bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive School Reform Instructional Practices Throughout a School Year: The Role of Subject Matter, Grade Level, and Time of Year
Authors: Wiley Caroline R. H. , Good Thomas L. , Mccaslin Mary
Published: February 2022

Background/Context

The achievement effects of Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) programs have been studied through the use of input-output models, in which type of CSR program is the input and student achievement is the output. Although specific programs have been found to be more effective and evaluated more than others, teaching practices in CSR schools have received less attention. This study focuses on observations of math and reading/language arts lessons in classrooms implementing an array of CSR programs to better understand what occurs in CSR classrooms.

Research Question

This article describes observed instructional practices and teacher-student dynamics that occurred in CSR classrooms in two different subject areas, reading/language arts and math, in Grades 3–5. Reading/language arts included several literacy-related areas such as spelling, vocabulary, phonetics, and writing. Math primarily consisted of computations and math applications. Our primary research questions were: (1) Does subject matter matter in CSR classrooms? (2) How does instruction in CSR classrooms differ among Grades 3, 4, and 5? (3) Are there major differences in classroom practices between fall and spring?

Population

Teachers (N = 104) in Grades 3–5 in 16 CSR schools, totaling 248 observation periods in math and reading/language arts lessons.

Research Design

Observational study using a systematic coding system to observe student/teacher classroom behaviors and dispositions.

Data Analysis

Data were analyzed using basic descriptive statistics and analysis of variance procedures.

Conclusion

We found that students were productively involved in assigned tasks and that classrooms were pleasant and task oriented in both mathematics and reading/language arts. Some subject matter differences were notable, particularly that math lessons were more structured and rigid than were reading/language arts lessons. Also of interest, third- and fifth-grade classrooms experienced more positive teacher-student relationships than did fourth-grade classrooms. Furthermore, instruction in the fall was more structured and more focused on basic skills than in the spring. Overall, students appeared to be engaged in learning basic facts/skills in an uninterrupted teacher-directed classroom. Students did what was asked of them, were given little choice about their social and academic tasks, and were in mostly comfortable classroom environments.
Student Motivational Dynamics
Authors: Mccaslin Mary , Burross Heidi Legg
Published: February 2022

Background/Context

Student motivation typically has been studied as it relates to extrinsic (e.g., reinforcement) or intrinsic (e.g., personal choice) sources of influence, with scant attention to sociocultural context. This article builds on a previous article in this special issue that (1) addresses the role of opportunity in the motivation of students in Grades 3–5 who live in poverty and attend schools engaged in Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) and (2) presents the results of survey measures designed to capture student understandings of school. Findings suggested that students differentiate the social (school, teacher, classmates) from the academic (math, reading) domains of school. This article explores individual differences in students’ global understandings of, and dispositions toward, school.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine if and how students in Grades 3–5 who live in poverty and attend schools engaged in CSR differ in their understandings of, and dispositions toward, school.

Research Design

Students in Grades 3–5 who live in poverty and attend schools engaged in CSR completed the “The thing about my school is…” measure. Study 1 involved 464 students in spring 2004, Study 2 involved 328 students in fall 2004, and in Study 3, a subgroup of 101 participants was tracked from one school year to the next.

Conclusions/Recommendations

Exploratory factor analyses revealed individual differences in student dispositions toward school that refined global reports in ways that may prove amenable to motivational interventions. Findings suggest that the central motivational process for these students resides in a need for interpersonal validation in which achievement and affiliation concerns are mediated by participation-isolation tensions. These patterns also suggest the role of adaptation in motivation; participation and validation are central motivational processes for students in Grades 3–5 who cope with the challenges of poverty and mobility and who attend schools engaged in comprehensive reform.
Miseducating Teachers about the Poor: A Critical Analysis of Ruby Payne's Claims about Poverty
Authors: Bomer Randy , Dworin Joel E. , May Laura , Semingson Peggy
Published: February 2022

Background/Context

This is the first research study to examine the content basis of Payne's in-service teacher education program, A Framework for Understanding Poverty, though others who have reviewed the book have agreed with our analysis. The study took place within a policy context in which the federal government, with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act (2002), created a new category of students (economically disadvantaged) whose test scores would be monitored by officials in the U. S. Department of Education. This law ensures that the improvement of poor children's test scores becomes a major concern of every public school in the country. These federal requirements have fueled the demand for professional development programs such as that offered by Ruby Payne and her Aha! Process, Inc.

Purpose

This article reports on an examination of the content of Ruby Payne's professional development offerings, as represented in A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Given the immense popularity of the program, an assessment of its representations of poor people is warranted and significant. We analyzed the relationship between Payne's claims and the existing research about low-income individuals and families. This study of Payne's work provides administrators and teachers with an evaluation of the reliability of Payne's claims. It also provides scholars in education, anthropology, sociology, and related fields with a description and critique of one of the more common conversations that is engaging teachers about the nature of the lives of many of their students, and the struggle to identify directions in which to improve schooling for the most vulnerable students in the education system.

