bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moderating Effect of Demographic Factors on the Relationship Between Work Motivation and Employee Retention of Gen Z
Authors: Ganguli Rajorshi , Padhy Suresh Chandra
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

This study aimed to investigate the variations in work motivation and Gen Z employee retention concerning the demographic characteristics of the employees and to assess the moderating impact of demographic variables on the relationship between work motivation and Gen Z employee retention.

Design/Methodology/Approach:

The empirical research was conducted by employing a quantitative research design from Indian Gen Z employees working at various organizations. A cross-sectional time frame was followed, wherein data was collected from 755 participants for their perception of work motivation and employee retention using a questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to examine the relationships between the study variables and to validate the developed model for the study using Smart PLS v3 software.

Findings:

Overall, the study found that workplace motivation has a significant effect on Gen Z employees’ retention. Moreover, the association between job motivation and Gen Z employee retention was moderated by gender, income, and industry type. However, the association between work motivation and Gen Z employee retention was unaffected by the level of education.

Research Implications:

The findings of the study specifically provide insights for HR practitioners. It can be implied that motivating employees and retaining them are among the essential elements of every organization. The organizations must create equal opportunities for males and females.
Equity Crowdfunding: A Bibliometric Analysis of the State of Research
Authors: Tiwari Chandan Kumar , Vadgama Chintan , Pal Abhinav , Gupta Kanishka
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

Equity crowdfunding is a growing practice in the expansion of entrepreneurial finance. Young entrepreneurs and investors find it very effective due to the high penetration of the internet and social media in this globalized world. This innovative source of entrepreneurial finance has certainly fostered small businesses and entrepreneurship. The primary objective of this research is to examine in an exhaustive and systematic way the studies of crowdfunding in actions.

Methodology:

This study has employed a Systematic Review of Literature and Bibliometric Analysis has been conducted. This study seeks to comprehend the current development, benefits, and challenges within the domain of equity crowdfunding.

Findings:

In addition to the potential benefits, the study also highlights the opportunities and challenges of fundraising through equity crowdfunding platforms for fundraisers and investors around the world. Crowdfunding and entrepreneurship, equity crowdfunding is often used for sustainability, development, finance, and investment and is mainly studied with reference to the UK region.

Originality:

The research study makes a contribution to the existing literature by highlighting the current developments and the contributions made by scholars around the world with the assistance of content and bibliometric analysis.
Integrating Technology Acceptance Model, Theory of Diffusion of Innovations and Theory of Planned Behaviour to Study the Adoption of Facebook Marketplace
Authors: Jahangir Waseem , Zia-ul-Haq
Published: August 2024

With the rapid innovation of technology and the cheaper internet, e-commerce is swiftly reaching new heights. The latest form of e-commerce, called online classified business, has emerged based on a consumer-to-consumer e-commerce model. It is mainly used to deal with posting ads online on classified portals. However, in the contemporary world, it also facilitates and fosters consumers to buy and sell brand-new and used merchandise from each other without any intermediary. A long-standing and overlooked form of e-commerce has lately caught researchers’ interest. Facebook marketplace, launched by Facebook, is one of the latest portals augmenting online classified business. The present study is the first of its kind, which intends to integrate the technology acceptance model with two critical theories, namely Theory of Diffusion of Innovations and theory of planned behaviour, to study the adoption of an online classified portal like Facebook marketplace. The research used structural equation modelling to test the hypothesized relationships. The study asserts that Perceived ease of use is the most vital determinant, followed by Subjective Norm and Perceived Usefulness, which affects the Intention to use the Facebook marketplace. Visibility was found to play no role in influencing Intention to use. The study can have many implications for the Facebook marketplace and other stakeholders.
YouTube “Unboxing:” An Influencer of Purchase Intent—A Quantitative Study
Authors: Bhattacharya Arijit , Dhingra Priyanka Mathur
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

Unboxing is a relatively new social media occurrence, where a YouTube unboxer’s amateur video gradually unwraps and reviews a new product for the followers. The phenomenon has caught the attention of both the marketing industry and academia due to its potential to influence purchase intent. The present research focuses on the relevant unboxing literature with a special focus on source characteristics, purposive motives, and nonpurposive motives; hypothesizes a research model and empirically tests it to probe how the unboxing phenomenon influences purchase intention.

Design/Methodology/Approach:

The researchers conducted an online survey for data collection from 705 social media users and used structural equation modeling and moderation analysis for data analysis.

Findings:

The present research proposed and tested a model of unboxing using parasocial interaction (PSI). It found that PSI does influence purchase intent in unboxing and found support for six out of seven antecedents of PSI hypothesized in the model.

Practical Implications:

The findings of the study can help marketing organizations to understand the importance of YouTube influencer-induced PSI to design effective advertising campaigns through influencer marketing in order to drive purchase intent.

