bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metaphor-Enabled Marketplace Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Luri Ignacio , Schau Hope Jensen , Ghosh Bikram
Published: July 2023

Textual data require an analytical trade-off between breadth and depth. Automated approaches locate patterns across large swaths of data points but sacrifice qualitative insight because they are not well equipped to deal with context-determined ways to express meaning, like figurative language. To strengthen the power of automated text analysis, researchers seek hybrid methodologies that combine computer-augmented analysis with sociocultural researcher insights based on qualitative textual interpretation. This article demonstrates a new method, which the authors term metaphor-enabled marketplace sentiment analysis (MEMSA). Building on existing automated text analysis methodologies linking word lists to sentiments, MEMSA adds metaphors that associate topics with sentiments across domains. Using MEMSA, researchers can leverage the sentiment potential of these located metaphors and scale insights to the level of big textual data by employing a dictionary approach enhanced by a specific and useful linguistic property of metaphors: their predictable structure in text (something is something else). This article shows that metaphors add associative detail to sentiments, revealing the targets and sources of sentiments that underlie the associations. Understanding nuanced market sentiments enables marketers to identify sentiment-based trends embedded in market discourse, so they can better formulate, target, position, and communicate value propositions for products and services.
Comparing the platformization of news media systems: A cross-country analysis
Authors: Nielsen Rasmus Kleis , Fletcher Richard
Published: July 2023

Platformization has been used to describe how platforms such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, WhatsApp and TikTok have become increasingly important for how people communicate and access information, including news. But to what extent have news media systems in different countries become platformized? Using online survey data from 46 countries, we show that: (a) although over 90% of internet users use at least one social platform, there are large country differences in the proportion that use them to access news; and (b) large country difference in the proportion that still go directly to news websites and apps. Furthermore, we find (c) that country differences at least partly reflect path dependency, more specifically the historic strength of the newspaper market leading to lower levels of news platformization and continued high levels of direct access. These findings show how platformization varies in different parts of the world, provide a framework for capturing how it changes over time, and highlight the potential benefits of bringing together platform studies and comparative media systems research.
The use of home-based digital technology to support post-stroke upper limb rehabilitation: A scoping review
Authors: Gebreheat Gdiom , Goman Adele , Porter-Armstrong Alison
Published: July 2023

Objective

To identify, map and synthesize the extent and nature of existing studies on the use of home-based digital technology to support post-stroke upper limb rehabilitation.

Data sources

A comprehensive literature search was completed between 30 May 2022 and 05 April 2023, from seven online databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, IEEExplore, Web of Science and PEDro), Google Scholar and the reference lists of already identified articles.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted according to Arksey and O’Malley (2005), and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. All English-language studies reporting on the use of home-based digital technology to support upper limb post-stroke rehabilitation were eligible for inclusion.

Results

The search generated a total of 1895 records, of which 76 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 52 were experimental studies and the rest, qualitative, case series and case studies. Of the overall 2149 participants, 2028 were stroke survivors with upper limb impairment. The majority of studies were aimed at developing, designing and/or assessing the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a digital system for poststroke upper limb rehabilitation in home settings. The thematic analysis found six major categories: Tele-rehabilitation ( n = 29), games ( n = 45), virtual reality (n = 26), sensor (n = 22), mobile technology (n = 22), and robotics (n = 8).

Conclusion

The digital technologies used in post-stroke upper limb rehabilitation were multimodal, and system-based comprising telerehabilitation, gamification, virtual reality, mobile technology, sensors and robotics. Furthermore, future research should focus to determine the effectiveness of these modalities.
Trade-off between the radiation parameters and image quality using iterative reconstruction techniques in head computed tomography: a phantom study
Authors: Lāce Elīza , Mohammadian Reza , Āboltiņš Ainārs , Sosārs Dāvis , Apine Ilze
Published: July 2023

Background

Iterative reconstruction techniques (IRTs) are commonly used in computed tomography (CT) and help to reduce image noise.

Purpose

To determine the minimum radiation dose while preserving image quality in head CT using IRTs.

Material and Methods

The anthropomorphic phantom was used to scan nine head CT image series with varied radiation parameters. CT dose parameters, including volume CT dose index (CTDIvol [in mGy]) and dose length product (DLP [in mGy/cm]), were recorded for each scan series. Different noise levels (iDoseL1-6) were used in IRT reconstructions for soft and bone tissues. In total, 15 measurements were taken from five regions of interest (ROI) with an area of 10 mm2. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and noise values obtained at different ROIs were compared among various reconstruction methods with repeated measures of statistical analysis .

Results

In the head CT scan, applying IRT iDoseL5 had the lowest noise and highest SNR for soft tissue ( P < 0.05), and increased iDose can decrease CT dose by 54.6% without compromising image quality. While for bone tissue reconstruction, no clear association was found between the level of iDose and noise. However, when CTDIvol is >20 mGy, iDoseL4 is slightly superior to other reconstruction methods ( P < 0.065).

