bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Speech and Language Disorders and Violence Against Women: A Scoping Review
Authors: Tan Cheryl Y. T. , Choo Ai Leen , Lim Valerie P. C. , Wilson Ingrid M.
Published: November 2024

Violence against women with disabilities has received more attention in recent years recognizing the intersectionality of experiences of abuse, yet little is known about the less visible forms of disability such as speech and language disorders. This review aimed to identify and synthesize existing literature exploring the relationship between speech and language disorders and victimization, including child sexual abuse (CSA), exposure to domestic violence in childhood, and intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault in adulthood. Five electronic databases were systematically searched using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Studies were included if they were English-language peer-reviewed articles or grey literature publications focusing on domestic violence and/or sexual assault and speech and language disorders. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings showed a clear link between childhood exposure to domestic violence and/or CSA and speech and language disorders. Women with speech and language disorders appear to be at heightened risk of IPV and sexual assault relative to the general population. Nonfatal strangulation emerged as a growing area of concern in the literature with acute and chronic symptoms requiring treatment from speech and language therapists. Practice implications include enhanced training at the undergraduate and professional level for therapists to better identify and respond to suspected abuse in their patients. Emergency and specialist support services need protocols and training to better support women with speech and language disorders. Future research should examine the help-seeking behavior of women with speech and language disorders post-victimization and collect longitudinal data to understand the long-term consequences of abuse.
Positive Childhood Experiences and Adult Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cunha Olga , Sousa Marta , Pereira Bárbara , Pinheiro Marina , Machado Ana Beatriz , Caridade Sónia , Almeida Telma Catarina
Published: November 2024

Although positive childhood experiences (PCEs) may serve as protective factors against the negative consequences of childhood adversity, they have been less extensively studied. However, more recently, there has been a growing interest in understanding the role of these experiences. This systematic review aims to address this research gap by systematizing the existing literature on PCEs and examining their relationship with both positive and negative outcomes. A comprehensive search of databases such as B-On, PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Scielo identified 87 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Different studies have employed various designs and samples to investigate the relationship between PCEs and adult outcomes. The findings suggest that higher levels of PCEs are consistently associated with better mental health outcomes, such as decreased depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors, as well as improved psychosocial well-being, including reduced perceived stress and increased life satisfaction. Conflicting results were found for behavioral outcomes, physical health, stressful life events, and parenting and family functioning. In addition, the interaction effect of PCEs on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in adulthood is inconsistent. PCEs and ACEs appear to be independent sets of experiences that often coexist, with PCEs frequently not moderating the consequences of adversity on outcomes. More research with diverse samples is needed to better understand the role of PCEs.
A Return to Humanism: A Multi-Level Analysis Exploring the Positive Effects of Quiet Quitting
Authors: Dillard Nicole , Cavallo Taylor , Zhang Panpan
Published: November 2024

The majority of interpretations of quiet quitting typically portray it negatively, emphasizing its potential harm to morale, productivity, and engagement within organizations and society. Interestingly, when examining this phenomenon at the individual level, arguments supporting its positive aspects emerge. Organizational sciences often frame quiet quitting in a negative light, prioritizing organizational interests over individual needs, perpetuating a tension within Human Resource Development (HRD) between employee and organizational priorities. This paper advocates for a nuanced, multilevel approach to quiet quitting, challenging the conventional negative perspective. Drawing on Garavan et al.’s (2004) multilevel HRD framework, we explore how quiet quitting can benefit both individuals and organizations across individual, organizational, and societal levels. By reconceptualizing quiet quitting in this way, we aim to stimulate further HRD research while reaffirming the discipline’s humanistic roots.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Schools: A Case of Policy Formation
Authors: Roberts Amanda B , Richardson Jayson W.
Published: November 2024

Administrative leadership at School District 7 navigates diverse perspectives on implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in their high schools. Planning for the new school year, the superintendent grapples with AI and how it has impacted her four high schools in the past year. This case is written for k-12 school policy and leadership students and policy researchers to discuss innovation, leadership challenges, and moral dilemmas around integrating AI into teaching and learning. Students and faculty members can utilize this case to evaluate policy-setting approaches to implementing (or constraining) AI in different contexts.
Geometric modeling and simulation for leno fabrics
Authors: Xu Hui , Li Zhongjian , Zhu Hao , Shi Hongyan
Published: November 2024

