bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online water quality monitoring: a case study in the umbulan drinking water supply system, East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Rahim Jusman , Sunarsih Sunarsih , Budiati Lilin
Published: December 2023

Conventional systems that monitor the supply system periodically are considered to be very inadequate. This can cause the water supply distributed to the community to be of poor quality. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate water quality periodically by measuring water parameters such as pH, chlorine and turbidity for 30 days using an online system and portable unit. Portable tools used to measure pH, turbidity and residual chlorine are as follows, namely pH meters (Hanna, HI98017), Turbidity Meters (Hanna, HI 98703), Residual Chlorine meters and measurements with an online system using "Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition”. The average parameter value of the results of online daily monitoring for a month for the pH parameter was a minimum 6.92, a maximum of 7.46, a minimum turbidity of 0.08 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) and a maximum of 0.94 NTU. While the residual chlorine minimum of 0.29 mg/L and a maximum of 0.58 mg/L. To determine the accuracy of the offline measurements, measurements were also performed with a portable device four times a month. The comparison of the measurement results is very small, which is the difference in pH parameters is between 0.37-0.50, turbidity is between 0.05-0.21 NTU, and residual chlorine is 0.002-0.006 mg/L. Offline measurements using the portable device are consistent with the online daily monitoring. Future research should focus on optimizing sensor technology for enhanced accuracy and reliability, and developing automated data analysis algorithms to streamline evaluation processes.
The reproductive health understanding: an analysis for the prevention of children sexual harassment
Authors: Sukmawati Indah , Engku Kamarudin Engku Mardiah , Afdal Afdal , Fikri Miftahul , Zikra Zikra , Iswari Mega , Hariko Rezki
Published: December 2023

Understanding reproductive health is an important issue for students with special needs as their specificity does not prevent the acquisition and comprehension including efforts to prevent sexual harassment. Descriptive cross-sectional design was used. The samples selected were 86 students in Indonesia which were 29 males and 57 females, consisting of 36% deaf (n=31), 50% mentally retarded (n=43), and 13.9% autistic (n=12). Data were collected with a questionnaire of 34 items which measured the understanding of reproductive processes, functions, and systems, as well as sexually transmitted diseases, attitudes about reproductive health, media and social influence on sexual activity and ability to communicate. The data were analyzed descriptively and different multivariate tests were carried out based on the type of student's impairment. Consequently, their understanding of reproductive health was discovered to be low, especially in terms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), attitudes, and communication skills. The results also showed that there was no significant difference in the understanding of reproductive health in students with special needs concerning the type of disability suffered. These can be used by teachers, counselors, and the subjects plus their parents as initial information on developing an understanding of reproductive health in the future.
The effectiveness of drug prevention programs among children in schools
Authors: Che Rozubi Norsayyidatina , Anuar Azad Athahiri , Mohd Daud Nurul Ain , Jusoh Ahmad Jazimin , Kee Pau
Published: December 2023

The problem of discipline and moral decay nowadays in society in Malaysia is very concerning, especially among children and teenagers, as it spreads very fast and keeps being very difficult to deal with. Drug abuse is a big problem that is spreading among the world community and this will have a very bad effect especially the development of human capital. This study aimed to find out the effectiveness of Drug Prevention Programs among children at school. From this Program we want to know the level of awareness, knowledge, skills, and spirituality among children. This study has used quantitative design and is supported by qualitative data. The first phase is a case study that uses the interview with teachers and government anti-drug agency officers who are involved in the implementation of the program. For the second phase of the study, researchers have used the survey method by distributing questionnaires to the recipient subjects, who are primary school students in at-risk states who have been selected to follow the drug prevention program. The results of the survey show that all the indicators of the effectiveness of the participants, namely awareness, knowledge, skills, and spirituality, have a high percentage, with percentage values of 78.0%, 93.4%, 84.2%, and 93.4%. Overall, of the study show that the implementation of the drug prevention program in schools has achieved its objectives, in addition to paying attention to the effectiveness factors as well as the obstacles and weaknesses encountered.
School-based sexual and reproductive health education among adolescents in developing countries
Authors: Utami Dyah Rahmawatie Ratna Budi , Nurwati Ida , Lestari Anik
Published: December 2023

The increase in risky sexual behavior among adolescents indicates the need to strengthen sexual and reproductive health. Schools have an essential role, but few studies are related to mapping models of school-based sex and reproductive education for adolescents in developing countries. This scoping review examines school-based sexual and reproductive health education among adolescents in developing countries. A systematic approach was used to search the literature through 5 electronic databases: Science Direct, EBSCO, PubMed, CrossReff, and Proquest. Subsequently, two reviewers conducted a conformity analysis with the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and then the search results that met the requirements were analyzed descriptively. A total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria. The model of sexual health education in schools comprises digital-based education, peer groups, and comprehensive sex education to improve life skills. Barriers to implementation include culture, traditional norms, organization, commitment, and supporting resources. The supporting factors are student enthusiasm, exciting methods and media, community, and parental support. School-based sexual and reproductive education increases knowledge and attitudes about sexual health. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive sexual education model integrated into the school curriculum using attractive media and involving several well-organized stakeholders.
Determining the effectiveness of stress management program by using hair cortisol concentration
Authors: Sundram Bala Murali , Shaharudin Rafiza , Mohamad Nadia , Pahrol Muhammad Alfatih , Omar Affandi , Sevaratnam Gogillan , Kumareswaran Suriya , Rajendran Kamesh
Published: December 2023

