bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fournier gangrene in tuberculosis patients
Authors: Korchagin M. P. , Prokopovich M. A.
Published: March 2024

Introduction. Fournier gangrene is a life-threatening form of perineal necrotizing infection characterised by affecting immucompromised patients, including those with tuberculosis.

Objective. To evaluate the treatment results of patients with Fournier gangrene and tuberculosis process.

Materials & methods. Five case histories of patients diagnosed with "Fournier gangrene" at the Tuberculosis Extrapulmonary Division of Clinic No. 2, Moscow Research Clinical Centre for Tuberculosis Control from 2012 to 2022 were analysed retrospectively using the continuous method. The Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index (FGSI) was used for assessment.

Results. The analysis of case histories revealed the main features of management in patients with Fournier gangrene whose underlying process was tuberculosis. Our clinical experience confirms the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a specific agent, as well as an immunosuppression factor in the development of Fournier’s gangrene. One should be wary of this pathology in patients with tuberculosis. The aggressive nature of the infectious process dictates the need for early detection of this disease for competent comprehensive treatment, including early rehabilitation of chronic foci of infection in patients with urogenital pathology and reconstructive-plastic methods of surgical treatment.

Conclusion. Fournier gangrene in tuberculosis patients is a rare difficult-to-treat disease accompanied in most cases by septic shock and a high mortality risk. Alertness towards Fournier gangrene in patients with tuberculosis, correctly chosen treatment tactics reduces the risk of lethal outcomes.
PSA density as a predictor of long-term infectious complications during transurethral resection of the prostate: determining an optimal cut-off value
Authors: Ivanov S. N. , Kogan M. I. , Naboka Yu. L. , Medvedev V. L. , Palaguta G. A.
Published: March 2024

Introduction. Infectious complications (ICs) after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) are significant and potentially life-threatening conditions with an incidence 0.5% – 20.0%. Most publications provide data regarding early infectious complications. At the same time, there are currently no studies aimed at a comprehensive assessment of long-term infectious complications after TURP. The problem of prevention and treatment of ICs is also accompanied by insufficient understanding of the role of undiagnosed inflammation in prostate tissues and the lack of representative laboratory markers.

Objective. To assess the prostate-specific antigen density (PSAd) as a predictor of long-term infectious complications after transurethral resection of the prostate and to determine the optimal cut-off value.

Materials & methods. This single-center study included 162 patients who underwent mono- and bipolar TURP between 2016 – 2023. Inclusion criteria for the study: prostate volume 30–80 cm3, no history of urinary tract infections (UTIs) at the time of hospitalization and antibiotic treatment at least one month before surgery, possible presence of latent UTIs before surgery, no prostate cancer. Exclusion criteria were failure to meet inclusion criteria. Infectious complications assessed included upper and lower UTIs, as well as epididymitis, orchitis and prostatitis, confirmed by clinical and laboratory data. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assessment was performed < 2 days before surgery.

Results. The median PSAd value was 0.04 [0.03; 0.08] ng/ml2, the variable was significantly different in non-infection and infection groups (0.04 and 0.08 ng/ml2, respectively, p = 0.009). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.67 (95% CI [0.546 – 0.791]). The optimal cut-off value of the PSAd in prediction of long-term ICs was > 0.07 ng/ml2, sensitivity / specificity: 58.3% and 76.1%, respectively. The analysis showed more than 4 times higher odds of developing an infectious complication in PSAd > 0.07 ng/ml2 patients: OR 4.3 (95% CI [1.7 – 10.5], p = 0.001).

Conclusion. This study demonstrates data that defines a new clinical non-oncological significance of PSAd as a predictor of the development of long-term infectious complications after TURP.
Simultaneous treatment of anterior urethral stricture and benign prostatic hyperplasia: primary experience overview
Authors: Katibov M. I. , Bogdanov A. B. , Alibekov M. M. , Magomedov Z. M. , Loran O. B.
Published: March 2024

Introduction. Research on the treatment of patients with a combination of anterior urethral stricture and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is basically absent in the worldwide literature.

Objective. To analyse the primary experience results with simultaneous treatment of anterior urethral stricture and BPH.

Materials & methods. The study included four patients with anterior urethral stricture and BPH, who underwent simultaneous surgical treatment including perineal / penile urethrostomy and thulium laser enucleation of the prostate. The success criterion for treatment was considered to be the absence of obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms requiring the use of endoscopic or open surgery, regardless of whether urethrostomy was considered as the first step or the final option for urinary diversion.

Results. The age of the patients ranged from 54 to 69 years (mean 63.0 ± 6.5 years). In one (25%) patient the stricture was localised in the penile urethra and in three (75%) patients it was localised in the bulbous urethra. The stricture length ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 cm (mean 2.1 ± 0.9 cm). The prostate volume varied from 45 to 77 cc (mean 63.8 ± 13.5 cc). One patient had cystostomy drainage. The post-void residual volume among 3 patients with preserved urination ranged from 90 to 130 ml (mean 113.3 ± 20.8 ml). Postoperative follow-up periods ranged from 3 to 18 months (mean 11.3 ± 7.4 months). At these follow-up periods, treatment was successful in all four (100%) patients. No intra- or postoperative complications were observed.