Conclusion

Using IRTs in head CTs reduces radiation dose while maintaining image quality. IDoseL5 provided optimal balance for soft tissue.
Bladder diary for illiterates: A novel method
Authors: Shrivastava Nikita , Sarangi Shakti Swarup , Tripathi Shashank , Bhargava Priyank , Bhirud Deepak Prakash , Jena Rahul
Published: July 2023

Purpose:

Bladder diary is an integral part of urologic evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms. One of its limitations is the requirement of a literate patient or attendant to complete it. We propose a novel method for recording bladder diary in illiterate individuals, with the aid of easily available materials from hospital, without any expenditure from the patients.

Methods:

Forty-nine patients, who were required to fill the bladder diary as a part of their urological assessment, and were either illiterate or not literate enough to complete it themselves, were enrolled and admitted in the urology ward for 1 and a half days. Patients were provided with two 500 mL empty normal saline bottles for collection of each void, and a chart separately for day and night with diagrams of saline bottles to mark the corresponding level of urine. The amount of urine and frequency was also noted simultaneously by nursing staff each time for 24 h. The investigator interpreted the data marked on the charts by the patient and compared it with the data collected by the nursing officers.

Results:

No statistically significant difference was found between the data collected by the nursing staff and patient data interpreted by the investigators, which included 24-h urine volume( p = 0.562), nocturnal output ( p = 0.941), average voided volume ( p = 0.709), maximum voided volume ( p = 0.369), fluid intake ( p = 0.401), frequency, nocturia and episodes of urgency and incontinence ( p = 1).

Conclusion:

This method of recording bladder diary is a feasible, genuine, reliable and cost-free method which can be used in illiterates.
Facing NPG implementation problems in municipal organizations: The wickedness of combined value systems
Authors: Kuitert Lizet , Volker Leentje , Grandia Jolien
Published: July 2023

Implementing new value systems in municipal organizations to add societal value is extremely challenging. Value tensions emerge inside public organizations when the traditional (TPA) and market (NPM) value systems are confronted with new collaborative value systems (NPG). A multi-level case study, based on interviews, observations and documents, was conducted in two large Dutch municipalities to analyze implementation challenges that civil servants encounter due to the implementation of NPG. By integrating a governance mechanisms-based approach with a value tension approach, the paper contributes to the understanding of internal hybridity in municipal organizations, and the wickedness of organizing public administration when implementing NPG, by identifying both vertical - formalization, flexibilization, and misalignment in top-down and bottom-up governance - and horizontal - different organizational pillars, professions, and value interpretations - implementation challenges. The paper concludes that in the paradoxical situation of complex policy arenas, values elements of TPA and NPG governance models associated with “doing it right” remained dominant in the trade-offs with new values of NPG modes associated with “doing the right thing”. Value conflicts hinder civil servants in ‘doing the right thing right’.
Social Concepts Simplify Complex Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Hackel Leor M. , Kalkstein David A.
Published: July 2023

Humans often generalize rewarding experiences across abstract social roles. Theories of reward learning suggest that people generalize through model-based learning, but such learning is cognitively costly. Why do people seem to generalize across social roles with ease? Humans are social experts who easily recognize social roles that reflect familiar semantic concepts (e.g., “helper” or “teacher”). People may associate these roles with model-free reward (e.g., learning that helpers are rewarding), allowing them to generalize easily (e.g., interacting with novel individuals identified as helpers). In four online experiments with U.S. adults ( N = 577), we found evidence that social concepts ease complex learning (people generalize more and at faster speed) and that people attach reward directly to abstract roles (they generalize even when roles are unrelated to task structure). These results demonstrate how familiar concepts allow complex behavior to emerge from simple strategies, highlighting social interaction as a prototype for studying cognitive ease in the face of environmental complexity.
Determinants of Tax Revenue in South Asian Countries
Authors: Chettri Keshab Khatri , Bhattarai Jeevan Kumar , Gautam Ramji
Published: July 2023

Taxation is a fundamental facet of a modern-day economy and the effort of government remains to maximize revenue via tax collection to support its financial spending. This article examines the impact of economic, productive specialization and social factors along with banking sector development on tax revenue, across South Asian countries over the period 2008–2017 by employing static panel data­techniques. The findings show significant positive impact of trade openness and life expectancy, whereas a negative impact of infant mortality rate to determine tax revenue in South Asian countries. The results also revealed the importance of FDI and banking sector development in determining tax ­revenue. Gross domestic product per capita growth rate and agriculture showed positive relationships with tax revenue, although the relationships are not significant. South Asian countries should focus on ­expansion of trade with the outside world to generate different forms of taxes and thereby tax ­collection. Conducive environment for the inflow of foreign investments would also enhance tax-generating activities, thereby increasing tax revenue in the South Asian countries. Attention is also needed on social factors such as quality of life, health and economic welfare of the population to ensure greater workforce entering tax paying sectors.
Overcoming the Odds: Does Social Support Make a Difference for Young People With ADHD Symptoms?
Authors: Christoffersen Mogens Nygaard
Published: July 2023

Objectives:

Young adults with ADHD symptoms have a risk of negative outcomes in cognitive development, emotional development, and social developmental problems. The research question is: Does social support make a difference for children with ADHD symptoms?

