bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid, Digital Dietary Assessment in Association with Cardiometabolic Biomarkers
Authors: Dansinger Michael L. , Breton Gary L. , Joly Justin E. , Rhee Lauren Q. , Katz David L.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

To examine the associations between dietary intake as assessed by a rapid, image-based digital tool and biomarkers of cardiometabolic health.

Design

Retrospective analysis of adults with blood biomarkers performed by Boston Heart Diagnostics (BHD) between December 2020 and March 2022.

Setting

Outpatient centers serviced by BHD.

Subjects

546 adults, excluding those taking relevant medications and/or supplements known to affect blood test results.

Measures

Laboratory assays of blood specimens were performed by Boston Heart Diagnostics. Nutrient intake and diet quality data were obtained using Diet Quality Photo Navigation (DQPN®; US Patent #11,328,810 B2) technique via Diet ID™ tool.

Analysis

Pearson correlation coefficients (for continuous variables) and Spearman coefficients (for ordinal variables) were used to evaluate associations between nutrient intake data and laboratory data for the full study sample. Two-sided P-values < .05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Both continuous and ordinal measures of diet quality correlated significantly with HDL-C and triglycerides (n = 485; P < .0 01); with hs-CRP (n = 441; P < .001); with HgbA1c (n = 345; P < .01); with fasting insulin (n = 372; P < .001); and with HOMA-IR (n = 319; P < .001).

Conclusion

Findings affirm that rapid, digital diet quality and composition assessment by pattern recognition rather than recall tracks significantly with key biomarkers of cardiometabolic health.
Decoupled adaptive terminal sliding mode control strategy for a 6-DOF electro-hydraulic suspension test rig with RBF coupling force compensator
Authors: Fu Yimeng , Zhou Xiaojun , Wan Bowen , Yang Xuefeng
Published: February 2023

Aiming at the problems of poor tracking accuracy, low convergence speed, weak robustness of a 6-DOF electro-hydraulic suspension test system under system uncertainties and external disturbance, this article proposes double closed-loop control scheme. In the outer loop controller, this article designs a new decoupled adaptive fast nonsingular terminal sliding mode (DAFNTSM) control to achieve fast convergence rate, high accurate and adaptive disturbances estimation during trajectory tracking. Additionally, a coupling force compensator based on RBF neural network is employed, which can reduce online calculation quantity and guarantee accuracy. For six inner loop controllers, each hydraulic actuator can precisely follow the required force solved by outer loop controller. The hard-in-loop experiment results reveal that the control approach we proposed in this paper realize superior trajectory tracking characteristics in comparison with the conventional nonsingular terminal sliding mode (CNTSM) method.
Sheathed fixation improves BASHTI technique in an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: Borjali Amirhossein , Farrahi GholamHossein , Chizari Mahmoud
Published: February 2023

Bone and Site Hold Tendon Inside (BASHTI) technique is an implant-less surgical methodology used for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. It has some clinical advantages, such as speeding up the healing process. Since the force required to insert the core bone inside the tunnel may damage the core bone and affect the fixation process, the study aims to investigate the strength of fixation of BASHTI technique using proposed sheathed core bones. Experimental tests were performed to evaluate the biomechanical strength of the fixation. Synthetic bone combined with bovine tendons as a graft was used. Polymers were used to create the sheath for mechanical testing. The results showed that fixation strength and stiffness in PTFE sheath with 0.1 mm were 343.86 N and 114.62 N/mm and in PVC sheath with similar thickness, 235.95 N, and 93.36 N/mm. Subsequently, 0.2 mm PTFE sheaths were tested in two different sections: incomplete fixation and complete fixation. The strength and stiffness of the first section were 221.6 N and 66.99 N/mm and for the second section 420.02 N and 126.16 N/mm. Using sheath facilitates the fixation process in BASHTI technique. The 0.1 mm PTFE sheath and 0.2 mm PTFE sheath with complete fixation provide higher fixation strength than other groups. The outcome showed that engaged length has a direct effect on the fixation strength. The BASHTI technique offers an implant-less organic ACL reconstruction method that can improve the fixation method and speed up the healing process.
Volcanic, tectonic and climate controls on lacustrine sedimentary supplies over the last millenia in NE Chilean Patagonia (Lake Esponja, Aysen, 45°S)
Authors: Fagel Nathalie , Pedreros Pablo , Alvarez Denisse , Israde Alcantara Isabel , Vega Alay Ignacio , Namur Olivier , Araneda Alberto , Schmidt Sabine , Lepoint Gilles , Urrutia Roberto
Published: February 2023

