bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of a surfer rescue training program in Australia and New Zealand: a mixed methods evaluation
Authors: Koon William , Peden Amy E. , Brander Robert W.
Published: November 2023

Background

Surfers play a critical role in coastal drowning prevention, conservatively estimated to make as many rescues as beach lifeguards. The Surfer Rescue 24/7 (SR24/7) program is a coastal safety intervention in Australia and New Zealand that teaches surfers safe rescue skills and promotes prevention activities. This multi-part, mixed-methods study aimed to evaluate the impact of the SR24/7 program.

Methods

The study consisted of three parts employing quantitative and qualitative methods: a retrospective survey of course participants, in-depth interviews with course participants who had conducted rescues, and an analysis of self-reported skills confidence ratings before and after the program.

Results

Triangulated results from the three study components indicated that after the course, participants exhibited high levels of satisfaction with their experience in the program and would encourage others to attend, were more observant and aware of safety concerns while surfing, had a better understanding of ocean conditions and hazards, learned new rescue techniques and skills, grasped important course concepts related to their own personal safety, and improved their confidence in responding to an emergency situation. Several participants had conducted rescues in real life and indicated that the course was effective in providing them with the baseline knowledge and skills to keep safe while helping others in the ocean. This study also provides new insight on the role of surfers in coastal safety, specifically that surfers are engaged in a range of prevention activities before rescue is required.

Conclusions

Despite persistent challenges in combating coastal drowning rates, the SR24/7 program is an effective intervention that helps save lives. Importantly, this study provides evidence that the course successfully equips surfers with techniques to act responsibly and safely. Expanding coastal safety focus and resources towards surfers, an often-overlooked demographic in beach safety strategies, could substantially enhance community-level capacity to prevent and respond to ocean emergencies.
Handgrip strength is associated with mortality in community-dwelling older adults: the Yilan cohort study, Taiwan
Authors: Hsu Nai-Wei , Lin Ching-Heng , Yang Nan-Ping , Chen Hsi-Chung , Chou Pesus
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Hand grip strength (HGS) is one of the methods to help early identification of physical frailty and sarcopenia, the major concerns in the aging societies. It is also crucial to evaluate its impact on mortality. However, the available evidence regarding such impact among specific age cohorts (65 to 74 years and above) is limited. This study tried to investigate the relationship between HGS and mortality among specific cohorts of the community-dwelling older individuals in Yilan, Taiwan.

Methods

A seven-year longitudinal follow-up study was conducted involving 2,468 community-dwelling older individuals in Yilan. The participants were divided into two groups based on their quartiles of hand grip strength: with poor HGS and with good HGS. The association between HGS and mortality was examined using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

The analysis revealed that age, HGS, gender, medical history of cardiovascular diseases, body mass index, and wrist-hip ratio had significant impacts on seven-year survival. Specifically, individuals with poor HGS exhibited increased mortality, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.87 (95% CI: 1.52–2.30). Furthermore, the adverse effect of poor HGS on mortality was more pronounced in males aged 65–74 years (adjusted HR 4.12, 95% CI: 2.16–7.84), females aged 75 years or older (2.09, 1.43–3.04) and males aged 75 years or older (1.49, 1.07–2.07).

Conclusion

Poor hand grip strength is an independent risk factor for mid-term mortality among community-dwelling older individuals in Yilan. The assessment of HGS can serve as a valuable tool in identifying older individuals at higher risk of death.
The effect of combining different sampling tools on the performance of electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy for the evaluation of peripheral lung lesions and factors associated with its diagnostic yield
Authors: Flandes Javier , Martinez-Muñiz Francisco B. , Cruz-Rueda Juan José , Soto Francisco J. , Majid Adnan , Tuta-Quintero Eduardo , Giraldo-Cadavid Luis F.
Published: November 2023

Background

We assessed the performance of Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB) as a standalone diagnostic technique and the performance of different sampling tools used during the procedure.

Methods

We recruited 160 consecutive patients who underwent ENB for peripheral lung lesions (PLL) at a tertiary care centre. The diagnostic performance of ENB and sampling tools was assessed using a logistic regression model and a ROC-curve in which the dependent variable was diagnostic success. A multivariate model was built to predict diagnostic success before performing ENB to select the best candidates for the procedure.

Results

Most patients with PLLs in the study were male (65%), with a mean age of 67.9 years. The yield was 66% when the most common techniques were used together as suction catheter + transbronchial biopsy forceps (TBBx) + bronchoalveolar lavage + bronchial washing (p < 0.001) and increased to 69% when transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) and cytology brush were added (p < 0.001). Adding diagnostic techniques such as TBBx and TBNA resulted in an increase in diagnostic performance, with a statistically significant trend (p = 0.002). The logistic model area-under the ROC-curve for diagnostic success during ENB was 0.83 (95% CI:0.75–0.90; p < 0.001), and a logit value ≥ 0.12 was associated with ≥ 50% probability of diagnostic success.

