bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality and readability of online information on Keratoconus in Portugal and Brazil
Authors: Costa Celso , Oliveira Renato Souza , Gil João , Costa Esmeralda , Tavares Cristina , Rosa Andreia , Quadrado Maria João , Murta Joaquim
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Keratoconus patients turn to the internet for answers to their disease expectations. Webpages are not filtered or submitted to evaluation before getting published. We aim to evaluate the quality and readability of the online information regarding keratoconus in Portugal and Brazil.

Methods

Two independent ophthalmologists and one ophthalmologist supervisor evaluated 30 Portuguese and 30 Brazilian websites by order of appearance in Google with the word “Queratocone” and “Ceratocone”, respectively. Two quality scores were used: a quality index of consumer health information (DISCERN) and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark. Readability was evaluated with 3 scores: FleschKincaid Reading Ease (FRE), FleschKincaid Grade (FKG) and Automated Readability Index (ARI).

Results

Sites from private hospitals or clinics were the most prevalent in both countries, followed by health platform sites. Final JAMA benchmark was 1.13 ± 1.18 in Portugal and 1.07 ± 1.00 in Brazil. Final DISCERN was 34.07 ± 11.71 in Portugal and 38.17 ± 10.51 in Brazil. FRE and FKG scores denoted “difficult to read” and “college school level” in both countries; ARI denoted “professor” level in Portugal and “college student” level in Brazil needed to understand the text, a statistically significant difference. There was no correlation between Google ranking and quality and readability scores.

Discussion and Conclusions

The information on keratoconus available online to Portuguese-speaking patients is of poor quality and difficult to interpret. Ophthalmologists have a shared responsibility to tackle this challenge through multifold efforts. Educating our patients on how to find reputable websites can help them navigate their life with keratoconus.
Messaging both sides: Party leadership support for conflicting positions in the US House
Authors: Meinke Scott R.
Published: December 2024

Parties in the House expend substantial resources on messaging to achieve party goals. Part of that effort involves materials intended to shape individual member communications, including where members’ messages matter a great deal—in ex-plaining floor votes. In the 1990s and 2000s, Republican leaders issued regular vote justifications for members, simultaneously advancing party messages and serving individual members. But in some cases, the leaders justified both positions on a vote. How did the leadership weigh the benefit of framing a party division against the cost of providing rhetorical support for anti-party votes? I find that the conservative GOP leadership was more likely to support defectors when they represented a more conservative group of members; they were also more likely to provide two messages as party cohesion on a vote declined. The case illustrates strategic decisions the leadership makes about messaging via individual member communications.
Uncomfortable interviews: A research journey of discomfort and how to make the most of it
Authors: Söderström Johanna , Holdo Markus , Junman Alice
Published: December 2024

How does discomfort affect research interviewing? Recent contributions suggest that researchers do not always experience discomfort as problematic but also as productive. We explore our experiences of, and strategies for, uncomfortable interviews. Based on experiences of interviewing right-wing populist Twitter activists in the United States and Sweden, we make four claims. First, discomfort may arise throughout the research process with multiple origins, e.g. the content of the interviews, emotions expressed or held back, security concerns, and tensions between professional, social, and ethical norms. Second, we show that most of these concerns are not necessarily obstacles to overcome, but might contribute to more reflexive and insightful conversations depending on how and when they arise. Third, discomfort pinpoints tensions and dilemmas within our research projects, which may not always be resolvable. Fourth, discomfort can thus be productive as we learn, adapt, reconsider and articulate our research choices in the wake of discomfort.
Addressing the binaries of regional/urban and boundaries of research methodologies in and through ‘slow’ research with women from non-urban communities
Authors: Crimmins Gail , Casey Sarah
Published: December 2024

The paper seeks to illuminate the limiting categorisations and hierarchical relationships between urban versus rural, slow versus fast research and between research methodologies, to reconsider notions of place and re-search (or searching and searching again) in a ‘rural’ Australian context. We illustrate these ideas by first examining the dynamic, productive nature of language and by demonstrating how language can be used to review and resist dominant and conservative beliefs and limiting categories. We also specifically consider how critical discourse analysis can reveal the discursive ‘Othering’ of both ‘the rural’ and women living in rural communities and catalyse a feminist narrative inquiry designed to hear and amplify the voices of a diversity of women living in southwest Queensland and how this seeds case studies crafted to enable women in rural, regional and remote communities to work achieve their storied vision and capacities. The paper finally demonstrates how over time (2019–ongoing), slow re-search processes , supported by relationality and trust, evolved, suggesting that discourse analysis, as analytical activism, can lay the foundations for sustained, engaged and relational re-search designed to expose and address entrenched gendered power imbalances and limiting binaries.
Prototype-assisted multiscale graph representation learning-based mechanical fault detection method under complex operating conditions
Authors: Xiang Wei , Liu Shujie , Li Hongkun , Yang Chen , Cao Shunxin , Zhang Kongliang
Published: December 2024