The leno fabric is widely used in production and life for its distinctive style. However, its production and design are hindered by the unique weaving process. In this paper, a three-dimensional simulation algorithm is proposed to enhance the efficiency of leno fabric production. Three geometric models are constructed that systematically address different aspects of fabric simulation. The Yarn Spatial Trajectory Model, in which the centerline trajectory of the yarn is controlled by the weave matrix, allowing for the realistic simulation of intertwined yarns characteristic of leno structures. The Variable Coefficient Elliptic Cross-Section Model, by which yarn collisions are prevented and computational demands are reduced. The Multifilament Model, critical to rendering quality, accurately captures the textural characteristics of yarns and fabrics. Leno fabrics are simulated based on the above models. The simulation results show that: different yarn counts and twists, fabric counts, hexagonal hole sizes, and other simulation effects can be achieved by entering different parameters. By the 3D simulation algorithm developed in this study, simulation fabrics have clear textures, precise structures, and realistic visual effects, thereby advancing the technology of leno fabric production.
Comparison of 1-Year Outcome Among Different Low Dosage Triamcinolone Acetonide Injections for Trigger Finger
Authors: Sato Junko , Ishii Yoshinori , Noguchi Hideo , Takahashi Ikuko
Published: November 2024

Background:

This study was designed to compare the 1-year outcome among the groups with different low-dosage triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injections for trigger finger.

Methods:

In the study period, trigger digits were initially injected with 2, 4, or 8 mg TA. We checked whether they had a second injection or surgery during the following year by either patients’ revisit or telephone interview. The groups with different injections were compared according to recurrence and symptom relief period. We also assessed the 6-week outcome to confirm the short-term improvement.

Results:

One-hundred ninety-eight digits were enrolled. About 60% of the injected fingers required additional treatment in each group without significant difference. The interval between the initial injection and additional treatment in the recurrent cases averaged 5 months in the 2 and 4 mg TA groups, being significantly extended for a short term of 1.5 months in the 8 mg TA group. All the groups showed a significant improvement of the patients’ clinical severity at 6 weeks after injection without any difference among the groups. There was no adverse event.

Conclusions:

Low-dosage TA injection for trigger finger within 8 mg yielded satisfactory results, not being inferior to those with higher dosage up to 40 mg in comparison with previous reports. Our findings implied that increasing TA dosage might bring short-extended symptom relief, however, not reduce the recurrence. While not offering great benefit, lower dosage TA injection for trigger finger can be chosen, aiming for cost-effectiveness, safety, and small injection site pain.
Epidemiological Analysis of Upper Extremity Amputations From Lawn Mower–Related Injuries
Authors: Nemirov Daniel A. , Onor Gabriel I. , Kwok Moody , Gallant Gregory G. , Beredjiklian Pedro K.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Lawn mower–related injuries (LMIs) represent a complex spectrum of pathology with significant public health ramifications. The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiological factors associated with lawn mower upper extremity amputations.

Methods:

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried from 2014 to 2023. National case estimates were established for upper extremity amputation events secondary to lawn mowers using diagnostic and injury-specific coding parameters. Documented cases from NEISS-participating hospitals were evaluated and injury data surrounding individual amputation events were analyzed.

Results:

An estimated 17 509 upper extremity amputations occurred from 2014 to 2023 secondary to LMI in the United States. Annual case estimates and incidence rates remained relatively uniform across the 10-year study period. Most injuries were estimated to occur in 50- to 59-year-old patients. Case record review from pooled participating NEISS hospitals yielded 469 cases of upper extremity amputation directly associated with LMI from 2014 to 2023. Ninety-one percent of cases occurred in men, and most events involved the amputation of a finger (97%). Most cases of lawn mower–associated injury involved the amputation of the middle digit (41.6%) in isolation (64% of cases involved amputation of 1 digit).

Conclusions:

Despite advances in product safety and consumer education, the estimated frequency and incidence rate of upper extremity amputations secondary to LMI has remained largely unchanged over the past 10 years. When these events did occur, 40- to 60-year-old men were most often involved, most commonly leading to amputation of the third finger in isolation.
Effects of Postoperative Oral Corticosteroids on Infection Rates in Upper Extremity Surgery
Authors: Khabyeh-Hasbani Nathan , Yan Yufan , Cohen Joshua M. , Abuqubo Rami Z. , Koehler Steven M.
Published: November 2024

Background:

The recent trend in administering postoperative oral corticosteroids has proven effective in alleviating pain and improving surgical outcomes for hand and upper extremity procedures. However, concerns persist regarding potential infection risks despite a lack of supporting evidence in the current literature. We propose that a 6-day regimen of low-dose postoperative oral corticosteroids is safe and does not increase the likelihood of surgical site infections (SSIs) in adult upper extremity surgeries.

Methods:

A retrospective study of all adult patients who underwent clean, upper extremity surgery, including both soft tissue and hardware implantation cases, between November 2021 and November 2023, performed at a single institution were included in the study. Primary outcome measures were diagnosis of SSI by 14 days and 30 days. Categorical variables were compared using χ2 tests, and continuous variables were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. A P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

A total of 813 cases were included for analysis—196 received a 6-day course of postoperative oral steroids (methylprednisolone) and 617 did not. Both groups had similar SSI rates of 4.1% and 3.1%, respectively, with no statistical differences between the groups at any postoperative time. Subgroup analysis of patients diagnosed with an SSI identified no statistically different demographic factors or medical comorbidities when comparing patients who received postoperative oral corticosteroids versus those who did not.