Conclusions. The proposed method can be successfully applied in patients with a combination of anterior urethral stricture and BPH. However, the final guidelines for the management of such patients can be developed after further research.
Erector Spinae Plane block: evaluation of its efficacy as a component of multimodal anaesthesia in open kidney surgery
Authors: Kayumova P. M. , Giyasov Sh. I. , Krasnenkova M. B. , Musabaev A. N.
Published: March 2024

Introduction. Currently, the Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) block is widely used both as an independent method of anesthesia and as a component of multimodal anesthesia. It creates an extensive sensor block, spreads over 5 – 7 spinal segments.

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of ESP block as a component of multimodal anesthesia during open kidney surgery.

Material & methods. The studies were conducted on 116 patients of ASA class I – III at the age of 18 – 85 years All patients were performed inhalation anesthesia with Isoflurane. NSAID (Diclofenac 75 mg IM) was administered as pre-emptive analgesia. In the Study group (n = 60), after tracheal intubation and positioning, an ESP block was performed under ultrasound control at the Th-9 level with a 0.5% Sol. Bupivacaine (25 – 30 ml). In the Control group (n = 56), only inhalation anesthesia was performed. Pain severity, opioid consumption frequency (Sol. Promedoli), postoperative nausea and vomiting were assessed in the postoperative period. A numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to assess pain, which was recorded every 6 hours during the day.

Results. Patients in the study group showed a low assessment of postoperative pain on the numeric rating scale compared to the Control group (p < 0.001). The consumption of opiates (Sol. Promedoli) was also lower, especially in the first 6 hours after surgery (p < 0.001).

Conclusions. The results of our studies confirmed the efficiency of ESP block by reducing the consumption of opiates and NSAIDs. The main advantage of this method is its ease of implementation and safety.
Efficacy of combined phytotherapy (NefroBest® and UroBest®) in female patients with urolithiasis and preoperative drainage of upper urinary tract before ureteroscopy
Authors: Kotov S. V. , Nemenov A. A. , Perov R. A.
Published: March 2024

Introduction. In most cases, double-J stent placement is the initial method of drainage in patients with urolithiasis. Until ureteroscopic intervention, most patients report «stent-related symptoms» that reduce the quality of life.

Objective. To improve the results of treatment in female patients with urinary stone disease (USD) and preoperative drainage of the upper urinary tract using double-J stent by assessing the effect of the NefroBest® and UroBest® complexes on the prevention of the development of «stent-related symptoms» and inflammatory processes.

Materials & methods. The study group included 90 female patients with USD, who were performed ureteroscopic interventions with preoperative stent placement from March to September 2023 in the Yudin City Clinical Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: the main group 1 (n = 30) — patients who received phytotherapy with NefroBest® (30 days) and UroBest® (7 days) complexes after placement of an internal ureteral stent; the control group 2 (n = 60) — patients who did not receive specific therapy postoperatively.

Results. According to the USSQ, in group 1 the median score due to urinary symptoms was 22 points, and in group 2 — 28 points (p = 0.001), when assessing symptoms associated with pain — 12 and 18 points (p < 0.001), general health — 17 points both and work performance — 9 and 11 points, respectively. Among patients in group 1, stonefree rate was observed in 90.0%, and among patients in group 2 — in 93.3%. In group 1, antibacterial therapy in the postoperative period was in 37.0% of patients, and in group 2 – among 53.0%.

Conclusion. The co-use of the NefroBest® and UroBest® complexes in female patients with USD and preoperative drainage of the upper urinary tract using double-J stent can reduce the severity of symptoms associated with urination and pain, and postoperatively resulted in a lower incidence of infectious-inflammatory complications.
Predictors of urinary incontinence in patients after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: results of a single-center study
Authors: Shvedov A. M. , Kolontarev K. B. , Bormotin A. V. , Dyakov V. V. , Gritskov I. O. , Abuladze L. R. , Kochoyan T.  M. , Pushkar D. Yu.
Published: March 2024

Introduction. Prostate cancer (PCa) occupies a leading position in the structure of cancer incidence among men worldwide. The “gold standard” for the treatment of localised PCa is radical prostatectomy (RPE), with an increasing frequency of robot-assisted surgery in recent years. One of the negative consequences of surgery for the patient is the occurrence of urinary incontinence (UI), which is quite common and significantly reduces the quality of life. For this reason, it is extremely important to identify the factors that influence the occurrence of UI.

Objectve. To identify risk factors for urinary incontinence in patients undergoing robot-assisted surgery based on the patients' preoperative data.

Materials & methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Urology Clinic of the Russian University of Medicine to study the risk factors for UI in patients undergoing robot-assisted RPE. The follow-up control points were set on days 1, 3, and 7 after urethral catheter removal and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Anamnestic data and results of instrumental examination were analysed, based on which statistical analysis including logistic regression analysis with construction of regression equation was performed.

Results. In the early postoperative period, UI occurred in 87 (70.3%) patients, but by the follow-up month 12, its frequency had decreased to 15 (11%) cases. Age, body mass index, length of the membranous urethra, size of the m. levator ani, history of prostate surgery and symptoms of an overactive bladder were predictors of UI. Based on the results, nomograms were created to calculate the probability of UI on day 7 and 1, 3, 6, 12 months after urethral catheter removal.

