bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining associations between body appreciation and positive well-being among young adults: A cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Marmara Joshua A , Hosking Warwick , McLean Siân A
Published: January 2025

Interest in positive body image stems from its contrast with negative body image. Research shows self-compassion and physical activity enhance body appreciation and positive well-being, yet their interaction in young adults is not well understood. This study examined connections between self-compassion, planned physical activity and intrinsic exercise motivations in 386 adults aged 18–39 ( Mage = 27.54; SD = 5.58). Path analysis and serial mediation analysis revealed positive associations between self-compassion, planned physical activity, body appreciation and positive well-being, with notable sex differences. In men, self-compassion was linked to planned physical activity through intrinsic exercise motivations, which improved positive well-being via body appreciation. For women, planned physical activity indirectly influenced positive well-being through body appreciation. These findings underscore the importance of integrating sex-specific factors into health psychology interventions aimed at promoting positive body image. They also suggest avenues for future research to enhance well-being through targeted self-compassion and physical activity strategies.
Prerequisites for self-care actions in individuals with restless legs syndrome—A deductive qualitative analysis based on the COM-B model
Authors: Odzakovic Elzana , Eliasson Anna , Jansson Paula , Lagerqwist Maria , Fridlund Bengt , Jonasson Lise-Lotte , Ulander Martin , Lind Jonas , Broström Anders
Published: January 2025

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) affects 3% of the world’s population, causing tingling sensations primarily in the legs. Incorporating self-care activities could improve the management of RLS symptoms, yet knowledge about effective self-care actions is limited. This study employs the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model to explore self-care behaviours in individuals with RLS, as research in this area is sparse. Qualitative content analysis of interviews with 28 participants with RLS, 26 subcategories emerged, aligning with the COM-B model’s components. The first part, Capability, highlighted the importance of being able to be in motion, while the second, Opportunity referred to situations where there was a lack of trust and guidance for self-care. The third part, Motivation, emphasised the importance of fixed routines of sleep, rest, and activity. These identified prerequisites can inform the development of screening instruments and patient-reported outcome measures to evaluate self-care needs and interventions for individuals with RLS.
Analytical model for estimation of interface weld strength in ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) of similar and dissimilar tempered aluminum alloy 6061 (AA6061)
Authors: Ali Muzamil , Gingerich M. Bryant , Headings Leon M. , Dapino Marcelo J.
Published: January 2025

Process modeling of ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) is critical for optimizing process settings with minimal experimental trials. In this research, a parameter termed weld quality ( Qw) is formulated based on hardness and process settings to predict the shear strength of aluminum alloy 6061 (AA6061) UAM weld interfaces between similar and dissimilar tempers. Four AA6061 tempers are investigated: O (annealed), H18 (cold rolled with 75% thickness reduction), T4 (solution heat treated and naturally aged), and T6 (solution heat treated and artificially aged). Shear samples quantify the shear strength at foil-to-foil and baseplate-to-foil interfaces, with near-gapless bonding observed. The Qw parameter linearly correlates with shear strength measurements, achieving a coefficient of determination ([Formula: see text]) of 91.18%.
No morphological connections between L2 past-tense and present-tense verbs for low-proficient bilinguals: Evidence from masked priming
Authors: Wanner-Kawahara Jessie , Yoshihara Masahiro , Lupker Stephen J. , Verdonschot Rinus G. , Nakayama Mariko
Published: January 2025

Aims and objectives:

Masked priming lexical decision research involving relatively high-proficient Japanese–English bilinguals suggests that past-tense and present-tense morphological connections (e.g., fell-FALL and looked-LOOK) are represented in their L2 (English) lexicons in a way that is similar to how they are represented in L1 (English) lexicons. The goal of the present research was to determine whether the same is true for low-proficient Japanese–English bilinguals.

Methodology:

Seventy-seven low-proficient Japanese–English bilinguals were tested in the masked priming lexical decision task. We manipulated the morphological or orthographic similarity between L2 English prime-target pairs.

Data and analysis:

We analyzed response latencies and error rates using (generalized) linear mixed-effects models.

Findings:

Although participants responded significantly faster to targets preceded by past-tense primes (e.g., fell-FALL and looked-LOOK) when compared to unrelated primes (e.g., slow-FALL and danger-LOOK), those priming effects were the same size as priming effects produced by orthographically similar primes (e.g., fill-FALL and lonely-LOOK), suggesting that the facilitation from past-tense primes is likely orthographic in nature. Nevertheless, the low-proficient bilinguals showed significant L2-L2 repetition priming (e.g., fall-FALL and look-LOOK), suggesting that, for those individuals, L2 (English) words are at least represented at the lexical level.

Originality:

The present study empirically confirmed a prediction, derived from a post hoc exploratory analysis in our previous research, that masked morphological priming effects are no larger than orthographic priming effects in low-proficient bilinguals. This indicates that a certain level of functional proficiency is required to observe morphological priming effects for Japanese–English bilinguals.