Many studies have shown that healthcare workers are exposed to higher levels of stress than other occupations. However, little research has been conducted on the use of biomarker tools to assess chronic stress and assess the effectiveness of stress management programs for healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to measure the effectiveness of a Stress Management Program by measuring Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) scores and hair cortisol concentration (HCC) levels of healthcare workers in public healthcare facilities. This study was a three-group, quasi-experiment study with pre- and post-study assessment sessions. A total of 119 healthcare workers (28 from Group A, 21 from Group B, and 70 from Group C) were followed for 6 months. Significant favorable intervention effects on DASS-21 scores were found in Group A (Effect size =0.6) as compared to Group B (Effect size=0.2) and Group C (Effect size =02) at the end of the program. Time and group interaction effects were examined using the repeated measure ANOVA test in which there was a significant group *time interaction and effect size of 0.2 (p-value <0.01) across all the groups with a reduction in hair cortisol concentrations following the program. The study showed that stress management under healthy communities, building the nation (KOSPEN PLUS) program was successful in reducing stress levels, as seen through a decrease in both stress scores and hair cortisol levels. This is the first study in Malaysia to use hair cortisol as a biomarker for stress management, suggesting its reliability.
Benford’s law analysis to evaluate the quality data of COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance in Indonesia
Authors: Sinaga Evi Susanti , Sudharma Novia Indriani
Published: December 2023

Countries worldwide, including Indonesia, grappled with the unprecedented challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Surveillance data vividly illustrates the profound effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Both daily cases and deaths were raised, revealing the rapid transmission of the virus within communities. A quantitative study using a statistical approach was accomplished with secondary data to evaluate the quality of COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance data in Indonesia during the period between March 2020 to January 2021. The data was sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO) website using data reports on COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths. A rapid tool called the first digit law or the fulfillment of Benford’s law was used to suggest good data quality for epidemiological surveillance. Data analysis used the Chi-squared test and the log-likelihood ratio test. Also, it displayed the difference in mean absolute deviation (MAD) to identify the proximity of the data and Benford’s law distribution. The results showed that both confirmed, and death case distributions were statistically non-conformity with Benford’s law distribution. In terms of quality data regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiological surveillance system falls short of Benford’s law assumption. Benford's law has been acknowledged as an initial analysis that can expeditiously assess the performance of a surveillance system. The next phase of this study would be to conduct a complete evaluation suitably, especially in post-pandemic COVID-19.
Theoretical approaches to psychopathology: common cause approach vs. network approach
Authors: Ambarini Tri Kurniati , Surjaningrum Endang , Chusairi Achmad
Published: December 2023

The common causes (CC) approach is popular in psychopathology research, but nowadays, some experts consider this approach unfit to explain mental disorders. On the other hand, as a new approach, the network approach (NA) claims can provide a better explanation for understanding mental disorders. This study aims to determine the differences between NA and CC approach in psychopathology research. This research is a scoping review study using twelve articles. We searched for articles September-December 2020 in the Scopus and Science Direct databases. The results of the analysis of these articles show a fundamental difference between the two perspectives. The difference lies in the perspective of mental disorders, how to measure symptoms of mental disorders, treatment of mental disorders, and views on comorbidities. Each approach has advantages, although some articles support that NA is the better approach to studying mental disorders. To decide which approach is appropriate for psychopathology research, researchers should adapt it to the research objectives. Perspectives on psychopathology will determine how to answer the research questions and analyze the data.
Job and personal resources: boosting work engagement and job satisfaction in hospitals
Authors: Kalsum Ummu , Rivai Fridawaty , Maidin Alimin , AS Andi Indahwaty , Zulkifli Andi , Thamrin Yahya
Published: December 2023

The low level of job satisfaction (JS) among hospital staff is associated with the low level of work engagement (WE). To examine WE, the Job demand-resources theory is often applied. This study aims to see the effect of job resources (JR) and personal resources (PR) on WE and their impact on JS. This is a quantitative study that takes a cross-sectional method. The sample consisted of 244 employees of the Haji Hospital Makassar in South Sulawesi Province who were selected by random quota sampling and then analyzed using the Path Analysis test on SPSS AMOS 26. The results showed that JR (p-value 0.002<0.005, E=0.131) and PR (p-value 0.001<0.005, E=0.170) had a significant effect on WE. JR has a direct influence on JS (p-value 0.022<0.005, E=0.375). Although the indirect effect of JR on JS work engagement (WE) through is not significant (p-value 0.065<0.005), meanwhile, PR has a significant direct (p-value 0.001<0.005, E=0.248) and indirect (p-value 0.035<0.005, E=0.047) effect on JS. This study concludes that the direct influence path of PR is the best path for enhancing employee JS in hospitals.
Food habits based on gender perspective in rural and urban of West Java
Authors: Fatchiya Anna , Khomsan Ali , Riyadi Hadi , Mauludyani Anna Vipta Resti , Nurhidayati Vieta Annisa
Published: December 2023