Effective anomaly detection and timely fault warning are essential to ensure the continuous and safe operation of mechanical equipment and to prevent equipment deterioration. In the unsupervised modeling and detection scenario, fault detection methods based on the autoencoder framework have been widely concerned and applied. Unfortunately, such methods can only be applied to specific or constant operating conditions, and their detection performance is greatly reduced due to the different data distribution in the face of complex operating conditions. Aiming at the problem of unsupervised fault detection under complex operating conditions, this article proposes a prototype-assisted multiscale graph representation learning-based mechanical fault detection method. First, the vibration data of the equipment is fed into the multiscale decomposition module (MDM) to obtain multiscale feature maps that can express rich detail information. Then, the multiscale feature maps are fed into the graph representation learning module (GRLM) to fully learn the potential relationships and interactions between different scales and provide a more comprehensive representation of the dynamic characteristics of the equipment. Finally, multiple MDMs and GRLMs are cascaded to construct a feature extractor to map the data of each operating condition to the latent space, and the proposed prototype-assisted strategy is used to determine the real-time state of the equipment. Case studies have been carried out on two different pieces of mechanical equipment. The experimental results show that the average accuracy of the proposed method is as high as 98.44% and 98.90%, respectively, and it maintains a low missed detection rate and zero false alarm rate in the two validation processes, which is more in line with the needs of engineering applications than other comparison methods.
gtsheckman: Generalized two-step Heckman estimator
Authors: Carlson Alyssa
Published: December 2024

In this article, I introduce the gtsheckman command, which estimates a generalized two-step Heckman sample-selection estimator adjusted for heteroskedasticity. This estimator has been previously proposed in Carlson and Joshi (2024 , Journal of Applied Econometrics 39: 237-255), where the presence of heteroskedasticity was motivated by a panel-data setting with random coefficients. The gtsheckman command offers several advantages over the heckman, twostep command, including robust inference, a more general control function specification, and the incorporation of heteroskedasticity. I discuss syntax and the underlying methodology and provide examples showing how the gtsheckman command can be used in a variety of settings
Cluster-weighted models using Stata
Authors: Spinelli Daniele , Ingrassia Salvatore , Vittadini Giorgio
Published: December 2024

The cluster-weighted model (CWM) is a member of the family of mixtures of regression models and is also known as a mixture of regressions with random covariates. CWMs refer to the framework of model-based clustering and naturally apply when the research interest requires modeling the relationship between a response variable and a set of covariates using a regression-based approach such as a generalized linear model with the sample being suspected of comprising heterogeneous latent classes. A command for fitting these models is not yet available in Stata, so the aim of this article is to introduce the package cwmglm, which fits CWMs based on the most common generalized linear models with random covariates. Moreover, cwmglm allows the estimation of parsimonious models of Gaussian distributions, with the parameterization of the variance–covariance matrix based on the eigenvalue decomposition. These features are completely new for Stata users. The cwmglm package features goodness-of-fit, bootstrapping, and model-selection tools. We illustrate the use of cwmglm with real and simulated datasets.
Leader Identification and Disidentification: Constructs, Measurements, and Nomological Network
Authors: Chien Chung-Jen
Published: December 2024

Leaders play a pivotal role in shaping employee interactions, making it crucial to understand employee identity within this relationship. While leader identification has been extensively researched, leader disidentification remains relatively underexplored. This research seeks to address this gap from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. First, it defines and elaborates on the concepts of leader identification and disidentification through a comprehensive literature review. Second, across four empirical studies, the research develops and validates scales for measuring these constructs and explores their conceptual distinctiveness. Study 1 is a qualitative investigation that examines leader disidentification in organizations through interviews with 10 full-time employees, leading to the development of a new scale. Study 2 validates the content of the leader identification and disidentification scales using data from 50 participants. Study 3, involving 172 participants, confirms the reliability and construct validity of both scales. Finally, Study 4, with data from 293 participants, explores the nomological network surrounding leader identification and disidentification.
Concurrent Adrenal Adenoma, Unilateral Adrenal Hyperplasia, and Bilateral Renal Artery Stenosis in a 61-Year-Old Man
Authors: Mrabet Sanda , Jaziri Achraf , Zellama Dorsaf , Achour Abdellatif , Hasni Yosra , Elfekih Hamza , Bouraoui Ibtissem Hasni , Chaari Mohamed Amine
Published: December 2024

