bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asymptotic long-wave model for a high-contrast two-layered elastic plate
Authors: Mikhasev Gennadi
Published: January 2024

The paper is concerned with the derivation of asymptotically consistent equations governing the long-wave flexural response of a two-layered rectangular plate with high-contrast elastic properties. In the general case, the plate is under dynamic and variable surface, volume, and edge forces. Performing the asymptotic integration of the three-dimensional (3D) elasticity equations in the transverse direction and satisfying boundary conditions on the faces and interface, we derived the sequence of two-dimensional (2D) differential equations with respect to required functions in the first two approximations. The eight independent restraints for the generalized displacements and stress resultants are considered to formulate the 16 independent variants of boundary conditions. One of the main results of the paper is the Timoshenko–Reissner type equation capturing the effect of the softer layer and taking into account the in-plane deformation induced by the edge forces. Comparative calculations of natural frequencies were carried out based on our and alternative models.
Inactivation of Byssochlamys fulva during ohmic heating of tomato juice
Authors: Mokhtari Mahsa , Zamindar Nafiseh , Zia Mohammadali , Doudi Monir , Ghasemi Sepero Nafiseh
Published: January 2024

Ohmic heating is an emerging direct thermal technology, which uses electricity to heat food products volumetrically. Ohmic heating provides thermal and non-thermal effects like electropermeabilization to inactivate microorganisms. In this study, ohmic heating was used to inactivate Byssochlamys fulva in tomato juice. The main and interaction effects of initial pH (3.5 and 4.5) and voltage gradient (15 and 20 V/cm) were investigated on mold inactivation during ohmic heating at 88, 93, and 98 °C for 20, 10 and 5 min, respectively. The pH, acidity, total soluble solids, and Dvalue were compared. The results showed that pH and voltage gradient had significant effects on Dvalue and Zvalue ( p < 0.05). In order to model the survival behavior of Byssochlamys fulva, due to the nonlinearity of the curves, Weibull model gave more accurate estimation compared to classical first-order model.
Optimization of cold plasma processing conditions for fresh-cut kiwifruit slices by using response surface methodology
Authors: Tian Yuan , Zhao Wuqi , Liu Zhenrong , Jia Mengke , Zhang Qingan , Gao Guitian , Zhang Zhong
Published: January 2024

The work aims to optimize the process of cold plasma for fresh-cut kiwifruit. The effects of discharge times, treatment voltages, and slice thickness as well as the interaction between them were investigated. Factor analysis was used to screen out the characteristic indices of fresh-cut kiwifruit. Design-Expert software was used to design three-factor response surface tests and find the optimal parameters. The results revealed that the quality indices of fresh-cut kiwifruit were the color difference, brittleness, and solid-acid ratio, the established binomial regression equations were significant ( P < 0.05). At the optimal level: 26 kV treatment voltage, 120 s discharge times, and 10 mm slice thickness, the optimized test values for the color difference, brittleness, solid-acid ratio and decreased logarithm value of total plate count were 2.25, 128.96 g·s, 18.03 and 2.30 lg(CFU·g−1), respectively. Cold plasma could significantly improve the inactivation of bacteria in fresh-cut kiwifruit.
The long-term effects of topical latanoprost 0.005% treatment on pupillary functions: A 2-year longitudinal study
Authors: Bayraktar Serdar , Hondur Gözde , Şekeroğlu Mehmet Ali , Cengiz Özyurt Beyhan , Şen Emine
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To investigate the long-term effects of topical latanoprost 0.005% treatment on pupillary functions in early-stage primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes using automated pupillometry.

Methods

This prospective study involved 20 eyes of 20 treatment-naive subjects with early-stage POAG. After comprehensive ophthalmic examination, static and dynamic pupillometry measurements were performedbefore treatment, at the 1st follow-up visit (1.10 ± 0.30 months) and the 2nd follow-up visit (25.85 ± 10.26 months) after treatment initiation. Dynamic parameters included resting diameter (mm), amplitude (mm), latency (ms), duration (ms), and velocity (mm/s) of pupil contraction and dilation. Static pupillometry parameters were pupil diameter (PD, mm) in high-photopic, low-photopic, mesopic and scotopic conditions.

Results

The velocity of pupil dilation significantly decreased during the 1st visit ( p = 0.008) and the 2nd visit ( p = 0.0003) of treatment compared to the pre-treatment visit. The resting PD was also significantly higher after the 1st visit ( p = 0.003) and the 2nd visit ( p = 0.001) compared to the pre-treatment visit. However, the difference in resting PD measured between the 1st and 2nd visits did not reach statistical significance ( p = 0.065). There were no significant changes in other dynamic parameters ( p > 0.05 for all). Additionally, a mild, but not significant, mydriatic effect was observed in PD measurements under scotopic, mesopic and low photopic lighting conditions after follow-up. None of the static and dynamic parameters correlate with age, changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) or mean deviation (MD) values of visual field tests.