The role of women in food consumption decision-making is closely related to cultural norms. The primary objective of this study was to describe food habits based on gender perspective in West Java. This study used a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted for 12 months in Cianjur Regency (representing rural area) and City of Sukabumi (representing urban area), West Java, Indonesia. The samples were selected using clustered purposive sampling. The total subjects were 150 households. This study showed that in term of food allocation, fathers have privilege, such as fathers eat before mothers and children, setting aside foods for fathers first before sharing the rest with family members, and food menu that the father received was more complete or better. The wives have greater control than husband in aspects of household food management. The wives were also dominant in deciding food expenses in the family rather than their husbands. There were significant differences in food allocation between rural and urban areas. The differences including: fathers eat before mothers and children (p<0.001), menu differences between fathers and other family members (p=0.002), and menu differences among family members (p=0.008). There was a significant difference in decisions making to determine the daily food menu between rural and urban areas (p=0.004). Since mothers play an important role in food purchasing, improving nutrition knowledge is necessary for better quality food at the household level. This will have an impact on the nutritional status of all household members.
Fada da contracepção: o processo criativo de uma história em quadrinhos voltada para educação sexual
Authors: Pinto Mariana Silva , Silva Maria Aparecida Alves da , Fernandes Hylio Lagana
Published: December 2023

It brings reflections on the creative process of a comic book about sexuality, a theme largely permeated by social factors and taboos in our current society. An analysis was made of the creative process of a comic produced as teaching material for sexual education, aimed at adolescent students in the final years of elementary and high school. The results point to the power of collective work and the importance of dialogue and openness to changes in the creation process, particularly when the theme and public objective are previously defined.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Metabolic Stress-Dependent Activation of Cardiac Macrophages in a Model of Dyslipidemia-Induced Diastolic Dysfunction
Authors: Panico Cristina , Felicetta Arianna , Kunderfranco Paolo , Cremonesi Marco , Salvarani Nicolò , Carullo Pierluigi , Colombo Federico , Idini Alessandra , Passaretti Mauro , Doro Riccardo , Rubino Marcello , Villaschi Alessandro , Da Rin Giorgio , Peano Clelia , Kallikourdis Marinos , Greco Carolina M. , Condorelli Gianluigi
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Metabolic distress is often associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and represents a therapeutic challenge. Metabolism-induced systemic inflammation links comorbidities with HFpEF. How metabolic changes affect myocardial inflammation in the context of HFpEF is not known.

METHODS:

We found that ApoE knockout mice fed a Western diet recapitulate many features of HFpEF. Single-cell RNA sequencing was used for expression analysis of CD45
+
cardiac cells to evaluate the involvement of inflammation in diastolic dysfunction. We focused bioinformatics analysis on macrophages, obtaining high-resolution identification of subsets of these cells in the heart, enabling us to study the outcomes of metabolic distress on the cardiac macrophage infiltrate and to identify a macrophage-to-cardiomyocyte regulatory axis. To test whether a clinically relevant sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor could ameliorate the cardiac immune infiltrate profile in our model, mice were randomized to receive the sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor dapagliflozin or vehicle for 8 weeks.

RESULTS:

ApoE knockout mice fed a Western diet presented with reduced diastolic function, reduced exercise tolerance, and increased pulmonary congestion associated with cardiac lipid overload and reduced polyunsaturated fatty acids. The main immune cell types infiltrating the heart included 4 subpopulations of resident and monocyte-derived macrophages, determining a proinflammatory profile exclusively in ApoE knockout-Western diet mice. Lipid overload had a direct effect on inflammatory gene activation in macrophages, mediated through endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways. Investigation of the macrophage-to-cardiomyocyte regulatory axis revealed the potential effects on cardiomyocytes of multiple inflammatory cytokines secreted by macrophages, affecting pathways such as hypertrophy, fibrosis, and autophagy. Finally, we describe an anti-inflammatory effect of sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibition in this model.

CONCLUSIONS:

Using single-cell RNA sequencing in a model of diastolic dysfunction driven by hyperlipidemia, we have determined the effects of metabolic distress on cardiac inflammatory cells, in particular on macrophages, and suggest sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents for the targeting of a specific phenotype of HFpEF.
AGO2 Protects Against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Activating Mitochondrial Gene Translation
Authors: Zhan Jiabing , Jin Kunying , Xie Rong , Fan Jiahui , Tang Yuyan , Chen Chen , Li Huaping , Wang Dao Wen
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Diabetes is associated with cardiovascular complications. microRNAs translocate into subcellular organelles to modify genes involved in diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, functional properties of subcellular AGO2 (Argonaute2), a core member of miRNA machinery, remain elusive.

METHODS:

We elucidated the function and mechanism of subcellular localized AGO2 on mouse models for diabetes and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Recombinant adeno-associated virus type 9 was used to deliver AGO2 to mice through the tail vein. Cardiac structure and functions were assessed by echocardiography and catheter manometer system.