The environmental variability of Northern Chilean Patagonia during the last millennia is evaluated using a multi-proxy analysis of sediment cores from Lake Esponja (45°S 72°W) to decipher if the sediment deposition is controlled by volcanic eruptions, landslides induced by earthquake or heavy rainfall. The lake is located in a glacio-tectonic valley in Patagonia. The organic-rich clayey silt sediment with low biogenic silica content was analysed for grain size, magnetic susceptibility, organic matter, biogenic silica content and diatom assemblages, mineralogy (X-ray diffraction), organic (IRMS C and N analyses) and inorganic (XRF core-scanner) geochemistry and glass shard major composition (Microprobe, SEM). The combination of 210Pb, 137Cs, 14C and tephrochronology indicates an averaged accumulation rate of 0.4 mm/year, leading to a record of ~3.5 kyr within 154 cm. The sedimentary geochemistry records changes in volcanic supplies, diatom productivity and detrital inputs. The sediments were interrupted by millimetric to centimetric layers corresponding to tephra deposition related to explosive eruptions of nearby volcanoes Macá, Melimoyu and Hudson. Concerning the diatoms, the dominant planktonic species (80–150 cm) are replaced by benthic species in a transition interval (55–80 cm) and then by Surirella spp. in the upper core. This last genus indicates a closure of the basin ~2 ka ago, probably related to an uplift linked to a rejuvenation of the Mañihuales fault. This local change could reflect regional tectonic instability. Indeed, a partial earthquake rupture occurred around ~AD100 along the southern part of the Valdivia segment, recorded as a mass transport deposit in Aysén fjord sedimentation. The fine detrital input varies over time with more variable Si/Al values in the lower part of the LEs14 core than in the upper 80 cm. The higher values may reflect wetter conditions, leading to an higher lake level and more turbid conditions in agreement with changes in diatom assemblages.
Rethinking the regulation of digital contraception under the medical devices regime
Authors: McMillan Catriona
Published: February 2023

Contraceptives are vital healthcare for women and people with wombs. Recently, there has been a rise in the use of ‘digital contraceptives’, a type of ‘femtech’ software available for download on app stores which require data input in order to make predictions about users’ fertility. Digital contraceptives, when marketed as such, fall within the definition of a ‘medical device’ and under the authority of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 are a ‘medium-risk’ device. However, not all femtech which may be used as contraception is captured by this framework. In this article it is argued that the regulatory category into which digital contraceptives have been placed by the medical devices regime is (a) unduly limited in scope, (b) insufficiently stringent to protect users, considering the grave and life-changing effects this technology can have if things go wrong, and (c) ill-conceived as a regulatory response to a technology that affects large sections of the population. It is suggested here that the broader context in which software as a contraceptive sits (i.e. within the general contraceptive market) is key to understanding the regulatory blindness that is occurring when it comes to digital contraceptives and some other forms of fertility-related femtech. As such, software which can be used as a contraceptive is in fact ‘high risk’ and should be reclassified as such.
Quality improvement through audit: Zuclopenthixol acetate prescribing, monitoring and patient outcomes in a regional health service
Authors: Vellar Kane , Khalid Usman , Coleman Mathew
Published: February 2023

Objective

Prescribers’ expectations of Zuclopethixol Acetate’s (ZA) efficacy and tolerability are shaped by clinical experience and organisational culture; however, these expectations may not be consistent with current evidence and best practice.

Methods

Quality improvement project (QIP) through a process audit of ZA prescribing, monitoring and patient outcomes (adverse events) in order to identify issues requiring intervention to align with service standards and practices.

Results

QIP interventions resulted in a statistically significant shift in psychiatrist oversight, identifying high dose ZA with adverse outcomes and cessation of prescribing/administration within the Emergency Department. Clinically significant changes in patterns of prescribing were observed between pre-post intervention audits.

Conclusion

Entrenching an evidence-based QIP approach to clinical practice can effect clinically significant patterns of practice change to improve safe prescribing and drug monitoring.
Using social network analysis approach in developing rural psychiatrist workforce
Authors: Shiikha Yulia , Kruger Estie , Coleman Mathew
Published: February 2023

Objective

This study examines how rural and remote junior doctors career decisions are influenced by highly connected principles within a discipline.

Methods

Social network analysis was completed with data collected, by structured interview, with five psychiatry trainees and three early career psychiatrists in a rural location rated MM3 using the Modified Monash Model. UNICET software was used to determine the interactions between individual networks to look for overlap and common influencers.

Results

A single central, highly connected, psychiatrist was found at the core of the entire social network. This connector was instrumental in recruitment and retention in rural psychiatry workforce.

Conclusion

Improving the understanding of human capital can encourage innovative solutions in developing sustainable strategies for recruiting and retaining rural psychiatry workforces.
Tyzzer disease in 19 preweaned orphaned kittens
Authors: Fingerhood Sai , Mendonça Fábio S. , Uzal Francisco A. , Marks Stanley L. , Vernau Karen M. , Navarro Mauricio A. , Choi Eunju April
Published: February 2023

