bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concurrent validity of the Child Occupational Self-Assessment in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Sattari Mahsa , Ahmadi Kahjoogh Mina
Published: February 2023

Background/aim:

Occupational therapists use different models and measurements for assessing children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One of those measurements is the Child Occupational Self-Assessment. In this study, concurrent validity of the Child Occupational Self-Assessment with Pediatric Quality of Life was tested in children with ADHD.

Methods:

A correlational study was conducted. The Child Occupational Self-Assessment and Pediatric Quality of Life were filled by 128 children with ADHD aged between 8 and 11 years.

Findings:

The results indicated that in competency subscale the highest correlation coefficient was for the total score of Pediatric Quality of Life ( r = 0.56, p < 0.01) and the lowest was for social performance ( r = −0.44, p < 0.01). The highest and lowest correlation coefficient in value subscale were for the total score ( r = −0.46, p < 0.01) and emotional performance of Pediatric Quality of Life ( r = −0.34, p < 0.01), respectively.

Conclusions:

The Child Occupational Self-Assessment has an acceptable concurrent validity with Pediatric Quality of Life. It can be a suitable measurement for assessing of children with ADHD.
Value magic
Authors: Lake Robert W
Published: February 2023

The urban process encompasses vast structures and practices engaged in creating, extracting, and accumulating value in and from the urban landscape. But what is value and how does it attain its coercive power over urban life? The unreflective deployment of axiomatic assumptions regarding the source and substance of value constitutes a form of magical thinking conjuring something out of nothing and transforming an immaterial abstraction into a material force that is real in its consequences. Unpacking the concept of value reveals a contentious debate regarding the ontological status of value as a driver of the urban process. Alternative formulations posit value as intrinsic or extrinsic, objective or subjective, residing in the world or constructed in the mind, driven by universal law or spatially and temporally contingent. Transcending all such dualisms, a transactional approach drawn from Deweyan pragmatism understands value as a co-constitutive interrelation among a valuing subject, an object of valuation, and the enveloping context in which valuation occurs. The delineation of value's ontology is fraught with political consequences for reproducing or altering the urban status quo. The move toward desired outcomes begins with articulating the foundational assumptions that underlie the value practices propelling the urban process in specific situations. Pluralizing value assumptions focuses the problem on the political question concerning whose value(s) prevail in a given situation. This redefinition shifts the focus from ameliorating current practices of extracting value to politically contesting the value commitments at work in the world.
Effect of Wheel Polygonization on Vehicle-Track Coupling System with Different Track Structures
Authors: Shi Jiaqi , Shi Hongmei , Li Jianbo
Published: February 2023

Wheel polygonal wear aggravates the dynamic responses of vehicle-track coupling systems, especially for the wheel-rail interaction force and rail vibration acceleration, which will influence train operation safety. Previous studies about wheel polygonal wear mostly focused on high-speed trains, while freight trains and track systems are rarely involved. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of the wheel polygonization effect on the dynamic responses of vehicle-track coupling systems, involving a high-speed train, a heavy haul freight train, ballasted tracks, and slab ballastless tracks. With the combined excitation of track irregularity and wheel polygons of different orders and wave depths, the simulation results are analyzed in the time domain and frequency domain, and this indicates that the rail accelerations and wheel/rail forces of slab tracks induced by over-15th order polygonal wear are more intense than those of ballasted tracks as high-speed trains pass at speeds of 300 km/h and above, and the responses of freight trains are more severe than those of passenger trains on ballasted tracks. For the vehicle system of freight wagons, wheel polygonization has a more obvious effect on the wheelset than the car-body and bogie frame. Moreover, rail vertical acceleration is more sensitive to the various types of wheel polygonal defect in different track structures, and this can serve as a vital indicator of polygonal wear.
Failure Rates of Repaired Bucket-Handle Tears of the Medial Meniscus Concomitant With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Cohort Study of 253 Patients From the SANTI Study Group With a Mean Follow-up of 94 Months
Authors: El Helou Abdo , Gousopoulos Lampros , Shatrov Jobe , Hopper Graeme P. , Philippe Corentin , Ayata Merwane , Thaunat Mathieu , Fayard Jean-Marie , Freychet Benjamin , Vieira Thais Dutra , Sonnery-Cottet Bertrand
Published: February 2023

