bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a Trauma Bay Checklist Improves Antibiotic Prophylaxis Compliance in Open Extremity Fractures
Authors: Luke Robert D. , Balio Casey P. , Foley Claire K. , Soult Alexa P.
Published: April 2024

Background

Best practice guidelines from the ACS recommend that patients with open fractures receive antibiotics within 1-hour of presentation. Checklists are effective mechanisms for improving safety and compliance in surgical settings. The current study investigates implementation of a trauma bay checklist, referred to as MARTY, to improve administration of antibiotics in open extremity fractures at a level I trauma center.

Methods

Retrospective pre-post design. Population consisted of trauma alerts from January to December 2021 (pre-MARTY) and 2022 (post-MARTY) with open fractures. Outcome measures included antibiotics administered within 1-hour of presentation and in the trauma bay. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to estimate differences in both measures.

Results

Our sample included 339 encounters, 174 pre-MARTY and 165 post-MARTY implementation. In the pre-MARTY period, 57.5% of encounters received antibiotics within 1-hour of presentation with 46.0% occurring in the trauma bay, in comparison to 65.5% and 54.5% in the post-MARTY period. In adjusted models, there were greater odds of antibiotic administration within 1-hour (OR = 1.654, P = .038) and prior to leaving the trauma bay (OR = 1.660, P = .041) than pre-MARTY. Encounters with higher-grade fractures were more likely to receive timely antibiotics ( P<=.001).

Discussion

Our study estimates improved compliance of antibiotic administration after implementation of MARTY after adjusting for encounter characteristics. Findings from this study demonstrate improved compliance, but this compliance is often still lacking in those with higher injury severity scores. Findings from this study may be used to inform approaches to further improve trauma care.
Enhancement of the contact behavior of a quasi-isotropic carbon fiber/epoxy matrix laminate with an elastic body by modifying the fiber-matrix interphase using graphene nanoplatelets
Authors: Arcos-Alomía Abad , Rivas-Menchi Aarón , Valadez-González Alex , Herrera-Franco Pedro J
Published: April 2024

This study analyzed the effect of incorporating graphene nanoplatelets in the fiber-matrix interphase on the behavior of a multiscale composite laminate based on carbon fibers and epoxy resin subjected to contact loads. The selected loading mode was the contact between an elastic surface and a cylinder. The multiscale composite material used was a quasi-isotropic laminate with graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) added at the fiber-matrix interface. The specimens were prepared with 0.0%, 0.1%, and 0.25% by-weight GnPs. Laminate beams were used according to the ASTM D7264 standard, and contact was studied in two configurations, applying the load at the edge of the laminate and in the other, in the plane of the test pieces. The normal strains in the contact region were determined experimentally using the interferometric Moiré technique. These results were compared with estimations using the Hertz contact theory and the finite element method (FEM). The normal strains in the contact area of specimens with fibers modified with 0.1% GnPs were lower than those with 0.25% or fibers without surface modification. Excellent agreement between the experimental results along lines in the contact zone with those estimated with the FEM. The normal strains in a direction perpendicular to the applied load obtained by the Hertz theory for the maximum deformation were slightly higher than those obtained by FEM. Except for those calculated for the normal strain in εy for the load in the direction of the thickness, although the distribution was very similar to those obtained by FEM as well as the experimental one.
PAN-based fiber-reinforced carbon-carbon composites for improved fire retardancy and thermal and electrical conductivities for harsh environments
Authors: Murali TKS , Murad Md Shafinur , Bakir Mete , Asmatulu Ramazan
Published: April 2024

Carbon-carbon (C-C) fiber composites are a new class of materials that are used in various industries due to their exceptional chemical, thermal and electrical conductivities properties. In this study, carbon-carbon fiber composites were manufactured where polyacrylonitrile (PAN) powder was dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution, and carbon fibers with desired concentrations (20–80 wt%) were immersed into this solution as reinforcement through evaporation and solidification. The PAN-fiber systems were then stabilized at 250–270°C for 120 min in the air and subsequently carbonized at 650, 750, and 850°C for 60 min in the presence of argon gas to obtain the desired C-C fiber composites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the carbonized samples had a small weight loss of 2.5%, while actual and oxidized samples had more weight loss. Moreover, the carbonized sample surface was more hydrophobic compared to other samples due to the carbon presence and surface texture changes. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy peaks showed the presence of different functional groups of PAN before oxidation and carbonization, but those peaks disappeared after oxidation and carbonization. The developed carbon-carbon composite passed the UL94 vertical flame retardancy testing with a V-0 rating. Surface smoothness, proper matrix and reinforcements bonding were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results and the manufactured composite properties changes were validated by the confocal microscopy images. The carbon-carbon fiber composite achieved an electrical conductivity value up to 4.75 × 103 S/m after the carbonization process. The excellent thermal, chemical, and electrical properties of these composites can be useful for numerous industrial applications in different extreme environments.
Keep It Simple? Consumer Perceptions of Brand Simplicity and Risk
Authors: Light Nicholas , Fernbach Philip M.
Published: April 2024