Clostridium piliforme, the agent of Tyzzer disease, has traditionally not been considered a major pathogen of cats. We queried the database of the Pathology Service of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California–Davis, for kittens <6-mo-old autopsied between 2000–2021 that had colitis, hepatitis, and/or myocarditis; 37 cases met the search criteria. Sections of colon, liver, and heart from these 37 cats were stained with modified Steiner; 19 of 37 (51%) cases had intraepithelial, Steiner-positive rods compatible with C. piliforme in at least one organ, confirming Tyzzer disease. The affected age range was 7–42 d (median: 17.5 d). Eighteen were orphaned kittens. Colitis was the major lesion (18 of 19) followed by random hepatitis (11 of 19). Perianal dermatitis with intraepithelial stacked rods was seen in 2 of 19. Myocarditis was not evident in any of the cases. A PCR assay for C. piliforme on 10 selected cases using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks was positive or suspected in colon (5 of 10), liver (5 of 10), and heart (1 of 10). The modified Steiner stain was more sensitive in the detection of bacteria than PCR on FFPE samples. Fifteen kittens had comorbidities. A weakened immune state caused by maternal, environmental, infectious, and/or nutritional causes is speculated to have contributed to disease onset. We found that Tyzzer disease is more common than previously believed in orphaned kittens and should be considered in kittens with colitis and/or hepatitis.
Performance evaluation of a novel squeeze mode magnetorheological fluid damper with pre-compression mechanism under small amplitude and medium-high frequency
Authors: Li Pingyang , Yan Maosen , Pan Zhongwen , Ran Jinchao , Li Xin , Dong Xiaomin
Published: February 2023

Under small amplitude and medium-high frequency excitations, mechanical properties of squeeze mode magnetorheological (MR) damper change obviously which are different from general properties. Performance will be attenuated seriously which is known as the high frequency hardening effect. In this paper, mechanical performance of a novel squeeze mode MR damper with pre-compression mechanism under such excitations has been analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. A novel squeeze mode MR damper with pre-compression mechanism is proposed to improve performance. Then, considering viscoelasticity, inertial effect and pre-compression, an optimized model has been proposed which can precisely describe the performance under such excitations. Comparing with experimental results, performances of squeeze mode MR damper under such excitations are quite different from general properties. The damping force decreases gradually without a sudden decrease at the maximum stroke and it shows stiffness characteristics obviously. What’s more, the maximum damping force is up to 1916 N with an increase of 321.6% at the current of 1 A and frequency of 10 Hz. The energy dissipation is increased by 342% with pre-compression of 1 MPa. The damping force and energy dissipation increase rapidly with increasing the pre-compression. Experimental results demonstrate that the high frequency hardening effect is effectively improved by pre-compression.
Use of Methadone Versus Oxycodone to Facilitate Weaning of Parenteral Opioids in Critically Ill Adult Patients
Authors: Azimi Hanna A. , Keats Kelli R. , Sulejmani Essilvo , Ortiz Kristina , Waller Jennifer , Wayne Nathan
Published: February 2023

Background:

No previous literature has compared methadone with oxycodone for intravenous (IV) opioid weaning.

Objective:

To determine if a weaning strategy using enteral methadone or oxycodone results in faster time to IV opioid discontinuation.

Methods:

This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort medical record review of mechanically ventilated adults in an intensive care unit (ICU) who received a continuous IV infusion of fentanyl or hydromorphone for ≥72 hours and an enteral weaning strategy using either methadone or oxycodone from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021. Differences between groups were controlled for using Cox proportional hazards models. The primary outcome was time to continuous IV opioid discontinuation from the initiation of enteral opioids. Secondary outcomes included the primary endpoint stratified for COVID-19, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital length of stay, and safety measures.

Results:

Ninety-three patients were included, with 36 (38.7%) patients receiving methadone and 57 (61.3%) receiving oxycodone. Patients weaned using methadone received IV opioids significantly longer before the start of weaning ( P = 0.04). However, those on methadone had a significantly faster time to discontinuation of IV opioids than those on oxycodone, mean (standard deviation) 104.7 (79.4) versus 158.3 hours (171.2), P = 0.04, and, at any time, were 1.89 times as likely to be weaned from IV opioids (hazard ratio, HR 1.89, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.16-3.07, P = 0.01).

Conclusion and Relevance:

This was the first study showing enteral methadone was associated with a shorter duration of IV opioids without differences in secondary outcomes compared with oxycodone. Prospective research is necessary to confirm this finding.
Exploring the Attitudes of Journalism Educators to Teach Trauma-Informed Literacy: An Analysis of a Global Survey
Authors: Ogunyemi Olatunji , Price Lada Trifonova
Published: February 2023

Literature notes that most journalists will witness trauma and human suffering during the course of their careers, yet journalism education is lagging behind in preparing students to cope with the effects of exposure to traumatic events. This paper examines the attitudes of journalism educators/trainers toward trauma literacy through a questionnaire survey of 119 journalism educators globally. The findings show that a high percentage of educators have a good understanding of the risks that arise from exposure to critical and potentially traumatizing events but there are some barriers to teaching trauma including lack of knowledge/confidence, resources, time, and teaching materials.
Interrogating (Proximity to) Whiteness: Asian(American) Women in Autoethnographic Sister Circles
Authors: Qiu Tairan , Resman Jayna , Zheng Jia
Published: February 2023