Background:

Failure rates of repaired bucket-handle medial meniscal tears (BHMMTs) concomitant with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are as high as 20%. The outcomes of posteromedial portal suture hook repair have not been compared with all-inside repair techniques for this subtype of meniscal lesion.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and failure rates of patients who underwent BHMMT repair concomitant with ACLR using an all-inside technique, suture hook + all-inside technique, or suture hook + outside-in technique. It was hypothesized that no significant differences in failure rates would be found between the groups.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients diagnosed with a BHMMT who underwent meniscal repair during primary ACLR and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Patients were grouped based on the meniscal repair technique used: all-inside repair, suture hook + all-inside repair, or suture hook + outside-in repair. At the end of the study period, secondary medial meniscectomy rates were determined.

Results:

The study population comprised 253 patients who underwent repair of a BHMMT with concomitant ACLR with a mean follow-up of 94.0 ± 47.6 months. A total of 114 patients (45.1%) underwent all-inside repair, 61 patients (24.1%) underwent suture hook + all-inside repair, and 78 patients (30.8%) underwent suture hook + outside-in repair. Overall, there were 36 failures. The failure rates were 20.2%, 14.8%, and 5.1%, respectively ( P = .0135). All-inside repairs were >4 times more likely to fail than suture hook + outside-in repairs (hazard ratio [HR], 4.103; 95% CI, 1.369-12.296; P = .0117). Failure was also 3 times higher (HR, 2.943; 95% CI, 1.224-7.075; P = .0159) for patients <30 years of age compared with those aged ≥30 years. An additional anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) was also found to reduce the failure rate of repaired BHMMTs concomitant with ACLR.

Conclusion:

Combined suture hook + outside-in repair of BHMMTs resulted in significantly fewer failures than all other techniques. Furthermore, age <30 years and no additional ALLR were associated with higher failure rates.
Exploring the Role of Process Data Analysis in Understanding Student Performance and Interactive Behavior in a Game-Based Argument Task
Authors: Song Yi , Zhu Mengxiao , Sparks Jesse R.
Published: February 2023

In this research, we use a process data analysis approach to gather additional evidence about students’ argumentation skills beyond their performance scores in a computer-based assessment. This game-enhanced scenario-based assessment (named Seaball) included five activities that require students to demonstrate their argumentation skills within a scenario about whether junk food should be sold to students. Our research sample included 104 middle school students. Process data analyses focused on an “Interview” activity in which students explored different locations and interviewed various characters to identify their opinions on the junk food issue and categorize each opinion as pro or con. Students could take various paths to complete the activity. Results indicated that the number of trials students made in the Interview activity predicted their performance on the Interview activity as well as the total Seaball scores. It was also found that most students improved their answers in the Interview activity after receiving automated feedback and making corresponding changes. Besides the connections between student activities and performance, results from analyzing the process data helped us to identify difficult items in the task. We conclude with implications for conducting process data analysis to better assess students’ argumentation skills and to inform task design.
Healing, Empowering, Engaging, Learning, and Decolonizing Through Culture: Living Wellness, Resilience, and Resurgence in the Classroom Through Creative Arts
Authors: Tabor Shannon M. , Van Bavel Marisa , Fellner Karlee D. , Schwartz Kelly Dean , Black Theron , Black Water Clarence , Crop Eared Wolf Star , Day Chief Perry , Krugar Deon , Monroe Lauren , Pepion John
Published: February 2023