Conclusion. The negative impact of UI on the quality of life of patients who have undergone RPE is obvious. Among the predictors identified by us, a modifiable group of risk factors for urinary incontinence was identified. This reduces the risk and severity of urinary incontinence after surgery, which will have a beneficial effect on the quality of life after surgery.
Resilience and Adaptability of Older Adults: Findings from the COVID-19 Impact Survey
Authors: Azhar Gohar , Harris Melodee , Hays Laura , Savary Patricia , Gibson Regina , Perry James R , Coker Karen , Pangle Amanda , Alderson Kenneth , Wei Jeanne
Published: March 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic caused abrupt changes in daily routines, social connections, and ways of life. It is yet unknown the full impacts these extended changes have had on the long-term mental well-being of those who shared this global experience. As a contribution to our overall understanding of this phenomena, this study explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being of older adults in the Southern United States. Secondary data analyses were performed using the COVID-19 Emotional Impact Survey, which included four open-ended questions allowing qualitative analyses for this study. Thematic analysis was conducted in three coding phases by five team members to ensure validity and rigor in consensus and determination of the themes. Respondents included 118 participants aged 55 years and older. The overarching theme which emerged in our analysis related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on respondents’ mental well-being was adaptability, with sub-themes of awareness and socialization. Awareness was further associated with spirituality, mortality, and health; socialization was further associated with trust/distrust, anxiety, and fear. Older adults in this study exhibited resilience and demonstrated greater adaptability. Despite expressing increased awareness of vulnerability to the virus, they coped with this stress by placing greater value on relationships with friends and family. Attributes of resilience were frequently noted throughout the study, although we did not specifically assess resilience of older adults in this study. The degree of adaptability older adults applied in their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic suggest a resilience unique to their age and this study provides support for future research probing the concept of resilience in older adults.
Real-World Data Quality Framework for Oncology Time to Treatment Discontinuation Use Case: Implementation and Evaluation Study
Authors: Ru Boshu , Sillah Arthur , Desai Kaushal , Chandwani Sheenu , Yao Lixia , Kothari Smita
Published: March 2024

Background

The importance of real-world evidence is widely recognized in observational oncology studies. However, the lack of interoperable data quality standards in the fragmented health information technology landscape represents an important challenge. Therefore, adopting validated systematic methods for evaluating data quality is important for oncology outcomes research leveraging real-world data (RWD).

Objective

This study aims to implement real-world time to treatment discontinuation (rwTTD) for a systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) as a new use case for the Use Case Specific Relevance and Quality Assessment, a framework linking data quality and relevance in fit-for-purpose RWD assessment.

Methods

To define the rwTTD use case, we mapped the operational definition of rwTTD to RWD elements commonly available from oncology electronic health record–derived data sets. We identified 20 tasks to check the completeness and plausibility of data elements concerning SACT use, line of therapy (LOT), death date, and length of follow-up. Using descriptive statistics, we illustrated how to implement the Use Case Specific Relevance and Quality Assessment on 2 oncology databases (Data sets A and B) to estimate the rwTTD of an SACT drug (target SACT) for patients with advanced head and neck cancer diagnosed on or after January 1, 2015.

Results

A total of 1200 (24.96%) of 4808 patients in Data set A and 237 (5.92%) of 4003 patients in Data set B received the target SACT, suggesting better relevance of the former in estimating the rwTTD of the target SACT. The 2 data sets differed with regard to the terminology used for SACT drugs, LOT format, and target SACT LOT distribution over time. Data set B appeared to have less complete SACT records, longer lags in incorporating the latest data, and incomplete mortality data, suggesting a lack of fitness for estimating rwTTD.

Conclusions

The fit-for-purpose data quality assessment demonstrated substantial variability in the quality of the 2 real-world data sets. The data quality specifications applied for rwTTD estimation can be expanded to support a broad spectrum of oncology use cases.
Patients’ and Clinicians’ Perceptions of the Clinical Utility of Predictive Risk Models for Chemotherapy-Related Symptom Management: Qualitative Exploration Using Focus Groups and Interviews
Authors: Miller Morven , McCann Lisa , Lewis Liane , Miaskowski Christine , Ream Emma , Darley Andrew , Harris Jenny , Kotronoulas Grigorios , V Berg Geir , Lubowitzki Simone , Armes Jo , Patiraki Elizabeth , Furlong Eileen , Fox Patricia , Gaiger Alexander , Cardone Antonella , Orr Dawn , Flowerday Adrian , Katsaragakis Stylianos , Skene Simon , Moore Margaret , McCrone Paul , De Souza Nicosha , Donnan Peter T , Maguire Roma
Published: March 2024

Background

Interest in the application of predictive risk models (PRMs) in health care to identify people most likely to experience disease and treatment-related complications is increasing. In cancer care, these techniques are focused primarily on the prediction of survival or life-threatening toxicities (eg, febrile neutropenia). Fewer studies focus on the use of PRMs for symptoms or supportive care needs. The application of PRMs to chemotherapy-related symptoms (CRS) would enable earlier identification and initiation of prompt, personalized, and tailored interventions. While some PRMs exist for CRS, few were translated into clinical practice, and human factors associated with their use were not reported.

