bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation into the Relationship Between Women’s Thoughts, Stigmatizing Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors on Voluntary Abortion and Spiritual Well-Being in Turkiye
Authors: Demir Rukiye , Kaya Odabaş Resmiye
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

Although abortion can be implemented within the framework of legal rules and practices, the issue of abortion in socio-cultural, philosophical, and religious terms is one of the crucial issues that has been discussed since the existence of humanity. This study aims to examine the relationship between women’s thoughts on voluntary abortion, their stigmatizing attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and their spiritual well-being in Turkiye.

Method:

The sample of this analytical-cross-sectional study consisted of 300 women between the ages of 18 to 49 who had a telephone. Data were collected with the “Questionnaire Form, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spirituality Well-Being (FACIT-Sp), and the Stigmatizing Attitudes, Beliefs and Actions Scale Toward Abortion (SABAS).”

Results:

The findings showed that 30.3% of the women participating in this study had voluntary abortions. The FACIT-Sp total score of women who had voluntary abortion (12.58 ± 7.99) was significantly lower than those who did not have an abortion (29.02 ± 6.36), and the SABAS total score was not associated with having a voluntary abortion. A weak, positive linear relationship was found between FACIT-Sp and SABAS total scores ( r = .115, p < .05).

Discussion:

Study findings showed that there was a significant relationship between having had a voluntary abortion and a lower spiritual well-being score and there was a positive relationship between spiritual well-being and stigmatizing attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward abortion.
Managing Product Variety to Increase Sales in Used Automotive Closed-Loop Supply Chains
Authors: Saunders Lance W , Merrick Jason R W , Autry Chad W , Galbreth Michael R , Bradley Randy V
Published: February 2024

The relationship between product variety and sales has been extensively researched, but almost exclusively from the perspective of a new goods retail firm. Closed-loop supply chains for used goods, such as automobiles, offer unique challenges in terms of using reverse flows to create product variety at the retail location. Firms in used goods industries are unable to define their product mix a priori and may not even know which goods will be available to add to their sellable inventory. In this article, we use data from a used automobile retailer to explore these issues. A better understanding of the relationship between variety and sales can help used automobile retailers improve how they define and structure product variety at retail locations. Improved management of used automobile sales has obvious financial implications, but it also has important environmental implications, given the large contribution of passenger vehicles to overall emissions. This study implements a cluster analysis using consumer-facing variables to understand how customers view product variety for used automobiles. Our results show that three distinct classes of inventory exist, primarily driven by a key characteristic—body type—which differs from the traditional definition of product variety for new vehicles in the existing literature. A two-way fixed effects regression is then used to understand the relationship between product variety at the firm's retail locations and sales. The results demonstrate a nonlinear relationship between product variety and sales and, intriguingly, suggest that increasing product variety in some classes can be used to drive sales in others. Our findings yield important contributions for managers in used automobile firms and extend the broader literature on closed-loop supply chains. Specifically, our research demonstrates important differences in how product variety should be managed with used goods relative to new goods by a firm seeking to maximize sales.
Girls and Gangs: A Decade on From the Firmin Report and What Has Changed?
Authors: Jump Deborah , Horan Rachel
Published: February 2024

Presenting data from the first phase of a U.K.-based 5-year mixed-methods study, we restart a decade-long conversation into Girls and Gangs and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The relationship between the two is not mutually exclusive and coupled with the recent optics surrounding youth violence and gendered violence, we discuss how the needs of women are being somewhat hindered as a result of U.K. governmental vacillation. We therefore consider the serious impact of VAWG and the concomitancy with youth violence/gangs. By drawing on contemporary feminist criminological theorizing, we aim to galvanize governmental responses to prioritize the needs of women at a time when policymakers are arguably poised to listen.
Hierarchical Time Series Forecasting in Emergency Medical Services
Authors: Rostami-Tabar Bahman , Hyndman Rob J.
Published: February 2024

Accurate forecasts of ambulance demand are crucial inputs when planning and deploying staff and fleet. Such demand forecasts are required at national, regional, and sub-regional levels and must take account of the nature of incidents and their priorities. These forecasts are often generated independently by different teams within the organization. As a result, forecasts at different levels may be inconsistent, resulting in conflicting decisions and a lack of coherent coordination in the service. To address this issue, we exploit the hierarchical and grouped structure of the demand time series and apply forecast reconciliation methods to generate both point and probabilistic forecasts that are coherent and use all the available data at all levels of disaggregation. The methods are applied to daily incident data from an ambulance service in Great Britain, from October 2015 to July 2019, disaggregated by nature of incident, priority, managing health board, and control area. We use an ensemble of forecasting models and show that the resulting forecasts are better than any individual forecasting model. We validate the forecasting approach using time series cross-validation.
An exploration system to effectively analyze the visual metaphor used in sentiment visualization
Authors: Ha Hyoji , Moon Kwanghyuk , Joung Hyerim , Kim Hyegyeong , Lee Kyungwon
Published: February 2024

