bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factor structure of the alcohol expectancies questionnaire among adolescents in rural Ghana
Authors: Weobong Benedict , Monk Rebecca L. , Anyorikeya Maria , Qureshi Adam W. , Heim Derek
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Children's early experiences with alcohol inform the development of alcohol‐related beliefs which are known to predict alcohol consumption during the critical stage of adolescence. Yet, there has been considerably less research into these alcohol‐related cognitions in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC) and existing measures of these beliefs are highly reflective of Western contexts, which may not be fully appropriate for use in LMICs. The aim is to ascertain the construct validity of the Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire (AEQ) in a non‐Western sample.

Methods

A cross‐sectional diagnostic accuracy study involving 500 adolescents aged 10 to 18 years randomly selected from the database of the Navrongo Health and Demographic Surveillance System. Participants were administered the locally back translated version of the 34‐item AEQ. Confirmatory factor analysis using the lavaan package in R was conducted to generate indices for the factor structure of the AEQ.

Results

Confirmatory factor analyses showed that while groupings of positive and negative expectancies were similar to those observed when expectancies have been assessed previously in Western studies, these formed a single ‘alcohol expectancy’ factor. Questions relating to positive tension reduction and negative physical expectancies showed inconsistent responses in this study.

Discussion and Conclusions

Commonly used tools for the assessment of alcohol expectancies may not be suitable for use in Ghana, possibly owing to their development and validation in Western contexts. These findings have implications for the assessment of alcohol‐related beliefs in LMIC settings and begin to map out a research agenda to develop more contextually and culturally attune alcohol assessments.
Studying serum neurofilament light chain levels as a potential new biomarker for small fiber neuropathy
Authors: Baka Panoraia , Steenken Livia , Escolano‐Lozano Fabiola , Steffen Falk , Papagianni Aikaterini , Sommer Claudia , Pogatzki‐Zahn Esther , Hirsch Silke , Protopapa Maria , Bittner Stefan , Birklein Frank
Published: January 2024

Background and purpose

Diagnosing small fiber neuropathies can be challenging. To address this issue, whether serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) could serve as a potential biomarker of damage to epidermal Aδ‐ and C‐fibers was tested.

Methods

Serum NfL levels were assessed in 30 patients diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy and were compared to a control group of 19 healthy individuals. Electrophysiological studies, quantitative sensory testing and quantification of intraepidermal nerve fiber density after skin biopsy were performed in both the proximal and distal leg.

Results

Serum NfL levels were not increased in patients with small fiber neuropathy compared to healthy controls (9.1 ± 3.9 and 9.4 ± 3.8, p = 0.83) and did not correlate with intraepidermal nerve fiber density at the lateral calf or lateral thigh or with other parameters of small fiber impairment.

Conclusion

Serum NfL levels cannot serve as a biomarker for small fiber damage.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the efficacy of platelet‐rich plasma products for treatment of equine joint disease
Authors: Peng Cong , Yang Luo , Labens Raphael , Gao Yu , Zhu Yiping , Li Jing
Published: January 2024

Background

Equine joint disease including septic arthritis (SA) and osteoarthritis (OA) is a critical cause of equine lameness. Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) is one of the most popular regenerative therapies to treat equine OA, even SA, but the evidence in support of the treatment is conflicting.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to systematically review the current evidence on PRP products used for SA and OA, as well as the efficacy of PRP products as treatment for OA on the basis of a meta‐analysis of the available literature.

Study design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Methods

A systematic search of relevant databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) was performed to identify studies published from 2013 to 2023, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Randomised controlled trials, non‐randomised trials and controlled laboratory studies that used at least one type of PRP products were included. Dichotomous outcomes were presented using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Results

A total of 21 publications were identified in the systematic review and 5 of them in the meta‐analysis. These publications involved various types of PRP products and reported different outcomes. Although most of the studies were associated with a high risk of bias, the overall estimated effect was consistent with a significant improvement in the PRP products treatment group compared with the control group (OR: 15.32; 95% CI: 3.00–78.15; p < 0.05). There was a significant improvement in clinical performance outcomes between the groups (OR: 36.64; 95% CI: 3.69–364.30; p < 0.05).