Conclusion

The long-term topical latanoprost 0.005% treatment in early-stage POAG has a slight mydriatic effect on the pupil. Further longitudinal clinical studies with larger patient cohorts are necessary to better understand the effects of latanoprost on pupillary functions.
Factors Contributing to Malnutrition among Children Under 5 Years at St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital, Ahafo Hwidiem
Authors: Amoah William Wilberforce , Kobi Dora , Tabong Philip Teg-Nefaah , Kukeba Margaret Wekem , Alhassan Yakubu , Achaliwie Francisca , Amoah Augustina , Adugbire Atinyagrika Bernard
Published: January 2024

Background:

Nutrition among children under 5 plays an important role in the overall development of children physically and psychologically. Nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition generally affect children. In this study, we estimate the prevalence of 3 malnutrition indicators underweight, stunting and wasting and to assess factors associated with them.

Objective:

The main objective of the study was to assess the factors contributing to malnutrition among children under 5 years old.

Design:

The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design to assess the factors contributing to malnutrition among children under 5 years of age.

Methods:

This is quantitative cross-sectional facility-based study of 245 children aged 11 to 49 months. A structured questionnaire was used, and anthropometric measurements were taken to collect data. The Pearson chi-square test was used to assess the bivariate association between the outcomes and the characteristics. The binary logistic regression model was employed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds of malnutrition indicators among the characteristics observed in the study.

Results:

The prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting were 35.9, 13.9, and 33.9%, respectively. Underweight was significantly higher among females compared to males (42.0% vs. 24.1%) and highest among children aged 11 to 23 months (53.6%). Female children had 3 times more odds of being underweight (AOR: 3.09, 95% CI: 1.56-6.12). Compared to children aged 11 to 23 months, the odds of being underweight were less among children aged 24 to 35 months (AOR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.13-0.51, P < .001), and 36 to 47 months (AOR: 0.9, 95% CI: 0.03-0.29, P < .001). Wasting was less prevalent among children aged 11 to 23 months (4.8%). Also, wasting was high among children aged 24 to 35 months (AOR: 27.41, 95% CI: 9.12-82.37, P < .001), 36 to 47 months (AOR: 28.23, 95% CI: 7.59-104.94, P < .001), and 48 to 59 months (AOR: 18.10, 95% CI: 3.04-107.76, P < .001). None of the observed factors were associated with stunting in the study.

Conclusion:

This study concludes that child malnutrition was high among under-five children. Promoting the use of healthy complementary feeding, preventing diarrheal diseases, and vaccinating children integrated with access to nutrition education programs are vital interventions to improve the nutritional status of children.
Pilot implementation of a telemedicine care bundle: Antimicrobial stewardship, patient satisfaction, clinician satisfaction, and usability in patients with sinusitis
Authors: Grabinski Zoe , Leybov Victoria , Battistich Sarah , Roberts Brian , Migliozzi Zachary , Wang Yelan , Reddy Harita , Smith Silas W
Published: January 2024

Background

Telemedicine-specific clinical pathways (CPWs), coupled with electronic health record (EHR) order panels, provide an opportunity to ensure evidence and guideline concordant care for conditions at risk for inconsistent diagnoses and management strategies. Standardized provider and patient-facing illness scripts may fill gaps in clinicians’ communication skills secondary to a training deficit in virtual care delivery. We aimed to implement and assess the impact of a novel care bundle for sinusitis on antimicrobial use, patient satisfaction, clinician satisfaction, and usability in patients with sinusitis.

Methods

A sinusitis care bundle (SCB) for virtual urgent care patients included a sinusitis CPW with communication scripts, sinusitis order panels (SOP), and a patient education smart-phrase (SPESP) within visit instructions. Antimicrobial use was assessed during a 15-month period prior to the start of SCB element implementations and 14-months following, using statistical process control charts. Patient satisfaction was measured using Likert-style surveys. Clinician satisfaction was assessed using a novel survey addressing the SCB-targeted domains (decision support, communication, efficiency, usability, and overall satisfaction).

Results

There were 69,785 and 64,019 evaluable patients in the pre-care and post-care bundle periods, respectively. Despite a significant increase in patients receiving a sinusitis diagnosis in the post-care bundle period (3.2% pre- vs. 6.2% post-, p < 0.001), antimicrobial prescribing decreased by 3.9% (p < 0.001), with statistical process control evidence of special cause change. There was a 5.1% decrease (p < 0.001) in negative patient survey responses after implementation. Clinician survey revealed substantial agreement in the domains relating to improving communication with patients and/or families, with the highest satisfaction for the SPESP over the SOP.

