bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Posttraumatic Stress and Depression Symptoms in Children Who Experienced the Kahramanmaraş Earthquake
Authors: Düken Mehmet Emin , Küçükoğlu Sibel , Kiliçaslan Fethiye
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

Trauma is important in the etiology of many problems including childhood anxiety, somatization, hostility and sleep disturbance.

AIMS:

This research was conducted to examine the posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms of children who experienced the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye.

METHODS:

The research, designed as a descriptive and relational type, was conducted with 636 children in the 10 to 18 age group who experienced the earthquake. Data were obtained through the Child Information Form, the Child Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (CPTSD-RI), and the Depression Inventory for Children.

RESULTS:

According to the scale scores, 100% of the children had depression symptoms, while 23% had severe trauma and 77% had very severe posttraumatic stress symptoms. It was revealed that children’s posttraumatic stress reactions explained 71% of their depression ( p < .001). It has been determined that the most important triggers affecting children’s posttraumatic stress reactions are being trapped under debris and the problems they experience in reaching shelter and assistance (B: -3.706; B: -1.547; B: 3.969).

CONCLUSIONS:

It was determined that there was a strong relationship between posttraumatic stress reactions and depression symptoms of children who experienced the earthquake. It has been observed that the experiences of children during and after the earthquake can have an impact on their trauma situations.
Examining Attenuated Responses to Coronavirus Disease-2019 Risk
Authors: Choi Minhee , O’Donnell Nicole , Moon Won-Ki
Published: July 2024

This study examines attenuated risk responses among individuals who do not adhere to preventive COVID-19 measures (e.g., antimaskers). Guided by the Social Amplification of Risk Model, a survey ( N = 373) of nonabiding populations showed that news media use was positively associated with risk perceptions, information seeking and sharing, and preventive measure adoption. By contrast, negative emotions to COVID-19 and perceived knowledge hindered preventive measure adoption from increased information seeking and sharing. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Antiviral Activity, Pharmacoinformatics, Molecular Docking, and Dynamics Studies of Azadirachta indica Against Nipah Virus by Targeting Envelope Glycoprotein: Emerging Strategies for Developing Antiviral Treatment
Authors: Saha Otun , Siddiquee Noimul Hasan , Akter Rahima , Sarker Nikkon , Bristi Uditi Paul , Sultana Khandokar Fahmida , Remon SM Lutfor Rahman , Sultana Afroza , Shishir Tushar Ahmed , Rahaman Md Mizanur , Ahmed Firoz , Hossen Foysal , Amin Mohammad Ruhul , Akter Mir Salma
Published: July 2024

The Nipah virus (NiV) belongs to the Henipavirus genus is a serious public health concern causing numerous outbreaks with higher fatality rate. Unfortunately, there is no effective medication available for NiV. To investigate possible inhibitors of NiV infection, we used in silico techniques to discover treatment candidates in this work. As there are not any approved treatments for NiV infection, the NiV-enveloped attachment glycoprotein was set as target for our study, which is responsible for binding to and entering host cells. Our in silico drug design approach included molecular docking, post-docking molecular mechanism generalised born surface area (MM-GBSA), absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion/toxicity (ADME/T), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We retrieved 418 phytochemicals associated with the neem plant ( Azadirachta indica) from the IMPPAT database, and molecular docking was used to ascertain the compounds’ binding strength. The top 3 phytochemicals with binding affinities of −7.118, –7.074, and −6.894 kcal/mol for CIDs 5280343, 9064, and 5280863, respectively, were selected for additional study based on molecular docking. The post-docking MM-GBSA of those 3 compounds was −47.56, –47.3, and −43.15 kcal/mol, respectively. As evidence of their efficacy and safety, all the chosen drugs had favorable toxicological and pharmacokinetic (Pk) qualities. We also performed MD simulations to confirm the stability of the ligand-protein complex structures and determine whether the selected compounds are stable at the protein binding site. All 3 phytochemicals, Quercetin (CID: 5280343), Cianidanol (CID: 9064), and Kaempferol (CID: 5280863), appeared to have outstanding binding stability to the target protein than control ribavirin, according to the molecular docking, MM-GBSA, and MD simulation outcomes. Overall, this work offers a viable approach to developing novel medications for treating NiV infection.
Exploring People’s Perception on Pros and Cons of Human-Bat Coexistence in Urban Environs in Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Ogunbode Timothy O , Esan Vincent I , Oyebamiji Victor O , Olatubi Iyabo V , Ogunlaran Oladotun M
Published: July 2024