Evoking simplicity in marketing communications has become popular among marketing practitioners, but little is known about its effects on consumers and firms. The current work focuses on consumers’ perceptions of the simplicity or complexity of brands and a previously overlooked consequence of those perceptions. Results from six experiments and analysis of a proprietary customer satisfaction dataset from Consumer Reports (N = 147,600) show that when consumers think brands are simple, they judge them to be less likely to experience product or service failures. Although these lower risk judgments could be positive for brands, they can also lead consumers to punish simpler brands more in the event of failures. Results also suggest that consumers’ simplicity/complexity perceptions reflect the dimensionality of their mental representations of brands, and the relationship between simplicity and lower risk is attenuated when additional brand dimensionality is framed in terms of redundancy. The findings cast doubt on the degree to which evoking simplicity is a uniformly positive marketing strategy and encourage practitioners to more thoughtfully consider simplicity's implications for consumer and firm welfare.
The Rivalry Reference Effect: Referencing Rival (vs. Nonrival) Competitors in Public Brand Messages Increases Consumer Engagement
Authors: Berendt Johannes , Uhrich Sebastian , Borah Abhishek , Kilduff Gavin J.
Published: April 2024

Brands often make references to competitors in their public communications. Yet not all competitors are equal—over time, certain pairs of brands may develop special rivalry relationships. This research examines whether these relationships can alter the effects of interbrand communications. Drawing on rivalry theory, the authors distinguish between brand rivalry, a special competitive relationship between brands based on a shared history, and competition, a situation where brands merely have currently opposing goals. A series of studies using complementary methods (two archival studies using large-scale Twitter data and three preregistered experiments) provide evidence for the “rivalry reference effect” across multiple brands and product categories. That is, referencing a rival (vs. a nonrival) competitor in a public brand message increases consumer engagement. The effect is mediated by increased story embeddedness, defined as the perception that the reference is embedded within an ongoing story. The authors also show positive downstream effects on purchase intentions and test two moderators: brand preference (loyal vs. neutral consumers) and message valence (negative vs. positive). This research highlights the potential appeal of brand rivalry to consumers, illustrating how and under what conditions brands can use their rivalries to their advantage.
An investigation into the electromechanical performance of textile fabrics with conductive yarn elements for data transfer capabilities
Authors: Chaudhary Birendra , Lyngdoh Gideon A , Owens Jim , Das Sumanta , Matos Helio
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates the electromechanical performance of textile fabric with conductive yarn elements for data transmission capabilities. Electromechanical experiments were conducted to evaluate the electrical response of copper yarn elements stitched axially to the textile fabric, while assessing the mechanical response of the system during tensile tests under axial loading. The results indicated that the yarn element exhibited low electricomechanical coupling below 1.5% strain, making it suitable for consistent electrical performance during low mechanical strain conditions. Computational models were also developed and correlated with the experimental results of the conductive yarn. The computational model was then expanded to investigate the effect of the braiding angle in the braiding system, providing insights into how these parameters influence the system’s performance. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into the electromechanical behavior of textile fabric with conductive yarn elements, and presents a framework for optimizing data transfer capabilities in e-textiles and smart textile applications. The findings open opportunities for further advancements in the design and engineering of functional textiles for a wide range of applications.
Capturing Valuation Study Sampling Uncertainty in the Estimation of Health State Utility Values Using the EQ-5D-3L
Authors: Poulimenos Spyridon , Round Jeff , Baio Gianluca
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Utility scores associated with preference-based health-related quality-of-life instruments such as the EQ-5D-3L are reported as point estimates. In this study, we develop methods for capturing the uncertainty associated with the valuation study of the UK EQ-5D-3L that arises from the variability inherent in the underlying data, which is tacitly ignored by point estimates. We derive a new tariff that properly accounts for this and assigns a specific closed-form distribution to the utility of each of the 243 health states of the EQ-5D-3L.

Methods

Using the UK EQ-5D-3L valuation study, we used a Bayesian approach to obtain the posterior distributions of the derived utility scores. We constructed a hierarchical model that accounts for model misspecification and the responses of the survey participants to obtain Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) samples from the posteriors. The posterior distributions were approximated by mixtures of normal distributions under the Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence as the criterion for the assessment of the approximation. We considered the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) algorithm to estimate the parameters of the mixture distributions.

Results

We derived an MCMC sample of total size 4,000 × 243. No evidence of nonconvergence was found. Our model was robust to changes in priors and starting values. The posterior utility distributions of the EQ-5D-3L states were summarized as 3-component mixtures of normal distributions, and the corresponding KL divergence values were low.