Against the backdrop of historical and present-day anti-Asian racism, we remember, retell, and reflect on the formative experiences in the development of our critical perspectives on our racialization as Asian(American) women. In this article, we theoretically lean into Asian Critical Theory and proximity to whiteness. Methodologically, we use Autoethnographic Sister Circles to engage in a continual discursive process of individual and collaborative (counter)storytelling. We present our “findings” in the form of a dialogic spiral that embodies the messy conversations, spirit, wisdom, and care present in our sister circles. Through our work, we call on institutions and spaces of power to make a concerted effort in establishing dialogic spaces, physically and virtually, for individuals with marginalized identities. We also invite other Women of Color scholars to be in community and conversation with us through doing autoethnographic research that is authentic to them using various modal, cultural, linguistic, and land/location/time-specific methods/methodologies.
The combined effect of temperature and seawater on the compression properties of carbon fiber vinyl ester composites for sandwich structures
Authors: Chawla Vivek , Penumadu Dayakar
Published: February 2023

For naval applications, composite sandwich structures are of significant interest, and are often manufactured using thin (2 to 4 mm) composite facings made from carbon or glass fiber reinforcement, attached to a thick (25 to 50 mm) section of PVC cellular foam or balsa wood-based core materials using a suitable polymeric resin. In the present study, we focus on the hygrothermal effect on the fiber-dominated compression properties of carbon fiber reinforced vinyl ester resin based polymeric composite (CF/VE), used as “skin” for a polymeric composite sandwich material. Hygrothermal conditioning is achieved by saturating samples in simulated seawater at 40°C. Compression properties are evaluated for coupons extracted along warp and fill undergoing- no conditioning, conditioning till saturation (up to 6 months), and long-term conditioning (2 years). Sea-water saturation yields in up to 12% drop in compression strength with a further 3–4% drop resulting from long-term conditioning. No statistically significant modulus degradation is noticed due to short or long-term hygrothermal exposure. The failure mechanism of the warp extracted coupon, which fails in a splitting failure mode originating due to the delamination between the 0/90 interface, or the fill extracted coupon, which fails due to the instability caused by tow micro-buckling, remains unchanged due to combined exposure (short or long-term) of seawater and temperature. The loss in strength is attributed to the degradation of the fiber-matrix interface, which is validated via conducting single fiber push-in tests with a nominal diameter of 7 micron for conditioned and unconditioned coupons.
Surgical planning of arteriovenous fistulae in routine clinical practice: A machine learning predictive tool
Authors: Doneda Martina , Poloni Sofia , Bozzetto Michela , Remuzzi Andrea , Lanzarone Ettore
Published: February 2023

Background:

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access (VA) for hemodialysis, but it is associated with high non-maturation and failure rates. Predicting patient-specific AVF maturation and postoperative changes in blood flow volumes (BFVs) and vessel diameters is of fundamental importance to support the choice of optimal AVF location and improve VA survival. The goal of this study was to employ machine learning (ML) in order to give physicians a fast and easy-to-use tool that provides accurate patient-specific predictions, useful to make AVF surgical planning decisions.

Methods:

We applied a set of ML approaches on a dataset of 156 patients. Both parametric and non-parametric ML approaches, taking preoperative data as input, were exploited to predict maturation, postoperative BFVs, and diameters. The best approach associated with lowest cross-validation errors between predictions and real measurements was then chosen to provide estimates and quantify prediction errors.

Results:

The k-NN was the best approach to predict brachial BFV, AVF maturation, and other VA variables, and it was also associated with the least computational effort. With this approach, the confusion matrices proved the high accuracy of the prediction for AVF maturation (96.8%) and the low absolute error distribution for the continuous BFV and diameter variables.

Conclusions:

Our data-based approach provided accurate patient-specific predictions for different AVF configurations, requiring short computational time as compared to a physical model we previously developed. By supporting VA surgical planning, this fast computing approach could allow AVF surgical planning and help reducing the rate of non-maturation, which might ultimately have a broad impact on the management of hemodialysis patients.
Influence of arm position on the first pass success rates of ultrasound-guided infraclavicular axillary vein cannulation in spontaneously breathing patients: A randomised clinical trial
Authors: Nagalingam Saranya , T Sivashanmugam , Ravindran Charulatha , Ponnusamy Rani
Published: February 2023

Background:

Significant collapsibility during spontaneous respiration, deeper location, and smaller vein size are key challenging factors to safe infraclavicular axillary vein cannulation. Arm abduction reduces collapsibility, but interventional data supporting this observation is lacking. This study investigates the effect of neutral and abducted arm position on the first pass success rate of infraclavicular axillary vein cannulation in spontaneously breathing patients.

Methods:

One hundred and twelve patients were randomly assigned to two arm positions, neutral or abducted by 90° at the shoulder joint. Under ultrasound guidance, the infraclavicular axillary vein was cannulated using an in-plane approach. The primary outcome was the first pass success rate of guidewire placement in the infraclavicular axillary vein. The secondary outcome measures were the number of attempts for successful cannulation, failure rate, and catheter tip malposition.

