bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influencing factor on shear strength and failure mechanisms of glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars
Authors: Xiong Zhongming , Zhou Peng , Xu Fen , Chen Xuan
Published: June 2024

This paper presents an experimental study that discussed the influence of fiber ratio, resin type, and different rib forms on the shear strength and failure mechanism of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. Shear testing can be considered for material quality, structural design, and safety in use purposes. Test results reveal that the shear strength of epoxy resin and fiber winding rib GFRP bars are 10–15% and 6–10% higher than vinyl resin and extruded rib GFRP bars, respectively. The sensitivity variance was 0.12 for resin type and 9.67 for rib form. Higher uncertainty in the effect of rib form on the strength of GFRP bars. Within a certain range of difference (7%) of fiber ratio, the influence of fibers on strength is found to be insignificant, while a stronger correlation is observed between rib form and resin type. Rib influence coefficient ( α) and resin influence coefficient ( β) were further proposed to accurately predict the shear strength of GFRP bars. The main objective of this work is to propose computational methods for predicting the strength of GFRP bars by analyzing the sensitivity of material parameters that affect the uncertainty of GFRP bar strength.
Subjective Aging and Basic Activities of Daily Living: Moderation by Health Care Access and Mediation by Health Care Resources
Authors: Imoh Udoh Idorenyin , Mpofu Elias , Prybutok Gayle , Ingman Stan
Published: June 2024

Subjective aging in older adults is associated with a decline in basic activities of daily living (bADL), although this is less well studied with increasing age cohorts by their healthcare resources (HCR) and healthcare access (HCA) controlling for sociodemographics. We aimed to address this gap in knowledge by analyzing the National Health and Aging Trends round 11 data set on 3303 older adults aged 70 to above 90, comprising 42% male and 58% female by age cohort (middle-old -70–79, n = 1409; older-old -80–89, n = 1432, oldest-old- 90 plus, n = 462). Results of mediation–moderation analysis show the subjective aging whole model comprising subjective cognitive decline, HCR, HCA, and sociodemographic to predict a decline in bADL with increasing age to be higher among the older-old age (80–89) compared to the middle-old age (70–79) or oldest-old (90 years +) cohorts. These findings suggest a “doughnut” effect by which the older-old age cohort of 80–89 may be coping less well with their bADL, while the oldest-old may have adapted to functional loss in their everyday living and/or comprises adults who may have passed a mortality selection despite a more significant burden of comorbidity.
Examining opinion journalism in the United Arab Emirates national press: A comparative analysis
Authors: Tahat Khalaf , Mansoori Ahmed , Tahat Dina , Habes Mohammed
Published: June 2024

This study provides a comprehensive examination of the primary characteristics of opinion journalism within two prominent newspapers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Utilizing a content analysis approach, a systematic random sample comprising 560 opinion articles published in 2022 was analyzed from these two printed newspapers in the UAE. The findings unveiled a predominance of male columnists (87%) and a predominant focus on international issues (67%) within opinion journalism featured in the leading UAE newspapers. Interpretation emerged as the primary goal (37%), with political topics ranking highest on the agenda (37%). Noteworthy differences were observed between the newspapers at the individual level, with nearly half of Al-Ittihad’s columnists being local, while The National’s writers exhibited a more international profile. Moreover, issues pertinent to the Emirates garnered less attention in The National compared with Al-Ittihad. In addition, while The National prioritized interpretation, Al-Ittihad leaned toward providing information. Furthermore, The National predominantly addressed political and conflict issues, whereas Al-Ittihad focused on political and social issues. The study’s implications and limitations are deliberated upon in further detail.
Academic hospitals in the Toronto region collaborate to optimize occupational health and safety
Authors: Aftab Anum , Dus Tamara , Aiken Christopher , Gladstone Arlene , Morgan Wendy , Tomiczek Nicholas , Alexander Laura
Published: June 2024

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 cases began to rise in Ontario, Canada, the central role of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) to ensure the well-being of hospital workforce became highly visible. While Ontario’s hospitals concentrated efforts to meet each challenging and uncertain wave stressing the system, it was apparent that there is a lack of consistency in best practices and policy response across the healthcare sector. Additionally, the unprecedented pressure on healthcare workforce as they attempted to meet the pandemic’s new surging demands resulted in workforce shortages and increased levels of burnout, making it difficult to engage, support, and retain the staff necessary for delivering highest quality of services. The Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN), a dynamic consortium of 14 healthcare organizations, established a collaborative to implement an integrated effort and align on structure, processes, and standards that will increase strength and defensibility of TAHSN programs. To foster community building, identify areas of common concern, and co-create practices during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, a structured network of 14 OHS directors across the healthcare organizations was established. This article discusses the origin of the TAHSN collaborative, the thriving community vision for partnership, and the case study methodology used to combine capabilities to showcase innovation and excellence in care together.
English Translation of the Breastfeeding Knowledge Survey for Pediatricians
Authors: Menéndez Orenga Miguel , Porter Daniel , Gómez Fernández-Vegue Marta
Published: June 2024