Originality/Value:

The present study aims to understand the unboxing phenomenon by analyzing the proposed model. This study contributes to the limited literature on the nascent YouTube unboxing in an emerging economy context and extends previous research in this field by incorporating new variables. Also, it studies the effect of gender as a moderator in an unboxing context for the first time.
A race against time: A critical analysis of elite student-athletes’ accelerated temporality through story completion
Authors: Mateu Pau , Devís-Devís José , Torregrossa Miquel , Marques Renato Francisco Rodrigues
Published: August 2024

Numerous elite student-athletes (ESA) engaged in a dual career, balancing athletic pursuits with education, find themselves grappling with the perception of insufficient time to fulfil their demands. Existing research advocates for the implementation of programs promoting academic flexibility, alongside measures aimed at achieving balance between academic and sport-related activities. Other studies underscore the significance of equipping ESA with skills such as time management. Nonetheless, challenges persist in balancing the escalating demands of sports and education. Drawing upon Hartmut Rosa's theory of social acceleration, this study aims to analyse how ESA perceive and respond to time pressure. Employing the story completion method, data was gathered from seven ESA who crafted narratives in response to three story stems. Through reflexive thematic analysis, two overarching themes were identified: (1) no time to waste; and (2) it is what it is. ESA faced incessant pressure to optimise their time and performance and resorted to instrumentalising personal relationships, using them as a tool for career development. Nevertheless, this pressure was not universally perceived as oppressive; rather, it was often accepted as an inherent aspect of their reality. Our conclusion is that as long as capitalist societies and their accelerating impositions persist, any assistance that can be provided to ESA will inherently be limited.
Neurodegeneration in a domestic rabbit with severe malnourishment and low hepatic copper
Authors: Watson Katherine D. , Affolter Verena K. , Gardhouse Sara , Guzman David Sanchez-Migallon , Poppenga Robert H. , Li Chai-Fei , Phillips Kathryn , Kol Amir , Woolard Kevin D.
Published: August 2024

Copper is a trace element that plays an essential role in neurodevelopment and neurologic function. Acquired copper deficiency has a range of neurologic manifestations, with myelopathy being the most common association. We describe here the clinical, radiologic, histopathologic, and toxicologic findings of a rabbit with malnutrition, neurodegeneration, and suspected copper deficiency. A stray, adult female dwarf rabbit cross ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) in poor body condition developed ataxia and pelvic limb weakness progressing to lateral recumbency and urine retention. The clinical findings suggested multifocal brainstem disease with right-sided central vestibular involvement; however, microscopic examination identified thoracic and lumbosacral spinal cord myelopathy. Differentials for the spinal cord changes included neurodegenerative disease, nutritional deficiency, neurotoxin, trauma to the lumbosacral region, and ischemia. Hepatic copper levels were suboptimal at 18 ppm dry weight (RI: 24–150 ppm dry weight). While speculative, copper-deficiency myelopathy is a treatable cause of non-compressive myelopathy that may occur in this species.
Chronic osteoarthritis caused by Propionibacterium australiense infection in a captive sand gazelle
Authors: King Emily M. , Wilson James M. , Hostnik Eric T. , Bapodra Priya , Junge Randall E. , Niehaus Andrew J. , Durgam Sushmitha S. , Schreeg Megan E.
Published: August 2024

Osteoarthritis is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in geriatric gazelles. Propionibacterium australiense has been reported as a cause of systemic granulomas in cattle, but there are no descriptions of this bacteria infecting other species nor causing osteoarthritis, to our knowledge. An 8-y-old, castrated male, sand gazelle ( Gazella leptoceros leptoceros) was managed for chronic, intermittent, progressive osteoarthritis of the right tarsus. Serial biopsies revealed pyogranulomatous dermatitis with intralesional bacteria. Serial diagnostic imaging identified osseous and soft tissue proliferation with draining tracts. Treatments over 1 y included broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, joint debridement, and infusion with platelet-rich plasma and stem cells. Despite therapy, lameness persisted, azotemia developed, and subsequently, the animal was euthanized. On postmortem examination, the periarticular tissue of the right tarsus was markedly expanded by pyogranulomas and fibrosis. Histologically, the synovium, joint capsule, and overlying soft tissues were markedly expanded by pyogranulomas and numerous gram-positive and acid-fast–negative filamentous bacteria surrounded by Splendore–Hoeppli material. Within the joint, there was regionally extensive cartilage ulceration, osteonecrosis, osteolysis, and pannus formation. PCR assay of affected formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue amplified segments of 16S rRNA and β subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase ( rpoB) genes with 99.7% and 95.6% identity to P. australiense. This bacterium should be considered a differential for chronic pyogranulomatous osteoarthritis in gazelles.
Quality of Life Measures in Young Pre-Professional Dancers Compared to Non-Athletes and Non-Dancer Athletes
Authors: Stracciolini Andrea , Gearhart Marina , Quinn Bridget , Sugimoto Dai
Published: August 2024