In the field of data visualization, there has been a recent trend of using a complex type of visualization with a multidimensional structure or using several visualizations in parallel when summarizing the results of sentiment analysis. Although this trend may be useful for sophisticated sentiment analysis, such analysis is difficult for the general public and novice researchers. To address this issue, there has recently been a trend of visualizing sentiments using visual metaphors. To facilitate the understanding of related cases, it is necessary to have a systematic means of grasping the sentiment target, the purpose and motivation of research, and the representations used as substitutes for visual metaphors. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to develop an exploration system that can analyze the visual metaphors used in the case of sentiment visualization. For this study, (1) sentiment visualization cases in which visual metaphors are used were collected. (2) After a taxonomy composed of the categories of “target, intermediation, representation, visual variable, and visualization technique” was constructed, it was used to analyze sentences of visual metaphors appearing in sentiment visualization cases. (3) An exploration system capable of grasping the semantic relationships of sub-elements within the five categories of the taxonomy and intuitively interpreting visual metaphors was developed so that appropriate cases can be recommended to sentiment visualization researchers. (4) The approach and usefulness of the exploration system were explained using user scenarios. (5) A case study was conducted to show that the provided system can be analyzed from various perspectives. (6) The usability of the exploration system was demonstrated through a verification targeting experts. The proposed system allows researchers and analysts to intuitively grasp “what types of visual metaphor method and idea should be equipped to visualize sentiment data in an easier way to understand.”
Two Charting Practices Chaplains Should Change
Authors: Ruff Rob A.
Published: February 2024

Hospital chaplains routinely document the spiritual care they provide in patients’ medical records, which is a useful and important practice. This article advocates two charting practices chaplains should change to better align our documentation with the beliefs and values of our profession.
Risk Factors for Rescue Opioid Prescription After Cubital Tunnel Surgery
Authors: Giberson-Chen Carew , Liu Christina , Grisdela Phillip , Liu David , Model Zina , Steele Amy , Blazar Philip , Earp Brandon E. , Zhang Dafang
Published: February 2024

Background:

Concerns regarding the ongoing opioid epidemic have led to heightened scrutiny of postoperative opioid prescribing patterns for common orthopedic surgical procedures. This study investigated patient- and procedure-specific risk factors for additional postoperative opioid rescue prescriptions following ambulatory cubital tunnel surgery.

Methods:

A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent cubital tunnel surgery at 2 academic medical centers between June 1, 2015 and March 1, 2020. Patient demographics, comorbidities, prior opioid history, and surgical variables were recorded. The primary outcome was postoperative rescue opioid prescription. Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were performed.

Results:

Two hundred seventy-four patients were included, of whom 171 (62%) underwent in situ ulnar nerve decompression and 103 (38%) underwent ulnar nerve decompression with anterior transposition. The median postoperative opioid prescription amount was 90 morphine equivalent units (MEU) for the total cohort, 77.5 MEU for in situ ulnar nerve decompression, and 112.5 MEU for ulnar nerve decompression with transposition. Twenty-two patients (8%) required additional rescue opioid prescriptions postoperatively. Female sex, fibromyalgia, chronic opioid use, chronic pain diagnosis, and recent opioid were associated with the need for additional postoperative rescue opioid prescriptions.

Conclusions:

While most patients do not require additional rescue opioid prescriptions after cubital tunnel surgery, chronic pain patients and patients with pain sensitivity syndromes are at risk for requiring additional rescue opioid prescriptions. For these high-risk patients, preoperative collaboration of a multidisciplinary team may be beneficial for developing a perioperative pain management plan that is both safe and effective.
Ameliorative potential of sinensetin against paraquat induced renal damage by regulating oxidative, inflammatory, apoptotic and histopathological profile in male albino rats
Authors: Ijaz Muhammad Umar , Manzoor Aqila , Hamza Ali , Khan Hammad Ahmad
Published: February 2024

Background: Paraquat (PQ) is an extremely lethal, water-soluble and non-selective herbicide that is used globally due to its low cost and high efficacy. It exerts strong toxic effects on humans as its exposure leads to free radicals’ production. Sinensetin (SNS) is a natural flavonoid with strong anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant potentials.

Objective: The present study was planned to ascertain the attenuative effect of SNS against PQ induced renal damage in rats.

Methods: Forty eight rats were distributed into four groups: control group, PQ-administered group (5 mg/kg), PQ + SNS co-administered group (5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) and SNS administered group (20 mg/kg).