Research Design

This is a qualitative research study whose data were derived from an analysis of A Framework for Understanding Poverty.

Conclusions/Recommendations

Our critical analysis of Payne's characterizations of people living in poverty indicates that her work represents a classic example of what has been identified as deficit thinking. We found that her truth claims, offered without any supporting evidence, are contradicted by anthropological, sociological and other research on poverty. We have demonstrated through our analysis that teachers may be misinformed by Payne's claims. As a consequence of low teacher expectations, poor students are more likely to be in lower tracks or lower ability groups and their educational experience more often dominated by rote drill and practice.
Standardizing Practice in the Analysis of School Dropouts
Authors: Morrow George
Published: February 2022

After demonstrating the types of problems that arise from using different methods to calculate school dropout rates, Morrow suggests a set of procedures to standardize the process and improve the validity and reliability of data on dropouts.
Into the Starting Gate: On Computing and the Curriculum
Authors: Mcclintogk Robert
Published: February 2022

Who knows it half, speaks much, and is always wrong; who knows it wholly, inclines to act, and speaks seldom or late.

— Goethe, Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship
The Holmes Group Report: Standards, Hierarchies, and Management
Authors: Conley Sharon C. , Bacharach Samuel B.
Published: February 2022

Concerned with problems of implementing the Holmes Group proposals, Conley and Bacharach explore from an organizational theory point of view issues relating to standards for entry into teaching, differential staffing models, and school management. They focus on the central issue of control vs. autonomy in the organizational structure of our schools.
The Holmes Group Report: Why Reach Exceeds Grasp
Authors: Cuban Larry
Published: February 2022

Accusing the Holmes Group of selective amnesia regarding lessons learned in the earlier National Teacher Corps and Master of Arts in Teaching efforts to reform teacher education, Cuban sees their plan for action as a historically uninformed Sermon on the Mount. He also finds the analogy of professional development schools to teaching hospital faculty and the lack of attention paid to the politics of change in school administration naive.
The Holmes Group Report and the Professionalization of Teaching
Authors: Feinberg Walter
Published: February 2022

Critical of the economic orientation and assumptions of the Carnegie report, Feinberg finds the Holmes Group report less problematic. Nevertheless, he raises questions about liberal and professional studies, secondary and primary teachers, professional hierarchy, similarities to medical education, and the relation of schooling to social-economic problems.
Reactions to Tomorrow's Teachers
Authors: Borrowman Merle
Published: February 2022

Borrowman sees paradoxical tensions between the liberal and specialist parts of a teacher's education and the difficulty in nurturing a sense of creative inquiry in an educational world that is dominated by standardization of tests, curricula, and texts.
Schools for Tomorrow's Teachers
Authors: Darling-Hammond Linda
Published: February 2022

Declaring that “the foundation of a profession is not permission to practice autonomously, it is shared responsibility for collectively shaping standards of professional practice,” Linda Darling-Hammond speaks to the differential staffing and professional development school proposals of the Holmes Group. However, her central concern is with the nature of good teaching itself.
Image Learning: Higher Education and Interactive Video Disc
Authors: Davis Ben
Published: February 2022

Traditionally, illustrations have been subsidiary to text in the higher learning. Visual information is being set free from its dependence on text and the consequences for education will be immense, if we can learn to exploit its possibilities.
The Influence of Testing on the Curriculum
Authors: Madaus George F. , Keillor Garrison
Published: February 2022

For years, students of the senior class were required to read [“Phileopolis”] and answer questions about its meaning, etc. Teachers were not required to do so, but simply marked according to the correct answers supplied by Miss Quist, including: (1) To extend the benefits of civilization and religion to all peoples, (2) No, (3) Plato, and (4) A wilderness cannot satisfy the hunger for beauty and learning, once awakened. The test was the same from year to year, and once the seniors found the answers and passed them to the juniors, nobody read “Phileopolis” anymore.
Is the Young Child Egocentric or Sociocentric?
Authors: Lee Patrick C
Published: February 2022

What is the mind and perception of the very young child like? How can the early childhood specialist best understand the sense-making potential of the child? Lee explores two antithetical views, the Piagetian egocentric view of the child developing through only its own perspective and a sociocentric view of the child's innate sociality enabling it to take and share the perspectives of others.
New Visions, New Voices: Future Directions in the Care and Education of Young Children
Authors: Williams Leslie R.
Published: February 2022

In both summing up and looking ahead, Williams sets the parameters for answering four basic questions: Who should be served? What should be our goals? How best can we deliver needed services? And how should we prepare early childhood specialists?
The New Advocacy in Early Childhood Education
Authors: Kagan Sharon Lynn
Published: February 2022