Pediatricians need to be knowledgeable to adequately carry out their role in the support of breastfeeding, so assessing their knowledge of breastfeeding is vitally important. There are not English language validated questionnaires for pediatricians in the literature; however, in Spanish and Portuguese, there is the Breastfeeding Knowledge Survey (ECoLa, derived from Encuesta de Conocimientos en Lactancia). Our goal is to translate the ECoLa into English. The original survey consisted of true/false questions, including one with an image of a breastfeeding baby, multiple-choice questions featuring clinical cases, and two open-ended short questions. We used a translation approach that incorporated both forward and backward translations and a multidisciplinary committee to evaluate the translation process. During translation, four Spanish versions and seven English versions were considered prior to consensus approval of the final survey. The intraclass correlation coefficient between the English questionnaire and the original Spanish version was 0.85 (95% CI [0.60, 0.95]). A sample of 51 participants completed the survey, resulting in a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.78 for the English version (95% CI [0.70, 0.86]). The Breastfeeding Knowledge Survey is now accessible under a Creative Commons license, permitting its free re-use.
The Career Trajectories and Outcomes in Substance Use Recovery: A Scoping Review
Authors: Maynes Teresa D. , Grant Elise K.
Published: June 2024

This scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of the reported trajectories and outcomes of individuals in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). Database searches of PsycINFO, Medline, and ERIC were conducted, resulting in 33 relevant studies. Thematic analysis was used to identify the themes that emerged in the literature. The key themes that emerged from the studies fell under two main categories: trajectories (the role of work, characteristics of working in recovery, and education and aspirations) and outcomes (employment status and long-term recovery and career success). The results of this scoping review offer several suggestions for the career trajectories and outcomes implicated in substance use recovery and career development concepts and theory applicable to the needs of this population; this also includes the need to continuously support clients who are in recovery with their career development.
Management of anaemia and prognosis of patients undergoing maintenance peritoneal dialysis: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Imaizumi Takahiro , Hasegawa Takeshi , Kosugi Takaaki , Nishiwaki Hiroki , Honda Hirokazu , Tsuruya Kazuhiko , Ito Yasuhiko , Kuragano Takahiro
Published: June 2024

Background:

Clinical data supporting the target haemoglobin range in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are scarce. This study investigated the association between haemoglobin levels and all-cause mortality in Japanese patients undergoing PD using data from a nationwide dialysis registry.

Methods:

A total of 4875 patients aged ≥18 years who were undergoing PD at the end of 2012 were analysed. Patients receiving combination therapy with haemodialysis or missing haemoglobin data were excluded. Haemoglobin values were categorised into six groups (<9.0, 9.0–9.9, 10.0–10.9, 11.0–11.9, 12.0–12.9 and ≥13.0 g/dL) and their association with mortality evaluated.

Results:

Patients’ mean age was 63 years, and 62% were men. The mean haemoglobin level was 10.7 g/dL, and 14% were anuric. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents were used in 89%. During a median follow-up of 3.5 years, 1586 patients died. Haemoglobin levels <9.0 and ≥13.0 g/dL were significantly associated with mortality, as compared with levels of 10.0–10.9 g/dL (adjusted hazard ratios [95% confidence intervals]: 1.25 [1.06–1.48] and 1.45 [1.13–1.88], respectively). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a U-shaped association between haemoglobin levels and mortality. A haemoglobin level ≥12 g/dL was associated with mortality in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease ( p interaction = 0.023).

Conclusion:

We provide important insights into the target haemoglobin in patients undergoing PD. Our findings suggest that setting a lower upper limit for haemoglobin levels may be beneficial for patients with a history of cardiovascular disease.
Just War as a Theory, Just Peace as a Virtue
Authors: Cahill Lisa Sowle
Published: June 2024

Pope Francis both grants the right to use armed force in self-defense and regards all war as ‘a defeat for humanity’. This seeming paradox can be explained by the fact that what is a theoretically just use of force (according to the criteria of just war theory) inevitably results in unjust violence when carried out in practice. The undertaking, processes and practices of war are highly susceptible to what Augustine called the libido dominandi. The theory of just war is carried forward in institutions of actual war-making that foster escalation, discourage restraint, and adapt the theory itself to accommodate increasing violence. ‘Just war’ fails to embody the social and institutional virtue of justice. Thus, as Pope Francis exhorts, the Christian ethics of war and peace should prioritize the theory of just peace and the cultivation of peacebuilding dispositions, practices, and institutions. These strategies favor justice, but success is not guaranteed.
An investigation on bending fatigue in a corrosive environment of dual-phase 1000 sheet steel RSW joints and damage model via experiment and numeric analysis
Authors: Göktaş Mustafa , Demir Bilge , Elitas Muhammed
Published: June 2024