Results: PQ administration considerably decreased the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes i.e., catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxide (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and glutathione (GSH) contents, while reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were upsurged. PQ treatment markedly augmented the levels of creatinine, urobilinogen, urea, KIM-1 and NGAL, while significantly decreased albumin protein as well as creatinine clearance. Moreover, the findings of our experiment revealed that PQ notably escalated inflammatory indices i.e., interleukin-1β (IL-1β), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. Furthermore, PQ intoxication significantly increased Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 level and lowered Bcl-2 level as well as induced histopathological anomalies in kidneys. However, SNS + PQ co-treatment efficiently averted all the PQ-induced renal damages in the rats.

Conclusion: The current study indicates that SNS can be used to treat PQ-instigated renal toxicity due to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties.
Assessment of thermal index compliance in clinical ultrasound examinations
Authors: Butler Sam , Ashcroft Kerry , Arrowsmith Sarah , Griffiths Rachel , Studd Adam
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

The thermal index (TI) is critical for monitoring potential heating risks in ultrasound examinations. This study aims to analyse adherence to TI guidelines in clinical ultrasound exams, focusing on the thermal index for soft tissue (TIS) and thermal index for bone at the focus (TIB).

Methods:

Clinical ultrasound images over a five working day period from a single NHS University Hospital Trust were analysed using a custom MATLAB script. TI values were extracted from DICOM headers, supplemented by optical character recognition for missing values. Time at each TI value (image interval) was measured assuming a constant TI between consecutive images. TI values and corresponding image intervals were compared to TI guidelines provided by the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS).

Results:

Analysis included 627 obstetric and 1023 non-obstetric examinations, comprising 4643 obstetric and 19,228 non-obstetric image intervals. TIS values across all examinations and image intervals adhered to recommended BMUS limits; however, breaches of the guidelines were observed for TIB. In obstetrics, 44 image intervals across 47 examinations exceeded the TIB limits (1.01% of TIB image intervals and 7.02% of examinations). For non-obstetrics, two image intervals across two examinations exceeded the TIB limits (0.02% of intervals and 0.44% of examinations).

Conclusion:

The majority of ultrasound examinations considered for this analysis demonstrated compliance with BMUS guidelines for TI, except for a small fraction which showed breaches in the obstetric thermal index for bone at the focus limits. All breaches were associated with the use of pulsed-wave Doppler.
Malay Lexicon Project 3: The impact of orthographic–semantic consistency on lexical decision latencies
Authors: Maziyah Mohamed Mirrah , Jared Debra
Published: February 2024

Theories of word processing propose that readers are sensitive to statistical co-occurrences between spelling and meaning. Orthographic–semantic consistency (OSC) measures provide a continuous estimate of the statistical regularities between spelling and meaning. Here we examined Malay, an Austronesian language that is agglutinative. In Malay, stems are often repeated in other words that share a related meaning (e.g., sunyi/ quiet; ke-sunyi-an/ silence; makan/ eat; makan- an/ foods). The first goal was to expand an existing large Malay database by computing OSC estimates for 2,287 monomorphemic words. The second goal was to explore the impact of root family size and OSC on lexical decision latencies for monomorphemic words. Decision latencies were collected for 1,280 Malay words of various morphological structures. Of these, data from 1,000 monomorphemic words were analysed in a series of generalised additive mixed models (GAMMs). Root family size and OSC were significant predictors of decision latencies, particularly for lower frequency words. We found a facilitative effect of root family size and OSC. Furthermore, we observed an interaction between root family size and OSC in that an effect of OSC was only apparent in words with larger root families. This interaction has not yet been explored in English but has the potential to be a new benchmark effect to test distributional models of word processing.
Spatial representations of objects used away and towards the body: The effect of near and far space
Authors: Ruggiero Gennaro , Ruotolo Francesco , Nunziata Scila , Abagnale Simona , Iachini Tina , Bartolo Angela
Published: February 2024

An action with an object can be accomplished only if we encode the position of the object with respect to our body (i.e., egocentrically) and/or to another element in the environment (i.e., allocentrically). However, some actions with the objects are directed towards our body, such as brushing our teeth, and others away from the body, such as writing. Objects can be near the body, that is within arm reaching, or far from the body, that is outside arm reaching. The aim of this study was to verify if the direction of use of the objects influences the way we represent their position in both near and far space. Objects typically used towards (TB) or away from the body (AB) were presented in near or far space and participants had to judge whether an object was closer to them (i.e., egocentric judgement) or closer to another object (i.e., allocentric judgement). Results showed that egocentric judgements on TB objects were more accurate in near than in far space. Moreover, allocentric judgements on AB objects were less accurate than egocentric judgements in near space but not in far space. These results are discussed with respect to the different roles that visuo-motor and visuo-spatial mechanisms play in near space and far space, respectively.
Effects of age on behavioural and eye gaze on Theory of Mind using movie for social cognition
Authors: Yong Min Hooi , Waqas Muhammad , Ruffman Ted
Published: February 2024