RESULTS:

AGO2 was decreased in mitochondria of diabetic cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of mitochondrial AGO2 attenuated diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction. AGO2 recruited
TUFM
, a mitochondria translation elongation factor, to activate translation of electron transport chain subunits and decrease reactive oxygen species. Malonylation, a posttranslational modification of AGO2, reduced the importing of AGO2 into mitochondria in diabetic cardiomyopathy. AGO2 malonylation was regulated by a cytoplasmic-localized short isoform of
SIRT3
through a previously unknown demalonylase function.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings reveal that the
SIRT3
–AGO2–
CYTB
axis links glucotoxicity to cardiac electron transport chain imbalance, providing new mechanistic insights and the basis to develop mitochondria targeting therapies for diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Vascular architecture mapping reveals sex-specific changes in cerebral microvasculature with aging
Authors: Hohmann Anja , Zhang Ke , Jende Johann M.E. , Mooshage Christoph M. , Görgen Kai , Rotkopf Lukas T. , Schlemmer Heinz-Peter , Vollmuth Philipp , Bendszus Martin , Wick Wolfgang , Kurz Felix T.
Published: December 2023

Objectives: Previous studies indicate region-specific age- and sex-related changes in cerebral microvasculature. Using whole-brain vascular architecture mapping (VAM), our objective was to map and assess these changes in human microvasculature in vivo.

Materials and methods: Cardiovascular healthy women (n = 40) and men (n = 32) with unifocal low-grade glioma, matched for age [range: 20-70 years] and BMI, were examined on the non-tumor hemisphere with a combined spin and gradient echo echo-planar imaging sequence at 3 T MRI. Vessel vortex curves were obtained by pair-wise plotting changes in relaxation rates R2* and R2 during contrast agent bolus passage, which each generate a set of VAM parameters that characterize microvascular properties, such as vessel type, lumen size, or blood flow. Averaged VAM values of cortical grey matter, white matter, putamen, globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, thalamus, insular cortex, and hippocampus were assessed for age- and sex-related changes.

Results: With age, dominant vessel types changed from capillaries to an arteriole-dominated profile, particularly in insula, thalamus, and globus pallidus. In white matter, blood flow velocity decreased significantly with aging for both sexes (r = −0.33, p = 0.004). In women, aging was associated with an increase in microvessel caliber, particularly in thalamus (r = 0.39, p = 0.01) and insula (r = 0.34, p = 0.03). In all grey matter areas, women had a higher microvessel density than men (4.33 ± 0.26ˑ102 ms-1/3 vs. 4.18 ± 0.26ˑ102 ms-1/3; p = 0.025, respectively).

Conclusions: Aging affects microvasculature differently across brain regions in women and men, especially in thalamus and insula.
Speak, Read and Prompt: High-Fidelity Text-to-Speech with Minimal Supervision
Authors: Kharitonov Eugene , Vincent Damien , Borsos Zalán , Marinier Raphaël , Girgin Sertan , Pietquin Olivier , Sharifi Matt , Tagliasacchi Marco , Zeghidour Neil
Published: December 2023

We introduce SPEAR-TTS, a multi-speaker text-to-speech (TTS) system that can be trained with minimal supervision. By combining two types of discrete speech representations, we cast TTS as a composition of two sequence-to-sequence tasks: from text to high-level semantic tokens (akin to “reading”) and from semantic tokens to low-level acoustic tokens (“speaking”). Decoupling these two tasks enables training of the “speaking” module using abundant audio-only data, and unlocks the highly efficient combination of pretraining and backtranslation to reduce the need for parallel data when training the “reading” component. To control the speaker identity, we adopt example prompting, which allows SPEAR-TTS to generalize to unseen speakers using only a short sample of 3 seconds, without any explicit speaker representation or speaker labels. Our experiments demonstrate that SPEAR-TTS achieves a character error rate that is competitive with state-of-the-art methods using only 15 minutes of parallel data, while matching ground-truth speech in naturalness and acoustic quality.
Parasitoid wasps (Ichneumonoidea) collected from faba bean fields, Kharga Oasis, New Valley, Egypt, with new records and the description of a new species
Authors: GADALLAH NEVEEN S. , EDMARDASH YUSUF A. , MANSOUR AMANY N. , IMAM AHMED I.
Published: December 2023