Conclusion

PRP products as intra‐articular treatment are likely efficacious for treatment of equine OA and have potential for treating SA. These conclusions might be affected by the limited number of randomised controlled studies and high variability of different types of PRP products. To better evaluate the efficacy of PRP, a widely recognised classification system and the utilisation of randomised, blinded, equivalency or non‐inferiority trials are required.
The effect of political alignment on street‐level bureaucrat job satisfaction and motivation
Authors: Piotrowska Barbara Maria
Published: January 2024

This paper examines how political alignment influences the job satisfaction and motivation of street‐level bureaucrats (SLBs)—low‐level frontline workers implementing policies while interacting directly with the public. I argue that political alignment affects SLBs' job satisfaction and motivation to work harder through three theoretical channels: (1) policy‐driven effects, particularly demoralization from implementing disagreeable policies; (2) spill‐over effects from other policy areas; and (3) political person‐organization fit effects, which result in decreased pride in their employer. Using the International Social Survey Program data from 34 countries, and panel data from the German Socio‐Economic Panel, tracking 880 respondents over 30 years, I find a robust link between political alignment and job satisfaction and motivation, and evidence for all three links. These findings underscore the importance of considering political alignment as a key factor in understanding and improving street‐level bureaucrat performance beyond policy‐specific and client‐specific contexts.
Masstige buyers: Profile, perceived luxury values and purchase intentions
Authors: Al‐Issa Nermain , Kwiatek Piotr , Dens Nathalie
Published: January 2024

As the term masstige has only recently emerged, the literature on masstige branding and marketing remains relatively limited. More research is needed to understand better the distinct profiles of masstige and luxury buyers, their perceived luxury values and purchasing motives. Our study, involving 601 UK consumers, aims to address this gap. Based on consumers' self‐reported prior experiences with masstige and luxury brands, we identify four distinct consumer segments: Premium luxury Buyers, Masstige Buyers, Buyers of Both Premium luxury and Masstige, and Non‐luxury buyers who have not previously purchased either Premium luxury or Masstige brands. We then explore each segment's socio‐demographic profiles, their luxury value perceptions, and how these values influence their purchase intentions. Individuals across diverse income levels, spanning low, middle, and high, fall into four distinct segments with unique luxury perceptions. Premium luxury buyers are characterized as socially oriented perfectionists, while masstige buyers align with hedonic materialism. Buyers of both seek self‐distinction. Non‐luxury buyers spire for group conformity, prioritizing experiential enjoyment when given the opportunity. Furthermore, our study offers a practical value‐based positioning framework and a roadmap for brands looking to expand their target markets. This framework can be a valuable resource for luxury marketers seeking to refine their positioning and better align with the values that resonate with their target audiences.
The Access Paradox: unmet healthcare needs among young adults in Alberta – an exploratory study of the systemic ironies in healthcare accessibility
Authors: Rao Sandy
Published: January 2024

There is a pressing need to investigate how young adults' access to healthcare, including how delayed help‐seeking behaviours and the complexities inherent in traditional healthcare systems, exacerbate the challenges they face. This study explores the associations among functional impairments, self‐perceptions of health, anxiety and mood disorders and their potential relationship to unmet healthcare needs among young adults aged 20–29. This cross‐sectional study used data from the 2017–2018 Canadian Community Health Survey to analyse a sample of 1636 young adults from Alberta, Canada. Central to the analysis was the application of conceptual framework of access to health care, as it offers a comprehensive view of healthcare access. Among the sampled young adults, 7.0% reported unmet healthcare needs. Self‐perceived unmet healthcare needs were significantly associated with anxiety disorders, functional impairments—specifically cognitive and social skills, and self‐perceptions of poor or fair mental health, as opposed to those perceiving their mental health as excellent. Multivariable analyses incorporating extraneous variables were not statistically significant, emphasising the critical role of systemic and structural factors in healthcare access. The study presents preliminary insights into the intricate dynamics shaping unmet healthcare needs. These insights can guide future research and practice advances, particularly in developing targeted interventions that effectively reduce healthcare disparities and enhance access to healthcare services for young adults.
Nurse managers' perceptions of the prospective acceptability of an implementation leadership training programme: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Chen Wenjun , Graham Ian D. , Hu Jiale , Lewis Krystina B. , Gifford Wendy
Published: January 2024

Aim

To explore the prospective acceptability of an implementation leadership training programme prototype for nurse managers in China to implement evidence‐based practices, from the perspectives of potential programme participants and deliverers.

Design

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in Spring 2022 at three tertiary hospitals in Hunan, China.

Methods

We conducted individual semi‐structured interviews with unit‐level nurse managers (n = 14), including 12 potential participants, and two potential deliverers that have been involved in developing the programme prototype. Interview questions and thematic analysis were guided by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.

Results

After reviewing the programme content, potential participants and deliverers reported that unit nurse managers would benefit from engaging in the programme, acknowledging that the programme fit with professional nursing values for implementing research evidence. They expressed positive views about being involved in producing academic papers through the training process, and interactive multi‐modal training activities such as group work, experience‐sharing and coaching. Seven participants were not very confident about being fully engaged in the training, as they could not navigate the English research literature. Both participants and deliverers highlighted factors that would influence their participation, including time constraints, the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and support from senior organizational leadership.

Conclusions

The training programme prototype was perceived to be useful and acceptable. The multimodal training activities were considered a strength and managers expressed an interest in writing academic papers about their implementation processes. Support from senior hospital leaders and programme deliverers was identified as critical to the training programme's success.

