bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic alterations associated with pseudoprogression and hyperprogressive disease during anti-PD1 treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhou Rui , Tong Fan , Zhang Yongchang , Zhang Ruigang , Bin Yawen , Zhang Sheng , Yang Nong , Dong Xiaorong
Published: November 2023

Introduction

This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between dynamic genomic mutation alteration and pseudoprogression (PsPD)/hyperprogressive disease (HPD) in immunotherapy-treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), to provide clinical evidence for identifying and distinguishing between PsPD and HPD.

Method

Patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with anti-PD1 were enrolled. Whole blood was collected at baseline and post image progression. Serum was separated and sequenced using 425-panel next-generation sequencing analysis (NGS).

Results

NGS revealed that not only single gene mutations were associated with PsPD/HPD before treatment, dynamic monitoring of the whole-blood genome mutation spectrum also varied greatly. Mutational burden, allele frequency%, and relative circulating tumor DNA abundance indicated that the fold change after image progression was much higher in the HPD group.

Discussion

The gene mutation profiles of PsPD and HPD not only differed before treatment, but higher genome mutation spectrum post image progression indicated true disease progression in patients with HPD. This suggests that dynamic whole-genome mutation profile monitoring as NGS can distinguish PsPD from HPD more effectively than single gene detection, providing a novel method for guiding clinical immune treatment.
Baseline BMI is associated with clinical symptom improvements in first-episode schizophrenia: a longitudinal study
Authors: Chen Xiaofang , Fan Yong , Ren Wenchao , Sun Maodi , Guan Xiaoni , Xiu Meihong , Li Shuyun
Published: November 2023

Background: There is sufficient evidence of the high prevalence of obesity in schizophrenia (SZ) compared to the general population. Previous studies have reported that weight gain correlated with the response to antipsychotics in patients with SZ. Nonetheless, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and therapeutic benefits remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the association between baseline BMI and improvements in clinical symptoms after treatment with antipsychotics in first-episode and medication-naïve SZ (FEMNS).

Methods: A total of 241 FEMNS patients were enrolled and received risperidone over 12 weeks. The severity of symptoms was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and BMI was measured at baseline and 12-week follow-up.

Results: We found that risperidone treatment raised the body weight of FEMNS patients and baseline BMI was negatively correlated with the improvement in negative symptoms (r = −0.14, p = 0.03) after 12-week treatment. Linear regression analysis indicated that baseline BMI was an independent predictor of response to risperidone in the early stage of SZ.

Conclusion: The current study suggests a close relationship between baseline BMI and improvement in negative symptoms in SZ.
ShenQiWan ameliorates renal injury in type 2 diabetic mice by modulating mitochondrial fusion and endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Xiong Wei , Feng Jing , Liu Yumeng , Liu Jiapeng , Fu Liang , Wang Qian , Li Xia , Li Shuyu
Published: November 2023

Background: ShenQiWan is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, which is closely related to mitochondrial fusion and endoplasmic reticulum stress. This study aimed to investigate the intervention effect and molecular mechanisms of ShenQiWan on renal injury in KKAy mice.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice (11 weeks old) were fed a regular diet upon arrival, while KKAy mice (11 weeks old) were fed a high-fat diet upon arrival. At 12 weeks of age, KKAy mice with random blood glucose ≥13.9 mmol/L were identified as diabetic mice and randomly divided into the model group (n = 30) and the treatment group (n = 30), while C57BL/6J mice of 12 weeks old (n = 30) served as the control group. The treatment group received daily aqueous decoction of ShenQiWan (13.5 g/kg), while the control group and model group received daily equal amounts of saline from 12 weeks old to 24 weeks old. The general status of mice was observed regularly, and fasting blood glucose and 24-hour urine microalbumin were measured. Ten mice were euthanized in each group at the age of 16, 20, and 24 weeks, serum samples were used for biochemical indexes and kidney tissues were used for morphological studies. GRP78, OPA1, MFN1, MFN2 mRNA and protein expression were detected by Real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

Results: The mice in the model group exhibited symptoms of lethargy, slow movement, obesity, polyuria and proteinuria. Morphological observation revealed pathological changes, including thickening of the glomerular basement membrane and interstitial fibrosis. After treatment with ShenQiWan, the fasting blood glucose level of KKAy mice was significantly reduced, urinary albuminuria was decreased, serum biochemical indexes were improved, renal tissue pathological changes were significantly alleviated. The results also showed a significant reduction in the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related factor GRP78 and an increase in the expression of mitochondrial fusion-related factors OPA1, MFN1 and MFN2 after treatment with ShenQiWan.