Method:

Children born in 1984 were interviewed at age 25. The survey then obtained a 67% response rate which measures up to 2,980 interviewed persons. Validated constructs were used to measure outcomes, mediator, and ADHD symptoms.

Results:

Young people with ADHD symptoms have an increased rate of low educational achievement, low self-esteem, loneliness, suicide considerations, PTSD symptoms, behavioral problems, criminal behavior, peer problems, and substance abuse. Social support is a partial mediator for the negative outcomes except for criminal behavior and substance abuse problems.

Conclusions:

Loss of social support partly explains the mentioned negative outcomes and we would suggest that future research also look for other mediators. These results indicate potential interventions.
Complete 1H NMR Assignment of Diosgenin Benzoate
Authors: Becerra-Martínez Elvia , Bañuelos-Hernandez Angel Ernesto , Pérez-Hernández Nury , Joseph-Nathan Pedro
Published: July 2023

Diosgenin (1a) is used as a raw starting material for the synthesis of steroid hormones and contraceptives and is probably one of the most commercially important steroidal sapogenins. The literature on 1a is extensive, and topics range from its isolation from a variety of natural sources to its chemical modifications and therapeutic properties as an anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-thrombosis, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral agent, among others. 1 The spectroscopic characteristics of 1a have been analyzed for a long time, but the assignment of the complete 1H NMR profile remains incomplete due to the overlapping signals obtained with the most common spectrometers. In the current study, the 750-MHz 1H NMR spectrum of diosgenin benzoate (1b) has been completely assigned by means of QM-based 1H iterative full spin analysis (HiFSA), which is used for the complete 1H NMR description of intricate natural products and the quality control of pharmaceuticals. 2 The complete assignment was facilitated by taking advantage of some chemical shifts described for 1a and the coupling constants of the cholestane skeleton of cholesteryl benzoate, which were also recently calculated by HiFSA. 3
Spanish Version of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Quality of Life Questionnaire: Translation, Cross-cultural Adaptation, and Validation
Authors: Donat-Roca Rafel , Tárrega Salomé , Estapé-Madinabeitia Tània , Escalona-Marfil Carles , Ruíz-Moreno Jorge , Seijas Roberto , Romero-Cullerés Georgia , Roig-Busquets Ramón , Mohtadi Nicholas G.H.
Published: July 2023

Background:

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Quality of Life (ACL-QOL) questionnaire is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess the effect of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on the lives of patients. It was originally written in English, which may affect its use when completed by nonnative English speakers.

Purpose:

To translate and adapt the ACL-QOL to Spanish and provide evidence of its psychometric properties.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

A total of 183 patients with an ACL injury from 4 Catalan hospitals were included: 99 patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction (ACLR) completed the Spanish version of the ACL-QOL (ACL-QOL-Sp) twice (mean interval, 15.2 days) in 2 weeks for test-retest reliability, and 84 patients completed the ACL-QOL-Sp, the Lysholm knee scoring scale, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Tegner Activity Scale, and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) before and at 4 and 9 months after ACLR to assess responsiveness. The association between the ACL-QOL-Sp and the other outcome measures was evaluated with the Spearman correlation coefficient.

Results:

The ACL-QOL-Sp showed good internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.96) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97). The standard error of measurement was 3.6, also suggesting the precision of measurements. The smallest detectable change was 9.98 in 94% of patients. No association was found between the ACL-QOL-Sp score and the Tegner score or SF-12 mental component summary score; however, a moderate correlation was found with the overall KOOS score ( r = –0.545), Lysholm score ( r = 0.509), and SF-12 physical component summary score ( r = 0.607). The correlation ranged from weak for the KOOS-Symptoms subscore ( r = –0.290) to moderate for the KOOS–Quality of Life subscore ( r = –0.698). No ceiling or floor effects were observed. The ACL-QOL-Sp showed a moderate effect size (0.73) at 4 months but a large effect size (1.70) at 9 months.