This research intricately explores the dynamics surrounding the coexistence of humans and roosting bats in urban areas, meticulously examining both the advantageous and detrimental aspects of their living arrangement. The study conducted a comprehensive survey with 286 residents in Iwo and Ogbomoso, where Eidolon helvum bats are known to roost, generating a robust dataset for thorough analysis. Rigorous statistical assessments, including the KMO and Bartlett’s tests, confirmed the data’s reliability at a significance level of P < .05. The respondent demographic revealed a predominance of 65% male participants, with an overwhelming 85% claiming familiarity with bats in their respective domains. Utilizing factor analysis, the study identified 8 salient variables from the initial 26, shedding light on diverse perceptions regarding bats: (i) Urban roosting (16.729%); (ii) Impact on tree growth (12.607%); (iii) Failed dislodgement attempts (11.504%); (iv) Medicinal value (10.240%); (v) Co-habitation preference (9.963%); (vi) Costly dislodgment consequences (9.963%); (vii) Beautification disruption (5.615%); and (viii) Structure defacement (5.510%). These factors were systematically categorized into 4 distinct themes: (A) Forced cohabitation (26.762%); (B) Environmental degradation by bats (23.732%); (C) Consequences of dislodging bats (21.477%); and (D) Acknowledged benefits of bats (10.240%). Co-habitation with bats becomes a necessity for ecological balance and, importantly, to safeguard the livelihood of roosting bats within their natural ecology, which man has encroached upon through urbanization, making all negatives arising from such existence self-inflicted by man. However, this study underscores the importance of human-bat cohabitation for mutual benefits, emphasizing potential detrimental consequences, including significant costs, associated with displacing bats from their natural ecosystem. These consequences may exacerbate the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and ecological imbalance. Further research is recommended to explore the positive aspects of the sustainable roosting bats’ existence in the natural environment.
Barriers and Facilitators to Dietary Salt Reduction Among Patients With Hypertension in Southern Nigeria: A Hospital-based Qualitative Study
Authors: Oku Afiong Oboko , Udonwa Ndifreke Ekpo , Oseni Tijani Idris Ahmad , Ilori Temitope , Salam Tawakalit Olubukola
Published: July 2024

Introduction:

Reduction in salt intake improves blood pressure control and reduces the risk of hypertension and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). However, salt intake remains high among Nigerians. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to salt reduction among hypertensive patients attending a family medicine clinic in southern Nigeria.

Methodology:

A focussed group discussion (FGD) exploring patients’ perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to salt reduction was conducted with 8 groups of purposefully selected 74 hypertensives who consumed excess dietary salt, stratified by age and sex, using an FGD guide. Thematic analysis was then performed using Nvivo® version 12 pro. Ethical approval was obtained from Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), and written informed consent was obtained from the patients before the FGD.

Results:

Respondents had a mean age of 51.96 ± 8.98 years. The majority were females (47, 63.5%) and had uncontrolled blood pressure (66, 89.2%). Five major themes were identified, from which several minor themes emerged. Respondents rated their overall health as good but expressed concerns about their poor blood pressure control. Identified barriers to salt reduction included family pressure, ignorance, ready availability and affordability of salt and lack of affordable alternatives. Facilitators of salt reduction were measuring the amount of cooking salt, removing salt from the dining table and providing substitutes. Respondents, however, expressed willingness to reduce their salt consumption.

Conclusion:

The study identified barriers and facilitators to salt reduction. There is a need to create awareness of the safe amount of salt to be consumed and provide safe and readily available alternatives.
Delivery-First Strategy Followed by Endovascular Repair to Treat Pregnant Woman With Acute Complicated Type B Aortic Dissection
Authors: Huang Chen Ming , Wang Chen-Hua , Wang Hao-Chin , Chuang Yi-Ting , Sung Shu-Yi , Liao Chi-Yuan
Published: July 2024

Objective:

Aortic dissection, a rare but serious condition, requires timely diagnosis and treatment.

Case report:

A case report involving a 33-year-old female with Stanford type B aortic dissection at 32 + 3 weeks gestational age highlights the importance of being alert to the symptoms and signs of this condition, particularly in patients with hypertension or a history of connective tissue disorders. The case report suggests a delivery first strategy followed by TEVAR procedure as the preferred approach for managing aortic dissection in pregnancy. This approach can alleviate pressure on the aorta, reduce the risk of rupture, and provide time for stabilization and preparation for the TEVAR procedure.

Conclusion:

The case report emphasizes the criticality of recognizing and treating aortic dissection in pregnant patients promptly, given its potential life-threatening impact on both mother and fetus.
Touching through distance: Cyborg affective touch during Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Galimberti Giulio , Miglio Nicole
Published: July 2024

The enforcement of social distancing measures and lockdowns across the globe to control the spread of Covid-19 has led to various forms of tactile deprivation. While social interactions became less accessible for some groups of people, this deprivation brought a re-emphasis of the importance of social touch. The label affective haptic devices (AHDs) has been used to address a plethora of digital media promptly assembled to help people to compensate for their lack of affective touch. By simulating the experience of touch through digital devices, we witness a potential re-negotiation of the human/non-human divide and a productive means to challenge the boundaries of human skin. Our contribution – organized in the sections (i) Tactile deprivation; (ii) Replacing social touch; (iii) Towards a feminist understanding of extended touch – then aims to investigate the cyborg dimension of extended touch for raising further questions on the role of touch in defining the human being.
Effectiveness of yoga and laughter yoga in improving psychological resilience of mothers with babies hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Çiğdem Zerrin , Sarikamiş Kale Emine , Koç Özkan Tuba
Published: July 2024