Conclusions:

Low-dose, postoperative oral steroid use following adult upper extremity surgery is safe and does not increase the risk of SSI. Further investigations with prospective studies on postoperative oral corticosteroids would prove advantageous.
Advanced multimodal ultrasound for pre-operative assessment of skin tumours: A case series
Authors: Kho Ying Ying , Ooi Chin Chin , Too Chow Wei , Ma Voon Chee , Abu Bakar Rafidah , Lim Chee Yeong , Tang Po Yin , Oh Choon Chiat
Published: November 2024

Background:

Pre-operative assessment of non-melanoma skin cancers via advanced ultrasound techniques may potentially provide additional information to tumour margins and morphology compared to current assessment via dermoscopy or optical coherence tomography. In this case series, the findings of multimodal ultrasonography of non-melanoma skin cancer are described, with histological correlation.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with clinical suspicion of malignant skin lesions underwent multimodal ultrasonography, comprising B-mode, colour Doppler imaging, superb microvascular imaging, strain elastography, and shear-wave elastography, followed by surgical excision. Images were reviewed by two radiologists.

Results:

There were 8 female and 3 male patients, whose age ranged from 66 to 98 years. A total of 11 malignant skin tumours (basal cell carcinoma, n = 6; squamous cell carcinoma, n = 5) were reviewed. Tumour depth measured via ultrasound assessment ranged from 1.20 to 7.00 mm (mean ± standard deviation: 4.35 ± 1.99 mm). Tumours were located within dermis (n = 1) and abutting subcutaneous layer (n = 10) sonographically. Where corresponding histological reports for tumour depth were available, ultrasound correlated well with histology. Ultrasound also correctly predicted the deepest layer of involvement for all lesions. The sonographic features observed in all malignant skin tumours (11/11:100%) are solid, hypoechoic, with abundant neovascularity on colour Doppler imaging and superb microvascular imaging, and appeared stiff on strain elastography and shear-wave elastography. In some cases, the microvascular network of intra-tumoural flow were better demonstrated on superb microvascular imaging.

Conclusion:

Multimodal ultrasound can potentially be a useful and quick adjunctive tool for the pre-operative assessment of skin cancer by delineating the tumour depth and deepest skin layer involvement, ensuring complete excision of tumour.
Observation inflation as source confusion: Symmetrical conflation of memories based on action performance and observation
Authors: Neszmélyi Bence , Pfister Roland
Published: November 2024

People often cannot remember the source of their memories despite recalling other elements of a remembered event correctly. Observation inflation is one such error of source monitoring. It refers to remembering the actions of another agent as self-performed. While the existence of this memory error is well documented, it is not clear how it relates to other errors of source attribution: It is not evident whether the phenomenon reflects (1) a specific tendency to appropriate the actions of other agents, (2) a general confusion of sources with overlapping features, or (3) whether it is a confound induced by the complex structure of the conventionally used experimental paradigm. We conducted two online experiments to assess these potential contributions to observation inflation. Crucially, administering a full source monitoring test revealed a symmetrical pattern: Recognising other’s actions as one’s own occurred at the same rate as misattributing one’s own actions to another agent. The findings resonate with source-monitoring frameworks by suggesting that source attribution errors arise due to the similarity of the sources, whereas the evidence speaks against a special status for appropriating observed actions.
Revisiting novel word semantic priming: The role of strategic priming mechanisms
Authors: Ball Lewis V , Brusini Perrine , Bannard Colin
Published: November 2024

Although it has been proposed that new words are encoded in a qualitatively different way from established words—in episodic rather than semantic memory—such accounts are challenged by the finding that newly learnt words influence the processing of well-known words in semantic priming tasks. In this article, we explore whether this apparent contradiction is due to differences in task design. Specifically, we hypothesised that a large stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) would allow the participant to engage strategic retrieval and priming mechanisms to facilitate the recognition of a semantically related word, compared with a shorter SOA, which promotes more automatic processing. In Experiment 1, 60 participants learned 34 novel words and their meanings that later served as primes for related/unrelated existing word targets in a primed lexical decision task, with a 450 ms SOA. There was no significant priming effect. In Experiment 2, we increased the SOA to 1,000 ms, and found a significant priming effect with novel words. Finally, there was no significant priming effect with novel words in Experiment 3 that used a 200 ms SOA. A semantic priming effect with familiar words was found in Experiments 1 and 3, but not Experiment 2 (the longest SOA). We interpret these results as providing evidence for the idea that new and existing words are represented differently, with the former encoded outside of conventional language networks as they appear to rely predominantly on slow (strategic) mechanisms to prime related, existing words.
Effectiveness of early vocational rehabilitation versus usual care to support RETurn to work after stroKE: A pragmatic, parallel-arm multicenter, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Radford KA , Wright-Hughes A , Thompson E , Clarke DJ , Phillips J , Holmes J , Powers K , Trusson D , Craven K , Watkins C , Bowen A , McKevitt C , Stevens J , Murray JD , O’Connor RJ , Pyne S , Risebro H , Cameron R , Sach TH , Day F , Farrin AJ
Published: November 2024

Background:

Return-to-work is a major goal achieved by fewer than 50% stroke survivors. Evidence on how to support return-to-work is lacking.