Conclusions

Our method accounts for layers of uncertainty in valuation studies, which are otherwise ignored. Our techniques can be applied to other instruments and countries’ populations.

Highlights

Guidelines for health technology assessments typically require that uncertainty be accounted for in economic evaluations, but the parameter uncertainty of the regression model used in the valuation study of the health instrument is often tacitly ignored. We consider the UK valuation study of the EQ-5D-3L and construct a Bayesian model that accounts for layers of uncertainty that would otherwise be disregarded, and we derive closed-form utility distributions. The derived tariff can be used by researchers in economic evaluations, as it allows analysts to directly sample a utility value from its corresponding distribution, which reflects the associated uncertainty of the utility score.
Design, Placement, and Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Rejuvenated Cold Recycled Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Turochy Elizabeth , Bowers Benjamin F.
Published: April 2024

Cold recycled (CR) pavements, the combination of reclaimed asphalt pavement and a recycling agent (foamed or emulsified asphalt) at ambient temperatures, can provide a sustainable method to rehabilitate, reconstruct, and construct roadways. However, CR pavement is not a one-for-one replacement of typical asphalt base mixtures. To utilize CR pavements as an alternative to a typical asphalt base mixture or surface course, additional materials such as rejuvenating agents may be needed. This research focuses on the formulation, plant production, and placement on the National Center for Asphalt Technology pavement test track off-ramp, and laboratory evaluation of three rejuvenated CR mixtures, one foamed asphalt CR mixture, and an engineered emulsion CR mixture. These mixtures were subjected to strength and moisture susceptibility testing, along with the indirect tensile asphalt cracking test (IDEAL-CT) and high-temperature indirect tensile test (HT-IDT). The influence of laboratory production versus plant production and the impact of rejuvenators on mixture performance and density were investigated. International roughness index and rut depth data for the off-ramp sections indicate adequate performance, except for the anionic emulsion with bio-based rejuvenator section. Laboratory test results indicate that the addition of rejuvenators into two of the three CR mixtures increased density and decreased moisture susceptibility and increased the CTIndex by at least 35% compared to non-rejuvenated CR mixtures. HT-IDT strengths revealed that two of the three rejuvenated mixtures performed slightly below the non-rejuvenated mixtures.
Assessing and Evaluating the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model: Social Support, Loneliness, and Distress Among Undergraduate, Law, and Medical Students
Authors: Chen Samantha , Saklofske Donald H. , Flett Gordon L. , Hewitt Paul L.
Published: April 2024

The current research evaluates the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (PSDM) by considering the links between measures of trait perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation and measures of social support, loneliness, and distress in cross-sectional research. A particular focus is on perfectionism and levels of social support as assessed by the Social Provisions Scale. The current study also uniquely evaluates levels of perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation in undergraduate students, medical students, and law students. The results across samples provided evidence that loneliness mediates the link between interpersonal perfectionism and distress in keeping with the predictions of the PSDM. Correlational results found robust links between loneliness and low levels of social support. Moreover, socially prescribed perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation were associated negatively with social support, and this was especially evident in terms of the facet tapping the nondisclosure of imperfections. Group comparisons of perfectionism yielded few significant differences in accordance with expectations. Levels of perfectionism tended to be lower among medical students. However, the links between perfectionism and distress were clearly evident among undergraduates, medical students, and law students, thus attesting to the vulnerability of perfectionistic students in general. Overall, the results further confirm the relevance of perfectionism in distress among students and applicability of the PSDM in various types of students.
Peer Victimization and Adolescent Mental Health: School-level Victimization as a Moderator
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Fang Yuan , Wang Yaxin , Liu Shaoran , Wang Xinshu , Zhang Shengnan , Chen Zhiyan
Published: April 2024

As a global issue, peer victimization is closely associated with adolescent mental health. Although previous research has explored the relationship between peer victimization and mental health in some contexts, the school context, particularly within the Chinese cultural context, has not received sufficient attention. Based on the Healthy Context Paradox, this study aimed to explore the moderating role of school-level victimization in the relationship between individual-level peer victimization and mental health. This study tested two hypotheses by using a multilevel design: higher individual-level and school-level peer victimization are associated with higher depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction (Hypothesis 1); school-level victimization moderates the association between individual-level peer victimization and mental health (Hypothesis 2). Participants were 39,720 adolescents (50.41% females; Mage = 13.68, SD = 2.39) across 292 Chinese schools. They completed a set of questionnaires, including the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the single-item Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Peer Victimization Scale, and demographics. The multilevel model indicated that both individual-level and school-level peer victimization were positively correlated with depressive symptoms and negatively correlated with life satisfaction. In schools with lower levels of victimization, there was a stronger association between individual peer victimization and adolescent mental health. A potential explanation for these results might be the victimization visibility and perceived severity in different contexts. These findings extended the discussion of the Healthy Context Paradox within the Chinese school context and provided valuable insights for developing school support strategies for victimized adolescents. School management might play a significant role in affecting the mental health of victimized adolescents.
Exposure to Smartphones and Tablets, Physical Activity and Sleep in Children From 5 to 10 Years Old: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Bacil Eliane Denise Araújo , da Silva Michael Pereira , Martins Rafael Vieira , da Costa Cristiane Galvão , de Campos Wagner
Published: April 2024