Conclusions

Implementation of a telemedicine care bundle for patients diagnosed with sinusitis can balance multiple elements of quality care. The combination of a clinical care pathway, standardized language, and order panels within the EHR has the potential to improve patient satisfaction and decrease antimicrobial prescribing.
Can we use the open future? Preparedness and innovation in times of self-generated uncertainty
Authors: Esposito Elena
Published: January 2024

Is the future simply open or can it be made more or less open? The awareness of the uncontrollable impact of present action on the future has recently raised a debate about the risks of innovation and rational planning. Relying on Luhmann’s concept of defuturization, the article confronts the two approaches of future-making and preparedness and proposes to combine them with reference to the management of innovation. This adds a purposeful dimension to the discourse about preparedness, aimed so far only at confronting damaging events: one can also be prepared to seize and exploit novel opportunities.
Utilizing Local Professional Association Chapters as Pathways for Leadership Development
Authors: Batista Nicole , Risisky Deb , Lutz Tara M. , Clinesmith Ellen , Morgan Jahkeeva
Published: January 2024

In 2019, there was no entity specifically dedicated to health promotion and education practitioners in Connecticut or New England. This made it difficult for health promotion practitioners and students to network, collaborate, and engage in professional development. The purpose of this article is to share our experiences developing the new Connecticut Chapter of the Society for Public Health Education (CT SOPHE), including how we leveraged student interns during the first two years to promote organizational growth. To build our membership, it was important to determine who would be interested in joining CT SOPHE and so we focused on three groups: the current workforce/professionals, future workforce/students, and future leaders/interns. Over the course of these two years, three interns were recruited to help with creating a needs assessment (MPH student) and program development (two BS students); the organization was established by an MPH student as her internship project. Three former interns share how their experience working with the CT SOPHE board has helped them develop crucial leadership skills early in their careers. Embedding student interns into the framework and operations of CT SOPHE demonstrates an intentional and strategic commitment to the sustainability of both the organization and the workforce.
Leader Group Prototypicality: A Replication of Average Member Versus Ideal-Type Operationalization Effects
Authors: van Knippenberg Daan , Lee Diana , Steffens Niklas K. , Platow Michael J. , Haslam S. Alexander
Published: January 2024

Core to the social identity theory of leadership is leader group prototypicality (LGP), the perception of the leader as embodying shared collective (e.g., team, organization) identity. Steffens, Munt, van Knippenberg, Platow, and Haslam’s meta-analysis showed that LGP operationalized as embodying the ideal-type of the group (ideal-type prototypicality, ITP) is more strongly related to indicators of leadership effectiveness than LGP operationalized as embodying the average group member (average member prototypicality, AMP). However, to support these conclusions Steffens et al. could rely only on between-study comparisons based on coding of LGP operationalizations. It is therefore possible that AMP versus ITP operationalizations covaried with other study differences. To address this issue, we conducted two replication tests relying on within-study comparisons. A scenario experiment and a survey focused on the relationship of both operationalizations of LGP with what in the social identity theory of leadership is a proximal outcome of LGP: trust in the leader. Replicating Steffens et al.'s finding, both studies showed that LGP is more strongly related to trust when it is operationalized as ITP rather than AMP.
Brachial Gunshot Wounds: Injury Patterns and Considerations for Managing the Abnormal Neurological Examination
Authors: Chi David , Tandon Damini , Evans Adam G. , Brown Danielle J. , Payne Rachael M. , Van Handel Amelia C. , Shim Kevin G. , Mackinnon Susan E. , Pet Mitchell A.
Published: January 2024

Background:

Nerve injuries from gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the upper arm can cause significant morbidity and loss of function. However, indications for surgical exploration and nerve reconstruction remain unclear as both low- and high-grade injuries can present with an abnormal neurological examination.

Methods:

Adult patients presenting with a history of isolated GSW to the upper arm between 2010 and 2019 at a single urban level 1 trauma center were screened for inclusion in this retrospective study. Patient demographics, neurological examination findings, concurrent injuries, and intraoperative findings were gathered. Bivariate analysis was performed to characterize factors associated with nerve injuries.

Results:

There were 139 adult patients with isolated brachial GSWs, and 49 patients (35%) presented with an abnormal neurological examination and significantly associated with concurrent humerus fractures (39% vs 21%, P = .026) and brachial artery injuries (31% vs 2%, P < .001). Thirty of these 49 patients were operatively explored. Fifteen patients were found to have observed nerve injuries during operative exploration including 8 patients with nerve transections. The radial nerve was the most commonly transected nerve (6), and among the 16 contused nerves, the median (8) was most common.

Conclusion:

Nerve injury from upper arm GSWs is common with directly traumatized nerves confirmed in at least 39% and nerve transection in at least 16% of patients with an abnormal neurological examination. Timely referral to a hand and/or peripheral nerve surgeon for close clinical follow-up, appropriate diagnosis, and any necessary surgical reconstruction with nerve grafts, tendon transfers, and nerve transfers is recommended.
Long-term Efficacy of Corticosteroid Injection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chan Peter Y. W. , Santana Adrian , Alter Todd , Shiffer Matthew , Kalahasti Srikaran , Katt Brian M.
Published: January 2024