Fatigue, corrosion, and fatigue damage models are best addressed to improve and understand the service performance of materials, particularly automotive steel. This study is an attempt to experimentally and finite element investigates plain bending fatigue performance and damage model of DP 1000 sheet steel resistance spot welding (RSW) joints in 3% NaCl aqueous corrosive treatment. RSW applications were carried out using different weld currents. The joint samples were then subjected to optical image analysis, tensile shear, and fatigue tests (3% NaCl-aqueous and normal atmosphere). A proper damage model of RSW junctions was developed and corrected by numeric analysis. Besides, RSW nugget formation, tensile shear, and plain bending fatigue tests were also applied. Consequence, fatigue behavior, tensile load carrying capacity, and effective fracture behavior of resistance spot welded joint specimens were evaluated. Results showed that a corrosive environment negatively affected fatigue performance. With the developed model, it was observed that the fatigue life of the samples decreased by 30–35% in the fatigue tests performed in the corrosive environment. Experimental and numerical analysis results of plain bending were compatible.
Numerical study of electroconductive non-Newtonian hybrid nanofluid flow from a stretching rotating disk with a Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model
Authors: Shamshuddin MD. , Salawu S.O. , Anwar Bég O. , Usman  , Bég Tasveer A. , Kuharat S.
Published: June 2024

Motivated by emerging technologies in smart functional nanopolymeric coating systems in pharmaceutical and robotics applications, the convective heat transfer characteristics in swirl coating with a magnetic hybrid power-law rheological nanofluid polymer on a radially stretching rotating disk are examined theoretically. An axial magnetic field is imposed. Copper (Cu) and aluminium alloy (AA7075) nanoparticles with sodium alginate (C6H9NaO7) as a base fluid are considered, and a hybrid volume fraction model is deployed. A non-Fourier (Cattaneo–Christov) heat flux model is deployed to inspire thermal relaxation impacts absent in the classical Fourier heat conduction formulation. Through similarity proxies and the Von Karman transformations, the partial derivative systems of equations with associated boundary constraints are reduced to a system of derivative boundary value problems, which is solved numerically via the weighted residual method with an integral Galerkin scheme, executed in the MAPLE symbolic software. Validation with special cases from articles is captured. The computations revealed that radial, tangential and axial velocity are depleted, whereas temperature is enhanced with increasing magnetic parameter ( M). High thermal transfers are obtained for the hybrid nanofluid relative to the AA7075 alloy nanofluid. A strong increment in temperature is also produced with a greater thermal relaxation effect.
Unsupervised anomalous sound detection method based on Gammatone spectrogram and adversarial autoencoder with attention mechanism
Authors: Yan Hao , Zhan Xianbiao , Wu Zhenghao , Cheng Junkai , Wen Liang , Jia Xisheng
Published: June 2024

Anomalous sound detection (ASD) is an important technology in the fourth industrial revolution, which can monitor the abnormal state of machine by identifying whether the sound of the machine is normal or not. However, in practical applications where there are few anomalous sound samples from machines, achieving effective ASD is still a challenge. In this paper, an unsupervised ASD algorithm based on adversarial autoencoder with attention mechanism is proposed. Different from the traditional reconstruction-based ASD model, in order to make the features learned by the model more representative, complex sound timing signals are converted into Gammatone spectrogram with richer features through filtering. Then the spectrogram is used as the input of the convolutional autoencoder. At the same time, the attention mechanism is introduced in the encoder to enhance adaptive learning of the normal patterns. Then the discriminator is used in the generative adversarial network to perform adversarial learning with the improved convolutional autoencoder to improve the reconstruction ability of the model for normal samples. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms commonly used industry methods for anomaly detection and exhibits advantages over other deep learning approaches in terms of system complexity.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-assisted mechanistic study: pH-driven compressive strength and setting time behavior in geopolymer concrete
Authors: Haq Md. Zia Ul , Sood Hemant , Kumar Rajesh
Published: June 2024