Objective

We aim to explore patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives of the utility and real-world application of PRMs to improve the management of CRS.

Methods

Focus groups (N=10) and interviews (N=5) were conducted with patients (N=28) and clinicians (N=26) across 5 European countries. Interactions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically.

Results

Both clinicians and patients recognized the value of having individualized risk predictions for CRS and appreciated how this type of information would facilitate the provision of tailored preventative treatments or supportive care interactions. However, cautious and skeptical attitudes toward the use of PRMs in clinical care were noted by both groups, particularly in relationship to the uncertainty regarding how the information would be generated. Visualization and presentation of PRM information in a usable and useful format for both patients and clinicians was identified as a challenge to their successful implementation in clinical care.

Conclusions

Findings from this study provide information on clinicians’ and patients’ perspectives on the clinical use of PRMs for the management of CRS. These international perspectives are important because they provide insight into the risks and benefits of using PRMs to evaluate CRS. In addition, they highlight the need to find ways to more effectively present and use this information in clinical practice. Further research that explores the best ways to incorporate this type of information while maintaining the human side of care is warranted.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02356081; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02356081
Impacts of Smoking Ban Policies on Billiard Hall Sales in South Korea Using Objective Sales Information of a Credit Card Company: Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Noh Jin-Won , Cheon Jooyoung , Seong Hohyun , Kwon Young Dae , Yoo Ki-Bong
Published: March 2024

Background

Smoking ban policies (SBPs) are potent health interventions and offer the potential to influence antismoking behavior. The Korean government completely prohibited smoking in indoor sports facilities, including billiard halls, since the government revised the National Health Promotion Act in December 2017.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the impact of the SBP on the economic outcomes of indoor sports facilities, particularly billiard halls.

Methods

This study used credit card sales data from the largest card company in South Korea. Data are from January 2017 to December 2018. Monthly sales data were examined across 23 administrative neighborhoods in Seoul, the capital city of South Korea. We conducted the interrupted time series model using the fixed effects model and the linear regression with panel-corrected standard errors (PCSE).

Results

The sales and transactions of billiard halls were not significantly changed after the introduction of the SBP in the full PCSE models. The R2 of the full PCSE model was 0.967 for sales and 0.981 for transactions.

Conclusions

The introduction of the SBP did not result in substantial economic gains or losses in the sales of billiard halls. In addition to existing price-based policies, the enhanced SBP in public-use facilities, such as billiard halls, can have a positive synergistic effect on reducing smoking prevalence and preventing secondhand smoke. Health policy makers can actively expand the application of SBPs and make an effort to enhance social awareness regarding the necessity and benefits of public SBPs for both smokers and the owners of hospitality facilities.
Assessing gait and balance after Emergency Department discharge using an Up and Go task with smartphone accelerometry: A prospective feasibility study (Preprint)
Authors: Suffoletto Brian , Kim David , Toth Caitlin , Mayer Waverly , Glaister Sean , Cinkowski Chris , Ashenburg Nick , Lin Michelle , Losak Michael
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Older adults discharged from the emergency department (ED) face elevated risk of falls and functional decline. Smartphones may be a promising modality to conduct remote patient monitoring of mobility after ED discharge, yet its application in this context remains under-explored.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of using smartphones to measure weekly gait and balance data from older adults over an 11-week period after ED discharge

METHODS

This single-center, prospective observational cohort study recruited patients aged 60 and older from an academic ED. Participants downloaded the GaitMate app to their iPhones, which recorded 3-axis accelerometer data during 11 weekly at-home "Up and Go" functional tasks. The study measured adherence to task completion, quality of transmitted accelerometer data, and participants' perceptions of the app's ease of use and safety.

RESULTS

Out of 617 approached patients, 149 consented to participate, and 9 dropped out. Overall, participants completed 62% of study tasks. Data quality was optimal in 35% of submissions. At 3-month follow-up, 83% of respondents found the app easy to use, and 95% felt safe performing the tasks at home. Barriers to adherence included the need for assistance, technical issues with the app, and forgetfulness.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrates moderate adherence to smartphone tasks for monitoring mobility among older adults after ED discharge, perceived ease of use and safety of completing at-home gait tasks. Identified barriers highlight the need for improvements in user engagement and technology design.

CLINICALTRIAL

NA
The Moderated Mediating Effects of Social Media Identity and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health in China: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (Preprint)
Authors: Liu Chenxi , Liu Yushu , Liu Chaojie , Lin Rujiao , Wang Xi , Zhang Xinyi , Wu Yibo , Wang Dan
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Mental health disorders are a major public health challenge, and problematic internet use (PIU) may play an important role in this issue. However, the underlying mechanisms of PIU and its effects on mental health have not yet been elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the mediating effect of loneliness on the relationship between PIU and mental health, as well as the moderating effect of social media identity on the relationships among PIU, loneliness, and mental health.

