bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain Mechanisms for Concept Formation Based Exclusively on the Visual Modality
Authors: Kamaniuk Anna P. , Vartanov Alexander V.
Published: September 2024

Background. The problem of concept formation in the visual modality remains largely unexplored. There are many studies on the formation of verbal concepts in the learning process. However, it has not yet been fully investigated how concept formation occurs in conditions when both the signified and the signifier (sign) are represented only in the visual modality and what brain mechanisms are involved in this process. Objectives. The aim of the present work was to identify the brain mechanisms of visual concepts formation, on the basis of EEG registration with subsequent localization of the sources of electrical activity. Another task is to evaluate the possibility of actualizing the process of indirect learning in the formation of visual concepts. Study Participants. 26 Russian-speaking subjects without neurological disorders: 10 males and 16 females (aged 18 to 40 years, mean age 22.92 years, SD = 6.38) participated in the study. Methods. Chinese hieroglyphs, unfamiliar to the subjects, were taken as signs. The designated ones were emoticons (schematic faces expressing various emotions). A total of 10 pairs of stimuli sign-designated were presented. A 19-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded in three successive series: 1) the initial perception of hieroglyphic signs without assigning them a category; 2) categorization of these signs in the process of associative learning, with only 8 designating stimuli-signs directly associated with the designated stimulus, while 2 stimuli-signs were never associated with the stimulus-designator, their meaning was established indirectly; 3) subsequent perception of signs with the meaning already assigned to them. All stimuli were presented to the subjects visually. A new method of localization of brain activity, “Virtually implanted electrode”, developed by A.V. Vartanov (patent RU No. 2 785 268) was applied. Results. The analysis of the subjects' responses showed that during the learning process all signs (including those formed indirectly) were assigned a certain meaning (designated). Differences in event-related potentials (ERP) were found in leads C3 and CZ. Significant differences in ERP as a result of learning were revealed in a number of brain structures. It was found that a number of functional connections between the left area of the secondary visual cortex and the right part of the cerebellum changed significantly as a result of learning. Conclusions. The development of visual categories is ensured by the coordinated work of the right part of the cerebellum, parahippocampal gyrus and primary visual cortex, which is confirmed by the discovered differences in the corresponding ERPs.
General Decision-Making Style: Testing the Russian-Language Modification of the GDMS Questionnaire
Authors: Kornilova Tatiana V.
Published: September 2024

Background. Individual techniques, or decision-making styles, are included in the regulation of hierarchies of processes that mediate a person’s exit from situations of uncertainty. Diagnostics of these styles helps both to solve practical problems and to clarify theoretical issues — in particular, the issue of the generalization of styles and their connections with the intellectual and personal spheres. Objective. The aim is to test and adjust the General Decision-Making Style Inventory questionnaire to a Russian sample. Study Participants. 456 people aged 18 to 50 years (M = 24.80; SD = 7.61); of these, 74 were men (M = 22.96; SD = 4.88) and 358 were women (M = 25.25; SD = 8.08), 24 subjects did not indicate gender. 80% were university students, 20% were working employees. Methods. The study included 3 stages: translation, assessment of structural validity and reliability on a Russian sample, assessment of convergent validity. 4 questionnaires were used: the General Decision-Making Style, Rational-Experiential Inventory, Personal Factors of Decision Making (PFDM), Impulsivity-7. Results. A structural model of connections between the scales (factors) of the General Decision-Making Style Questionnaire has been constructed. The model demonstrated good fit to the data and Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients were acceptable (0.75 to 0.85). The convergent validity of the questionnaire scales was confirmed. Analysis of differences by gender revealed significantly higher scores for Intuitive and Dependent styles in women. Conclusions. The General Decision-Making Styles Questionnaire has a 5-factor structure and acceptable psychometric properties. Convergent validity has been demonstrated primarily for the Rational and Intuitive styles when identifying their connections with other similar constructs. Both styles are not related to each other, but are related in the opposite way to the Spontaneous (Impulsive) style.
“Error” estimation of classification made by means of a neural network for the analysis of socio-psychological characteristics of students at risk for drug addiction
Authors: Gilemkhanova Elvira N.
Published: September 2024

