bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initial Outcomes After Unicompartmental Tibiofemoral Bipolar Osteochondral and Meniscal Allograft Transplantation in the Knee Using MOPS-Preserved Fresh (Viable) Tissues
Authors: Cook James L. , Rucinski Kylee , Crecelius Cory R. , Stannard James P.
Published: January 2023

Background:

Unicompartmental tibiofemoral bipolar osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCAT) with meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has not historically been associated with consistently successful outcomes for treatment of knee articular cartilage defects with meniscal deficiency.

Hypothesis:

Primary OCAT and MAT using fresh tissues will be associated with successful short-term outcomes based on statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function in the majority of patients.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Patients were prospectively enrolled into a registry for outcomes after OCAT and MAT. Patients included those who underwent primary OCAT and MAT using Missouri Osteochondral Preservation System (MOPS)–preserved allografts for treatment of large bipolar tibiofemoral articular cartilage defects with meniscal deficiency and had a minimum of 2-year follow-up data.

Results:

A total of 76 patients (n = 52 male; 68%) met inclusion criteria (mean follow-up, 52 months). The mean age was 41.1 years (range, 15-69 years), and the mean body mass index was 28.9 (range, 17-46); 48 patients underwent another OCAT in addition to the unicompartmental bipolar tibiofemoral OCAT and MAT; 23 patients (30.3%) were documented to be nonadherent to the prescribed postoperative restriction and rehabilitation protocol. The initial success rate (>2 years) was 77.6%, with 8 patients (10.5%) undergoing revision and 9 (11.8%) converting to arthroplasty. Variables associated with an increased risk for treatment failure (revision or arthroplasty) included ipsilateral osteotomy ( P = .046; odds ratio [OR] = 3.3), ipsilateral concurrent procedure ( P = .0057; OR = 5.5), and nonadherence ( P = .0009; OR = 7.2). None of the patients undergoing revision surgery required arthroplasty at the time of data analysis such that the overall success rate for primary and revision unicompartmental bipolar OCA plus MAT was 88.2%. There were statistically significant ( P < .0001) and clinically important improvements for all patient-reported outcomes at each annual follow-up time point.

Conclusion:

Unicompartmental tibiofemoral bipolar OCAT and MAT can result in successful short-term outcomes (2-6 years) and satisfaction in the majority of patients (78%). Primary MOPS-preserved OCAT with MAT for treatment of femoral condyle and tibial plateau articular cartilage defects with concurrent meniscal deficiency was associated with statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported measures of pain and function.
Home Modifications for Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sheth Sohum , Cogle Christopher R.
Published: January 2023

While ≧10,000 Americans turn 65 years old every day, only 10% of American homes are “aging ready.” Unsafe homes can exacerbate disability, lead to falls, and increase the likelihood of hospitalization. With increased investments in home and community-based services, public health stakeholders are considering home modifications to promote successful aging. While several home modification models exist, there is significant heterogeneity between models and no consensus on critical features. PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were reviewed and twelve randomized controlled trials of home modifications for older adults were identified and evaluated for model structure, reported outcomes, and risk of bias. Overall, occupational therapist-driven home modifications supplemented with clinical, physical activity, and/or behavioral components saw the greatest success. This systematic review discusses the components of these models, highlights particularly effective and frequently used features, and the practice and research needed to create effective next-generation home modification models which promote healthy longevity.
Strategies for refinement of occupational inhalation exposure evaluation in the EPA TSCA risk evaluation process
Authors: Lynch Heather N. , Allen Laura H. , Hamaji Claire M. , Maier Andrew
Published: January 2023

The focus on occupational exposures in the first published risk evaluations of existing chemicals by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) puts a welcome spotlight on protecting the health of workers in the United States. Because new, fit-for-purpose occupational exposure assessment methodologies were developed by EPA, the objective of this analysis was to evaluate these methodologies in light of other existing occupational risk assessment frameworks. We focused our analysis on three chlorinated chemicals (methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene). The EPA’s methods were evaluated relative to peer-reviewed and professional organizations’ guidelines for conducting site- and facility-based exposure assessment. Analyses of several key phases in the EPA approach were conducted to evaluate the effect of alternative approaches on exposure estimates. The revised exposure estimates using these alternative approaches yielded substantially different exposure estimates from those in the TSCA risk evaluations for these chemicals. The results also demonstrated the importance of utilizing a tiered approach to exposure estimation that includes collecting qualitative data, defining similar exposure groups, and integrating well-parameterized models with empirical data. These approaches aid in preventing mischaracterization of exposures and generating exposure estimates representative of current industrial practices. Collaboration among industry, EPA, and other government agencies to develop a harmonized approach to exposure assessment would improve the methodological rigor of, and increase stakeholder confidence in, the results of TSCA risk evaluations.
Capturer les effets de contexte depuis le guichet. Une analyse multiniveau de la fabrique des discriminations
Authors: Bourgeois Marine
Published: January 2023