Conclusion:

The ACL-QOL-Sp showed adequate internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and responsiveness in evaluating quality of life after ACLR in Spanish-speaking patients.
Neurologic toxicities following adoptive immunotherapy with BCMA-directed CAR T cells
Authors: Karschnia Philipp , Miller Kevin C. , Yee Andrew J. , Rejeski Kai , Johnson P. Connor , Raje Noopur , Frigault Matthew J. , Dietrich Jorg
Published: July 2023

In 2 complementary Letters to Blood, Karschnia et al and Graham et al provide new insights into the neurological toxicities that are observed with B-cell maturation antigen–directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell treatment for multiple myeloma, identifying a frequency of immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) that exceeds 40%. Severe ICANS is identified in 8% of patients in this real-world series. Outcomes were generally favorable, although the authors describe rare, late Parkinsonism-like hypokinetic movement disorders (also known as movement and neurocognitive toxicities) post-ICANS in 2 patients.
Evaluation of symptomatic small bowel stricture in Crohn’s disease by double-balloon endoscopy
Authors: Hu Jing , Wu Juan , Zhang Peipei , Hu Naizhong , Mei Qiao , Wu Xingwang , Han Wei
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To assess the efficacy of double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) for the detection of small-bowel strictures in Crohn’s disease (CD).

Methods

This tertiary-referral hospital cohort study was conducted between January 2018 and May 2022. CD patients with symptoms of small-bowel stricture were enrolled sequentially. All of the patients were subjected to both computed tomography enterography (CTE) and DBE, and their symptoms of stricture were assessed using the Crohn’s Disease Obstructive Score (CDOS). The diagnostic yield of DBE was compared to that of CTE, and the relationship between the DBE findings and CDOS was investigated. The factors influencing the DBE diagnosis were examined using Cox regression analysis.

Results

This study included 165 CD patients. The CDOS scores were higher in 95 patients and lower in 70 patients. DBE detected 92.7% (153/165) and CTE detected 85.5% (141/165) of the strictures. The DBE diagnostic yields were 94.7% (90/95) in the high CDOS patients and 91.4% (64/70) in the low CDOS patients (P = 0.13). Patients with a history of abdominal surgery and abscess had a lower diagnosis rate in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

DBE has been demonstrated to be an efficient diagnostic method for detecting small bowel strictures in CD patients. Additionally, there was no difference in the diagnostic yields between patients with low and high obstructive scores.
Preoperative prediction of extrathyroidal extension: radiomics signature based on multimodal ultrasound to papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Wan Fang , He Wen , Zhang Wei , Zhang Yukang , Zhang Hongxia , Guang Yang
Published: July 2023

Background

There is a recognized need for additional approaches to improve the accuracy of extrathyroidal extension (ETE) diagnosis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) before surgery. Up to now, multimodal ultrasound has been widely applied in disease diagnosis. We investigated the value of radiomic features extracted from multimodal ultrasound in the preoperative prediction of ETE.

Methods

We retrospectively pathologically confirmed PTC lesions in 235 patients from January 2019 to April 2022 in our hospital, including 45 ETE lesions and 205 non-ETE lesions. MaZda software was employed to obtain radiomics parameters in multimodal sonography. The most valuable radiomics features were selected by the Fisher coefficient, mutual information, probability of classification error and average correlation coefficient methods (F + MI + PA) in combination with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. Finally, the multimodal model was developed by incorporating the clinical records and radiomics features through fivefold cross-validation with a linear support vector machine algorithm. The predictive performance was evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, F1 scores and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in the training and test sets.

Results

A total of 5972 radiomics features were extracted from multimodal sonography, and the 13 most valuable radiomics features were selected from the training set using the F + MI + PA method combined with LASSO regression. The multimodal prediction model yielded AUCs of 0.911 (95% CI 0.866–0.957) and 0.716 (95% CI 0.522–0.910) in the cross-validation and test sets, respectively. The multimodal model and radiomics model showed good discrimination between ETE and non-ETE lesions.

Conclusion

Radiomics features based on multimodal ultrasonography could play a promising role in detecting ETE before surgery.
Vaginal microbiome community state types and high-risk human papillomaviruses in cervical precancer and cancer in North-central Nigeria
Authors: Musa Jonah , Maiga Mamoudou , Green Stefan J. , Magaji Francis A. , Maryam Ali J. , Okolo Mark , Nyam Chuwang J. , Cosmas Nanma T. , Silas Olugbenga A. , Imade Godwin E. , Zheng Yinan , Joyce Brian T. , Diakite Brehima , Morhason-Bello Imran , Achenbach Chad J. , Sagay Atiene S. , Ujah Innocent A.O. , Murphy Robert L. , Hou Lifang , Mehta Supriya Dinesh
Published: July 2023

Background

High risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) have a causal role in cervical oncogenesis, and HIV-mediated immune suppression allows HR-HPV to persist. We studied whether vaginal microbiome community state types (CSTs) are associated with high-grade precancer and/or invasive cervical cancer (HSIL/ICC).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of adult women with cervical cancer screening (CCS) at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in Jos, Nigeria, between January 2020 and February 2022. Cervical swabs underwent HPV genotyping (Anyplex™ II HPV28). Cervico-vaginal lavage (CVL) sample was collected for 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We used multivariable logistic regression modelling to assess associations between CSTs and other factors associated with HSIL/ICC.