METHODS

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 21,292 participants recruited using a multistage stratified sampling strategy from 31 provinces/regions in mainland China from June 20 to August 31, 2022. This study assesses PIU (PIU questionnaire-short form-6), depression (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]), anxiety (7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]), loneliness (3-item loneliness scale), and social media identity (identity bubble reinforcement scale). Additionally, we collected the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. Participants whose total score of PHQ-9≥15 or total score of GAD-7≥10 were considered to have moderate or severe symptoms of depression or anxiety, respectively. A moderated mediation model was established to examine the mediating effect of loneliness on the association between PIU and mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety), moderated by social media identity.

RESULTS

Approximately 22.80% (4854/21,292) and 14.20% (3023/21,292) of the respondents reported moderate or severe symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Loneliness significantly mediated the association between PIU and mental health outcomes, explaining 42.53% and 45.48% of the total effect of PIU on depression and anxiety, respectively. Social media identity significantly moderated the associations between PIU and depression (β=0.002, 95% CI 0.001-0.002), PIU and anxiety (β=0.001, 95% CI 0.000-0.002), loneliness and depression (β=0.010, 95% CI 0.007-0.013), and loneliness and anxiety (β=0.007, 95% CI 0.004-0.010), but not between PIU and loneliness (β=0.000, 95% CI –0.003 to 0.003). Higher levels of social media identity were significantly associated with lower levels of loneliness (β=–0.018, 95% CI –0.020 to –0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

Addressing loneliness may serve as a valuable approach to mitigate the impact of PIU on mental health outcomes. However, social media identity poses a significant challenge in addressing health issues linked to PIU.
Diffusion of vaccine misinformation in a Taiwanese online community: The role of influencers and echo chambers (Preprint)
Authors: Yin Jason Dean-Chen , Wu Tzu-Chin , Chen Chia-Yun , Lin Fen , Wang Xiaohui
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Prevalence of and spread of misinformation are a concern for the exacerbation of vaccine hesitancy and a resulting reduction in vaccine intent. However, few studies have focused on how vaccine misinformation diffuses online, who is responsible for the diffusion, and the mechanisms by which that happens. In addition, researchers have rarely investigated this in non-western contexts particularly vulnerable to misinformation.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, map its diffusion, and identify the effect of echo chamber users on the misinformation diffusion on a Taiwanese online forum.

METHODS

The study uses data from a popular forum in Taiwan, PTT. A crawler scraped all threads on the most popular sub-forum from January 2021 until December 2022. Vaccine-related threads were identified through keyword searching (n = 5,818). Types of misinformation, including disinformation, conspiracy, propaganda, and fabricated content, were coded by two researchers. Polarity was proposed as a proxy for measuring individual’s level of involvement in echo chamber, one of the mechanisms responding for the viral misinformation on social media. Factors related to information diffusion, including misinformation type and polarity were then assessed with negative binomial regression.

RESULTS

Out of 5,818 threads, 3,830 (65.8%) were identified as true information threads, and 1,601 (27.5%) contained misinformation, yielding 5,431 boards for analysis. Misinformation content did not vary much from other contexts. Propaganda related information was most likely to be reposted (RR: 2.07, p < .001) when comparing to true information. However, the more polarized a user was, the less likely his/her content to be reposted (RR: 0.22, p < .001). By removing the nodes with high level of indegree, outdegree, and betweenness centrality, we found that the core network and the entire network demonstrated a decreasing trend in average polarity score, which showed that influential users contributed to the polarization in misinformation consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

While the forum exhibits a resilience to echo chambering, active users and brokers contribute significantly to the polarization of the community, particularly through propaganda-style misinformation. This popularity of propaganda-style misinformation may be linked to the political nature of the forum, where public opinion follows “elite cues” on issues, such as shown in the U.S. The work in this study corroborates this finding and contributes a data point in a non-western context. To manage the echo chambering of misinformation, more effort can be put into moderating these users to prevent polarization and spread of misinformation to prevent growing vaccine hesitancy.

CLINICALTRIAL
Integration of Ambient Assistive Living Technologies in Older Adults' Care: Lessons Learned from a Longitudinal Study (Preprint)
Authors: Ntsweng Oteng , Kodyš Martin , Ong Zhi Quan , Zhou Fang , Marassé-Enouf Antoine de , Sadek Ibrahim , Aloulou Hamdi , Tan Sharon Swee-Li , Mokhtari Mounir
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has added an impetus to an already growing trend around the use of Ambient Assistive Living (AAL) technologies to support frail seniors who live alone. The challenge, however, is that systematic research on the long-term usage of AAL technologies remains in its nascent stages, leaving gaps in understanding of the predictors that contribute to the routine embedding of AAL technologies in seniors’ care.

OBJECTIVE

This viewpoint shares key lessons from a longitudinal study on the routine embedding of AAL technologies in senior care within a hitherto understudied Southeast Asian context. By presenting a qualitative narrative of our experiences, we aim to promote the sustainable adoption of AAL technologies for older adults.

METHODS

We achieved our objective through an in-depth case study, employing a mixed-methods design, which is well-suited for topics where existing research is fragmented or lacking. Given the shortage of research on the routinization of AAL technologies in seniors’ care, we utilized semi-structured interviews to capture seniors' and their caregivers’ perceptions of the technology and the evolution thereof. We used our AAL technology, termed Ubiquitous Service MAnagement and Reasoning archiTecture (Ubismart) to capture and visualize the seniors’ activities of daily living (ADL).

