplete diagnostic round in the CC because of a small distraction. The amount of distraction was evaluated by the ratio of the distracted gap to the undistracted gap. Patients were classified into the successful CC access group (group 1) and the failed/difficult CC access group (group 2). The amount of distraction, demographic characteristics, and preoperative radiographic parameters were compared between the groups.

Results:

A total of 240 patients were included in this study. Group 1 consisted of 205 patients (113 males and 92 females; mean ± SD age, 34.5 ± 11.4 years), and group 2 consisted of 35 patients (27 males and 8 females; age, 32.5 ± 11.2 years). The preoperative joint space width was not significantly different between group 1 (mean ± SD, 3.89 ± 0.83 mm) and group 2 (3.68 ± 0.68 mm). The ratio of the amount of distraction at lateral gaps under all traction conditions was significantly greater in group 1 compared with group 2 (1.50 ± 0.54 vs 1.26 ± 0.35, respectively, under preoperative manual traction; 2.84 ± 0.76 vs 2.03 ± 0.63 under preoperative maximal traction; 3.36 ± 0.96 vs 2.50 ± 0.79 under intraoperative maximal traction). An increase of the lateral gap by >2.2 times ( P < .001) under preoperative maximal traction and by >2.7 times ( P < .001) under intraoperative maximal traction could predict successful CC access. Male sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.94; P = .017) and increased lateral center-edge angle (OR, 1.08 for every 1° increase; P = .004) were significant risk factors for failed/difficult CC access.

Conclusion:

An increase of the lateral gap by >2.2 times during an unsterile traction test without joint distension could predict successful CC access. Male sex and increased lateral center-edge angle were risk factors for a failed or difficult CC access.
Predictors of Bone Loss in Anterior Glenohumeral Instability
Authors: Hettrich Carolyn M. , Magnuson Justin A. , Baumgarten Keith M. , Brophy Robert H. , Kattan Michael ,   MOON Shoulder Group, Bishop Julie Y. , Bollier Matthew J. , Bravman Jonathan T. , Cvetanovich Gregory L. , Dunn Warren R. , Feeley Brian T. , Frank Rachel M. , Kuhn John E. , Lansdown Drew A. , Benjamin Ma C. , Marx Robert G. , McCarty Eric C. , Neviaser Andrew S. , Ortiz Shannon F. , Seidl Adam J. , Smith Matthew V. , Wright Rick W. , Zhang Alan L. , Cronin Kevin J. , Wolf Brian R.
Published: March 2023

Background:

Anterior shoulder instability can result in bone loss of both the anterior glenoid and the posterior humerus. Bone loss has been shown to lead to increased failure postoperatively and may necessitate more complex surgical procedures, resulting in worse clinical outcomes and posttraumatic arthritis.

Hypothesis/Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors of glenoid and humeral head bone loss in patients undergoing surgery for anterior shoulder instability. It was hypothesized that male sex, contact sport participation, traumatic dislocation, and higher number of instability events would be associated with greater bone loss.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 892 patients with anterior shoulder instability were prospectively enrolled in the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) Shoulder Instability cohort. The presence and amount of anterior glenoid bone loss and accompanying Hill-Sachs lesions were quantified. Descriptive information and injury history were used to construct proportional odds models for the presence of any bone defect, for defects >10% of the anterior glenoid or humeral head, and for combined bony defects.

Results:

Anterior glenoid bone loss and Hill-Sachs lesions were present in 185 (20.7%) and 470 (52.7%) patients, respectively. Having an increased number of dislocations was associated with bone loss in all models. Increasing age, male sex, and non-White race were associated with anterior glenoid bone defects and Hill-Sachs lesions. Contact sport participation was associated with anterior glenoid bone loss, and Shoulder Actitvity Scale with glenoid bone loss >10%. A positive apprehension test was associated with Hill-Sachs lesions. Combined lesions were present in 19.4% of patients, and for every additional shoulder dislocation, the odds of having a combined lesion was 95% higher.

Conclusion:

An increasing number of preoperative shoulder dislocations is the factor most strongly associated with glenoid bone loss, Hill-Sachs lesions, and combined lesions. Early surgical stabilization before recurrence of instability may be the most effective method for preventing progression to clinically significant bone loss. Patients should be made aware of the expected course of shoulder instability, especially in athletes at high risk for recurrence and osseous defects, which may complicate care and worsen outcomes.