Conclusions

ENB, as a stand-alone diagnostic tool for the evaluation of PLLs when performed by experienced operators using a multi-modality technique, has a good diagnostic yield. The probability of having a diagnostic ENB could be assessed using the proposed model.
Assessment of a novel deep learning-based software developed for automatic feature extraction and grading of radiographic knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Yoon Ji Soo , Yon Chang-Jin , Lee Daewoo , Lee Jae Joon , Kang Chang Ho , Kang Seung-Baik , Lee Na-Kyoung , Chang Chong Bum
Published: November 2023

Background

The Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading system is the most widely used method to classify the severity of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. However, due to ambiguity of terminology, the KL system showed inferior inter- and intra-observer reliability. For a more reliable evaluation, we recently developed novel deep learning (DL) software known as MediAI-OA to extract each radiographic feature of knee OA and to grade OA severity based on the KL system.

Methods

This research used data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative for training and validation of MediAI-OA. 44,193 radiographs and 810 radiographs were set as the training data and used as validation data, respectively. This AI model was developed to automatically quantify the degree of joint space narrowing (JSN) of medial and lateral tibiofemoral joint, to automatically detect osteophytes in four regions (medial distal femur, lateral distal femur, medial proximal tibia and lateral proximal tibia) of the knee joint, to classify the KL grade, and present the results of these three OA features together. The model was tested by using 400 test datasets, and the results were compared to the ground truth. The accuracy of the JSN quantification and osteophyte detection was evaluated. The KL grade classification performance was evaluated by precision, recall, F1 score, accuracy, and Cohen's kappa coefficient. In addition, we defined KL grade 2 or higher as clinically significant OA, and accuracy of OA diagnosis were obtained.

Results

The mean squared error of JSN rate quantification was 0.067 and average osteophyte detection accuracy of the MediAI-OA was 0.84. The accuracy of KL grading was 0.83, and the kappa coefficient between the AI model and ground truth was 0.768, which demonstrated substantial consistency. The OA diagnosis accuracy of this software was 0.92.

Conclusions

The novel DL software known as MediAI-OA demonstrated satisfactory performance comparable to that of experienced orthopedic surgeons and radiologists for analyzing features of knee OA, KL grading and OA diagnosis. Therefore, reliable KL grading can be performed and the burden of the radiologist can be reduced by using MediAI-OA.
Healthcare provider experiences interacting with survivors of intimate partner violence: a qualitative study to inform survivor-centered approaches
Authors: Anguzu Ronald , Cassidy Laura D. , Nakimuli Annettee O. , Kansiime Judith , Babikako Harriet M. , Beyer Kirsten M. M. , Walker Rebekah J. , Wandira Christopher , Kizito Felix , Dickson-Gomez Julia
Published: November 2023

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a pervasive form of gender-based violence (GBV) that is largely undisclosed, especially among women seeking healthcare services in Uganda. Prioritizing survivor needs may improve IPV disclosure. This study explores healthcare worker experiences from provider-patient interactions with survivors seeking antenatal care services (ANC) in Uganda.

Methods

In-depth interviews were conducted among twenty-eight experienced healthcare providers in a rural and an urban-based ANC clinic in Eastern and Central Uganda. Providers were asked what they viewed as the needs and fears of women identified as having experienced any form of IPV. Iterative, inductive/deductive thematic analysis was conducted to discover themes regarding perceived needs, fears, and normalizing violence experienced by IPV survivors.

Results

According to healthcare providers, IPV survivors are unaware of available support services, and have need for support services. Providers reported that some survivors were afraid of the consequences of IPV disclosure namely, community stigma, worries about personal and their children’s safety, retaliatory abuse, fear of losing their marriage, and partners’ financial support. Women survivors also blamed themselves for IPV. Contextual factors underlying survivor concerns included the socio-economic environment that ‘normalizes’ violence, namely, some cultural norms condoning violence, and survivors’ unawareness of their human rights due to self-blame and shame for abuse.

Conclusions

We underscore a need to empower IPV survivors by prioritizing their needs. Results highlight opportunities to create a responsive healthcare environment that fosters IPV disclosure while addressing survivors’ immediate medical and psychosocial needs, and safety concerns. Our findings will inform GBV prevention and response strategies that integrate survivor-centered approaches in Uganda.
Factors associated with traction alopecia in women living in Yaoundé (Cameroon)
Authors: Nzeng Letitia Fiona Mbussuh , Nguefack-Tsague Georges , Tounouga Dahlia Noëlle , Soumah Mohamed Maciré , Mbang Franck Albert Armand , Sigha Odette Berline , Nkoro Grace Anita , Kotto Rose , Kouotou Emmanuel Armand
Published: November 2023

Background

Traction alopecia (TA) is very common in Africa but few studies on African population are available. We sought to determine factors associated with TA and measure the association between these factors and TA.

Methods

We carried out an analytical cross-sectional study in 29 hairdressing saloons in the city of Yaoundé. A questionnaire was administered and scalp exams were performed in order to look for TA and determine Marginal TA severity score if present. Participants were separated in two groups: TA group and a group without TA.