Aims:

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Early Stroke Specialist Vocational Rehabilitation (ESSVR) plus usual care (UC) (i.e. usual NHS rehabilitation) versus UC alone for helping people return-to-work after stroke.

Methods:

This pragmatic, multicentre, individually randomized controlled trial with embedded economic and process evaluations compared ESSVR with UC in 21 NHS stroke services across England and Wales. Eligible participants were aged ⩾ 18 years, in work at stroke onset, hospitalized with new stroke and within 12 weeks of stroke. People not intending to return-to-work were excluded. Participants were randomized (5:4) to individually tailored ESSVR delivered by stroke specialist occupational therapists for up to 12 months or usual National Health Service rehabilitation. Primary outcome was self-reported return-to-work for ⩾ 2 h per week at 12 months. Primary and safety analyses were done in the intention-to-treat population.

Results:

Between 1 June 2018, and 7 March 2022, 583 participants (Mage 54.1 years (SD 11.0), 69% male) were randomized to ESSVR (n = 324) or UC (n = 259). Primary outcome data were available for 454 (77.9%) participants. Intention-to-treat analysis showed no evidence of a difference in the proportion of participants returned-to-work at 12 months (165/257 (64.2%) ESSVR vs 117/197 (59.4%) UC; adjusted odds ratio 1.12 (95% CI: 0.75–1.68), p = 0.5678). There was some indication that older participants and those with more post-stroke impairment were more likely to benefit from ESSVR (interaction p = 0.0239 and p = 0.0959, respectively).

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the largest trial of a stroke vocational rehabilitation (VR) intervention ever conducted. We found no evidence that ESSVR conferred any benefits over UC in improving return-to-work rates 12 months post-stroke. Return-to-work (for at least 2 h per week) rates were higher than in previous studies (64.2% ESSVR vs 59.4% UC) at 12 months and more than double that observed in our feasibility trial (26%). Interpretation of findings was limited by a predominantly mild–moderate sample of participants and the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic impacted the trial, ESSVR and UC delivery, altering the work environment and employer behavior. These changes influenced our primary outcome and the meaning of work in people’s lives; all pivotal to the context of ESSVR delivery and its mechanisms of action.

Data access:

Data available on reasonable request.

Registration:

ISRCTN12464275.
Authenticity, absence, and pedagogy on a historical injustice bus tour
Authors: Miles James
Published: November 2024

This article explores how memory practices at sites of historical injustice are shaped by authenticity and absence. It explores a case study of a weeklong bus tour which visited over 15 historic sites dedicated to memorializing the internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War. Drawing on the concept of dark tourism, this article explores how the bus tour was simultaneously a planned pedagogical experience, and part of a larger and sustained set of memory practices dedicated to maintaining and cultivating the cultural memory of injustices faced by Japanese Canadians. The article illustrates how these memory practices helped establish a pedagogical authority for some attendees and facilitated certain ethical engagements with the difficult past while avoiding and excluding others. It also demonstrates how the practice of dark tourism is implicated in larger conversations about the erasure of settler colonialism at sites of memory in Canada.
Remembering and forgetting famines in Ethiopia
Authors: Tefera Fisseha Fantahun , Orjuela Camilla
Published: November 2024

This article aims to advance the understanding of famine memorialization—or the lack of it—in postcolonial Africa by focusing on famines in Ethiopia. It analyses the memory politics of Ethiopian state actors, and the silenced or marginalized place of famines, particularly the 1984–1985 famine. Drawing on interviews with individuals involved in memory-making in Ethiopia, observations of museums, monuments and other memory sites, and archival and secondary sources, the article shows how famine memory only appears at the margins of public commemoration initiatives. It discusses how tensions between a centralized national authority and Ethiopian identity, on the one hand, and regional ethno-national politics, on the other hand, along with efforts to brand the country as modern and developed, have served to silence past famines. However, artistic work and initiatives to remember famine victims “from below” contribute, to some extent, toward making the memory of mass-starvation publicly visible.
Early-stage hypertension defined by the 2017 ACC/AHA blood pressure guideline carries excessive cardiovascular risk in axial spondyloarthritis patients
Authors: Shi Lin-Hong , So Ho , Lam Steven Ho Man , Li Tena K. , Li Edmund , Szeto Cheuk-Chun , Tam Lai-Shan
Published: November 2024

Background:

Hypertension (HTN) is the most important modifiable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular events (CVEs). Patients with axSpA are also associated with an increased risk of future CVE.