Art and Indigenous culture are inseparable. From the immaculately decorated lodges and war shirts of thousands of years to contemporary mixed and digital media images, Indigenous arts are expressions of survivance. Creative arts have sustained Indigenous ways of knowing, being, doing, and healing through attempted cultural genocide. Research has shown that art engages youth in life skill-building, learning, emotional regulating, and spiritual healing, supporting art as an intervention for wellness. Culturally-based artistic expression and the process of creating promotes wellness among Indigenous youth. As primary sites of assimilation and colonialism, educational institutions have a responsibility to enact reconciliation through culturally-rooted arts-based approaches to wellness. School psychologists are wellpositioned to support these approaches. This study took place in Kainaiwa in Southern Alberta and explored Niitsitapi artists’ and educators’ perspectives on the impacts of culturally-rooted arts-based interventions with Niitsitapi middle school students in the classroom. Over 2 days, professional Indigenous artists shared their art practices with students at a middle school in Kainai First Nation in Alberta. We had research conversations with 12 Niitsitapi community members involved in the event using a decolonizing, community-based approach. Indigenous storywork was used to understand research conversations, highlighting information and guidance for school psychologists to inform their engagement with Indigenous students and community members in schools. Findings emphasized art as healing, particularly given its connection to culture. Further, cultural engagement through art supports student wellness and educational engagement. Art can be used to empower voice, overcome deficit narratives, create new stories, and cope with disharmony. Art can also engage youth in discovery and learning, providing an alternative to a lecture style of learning, increasing enjoyment in the classroom experience. These findings have practical implications for future interventions and the integration of art pedagogically. This paper offers recommendations that highlight stark distinctions between culturally-rooted art practice and conventional Eurocentric art approaches in education.
Respiratory Monitoring During Mechanical Ventilation: The Present and the Future
Authors: Roshdy Ashraf
Published: February 2023

The increased application of mechanical ventilation, the recognition of its harms and the interest in individualization raised the need for an effective monitoring. An increasing number of monitoring tools and modalities were introduced over the past 2 decades with growing insight into asynchrony, lung and chest wall mechanics, respiratory effort and drive. They should be used in a complementary rather than a standalone way. A sound strategy can guide a reduction in adverse effects like ventilator-induced lung injury, ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction, patient-ventilator asynchrony and helps early weaning from the ventilator. However, the diversity, complexity, lack of expertise, and associated cost make formulating the appropriate monitoring strategy a challenge for clinicians. Most often, a big amount of data is fed to the clinicians making interpretation difficult. Therefore, it is fundamental for intensivists to be aware of the principle, advantages, and limits of each tool. This analytic review includes a simplified narrative of the commonly used basic and advanced respiratory monitors along with their limits and future prospective.
The Role of Community Organisations in the Collective Mobilisation of Migrant Workers: The Importance of a ‘Community’-Oriented Perspective
Authors: Jiang Joyce , Korczynski Marek
Published: February 2023

In examining the collective mobilisation of migrant workers, scholars have explored the emergence of community organisations as alternative forms of worker representation. However, community unionism scholars tend to adopt a union-centric perspective, which leaves unexplored the complex nature of community organisations. We argue that it is important to adopt a ‘community’-oriented perspective. Such a perspective allows us to explore varied capacity for collective actions and different forms of identity framing across community organisations. We argue that these can affect the union–community relationship and organising outcomes. By comparing ethnographic case studies of the role of two community organisations vis-a-vis the collective mobilisation of migrant workers, we conclude that community organisations which focus on participatory internal relations, and which frame collective identities (including class) in an intersectional way, are more likely to have reciprocal relationships with trade unions and contribute to collective mobilisation.
Detection of underway gaps in rail systems by simulative and experimental methods
Authors: Başar Mustafa T , Baltacıoğlu M Kaan
Published: February 2023