Results

We finally included 223 women (77 having TA and 146 without TA). The median age was 26 years for women with TA and 24 years for women without TA. The factors associated with traction alopecia we found included: age ≥ 35 years (adjusted OR = 4; p = 0.016). Hairdressing undertaken by hairdressers only (adjusted OR = 0.2; p = 0.008), the avoidance of the regular use of nets, caps and head ties (OR = 0.2; p = 0.006) and relaxing hairs once a year or less (adjusted OR = 0.2; p = 0.005) could be protective factors. As well, we found a positive correlation between age and TA severity (r = 0.235; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Age and some haircare practices are associated to TA occurrence in our context. Women therefore need to be educated on these various factors that could be able to cause, worsen or prevent TA.
Coping strategies in postpartum women: exploring the influence of demographic and maternity factors
Authors: Alshowkan Amira , Shdaifat Emad , Alnass Fatimah Abdullah , Alqahtani Friyal Mubarak , AlOtaibi Nora Ghalib , AlSaleh Nagla Saleh
Published: November 2023

Background

Postpartum depression is a frequent mental health issue that affects many women due to this stressful phase. The aim of the study is to gain insight into the coping strategies employed by postpartum women and to explore how these strategies are influenced by various demographic and maternity factors.

Methods

The study adopted a quantitative, cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 239 postpartum women receiving care at a Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic using self-reported tools, which include the Brief COPE survey and the socio-demographics and obstetric/maternal history form from October 2022 to April 2023.

Results

The study findings indicate that individuals aged over 40 tend to use more emotional-focused coping compared to those aged 21–30 (p = 0.002) and 31–40. Additionally, both genders of children were associated with more emotional-focused coping (p = 0.007) compared to only having boys. Cesarean section delivery (p = 0.001) was associated with more avoidant-focused coping than normal vaginal delivery. Avoidant-focused coping was significantly predicted by problem-focused coping (p < 0.001), emotional-focused coping (p = 0.034), age (p = 0.003), and gender of children (only boys, p < 0.001; both boys and girls, p = 0.019). Furthermore, problem-focused coping was significantly predicted by age (p = 0.004), gender of children (male child, p = 0.002; both boy and girl: p = 0.014), and avoidant-focused coping (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The study examined how postpartum women cope with the challenges of motherhood and how this relates to their demographic and maternity factors. The results suggest that healthcare professionals should promote effective coping strategies and discourage avoidance-oriented approaches in postpartum interventions.
Childhood vaccine refusal and what to do about it: a systematic review of the ethical literature
Authors: Wiley Kerrie , Christou-Ergos Maria , Degeling Chris , McDougall Rosalind , Robinson Penelope , Attwell Katie , Helps Catherine , Drislane Shevaun , Carter Stacy M
Published: November 2023

Background

Parental refusal of routine childhood vaccination remains an ethically contested area. This systematic review sought to explore and characterise the normative arguments made about parental refusal of routine vaccination, with the aim of providing researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with a synthesis of current normative literature.

Methods

Nine databases covering health and ethics research were searched, and 121 publications identified for the period Jan 1998 to Mar 2022. For articles, source journals were categorised according to Australian Standard Field of Research codes, and normative content was analysed using a framework analytical approach.

Results

Most of the articles were published in biomedical journals (34%), bioethics journals (21%), and journals that carry both classifications (20%). Two central questions dominated the literature: (1) Whether vaccine refusal is justifiable (which we labelled ‘refusal arguments’); and (2) Whether strategies for dealing with those who reject vaccines are justifiable (‘response arguments’). Refusal arguments relied on principlism, religious frameworks, the rights and obligations of parents, the rights of children, the medico-legal best interests of the child standard, and the potential to cause harm to others. Response arguments were broadly divided into arguments about policy, arguments about how individual physicians should practice regarding vaccine rejectors, and both legal precedents and ethical arguments for vaccinating children against a parent’s will. Policy arguments considered the normative significance of coercion, non-medical or conscientious objections, and possible reciprocal social efforts to offset vaccine refusal. Individual physician practice arguments covered nudging and coercive practices, patient dismissal, and the ethical and professional obligations of physicians. Most of the legal precedents discussed were from the American setting, with some from the United Kingdom.

Conclusions

This review provides a comprehensive picture of the scope and substance of normative arguments about vaccine refusal and responses to vaccine refusal. It can serve as a platform for future research to extend the current normative literature, better understand the role of cultural context in normative judgements about vaccination, and more comprehensively translate the nuance of ethical arguments into practice and policy.
Ultrasound-guided disc pain induction test for diagnosis of discogenic lumbar pain: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Masuda Keisuke , Shigematsu Hideki , Maeda Manabu , Okuda Akinori , Tanaka Yasuhito
Published: November 2023

Background

Several methods can be used to diagnose discogenic pain, but only discoblock can diagnose discogenic pain definitively. This study aimed to examine the usefulness of an ultrasound-guided disc pain induction test for a simple and accurate diagnosis of the culprit lesion.

Methods

We included 41 patients with lumbar pain in whom pain was induced by an ultrasound-guided disc pain induction test. All patients had confirmed pain at L1/2 to L5/S1 based on an ultrasound-guided disc pain induction test and underwent X-ray photography and magnetic resonance imaging. Seventeen patients who required injection due to severe pain underwent discoblock procedures for discs with the most intense pain, and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were obtained before and after the procedure for these patients. We analysed the association between painful discs and radiological findings.