We report a case of a very rare association of adrenal adenoma, unilateral adrenal hyperplasia, and bilateral renal artery stenosis. A 61-year-old man with a remarkable history of two severe strokes was admitted to the Nephrology department with hypertension associated with severe hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. Doppler of renal arteries was not conclusive, so contrast-enhanced scanning was done revealing a left adrenal adenoma, right adrenal hyperplasia, and bilateral moderate renal artery stenosis. After control of blood pressure with central anti-hypertensive drugs and calcium channel blockers and normalization of kalemia under potassium supplementation, the hormonal analysis was done showing an elevated plasma aldosterone concentration at 1,568 pmol/L, with a direct renin concentration below the detection level. Primary aldosteronism was confirmed and the prescription of an anti-aldosterone agent led to the control of blood pressure and potassium plasmatic levels. In front of arterial hypertension with hypokalemia, we recommend the assessment of secondary and primary hyperaldosteronism in a systematic way since the association of two or even three etiologies of hyperaldosteronism is possible and an appropriate diagnosis is essential for adequate treatment.
Thermal management performance analysis and improvement for a commercial vehicle engine compartment through a 1D/3D co-simulation method
Authors: Shi Zhaofeng , Huang Zhaoming , Chen Qi , Zhu Ping , Jiang Jingjing
Published: December 2024

The thermal management performance of a commercial vehicle engine compartment is crucial for improving overall vehicle performance and promoting green transportation. In this study, a one-dimensional (1D) and three dimensional (3D) CFD co-simulation method has been proposed for the modeling and simulation of thermal management of a commercial vehicle engine compartment. The steady-state temperature and velocity vector distribution in engine compartment has been obtained through 3D CFD approach. With data exchange between the cooling circuit and air conditioning circuit, the mathematical characterizations of the thermal management performance have been further investigated through 1D simulation and validated using test results. The comparison show that the obtained results for thermal management performance are consistent with test results, validating the accuracy of the co-simulation model. The results indicate an obvious thermal backflow phenomenon in the upper area of the intercooler module, causing a high outlet water temperature of the engine cooler. Thus, a deflector structure for eliminating the thermal backflow problem has been presented, and the heat dissipation effect has been analyzed. The co-simulation results show an improvement in cooling performance that the ATO value of cooling circuit decreased by 2.5% and intercooler constant of air conditioning circuit decreased by 12.1%. The proposed 1D/3D co-simulation method provides a reliable reference for developing the thermal management system of commercial vehicle engine compartment.
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in pregnancy: a case series and review
Authors: Hanley Sarah , Imcha Mendinaro , Mohamad Mas Mahady
Published: December 2024

Background

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a syndrome of cyclic nausea and vomiting in the setting of chronic cannabis use. To date, only 11 cases of CHS in pregnancy have been reported.

Case presentation

We describe two cases of uncontrolled vomiting in pregnancy due to CHS. Case 1 represents a 30-year-old Caucasian woman presenting in the 5th week of gestation with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain intermittently of 1 week duration. Physical work-up was normal, and symptoms resolved with supportive treatment within 3 days, only to occur again at the 14th week of gestation, and again at the 30th week of gestation. Link between symptom relief and hot bathing led to suspicion for CHS, confirmed with positive cannabis urine toxicology screening. Nausea, vomiting and pain subsided with cannabis cessation, and baby was born healthy at 38 + 5 weeks gestation. Case 2 describes a 28-year-old Caucasian woman presenting in the 16th week of gestation with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Physical examination was normal, and symptoms self-resolved. Two weeks later, in the 18th week of gestation, the patient re-presented to the emergency room with sudden re-occurrence of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Once again, a link between symptom relief and hot bathing was noted on admission. The patient was educated on possible links of chronic cannabis use with CHS symptoms and subsequently relayed extensive (>14 years) cannabis use history. Symptoms resolved with cannabis cessation. Baby was born at 37 weeks gestation, with low birth weight of 2180 g requiring 5 days neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) treatment. Regular follow-up up to 5 months post-partum confirmed no CHS relapse with cannabis cessation.

Conclusion

CHS in pregnancy is likely under-reported, reflective possibly of limited physician and patient awareness of this condition, as well as patient concealment of cannabis use in pregnancy. In cases of severe, cyclic nausea and vomiting in pregnancy unresponsive to typical anti-emetic treatment, comprehensive social history including cannabis use should be sought, and associated hot bathing for symptomatic relief out-ruled.
Predictive factors for complete pathologic response in luminal breast cancer: impact of ki67 and HER2 low expression
Authors: Miras Isabel , Gil Ana , Benavent Marta , Castilla María Ángeles , Vieites Begoña , Dominguez-Cejudo María Ángeles , Molina-Pinelo Sonia , Alfaro Lina , Frutos Javier , Ruiz-Borrego Manuel , Falcón Alejandro , Cejuela Mónica , Salvador-Bofill Javier
Published: December 2024

Background:

Complete pathological response to neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) in breast cancer is associated with prolonged survival. Compared to other breast cancer immunophenotypes, luminal tumors are the least chemosensitive with low rates of pathological response within this molecular subtype. Thus, finding predictors of response in this subset remains challenging. The emerging concept of low human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression has led to a repurpose of the current prognostic system. Little is known about its correlation with response to NAT.

