bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Negative Consequences of Pressure on Marksmanship May be Offset by Early Training Exposure to Contextually Relevant Threat Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cooper Daniel , Fuller Joel , Wiggins Mark W. , Wills Jodie A. , Main Luana C. , Doyle Tim
Published: April 2022

Objective

The purpose of this meta-analytic review is to examine the relationship between increased psychological pressure and Use of Force (UOF) behaviours, identifying current training methodologies and effectiveness of transfer of training interventions in high threat-simulated scenarios.

Background

Data from UOF performance within Law Enforcement indicates a low transfer of marksmanship training into real-world UOF, resulting in unnecessary damage to property, personal injury and increased risk to loss of life. This meta-analysis examines both the impact of increased pressure and current training interventions.

Method

A meta-analysis was conducted across a wide range of published research to answer the primary research questions.

Results

Increased levels of perceived pressure demonstrated an average decrease in marksmanship accuracy of 14.8%, together with a small increase in incorrect Decision Making (DM) and faster reaction Times (RT). Experience demonstrated a mitigating effect for pressure for marksmanship with a 1.1% increase for every one year of service but no effect on DM or RT. Training interventions utilizing a variety of early contextually relevant exposures to increased pressure improved performance over traditional training on average by 10.6%.

Conclusion

The outcomes illustrate the negative effect of pressure on marksmanship and UOF behaviours, and that early exposure to contextually relevant pressure may increase the transfer of training to real-world performance.

Application

Occupational experience is an important component in reducing the impact of pressure on UOF performance, and transfer of training may be enhanced through training methodologies that combine early exposure to contextually relevant pressure, that may replicate the benefits of experience.
Evaluation index and performance structure optimization of magnetic field uniformity of complex multiphase flow electromagnetic flowmeter
Authors: Zhou Feng , Yang Qifan , Lin Kun
Published: April 2022

The uniformity of the excitation magnetic field is an important factor affecting the measurement accuracy of the electromagnetic flowmeter and its adaptability to different flow states of the complex multiphase flow. The main purpose of this paper is to improve the measurement accuracy of electromagnetic flowmeter by improving the uniformity of magnetic field excitation of electromagnetic flowmeter sensor. Firstly, an evaluation index system based on area weight magnetic field deviation degree is established, and the concept of flow state adaptability is put forward. According to this evaluation system, the excitation structure of the conventional electromagnetic flowmeter sensor is improved and optimized, and an excitation model with high uniformity is designed. Meanwhile, the ANSYS software is used for numerical simulation, and normalized standard deviation is used to compare between the new and the traditional electromagnetic flowmeter models. Finally, according to the requirements of the index function, the magnetic pole detection angle of the improved excitation model is simulated and analyzed, and the optimal magnetic pole detection angle is determined to be 45°. On this basis, a new electromagnetic flowmeter is designed for complex multiphase flow at oil wellhead. The field test proves that the measurement error of this flowmeter can reach less than 5%. Compared with the traditional electromagnetic flowmeter, the measurement accuracy has been greatly improved.
Ubuntu among the ‘born frees’: Exploring the transmission of social values through community engagement in South Africa
Authors: Willmore Stephanie Blickfeldt , Day Randal , Roby Jini L , Maistry Savathrie
Published: April 2022

Ubuntu was recently adopted as the first theme for the 2020–2030 global agenda for social work, and yet little research is available to explore how it is transmitted and implemented in communities. The authors present findings of a qualitative study conducted in an academic setting in South Africa, where the transmission of Ubuntu was discussed among 30 young adult ‘born frees’. Students seemed to embrace principles of Ubuntu as a whole; however, economic, social and cultural strains are documented as obstacles to its pragmatic application. Implications of community engagement through service learning as a means of strengthening Ubuntu are discussed.
‘Appeasement Gone Mad’: The Riga Ghetto Case and the Politics of British War Crimes Trials
Authors: Miner Samuel
Published: April 2022

This article examines the British Foreign Office decision to abandon a British-run war crimes trial after the Second World War against suspected perpetrators of the Holocaust in Latvia and the efforts of a Holocaust survivors’ organization to seek justice. Faced with repeated inquiries from The Association of Baltic Jews in Great Britain and their parliamentary allies, the Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin repeated a lie told to him by his subordinates that Holocaust victims were imprecise in their testimony, making them unreliable witnesses and justifying the release of several suspected war criminals. Although very few German and Latvian perpetrators saw the inside of the courtroom, survivor advocacy countered the prevailing silence about the Holocaust in Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
Getting Off Track: the Northeast Corridor Improvement Project in an International Context
Authors: English Jonathan
Published: April 2022