Impact

The study helps understand nurse managers' perceptions and concerns of participating in an implementation leadership training programme and could inform the development and refinement of similar programmes in various nursing contexts globally.
Patient positioning on the operating table and patient safety: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bentsen Signe Berit , Eide Geir Egil , Wiig Siri , Rustøen Tone , Heen Cathrine , Bjøro Benedikte
Published: January 2024

Aim

To identify occurrence of harmful incidents related to patient positioning on operating table.

Design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Data Sources

Eight databases including Ovid, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar were systematically searched from the inception of the databases to August 2023. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses flow diagram depicting the flow information.

Review Methods

The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tools were used to assess the risk of bias. Risk of harm with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated for each included study, and an overall risk was calculated using meta‐analysis.

Results

Of the 22 included reports, two were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), five had a prospective cohort design, three had a cross‐sectional design, and 12 were register‐based studies. Intraoperative peripheral nerve injuries, perioperative pressure ulcers, musculoskeletal injuries, vascular injuries, postoperative pain and eye injuries were related to supine, lithotomy, Trendelenburg, prone and beach chair positioning. Overall risk of any harm was estimated as 0.2%. Studies with patients placed in prone positioning (8 study samples) had the highest risks of harm varying from 0.19 to 0.81, with an overall risk of 0.33. Meta‐analysis of the two RCTs showed higher risk of chemosis with head‐down positioning than with head in neutral position (overall relative risk = 1.64; 95% CI: [1.25, 2.14]).

Conclusions

Harmful incidents related to patient positioning occur and consequences can be severe. The operating room teams should be aware of the harms and prevent and treat them seriously.

Impact

This review underlines that research is sparse on patient positioning on operating table and harmful incidents. There is a need for high‐quality, well‐designed studies that focus on harmful incidents and prevention of harm related to patient positioning.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution, as this is a review of previous research.
Shareholder voting on golden parachutes: Effective governance or too little too late?
Authors: Gillan Stuart L. , Nguyen Nga Q.
Published: January 2024

The Dodd–Fank Act mandated shareholder votes on executive's change‐in‐control (golden parachute) payments at the time the firm is sold. We study bid premiums surrounding the introduction of the vote and find that they are lower in the post‐period. Moreover, there is a positive association between the relative size of parachute payments and premiums, particularly after the parachute vote was required. In contrast, we observe no association between premiums and parachute features questioned by many shareholders. Additionally, we find lower voting support for parachutes with features that are (i) of concern to shareholders, (ii) amended in the lead‐up to the vote and (iii) identified as problematic in proxy advisor analyst reports. However, we find little evidence that directors overseeing payments with opposition from shareholders or a leading proxy advisor are penalized with lost board seats, fewer key board committee memberships or increased shareholder opposition in subsequent director elections at other firms. Overall, our findings suggest that the parachute vote requirement is too little too late.
Effects and mechanisms of analytics‐assisted reflective assessment in fostering undergraduates' collective epistemic agency in computer‐supported collaborative inquiry
Authors: Yang Yuqin , Feng Xueqi , Zhu Gaoxia , Xie Kui
Published: January 2024

Background

Undergraduates' collective epistemic agency is critical for their productive collaborative inquiry and knowledge building (KB). However, fostering undergraduates' collective epistemic agency is challenging. Studies have demonstrated the potential of computer‐supported collaborative inquiry approaches, such as KB—the focus of this study, and reflective assessment to foster collective epistemic agency.

Objectives

This study used a quasi‐experimental design to examine the impact of reflective assessment on undergraduates' collective epistemic agency and the mechanisms of this impact.

Methods

An experimental class, comprising 40 undergraduates, engaged in KB inquiry enhanced by analytics‐assisted reflective assessment, while a comparison class, comprising 41 undergraduates, engaged in portfolio‐supported reflective assessment in KB inquiry. Classroom observations, audio recordings of group discussions and reflections, and student artefacts were collected in both conditions.

Results and Conclusions

The experimental class demonstrated significantly higher levels of collective epistemic agency than the comparison class, as indicated by their collective knowledge advancement and epistemic and metacognitive actions. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed that reflective assessment enhanced the undergraduates' collective epistemic agency through their collective monitoring and regulation of inquiry and ideas, negotiation and synthesis of the community's ideas, conceptualization of collective theories and identification of collective inquiry trajectories with an internal reflective structure.