This research study investigates the influence of pH on the setting time, compressive strength (CS), and surface roughness of different waste materials, namely fly ash, rice husk ash (RHA), red mud, and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS). The average pH values for these waste materials were found to be 8.77, 9.3, 8.3, and 11, respectively. The initial setting time (IST) and final setting time (FST) varied among the materials, with red mud having maximum IST and FST with a value of 180 min and 24 h. CS (MPa) measurements revealed that GGBS exhibited the highest value of 36 MPa, followed by RHA (28 MPa), red mud (22 MPa), and fly ash (24 MPa). Surface roughness analysis showed that red mud had the highest roughness value of 69.71, followed by fly ash (62.81), RHA (53.14), and GGBS (49.08). The findings indicate a positive correlation between pH levels and CS of 97%, and setting time surface roughness has a negative correlation with CS when analyzed with a heatmap. Higher pH values were associated with increased CS, particularly after 28 days of curing which is shown by the heatmap and sub-plots. Additionally, microscopic analysis provided insights into particle size, orientation, and clustering, aiding in understanding the bonding and reactivity patterns contributing to the observed variations in CS.
Constructing a predicting model for ecological footprint in G20 countries through artificial neural network
Authors: Roumiani Ahmad , Shakarami Kiyan , Arian Abdul Basir
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this research is to build an estimated model for the ecological footprint (EF) in the G20 countries in the period of 1999–2018, the last two decades. These countries have faced extensive EF changes and developments. This aim, indices (The Global Footprint Network and World Bank) has been used. Artificial neural network (ANN) models have been used for data analysis and index fitting. The findings of this research showed that the EF has been increasing in China with an average of (16.37), France (14.58), Brazil (9.37), and the United States (3.66). Root mean square error value in the first model (0.140), in the second model (0.0275), in the third model (0.0275) in the fourth model, is equal to (0.0608) and in the fifth model it is equal (0.11484). Therefore, the accuracy of EF prediction in neural network models 2 and 4 is 97.5% and 97.5%, respectively. Also, we believe that in better management of the EF, the use the ANN can be efficient and effective in forecasting the G20 countries. This study can provide two important contributions to the managers of this country in examining the environmental degradation of the G20 countries. First, the use of ANN is one of the methods of artificial intelligence that has a very high and acceptable accuracy in selecting research variables. Second, we used ANN models to solve the problem of prediction accuracy and selection of effective variables.
Evaluation of health literacy and its association with medication adherence and quality of life in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Vater McKenzie , Davis Alaina , Jaser Sarah
Published: June 2024

Objective

Little is known about health literacy in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and how health literacy relates to medication adherence and psychosocial outcomes in this high-risk population. The objective of this study was to evaluate health literacy in adolescents and young adults with cSLE and its association with medication adherence and quality of life.

Methods

Youth 10–24 years with cSLE ( n = 48) completed the Brief Healthy Literacy Screen (BHLS) and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) to assess health literacy. Participants also completed validated measures of medication adherence and quality of life. Descriptive analyses were used to determine levels of health literacy. Bivariate correlations were used to evaluate associations between measures of health literacy with adherence and quality of life. A multivariable regression analyses was used to determine if health literacy was a significant predictor of adherence or quality of life, after adjusting for age, sex, race, and household income.

Results

Inadequate health literacy was common in this population, with 67% of youth categorized as having inadequate health literacy by the BHLS and 42% by the NVS. Higher medication adherence was associated with a higher BHLS score (r=.36, p = .017). BHLS was also significantly associated with better quality of life (r = 0.31, p = .034).

Conclusion

Inadequate health literacy is prevalent among youth with cSLE. Higher health literacy is associated with higher medication adherence and better quality of life, suggesting that attention to health literacy could improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Habits, Goals, and Effective Behavior Change
Authors: Wood Wendy
Published: June 2024

Why do we act on habit even when we intend to do something else? The answer lies in habit memories, or context-response associations, that form when people repeat rewarding actions in stable contexts. Although habits can form as people pursue goals, once habits develop, the perception of the context directly activates the response in mind. Because habit activation does not depend strongly on motivation, changing intentions has limited impact on habit memory. Instead, successful habit-change interventions directly impact the behavior itself: Along with classic behavior therapy interventions, habits change with (a) reward systems that form new habits, (b) disruption of context cues to forestall activation of the habit in mind, and (c) friction that makes the habitual response difficult and alternatives easier. Despite the strong evidence that habits are activated by contexts, people tend to believe that their own habits are a product of goal pursuit. This subjective reality might also explain why some researchers continue to maintain that habit performance depends on goals.
Toward the Science of Engagement With Digital Interventions
Authors: Nahum-Shani Inbal , Yoon Carolyn
Published: June 2024