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a debilitating condition that can cause significant morbidity. Corticosteroid injection (CI) is a popular treatment for CTS. Short-term benefits of CI for CTS have been reported, but there is little evidence on long-term outcomes. We performed a systematic review in the PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases to identify studies which reported outcomes of CI for CTS with at least 1-year follow-up. We identified 20 total studies and extracted data on outcomes such as number of patients needing eventual surgery or reinjection, complications, and functional scores. In included studies, 41.6% of patients underwent eventual carpal tunnel release surgery (CTRS), 29% underwent reinjection, there were no major and approximately 34/1133 (3.0%) minor complications, and median/mean time from CI to eventual CTRS ranged from 128 to 446 days. There was disparity on the long-term efficacy of CI for functional outcomes. The evidence indicates that CI is a very low risk procedure that has potential to improve symptoms enough to either prevent or, in most cases, delay the need for further reintervention. However, our conclusions are limited by the heterogeneity of available studies. There is a need for further, high-quality research on this topic.
Add-on immunosuppressive therapy may benefit selected patients with primary biliary cholangitis and autoimmune phenomena
Authors: Li Mengqi , Chen Sha , Li Shuxiang , Lv Tingting , Li Buer , Shan Shan , Li Min , Zeng Na , Wang Qianyi , Kong Yuanyuan , Ma Hong , Zhao Xinyan , Ou Xiaojuan , You Hong , Duan Weijia , Jia Jidong
Published: January 2024

Background:

Mildly elevated levels of transaminase and/or immunoglobulin G (IgG) are common in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). It is still unclear whether adding immunosuppressive therapy to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) benefits those patients who are not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of PBC with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) features.

Objectives:

To assess the efficacy of adding immunosuppressive therapy to UDCA for patients with PBC and autoimmune phenomena but not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of PBC with AIH features.

Design:

This is a retrospective–prospective cohort study in a tertiary medical center.

Methods:

Patients with PBC and autoimmune phenomena were defined by the elevation of IgG and/or transaminase but did not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of PBC with AIH features. We grouped these patients based on with and without add-on immunosuppressive therapy and balanced their baseline characteristics using inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW).

Results:

A total of 652 patients with PBC and autoimmune phenomena were included, with a median follow-up of 4.08 years. After IPTW, the pseudo sample size in the add-on therapy and monotherapy groups was 558 and 655, respectively. After 1 year of observation, patients in the add-on therapy group had a higher biochemical response rate (normalization of transaminase and IgG levels) (49% versus 17%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, add-on therapy improved the transplant-free survival in the subgroup of patients with PBC and transaminase ⩾3 × upper limit of normal (ULN) or IgG ⩾1.3 × ULN ( p = 0.033).

Conclusion:

Add-on immunosuppressive therapy may improve the normalization rates of transaminase and IgG levels in all patients with PBC and mildly elevated transaminase and IgG levels and the long-term outcomes in the subgroup of the patients with transaminase ⩾3 × ULN or IgG ⩾1.3 × ULN.
Study protocol: phase II study to evaluate the effect of cetuximab monotherapy after immunotherapy with PD-1 inhibitors in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer
Authors: Burcher Kimberly M. , Bloomer Chance H. , Gavrila Elena , Kalada John M. , Chang Mark J. , Gebeyehu Rediet R. , Song Alexander H. , Khoury Lara M. , Lycan Thomas W. , Kinney Rebecca , D’Agostino Ralph , Bunch Paul M. , Shukla Kirtikar , Triozzi Pierre , Furdui Cristina M. , Zhang Wei , Porosnicu Mercedes
Published: January 2024

Background:

Immunotherapy with programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy, is the standard first-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer (R/M HNSCC). Unfortunately, there is no established second-line treatment for the many patients who fail immunotherapy. Cetuximab is the only targeted therapy approved in HNSCC but historically has a low response rate of 13%.

Objectives:

We hypothesize that cetuximab monotherapy following an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) will lead to increased efficacy due to a potential synergistic effect on the antitumor immune response, as a result of activation effects of both treatments on innate and adaptative immune responses. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the only ongoing prospective clinical study that evaluates the combination of cetuximab and ICIs administered sequentially.

Methods and analysis:

In this non-randomized, open-label, phase II trial, 30 patients with R/M HNSCC who have previously failed or could not tolerate a PD-1 inhibitor as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy will subsequently be treated with cetuximab monotherapy. Outcomes of interest include overall response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, overall survival, and treatment toxicity, as well as treatment outcome measured by a patient-reported outcome questionnaire. Saliva and blood will be collected for correlative studies to investigate the immune response status at the end of therapy with an ICI and the effect of cetuximab on the antitumor immune response. The results will be correlated with the response to cetuximab and the time window between the last administration of an ICI and the loading dose of cetuximab. The clinical study is actively recruiting.

Ethics:

This study was approved by the Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center Institutional Review Board: IRB00065239.