Objectives:

To ascertain whether baseline early-stage HTN is a predictor of future CVE in addition to inflammation in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Design:

A retrospective cohort study.

Methods:

Patients with axSpA were recruited from 2001 to 2017. Patients with at least 2 years of follow-up and without prior CVE were divided into three groups according to the calculated mean blood pressure (BP) over the first 2-year follow-up period (adjusted mean BP) (⩾140/90, 130–139/80–89, and <130/80 mm Hg). They were followed from baseline until the end of 2020 or the occurrence of a first CVE. Multivariate Cox regression analyses adjusting for baseline and time-varying variables were used to assess the relationship between mean BP and CVE.

Results:

Out of the 437 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria, 49 (11.2%) and 132 (30.2%) had an adjusted mean BP ⩾ 140/90 and 130–139/80–89 mm Hg, respectively, and 256 (58.6%) were pre-HTN. After a median follow-up of 12 (7–18) years, 56 (12.8%) CVEs were documented. The incidence rates were 21.4, 14.2, and 5.9 per 1000 patient-years for the three groups, respectively. Baseline adjusted mean BP of 130–139/80–89 mm Hg was independently associated with the occurrence of CVE after adjusting for the baseline covariates as well as time-varying high inflammatory burden.

Conclusion:

Baseline-defined early-stage HTN carries excessive risk of developing CVE which may be due to untreated inflammatory burden. Early antihypertensive therapy should target this BP level to minimize their future risk of CVE.
PQ-LEACH: A novel post-quantum protocol for securing WSNs communication
Authors: Aldosari Shaykhah S , Aldawsari Layla S
Published: November 2024

Ensuring the confidentiality of communication is of paramount significance. Traditionally, cryptographic practices for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) have been primarily based on classical cryptography like RSA and Elliptic Curve, which are potentially susceptible to cyber attacks from future quantum computers with enough computing power. To ensure the protection and safety of inter-node communication in WSNs, it becomes imperative to employ a Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithm. This paper presents post-quantum low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (PQ-LEACH), an advanced secure wireless communication protocol based on the LEACH protocol. By integrating post-quantum cryptography, specifically Kyber’s key encapsulation method, and a key update system, PQ-LEACH effectively enhances the security of communication and mitigates various WSN attacks. Additionally, a comprehensive performance analysis of PQ-LEACH, including its impact on network energy efficiency and longevity, is conducted. The results demonstrate the trade-offs between enhanced security measures and operational performance, providing critical insights for the deployment of secure and efficient WSNs in a quantum-threatened landscape.
Improvement of Glycemia Risk Index and Continuous Glucose Monitoring Metrics During Ramadan Fasting in Type 1 Diabetes: A Real-World Observational Study
Authors: Al Hayek Ayman , Al Dawish Mohamed A.
Published: November 2024

Background:

Managing glycemia during Ramadan is challenging for individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) due to prolonged fasting and altered eating patterns. While many are exempt from fasting, some choose to fast, necessitating careful monitoring. The glycemia risk index (GRI) is valuable for assessing glycemic quality and interpreting continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data to identify individuals needing closer clinical attention. This study investigates the effects of Ramadan fasting on glycemic control in T1D, focusing on GRI and its components for hypoglycemia (CHypo) and hyperglycemia (CHyper).

Method:

An ambispective study involved 186 individuals with T1D using intermittent scanning CGM (isCGM). Data were retrospectively collected for one month before Ramadan and prospectively during and one month after Ramadan. Clinical, metabolic, and glycemic data were collected, with GRI calculated alongside its components.

Results:

During Ramadan, GRI improved by 54.6% (from 56.4 to 25.6), CHypo decreased by 60% (from 6 to 2.4), and CHyper dropped by 40.5% (from 21 to 12.5). However, these benefits were temporary, as glycemic measures increased after Ramadan, reflecting a return to pre-Ramadan patterns once normal routines resumed. No participants were admitted for diabetes emergencies during Ramadan. Adolescents and patients on insulin pumps had more favorable outcomes. GRI and its components significantly correlated with other CGM metrics, with these relationships maintained during and after Ramadan.

Conclusions:

Ramadan fasting significantly improved GRI and its components in individuals with T1D. Incorporating GRI as a novel metric alongside classical CGM metrics could enhance glycemic control, highlighting the need for personalized diabetes management strategies.
A left-right divide? Alternative news use and political trust, populist attitudes, and populist vote intentions in the case of Denmark
Authors: Brems Miriam Kroman
Published: November 2024