Objectives:

This study aims to evaluate predictors of response in early-stage luminal breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Design:

A total of 252 luminal patients who received NAT were retrospectively assessed in this cohort study.

Methods:

We analyzed the correlation of ki67 and HER2 low expression with the rate of pathologic response. Using ki67 as a continuous variable and applying the receiver operating characteristic curves method.

Results:

We identified that in patients with a ki67 expression level >37%, the probability of having a complete pathological response was 4.80 times higher (odds ratio = 4.80, 95% confidence interval: 1.92–12.04). In Her2-low breast cancer patients, Her2 expression did not correlate with a better response rate.

Conclusion:

In our study, a ki67 expression value greater than 37% constitutes a predictive biomarker of pathological complete response in the subgroup of patients with luminal B tumors and could be considered, therefore, an indicator for treatment decisions in this subgroup.
The Indo-Pacific and the Next Phase of ASEAN Centrality
Authors: Qiao-Franco Guangyu , Karmazin Aleš , Kolmaš Michal
Published: December 2024

The concept of “ASEAN centrality” emerged in the aftermath of the Cold War but renewed power rivalries in the Indo-Pacific have put its relevance under scrutiny. This study contributes to the debate on the continuity of ASEAN centrality by examining major powers’ willingness to adhere to and engage with ASEAN-led mechanisms, which we argue will have a decisive impact on the dominant form of the organisation of regional order. Our analysis shows that the major powers – China, the European Union, India, Japan, and the United States – subscribe to an enhanced role for ASEAN in the economic realm but do not see the mechanism as the first resort in political and security cooperation. ASEAN centrality is hard to continue, although a possible way out for ASEAN is to leverage its in-between position to help diffuse tensions so major powers have a stake in maintaining its centrality.
Mr Bates and the post office: The implications of the UK post office scandal for the taxonomy of trauma
Authors: Deahl Martin , Foster Paul
Published: December 2024

Objective

To explore the psychopathology of the victims of the UK Post Office scandal and the extent to which this can be adequately described by current classification of traumatic stress symptoms.

Design

Standard clinical interviews for the purposes of preparing medico-legal reports.

Setting

Face to face and virtual interviews.

Participants

Victims of the Post Office Scandal, postmaster's and postmistress's wrongly accused of theft.

Main outcome measures

ICD-10 diagnostic criteria.

Results

All the subjects had experienced life changing traumatic reactions which were inadequately captured by current diagnostic criteria.

Conclusions

The current taxonomy of trauma fails to capture the diversity of symptoms experienced by the postmasters and we argue that a formulation based approach should be employed, especially in the court room. There remains inadequate research exploring the impact of wrongful conviction on the mental state of victims.
Talking Cancer—Cancer Talking: A Linguistic and Thematic Analysis of Patient Narratives
Authors: Kaptein Ad A , van der Meer Pim B , Fisher Fleur L , van Laarhoven Hanneke W M , Pennebaker James W , Vingerhoets Ad J J M
Published: December 2024

To explore “the lived experience” of patients with cancer through narratives, in-depth interviews with 20 patients were conducted in the patients’ homes—“at the kitchen table.” Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed following the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) methodology. Thematic Analysis was used to explore themes in the narratives. Scores on relevant LIWC dimensions of the 20 patients were compared with norm data for respondents without cancer. Patients with cancer scored higher on “anger” and “sadness” (psychologic processes dimension); lower on “insight,” “causes,” and “tentatives” (cognitive processes dimension); and lower on “religion.” Major themes identified from the Thematic Analysis were resilience, fatigue, social relationships, turning inward psychologically, shared decision-making, and psychological support. Narratives of patients with cancer are a source of rich data on how persons with cancer make sense of their illness, its medical management, and its psychological and social consequences. Qualitative methods of data analysis (LIWC; Thematic Analysis) are a highly valuable element in the methodology of exploring patient experience.
Numerical analysis of thermosolutal Marangoni convection, and non-linear heat generation flow of chemically reactive nanofluid through Darcy-Forchheimer media
Authors: Bilal Muhammad , Akram Tanzeela , Lone Showkat Ahmad , Malik Abdul Qadeer , Mehmood Yasir , Ramzan Muhammad
Published: December 2024