Clinical trial registration:

This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04375384.
Major adverse cardiovascular events in advanced-stage lung cancer: a multicenter cohort study
Authors: Chang Chih-Hao , Huang Shih-Hao , Huang Hung-Yu , Lin Meng-Hung , Lee Chung-Shu , Lee Hsin-Fu , Hsieh Jason Chia-Hsun , Cheng Chun-Yu
Published: January 2024

Background:

Lung cancers are common worldwide. First-line targeted therapy and chemotherapy are both standard treatments in the current guidelines. With the development of new anticancer therapy, the lifespan of patients with late-stage lung cancer has increased. Cardiovascular events can occur during cancer treatment. This observational study aimed to report the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after cancer treatment using real-world data.

Objectives:

Patients diagnosed with advanced-stage lung cancer between January 2011 and December 2017 were enrolled. Data were collected from the Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD).

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods:

Baseline characteristics, clinical stages, pathologies, and outcomes were retrieved from the CGRD.

Results:

We identified 4406 patients with advanced lung cancer, of whom 2197 received first-line epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy and 2209 received first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Most patients in the first-line EGFR-TKI group were never-smokers (74.9%), whereas those in the first-line chemotherapy group were ever-smokers (66.0%). The incidence of MACE was not significantly different between the two groups (12.0% versus 11.9%, p = 0.910). However, the incidence of ischemic stroke was higher in the first-line EGFR-TKI group than in the first-line chemotherapy group (3.9% versus 1.9%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

MACEs are common in patients with advanced-stage lung cancer during treatment. The incidence of MACE was similar between the first-line EGFR-TKI therapy and first-line chemotherapy groups. Although more patients in the EGFR-TKI group were female and never-smokers, the risk of ischemic stroke was higher in patients who received first-line EGFR-TKI therapy than in those who received first-line chemotherapy.
The influence of meso and macro factors on caregiving of older persons in Singapore: A narrative review
Authors: Gao Jonathan , Lun Penny , Tang Jia Ying , Jabbar Khalid Abdul , George Pradeep Paul , Yap Philip
Published: January 2024

Background

Studies on caregiving burden in Singapore typically focus on issues at a personal or micro level. There is a paucity of research focused at a meso or macro level on caregiving.

Objective

The purpose of this narrative review is to explore the influence of meso and macro factors on caregiving by informal caregivers of older persons in Singapore.

Method

Studies were identified from sources such as CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, as well as other websites for grey literature. Studies focusing on informal caregivers, defined as family, friends, or foreign domestic workers providing care to an older adult (60 and above) were included. Other inclusion criteria include: (a) studies focusing on meso factors (e.g., social norms, community resource, social network) and/or studies focusing on macro factors (e.g., caregiver support policies, workplace policies, care services policies, or caregiver payment policies), (b) studies with outcome measures on caregivers/caregiving such as burden, gains, or grief, and (c) in Singapore.

Results & Conclusion

A total of 43 studies were included in this review. A range of meso factors influencing caregivers/caregiving were identified. Examples include filial piety, norm of women as caregivers, interventions aimed at helping caregivers, and care services such as day cares. However, the influence of macro level factors (e.g., national level policies) was limited due to a relative paucity of research in this area. Areas for further research were also identified.
Utilization of a multidisciplinary hospital-based approach to reduce readmission rates
Authors: Hahn Barry , Ball Trever , Diab Wassim , Choi Chris , Bleau Hallie , Flynn Anne
Published: January 2024

Background:

Hospital readmissions remain a significant and pressing issue in our healthcare system. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act helped establish the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, which incentivized reducing readmission rates by instituting penalties. Hospital readmission, specifically unplanned, refers to a patient returning to the hospital shortly after discharge due to the same or a related medical condition, signaling potential issues in initial care, discharge processes, or post-hospitalization management. For this study, we defined readmission as a return to the hospital within 30 days. In 2018, Staten Island University Hospital started a multidisciplinary and coordinated initiative to reduce patient readmissions. The approach involved the departments of emergency medicine, medicine, cardiology, case management, nursing, pharmacy, and transitional care management. This study aimed to determine if this approach reduced 30-day readmissions.

Methods:

This case-control retrospective study reviewed electronic health records between January 2018 and November 2019. Readmission rates within 30 days of index discharge were compared between patients who received transitional care management before and after establishing a multidisciplinary communication of transitional care. Readmission rates were unadjusted and adjusted for patient demographics and predisposed risk for readmission and compared across demographics and select clinical characteristics.

Results:

A total of 772 patients were included in the analyses; 323 were in the control group (41.8%), and 449 were in the intervention group (58.2%). After the hospital adopted the workflow for multidisciplinary communication of transitional care, there was 45.2% less adjusted incidence of readmission, or approximately seven fewer overall readmissions per 100 patients (16.4% readmission vs 9.0% readmission; incident rate ratio, 0.55; 95% CI: 0.34–0.88).