Conclusion: ShenQiWan can protect diabetic mice from renal damage by modulating mitochondrial fusion and alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress, exerting its protective effects.
Immune mediators as predictive biomarkers for anti-PD-1 antibody therapy in urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Shibata Yosuke , Kishida Takeshi , Kouro Taku , Wei Feifei , Igarashi Yuka , Himuro Hidetomo , Noguchi Takeaki , Koizumi Mitsuyuki , Suzuki Takahisa , Osaka Kimito , Saigusa Yusuke , Sasada Tetsuro
Published: November 2023

Introduction: This study aimed to identify immune mediators, including cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, in the plasma for predicting treatment efficacy and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods: We enrolled 57 patients with aUC who were treated with the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody pembrolizumab after the failure of platinum-based chemotherapy between February 2018 and December 2020. Plasma levels of 73 soluble immune mediators were measured before and 6 weeks after initiating pembrolizumab therapy. The association of estimated soluble immune mediators with clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), anti-tumor responses, and irAEs, were statistically evaluated.

Results: In the multivariate analysis, levels of 18 factors at baseline and 12 factors during treatment were significantly associated with OS. Regarding PFS, baseline levels of 17 factors were significantly associated with PFS. Higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), and IL-12 (p40), both at baseline and post-treatment, were significantly associated with worse OS. Conversely, low IL-6 and high TWEAK levels at baseline were associated with irAEs. Among identified factors, interferon (IFN) γ and IL-12 (p40) were repeatedly identified; high baseline levels of these factors were risk factors for worse OS and PFS, as well as progressive disease. Notably, using correlation and principal component analysis, factors significantly associated with clinical outcomes were broadly classified into three groups exhibiting similar expression patterns.

Discussion: Measuring plasma levels of soluble immune mediators, such as IL-6, IL-8, sTNF-R1, IFNγ, and IL-12 (p40), could be recommended for predicting prognosis and irAEs in ICI-treated patients with aUC.
Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of sunitinib and Sutent® in Chinese healthy subjects: an open-label, randomized, crossover study
Authors: Wang Yanli , Deng Qiaohuan , Gao Zhenyue , Liu Guangwen , Su Zhengjie , Zhao Yicheng , Zhang Lixiu , Yang Haimiao
Published: November 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the pharmacokinetics (PK), bioequivalence and safety of generic sunitinib and its original product Sutent® in healthy Chinese subjects through a phase-I clinical trial.

Methods: The study selected two groups of 24 healthy Chinese subjects in a 1:1 ratio through random allocation. Each participant received either 12.5 mg of sunitinib or Sutent® per cycle. A total of 15 different time points were employed for blood sample collection during each cycle. Furthermore, a comprehensive assessment of the drugs’ safety was consistently maintained throughout the trial.

Results: The average adjusted geometric mean ratios (GMR) (90% CI) for the primary PK parameters Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ were 97.04% (93.06%–101.19%), 98.45% (93.27%–103.91%) and 98.22% (93.15%–103.56%), respectively. The adjusted GMRs for essential pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters all met the requirements for bioequivalence, with values within the acceptable range of 80%–125%. In addition, the two drugs showed comparable results for the other PK parameters. These results indicate that the two drugs were bioequivalent. Furthermore, both drugs showed well safety.

Conclusion: The research results proved that the PK and safety profiles of sunitinib in healthy Chinese subjects were comparable to those of Sutent®. These results advocate the clinical application of generic sunitinib as a potential alternative to original product Sutent® in the treatment of certain medical conditions.
The effects of blood flow restriction training on PAP and lower limb muscle activation: a meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Jian , Liu Haiyang , Jiang Lizhu
Published: November 2023

Objective: This study aims to systematically evaluate the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) training on lower limb muscle activation and post-activation potentiation (PAP) in athletes through a meta-analysis and discuss methods to improve instant muscle strength so as to provide a reference for training in this field.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the impact of BFR training on muscle activation and PAP were gathered through database searches, such as CNKI, Wanfang, Web of Science, PubMed, and others. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to include and exclude literature. Quality evaluation and statistical analysis were conducted using ReviewManager 5.3 software, STATA 16.0, and other software programs. The sensitivity analysis and funnel plots were employed to assess result stability and publication bias.

Results: In total, 18 literature studies were included with a total of 267 subjects. The meta-analysis showed that BFR could significantly improve the RMS value of lower limb muscles [SMD = 0.98, 95% CI (0.71, 1.24), and p < 0.00001]. BFR had a significant effect on the immediate explosive power of the lower limbs [SMD = 0.28, 95% CI (0.02, 0.53), and p = 0.03], but the heterogeneity was obvious (I2 = 51%). The subgroup analysis showed that different training methods may be influencing factors that lead to the heterogeneity between studies. The measurement indexes were the counter movement jump (CMJ) [SMD = 0.45, 95% CI (0.20, 0.69), and p = 0.0004], training mode to overcome body weight [SMD = 0.57, 95% CI (0.33, 0.82), and p < 0.00001], and compressive strength of 40%–60% arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) [SMD = 0.57, 95% CI (0.31, 0.83), and p < 0.0001], which reached the maximum effect and was statistically significant.