Aim: To investigate quality of life (QoL) measures in a cohort of young female dancers. Methods: Cross-sectional survey study design was utilized to study dancers 8 to 17 years enrolled in two elite dance schools in the Boston area. The main outcome measure was the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL 4.0) questionnaire, a validated QoL survey for children, with established normative values for comparison. Demographics and questions pertaining to training regimens and injury/illness history were also included. Sub-groups (8-11 years, 12-14 years, and 15-17 years) were created to analyze outcomes by age. Results: One hundred and forty emails were delivered, 72 were completed and included in the final data analysis (51.4%). The median scores for physical, psychosocial, emotional, social, and school PedsQL sub-scales were 87.5, 90.0, 80.0, 100.0, and 92.5, respectively. The median score of the total PedsQL scores was 88.8. No difference in QoL outcomes by age group was found (physical: P = .328; psychosocial: P = .918; emotional: P = .673; social: P = .573; school: P = 0.962; total: P = 0.766). 52.5% of the participants responded that they regularly perform in shows. Median hours/week of dance rehearsal was 10 hours (mean ± standard deviation: 10.3 ± 4.9; 95% CI: 9.0, 11.6; IQR: 7.0, 13.5; range: 2.0, 20.0) and 68.9% reported they practice and rehearse throughout the entire calendar year as opposed to solely during the school year; most dancers reported participating in dance 11 months (median value) per year (mean ± standard deviation: 10.7 ± 0.8; 95% CI: 10.5, 11.0; IQR: 10.0, 11.0; range: 9.0, 12.0). Conclusion: QoL measures for young female dancers were higher relative to existing data for the general population and lower compared to other sports participation. These results will support the social, emotional, and physical health of young dancers.
Pediatric oncology caregiving as narrative repair: Restor(y)ing disrupted family biographies and damaged moral identities
Authors: Molinaro Monica L , Polzer Jessica , Laliberte Rudman Debbie , Savundranayagam Marie
Published: August 2024

Drawing on Arthur Frank’s conceptualization of narrative repair, we consider how pediatric oncology nurses restore and re-story the narratives of patients and families whose biographies have been thrown off course by the diagnosis and death of a child from cancer, as well as their own narratives as caregivers. Frank argued that when one’s life story is shipwrecked by chronic or life-threatening illness, storytelling is way to reorient one’s biography to a new ending, repairing the narrative wreckage created by the illness experience. In this critical narrative study with nine pediatric oncology nurses in Ontario, Canada, we highlight how, through physical, narrative, and moral proximity, nurses become entwined in their patients’ and families’ illness narratives, and how developing this narrative knowledge provides nurses with opportunities to steer families onto new terrain. As well, we examine how nurses re-story and repair their own identities as “good” caregivers in situations when they are prevented from acting on behalf of their pediatric cancer patients. These findings contribute to literature on illness narratives by considering narrative repair as a relational process enacted as part of pediatric oncology caregiving.
Remembering the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait: Anniversary journalism’s role in collective memory and the State’s pursuit of ontological security
Authors: Al Nashmi Eisa
Published: August 2024

Seeking to broaden collective memory research beyond major nations and high-profile events (e.g., the Cold War and September 11), this study explores how Kuwaiti newspapers memorialized Saddam Hussein’s August 2, 1990, invasion of Kuwait. By tracing the evolution of commemorative narratives over three decades and observing how they resonate with the state’s political context, the role of the Kuwaiti press in shaping collective memory is shown. Additionally, given the shifts in Kuwait’s foreign policy—from initial animosity toward Iraq to a strategic partnership—prompted by leadership changes and the 2003 US–Iraq War, this study examines how commemorations reflected and solidified Kuwait’s evolving identity. In this context, the study evaluates the role of journalists as active participants in the state’s continuous pursuit of ontological security, which focuses on establishing a stable and recognized national identity alongside physical security.
Unlocking the benefits of montessori-based reading activities in nursing home: A multiple baseline study on groups of individuals with severe dementia
Authors: Bourgeois Cécile , Brigaud Emmanuelle , Louis Ella , Azzoune Lynda , Gambonnet Marie , Vitou Valérie , Jeandel Claude , Erkes Jérôme , Bayard Sophie
Published: August 2024

Objective

Group activities are commonly offered to residents of nursing homes, and increasingly with a person-centred care approach. The aim of this study is to compare the impacts of a Montessori-based reading activity with a more traditional reading activity.

Method

A multiple baseline design was used, with 3 groups of 5 older adults with moderate to severe dementia. All sessions were videorecorded and analysed by independent judges, blinded to our hypotheses and conditions. Impacts of the type of activity (storytelling or Montessori-based reading) on verbal interactions, engagement level, affect and behavioural aspects were estimated with both visual analyses and statistical analyses using the between-case standardised mean differences method.

Results

Significant differences were found in favour of the Montessori-based activities with regard to the number of verbal interactions, constructive and passive engagement and positive affect expressed, with moderate to large effect size (from 0.46 to 1.66).