Conclusions:

Multidisciplinary communication approaches led by emergency medicine can help reduce readmissions significantly. Adopting a structured communication workflow can enhance co-managing patients with a high risk of readmission between the emergency department and hospital medicine teams.
Raving Fans or Silent Critics? Brand Service Recovery’s Impact on Positive eWOM
Authors: Mohamed Halima Habuba , Li Yongjun , Kiani Ataullah , Ghani Usman
Published: January 2024

Brand Service Recovery Strategies (BSRS) have garnered significant attention due to their transformative potential in traditional business practices. However, the precise influence of BSRS on fostering positive Electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM) remains inadequately elucidated within the academic literature. Most scholarly investigations have tended to adopt either a theoretical perspective or have overlooked intermediary factors, particularly the role of consumer attitudes toward the brand. Drawing upon the Social Exchange Theory, this study presents an empirical model that seeks to examine whether consumer attitude toward the brand mediates the relationship between BSRS and positive eWOM. Based on survey data from 292 Executive MBA students in a large Chinese university, our study confirms that BSRS strongly impact consumer attitudes, leading to increased positive eWOM. Additionally, we discover that consumer power plays a moderating role, highlighting its contextual importance in this relationship. This study provides vital practical insights for businesses, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies involving BSRS, fostering positive consumer attitudes, active eWOM engagement, tailored approaches for consumer power, and ongoing adaptation to customer feedback, all contributing to improved brand perception and customer satisfaction in today’s business environment.
An Experimental Study on EMI Shielding and Antibacterial Activity of Woven Fabrics Including Silver Nanocomposite Yarns
Authors: İlhan İlhami , Özkan İlkan , Uslukul Özlem
Published: January 2024

This study investigates electromagnetic interference shielding and antibacterial activity of industrial polyester/viscose woven fabrics, including silver (Ag) treated yarns, to obtain multifunctional fabric. For this purpose, thin film-coated, nanoparticle-doped, and chemically treated yarns were used as weft in three different densities. Nine fabric samples and the control sample were woven under industrial conditions. As a result, the surface conductivity of the thin film-coated samples is significantly higher than the others in all the measurement directions. Also, these samples exhibit the best electromagnetic shielding efficiency of up to 64 dB in the 3–43 GHz frequency range. In addition, electromagnetic shielding efficiency reaches 83 dB when the samples are measured in multiple layers. The chemically treated samples exhibited better antibacterial activity, up to 74%. It was determined that the nanoparticle’s treatment type, position and density, and the number of fabric layers influence the performance properties.
It’s All About Timing: Exploring Different Temporal Resolutions for Analyzing Digital-Phenotyping Data
Authors: Langener Anna M. , Stulp Gert , Jacobson Nicholas C. , Costanzo Andrea , Jagesar Raj R. , Kas Martien J. , Bringmann Laura F.
Published: January 2024

The use of smartphones and wearable sensors to passively collect data on behavior has great potential for better understanding psychological well-being and mental disorders with minimal burden. However, there are important methodological challenges that may hinder the widespread adoption of these passive measures. A crucial one is the issue of timescale: The chosen temporal resolution for summarizing and analyzing the data may affect how results are interpreted. Despite its importance, the choice of temporal resolution is rarely justified. In this study, we aim to improve current standards for analyzing digital-phenotyping data by addressing the time-related decisions faced by researchers. For illustrative purposes, we use data from 10 students whose behavior (e.g., GPS, app usage) was recorded for 28 days through the Behapp application on their mobile phones. In parallel, the participants actively answered questionnaires on their phones about their mood several times a day. We provide a walk-through on how to study different timescales by doing individualized correlation analyses and random-forest prediction models. By doing so, we demonstrate how choosing different resolutions can lead to different conclusions. Therefore, we propose conducting a multiverse analysis to investigate the consequences of choosing different temporal resolutions. This will improve current standards for analyzing digital-phenotyping data and may help combat the replications crisis caused in part by researchers making implicit decisions.
Shades of Cultural Marginalization: Cultural Survival and Autonomy Processes
Authors: Sasaki Innan , Baba Sofiane
Published: January 2024

The recent rise in extremism, authoritarianism, displacement and isolationism signals troubled times for the most marginalized groups in societies. In this article, our primary emphasis is on a specific aspect of marginalization within organizational theory – referred to as cultural marginalization. We argue that the existing literature lacks an adequate theoretical understanding to address this phenomenon. To theorize cultural marginalization and uncover how marginalized groups may cope with such circumstances, we build on and problematize the culture-as-toolkit perspective. We integrate this perspective with other cultural theories that consider power structures more prominently. Drawing on this theoretical base, we develop a typology of four dynamics of cultural marginalization and conceptualize the specific cultural survival and cultural autonomy processes marginalized groups may undertake to safeguard their culture. In doing so, we contribute to the ongoing debate surrounding the toolkit perspective by providing novel insights into how marginalized groups utilize their socio-culturally constrained cultural resources in distinct ways, compared with more resourceful actors and groups. Our theoretical contributions pave the way for new avenues of research to deepen our understanding of the general process of cultural marginalization and to direct further inquiry into the survival strategies of marginalized groups and how they might (re)gain autonomy.
Updating Our Understanding of Device Use in Adolescents: Demographic Factors and Preferences in a Group of Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Garretson Sydney , Parmar Angelee , Streisand Randi , Jaser Sarah , Datye Karishma
Published: January 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of the study was to identify demographic factors associated with continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and automated insulin delivery (AID) use among adolescents with type 1 diabetes and to explore why adolescents may start and stop using CGMs.