A faunistic inventory of ichneumonoid wasps collected from faba bean fields (Vicia faba L.) in Kharga Oasis, New Valley, Egypt is presented. Fourteen species of Braconidae in 11 genera and five subfamilies (Aphidiinae, Braconinae, Euphorinae, Microgastrinae, and Opiinae); and six ichneumonid species in five genera and three subfamilies (Campopleginae, Diplazontinae, and Ichneumoninae) were collected and identified. Among those, three genera Barichneumon Thomson, and Virgichneumon Heinrich (Ichneumoninae, Ichneumonidae), and Centistes Haliday (Euphorinae, Braconidae), and five species: Cotesia icipe Fernández & Fiaboe, 2017 (Microgastrinae) (Braconidae), Diadegma trochanteratum (Thomson, 1887), and Sinophorus tibialis Sanborne, 1984 (Campopleginae), Barichneumon bilunulatus (Gravenhorst, 1829), and Virgichneumon callicerus (Gravenhorst, 1820) (Ichneumoninae, Ichneumonidae) are new records to the Egyptian fauna. A new species, Trioxys khargaiensis Gadallah & Edmardash (Aphidiinae: Braconidae) is described and illustrated. A faunistic list comprising diagnostic characters and distribution in the Middle East and North Africa is provided. Illustrations of species’ characters are also provided.
Molecular delimitation of the seasonal killifishes of the Hypsolebias antenori species group (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae), with description of two new species from the Caatinga coastal basins, northeastern Brazil
Authors: ABRANTES YURI GOMES , RAMOS TELTON PEDRO ANSELMO , BENTO DIEGO DE MEDEIROS , LIMA SERGIO MAIA QUEIROZ
Published: December 2023

Hypsolebia antenori is a seasonal killifish considered to be broadly distributed along the Caatinga’s basins of northeastern Brazil, with records in the coastal drainages of the rio Pacoti, rio Jaguaribe, córrego Virgílio and rio Apodi-Mossoró basins. Based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic reconstructions, it was possible to diagnose two new species and restrict H. antenori to the rio Jaguaribe basin. Hypsolebias gongobira new species is described from a temporary pool in the rio Pacoti basin in Ceará State, in syntopy with the species threatened H. longignatus. Hypsolebias bonita new species occurs in the floodplains of the rio Apodi-Mossoró basin and in the córrego Virgílio microbasin in the Furna Feia National Park, in Rio Grande do Norte State. We also discuss the conservation status of these new species and how the São Francisco Interbasin Water transfer, and the agricultural and urban expansion in the semiarid may be adversely affecting these seasonal killifishes.
Skill Building in Early Care and Education Programs
Authors: Jenkins Jade Marcus , Duncan Greg J.
Published: December 2023

Preschool policy is motivated by the notion that early childhood care and education increases school readiness, which, in turn, provides a foundation for lifelong advantages and greater success in adulthood. We question the degree to which this simple skill-building model is an effective framework for preschool policy: while investments in preschool education boost school readiness in the short run, some recent studies show that initial gains either quickly disappear or turn negative. Taking advantage of end-of-preschool gains requires considerable effort toward optimizing classroom learning experiences, integrating the learning goals of preschool and K–12 schooling, and pushing for new discoveries about early-life skills and capacities that preschools are uniquely positioned to target. Supporting parental employment and access to affordable childcare also benefit child development, so we argue that the preschool policy portfolio should include mechanisms that more broadly expand childcare access to support family capacities.
Better Together? Multiplier and Spillover Effects in Two-Generation Initiatives
Authors: Tach Laura , Day Elizabeth
Published: December 2023

Two-generation (2Gen) initiatives—social programs that invest in both children and their caregivers—have been lauded for their potential to improve multigenerational well-being and upward mobility. 2Gen advocates argue that these kinds of social investments likely outperform investment in a single generation, because they should create spillover and multiplier effects that more effectively boost well-being and mobility from poverty. We review empirical research on 2Gen initiatives in education and workforce, parenting, housing, and health. While most 2Gen initiatives either have null effects or have not been rigorously evaluated, there is strong evidence of positive spillover benefits to children when parents access programs that significantly improve family economic resources. We also find evidence of positive effects on both generations when interventions involve intensive home visiting. We conclude with a critique of current 2Gen initiatives, arguing that the focus on family skill building is insufficient to disrupt multigenerational poverty.
Legal Aid and Social Policy: Managing a Political Economy of Scarcity
Authors: Michener Jamila
Published: December 2023

Civil legal systems structure Americans’ relationship to the welfare state, offering grounds for contesting denials of benefits and preventing material harms like eviction. I draw on data from interviews with legal aid providers and tenant organizers to show how civil legal resources facilitate access to the safety net, and I argue that yoking legal aid and social policy is a strategy for managing a political economy that systematically undersupplies essential resources and protections. Notwithstanding the democratic ideal of social and civil rights as self-reinforcing and mutually constitutive, the relationship between social policy and civil legal aid underscores how these domains operate as substitutes rather than complements. Politically induced scarcity makes it necessary to leverage legal mechanisms to protect vulnerable Americans. Such necessity implicates acute democratic deficits that are most aptly addressed through fundamental changes to existing power relations.
Policymaker and Practitioner Perspectives and Insights from Birmingham, Alabama: An Interview with Judge Andra D. Sparks, Mankinta Holloway, and Melanie Colston
Authors: Moffitt Susan L.
Published: December 2023