Conclusion

The Montessori-based reading group activity really seems to be preferable to a more traditional storytelling activity, with multiple benefits for residents. Depending on the preserved abilities and interests of the participants, it can also be aimed at people with severe dementia.
B-Spline signature responses in structural change detection: method development
Authors: Gedney Brennan L. , Naseri Reza , Al Kharousi Shadhan , Rizos Dimitrios C.
Published: August 2024

Damage detection is perhaps the most critical objective of structural health monitoring. Proper documentation of the progression of structural damage from onset to failure enables performance-based maintenance that mitigates risk and contains socioeconomic impact. Recently, damage detection methods that focus on change detection through analyses of the structural global response in the frequency or time domain have garnered attention due to their efficiency and accuracy. This work proposes a novel time-domain, nonparametric, data-driven change detection method. The time-domain B-Spline transfer function is defined as a signature time history response of the structure, referred to in this work as the B-Spline signature response (BSR). BSR may be computed directly through a physics-based simulation, or it be extracted in a discrete form from measurements of displacement, velocity, or acceleration time histories of structural response to any external excitation. The BSR is independent of loading, is a characteristic of the system, and captures the condition of the structure at the time of acquisition without the need for identifying structural properties. In this work, the fundamentals of the BSR concept are introduced first along with the process of extracting a BSR from structural responses to arbitrary excitations. Verification and validation studies are conducted based on computer simulations and laboratory testing and are discussed in detail. Subsequently, an approach is proposed to detect change through correlation of BSR signals acquired at different times during the monitoring period. Any changes in the intrinsic characteristics affecting the response cause BSR changes and correlation loss. The change detection methodology is demonstrated through computer simulations and experimental investigations. Initial parametric studies are conducted to investigate the suitability of the proposed approach to detect small structural changes. This article demonstrates the validity of the proposed method and establishes the framework for further development and case-specific applications.
Technical Aspects of Exclusive Transfemoral Route for Total Endovascular Arch Repair: A Custom-Made Device With Only Upward-Facing Inner Branches for Aortic Arch Treatment
Authors: Ferreira Marcelo , Mannarino Matheus , Cunha Rodrigo , Ferreira Diego , Capotorto Luiz Fernando , Mannarino Guilherme
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

The purpose was to demonstrate a new arch endograft configuration to allow total endovascular aortic arch repair exclusive from transfemoral approach.

Technique:

The custom-made multi-branched arch endograft (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Indiana) features 3 inner branches (IBs) for supra-aortic vessels incorporation and complete endovascular arch repair. Traditionally, the innominate and left carotid branches are anterograde IBs, requiring upper access for incorporation of these vessels, and the left subclavian branch is an upward-facing IB that can be incorporated from transfemoral access. We report a novel device configuration with only upward-facing IBs, allowing exclusive transfemoral route for total endovascular arch repair. Technical aspects, implantation technique, and limitations are described thoroughly.

Conclusion:

Herein is described an arch endograft configuration that simplifies endovascular aortic arch repair, allowing supra-aortic vessel incorporation through a transfemoral route only. This innovative design may serve as another alternative in selected patients.

Clinical Impact

This innovative endograft design, with only upward-facing inner branches, simplifies the total endovascular aortic arch repair by allowing for a exclusively transfemoral approach. This may reduce procedural complexity and minimizes risks associated with multiple access points. It provides another alternative, particularly beneficial for selected high-risk patients for open repair, potentially expanding the applicability of endovascular treatments for aortic arch pathologies.
Childhoods, Lives, and Histories of Critical Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Cannella Gaile S.
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this article is to briefly overview this history of critical inquiry as conducted by early childhood education and care scholars; research by those with direct daily experience usually as teachers and/or caregivers with those who are younger, and remind everyone, including myself, that we have multiple locations and possibilities for putting forward justice-oriented critical activist research agendas. Before doing so, however, the understanding the reasons for engagement with critical histories can be very important to that work, along with an understanding of the research context from which the scholarship has emerged.
Childhoods, Cultures, and Critical Qualitative Inquiry: Researching the Political and Life Worlds of Children
Authors: Brown Christopher P. , Cannella Gaile S.
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this special issue is to present work that moves beyond the dominant logic of childhoods as imposed on those who are younger, and instead, to demonstrate how critical empirical qualitative investigations that honor, as well as answer, the complex political and life worlds of children in the present and the past offer a way forward; a path that supports communities and the public institutions important to them so that all children can thrive and become the persons they want to be. To do so, these articles draw on different theoretical and methodological critical orientations and traditions to broadly consider the ways in which cultural studies rooted in critical qualitative research can generate knowledges that expand conceptualizations of/for multiple worlds of children/childhood. In doing so, these pieces examine the contemporary, multiple, and immanent cultural worlds and life conditions of children and notions of childhood—both past and present. Such work speaks to the complex, and often unjust, worlds of children and childhoods, and in doing so, the authors propose and illuminate discourse, policy, and relationship changes and actions required to address the complex pressing needs faced by children across a range of communities and/or public institutions.
The Prognostic Value of Preoperative Inflammatory Markers for Pathological Grading of Glioma Patients
Authors: Li Bo , Gao Bo , Zhu Hong-Jian , Luwor Rodney B. , Lu Jing , Zhang Lu , Kong Bo
Published: August 2024