Implications:

Our results suggest that morphological connections in L2 are not yet established for low-proficient bilinguals, even when L2 words are lexically represented in their mental lexicon.
Perceptions of racism in voter suppression: Testing the Marley hypothesis and a brief educational intervention
Authors: Rojas Melo Silva Maria F. , Salter Phia S. , Bonam Courtney M.
Published: January 2025

The current research tests the Marley hypothesis—the role of historical knowledge as a mediator between racial group differences and perceptions of racism—in the context of voter suppression. In Study 1 ( N = 205), Black and White participants completed a voting rights history test, racial identification measures, and perceptions of racism items in the context of voter suppression. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that when racial identity was high, historical knowledge was a significant mediator of the effect of racial category on perceptions of racism and voter suppression. Study 2 ( N = 243) examined whether a critical educational intervention about historical racism in voting policies (vs. a control) increased perceptions of racism in voting domains. Study 2 suggested that the intervention was most effective for White and Black Americans reporting low levels of racial identity, but the intervention decreased racism perceptions among highly identified White participants.
Towards a Relational Understanding of Vulnerability: The Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Lebanon Through a Feminist Lens
Authors: Baumann Hanna , Moore Henrietta
Published: January 2025

Recent debates on vulnerability have considered how to best define and measure it in order to account for the various factors that shape people’s susceptibility to harm. This article reads humanitarian and development notions of vulnerability against the relational and interdependent view put forward by feminist scholars. Such a conceptual interrogation, which examines the broader assumptions underpinning aid programming, is especially relevant as vulnerability has become a key metric for eligibility for support in a range of global contexts. Examining two approaches used for assessing and alleviating vulnerability deployed in the response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon, we show that the tools utilized by aid programmes reflect particular views of how vulnerability operates. In examining those conceptualizations through the lens of recent development and feminist thinking on vulnerability, we foreground the interdependence of different groups, the generative nature of this interdependency, as well as the interlocked nature of scales involved in producing (and alleviating) vulnerability. Adopting such a relational and dynamic view of vulnerability, we argue, can open possibilities for more inclusive and transformational development approaches.
Connecting stars and microcosms: visualization bridging astronomy and polaritonics
Authors: Sedov Evgeny
Published: January 2025

In the data-intensive world of astronomy, visualization emerges as a crucial interpretive tool, bridging the gap between vast information and human understanding. This article uses visualization to explore the unexpected connection between astronomy and polaritonics, a field focused on light–matter interactions in microstructures. The author introduces a playful challenge of distinguishing images from either field, emphasizing the role of visual data in making complex scientific concepts accessible and encouraging cross-disciplinary engagement and a sense of shared wonder.
A transfer learning approach for mitigating temperature effects on wind turbine blades damage diagnosis
Authors: Rezazadeh Nima , Annaz Fawaz , Jabbar Waheb A. , Vieira Filho Jozue , De Oliveira Mario
Published: January 2025

Data scarcity, coupled with environmental and operational variabilities (EOVs), poses substantial challenges to the generalisability and robustness of damage diagnostic methods for complex components such as wind turbine blades. This paper introduces a novel methodology, termed UCTRF, designed to tackle these challenges. UCTRF stands for Uniform manifold approximation and projection for dimensionality reduction, Capsule neural networks for advanced feature recognition, Transfer adaptive boosting for effective knowledge transfer, and Random Forest for nuanced instance weighting and classification. The UCTRF framework is uniquely suited to scenarios where feature distributions shift due to temperature variations, enabling robust knowledge transfer even in limited datasets. This innovative framework was rigorously evaluated on various temperature-affected datasets, achieving a 95% detection rate. These results underscore its effectiveness in preserving the structural integrity of wind turbines under challenging EOVs and constrained data availability. Additionally, the internal mechanism of the designed domain adaptation captures the alterations in instance weights between the source and target domains during the adjustment process, which can be utilised to analyse the impact of diverse instances on model performance and further refine the adaptation process.
Digitizing a Travel Health Resource: Lessons Learned From Implementing a User Experience Framework to Improve a Travel Health Website
Authors: Arshanapally Suraj
Published: January 2025