How can the early childhood field receive the public support it needs? Kagan elaborates four reasons for advocacy: to preserve existing programs; to increase capacity and quality of service; to make early education more accessible, affordable, and equitable; and to educate the public about the needs of very young children and their parents in America today.
How the Malleability of Material Artefacts Contributes to Institutional Maintenance: The Guimard Metropolitan railway entrances, 1914–2000
Authors: Boutinot Amélie , Delacour Hélène
Published: February 2022

Our paper investigates how an institution can be maintained over a long period of time through adaptations to the material artefact which instantiates it. To illustrate our argument, we conduct a historical case study of the Guimard Metropolitan railway entrances, a material artefact which instantiates the Belle Epoque institution from 1914 to 2000. Based on our findings, we develop a process model of institutional maintenance based on the malleability of a material artefact. Supported by three types of interrelated institutional work – damage, preservation and transferability work – we illustrate how adaptations to the material form, meaning and location of an artefact allow an institution to address the evolving environment and its associated challenges and thus to be maintained over time. Our study expands our understanding of long-term institutional maintenance by capturing the importance of the malleability of an artefact and in offering a more positive view on damage work. It also has some implications for studies on materiality in highlighting the multidimensionality of artefacts and the role of transferability and relocation.
Clinical effects of glabellar botulinum toxin injections on borderline personality disorder: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wollmer M Axel , Neumann Insa , Jung Stefanie , Bechinie Agnès , Herrmann Julian , Müller Antje , Wohlmuth Peter , Fournier-Kaiser Larissa , Sperling Christian , Peters Liza , Kneer Jonas , Engel Jannis , Jürgensen Frank , Schulze Jara , Nagel Matthias , Prager Welf , Sinke Christopher , Kahl Kai G , Karst Matthias , Dulz Birger , Kruger Tillmann H C
Published: February 2022

Background:

Inhibition of frowning via injections of botulinum toxin A (BTX) into the glabellar region has shown beneficial effects in the treatment of major depression. Preliminary research suggests that improvements in the affective domain are not depression-specific, but may also translate to other psychiatric disorders.

Aim:

This 16-week, single-blind, two-center randomized controlled trial investigated the influence of BTX on clinical symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Methods:

Fifty-four patients with BPD were randomly assigned to treatment with BTX (n = 27) or a minimal acupuncture (ACU) control condition ( n = 27). Clinical outcomes were followed at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Primary endpoint was the relative score change on the Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD) 8 weeks after baseline relative to the control group and adjusted for treatment center. Secondary and additional outcome variables were self-rated borderline symptoms, comorbid symptoms of depression, psychological distress, and clinical global impression.

Results:

Participants showed significant improvements at the primary efficacy endpoint in both treatment groups (BTX: M = −0.39, SD = 0.39; ACU: M = −0.35, SD = 0.42), but no superior effect of the BTX condition in comparison with the control intervention was found— F(1,5323) = 0.017, p = 0.68). None of the secondary or additional outcomes yielded significant group differences. Side effects were mild and included headache, transient skin or muscle irritations, and dizziness.

Conclusion:

Evidence regarding the efficacy of BTX for BDP remains limited, and the design of adequate control conditions presents an opportunity for further research. ClinicalTrials.gov registry: Botulinum Toxin A for Emotional Stabilization in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), NCT02728778, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02728778
Nox2 underpins microvascular inflammation and vascular contributions to cognitive decline
Authors: Alfieri Alessio , Koudelka Juraj , Li Mosi , Scheffer Sanny , Duncombe Jessica , Caporali Andrea , Kalaria Rajesh N , Smith Colin , Shah Ajay M , Horsburgh Karen
Published: February 2022

Chronic microvascular inflammation and oxidative stress are inter-related mechanisms underpinning white matter disease and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). A proposed mediator is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (Nox2), a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain. To assess the role of Nox2 in VCI, we studied a tractable model with white matter pathology and cognitive impairment induced by bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS). Mice with genetic deletion of Nox2 (Nox2 KO) were compared to wild-type (WT) following BCAS. Sustained BCAS over 12 weeks in WT mice induced Nox2 expression, indices of microvascular inflammation and oxidative damage, along with white matter pathology culminating in a marked cognitive impairment, which were all protected by Nox2 genetic deletion. Neurovascular coupling was impaired in WT mice post-BCAS and restored in Nox2 KO mice. Increased vascular expression of chemoattractant mediators, cell-adhesion molecules and endothelial activation factors in WT mice post-BCAS were ameliorated by Nox2 deficiency. The clinical relevance was confirmed by increased vascular Nox2 and indices of microvascular inflammation in human post-mortem subjects with cerebral vascular disease. Our results support Nox2 activity as a critical determinant of VCI, whose targeting may be of therapeutic benefit in cerebral vascular disease.
Simulation of free-surface flows using the Lattice Boltzmann method with the AMR technique
Authors: Liu Zhengliang , Feng Xingya
Published: February 2022