Cet article examine plusieurs défis méthodologiques associés à l’approche multiniveau, à partir des choix opérés lors d’une recherche visant à expliquer la récurrence des discriminations dans l’accès au logement social. Prenant appui sur des enquêtes ethnographiques principalement réalisées aux niveaux micro et méso, cette recherche adopte une double focale centrée sur les pratiques professionnelles et les effets de contexte, pour saisir des processus de reproduction à l’échelle macro. Comment faire varier les niveaux d’analyse par l’enquête ethnographique ? Comment extraire des éléments macro à partir de données récoltées principalement au niveau micro ou méso ? Comment caractériser les relations entre ces différents niveaux d’analyse ? Pour répondre à ces questions, je propose d’abord un bref état de la littérature sur le travail bureaucratique et pose les bases d’une approche multiniveau de la street-level bureaucracy. Je reviens ensuite sur mes principaux choix méthodologiques, la trajectoire de mon enquête, ainsi que les techniques mises en œuvre pour analyser le matériau empirique. Enfin, je montre, sur la base des résultats de l’enquête, comment l’approche multiniveau permet de caractériser les liens micro-méso-macro en termes de couplage-découplage et de hiérarchiser les explications du travail bureaucratique.
Association Between Frailty, 30-day Unplanned Readmission and Mortality After Hospitalization for Heart Failure: Results From the Nationwide Readmissions Database
Authors: Rubens Muni , Ramamoorthy Venkataraghavan , Saxena Anshul , Ruiz-Pelaez Juan G. , Ahmed Md Ashfaq , Zhang Zhenwei , McGranaghan Peter , Chaparro Sandra , Jimenez Javier
Published: January 2023

Objectives: This study examined how frailty in traditional risk-adjusted models could improve the predictability of unplanned 30-day readmission and mortality among heart failure patients. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of Nationwide Readmissions Database data collected during the years 2010–2018. All patients ≥65 years who had a principal diagnosis of heart failure were included in the analysis. The Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups frailty-defining diagnosis indicator was used to identify frail patients. Results: There was a total of 819,854 patients admitted for heart failure during the study period. Among them, 63,302 (7.7%) were frail. In the regression analysis, the risk of all-cause 30-day readmission (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.14–1.22) and in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.40–1.66) were higher in patients with frailty. Discussion: Inclusion of frailty in comorbidity-based risk-prediction models significantly improved the predictability of unplanned 30-day readmission and in-hospital mortality.
Investigations on erosion performance of carbon fiber–epoxy-based composite adhesion on 16Cr5Ni steel
Authors: Sharma Mithlesh , Goyal Deepak Kumar , Bansal Anuj , Singla Anil Kumar , Grover Neel Kanth , Gupta Munish Kumar , Khanna Navneet
Published: January 2023

This work presents a novel insight into slurry erosion behavior of thin layer of carbon fiber–epoxy-based composite adhered on 16Cr5Ni steel (adhesive coating) to evaluate its viability as a feasible candidate for slurry erosion applications. Experiments were conducted on a laboratory-developed slurry erosion test rig under accelerated conditions to study the effect erosion parameters namely slurry concentration, impact angle, and impact velocity. Under all the experimental conditions, adhesive coating showed better slurry erosion resistance in comparison with bare 16Cr5Ni steel specimens. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that in the case of bare 16Cr5Ni steel; ploughing, micro-cutting, crater, plastic deformation, and lip formation were identified as main mechanism responsible for slurry erosion, whereas in the case of adhesive coating; pitting, cracking, fracturing, and shearing-off were found to be mainly responsible for material loss. It implies that adhesive coating showed a brittle mode of failure under slurry erosion conditions, whereas 16Cr5Ni steel exhibited a ductile mode of erosion.
Patterns of Medication Use and Their Determinants in Pregnancy among Women Admitted to the Obstetrics Wards of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study: Patterns of Medication Use and Their Determinants in Pregnancy
Authors: Rajan Boney , Pasangha Elaina , Devi Padmini , George Shirley
Published: January 2023

Objective

To assess the patterns and factors affecting medication use during antenatal and perinatal periods and to examine maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant women admitted to a tertiary care hospital in a developing country.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the obstetrics wards from 2017 to 2019. Data on patient demographics, co-existent medical conditions, medications, and patient outcomes were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze baseline data, chi-square test was used for categorical variables, and multivariate logistic regression was used for factors influencing drug prescription.

Results

Out of 442 pregnant women, 56% were primigravida with a mean age of 24.7 ± 3.9 years. Approximately 32% experienced at least one disease condition during pregnancy; hypothyroidism (9.7%) was the commonest. The mean number of medications was 2.7 and 38.9% received drugs for a disease condition. Antimicrobials (24.5%) were the commonest drug class. Maternal age of over 25 [(OR (CI): 1.508 (1.191–2.716) ( p = .005)] and maternal illness [OR (CI) 2.934 (1.8–4.7) ( p = .00)] were identified as factors affecting drug prescription. Approximately 39.8% of deliveries were cesarean. Of the newborns, 12.6% had low birth weight, 9.2% were admitted to the newborn intensive care unit, and 14.9% were premature.