Many western democracies have witnessed an upsurge of partisan alternative media that explicitly challenge the legitimacy of mainstream media and politics alike and promote populist discourses. Accordingly, alternative media are often discussed in relation to lower levels of political trust and support for populist parties. Yet, only a limited number of studies have investigated these relationships empirically. Drawing on survey data representative of the Danish adult population ( n = 1,518) collected in January/February 2023, this study investigates how using alternative media is related to political trust, populist attitudes, and populist vote intentions. Unlike previous studies, it distinguishes between left-wing and right-wing alternative media users and finds notable differences: Users of right-wing alternative media have lower political trust, hold more populist attitudes, and have greater predicted probability of intending to vote for a right-wing populist party than non-users, but similar results were not found for users of left-wing alternative media. The study discusses potential explanations for this and how (different) alternative media might impact democracy.
Beyond Social Media: The Influence of News Consumption, Populism, and Expert Trust on Belief in COVID-19 Misinformation
Authors: Štětka Václav , Brandao Francisco , Tóth Fanni , Mihelj Sabina , Rothberg Danilo , Hallin Daniel , Klimkiewicz Beata , Ferracioli Paulo
Published: November 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an unprecedented influx of misinformation often with adverse impact on the effectiveness of institutional responses to the health crisis. However, relatively little is still known about the factors that may have facilitated the proliferation and public acceptance of misinformation related to the virus or to the government’s anti-pandemic measures, particularly in comparative perspective. Utilizing data collected by a representative cross-country survey ( N = 5,000) in four countries led by populist leaders during the pandemic—Brazil, Poland, Serbia, and the United States—this study explores the links between three mutually interrelated factors, namely media usage across different platforms, affinity to populism, and trust in scientific expertise, and people’s beliefs in selected COVID-related misinformation. The findings show that preexisting attitudes, especially affinity to populism and mistrust of experts, are generally stronger predictors of people’s likelihood to endorse misinformation related to the pandemic than their news consumption patterns. Nevertheless, the analysis also indicates an important role played by exposure to specific media brands, particularly those promoting a skeptical stance toward preventive measures and COVID-19 vaccines, as well as messaging apps, which display a stronger relationship with misinformation beliefs than social networking sites. The article concludes by discussing implications for practical efforts to combat misinformation, especially during a health crisis.
The LncRNA PRNCR1 rs13252298 GG genotype is correlated with reducing susceptibility to recurrent spontaneous miscarriage in a southern Chinese population
Authors: Mai Hanran , Ke Junyi , Luo Xilian , Zheng Zilin , Luo Jieyi , Wang Chenlu , Lin Yueling , He Menghua , Qu Yanxia , Xu Yufen , Fu Lanyan , Pi Lei , Zhou Huazhong , Gu Xiaoqiong , Che Di , Zuo Liandong
Published: November 2024

Background:

LncRNAs play diverse roles and participate in various biological processes within the human body. It has been frequently reported that they are involved in the occurrence and development of recurrent spontaneous miscarriage. PRNCR1, a crucial player in several types of cancers, may also have implications for recurrent spontaneous miscarriage risk. However, the correlation between PRNCR1 rs13252298 A > G polymorphism and this risk remains unclear. In summary, we conducted the following experiments to investigate the association between the PRNCR1 polymorphic site rs13252298 and susceptibility to recurrent spontaneous miscarriage.

Method:

Our research included 695 healthy controls and 413 patients with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage from southern China. Genotyping was performed using the TaqMan method.

Result:

Our findings revealed that there is a relationship between PRNCR1 rs13252298 A > G polymorphism and lower susceptibility to recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (AG and AA: adjusted OR = 0.794, 95% CI = 0.527–1.196, p = 0.2696; GG and AA: adjusted OR = 0.705, 95% CI = 0.542–0.917, p = 0.0092; dominant model: adjusted OR = 0.722, 95% CI = 0.563–0.926, p = 0.0104; recessive model: adjusted OR = 0.949, 95% CI = 0.644–1.398, p = 0.7912).

Conclusion:

The results of our study demonstrate that the PRNCR1 rs13252298 A > G allele may contribute to a decreased risk of recurrent spontaneous miscarriage. The rs13252298 polymorphism could potentially serve as a biomarker for detecting recurrent spontaneous miscarriage risk and aiding prevention efforts.
Ad Astra per aquam (to the stars, through water): The Kansas Aqueduct Project as a sociotechnical imaginary in the Anthropocene
Authors: Sanderson Matthew R , Griggs Burke W , Schäfer Georg N
Published: November 2024

Groundwater supplies are dwindling worldwide as the Anthropocene deepens and human-water systems become more tightly coupled. Key actors are searching for ways to augment water supplies, including by large-scale transport. In this context, the role of human culture – values, beliefs, norms, symbols, language – is becoming even more important as a driver of socio-ecological change. We explore the role of culture in coupled, human-water systems through a case study of an emergent outcome in a groundwater-dependent system: the Kansas Aqueduct Project (KAP) – a large, yet-to-be-constructed infrastructure project that would divert water from the Missouri River 300 miles uphill, at exceptional cost to replenish groundwater supplies in the High Plains/Ogallala Aquifer, which has been depleted by irrigated agriculture. First proposed in the 1980s, the KAP has re-emerged as a socio-technical ‘solution’ to the unsustainable use of groundwater in Western Kansas. Given the significant barriers to its construction, why and how has the KAP survived as an idea? We employ the concept of a sociotechnical imaginary to understand the re-emergence of the KAP in this context. We show that the KAP is a re-assertion of an anthropocentric, specifically Euro-American cultural vision of progress and order, one that is based in environmental law, centers humans, naturalizes the region’s post-war history, and sees agriculture as the foundation of society. It is this order that is actually more imperiled by groundwater decline than the water itself.
Encountering “the Other” in Religious Social Media: A Cross-Cultural Analysis
Authors: Haq Shoaib Ul , Kwok Ray Yiu-keung
Published: November 2024