Conclusion: BFR training can induce lower extremity muscle activation and PAP. Combining self-weight training with BFR exercises set at 40%–60% AOP appears to be particularly effective in inducing PAP, especially for enhancing CMJ. Furthermore, combining body-weight training with BFR is considered an effective warm-up method to improve CMJ.

Systematic Review Registration: http://inplasy.com, identifier INPLASY2023100087
Exploring the genetic landscape of nitrogen uptake in durum wheat: genome-wide characterization and expression profiling of NPF and NRT2 gene families
Authors: Puccio Guglielmo , Ingraffia Rosolino , Giambalvo Dario , Frenda Alfonso S. , Harkess Alex , Sunseri Francesco , Mercati Francesco
Published: November 2023

Nitrate uptake by plants primarily relies on two gene families: Nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter (NPF) and Nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2). Here, we extensively characterized the NPF and NRT2 families in the durum wheat genome, revealing 211 NPF and 20 NRT2 genes. The two families share many Cis Regulatory Elements (CREs) and Transcription Factor binding sites, highlighting a partially overlapping regulatory system and suggesting a coordinated response for nitrate transport and utilization. Analyzing RNA-seq data from 9 tissues and 20 cultivars, we explored expression profiles and co-expression relationships of both gene families. We observed a strong correlation between nucleotide variation and gene expression within the NRT2 gene family, implicating a shared selection mechanism operating on both coding and regulatory regions. Furthermore, NPF genes showed highly tissue-specific expression profiles, while NRT2s were mainly divided in two co-expression modules, one expressed in roots (NAR2/NRT3 dependent) and the other induced in anthers and/ovaries during maturation. Our evidences confirmed that the majority of these genes were retained after small-scale duplication events, suggesting a neo- or sub-functionalization of many NPFs and NRT2s. Altogether, these findings indicate that the expansion of these gene families in durum wheat could provide valuable genetic variability useful to identify NUE-related and candidate genes for future breeding programs in the context of low-impact and sustainable agriculture.
Early childhood teachers’ writing beliefs and practices
Authors: Bingham Gary E. , Gerde Hope K.
Published: November 2023

This study examined the early writing beliefs, ideas, and practices of 54 early childhood teachers. Teachers completed a survey designed to examine their early writing beliefs and provided definitions about early writing development through a written response. Teachers were also observed in their classrooms and writing practices were coded for instructional strategy employed by the teacher (i.e., modeling and scaffolding approaches) and the instructional focus of these interactions with attention to early writing skill. Teachers’ definitions of writing often emphasized specific writing skills, with most teachers emphasizing handwriting. Teachers were observed enacting a range of modeling and scaffolding practices to support early writing, but the majority of interactions focused on handwriting supports. Teachers’ definitions of writing and their responses to the teacher belief survey were unrelated to each other, but differentially related to writing skills emphasized in interactions with children. Teachers who identified more than one writing component in their definition were more likely to enact practices to support children’s writing concept knowledge, while teachers who espoused more developmentally appropriate early writing beliefs on the survey were more likely to engage children in spelling focused interactions. Findings have implications for the study of teachers’ beliefs about writing as well as the need for professional learning supports for preschool teachers.
What corpus data reveal about the Position of Antecedent Strategy: anaphora resolution in Spanish monolinguals and L1 English-L2 Spanish bilinguals
Authors: Lozano Cristóbal , Quesada Teresa
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the acquisition of anaphora resolution (AR) in Spanish as a second language (L2). According to the Position of Antecedent Strategy (PAS), in native Spanish null pronominal subjects are biased toward subject antecedents, whereas overt pronominal subjects show a “flexible” bias (typically toward non-subject but also toward subject antecedents). The PAS has been extensively investigated in experimental studies, though little is known about real production. We show how naturalistic production (corpus methods) can uncover crucial factors in the PAS that have not been explored in the experimental literature. We analyzed written samples from the CEDEL2 corpus: L1 English-L2 Spanish adult late-bilingual learners (intermediate, lower-advanced and upper-advanced proficiency levels) and a control group of adult Spanish monolinguals (N = 75 texts). Anaphors were manually annotated via a fine-grained, linguistically-motivated tagset in UAM Corpus Tool. Against traditional assumptions, our results reveal that (i) the PAS is not a privileged mechanism for resolving anaphora; (ii) it is more complex than assumed (in terms of the division of labor of anaphoric forms, their antecedents and the syntactic configuration in which they appear); (iii) the much-debated “flexible” bias of overt pronouns is apparent since they are hardly produced and are replaced by repeated NPs, which show a clear non-subject antecedent bias; (iv) at the syntax-discourse interface, the PAS is constrained by information structure in more complex ways than assumed: null pronouns mark topic continuity, whereas overtly realized referential expressions (overt REs: overt pronouns and NPs) mark topic shift. Learners show more difficulties with topic continuity (where they redundantly use overt pronouns) than with topic shift (where they normally disambiguate by using overtly realized REs), thus being more redundant than ambiguous, in line with the Pragmatic Principles Violation Hypothesis (PPVH) (Lozano, 2016). We finally argue that the insights from corpora should be implemented into experiments. The triangulation of corpus and experimental methods in bilingualism ultimately provides a clearer understanding of the phenomenon under investigation.
Tales of me: storytelling identity work, authenticity, and impression management during new CEOs’ work role transitions
Authors: Felix Bruno , Santos Renata dos , Teixeira Aridelmo
Published: November 2023