High resolution grids are generally preferred near the free surface to capture desired phenomena. In the present paper, an adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) framework based on the hash table data structure is introduced to the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The AMR refinement criterion is based on the movement of the free surface captured through interface nodes. The performance of the AMR-based LBM solver is analyzed through several benchmark cases. Results show that the proposed numerical framework can properly track the free surface with a spatial convergence rate between the first and second order. In addition, the AMR framework is of benefit to efficiently simulating free-surface flows since it requires much less nodes to achieve high resolution near the interface.
Research data management systems and the organization of universities and research institutes: A systematic literature review
Authors: Donner Eva Katharina
Published: February 2022

New technological developments, the availability of big data, and the creation of research platforms open a variety of opportunities to generate, store, and analyze research data. To ensure the sustainable handling of research data, the European Commission as well as scientific commissions have recently highlighted the importance of implementing a research data management system (RDMS) in higher education institutes (HEI) which combines technical as well as organizational solutions. A deep understanding of the requirements of research data management (RDM), as well as an overview of the different stakeholders, is a key prerequisite for the implementation of an RDMS. Based on a scientific literature review, the aim of this study is to answer the following research questions: “What organizational factors need to be considered when implementing an RDMS? How do these organizational factors interact with each other and how do they constrain or facilitate the implementation of an RDMS?” The structure of the analysis is built on the four components of Leavitt’s classical model of organizational change: task, structure, technology, and people. The findings reveal that the implementation of RDMS is strongly impacted by the organizational structure, infrastructure, labor culture as well as strategic considerations. Overall, this literature review summarizes different approaches for the implementation of an RDMS. It also identifies areas for future research.
Estimating latent, dynamic processes of breast cancer tumour growth and distant metastatic spread from mammography screening data
Authors: Gasparini Alessandro , Humphreys Keith
Published: February 2022

We propose a framework for jointly modelling tumour size at diagnosis and time to distant metastatic spread, from diagnosis, based on latent dynamic sub-models of growth of the primary tumour and of distant metastatic detection. The framework also includes a sub-model for screening sensitivity as a function of latent tumour size. Our approach connects post-diagnosis events to the natural history of cancer and, once refined, may prove useful for evaluating new interventions, such as personalised screening regimes. We evaluate our model-fitting procedure using Monte Carlo simulation, showing that the estimation algorithm can retrieve the correct model parameters, that key patterns in the data can be captured by the model even with misspecification of some structural assumptions, and that, still, with enough data it should be possible to detect strong misspecifications. Furthermore, we fit our model to observational data from an extension of a case-control study of post-menopausal breast cancer in Sweden, providing model-based estimates of the probability of being free from detected distant metastasis as a function of tumour size, mode of detection (of the primary tumour), and screening history. For women with screen-detected cancer and two previous negative screens, the probabilities of being free from detected distant metastases 5 years after detection and removal of the primary tumour are 0.97, 0.89 and 0.59 for tumours of diameter 5, 15 and 35 mm, respectively. We also study the probability of having latent/dormant metastases at detection of the primary tumour, estimating that 33% of patients in our study had such metastases.
Determinants of Access to Finance by MSMEs in Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Malepati Venkataramanaiah , Latha Challa Madhavi , Nageswararao K. Siva
Published: February 2022

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are still an interesting academic and policy-related subject to study and understand the dynamics of the small business. There are a couple of studies which investigate the determinates of MSMEs growth by adopting personal approach (ownership characteristics) and managerial approach (managerial characteristics/strategy related). The present article is aimed to explore the several challenges faced by the MSMEs in order to have access of financial resources where the finance is said to be the oxygen of any organisation. The variables considered for the study are size of the business, type of ownership of the business and type of business. The study is restricted to only Guntur and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. To attain the objectives of the study, we intend to make use of primary and secondary data. Data purifier tests are being used in the study to know the suitability of the data for analysis. The linear assumption, normality assumption, multicollinearity assumption and homoscedasticity assumption are used under regression analysis. The results indicate that there is a strong relationship between size of the business and accessibility of the firm. It means that the size of the business has a positive impact over the availability of financial resources for the business. The moderate impact could be found between type of ownership and accessibility of financial resources whilst the same pattern exhibited in between type of business and availability of financial resources. It could be concluded that the size of the firm provide leverage for the accessibility of financial resources, and thereby this intact acts an insulator for the growth of MSMEs in a great extent comparatively the rest of the two.
Towards Team Engagement Through Team Empowerment: Moderating Roles of Team Reflexivity and Team Orientation
Authors: Gupta Pragya , Mohapatra Mamta , Srivastava Shalini
Published: February 2022