This study examines how social media platforms shape encounters with religious “others” across diverse cultural contexts, focusing on Muslim users in Pakistan and Buddhist/Christian users in Hong Kong. Through qualitative interviews and reflexive thematic analysis, we identify key patterns in how these platforms both facilitate and constrain meaningful interreligious dialogue. We find that while religious social media can expand exposure to diverse perspectives, it often reinforces in-group boundaries and amplifies polarization through echo chamber effects. Our findings further reveal that users engage in selective exposure, primarily interacting with like-minded believers, while also developing new competencies as “religious bridge-builders” in some cases who cultivate new competencies for interreligious communication. We develop a theoretical framework of “digital othering” to explain how believers navigate religious identity, knowledge, and community in online spaces. By adopting a cross-cultural comparative approach, the study contributes to our understanding of religion in the digital age, offering insights into the culturally specific manifestations of digital othering while also identifying broader patterns that transcend particular contexts. This research advances the field of digital religion studies, providing a nuanced understanding of how social media reshapes religious expression, authority, and interreligious relations in an increasingly digitized global society.
Automatic segmentation of extensor carpi ulnaris tendon and detection of tendinosis with convolutional neural networks
Authors: Hämäläinen Mathias , Sormaala Markus , Kaseva Tuomas , Salli Eero , Savolainen Sauli , Kangasniemi Marko
Published: November 2024

Background

Extensor Carpi Ulnaris (ECU) tendinosis, a frequent cause of chronic wrist pain, requires prompt diagnosis to prevent disability. This study demonstrates the use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for automated detection and segmentation of the ECU tendon and tendinosis in 2D axial wrist MRI.

Purpose

To develop a CNN for the automated detection of ECU tendon and automatic delineation of tendinosis in 2D wrist MRI. The study serves as a proof-of-concept, demonstrating the feasibility of automating the segmentation of musculoskeletal structures in wrist MRI and offering an efficient solution for detecting tendinosis.

Material and Methods

In a retrospective analysis of 1081 patients undergoing wrist MRI imaging, 46 patients exhibited tendinosis. Two deep learning-based methods for segmenting the ECU tendon and T2 hyperintense lesions indicative of tendinosis from 2D axial wrist MRI series were developed and compared in this study. Both methods were trained and evaluated over all 46 patients using Dice score as the main evaluation metric.

Results

The mean ECU tendon segmentation Dice score ranged from 0.61 to 0.64 (± 0.27 to 0.31). Tendinosis detection yielded a Dice score of 0.38 for both the threshold method (±0.19) and the CNN (±0.22). A Dice score > 0.50 indicated successful detection, with our methods achieving a detection rate of 72–76%.

Conclusion

The developed CNN effectively detected and segmented the ECU tendon in 2D MRI series. Tendinosis was detected with comparable accuracy using both signal intensity thresholding and the trained CNN method.
Evaluating the Scope of Services and Monetary Impact of Charity Medical Clinics in North Texas
Authors: Mills Logan G. , Newsom Barbara , Lewis Abigail , Pottorff Alexandra , Wallace Wu Ashley , Castro Erika , Morgan Kelsi , Wu Lawrence , Tran Bau P. , Lake Katherine , Guirguis Mina , Wagner James M. , Gimpel Nora , Kindratt Tiffany B.
Published: November 2024

Introduction/Objectives:

The cost of medical services is a major barrier to healthcare accessibility for underserved populations in the United States. Community charity medical clinics help address this disparity by providing free or reduced-cost care for the medically underinsured; however, their economic and public health contributions are unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the scope of services and monetary impact of 4 community charity medical clinics in North Texas, with one of the largest medically underinsured populations in the United States.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted using electronic health records from 4 clinics serving adults and children in North Texas. Encounters from June 1 to December 31, 2018 completed by with sufficient documentation to assign a level of service were reviewed. There were 3942 encounters identified and 2148 (54.5%) audited. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Evaluation and Management Standards were used to identify level of service provided for each encounter, and their subsequent value was determined based on CMS fee-for-service schedules at the time service was provided. Common conditions managed during these encounters were identified using ICD-10 codes documented with each encounter.

Results:

The most prevalent diagnoses encountered were hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and major depressive disorder. We estimate the total value of services and medications provided for 1 year is between $840 278.30 to $845 737.41.