Results

Pain induction was noted in a total of 65 discs, and the pain was induced in 23 patients in only one disc. All patients had disc degeneration of Pfirrmann classification grade 1 or higher, with more significant disc degeneration in painful discs than in painless discs. There was no significant relationship between the presence or absence of pain and Modic type. The average VAS measurements improved significantly from 9.5 (pre-procedure) to 2.5 (post-procedure). These results suggest that the most painful discs were the causes of discogenic lumbar pain.

Conclusions

Our ultrasound-guided disc pain induction test may help diagnose disc degeneration and identify culprit lesions, even when multiple discs exhibit findings of degeneration.
Clinical application of 3D printing-assisted patient-specific instrument osteotomy guide in stiff clubfoot: preliminary findings
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhang Siping , Zhang Wenhao , Li Fei , Tueraili Aihelamu , Qi Ling , Wang Chengwei
Published: November 2023

Background

The orthopedic treatment of the stiff clubfoot is challenging for clinicians, and the purpose of this study was to explore the preliminary findings of 3D printing-assisted patient-specific instrument (PSI) osteotomy guide for use in the orthopedic treatment of the stiff clubfoot.

Material and methods

There were 20 patients (25 feet) with stiff clubfoot admitted from December 2018 to June 2022, including 13 males (16 feet) and 7 females (9 feet), aged 24–52 years, mean 40.15 years; 8 left feet, 7 right feet, 5 bipedal. All patients underwent triple arthrodesis and were divided into 10 cases (12 feet) in the PSI group (n = 12) and 10 cases (13 feet) in the conventional surgery group (n = 13) according to the surgical approach. The duration of surgery and the number of radiation exposures were recorded in all cases, and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), and International Congenital Clubfoot Study Group (ICFSG) scoring systems were applied postoperatively to assess the effect of corrective treatment. All measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and differences between groups were determined by Student’s t test. All count data between the two groups were compared using the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test analysis.

Results

All 20 patients (25 feet) were followed up for 1 year. No major complications related to osteotomy, such as overcorrection, incomplete correction, or bone nonunion, were observed in the PSI and conventional surgery groups at the final follow-up, and the PSI group had the advantage of shorter operative time (P < 0.01), less radiation exposure (P < 0.01), and higher excellent rate compared with the conventional surgery group. The AOFAS score (P > 0.05) and ICFSG score (P > 0.05) at the last follow-up were not statistically significant in both groups, but the excellent rate at the last follow-up was 91.7% in the PSI group which was significantly higher than that of the conventional surgery group at 76.9%.

Conclusions

The utilization of 3D printing-assisted PSI osteotomy guide in orthopedic surgery for stiff clubfoot offers a safe and effective surgical tool for triple joint fusion treatment. This technology simplifies surgical procedures, minimizes intraoperative radiation exposures, reduces surgical time, and enables precise and personalized treatment.
Effectiveness of the holistic primary school-based intervention MindMatters: study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial
Authors: Fischer Lisa , Liegmann Katharina , Morgenstern Matthis , Dadaczynski Kevin
Published: November 2023

Background

The prevalence of mental health problems in childhood and adolescence has increased significantly, not least due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and other countries worldwide. Although holistic school interventions to promote mental health and prevent mental health problems are considered promising, there is currently uncertainty about their effectiveness due to evaluation studies with heterogeneous methodological quality. This paper presents the study protocol for the evaluation of the primary school module of MindMatters.

Methods

As part of a universal mental health intervention, the MindMatters primary school module ‘Learning Together with Emotions’ aims to promote social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom across five skill areas. In addition to classroom activities, the intervention includes a school development module to help primary schools create structures and processes to maintain and promote mental health. To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, a two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial will be conducted, including schools implementing MindMatters over a 12-month period and a control group with no access to the intervention. Data will be collected before and 18 months after initiation of the intervention. Controlled for baseline conditions, multilevel regression analysis will be used to examine primary intervention outcomes at the pupil level (i.e. reductions in mental and behavioural problems). Further mediation and moderation analyses will examine whether proximal outcomes predict changes in mental health outcomes and whether school-level factors influence the effectiveness of the intervention.

Discussion

This study will contribute to strengthen the evidence base for holistic school (mental) health promotion interventions using a study design with high internal validity. Based on an intervention model, the results will not only provide insights into the relationship between proximal and distal outcomes, but will also allow conclusions to be drawn about how the implementation of the intervention affects its effectiveness. Finally, the findings also address the question of whether improved mental health has a positive effect on primary school pupils’ academic performance.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00023762. Registered on 5 January 2021.
Synthesis of hydroxyapatite/polyethylene glycol 6000 composites by novel dissolution/precipitation method: optimization of the adsorption process using a factorial design: DFT and molecular dynamic
Authors: Azzaoui K. , Jodeh S. , Mejdoubi E. , Hammouti B. , Taleb M. , Ennabety G. , Berisha A. , Aaddouz M. , Youssouf M. H. , Shityakov S. , Sabbahi R. , Algarra M.
Published: November 2023