Results

We enrolled 155 eligible participants, 151 with microbiome data for this analysis. Women were median age 52 (IQR:43–58), 47.7% HIV positive, and 58.1% with HSIL/ICC. Of the 138 with HPV data, 40.6% were negative for HPV, 10.1% had low-risk HPV, 26.8% had single HR-HPV, and 22.5% had multiple HR-HPV types. The overall prevalence of any HR-HPV type (single and multiple) was 49.3%, with a higher proportion in women with HSIL/ICC (NILM 31.6%, LSIL 46.5%, HSIL 40.8%, and 81.5% ICC; p = 0.007). Women with HIV were more likely to have HSIL/ICC (70.3% vs. 29.7% among women without HIV). In crude and multivariable analysis CST was not associated with cervical pathology (CST-III aOR = 1.13, CST-IV aOR = 1.31). However, in the presence of HR-HPV CST-III (aOR = 6.7) and CST-IV (aOR = 3.6) showed positive association with HSIL/ICC.

Conclusion

Vaginal microbiome CSTs were not significantly associated with HSIL/ICC. Our findings suggest however, that CST could be helpful in identifying women with HSIL/ICC and particularly those with HR-HPV. Characterization of CSTs using point-of-care molecular testing in women with HR-HPV should be studied as an approach to improve early detection and cervical cancer prevention. Future longitudinal research will improve our understanding of the temporal effect of non-optimal CST, HR-HPV, and other factors in cervical cancer development, prevention, and control.
RFID trial: localization of non-palpable breast lesions using radiofrequency identification tags or wire
Authors: Veyssiere Hugo , Dressaire Margot , Pete Raphaël , Pinard Céleste , Molnar Ioana , Abrial Catherine , Ginzac Angeline , Durando Xavier , Tekath Marielle
Published: July 2023

Background

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women. Approximately 50% of breast cancers are discovered at an early stage in patients for whom conservative surgery is indicated. Intraoperative localization of non-palpable breast lesions is generally accomplished using a hook wire to mark the area of concern under ultrasound or stereotactic localization. But this technique has several drawbacks (painful, stressful…). We propose the use of a wire-free breast lesion system using miniature radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags. This technique could improve patient comfort and surgical comfort for surgeons. We therefore propose a study to assess the interest of introducing the RFID localization technique at the Jean PERRIN comprehensive cancer center.

Methods

This is a single-center prospective trial designed to assess the interest in introducing the RFID localization technique at the Jean Perrin center. It aims to show the superiority of the RFID technique in terms of patient tolerance compared to the gold-standard (hook wire). A sequential inclusion in time will be performed: 20 inclusions in the gold-standard group, then 20 patients in the RFID group before repeating the inclusion scheme. Any patient requiring preoperative localization will receive a senology consultation. The RFID tag will be placed during this consultation. The hook wire localization will be done the day before the surgery. Patients will fill out a Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) questionnaire at the time of inclusion. They will then fill out a satisfaction questionnaire in 2 steps: during the placement of the device (RFID tag or hook wire) or during the postoperative consultation at 1 month. Radiologists and surgeons will fill out a questionnaire to evaluate the localization technique, respectively after the localization and surgery procedures.

Discussion

The RFID study is the first study in France which specifically assesses the interest of the RFID localization in terms of patients comfort. Patient comfort is one of the key elements to take into consideration when managing patients in oncology and new technologies such as RFID tags could improve it.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID; NCT04750889 registered on February 11, 2021.
Sildenafil for congenital heart diseases induced pulmonary hypertension, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Awad Ahmed K. , Gad Eman Reda , Abdelgalil Mahmoud Shaban , Elsaeidy Ahmed Saad , Ahmed Omar , Elbadawy Merihan A.
Published: July 2023

Background

Sildenafil was first prescribed for angina pectoris and then for erectile dysfunction from its effects on vascular smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilatation. Recently, sildenafil has been proposed for congenital heart diseases induced pulmonary hypertension, which constitutes a huge burden on children's health and can attribute to fatal complications due to presence of unoxygenated blood in the systemic circulation. Therefore, our meta-analysis aims to further investigate the safety and efficacy of sildenafil on children population.