Conclusions:

The charity clinics in North Texas provide a significant economic impact through a high level of charity care and a broad scope of services for a vulnerable patient population. The results may be used in the development and implementation of future services to meet the needs of the medically underinsured.
Passion as Capital: The Cultural Production of “Good Computer Scientists”
Authors: Darling-Wolf Hana , Patitsas Elizabeth
Published: November 2024

“Do what you love” has become a hegemonic mantra in large swaths of the labor force, and the expectation for workers to be passionate about their work is intense within the technology sector. When we interviewed eight undergraduates at a large Canadian university about what makes someone a “good computer scientist,” participants stressed the importance of passion. Passion was described as a form of capital: to be accumulated and traded for advancement in the labor market. We examine how passion works as a hegemonic norm within this culture, and untangle passion as requiring two distinct processes: conspicuous production (via extracurriculars and internships), and affective passion (via performing interest and enthusiasm for the subject). We explore the relationships and feedback loops amongst conspicuous production, affective passion, and other forms of Bourdieusian capital. In doing so, we uncover the mechanics of the power structures which underlie post-feminist and meritocratic narratives of self-motivated passion.
Association Between Types of Physical Activity and Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease Based on US Guidelines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cha Jaewoo , Kim Jeehyun , Hong Kwan
Published: November 2024

The mortality rate from ischemic heart disease (IHD) is increasing in both developed and developing countries. The US guidelines for physical activity are known to reduce the risk of IHD; however, no literature review has verified this. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the protective effect of adhering to the US guidelines for physical activity on the IHD risk based on the types of exercise. Six databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched from January 1, 2000, to November 6, 2022. The literature search was performed on November 6, 2022, at the latest. Only studies designed and conducted in English focusing on IHD-related physical activities in humans were included. The main outcomes were the heterogeneity of studies, overall effects of all types of physical activity, and IHD risk. The random effects model was measured, and a funnel plot was used to examine for publication bias. When the US guidelines for physical activity were not applied, a high level of heterogeneity was found in the effects of physical activity based on its type, with overall effects of 0.764 (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.737, 0.795]). The effect of physical activity on IHD was 0.593 (OR, 95% CI [0.489, 0.720]). No publication bias was observed. After applying US guidelines for physical activity, a low level of heterogeneity was found in its effects, and the observed OR for myocardial infarction was 0.515 (95% CI [0.401, 0.662]). Each type of exercise had different effects on reducing IHD, and certain beneficial results were observed if US guidelines for physical activity were met.
Unlocking the Mysteries of Academic Writing: A Corpus-based Analysis of Lexical Bundles in L2 English for Engineering Students
Authors: Wing Yee Siu Barbara , Afzaal Muhammad , Saleh Aldayel Hessah , Curle Samantha
Published: November 2024

This study examines the use of lexical bundles in reports produced by university-level L2 English writers in civil and environmental engineering (CEE). The corpus consists of 119 reports, and the study compares the use of different types of lexical bundles (3-word, 4-word, and 5-word) in high-scoring and low-scoring papers. The results show that high-scoring papers use a wider range of lexical bundles, and that the use of lexical bundles varies by discipline. The study also identifies specific features of the lexical bundles that contribute to score differences. The findings suggest that teaching lexical bundles and vocabulary can improve the academic writing of engineering students. The paper concludes by calling for further research on the impact of formulaic expressions on attainment scores in L2 writing.
The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Non-Medical Workers Constantly Interacting with Patients
Authors: Gago-Valiente Francisco-Javier , Mariscal-Pérez Laura , del Campo-Jiménez Angela , Merino-Godoy María-de-los-Ángeles , Mendoza-Sierra María-Isabel , Teixeira da Costa Emilia , Moreno-Sánchez Emilia
Published: November 2024

As medical staff, orderlies are at danger of showing negative signs of psychological health. They are exposed to many stresses that may have a negative impact on their personal lives, and they have also been subjected to the difficult condition of COVID-19 in their workplace. However, since they are not considered to be medical professionals, very few studies and interventions are focused on them. The aim of the present research was to detect the interactions among the work and family environments, as well as to analyze self-perceived mental health and burnout in people who worked as orderlies during the pandemic in public healthcare centers in Huelva (Spain), considering a set of sociodemographic variables. The field work was conducted between April and June 2020. Systematic random sampling was carried out. Information from 84 contributors was gathered through the SWING, MBI-HSS, and GHQ-12 forms. Univariate and bivariate analyzes and correlation tests were carried out. The data were analyzed and correlations were established. The majority of the participants obtained a negative interaction result of work over family. Those who had had contact with SARS-CoV-2 situations presented greater proportions of positive outcome in GHQ-12, bad work-family interaction, burnout, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization. The men presented a worse general mental health state than the women. Orderlies of Huelva who have had contact with COVID-19 in their workplace present worse indicators of psychological health and greater negative interaction of work over family than those who have not had any contact with these circumstances.