The Northeast Corridor Improvement Project aimed to upgrade the most important passenger route in the country so that it could support high-speed trains. By the early 1970s, North America's rail network had been in decline for decades. However, the energy crisis and strong congressional support prompted a policy of reinvestment. Execution of the Northeast Corridor Improvement Project was plagued with problems owing to both lack of experience delivering major rail projects and a counter-productive, complex administrative structure resulting from conflicts between Congress and the White House. The project's original scope, which was necessary to achieve high-speed operations, was reduced over time as budgetary limits were exceeded. Compared to the coeval Paris–Lyon high-speed rail project, Northeast Corridor Improvement Project history demonstrates the importance of continuous infrastructure investment to maintain the expertise necessary to effectively deliver major capital projects.
Compliance of Private Pharmacy Retail Outlets to Narcotic Drug Regulations in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional and Simulated Client Study Method
Authors: Kasahun Asmamaw Emagn , Woldeyohanins Alem Endeshaw , kifle Zemene Demelash , Abebe Rahel Belete , Ergena Asrat Elias , Demeke Chilot Abiyu
Published: April 2022

Background:

Inappropriate use of narcotic drugs is a growing worldwide health challenge. The problem is even worse in Sub-Saharan Africa where organized supply chain regulations on dispensing and stock management are poor for controlling these global challenges.

Methods:

A mixed method, descriptive cross-sectional and simulated client study design was used from September 10, 2020 to November 26, 2020 to assess the extent of utilization and compliance of narcotic drug dispensing in private pharmacy retail outlets of Gondar and Bahir Dar town of Amhara region, Ethiopia. A total of 107 private pharmacy outlets were on duty. But in simulated study, purposive sampling is a method that prioritizes study units having the data of interest.

Results:

A total of 107 private pharmacy retails outlets were included in the survey. The average compliance to the controlled prescription regulation of Ethiopia in all pharmacy outlets (107) of the five drugs were calculated and found to be poor, 23.9% (SD = 18.3%). Compliance to strong narcotics is extremely low, 3.3 % for pethidine and 8% for morphine. Religion of the professionals has significant association with compliance to the prescription of narcotic drugs (p < .001).

Discussion:

In the era of narcotic epidemics, as a result of growing global inappropriate use of controlled drugs, the finding of this study gives an insight for a serious and strict regulation in managing and controlling the overall distribution of the narcotic drugs.

Conclusions:

The compliance of the private retail pharmacies of Ethiopia to the regulation of controlled drugs is low.
From information to action: A commentary on Kidd and Garcia (2022)
Authors: Singh Leher
Published: April 2022

Kidd and Garcia provide a critical analysis of linguistic representation in child language acquisition. Their findings expose a rich irony: a field of study for which diversity of experience is a basic assumption has remained non-diverse in its empirical and theoretical pursuits. In this commentary, I discuss deep-rooted structural factors that have contributed to Western dominance in child language acquisition research. Future progress relies on our ability to enhance the visibility of under-represented participants, researchers, and evaluators.
Resisting and reifying meaning in everyday life: Using relational dialectics theory to understand the meaning of heterosexual dating
Authors: Wolfe Brooke H , Scharp Kristina M
Published: April 2022

Heterosexual women have intersecting identities that are privileged (i.e., sexuality) and marginalized (i.e., gender), suggesting a complicated site to examine power in the process of dating where meaning has become taken-for-granted over time. In this study, we utilized relational dialectics theory’s (RDT’s) corresponding method, contrapuntal analysis, to examine a group that holds fluctuating societal power in the context of heterosexuality and dating. Findings from the responses of women ( n = 104) revealed two discourses that competed to illuminate the meaning of heterosexual dating from the perspective of women: the dominant Discourse that Dating is Romantic and Necessary (DDRN) and the marginal Discourse that Dating is Restrictive and Unrealistic (DDRU). These discourses interplayed through contractive practices (i.e., disqualification and naturalization), diachronic separation, synchronic interplay (i.e., entertaining, countering, and negating), and dialogic transformation (i.e., discursive hybridization and aesthetic moment), illuminating a discursive struggle that both reified and resisted the DDRN.
Factors Influencing Cloud Computing Adoption Among SMEs: The Jordanian Context
Authors: Yaseen Husam , Al-Adwan Ahmad Samed , Nofal Muhamud , Hmoud Hazar , Abujassar Radwan S.
Published: April 2022

Cloud computing technology has proved to be an important technological solution, especially for small and medium- sized businesses (SMEs), by providing many opportunities for companies to enhance their operations, reduce cost, improve scalability and flexibility, and make more efficient use of technology. Despite its benefits, most SMEs are still hesitant about adopting cloud computing. The purpose of this study is to assess the factors that influence cloud computing adoption among SMEs in Jordan. This study does so by developing a research model based on the Technology Organization Environment (TOE) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) .These theories overlap in terms of the characteristics that strengthen the explanation of adoption. An online questionnaire was used to collect data from 244 SMEs registered in Jordan. A multiple regression test was implemented to examine the proposed model. The results indicate that seven factors significantly affect cloud computing adoption among SMEs. Among these factors, cost reduction was found to be the strongest predictor, while the weakest predictor was firm size. However, the firm’s scope insignificantly influenced cloud computing adoption among SMEs in Jordan. This finding could provide insights for SMEs decision- makers when it comes to adopting cloud computing. In addition, it provides insights for practitioners in terms of recognizing the important factors that encourage or prevent SMEs from adopting cloud computing.
A case report of appendiceal adenocarcinoma without gastrointestinal evidence mimicking primary ovarian cancer
Authors: Lin Chih-Wei , Peng Shu-Ling , Wang Shu-Hsien , Wu Pei-Ying
Published: April 2022