User experience (UX) is a key element in the design of effective public health websites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Yellow Book, a key travel health resource published by the U.S. CDC, adapted its print publication into a free companion website in the late 1990s to increase the resource’s online reach and allow for more frequent updates of content. This process did not adopt a digital-first approach, leading to UX gaps such as barriers to finding relevant content, poor visual appeal, and inaccessibility on mobile devices. On May 10, 2023, the CDC Travelers’ Health Branch implemented a UX update for the CDC Yellow Book 2024 website to improve the website’s overall structure, content, and functionalities. This meant that the previous CDC Yellow Book 2020 website was replaced with the updated CDC Yellow Book 2024 website. Website metrics from Adobe Analytics were collected to show the outcomes of these updates. The CDC Yellow Book 2024 website received 5,726,545 page views for the year following the UX update, which was a 46% increase in web traffic compared to the CDC Yellow Book 2020 website the year prior to the update. In addition, there were 2,375,995 users who returned to the CDC Yellow Book 2024 website seven or more days after their first visit. This case study provides an overview of how the UX framework was used for the CDC Yellow Book 2024 website, which includes describing the lessons learned to inform future digitization efforts for health promotion tools.
Incorporating trauma-assumed practices into the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior evoked by corrective feedback
Authors: Reilly McKenna E. , Sullivan Emily K. , Kaur Jasmeen , Melanson Isaac J. , Fahmie Tara A.
Published: January 2025

Receiving corrective feedback can be challenging, yet it is essential for teaching new skills. Thus, learning to tolerate corrective feedback from others is a critical skill for accessing less restrictive environments. Our case study details the referral of a 7-year-old boy to a university-based outpatient clinic for the assessment and treatment of increasingly dangerous, challenging behavior. We integrated trauma-assumed approaches by (a) conducting a performance-based functional analysis with synthesized contingencies and (b) evaluating a treatment package (e.g., token system including task choice and graduated exposure across activities) to build tolerance of evocative properties of corrective feedback. We describe how clinical decision-making and trauma-assumed modifications during assessment and treatment reduced challenging behavior, increased tolerance of corrective feedback, and maintained these effects when treatment was extended to caregivers in the home.
Preparation of High-Purity 1,2,3,6-Tetragalloylglucose from Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. Seeds
Authors: Jiang Hua , Wang Yue-yue , Li Jun , Wang Lu , Li Jia-xing
Published: January 2025

Objective: The seeds of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc., a by-product of the Chinese medicine industry, have been firstly reported in our previous work to contain abundant 1,2,3,6-tetragalloylglucose (TgG). TgG is a polyol ester formed by a β- D-glucose that constitutes its core and four gallic acids. It is known to possess several pharmaceutical activities. The objective of this work was to establish a method effectively preparing high-purity TgG from C. officinalis seeds. Methods: TgG is unstable and degrades because of internal redox reactions and polymerizations under high temperatures. And there is a lack of effective methods to produce TgG, which limits its applications. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) can be performed at low temperatures and can be used to extract TgG effectively, thereby preventing its degradation. Therefore, in this study a UAE coupled with resin enrichment and reverse-phase silica-gel purification to achieve high-purity TgG from C. officinalis seeds was developed for the exploration of its potential value. Moreover, water was selected as the extracting solvent because of the excellent solubility of the seed extract. It provides a clean and green extracting method for producing TgG from C. officinalis seeds in a sustainable manner. Results: It was indicated that the purity of the obtained TgG was 96.2%, and the total TgG recovery of the established procedure was 73.5%. Conclusion: The established method demonstrates good precision and accuracy, making it suitable for the preparation of high-purity TgG from the C. officinalis seeds. It not only provided a novel and alliterative method to obtain TgG for its wider application in the pharmaceutical industry but also added potential value to the herbal medicine industry using C. officinalis via the use of by-product seeds.
Bambusa vulgaris Extract: A Potential Natural Biogenic Amine Neurotransmitters Modulator, COX-2 Inhibitor and Oxidative Species Suppressor for Managing Depression and Anxiety
Authors: Murtala Akanji A. , Oyinloye Elijah O. , Oladoja Farouk A. , Fageyinbo Samuel M. , Olasore Holiness S.A , Ogunjimi Luqman O. , Alabi Akinyinka O. , Olooto Wasiu E. , Soyinka Oluwatosin O. , Faponle Abayomi S. , Shonde Oluwatoyin O. , Osipitan Luqmon E. , Joseph Olusola O. , Oderinde Ifeoluwa A. , Onifade Onaolapo R.
Published: January 2025

Objective

Literature reveals a significant deficiency in scientific investigations regarding the use of Bambusa vulgaris extract (BVE) for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly those characterized by anxiety and depression. Thus, this study was designed to examine the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like properties of BVE using mouse models, while also elucidating the potential underlying mechanisms responsible for the observed antidepressant effects of the extract.

Methods

Validated behavioral assessments were employed to assess the anxiolytic effects (including the hole-board test (HBT), open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and light/dark exploration test (LDET)) as well as the antidepressant effects (comprising the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST)) of the extract. Chronic mild stress paradigms were employed to induce depressive-like behaviors in the mouse subjects. The mice were administered treatments consisting of distilled water (10 mL/kg; serving as a negative control), fluoxetine (20 mg/kg; standard drug), and BVE (at varying doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg). The concentrations of biogenic amine neurotransmitters (noradrenaline and serotonin) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) within the brain were measured using ELISA kits. Antioxidant biomarkers were assessed through the application of standardized commercial assay kits.