Evidence has shown that older adults have lower accuracy in Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks compared with young adults, but we are still unclear whether the difficulty in decoding mental states in older adults stems from not looking at the critical areas, and more so from the ageing Asian population. Most ToM studies use static images or short vignettes to measure ToM but these stimuli are dissimilar to everyday social interactions. We investigated this question using a dynamic task that measured both accuracy and error types, and examined the links between accuracy and error types to eye gaze fixation at critical areas (e.g., eyes, mouth, body). A total of 82 participants (38 older, 44 young adults) completed the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) task on the eye tracker. Results showed that older adults had a lower overall accuracy with more errors in the ipo-ToM (under-mentalising) and no-ToM (lack of mentalisation) conditions compared with young adults. We analysed the eye gaze data using principal components analysis and found that increasing age and looking less at the face were related to lower MASC accuracy in our participants. Our findings suggest that ageing deficits in ToM are linked to a visual attention deficit specific to the perception of socially relevant nonverbal cues.
Early experience of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial nodal cryobiopsy: a case series from Sabah, Malaysia
Authors: Ramarmuty Hema Yamini , Huan Nai-Chien , Nyanti Larry Ellee , Khoo Teng Shin , Renganathan Tamilarasi , Manoh Ahmad Zaki , Azman Nusaibah , Sivaraman Kannan Kunji Kannan
Published: February 2024

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is an established minimally invasive method for the diagnosis of benign and malignant conditions. Continuous efforts are underway to improve the material adequacy of EBUS-TBNA, including the introduction of a new technique called EBUS-guided transbronchial nodal cryobiopsy (EBUS-TBNC). This method allows for the retrieval of larger and well-preserved histologic samples from the mediastinum. We present a case series of four patients who underwent combined EBUS-TBNA and EBUS-TBNC procedures in our centre. All procedures were performed under general anaesthesia using a convex probe EBUS scope (Pentax EB-1970UK). Two patients were diagnosed with malignancy and two with benign disorders (silicosis and tuberculosis). In the malignant cases, both EBUS-TBNA/cell block and cryobiopsy provided a diagnosis but cryobiopsy yielded more material for ancillary tests in one patient. However, in the benign cases, there was discordance between EBUS-TBNA/cell block and cryobiopsy. Only cryobiopsy detected granuloma in the patient with TB (tuberculosis), and in the patient with silicosis, TBNC provided a better overall histological evaluation, leading to a definitive diagnosis. No complications were observed. This case series supports the potential diagnostic value of combining EBUS-TBNA and EBUS-TBNC, particularly in benign mediastinal lesions (granulomatous diseases), and in cases requiring additional molecular tests in cancer diagnosis.
Rib stress fracture in a female athlete caused by bouncing the barbell in bench press exercise: A case report
Authors: Fukuda Yuya , Kato Kinshi , Otoshi Kenichi , Hakozaki Michiyuki , Kaneuchi Yoichi , Matsumoto Yoshihiro
Published: February 2024

Rib stress fractures can occur in sports involving repetitive trunk muscle contractions. Few documented cases show rib fractures from repetitive upper-limb training. This report presents a case of a rib stress fracture from micro blunt trauma during bench press exercises. The patient was a 24-year-old elite female sprinter with a history of left navicular stress fracture and secondary amenorrhea treatment a year prior. She modified her bench press technique to involve bouncing the barbell on her rib cage. Within weeks, she experienced anterior chest pain, exacerbated by sneezing. Computed tomography revealed a fifth rib fracture with callus formation. After refraining from bench presses for 4 weeks, her chest pain subsided, allowing her to resume upper-limb training. When athletes performing bench press exercises experience chest pain, rib fractures should be considered, even without acute trauma. Additionally, research on the safety of the bouncing bench pressing technique is required.
The Work/Care Interface and Parents’ Mid-Pandemic Mental Health: Inequalities at the Intersection of Gender and High-Risk Household Status
Authors: Fuller Sylvia , Cai Manlin , Lero Donna
Published: February 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic generated mental health stressors for parents as they faced new health risks and navigated disruptions to employment, schooling, and care arrangements. Drawing on 2021 survey data from Canadian parents of children 10 years old and younger, we describe the relationship between work/care pandemic stressors and mental health, and employ Kitagawa-Oaxaca-Blinder decompositions to examine how these contribute to mental health gaps by gender and its intersection with having household members perceived to be at high risk in relation to COVID-19. We find that mothers’ mental health was more negatively affected than fathers’. Differences in exposure to work/care stressors help explain this gap, with the “mental load,” perceptions of inequity in how households responded to pandemic care demands, and greater reported deterioration in work-family balance and career prospects particularly salient. Mothers, but not fathers, with high-risk household members were also more exposed to key work/care stressors, contributing to the worst pandemic mental health for this group. While the relationship between stressors and mental health was similar for mothers and fathers overall, high-risk status moderated this relationship, with employment or care disruptions that reduced COVID-19 exposure less likely to be associated with poorer mental health for parents in high-risk families.
Adapting and Thriving: Global Warming and the Wine Industry
Authors: Gonen Limor Dina , Tavor Tchai , Spiegel Uriel
Published: February 2024