Objective

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to verify the association between smartphone/tablet exposure and physical activity and sleep in children from 5 to 10 years old. Data Source: This study followed the guidelines of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and included studies that met eligibility criteria based on the “PECO” strategy: participants (children from 5 to 10 years old), exposure (smartphone and tablet use), and outcome (physical activity and sleep).

Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

The inclusion criteria were observational studies published in indexed scientific journals and written in Portuguese, English, and Spanish that verified the association of exposure to smartphones/tablets with physical activity and sleep in children aged 5 to 10 years of both sexes. Studies were considered eligible only if they met the previous criteria. Data Extraction: The search was conducted in January 2023 on databases from electronic journals without the restriction of the period. To meta-analyze were extracted and grouped using models of fixed and random effects, the coefficients Odds Ratio (OR), Beta (β), Standard Error (SE), and Confidence Intervals of 95% (95%CI). Data Synthesis: 2396 potentially relevant papers were identified, and 17 met the inclusion criteria.

Results

It can be verified that there was an inverse association between smartphones with physical activity and sleep. Studies indicate that for every additional hour of smartphone and tablet use, sleep can be expected to decrease by an average of 11 minutes (β = − 0.11; 95%CI = −0.13; −0.09). Children using smartphones and tablets were 1.79 times (OR = 1.79; 95%CI = 1.72-1.86) more likely to have shorter sleep duration and 1.53 times (OR = 1.53; 95%CI = 1.41-1.65) more likely to have worse sleep quality. Children with shorter smartphone and tablet usage were 1.19 times more likely to be active (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.03-1.37).

Conclusion

Children of 5 to 10 years who are more often exposed to smartphones and tablets are prone to have worse quality and quantity of sleep, as well as less practice of physical activity. Health promotion actions can be encouraged based on the results, aiming to reduce the use time of these devices and improve children’s health and quality of life.
Barriers to Multidisciplinary Team Approach in End-of-life Decision-making: Insights from an Indian Hospital
Authors: Sengupta Jaydeep , Chatterjee Suhita Chopra
Published: April 2024

A common perception about multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is that it improves the quality of care to hospitalised patients. However, there is paucity of information on the challenges in implementing such an approach in end-of-life care (eolc). Conducted in a multispecialty hospital in Kolkata (India), the present study explores barriers to MDT functioning in the context of ‘eolc’. The study finds the MDT approach fails to live up to its rhetoric. One of the major challenges is a professional boundary that inevitably arises in MDTs. Due to this, specialist physicians fail to overcome disciplinary boundaries to make consensus end-of-life decisions. Moreover, in the physician-dominant medical team, where nurses and other non-clinical caregivers’ roles are marginalised, holistic caregiving is compromised. The hospital environment is also not conducive to multidisciplinary teamwork. Application of a disease-specific treatment protocol in ‘eolc’ cases jeopardises team coordination, adversely affects ‘eolc’ referrals and disrupts care transfers. Dying patients and their families are especially affected by such discordant care. Based on the findings, the study suggests that while team approach is imperative to effective ‘eolc’, there is a need to shift focus from multidisciplinary to transdisciplinary approach to enhance care integration and patient-centric care to terminally ill patients.
Animal-Assisted Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Groups for Those who are Incarcerated: A Pre-Post-test Study
Authors: Eaton-Stull Yvonne , Streidl Christopher , Hays Denna , Bauer Mary , Rigel Sherry
Published: April 2024

Incidents of self-harm present significant concerns in correctional facilities. Purpose: Developing interventions to address self-injury is beneficial to individuals who are incarcerated as well as the security personnel in charge of their care and custody. Method: Four 6-week animal-assisted dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills groups were provided to men and women incarcerated in a jail. Each group integrated two therapy dogs while participants utilized a workbook to assist in the application of DBT skills. A total of 23 participants completed the program. Results: Participants demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in self-harming behaviors. Discussion: All participants indicated that the presence of therapy dogs was helpful as they provided comfort/support, calming/coping, and focus. The receptivity to groups and the results offer support for enhancing treatment in correctional facilities.
Good Guys Became Bad Guys? Changing Representations of Asians and Other Races in Crime News During COVID-19
Authors: Sui Mingxiao , Paul Newly
Published: April 2024