Digital technologies, such as mobile devices and wearable sensors, are ingrained in daily life, making them a promising vehicle for delivering health behavior interventions. However, a critical challenge that undermines the utility of digital interventions is the suboptimal engagement of participants, where participant engagement is defined as the investment of physical, cognitive, and affective energies in a focal stimulus or task. Research aiming to understand how to increase engagement with digital interventions has grown substantially in recent years. This article highlights several limitations of the existing evidence that restrict its scientific and practical utility and discusses opportunities for advancing the science of engagement with digital interventions. Synthesizing the current body of evidence, we call for conceptualizing digital interventions as a collection of stimuli (e.g., notifications, reminders) and tasks (e.g., open the mobile app, practice a relaxation technique) and considering engagement with digital interventions as a process rather than a state (i.e., momentary conditions/experiences) or trait (i.e., a relatively stable disposition). This approach has the potential to enhance scientific rigor and transparency in measuring, reporting, and interpreting engagement with digital interventions that would ultimately serve to bolster progress toward developing strategies for optimizing engagement.
AI Adoption in Jordanian SMEs: The Influence of Technological and Organizational Orientations
Authors: Almashawreh Ra’ed , Talukder Majharul , Charath Sarvjeet Kaur , Khan Md Irfanuzzaman
Published: June 2024

This study examines the factors influencing the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Jordan, a key player in the growing Middle Eastern economy. Rooted in the Technology–Organization–Environment framework, we specifically focus on the role of technological capabilities and organizational dynamics in shaping AI adoption within Jordanian SMEs. A comprehensive survey involving 364 SME owner-managers in Jordan serves as the empirical foundation. Findings reveal the significant impact of employee IT knowledge, IT infrastructure, managerial commitment, training initiatives and well-designed reward systems in shaping SME owners’ or managers’ attitudes to AI. These findings provide valuable insights for SME leaders and stakeholders, guiding them in developing strategies to smoothly integrate AI technologies in line with Jordan’s societal needs. The article concludes by emphasizing the study’s contributions, implications and limitations while suggesting potential directions for future research in this field.
Family Versus External Block Holders’ Ownership and Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from India
Authors: Chahal Himani
Published: June 2024

This article studies the non-linear relation between family ownership and firm performance (FP) in the Indian context by taking firms listed on NSE 500. The sample firms are investigated for 11 years, 2011–2021. The article also tries to study the impact of various categories of external block holders on the performance of Indian family firms due to their capacity to pressure management and monitor their actions. The study results show a U-shaped relation between family ownership and Indian family firms’ performance, as depicted by ROA and TQ. The findings further suggest that two prominent kinds of outside block holders that have been observed to be related to greater performance in family firms are government and foreign institutional shareholders. Thus, it can be assumed that these external block holders’ greater monitoring ability is linked with reduced agency costs and increased FP. The study is unique in finding out the influence of the ownership and governance mechanisms in the sample of Indian family firms on their performance.
Synovial myxoma or myxosarcoma? Lymph node metastasis in 2 dogs
Authors: Glahn Imaine , Donovan Taryn A. , Bertram Christof A.
Published: June 2024

Synovial myxoma, a rare joint tumor in dogs, has traditionally been considered benign, acknowledging that local invasion into regional tissues including bone may be present. Given the diagnostic challenges in distinguishing synovial myxoma from other joint lesions through clinical features and diagnostic imaging, definitive diagnosis relies on characteristic gross and histologic features. Within the inner surface of the joint capsule, synovial myxomas form nodules of stellate-to-spindle cells within abundant myxomatous matrix. We present here 2 cases of synovial myxoma with metastasis to regional lymph nodes and compare these 2 cases to 3 cases without evidence of lymph node metastasis. Aside from lymphovascular invasion in one case with metastasis, there were no overt histologic features of the primary tumor to suggest aggressive biologic behavior. The finding of lymph node metastasis warrants reconsideration of the term “synovial myxoma” for this neoplasm. We suggest the term “synovial myxosarcoma,” considering that histologic features of the primary tumor do not predict biologic behavior. Our case series highlights the importance of lymph node sampling in suspected synovial myxosarcoma cases as well as thorough histologic examination, emphasizing careful evaluation for lymphovascular invasion.
A Scoping Review to Contribute to Knowledge About Culturally Adapting Interventions for Latino Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia
Authors: Neidre Daria B. , Delgado Roxana E. , Peacock Kimberly S. , Luy Luis P. , White Carole L.
Published: June 2024

Introduction:

Few interventions have focused on Latino family caregivers to persons with dementia, addressing their unique needs. This review aimed to identify best practices in cultural adaptation to make recommendations for adapting interventions for Latino family caregivers of persons living with dementia.

Method:

This scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review guidelines, with findings extracted and summarized from 17 studies addressing cultural adaptation.

Results:

Frameworks guiding the adaptations were comprehensive, addressing cultural values and traditions and the social context faced by Latino family caregivers. Features of the adaptations included diverse teams of researchers and community members, including Latino family caregivers, to inform the integration of cultural values into the content, mode, and place of intervention delivery.