Major Takeaways

Higher‐level metacognitive actions are critical for productive collaborative inquiry and higher‐level epistemic agency that does not often occur naturally and should be promoted by appropriate scaffolding strategies. Students need data from learning analytics and accompanying prompt sheets to help them develop the internal metacognitive structure for agency and learning.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of new‐onset atrial fibrillation in the context of COVID‐19 infection
Authors: Rathore Sawai Singh , Atulkar Akanksha , Remala Kavya , Corrales Vanessa Vidaurre , Farrukh Ameer Mustafa , Puar Ravinderjeet Kaur , Yao Sem Josue Nsanh , Ganipineni Vijaya Durga Pradeep , Patel Nirmal , Thota Naganath , Kumar Ashish , Deshmukh Abhishek
Published: January 2024

New‐onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) in COVID‐19 raises significant clinical and public health issues. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to compile and analyze the current literature on NOAF in COVID‐19 and give a more comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and outcomes of NOAF in COVID‐19. A comprehensive literature search was carried out using several databases. The random effect model using inverse variance method and DerSimonian and Laird estimator of Tua2 was used to calculate the pooled prevalence and associated 95% confidence interval (CI). Results for outcome analysis were presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CI and pooled using the Mantel‐Haenszel random‐effects model. The pooled prevalence of NOAF in COVID‐19 was 7.8% (95% CI: 6.54%–9.32%),a pooled estimate from 30 articles (81 929 COVID‐19 patients). Furthermore, our analysis reported that COVID‐19 patients with NOAF had a higher risk of developing severe disease compared with COVID‐19 patients without a history of atrial fibrillation (OR = 4.78, 95% CI: 3.75–6.09) and COVID‐19 patients with a history of pre‐existing atrial fibrillation (OR = 2.75, 95% CI: 2.10–3.59). Similarly, our analysis also indicated that COVID‐19 patients with NOAF had a higher risk of all‐cause mortality compared with, COVID‐19 patients without a history of atrial fibrillation (OR = 3.83, 95% CI: 2.99–4.92) and COVID‐19 patients with a history of pre‐existing atrial fibrillation (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.35–3.96). The meta‐analysis did not reveal any significant publication bias. The results indicate a strong correlation between NOAF and a higher risk of severe illness and mortality. These results emphasize the importance of careful surveillance, early detection, and customized NOAF management strategies to improve clinical outcomes for COVID‐19 patients.
Phylogeographic structure and putative migration pathway of Sogatella furcifera in China based on microsatellite markers
Authors: Xiu Xianzhi , Zhao Yuechao , Ma Haotian , Yu Mingli , Yang Guangyi , Wang Jinyang , Wang Xingya
Published: January 2024

The white back planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), is an important destructive rice pest in Asia that has caused serious economic losses in the main rice‐producing areas of China. To effectively manage this rice pest, it is necessary to investigate its genetic variation and genetic structure and speculate the migration route in China. In this study, we used 12 nuclear microsatellite loci to analyse the genetic variation, gene flow and genetic structure of WBPH in 25 geographic populations in China. Overall, high levels of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation among most populations were detected. Neighbour‐joining dendrograms, STRUCTURE and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed three genetically distinct groups and exhibited an admixed phylogeographic structure. There was a significant low positive correlation between genetic and geographic distances (r2 = 0.105, p = 0.001), which indicated the role of geographic isolation in the genetic structure of WBPH. Migrant routes detection indicated frequent gene flow exchange between North China and Central China, and low bidirectional gene flows between Northeast China and other regions were detected. Accordingly, this study provides useful data for resolving the genetic relationships and large‐scale migration route of the WBPH and thus contributes to developing more effective management strategies for controlling this pest.
Cholelithiasis prevalence and risk factors in individuals with severe or profound intellectual and motor disabilities
Authors: Watanabe A. , Tomioka Y. , Okata Y. , Yoshimura S. , Kumode S. , Iwabuchi S. , Kameoka Y. , Takanarita Y. , Uemura K. , Samejima Y. , Kawasaki Y. , Bitoh Y.
Published: January 2024

Background

The prevalence and risk factors of cholelithiasis in individuals with severe or profound intellectual and motor disabilities (SPIMD) are poorly characterised. Thus, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk determinants of cholelithiasis in a cohort with SPIMD under medical care in a residential facility.

Methods

We categorised 84 patients in a residential hospital for persons with SPIMD into groups: those with (Group CL) and without (Group N) cholelithiasis. Gallstones were detected via computed tomography, ultrasonography or both. We evaluated gastrostomy status, nutritional and respiratory support, constipation, and bladder and kidney stones. Data were significantly analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

The prevalence rate of cholelithiasis in our SPIMD cohort was 27%. There were no significant differences in sex, age, weight, height, or Gross Motor Function Classification System between the two groups. However, more patients received enteral nutrition (39.13% vs. 6.56%; P = 0.000751) and were on ventilator support (56.52% vs. 19.67%; P = 0.00249) in Group CL than in Group N. Enteral nutrition [odds ratio (OR) 10.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.98–54.7] and ventilator support (OR 20.0, 95% CI 1.99–201.0) were identified as independent risk factors for the prevalence of cholelithiasis in patients with SPIMD.