Global warming (GW) refers to the gradual increase in Earth’s average surface temperature caused by human activities. This phenomenon has far-reaching consequences that affect the environment, society, and economy and has created a multitude of challenges for the wine industry, affecting grape cultivation, wine production, aging, and quality management. To analyze the negative impact of GW on the wine industry and to examine the equilibrium that maximizes welfare and profit in the face of climate change. A mathematical model that considers the various stages of wine production to examine the wine industry’s equilibrium that maximizes welfare and profit. Global warming impacts the wine industry’s equilibrium, causing measurable distortions and an inefficient market solution. However, our analysis also indicates that adaptation to GW is possible by adopting and adjusting new agricultural practices. Our findings suggest that GW has a notable negative impact on the wine industry. Winemakers should consider adapting their agricultural practices. In addition, policymakers need to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change on the wine industry. Policymakers should promote the adoption of renewable energy sources and sustainable farming practices in the wine industry and provide financial incentives and regulatory support to maximize welfare.
Wellness Programs, Perceived Organizational Support, and Their Influence on Organizational Performance: An Analysis Within the Framework of Sustainable Human Resource Management
Authors: Peña Isidro , Andrade Silvia María , María Muñoz Rosa , Barba-Sánchez Virginia
Published: February 2024

The wellbeing of employee has become a challenge associated with working towards sustainable human resource management. This study, therefore, focuses on analyzing the role played by companies’ wellness practices as an important part of the social dimension of the “triple bottom line.” We hypothesize that these practices are linked to the employees’ perceived organizational support, and, simultaneously, to organizational performance, in addition to observing the mediating effects of job satisfaction and commitment. We tested the hypotheses by developing a questionnaire. The direct and mediating effects were analyzed using the Partial Least Square (PLS) structural equation technique. The results eventually obtained from 137 questionnaires provided evidence that wellness programs and perceived organizational support influence organizational performance, with mediating effects on job satisfaction and commitment.

JEL Classification: L84, M12, M14
Association of Remaining Anterior Knee Laxity With Inferior Outcomes After Revision ACL Reconstruction
Authors: Eggeling Lena , Drenck Tobias Claus , Breer Stephan , Frosch Karl-Heinz , Akoto Ralph
Published: February 2024

Background:

The relationship between remaining anterior knee laxity and poorer clinical outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) may be underrated, and the criteria for failure of revision ACLR have not been defined.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

To evaluate a possible association between remaining knee laxity and functional scores in patients after revision ACLR. We hypothesized that a postoperative side-to-side-difference (SSD) in knee laxity of ≥6 mm will be an objective parameter for failure.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 200 patients (77 women and 123 men; mean age, 30.8 ± 11 years; range, 18-61 years) who underwent revision ACLR between 2016 and 2019 were evaluated; The mean follow-up period was 30.2 ± 9 months (range, 24-67 months). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to postoperative SSD (<3 mm, 3-5 mm, or ≥6 mm). Preoperative and postoperative outcome measures (Lachman, pivot shift, visual analog scale [VAS] for pain, Tegner, Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) were compared between the groups.

Results:

Of the 200 patients, 74% (n = 148) had a postoperative SSD of <3 mm at the latest follow-up, 19.5% (n = 39) had a postoperative SSD of 3 to 5 mm, and 6.5% (n = 13) had a postoperative SSD of ≥6 mm. Patients in all groups saw significant pre- to postoperative reductions in positive Lachman and pivot-shift tests as well as significant improvements in VAS pain, Lysholm, and Tegner scores ( P < .001 for all). All postoperative functional scores of the patients with SSDs of <3 mm and 3-5 mm were significantly increased compared with those of patients with an SSD of ≥6 mm ( P≤ .01 for all).

Conclusion:

In patients following revision ACLR, anterior and rotational knee laxity were successfully reduced while increasing postoperative functional outcomes. A remaining postoperative SSD of ≥6 mm was associated with inferior patient outcomes compared with an SSD <6 mm. An SSD of ≥6 mm represents an objective parameter in the definition of failure of revision ACLR.
Decreased Effective Patellar Tendon Length following Distalization Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy without Patellar Tendon Tenodesis
Authors: Uppstrom Tyler J. , Fletcher Connor F. , Green Daniel W. , Gomoll Andreas H. , Strickland Sabrina M.
Published: February 2024

Background:

Distalization tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) is an effective treatment for improving patellar height in patients with patella alta associated with patellofemoral instability and cartilage lesions. The addition of a patellar tendon tenodesis has been suggested; nonetheless, concerns exist regarding possible increased patellofemoral cartilage stresses.