Conclusions

Most patients were primigravida and under 25 years. Antimicrobials were the most prescribed drug class. Maternal age over 25 years and maternal illness were identified as the factors affecting medication use. The prevalence of cesareans and prematurity was similar to previous studies.
‘In time, every worker a capitalist’: Accumulation by legitimation and authoritarian neoliberalism in Thatcher’s Britain
Authors: Da Costa Vieira Thomas
Published: January 2023

In this article, I show that current literature on authoritarian neoliberalism has not only overlooked the crucial role of legitimation in authoritarian neoliberal regimes, both pre- and post-2008, it has also failed to properly conceptualise it. While existing scholarship mainly pictures neoliberal governments as pursuing legitimation to ensure accumulation remains unopposed, I instead argue that neoliberal governments see legitimation as an instrument of, and precondition for, accumulation – as directly feeding into it. Indeed, my contribution shows that governments aim to transform citizens into neoliberal subjects that actively and willingly participate in neoliberal accumulation. I call this project, which relies on state-driven mass behavioural change, a strategy of ‘accumulation by legitimation’. The article illustrates this with the case of Thatcherism, analysing newly released governmental archival sources through a Marxist-Foucauldian framework. I unearth the Thatcher government’s propaganda campaign and employee involvement policy, which were a combined effort to influence the British people through governmental education, share ownership as well as communication and consultation in industry. The objective was to turn British workers into self-identifying capitalists that would willingly support the market order and accept its imperatives by themselves, such as the need to moderate their own wage demands. Thatcherites saw this as a prerequisite for their employment and counter-inflationary policies to work. This far-reaching strategy however faced significant obstacles, both from inside government and from British capital, illustrating key contradictions in neoliberalism. While neoliberal ideas endure, this sheds light on the incomplete and fragile character of neoliberal hegemony up to today.
Predictors and Outcomes of Palliative Care Consultations for Patients With Liver Disease: Results of a Cohort Study of 75 Million Medical Records
Authors: Mohy-ud-din Nabeeha , Syed Aslam , Strahotin Cristina , Babich Michael
Published: January 2023

Background: Liver transplant is the only cure for cirrhosis. We studied the impact of palliative care on patient care by conducting a population-based cohort study. Methods: We queried the Explorys database (IBM, New York) database for a diagnosis of ‘cirrhosis’ followed by ‘palliative care consultation’ and collected demographic and clinical data. Results: We identified 316,970 patients with cirrhosis. Palliative care was consulted for 10.9% (n = 34,600) of patients. Patients aged >65 [OR 1.33 (1.30-1.36), P < .0001], men [OR 1.13 (1.11-1.16), P < .0001], a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [OR 2.53 (2.45-2.60), P < .0001] were more likely to receive a palliative care consultation. Patients for whom palliative care were consulted were less likely to undergo surgical procedures [OR .49 (.47-.50)]. Conclusion: Only about 1 in 10 cirrhotics received a palliative care consultation. Older patients, males, and patients with a diagnosis of HCC are more likely to receive palliative care.
“I Want Different for My Child:” An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Mothers’ Histories of Disordered Eating and the Impact on Their Parenting Approach
Authors: Horton Emily
Published: January 2023

Prevalence rates of disordered eating behaviors impact 13% of young women and 7% of young men in the United States. Most existing research emphasizes the significant impact that the family of origin, namely parents, has on the children's relationship with food, their body, and exercise. Yet, little research exists on the parents’ experience healing from disordered eating and its impact on their approach to parenting. Accordingly, this paper presents an in-depth exploration of the lived experiences and personal meaning of mothers’ experience healing from disordered eating and its impact on their childrearing approach. Semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed as per interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four themes emerged my upbringing and its impact on my relationship with my body, removing shame and changing my family tree, reparenting ourselves alongside our children, and it's bigger than food. The findings highlight the importance of supporting parents in their healing process specific to disordered eating as well as their parenting approach to change their family's relationships with food, bodies, and movement.
The association of systemic lupus erythematosus with short-term mortality in sepsis: a population-level analysis
Authors: Oud Lavi , Garza John
Published: January 2023