During COVID-19, Asian Americans were perceived as a threat to the American society, which could have led to heightened media scrutiny and a shift in media portrayals. This study examines this question with a quantitative analysis of crime stories sampled from five newspapers (2019–2021). Our results suggested that large-scale social events such as COVID-19 might have transformed media representations of Asians and other racial groups, with noteworthy variability: (a) When considering all types of crimes, during the pandemic, news about lawbreaking activities by Asian perpetrators almost doubled that of before-COVID period. No significant change was uncovered in the coverage of Asian victims. (b) However, on two types of crimes—“crimes against persons” and “violent crimes”—that have more newsworthiness and social import, stories about Asian victims during the COVID-19 were higher than those of the before-COVID period. (c) When comparing media representations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data, the percentage of Asian perpetrators and victims in newspapers did not differ from that of the FBI in 2019 and 2020; however, Asians were overrepresented as victims in 2021.
Deadlines and Due Dates: The Impact of Pregnancy and Motherhood on Journalists From the 1950s to the 2020s
Authors: Kempton Davis Stefanie , Walter Ashley
Published: April 2024

This study investigates how pregnancy and motherhood affect women journalists of the past and present. A mixed method approach of oral histories and qualitative interviews highlights how pregnancy and motherhood have affected women journalists over time, from 1950 to 2023. This article argues that because the U.S. newsroom was not conceptualized and built with women in mind, pregnant and new mother-journalists have faced historic and unique challenges. Findings from this mixed method approach present three major themes: the stigma of the pregnant journalist, the challenges of maternity leave policies, and the obstacles to lactation and breastfeeding as a working journalist.
Email Campaigns That Suit the Candidate: Leveraging Automated Text Analysis to Increase Political Donations
Authors: Mummalaneni Simha , Wang Rebecca Jen-Hui , Isaac Mathew S.
Published: April 2024

This research employs automated text analysis to explore how textual characteristics in campaign emails affect monetary donations received by political candidates. The authors outline a new methodological framework that combines a machine learning approach for natural language processing with fixed effect regressions, thereby enabling researchers to study and interpret the impact of textual characteristics on donations while also accounting for individual differences across candidates and their email recipients. Using this framework, the authors analyze 764 emails from 19 candidates in the 2020 U.S. Democratic presidential primary election and evaluate how certain textual characteristics (e.g., empathy, vulnerability) in campaign emails affect donation outcomes. Identifying these effects would enable candidates to improve their email text and increase their donations by 9% on average. This research provides a practical and flexible roadmap for automated text analysis in situations where political campaigns do not have clear a priori hypotheses about which textual characteristics will be effective for them.
The blurred lines between center-right and far-right: “Reverse contamination” and the People’s Party’s environmentalism in Spain
Authors: Ungureanu Camil , Sanjaume-Calvet Marc
Published: April 2024

Scholars have recently focused on the eco-nationalist “turn” of the far-right right parties in Europe and their obstruction of a substantive environmental agenda. However, we argue that the analysis of the far-right eco-nationalism must be broadened to include certain established and impactful centre-right European parties. By focusing on the single case-study of the centre-right People’s Party (PP) in Spain, we argue that it has articulated Manichean, negationist, anti-elitist, and conspirative discursive elements typical of the far-right eco-nationalism before the emergence of Vox, the Spanish far-right party. In actuality, starting with 2019, Vox adopted and developed an eco-nationalist narrative advanced first at the “centre” by the ex-Prime Minister José María Aznar and still influential today at the level of PP’s leadership, namely a narrative framing ecology as “the new communism” and the (global) progressive elites and “consensus” as threatening the free Spanish nation and “freedom” worldwide.
Impact of Remote Medical Devices on Utilization of Medical Services in Pediatric Patients with Upper Respiratory Infections: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Mozes Inbal , Baron-Epel Orna , Heymann Anthony
Published: April 2024

Background: Remote mobile examination devices in telemedicine are a new technology in healthcare. Objective: To assess the utilization of visits using remote medical devices. Methods: A retrospective analysis of follow-up visits, referrals, laboratory testing and antibiotic prescriptions of 470,845 children’s video visits with and without remote medical examination device and in-clinic visits. Results: Rates of follow-up visits, referrals and laboratory tests were higher in video visits compared to visit with medical device (OR of 1.27, 1.08, 1.93 respectfully). For in-clinic visits, rates of follow-up were lower but higher for referrals to subspecialists and laboratory test referrals when compared to telemedicine. Antibiotic prescriptions were provided at a lower rate in video visits compared to visits with a medical device (OR = 0.48) and in-clinic visits. Conclusions: Incorporating a remote medical device may reduce follow up visits, referrals and laboratory tests compared to a video visit without a device. The prevalence of antibiotic prescriptions did not escalate in telemedicine consultations.
Measuring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Elite Swimming Performance
Authors: McFall Todd , Whitehead John
Published: April 2024