Background. Presented study shows the potential of using nonlinear analysis algorithms as an opportunity for a comprehensive study of the socio-psychological characteristics of students who are and are not assigned to the risk groups for drug addiction when processing the large data sets. Objectives. The study had its purpose to compare linear and nonlinear algorithms for assigning students to the risk group for narcotic drug use and to determine by longitudinal comparative analysis which of the algorithms has better prognostic potential. Study Participants. The study involved 27,790 high school students (Mage = 16.2; SD = 2.03), from this sample, 11,786 students participated in the longitudinal study in 2020 and 2021. Methods. Organizational method: comprehensive. Empirical method: psychodiagnostic — socio-psychological testing (SPT). The study was carried out using the Unified Methodology of Socio-Psychological Testing (EM SPT-19). Data processing methods: quantitative analysis — neural network method, comparative analysis, contingency analysis, discriminant analysis. Interpretive method: structural. Software: “Statistica” statistical analysis software package, “Loginom” analytical low-code platform. Results. The study allowed to select errors of positive and negative attribution to the risk group made by using the neural network model. The analysis revealed that erroneous assignment to the risk group is associated with homogeneity of the matched groups on all scales of risk factors, while such homogeneity is not identified by the protection factors. Comparative analysis of data from students positively and negatively assigned to the risk group found significant differences only in anxiety and frustration scales. It is interesting fact that anxiety and frustration also turn out to be the scales that, according to discriminant analysis, do not have a distinguishing ability when predicting the assignment of a student to a risk group. Conclusions. Classification implemented by means of the neural network model has an advantage over the linear algorithm, associated with consideration of intra-scale relationships and greater stability over time in the identified risk/norm groups. The correctness of the neural network solution is confirmed by the results of discriminant analysis. The study demonstrated that social desirability of answers, which is the most common reason for recognizing respondents' answers as unreliable, does not play a significant role in classification using a neural network. The problematized categories of “anxiety” and “frustration” require further analysis concerning their role in forming a sample of students at risk.
Unraveling Pathways to Entrepreneurial Success among Recent Chinese College Graduates: a Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Authors: Li Xiaohong , Xing Jiawei , Liu Rui , Yan Wenfan
Published: September 2024

In the context of burgeoning interest in entrepreneurship among recent Chinese college graduates, the disappointingly low success rate of startups has prompted a critical inquiry. This study endeavors to delve into the factors shaping entrepreneurial success, aiming to illuminate pathways for addressing this pervasive issue. Employing the csQCA method, we analyze 23 cases of successful entrepreneurship, revealing a nuanced and intricate interplay of factors that challenges simplistic narratives in prior research. The analysis unveils five distinct pathways to success: “Environmental Incentive,” “Motivation,” “Platform Assistance,” “Policy Support,” and “Demand.” Notably, the first two pathways significantly shape pre-graduation success, while the latter three become prominent in the post-graduation phase. We also find that entrepreneurship education and self-fulfillment emerge as key elements leading to success before graduation, while social relationships and self-fulfillment play pivotal roles after graduation. Furthermore, technology emerges as the predominant field drawing the interest of startups, followed by culture and academia. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the complex entrepreneurial landscape but also provide valuable insights for future research and policy considerations.
Argument Case Leveling toward Genitive
Authors: Madariaga Nerea , Romanova Olga
Published: September 2024

This article contributes to the study of a productive morphosyntactic mechanism in a peculiar type of linguistic variety, the Russian language of Odessa (OdR). This variety was born as a lingua franca in the city of Odessa soon after its foundation, implying the massive acquisition of the Russian language in a nonnative way in its initial stages. Afterwards, it was transmitted to successive generations as a native variety, albeit preserving some of the initial traits. One of the most characteristic traits of OdR is the leveling of argument marking not in favor of accusative/nominative cases, as expected, but in favor of genitive marking. The use of genitive case, i.e., differential genitive case marking on subjects and objects instead of nominative/accusative, is partially present in most Slavic languages. However, in OdR, genitive case spread massively to a wide range of new syntactic positions. We show that the reason for this extension lay in (i) the confluence of different languages and dialects, which involved incomplete acquisition by many inhabitants of the city and notably Yiddish speakers, and (ii) the transmission of innovative traits through bilingual speakers, who followed specific language-internal rules operating also in Child Russian.
The Impact of Turbulent Transport Efficiency on Surface Vertical Heat Fluxes in the Arctic Stable Boundary Layer Predicted from Similarity Theory and Machine Learning
Authors: Huss Jannis-Michael , Thomas Christoph K.
Published: September 2024

We analyzed 14 days of observations from sonic anemometry and high-resolution fiber-optic distributed sensing collected in the stable boundary layer (SBL). The study sought to evaluate if and under which conditions the sensible heat flux is related to the temperature gradient. Machine learning methods were employed to identify drivers of and model heat fluxes. We found the recently proposed coupling metric Ω defined as the ratio of the buoyancy length scale and measurement height to delineate physically meaningful transport regimes. The regime transition marks the point where static stability, in addition to the vertical turbulence strength, controls the heat transport, which is rather gradual than abrupt. The maximum downward heat flux is reached when one-third of turbulent eddies exceed the opposing buoyancy forces in the SBL. We found evidence that even for large Ω a substantial fraction of the turbulent transport is nonequilibrium. The nondimensional temperature gradient is better explained by variations in Ω than ζ = zL−1 from Monin–Obukhov similarity theory. Its continuous organization with Ω across stabilities suggests that the vertical heat transport always remains coupled to the surface, but its efficiency and the resulting flux vary. Forty-three percent of the total enthalpy is exchanged during conditions of limited transport efficiency in the very SBL despite the small flux magnitude of ≤7 W m−2, which underlines the importance of quantifying the weak surface exchange for polar regions. When predicting sensible heat fluxes using mean quantities from weather stations, the net longwave radiative forcing and the horizontal wind speed are the most important predictors representing stratification and bulk shear.