The prime incentive of this exploration is to study the impacts of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), heat generation, and thermal radiation on Darcy-Forchheimer (DF) nanofluid flow having thermosolutal Marangoni convection over the extending surface. The impact of chemical reaction is also investigated in the present work. A transformation is applied which turns the leading equations into ordinary differential equations (ODEs). To acquire the numerical results, these ODEs are solved by MATLAB bvp4c, a built-in function. The rate of heat transfer, temperature, and velocity of the working fluid is calculated over the sheet. The consequence of many different parameters without dimensions on the temperature, concentration, and velocity profiles are explored through diagrams and thoroughly examined. These factors include the thermophoresis coefficient, Marangoni, Darcy, and Schmidt number, thermal radiation parameter, Prandtl number, and Brownian coefficient. It is observed that the exponential index number, which is generally due to the nonlinear heat source parameter, has an inverse relation with the rate of heat transfer. Also, the velocity decreases when the local inertia coefficient and Hartman number are increased.
Four decades of population expansion and shrinkage across Chinese cities
Authors: Zou Yonghua , Zhu Xingyu , Pu Chengyan
Published: December 2024

Based on the latest three Chinese censuses and the population prediction model, we use four cartograms to reveal the population expansion and shrinkage across the prefecture-level cities in mainland China from 2000 to 2040. The cartograms demonstrate a difference in the spatial distribution of cities that expand and shrink in four decades. Especially, the cartograms reveal that the proportions of cities with shrinking populations in these four decades are 29%, 44%, 77%, and 88%, respectively, suggesting that Chinese policymakers need to adjust the former urban development strategies that prioritize population expansion.
Tale of the Dalits: A Study on the Representation of Dalits in Selected Malayalam Films
Authors: Dev Namitha
Published: December 2024

Kerala’s film industry or the Malayalam cinema is an excellent illustration of how regional films and film industries in India are evolving in response to changing socio-cultural values and audience expectations. Malayalam cinema has a complicated history of growth due to its conventional paternal system, as well as the similarly complex attitude towards the different social markers such as womanhood, caste hierarchy, relationships, actors, the language of representation, culture, race and off-screen interaction. Through this research, the researcher offers a critical reading of contemporary Dalit lives in cinema by analysing three vernacular films, Kismath, Trees Under the Sun and Pengalila. The research adopts Bell Hooks’s theory of oppositional gaze is employed as the theoretical framework for the study. The concept of an upper-caste superhero has been so ingrained in Malayali’s minds that they accept it as reality, and filmmakers of the previous decades made no effort to change it. This article exposes the stereotyped depiction of the Dalit body and demonstrates how caste hierarchies are reproduced and shown through the social context of Kerala.
Liquid biopsy for renal cell carcinoma: A comprehensive review of techniques, applications, and future prospects
Authors: Jani Chinmay T , Abdallah Nour , Tan Alan , Mckay Rana R
Published: December 2024

Liquid biopsy techniques have developed rapidly in recent years and demonstrated success in cancer detection, disease characterization, and ongoing disease monitoring. These components, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and cell-free DNA (cfDNA), offer minimally invasive diagnostic tools that provide valuable insights into the genomic landscape of tumors. Its applications have expanded to include various malignancies, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). RCC, a heterogeneous malignancy, poses unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Up to 40% of patients experience recurrence or metastasis following initial surgical resection, necessitating the need for precise diagnostic and prognostic tools. The application of liquid biopsy in RCC, particularly through CTCs and ctDNA/cfDNA, holds significant promise. This review first delves into the various methodologies of CTC and cfDNA/ctDNA detection in RCC and highlights their roles in RCC management. Next, we discuss in depth about current existing evidence for the utilization of liquid biopsy in RCC diagnosis, prognosis, treatment outcomes prediction and association with the progression of the disease. Despite advancements, RCC's biological features, including low ctDNA shedding and significant intratumoral heterogeneity, present challenges in the clinical application of liquid biopsy. The review also discusses the limitations of current techniques and emphasizes the need for standardized protocols and further validation in large, diverse cohorts. Future directions include integrating liquid biopsy with advanced imaging techniques and leveraging artificial intelligence to improve RCC diagnostics and patient management. With continued refinement, liquid biopsy could become an essential tool in personalized oncology, improving outcomes for RCC patients.
Evaluation of Three Fixation Methods in Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusion for Chronic Osteomyelitis Following Ankle Fracture
Authors: Gaitan Laura C. , Gonzalez Emanuel , Randolino Juan Pablo , López Valeria , Slullitel Gastón
Published: December 2024

Category:

Ankle; Other

Introduction/Purpose:

In the context of chronic osteomyelitis following an ankle fracture, limb salvage through treatment—ideally including infection eradication—can be an alternative to amputation. Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis is perhaps the most popular procedure, widely familiar among surgeons. When performing fusion in osteomyelitis patients, external fixation is more commonly used, although there is some experience with internal fixation systems. In this study, we conducted a retrospective evaluation of three groups of consecutively treated patients undergoing tibiotalocalcaneal fusion using either circular or monoplanar external fixation or an endomedullary nail coated with antibiotic-loaded cement. Our objective was to assess the success of each procedure in terms of consolidation, infection remission, and improvement in the quality of life.