Results:

Fifty-two patients in the neutral arm and fifty-six patients in the arm abduction group were compared according to the intention to treat analysis. The abducted arm position was associated with a higher first pass success rate (RR = 3.39, 95% CI = 1.47–7.85; p = 0.004) with fewer attempts ( p = 0.005), lower failure rate (RR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.16–1.61; p = 0.000) and lower catheter tip malposition (1.5 vs 15.8%; p = 0.012) when compared to the neutral arm position.

Conclusion:

Abducted arm position resulted in a significantly higher first pass success rate with a lower failure rate and catheter tip malposition during ultrasound-guided infraclavicular axillary vein cannulation in spontaneously breathing patients.
Trimmed central venous catheters do not increase endothelial injury in an ovine model
Authors: Wang Hanjay , Williams Kiah M , Elde Stefan , Bulterys Philip L , Thakore Akshara D , Lucian Haley J , Farry Justin M , Mullis Danielle M , Zhu Yuanjia , Paulsen Michael J , Woo Y Joseph
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are often trimmed during heart transplantation and pediatric cardiac surgery. However, the risk of endothelial injury caused by the cut tip of the CVC has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that there is no difference in the degree of endothelial injury associated with trimmed CVCs versus standard untrimmed CVCs.

Methods:

In four adult male sheep, the left external jugular vein was exposed in three segments, one designated for an untouched control group, one for the trimmed CVC group, and one for the untrimmed CVC group. Trimmed and untrimmed CVC tips were rotated circumferentially within their respective segments to abrade the lumen of the vein. The vein samples were explanted, and two representative sections from each sample were analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, as well as with immunohistochemistry against CD31, von Willebrand factor (vWF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and caveolin. Higher immunohistochemical stain distributions and intensities are associated with normal health and function of the venous endothelium. Data are presented as counts with percentages or as means with standard error.

Results:

H&E staining revealed no evidence of endothelial injury in 6/8 (75%) samples from the untouched control group, and no injury in 4/8 (50%) samples from both the trimmed and untrimmed CVC groups ( p = 0.504). In all remaining samples from each group, only mild endothelial injury was observed. Immunohistochemical analysis comparing trimmed CVCs versus untrimmed CVCs revealed no difference in the percentage of endothelial cells staining positive for CD31 (57.5% ± 7.2% vs 55.0% ± 9.2%, p = 0.982), vWF (73.8% ± 8.0% vs 62.5% ± 9.6%, p = 0.579), eNOS (66.3% ± 4.2% vs 63.8% ± 7.5%, p = 0.962), and caveolin (53.8% ± 5.0% vs 51.3% ± 4.4%, p = 0.922). There were no significant differences between the groups in the distributions of stain intensity for CD31, vWF, eNOS, and caveolin.

Conclusion:

Trimmed CVCs do not increase endothelial injury compared to standard untrimmed CVCs.
Applicability and feasibility of intraprocedural tip location of femorally inserted central catheters by transhepatic ultrasound visualization of the inferior vena cava in adult patients
Authors: Annetta Maria Giuseppina , Marche Bruno , Giarretta Igor , Pittiruti Mauro
Published: February 2023

Background:

The ideal intraprocedural method for tip location during insertion of femorally inserted central catheters (FICCs) is still a matter of debate. When the catheter tip is meant to be in the right atrium or in the supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava (IVC), tip location by either intracavitary electrocardiography or transthoracic echocardiography may be accurate and easy to perform. When the catheter tip is planned to be placed in the subdiaphragmatic IVC, fluoroscopy—though inaccurate and unsafe—has been regarded as the only option for intraprocedural tip location.

Methods:

We have investigated prospectively the applicability and feasibility of transhepatic ultrasound as intraprocedural method for assessing the location of the catheter tip in the subdiaphragmatic tract of IVC, during FICC insertion.

Results:

We enrolled 169 consecutive patients undergoing FICC insertion by ultrasound guided puncture of the superficial femoral vein. In 165 out of 169 patients, the subdiaphragmatic IVC was visualized by the transhepatic ultrasound view. In all cases of IVC visualization, the catheter tip could be identified by ultrasound, either directly (direct evidence of the tip inside the vein) or indirectly (enhanced visualization of the tip after “bubble test”). There was no immediate or early complication, and very few late complications.

Conclusion:

The intraprocedural method of tip location of FICCs by transhepatic ultrasound was applicable in 97.6% of cases and feasible in 100%. When the position of the catheter tip is planned to be in the subdiaphragmatic IVC, this method of tip location is accurate, safe, and inexpensive, and should be considered as an alternative to fluoroscopy.
Spanish subject pronoun expression among Bube speakers in Equatorial Guinea
Authors: Padilla Lillie
Published: February 2023

Aims and Objectives:

Spanish subject pronoun expression (SPE) among Bube speakers in Equatorial Guinea has hardly been examined. Thus, the paper aims to (a) examine the SPE rate (b) and the linguistic and social predictors of SPE in this variety.

Methodology:

The data for the present study were collected using sociolinguistic interviews. These interviews lasted between 45 minutes and an hour.