Significance Statement

Climate warming is amplified in polar regions, but quantifying heat transfer is complicated since mixing is weak and sporadic. We aim to understand when and why measurements taken in the lowest meters above snow can be used to quantify the surface heat transfer and if common modeling concepts are valid. We found that the measured heat transfer for weak winds and clear skies is connected to the snow surface only to a small degree in 66% of all cases at a much (−65%) reduced magnitude compared to strong wind or cloudy cases. However, 43% of the total heat is exchanged during these conditions and thus must be included in surface heat budgets. Classic modeling concepts systematically underpredicted the exchanged heat budget by 12% across all conditions which limits their utility in polar regions.
On the Use of Hindcast Skill for Merging NMME Seasonal Forecasts across the Western United States
Authors: Scheftic William D. , Zeng Xubin , Brunke Michael A. , DeFlorio Michael J. , Ouyed Amir , Sanden Ellen
Published: September 2024

Multimodel ensemble forecasts have gained widespread use over the past decade. A yet unresolved issue is whether forecast skill benefits from the use of prior skill from each model in providing a weighted combination. Here, we use the available seasonal ensemble forecasts of six models from the North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) to study various aspects of prior skill–based weighting schemes and explore ways to merge multimodel forecasts. First, we postprocess each NMME model through quantile mapping and a simple spread error adjustment. Then, using an equal weighted combination as the baseline forecast, we test merging the models together through skill-based weights by varying the prior skill metric and varying how the metrics are aggregated across the different subbasins and time of year. Results confirm prior work that the combined forecasts do outperform individual models. When evaluating prior skill, equal weighting generally performed as well as or slightly better than all weighting schemes tried. The skill of the weighting scheme was not found to be strongly dependent on prior metric but did improve when aggregating all forecasted months and subbasins together to provide one overall weight to each model. Also, we found that including an offset to the prior metric that nudged the weights closer to equal weighting improves skill especially at longer leads where individual model skill is low. Results also show that the weighting schemes performed better than regression-based techniques including multiple linear regression and random forest.

Significance Statement

Here, we test how effective the past performance of seasonal climate models can be used for generating weights to merge multiple models together using the North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) for forecasting temperature and precipitation across the western United States. Our results showed there was little benefit in using prior performance compared to weighting all six NMME models equally. The performance of the weighted forecasts was not strongly dependent on the choice of performance metric or over how many months or basins performance was pooled. An important finding is that when only one or two models were used for merging, performance was reduced relative to equal weighting; however, if three or more models were used, performance was nearly the same.
Lung cancer after the genomic turn: From the biopolitics of ‘lifestyle’ to the transcorporeality of breath
Authors: Tien Jianni , Kenny Katherine , Broom Alex
Published: September 2024

The lungs serve as a site of interchange between the bodily and environmental, an interface between the internal and external world, enacted through breath. We draw on the primacy of this exchange to explore the complexities of living with lung cancer amidst the enduring social challenge of stigma and the advent of ‘targeted therapies’ at the cutting edge of precision medicine. Lung cancer’s association with smoking and resulting stigmatisation of those with lung cancer has been well documented – positioning those with lung cancer as failed subjects of a biopolitics of lifestyle. However, recent developments in ‘precision medicine’ have drawn attention to alternate, genetic causes of lung cancer, disrupting easy equivalences between deviant cells (malignancy) and deviant conduct (smoking). Despite this, and drawing on interviews with 32 people receiving targeted therapy for lung cancer in Australia, we identify enduring resonances of deviance and stigma which still foreground individual lifestyle and blame, even for those – like many participants in this study – who have never smoked. Even in the context of uncertain causal origins and genetic mutations, the stigma of lung cancer and the figure of ‘the smoker’ as an object of abjection and disavowal persists. We find Alaimo’s concept of transcorporeality instructive for moving away from this biopolitics of lifestyle, toward greater recognition of the collective, though unequal, conditions of ‘carcinogenic capitalism’ in which we all must live and breathe. In turn, our analysis of the specificities of lung cancer may inform broader sociological approaches to tackle stigma at a structural level.
Creating HOPE: A Holistic Model to Increase Belonging Among Parenting Students
Authors: Hoiland Sarah L. , Lee JungHang , Valdés-Portela Norberto Michel Hernández
Published: September 2024

Background/Context:

The Holistic Oasis for Parents’ Education (HOPE) Program is an on-campus summer program designed to serve the whole student with a three-dimensional support model. Low-income, Black, and Hispanic parents experienced some of the most egregious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which reflects the demographics of one in three Hostos Community College students. This five-year National Science Foundation grant–funded research program provides crucial support and research on an underserved and understudied group in higher education: pregnant and parenting students.