In this work, we presented a synthesis of a composite based on HAp and PEG 6000 using a new method of synthesis dissolution precipitation to be applied for application of wastewater purification from toxic metal ions. Multiple characterization methods were used to analyze the morphology and the structure of the well-prepared compounds including FT-IR, Raman, XRD, XPS, TGA and SEM were used to conduct a composite analysis. The adsorption effectiveness of this analysis towards Pb2+ and various other hazardous metal ions found in sewage was assessed. Batch experiments were conducted to optimize the various operational parameters including adsorbent dose, temperature, pH, contact time, and initial concentration. The Langmuir isotherm was used to fit the data, and it predicted monolayer adsorption with a maximum capacity of 67 mg g−1 for HAP PEG600 and 60 mg g−1 for HAp. A pseudo-second-order equation fits the adsorption process well (0.961–0.971). The thermodynamic data support the spontaneous metal bonding to the composite receptor sites. Theoretical calculations showed that the interaction strength is very strong and gets stronger when the PEG6000 is deprotonated. The results presented here are supported by evidence acquired from experiments. Theoretical computation using Monte Carlo (MC) and Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulation models showed excellent affinity of prepared foams for the model ion Pb2+ with highly negative adsorption energy values indicating vigorous interactions of Pb2+ with the adsorbate surfaces.
Foveal cone loss in tamoxifen maculopathy: a case report
Authors: Doble Nathan , Wells-Gray Elaine M. , Wells Michael , Choi Stacey S.
Published: November 2023

Background

Tamoxifen is used in low dose concentrations (20–40 mg per day) as a therapy for breast cancer but is known to have ocular side effects. In this case report, the foveal cone integrity in a tamoxifen-treated patient who complained of a small central scotoma in the left eye while reading was examined using high resolution adaptive optics imaging.

Case presentation

Both eyes of a 54-year-old Caucasian, non-hispanic female who had been treated with tamoxifen for 1.5 years were examined using various imaging modalities including fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Clinical spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed a very small disruption to the photoreceptor layer at the fovea in the left eye only. However, adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging revealed foveal cone loss in both eyes, but to a lesser extent in the right eye. Inner retinal changes were not observed in either eye.

Conclusion

The area of cone loss was similar in size to a single newsprint letter when projected onto the retina, matching the patient’s description of a scotoma in the left eye. Given the isolated loss of foveal cone photoreceptors with the absence of previously reported inner retinal and vascular changes, our results may indicate the earliest retinal changes associated with tamoxifen retinopathy.
Fixed-point theorems of ${F}^{\star}- ( \psi,\phi )$ integral-type contractive conditions on $1_{E}$-complete multiplicative partial cone metric spaces over Banach algebras and applications
Authors: Faried Nashat , Abou Bakr Sahar Mohamed Ali , Abd El-Ghaffar H. , Almassri S. S. Solieman
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we introduce some user-friendly versions of integral-type fixed-point results and give some modifications of the classical Banach contraction principle by constructing a special type of contractive restrictions of integral forms for weak contraction mappings defined on $1_{E}$

1
E

-complete multiplicative partial cone metric spaces over Banach algebras and formulate some existence and uniqueness results regarding the fixed-point theorems using some integrative conditions. Moreover, we validate the significance our results and exploit them to find the unique solution of a fractional nonlinear differential equation of Caputo type, which complements some previously well-known generalizations found in the literature.
Upper bounds of the logarithmic coefficients for some subclasses of analytic functions
Authors: Analouei Adegani Ebrahim , Jafari Mostafa , Bulboacă Teodor , Cho Nak Eun
Published: November 2023

Due to the major importance of the study of the logarithmic coefficients for univalent functions, in this paper we find the sharp upper bounds for some expressions associated with logarithmic coefficients of functions that belong to some well-known classes of analytic functions in the open unit disk of the complex plane.
A comprehensive review on immune checkpoint inhibitors induced cardiotoxicity characteristics and associated factors
Authors: lessomo Fabrice Yves Ndjana , Mandizadza Oscar Onayi , Mukuka Chishimba , Wang Zhi-Quan
Published: November 2023

Newly approved cancer drugs called ICIs have shown remarkable success in improving patient survival rates, but they also have the potential for inflammatory and immune-related side effects, including those affecting the cardiovascular system. Research has been conducted to understand the development of these toxicities and identify risk factors. This review focuses on the characteristics of ICI-induced cardiotoxicity and discusses the reported risk factors. It is important for cardio-oncologists to understand the basic concepts of these drugs to better understand how cardiotoxicities occur. It might be hard to find reports, where all patients treated with ICIs had developed cardiac toxicity, because there could be other existing and variable factors that influence the likelihood or risk of developing cardiotoxicity during treatment. Various clinical parameters have been explored as potential risk factors, and further investigation is needed through large-scale studies.
Molecular mechanisms of uterine incision healing and scar formation
Authors: Sun Qing , Tang Le , Zhang Dan
Published: November 2023