Purpose:

To evaluate pre- and postoperative patellar tendon length and alignment parameters on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after distalization TTO without patellar tendon tenodesis.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Twenty skeletally mature patients who underwent distalization TTO with or without anteromedialization at our institution between December 2014 and August 2021 were included. All patients underwent pre- and postoperative MRIs of the affected knee. The Caton-Deschamps index (CDI), the axial and sagittal tibial tubercle–trochlear groove (TT-TG) distances, the distances from the tibial plateau to the patellar tendon insertion and the tibial tubercle, and the patellar tendon length were assessed. PROMs included the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score–Quality of Life subscale, the Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale, and the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey mental and physical component scores.

Results:

The mean patient age at surgery was 27.4 years (range, 14-42 years). Radiographic parameters demonstrated improved patellar height (CDI decreased from 1.36 to 1.11; P < .001) after distalization TTO. The distance from the tibial plateau to the patellar tendon insertion significantly decreased from 20.1 mm preoperatively to 17.9 mm postoperatively ( P < .020), and the patellar tendon length decreased from 53.4 mm preoperatively to 46.0 mm postoperatively ( P < .001). The patellar tendon insertion was not distalized after distalization TTO, likely because of scarring of the patellar tendon proximal to the osteotomy site. Patients demonstrated significant pre- to postoperative improvements on all PROMs ( P≤ .024 for all ). There were 4 (20%) complications—2 cases of arthrofibrosis, 1 postoperative infection, and 1 osteotomy delayed union.

Conclusion:

Distalization TTO without patellar tendon tenodesis was associated with improved radiographic outcomes and PROMs. It provides an additional tool for surgical management of patellofemoral pathology with associated patella alta.
Estimating annual ambient air pollution using structural properties of road networks
Authors: Berrisford Liam , Ribeiro Eraldo , Menezes Ronaldo
Published: February 2024

In recent years, the world has become increasingly concerned about air pollution. Particularly, High-Income Countries (HIC) and Upper Middle-Income Countries (UMIC) are implementing systems to monitor air pollution on a large scale to aid decision-making. Such efforts are essential, but they have at least three shortcomings: (1) they are costly; (2) they are slow to deploy; and (3) they focus on urban areas, which leads to urban-rural inequalities. Here, we show that we can estimate annual air pollution using open-source information about the structural properties of roads; we focus on England and Wales in the United Kingdom (UK) in this paper, although we argue that our methods are independent of specific country features. Our approach is an inexpensive method of estimating annual air pollution concentrations to an accuracy level that can underpin policymakers’ decisions while providing an estimate in all districts, not just urban areas. Furthermore, we contend that our process is interpretable and explainable.
Natural Experiments: Missed Opportunities for Causal Inference in Psychology
Authors: Grosz Michael P. , Ayaita Adam , Arslan Ruben C. , Buecker Susanne , Ebert Tobias , Hünermund Paul , Müller Sandrine R. , Rieger Sven , Zapko-Willmes Alexandra , Rohrer Julia M.
Published: February 2024

Knowledge about causal effects is essential for building useful theories and designing effective interventions. The preferred design for learning about causal effects is randomized experiments (i.e., studies in which the researchers randomly assign units to treatment and control conditions). However, randomized experiments are often unethical or unfeasible. On the other hand, observational studies are usually feasible but lack the random assignment that renders randomized experiments causally informative. Natural experiments can sometimes offer unique opportunities for dealing with this dilemma, allowing causal inference on the basis of events that are not controlled by researchers but that nevertheless establish random or as-if random assignment to treatment and control conditions. Yet psychological researchers have rarely exploited natural experiments. To remedy this shortage, we describe three main types of studies exploiting natural experiments (standard natural experiments, instrumental-variable designs, and regression-discontinuity designs) and provide examples from psychology and economics to illustrate how natural experiments can be harnessed. Natural experiments are challenging to find, provide information about only specific causal effects, and involve assumptions that are difficult to validate empirically. Nevertheless, we argue that natural experiments provide valuable causal-inference opportunities that have not yet been sufficiently exploited by psychologists.
Supralinear Dependence of the IP3 Receptor-to-Mitochondria Local Ca2+ Transfer on the Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ Loading
Authors: Csordás György , Weaver David , Várnai Péter , Hajnóczky György
Published: February 2024