What are promising interventions to reconstruct the safety net? What are paths forward for complementary services? For policymaker and practitioner perspectives on these questions, we turned to experts in the Municipal Court in the City of Birmingham, Alabama: Andra D. Sparks, presiding judge; Mankinta Holloway, court administrator; and Melanie Colston, court administrator and clerk of court. Siloed services loom large as a chief impediment to complementary safety net services. The Birmingham Municipal Court has worked to dismantle traditional silos by developing processes and systems that reach across organizational boundaries. This includes collaborating with local mental health and education providers to prevent individuals from facing criminal prosecution and to facilitate effective treatments to prevent recurring court appearances. Reconstructing the social safety net will depend, in part, on incorporating partners like court systems that operate outside conventional safety net systems. The conversation, led by Susan Moffitt, occurred on November 14, 2022, and has been edited for length.
Trust but Verify? Utility of Intraoperative Angiography After Revascularization for Vascular Trauma
Authors: Lehrman Benjamin , Byerly Saskya , Mitchell Erica L. , Kerwin Andrew J. , Howley Isaac W. ,   AAST PROOVIT Study Group
Published: December 2023

Background

Trauma surgical dogma teaches that patients should have intraoperative angiography (IA) if the surgeon cannot identify a pulse in the injured extremity following a vascular repair. This study was undertaken to assess the utility of IA in trauma patients who underwent open brachial or femoral artery revascularization.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of the Prospective Observational Vascular Injury Trial (PROOVIT) database from 2013 to 2021 evaluated patients >15 years with penetrating or blunt injuries requiring operative intervention of the brachial, superficial femoral, or common femoral arteries. Prospective Observational Vascular Injury Trial data evaluated included documented pulse in the injured extremity at revascularization completion, adjunctive IA, immediate revision, and vascular reintervention during the hospitalization.

Results

Of the 5057 patients with vascular injury, 185 patients met our inclusion criteria. The majority were male (86.5%) with a median age, injury severity score, and systolic blood pressure of 29, 12, and 117, respectively. Of the study patients, 39% underwent IA, 14% had immediate revision, and 8% required vascular reoperation during their admission. Patients who underwent IA and with no documented palpable pulse after repair were significantly more likely to require immediate revision before leaving the operating room (22% vs 9%, P = .013) and were not more likely to require reoperation, than those who did not undergo IA (7% vs 9%, P = .613).

Conclusions

Intraoperative angiography is a valuable tool for surgeons for vascular extremity trauma and is associated with a greater rate of immediate revision. Familiarity with angiographic technique is essential for vascular trauma and should be a focal point of training.
Should the Breast Cancer Staging System be Revised?
Authors: Sanli Ahmet Necati , Tekcan Sanli Deniz Esin , Aydogan Fatih , Altundag M. Kadri
Published: December 2023

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine whether breast cancer patients at stage T2N0 with tumor size ≥4 cm and <4 cm.

Method

Patients with T2N0 stage breast cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2019 were analyzed in 2 groups as <4 cm (T2a) and ≥4 cm (T2b) in the study using the SEER 17 Research Plus database. The patients’ clinicopathological characteristics and oncological outcomes were included. Group comparisons of prognostic factors, overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were made.

Results

In this study, which involved 70971 patients, the T2a group had higher 5-year OS rate (87.2 ± .2 vs 80.8 ± .5%) and 5-year CSS rate (93.7 ± .1% vs 89.4 ± .4%) than the T2b group ( P < .001). Univariate analysis revealed that the overall risk of death was 1.5 times higher in T2b than T2a (HR: 1.533 [95% CI: 1.450-1.622], P < .001), whereas multivariate analysis demonstrated the risk was 1.4 times higher (HR: 1.384 [95% CI: 1.307-1.466], P < .001). The risk of cancer-specific death was 1.7 times higher in univariate analysis (HR: 1.691 [95% CI: 1.561-1.832], P < .001) and 1.4 times higher in multivariate analysis (HR: 1.420 [95% CI: 1.309-1.541], P < .001).

Conclusion

Overall survival and BCSS rates in stage T2b breast cancer patients are significantly lower than in T2a patients. Tumor size ≥4 cm in breast cancer is a negative predictor of prognosis.
Prognostic Value of Endothelin-1 or Related Peptides in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Hao , Wang Ci
Published: December 2023

There is increasing evidence that endothelin-1 (ET-1) or related peptides play a prognostic value in coronary artery disease (CAD). The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the predictive role of ET-1 or related peptides in CAD patients. We comprehensively searched PubMed and Embase databases until January 15, 2023. Studies examining the association of ET-1, big ET-1, or C-terminal proendothelin-1 (CT-proET-1) level with all-cause mortality or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in CAD patients were included. Fourteen studies with 30,181 patients were identified. Comparison of the top and the lowest ET-1 level, the pooled risk ratio (RR) of all-cause mortality was 3.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59–8.94) for ET-1 and 1.65 (95% CI 1.25–2.18) for big ET-1. The pooled RR of MACEs was 2.24 (95% CI 1.85–2.72) for ET-1, 1.49 (95% CI 1.10–2.03) for big ET-1, and 3.55 (95% CI 2.12–5.96) for CT-proET-1, respectively. Subgroup analysis indicated that elevated ET-1 level was associated with 2.66-fold and 2.09-fold higher risk of in-hospital/30-day and long-term MACEs. Elevated ET-1, big ET-1, or CT-proET-1 may be independently associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality and MACEs in patients with CAD.
Treatment guesses in the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study: Accuracy, unblinding and influence on outcomes
Authors: Jureidini Jon , Moncrieff Joanna , Klau Julie , Aboustate Natalie , Raven Melissa
Published: December 2023

Objective:

We evaluated the presence and impact of unblinding during the influential Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00006286).