In this study, simulation and experimental studies have been carried out to determine the gaps formed under the rail line in rail transportation. In the simulations, where the analyzes are carried out with the finite element method, two different rail line conditions are designed for the normal and the defective lines. The displacement amounts and acceleration data in the vertical axis are examined for the normal and defective line conditions of the obtained vibration effect. The experimental conditions were designed in exact harmony with the simulative environment. A vehicle was moved at a constant speed of 0.112 m/s that has 1666 kg mass during the experiments. Vibration effects on the ground were monitored instantly with the acceleration sensor placed on the vehicle. In total, 4.425×10−3 m2 defected area is created under the certain points of rails. After the smooth and imperfect paths were examined both experimentally and simulatively, the results were presented comparatively in graphs. Although the gap is small, the difference between the normal and defective line reaches 61.8% for the displacement data in the simulation. In addition, 108.7% and 12.5% changes occurred, respectively when the simulation and experimental acceleration data were examined between faulty and the normal line. Eventually, the proposed method became a candidate to offer solutions for detecting underway gaps along the line.
Muscle model control of knee joint torque in a powered lower-body orthosis
Authors: Hnat Sandra , Nataraj Raviraj
Published: February 2023

Powered orthoses that employ virtual muscle models for specifying motor commands may better produce natural, human-like joint torque and motion outputs. Here, we design and implement a muscle controller based on the standard 3-element Hill model that outputs a joint torque signal prescribed to the electric motors of a powered orthosis. Real-time simulation of muscle dynamics in a MATLAB/Simulink environment was expressed through a microcontroller on the Parker Hannifin Indego orthosis. To initially demonstrate and examine the force-length and force-velocity relationships of the virtual muscles, we programmed the Indego to perform standard isokinetic and isometric rehabilitation exercises at the knee joint. A Biodex-2 isokinetic dynamometer was used to apply constraints and actively measure changes in knee joint angle, velocity, and torque. The observed torque rise time (∼126 ms) and profiles for torque-angle and torque-velocity for the muscle-model at the knee joint of the orthosis compared favorably to results reported for humans undergoing the same exercises. We further demonstrate potential feasibility for real-world implementation through measures of root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination ( R2), which indicate good matching between the commanded and measured torque outputs. This pilot study represents the first step in developing and implementing control strategies for powered orthoses based on human muscle models.
The relationship between emotional labor level and moral distress
Authors: Iskender Mahinur Durmus , Eren Handan , Çalışkan Nurcan , Yılmaz Elmas
Published: February 2023

Background

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has implications for health professionals.

Aim

The aim of this study was to explain the relationship between emotional labor levels and moral distress in health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique.

Research design

A descriptive and cross-sectional study was adopted.

Participants and research context

Data were collected between 7 February and 7 March 2021. 302 health professionals who were not on leave (annual leave, sick leave, prenatal and postnatal leave, etc.) at the time of the research and who volunteered to participate in the research were included. Research data were collected using a “Personal Information Form,” the “Emotional Labor Scale” and the “Moral Distress Thermometer.”

Ethical considerations

The Ethics Committee approved the study (dated 07.01.2021 and numbered 2021/1-3). The participants were informed of the study aim and written consent was obtained before completing the survey.

Findings

In the present study, the mediator role of emotional labor in the effect of providing service to a patient with COVID-19 and having had COVID-19 on moral distress was examined in health professionals and it was found that there was a correlation between providing service to a patient with COVID-19 and moral distress regardless of whether or not emotional labor had a role in this relationship.