Results

BVE significantly diminished anxiety levels in mouse subjects, as demonstrated by an enhancement in exploratory activities in the light/open enclosures and an increased aversion to darker compartments. Furthermore, BVE significantly alleviated depression-like behaviors in mice, which was reflected by an increased latency to immobility and a reduction in the overall duration of immobility. BVE enhanced noradrenaline and serotonin neurotransmission, suppressed oxidative species, and inhibited COX-2 activity.

Conclusion

The results obtained from this study suggest that BVE demonstrates anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, the latter being mediated through the enhancement of biogenic amine neurotransmitters (noradrenaline and serotonin), inhibition of COX-2 activity, and suppression of oxidative radicals within the brain.
Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oil Extracted from the Leaves of Phrynium tonkinense Gagnep
Authors: Yang Peng-fei , Shang Zi-bo , Fei Jia-xiang , Wu Wei , Liu Yan-zhang , Yuan Jia-xing , Kong Ling-qi , Xu Hang , Xu Yue-ying , Zhang Chen-hui , Sun Hai-feng , Mao Duo-bin
Published: January 2025

Objective: The genus Phrynium has medicinal value and is effective in relieving sore throat and mouth ulcers. However, the extraction and chemical analysis of essential oils from Phrynium tonkinense Gagnep, have not yet been reported. The present study aimed to extract, chemically characterize, and evaluate the antimicrobial properties of volatile oils from Phrynium tonkinense Gagnep ( P. tonkinense). Methods: In the present study, essential oil was extracted from the leaves of P. tonkinense for the first time by the hydrodistillation method, and its chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The area normalization method was used to calculate the relative percentage content of each chemical constituent in the essential oil. Additionally, the antibacterial efficacy of the essential oil was tested against six pathogenic microorganisms by the agar diffusion method and the microdilution method. Result: The yield of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation was 0.499%. Ninety volatile components were identified from the essential oil, with fatty acid compounds (47.36%) accounting for the largest proportion of these components. The main compounds were hexadecanoic acid (25.20%), ( Z)-3-hexen-1-ol (10.31%), pentadecanoic acid (8.09%), and myristic acid (3.99%). The results of the in vitro antimicrobial assay showed that essential oils from P. tonkinense had a good inhibitory effect on the six selected pathogenic microorganisms and showed good bactericidal activity, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value ranging from 31.3 to 250 μg/mL and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value ranging from 62.5 to 500 μg/mL. Notably, the essential oil exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with the MIC of 31.3 μg/mL and the MBC of 62.5 μg/mL. Conclusion: The findings of this study provided new insights into the medicinal functions of P. tonkinense and offered a scientific basis for the development and utilization of P. tonkinense as a natural antibacterial agent.
Macrofocal multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents in China
Authors: Dou Xuelin , Liu Ruixia , Liu Yang , Peng Nan , Wen Lei , Deng Daoxing , Cao Leqing , Li Qian , Wang Liru , Wang Fengrong , Mo Xiaodong , Lu Jin
Published: January 2025

Background:

Macrofocal multiple myeloma (MFMM) is characterized by clonal plasma cells comprising less than 20% of the bone marrow, multiple lytic bone lesions, and the absence of anemia, renal insufficiency, and hypercalcemia. This subtype of multiple myeloma (MM) has a relatively low incidence. Prognostic staging and cytogenetic guidance for MFMM are often insufficient due to the low tumor burden in the bone marrow. Large cohort studies on this subgroup during the era of novel agents are limited.

Objectives:

We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and prognostic markers of MFMM patients undergoing treatment with novel agents.

Methods:

Consecutive cases of MM patients diagnosed at Peking University People’s Hospital and Fu Xing Hospital of Capital Medical University from 2011 to 2023 were screened. A propensity score matching was conducted with a 2:1 ratio, matching classic MM patients to MFMM patients based on clinical variables of age and year of diagnosis.

Results:

We identified 91 cases (4%) of MFMM and 182 matched classic MM among 2291 MM patients. The MFMM cohort had a higher proportion of male patients, those with <90% clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow by multiparameter flow cytometry, and patients with extramedullary disease, along with a lower proportion of patients with high-risk cytogenetics or advanced disease staging. MFMM patients demonstrated better overall responses compared to the control cohort ( p = 0.027) in those not receiving upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). During a median follow-up of 42.8 months for the entire cohort, the MFMM cohort exhibited significantly superior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to the control cohort. In multivariate analysis of the entire cohort, exposure to immunomodulatory drugs and ASCT consolidation in frontline therapy were independently associated with improved PFS and OS. For the MFMM cohort, a Ki-67 index ⩾20% was associated with inferior PFS, providing valuable prognostic information in a group where staging and cytogenetic guidance are often inadequate.