Metastatic tumours to the ovary comprise 10–25% of ovarian malignancies and may originate from various primary sites. Here, the case of a 49-year-old female patient who presented with periumbilical nodules and abdominal bloating is reported. She was found to have bilateral ovarian tumours with peritoneal carcinomatosis and ascites. Primary ovarian cancer was suspected while no contributory gastrointestinal lesion was detected by imaging studies and endoscopic examinations. Three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were administered, followed by interval debulking surgery. Appendiceal cancer was highly suspected based on analysis of a frozen section obtained during surgical debulking. Following the pathology investigation, the patient was finally diagnosed with primary appendiceal adenocarcinoma. She underwent chemotherapy comprising irinotecan and fluorouracil. Due to disease progression despite several chemotherapy regimens, the patient declined further treatment and was lost to follow-up 1 year after the debulking surgery. Metastatic tumours to the ovary may mimic primary ovarian cancers and often present with nonspecific manifestations. Therefore, meticulous exploration of the primary site is warranted if the diagnosis is clinically suspicious.
C-reactive protein predicts early clinical outcomes and long-term mortality after left ventricular assisted device
Authors: Tie Hongtao , Shi Rui , Welp Henryk , Martens Sven , Li Zhenhan , Sindermann Jürgen , Martens Sabrina
Published: April 2022

Objectives:

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has become a reliable therapeutic strategy in patients with advanced heart failure. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a well-established biomarker of inflammation. This study aims to determine the prognostic effect of CRP level on clinical outcomes of patients who undergo LVAD implantation.

Methods:

This is a single-center, observational, retrospective study. One hundred fifty-three patients who received continuous-flow LVAD implantation were included and were divided into two groups of high (>3.9 mg/dL) versus low CRP (⩽3.9 mg/dL).

Results:

Patients with high pre-implant CRP levels were prone to severe preoperative clinical conditions and complicated intraoperative procedures. Compared with patients in the low CRP group, elevated pre-implant CRP was associated with increased hospital mortality (31.4% vs 8.4%, p < 0.001), postoperative right ventricular failure (47.1% vs 30.1%, p = 0.031), right ventricular assist device use (34.3% vs 16.9%, p = 0.013), AKI (70% vs 51.8%, p = 0.022) and significantly prolonged duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit length of stay. Univariate Cox regression showed that high pre-implant CRP was significantly associated with increased risk of long-term mortality (Hazard ratio (HR) 2.632 95%; CI: 1.657–4.183, p < 0.001), and multivariable Cox regression also revealed the higher risk of long-term mortality in patients with elevated pre-implant CRP (HR, 2.848 95%CI: 1.659–4.888, p < 0.001). These results remained stable when treating pre-implant CRP as a continuous variable. Besides, the prognostic effect of post-implant CRP was also observed.

Conclusions:

CRP is a reliable risk-stratification biomarker in patients receiving continuous-flow -LVAD and can be used as a predictor for short- and long-term outcomes.
Birth Experiences, Breastfeeding, and the Mother-Child Relationship: Evidence from a Large Sample of Mothers
Authors: Davis Abi M. B. , Sclafani Valentina
Published: April 2022

Background

It is a priority for public health professionals to improve global breastfeeding rates, which have remained low in Western countries for more than a decade. Few researchers have addressed how maternal perceptions of birth experiences affect infant feeding methods. Furthermore, mixed results have been shown in research regarding breastfeeding and mother-child bonding, and many studies are limited by small sample sizes, representing a need for further investigation.

Purpose

We aimed to examine the relationship between subjective birth experiences and breastfeeding outcomes, and explored whether breastfeeding affected mother-infant bonding.

Methods

3,080 mothers up to three years postpartum completed a cross – sectional survey.

Results

Mothers who had more positive birth experiences were more likely to report breastfeeding their babies. Moreover, mothers who perceived their birth as more positive were more likely to breastfeed their child for a longer period (over 9 months) than those who had more negative experiences. In line with recent research, breastfeeding behaviours were not associated with reported mother-infant bonding.

Conclusions

Mothers who reported better birth experiences were most likely to breastfeed, and breastfeed for longer. We find no evidence to suggest that feeding methods are associated with bonding outcomes.
Optimization of Medication Point-Of-Prescribing Alerts at a Multi-Site, Ambulatory Care Organization to Aid Clinical Care and Reduce HealthCare Cost
Authors: Nguyen Thu-Trang , Hollands Whitney , Zaiken Kathy
Published: April 2022