Data and analysis:

The audio recordings of 18 bilinguals of Bube and Spanish in Equatorial Guinea were transcribed and analyzed using the Rbrul mixed-effects statistical software.

Findings:

The overt SPE rate of these bilingual speakers is 17.9%. This pronoun rate is one of the lowest ever found among bilinguals. The significant factors are grammatical person and number, ambiguity, the lexical content, and gender. The insignificant predictors were reference, reflexivity, and education.

Originality:

This is the first variationist study on Spanish SPE among Bube speakers in Equatorial Guinea. In this study, switch reference, a usually robust predictor, is insignificant among bilingual speakers.

Significance:

This study expands on the scarce research conducted on Equatoguinean Spanish and opens new avenues for exploration.
Towards a Review-Analytics-as-a-Service (RAaaS) Framework for SMEs: A Case Study on Review Fraud Detection and Understanding
Authors: Truong Du Chau Xuan , Toan Nguyen Thanh , Khiem Tran Vinh , Quach Sara , Thaichon Park , Jo Jun , Vo Bay , Dieu Tran Quang , Viet Hung Nguyen Quoc
Published: February 2023

With the advancement of internet technology, customers increasingly rely on online reviews as a valuable source of information. The study aims to develop a marketing data analytics framework to manage online reviews, especially fake reviews, which have become a significant issue undermining the creditability of online review systems. As small and medium-sized enterprises often lack the capabilities to automatically derive customer insights from online reviews, this study proposes a cost-effective, extensible Review-Analytics-as-a-Service (RAaaS) framework that can be operated by non-data specialists to facilitate online review data analytics. We demonstrate the framework’s application by using two datasets with more than 400,000 online reviews from Yelp to simulate live platforms and demonstrate an analytic flow of review fraud detection and understanding. The findings reveal insights into the influence of fake reviews on product ranking and exposure rate. Moreover, it was found that there was a higher concentration of sadness and anger in fake reviews (vs. organic reviews). In addition, fake reviews tend to be shorter, more extreme (with the use of strong adverbs), and have different patterns of topic distribution. This study has important implications for different stakeholder groups including, but not limited to, SMEs, review platforms and customers.
Animal-assisted and robotic animal-assisted interventions within dementia care: A systematic review
Authors: Shoesmith Emily , Surr Claire , Ratschen Elena
Published: February 2023

Background

Animal-assisted interventions and robotic animal interventions are becoming increasingly popular to support the care of people with dementia and may have the potential to improve a range of psychosocial outcomes. This review aims to identify, describe, and compare animal-assisted and robotic animal interventions delivered to people with dementia, their characteristics, effectiveness, and the proposed mechanisms underlying any potential impact.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, AMED, EMBASE, PsycINFO, OVID Nursing, PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science. Random-effects meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted to summarise studies that evaluated common outcomes (agitation, depression, quality of life). A narrative approach was used to synthesise other findings.

Results

Fifty-one studies were included: 18 RCTs; 12 non-randomised trials, 13 cohort studies, 7 qualitative studies and one mixed-methods study. Meta-analyses were conducted for a small number of RCTs, with effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions demonstrated for agitation. Narrative findings suggested animal-assisted and robotic animal interventions may be promising in improving depression, agitation, and quality of life. Three potential mechanisms of action were identified for both animal-assisted and robotic animal interventions, namely enhancing social connections, providing engaging and meaningful activities, and the affect-generating aspect of the human-animal bond. A fourth mechanism was identified for animal-assisted interventions only: promoting physical activity. Robotic animals appear to have a place in complex human-animal relationships, but a greater understanding of robotic animal interventions is required to harness the benefits that may be derived from their use.

Conclusion

Delivering these interventions appear promising in improving psychosocial outcomes for people with dementia. As most included studies had methodological limitations, these findings are preliminary, but contribute to the body of evidence providing an understanding in terms of intervention characteristics and mechanisms of action. When developing intervention guidance, attention should be given to potential mechanisms and fundamental characteristics such as session content, delivery format and facilitator role.
“Let’s Go Make Some Videos!”: Post-Feminist Digital Media on Tween-Coms
Authors: Faber Tamar , Coulter Natalie
Published: February 2023

Our paper looks at three popular tween shows premised on tween girls creating digital content— iCarly, Bizaardvark and Coop & Cami Ask the World. Using the theoretical frameworks of critical digital labor studies, girls’ media studies, and feminist theory, we argue that the tween-coms imagine the tween content creator as a post-feminist neoliberal subject in three ways: first, by hiding the labor behind the affective sentiments of play; second, by obscuring the misogynistic structure; and third, by framing childhood digital spaces as separate from adult spheres, legitimizing corporate encroachments into children’s digital lives. The shows are a distillation of the neoliberal, post-feminist ideologies that define late-stage capitalism. The discursive formation of digital girls on children’s television has been overlooked in the field of digital studies and girl studies. Our paper explores how digital content creation is discursively constructed within the cultural imaginaries of children’s media.
Esketamine Anesthetizes Mice With a Similar Potency to Racemic Ketamine
Authors: Ma Xiaofan , Peng Jiali , Chen Yelin , Wang Zeyi , Zhou Qiang , Yan Jia , Jiang Hong
Published: February 2023