Purpose of Study:

The purpose of this paper is to describe the history and context of parenting students at Hostos Community College, to describe the HOPE three-dimensional (3D) model, to provide some preliminary findings on belonging from our first two cohorts, and to share challenges and future directions.

Research Design:

This study utilizes a mixed methods approach that includes qualitative and quantitative research with each HOPE cohort of parenting students and quantitative research with a quasi-control group of parenting students.

Conclusion/Recommendations:

The research on belonging from the first two years of the HOPE Program demonstrates a positive sense of belonging to the program and to their peers in the program. The HOPE 3D model stands as an example of effective holistic programming for pregnant and parenting students but could be adopted or adapted for other groups of underrepresented students.
Research data management in university libraries: The need for data literacy and technological revamp
Authors: Igbinovia Magnus Osahon , Segun-Adeniran Chidi Deborah , Okuonghae Omorodion
Published: September 2024

The implementation and delivery of research data management services (RDMS) in university libraries are at different levels of realization, most of which are far from satisfactory. There is therefore need for discussions around issues that will stimulate the success of RDM programmes in university libraries. Consequently, this paper discusses data literacy and technological infrastructure as prerequisites for the successful implementation of RDMS in university libraries. The paper discusses data literacy in the context of RDM implementation. It also reveals the various competency areas to focus on in developing a data literate librarian. Moreover, the study discusses the relationship between technological infrastructure and RDM in university libraries, hereby justifying the need for technological revamp. Some specific technologies are mentioned in the course of the discussion. The study concludes that data literacy and adequate technological infrastructure for RDM are required for university libraries to realize their full potential in the management of research data.
Optimizing Dry Port Locations: A Comparative Analysis of Deterministic, Stochastic, and Robust Models
Authors: Bagheri Morteza , Abbasi Hossein , Yaghoubi Saeed , Pishvaee Mir Saman , Fallahi Mehdi
Published: September 2024

The increasing international maritime transportation of freight has caused a huge operation in important ports, which are often established near cities and therefore do not have enough room for expanding the operations. This causes long delays and poor productivity in ports. The construction of dry ports has been proposed as a suitable solution to mitigate the problems. A dry port is an inland intermodal terminal directly connected to a seaport by road or rail, where importers and exporters can clear their cargo through customs and handle other shipping formalities. Selecting the right place for the establishment of dry ports has a significant impact on the time and costs of transportation in the network, as well as environmental consequences. In this research, to determine the optimal location of dry ports among the potential locations, three mathematical models as deterministic, stochastic, and robust with three objectives of minimizing the maximum transportation time in the entire network, environmental pollutants, and transportation costs are presented, which simultaneously specify the required number of dry ports in the network and the optimal place to build them. The presented models have been implemented for data related to 30 million bills of lading in a 10-year period in Iran with four major ports and 400 cities. Both deterministic and non-deterministic approaches reveal a preference not to build a dry port in the first optimal solution. However, in the following desirable answers, different answers have been suggested. According to the sensitivity analysis performed by making changes in the fuel price situation or the existing rail network, the model introduces several potential points for the construction of dry ports. The results of this model show that, with the construction of dry ports, despite the increase in overall costs of the network because of the construction of dry ports, operation, and storage in them, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions will decrease significantly.
Weld quality monitoring in friction stir lap joining of dissimilar Al6061 to polycarbonate using thrust–torque-based process stability signatures
Authors: Goswami Nisith Ku , Bisoyi Raj K , Pal Kamal
Published: September 2024

The joining of dissimilar aluminium-based alloys to thermoplastic polymers is highly challenging which indicates the necessity of friction welding procedures. The present work addresses the degrees of steadiness in welding thrust-torque to monitor the lap weld contour of aluminium alloy (Al6061) overlapped on polycarbonate sheet or vice versa using friction stir welding. The primary objective was to compare the monitoring capability of the weld non-uniformity by using raw signals and stability signature of welding thrust and stirring torque. Further, these stability indices were used for the prediction of weld mechanical behaviour using response surface methodology. The stability signatures were found to be a better indicator of weld profile unevenness than raw signals as it was an amplified version of the local deviations in welding thrust-torque. Improved strength efficiency up to 49% was noticed in PC-Al welds due to improved process stability at intermediate tool traverse (55 mm/min) and revolving speeds (1100 rpm). The stability in stirring torque was better indicator of weld quality features than tool thrust steadiness in Al-PC lap while it was reversed in PC-Al lap. Thus, the thrust force instability was mostly indicated the joint ductility while combined steadiness in thrust-torque were essential for the prediction of weld strength. The higher stability index in tool thrust (≥7.5) with ample torque steadiness (5–8) can upgrade the Al-PC weld strength (≥20 MPa), whereas intermediate thrust stability (6–6.5) with high stable torque (≥7) can uplift the joint strength (≥25 MPa) in PC-Al welds.
I’m Telling You for the Last Time: Digital Mediations of Ambiguous Grief, Coping and Resilience on ‘Glioblastology’
Authors: Rajabi Samira
Published: September 2024