Introduction: The independent diagnostic value of inflammatory markers neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the diagnostic efficacy of NLR, derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), PLR, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in glioma cases remain unclear. We investigated the correlation of preoperative peripheral blood inflammatory markers with pathological grade, Ki-67 Proliferation Index, and IDH-1 gene phenotype in patients with glioma, focusing on tumor grade and prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, pathological, and laboratory data of 334 patients with glioma with varying grades and 345 with World Health Organization (WHO I) meningioma who underwent initial surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from December 2019 to December 2021. The diagnostic value of peripheral blood inflammatory markers for glioma was investigated. Results: The proportion of men smoking and drinking was significantly higher in the glioma group than in the meningioma group ( P < .05); in contrast, the age and body mass index (Kg/m2) were significantly lower in the glioma group ( P = .01). Significant differences were noted in the pathological grade (WHO II, III, and IV), Ki-67 Proliferation Index, and peripheral blood inflammatory markers such as lymphocyte median, NLR, dNLR, and PLR between the groups ( P < .05). No significant correlation existed between peripheral blood inflammatory factors and IDH-1 gene mutation status or tumor location in patients with glioma ( P > .05). LMR, NLR, dNLR, and PLR, varied significantly among different glioma types ( P < .05). White blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil, NLR, and dNLR correlated positively with glioma risk. Further, WBC, neutrophil, NLR, dNLR, and LMR had a high diagnostic efficiency. Conclusion: Peripheral blood inflammatory markers, serving as noninvasive biomarkers, offer high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing glioma, differentiating it from meningioma, diagnosing GBM, and distinguishing GBM from low-grade glioma. These markers may be implemented as routine screening tools.
Bleeding in early pregnancy
Authors: Alloush Khalid
Published: August 2024

Vaginal bleeding is one of the commonest early pregnancy presentations in primary care. It is reported to occur in approximately one in four pregnancies. Although Early Pregnancy Assessment Units have been well established in the NHS, most patients with bleeding in early pregnancy still need to be assessed by a GP, midwife, or other allied health professional before referral. Therefore, it is important that clinicians working in primary care are able to assess bleeding in early pregnancy and refer patients accordingly.
Pretreatment pulmonary tumor necrosis is a promising prognostic imaging biomarker for first-line anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma: a multi-institutional, propensity score-matching cohort analysis
Authors: Zhong Qiaofeng , Zhang Longfeng , Wu Lin , Zhao Jun , Sun Jianguo , Fang Yong , Zhou Jin , Chu Qian , Shen Yihong , Yang Zhenzhou , Chen Lijin , Huang Meijuan , Lin Xiaoyan , Liu Zhenhua , Shen Peng , Wang Zhijie , Wang Xin , Wang Huijuan , Han Chengbo , Liu Anwen , Zhang Hongmei , Ye Feng , Gao Wen , Wu Fang , Song Zhengbo , Chen Shengchi , Zhou Chengzhi , Huang Dingzhi , Zhang Qiuyu , Zheng Xinlong , Zheng Xiaobin , Miao Qian , Jiang Kan , Zou Zihua , Xu Yiquan , Wu Shiwen , Wang Haibo , Hong Yaping , Lu Tao , Li Chao , Huang Cheng , Chen Chuanben , Lin Gen
Published: August 2024

Background:

Tumor necrosis (TN) is a common feature in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), which could provide useful predictive and prognostic information.

Objectives:

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pretreatment pulmonary TN (PTN) on the prognosis of first-line anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor in advanced LSCC.

Design:

We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the association between the presence of PTN and clinical outcomes in advanced LSCC patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

Methods:

Data from 240 eligible patients were collected from 27 hospitals across China between 2016 and 2020. The presence of PTN was assessed using contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) imaging at baseline. We utilized the Cox proportional-hazards regression model to analyze the association between PTN and clinical outcomes. In addition, to account for potential confounding factors and ensure comparability between groups, we employed propensity score-matching (PSM) analysis.

Results:

In the overall patient cohort, the presence of PTN was 39.6%. The median follow-up duration was 20.3 months. The positive PTN group exhibited a notably inferior median progression-free survival (PFS; 6.5 months vs 8.6 months, p = 0.012) compared to the negative PTN group. Within the Cox proportional-hazards regression model, PTN emerged as an independent predictor of unfavorable PFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.354, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002–1.830, p = 0.049). After PSM, the median PFS for the positive PTN group (6.5 months vs 8.0 months, p = 0.027) remained worse than that of the negative PTN group. Multivariate analyses also further underscored that the presence of PTN independently posed a risk for shorter PFS (HR = 1.494, 95% CI: 1.056–2.112, p = 0.023). However, no statistically significant difference in overall survival was observed between the two groups.