Registration:

NCT02075775 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
Prophylactic Inferior Vena Cava Filters for Venous Thromboembolism in Adults With Trauma: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Alshaqaq Hassan M. , Al-Sharydah Abdulaziz M. , Alshahrani Mohammed S , Alqahtani Saad M , Amer Marwa
Published: March 2023

Background: Trauma is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Due to contraindications or delay in starting pharmacological prophylaxis among trauma patients with a high risk of bleeding, the inferior vena cava (IVC) filter has been utilized as alternative prevention for pulmonary embolism (PE). Albeit, its clinical efficacy has remained uncertain. Therefore, we performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness and safety of prophylactic IVC filters in severely injured patients. Methods: Three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane) were searched from August 1, 2012, to October 27, 2021. Independent reviewers performed data extraction and quality assessment. Relative risk (RR) at 95% confidence interval (CI) pooled in a randomized meta-analysis. A parallel clinical practice guideline committee assessed the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach. The outcomes of interest included VTE, PE, deep venous thrombosis, mortality, and IVC filter complications. Results: We included 10 controlled studies (47 140 patients), of which 3 studies (310 patients) were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 7 were observational studies (46 830 patients). IVC filters demonstrated no significant reduction in PE and fatal PE (RR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.06-1.28 and RR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.01-7.84, respectively) by pooling RCTs with low certainty. However, it demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of PE and fatal PE (RR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12-0.55 and RR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.011-0.81, respectively) by pooling observational studies with very low certainty. IVC filter did not improve mortality in both RCTs and observational studies (RR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.86-2.43 and RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.3-1.31, respectively). Conclusion: In trauma patients, moderate risk reduction of PE and fatal PE was demonstrated among observational data but not RCTs. The desirable effect is not robust to outweigh the undesirable effects associated with IVC filter complications. Current evidence suggests against routinely using prophylactic IVC filters.
Experiences of Breastfeeding Mothers With Visual Disabilities
Authors: Can Merve , Mizrak Sahin Berrak
Published: March 2023

Background:

Parents with visual impairment can have difficulty in breastfeeding their babies. This situation may cause mothers to have negative feelings towards the care of their babies and to have problems during breastfeeding process.

Research Aims:

To examine in detail (1) the breastfeeding experiences of mothers with visual impairment, and (2) the factors that facilitate and prevent these mothers from continuing to breastfeed.

Methods:

This study was a cross-sectional, prospective generic qualitative design. The study sample ( N = 15) consisted of mothers with visual impairment aged 18 and over, residing in Turkey, speaking Turkish, having an infant under the age of 2, and with breastfeeding experience. The analysis process was a content analysis approach. Data were collected through video or audio interviews using a semi-structured interview form.

Results:

Three main themes and 12 subthemes were determined: (1) negative emotions caused by breastfeeding, (2) barriers to initiating and maintaining breastfeeding, and (3) facilitators in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding.

Conclusion:

The participants in our study stated that health personnel had limited information on how to communicate with and support them. For this reason, it is important that breastfeeding counselors and health care providers receive training about breastfeeding counseling for mothers with visual impairment so that they can provide information and advice to these mothers.
COVID-19-Induced Automation: An Exploratory Study of Critical Occupations
Authors: Song Chun , Beaulieu Lionel J. , Kumar Indraneel , Gallardo Roberto
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic may have spurred automation, especially in critical occupations. This article explores the potential of each detailed Standard Occupational Classification System (SOC) occupation being automated due to COVID-19. The authors explore two key elements of each occupation: its exposure to diseases such as COVID-19 and the probability of that occupation being automated. The results reveal that food preparation, service, and cleaning-related occupations have a higher chance of pandemic-induced automation. Using monthly U.S. job postings from 2016 to 2021, the estimates show that the potential pandemic-induced automation is associated with a statistically significant decrease in job postings. A higher Automation Index is associated with fewer job postings since the pandemic. Such trends remain robust after accounting for posting duration and excluding health-related occupations. These findings contribute to the early assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the potential integration of automation in the labor force and offer insights into building a resilient and labor-centric post-pandemic labor market.
Development and validation of intraoral periapical radiography-based machine learning model for periodontal defect diagnosis
Authors: Karacaoglu Fatma , Kolsuz Mehmet Eray , Bagis Nilsun , Evli Cengiz , Orhan Kaan
Published: March 2023