This paper aims to understand how much elite swimmers’ training plans for the 2020 Olympics were altered by the COVID-19 pandemic and to measure the effect the interruption had on performances at the United States Olympic Trials Swimming Meet, held in June 2021. To understand better the extent of the disruption caused by the pandemic, we surveyed swimmers and their coaches prior to the meet and found plans were altered in a number of dimensions, including time in the pool, time spent on complementary training activities like weightlifting, and the number of competitions swimmers used to prepare for the Trials. Those surveyed expressed worry that performances would suffer as a result of the disruptions, especially in longer races. We use rankings of United States swimmers from 1999-2019 to measure how much performance suffered from disruptions brought on by the pandemic. We estimate that swimmers’ performances generally were worse than forecasted, especially in longer events, and that, somewhat surprisingly, some stroke disciplines performed worse than others. Our findings fit into a larger picture of the societal disruptions to health, education, and labor participation from COVID-19.
Demystifying the impact of educational leadership on teachers’ subjective well-being: A bibliometric analysis and literature review
Authors: Karakus Mehmet , Toprak Mustafa , Chen Junjun
Published: April 2024

This study aims to offer a review of research on the impact of leadership on shaping teachers’ subjective well-being, utilizing metadata from the Web of Science. The study utilized bibliometric analysis techniques to showcase the prominent researchers and countries, along with their collaborative networks and the field's scientific foundations. Narrative reviews of the main themes across the entire corpus and h-classics publications provided further insights into the topic. The findings indicate a consistent growth in research activity within this field over the last decade. The foundations of research in this field have been primarily rooted in educational research, psychology, management, environmental health, and health sciences. The literature consistently emphasizes the pivotal role of leadership in influencing teachers’ well-being, recognizing effective school leadership as crucial for shaping their professional experiences. Supportive leadership is particularly highlighted for fostering a positive work environment and enhancing teachers’ subjective well-being, with various leadership styles influencing overall life and job satisfaction, motivation, and mental health.
Rethinking Two-Way Socialisation: Cultural Governance on Chinese Social Media Platforms
Authors: Yan Karl , Yang Yin
Published: April 2024

During the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China, Chinese netizens engaged in protracted entanglements with the state across major platforms. They called on the Wuhan (武汉, wuhan) government to be accountable for the rapid spread of the pandemic. Interestingly, this same group of netizens had sung praises to the Chinese Communist Party's tune and lauded the extraordinary achievements of the regime before the outbreak of COVID-19, during the seventieth anniversary of the country. In fewer than six months, the national binge spiralled into poignant criticisms. Against this backdrop, this paper investigates two questions: First, why was there a marked shift in opinions towards the state? Second, what discourse did netizens adopt when expressing their discontent? We argue that the shift is indicative of two-way socialisation in the party-state's legitimacy-building process. While netizens have bought into the official narratives of a celebratory event, they hold the state to the same standard when a crisis occurs.
Writing as Delinquent Inquiry
Authors: Sweet Joseph D.
Published: April 2024

In this paper, I consider some of the possibilities for what delinquent writing may produce for the field of qualitative inquiry. To do this, I ground this work in Foucault’s genealogy regarding the consolidation of sovereign and disciplinary powers, and repressive apparatus. Foucault theorizes that repressive apparatus necessarily produce delinquency, and this paper takes up this notion to explore how delinquency can be productive for qualitative writing. In doing so, I consider the dangers of delinquency becoming complicit in repressive apparatus and how delinquent writing can resist this tendency. I theorize that delinquency and delinquent work are constantly on the move and never complete as they exist always-already in response to repressive apparatus that are likewise always shifting in the name of sovereign and disciplinary powers. Ultimately, I explore what implications repression and delinquency may carry for research methods and methodologies in the field of qualitative inquiry.
Queer(ing) the Bias Monster and Subjectivities: Shifting From Confessions to Reflexivity
Authors: Shelton Stephanie Anne
Published: April 2024

Bias is a long-established concern in qualitative research, and researchers often work to erase, or at least manage, bias through subjectivity statements that work as confessionals, rather than approaching bias and subjectivity as inevitable, humanizing, and valuable research concepts. This paper draws on imaginative narratives and Barad’s engagements with queer theory to emphasize the importance of disrupting these notions and understanding bias and subjectivity as dynamic and mutable concepts that might contribute to deeper reflexivity and new research possibilities. The overarching argument is to tie bias, subjectivity, and reflexivity together not as oppositional or even complementary concepts but as a queer self-birthing of multiple, mutable selves full of possibility.
Dynamic Teacher’s Technology Adoption During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Zheng Longwei , Liu Tong , Feng Yuanyuan , Gu Xiaoqing , Yu Ming-Hua
Published: April 2024