Methods:

Adolescents ages 13 to 17 and caregivers completed demographic and device use surveys at baseline for a randomized trial of a behavioral intervention conducted at 2 large medical centers in the United States. This study is a secondary analysis of the demographic and device use data.

Results:

The study sample consisted of 198 participants ages 13 to 17, 58% female, 57% non-Hispanic White, 24% non-Hispanic Black, 19% other race and ethnicity. Eighty-one percent of adolescents were using CGM, and 10% reported past use. Forty percent of adolescents reported taking CGM breaks ranging hours to weeks. Higher CGM use was found in higher income families (>$90 000). No difference in CGM use was observed related to race or ethnicity.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest CGM use is increasing even among adolescents, a group that historically has had the lowest device use. However, adolescents often take CGM breaks, and it is not clear if they adjust their diabetes management during these times. It is important for providers to understand when and why patients may take CGM breaks so education about diabetes management while off CGM can occur. Further investigation into management during CGM breaks, particularly in those using an AID system, is needed.
Barriers and Facilitators of Self-Management for Older Adults Living With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Qualitative Study in China
Authors: Wu Chen , Xu Ruiyang , Cao Jiepin , Wang Shan , Peng Sijing , Wang Chunyan , Wang Kefang
Published: January 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of the study was to explore the barriers to and facilitators of self-management among older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods:

This study followed a qualitative descriptive methodology. Older adults with T2DM living in Jinan, Shandong Province, China were recruited using purposive sampling. Information saturation was used to gauge the sample size. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 23 participants. The data analysis was guided using a thematic approach. Themes were inducted from the interview data undergirded by the cumulative complexity model.

Results:

The key findings of this study are presented in terms of 2 themes: facilitators of T2DM self-management and barriers to T2DM self-management. Each theme has subthemes, including that having family members with diabetes, having family members who are health care professionals, and visual cues were factors for good self-management practices by older adults with T2DM. Conversely, poor health status (ie, multimorbidity and lower-limb dysfunction and pain) and intergenerational care responsibilities were identified as barriers to effective self-management. Moreover, the use of media resources, especially traditional media, was found to both assist and hinder participants in their self-management practices.

Conclusion:

The findings from this study can inform new research to build on existing self-management promotion programs and restructure existing services to improve the self-management of older adults with T2DM. With the increase in the number and types of media outlets, our finding implies that researchers or clinical practitioners may develop strategies to leverage media resources to enhance the self-management of diabetes among older adults with T2DM.
Long-Term Results of a Digital Diabetes Self-Management and Education Support Program Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Berthoumieux Ashley , Linke Sarah , Merry Melinda , Megliola Alison , Juusola Jessie , Napoleone Jenna
Published: January 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to examine the long-term impact of a digital diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) program on A1C among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods:

Data analyzed were from a retrospective cohort of commercially insured members with T2DM enrolled in the Omada for Diabetes program between January 1, 2019, and January 31, 2022 (n = 1,322). Linear mixed models measured changes in A1C and weight across 12 months (collected at baseline and every 3 months over 1 year) overall and stratified by A1C at baseline (≥8% vs <8%).

Results:

On average, members were 53.5 years old, 56.9% female, and 71.5% White, with a mean baseline body mass index (BMI) of 36.9 and A1C of 7.6%. Members with baseline A1C ≥8% demonstrated clinically and statistically significant adjusted mean reductions in A1C during follow-up, from 9.48% at baseline to 7.33%, 7.57%, 7.59%, and 7.47% at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. Those with A1C <8% maintained glycemic stability (6.73%, 6.50%, 6.54%, 6.62%, and 6.51%, respectively). Collectively, members experienced a −1.17 kg/m2 mean reduction in BMI over 12 months.

Conclusions:

This study provides real-world evidence that members with elevated baseline A1C (≥8%) enrolled in a digital DSMES program experienced clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions in A1C. Those with baseline A1C within goal treatment range (<8%) maintained glycemic stability over 1 year. The findings support existing evidence that scalable digital DSMES solutions can help individuals with T2DM manage their condition.
Geographies of the pollinator commons
Authors: Allington Ginger RH , Luthra Aman
Published: January 2024