Methods

We searched the following electronic databases: PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, WOS, Embase, and Scopus from inception to April 20th, 2022. Randomized controlled trials that assess the efficacy of using sildenafil in comparison to a placebo or any other vasodilator drug were eligible for inclusion. The inverse variance method was used to pool study effect estimates using the random effect model. Effect sizes are provided in the form of mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Our study included 14 studies with (n = 849 children) with a mean age of 7.9 months old. Sildenafil showed a statistically significant decrease over placebo in mean and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) with MD -7.42 (95%CI [-13.13, -1.71], P = 0.01) and -8.02 (95%CI [-11.16, -4.88], P < 0.0001), respectively. Sildenafil revealed a decrease in mean aortic pressure and pulmonary artery/aortic pressure ratio over placebo with MD -0.34 (95%CI [-2.42, 1.73], P = 0.75) and MD -0.10 (95%CI [-0.11, -0.09], P < 0.00001), respectively. Regarding post corrective operations parameters, sildenafil had a statistically significant lower mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay over placebo with MD -19.43 (95%CI [-31.04, -7.81], s = 0.001), MD -34.85 (95%CI [-50.84, -18.87], P < 0.00001), and MD -41.87 (95%CI [-79.41, -4.33], P = 0.03), respectively. Nevertheless, no difference in mortality rates between sildenafil and placebo with OR 0.25 (95%CI 0.05, 1.30], P = 0.10) or tadalafil with OR 1 (95%CI 0.06, 17.12], P = 1).

Conclusion

Sildenafil is a well-tolerated treatment in congenital heart diseases induced pulmonary hypertension, as it has proven its efficacy not only in lowering both PAP mean and systolic but also in reducing the ventilation time, intensive care unit and hospital stay with no difference observed regarding mortality rates.
A retrospective study of the clinical characteristics of 9 children with pulmonary embolism associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
Authors: Song Shaoxiu , Xu Yongsheng
Published: July 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) who also present with pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods

This retrospective analysis examined the demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, imaging characteristics, therapy, and prognosis of nine cases of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) complicated by pulmonary embolism (PE). The study focused on patients admitted to the respiratory department of Tianjin Children’s Hospital between January 2018 and December 2021.

Results

The age range of the patients was 3 to 8 years old, with a median age of 7.5 years. The median number of days from pulmonary infection to the diagnosis of embolism was 14 days. All patients had refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP). Among them, three patients reported chest pain, one of whom had hemoptysis, while five patients had dyspnea, and six patients experienced radiating pain at unusual sites. Five out of the nine children tested positive for lupus anticoagulant (LA), five for anticardiolipin antibody (ACA), three for anti-2-glycoprotein antibody IgM, four for reduced protein S or protein C activity, and three for elevated coagulation factor VIII. Moreover, six out of the nine children tested positive for antinuclear antibodies. All the children underwent CT pulmonary angiograms, which revealed filling defects. After sequential low-molecular heparin anticoagulation with rivaroxaban, nine children in this study showed a good prognosis, with two of them receiving thrombolytic therapy for combined cardiac embolism. Follow-up at 0.5-9 months showed the gradual resolution of the emboli in all 9 children, with no thrombotic recurrences and normalized autoantibodies and thrombophilia markers.

Conclusions

The majority of cases involving Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) combined with pulmonary embolism (PE) were diagnosed with refractory MPP (RMPP). However, PE did not always occur in the advanced stages of the disease. Most patients presented with transient autoantibody positivity, abnormal coagulation, and fibrinolytic balance. With timely treatment, the prognosis of MPP combined with PE is generally good. Additionally, rivaroxaban treatment has been shown to be safe and effective.
Identifying the spatial differentiation factors of traditional villages in China
Authors: Chen Wanxu , Yang Zhen , Yang Liyan , Wu Jianhua , Bian Jiaojiao , Zeng Jie , Liu Zhiling
Published: July 2023

China's agricultural civilization had left numerous traditional villages (TVs) containing rich historical information and cultural landscape. Exploration the spatial agglomeration characteristics of TVs and their influencing factors is essential for the sustainable development, utilization, and protection of TVs in China. However, previous studies lacked a comprehensive analysis of the spatial distribution of TVs and their driving factors, especially at the national scale. To fill this gap, this study analyzed the spatial agglomeration characteristics and influencing factors of five batches of TVs in China during 2012–2019. The results show that TVs in China were mainly located east of the Hu Line, that is, in the southern and eastern regions of China. The spatial distribution of TVs had significant clustering characteristics, and the gravity center was mainly distributed in central China, and the compactness of the spatial distribution of TVs increased from the first to the fifth batches. The TVs were mainly located at low elevations, northern slope aspect, warm and humid areas. Ferralisol and cultivated vegetation were the main soil and vegetation types in most TVs. TVs tended to be more numerous in the vicinity of low economic development levels, low population density, and rivers. In addition, TVs had a significant correlation with intangible cultural heritage. The results of this study could provide scientific guidance for heritage protection and sustainable development of TVs.
Nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma metastasis to the liver
Authors: Jang Wooyoung , Raghuram Akshay , Arif Dauod
Published: July 2023