Methods:

A multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study of 17 patients treated with tibiotalocalcaneal fusion, divided into three groups based on the treatment performed: Group A used a retrograde endomedullary nail coated with Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) with antibiotic, Group B used a monoplanar LRS (Limb Reconstruction System) external fixator, and Group C used a circular external fixator; all with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Quality and the percentage of consolidation were evaluated through tomography. Additionally, the SF-12 form was administered to assess the quality of life at the last follow-up visit.

Results:

17 patients were evaluated. Group A: 6 patients stabilized with a coated nail. Average tibiotalar and subtalar consolidation rates were 66.24% and 67.06%. One patient did not achieve infection healing. SF-12 scores averaged 40 for physical and 48.13 for mental. Group B: 5 patients with an LRS fixator; 3 active smokers. Average tibiotalar and subtalar consolidation rates were 52.78% and 62.3%, respectively. All patients achieved infection remission. SF-12 scores averaged 46.7 for physical and 51.3 for mental. Group C: 6 patients stabilized with a circular external fixator; 1 diabetic and 3 were smokers. Average tibiotalar and subtalar consolidation rates were 65.9% and 65.7%. Half experienced infection recurrence. SF-12 scores averaged 36.7 for physical and 47.8 for mental.

Conclusion:

Patients with retrograde nails coated with PMMA and antibiotics exhibit higher consolidation rates than the rest; however, patients with circular external fixation had a higher infection recurrence rate. Establishing generalizable treatment algorithms for these patients remains challenging, but our data suggest a favorable trend toward the use of internal endomedullary fixation coated with PMMA.
From reduction to regeneration: Environmental justice and ecological unity in the IRA era
Authors: Lennon Myles
Published: December 2024

The US Inflation Reduction Act allocates billions of dollars for environmental justice (EJ) programs and initiatives. Yet the IRA's approach to EJ reproduces a reductive environmentalism rooted in the extractivist growth paradigm that the EJ movement opposes. This reductive environmentalism is centered narrowly on the numerical reduction of carbon, costs, pollutants, and economic inequality. I contend that these modes of reduction are integral to the maintenance of racial capitalism—the structural catalyst of environmental injustice. Specifically, racial capitalism at once reduces the interdependencies of life to an “environment” that certain humans can extract from, reduces other humans' communities to extractive zones, and impels all humans to reduce costs to sustain this extractivist system. These modes of reduction give form to the non-profit carbon mitigation projects championed by both the EJ movement and the IRA—initiatives that narrowly render justice in terms of abating disparate vulnerability. Looking critically at community-based solar energy campaigns, solar energy supply chains, and solar workers' experience with the environment, I call on the EJ movement to shift from the reductive framework at the heart of the IRA to a regenerative framework aligned with the movement's “ecological unity” principle. Specifically, I show how the ecological unity principle can uproot reductive environmentalism through a case study on a solar-powered community composting project led by young people of color. I argue that this project offers a guidepost for how the EJ movement can effectively leverage renewable energy investments in ways that are better aligned with the movement's long-standing principles.
Impulsivity, Craving and Risky-Sexual-Behaviour in Brazilian Substance-Users: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Foster Sarah Naomi , Jora Pegoraro Natália Priolli , Christopher Wagstaff , Richmond Adjei , Patrick Sekandi , Cristina Pillon Sandra
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to investigate the association between impulsivity, craving and risky sexual behaviour in Brazilian substance users. Substance-use disorder, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), now features ‘craving’ as an essential criterion. Moreover, the intensity of craving and emotional dysregulation are factors considered pivotal to addressing risky sexual behaviour. Similarly, adverse childhood experiences, trauma, impulsivity and mental health conditions are considered to correlate to risky sexual behaviour. Research to date has focused on adolescent or student populations. A cross-sectional study design was utilised. The 135 participants were receiving treatment for substance-use disorder; the instruments used included the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), Sexual and Risk behaviour scale and the Behaviour Scale Crack Craving Questionnaire (CCQ-B) scale. Data was inputted into SPSS and analysed using the Pearson chi-squared test. The results included statistically significant correlations between craving and risky sexual behaviour, exposure to violence and risky sexual behaviour and perceptions of sexual addiction/ compulsion as being more of a problem than substance use. No statistical significance was found between socio-economic demographic data and risky sexual behaviour, or the primary substance and risky-sexual-behaviour. The limitations of the study were the small sample size, only male participants and language barriers. Implications for practice centre around synergising mental and physical health promotion via more proactive educational campaigns and accessible, equitable interventions. The study investigated the association between impulsivity, craving and risky sexual behaviour in Brazilian substance users receiving treatment. There were statistically significant correlations between craving and risky-sexual-behaviour, exposure to violence and risky sexual behaviour and a perception that sexual addiction/ compulsion is more of a problem than substance use.
Pandemic-driven research in tourism: Shifting from marketing-driven analysis to critical inquiry
Authors: Hasenzahl Lea
Published: December 2024