This randomized controlled study aimed to determine the effectiveness of yoga and laughter yoga approaches in enhancing psychological resilience of mothers with babies hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. The Mothers were randomized into three groups as yoga, laughter yoga, and control groups. The mothers received a total of 10 yoga/laughter yoga sessions for 45 minutes twice a week as home-based exercises. Depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological resilience outcomes were evaluated at baseline and after 5th and 10th sessions. The study was completed with 60 mothers including 20 mothers in the yoga group, 19 mothers in the laughter yoga group, and 21 mothers in the control group. There were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological resilience after 5th and 10th sessions. Yoga and laughter yoga was effective for increasing psychological resilience and alleviating depression, anxiety, stress.
Representation of climate change and global warming in comics: From apocalyptic fiction to educational tool
Authors: Ibarra-Rius Noelia , Pons Álvaro M.
Published: July 2024

Comics have been cultural and artistic artefacts throughout their history, providing documentary and testimonial representations of their times, stemming from the deep connection between contemporary authors and the society they live in. Climate change and global warming, as the main challenges facing humanity in the 21st century, have also been depicted in comics, allowing for a chronological evolutionary analysis of the perception of climate change in comics and their cultural impact. Furthermore, their educational potential can be harnessed to convey rigorous information to the public about the causes and action that must be taken to tackle it. The introduction of non-fiction in comics allows for an analysis from two perspectives: fiction, which provides thematic reading through the reflection inspired by plots that often stem from dystopia as a warning of the future; and non-fiction, which allows for a reflection based on explanation from the scientific world adapted to every type of reader by leveraging comics’ language capabilities. This corpus of works provides a space for addressing challenges in reader education, whose essential aim is to train competent, critical readers, as well as in scientific education by transmitting scientific knowledge in an accessible way to foster ecological awareness through culture.
Being and becoming in the culture of immediacy: An existential-ethical approach
Authors: Mathé Jan Jasper , Bauwens Jo , Verstrynge Karl
Published: July 2024

In this article we employ an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach to explore online immediacy from an existential-ethical perspective. While existing literature already accounts for the socio-cultural and psychological impact of constant connectivity, we venture to reveal its underlying existential-ethical implications. Our findings show the often contradictory ways in which young adults cope with the allure of immediate-aesthetic experiences on the one hand, and the challenge of authentic self-development on the other. Ultimately, we advocate for a transformative shift in which online practices are brought in alignment (are relativized) with an existential-ethical view of life. Drawing on Kierkegaard’s existential philosophy of the self, this article underscores the need to transcend the superficiality of immediacy to foster an authentic journey of being and becoming a self in a social environment that is increasingly mediated by online media technologies.
Dynamic capabilities driving hotel innovations and competitive advantage: The moderating effect of hotel chain affiliation
Authors: Ruiz-Fernández Lorena , Marco-Lajara Bartolomé , Seva-Larrosa Pedro , Martínez-Falcó Javier
Published: July 2024

Understanding the microfoundations that boost hotel innovation and how it affects competitive advantage is a current controversial topic debated by both academics and practitioners. The aim of this study is to shed light on the mechanisms that foster hotel innovations (differentiating between service, process, and organizational innovation) to improve their competitive advantage in terms of cost and differentiation. Based on a sample of 212 Spanish hotels, our empirical results find a positive and chain-moderated influence of dynamic capabilities (sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring) on different types of hotel innovations. Furthermore, while service, process, and organizational innovation are positively related to the improvement of differentiation competitive advantage, only process innovation is significantly related to cost competitive advantage. This research makes a useful contribution to both academic literature and professional hotel managers, who should be attentive to the microfoundations of dynamic capabilities and hotel innovation.
In praise of visual representation: an inquiry into text analysis and network visualization for charting scientific communities
Authors: Rodighiero Dario
Published: July 2024

This article provides a visual investigation into scientific communities through the lens of language. Inspired by actor-network theory, the study examines how individuals establish connections through shared vocabularies and, consequently, how communities organize themselves into linguistic groups. Using scientific texts to map the lexical dimension, the premise posits that research communities can be visually represented by their members and the words they employ, favouring the comprehension of social structures. The research draws from a decade-long personal experimentation with language-based visual models, to explore how research communities appear according to their lexicon, in which each individual is intricately intertwined. Employing cutting-edge techniques of text analysis and network visualization, the study analyses, organizes and maps scientific communities, clustering individuals into thematic groups based on their language use. The findings are presented through a series of projects that delve into the analytical power of images and unveil novel visual methods to better understand the spatial dynamics of language and communities.
Effect of branching middle responses in dichotomous scales on web surveys
Authors: Suzer-Gurtekin Z. Tuba
Published: July 2024