This paper examines the way ambiguous grief related to terminal illness is mediated through a blog titled Glioblastology and via social media engagement with its content and author. Building from the psychology framework of ambiguous loss, this paper positions ambiguous grief as a salient lens through which to discover how users in need of coping spaces are engaging digital space as a medium for meaning making and coping during the diagnosis of a terminal illness.
Criminal Policy Preferences Among the Public and the Police: A Comparison
Authors: Visschers Jonas , Paoli Letizia
Published: September 2024

Through surveys in Flanders (Belgium), the article investigates the criminal policy preferences of the public and the police, a topic of considerable policy relevance that has so far received limited academic attention. It describes and compares such preferences both for specific crimes, within the realm of the criminal justice (CJ) process, and in general, considering interventions that reflect the broadening scope of contemporary criminal policy. Data from 2,348 citizens and 381 police officers point to the capability of both groups to discriminate, that is, to support different CJ interventions depending on the crimes considered, and shows that, for most crimes, the public backs more lenient interventions than the police. Instead, both groups’ general criminal policy preferences are quite similar.
Exploring the impact of adverse childhood experiences on health and cognitive functions in older adults
Authors: Fabio Rosa Angela , Natolo Lucia , Caprì Tindara , Mento Carmela , Picciotto Giulia
Published: September 2024

This study examines whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) predict long-term health issues and how ACEs, alongside stress, impact well-being and cognitive abilities in older adults. 279 adults were categorized into three age groups (30–46, 47–60, and 61–80). Participants completed an online survey assessing health problems, stress, resilience, and ACEs. Additionally, 32 older adults underwent cognitive tests. ACE scores predicted physical and psychological diseases in adults but not in older adults. However, a significant correlation between ACEs and cognitive abilities was evident in older participants. ACEs are significant indicators of long-term health issues and stress in adults but may not predict these factors in older individuals. Understanding ACEs’ impact on cognitive abilities in older adults is crucial for tailored interventions and support.
“We’re no longer the senzala”: Race, space, and difference in the Ethnic Capital of Brazil
Authors: Melville Elizabeth
Published: September 2024

Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in Ijuí, a small rural city in Rio Grande do Sul, this work examines how history, race, and power over space articulate in the construction of a multiethnic heritage tourism festival. Ijuí has recently garnered significant national and international heritage recognition based on its unique history of multiethnic European colonization and the metanarrative that this produced an exceptionally tolerant and harmonious society. Contrasting with this narrative, the reality for the city’s Black, indigenous, and mixed residents reveals how tourism is often situated within a zone of ambivalence, serving both as an enduring source of precarity and a critical site of hope. Drawing from Michel De Certeau’s theories of strategies and tactics, along with Susan Gal and Judith Irvine’s work on rhematization, this article aims to (1) trace the precarity involved when colorblind multiethnic tourism operates within contexts of marked racial inequality, (2) interrogate the ideological, material, and semiotic processes by which these precarities become recursively inscribed within the space of tourism, and (3) show how the space of tourism can be reappropriated and utilized through tactics that defy categorization as tourism, serving ends that threaten the very basis of the precarities themselves. Thus, even as the multiethnic tourism landscape has been a source of ongoing marginalization, I argue in this work that it can also be reimagined as a space of potential where new communities, relations, visibilities, and histories can circulate and take root.
Modesty, toleration, and persuasion
Authors: Blake Michael
Published: September 2024

Lucia Rafanelli's analysis of reform intervention is both timely and philosophically powerful. This paper asks two questions about the limits, and proper implications, of her methodology – both of which have to do with the notion of modesty, understood as a moral virtue. The first asks whether or not principled illiberal regimes have a moral right, on her account, to reform intervention against the liberalism of liberal democratic states. The second asks about the extent to which persuasive and discursive modes of reform intervention are rightly understood as respectful, when such intervention begins with an unshakeable moral commitment held by the intervenor and used as justification for the intervention itself.
Venous sinus diverticulum in patients with pulsatile tinnitus: An acquired lesion
Authors: Abdalkader Mohamad , Klein Piers , Aliphas Avner , Weber Peter , Nguyen Thanh N
Published: September 2024

Background

The etiopathogenesis of venous sinus diverticulum is controversial. Conflicting evidence has been published suggesting that venous sinus diverticulum is either a congenital or acquired lesion.

Methods

This is a case report of a single individual followed for 17 years within a single healthcare system.