Wound healing is a tandem process involving inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, through which damage is repaired and ultimately scar tissue is formed. This process mainly relies on the complex and extensive interaction of growth factors and cytokines, which coordinate the synthesis of various cell types. The loss of normal regulation in any part of this process can lead to excessive scarring or unhealed wounds. Recent studies have shown that it is possible to improve wound healing and even achieve scar-free wound healing through proper regulation of cytokines and molecules in this process. In recent years, many studies have focused on accelerating wound healing and reducing scar size by regulating the molecular mechanisms related to wound healing and scar formation. We summarized the role of these factors in wound healing and scar formation, to provide a new idea for clinical scar-free healing treatment of uterine incisions.
Breaking the taboo: qualitative analysis of the sexuality in people with acquired motor disability
Authors: Sologuren-García Gema , Linares Carmen L. , Flores Jackeline R. , Mendoza-Mamani Katty , Pilco Rinna M. , Escobar-Bermejo Gloria , Sotelo-Gonzales Soledad , Palza-Portugal Guicela
Published: November 2023

Background

Globally 1 in 7 people experience some type of disability. In Latin America, as in other regions, there are programs focused on the protection of sexual and reproductive rights of this population group. However, to date, in Peru there are no programs, protocols or guidelines that include a specialist (sexologist or trained health professional) in the health system to improve the quality of life and well-being of this population. Therefore, the objective of this article is to qualitatively analyze the experience of sexuality in people with acquired motor disabilities.

Methods

We used the interpretative phenomenological approach and the semi-structured in-depth interview composed of 60 questions, which was applied to 7 people (4 women and 3 men) with acquired motor disabilities.

Results

Diversity in the experience of sexuality was observed. While some experience it without fear, others have annulled their sexual encounters, because in addition to physical limitations, they experience psychosocial limitations such as pain, functional alterations, depression, low self-esteem, discrimination, exclusion, stigmas and socio-environmental barriers, among others. Likewise, the study reflected the double discrimination suffered by women (for being a woman and having a disability), as well as the lack of education, counseling or sex therapy by specialized professionals, and the influence of religion, society and culture as factors that condition and limit their sexuality. This reflects the current situation in Peru and other countries in the region, where the sexuality of people with disabilities continues to be a complex and ambiguous issue.

Conclusions

It is concluded that for some participants it is possible to experience sexuality without fear, while others hold back their experiences for reasons other than physical, self-esteem, social discrimination, among others. The review of the profile and level of specialization of the health services professionals involved in the integral medical care of people with disabilities and their couples is required because of their need for adequate and specialized attention for their better adaptation to the new condition.
Ce–Zr-based mixed oxide catalyst for oxidative depolymerization of kenaf stalk (biomass) into vanillin
Authors: Rouf Hifza , Ramli Anita , Anuar Nur Akila Syakida Idayu Khairul , Yunus Normawati Mohamad
Published: November 2023

Since petroleum became depleted, rapid attention has been devoted to renewable energy sources such as lignocellulosic biomass to produce useful chemicals for industry (for instance vanillin). Three primary components of lignocellulose are lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. This paper uses microwave-assisted technology to oxidize the kenaf stalk (lignocellulosic biomass) and extract lignin to produce vanillin. Catalysts with variable acid–base and redox properties are essential for the mentioned effective conversion, for this reason, CeO2–CA, ZrO2–CA, and CeZrO2–CA catalysts were synthesized. The citrate complexation method was used for the catalyst synthesis and the physicochemical characteristics were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, FE–SEM, TEM, BET, and TPO. The characterization results demonstrated that CeZrO2–CA shows the smallest sized crystallites with a large specific surface area among the other chosen catalysts. For vanillin production, the effect of reaction temperature, reaction time, and catalyst loading was studied. It was observed that compared to other catalysts, CeZrO2–CA produced the highest vanillin yield of 9.90% for kenaf stalk for 5 wt% of CeZrO2–CA at 160 °C for 30 min. Furthermore, vanillin production using extracted lignin is studied keeping CeZrO2–CA as a catalyst and with the same operating parameters, which yielded 14.3% of vanillin. Afterward, the change in yield with respect to pH is also presented. Finally, the recyclability of catalyst is also studied, which showed that it has a strong metal support and greater stability which may give industrial applications a significant boost.

Graphical Abstract
Cross-cultural invariance of the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Assessment Scorecard to measure the perception of government actions against COVID-19 in Latin America
Authors: Caycho-Rodríguez Tomás , Valencia Pablo D. , Ventura-León José , Carbajal-León Carlos , Vilca Lindsey W. , Reyes-Bossio Mario , Delgado-Campusano Mariel , Yupanqui-Lorenzo Daniel E. , Paredes-Angeles Rubí , Rojas-Jara Claudio , Gallegos Miguel , Cervigni Mauricio , Martino Pablo , Polanco-Carrasco Roberto , Palacios Diego Alejandro , Moreta-Herrera Rodrigo , Samaniego-Pinho Antonio , Lobos Rivera Marlon Elías , Buschiazzo Figares Andrés , Puerta-Cortés Diana Ximena , Corrales-Reyes Ibraín Enrique , Calderón Raymundo , Arias Gallegos Walter L. , Petzold Olimpia , Camargo Andrés , Torales Julio , Monge Blanco J. Arkangel , González Pedronel , Smith-Castro Vanessa , Matute Rivera Wendy Yamilet , Ferrufino-Borja Daniela , Ceballos-Vásquez Paula , Muñoz-del-Carpio-Toia Agueda , Palacios Jorge , Burgos-Videla Carmen , Florez León Ana María Eduviges , Vergara Ibeth , Vega Diego , Barria-Asenjo Nicol A. , Schulmeyer Marion K. , Urrutia Rios Hassell Tatiana , Lira Lira Arelly Esther
Published: November 2023

Objectives

The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of a general measure of the perception of governmental responses to COVID-|19 (COVID-SCORE-10) in the general population of 13 Latin American countries.