Background

Literature has shown the integration of electronic alerts into patient care has the potential to improve clinicians’ workflow by saving time, increasing efficiency, and improving patient safety. However, despite these possible benefits of alerts, studies have shown that alerts are often overridden by clinicians. Objective: The purpose of this study was to optimize the acceptance rates of medication point-of-prescribing alerts within the electronic medical record (EMR) of an ambulatory care organization. Methods: The study design evaluated the actions taken by clinicians when they were presented with medication point-of-prescribing alerts. These alerts were created by the clinical pharmacy informatics team to help promote cost-effective and safe prescribing. Alerts determined to be high value alerts were optimized to increase clinicians’ likelihood of accepting each alert’s recommended alternative. The primary objective was to increase acceptance rates of high value alerts. The exploratory objective was to identify the estimated annualized cost-savings when high value alerts were accepted, and a lower cost alternative prescription resulted. Results: The acceptance rate of the optimized point-of-prescribing alerts increased to 8.7%, compared to a 3.2% acceptance in the pre-modification period (P <.001). The lower cost alternative prescriptions that resulted from the accepted alerts translated into an estimated annualized cost-savings of over 2 million dollars. Conclusion: The use of point-of-prescribing alerts with optimized information and specific cost comparisons in an ambulatory setting led to an increase in the acceptance rates of the alerts and more cost-conscious prescribing.
Linguistic Adaptation and Cognitive Function in Older Chinese and Korean Immigrants in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Jang Yuri , Choi Eun Young , Wu Bei , Dong XinQi , Kim Miyong T.
Published: April 2022

Objectives

To examine the cross-sectional association of linguistic adaptation with cognitive function, as well as its interactions with sociodemographic and health profiles in older Chinese and Korean immigrants in the U.S.

Methods

Using harmonized data ( N = 5063) from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE) and the Study of Older Korean Americans (SOKA), we examined between- and within-group differences in the role of linguistic adaptation (English use in older Chinese Americans and English proficiency in older Korean Americans) in cognitive function.

Results

The positive association between linguistic adaptation and cognitive function was common in both groups. We also found that the relationship was pronounced among subgroups with the underlying linguistic and cognitive vulnerabilities (i.e., the very old, women, those with low education, and newly immigrated individuals).

Discussion

Findings show the importance of linguistic adaptation in older immigrants’ cognitive health and suggest a need for targeted interventions for high-risk groups.
Effects of Y-27632 on the osteogenic and adipogenic potential of human dental pulp stem cells in vitro
Authors: Xie Zhiwei , Xu Qiuping , Sun Lu , Li Ruijing , Shi Jizhou , Yang Qian , Zong Min , Qin Jianyong
Published: April 2022

Background

Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) possess mesenchymal stem cell properties, originating from migrating neural crest cells. hDPSCs have received extensive attention in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to their accessibility and ability to differentiate in several cell phenotypes. In this study, we cultured hDPSCs with Y-27632 to observe their biological behaviors changes.

Methods

The hDPSCs were separately cultured with Y-27632 (0, 0.156, 0.312, 0.625, 1.25, 2.50, 5, 10, 20, 40 μm) for 24, 48, 72 h to select the suitable concentration and time using CCK-8. Then, the hDPSCs were cultured with 2.50 μm Y-27632 for 48 h to analyzed the biological behaviors changes by 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), plate cloning, transwell, scratch, and Annexin V FITC/PI assays, separately. Additionally, osteogenic calcium nodules and lipid droplets were analyzed using alizarin red staining and oil red O staining, respectively. qRT-PCR was used to analyze the expression of osteogenesis, adipogenesis, stemness maintenance, and inflammation related genes.

Results

The hDPSCs proliferation was significantly enhanced after cultured with 2.50 μm Y-27632 for 48 h, but there was no significant difference in migration and apoptosis. Observation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation abilities of hDPSCs, Y-27632 treatment clearly decreased the ALP activity and osteogenic differentiation ability, increased the adipogenic differentiation ability. Furthermore, Y-27632 decreased the CD73, CD90, CD105, CD166, TLR4, and NF-κB p65 genes expression, but increased the IL-8 gene expression.

Conclusions

The biological behaviors of hDPSCs could be changed when they cultured with Y-27632.
Digital platform for open and equitable sharing of scholarly knowledge in India
Authors: Koley Moumita , Namdeo Suryesh K. , Suchiradipta Bhattacharjee , Afifi Nabil Ahmad
Published: April 2022

The academic publishing model is very inequitable currently – most commercial publishers demand exorbitant prices for access to journal articles, either through subscription or article processing charges. In this digital era, when publishing costs are negligible, and the peer review process is voluntary, it is unreasonable to have such high access barriers. In this article, we have explored the idea of an accessible and equitable knowledge dissemination platform using next-generation technologies and emerging models in publication to challenge the commercial publishers’ oligopoly in knowledge dissemination. Some of the upcoming practices, open peer review systems, transparent research data practices, and finally leveraging the advancements in digital technologies in publishing can be effective in creating efficient, transparent and cost-effective publishing systems. Encouraged by these recent developments, we have explored the possibilities of launching a digital publishing platform in India. We have analysed the existing open-source technologies like Open Journal System (OJS) and compared them with proprietary models like Editorial Manager to understand the gaps in both and explored avenues to conceive a cost-effective digital publishing platform. We hope that the open-access digital publishing platform will help the Indian journals upgrade their publishing systems up to the international standard, if not better, and help researchers explore a non-commercial avenue to publish open access articles.
Exploring the Employer–Employee Relationship: A Management Versus Employee Perspective of the Vicissitudes in the Virtual Workplace
Authors: Ganguly Anindya , Joseph Jaymol Mary , Dutta Sumanta , Dey Kushal
Published: April 2022