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with higher risks of sepsis and sepsis-related mortality compared to the general population. However, the prognostic impact of SLE in sepsis is uncertain. We used statewide data to identify hospitalizations aged ≥18 years in Texas with sepsis, with and without SLE during 2014–2017. Multilevel logistic regression with propensity adjustment (primary model), propensity score matching, and multivariable logistic regression without propensity adjustment were used to estimate the association of SLE with short-term mortality (defined as in-hospital mortality or discharge to hospice) among sepsis hospitalizations. Among 283,025 sepsis hospitalizations, 2933 (1.0%) had SLE. Compared to sepsis hospitalizations without SLE, those with SLE were younger (aged ≥65 years, 25.0% vs 57.0%) and had higher burden of comorbidities (mean Deyo comorbidity index 3.0 vs 2.6). Short-term mortality of sepsis hospitalizations with and without SLE was 22.9% vs 31.3%. SLE remained associated with lower short-term mortality on the secondary models, but not on the primary one (adjusted odds ratio: 0.905; 95% confidence interval: 0.817–1.001). When in-hospital mortality was used as secondary outcome, SLE was associated with mortality only on propensity score matching. The increased sepsis-related mortality in SLE is driven by higher risk of sepsis, but not by higher case fatality among septic patients. SLE may be associated with lower risk of mortality among septic patients, but further studies are needed due to heterogeneity of the prognostic associations across models.
Caliber of the deep veins of the arm in infants and neonates: The VEEIN study (Vascular Echography Evaluation in Infants and Neonates)
Authors: Zanaboni Clelia , Bevilacqua Michela , Bernasconi Filippo , Appierto Linda , Annetta Maria Giuseppina , Pittiruti Mauro
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

Ultrasound-guided peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are increasingly used in children, though their insertion may be limited by the small caliber of the deep veins of the arm. Previous studies have suggested to use age or weight as a guide to the feasibility of PICC insertion. We have planned an observational study with the purpose of identifying the actual feasibility of PICC insertion based on the ultrasound evaluation of the deep veins of the arm in groups of children of different weight range.

Methods:

We have studied 252 children weighing between 2.5 and 20 kg, divided in five different groups (group 1: 2.5–4 kg; group 2: 4.1–7 kg; group 3: 7.1–10 kg; group 4: 10.1–15 kg; group 5: 15.1–20 kg): the caliber of brachial vein, basilic vein, and cephalic vein at mid-upper arm + the caliber of the axillary vein at the axilla were measured by ultrasound scan.

Results:

Veins of caliber >3 mm (appropriate for insertion of a 3 Fr non-tunneled PICC) were found at mid-upper arm in no child of group 1 or 2, in 13% of group 3, in 28% of group 4, and in 54% of group 5. An axillary vein >3 mm (appropriate for insertion of a 3 Fr tunneled PICC) were found in 5.8% of group 1, 30.6% of group 2, 67% of group 3, 82% of group 4, and 94% of group 5.

Conclusions:

The age and the weight of the child have a small role in predicting the caliber of the veins of the arm. Veins should be measured case by case through a proper and systematic ultrasound evaluation; however, the clinician can expect that insertion of a 3 Fr PICC may be feasible in one third of children weighing between 4 and 7 kg, and in most children weighing more than 7 kg, especially if adopting the tunneling technique.
Diagnostic and treatment concordance in primary care participants and dermatologists utilizing Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO)
Authors: Becevic Mirna , Ge Bin , Braudis Kara , Cintrón Coralys , Fleming David , Shyu Chi-Ren , Edison Karen
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Suboptimal access to dermatologic care is dependent on patient location and insurance type. Although there have been attempts to address access issues, barriers to providing excellent dermatologic care to all patients at the right time still exist. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical impact of Dermatology Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) project participation on primary care providers’ diagnostic and treatment tendencies and accuracy.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study constructed using Dermatology Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes case and recommendation data from November 2015 to June 2021. The University of Missouri-based Dermatology Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes specialty hub team offers regularly scheduled live interactive tele-mentoring sessions for primary care providers who practice in rural and underserved areas. 524 patient cases presented by 25 primary care providers were included in the analysis. Of those, 449 cases were included in diagnostic concordance, and 451 in treatment concordance analysis.

Results

Less than 40% of all diagnoses were fully concordant with an expert panel. Over 33% of patients were misdiagnosed, and over 26% received partially correct diagnosis. Only 16% of all treatment recommendations were fully concordant with an expert panel.

Discussion

Diagnostic and treatment accuracy of participants is low, and Dermatology Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes platform ensured patients received correct diagnosis and treatment quickly. Although tele-dermatology models are effective, they continue to be underutilized. Dermatologists in practice and training should be encouraged to adopt innovative clinical educational models, like Dermatology ECHO, to expand access to dermatologic expertise for the most marginalized populations.
Why do minority students feel they don’t fit in? Migration background and parental education differentially predict social ostracism and belongingness
Authors: Janke Stefan , Messerer Laura A. S. , Merkle Belinda , Rudert Selma C.
Published: January 2023