Previous research shows that in telephone surveys, 11–49% of respondents select a middle alternative when it is offered on dichotomous bipolar questions, although they do not volunteer a middle option when it is not mentioned. Furthermore, offering a middle option leads to different systematic response effects, including social desirability bias and satisficing effects, which are related to respondent characteristics. Research has shown that in telephone surveys, a question form with a branching middle response has a lower response validity compared to that of a non-branching middle response. However, compared to the non-branching form, the branching form could potentially motivate respondents to spend more time and effort in their responses in the absence of an interviewer. Therefore, validity and reliability differences between branching-question form responses and non-branching-question form responses in general population web surveys have become an area of interest for research. Using a randomized experiment, this study tests the impact of a branching middle alternative in a general population survey on the validity and reliability of responses. The branching middle alternative did not change the validity and reliability of responses, and compared to the alternative, it reduced satisficing behavior based on the proxies.
A likelihood-free Bayesian approach for characterisation of multiple delaminations in laminated composite beams
Authors: Zeng Zijie , Feng Yuan , Ng Ching Tai , Sheikh Abdul Hamid
Published: July 2024

This paper presents a probabilistic model-based optimisation framework for localising and characterising multiple delaminations in laminated composite beams using ultrasonic guided waves (GW). A likelihood-free Bayesian method, approximate Bayesian computation by subset simulation (ABC-SS), is implemented to determine the number of delaminations and identify the unknown damage characteristics and their associated uncertainties. The ABC algorithm provides a practical way to approximate the posterior distributions of uncertain damage parameters and select the most plausible damage model for determining the number of delaminations through direct comparison of the experimentally measured and numerically simulated GW signals without assuming any likelihood functions. To overcome the expensive computational cost of traditional finite element simulations, a higher-order laminated model (HOLM) is employed to model the GW propagation behaviour in the delaminated composite beams with satisfactory accuracy and acceptable computational efficiency. Benefiting from the accurate simulation, the dataset comparison utilises the original time-domain GW signals, thereby preventing the loss of any key information from the signals for damage identification. A comprehensive series of numerical case studies are used to demonstrate the accuracy, robustness and feasibility of HOLM simulation and the proposed multiple-delamination identification framework. The practicability and accuracy of the proposed ABC framework are further validated using two experimental datasets.
Innovative computer vision-based full-scale timber element cracks detection, stitching, and quantification
Authors: Ding Yewei , Xiong Haibei , Chen Lin , Chen Jiawei , Xu Jia , Qin Xiaoming , Gu Jiaxuan
Published: July 2024

Timber is susceptible to environmental humidity variations, inevitably resulting in cracks parallel to the wood grain during the service life. Cracks significantly degrade the effective cross-sectional area and seriously affect structural safety and durability. Therefore, it is significant to identify the timber elements’ cracking conditions for providing reliable maintenance. Existing timber structure crack inspection mainly relies on manual work. However, with the rapid development of high-rise and large-span glued timber structure, manual-based crack inspection is not applicable to such structures for increasing workload and uncontactable high-altitude timber elements. In order to make up for the deficiencies of the existing crack detection algorithms, this paper proposed an innovative computer vision-based method inspecting full-scale timber column cracks. In step one, the crack images were stitched to exhibit the full-scale cracking condition. In step two, the YOLOv5 model was trained utilizing 425 images collected from cracked timber structures and performed K-fold crossover validation algorithm. In step three, cracking regions are quantified at the physical level. Field tests showed that the proposed method has a crack identification precision better than 0.2 mm and error below 5% compared with manual measurement, which can provide high-precision, time-saving, and noncontact in-situ crack inspection for timber structures.
Deep recurrent-convolutional neural network learning and physics Kalman filtering comparison in dynamic load identification
Authors: Impraimakis Marios
Published: July 2024

The dynamic structural load identification capabilities of the gated recurrent unit, long short-term memory, and convolutional neural networks are examined herein. The examination is on realistic small dataset training conditions and on a comparative view to the physics-based residual Kalman filter (RKF). The dynamic load identification suffers from the uncertainty related to obtaining poor predictions when in civil engineering applications only a low number of tests are performed or are available, or when the structural model is unidentifiable. In considering the methods, first, a simulated structure is investigated under a shaker excitation at the top floor. Second, a building in California is investigated under seismic base excitation, which results in loading for all degrees of freedom. Finally, the International Association for Structural Control-American Society of Civil Engineers (IASC-ASCE) structural health monitoring benchmark problem is examined for impact and instant loading conditions. Importantly, the methods are shown to outperform each other on different loading scenarios, while the RKF is shown to outperform the networks in physically parametrized identifiable cases.
Strengthening Youth Emotional and Behavioral Well-Being Through Community–Academic Partnership: The EMPOWER Project
Authors: Balter Alice-Simone , Racine Nicole , Al-Khooly Dina , Somir Indika , Bandoles Emerald , Utchay Clementine , Sylvestre Desiree , Sibilus Annabel , Suri Anjali , Pierre Sandra , Parkes Sheldon , Quesnelle Shannon , Brodkin Sabrina , Andrade Brendan F.
Published: July 2024