Conclusion

In this study, the relationship between the level of emotional labor and moral distress in health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic was evaluated with a structural equation model.
British traditions and contributions to accounting history research
Authors: Edwards John Richard
Published: February 2023

Studies of Britain's accounting history date from the second half of the nineteenth century. Up to 1970 contributions to what became labelled the ‘traditional’ accounting history literature came from authors with diverse backgrounds – for example, archivists, civil servants, economists, (non-accounting) historians, lawyers, librarians, government employees and accounting practitioners. Accounting remained on the periphery of academe, through to the 1960s, thereby explaining the lack of historiographical contributions from accounting faculty. The theoretical underpinning of historical studies was increasingly recognised, post-1970, with investigations explicitly grounded in economics by the so-called neoclassicists. The second half of the 1980s, in Britain, saw a methodological revolution in the study of accounting's past accelerate through a movement christened ‘The new accounting history’. Key venues for the circulation and publication of studies informed by theories taken from numerous other disciplines included the Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Accounting Conference, first held in Manchester in 1985, and support provided by Accounting, Organizations and Society and other high-ranking academic journals for the publication of historical studies into the behavioural, organisational and sociological positioning of accounting. Participation in accounting history research by academics from other sectors of academe has featured prominently in the growth in interdisciplinarity.
Clinician Self-Disclosure in Palliative Care: Describing a Taxonomy and Proposing a Communication Tool
Authors: Datta-Barua Indrany , Hauser Joshua
Published: February 2023

While patient self-disclosure is expected and necessary in the clinical setting, clinicians generally minimize their own self-disclosure, a practice largely guided by the boundaries of the fiduciary relationship. At the same time, many clinicians can recall a time when they made a self-disclosure to a patient, and it seemed to benefit the treatment relationship, if not the treatment itself. We reviewed literature from a variety of fields describing opinions, theories and limited data about the effects of clinician self-disclosure. Based on our findings, we posit that clinician self-disclosure has the potential to be a beneficial communication tool in palliative medicine, but like any intervention, it is not without risks. Thus, we propose a potential strategy to guide clinicians in thinking about self-disclosures.
Clinical Application of Narrative Therapy in the Treatment of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Banker Jamie E. , Goldenson Dennis
Published: February 2023

Pregnancy and postpartum are full of developmental change for both women and their families. Family members are adjusting to their new roles in the family and women are beginning to define their abilities as a mother and caretaker. For some women, their experience during this time is convoluted by the experience of a perinatal mood and/or anxiety disorder (PMAD). In these cases, women's self of competency or mastery in their role as a mother can become entangled, leading to insecurities along with their depression or anxiety symptoms. Medication treatments and psychotherapy interventions have been established to address the mood and anxiety symptoms and to support the family system. However, a treatment is needed that addresses the PMAD symptoms and the internalization of women's feelings and emotions experienced during this impressionable and often defining time. In this article, we explore the use of Narrative Family Therapy as a way to help women deconstruct unhelpful narratives they may have created during pregnancy and postpartum. A case study is provided to illustrate how Narrative Family Therapy can be used to emotionally reauthor women's stories, and construct new meanings by separating their PMAD symptoms from their identity as a mother.
Individual and Collective Actions Against Climate Change Among Chinese Adults: The Effects of Risk, Efficacy, and Consideration of Future Consequences
Authors: Shi Jingyuan , Li Zixi , Chen Liang , Tang Hongjie
Published: February 2023

In this study, we tested the core premise of the risk perception attitude framework—that perceived risk and perceived efficacy jointly affect intention—and identified consideration of future consequences (CFC) as a boundary condition of the premise in the context of mitigating climate change. Our two-wave survey ( N = 439) revealed that perceived individual-level efficacy predicted intention to perform individual behavior, whereas perceived societal-level risk predicted intention to engage in collective action. For individuals with low CFC, perceived risk and perceived efficacy’s joint effect was positively associated with intention to engage in individual behavior and collective action against climate change.
Vincristine-induced ptosis in a leukemia patient treated with pyridoxine and pyridostigmine
Authors: Johnson Litha , Johnson Joji , Philip Sherin Mary , Thirugnanam Rajasekar
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Blepharoptosis, commonly referred to as ptosis or eyelid sagging, is a condition where the upper eyelid droops over the eye. It can be congenital or acquired and is caused by the weakening of the eyelid muscles.