Minority students’ belongingness on campus has become an emergent topic in psychological research. Past research has particularly focused on belonging uncertainty as a potential explanation for impaired belongingness in minority students. While this represents an important perspective, we argue that students of certain minority groups may also be more likely to be confronted with actual ostracism experiences on campus. Using structural equation modelling, we investigated associations between minority status, ostracism, and belongingness in an aggregated sample derived from two longitudinal survey studies ( N = 973 students) with two time points (beginning of the first and of the second semester) at a German university. We show that student characteristics that are likely more visible (migration background with family ties to the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, or Latin America) are linked to impaired belongingness both directly as well as indirectly through experiences of ostracism. In contrast, student characteristics that are less visible (such as parental education level) are directly associated with impaired belongingness but not with experiences of ostracism. Furthermore, we found that a migration background from the aforementioned regions indirectly predicted students’ well-being, dropout intentions, and actual dropout via the experience of ostracism and subsequent impaired belongingness. For parental education level, we only found indirect effects on students’ well-being via impaired belongingness. Our findings suggest that in addition to the existing focus on belonging uncertainty, there is a need to focus psychological research and educational practice on ostracism experiences that ethnic minority students face at university.
Assessing primary health care readiness for large-scale electronic health record system implementation: Project team perspective
Authors: Alzghaibi Haitham , Alharbi Ali H , Mughal Yasir H , Alwheeb Mohammed H , Alhlayl Adel S
Published: January 2023

Introduction: The introduction of information technology was one of the key priorities for policymakers in healthcare organisations over the last two decades, due to the potential benefits of this technology to improve healthcare services and quality. However, about 50% of those projects failed to achieve their intended aims. This was as a result of several factors and included the level of readiness to the new IT projects. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the readiness of Saudi primary health care centres (PHCCs) readiness for the implementation of an electronic health record system (EHRS) from the project team perspective. Methods: Explanatory mixed methods design was used with both qualitative and quantitative methods. Thirty-one members of project team at the ministry of health (MOH) participated in the online-based questionnaire, while 13 participants from the same population took part in the semi-structure interviews. Eight different readiness scales were quantitatively examined. These scales include resources, Knowledge, process, management structure and administrative support, end user, technology and values and goals. Result: Although, very high level of readiness has been recorded at the process, management structure and administrative support levels, readiness was average at the end user, technology and values and goals levels. Moreover, the study findings revealed that primary health care centres readiness for an electronic health record system must be considered in the early stages of implementation (pre-implementation phase), particularly readiness at a technical level, such as preparedness of the infrastructure. A positive significant correlation has been recorded between all readiness scales with centralization of management system and financial resources. Conclusion: Overall, the level of primary health care centres readiness recorded to be high, which indicates that primary health care centres are ready for implementation of the electronic health record system, and in this context, management structure, organizational process, financial recourses and administrative support play significant roles to increase the project success rate.
Challenges in recognizing and facilitating disclosures of intimate partner violence in customer service calls about maintenance support
Authors: Tegler Helena , Fernqvist Stina , Flinkfeldt Marie
Published: January 2023

Separated parents in Sweden need to sort out child maintenance themselves unless there are ‘special reasons’, such as experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), in which case the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (SSIA) may function as an intermediary. In such cases, the parent must disclose their experiences for institutional assessment. This study uses conversation analysis (CA) to examine 132 phone calls between parents and SSIA officers, examining how parental conflict and possible violence is brought up and responded to. The analysis shows how parents describe cooperative problems in non-specific terms, incrementally adding information that makes possible violence inferentially available, rendering it difficult for case officers to distinguish IPV from post-separation conflicts. Case officers typically respond minimally and do not encourage further tellings, which means that IPV may go unnoticed. The study highlights the need for training in how to recognize possible IPV and how to facilitate such disclosures.
On theories of natural decomposition method applied to system of nonlinear differential equations in fluid mechanics
Authors: Obeidat Nazek A , Rawashdeh Mahmoud S
Published: January 2023

In shallow waters, the Wu-Zhang (WZ) system describes the (1+1)-dimensional dispersive long wave in two horizontal directions, which is important for the engineering community. This paper presents proofs for various theorems and shows that the natural decomposition method (NDM) solves systems of linear and nonlinear ordinary and partial differential equations under proper initial conditions, such as the Wu-Zhang system. We use a combination of two methods, namely the natural transform method to deal with the linear terms and the Adomian decomposition method to deal with the nonlinear terms. Several examples of linear and nonlinear systems (ODEs and PDEs) are given, including the Wu-Zhang (WZ) system. The present approach, which has numerous applications in the science and engineering fields, is a great alternative to the many existing methods for solving systems of differential equations. It also holds great promise for additional real-world applications.
Influences of cognitive control on number processing: New evidence from switching between two numerical tasks
Authors: Schliephake Andreas , Bahnmueller Julia , Willmes Klaus , Koch Iring , Moeller Korbinian
Published: January 2023