The onset of mental health issues frequently starts during adolescence, where one third of adolescents who are 14 years and younger receive a mental health diagnosis. The state of youth mental health is a major public health concern. The EMPOWER project was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to address youth mental health. The EMPOWER project is a partnership between two after-school programs and an academic mental health hospital in Toronto, Canada, that aims to bolster youth mental well-being. In this Practice Note, we share our community-based participatory research process of how we built the EMPOWER partnership and highlight our lessons learned so far. Through EMPOWER, we aim to codesign, deliver, and evaluate a scalable, evidence-based, and community-informed youth mental wellness curriculum that will be implemented in after-school programs.
Challenges in Disseminating Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs in Faith Community Settings: What We Need to Include
Authors: Jones Sharon C. , Schlundt David , Williams Neely , Smalls Meredith , Idrizi Korab , Alexander Leah , Anthony Monique , Selove Rebecca
Published: July 2024

Background

Effective dissemination of information about evidence-based programs (EBPs) is essential for promoting health equity. Faith-based and other community organizations have difficulty locating EBPs for implementation in their settings. A research team engaged in a systematic search to identify a menu of EBPs that could be offered to African American FBOs as part of a community-engaged implementation study. Methods. A four-stage process was developed to search for EBPs meeting seven inclusion criteria for dissemination in faith-based organizations (FBOs). Criteria included relevance to identified health disparity topics, endorsement on a federal website, free access to downloadable program materials, facilitator guidance, no requirements for health care providers, and culturally relevant materials for African American communities.

Results

Nineteen government websites were searched. Sixty-six potential EBPs were identified. Six EBPs met all inclusion criteria.

Discussion

The search for EBPs that met seven criteria for implementation in African American FBOs demonstrated challenges that have been described in the literature. Researchers encountered a lack of standardized terminology for identifying EBPs on federal websites, frequent requirement for health care providers or clinics and/or fees for training and materials. FBOs are supportive and safe places to offer EBPs to promote health, and EBPs need to be designed and disseminated to meet the needs and preferences of FBOs. Including members of FBOs and others in the community in EBP development, design, and dissemination, such as searchable health promotion EBP registries, can increase the likelihood that effective programs intended to address health disparities are readily accessible to FBOs for implementation.
Employing a Youth Internship Model to Identify Goals to Reduce Barriers to Active Living
Authors: Alvarado Judit Sarai , De Jesus-Sanchez, AS Edith , Colon Jessica , Giff Kevin , Lajeunesse Seth , De Marco Molly
Published: July 2024

Active lifestyles are vital for promoting health. In this practice note, we describe the implementation of an active living intervention designed to engage youth in identifying barriers to being physically active and developing recommendations to address these barriers. Youth interns were compensated for their time. Through this project, the community obtained street striping for the first time, secured a community center when the police substation building was turned over to the community, and had sidewalk funding prioritized for one of their busiest streets. Lessons learned while developing and implementing this youth internship program focused on making the internship program work well given youth schedules and focusing on supporting the voice of youth to advocate for changes to the built environment in an intentionally excluded community.
Effects of Systolic Blood Pressure Elevation on Internal Sperm Artery Identification During Microsurgical Subinguinal Varicocelectomy
Authors: Kebing Yang , Chenglu Wang , Xiaobo Xu , Tiliwalidi Aikeremu , Liao Zhang
Published: July 2024

Microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy (MSV) is the gold standard for treating varicoceles. Preservation of the internal spermatic arteries (ISAs) during MSV is important for sperm production. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of elevating systolic blood pressure (SBP) using MSV. Data from 252 consecutive adult male patients were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: a traditional group that underwent conventional MSV ( n = 134) and a modified group that underwent MSV with a transiently elevated SBP of 140–160 mm Hg ( n = 118). Arterial identification time, unilateral operative time, number of ISAs, arterial injury rate, and other postoperative indicators, including postoperative complications and sperm parameters, were compared between the groups. All the procedures were successful. The arterial identification and unilateral operative times were significantly shorter in the modified group (31.34 ± 10.44 vs. 42.94 ± 12.39 min and 61.48 ± 8.78 vs. 76.35 ± 12.33 min, p < .01, respectively). Intraoperatively, the number of preserved ISAs was significantly higher in the modified group (1.92 ± 0.53 vs. 1.45 ± 0.32, p < .01). The arterial injury rate did not differ significantly between the groups (2.74% vs. 0%, respectively). Compared with preoperative values, sperm parameters improved significantly 6 months postoperatively. Significant differences in semen parameters or postoperative complications were not observed between the groups. Elevated intraoperative SBP can be used to rapidly, safely, and effectively identify ISAs, increase the number of retained spermatic arteries, and markedly reduce the operative time for MSV.
Black Father’s Influence on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in the United States: A Narrative Synthesis of Literature
Authors: Hill Ashley V. , Balascio Phoebe , Moore Mikaela , Blackmon Brandi , Alston Tasha , Anto-Ocrah Martina
Published: July 2024