The article investigates the role of team empowerment in enhancing team engagement by collecting data from 33 teams comprising of 330 individuals from IT/IT-enabled services (ITES) organizations belonging to the Delhi-NCR region of northern India. The research findings established a positive association between team empowerment and team engagement, as was hypothesized. Team reflexivity and team orientation moderated the association between team empowerment and team engagement. The study draws the attention of management towards designing their vision and mission in such a manner that the employees take ownership and feel a sense of pride in being a part of the organization. Perceptions about team oriented behaviour and team reflexivity will help the employees, in particular, and the organizations, in general, compete in the journey towards excellence. Not much evidences to study team empowerment, specifically in the context of virtual teams, and its beneficial outcomes have been found in literature in Asian milieu. In this context, this is a significant and critical attempt to investigate the linkages between team empowerment and teamwork engagement and any moderating role of team reflexivity and team orientation in the above stated relationship.
Using Group Messaging to Facilitate Peer Support Among Early Doctoral Students: A Thematic Analysis of One Cohort’s Text Messages
Authors: Galliart Julie M. , Thornton Elaine , Freeman Robin , Bradley Pospisil Susan , Csaposs Brendan , Dorn Kathleen , Eller James , Grover Kenda S.
Published: February 2022

Students face multiple stressors while earning their doctorates. Since peer support is a common recommendation for easing this stress, we realized graduate students, faculty, and academic program administrators might have interest in how our cohort used group messaging to facilitate peer support early in our studies. We conducted a thematic analysis examining how group messaging helped new doctoral students in a hybrid program maintain ongoing engagement with course content and build interpersonal relationships. McClusky’s Theory of Margin provided a theoretical framework for this project. Results of thematic analysis emphasize that students utilized this communication medium to reach out to peers for support and to form interpersonal relationships with peers at a distance.
The Effect of Pre- and Postharvest Calcium Gluconate Treatments on Physicochemical Characteristics and Bioactive Compounds of Sweet Cherry during Cold Storage
Authors: Erbaş Derya , Koyuncu Mehmet Ali
Published: February 2022

The effects of pre- and postharvest calcium gluconate (Ca-Glu) treatments on some physicochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds of sweet cherry cv. Sweetheart during cold storage were investigated. For preharvest treatments, the Ca-Glu (1%) solution was applied to the cherry trees two times at 21 and 35 days after full bloom stage. Control trees were sprayed with distilled water at the same days. Sweet cherries, sprayed with and without Ca-Glu, were dipped into cold water (4 °C) containing calcium gluconate (1%) for 30 s and only in cold water (4 °C) as control, after harvest Following each treatment, cherries were placed in plastic boxes and stored at 1 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity for 3 weeks. The weight losses of cherries increased over time but calcium (Ca) treatments, especially pre-and postharvest combination, limited these increases compared to control groups. The best result for suppressing the respiration rate of cherries was also obtained from combined treatment. Moreover, combined treatment delayed the losses of titratable acidity, fruit firmness, decay rate and sensory quality in sweet cherries during storage comparison with the pre or postharvest application of Ca-Glu alone. The effect of Ca-Clu treatments on stem chlorophyll content and antioxidant activity was not significant. Preharvest and combined treatments retarded the loss of ascorbic acid content of cherries compared to postharvest and control treatments. The total phenolic and anthocyanin content increased regularly throughout storage, regardless of treatment; however, Ca treatments delayed the accumulation of these compounds. As a result, the combined Ca-Glu treatment could be a promising method for maintaining some physicochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds in sweet cherries during cold storage.
Renal Expression of CLC-5 and Megalin/Cubilin in Dent-1 Disease With Nonsense Mutations of CLCN5 Gene
Authors: Zhai Panpan , Lv Weigang , Yang Xiaoqing , Huang Yanjie , Zhai Wensheng , Ren Xianqing , Zhang Xia , Yang Meng , Zhang Jian , Guo Ting , Bai Minghui , Yang Yueli , Ding Ying , Huang Yanshi
Published: February 2022

The study aims to explore the clinicopathological features and whether the nonsense mutations of CLCN5 gene have effect on the renal expression of CLC-5 protein and megalin/cubilin complex in children with Dent-1 disease. The clinicopathological features and genetic examination of three patients with Dent-1 disease were investigated. The expression of CLC-5 and megalin/cubilin complex in renal tissues was detected by using immunohistochemistry method. Urinary albumin, α1-microglobulin, β2-microglobulin, retinol binding protein, and calcium levels were measured by immunonephelometry. Urinary calcium and low molecular weight proteinuria (LMWP) were enhanced in three patients, and two presented with nephrotic range proteinuria. Focal glomerular obsolescence, minor tubulointerstitial injury, and focal calcification in corticomedullary junction were found in one patient. Nonsense mutations of CLCN5 gene from their mothers were identified in all three patients with Dent-1 disease; however, the expression of CLC-5 protein was not decreased in renal tubular cells. As the receptor complex of albumin and LMWP reabsorption, the expression of megalin/cubilin in the brush border of proximal tubules was decreased in Dent-1 patients. Even if the renal CLC-5 protein is expressed normally, the reduced expression of megalin/cubilin in the brush border of renal proximal tubules may be helpful to understand the physiopathology of Dent-1 disease with nonsense mutations of CLCN5 gene.
Long-term efficacy and safety profiles following small incision lenticule extraction in eyes with ≥ 5-year follow-up
Authors: Papa-Vettorazzi Mario Renato , Güell-Villanueva José Luis , Cruz-Rodriguez José Benjamín , Moura-Coelho Nuno , Artells-de Jorge Nuria , Elies-Amat Daniel
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To evaluate long-term efficacy, safety, predictability and stability (refractive and keratometric) of myopic and myopic astigmatism correction with Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE).