Esketamine, the right-handed optical isomer of racemic ketamine, has recently become widely used for anesthesia and analgesia as a replacement for racemic ketamine. However, there are limited studies comparing the anesthetic and analgesic effects of esketamine and racemic ketamine in mice. This research was conducted to analyze the dose-dependent anesthetic and analgesic efficacy of esketamine in mice and to compare its potency with that of the racemate. We tested the anesthetic effects of different doses of esketamine and compared its potency with that of the racemate using righting reflex tests. Then, the acetic acid-induced pain model and formalin-induced pain model were used to investigate the analgesic effect. Compared with racemic ketamine, an equivalent dose of esketamine at 100 mg/kg was required to induce stable anesthesia. In contrast, 5 mg/kg esketamine was sufficient to provide analgesic effects similar to those of 10 mg/kg ketamine. Together, esketamine had a similar potency to racemic ketamine for anesthesia and a stronger potency for analgesia in mice.
Adapting international clinical trials during COVID-19 and beyond
Authors: Thriemer Kamala , Degaga Tamiru Shibiru , Alam Mohammad Shafiul , Adhikari Bipin , Tripura Rupam , Hossain Mohammad Sharif , Christian Michael , Ghanchi Najia K , Mnjala Hellen , Weston Sophie , Ley Benedikt , Rumaseb Angela , Tadesse Dagimawie , Teferi Tedla , Yilma Daniel , Lee Grant , Unger Holger , Sutanto Inge , Pasaribu Ayodhia Pitaloka , Ghimire Prakash , Beg Mohammad Asim , Price Ric N
Published: February 2023

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions, particularly travel restrictions, have had significant impact on the conduct of global clinical trials. Our clinical trials programme, which relied on in-person visits for training, monitoring and capacity building across nine low- and middle-income countries, had to adapt to those unprecedented operational challenges. We report the adaptation of our working model with a focus on the operational areas of training, monitoring and cross-site collaboration.

The new working model:

Adaptations include changing training strategies from in-person site visits with three or four team members to a multi-pronged virtual approach, with generic online training for good clinical practice, the development of a library of study-specific training videos, and interactive virtual training sessions, including practical laboratory-focused training sessions. We also report changes from in-person monitoring to remote monitoring as well as the development of a more localized network of clinical trial monitors to support hybrid models with in-person and remote monitoring depending on identified risks at each site. We established a virtual network across different trial and study sites with the objective to further build capacity for good clinical practice–compliant antimalarial trials and foster cross-country and cross-study site collaboration.

Conclusion:

The forced adaptation of these new strategies has come with advantages that we did not envisage initially. This includes improved, more frequent engagement through the established network with opportunities for increased south-to-south support and a substantially reduced carbon footprint and budget savings. Our new approach is challenging for study sites with limited prior experience but this can be overcome with hybrid models. Capacity building for laboratory-based work remains difficult using a virtual environment. The changes to our working model are likely to last, even after the end of the pandemic, providing a more sustainable and equitable approach to our research.
Opposing influences of global and local stimulus-hand proximity on crosstalk interference in dual tasks
Authors: Ellinghaus Ruben , Janczyk Markus , Wirth Robert , Kunde Wilfried , Fischer Rico , Liepelt Roman
Published: February 2023

In contrast to traditional dualistic views of cognition, visual stimulus processing appears not independent of bodily factors such as hand positioning. For example, reduced crosstalk between two temporally overlapping tasks has been observed when the hands are moved into the attentional window alongside their respective stimuli (i.e., establishing global stimulus-hand proximity). This result indicates that hand-specific attentional processing enhancements support a more serial rather than parallel processing of the two tasks. To further elucidate the nature of these processing modulations and their effect on multitasking performance, the present study consisted of three interrelated crosstalk experiments. Experiment 1 manipulated global stimulus-hand proximity and stimulus-effect proximity orthogonally, with results demonstrating that hand proximity rather than effect proximity drives the crosstalk reduction. Experiment 2 manipulated the physical distance between both hands (i.e., varying local stimulus-hand proximity), with results showing weak evidence of increased crosstalk when both hands are close to each other. Experiment 3 tested opposing influences of global and local stimulus-hand proximity as observed in Experiment 1 and 2 rigorously within one experiment, by employing an orthogonal manipulation of these two proximity measures. Again, we observed slightly increased crosstalk for hands close to each other (replicating Experiment 2); however, in contrast to Experiment 1, the effect of global stimulus-hand proximity on the observed crosstalk was not significant this time. Taken together, the experiments support the notion of hand-specific modulations of perception-action coupling, which can either lead to more or less interference in multitasking, depending on the exact arrangement of hands and stimuli.
Cognitive impairment after a stroke in young adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Weterings Rosemarije PC , Kessels Roy PC , de Leeuw Frank-Erik , Piai Vitória
Published: February 2023

Background:

Information about cognitive functioning is vital in the management of stroke, but the literature is mostly based on data from individuals older than 50 years of age who make up the majority of the stroke population. As cognitive functioning is subject to change due to aging, it is unclear whether such cognitive impairment patterns from the general stroke literature apply to the growing population of younger people with a stroke.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the proportion and severity of cognitive impairment in young-stroke patients.