Employee–employer disputes have a long history. Being on different sides of the same coin, they have their own opinions and perspectives. These differences in narratives, viewpoints and disagreements have widened due to the sudden shift to a virtual workplace setting owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden transformation has rendered many jobless, whereas many others have faced challenges with teleworking. This article thus aims to explore the differing viewpoints of the teleworking employees and their managerial counterparts from various accounting, e-commerce and information technology (IT) sector firms, using a qualitative phenomenological methodology based on the abduction approach. Managers in India mostly follow a paternalistic managerial style to retain control and authority, which would dissolve in telework. The findings show the differences in managerial and employee perspectives regarding the major restructuring of the human resource (HR) practices, including the appraisal mechanism, work environment, social isolation, work–life (im)balance, technological difficulties, workplace monitoring, retrenchment and work contracts. We conclude that the virtual workspaces including the hybrid model of work, remote work with geographical requirements and co-working spaces, would be the future of Indian white-collared workers.
In Search of ‘The India Way’: Ancient Indian Statecraft and Contemporary Geopolitics
Authors: Kamal Kajari
Published: April 2022

Mark McClish, The History of the Arthashastra: Sovereignty and Sacred Law in Ancient India (Cambridge University Press, 2019). Pp. 306, ₹7486 (Hardcover). ISBN-10: 1108701744.

Medha Bisht, Kautilya’s Arthashastra: Philosophy of Strategy (Routledge, 2020). Pp. 188, ₹13450 (Hardcover). ISBN: 9781138553071.

S. Jaishankar, The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World (Harper Collins India, 2020). Pp. 226, ₹699 (Hardcover). ISBN: 9789353579791.
Arteriovenous fistula in predialysis chronic kidney disease patients and rate of decline of glomerular filtration rate
Authors: Pant Pragya , Sarkar Prattay , Kumar Amit , Prasad Kameshwar
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

To quantify the evidence for the role of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in predialysis CKD patients for the rate of decline of glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Background:

Pre-emptive placement of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in late-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is being advocated by all the major guidelines. Recent studies have suggested that pre-emptive AVF has a beneficial effect on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) also.

Methods:

We conducted a literature search to retrieve all published studies related to the effect of AVF on the rate of decline of GFR using the electronic databases Google Scholar, PubMed, Central, Cochrane Library, clinialtrial.gov. Screening of studies and data extraction were done according to the PRISMA guidelines. We used the NIH assessment tool for the methodological quality assessment of the included studies. Extracted data from the six studies were pooled and analyzed.

Results:

Six studies involving 3871 patients reported the effect of AVF creation on the rate of decline of GFR in late CKD patients. Evidence for statistically significant decline of eGFR after AVF creation compared to prior status (SMD −1.57, 95% CI −3.08 to −0.07, p < 0.001) was observed.

Conclusion:

Our meta-analysis observed preliminary evidence that the creation of AVF might have a potential added benefit in terms of estimated GFR improvement, though to a very small extent with a low level of certainty. More scientific data with high-quality studies are needed to substantiate this finding.
Recommendations for the use of propensity score methods in multiple sclerosis research
Authors: Simoneau Gabrielle , Pellegrini Fabio , Debray Thomas PA , Rouette Julie , Muñoz Johanna , Platt Robert W. , Petkau John , Bohn Justin , Shen Changyu , de Moor Carl , Karim Mohammad Ehsanul
Published: April 2022

Background:

With many disease-modifying therapies currently approved for the management of multiple sclerosis, there is a growing need to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of those therapies from real-world data sources. Propensity score methods have recently gained popularity in multiple sclerosis research to generate real-world evidence. Recent evidence suggests, however, that the conduct and reporting of propensity score analyses are often suboptimal in multiple sclerosis studies.

Objectives:

To provide practical guidance to clinicians and researchers on the use of propensity score methods within the context of multiple sclerosis research.

Methods:

We summarize recommendations on the use of propensity score matching and weighting based on the current methodological literature, and provide examples of good practice.

Results:

Step-by-step recommendations are presented, starting with covariate selection and propensity score estimation, followed by guidance on the assessment of covariate balance and implementation of propensity score matching and weighting. Finally, we focus on treatment effect estimation and sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion:

This comprehensive set of recommendations highlights key elements that require careful attention when using propensity score methods.
Who counts, and is counted, in craft?
Authors: Luckman Susan
Published: April 2022