Conclusion:

Our study suggests that the presence of PTN on baseline contrast-enhanced chest CT is a potential negative prognostic imaging biomarker for the outcome of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy in advanced LSCC. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.
Effectiveness of Injection Strategies on Patients With Patellar Tendonitis (Jumpers’ Knee): A Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Wang Shaowei , Lyu Buwei
Published: August 2024

Context:

Patellar tendonitis (PT) is a common degenerative disease of the patellar tendon that seriously affects the sports careers of elite athletes and activities of daily living of sports enthusiasts. Injection therapy is a prevalent invasive treatment for PT.

Objective:

This work comprehensively analyzes various injection treatments for PT that consider agent type and characteristics, frequency, and assessment timepoints by meta-analysis.

Data Sources:

PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were sources of data.

Data Selection:

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) analyzing the effect of various injection strategies on the treatment of patients with PT were considered.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Level of Evidence:

Level 2.

Data Extraction:

First author, year of publication, research location, registration information, patient type, sample size, age, sex, intervention, control treatment, and follow-up period in each study were extracted.

Results:

Nineteen RCTs were included in the analysis. In the network meta-analysis of Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Patellar (VISA-P) outcomes, polidocanol (standardized mean difference (SMD), 6.52; 95% CI 4.75, 8.30; P < 0.01), tenocyte-like cells (SMD, 4.08; 95% CI 2.92, 5.25; P < 0.01), and leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma (LP-PRP) plus high-volume image-guided injection (HVIGI) (SMD, 1.56; 95% CI 0.62, 2.50; P < 0.01) were significantly superior to noninjection conservative treatment, mainly at the 6-month follow-up timepoint. For visual analog scale results, multiple dry needling (DN) (SMD, -1.78; 95% CI -2.56, -1.00; P < 0.01), LP-PRP (SMD, -0.71; 95% CI -1.31, -0.12; P = 0.02), and LP-PRP plus HVIGI (SMD, -1.31; 95% CI -2.22, -0.39; P < 0.01) were significantly superior to blank, which was also mainly at the 6-month timepoint.

Conclusion:

Injection-related treatments: polidocanol, tenocyte-like cells, LP-PRP, and multiple DN showed potential short (1-3 months) or medium (6 months)-term treatment benefits. There is still no evidence for injection interventions with long-term therapeutic benefit.
Pediatric Facial Fractures: A Multi-Institutional Level 1 Trauma Center Analysis of Incidence, Interventions, and Outcomes
Authors: Hinson Madison , Wright Avery , Davidson Amelia , Kogan Samuel , Runyan Christopher
Published: August 2024

Study Design

Retrospective chart review.

Objective

The management of pediatric facial fractures presents distinctive considerations compared to adults. This study aims to provide a unique perspective on the correlations between the mechanism of injury, types of facial fractures, and fracture interventions and management utilized in 2 North Carolina Level 1 Trauma Centers to determine the optimal management options for this patient population.

Methods

An IRB-approved retrospective chart review was performed of pediatric facial trauma patients ages <18 years old between January 2020 and December 2022 at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Atrium Health Charlotte Medical Center. Data on patient demographics, mechanism of injury, facial fractures, interventions, and outcomes were collected.

Results

Of 2,977 pediatric facial trauma patients, 582 patients sustained at least 1 facial fracture at the time of injury. Adolescents were significantly less likely to be transferred from outside institutions and to be admitted for further care ( P = 0.002). Adolescents experienced higher levels of residual symptoms following initial discharge ( P = 0.001) and were less likely to have a symptom resolution within 1 year ( P < 0.0001). Neonates and infants were significantly more likely to receive conservative interventions and to sustain calvarium and skull base fractures ( P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

This study identifies differences in pediatric age groups related to transfers, admittance, fracture type, management, and outcomes. Our data suggests adolescent patients may experience a higher incidence of residual symptoms with lower levels of symptom resolution within 1 year. Further investigation into these differences may elicit optimized methods of fracture management in pediatric age groups and allow for effective, individualized care with improved long-term outcomes.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of adult alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma patients on first-line systemic therapies: A single-institution cohort
Authors: Nakazawa Michael S , Livingston J Andrew , Zarzour Maria A , Bishop Andrew J , Ratan Ravin , Ludwig Joseph A , Araujo Dejka M , Somaiah Neeta , Ravi Vinod , Nassif Elise F , Roland Christina L , Lazar Alexander J , Guadagnolo B Ashleigh , Harrison Douglas J , Benjamin Robert S , Patel Shreyaskumar R , Conley Anthony P
Published: August 2024