Discussion:

Culturally adapting evidence-based interventions will increase the number of available interventions for Latino family caregivers to persons living with dementia, thus reducing inequities in caregiver support.
A Qualitative Study of Physicians’ Views on the Reuse of Electronic Health Record Data for Secondary Analysis
Authors: Goldstein Neal D.
Published: June 2024

Electronic health records (EHRs) have become ubiquitous in clinical practice. Given the rich biomedical data captured for a large panel of patients, secondary analysis of these data for health research is also commonplace. Yet, there are many caveats to EHR data that the researchers must be aware of, such as the accuracy of and motive for documentation, and the reason for patients’ visits to the clinic. The clinician—the author of the documentation—is thus central to the correct interpretation of EHR data for research purposes. In this study, I interviewed 11 physicians in various clinical specialties to bring attention to their view on the validity of research using EHR data. Qualitative, in-depth, one-on-one interviews were conducted with practicing physicians in inpatient and outpatient medicine. Content analysis using a data-driven, inductive approach to identify themes related to challenges and opportunities in the reuse of EHR data for secondary analysis generated seven themes. Themes that reflected challenges of EHRs for research included (1) audience, (2) accuracy of data, (3) availability of data, (4) documentation practices, and (5) representativeness. Themes that reflected opportunities of EHRs for research included (6) endorsement and (7) enablers. The greatest perceived barriers reflected the intended audience of the EHR, the interpretation and meaning of the data, and the quality of the data for research purposes. Physicians generally expressed more perceived challenges than opportunities in the reuse of EHR data for research purposes; however, they remained optimistic.
Boosting Firm Environmental Performance: The Roles of Top Management Team Functional Diversity, Environmental Disclosures, and Government Subsidy
Authors: Wang Huatian , Rispens Sonja , Demerouti Evangelia
Published: June 2024

Contemporary organizations are actively striving to achieve a higher level of environmental performance (the extent to which the organization reduces and minimizes its negative impact on the natural environment). This pursuit is not only driven by the need to comply with governmental climate change regulations but also by the desire to gain a competitive advantage. While a limited number of studies have acknowledged the importance of top executives’ strategy-making on firms’ environmental performance, questions still persist regarding how the role structure of the top management team (TMT) promotes the disclosure of environmental policies, and subsequently enhances firm environmental performance. Based on the attention-based view and resource-dependency perspective, this study aims to examine how TMT functional diversity is beneficial for formulating better environmental disclosures, which in turn, is expected to increase environmental performance. Additionally, we explore the extent to which external resources (i.e., government subsidies) can strengthen this relationship. We employed an archival dataset from 406 Chinese manufacturing firms over a ten-year period (2010–2019) and tested a moderated mediation model. Our findings suggest that greater functional diversity within TMTs positively influences firm environmental performance through the improved environmental disclosures, and this indirect effect is amplified when firms receive higher levels of government subsidies. Our study contributes to the existing literature on environmental governance by demonstrating that (1) functional diversity within the TMT can predict more favorable environmental performance metrics; and (2) government financial support can particularly be a booster for the relationship between TMT environmental disclosures and firm environmental performance.
MARRIAGE: A Randomized Trial of Moxonidine Versus Ramipril or in Combination With Ramipril in Overweight Patients With Hypertension and Impaired Fasting Glucose or Diabetes Mellitus. Impact on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Metabolic Parameters
Authors: Valensi Paul , Jambart Selim
Published: June 2024

Background

Moxonidine, an imidazoline I1 receptor agonist, is an effective antihypertensive drug that was shown to improve insulin sensitivity. RAAS-blockers are recommended as first-line therapy in patients with diabetes, alone or in combination with a calcium-channel antagonist or a diuretic.

Aims

This study compared the effects of moxonidine and ramipril on blood pressure (BP) and glucose metabolism in overweight patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension and impaired fasting glucose or type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Treatment-naïve patients for hypertension and dysglycemia were randomized to 12 weeks of double-blind moxonidine 0.4 mg or ramipril 5 mg once-daily treatment. At 12 weeks, for a further 12 weeks non-responders received combination of mox/ram, while responders continued blinded treatment.

Results

Moxonidine and ramipril were equivalent in lowering SiDBP and SiSBP at the end of the first 12 weeks. The responder rate was approximately 50% in both groups, with a mean SiDBP and SiSBP decrease of 10 and 15 mm Hg in the responders, respectively. The normalization rate (SiDBP < 85 mm Hg) was non significantly different between treatments groups. Moxonidine reduced heart rate (HR) (average −3.5 bpm, p = 0.017) during monotherapy, and when added to ramipril. HbA1c decreased significantly at Week 12 in both groups. Neither drug affected glucose or insulin response to the oral glucose tolerance test. In non-responders, moxonidine/ramipril combination further reduced BP without compromising metabolic parameters.