Understanding the teacher’s technology adoption process is essential to comprehend and narrow the digital divide in the post-epidemic age. During the pandemic, the stay-at-home orders not only intervened schooling and teaching but also increased digital accessibility to teachers. This research studies teacher heterogeneity and adoption controls in the epidemic to simultaneously affect teacher’s underlying intention and adoption behavior based on a dynamic framework under the theory of planned behavior. We present a quantitative framework for modeling the teachers’ adoption behavior of a technology conditioned on intention, defined as latent dynamic processes via a hidden Markov model. This model allows us to examine the effects of three concerned adoption controls: epidemic, community, and experience. We also explicitly characterized teachers’ digital traits as the estimated results accounts for teacher’s heterogeneity. The implicit quality of digital teaching artifacts is examined to correlate the dynamic analyses with the qualitative supports. We collected data from four primary schools in Shanghai over 173 weeks, using an after-school activity management system. The data collection spanned periods both before and after the school closure caused by the epidemic, providing us with a dynamic view of technology adoption patterns under different circumstances. Our results suggest that the interventions derived from the controls of the epidemic did not significantly narrow the digital gap. In particular, well-prepared teachers may be more sensitive to adjusting their usage to meet the evolving standards. The inexperienced teacher struggles to maintain a high level of adoption once the passive external pressure is eliminated. Even the compulsory policy can temporarily change their adoption behavior. These implications highlight the second-order digital divide problem.
Conceptualizing Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a Service Through Service-Dominant Logic
Authors: Cai Jinfang , Kosaka Michitaka
Published: April 2024

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) plays a pivotal role in equipping young individuals with technical skills and competencies, enhancing their employability. TVET is distinct for its student-centered and industry-oriented features, often involving enterprises in on-site training. In this study, we conceptualized TVET as a service through the lens of service-dominant (S-D) logic, offering a comprehensive exploration of its attributes and values. Our work rigorously validates the fundamental premises of S-D logic within the context of TVET, making the first systematic examination of TVET from a service science perspective. This innovative conceptualization allows us to view TVET as a dynamic process of value co-creation, with students and enterprises as active co-creators. They collaborate and contribute, fostering profound engagement among TVET practitioners, to mitigate TVET challenges through co-creation.
Nonoperative Treatment as an Option for Isolated Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: de Jonge Robert , Máté Miklós , Kovács Norbert , Imrei Marcell , Pap Károly , Agócs Gergely , Váncsa Szilárd , Hegyi Péter , Pánics Gergely
Published: April 2024

Background:

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a risk factor for early osteoarthritis (OA) onset. Generally, ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is associated with better outcomes. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effect of operative versus nonoperative treatment for preventing premature knee OA in isolated ACL tears while achieving good functional outcomes.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of the study was to compare the outcomes of ACLR to primarily nonoperative management of isolated ACL tears. It was hypothesized that the outcomes between treatment types would be similar.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

This systematic review was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (registration No. CRD42021285901) and was conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook guidelines. We systematically searched for randomized and nonrandomized studies that compared ACLR with nonoperative treatments in isolated ACL tears in 3 databases until October 25, 2021. The risk of bias and quality of evidence of the included studies was assessed in accordance with the Cochrane guidelines. The primary outcome was radiologic signs of OA, and the secondary outcomes were functional parameters. Using the common effects model, we calculated pooled mean differences (MDs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs.

Results:

Five studies—2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 3 retrospective non-RCTs—were included. There was a moderate risk of bias in 2 studies and a serious risk of bias in 1 study. The quality of evidence was rated low because of the higher risk of bias and inconsistency. Nonoperatively treated knees showed a trend toward lower odds of developing radiological signs of OA (OR, 1.84 [95% CI, 0.90 to 3.75]); however, surgically reconstructed knees had significantly better stability (MD, –2.44 [95% CI, –3.21 to −1.66 ]) and a trend toward better but clinically not meaningful Lysholm scores (MD, 2.88 [95% CI, –1.09 to 6.85]). The qualitative synthesis showed that surgical reconstruction was protective against subsequent injuries but not superior when returning to previous activity levels or various functional tests.