Conclusion:

We concluded that treatment strategies for MFMM patients should align with those for standard MM, and a Ki-67 index ⩾20% in biopsy samples of plasmacytoma is associated with inferior PFS.
Sensing, weathering, making, mushrooming: Ecopedagogies with student teachers
Authors: de Rijke Victoria , Bailey Fiona , Harding Clare
Published: January 2025

Through multisensory ecopedagogies, models of environmental land art and place-responsive or ‘part of the place event’ art-making in outdoor spaces or the ‘outerness’ (Cobbs), this article explores the importance of student teacher engagement outside comfort zones and shedding their schooled baggage into the ‘existential territories of childhood’ (Traffi-Plats). Taking up feminist materialist practices such as Haraway’s inseparable ‘natureculture’ and ‘kinship affinities’ and that of ‘childing’ -where getting down on the ground is both literal and methodological (Osgood)- it reveals how the ecopedagogies of weathering, observing, mushrooming, storytelling, recording and making can lead to engaged, unforced and aesthetic learning about playful arts practices through and with the natural environment. Following Braidotti’s ‘micro-narrative’, or small stories and observations that may not have large research significance but as a method tend to nurture educational values, the article includes ecocritical analysis of student experience of an art session held outdoors on their university campus in London, UK, along with micro-narratives of the artists’ work featured as models, notes from the sessions’ observers (Victoria and Clare) and Fiona the session teacher’s reflections, within Primary (ages 4–10) teacher education art programme as a whole. Observing the student teacher’s walks and spirals of growing understanding, an eco- pedagogy or teaching/learning sympoesis becomes possible, as creative methods of accumulative making-with and reflecting-with allow for deeper understandings of the mycelium entanglements involved in making art with children with the environment.
Pioneering Pathways to Sustainability: A Case Study of EL Nido Resorts in Palawan
Authors: Tin Tun Kirkpatrick Cho
Published: January 2025

The case study of El Nido Resorts in Palawan investigates into the transformative journey of El Nido, Palawan, from a serene coastal village to a leading example of sustainable tourism in the Philippines. This case study systematically examines the collaborative efforts of local residents, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders, alongside the pivotal role of the World- Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Ten Knots Group, in fostering a model of ecotourism that harmonizes luxury resort operations with environmental conservation and community engagement. Through a historical lens, the case study traces the evolution of El Nido Resorts under the management of the Ten Knots Group and its eventual acquisition by Ayala Land Inc., highlighting the strategic shifts toward sustainability and the challenges encountered along the way. The study further explores the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by El Nido Resorts, emphasizing their commitment to environmental stewardship, community engagement, and organizational development. It showcases the resort’s innovative practices in waste management, water conservation, clean energy utilization, and biodiversity conservation, which collectively contribute to the Quadruple Bottom Line approach—balancing economic, environmental, social, and ethical considerations. By integrating interviews with the Sustainability Team and analyzing the resort’s sustainability reports, the research underscores the comprehensive and multifaceted approach to sustainable tourism adopted by El Nido Resorts. It presents a compelling narrative of how a luxury resort can serve as a catalyst for positive environmental and social change, setting a benchmark for sustainable practices in the tourism industry. The case study concludes with reflections on the challenges and future directions for sustainable tourism development, offering insights and recommendations for stakeholders aiming to replicate El Nido Resorts’ success in other contexts.
Media Framing of the International Paralympic Committee’s WeThe15 Disability Inclusion Campaign During Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Geurin Andrea N. , Hayday Emily J. , Morgan Siena
Published: January 2025

During the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the International Paralympic Committee launched a global campaign called WeThe15 to draw attention to the 15% of the global population with a disability with the hopes it would become the largest human rights movement in history. Utilizing framing theory, this study sought to understand how the mass media framed WeThe15 in its coverage during the Tokyo 2020 Games and the subsequent Paralympic Games, Beijing 2022, and to determine if any differences existed between the two Games. Using qualitative document analysis, we examined English-language articles about WeThe15 during both Games. There were stark differences in the amount of coverage, with our search uncovering 177 articles from 22 countries during Tokyo 2020, and only 10 articles from six countries during Beijing 2022. Three broad frames and four overarching themes were used to contextualize the WeThe15 campaign during the Tokyo Games: basic campaign information, partners leveraging the campaign, athlete narratives, and amplifying disability visibility. Basic campaign information was identified in coverage from the Beijing 2022 dataset. Our findings highlighted the need for sustained media coverage and engagement for growing social movements and offered both theoretical and practical implications of media framing of social movements related to sport.
Perioperative Dysphagia Considerations for Patients With Severe Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
Authors: Ohba Tetsuro , Tanaka Nobuki , Oda Kotaro , Katsu Marina , Takei Hayato , Go Goto , Akaike Hiroshi , Haro Hirotaka
Published: January 2025

Study Design

Cohort study with consecutive cases.