Initiated in late 2019, my PhD project set out to examine and assess the public discourse around Chinese Outbound Tourism in the West, specifically using Switzerland as a case study. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 and the abrupt halt of international travel dramatically challenged the project’s original, more marketing-related focus. Despite this, the rise of Sinophobia, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, and violence against Asians underscored the importance of understanding the images surrounding Chinese travelers. This understanding is crucial not only for the safe and responsible restart of international travel but also for examining the general Western view of Chinese citizens. The paper begins with an introduction to my research field, tourism, and the initial impact of COVID-19 on it, followed by a discussion on the relevance of Information and Communication Technologies in tourism research. I subsequently outline the methodological choices made during my PhD journey, highlighting three key methodologies: (1) Thematic Analysis, (2) Critical Discourse Analysis, and (3) an online Word Association Test. The paper concludes with a reflection on the unforeseen challenges faced and the new possibilities that emerged from adapting to these disruptions, specifically focusing in on the theoretical reorientation which impacted my methodological choices.
Discovering the Neural Processes of Jazz Improvisation: A Research to Resource Article
Authors: Gittelman Alex
Published: December 2024

Most jazz music contains some form of improvisation. Therefore, teaching improvisation, or spontaneous musical composition within a given context, remains an important task in music education. Discovering the neural processes involved in jazz improvisation might aid music educators who teach jazz improvisation and give researchers greater insight into overall creativity. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to study jazz improvisers, researchers consistently found that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, premotor cortex, and pre-supplementary motor areas showed increased levels of activation when improvising. In this research to resource article, I suggest the role that each of these neural areas might play in jazz improvisation and how this knowledge might affect jazz pedagogy. Implications for music educators include the importance of creating a welcoming environment for students to experiment with jazz improvisation, developing efficient instrumental/vocal technique, and supporting the internal processes innate to improvisation.
Tin contamination in sediments of Lake Zurich: source, spread, history and risk assessment
Authors: Roethlin Remo L. , Meister Aurélia C. E. , Gilli Adrian , Lennartz Sinikka T. , Amsler Helen Eri , Dittrich Maria , Wehrli Bernhard , Schönbächler Maria , Dubois Nathalie
Published: December 2024

Industrial activities of a silk dyeing factory in Thalwil, on the shore of Lake Zurich, Switzerland, caused extreme Sn contamination of lake sediments. In this study, we determine the contamination source, spread, and age using a multiproxy approach. We used X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) core scanning and further geochemical analyses to assess the contamination spreading and thickness in the sedimentary column. We found elevated Sn levels throughout sediments of Lake Zurich, ranging from 177 $$\hbox {g} \,\hbox {kg}^{-1}$$

g

kg

-
1

in front of the former silk factory to 0.05 $$\hbox {g} \,\hbox {kg}^{-1}$$

g

kg

-
1

at the southeast end (background: ca. 0.006 $$\hbox {g}\, \hbox {kg}^{-1}$$

g

kg

-
1

). The rapid concentration drop away from the shore suggests quick precipitation of a sparingly soluble inorganic Sn compound, which is confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope Imaging in tandem with Energy-dispersive XRF spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) data. The Sn XRF profile of a varved core indicates a contamination onset in the early 1890s, a maximum around 1900, and a gradual decrease to low levels in the 1940s. High Sn concentrations in turbidite layers from the deep basin indicate that mass movements physically remobilised Sn. However, in stable conditions, in-situ porewater measurements (conc. < 0.5 $$\upmu \hbox {g}\, \hbox {L}^{-1}$$

μ
g

L

-
1

) using dialyse plates show little Sn remobilisation into the lake water (0.05 $$\hbox {mg} \,\hbox {a}^{-1} \,\hbox {m}^{-2}$$

mg

a

-
1

m

-
2

). The low remobilisation, reducing conditions, and high sulphide contents in the contaminated layers suggest that Sn is firmly bound to the sediments. Combined with the low toxicity of Sn, we conclude that the Sn contamination poses no threat to lake biota or drinking water production.
Doublecortin regulates the mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in glioma via Rho-A/Net-1/p38-MAPK signaling
Authors: Nadeem Iqra , Han Zhou , Xiaoliang Hong , Adzraku Seyram Yao , Kambey Piniel Alphayo , Kanwore Kouminin , Peipei Mu , Adekunle Adebayo Oluwafemi , Adu-Amankwaah Joseph , Ayanlaja Abiola Abdulrahman , Zheng Yi , Dianshuai Gao , Liu Xiaomei , Song Yuanjian
Published: December 2024