Introduction

This study aims to understand how new CEOs construct, revise, and maintain in their narrative, repertoire stories that represent their identity as it is associated with their new occupational role.

Methods

For this purpose, we conducted a qualitative study using the Grounded Theory method, involving 47 CEOs from different sectors residing in Brazil.

Results

Our results allowed for the construction of a central category called Storytelling Identity Work, which refers to stories that individuals tell about themselves, and enable them to propose and redefine who they are during major life transitions. This paper seeks to explain: (a) under what conditions this phenomenon tends to occur; (b) what characterizes the success of Storytelling Identity Work and; (c) what leads to the revision or retention of stories in the self. Our results show that storytelling identity work tends to be used by new CEOs during their transition period into the role, and when their new position involves higher levels of visibility and alteration of prestige levels in comparison to their previous position. They also suggest that storytelling identity work tends to be more successful when the stories are co-constructed and validated with other significant individuals and when they enable new CEOs to feel “sufficiently authentic” and “sufficiently impressive.” Finally, we theorize that such feelings, along with a sense of coherence between the story being told and other narratives consciously or unconsciously being narrated by the interviewees throughout their lives, lead to the retention of the story within the individual’s self.

Discussion

This article innovates by connecting the literature on personal storytelling with identity work and exploring processes that are not only useful during the process of transitioning into the role of new CEOs but also influence the constitution of the narrative repertoire and, consequently, the identity of these individuals.
Exploring teacher wellbeing in educational reforms: a Chinese perspective
Authors: Ao Narentuya , Zhang Sitong , Tian Guoxiu , Zhu Xiaoshuang , Kang Xiaowei
Published: November 2023

Teaching is a demanding profession and maintaining teacher wellbeing is significant in ensuring educational quality. However, teacher wellbeing is easily affected by educational reforms, and systematic research on this topic is still relatively rare. In China, with the enactment of the Double Reduction Policy in 2021, the job characteristics of primary and secondary school teachers have undergone various changes. Thus, the current study examined the new job characteristics that China’s Double Reduction Policy imposed on the wellbeing of school teachers and their relationships with teachers’ inner world (i.e., emotional regulation and mindset). A cross-sectional study was carried out from June to October 2022 across China, employing self-reporting questionnaires for data collection and analysis. With a random sample of 902 teachers, we investigated the associations between teacher wellbeing, job characteristics, emotional regulation strategies, and mindset. The results indicated that teachers showed a lower level of wellbeing after the educational reform. Higher job resources contributed positively to predicting teacher wellbeing, while higher job demands contributed negatively. Genuinely expressing had positive impacts on teacher wellbeing while surface acting had negative impacts and deep acting none. Mindset was found to affect emotional regulation strategies and teacher wellbeing simultaneously. These findings shed light on how teachers can appropriately regulate emotions and maintain wellbeing in the wake of educational reforms.
Psychological characteristics of the relationship between mental health and hardiness of Ukrainians during the war
Authors: Predko Viktoriia , Schabus Manuel , Danyliuk Ivan
Published: November 2023

Objectives

The aim of our survey is to identify psychological features for the relationship between mental health and hardiness of Ukrainians during the war.

Methods

The study involved 608 Ukrainians. We aimed to identify the relationship between mental health and hardiness and determine the differences in the peculiarities of mental health of people with different levels of hardiness. Also we looked for predictors for hardiness.

Results

Subjective hardiness was found to be related to specific manifestation of mental health in the Ukrainian population. Strong correlations were revealed for hardiness with adaptation (ρ = 0.818), emotional comfort (ρ = 0.786), internality (ρ = 0.672), self-perception (ρ = 0.656,), escapism (ρ = −0.632) and mental health (ρ = 0.629). A prognostic model based on linear regression analysis identified the main predictors of personal hardiness and confirmed correlational analysis. Mental health (0.341), emotional comfort (ρ = 0.786), and escapism (−0.576) were found to be good predictors. Altogether 40.1% of Ukrainians scored low, 54.6% medium, and 5.3% high on individual hardiness.