Drawing upon customised Census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, this Cultural Commons article argues cultural studies researchers need to remain attentive to the absences and erasures within craft, and cultural and creative practice more generally. It offers a numbers-driven insight into the exclusions of craft work, critically exploring the limits of the quantitative capturing of craft making practices and of the biases of statistical data. But it further contends that to effect change requires not just that we identify the problem - it is important, too, to be on the look-out for the presence of possibility. It thus demonstrates how statistics also have the potential to make visible activity not immediately evident, especially to researchers working empirically from within their own often mostly white middle-class networks. In the Australian context, what the census data do reveal is the ongoing strength of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander visual arts, but not so much craft practice. With Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australians representing 3.3% of the total Australian population, that 9.17% of all Australians employed as Visual Artists identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is indeed significant – and worth looking to as a source of insights into how crafts practice can become more diverse and inclusive. This short article forms part of the special issue ‘Craft Economies and Inequalities’.
Quality of Life of Prostate Cancer Survivors Participating in a Remotely Delivered Web-Based Behavioral Intervention Pilot Randomized Trial
Authors: Langlais Crystal S. , Chen Yea-Hung , Van Blarigan Erin L. , Kenfield Stacey A. , Kessler Elizabeth R. , Daniel Kimi , Ramsdill Justin W. , Beer Tomasz M. , Graff Rebecca E. , Paich Kellie , Chan June M. , Winters-Stone Kerri M.
Published: April 2022

Background:

Following a prostate cancer (PC) diagnosis, treatment-related symptoms may result in diminished quality of life (QoL). Improved diet and increased exercise may improve QoL in men with PC.

Methods:

We conducted a 4-arm pilot randomized trial to assess feasibility and acceptability of a 3-month web-based diet and exercise intervention, among men (>18 years of age) with PC (reported elsewhere). The purpose of this study is to describe the change in QoL measured by surveys (eg, QLQ-C30, PROMIS Fatigue) at enrollment and following the intervention. Men were randomized 1:1:1:1 to increasing levels of web-based behavioral support: Level 1: website; Level 2: Level 1 plus personalized diet and exercise prescription; Level 3: Levels 1-2 plus Fitbit and text messages; Level 4: Levels 1-3 plus 2 30-minute coaching calls. T-tests were used to compare pre-post change in mean QoL scores between each Level and Level 1.

Results:

Two hundred and two men consented and were randomized (n = 49, 51, 50, 52 for Levels 1-4, respectively). Men were predominantly white (93%), with a median age of 70 years (Intra-quartile Range [IQR]: 65,75) and 3 years (IQR: 1,9) post primary treatment for mostly localized disease (74% with T1-2). There were no meaningful changes in QoL, but there were notable trends. Level 3 participants had small improvements in QLQ-C30 Global Health (5.46; 95% CI: −0.02, 10.95) compared to Level 1. In contrast, Level 2 participants trended toward decreasing Global QoL (−2.31, 95% CI: −8.05, 3.42), which may reflect declines in function (eg, Cognitive: −6.94, 95% CI: −13.76, −0.13) and higher symptom burden (eg, Diarrhea: 4.63, 95% CI: −1.48, 10.74).

Conclusions:

This short, web-based intervention did not appear to have an impact on PC survivors’ QoL. Most men were several years past treatment for localized disease; the potential for this approach to reduce symptoms and improve QoL in men who have worse health may still be warranted.
A game for the ages: Understanding and overcoming the relative age effect in Australian football
Authors: Barake Adrian J , Mitchell Heather , Stavros Constantino , Stewart Mark F
Published: April 2022

The Relative Age Effect (RAE) in sport refers to the over-representation of those born earlier in a defined age group. This discriminatory effect leads to market inefficiencies and can have profound impacts upon career pathways, dropout rates and the quality of sport. This research examines how this effect influences the recruitment and performance of a cohort of Australian footballers as they progress from junior competitions to the professional level. While the RAE results from bias influencing the selection process of junior pathways, we demonstrate that those who survive to the final stages of selection and were born later in their age groups actually emerge with an advantage (rather than the expected disadvantage). The selection of these younger players results from recruiters explicitly taking account of the RAE. When the performance of these advantaged players is assessed at the professional level, they perform relatively well, suggesting that the recruiters are expertly considering the consequences of the RAE; although their task would be considerably easier if they were not dealing with a legion of young footballers whose characteristics had already been heavily shaped by the RAE. We consider a range of implications of this effect and suggest policy measures to address it.
Subjective and objective assessment in skills evaluation: A cross-sectional study among critical care nurses
Authors: Alastalo Mika , Salminen Leena , Vahlberg Tero , Leino-Kilpi Helena
Published: April 2022

The evidence concerning patient observation skills among critical care nurses is scarce, and these skills have not been evaluated using both subjective and objective assessment. This study aimed to explore associations between self-assessment and knowledge test assessment of critical care nurses’ skills in patient observation, thus combining subjective and objective assessment. The data of this cross-sectional study among Finnish critical care nurses were collected using an instrument combining self-assessment and knowledge test assessment. The study was reported following the STROBE guidelines. Almost half of the critical care nurses responded ( n = 372, 49%). Only a weak positive correlation was found between the scores of assessment methods. This highlights the complex nature of skills evaluation. Self-assessment has limitations in reliability and accuracy, but it has potential in promoting nurses’ professional development. There is a need for developing and supporting self-assessment in clinical nursing practice.
Diversity as a Condition of Cultures: Querying Assumptions of Mainstream and Minorities in Education Policy and Curriculum
Authors: Saltmarsh Sue
Published: April 2022