Objectives

Dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery is a well-known complication. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for dysphagia in patients with cervical myelopathy requiring surgery.

Methods

We conducted a prospective analysis of 92 consecutive patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery. All patients underwent a pre- and postoperative swallowing evaluation using the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and the Hyodo–Komagane (H‒K) score, an endoscopic scoring method used by an examining otolaryngologist to assess dysphagia.

Results

None of the patients had dysphagia when assessed using EAT-10; however, 15.2% of patients had H‒K scores indicative of dysphagia. Preoperative latent dysphagia was highly correlated with postoperative dysphagia (r = 0.51, P < 0.0001). No significant difference was found for the presence of dysphagia due to a history of smoking, dialysis, diabetes, asthma, and restrictive and/or obstructive ventilation disorder. The 10-s grip and release test ( P < 0.0001) and the upper extremity function ( P = 0.004) and bladder function ( P = 0.0008) items from the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores significantly correlated with H‒K scores.

Conclusion

This study suggests that advanced age and severe preoperative upper limb and bladder dysfunction are risk factors for dysphagia in patients with cervical myelopathy requiring surgery.
Analysis of postoperative atrial fibrillation and its associated factors in Morrow procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Hu Zhibin , Mao Wenshuai , Guo Lijun , Liu Zhiwei , Hu Xujie , Cui Yong
Published: January 2025

Background

The factors influencing the onset of new atrial fibrillation following the Morrow procedure due to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are unclear. This study investigated the CPB-related factors associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients undergoing minimally invasive ventricular septal myectomy (Morrow procedure) to optimize CPB strategies, reduce the incidence of POAF, and enhance recovery.

Methods

A retrospective clinical data analysis was conducted on 139 patients who underwent minimally invasive Morrow procedures from January to December 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether they developed new-onset atrial fibrillation after surgery, and a comparative study was performed. Multivariate regression analysis were used to assess factors potentially influencing POAF during CPB.

Results

Fifty (36%) patients developed POAF. Comparisons between the POAF group and the non-POAF group revealed significant differences in preoperative hypertension (38.0% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.002), ischaemic cardiomyopathy (40.0% vs. 20.2%, p = 0.012), history of heart failure (44.0% vs. 22.5%, p = 0.008), age (55.16 ± 14.11 vs. 46.28 ± 14.55, p = 0.001), the preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (418.26 ± 243.97 vs. 330.24 ± 152.89, p = 0.019), the left atrial volume index (LAVI) (36.79 ± 12.08 vs. 32.24 ± 10.78, p = 0.024), CPB time (129.80 ± 39.58 vs. 116.96 ± 28.80, p = 0.027), CPB weaning time (25.68 ± 22.56 vs. 19.49 ± 6.78, p = 0.018), rate of re-CPB (14.0% vs. 3.4%, p = 0.020), rate of ultrafast-track cardiac anesthesia (UFTCA) (78.0% vs. 98.9%, p = 0.000), and ΔSII (2874.58 ± 2865.98 vs. 1981.85 ± 1519.89, p = 0.006) (P < 0.05). All patients were discharged, but the ICU (2.07 ± 2.91 vs. 1.38 ± 0.78, p = 0.046) and postoperative hospital stays (11.84 ± 7.50 vs. 9.13 ± 2.62, p = 0.002) were significantly prolonged. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the occurrence of POAF was independently associated with age (OR = 1.047, 95% CI: 1.015–1.080), ΔSII(OR = 13.317, 95% CI: 3.103–57.154) and UFTCA(OR = 0.054, 95% CI: 0.006–0.493) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the increased value of SII was independently associated with CPB weaning time (t = 2.493, p = 0.014) and age(t=-2.270, p = 0.025).

Conclusion

UFTCA is a protective factor against POAF. Age and ΔSII are risk factors for the occurrence of POAF after the Morrow procedure. CPB weaning time and Age are significant influencing factors of ΔSII. Implementing UFTCA and shortening the CPB weaning time are expected to lower the risk of POAF, shorten ICU and hospital stays, and enhance recovery.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable.
Exploring the assessment of post-cardiac valve surgery pulmonary complication risks through the integration of wearable continuous physiological and clinical data
Authors: Li Lixuan , Hu Yuekong , Yang Zhicheng , Luo Zeruxin , Wang Jiachen , Wang Wenqing , Liu Xiaoli , Wang Yuqiang , Fan Yong , Yu Pengming , Zhang Zhengbo
Published: January 2025