Conclusion

The study found that about every 4th Ukrainian demonstrates a low level of personal hardiness, which is accompanied by emotional discomfort and lack of internal locus of control, making them more susceptible to stress and illness. Additionally, they tend to distance themselves which significantly exacerbates the situation. It has been found that Ukrainians with low levels of personal hardiness exhibit escapism (with diversion of the mind to imaginative activity), a destructive defense mechanism that not only prevents effective problem solving but also has long-term negative consequences for their overall health. Consequently, especially people with low hardiness should receive specific support to stabilize their mental wellbeing and health overall.
Learning juggling by gradually increasing difficulty vs. learning the complete skill results in different learning patterns
Authors: Geller Noga , Moringen Alexandra , Friedman Jason
Published: November 2023

Motor learning is central to sports, medicine, and other health professions as it entails learning through practice. To achieve proficiency in a complex motor task, many hours of practice are required. Therefore, finding ways to speed up the learning process is important. This study examines the impact of different training approaches on learning three-ball cascade juggling. Participants were assigned to one of two groups: practicing by gradually increasing difficulty and elements of the juggling movement (“learning in parts”) or training on the complete skill from the start (“all-at-once”). Results revealed that although the all-at-once group in the early stages of learning showed greater improvement in performance, the “learning in parts” group managed to catch up, even over a relatively short period of time. The lack of difference in performance between the groups at the end of the training session suggests that the choice of training regime (between all-at-once and learning in parts), at least in the short term, can be selected based on other factors such as the learner’s preference, practical considerations, and cognitive style.
Motivating online language learning: exploring ideal L2 self, grit, and self-efficacy in relation to student satisfaction
Authors: Sun Zhijie , Mu Bingyu
Published: November 2023

Introduction

This study delves into the intricate network of motivational factors that influence online learning satisfaction among intermediate-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in mainland China.

Methods

A diverse sample of 496 EFL students participated in this research. Structural Equation Modeling was employed as the analytical method.

Results

The results of the study reveal significant and positive relationships between ideal L2 self and L2 grit with online learning satisfaction. Additionally, online learning self-efficacy emerged as a crucial mediator between ideal L2 self and online learning satisfaction, as well as between L2 grit and online learning satisfaction.

Discussion

These findings provide valuable insights into the motivational dynamics within online language learning contexts. They offer practical implications for educators and instructional designers seeking to enhance students’ online learning experiences.
Immunotherapeutic treatment of inflammation in mice exposed to methamphetamine
Authors: Loftis Jennifer M. , Ramani Sankrith , Firsick Evan J. , Hudson Rebekah , Le-Cook Anh , Murnane Kevin S. , Vandenbark Arthur , Shirley Renee L.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications to treat methamphetamine addiction, including the inflammatory, neurotoxic, and adverse neuropsychiatric effects. We have shown that partial (p)MHC class II constructs (i.e., Recombinant T-cell receptor Ligand – RTL1000), comprised of the extracellular α1 and β1 domains of MHC class II molecules linked covalently to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-35-55 peptide, can address the neuroimmune effects of methamphetamine addiction through its ability to bind to and down-regulate CD74 expression, block macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) signaling, and reduce levels of pro-inflammatory chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). The present study evaluated the effects of our third-generation pMHC II construct, DRmQ, on cognitive function and concentration of inflammatory cytokines in the frontal cortex, a region critical for cognitive functions such as memory, impulse control, and problem solving.

Methods

Female and male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to methamphetamine (or saline) via subcutaneous (s.c.) injections administered four times per day every other day for 14 days. Following methamphetamine exposure, mice received immunotherapy (DRmQ or ibudilast) or vehicle s.c. injections daily for five days. Cognitive function was assessed using the novel object recognition test (NORT). To evaluate the effects of immunotherapy on inflammation in the frontal cortex, multiplex immunoassays were conducted. ANOVA was used to compare exploration times on the NORT and immune factor concentrations.

Results

Post hoc analysis revealed increased novel object exploration time in MA-DRmQ treated mice, as compared to MA-VEH treated mice (non-significant trend). One-way ANOVA detected a significant difference across the groups in the concentration of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) (p = 0.03). Post hoc tests indicated that mice treated with methamphetamine and DRmQ or ibudilast had significantly lower levels of MIP-2 in frontal cortex, as compared to mice treated with methamphetamine and vehicle (p > 0.05).