Highlights

Discussions of diversity in relation to children's education are often characterized by binaries of same/different, mainstream/margins, inclusion/exclusion, self/Other. Curriculum remains a contested site in educational debate, with differing views about curriculum as reinforcing social norms, beliefs, and values, as addressing the learning and social needs of learners from a variety of backgrounds and worldviews, or as a hybrid of these. Policy and curriculum designed or intended to address diversity tend to rest on assumptions of majority or dominant cultures as homogenous and distinct from the cultures of minority Other/s. Inequality is often multidimensional, intersecting with, perpetuating, and reinforcing other inequalities and human rights violations affecting children and families. Understanding culture in terms of heterogenous practices of everyday life shifts the focus of discussion and debate toward more nuanced understandings of Otherness, difference and diversity as operating within, as well as between, cultures.
The Future of Value or the Value of the Future: Exploring New Horizons in Creating Value Through Futures Literacy
Authors: Calnan Martin
Published: April 2022

The present article is an opinion piece exploring how futures literacy can contribute to expanding the field of research on value creation and reducing the gap between the need to act and our ability/willingness to do so.

The question of value is at the heart of all the major challenges we face today, as is the role of finance. In this context, it is crucial to understand to what extent our ability to imagine and enact a future that goes beyond an incremental version of the past is limited by our current understanding of value and the role that finance plays in defining it.

Grounded in the fields of anticipatory systems thinking and futures studies, futures literacy is the capability to detect and invent, sense and make-sense of novelty. Developed under the auspices of UNESCO and through the concerted actions of a global network of dedicated Chairs, it is a field-tested approach to empower everyone to use the future more effectively to expand the scope of choice in the present.
The impact of a comprehensive national policy on improving acute stroke patient care in Lithuania
Authors: Masiliūnas Rytis , Vilionskis Aleksandras , Bornstein Natan M , Rastenytė Daiva , Jatužis Dalius
Published: April 2022

Introduction:

Reperfusion therapy (RT) is a mainstay treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to evaluate the impact of a comprehensive national policy (CNP) to improve access to RT for AIS patients across Lithuania.

Patients and methods:

Aggregated anonymized data on AIS cases treated in Lithuanian hospitals between 2006 and 2019 were retrospectively obtained from the Institute of Hygiene and the Stroke Integrated Care Management Committee. Through an interrupted time series analysis, we examined the trends in AIS hospital admissions, RT, and in-hospital case fatality rates prior to the enactment of CNP in 2014, changes immediately after the intervention, and differences in trends between the pre- and post-intervention periods. Mean yearly door-to-needle times were calculated post-intervention.

Results:

114,436 cases were treated for AIS in Lithuanian hospitals before, and 65,084 after the government intervention. We observed a significant decreasing post-intervention trend change in AIS hospital admission rate per 100,000 population (regression coefficient ± standard error: β = –16.47 ± 3.95, p = 0.002) and an increasing trend change in the proportion of AIS patients who received reperfusion treatment: intravenous thrombolysis (β = 1.42 ± 0.96, p < 0.001) and endovascular therapy (β = 0.85 ± 0.05, p < 0.001). The proportion of patients treated in stroke centers increased immediately after the intervention (β = 4.95 ± 1.14, p = 0.001), but the long-term post-intervention trend did not change. In addition, there was a significant decreasing trend in all cause in-hospital case fatality rate within primary and comprehensive stroke centers after the intervention (β = –0.60 ± 0.18, p = 0.008) despite its prompt initial immediate increase (β = 1.68 ± 0.73, p = 0.043). The mean countrywide door-to-needle time decreased from 68 min in 2014 to 43 min in 2019.

Conclusion:

The comprehensive national stroke patient care policy could be associated with an immediate increase in stroke center treatment rate, increased access to RT, and improved stroke care performance measures.
Sepsis due to Sphingomonas Paucimobilis in a Polytrauma Patient
Authors: Devi Arya S. , T. Ramani Bai J. , Jitendranath Ashish , Viswamohanan Ivy , Krishna Ganga Raju
Published: April 2022

Sphingomonas paucimobilis is a yellow-pigmented, aerobic, glucose nonfermenting, Gram-negative bacillus, causing a rare human infection normally associated with immunocompromised host. A 47-year-old male, known diabetic and hypertensive on treatment, with a history of trauma, underwent surgical intervention and developed fever postoperatively. A positive growth was detected on BACT/ALERT 3D. Blood culture smear shows Gram-negative bacilli which was identified as S. paucimobilis.
Zanubrutinib monotherapy in relapsed/refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Phillips Tycel , Chan Henry , Tam Constantine S. , Tedeschi Alessandra , Johnston Patrick , Oh Sung Yong , Opat Stephen , Eom Hyeon-Seok , Allewelt Heather , Stern Jennifer C. , Tan Ziwen , Novotny William , Huang Jane , Trotman Judith
Published: April 2022