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a malignancy of the secretory epithelial cells of the salivary glands and constitutes less than 1% of all head and neck tumors. Metastasis occurs frequently and most commonly affects the lungs at a rate of 35 to 50%. In this case report, we present a rare case of nasopharyngeal ACC with distant metastasis to the liver. Our patient initially presented to the hospital with dental and sinus pain with initial imaging suggesting nasopharyngeal carcinoma invading the temporal lobe laterally and the cavernous sinus and clivus medially. The foramen ovale and the optic nerve were also involved, leading to loss of vision bilaterally. Immunohistochemical staining of the biopsy eventually led to the correct diagnosis of high-grade ACC, solid type. The patient’s hospital course was complicated, with pulmonary thrombosis eventually leading to hypoxic respiratory failure and death. Although this patient was initially diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, thorough pathologic investigations allowed for a clearer understanding of the disease, primarily ACC’s eventual distal metastasis in the patient. In the future, providers should continue to keep ACC in their differential diagnosis list when evaluating patients with head and neck tumors, with the goal of maintaining locoregional control of the tumor.Keywords: adenoid cystic carcinoma, liver metastasis, nasopharyngeal salivary glands, head and neck cancer
Exploring the Wellbeing of Pre-Service Teachers During Their Practicum
Authors: ZAİMOĞLU Senem , DAGTAS Aysun
Published: July 2023

Understanding the psychology of pre-service teachers and the factors that affect their well-being have received relatively little attention in the relevant literature. Therefore, the present study seeks to investigate how pre-service teachers perceive their wellbeing during their practicum by collecting data from pre-service teachers via narratives and semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the data. The results revealed a number of factors influencing the well-being of pre-service teachers, including motivation, students, their appreciation of the profession, feelings of inadequacy, relationship management, their multiple roles, technical concerns, and future perceptions. The findings highlight how pre-service teachers’ well-being influences their professional practices and provide insights for teacher educators, pupils, and researchers who are concerned with the well-being of pre-service teachers and work in the field of teacher education. Overall, the study sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of pre-service teacher wellbeing during practicum and emphasizes the need for a more holistic approach that considers the various factors that influence pupils' psychological and emotional states.
Enhancement of germination and yield of cotton through optical seed priming: Lab. and diverse environment studies
Authors: Atta Babar Manzoor , Saleem Muhammad , Abro Saifullah , Rizwan Muhammad , Sarwar Ghulam , Farooq Amjad
Published: July 2023

The current study demonstrates the practical application of optical seed priming technology to improve cotton seed germination, plant growth, crop yield, and fiber quality. The hypothesis of this study is that seed irradiation with different colors of light can improve germination and cotton productivity in different environments. In the priming of cotton seeds, a wider range of the light spectrum was used, ranging from ultraviolet (UV) to red wavelengths. Various light sources such as blue LED, red LED, diode laser, UV-B, and UV-C were studied, along with different exposure times and energy densities. The exposure time ranged from 1.0 to 36.0 minutes, while the energy density doses varied from 88 to 7550 mJ cm-2, depending on the light source. In laboratory conditions, the investigation on the impact of optical seed priming on germination showed a maximum improvement of up to 180% compared to the control group. Among the different light sources and energy densities, blue LED light was found to be the most effective for enhancing cotton seed germination across different varieties. To validate the findings from the laboratory, large-scale field trials were conducted in two different environments in Pakistan, namely Tandojam and Faisalabad. The field trials demonstrated significant improvements in germination and yield, with increases of up to 37% and 74% over the control group, respectively. Once again, blue LED light emerged as the best light source for optical seed priming at the farm level. These field trials provided encouraging results, indicating the potential of the eco-friendly optical seed priming technique. The study suggests that optical seed priming can be a commercially viable technology for improving cotton seed germination, plant growth, crop yield, and fiber quality. By utilizing this technique, growers and researchers in developing countries can address the challenge of poor cotton germination and potentially enhance their agricultural productivity.
Prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety and stress in Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review
Authors: Mud Shukri Muhammad Ikhwan , Minhat Halimatus Sakdiah , Ahmad Norliza , Ismail Fatin , Kanthavelu Chandramalar , Nurfarahin Dina , Ghazali Wan Syahirah Wan , Mohd Zulkefli Nor Afiah
Published: July 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe impacts on mental health status worldwide. Several studies have investigated the prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in different countries, however, a systematic review on the research topic during COVID-19 is presently lacking in Malaysia’s context. To fill this gap, electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Sagepub, CINAHL, Psychology, and Behavioral Sciences Collection were searched for relevant studies. A total of 16 studies were included in the systematic review.

Methods

To fill this gap, electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Sagepub, CINAHL, Psychology, and Behavioral Sciences Collection were searched for relevant studies. A total of 16 studies were included in the systematic review.

Results

The analyses showed that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress ranged from 14.3% to 81.7%, 8.0% to 81.7%, and 0.9% to 56.5% respectively. Adult populations demonstrated the highest prevalence of depression, whereas university students reported the highest prevalence of anxiety and stress. Several factors were associated with mental health conditions including age, gender, family income, and perception of COVID-19.