A growing body of research suggests that basic numerical abilities such as number magnitude and number parity processing are influenced by cognitive control. So far, however, evidence for number processing being influenced by cognitive control came primarily from observed adaptations to stimulus set characteristics (e.g., ratio or order of specific stimulus types) and switches between a numerical and non-numerical task. Complementing this previous research, the present study employed a task switching paradigm exclusively involving numerical tasks (i.e., magnitude comparisons and parity judgements) to examine how cognitive control processes influence number processing. Participants were presented with a single-digit number and had to either judge its parity or compare its magnitude with a standard of 5, depending on a preceding cue. Based on previous results, we expected the numerical distance effect and the spatial–numerical association of response codes (SNARC) effect to be modulated in switch trials requiring the exertion of cognitive control. Partly in line with our expectations, the numerical distance effect was reduced in switch trials. However, no modulation of the SNARC effect was observed. The results pattern suggests that number processing is influenced by cognitive control, depending on task requirements and the type of numerical information (i.e., numerical magnitude vs spatial association of numbers) that is processed. To reconcile the present and previous results, we propose an information prioritisation account, suggesting that cognitive control primarily influences the processing of the information type that requires the most explicit processing.
Male plumage colouration predicts female reproductive investment and nestling survival in a colour dimorphic tropical songbird
Authors: de Fátima Ferreira Dalila , Cunha Filipe C. R. , Lopes Leonardo Esteves
Published: January 2023

In sexually colour dimorphic bird species, males can exhibit phenotypic variation, with males breeding in either dull female-like plumage or brightly coloured plumage. Two contradictory hypotheses predict that the male phenotype variation can influence the female investment in a given breeding attempt. Whereas females usually prefer males in bright coloured plumage, the “differential allocation hypothesis” predicts that females should invest more in their reproductive output when mating with them; while the “compensatory investment hypothesis” predicts that females should invest more when mating with non-preferred males. To test those predictions, we analysed reproductive data for two consecutive breeding seasons (2018–2019 and 2019–2020) of Lined Seedeaters Sporophila lineola. S. lineola is a socially monogamous songbird species in which males exhibit two breeding phenotypes, a black-and-white plumage being the most common, and a less common female-like brownish plumage. Our findings show that females mated with brownish males have a higher reproductive investment (i.e., egg volume) than those mated with black-and-white males. Despite the lower investment of females in egg volume, our results showed that black-and-white males have a higher nestling survival, producing more hatchings and fledglings per season than brownish males, which could suggest a higher fitness. Our findings indicate that investment allocation on the eggs and offspring survival rates can be attributed to the plumage colour of males.
Pandemic Nostalgia: Reduced Social Contact Predicts Consumption of Nostalgic Music During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Huang Kuan-Ju , Chang Ya-Hui , Landau Mark J.
Published: January 2023

Some scholars observed a “nostalgia bump” during the COVID-19 pandemic, where people compensated for social isolation by engaging with products and experiences evoking nostalgia. To further explore this effect and its underlying mechanism, the authors tested the hypothesis that reduced social contact during lockdown conditions would lead people to feel lonely and bored and, in turn, increase their consumption of nostalgic music. Study 1 ( Nsong = 213,464) established the temporal relationships between social contact and nostalgia by analyzing mobility data and daily listening patterns of top songs on the music platform Spotify from 2019 to 2021. Study 2 ( N = 525) was a retrospective survey of individual experiences during the lockdown period. Results showed that reduced social contact had an indirect positive effect on consumption of nostalgic songs through loneliness, but not boredom. These findings shed light on the use of nostalgia as a coping strategy during times of isolation.
Inconvenience, ambivalence, and abolition: A politics of attachment and detachment in geography
Authors: Cockayne Daniel , Ruez Derek
Published: January 2023

In this commentary, we explore the idea of detachment that we see as central to Anderson's notion of attachment but that nevertheless does not take centre stage in the paper. We situate detachment not as attachment's antithesis, opposite, or negative, but as its structural condition and as irretrievably interwoven with attachment. Through Berlant's recent writing, we foreground the notion of ambivalence as a way to think about the complexity of attachment–detachment and to foreground politics and differences in these processes. Then, we draw on abolitionist writers like Gilmore and Lewis to highlight the complicated intersection of structural and affective attachment and to consider the possible intellectual and political stakes of pursuing a geography of attachment.
Emplacing the disposition toward automation
Authors: Zhao Bo
Published: January 2023

In this commentary, I emphasize the necessity of situating the disposition toward automation in a place where the in-process disposition takes shape. Using this place perspective, I can critically analyze the automation's positionality and disposition's underlying structure. The analytical results remind us that a particular disposition can support the labor force’s adaptation to automation while also rejecting it. Thus, this commentary offers a more holistic understanding of automation, its impact on shifting labor relations, and how it transforms the reproduction of capital.
Digital borders in spatial-temporal mobility: Social inclusion and exclusion of Chinese migrant students in Macao
Authors: Ou Chuyue , Lin Zhongxuan
Published: January 2023