Few studies have investigated paternal characteristics in relationship with adverse pregnancy outcomes, and results are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to review studies examining associations between characteristics of Black fathers and adverse pregnancy outcomes in the United States. A systematic narrative synthesis was conducted of research studies examining paternal characteristics of Black fathers in association with adverse pregnancy outcomes: preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, spontaneous abortion, and maternal mortality. Seven databases (Academic Search Premier, CINHAL, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched for original research articles from inception to February 2023. Articles were excluded if they (a) were in a language other than English, (b) did not describe original research, (c) included a geographic region outside of the United States, (d) did not include adverse maternal outcomes as a study outcome, (e) did not describe race of fathers in the study sample, and (f) did not describe a paternal characteristic of Black fathers. The search resulted in 210 articles. Six studies were included in the final review; five studies examined associations between paternal characteristics of Black fathers and preterm birth, finding significantly increased odds of preterm birth among births with Black fathers. Among births with non-Hispanic Black paternity, the odds of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were reduced or not significantly associated. Researchers should continue to explore paternal factors that influence pregnancy outcomes in racial/ethnic-specific models to identify optimal intervention strategies to improve disparities in maternal and child health outcomes.
Study on freshness, morphology, strength, and durability properties of foamed concrete reinforced with agave fiber
Authors: Mydin Md Azree Othuman , Majeed Samadar S. , Bahrami Alireza , Dulaimi Anmar , Özkılıç Yasin Onuralp , Omar Roshartini , Abdullah Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri , Palanisamy Jagadesh , Awoyera Paul Oluwaseun
Published: July 2024

Currently, foamed concrete (FC) is widely employed in building construction and civil engineering works, and by using abundant natural fibers in FC, significant environmental benefits can be obtained. The durability properties of the essential materials acting independently could well be enhanced if the appropriate proportion of natural fiber-strengthened FC were used in the correct volume. This study aimed to develop new composite materials composed of FC and agave fiber (AF). The objective was to ascertain the optimal proportion of AF to be added to FC to increase its durability performance. A low-density FC of 950 kg/m3was fabricated utilizing varying percentages of AF, namely 0% (control), 1.5%, 3.0%, 4.5%, 6.0%, and 7.5%. The evaluated properties were the shrinkage, workability, density, water absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity, porosity, compressive strength, and elastic modulus. Using AFs in FC, the optimal shrinkage and ultrasonic pulse velocity were observed. When the weight fractions of AF were increased from 1% to 4.5% in the mixtures, the porosity, workability, and water absorption of FC were significantly reduced. In addition, FC showed a slight increase in the dry density with the rise in the AF’s weight fraction and the increase in the curing age from day-7 to day-56. This research delivers noteworthy data on the durability properties of FC-AF composites, allowing future researchers to study other properties like the structural performance, strength properties, and thermal conductivity of FC-AF composites.
Outcomes of Patients Receiving Proximal Row Carpectomy and Meniscus Interposition Allografts for the Treatment of End-Stage Wrist Arthritis: A Comparative Study
Authors: Pham Christopher , Ebner Peggy J. , Yoshida Ryu , McCullough Meghan C. , Brown Theodore , Tanabe Kylie , Kulber David A.
Published: July 2024

Background:

Proximal row carpectomy (PRC) is a mainstay of wrist arthritis treatment; however, it is traditionally contraindicated in patients with an affected capitate. The use of soft tissue interposition grafts to resurface the radiocapitate articulation has been previously described to allow for PRC in these patients. In the current study, we reviewed our outcomes using knee meniscus allograft interposition to resurface the radiocapitate articulation in patients who would have otherwise been contraindicated for PRC.

Methods:

A retrospective study of patients who underwent PRC with or without meniscus interposition arthroplasty was performed from 2011 to 2022. Patient demographics (age, sex, occupation, hand dominance, etc) were collected. Improvement in pain was the primary outcome. Wrist range of motion and reconstructive failure requiring fusion were the secondary outcomes.

Results:

We identified a total of 83 patients and 43 met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen patients (35%) underwent PRC with meniscus interposition arthroplasty, and 28 patients (65%) underwent PRC alone. Patients with and without meniscus interposition arthroplasty had documented improvement in pain postoperatively (93% vs 95%, P > .05) at a median follow-up time of 11 (range, 3-38 months) and 9 months (range, 3-64 months), respectively. Postoperative wrist range of motion (flexion: +9 vs −4, P > .05, extension: +12 vs −4, P = .10) trended toward increase in patients undergoing meniscus interposition arthroplasty compared with PRC alone.