Results

An early middle-aged woman presented with unilateral pulsatile tinnitus, vertigo, and decreased hearing. Initial imaging was unrevealing. Interval imaging after 13 years revealed the development of an ipsilateral venous sinus diverticulum. The patient was treated via endovascular stenting and coiling of the lesion with complete resolution of symptoms.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that a venous sinus diverticulum in a patient with pulsatile tinnitus is an acquired lesion. Further research is warranted to better elucidate the precise etiology and pathophysiology of acquired venous sinus diverticulum, potentially guiding management strategies.
Cerebral vasculitis as clinical manifestation of neuroborreliosis: Pattern of vascular pathology and prognostic factors of outcome
Authors: Winter Yaroslav , Simon Ole J. , Spreer Annette , Othman Ahmed E , Altmann Sebastian , Brandt Moritz , Barlinn Kristian , Back Tobias , Civelek Arda , Bach Jan-Philipp , Schiffer Julia , Dresel Christian , Meuth Sven , Bittner Stefan , Groppa Sergiu , Brummer Tobias
Published: September 2024

Background:

Neuroborreliosis is a tick-borne condition that affects the central and/or peripheral nervous system. Cerebral infarction associated with neuroborreliosis-related vasculitis has been reported in only a handful of cases. Therefore, specific patterns of vascular pathology and prognostic outcome factors are still incompletely understood.

Aim:

To determine the pattern of vascular pathology and prognostic outcome factors in patients with neuroborreliosis-related vasculitis.

Methods:

We performed a longitudinal multicenter study between 1997 and 2022 in five academic study sites in Germany with a cumulative reference area of 1,620,000 inhabitants. All patients diagnosed with neuroborreliosis-associated cerebral vasculitis were included. The evaluation of clinical parameters, including NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), disability ranking (modified Rankin Scale, mRS), and neuroimaging, was performed at admission as well as after 3 and 12 months. Linear regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of recurrent strokes, involvement of posterior circulation, or multiple vessels.

Results:

Patients with neuroborreliosis-related vasculitis (n = 51) were relatively young (mean age: 62 years) and displayed a predominance of vascular events within the posterior circulation (60.8%). A history of smoking was linked to recurrent strokes/TIA (64.7% vs. 23.5%; p = 0.006), strokes in multiple territories (100% vs. 35.9%; p < 0.0001), and posterior circulation events (64.5% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.017), whereas other cardiovascular risk factors showed no significant differences. Linear regression analysis corroborated smoking’s association with recurrent strokes/ transient ischemic attacks (B: 0.412; p = 0.002), multiple territory strokes/TIA (B: 0.467; p = 0.033), and posterior circulation events (B: 0.317; p = 0.033).

Conclusion:

A thorough CSF examination for neuroborreliosis is crucial, especially in younger stroke patients, particularly those experiencing posterior circulation ischemic events. Smoking cessation should be prompted in patients with neuroborreliosis-associated cerebral vasculitis.
Perspectives of Families and Healthcare Staff on the Design of Inpatient Hospital Rooms in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hussein Mohammed Fakhry Fouad , Abubakar Ismaila Rimi
Published: September 2024

Aim: This study aims to explore the relationship between the perspectives of both family members and healthcare staff regarding the design of hospital inpatient rooms. It investigates the impact of family presence on the healing environment and examines the influence of specific design elements within inpatient rooms on the extent of family presence. Background: The positive impact of family presence in healthcare settings is rooted in the notion that patients and their families are significant stakeholders in the care process. However, little is known about the influence of inpatient room design elements on family presence in healthcare settings in the Middle East. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 359 participants, encompassing patients, family visitors, and healthcare professionals from three hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire items sought insights into the influence of design elements within inpatient rooms on family presence and the overall healing environment. Results: The results indicate a strong preference for single-patient rooms (74.5%), natural light (77.6%), comfortable seating (85.8%), and a family zone positioned by the window for unobstructed views of nature (50.5%). Furthermore, the study reveals that family presence is perceived to have positive effects on the healing environment (84.0%), patient safety (81.3%), and satisfaction with the care process (88.0%). Conclusion: This study proposes a design model for inpatient rooms that can effectively cater to the needs of patients and their families, thereby contributing to the overall improvement of healthcare building design.
The Use of Antibiotic-Impregnated Cement for Infection or Mechanical Support in Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yammine Kaissar , Mansour Jad , Otayek Joeffroy , Alqaysi Bilal , Daher Jimmy , Assi Chahine
Published: September 2024

Background

Diabetic foot infections are difficult to eradicate and could lead to serious complications such as multiple surgeries, amputation and mortality. Culture-based IV antibiotics and particularly amputation are usually the available options. Only few studies articles reported the use of cement impregnated with antibiotics to fill temporarily or permanently a bone defect, but with no evidence synthesis yet. Therefore, this study aims at assessing the outcomes of the use of antibiotic-impregnated cement for infection or mechanical support in diabetic foot osteomyelitis.

Methods

A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. We searched multiple electronic databases using the terms “osteomyelitis AND cement AND diabetic AND foot.” The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Appraisal Tool.