Methods

A total of 5780 individuals from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries selected by non-probabilistic snowball sampling participated. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the alignment method was used to evaluate invariance. Additionally, a graded response model was used for the assessment of item characteristics.

Results

The results indicate that there is approximate measurement invariance of the COVID-SCORE-10 among the participating countries. Furthermore, IRT results suggest that the COVID-SCORE-10 measures with good psychometric ability a broad spectrum of the construct assessed, especially around average levels. Comparison of COVID-SCORE-10 scores indicated that participants from Cuba, Uruguay and El Salvador had the most positive perceptions of government actions to address the pandemic. Thus, the underlying construct of perception of government actions was equivalent in all countries.

Conclusion

The results show the importance of initially establishing the fundamental measurement properties and MI before inferring the cross-cultural universality of the construct to be measured.
The impact of image augmentation techniques of MRI patients in deep transfer learning networks for brain tumor detection
Authors: Abdalla Peshraw Ahmed , Mohammed Bashdar Abdalrahman , Saeed Ari M.
Published: November 2023

The exponential growth of deep learning networks has enabled us to handle difficult tasks, even in the complex field of medicine. Nevertheless, for these models to be extremely generalizable and perform well, they need to be applied to a vast corpus of data. In order to train transfer learning networks with limited datasets, data augmentation techniques are frequently used due to the difficulties in getting data. The use of these methods is crucial in the medical industry in order to enhance the number of cancer-related magnetic resonance imaging pathology scans. This study evaluates the results of data augmentation methods on three deep transfer learning networks, such as InceptionV3, VGG16, and DenseNet169, for brain tumor identification. To demonstrate how data augmentation approaches affect the performance of the models, networks were trained both before and after the application of these methods. The outcomes revealed that the image augmentation strategies have a big impact on the networks before and after using techniques, such as the accuracy of VGG16 is 77.33% enhanced to 96.88%, and InceptionV3 changed from 86.66 to 98.44%, and DenseNet169 changed from 85.33 to 96.88% the accuracy percentage increase of the models are 19.55%, 11.78%, and 11.55%, respectively.
Algorithmic fairness in precision psychiatry: analysis of prediction models in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis
Authors: Şahin Derya , Kambeitz-Ilankovic Lana , Wood Stephen , Dwyer Dominic , Upthegrove Rachel , Salokangas Raimo , Borgwardt Stefan , Brambilla Paolo , Meisenzahl Eva , Ruhrmann Stephan , Schultze-Lutter Frauke , Lencer Rebekka , Bertolino Alessandro , Pantelis Christos , Koutsouleris Nikolaos , Kambeitz Joseph ,   for the PRONIA Study Group
Published: November 2023

Background

Computational models offer promising potential for personalised treatment of psychiatric diseases. For their clinical deployment, fairness must be evaluated alongside accuracy. Fairness requires predictive models to not unfairly disadvantage specific demographic groups. Failure to assess model fairness prior to use risks perpetuating healthcare inequalities. Despite its importance, empirical investigation of fairness in predictive models for psychiatry remains scarce.

Aims

To evaluate fairness in prediction models for development of psychosis and functional outcome.

Method

Using data from the PRONIA study, we examined fairness in 13 published models for prediction of transition to psychosis (n = 11) and functional outcome (n = 2) in people at clinical high risk for psychosis or with recent-onset depression. Using accuracy equality, predictive parity, false-positive error rate balance and false-negative error rate balance, we evaluated relevant fairness aspects for the demographic attributes ‘gender’ and ‘educational attainment’ and compared them with the fairness of clinicians’ judgements.

Results

Our findings indicate systematic bias towards assigning less favourable outcomes to individuals with lower educational attainment in both prediction models and clinicians’ judgements, resulting in higher false-positive rates in 7 of 11 models for transition to psychosis. Interestingly, the bias patterns observed in algorithmic predictions were not significantly more pronounced than those in clinicians’ predictions.

Conclusions

Educational bias was present in algorithmic and clinicians’ predictions, assuming more favourable outcomes for individuals with higher educational level (years of education). This bias might lead to increased stigma and psychosocial burden in patients with lower educational attainment and suboptimal psychosis prevention in those with higher educational attainment.
Barker's Hypothesis Among the Global Poor: Positive Long-Term Cardiovascular Effects of in Utero Famine Exposure
Authors: Ciancio Alberto , Behrman Jere , Kämpfen Fabrice , Kohler Iliana V. , Maurer Jürgen , Mwapasa Victor , Kohler Hans-Peter
Published: November 2023

An influential literature on the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) has documented that poor conditions in utero lead to higher risk of cardiovascular disease at older ages. Evidence from low-income countries (LICs) has hitherto been missing, despite the fact that adverse in utero conditions are far more common in LICs. We find that Malawians exposed in utero to the 1949 Nyasaland famine have better cardiovascular health 70 years later. These findings highlight the potential context specificity of the DOHaD hypothesis, with in utero adversity having different health implications among aging LIC individuals who were exposed to persistent poverty.
The Sociability of Narrative: Freedom, Vulnerability, and Mediation in the Intercultural Novel
Authors: Ezli Özkan
Published: November 2023