Background: Rhabdomyosarcomas are the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, and pediatric alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) prognosis has improved based on cooperative studies. However, in adults, ARMS is significantly rarer, has poorer outcomes, and currently lacks optimal treatment strategies. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of an adult ARMS population with different front-line systemic chemotherapies and determine if any chemotherapy regimen is associated with improved survival. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study of histologically confirmed fusion-positive ARMS patients over 18 years of age, who were treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) from 2004 to 2021 and received systemic chemotherapy. Descriptive clinical statistics were performed, including staging, front-line chemotherapy, multimodal therapy usage, response rates, and survival analyses. Results: 49 ARMS patients who received upfront chemotherapy were identified. Locoregional treatments included radiotherapy (RT) alone (29%, n = 14), surgery alone (10%, n = 5), or both (45%, n = 22). Median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 3.6 years, and the overall response rate to systemic therapy was 89%. No chemotherapy regimen showed OS benefit, specifically analyzing the pediatric-based vincristine, actinomycin-D, cyclophosphamide (VAC) or adult-based vincristine, doxorubicin, ifosfamide (VDI) regimens, even when controlled for other clinical risk factors. Conclusion: In this single-center contemporary series, adult ARMS patient outcomes remain poor. There was no statistically significant OS difference in patients who did or did not receive adult or pediatric based ARMS regimens, although a high overall response rate to chemotherapy was seen across the entire cohort. Based on these observations, further randomized prospective studies are necessary to delineate which frontline chemotherapy regimen is most beneficial in this rare adult cancer.
Enhancing the integration of information and communication technologies in preschool education: Pedagogical training for future teachers
Authors: Abdulina Meruyert , Bekmagambetova Roza
Published: August 2024

This research addresses the critical challenge of integrating information and communication technologies into the educational process, aiming to enhance the practical application of these technologies in preschool education. The article's aim is to develop a model for the pedagogical use of ICT with older preschool children, focusing on the professional development of teachers. The study employs A. Mehrabyan and N. Epstein's “Emotional Response Scale” to measure the responsiveness and sensitivity of future preschool educators. The article presents a comprehensive model for incorporating information and communication technologies in pedagogical activities with older preschool children. This model emphasizes creating a friendly atmosphere that fosters cognitive interest and development. Key components include natural video installations with corresponding sounds, cognitive and gaming activities displayed on screens to encourage collective problem-solving, viewing master classes and educational programs, and organizing literary hours with engaging visual and auditory elements. The proposed model aims to harmonize the psycho-emotional well-being of children and create optimal conditions for their cultural and cognitive development during their preschool years. This approach holds significant practical importance for the education system and overall societal well-being.
Reciprocal mentorship and RECE journeys: An intergenerational dialogue
Authors: Peters Lacey E , Swadener Beth Blue , Bloch Marianne N.
Published: August 2024

This essay brings together three intergenerational colleagues, two RECE founders, and a mid-career colleague, engaged in reciprocal mentorship, collaborative projects, and research focused on child care, critical policy studies, and global childhoods. We explore our encounters with RECE and how we have engaged with, been influenced by, and found various collaborative spaces through our reconceptualist/RECE experiences. In our dialogue, we discuss how we came to engage with reconceptualist scholarship and consider one of its tenets, reciprocal mentoring. We reflect on how the DAP debates have and still play a role in our scholarship, how naming and countering deficit discourse influence our work in early years policy, and the ways children’s voices, experiences, and participation rights need to be centered. We conclude by discussing current projects and future possibilities in our shared and individual work, exploring the implications for scholar activism and the future of reconceptualist work in early care and education.
A real-time interactive restoration system for intraoral digital videos using segment anything model
Authors: Wu Yongjia , Zeng Li , Hong Yaya , Li Xiaojun , Chen Xuepeng
Published: August 2024

Objective

Poor conditions in the intraoral environment often lead to low-quality photos and videos, hindering further clinical diagnosis. To restore these digital records, this study proposes a real-time interactive restoration system using segment anything model.

Methods

Intraoral digital videos, obtained from the vident-lab dataset through an intraoral camera, serve as the input for interactive restoration system. The initial phase employs an interactive segmentation module leveraging segment anything model. Subsequently, a real-time intraframe restoration module and a video enhancement module were designed. A series of ablation studies were systematically conducted to illustrate the superior design of interactive restoration system. Our quantitative evaluation criteria contain restoration quality, segmentation accuracy, and processing speed. Furthermore, the clinical applicability of the processed videos was evaluated by experts.

Results

Extensive experiments demonstrated its performance on segmentation with a mean intersection-over-union of 0.977. On video restoration, it leads to reliable performances with peak signal-to-noise ratio of 37.09 and structural similarity index measure of 0.961, respectively. More visualization results are shown on the https://yogurtsam.github.io/iveproject page .