Discussion

By specifically targeting CD74, our DRQ constructs can block the signaling of MIF, inhibiting the downstream signaling and pro-inflammatory effects that contribute to and perpetuate methamphetamine addiction.
Implementation of structured feedback in a psychiatry residency program in Canada: a qualitative analysis study
Authors: Thakur Anupam , Darani Shaheen , Kalocsai Csilla , Silver Ivan , Sockalingam Sanjeev , Soklaridis Sophie
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Structured feedback is important to support learner progression in competency-based medical education (CBME). R2C2 is an evidence-based four-phased feedback model that has been studied in a range of learner contexts; however, data on factors influencing implementation of this model are lacking. This pilot study describes implementation of the R2C2 model in a psychiatry CBME residency program, using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Methods

The study was carried out in three phases: planning, implementation and evaluation. After receiving training, 15 supervisors used the R2C2 feedback model with residents. Semi-structured interviews explored (n = 10) supervisors’ experience of the model. CFIR was used to identify factors that influence implementation of the R2C2 model when providing feedback to residents.

Results

Qualitative data analysis revealed four key themes: Perceptions about the R2C2 model, Facilitators and barriers to its implementation, Fidelity to R2C2 model and Intersectionality related to the feedback. The CFIR implementation domains provided structure to the themes and subthemes.

Conclusion

The R2C2 model is a helpful tool to provide structured feedback. Structure of the model, self-efficacy, in-house educational expertise, learning culture, organizational readiness, and training support are important facilitators of implementation. Further studies are needed to explore the learner’s perspective and fidelity of this model.
Self-stigmatization of high-school students seeking professional psychological help: the chain-mediating effect of perceived social support and optimism
Authors: Bu Nanyin , Li Zuoshan , Jiang Jiarui , Chen Xin , Li Ziying , Xiao Yujuan , Wang Xueyan , Zhao Tianyi
Published: November 2023

Background

Research has shown that stigmatization of professional psychological help-seeking is an important factor influencing attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH). However, how perceived social support (PSS) and optimism have a mediating role is not clear.

Objective

Examine the associations between ATSPPH, self-stigmatization of seeking help, PSS, and optimism in a cohort of Chinese high-school students (HSSs).

Methods

An offline survey was conducted in three high schools in Chongqing (China) from 20 February to 20 May 2023. Participants were HSSs recruited through their teachers. A total of 2,159 HSSs completed a survey on demographic information as well as the Self-Stigmatization of Seeking Help (SSOSH) score, ATSPPH, Perceived Social Support Scale (PASS), and Life Orientation Test (LOT). Mediation analyses were conducted using the “Process” macro in SPSS 26.0 to estimate the direct and indirect effects of self-stigmatization of seeking psychological help on ATSPPH.

Results

Self-stigmatization of seeking psychological help was significantly and negatively related to ATSPPH among HSSs. Self-stigmatization of psychological help-seeking influenced ATSPPH through three pathways: (a) separate mediating effect of PSS (effect = −0.029); (b) separate mediating effect of optimism (effect = −0.069); (c) chain-mediating effect of PSS and optimism (effect = −0.017). These data suggested that self-stigmatization of psychological help-seeking could influence ATSPPH directly and indirectly through PSS and optimism.

Conclusion

PSS and optimism mediated the relationship between self-stigmatization of seeking help and ATSPPH. Improving the ability of HSSs to perceive social support and cultivating optimism could help improve the self-stigmatization of help-seeking and promote a positive attitude toward professional help-seeking.
Why is the screening rate in lung cancer still low? A seven-country analysis of the factors affecting adoption
Authors: Poon Charlotte , Wilsdon Tim , Sarwar Iqra , Roediger Alexander , Yuan Megan
Published: November 2023

Strong evidence of lung cancer screening’s effectiveness in mortality reduction, as demonstrated in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) in the US and the Dutch–Belgian Randomized Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NELSON), has prompted countries to implement formal lung cancer screening programs. However, adoption rates remain largely low. This study aims to understand how lung cancer screening programs are currently performing. It also identifies the barriers and enablers contributing to adoption of lung cancer screening across 10 case study countries: Canada, China, Croatia, Japan, Poland, South Korea and the United States. Adoption rates vary significantly across studied countries. We find five main factors impacting adoption: (1) political prioritization of lung cancer (2) financial incentives/cost sharing and hidden ancillary costs (3) infrastructure to support provision of screening services (4) awareness around lung cancer screening and risk factors and (5) cultural views and stigma around lung cancer. Although these factors have application across the countries, the weighting of each factor on driving or hindering adoption varies by country. The five areas set out by this research should be factored into policy making and implementation to maximize effectiveness and outreach of lung cancer screening programs.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward over-the-counter antipyretics among fever patients: a cross-sectional study in the context of a policy change KAP of OTC antipyretics
Authors: Zhang Yan , Liang Shuchang , Zhu Tao
Published: November 2023

Background

On January 8, 2023, a change in the control policy for COVID-19 was implemented in China, whereby patient self-management of fever typically entails the utilization of over-the-counter fever-reducing medications.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward over-the-counter (OTC) antipyretics among fever patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and February 2023 at author’s hospital in Wuhan, China, among fever patients on OTC antipyretics, using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results