Conclusions

Patients with SPIMD demonstrated an increased prevalence of cholelithiasis, with a notable association between nutritional tonic use and respiratory support. Therefore, to emphasise the need for proactive screening, it is crucial to devise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies specific to patients with SPIMD. Further investigation is essential to validate our findings and explore causative factors.
Relationship between sensory processing patterns and gross motor function of children and adolescents with Down syndrome and typical development: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Brugnaro B. H. , Pauletti M. F. , Lima C. R. G. , Verdério B. N. , Fonseca‐Angulo R. I. , Romão‐Silva B. , de Campos A. C. , Rosenbaum P. , Rocha N. A. C. F.
Published: January 2024

Background

Children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) may experience impairments in sensory and motor skills that can be interrelated. The purposes of this study were (i) to compare the sensory processing patterns and gross motor function between children and adolescents with DS and with typical development (TD) and (ii) to explore associations between these areas in both DS and TD groups.

Method

This cross‐sectional study involved a sample size of 25 participants with DS (mean age 10.24 ± 2.04 years) and 25 participants with TD (mean age 10.04 ± 2.82 years). The sensory processing patterns were assessed using the Sensory Profile Second Version questionnaire, and the gross motor function was measured with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM‐88) dimensions (D) standing, and (E) walking, running, and jumping. Differences between groups were tested using the Mann–Whitney test, and the relationship between the variables was examined using Spearman's correlation tests, with a significance level set at 5%.

Results

Children with DS showed greater difficulties with sensory processing than TD children in Seeker (P < 0.001), Avoider (P < 0.001), Sensitivity (P < 0.001), Registration (P < 0.001), Auditory (P < 0.001), Touch (P = 0.001), Movements (P = 0.001), Oral (P = 0.028), Conduct (P = 0.005), Socioemotional (P < 0.001), and Attentional (P < 0.001) domains. Additionally, children with DS presented lower gross motor function than TD in GMFM‐88, standing (P < 0.001) and walking, running, and jumping (P < 0.001). Correlations were found between greater difficulties with sensory processing in Touch and lower gross motor function in walking, running, and jumping for the DS group.

Conclusion

Our results suggest there are more difficulties in sensory processing patterns and gross motor function in children with DS than in TD. Also, there is a single association between more difficulties in sensory processing and less well‐developed motor function in the DS group. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of all these aspects should be performed in children and adolescents with DS, along with the provision of relevant interventions addressing specific needs.
Transforming growth factor‐β1 protects against white matter injury and reactive astrogliosis via the p38 MAPK pathway in rodent demyelinating model
Authors: Xie Yi , Chen Xuejiao , Wang Xinyue , Liu Shuai , Chen Simiao , Yu Zhiyuan , Wang Wei
Published: January 2024

In central nervous system (CNS), demyelination is a pathological process featured with a loss of myelin sheaths around axons, which is responsible for the diseases of multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and so on. Transforming growth factor‐beta1 (TGF‐β1) is a multifunctional cytokine participating in abundant physiological and pathological processes in CNS. However, the effects of TGF‐β1 on CNS demyelinating disease and its underlying mechanisms are controversial and not well understood. Herein, we evaluated the protective potential of TGF‐β1 in a rodent demyelinating model established by lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) injection. It was identified that supplement of TGF‐β1 evidently rescued the cognitive deficit and motor dysfunction in LPC modeling mice assessed by novel object recognition and balance beam behavioral tests. Besides, quantified by luxol fast blue staining, immunofluorescence, and western blot, administration of TGF‐β1 was found to significantly ameliorate the demyelinating lesion and reactive astrogliosis by suppressing p38 MAPK pathway. Mechanistically, the results of in vitro experiments indicated that treatment of TGF‐β1 could directly promote the differentiation and migration of cultured oligodendrocytes. Our study revealed that modulating TGF‐β1 activity might serve as a promising and innovative therapeutic strategy in CNS demyelinating diseases.
Diffusion tensor imaging of the brain in children with sensory processing disorder: A review
Authors: Jang Woo‐Hyuk , Lee Seon‐Hee
Published: January 2024

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a clinical condition characterized by difficulties in the neurological processes of registering, discriminating, organizing, and responding to various sensory sensations. This study aimed to review the association between impaired white matter (WM) tract structure and neurofunctional deficits in children with SPD using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the online databases Google Scholar and PubMed (from 2010 to July 2023), resulting in the selection of nine relevant studies. Findings revealed that the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), posterior corona radiata (PCR), and posterior thalamic radiation (PTR) exhibited reduced microstructural integrity, strongly associated with SPD. Specifically, auditory over‐responsivity, a subtype of SPD, was linked to impaired integrity of the PCR, PTR, anterior corona radiata, and SLF. Tactile over‐responsivity (TOR) was correlated with markers of decreased integrity in the SCC, superior corona radiata, and left PTR. Among the DTI parameters, decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) emerged as the most reliable factor for identifying SPD, followed by increased radial diffusivity (RD) and mean diffusivity (MD). Notably, significant correlations were observed between with auditory over‐responsivity and TOR with the DTI parameters (positive for FA and negative for RD and MD). Overall, this review confirms the impaired integrity of specific WM tracts in children with SPD and establishes correlations between DTI parameters and neurobehavioral deficits associated with the disorder. The insights gained from this review contribute to a better understanding of SPD and hold clinical implications for its diagnosis and treatment.
Prospect equality: A force of redistribution
Authors: Qu Xiangyu
Published: January 2024