RESULTS

AAL technologies had a positive impact on some Quality of Life (QoL) dimensions for seniors, particularly in terms of psychological well-being and a heightened sense of safety. Many participants reported feeling more secure and less fearful with the technology in place, which they likened to "insurance" or a reassuring presence in their homes. However, the impact on social relationships was paradoxical: while some seniors felt that the technology made caregivers more attentive, others felt more isolated, expressing that the presence of sensors reduced in-person visits. This paradox highlights the complexities of technology’s role in caregiving, as it may simultaneously enhance feelings of safety while unintentionally diminishing social connection for some seniors.

CONCLUSIONS

AAL technologies like Ubismart enhance seniors' psychological well-being and sense of safety but may inadvertently reduce social interaction. Sustainable integration requires balancing these benefits with efforts to maintain meaningful caregiver connections, supporting both safety and social engagement for older adults.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06486935.
Understanding the Values, Qualities, and Preferences of Patients in Their Relationships With Obstetrics and Gynecology Providers: Cross-Sectional Survey With a Mixed Methods Approach (Preprint)
Authors: Kennedy Ann Blair , Harb Anna Tarasidis , Schockling Chloe , Ray Lauren Jackson , Palomo Jennifer , Russ-Sellers Rebecca
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

The patient-provider relationship in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) is uniquely complex due to the sensitive nature of examinations and topics. Patients often prefer health care providers who share similar racial, ethnic, gender, or linguistic backgrounds, particularly in sensitive health care situations, to improve communication and comfort, though historically, specific gender preferences for OBGYNs have not been evident.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to describe the values, qualities, and preferences of patients in their relationships with OBGYN providers.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey, conducted from October 2019 to December 2019, involved 1039 US OBGYN patients and used a mixed methods approach, integrating quantitative responses and qualitative insights from open-ended questions. Recruitment was facilitated through targeted social media campaigns, and the survey aimed to capture detailed patient preferences and barriers to care by assessing responses on provider traits, patient experiences, and demographic factors. The study’s rigorous data collection and analysis were designed to fill gaps identified in previous research on patient-provider relationships in OBGYN care.

RESULTS

The findings underscore the paramount importance of trust and comfort, with listening skills identified as crucial. A notable finding is the marked preference for same-gender providers, observed in 80.7% (545/675) of participants. Primary barriers to seeking care reported included daily commitments, highlighting the need for accessible and flexible care options.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights a significant shift from previous scientific findings in patient preferences toward gender concordance and trust in OBGYN settings, diverging from previous research. These results emphasize the need for patient-centered care and tailored communication strategies to enhance patient experiences and outcomes. Future research should focus on diverse populations to broaden the findings’ applicability and explore the impact of recent shifts in health care policies.
Chất lượng nước khu vực nuôi tôm-lúa luân canh tại huyện Thới Bình, tỉnh Cà Mau
Authors: Ngô Tiến Chương , Vưu Minh Nhí , Trần Văn An , Trần Trung Giang , Vũ Hùng Hải , Âu Văn Hóa , Trần Ngọc Hải , Huỳnh Trường Giang
Published: March 2024

Mục tiêu của nghiên cứu là đánh giá chất lượng nước tại một số tuyến kênh trong khu vực tôm-lúa luân canh tại huyện Thới Bình, tỉnh Cà Mau nhằm cung cấp thông tin cơ bản cho việc quản lý chất lượng nước của mô hình. Mẫu nước tầng mặt được thu tại 6 điểm qua 4 đợt thu mẫu gồm: đầu vụ tôm (tháng 02), cuối vụ tôm (tháng 7), đầu vụ lúa (tháng 10) và cuối vụ lúa (tháng 12) tại xã Biển Bạch Đông. Kết quả cho thấy hầu hết các yếu tố môi trường phù hợp với tiêu chuẩn chất lượng nước mặt và thích hợp cho nuôi trồng thủy sản. Tuy nhiên, một số chỉ tiêu như tổng chất rắn lơ lửng (TSS), nhu cầu oxy sinh học (BOD), tổng đạm (TN) và tổng lân (TP) ở một số điểm tương đối cao so với quy chuẩn về quản lý chất lượng nước. Độ mặn biến động lớn giữa đầu vụ và cuối vụ tôm, đặc biệt trong các tuyến kênh nội đồng. Các muối dinh dưỡng có khuynh hướng tăng vào cuối vụ lúa (tháng 12). Do đó, để sử dụng nguồn nước hiệu quả, người nuôi cần theo dõi, đo đạt các thông số môi trường trước khi cấp vào các vuông tôm-lúa trong khu vực nghiên cứu.
Historia, etnohistoria y antropología
Authors: Briones-Soto Boris
Published: March 2024

The study of religion is of interest for different human and social disciplines in search of understanding, by means of theoretical and methodological approaches, several religious practices from various cultural groups in diverse historical moments. This paper addresses the concepts of history, ethnohistory, and religious anthropology, along with the main elements that led to disciplinary construction, its exponents, and ways to use it in religious research, by making a bibliographical review. In this way, it is possible to understand that religion has been present in these disciplines over time
Dieta de gatos (Felis silvestris catus) y perros (Canis lupus familiaris) errantes en una reserva ecológica urbana en Ciudad de México
Authors: Hortelano-Moncada Yolanda , Ramos-Rendón Águeda Karina , Gil-Alarcón Guillermo , Landeta-Solis Laura Jazmín , Vilchis-Conde José Manuel , Flores-Martínez José Juan , Rodríguez-Medina Ricardo , Cervantes Fernando A.
Published: March 2024