Conclusion

Interactive restoration system demonstrates its potential to serve patients and dentists with reliable and controllable intraoral video restoration.
Our Boy Whitey: Middle-Aged Women’s Happy Object on TikTok
Authors: Nilsson Gabriella
Published: August 2024

This article provides an example of how middle-aged women rediscover and express emotions in digital media, mainly sexual desire but also the joy they feel among like-minded women of the same age. The ethnographic case is a community of European and North American women aged around 40 to 60 years who sexually desire 20-year-old TikTok celebrity William White. White went viral when he began lip-syncing to 1980s hits, particularly Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” while performing his flirtatious signature moves: the smile, the wink, and the eye roll. This study is based on 6 months of daily lurking in a digital community the women call Whiteyynation, structured around White’s accounts on various digital platforms. In trying to understand the meaning and function of a young male TikTok’er in the lives of middle-aged women, with Sara Ahmed’s theory of emotions, I describe how happy objects align individuals in a social community toward happiness. Specifically, I analyze how White, through a playful capitalization of 1980s music combined with a certain flirtatious look, functions as a happy object that is multiplied, magnified, and circulated in Whiteyynation. I explore the circumstances and conditions surrounding Whiteyynation as an affective space and affective economy, such as the production and distribution of self-produced content, gifting as a strategy for increased reciprocity, and the various currencies at play.
Factors Hindering Student Participation in English-Speaking Classes: Student and Lecturer Perceptions
Authors: Xuan Mai Le , Ngoc Le Khanh , Thao Le Thanh
Published: August 2024

English as a foreign language (EFL) students’ lack of engagement directly affects their learning outcomes, and it has captured the attention of many researchers. Factors affecting EFL students’ participation may be differed by student and lecturer perceptions, which will cause differences in these stakeholders’ solutions to classroom difficulties. Accordingly, this study measured Non-English major (NEM) students and EFL lecturers’ perceptions of factors hindering students’ participation in English-speaking classes. About 156 NEM freshmen and 14 lecturers responded to a 35-item questionnaire containing five primary clusters: linguistic, cognitive, affective, pedagogical, and social-cultural factors. The study further employed semi-structured interviews with six students and four lecturers. The results found some significant differences between lecturer and student perceptions. On the one hand, the students did not consider the large class size, insufficient time for in-class practice, and students’ tendency to remain silent as hindering their class participation. On the other hand, the lecturers considered vital barriers: students’ insufficient proficiency, teachers’ poor lessons, or teacher-student relationship. Based on the findings, teacher professional development activities are expected to be one of the solutions to EFL students’ insufficient engagement in English-speaking classes.
Quantitative Research on Chinese Sentences Structure Based on Pattern Grammar
Authors: Song Jie , Yang Congcong , Sun Yichu , Qu Yunhua , Ma Kuizi , Cai Huiying
Published: August 2024

With the proliferation of corpora, various syntactic analysis methodologies have been developed. However, syntactic analysis of Chinese sentences demands a theory that focuses more on word order and the interaction between content and function words, which is satisfied by pattern grammar theory. This study investigates the effectiveness of pattern grammar theory in the analysis of Chinese sentence structure and explores the linguistic characteristics of official documents by establishing a description system for structural complexity in Chinese. Statistical methods such as skewness, kurtosis, and correlation analyses were employed to evaluate the system’s performance. The findings confirm the effectiveness of pattern grammar in analyzing Chinese sentence structure by showing that it can accurately reflect the unique properties of Chinese official documents, such as the preference for fixed collocations, declarative sentences, and flat structures. Based on the above findings, this study provides a semantically compatible and innovative theoretical system for analyzing Chinese sentence structures.
Respiratory Symptoms and Psychological Distress in Farmers Living With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Kham-ai Prasert , Li Peng , Wheeler Pariya , Witt Cheryl , Sanderson Wayne , Heaton Karen
Published: August 2024

Background:

Farmers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often face both respiratory issues and psychological distress, which can exacerbate their condition. However, no prior research has examined how the frequency of respiratory symptoms is associated to psychological distress in these individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to explore this relationship among U.S. farmers living with COPD.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study involved 101 participants, a mix of on-site and online recruits, assessing respiratory symptoms and psychological distress in farmers with COPD. The study employed standard self-reported measures and utilized both simple and multiple linear regression to analyze the association between respiratory symptoms and psychological distress.

Findings:

Participants reported notably higher levels of respiratory symptoms (61.6 [ SD = 13.3]) compared to the reference score of 12, along with elevated psychological distress (25.9 [ SD = 10.6]). Factors like COPD duration, income, smoking, and emergency department (ED) visits correlated with respiratory symptoms, while age, COPD duration, income, smoking, pesticide exposure, and farm type were associated to psychological distress. Notably, even after accounting for age, smoking, and pesticide exposure, a significant association remained between respiratory symptoms and psychological distress (β = 0.46, p < .001).

Conclusion:

Respiratory symptoms were significantly associated to psychological distress, even when considering other factors. While this aligns with existing research, a future longitudinal study is crucial to establish the cause-effect relationship between these variables. Understanding this relationship could inform the development of targeted interventions to alleviate psychological distress in individuals with respiratory symptoms.

Implications for Occupational Health Nursing Practice:

The correlation between COPD symptoms and psychological distress in farmers emphasizes the need for integrated nursing care. Occupational health nurses should prioritize combined respiratory and mental health assessments.