While mobile social media has increasingly become embedded in migrants’ daily lives, how mobile social media affects migrants’ cross-border experiences remains under-researched. Based on a 2-year ethnographic study, this article demonstrates a more complex relationship among mobile social media, migrants’ spatial-temporal mobility, and their subjective experience of social inclusion and exclusion. Situated in a Chinese cross-border context (Macao Special Administrative Region), this article elaborates on how mobile social media leads to heterogeneous and synchronous spatial-temporal mobility in a homogeneous time-narrative. This article further explains how and why mainland students’ social exclusion transforms into digital inclusion, where the blurring boundaries create the possibility of digital and social inclusion but also risk deeper exclusion and internal borders. The article argues for a new epistemology of the border, which is complicated, heterogeneous, and paradoxical, while mobile social media reinvigorates the border concept in how it constructs and deconstructs territorial/internal boundaries and inclusion/exclusion dynamics.
25-Hydroxyvitamin-D deficiency in chronic kidney disease stages III, IV, and V in South Asian population: a retrospective cohort
Authors: Abdul Razzaque Muhammad Raheel , Tebha Sameer Saleem , Tukruna Alaa , Arif Aabiya , Kogut Lucas Marian , Afsar Nasir Ali , Shabbir Dania , Zaidi Zain Ali
Published: January 2023

Objective:

Vitamin D deficiency in Chronic Kidney Disease is a known fact, but the data regarding the prevalence and extent of vitamin D deficiency in different stages of Chronic Kidney Disease is scarce. This leads to a delay in addressing this issue. We conducted this study to assess vitamin-D deficiency in different stages of Chronic Kidney Disease to improve the evidence available to Physicians and Nephrologists which can help them better address this common finding in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Methods:

This retrospective study from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, included adult Chronic Kidney Disease patients who had their serum 25 Hydroxy vitamin D levels done. The patients were classified according to stages of Chronic Kidney Disease using Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate values. Appropriate statistical tests were performed to find a correlation between the severity of vitamin D deficiency in different stages of Chronic Kidney Disease with a statistically significant p value of <0.05 and a 95% confidence interval.

Results:

In total, 148 patients were included in the study. All patients had serum 25 Hydroxy vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/ml. The severity of vitamin D deficiency was observed to increase progressively from stage 3A Chronic Kidney Disease through stage 5. Vitamin D levels in Chronic Kidney Disease stage 3 were significantly greater than in Chronic Kidney Disease stages 4 and 5 ( p value < 0.001), and stage 5 patients had the lowest vitamin D levels in our study. Similar, statistically significant findings were observed for serum phosphate levels, too, with stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease patients having a greater serum phosphate concentration than stages 3A and 3B ( p value = 0.002, 0.006).

Conclusion:

All Chronic Kidney Disease patients in our study either had vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. In addition, we observed a significant decrease in vitamin D levels from Chronic Kidney Disease stage 3 to stage 5. Greater serum phosphate levels were detected in stage 5 compared to stages 3A and 3B.
The role of patient navigation in supporting low-income older adults in their housing needs during hospital to home transitions: A qualitative descriptive study from Ontario, Canada
Authors: M Kokorelias Kristina , L Sheppard Christine , L Hitzig Sander
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Housing is an important determinant of health. Little research has explored hospital and community agency staff perspectives on how to support the housing needs of low-income older adults. Therefore, this paper examines the challenges associated with supporting low-income seniors as they transition from hospital to home and explores what role, if any, patient navigation models of care could have in addressing housing needs.

Methods

A thematic secondary analysis that triangulated data from two qualitative studies was used. In total, interviews and/or focus groups with 109 hospital and community care workers were re-analyzed, applying a new interpretive lens to the data to reveal new insights. Data were collected in Ontario, Canada.

Results

Participants described how low-income older adults have increasing complex care needs that influence their housing, but housing supports are limited and difficult to navigate. Participants believed further support was needed and suggested that a housing-specific patient navigation model of care may be beneficial, but difficult to implement due to the limitations of existing services.

Discussion

Our findings provide a unique perspective on the challenges hospital and community staff face in caring for older adults with housing needs. Patient navigation with a focus on housing may support these older adults. Further work needs to be undertaken to better understand how to best implement sustainable housing patient navigation models of care.
Assessment of the Relationship Between Inflammation and Glomerular Filtration Rate
Authors: Ramirez-Gonzalez J. B. , Morales-BuenRostro L. E. , Garcia-Covarrubias L. , Pacheco-Domínguez R. L. , Durazo-Arvizu R. , Cuevas-Medina E. N. , Furuzawa-Carballeda J. , Osorio-Juárez R. A. , Correa-Rotter R. , Rincón-Pedrero R. , Alberú-Gómez Josefina , López Cervantes Malaquías
Published: January 2023

Background:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health problem. As it progresses to end stages, renal replacement therapy is required but ultimately, the best treatment is transplantation. Decreased renal function has been associated with an inflammatory state associated to primary CKD and in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

Objective:

To establish how the serum concentrations of some cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-8, IL-22, IL-17α, interferon-gamma, IL-4, and transforming growth factor-β, correlate with various CKD stages.