Recent evidence demonstrates that the perceived, not the actual, level of income inequality influences the redistribution policy. The perception of inequality, as conceptualized in this paper, is closely related to both objective inequality and prospect equality. An axiomatic system of individual preferences is suggested and demonstrated to characterize an index of perceived inequality. Prospect equality reflects the individual ideal level of equality, and it serves as a reference point for perception. I adopt the proposed notion to study voting on redistribution. I theoretically identify the conditions under which a more equal society will demand redistribution while a less equal society blocks redistribution. These insights help explain the redistribution puzzle observed across nations.
Sleep disorders, anxiety and obesity associated with untreated dental caries in children eight to ten years of age
Authors: de Lima Larissa Chaves Morais , Bernardino Veruska Medeiros Martins , Leal Tiago Ribeiro , Granja Gélica Lima , Paiva Saul Martins , Granville‐Garcia Ana Flávia
Published: January 2024

Objective

To evaluate the presence of sleep disorders, obesity and anxiety associated with cavitated carious lesions in children aged 8 to 10 years.

Materials and Methods

A cross‐sectional study was carried out in the Northeast of Brazil. The sample was comprised of 793 schoolchildren randomly selected from public and private schools. Calibrated examiners (Kappa >0.80) performed the clinical examination of dental caries using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System and applied the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children questionnaires. The anthropometric variables evaluated were weight and height. Negative binomial regressions (α ≤ 0.05) were performed. A Directed Acyclic Graph was prepared using DAGitty software (version 3.0), to select the co‐variables for the statistical fits.

Results

The prevalence of tooth decay was 52.8%. The mean number of tooth surfaces with cavitated caries was 2.2(2.8), 58.9% of the schoolchildren had some type of sleep disorder, while 20.2% were anxious and 29.1% were obese. Sleep disturbance (RR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.05–1.83), general anxiety (RR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.32–2.21), obesity (RR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.17–1.86) were associated with dental caries in the final model.

Conclusion

The presence of carious lesions was higher in children with sleep disorders, anxiety, obesity, and those who experienced dry mouth.
Plantness, Animalness, and Humanness: plant placement within animacy and adjacent scales
Authors: Lubbe Frederick Curtis , Castillo Alfonzo Kenny G.
Published: January 2024

Animacy is an important framework through which humans view and categorize the world, but many objects do not easily fit within this scale. Plants are unique because they are very familiar to humans, yet the features and traits relevant for placement within the animacy scale are generally poorly understood by the public. Animacy occurs at three levels, with the inherent attributes of the object (biology), how they are perceived (cognition), and how they are expressed in languages (linguistics). Animacy is dependent on qualification and perception as alive, mobile, and intentional. In the absence of visible movement, classification is dependent on featural attributes indicating mobility or placement in a group recognized as animate (animalness). Plants have complicated bodies whose forms and structures are frequently clear representations of their life history and function (plantness), more than many animals, yet these signs of movement and activity are rarely recognized. The animacy scale may be more closely based on human similarity (humanness) with humans as the peak of life, mobility, and intentionality. As humans, we can have an anthropocentric viewpoint, rendering plants as scenery or utility, or use anthropomorphic interaction to better understand and recognize the dynamic lives of plants. The goal of this review is to compare the current evidence on the placement of plants within animacy and adjacent scales with the biology and habit of land plants, to better understand human perception and behaviour, and work with this process to educate and inform people about the complex lives of plants.
Aquaponics as a climate‐smart technology for sustainable food production: A comparison with conventional production system in United Arab Emirates
Authors: Nishanth Drishya , Alshamsi Mariam H. S. , Alkaabi Alreem M. K. A. , AlKaabi Aysha H. A. , Alnuaimi Shamma H. K. , Nair Chythra Somanathan , Jaleel Abdul
Published: January 2024

This research aimed to standardize the growth of two commonly cultivated herbs in the United Arab Emirates, basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), within an aquaponic system. The study compared a recirculatory aquaponic system (RAS) with static aquaculture systems (for fish performance) and irrigated greenhouse cultivation systems (for herb performance). The project assessed growth, element composition, and aquaponic efficacy to determine the viability of aquaponics for these herbs. In the soilless (aquaponic) system, both herbs exhibited significantly enhanced growth parameters, including plant height, root length, leaf count, and fresh and dry weights, compared to conventional soil‐based cultivation. This growth enhancement was attributed to the additional nutrients derived from fish waste in the aquaponic system. Furthermore, plants displayed significantly higher element levels, highlighting the effectiveness of aquaponics in nutrient delivery. Notably, the aquaponic system demonstrated superior antioxidant activity in both herbs. The study also revealed remarkable water use efficiency in the aquaponic system, with water savings exceeding 90% compared to conventional methods. These findings establish the efficiency and sustainability of aquaponic systems over traditional food production approaches, particularly in arid regions such as the United Arab Emirates. Utilizing an aquaponic system for these commonly cultivated herbs resulted in improved growth and resource efficiency, affirming its viability as an environmentally sustainable and efficient method of food production in desert climates.
Multi‐view stereo for weakly textured indoor 3D reconstruction
Authors: Wang Tao , Gan Vincent J. L.
Published: January 2024