Method:

Our analysis was part of a Restoring Invisible and Abandoned Trials reanalysis. Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study trialled fluoxetine, placebo, cognitive behaviour therapy or their combination, in treating adolescents with major depressive disorder. We analysed the accuracy of guesses of fluoxetine or placebo allocation, and their effects on change in Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised at 12 weeks.

Results:

Of 221 participants allocated to fluoxetine or placebo, 151 adolescents (68%) had their guess about pill-treatment-arm allocation recorded at week 6, and guesses were recorded for 154 independent evaluators, 159 parents and 164 pharmacotherapists. All of these groups guessed treatment allocation more accurately than would be expected by chance (60–66% accuracy; all p-values ⩽ 0.004). Guesses did not become more accurate between 6 and 12 weeks and were not predicted by adverse events, though event documentation was poor. Treatment guess had a substantial and statistically significant effect on outcome (Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised change mean difference 9.12 [4.69; 13.55], β = 0.334, p < 0.001), but actual treatment arm did not (1.53 [−2.83; 5.89], β = 0.056, p = 0.489). Removing guess from the analysis increased the apparent effect of treatment arm, making it almost statistically significant at the conventional alpha-level of 0.05 ( p = 0.06).

Conclusions:

For Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study, treatment guesses strongly predicted outcomes and may have led to the exaggeration of drug effectiveness in the absence of actual effects. The integrity of double-blinding in trials should be routinely assessed and reported.
Inadvertent Injection of Ciprofloxacin Instead of Ropivacaine Through Epidural Catheter
Authors: Fuzier Régis , Salvignol Geneviève , Ferron Gwenaël , Lacroix Carine , Izard Philippe
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Patient harm is often due to medication errors related to neuraxial and peripheral misconnection. We report a case of inadvertent injection of ciprofloxacin into the epidural space and discuss the strategies that could prevent such an incident. Summary: A 74-year-old woman presented a recurrence of an ovarian cancer. The recent discovery of an intrabdominal recurrence on CT-scan led us to propose a new surgical procedure. A thoracic epidural analgesia was performed prior to general anesthesia. Postoperative pain was controlled with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with ropivacaine-epinephrine. During the first night, abdominal pain appeared. During the second day, a nurse discovered that the bag connected to the pump contained ciprofloxacin and not ropivacaine. After aspiration of 2.5 ml sent to laboratory for analysis, the epidural catheter was removed. The investigation revealed the different causes leading to such an error. Three days after, the patient returned home, without any adverse symptoms. Conclusion: This is the first report of the inadvertent administration of ciprofloxacin into the epidural space via a patient-controlled epidural analgesia technique. As there is no effective treatment for such errors, we discuss the neurological risk of ciprofloxacin and prevention strategy mainly based on organizational and human factors.
The Role of Environmental Sensitivity in the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Self-Conscious Emotions of Shame and Guilt: A Brief Report
Authors: Di Paola Ludovica , Nocentini Annalaura , Levantini Valentina , Masi Gabriele , Milone Annarita , Muratori Pietro
Published: December 2023

The association between childhood maltreatment and self-conscious emotions has been proven by the literature, but with limited attention to the specific moderating mechanisms involved. Highly sensitive individuals show emotional reactivity, ease of overstimulation, which make them more influenced by childhood maltreatment experiences. The study aims to test whether environmental sensitivity moderated the link between childhood maltreatment and self-conscious emotions of shame and guilt. The sample included 128 children referred for Oppositional Defiant Disorder (M age = 9.05; SD = 1.34). Results showed a significant interaction between maltreatment and environmental sensitivity on guilt and shame (B = 1.81, SE = .84, p < .05; B = 1.69, SE = .83, p < .05): highly sensitive children presented higher levels of shame and guilt following experiences of maltreatment as compared to low sensitive children. These findings may contribute to the literature on the role of environmental sensitivity as an individual trait moderating the effect of a contextual experience.
Book review: Sooryamoorthy, R., Sociology Global: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Authors: Luiz Linda Therese
Published: December 2023

Sooryamoorthy, R., Sociology Global: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (Anthem Press, 2023), 219 pp., £45.00, $75.00. ISBN-13: 978-1-83998-681-9 (Pbk). ISBN-10: 1-83998-681-6 (Pbk).
The Study of COVID-19’s Perceptions as a Motivation to Exercise and Keep Fit Among Older Adults
Authors: Zhou Jiali , Wu Baoyuan , Lu Fengyi , Ma Xiujie
Published: December 2023