Methods:

One hundred and forty-one KTRs between the ages of 18 and 75 years were included in the study. We also included 112 live kidney donors, 37 CKD PGCKD+3, and 76 GPhealthy. Participants were grouped according to their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and their circulating cytokine levels, previously quantified by ELISA.

Results:

By linear regression analysis, we established the relation of each cytokine with the GFR. Transforming growth factor-β correlated positively with the GFR in the study population, except in healthy individuals. A negative correlation of IL-8 and IL-17α and GFR was found in all cases.

Conclusions:

Whether these cytokines (IL-8 and IL-17α) could be used as inflammatory biomarkers indicating CKD progression, regardless of the type of population, remains to be prospectively determined.
An online mental health informed physical activity intervention for emergency service workers and their families: A stepped-wedge trial
Authors: McKeon Grace , Wells Ruth , Steel Zachary , Hadzi-Pavlovic Dusan , Teasdale Scott , Vancampfort Davy , Rosenbaum Simon
Published: January 2023

Objective

Emergency service workers are at risk of experiencing poor mental health due to repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events. Promoting healthy lifestyle factors may help improve health outcomes and quality of life among this population. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a 10-week physical activity (PA) and diet programme delivered via Facebook for sedentary emergency service workers and their support partners on levels of psychological distress.

Methods

We delivered a 10-week intervention via a private Facebook group facilitated by exercise physiologists, a dietitian and peer-facilitators. Weekly education modules and telehealth calls were delivered, and participants were provided with a PA tracking device (Fitbit accelerometer). A stepped-wedge design was applied to compare levels of psychological distress (K6) during baseline, to intervention by comparing slopes of change. Secondary pre–post outcomes included mental health symptoms, PA, quality of life, social support to exercise, sleep quality and suicidal ideation.

Results

In total, N=90 participants ( n=47 emergency service workers and n=43 support partners) were recruited in 4 cohorts (aged 42.3±11.5 years, 51% male). Levels of psychological distress did not change significantly during the baseline (control) slope and reduced significantly during the first 6 weeks of intervention (intervention slope 1). The slopes were significantly different, b=−0.351, p = 0.003 (i.e. the trajectories of change) and improvements plateaued until follow up. Retention was high (92%) and improvements in mental health symptoms, minutes of PA, sedentary time and quality of life were significant.

Conclusions

Our intervention delivered via social media is feasible and associated with reduced levels of psychological distress among emergency service workers and support partners.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN): 12619000877189.
Is Feminism a Silver Bullet to Shatter African Glass Ceiling? An Examination of the Mediating Role of Financial Wellbeing
Authors: Gelgile Hailemariam Kebede , Shukla Amit
Published: January 2023

The idea of feminism advocates social, political, economic, and intellectual equality for women and men. In the organizational context, particularly in Africa, there is a dearth of studies probing the implications of feminism toward shattering of the proverbial glass-ceiling that women face every day. The present article is aimed to address this gap. It investigates the role of feminism in promoting women’s career advancement through financial wellbeing. The study deploys a sample of 250 women working in the four breweries in the Addis Ababa area, Ethiopia. The findings confirmed our hypotheses that feminism was a strong predictor for women’s career success and that financial wellbeing acted as a mediator between the two. As a major implication, the study highlights the positive role of feminism for women’s career success, while underlining the importance of financial wellbeing for them. It assumes particular significance considering prevalent misgivings about these concepts in Ethiopian society. The study also provides certain recommendations for future researchers and policymakers.
Burnout among nurses: Examining psychosocial work environment causes
Authors: Paskarini Indriati , Dwiyanti Endang , Syaiful Dayinta Annisa , Syanindita Devy
Published: January 2023

Background:

Medical personnel, and especially staff working in hospitals such as doctors and nurses are exposed to a number of important psychosocial risk factors as a consequence of the type of work. The consequence can be the occurrence of job burnout among nurses. the researchers wanted to analyze work psychosocial support in an effort to control burnout in health workers at Semen Gresik Hospital.

Design and methods:

This research is an analytical observational quantitative research. The research was conducted by interviewing respondents regarding the independent variables and the dependent variable without giving any treatment. This research is included in the analytical research design with the aim of analyzing the relationship between variables This research is analyzed using Semi Equation Model (SEM) by calculating outer model, inner model, and the goodness of fit of the model.

Results:

The results of testing the first hypothesis give the result that there is a significant positive effect of Psychosocial Work Environment on Burnout with a T-Statistic value (59.577) >1.96 and p-value (0.000) <0.05 so it can be stated that there is a significant positive influence of Psychosocial Work Environment on Burnout. This means that hypothesis 1 can be supported.

Conclusions:

The most influenced factor from psychosocial work environment are job demand as well as conflict and offensive behavior. Because nurses have several workload especially during the pandemic, they have the obligation to do administrative, preventive, and curative action in the meantime.