Methods

Single center retrospective review of eyes undergoing SMILE from 2012–2015. Forty-two eyes (23 patients) with ≥ 5-year follow-up. Variables analyzed were preoperative, 3-month, 1-year and last follow-up uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, spherical equivalent (SE) and mean keratometry. Descriptive statistics were performed and results reported following the Standard for Reporting Astigmatism Outcomes.

Results

Mean follow-up of 5.98 ± 0.90 years. Mean preoperative SE was −5.26 ± 1.22D (range −2.50 to −8.12D). Mean preoperative cylinder was −0.66 ± 0.61D (range 0.00 to −2.25D). Efficacy and safety indices were 0.86 and 0.98, respectively. In total, 81% of operated eyes achieved an UDVA of ≥ 0.09 logMar (20/25 Snellen). At the last follow-up, ≥1 line of CDVA was gained in 14% of eyes. Five percent lost 1 line of CDVA, and no eye loss ≥2 lines of CDVA. Sixty-nine percent of eyes were within ± 0.50D and 86% within ± 1.00D of the attempted SE correction. Ninety-one percent of eyes had ≤0.50D of postoperative astigmatism and 71% were within ± 15° from the intended correction axis. At the final follow-up, a statistically significant myopic regression of 0.19 ± 0.50D was observed (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Long-term results demonstrate that SMILE is effective, predictable and safe. SMILE has good stability, low regression compared to LASIK, and no signs of corneal ectasia staging within our standard criteria.
Dex® carbohydrate drinks in trauma patients fasting preoperatively – A patient satisfaction study
Authors: Marshall Laura , Johnston Georgina , Martin Katherine , Fitzgerald Mark , Hendel Simon
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Dex® is an alkaline carbohydrate (CHO) drink used preoperatively in patients fasting for elective surgery. Its utilisation in patients awaiting emergency surgery is yet to be ascertained. We undertook a study assessing patient satisfaction relating to the introduction of Dex® in trauma patients in a Level 1 adult trauma centre.

Methods

Patients fasting for surgery, and able to receive clear fluids in compliance with local guidelines, were eligible for inclusion. Patient satisfaction scores for predetermined variables were recorded via an interval observer scale prior to and following the introduction of Dex® to the trauma unit.

Results

Prior to the introduction of Dex® 14 satisfaction evaluations were completed. A further 13 evaluations were returned after Dex® was made available. Post-traumatic amnesia accounted for some patients being unable to complete the evaluation. Patients who completed the satisfaction evaluations after Dex® was introduced reported higher satisfaction in all but two variables (‘Headache’ and ‘Staff Annoyance’). ‘Hunger’ median scores were 7 (95% CI, 5–8) prior to the introduction of Dex® and 3 (95% CI, 2–6) after its’ introduction ( p = .004). ‘Thirst’ median scores were 7.5 (95% CI, 6–10) and 4 (95% CI, 3–8) prior to and after Dex® introduction, respectively ( p = .018).