A 3D reconstruction enables an effective geometric representation to support various applications. Recently, learning‐based multi‐view stereo (MVS) algorithms have emerged, replacing conventional hand‐crafted features with convolutional neural network‐encoded deep representation to reduce feature matching ambiguity, leading to a more complete scene recovery from imagery data. However, the state‐of‐the‐art architectures are not designed for an indoor environment with abundant weakly textured or textureless objects. This paper proposes AttentionSPP‐PatchmatchNet, a deep learning‐based MVS algorithm designed for indoor 3D reconstruction. The algorithm integrates multi‐scale feature sampling to produce global‐context‐aware feature maps and recalibrates the weight of essential features to tackle challenges posed by indoor environments. A new dataset designed exclusively for indoor environments is presented to verify the performance of the proposed network. Experimental results show that AttentionSPP‐PatchmatchNet outperforms state‐of‐the‐art algorithms with relative 132.87% and 163.55% improvements at the 10 and 2 mm threshold, respectively, making it suitable for accurate and complete indoor 3D reconstruction.
RFX transcription factor in the human‐associated yeast Candida albicans regulates adhesion to oral epithelium
Authors: Rodríguez Diana L. , Lindemann‐Perez Elena , Perez J. Christian
Published: January 2024

Adhesion to mucosal surfaces is a critical step in many bacterial and fungal infections. Here, using a mouse model of oral infection by the human fungal pathobiont Candida albicans, we report the identification of a novel regulator of C. albicans adhesion to the oral mucosa. The regulator is a member of the regulatory factor X (RFX) family of transcription factors, which control cellular processes ranging from genome integrity in model yeasts to tissue differentiation in vertebrates. Mice infected with the C. albicans rfx1 deletion mutant displayed increased fungal burden in tongues compared to animals infected with the reference strain. High‐resolution imaging revealed RFX1 transcripts being expressed by C. albicans cells during infection. Concomitant with the increase in fungal burden, the rfx1 mutant elicited an enhanced innate immune response. Transcriptome analyses uncovered HWP1, a gene encoding an adhesion protein that mediates covalent attachment to buccal cells, as a major RFX1‐regulated locus. Consistent with this result, we establish that C. albicans adhesion to oral cells is modulated by RFX1 in an HWP1‐dependent manner. Our findings expand the repertoire of biological processes controlled by the RFX family and illustrate a mechanism whereby C. albicans can adjust adhesion to the oral epithelium.
Exploring critically ill patients' and their relatives' experiences of intensive care unit during COVID‐19: A qualitative study
Authors: Lehmkuhl Lene , Munck Maja Stensdal , Rothmann Mette Juel , Sorknæs Anne Dichmann
Published: January 2024

Background

Admission to an intensive care unit has physiological and psychological consequences for patients and families, including the family's fear that the patient might die. The COVID‐19 pandemic underlined this and furthermore involved visiting restrictions separating patients and families.

Aim

To explore how patients with confirmed COVID‐19 and their relatives experienced an intensive care unit stay and its significance for family dynamics.

Study Design

A qualitative study was performed during the spring of 2020. Five dyadic interviews were conducted with COVID‐19 patients admitted to an intensive care unit and their relatives. The analysis was inspired by Hochman's dyadic analysis.

Findings

The analysis revealed three themes: (1) From ill to critically ill: The trauma of separation and fear of losing loved ones; (2) The relatives' significant role in creating a shared coherent understanding of the admission in ICU due to COVID‐19; (3) The nurses' roles as a go‐between in maintenance of the family dynamic.