Outcomes for marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) remain suboptimal, owing to the limited number of approved agents and the incurable nature of the diseases. BGB-3111-AU-003 was a phase 1/2, open-label, multicenter, single-agent study of the selective Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor zanubrutinib in 385 patients with B-cell malignancies. Here, we present safety and efficacy outcomes for the 53 enrolled patients with relapsed/refractory MZL (n = 20) and relapsed/refractory FL (n = 33), all of whom were enrolled during the part 2 dose expansion, and therefore received zanubrutinib at the recommended phase 2 dose. Treatment with zanubrutinib was generally well tolerated, with most adverse events being ≤ grade 2. Atrial fibrillation/flutter was not reported. Two patients required dose reduction, and 4 patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events. Response was assessed by an independent review committee for MZL and the investigators for FL, per Lugano 2014 classification for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In patients with MZL, the overall response rate (ORR) was 80%, and the complete response (CR) rate was 20%. With median follow-up of 33.8 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached. In patients with FL, the ORR was 36.4%, and the CR rate was 18.2%. After a median follow-up of 33.9 months, median PFS was 10.4 months. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest a favorable benefit–risk profile and support zanubrutinib as a potentially meaningful addition to available therapies for patients with relapsed/refractory MZL and FL. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02343120.
Blocking human protein C anticoagulant activity improves clotting defects of hemophilia mice expressing human protein C
Authors: Jiang Miao , Yang Fei , Jiang Yizhi , Cheng Lu , Han Jingjing , Yi Jiawei , Zhang Guige , Ma Zhenni , Cao Lijuan , Zuo Bin , Zhou Lixia , Huang Lulu , Niu Siying , Xia Zhisong , Zhou Xuefeng , Bai Xia , Esmon Naomi L. , Ruan Changgeng , Xia Lijun , Han Yue , Esmon Charles T. , Wu Depei , Xu Jun
Published: April 2022

Hemophilia A and B are hereditary coagulation defects resulting in unstable blood clotting and recurrent bleeding. Current factor replacement therapies have major limitations such as the short half-life of the factors and development of inhibitors. Alternative approaches to rebalance the hemostasis by inhibiting the anticoagulant pathways have recently gained considerable interest. In this study, we tested the therapeutic potential of a monoclonal antibody, HAPC1573, that selectively blocks the anticoagulant activity of human activated protein C (APC). We generated F8−/− or F9−/− hemophilia mice expressing human protein C by genetically replacing the murine Proc gene with the human PROC. The resulting PROC+/+;F8−/− or PROC+/+;F9−/− mice had bleeding characteristics similar to their corresponding F8−/− or F9−/− mice. Pretreating the PROC+/+;F8−/− mice with HAPC1573 shortened the tail bleeding time. HAPC1573 pretreatment significantly reduced mortality and alleviated joint swelling, similar to those treated with either FVIII or FIX, of either PROC+/+;F8−/− or PROC+/+;F9−/− mice in a needle puncture–induced knee-joint bleeding model. Additionally, we found that HAPC1573 significantly improved the thrombin generation of PROC+/+;F8−/− mice but not F8−/− mice, indicating that HAPC1573 enhanced the coagulant activity of hemophilia mice by modulating human APC in vivo. We further documented that HAPC1573 inhibited the APC anticoagulant activity to improve the clotting time of human plasma deficient of FVIII, FIX, FXI, FVII, VWF, FV, or FX. These results demonstrate that selectively blocking the anticoagulant activity of human APC may be an effective therapeutic and/or prophylactic approach for bleeding disorders lacking FVIII, FIX, or other clotting factors.
MGUS and clonal hematopoiesis show unrelated clinical and biological trajectories in an older population cohort
Authors: Da Vià Matteo Claudio , Lionetti Marta , Marella Alessio , Matera Antonio , Travaglino Erica , Signaroldi Elena , Galbussera Alessia Antonella , Lucca Ugo , Mandelli Sara , Riva Emma , Tettamanti Mauro , Pettine Loredana , Pompa Alessandra , Baldini Luca , Neri Antonino , Della Porta Matteo Giovanni , Bolli Niccolò
Published: April 2022

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and clonal hematopoiesis (CH) are 2 preclinical clonal expansions of hematopoietic cells whose prevalence rises with age, reaching almost 10% in people of aged 70 years and older. The increased risk of myeloid malignancies in patients with myeloma is well defined, and the study of the association between CH and MGUS could help explain this phenomenon. Here, we analyzed a fully clinically annotated dataset of 777 older subjects (median age, 91 years) previously screened for prevalence of CH. The prevalence of MGUS and CH was 9.6% and 17.3%, respectively. We detected CH in 9.7% of the patients with MGUS and MGUS in 5.5% of the patients with CH. We did not find a significant correlation between the presence of MGUS and CH. Furthermore, the 2 conditions showed a differential association with clinical and laboratory covariates, suggesting that MGUS and CH may represent age-associated unrelated clonal drifts of hematopoietic cells. Confirmatory studies are needed to assess the relevance of CH in plasma cell disorders. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03907553.