From the 1980s to the early 2010s, intercultural novels were often characterized by a liberal impulse to question prejudices and free characters from victim positions as well as cultural and identity-political constraints. This process has been analyzed and sometimes celebrated by scholars in countless literary studies claiming that hybrid actors and multivoiced narratives have replaced passive tales of suffering. More recent novels replace the heterogeneity and freedom of narrative agents with their experiential vulnerability and perceptions of discrimination. The central thesis of this essay is that this shift from freedom to vulnerability closely correlates with the disappearance of figural effects of mediation. The disappearance of a mediating function, which according to Georg Simmel is what makes face-to-face interaction social in the first place, fundamentally changes the intercultural narrative situation, the structure of encounter, and ultimately the forms of sociability in postmigration society. For the future of diversity-oriented and interdisciplinary research in German studies, it will be crucial to grasp this change precisely to develop new theories of inter- and transculturality from these insights.
Coming to Terms with the Future
Authors: Fay Jennifer
Published: November 2023

In 1959 Theodor W. Adorno asked, “What does working through the past mean?” Post–World War II German society and much of Western Europe was in the full throttle of the economic miracle and bent on normalizing the present by suppressing the Nazi past and the Holocaust. Adorno’s diagnosis brings together an analysis of the unprecedented postwar prosperity, forms of evasive historical thinking, and the persistence of racialized violence. This essay turns to Adorno to grapple with catastrophe of another, historically continuous order: the crisis of climate change, the persistent racialization of environmental harm, and the question of the future on a warming planet as vividly described by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its 2022 report. The late 1950s matters to the history of the Holocaust and its connections to the experience of prosperity in the postwar period. The European and US economic boom in the 1950s also marks the onset of the Great Acceleration and, by some accounts, the beginning of the Anthropocene and its claims on the future. Prompted by Adorno, this essay asks: What does working through this future mean? How does Adorno’s essay speak to us today?
Applicants’ reactions in recruitment and selection
Authors: Τσώνη Ευδοκία
Published: November 2023

Μολονότι οι αντιδράσεις των υποψηφίων αποτελούν σημαντική πτυχή της έρευνας στα πλαίσια της προσέλκυσης και επιλογής ανθρώπινου δυναμικού, εξακολουθούν να υπάρχουν σημαντικά κενά που σχετίζονται με τις σύγχρονες μεθόδους επιλογής προσωπικού με χρήση τεχνολογίας (όπως οι ασύγχρονες συνεντεύξεις επιλογής - AVI) και η διάδοση ηλεκτρονικών αξιολογήσεων των υποψηφίων (eWOM) σε επαγγελματικά δίκτυα επηρεάζοντας άμεσα την εικόνα του οργανισμού (employer branding) και αποθαρρύνοντας δυνητικά ταλαντούχους υποψηφίους να υποβάλουν αίτηση για εργασία. Αυτή η έρευνα ήταν μια προσπάθεια να καλυφθούν αυτά τα ερευνητικά κενά εξετάζοντας την αλληλεπίδραση των υποψηφίων με έναν πιθανό εργοδότη στα πλαίσια της συνέντευξης επιλογής προσωπικού, είτε πρόσωπο με πρόσωπο (FTF) είτε ασύγχρονα (AVI), από τη σκοπιά του αποστολέα (υποψηφίου) μιας ηλεκτρονικής αξιολόγησης αλλά και του παραλήπτη (δυνητικού υποψήφιου). Μεθοδολογικά, επιλέχτηκε ένας πειραματικός σχεδιασμός, μέσω χειρισμού ακατάλληλων ερωτήσεων και αλληλένδετων ερωτηματολογίων, συμπεριλαμβανομένων μετρήσεων σχετικά με τις αντιλήψεις των υποψηφίων για τις μεθόδους επιλογής, τα κίνητρα μετάδοσης μιας ηλεκτρονικής αξιολόγησης και την επιρροή του eWOM. Τα κύρια ευρήματα αυτής της έρευνας είναι η προτίμηση των υποψηφίων στη προσωπική συνέντευξη (συγκριτικά με την ασύγχρονη) και η μετάδοση ηλεκτρονικών αξιολογήσεων με βάση τους κανόνες δικαιοσύνης που διέπουν το σύστημα επιλογής προσωπικού ως μορφή ανταμοιβής ή τιμωρίας (θετικό/αρνητικό eWOM) για τον οργανισμό. Ομοίως, η ηλεκτρονική μετάδοση μιας εμπειρίας επιλογής επηρεάζει τους πιθανούς υποψήφιους, ενθαρρύνοντάς /αποτρέποντάς την υποβολή ενδιαφέροντος για μια κενή θέση εργασίας. Επομένως, αυτά τα ευρήματα επιβεβαιώθηκαν από τη σκοπιά του αποστολέα και του παραλήπτη μιας ηλεκτρονικής αξιολόγησης (eWOM).