Se analizó la dieta de gatos (Felis silvestris catus) y perros (Canis lupus familiaris) errantes de la Reserva Ecológica del Pedregal de San Ángel (REPSA), Ciudad Universitaria, UNAM, Ciudad de México. Se examinaron 12 muestras de gatos y 55 de perros obtenidas mediante el Programa de Remediación de Fauna Feral, Secretaría Ejecutiva de la REPSA. La determinación de las especies consumidas se realizó comparando el material con ejemplares depositados en colecciones científicas; adicionalmente para mamíferos, se utilizaron patrones morfológicos de la cutícula y médula del pelo. El análisis mostró que la dieta de gatos y perros está compuesta, principalmente, de mamíferos medianos (Bassariscus astutus, Didelphis virginiana, Otospermophilus variegatus, Spilogale angustifrons y Sylvilagus floridanus) y pequeños (Mus musculus, Neotoma mexicana, Peromyscus gratus, Rattus norvegicus, Reithrodontomys fulvescens y Sorex saussurei), en menor proporción de reptiles e insectos, y material alimenticio de consumo humano. Los mamíferos nativos son más consumidos que los introducidos y que la dieta de gatos y perros incluye especies endémicas de México (S. saussurei, P. gratus y Peromyscus melanophrys) o en alguna categoría de riesgo (S. saussurei y la lagartija Sceloporus grammicus). Estos resultados proveen información para justificar y desarrollar alternativas de conservación en reservas ecológicas urbanas.
El procesalismo judicial criminal – ordinario durante la primera República federal (1824 – 1835, Ciudad de México)
Authors: Flores Flores Graciela
Published: March 2024

Mientras se estructuraba un orden jurídico propio, la dispersión legal del siglo XIX, y la necesidad de justicia en los primeros años independientes, forzaron la convivencia entre las normas del antiguo régimen novohispano y las leyes emanadas de las instituciones federales. Desde la solución de los pleitos menores a través de la conciliación y los juicios verbales, por los alcaldes constitucionales, y la justicia letrada con tribunales de primera y segunda instancia, este trabajo plantea el análisis de la estructura judicial, las instancias procesales en materia penal y el orden de prelación de las leyes sugerido por la doctrina decimonónica.
Don Silvio Zavala Vallado y su obra académica
Authors: Cruz Barney Oscar
Published: March 2024

Silvio Zavala, calificado como el primer historiador científico profesional de México, abordó con rigor temas como la conquista de América, el derecho de la guerra, los derechos humanos, la historia institucional del derecho indiano hasta la historia naval y marítima. También fue promotor activo de las Primeras Jornadas de Historia del Derecho Patrio y miembro del Consejo Editorial del Anuario Mexicano de Historia del Derecho. Este trabajo abunda en su pensamiento, sus aportaciones a la ciencia jurídica, y hace un recuento de sus publicaciones como instrumento historiográfico.
Un prefecto poderoso y un abogado valiente
Authors: Ramos Núñez Carlos
Published: March 2024

El autor da a conocer la institución del jurado de imprenta. Por otro lado, también se analiza el procedimiento y algunos aspectos importantes de la Ley de Imprenta, ley que reguló el jurado en el Perú. Finalmente, se analiza el caso de Julio Jiménez contra Telémaco Orihuela.
Historia judicial, historia del derecho. Los foros de justicia como intérpretes y traductores de los saberes normativos
Authors: Traslosheros H. Jorge E.
Published: March 2024

En el presente artículo exploramos la estrecha relación que existe entre la historia judicial y la historia del derecho. Partimos de nuestra experiencia en los archivos judiciales, rechazamos una visión estrecha del derecho —reducida a la ley y a los juristas— para entrar diálogo con la tesis de Thomas Duve, quien entiende la historia del derecho como la historia de los saberes normativos. Así, desarrollamos una propuesta sobre la historia judicial, en la cual se comprende a los foros de justicia como los intérpretes y traductores de las diversas normatividades presentes en toda sociedad, para hacerlas jurídicamente significativas y así transformarles en saberes propiamente jurídicos. Nuestra propuesta se pone a prueba en el análisis de dos procesos judiciales, uno contencioso y el otro voluntario, emanados de los tribunales eclesiásticos de la Hispanoamérica virreinal.
Akustička analiza i samoprocjena govora sa zaštitnim maskama i vizirima
Authors: Jurišić Aneta , Bašić Iva ,   University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Published: March 2024