Calcium signal propagation from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to mitochondria regulates a multitude of mitochondrial and cell functions, including oxidative ATP production and cell fate decisions. Ca2+ transfer is optimal at the ER-mitochondrial contacts, where inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors (IP3R) can locally expose the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (mtCU) to high [Ca2+] nanodomains. The Ca2+ loading state of the ER (Ca2 + ER) can vary broadly in physiological and pathological scenarios, however, the correlation between Ca2 + ER and the local Ca2+ transfer is unclear. Here, we studied IP3-induced Ca2+ transfer to mitochondria at different Ca2 + ER in intact and permeabilized RBL-2H3 cells via fluorescence measurements of cytoplasmic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c) and mitochondrial matrix [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]m). Preincubation of intact cells in high versus low extracellular [Ca2+] caused disproportionally greater increase in [Ca2+]m than [Ca2+]c responses to IP3-mobilizing agonist. Increasing Ca2 + ER by small Ca2+ boluses in suspensions of permeabilized cells supralinearly enhanced the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake from IP3-induced Ca2+ release. The IP3-induced local [Ca2+] spikes exposing the mitochondrial surface measured using a genetically targeted sensor appeared to linearly correlate with Ca2 + ER, indicating that amplification happened in the mitochondria. Indeed, overexpression of an EF-hand deficient mutant of the mtCU gatekeeper MICU1 reduced the cooperativity of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Interestingly, the IP3-induced [Ca2+]m signal plateaued at high Ca2 + ER, indicating activation of a matrix Ca2+ binding/chelating species. Mitochondria thus seem to maintain a “working [Ca2+]m range” via a low-affinity and high-capacity buffer species, and the ER loading steeply enhances the IP3R-linked [Ca2+]m signals in this working range.
Utilizing bio-synthesis of nanomaterials as biological agents for controlling soil-borne diseases in pepper plants: root-knot nematodes and root rot fungus
Authors: Y. Ghareeb Rehab , Belal Elsayed B. , El-Khateeb Nagwa M. M. , Shreef Basma A.
Published: February 2024

The utilization ofTrichoderma longibrachiatumfiltrate as a safe biocontrol method for producing zinc nanoparticles is a promising approach for managing pests and diseases in agricultural crops. The identification ofTrichodermasp. was achieved through PCR amplification and sequencing of 18s as ON203115, while the synthesis of ZnO-NPs was accomplished by employing Trichoderma filtration. The presence of ZnO-NPs was confirmed by observing a color change to dark green, along with the use of visible and UV spectrophotometers, and the formation and chemical structure of ZnO-NPs were examined. Direct exposure to ZnO-NPs exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on the growth ofFusarium oxysporumat 80.73% compared with control. Also, the percent mortality ofMeloidogyne incognitasecond juveniles stage (J2s) results showed 11.82%, 37.63%, 40.86%, and 89.65% after 6, 12, 24, and 72 h, respectively in vitro. Disease resistance was assessed in the greenhouse againstM. incognitaandF. oxysporumusing the drench application of ZnO-NPs. The application of ZnO-NPs significantly reduced the disease severity ofF. oxysporumand improved the quality and quantity of sweet pepper yield. In addition, the application of ZnO-NPs toM. incognitaresulted in a significant reduction in the number of nematode galls, egg masses per root, eggs/egg mass, and females by 98%, 99%, 99.9%, and 95.5% respectively.

Furthermore, it was observed that the application of ZnO-NPs to pepper plants not only inhibited the growth ofF. oxysporumandM. incognita, but also promoted the recovery of pepper plants as indicated by improvements in stem length by 106%, root length 102%, fresh weight 112%, root fresh weight 107%, and leaf area 118% compared to healthy control plants. Additionally, real-time PCR application and DD-PCR technique revealed that the application of ZnO-NPs stimulated the secretion of certain enzymes. These findings suggest that the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs possess anti-nematode and antifungal properties, making them effective for protecting plants againstM. incognitaandF. oxysporuminvasion in soil. This study significantly contributes to our understanding of the nematicidal and fungicidal activities of ZnO-NPs in suppressing soil-borne diseases.
Development and inter-rater reliability of a simple prehospital mobility score for use in emergency patients
Authors: Asmussen Søren Westh , Holme Jacob Metze , Joensen Kurt , Ibsen Stine , Bøggild Henrik , Christensen Erika Frischknecht , Lindskou Tim Alex
Published: February 2024

Background

Mobility assessment enhances the ability of vital sign-based early warning scores to predict risk. Currently mobility is not routinely assessed in a standardized manner in Denmark during the ambulance transfer of unselected emergency patients. The aim of this study was to develop and test the inter-rater reliability of a simple prehospital mobility score for pre-hospital use in ambulances and to test its inter-rater reliability.

Method

Following a pilot study, we developed a 4-level prehospital mobility score based of the question”How much help did the patient need to be mobilized to the ambulance trolley”. Possible scores were no-, a little-, moderate-, and a lot of help. A cross-sectional study of inter-rater agreement among ambulance personnel was then carried out. Paramedics on ambulance runs in the North- and Central Denmark Region, as well as The Fareoe Islands, were included as a convenience sample between July 2020—May 2021. The simple prehospital mobility score was tested, both by the paramedics in the ambulance and by an additional observer. The study outcomes were inter-rater agreements by weighted kappa between the paramedics and between observers and paramedics.

Results

We included 251 mobility assessments where the patient mobility was scored. Paramedics agreed on the mobility score for 202 patients (80,5%). For 47 (18.7%), there was a deviation of one between scores, in two (< 1%) there was a deviation of two and none had a deviation of three (Table 1).