Summary of review:

MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were systematically searched up to 11 October 2022. Studies were included if they reported on a population of young-stroke patients, evaluated cognitive functioning as an outcome measure, and reported original data. We estimated the pooled prevalence rates for cognitive impairment and for aphasia. In addition, we calculated the pooled estimates for the severity of impairment per cognitive domain in the chronic phase (defined as >6 months post-stroke). Six hundred thirty-five articles were identified, of which 29 were eligible for inclusion. The pooled prevalence of cognitive impairment was 44% ( k = 10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 34–54%) and of aphasia 22% ( k = 13; 95% CI: 12–39%). Young-stroke patients in the chronic phase performed worse than stroke-free healthy age-appropriate controls across all cognitive domains examined, with Hedges’ g effect sizes ranging from −0.49 to −1.64.

Conclusion:

Around half of all young-stroke patients present with cognitive impairment and around a quarter with aphasia. Our data suggest that patterns of impairment in young-stroke patients follow those in the general stroke literature.
To pay or not to pay: An exploratory analysis of sextortion in the context of romance fraud
Authors: Cross Cassandra , Holt Karen , Holt Thomas J
Published: February 2023

Romance fraud, where an offender uses the guise of a genuine relationship for monetary gain, affects millions globally. Further to financial losses, evidence suggests victims may also be targeted for sextortion, where the offender either has images or claims to possess indecent images of a person and attempts to extort them for money. Research exploring the association between romance fraud and sextortion is limited, with little known about the characteristics of victims and their potential for financial loss. This article addresses this gap through a quantitative analysis of those who reported romance fraud which included a threat of sextortion. It identifies those who paid in response to the sextortion threat by a variety of situational and demographic variables and locates this group in the broader context of romance fraud. The implications of this study for an understanding of online fraud victimization are explored in detail.
Highly Miniaturized, Low-Power CMOS ASIC Chip for Long-Term Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Authors: Gudlavalleti Raja Hari , Xi Xiangyi , Legassey Allen , Chan Pik-Yiu , Li Jin , Burgess Diane , Giardina Charles , Papadimitrakopoulos Fotios , Jain Faquir
Published: February 2023

Background:

The objective of this work is to develop a highly miniaturized, low-power, biosensing platform for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). This platform is based on an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip that interfaces with an amperometric glucose-sensing element. To reduce both size and power requirements, this custom ASIC chip was implemented using 65-nm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology node. Interfacing this chip to a frequency-counting microprocessor with storage capabilities, a miniaturized transcutaneous CGM system can be constructed for small laboratory animals, with long battery life.

Method:

A 0.45 mm × 1.12 mm custom ASIC chip was first designed and implemented using the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) 65-nm CMOS technology node. This ASIC chip was then interfaced with a multi-layer amperometric glucose-sensing element and a frequency-counting microprocessor with storage capabilities. Variation in glucose levels generates a linear increase in frequency response of this ASIC chip. In vivo experiments were conducted in healthy Sprague Dawley rats.

Results:

This highly miniaturized, 65-nm custom ASIC chip has an overall power consumption of circa 36 µW. In vitro testing shows that this ASIC chip produces a linear ( R2 = 99.5) frequency response to varying glucose levels (from 2 to 25 mM), with a sensitivity of 1278 Hz/mM. In vivo testing in unrestrained healthy rats demonstrated long-term CGM (six days/per charge) with rapid glucose response to glycemic variations induced by isoflurane anesthesia and tail vein injection.

Conclusions:

The miniature footprint of the biosensor platform, together with its low-power consumption, renders this CMOS ASIC chip a versatile platform for a variety of highly miniaturized devices, intended to improve the quality of life of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Students’ perceptions of smartphone use: Institutional policies in Assam, India
Authors: Das Daisy , Ahmed Masum
Published: February 2023

Many educational institutions lack well-defined, targeted policies to address problems relating to student smartphone use on campus. In this study, we analyse the patterns of student smartphone use on academic campuses and propose a range of policy measures to address the problems arising from such use. Our research, which draws on primary data collected through a field survey in Assam, India, is one of very few studies in the field to focus on northeast India. Inspired by the literature review, which revealed empirical findings on student smartphone use behaviour, we create and evaluate four policy alternatives: a complete ban on smartphones in educational institutions, the use of student smartphones with proper training, the use of specific smartphones with/without particular applications, and the development of learning platforms and study materials to regulate student smartphone use. Our results show that students who use smartphones prioritise ‘information collection’, although the information they collect may not relate to their studies. We argue that the best policy would be to reduce attention deficiencies by allowing students to use smartphones on campus but not in classrooms. In addition, both teachers and students should receive necessary training on effective smartphone use to exchange academic information.