Background

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) following cardiac valvular surgery are characterized by high morbidity, mortality, and economic cost. This study leverages wearable technology and machine learning algorithms to preoperatively identify high-risk individuals, thereby enhancing clinical decision-making for the mitigation of PPCs.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, from August 2021 to December 2022. We examined 100 cardiac valvular surgery patients, where wearable technology was utilized to collect and analyze nocturnal physiological data at the 24-hour admission, in conjunction with clinical data extraction from the Hospital Information System’s electronic records. We systematically evaluated three different input types (physiological, clinical, and both) and five classifiers (XGB, LR, RF, SVM, KNN) to identify the combination with strong predictive performance for PPCs. Feature selection was conducted using Recursive Feature Elimination with Cross-Validated (RFECV) for each model, yielding an optimal feature subset for each, followed by a grid search to tune hyperparameters. Stratified 5-fold cross-validation was used to evaluate the generalization performance. The significance of AUC differences between models was tested using the DeLong test to determine the optimal prognostic model comprehensively. Additionally, univariate logistic regression analysis was conducted on the features of the best-performing model to understand the impact of individual feature on PPCs.

Results

In this study, 22 patients (22%) developed PPCs. Across classifiers, models combining both physiological and clinical features performed better than physiological or clinical features alone. Specifically, including physiological data in the classification model improved AUC, ACC, F1, and precision by an average of 8.32%, 1.80%, 3.28% and 6.06% compared to using clinical data only. The XGB classifier, utilizing both dataset, achieved the highest performance with an AUC of 0.82 (± 0.08) and identified eight significant features. The DeLong test indicated that the XGB model utilizing the both dataset significantly outperformed the XGB models trained on the physiological or clinical datasets alone. Univariate logistic regression analysis suggested that surgical methods, age, nni_50, and min_ven_in_mean are significantly associated with the occurrence of PPCs.

Conclusion

The integration of continuous wearable physiological and clinical data significantly improves preoperative risk assessment for PPCs, which helps to optimize surgical management and reduce PPCs morbidity and mortality.
Validity of patient-reported information: agreement rate between patient reports and registry data
Authors: Watanabe Tomone , Ichinose Yuichi , Toida Tsutomu , Higashi Takahiro
Published: January 2025

Background

The accuracy of patient-reported clinical information, including cancer stage, is not well understood. This study aims to evaluate the agreement between patient-reported survey data and clinical information recorded in hospital-based cancer registries (HBCR).

Methods

A total of 730 patients from 166 hospitals in Japan were randomly selected and informed that their survey responses would be validated against HBCR data. Demographic details, including age, sex, cancer stage, and cancer site, were recorded and compared with clinical data from the HBCR. Agreement rates between patients’ self-reported demographic and clinical data and the corresponding HBCR records were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with accurate reporting of cancer stage information.

Results

Agreement rates for age, sex, and cancer site were 99.4%, 99.8%, and over 90% across all cancer sites, respectively. The agreement rate for cancer stage reporting was 49.9%. Patients with stage IV cancer had the highest agreement rate at 68.4%. Patients under 75 years of age and those with specific cancer types demonstrated higher odds of reporting data consistent with HBCR records.

Conclusions

For cancer stage data, relying on more credible sources, such as cancer registries, is recommended over patient-reported information to ensure accuracy.
Implementation of rural provider-to-provider telehealth in country Western Australia: a retrospective observational analysis via the RE-AIM framework
Authors: Toll Kaylie , Robinson Suzanne , Andrew Stephen , Williams Aled , Yeung Justin , Varhol Richard , Moullin Joanna C.
Published: January 2025

Background

Rural provider-to-provider telehealth is growing globally. It is used to both facilitate equitable access to specialist healthcare services for those living in rural and remote areas and provide support to place-based providers. There is limited research on the implementation of these services, especially in an emergency or inpatient hospital setting. The Western Australia Country Health Service (WACHS) Command Centre is one such example. First implemented in 2012, the Command Centre services a geographical area covering 2.55 million square kilometres, a population of approximately 550,000, and provides five clinical streams including Emergency, Mental Health Emergency, Midwifery and Obstetrics Emergency, Inpatient, and Palliative Care Afterhours Telehealth Services.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the implementation and access of rural provider-to-provider telehealth in country Western Australia, for the years 2012 to 2023.

Methods

A retrospective observational analysis was conducted of all patient contacts managed by clinical telehealth streams of the Command Centre, between 31 August 2012 and 31 December 2023. Utilising descriptive statistics, analyses was informed by the expanded Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) Framework and Implementation Outcomes Framework (IOF) definitions.

Results

Over the near 12-year period, a total of 215,965 service contacts were analysed from the five Command Centre clinical streams. There was large variation in the reach and adoption of services across regions, sites, and health facility types, however service scope and activity has increased steadily over time (maintenance). 95 of the 103 WACHS-managed sites had utilised Command Centre clinical telehealth services. The Command Centre has seen an increase in the proportion of clinical telehealth services provided to the most disadvantaged populations, demonstrating improved equity of access (effectiveness) over time.