Inter-rater agreement between paramedics in all three regions showed a kappa-coefficient of 0.84 (CI 95%: 0.79;0.88). Between observers and paramedics in North Denmark Region and Faroe Islands the kappa-coefficient was 0.82 (CI 95%: 0.77;0.86).

Conclusion

We developed a simple prehospital mobility score, which was feasible in a prehospital setting and with a high inter-rater agreement between paramedics and observers.
The association of painful and non-painful morbidities with frailty: a cross sectional analysis of a cohort of community dwelling older people in England
Authors: Chaplin W. J. , Lewis H. R. , Shahtaheri S. M. , Millar B. S. , McWilliams D. F. , Gladman J. R. F. , Walsh D. A.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The association between chronic pain and frailty might indicate that pain is an independent driver of frailty but might alternatively be explained by inclusion within frailty identification tools of morbidities that commonly lead to chronic pain. This research examines the extent to which the association of pain with frailty might be attributed to morbidities.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of older people in a UK cohort with or at risk of musculoskeletal problems or frailty (Investigating Musculoskeletal Health and Wellbeing study), used multivariable logistic regression and Z-tests to assess the degrees of associations of pain (McGill Pain Rating Index), and painful and non-painful morbidity counts with frailty (modified FRAIL questionnaire).

Results

Data were from 2,185 participants, 56% female, median age 73 (range 60 to 96) years. 430 (20%) participants were classified as frail. In a fully adjusted standardised model, pain (aOR 2.07 (95%CI 1.83 to 2.33) and ‘any’ morbidity aOR (1.74 (95%CI 1.54 to 1.97) were both significantly associated with frailty. When morbidity was subclassified as painful or non-painful, painful (aOR 1.48 (95%CI 1.30 to 1.68) and non-painful (aOR1.39 (95%CI 1.24 to 1.56)) morbidities each were associated with frailty, as also was pain (aOR 2.07 (95%CI 1.83 to 2.34, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Pain is associated with frailty, over and above any effect of painful and non-painful morbidities. This forms the justification for future research which focuses on pain management in the identification, prevention, and treatment of frailty.
Repeated hospital admission for intentional poisonings among older adults - a Swedish national register-based study
Authors: Laflamme L , Lindholm E , Möller Jette
Published: February 2024

Background

Poisoning injuries is an increasing concern among older people, and so is the repetition of intentional poisonings. To date, few studies have documented the pattern and individual risk factors for repeated poisonings. This national study aims to shed light on the burden, pattern, and health-related risk factors of repeated intentional poisoning leading to hospitalization or death among older Swedish adults (50 years and older), with a focus on the year following a first event.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide register-based cohort study of people aged 50–100, hospitalized for intentional poisoning (ICD10: X60-69) during 2006–2016 (n = 15,219) and re-hospitalized by poisoning of any intent within a year (n = 1710), i.e., up to the end of 2017. We considered in turn, the distribution of the second poisoning in 30-day intervals stratified by intent; poisoning lethality within a month and a year; and the sex-specific association between health conditions and being re-hospitalized for intentional poisoning within one year as compared to being hospitalized only once using logistic regression (odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI)).

Results

Following an intentional poisoning, re-hospitalization within a year was predominantly for a new intentional poisoning (89.7%) and occurred most typically within a month (median 4 days). Death within 30 days occurred in similar proportion for the first and second poisoning (2.3% vs. 2.1% respectively). Among both men and women, comorbidity of psychiatric illness was strongly associated with re-hospitalization for intentional poisoning (adjusted ORs = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.45–2.01 and 1.89 (95% CI = 1.60–2.19) respectively).

Conclusion

Most re-hospitalizations within a year after intentional poisoning are also for intentional poisoning and occur most typically within days. Re-hospitalization is associated with several conditions that are characteristic of poor mental health and there are more similarities than differences between men and women in that respect.
Increased serum methylmalonic acid levels were associated with the presence of cognitive dysfunction in older chronic kidney disease patients with albuminuria
Authors: Zhang Jialing , Wu Leiyun , Wang Shiyuan , Pan Yajing , Zhang Aihua
Published: February 2024

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels and cognition function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we included 537 CKD individuals aged ≥ 60-year-old with albuminuria from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2014. Four cognitive tests including the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) Delayed Recall and Word Learning tests, and the Animal Fluency test (AF) were performed. Associations between MMA and cognition scores were assessed with linear regression models.

Results

MMA level was negatively associated with residual renal function and nutrition status. After multivariate adjustment, elevated serum MMA levels were independently correlated with decline of cognition in CKD patients with albuminuria.

Conclusion

Our study showed that higher serum MMA levels were independently associated with the presence of cognition dysfunction in CKD patients. The exact pathogenesis of MMA and cognition needs further research.