Conclusion

Separation challenged family function and destabilized family dynamics. Nurses provided emotional support, information about and contact with the patient and relatives. The patients' distorted perception of reality and lack of memory were reconstructed in new family narratives, which offered relief and stabilization of family dynamics. The nurses entered into a triad with the patient and relatives, which also contributed to maintaining a relational dynamic in the family.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Maintaining communication between health professionals, relatives and patients, and usage of virtual visits during intensive care unit stay can support the family relationship. Nurse therapeutic conversations might help families' in redefining their family dynamics after ICU admission.
The Reactivation of working memory representations affects attentional guidance
Authors: Che Xiaowei , Lian Haomin , Zhang Feiyan , Li Shouxin , Zheng Yuanjie
Published: January 2024

Recent studies have suggested that the neural activity that supported working memory (WM) storage is dynamic over time and this dynamic storage decides memory performance. Does the temporal dynamic of the WM representation also affect visual search, and how does it interact with distractor suppression over time? To address these issues, we tracked the time course of the reactivation of WM representations during visual search by analyzing the electroencephalogram (EEG) and event‐related optical signals (EROS) in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively, and investigated the interaction between the representation reactivation and distractor suppression in Experiment 3. Participants had to maintain a color in WM under high‐ or low‐precision requirement and perform a subsequent search task. The reactivation of WM representations was defined by the above‐chance decoding accuracy. The EEG results showed that compared with the low‐precision requirement, WM‐matching distractors captured more attention and the WM representation were reactivated more frequently under high‐precision requirement. The EROS results showed that compared with the low‐precision requirement, the increased activity in occipital cortex in the WM‐matching versus WM‐mismatching conditions was observed at 224 ms during visual search under high‐precision requirement. Regression analysis showed that the representation reactivation during visual search directly predicted the behavioral WM‐based attentional capture effect, while the representation reactivation before visual search impacted the WM‐based attentional capture effect through the mediation of distractor suppression during visual search. These results suggest that the reactivation of WM representations and distractor suppression collectively determine WM‐based attentional capture.
Prevalence of postnatal anxiety disorders in mothers of preterm infants: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Ndjomo Gilles , Blairy Sylvie , Durieux Nancy
Published: January 2024

Objective:

The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate and synthesize the available evidence on the prevalence of postnatal anxiety disorders in mothers of preterm infants within 12 months of delivery.

Introduction:

Mothers of preterm infants report more postpartum psychological problems than other mothers. Anxiety disorders are among the most frequently reported manifestations, and affect the quality of maternal care and the baby’s development. However, data on the prevalence of postnatal anxiety disorders in mothers of preterm infants are inconsistent and imprecise. It is, therefore, necessary to estimate the prevalence of anxiety disorders among mothers of premature infants in order to develop appropriate interventions for screening, support, and treatment.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will consider studies conducted in any setting and any geographical location that report on the prevalence of any anxiety disorders in mothers of preterm infants within 12 months of delivery. Any analytical or descriptive observational studies and experimental or quasi-experimental studies will be included.

Methods:

MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Google Scholar, MedNar, and the World Health Organization website will be searched for studies written in English or French. Screening, critical appraisal, and data extraction will be performed by 2 independent reviewers using the relevant JBI systematic review tools. The findings will be presented in narrative format, including tables and figures to aid in data presentation.

Review registration:

PROSPERO CRD42023428202
Mechanical Models of Collagen Networks for Understanding Changes in the Failure Properties of Aging Skin
Authors: Witt Nathan J. , Woessner Alan E. , Herrmann Jacob , Quinn Kyle P. , Sander Edward A.
Published: January 2024

Skin undergoes mechanical alterations due to changes in the composition and structure of the collagenous dermis with aging. Previous studies have conflicting findings, with both increased and decreased stiffness reported for aging skin. The underlying structure–function relationships that drive age-related changes are complex and difficult to study individually. One potential contributor to these variations is the accumulation of nonenzymatic crosslinks within collagen fibers, which affect dermal collagen remodeling and mechanical properties. Specifically, these crosslinks make individual fibers stiffer in their plastic loading region and lead to increased fragmentation of the collagenous network. To better understand the influence of these changes, we investigated the impact of nonenzymatic crosslink changes on the dermal microstructure using discrete fiber networks representative of the dermal microstructure. Our findings suggest that stiffening the plastic region of collagen's mechanical response has minimal effects on network-level stiffness and failure stresses. Conversely, simulating fragmentation through a loss of connectivity substantially reduces network stiffness and failure stress, while increasing stretch ratios at failure.
Fault Diagnosis for Road Heading Bearings Based on a Multiscale Enhanced Cascaded Difference Filter
Authors: Qu Xiaofei , Zhang Yongkang , Yin Li
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a novel multiscale morphological filter (MMF), called multiscale enhanced cascaded difference filter (MECDF), is proposed for the fault detection of road heading bearings. First, the cascaded morphological operators are established based on the cascade of the basic morphological operators with similar properties, and then the morphological difference operation is introduced to propose the cascaded difference operators. Subsequently, the enhanced cascaded difference operator (ECDO) is constructed through the convolution of cascaded difference operators. Moreover, since the scale range of structure element (SE) also determines the filtering performance of multiscale morphological filter, an improved multiscale analysis method is presented to select the optimal scale range. Finally, the bearing experimental signals are implemented to validate the effectiveness of MECDF. Experimental results testify that the scale range determined by the MECDF is better than other multiscale morphological filters. Meanwhile, the feature extraction capability of ECDO is also better than other existing morphological difference operators.