Conclusion

There is a steady expansion in the availability of provider-to-provider clinical telehealth services delivered by the WACHS Command Centre across country WA, but with wide variability of usage depending on region, site, and health facility type. The results of this study show there is a need to understand the contextual factors influencing the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of the service.
Effectiveness of a training program for the acquisition of motor milestones in infants: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Fernández-Sola Luis , Cano-Díez Beatriz , Pons-Solaz Yessica , Vera-Egido Begoña , Moreno-González Sergio
Published: January 2025

Background

In infants, the acquisition of all motor milestones is considered an expression of correct motor development during the first months of life. An association between typical motor development of the newborn and cognitive areas has been established. Few studies have evaluated the efficiency of parents’ knowledge of expected milestones in healthy infants.

This study aims to determine whether parents’ knowledge of specific tasks can improve the achievement of all gross motor milestones in the newborn.

Method

The current study examined gross motor development in term-born infants without pathologies at 9, 12, and 15 months and the effectiveness of a training program developed for parents. The research group comprised 82 full-term infants divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) of 41 subjects each. A randomized clinical trial study was performed. The routine follow-up program consisted of four informative sessions on the experimental group at the beginning of each trimester with information about the expected motor milestones and how to stimulate their infants to achieve them. The gross motor development of the participants was measured using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale. An ANCOVA test was performed to assess the possible influence of sex, type of birth, or the presence of siblings controlled and uncontrolled as confounding variables on the results.

Results

The initial baseline assessment showed no statistical differences between groups (p > 0,05). After controlling confounding variables, at 9 months the EG scored 5,5 points higher than the CG (p < 0,001). At 12 months, EG scored 3,7 points higher than CG (p < 0,001). At 15 months, EG scored 2,2 points higher than CG (p = 0,001).

The experimental group scored significantly higher, with a 25-point higher percentile in each assessment.

Conclusion

A learning program aimed at increasing parents’ knowledge of their infant´s gross motor development improved it. The information collected will help professionals who support parents in monitoring their babies.

Future studies using larger sample sizes, analysing other domains of global infant development, or investigating the possible influence of other parental factors are recommended.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04693494. Registered December 28, 2020, retrospectively registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04693494.
Glymphatic system clearance and Alzheimer’s disease risk: a CSF proteome-wide study
Authors: Cullell Natalia , Caruana Giovanni , Elias-Mas Andrea , Delgado-Sanchez Ariane , Artero Cristina , Buongiorno Maria Teresa , Almería Marta , Ray Nicola J. , Correa Sonia A. L. , Krupinski Jerzy
Published: January 2025

Background

The emerging evidence of the role of the glymphatic system (GS) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) provides new opportunities for intervention from the earliest stages of the disease. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of GS in AD to identify new disease biomarkers.

Methods

We performed a two-stage proteomic study to evaluate the GS health using intravenous gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) with serial T1 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). In Stage 1 (evaluated in the Cohort 1 of aMCI participants (n = 11)), we correlated the levels of 7K cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins (estimated by SOMAscan) with GS health in 78 Freesurfer-segmented brain regions of interest (ROIs).

Results

A total of seven different proteins were significantly associated with GS health (p-value < 6.4 × 10–4). The stronger correlations were identified for NSUN6, GRAAK, OLFML3, ACTN2, RUXF, SHPS1 and TIM-4. A pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the proteins associated with GS health were mainly implicated in neurodegenerative processes, immunity and inflammation. In Stage 2, we validated these proteomic results in a new cohort of aMCI participants (with and without evidence of AD pathology in CSF (aMCI(-) and aMCI/AD( +); n = 22 and 7, respectively) and healthy controls (n = 10). Proteomic prediction models were generated in each ROI. These were compared with demographic-only models for identifying participants with aMCI(-) and aMCI/AD( +) vs controls. This analysis was repeated to determine if the models could identify those with aMCI/AD( +) from both aMCI(-) and controls. The proteomic models were found to outperform the demographic-only models.

Conclusions

Our study identifies proteins linked with GS health and involved the immune system in aMCI participants.
Applications of liposomes and lipid nanoparticles in cancer therapy: current advances and prospects
Authors: Cheng Zhe , Huang Huichao , Yin Meilong , Liu Huaizheng
Published: January 2025

Liposomes and lipid nanoparticles are common lipid-based drug delivery systems and play important roles in cancer treatment and vaccine manufacture. Although significant progress has been made with these lipid-based nanocarriers in recent years, efficient clinical translation of active targeted liposomal nanocarriers remains extremely challenging. In this review, we focus on targeted liposomes, stimuli-responsive strategy and combined therapy in cancer treatment. We also summarize advances of liposome and lipid nanoparticle applications in nucleic acid delivery and tumor vaccination. In addition, we discuss limitations and challenges in the clinical translation of these lipid nanomaterials and make recommendations for the future research in cancer therapy.

Graphical Abstract