Radiographic determination of the bone level is useful in the diagnosis and determination of the severity of the periodontal disease. Various two- and three-dimensional imaging modalities offer choices for imaging pathologic processes that affect the periodontium. In recent years, innovative computer techniques, especially artificial intelligence (AI), have begun to be used in many areas of dentistry and are helping increase treatment and diagnostic performance. This study was aimed at developing a machine-learning (ML) model and assessing the extent to which it was capable of classifying periodontal defects on 2D periapical images. Eighty-seven periapical images were examined as part of this research. The existence or absence of periodontal defects in the aforementioned images were evaluated by a human observer. The evaluations were subsequently repeated using a radiomics platform. A comparison was made of all data acquired through human observation and ML techniques by SVM analysis. According to the study findings the ability of human observers and the ML model to detect periodontal defects was significantly different in comparison to the gold standard. However, ML and human observers performed similarly for the detection of periodontal defects without a significant difference. This study reveals that the prediction of periodontal defects can be achieved by combining particular radiomic features with image variables. The proposed machine leaning model can be utilized for supporting clinical practitioners and eventually substitute evaluations conducted by human observers while enhancing future levels of performance.
Latent profiles of ethical climate and nurses’ service behavior
Authors: Zhang Na , Xu Dingxin , Bu Xing , Xu Zhen
Published: March 2023

Background

Hospital ethical climate has important implications for clinical nurses’ service behavior; however, the relationships are complicated by the fact that five types of ethical climate (caring, law and code, rules, instrumental, and independence) can be combined differently according to their level and shape differences. Recent developments in person-centered methods (e.g., latent profile analysis (LPA)) have helped to address these complexities.

Aim

From a person-centered perspective, this study explored the distinct profiles of hospital ethical climate and then examined the relationships of the profiles with clinical nurses’ service behavior (both in-role and extra-role service behavior).

Research design

A quantitative study was conducted using cluster random sampling. Latent profile analysis and binary coded hexadecimal (BCH) analysis were conducted using Mplus 8.2.

Participants and research context

A total of 871 clinical nurses in China were surveyed using the Ethical Climate Scale and Nurses’ Service Behavior Questionnaire.

Ethical considerations

Ethical approval was obtained from the IRB of the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University (No. KY-2020-090).

Results

A four-profile hospital ethical climate model provided the best fit for the data. The four different profiles not only varied in level, but also in shape: high normative and low egoism (45.8%), high ethical climate (19.9%), low ethical climate (3.6%), and moderate ethical climate (30.8%). These profiles differentially predicted clinical nurses’ overall, in-role, and extra-role service behaviors.

Conclusions

The results reveal new insights into the nature of hospital ethical climate and how different clinical nurses in these profiles can be best managed to accomplish different forms of service behavior.
Contribution of the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme to Inequality in Healthcare Utilisation
Authors: Frimpong Albert Opoku
Published: March 2023

Inequality in healthcare utilisation contributes to socio-economic disparities in health outcomes. The government of Ghana rolled out the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as a pro-poor health policy to reduce the financial barrier to accessing healthcare to increase healthcare utilisation, especially among the poor. Evidence showed a pro-rich utilisation inequality in Ghana prior to the nationwide start of the NHIS in 2005. This article applied the concentration index and decomposition methods to the round six of the Ghana Living Standard Survey data to investigate the contribution of the NHIS to utilisation inequality. The results showed the rich to benefit more than the poor from the NHIS and the NHIS contributed to about half of the pro-rich utilisation inequality. The NHIS increased utilisation but more so for the rich than the poor. A policy implication of the article is that pro-poorness of the NHIS might require separate NHIS schemes for the poor and non-poor to enable different policies implemented in the schemes to increase the distributional disparity of health subsidies in favour of the poor.
Medical Malpractice Litigations Involving Infant Craniosynostosis and Deformational Plagiocephaly in the United States
Authors: Gong Jung Ho , Soliman Luke , Sobti Nikhil , Mehrzad Raman , Woo Albert S.
Published: March 2023

Objective

To identify characteristics of malpractice litigations involving skull deformity in infants (craniosynostosis and deformational plagiocephaly).

Design

Retrospective review of all lawsuits with jury verdicts or settlements involving infant skull deformity as the primary diagnosis using the Westlaw Legal Database.

Setting

United States.

Patients, Participants

Plaintiffs with skull deformity as the primary diagnosis.

Main Outcome Measures

Litigation outcome and indemnity payment amount.

Results

From 1990 to 2019, 9 cases involving infant skull deformity met our inclusion/exclusion criteria. Among these cases, 8 (88.9%) cases resulted in indemnity payments to plaintiffs, totaling $30,430,000. Failure to diagnose (n = 4, 44.4%) and surgical negligence (n = 3, 33.3%) were the most common reasons for litigations.

Conclusions

There were a small number of malpractice lawsuits involving infant skull deformity over three decades. When cases go to court, physicians and hospitals have a high likelihood of judgment against them, frequently resulting in high indemnity payments.