Results

Six studies met the inclusion criteria combining 82 patients with 85 procedures. With a mean follow-up period of 22 ±14.6 months, the meta-analytical results were as follows: (1) the weighted healing rate was 85.2%, (2) 63.6% of cement were kept in place, (3) 8.2% of cement had to be exchanged, (4) 24.4% of placed cement had to be removed, (5) minor amputation following cement placement was 13.4%, and (6) the rate of secondary surgery was 18.7%, with arthrodesis being the most common (94%).

Conclusion

There are limited studies available detailing the outcomes of cement use in diabetic foot osteomyelitis. In the case of the difficult-to-heal osteomyelitis of the diabetic foot and whenever a peripheral bone rim could be preserved, filling the void within to deliver local infection control and to assure mechanical resistance for ambulation could be a non-radical limb preserving option.

Level of Evidence

Level IV
The Environmental Impact of Low-Pressure Anhydrous Dyeing Technology for Polyester: Carbon Footprint Quantification and Evaluation
Authors: Qiu Xiaoxiao , Liang Shuaitong , Cheng Wenqing , Zhang Hongjuan , Pei Liujun , Wang Jiping
Published: September 2024

Many emerging dyeing technologies have recently entered laboratory research or industrial production phases. However, only a few studies have evaluated and compared the environmental impact of different dyeing systems. This study calculated the carbon footprint of low-pressure anhydrous dyeing for polyester and compared with conventional water bath dyeing. The results showed that the carbon footprint of the anhydrous dyeing process was 1670 kgCO2 eq/1000 kg polyester. Steam occupied the most significant proportion, accounting for 55.5%, followed by electricity at 35.5%. The waste has the lowest environmental impact, with 0.55%. Uncertainty analyses showed that the data and results in this article were reliable. The results of the sensitivity analyses indicated that more attention should be paid to the data quality of steam and electricity. Compared with the traditional water bath dyeing process, the low-pressure anhydrous dyeing system can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30% and, more importantly, can avoid almost all the consumption of clean water. This anhydrous dyeing system can save water and reduce carbon emissions, which is of positive significance to the sustainable development of the textile and fashion industry. Further studies could use the water footprint as an indicator to evaluate this dyeing system in terms of water consumption and potential environmental impact.
Artificial intelligence improves bronchoscopy performance: a randomised crossover trial
Authors: Cold Kristoffer Mazanti , Agbontaen Kaladerhan , Nielsen Anne Orholm , Andersen Christian Skjoldvang , Singh Suveer , Konge Lars
Published: September 2024

Rationale

Flexible bronchoscopy is an operator-dependent procedure. An automatic bronchial identification system based on artificial intelligence (AI) could help bronchoscopists to perform more complete and structured procedures through automatic guidance.

Methods

101 participants were included from six different continents at the European Respiratory Society annual conference in Milan, 9–13 September 2023. Participants were split into three groups based on experience: novices (0 bronchoscopies), intermediates (1–249 bronchoscopies) and experienced (≥250 bronchoscopies). The participants performed two bronchoscopies on a realistic physical phantom, one with AI (AmbuBronchoSimulatorTrainingGUIDEv.0.0.1, Prototype version, Ambu) and one Standard procedure. The F1-group received AI guidance for their first procedure, the F2-group for their second. A crossover randomisation controlled for learning by testing. All procedures were automatically rated according to the outcome measures: inspected segments, structured progressions and procedure time.

Results

AI guidance caused the participants to inspect more segments (mean difference, paired t-test: +6.0 segments, p<0.001), perform more structured progressions (+5.2 progressions, p<0.001) and spend more time on the procedure (+72 s, p<0.001) compared to their standard procedures. The effects of AI guidance on inspected segments and structured progression were highest for novices but significant for all experience groups: novices (+8.2 segments, p=0.012 and +6.6 progressions, p<0.001), intermediates (+5.7 segments, p=0.006 and +5.1 progressions, p<0.001) and experienced (+4.3 segments, p=0.006 and +3.8 progressions, p<0.016).

Conclusions

AI guidance helped bronchoscopists of all experience levels to inspect more segments in a more structured order. Clinical implementation of AI guidance could help ensure and document more complete bronchoscopy procedures in the future.
OSA symptom subtypes and hypoxic burden independently predict distinct cardiovascular outcomes
Authors: Mazzotti Diego R. , Magalang Ulysses J. , Keenan Brendan T. , Mindel Jesse , Younes Magdy , Penzel Thomas , Pack Allan I. , de Chazal Philip
Published: September 2024

Study objectives

Studies on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) have identified clinically relevant symptom-based subtypes and novel OSA-specific nocturnal hypoxic measures. Both traits are individually associated with cardiovascular outcomes, but evidence about their independent or shared effects is unknown. This study investigated the simultaneous contributions of OSA symptom subtypes and hypoxic burden (HB) on incident cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods

Sleep Heart Health Study participants with high-quality oxygen saturation, apnoea–hypopnea index (AHI) and symptom data were included. Participants with OSA (AHI ≥5 events·h−1) were grouped into symptom subtypes. HB was calculated from respiratory event-related hypoxia. Cox proportional hazards models assessed whether symptom subtypes and/or HB were independently associated with cardiovascular mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Results

4396 participants free of cardiovascular disease were analysed, with median follow-up >11 years. Higher HB was associated with worse cardiovascular mortality (HR (95% CI): 1.63 (1.13–2.35); p=0.009) independently of symptom subtypes. Compared to those without OSA, the excessively sleepy OSA subtype had higher risk of incident MACE (1.62 (1.23–2.15); p<0.001), independently of HB. Among participants with moderate–severe OSA (AHI ≥15 events·h−1), excessively sleepy participants had higher risk of cardiovascular end-points compared to other subtypes, but HB was not associated with cardiovascular mortality or MACE risk.

Conclusion

OSA symptom subtypes and HB are independently associated with MACE and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. Thus, both are important for understanding OSA-related cardiovascular risk. Future studies using clinical samples including OSA therapy information that incorporate symptom subtypes and novel biomarkers, such as HB, could improve predictive models for cardiovascular disease risk.
The involvement and significance of M2 macrophages in neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury: a systematic review
Authors: Shahrezaei Aidin , Sohani Maryam , Sohouli Mohammadhassan , Taherkhani Soroush , Nasirinezhad Farinaz
Published: September 2024

Neuropathic pain (NeP) is a type of persistent pain initiated by diseases or injuries of the nervous system. Although the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of NeP are poorly understood, the immune system plays a key role in this condition. M2 macrophages have a key role in tissue healing and the reduction of inflammation. This systematic study aims to provide an overview of the role and importance of M2 macrophages in NeP after spinal cord injury (SCI). A comprehensive systematic review was conducted utilizing Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and ISI Web of Science databases. Two independent reviewers conducted the article selection. All publications examine the impact of M2 macrophages on NeP following spinal cord injuries. A quality assessment was conducted on bias entities that had been predetermined. Eleven papers met the criteria. According to the findings, focusing on immune cell polarization presents viable therapeutic options for treating NeP and enhancing recovery after SCI. M2 macrophages are essential for reducing neuropathic pain and promoting recovery after spinal cord injury. The modulation of M2 macrophages by a number of therapeutic approaches, including ivermectin-functionalized MWCNTs, isorhamnetin, Neuregulin-1 administration, TMEM16F inhibition, lentivirus-mediated delivery of anti-inflammatory cytokines, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and red-light therapy promotes neuroregeneration, decreases neuroinflammatory cytokines, and reduces NeP. The results of these preclinical investigations must, however, be interpreted with caution, according to the quality assessment and risk of bias analysis of the studies that were included. Targeting M2 macrophages may have therapeutic benefits as they are essential for the management of NeP and recovery following spinal cord damage.
Latent classes of adolescent health behaviour, social covariates and mental wellbeing: a longitudinal birth cohort study
Authors: Knowles Christopher , Thornton Emma , Petersen Kimberly , Lereya Suzet Tanya , Humphrey Neil
Published: September 2024

Background

Adolescent mental wellbeing has been declining in the United Kingdom for over a decade. Expansion of services to support the mental wellbeing of young people is a public health priority and a core component of the National Health Service’s Long-Term Plan. In this paper, we leverage secondary analysis of a very large longitudinal dataset (#BeeWell) to generate insights regarding different patterns of health behaviour, their covariates, and consequences for mental wellbeing one year later.

Methods

A Latent Class Analysis was conducted using data on physical activity, sleep, and eating habits collected in 2021 from 18,478 Year 8 pupils from Greater Manchester (United Kingdom) to (1) identify distinct latent classes of adolescent health behaviour; (2) establish factors likely to be associated with latent class membership; and (3) determine whether latent class membership contributes to variance in self-reported mental wellbeing one year later.

Results

A three-class solution was identified as an excellent fit to the data, discriminating between: the Wellness Weary (n = 2,717; 15%); the Balanced Bunch (n = 7,377; 40%); and the Green and Dream Team (n = 8,384; 45%). Several factors significantly influenced class membership. Most notably, socio-economic disadvantage and social media use were linked with less favourable health behaviour patterns, whilst cisgender heterosexual girls were likely to endorse healthier patterns. After adjusting for covariates, the Green and Dream Team reported significantly greater mental wellbeing than the Balanced Bunch one year later. However, there was no difference between the Balanced Bunch and the Wellness Weary, signalling that health behaviours may support mental wellbeing, but only among the healthiest young people.

Conclusions

Beyond advancements in fundamental understanding, our findings yield significant translation opportunities through their use and application in health, education, and allied professional settings designed to support young people.