Conclusion

No adverse events or theatre timing related issues were associated with the use of Dex®. A larger randomised study of CHO drink supplementation in trauma patients fasting preoperatively is warranted to further evaluate these satisfaction endpoints as well as the other variables investigated in this study. Postoperative evaluation of these markers should also be considered.
Efficacy of Belt Electrode Skeletal Muscle Electrical Stimulation in the Postoperative Rest Period in Patients with Diabetes who Have Undergone minor Amputations: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Imaoka Shinsuke , Kudou Genki , Tsugiyama Kohei , Minata Shohei , Teroh Taisuke , Ootsuka Mikiko , Furukawa Masahide , Higashi Toshio , Okita Minoru
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to investigate whether belt electrode skeletal muscle electrical stimulation (B-SES) would improve postoperative lower limb function and walking ability in patients with diabetes who have undergone minor amputations. Diabetic patients who had undergone minor amputations were assigned randomly to a B-SES or control group. The B-SES group underwent conventional physical therapy for 20 min and B-SES for 20 min. The control group underwent only the 20-min conventional physical therapy. In both groups, rehabilitation was introduced by the physical therapists for 14 days from postoperative day 1. The outcome measures were range of motion in the ankle joint, knee extension muscle strength, ambulation status, and quality of life score. All these were evaluated before the intervention and 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention. From the 84 patients initially assessed, 32 were assigned to either the B-SES ( N = 16) or control ( N = 16) group. Preoperatively, there were no significant differences in all endpoints. The B-SES group showed significant improvement in the ankle dorsiflexion angle at 2 weeks postoperatively and knee joint extension strength at 4 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative B-SES with standard physical therapy might improve the range of motion of dorsiflexion of the ankle joint and extensor strength of the knee joint in patients with diabetes who have undergone minor amputations. B-SES is a useful tool to improve postoperative physical function in diabetic patients who have undergone minor amputations. A multicenter study is needed to determine the effective B-SES combined with regular physiotherapy for minor amputation.
D3 Versus D2 Lymphadenectomy in Right Hemicolectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Sailiang , Li Laiyuan , Sun Haojie , Chen Bojie , Yu Minhao , Zhong Ming
Published: February 2022

Purpose

D3 lymphadenectomy for right colon cancer improves oncological outcomes. This meta-analysis aimed to compare operation data, histopathological characteristics, perioperative conditions, and long-term survival after D3 and D2 lymphadenectomy in right hemicolectomy.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for relevant articles (up to March 31, 2020). Random-effects and fixed-effects meta-analysis models were used. Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.3 and Stata version 15.1 were used for pooled estimates.

Results

After screening 714 articles, 7 articles with a total of 1368 patients were eligible for inclusion. Compared with D2, D3 lymphadenectomy improves results in terms of blood loss (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −20.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] −28.19 to −13.16, P < .01), harvested lymph nodes (WMD = 8.86, 95% CI 7.74 to 9.98, P < .01), 3-year overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.03, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.43, P < .01), 5-year OS (HR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.15 to 4.30, P = .02), and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.19 to 3.90, P = .01). There was no significant difference regarding operation time, anastomosis leakage, wound infection, overall morbidity, postoperative hospital stay, mortality, length of dissected colon, and 3-year DFS ( P >= .05).

Conclusions

It is suggested in this review that D3 lymphadenectomy is superior to D2 lymphadenectomy in terms of blood loss, harvested lymph nodes, 3-year OS, 5-year OS, and 5-year DFS. The conclusion must be drawn with caution due to the limited number of included studies. Further RCTs are needed for stronger evidence.
Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction in women in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Malaekah Haifaa , Al Medbel Haifaa Saud , Al Mowallad Sameerah , Al Asiri Zahra , Albadrani Alhanouf , Abdullah Hussam
Published: February 2022

Objective:

Pelvic floor dysfunction has a high prevalence among women worldwide. However, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is underreported. Thus, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of pelvic floor dysfunction in women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional study on literate non-pregnant women aged ⩾18 years who agreed to participate in our survey. We used the validated and translated Australian pelvic floor questionnaire and conducted a multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the risk factors of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Results:

A total of 824 participants completed the questionnaire. While 60.2% of the participants had pelvic floor dysfunction, 67.7% reported signs of bowel dysfunction. Urinary dysfunction, prolapse, and sexual dysfunction were present in 44.1%, 67.7%, and 55.4% of the participants, respectively. Age, high body mass index, chronic medical illness, heavy weight lifting, and multiparity were found as the risk factors of bladder function problems. Meanwhile, chronic medical illness, heavy weight lifting, and multiparity were found as the risk factors of bowel dysfunction and prolapse. Age group and marital status were the independent factors associated with sexual dysfunction.

Conclusion:

We noted a high rate of pelvic floor dysfunction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which calls for the need to provide holistic approaches for the prevention and management of pelvic floor dysfunction among women.
Defining trapezial dysplasia – analysis of trapezial inclination in a normal population
Authors: Van Royen Kjell , Scheerlinck Thierry , Van Royen Arn , De Keyzer Pieter-Bastiaan , Baetslé Amaury , Goubau Jean
Published: February 2022

We assess the distribution of trapezial inclination in a young population in order to propose a threshold for trapezial dysplasia. One hundred peritrapezial views were reconstructed from wrist computed tomography scan datasets to measure trapezial inclination. Seventy peritrapezial views were constructed from 10 datasets to assess the influence of radiograph rotation. Mean trapezial inclination in our population was 8° (range 0.2–17.9). Fifteen degrees of radiographic pronation or supination did not alter trapezial inclination significantly. Intra-rater consistency and absolute agreement had an interclass correlation (ICC) of 0.95. Inter-rater consistency and absolute agreement had an ICC of 0.88. Trapezial inclination is a reliable measurement for trapezial dysplasia with an excellent intra-rater and good inter-rater reliability and does not change significantly with 15° of radiographic pronation or supination. These normal values can be used to propose a threshold for trapezial dysplasia in the management of trapeziometacarpal joint instability in the younger population.