Conclusion

Moxonidine 0.4 mg and ramipril 5 mg were equally effective on BP lowering and were well tolerated and mostly metabolically neutral either as monotherapies or in combination. HR was lowered on moxonidine treatment.
Who Are the Science Audiences? A Typology Study on Digital Scientific Audiences: Persona, Performance, and Public
Authors: Deng Quan
Published: June 2024

This study uses a quantitative research approach to investigate public engagement regarding online science communication from the perspectives of digital scientific story audiences ( n = 240). It explores their frequency of engagement, preferred aspects of scientific news and communication channels, and their community regarding scientific literacy, together with their willingness to engage online. It attempts to provide theoretical explanations of the similarities and differences among science audiences’ behaviors and explore the role of the community in influencing public engagement with online science. The data suggest the emergence of four audience types; this diversity of audience types gives a more comprehensive understanding of the public’s social needs and preferences with science.
Being Flamingos and Trees: Marginalized Groups Respond to Landscapes Using Inclusive Multimodal Literacies and Arts
Authors: Satchwell Candice
Published: June 2024

In research about landscapes and the environment, scientific ontologies and epistemologies prevail, thus largely excluding contributions from marginalized groups, or creative expressions of what spaces mean to people. This article draws on qualitative place-based arts workshops, which used multimodal and multisensory methods with deaf children and disabled adults. The resulting co-created texts and artworks represent meaningful responses to specific local landscapes and their natural inhabitants. Considering literacies, power, and who can or cannot be an author, this article argues that such processes of creative co-production could be viewed as means of overcoming marginalization and enabling disabled people to engage with local landscapes. Inclusive literacy practices are presented as ways in to “authoring” marginalized groups’ responses to natural environments, with potentially transformative outcomes for the participants, decision-making processes, and the land itself.
Towards a Genealogy of Young People in Conflict with the Law in the Chilean Social Sciences, 1980–2010
Authors: Hernández Mauricio Carreño
Published: June 2024

This article explores Chilean social science discourses on youth in conflict with the law between 1980 and 2010. Through a scoping review of academic and scientific writings and articles in the social sciences about young people in conflict with the law, the manuscript describes three figures or semantic configurations referring to young people in conflict with the law: (i) anomic youth, (ii) psychosocially harmed youth and (iii) young people at criminal risk. The analysis of these three configurations highlights a shift from a pathological and deficit-based consideration of youth in conflict with the law towards a perspective that seeks to anticipate juvenile crime as a possible future. This forward-looking orientation corresponds to the scarcity of sociological output on youth issues and, in turn, to the rise of psycho-neuro disciplines and technologies as expert discourses on the subject.
Tobacco Use and Associated Factors Among Men in Tanzania: Further Analysis of the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey Data
Authors: Mbotwa Christopher Hariri , Rweyemamu Linus Paul
Published: June 2024

Background: Tobacco use is a significant public health challenge, contributing to preventable diseases and premature deaths globally. We aimed to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and associated factors among men in Tanzania.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey. The study population comprised men aged 15-49 years. Weighted logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with tobacco use.

Results: A total of 5763 men with a mean age of 28.6 ± 10 years were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of tobacco use was 11.1%, with 95% of users consuming smoked products, 17.1% using smokeless products, and 12.1% using both smoked and smokeless products. Older age was associated with increased odds of tobacco use, with odds of tobacco use increasing with each higher age group. Similarly, alcohol consumption was associated with greater odds of tobacco use. On the other hand, having a secondary education or higher, lack of occupation, being the head of the household, and owning a mobile telephone were associated with lower odds of tobacco use. Geographically, men from the Eastern zone and Zanzibar exhibited greater odds of tobacco use, while those from the Southern highlands zone had lower odds.

Conclusion: This study revealed a significant prevalence of tobacco use among Tanzanian men and was associated with different individual, interpersonal, and community factors. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions considering age-specific risk factors and geographical variations.
Long-term, home-based transcranial direct current stimulation coupled with computerized cognitive training in frontotemporal dementia: A case report
Authors: Tippett Donna C. , Neophytou Kyriaki , Tao Yuan , Gallegos Jessica , Morrow Christopher , Onyike Chiadi U. , Tsapkini Kyrana
Published: June 2024

We present the case of a 62-year-old woman with probable behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) with cognitive/language deficits who demonstrated improved performance on cognitive/language testing and in functional tasks following long-term, home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) coupled with computerized cognitive training (CCT). The patient underwent home-based tDCS (anode on the left prefrontal cortex and cathode on the right homologue) for 46 sessions over 10 weeks along with CCT. On post-treatment testing, the patient improved by 3 points on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) (23 to 26). She also showed improvement on several cognitive/language tasks, such as immediate recall of single words and word pairs, total accurate words in sentence repetition, delayed recall, semantic processing, and sentence level comprehension. There was no decline in several other cognitive and language tasks. Family members reported subjective improvements in expressiveness, communication, and interaction with others as well as increased attention to grooming and style which contrasted with her pre-treatment condition. This report suggests that home-based tDCS combined with CCT for an extended period may slow decline, and improve cognitive/language performance and everyday function in FTD.
The impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector in Italy: A regional spatial perspective
Authors: Brandano Maria Giovanna , Faggian Alessandra , Pinate Adriana C
Published: June 2024