Conclusions:

Our short- to mid-term outcomes in patients with end-stage wrist arthritis affecting the capitate who undergo PRC and meniscus interposition arthroplasty are comparable with those receiving PRC alone.
Justice and Prejudice in Émile Zola’s Truth
Authors: Marzel Shoshana-Rose , Kitai-Sangero Rinat
Published: July 2024

This article focuses on the legal aspects of the novel Truth (Vérité) by the French author Émile Zola. It addresses the wrongful conviction of Simon in the rape and murder of his nephew, which was motivated by prejudice, the retrial, and the final rehabilitation. In addition, it deals with Zola’s intent to promote through the novel public-secular education and to illuminate the injustice that Alfred Dreyfus has faced. Finally, the article focuses on two essential legal mechanisms for rectifying miscarriages of justice that appear in the novel: the retrial and the right of exonerated individuals to compensation.
Maternal exposure to heat and its association with miscarriage in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Moodley Yoshan , Asare Kwabena , Tanser Frank , Tomita Andrew
Published: July 2024

Background:

We sought to improve the current understanding of how climate change impacts women’s reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives:

We investigated the relationship between maternal heat exposure and miscarriage (pregnancy ending before 20 weeks gestation) in a South African setting.

Design:

Population-based cohort study.

Methods:

Our study involved data for pregnancies collected via a health and demographic surveillance system in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between 2012 and 2016. Data from the South African Weather Service were used to compute maternal exposure to heat during the following time windows for each pregnancy: during the month preceding conception (T1) and during the week preceding the study outcome (either a miscarriage or no miscarriage, T2). Heat exposure was operationalized as a continuous variable and defined as the number of days that a mother was exposed to a mean daily temperature of > 26.6°C (A “hot day,” equivalent to a mean daily temperature of > 80°F) during T1 or T2. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between maternal heat exposure and miscarriage.

Results:

A total of 105/3477 pregnancies included in our analysis ended in miscarriage (3.0%). Each additional hot day during T1 was associated with a 26% higher odds of miscarriage (odds ratio: 1.26; 95% confidence interval: 1.15–1.38). No significant associations were observed between maternal heat exposure during T2 and the odds of miscarriage (odds ratio: 0.94, 95% confidence interval: 0.73–1.20). The relationship between maternal heat exposure during T1 and the odds of miscarriage was J-shaped.

Conclusion:

There is a clear relationship between maternal heat exposure during the month preceding conception and miscarriage in our sub-Saharan African setting. Given the lack of feasible strategies to reduce pregnancy loss associated with prevailing high temperatures in sub-Saharan Africa, progressive climate change will likely exacerbate existing challenges for women’s reproductive health in this region.
Cost of mate choice: Changing patterns of global age disparity in marriage and their consequences to women’s health including maternal mortality and menopause
Authors: Pru Mindy , Brown C Michelle , Singh Rama S
Published: July 2024

Background:

Consistent across cultures and throughout time is the male preference for younger females. Given its prevalence, the mate choice theory proposes that age–disparate relationships may have contributed to the evolution of maternal mortality and menopause.

Objectives:

The objective is to document evidence for age disparity in marriage from past and present populations and evaluate their relevance to maternal mortality and menopause.

Design:

Cross-sectional data were collected from various regions and time points, ranging from the Roman era to the current decade.

Methods:

To analyze both the age disparity in marriage and age at marriage, data were collected from Ancestry.ca for Quebec, Massachusetts, India, South Africa, and England and Wales. Additional data were taken from the United Nations as a more recent and comprehensive source. To analyze the relationships between age disparity in marriage and different social factors, data on gross domestic product, maternal mortality rates, fertility, primary school enrollment, child marriage rates, and percentage of women in the total labor force were collected from the World Health Organization, World Bank, and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.

Results:

The results showed that males were significantly older than females at first marriage in all populations and time frames sampled, supporting the assumption underlying the mate choice theory. Maternal mortality rates were strongly associated with age–disparate relationships, increasing by 275 per 100,000 live births for each additional year in the age disparity.

Conclusion:

The results from this study provide support for the assumption underlying the mate choice theory of maternal mortality and menopause.
The role of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for menstrual pain relief: A randomized control trial
Authors: McLagan Bailey , Dexheimer Joshua , Strock Nicole , Goldstein Shayna , Guzman Stephanie , Erceg David , Schroeder E Todd
Published: July 2024

Background:

Abdominal pain due to menses (primary dysmenorrhea) is an extremely pervasive and debilitating symptom affecting up to 90% of menstruating individuals.

Objective:

The objective of this randomized control trial was to investigate the effect of a commercial transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit, Therabody PowerDot® (Therabody Inc., Los Angeles) on dysmenorrhea compared with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use.