Conclusion:

Findings indicated that there is no certain evidence that ACLR for an isolated ACL tear is superior to nonoperative treatment. Clinicians should consider nonoperative treatments with a well-designed rehabilitative program as a primary option. However, these findings must be interpreted with caution because of low study quality and high risk of bias.
India’s Policy Bailouts from the COVID-19 Economic Crisis: Evolution of Monetary and Fiscal Policies Since the Pandemic
Authors: Sumanjeet  , Kumar Amit , Paliwal Minakshi , Vijaykumar Annabattula
Published: April 2024

India and the world went through a public health and humanitarian crisis due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This article aims to understand the various instruments deployed for tackling the economic side of the crisis and their impacts. It discusses the monetary policy measures that could have been appropriate to tackle the pandemic and the policies deployed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in conjunction with the fiscal stimulus by the government. Subsequently, it discusses fiscal stimulus packages, the need to direct them from the suppliers’ end, and other subsistence policy measures such as food crop transfers and adjustments in federal fund allocations. Policy recommendations discuss the role and importance of stakeholder engagement and investment in the healthcare sector for capacity enhancement and job creation as a short-term relief plan and for a post-pandemic sustainable exit for appropriately handling the pandemics that may follow in the future, respectively. The conclusion advocates the adoption of a policy mix. Then it discusses further challenges, such as the non-availability of literature on the impact of non-traditional policy solutions and the establishment of mechanisms to quickly test policies’ operational feasibility. It culminates with the emphasis on the paradigm shift in the joint approach of the government and the RBI to put the economy back on the trajectory of high growth, which was severely impacted by the sudden and unanticipated pandemic shock, and the way ahead toward becoming a global economic superpower.
Pachamama Christianity: The Pan-Amazonian Synod and Indigenous Religious Identity
Authors: Bevans Stephen
Published: April 2024

In the early hours of the morning of October 21, 2019, two right-wing Catholic men broke into the church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, Rome. They stole four carved wooden statues of a naked pregnant woman that had been on display and used in a papal ceremony during the Pan-Amazonian Synod that was nearing its conclusion and threw them into the Tiber River. What was the meaning of these statues and the ceremony in the presence of the pope in which they appeared? Was this an example of syncretism, of dual religious belonging, or an exercise in what Pope Francis called “daring prudence” in terms of inculturation of the gospel? This article, the 2022 Louis J. Luzbetak Lecture at Catholic Theological Union, takes the incident of the theft of the statues and the controversy that followed as an opportunity to propose a more creative and bolder approach to the relationship between mission and culture.
Lost mind, lost job? Unequal effects of corporate downsizings on employees
Authors: Böckerman Petri , Haapanen Mika , Johansson Edvard
Published: April 2024

We investigate whether employees with mental health disorders are likelier to be laid off during corporate downsizings. Our study uses nationwide administrative data from all private sector firms and their employees in Finland from 2001 to 2017 and focuses on firms with at least 20 employees that reduced their workforce by at least 20% over two consecutive years. We analyse whether the employees who were laid off had more diagnosed mental health disorders prior to downsizing compared than those who were not laid off. Controlling for employee characteristics, our baseline results show that a mental health disorder diagnosis in the 3 years before downsizing increases the likelihood of being laid off by about 6 percentage points. This highlights the increased vulnerability of employees with mental health disorders in mass layoff situations.
Exploring Inflammation and Stress as Biological Correlates of Symptoms in Children With Advanced Cancer: A Longitudinal Feasibility Study
Authors: Montgomery Kathleen E. , Basha Mays , Nyholm Leah , Smith Corey , Ananiev Gene , Fedorov Alexander , Kapoor Amita , Brown Roger , Capitini Christian , Kwekkeboom Kristine
Published: April 2024

Background: Few studies have examined biomarkers of stress and inflammation as underlying mechanisms of symptoms in adolescents and young adults with cancer. This study determined the feasibility of collecting blood and saliva samples across time, described the range and distribution of biomarkers, and explored the association of biomarkers with symptom adverse events (AEs). Method: This longitudinal, prospective repeated-measures single-site feasibility study recruited N  =  10 children ( M = 12.5 years) receiving treatment for advanced cancer. Symptom AE data and inflammation (cytokines and C-reactive protein) and physiologic response to stress (salivary cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase) biomarker levels were collected at three time points. Descriptive statistics were used to examine feasibility and acceptability and to summarize symptom AE, stress, and inflammatory biomarker data. A linear regression model was used to determine cortisol diurnal slopes. The relationship between symptom and inflammatory biomarker data was explored and Hedges’s g statistic was used to determine its effect size. Results: Participants provided 83% of saliva samples ( n  =  199/240) and 185 samples were sufficient to be analyzed. Nurses collected 97% ( n  =  29/30) of blood samples. Participants reported the saliva collection instructions, kits, and reminders were clear and helpful. Insomnia, pain, fatigue, and anxiety demonstrated the most medium and large negative effects with inflammatory markers. Symptom AEs demonstrated the highest number of medium and large negative effects with interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (−0.53 to −2.00). Discussion: The results indicate longitudinal concurrent collection of symptom and biomarker data is feasible and inflammatory and stress biomarkers merit consideration for inclusion in future studies.