Since the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), characterized by solid infectivity, rapid communication and diverse communication routes, has become widespread worldwide. This study investigates the motivations of older adults to exercise and keep fit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The research is based on a survey of older adults in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. It adopts the event strength system theory as a conceptual framework and the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory for causal inferences. (1) the perception of COVID-19’s novelty had a significant negative impact on older adults” intention to exercise and stay fit, and the perception of COVID-19’s disruptiveness and criticality had a significant positive impact on older adults” intention to exercise and fitness; (2) The perception of COVID-19’s novelty had a significant negative effect on risk cognition, and the disruptive and critical cognitions had a significant positive effect on risk perceptions; (3) risk perceptions had a prominent positive effect on older adults” intention to exercise and fitness; and (4) risk communication played an important moderating role between COVID-19 event strength cognition and older adults’ intention to exercise and fitness. The study revealed that the perception of COVID-19’s seriousness significantly impacted older adults” intentions to exercise and keep fit and that risk perception and communication acted as mediating factors.
Racialized Sexism: Nonverbal Displays of Power in Workplace Settings are Evaluated as More Masculine When Displayed by White (vs. Black) Women With Implications for the Expression of Ambivalent Sexism
Authors: Tran Quang-Anh Ngo , Cooley Erin , Lisnek Jaclyn A. , Brown-Iannuzzi Jazmin L. , Cipolli William
Published: December 2023

We hypothesized that White (vs. Black) women in high- (vs. low-) power poses would be evaluated as particularly masculine and unfeminine due to greater perceived violations of gendered racial stereotypes. As predicted, White (vs. Black) women in high- (but not low-) power poses were evaluated as more masculine and less feminine (Studies 1-3). Moreover, greater perceived masculinity of White (vs. Black) women in high-power poses predicted more hostile sexism; and, lesser perceived femininity of White (vs. Black) women predicted less benevolent sexism. Finally, these associations between masculinity/hostile sexism and femininity/benevolent sexism serially mediated reduced hiring desirability of White (vs. Black) women (Study 2). Study 3 replicated these serial indirect effects and found that these effects emerged regardless of job status and even when controlling for socially desirable responding. We conclude that gendered racism leads sexism to be expressed toward White and Black women embodying power in distinct ways.
War exposure prior to conception: Longitudinal associations between maternal emotional distress and child sleep 10 years later
Authors: Bolhuis Emma , Scher Anat , Ohana Hanit , Ad-Epsztein Rotem , Leshem Micah , Beijers Roseriet
Published: December 2023

Exposure to war is known to impact children’s physical and mental health. Recent research reveals that war exposure might even affect the developmental outcomes of children who are yet to be conceived. In this study, we sought to extend such prior work by investigating longitudinal associations between pre-conception war exposure and the accompanying maternal emotional distress on child sleep. Israeli mothers, who conceived within a year after the Lebanon war in 2006 ( N = 68), were followed until their children reached 10 years of age. At that age, child sleep problems were measured through mother and child reports. Results from analyses of covariances (ANCOVAs) showed that war exposure prior to conception itself did not predict child sleep. However, hierarchical regression analyses showed that higher levels of maternal emotional distress, as a result of pre-conception war exposure, predicted more sleep problems in girls. Further exploratory analyses revealed that these associations showed themselves in both maternal and child reports on various sleep domains. In boys, no evidence was found for associations between maternal emotional distress during wartime and sleep 10 years later. These results indicate that war-related pre-conception stress might have long-term, sex-specific effects on child sleep, though replication with larger samples is needed to corroborate the findings.
Clinical benefits and bioequivalence of vortioxetine oral drop solution versus oral tablets
Authors: Fagiolini Andrea , Adair Michael , Buchberg Petersen Kamilla , Areberg Johan , Christensen Michael Cronquist
Published: December 2023

Background:

Vortioxetine is efficacious and well tolerated in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and is available as an immediate-release tablet and oral drop solution. The oral drop solution may offer clinical benefits versus a tablet, such as the reduced risk of nausea, personalised dosing and ease of administration.

Aims:

To investigate the bioequivalence of vortioxetine 20 mg/mL oral drop solution versus a 20 mg immediate-release tablet.

Methods:

Healthy adults were randomised 1:1 to receive vortioxetine 20 mg oral drop solution or immediate-release 20 mg tablet after fasting on days 1 and 29 in an open-label, single-centre, single-dose crossover study. The area under the plasma concentration–time curve from 0 to 72 h (AUC0–72h) and maximum plasma concentration ( Cmax) were analysed. Bioequivalence was concluded if the 90% CI for the oral drop solution-to-immediate-release tablet ratio for AUC0–72h and Cmax were contained within a range of 0.80−1.25.

Results:

Vortioxetine oral drop solution was bioequivalent to the tablet ( n = 26; estimated AUC0–72h ratio 1.06 (90% CI: 1.03–1.10); Cmax ratio 1.01 (90% CI: 0.97–1.05)). A similar proportion of participants reported adverse events in each study arm but more headache events (7 vs 1) were reported with the oral drop solution versus tablet. The most common adverse event was nausea (16–23% of participants; all mild intensity).

Conclusions:

Vortioxetine oral drop solution is bioequivalent to immediate-release tablets. Oral drop solution provides an alternative to tablets and facilitates clinical benefit through individualised treatment, including gradual dose up-titration, for patients with MDD.