Design:

This was a randomized cross-over study.

Methods:

A total of 47 participants agreed to participate in the study, with 34 completing it. Participants completed treatments across three consecutive menstrual cycles in randomized order: single-unit transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Uno), dual unit transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (Duo), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (Control). Upon onset of dysmenorrhea, participants applied transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to their abdomen for a minimum of 30 min. Control participants were instructed to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as needed. Surveys were used to record pain before and after treatment. We hypothesized that the PowerDot would decrease self-reported pain scores, and decrease non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption during menses.

Results:

Participants experienced a statistically and clinically significant reduction in pain during the Control (−3.52 ± 1.9), Uno (−2.10 ± 1.6), and Duo (−2.19 ± 1.7) cycles ( p < 0.001). The doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs consumed during the Control cycle (3.5 ± 2.6), was significantly different as compared with that of Uno (1.5 ± 3.0), or Duo (1.1 ± 2.6) ( p = 0.004).

Conclusions:

Use of a commercial transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit results in significant decrease in pain. Although not as robust as the relief in pain induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the adverse events of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation are minimal in comparison. Therefore, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation appears to be a viable alternative to pain relief from dysmenorrhea.

Clinical Trial Registration:

NCT05178589
A survey of United Kingdom intensive care echocardiography provision
Authors: Akhtar Waqas , Marshal Lenster , Buglass Helen , Billyard Thomas , Goedvolk Charlotte , Mildner Reinout , Conway Hannah , Soliman Aboumarie Hatem , Miller Ashley , Peck Marcus , Rubino Antonio
Published: July 2024

This study, conducted under the oversight of National Health Service Blood & Transplant, aimed to evaluate the current feasibility and implementation of both comprehensive and focused donor echocardiography in United Kingdom Intensive Care Units through a nationwide survey. Responses from 95 hospitals across all 4 UK nations showed each ICU had median 4 (IQR 2, 6) personal with 3 (IQR 2, 5) consultants and 1 (IQR 0, 2) registrar trained in focused echocardiography. A comprehensive echocardiogram can be acquired in 48% ( n = 46) of hospitals within 6 h during regular working hours. This percentage drops to 11% ( n = 10) outside of regular working hours, with 53% ( n = 50) indicating this would require more than 24 h. In the case of focused echocardiogram acquisition, 60% ( n = 57) of hospitals can obtain it within 6 h during normal working hours. This figure decreases to 20% ( n = 19) outside of regular working hours, with 32% ( n = 30) indicating that this would require more than 24 h to obtain. Overall, 98% of responding units ( n = 93) have point-of-care ultrasound machines (median 2 (IQR 2, 3) machines per ICU) all equipped with echocardiographic capabilities. However, only 52% ( n = 49) of respondents indicated have the ability for remote viewing of echocardiogram images.
Investigation into the correlations between engineering measurements and archers’ perceptions of different limbs in a recurve bow
Authors: Pietra Francesco , Loveday Philip W , Reid Robert
Published: July 2024

A novel methodology was developed to correlate the performance of different sets of archery limbs, chosen from different manufacturers, manufacturing technologies and connection systems, to the sensations experienced by the archers using the bow. Objective metrics (measurable quantities) and subjective metrics (archers’ sensations while using the equipment) were defined. These metrics were correlated to obtain a deeper understanding of the relationship between the metrics. Nine sets of limbs were tested to determine their static loading curve, speed of arrows on release, mechanical vibrations and sound of the bow on shooting. The mechanical vibrations were measured at two positions on the bow. The limbs were tested by ten archers to evaluate the subjective metrics. Three quality coefficients were used that related to engineering measurements. These quality coefficients could be used to evaluate the relative performance of the limbs. The analysis of the correlations between objective and subjective metrics provides new insights into the problem, highlighting interesting relationships between engineering measurements and archers’ sensations. The methodology used in this work was successful in fostering an understanding of the relationship between objective and subjective metrics on shooting. The results of this analysis could be used to improve existing designs or create new products for archery.
Being a woman in disasters: experiences of disaster workers in Turkey
Authors: Kartal Bahtışen , Çıtak Gizem
Published: July 2024

Socioeconomic conditions, cultural beliefs, traditional practices that disadvantage women and gender inequality cause women to be affected differently from men. In this study, we aimed to identify the problems faced by women exposed to disasters in Turkey through the experiences of disaster workers. For this purpose, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 13 disaster workers. Phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research designs, was used in the study. The data were evaluated by content analysis. Research data were categorized using codes, and themes and sub-themes were created. With the content analysis, four themes were determined as ‘Emotional Burden’, ‘Struggle’, ‘Vulnerability’ and ‘Gender’. Disasters have negatively affected women due to gender inequality. At the same time, women can be challenged in disasters. It can be recommended to develop gender-sensitive policies in disaster management and to ensure women’s participation in decision-making processes.