Conclusion

Differentials in mental health screening practices call for standardised screening practices. Mental health intervention should be targeted at high-risk populations with effective risk communication.
Media coverage, fake news, and the diffusion of xenophobic violence: A fine-grained county-level analysis of the geographic and temporal patterns of arson attacks during the German refugee crisis 2015–2017
Authors: Hinz Thomas , Walzenbach Sandra , Laufer Johannes , Weeber Franziska
Published: July 2023

Over the year of 2015, about 800.000 refugees arrived in Germany, a number which equals around one percent of the total population. This migration process was labelledthe refugee crisisand was accompanied by a contested debate. On the one hand, there was a widespread willingness to voluntarily help arriving refugees, on the other hand, the number of xenophobic attacks against refugees drastically increased. Our paper will focus on a specific form of xenophobic violence with a strong symbolic meaning: We analyze how arson attacks against collective accommodation facilities spread. Using a comprehensive web chronicle, we collected temporal and spatial data about arson attacks perpetrated on accommodations or facilities for refugees in Germany between 2015 and 2017. We counted 251 attacks, assigned each incident location to its county, merged county characteristics such as population size, proportion of foreigners, right-wing party support, and—going beyond previous research—added geographically coded media data from two digital archives. Besides newspaper contents of a popular nation-wide tabloid, we use a data base that covers local fake news on refugees. Based on these data, we constructed a balanced panel data set with the counties as geographical units and periods of 14 days as the time dimension. Results indicate that social contagion drives the diffusion process of arson attacks. Spatial proximity of previous attacks increased the propensity of attacks in the neighboring counties. Attacks were more likely to occur in counties with larger populations and fewer foreigners. While local newspaper coverage did not impact the diffusion of xenophobic attacks, fake news were relevant–but only in East Germany. We also considered two particularly salient threatening events that received nation-wide media attention, namely Merkel’s “border opening” on the 5thof September 2015 and the sexual assaults occurring during New Year’s 2015/16 in Cologne. Both were followed by temporary increases in violence.
Identifying opportunity, capability and motivation of Sri Lankan 5th grade schoolteachers to implement in-classroom physical activity breaks: A qualitative study
Authors: Peiris D. L. I. H. K. , Duan Yanping , Vandelanotte Corneel , Liang Wei , Baker Julien Steven
Published: July 2023

Background

Classroom-based physical activity interventions have demonstrated positive effects in reducing sedentary behaviour among school children. However, this is an understudied area, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Sri Lanka. This study aims to explore teachers’ opportunity, capability and motivation relating to the implementation of an in-classroom physical activity breaks programme.

Methods

Twenty-seven teachers were recruited through snowball sampling and participated in semi-structured telephone interviews from early-January to the mid-June 2022. The Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model was used to guide and deductively thematic analyse the interviews.

Results

21 out of the recruited teachers responded to the full study. The mean age of respondents was 39.24 years old ranging from 27 years to 53 years. Teaching experience of the respondents ranged from three to 37 years, and 57% were female. Three teachers had a degree with a teacher training diploma, while others were having General Certificate of Education in Advanced Level with a teacher training diploma as the highest education qualification. Capability factors such as age, dress code, mask wearing, knowledge, skills and workload of the teachers were identified as important factors in implementing a physical activity breaks intervention in a Sri Lankan classroom setting. Classroom space, facilities, student backgrounds and safety were identified as opportunity factors. Obtaining policy level decisions to implement the activity breaks and managing the time of the activities to reduce time lost in education time were identified as motivational factors.

Conclusion

During the intervention development phase, implementation facilitators and barriers must be considered carefully. Behaviour change techniques can be utilised to address the identified COM-B factors to ensure a good implementation of the intervention.
The Impact of System and Information Quality on User Satisfaction and Continuance Intention: An Analysis of Online Motorcycle Taxi (Ojek-Online) Applications
Authors: Mariana Novita , Nugroho Isworo , Saefurrohman Saefurrohman , Utomo Agus Prasetyo
Published: July 2023

Purpose: The study’s goal was to analyze the adoption of online motorcycle taxi (in Indonesia it is called an ojek online) technology with the purpose to keep using the application.Methods: The study used the System Success Model to develop this research model. It was conducted based on the premise that information quality and system quality positively influence the ease and usefulness of the system application. The ease and usefulness of the system application have implications for user satisfaction and the intention to continue using the system. The study employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using PLS (SEM) 4.0 to test and evaluate the measurement model and structural model. A sample of 235 respondents who are users of the online motorcycle taxi system in Semarang City was used in the study.Result: Out of 10 hypotheses tested, 9 hypotheses were accepted and 1 hypothesis was rejected. The usefulness of the system had a negative and insignificant influence on the intention to continue using the system. The intention to continue using the online motorcycle taxi application was strongly determined by the ease of the application system and user satisfaction. The discoveredings also showed that the quality of the system had the strongest influence on the ease of the system. Novelty: This study was unique in combining the Technology Acceptance Model and Mclean Delone approach to test the quality of the online motorcycle taxi application towards user satisfaction and intention to continue using the application.