The problem of insect pollinator declines and pollination scarcity is impacting food production and ecosystem integrity worldwide. The term “pollinator commons” has often been invoked in existing literature, but there is little actual evidence of collective action to manage pollinators, pollination services or foraging resources. This may be due to the availability of a technical fix to the problem of pollination scarcity in some places, or the purported lack of awareness and undervaluation of pollination services. Given the increasing extent of the problem, there may be some conditions under which collective governance of the pollinator commons could emerge. We predict that collective action to manage a pollinator commons is more likely to emerge among farmers: (a) whose farms are small, and livelihoods are dependent on high-value crops for which wild pollination services cannot be easily substituted; (b) whose neighbors are similarly dependent on pollinator-dependent crops; and (c) who are able to make reasonable cost-benefit determinations based on information about other farmers and pollinator status. Geographers are particularly well-positioned with the theoretical and methodological tools to engage with this important, yet under-explored system to understand the potential for collective action to manage pollinators as a common pool resource.
Small-strain site response of soft soils in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region of California conditioned on VS30 and mHVSR
Authors: Buckreis Tristan E , Stewart Jonathan P , Brandenberg Scott J , Wang Pengfei
Published: January 2024

Sites located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region of California typically have peaty-organic soils near the ground surface, which are characteristically soft, with shear wave velocities as low as 30 m/s. These unusually soft geotechnical conditions, which are outside the range of applicability of existing ergodic site amplification models, can be anticipated to produce significant site effects during earthquake shaking. We evaluate site response for 36 seismic stations in the Delta region using non-ergodic methods with low-amplitude ground motion data. We model first-order site effects using a period-dependent relation conditioned on the 30 m time-averaged shear wave velocity ( VS30). Relative to extrapolations of global ergodic models, this Delta-specific model provides lower and higher levels of amplification for short and long periods, respectively. While the local model provides unbiased predictions for Delta sites as a whole, it smooths over site-specific effects such as resonant peaks. Microtremor-based horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (mHVSRs) were measured for 34 sites, from which additional site parameters such as peak frequency ( fp), peak amplitude ( ap), and average mHVSR amplitude over some frequency bandwidth ([Formula: see text]) are derived. Sites with prominent mHVSR peaks are found to often exhibit site resonance effects, while sites without prominent peak features generally do not. A modified Ricker wavelet pulse function conditioned on fp is used to model resonance effects, while a logistic function whose amplitude is correlated with [Formula: see text] is used to model general broadband amplification that transitions to zero at long periods. These mHVSR-informed models are implemented as additive components to the VS30-scaling model. Relative to a global ergodic model, the VS30-scaling model does not appreciably change the site-to-site aleatory variability ([Formula: see text]) for periods shorter than about 1.5 s but reduces [Formula: see text] by ~0.1 (natural log units) at long periods. When the mHVSR-informed model components are used, [Formula: see text] is reduced by ~0.05 to 0.1 for short-to-intermediate periods (up to ~2 s). A model for nonlinear effects, derived from nonlinear ground response analyses, will be presented in a separate paper.
In-depth transcriptomic analysis of Anopheles gambiae hemocytes uncovers novel genes and the oenocytoid developmental lineage
Authors: Saha Banhisikha , McNinch Colton M , Lu Stephen , Ho Margaret C.W. , De Carvalho Stephanie Serafim , Barillas-Mury Carolina
Published: January 2024

Background

Hemocytes are immune cells that patrol the mosquito hemocoel and mediate critical cellular defense responses against pathogens. However, despite their importance, a comprehensive transcriptome of these cells was lacking because they constitute a very small fraction of the total cells in the insect, limiting the study of hemocyte differentiation and immune function.

Results

In this study, an in-depth hemocyte transcriptome was built by extensive bulk RNA sequencing and assembly of hemocyte RNAs from adult A. gambiae female mosquitoes, based on approximately 2.4 billion short Illumina and about 9.4 million long PacBio high-quality reads that mapped to the A. gambiae PEST genome (P4.14 version). A total of 34,939 transcripts were annotated including 4,020 transcripts from novel genes and 20,008 novel isoforms that result from extensive differential splicing of transcripts from previously annotated genes. Most hemocyte transcripts identified (89.8%) are protein-coding while 10.2% are non-coding RNAs. The number of transcripts identified in the novel hemocyte transcriptome is twice the number in the current annotation of the A. gambiae genome (P4.14 version). Furthermore, we were able to refine the analysis of a previously published single-cell transcriptome (scRNAseq) data set by using the novel hemocyte transcriptome as a reference to re-define the hemocyte clusters and determine the path of hemocyte differentiation. Unsupervised pseudo-temporal ordering using the Tools for Single Cell Analysis software uncovered a novel putative prohemocyte precursor cell type that gives rise to prohemocytes. Pseudo-temporal ordering with the Monocle 3 software, which analyses changes in gene expression during dynamic biological processes, determined that oenocytoids derive from prohemocytes, a cell population that also gives rise to the granulocyte lineage.

Conclusion

A high number of mRNA splice variants are expressed in hemocytes, and they may account for the plasticity required to mount efficient responses to many different pathogens. This study highlights the importance of a comprehensive set of reference transcripts to perform robust single-cell transcriptomic data analysis of cells present in low abundance. The detailed annotation of the hemocyte transcriptome will uncover new facets of hemocyte development and function in adult dipterans and is a valuable community resource for future studies on mosquito cellular immunity.