A total of 481 valid questionnaires were collected, with the age of 36.05 ± 12.10 years, including 240 (49.90%) males, and 209 (43.45%) collected before policy change. The knowledge, attitudes, precautions for medication administration and decision-making practices scores were 6.86 ± 3.30 (possible range: 0–12), 16.67 ± 2.46 (possible range: 7–35), 29.98 ± 5.41 (possible range: 7–35) and 27.87 ± 1.28 (possible range: 8–40), respectively. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that knowledge (OR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.81–0.92, p < 0.001) was independently associated with positive attitude. Knowledge (OR = 1.41, 95%CI: 1.28–1.56, p < 0.001), attitude (OR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.79–0.95, p = 0.004), suburban (OR = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.23–0.88, p = 0.019) were independently associated with proactive precautions for medication administration practices. Knowledge (OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.07–1.22, p < 0.001), attitude (OR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.82–0.98, p = 0.018), responding after policy change, 2023 (OR = 1.70, 95%CI: 1.10–2.63, p = 0.016) were independently associated with proactive decision making practices.

Conclusion

Fever patients had moderate knowledge, negative attitude, proactive precautions for medication administration practices, moderate decision-making practices. After the policy change, there was a significant increase in knowledge regarding medication administration precautions and decision-making.
A comparative analysis of the COVID-19 Infodemic in English and Chinese: insights from social media textual data
Authors: Luo Jia , Peng Daiyun , Shi Lei , El Baz Didier , Liu Xinran
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 infodemic, characterized by the rapid spread of misinformation and unverified claims related to the pandemic, presents a significant challenge. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the COVID-19 infodemic in the English and Chinese languages, utilizing textual data extracted from social media platforms. To ensure a balanced representation, two infodemic datasets were created by augmenting previously collected social media textual data. Through word frequency analysis, the 30 most frequently occurring infodemic words are identified, shedding light on prevalent discussions surrounding the infodemic. Moreover, topic clustering analysis uncovers thematic structures and provides a deeper understanding of primary topics within each language context. Additionally, sentiment analysis enables comprehension of the emotional tone associated with COVID-19 information on social media platforms in English and Chinese. This research contributes to a better understanding of the COVID-19 infodemic phenomenon and can guide the development of strategies to combat misinformation during public health crises across different languages.
Estimation of alkali dosage and contact time for treating human excreta containing viruses as an emergency response: a systematic review
Authors: Oishi Wakana , Sano Daisuke
Published: November 2023

Water, sanitation, and hygiene provisions are essential during emergencies to prevent infectious disease outbreaks caused by improper human excreta management in settlements for people affected by natural disasters and conflicts. Human excreta disinfection is required when long-term containment in latrines is not feasible on-site. Alkali additives, including lime, are effective disinfectants for wastewater and faecal sludge containing large amounts of solid and dissolved organic matter. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum dose and contact time of alkali additives for treating virus-containing human excreta in emergency situations. We used literature data collected by searching Google Scholar and Web of Science. The date of the last search for each study was 31th May 2023. Only peer-reviewed articles that included disinfection practices in combination with quantitative data for the physicochemical data of a matrix and viral decay were selected for data extraction. Two reviewers independently collected data from each study. We extracted datasets from 14 studies that reported quantitative information about their disinfection tests, including viral decay over time, matrix types, and physicochemical properties. Three machine learning algorithms were applied to the collected dataset to determine the time required to achieve specified levels of virus inactivation under different environmental conditions. The best model was used to estimate the contact time to achieve a 3-log10 inactivation of RNA virus in wastewater and faeces. The most important variables for predicting the contact time were pH, temperature, and virus type. The estimated contact time for 3 log inactivation of RNA virus was <2 h at pH 12, which was achieved by adding 1.8 and 3.1% slaked lime to wastewater and faeces, respectively. The contact time decreased exponentially with the pH of the sludge and wastewater. In contrast, the pH of the sludge and wastewater increased linearly with the slaked lime dosage. Lime treatment is a promising measure where long-term containment in latrine is not feasible in densely populated areas, as 1 day is sufficient to inactivate viruses. The relationship we have identified between required contact time and lime dosage is useful for practitioners in determining appropriate treatment conditions of human waste.
Dispersive propagation of nuclear electromagnetic pulse in the ionosphere
Authors: Wei Yongli , Zhu Dinghan , Li Zongxiang , Wang Lihua , Wang Yuan , Zhang Tianchi , Xing Bin , Cao Baofeng , Li Peng
Published: November 2023

Introduction: On the propagation path to the satellite, the ionosphere will distort the nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) and change its physical properties.