Doublecortin (DCX) is a microtubule-associated protein known to be a key regulator of neuronal migration and differentiation during brain development. However, the role of DCX, particularly in regulating the survival and growth of glioma cells, remains unclear. In this study, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knock down DCX in the human glioma cell line (U251). DCX depletion suppressed cell proliferation and enhanced the pro-apoptotic effects of temozolomide (TMZ) and γ-radiation treatment. DCX knockdown led to the translocation of Bax to the mitochondria and mitochondria dysfunction. Furthermore, DCX deficiency-induced apoptosis took place along with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is crucial in triggering mitochondrial membrane depolarization, the release of cytochrome c (Cyt-c), and caspase activation. Importantly, the transcriptional inhibition of DCX downregulated Rho-A, Net-1, and activated p38-MAPK cue, critical for cell survival and proliferation. Subsequent treatment with TMZ and γ-radiation further increased p38-MAPK activity through the decreased expression of Rho-A/Net-1, resulting in a significant reduction in glioma cell migration and invasion. Additionally, intracranial xenograft tumors of DCX-modified U251 cells in nude mice demonstrated inhibited tumor growth. Tumor sections treated with TMZ and γ-radiation exhibited a higher number of TUNEL-positive cells compared to the control group, indicating increased apoptosis. Our finding suggests that DCX depletion reduces glioma cell proliferation and promotes mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by enhancing the chemo and radiotherapy response. Targeting DCX represents a potential therapeutic target for glioma treatment.
Objective approach to diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by using pixel subtraction and machine learning classification of outpatient consultation videos
Authors: Chiu Yi-Hung , Lee Ying-Han , Wang San-Yuan , Ouyang Chen-Sen , Wu Rong-Ching , Yang Rei-Cheng , Lin Lung-Chang
Published: December 2024

Background

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting between 5% and 7% of school-age children. ADHD is typically characterized by persistent patterns of inattention or hyperactivity–impulsivity, and it is diagnosed on the basis of the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, through subjective observations and information provided by parents and teachers. Diagnosing ADHD in children is challenging, despite several assessment tools, such as the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham questionnaire, being widely available. Such scales provide only a subjective understanding of the disorder. In this study, we employed video pixel subtraction and machine learning classification to objectively categorize 85 participants (43 with a diagnosis of ADHD and 42 without) into an ADHD group or a non-ADHD group by quantifying their movements.

Methods

We employed pixel subtraction movement quantization by analyzing movement features in videos of patients in outpatient consultation rooms. Pixel subtraction is a technique in which the number of pixels in one frame is subtracted from that in another frame to detect changes between the two frames. A difference between the pixel values indicates the presence of movement. In the current study, the patients’ subtracted image sequences were characterized using three movement feature values: mean, variance, and Shannon entropy value. A classification analysis based on six machine learning models was performed to compare the performance indices and the discriminatory power of various features.

Results

The results revealed that compared with the non-ADHD group, the ADHD group had significantly larger values for all movement features. Notably, the Shannon entropy values were 2.38 ± 0.59 and 1.0 ± 0.38 in the ADHD and non-ADHD groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). The Random Forest machine learning classification model achieved the most favorable results, with an accuracy of 90.24%, sensitivity of 88.85%, specificity of 91.75%, and area under the curve of 93.87%.

Conclusion

Our pixel subtraction and machine learning classification approach is an objective and practical method that can aid to clinical decisions regarding ADHD diagnosis.
Prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostrate cancer among suburban residents in Southern Nigeria
Authors: Esomonu Ugochukwu , Obun Cletus , Ude Raymond , Igwe Solomon , Esomchi Collins , Ogolekwu Sylvanus
Published: December 2024

Background

The prostate gland plays a vital role in the production of seminal fluid, which serves to nourish and transport sperm. Prostate-related conditions, particularly benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PC), represent significant health concerns among men globally, with a notable impact in African regions. This study investigated the prevalence of BPH and PC among men in the suburban towns of Cross River State, Nigeria. The research aims to provide critical data for healthcare planning and intervention.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to August 2023, involving 1,179 men aged 44 and above across various urban and rural communities within the Cross River State. Participants underwent sonographic assessment using transabdominal ultrasound, and clinical evaluation and questionnaires were then administered at different healthcare institutions. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28, and the results are presented as tables and percentages.

Results

The findings revealed a BPH incidence of 16.67% and a PC incidence of 0.81%. Age-specific analysis indicated a significant increase in BPH and PC incidence with advancing age, with the highest rates observed in men aged 50–59 and 60–80 years for BPH and PC, respectively. The study also identified contributing factors such as family history, lifestyle, and dietary patterns influencing the occurrence of these conditions.

Conclusion

The prevalence rates underscore the need for enhanced public health strategies, including regular screening programs, early diagnosis, and education on lifestyle modifications. These measures are crucial for mitigating the impact of BPH and PC, improving patient outcomes, and reducing the burden on healthcare systems in Africa.