Level of evidence: IV
Combating antimicrobial resistance with cefiderocol for complicated infections involving the urinary tract
Authors: Wang Hongmei , Palasik Brittany N.
Published: February 2022

Cefiderocol is a unique siderophore cephalosporin antimicrobial agent that has shown promise in treating complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI). Urinary tract infections are commonly diagnosed infections with risk increasing with age and prevalence more common in women. cUTI poses a risk of recurrence and is more likely to be associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The Food and Drug Administration approved cefiderocol for use as a last-line option in the treatment of cUTI including pyelonephritis. Cefiderocol has activity against all forms of carbapenemases due to its ability to overcome the mechanisms of carbapenemase resistance. Because of this, resistance to cefiderocol is unlikely to occur. Studies show cefiderocol is well tolerated among younger patients and patients greater than 65 years of age, the latter making up most of the study population. Renal dose adjustments are recommended. Dose adjustment in the presence of hepatic impairment is not recommended, as hepatic clearance represents a minor elimination pathway for cefiderocol. The ability of cefiderocol to overcome multiple resistance mechanisms makes it a novel choice in combating multidrug-resistant bacteria in the treatment of cUTI.
Open Inferior glenohumeral joint dislocation with complete range of motion recovery: Case Report and literature review
Authors: Saavedra-Islas Noé , Meza-Camacho Jorge , Padilla-Medina José Ramón , Villarreal-Villarreal Gregorio Alejandro , Peña-Martínez Víctor M. , Alberto Acosta-Olivo Carlos
Published: February 2022

Luxatio erecta is an inferior glenohumeral dislocation. It is an uncommon pathology with a prevalence of 0.5% of all shoulder dislocations. An open luxatio erecta presentation is rarer. After an extensive literature search, we only could find three complete case reports. From these cases, 2 out of 3 developed complications such as infections and severely limited range of motion, especially in flexion and abduction.

We report the case of a 39-year-old man with an open inferior glenohumeral joint dislocation with complete rotator cuff tear and fracture of the greater tuberosity secondary to a motor vehicle accident. He was treated with open reduction, glenohumeral capsulorrhaphy, and transosseous rotator cuff repair with good clinical outcome.

In conclusion, an open inferior shoulder dislocation is rare, less than 0.1% of all dislocations, with a high incidence of nerve injury. We suggest prompt surgical treatment with immediate administration of antibiotic therapy, wound debridement, irrigation, open reduction, and repair of the rotator cuff as an adequate protocol and focused rehabilitation with early mobilization of the glenohumeral joint.
Exploring textile-based electrode materials for electromyography smart garments
Authors: Lam Emily , Alizadeh-Meghrazi Milad , Schlums Alessandra , Eskandarian Ladan , Mahnam Amin , Moineau Bastien , Popovic Milos R
Published: February 2022

Introduction

In recent years, electromyography (EMG) has been increasingly studied for wearable applications. Conventional gel electrodes for electrophysiological recordings have limited use in everyday applications such as prosthetic control or muscular therapy at home. This study investigates the efficacy and feasibility of dry-contact electrode materials employed in smart textiles for EMG recordings.

Methods

Dry-contact electrode materials were selected and implemented on textile substrates. Using these electrodes, EMG was recorded from the forearm of able-bodied subjects. 25% and 50% isometric maximum voluntary contractions were captured. A comparative investigation was performed against gel electrodes, assessing the effect of material properties on signal fidelity and strength compared.

Results

When isolating for electrode surface area and pressure, 31 of the 40 materials demonstrated strong positive correlations in their mean PSD with gel electrodes (r > 95, p < 0.001). The inclusion of ionic liquids in the material composition, and using raised or flat electrodes, did not demonstrate a significant effect in signal quality.

Conclusions

For EMG dry-contact electrodes, comparing the performance against gel electrodes for the application with the selected material is important. Other factors recommended to be studied are electrodes’ durability and long-term stability.
How Can Music Help Us to Address the Climate Crisis?
Authors: Prior Helen M.
Published: February 2022

Musicians and music psychologists are acutely aware of the power of music and its ability to influence our emotions, moods, thoughts, wellbeing, identity, and behaviour towards others. Indeed, music is often used to help address specific problems, especially within health and wellbeing. The problem of climate change is becoming increasingly well-established in public discourse, and yet individuals frequently fail to act in an environmentally-friendly manner. Within the field of environmental psychology, several empirically-based theories have been developed to aid the understanding of why individuals behave in the ways that they do in relation to the environment. This article examines a selection of these theories, and makes an attempt to identify areas in which research in music psychology provides evidence to suggest that music could play a role in influencing environment-related beliefs and behaviours.