Tijekom pandemije koronavirusa suočeni smo s novim načinom života koji, između ostaloga, podrazumijeva i nošenje pokrivala za lice. Svakodnevno nošenje maske i/ili vizira otežava disanje i govor, što je posebice izraženo u vokalno zahtjevnim profesijama. Prema tome, u ovome su radu ispitani utjecaji maske i vizira na akustička obilježja govora te samoprocjena glasa kod nastavnika prije i tijekom pandemije. Rezultati akustičke analize pokazali su da je govor s kirurškom maskom najsličniji govoru bez pokrivala, a da je pri nošenju vizira zvuk u najvećoj mjeri intenzitetski osiromašen. Područje slabljenja govornoga zvuka započinje u spektralnome području iznad 1 kHz, a najveće je oko 4 kHz. Prilikom nošenja različitih pokrivala za lice utvrđena su uglavnom sniženja F0 i to kod medicinske maske u rasponu od 0,5 Hz do 5,93 Hz, kod platnene maske od 0,3 Hz do 6,06 Hz, a pri nošenju vizira od 0,6 Hz do 4,6 Hz. Intenzitetski su padovi pri nošenju medicinske maske iznosili od 0,06 dB do 7,05 dB, pri nošenju platnene maske od 0,15 dB do 3,3 dB, dok se pri nošenju vizira raspon pada protezao od 0,45 dB do 5,66 dB. Analizom anketne samoprocjene glasa kod nastavnika utvrđene su učestalije i teže vokalne poteškoće tijekom pandemije te nedovoljno znanje o vježbama za očuvanje, zaštitu i snaženje glasa.
Students’ identification of different English varieties
Authors:   Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vančura Alma , Alić Filip ,   Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
Published: March 2024

Today’s technology allows quick and easy communication with speakers from a variety of language backgrounds, and the communication of online participants is predominantly in English. Although much is already known about the attitudes of Croatian students towards their own English pronunciation (e.g., Lütze-Miculinić, 2019; Josipović Smojver & Stanojević, 2013, 2016; Stanojević & Josipović Smojver, 2011) or about different English varieties (Drljača Margić & Širola, 2014), there has been no research regarding students’ identification of different English varieties in Croatian context. Previous studies (Williams, Garrett, & Coupland, 1999) have shown that listeners can categorize unfamiliar speakers by dialect with about 30% accuracy. Apart from familiarity, an important role in variety recognition is played by regional closeness and exposure to the variety. The present research is set out to study how accurately students can identify individual speakers of different regional and EFL varieties of English. The study was conducted on 68 first-year English students who completed an anonymous questionnaire. The items for the questionnaire were based on Alić (2021) and Paunović (2009). The study was based on a verbal-guise technique, where participants listened to 10 speakers reading out the same paragraph. Croatian students showed poor results in variety recognition. They had the best identification results when listening to Croatian speaker speaking English (76.9% of correct identifications), which is of no surprise as he was the only EFL speaker and the students were familiar with this type of accent. They had the most problems identifying the speakers from South Africa (13.4%) and Northern Ireland (10.8%). The results show that students probably till operate with very broad concepts, like "British" or "American" English, since they were unable to pinpoint the speakers from South England (32.8%) or California (19.7%), varieties that can often be heard in various settings. The Californian speaker was identified as a speaker from New York (19.7%), Southern USA (18.1%) and Canada (16.6%), which shows that subtle differences in regional identity are lost to the untrained ear, and that familiarity sometimes does not play an important role in variety identification.
Uspješnost učenja mjesta naglaska u hrvatskome standardnome jeziku učenika osmih razreda osnovne škole u Zagrebu
Authors:   Primary School Ante Starčević, Zagreb Croatia, Colnago Maja , Pletikos Olof Elenmari ,   University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Published: March 2024

Naglasna norma najteže je naučiv sloj hrvatskoga standardnoga jezika. Glavni je razlog činjenica što su hrvatski govori naglasno raslojeni; postoje govori s visinskim sustavom i govori s udarnim naglasnim sustavom. Osim toga, hrvatski je standardni jezik raslojen u visoki i neutralni varijetet koji se u gramatikama i rječnicima isprepliću, stoga postoje brojne naglasne dvojbe i nedosljednosti. Cilj je rada istražiti uspješnost učenja standardnoga mjesta naglaska riječi učenika osmoga razreda osnovne škole u Zagrebu. Ispitanici su podijeljeni u dvije skupine: eksperimentalnu (N = 53), u kojoj su ispitanici s kojima su tijekom jedne školske godine provođene naglasne vježbe, i kontrolnu skupinu (N = 29) u kojoj te vježbe nisu provođene. Ispitanici su snimani na početku i na kraju školske godine u čitanju naglasno neobilježenoga teksta. Na temelju slušne analize obilježeno je mjesto naglasaka koje su ispitanici ostvarili u ciljanim riječima. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da se točnost ostvarenja mjesta naglaska u eksperimentalnoj skupini s početnih 42 % povećala na 65 % (poboljšanje izgovora za 23 %), a u kontrolnoj se skupini točnost s početnih 37 % smanjila na 34 % (smanjila se za 3 %). Rezultati potvrđuju dosadašnja istraživanja o naučivosti standardnoga mjesta naglaska, tj. o napretku koji se podučavanjem i vježbom može postići tijekom jedne školske godine. Rezultati ujedno pokazuju i ograničenja jednogodišnjega podučavanja, tj. pokazuju da zagrebački učenici koje se podučavalo standardnomu naglasnom sustavu nisu postigli potpunu promjenu izgovora mjesta naglaska u smjeru visokoga varijeteta standarda.