The recent COVID-19 pandemic crisis affected all economic sectors, but tourism was hit the hardest. However, the resilience of tourism has also been recognized. In this context, the aim of the paper is (i) to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on tourism flows in Italy, by looking at NUTS-3 level data on national and international tourism arrivals and (ii) to understand whether, and to what extent, some “alternative” destinations benefited during the pandemic. Spatial autocorrelation analysis (global and local) and spatial regression models are used to capture the determinants of the variation in tourism flows in 2020 and 2021. Results demonstrate that tourism demand has different patterns across Italian provinces after COVID-19; both types of tourism have a significant path of spatial dependence that was stronger in 2020; international tourism has a more evident North/South divide and, the short-term resilience depends on the characteristics of the destination.
The effect of maturation on children's experience of physical education: Lessons learned from academy sport
Authors: Towlson Christopher , Cumming Sean , Donnan Kate , Toner John
Published: June 2024

Students’ experiences of physical education (PE) are considered important for lifelong attitudes towards physical activity. Sex-related differences and the individualised tempo in anthropometric growth because of biological maturation lead to secondary school students within chronological age-ordered classes possessing vast differences in anthropometric and physical characteristics, which may negatively impact the PE experience for late- or early-maturing children. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to (i) critically discuss the influence of maturation on developmental factors related to PE and (ii) provide key stakeholders with guidance on how to manage this period of development more effectively and propose solutions to alleviate the confounding influence of biological maturity currently being implemented within sporting contexts. Secondary school children of different maturation status are often categorised using arbitrary, chronological age-ordered bandings, resulting in groups of children exhibiting large within-group variations in physical, behavioural, emotional, and educational development. This heterogeneity may lead to sub-optimal learning environments, which are confounded by complex and often negative developmental consequences for children who are at either extreme (late- or early-maturing) of the maturation continuum. This is particularly important within PE, where engagement, enjoyment, and resultant lifelong physical activity attitudes are influenced by perceived competence and relatedness, and where these needs may be thwarted because of considerable maturity-related variations. This paper posits that it is time for key stakeholders within child education to explore new ways to supplement current teaching practices and consider occasionally grouping children by maturation status (i.e. bio-banding) within secondary school PE to enhance students’ experiences.
Growth trajectories and roles of expectancy, task value, and cost in middle-school physical education
Authors: Shen Bo , Li Benzheng , Bo Jin
Published: June 2024

This longitudinal investigation tracked the progression of students’ expectancy for success, task value, and perceived cost in the context of physical education throughout an academic year. The study involved 399 middle-school students from China, and data were collected at three distinct time points. Analysis using latent growth curve models revealed positive trajectories in both expectancy and task value, along with decreases in perceived cost. Variations in motivation were observed based on demographic factors, both in initial motivation levels and change rate. At the beginning of the academic year, senior students, girls, and students who were overweight exhibited lower motivation compared to their counterparts, but these motivation disparities tended to reduce over time. Changes in motivation were significant predictors of learning outcomes. Students who sustained high levels of expectancy and task value while reducing their perceived effort cost demonstrated higher cardiorespiratory fitness. The findings expand the theoretical understanding of expectancy, task value, and cost, thereby supporting the feasibility of implementing programmatic interventions to bolster motivation in physical education.
The Self in Self-Help: A Re-Appraisal of Therapeutic Culture in a Time of Crisis
Authors: Nehring Daniel
Published: June 2024

In this article, I analyse constructions of the self in bestselling self-help books in the United Kingdom. In doing so, I offer a re-appraisal of contemporary therapeutic culture. Therapeutic culture has long been associated with neoliberal governance, and scholars have argued that popular therapeutic narratives promote neoliberal accounts of an autonomous, masterful ‘entrepreneurial self’, able to thrive in the world on its own. However, beginning with the international financial crisis of 2008, neoliberalism has entered a period of serious and accelerating crisis and contestation. The question therefore arises to what extent popular therapeutic narratives might have changed during this period. In response, I analyse narratives of the self and self-improvement in UK self-help bestsellers between 2008 and 2022. Given their high sales and consumption, self-help books are prominent in the constitution of popular therapeutic discourse. I focus on the UK as an emblematic case, given its history of neoliberal politics, the latter’s recent crisis, and the salience of therapeutic culture in the country. Across the analysed period, my findings point to the emergence of alternative, survivalist and spiritual, therapeutic discourses that move beyond the model of the entrepreneurial self, while ultimately retaining its core assumptions about rational, autonomous behavioural modification.