Methods: This paper proposes a method for calculating the propagation of NEMP to the satellite. The method decomposes NEMP into the superposition of simple harmonic waves, and each simple harmonic wave is calculated separately in the ionosphere. With the consideration of different time of arrival and critical frequency of the ionosphere, the NEMP after propagating in the ionosphere is obtained by superposition of simple harmonic waves in time domain rather than the inverse Fourier transform which will erase the time domain information.

Results: The results show that NEMP is dispersive in ionosphere with the pulse broadened, the speeds changed and the bandwidth narrowed. The time-frequency spectrum can provide the frequency band where the signal energy is located.

Discussion: Our proposed method provides a simple and effective way to calculate the NEMP propagation in the ionosphere, which should afford help to the design of NEMP receivers and the selection of satellite orbit altitude.
Conditional performance factors in padel players: a mini review
Authors: Guijarro-Herencia J. , Mainer-Pardos E. , Gadea-Uribarri H. , Roso-Moliner A. , Lozano D.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Padel's global growth highlights its technical complexity. The first publications focus on the physical aspects of padel, using methods that evaluate players’ endurance, strength, speed, and range of motion, while the quantification of load, using internal and external indicators, is crucial for performance optimization, whilst taking into account athletes’ profiles and levels. Therefore, the objective entailed analyzing the scientific literature about the conditional demands in competition within padel players from different levels.

Methods

Data was collected from various databases and after the selection process, the information was analyzed in mini review.

Results

The mini review shows that the conditional demands are categorized into internal and external load to try to obtain reference values that may define the demands of padel based on the competitive level and sex. Regarding the internal load, the heart rate (HR)% of the padel players from different levels is around 70%–80% of the HR Max. Regarding the external load, in femalés categories, a greater number of strokes are made per point which entails a longer duration in the points.

Conclusions

Padel research usually analyses physical demands using internal and external loading. HR% values (70%–80% HR Max) are consistent across studies. There is variation between variables such as strokes per point, and contextual factors affect the metrics. Further exploration is vital to obtain comprehensive benchmarks and understand the demands of this sport.
Water-smart farming: review of strategies, technologies, and practices for sustainable agricultural water management in a changing climate in West Africa
Authors: Frimpong Felix , Asante Maxwell Darko , Peprah Clement Oppong , Amankwaa-Yeboah Patricia , Danquah Eric Owusu , Ribeiro Priscilla Francisco , Aidoo Atta Kwesi , Agyeman Kennedy , Asante Mary Otiwaa Osei , Keteku Agbesi , Botey Hillary Mireku
Published: November 2023

The global temperature increase of 1.1°C over the past decade and human population growth are already escalating competition for water in locations where water is scarce, adversely affecting agriculture. Water-smart farming was developed to address challenges associated with the availability, access and use of agricultural water. It complements practices and goals related to agricultural water in climate-smart agriculture. It encompasses several climate-responsive food cropping systems, water-saving methods, tools, and technologies to grow food sustainably. Effective implementation of water-smart farming can ameliorate the pressing burden of agricultural water competition. Therefore, the conceptual framework of water-smart farming and its principal elements or ideology are introduced in this review. The major pillars of water-smart cropping, which include conditioning and improving the soil’s capacity to capture and hold moisture, basic infrastructure for water harvesting, storage and use as nature-based cropping solutions were elaborated. Further examples of technologies and best practices in water-smart crop farming, such as breeding for drought-tolerant crop varieties, promoting dryland cropping systems, alternate wetting and drying technology, water drainage and control structures, rainwater harvesting, utilization of irrigation reservoirs, cover cropping and intercropping for enhancing soil moisture conservation were presented. The review also briefly shows the contribution of some of these best practices and adaptive technologies of water-smart cropping toward promoting water-saving methods used for growing rice, maize, legumes, cassava and peri-urban vegetables.
Key implications on food storage in cold chain by energy management perspectives
Authors: Karacan M. Akif , Yilmaz I. Cengiz , Yilmaz Deniz
Published: November 2023

Over the past decades, increase in food shortages and food costs with the drought caused by population growth and climate change, it becomes more important to prevent food losses with the widespread use of cold storage. That’s why many countries provide incentives for the widespread use of cold stores. However, with cold storages becoming more widespread, keeping energy consumption under control becomes an important issue. Especially in most developing countries, the status and energy performance of installed cold stores are unknown. In this study, energy consumption data were examined by using data from cold stores from different countries. The relationships between some parameters (capacity, volume, etc.) affecting energy consumption were analyzed for 67 established cold stores. In order to measure the energy consumption data of the system under ideal operating conditions, experiments were carried out in the test room under laboratory conditions and comparisons were made according to the data obtained from the field. The data obtained showed that energy consumption in cold stores increased by up to 30%, depending on operating conditions. Therefore, it is very important that cold stores are inspected by the relevant institutions after they are established and during their operation.