Case report

We present a case of a 3-year-old boy with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed bilateral ptosis while on treatment with Berlin–Frankfurt Munster-98 protocol.

Management & outcome

The patient was diagnosed with bilateral ptosis due to vincristine, the primary agent in the induction phase of the protocol. The addition of the neuroregenerative agents and supportive measures led to marked improvement, followed by complete resolution within 3 weeks.

Discussion

Vincristine is an anticancer agent with known neurotoxicity, which has a significant role in treating hematological malignancies and sarcoma. In many studies, the addition of neuroregenerative agents such as pyridoxine and pyridostigmine has been noted to hasten recovery without any documented side effects. Similar findings were also drawn from our research due to India's higher incidence of vincristine-induced neurotoxicity. It is essential to promptly diagnose and manage symptoms at the earliest to prevent the risk of permanent nerve damage and inferior quality of life for the patient.
Alleviation of renal injury in rabbits by allisartan
Authors: Li Ruibin , Li Li , Zhang Jidong , Wang Dong , Cui Xiaoran , Bai Long , Zhao Lei , Yang Xiaohong
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between renal injury and inflammatory response induced by high-fat diet in rabbits and the interventional effect of allisartan. Fifteen 6-week-old healthy male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: normal control (NC) group, high-lipid diet (HLD) group, high-lipid diet and allisartan (HLD+ALST) group. After allisartan treatment for 12 weeks, changes in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured enzymatically in the three groups. The left side of the kidney tissue was kept for paraffin section, and HE staining, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and Masson staining were used to observe the renal pathologic changes. TC, TG, LDL-C, Scr and BUN levels were all higher and HDL-C levels were lower in the HLD group compared with the NC group. Compared with the HLD group, Scr and BUN levels were significantly decreased in the HLD+ALST group. The results of HE staining showed that allisartan improved the changes of renal tissue morphology in rabbits on high-fat diet, reduced glomerular mesangial cell proliferation and improved glomerulosclerosis; PAS staining showed that glomerular glycogen deposition was reduced and glomerular red staining was significantly lighter; Masson staining showed that renal tubular blue-stained collagen fibers were reduced. In conclusion, hyperlipidemia can lead to aberrant expression of multiple cellular proteins and kidney tissue morphological damage in rabbits. On the other hand, allisartan attenuated renal injury and the mechanism may be related to the downregulation of the inflammatory response.
So, You Think You Can Parent: Twitter Users’ Responses to Single Father Tropes in Television’s Single Parents
Authors: Bernabo Laurena , Turchi Jennifer
Published: February 2023

As the U.S. single-father population expands, we explore how fans of Single Parents (ABC, 2018–2020) responded to its three single-father characters, each of whom evoke a distinct trope. Viewers use Twitter to engage television programs, and so their tweets provide insight into societal expectations surrounding evolving gendered parenting norms. Using qualitative content analysis, we analyze viewers’ tweets ( N = 834) and explore the ways viewers addressed these characters’ relationships with children, with their fellow single parents, and with romantic partners. Fans celebrated the new millennial approach to fatherhood and challenged the traditional trope of “inept father,” yet hoped the single fathers would re-couple and therefore cease to be single parents. We conclude that Single Parents fans embraced modern, expanding cultural norms for fathers and caregiving while ultimately demonstrating a preference for two-parent households.
Associations of ARMS2 and NR3C2 genes polymorphisms with central serous chorioretinopathy in a Greek population
Authors: Giannopoulos Konstantinos , Gazouli Maria , Chatzistefanou Klio , Gouliopoulos Nikolaos , Lavaris Anastasios , Bakouli Anthi , Moschos Marilita M
Published: February 2023

Background

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is characterized by serous detachment of the central neurosensory retina and it is one of the most common retinal disorders. Various genetic polymorphisms have been associated with CSCR development.

Methods

The aim of our study was to investigate the potential association between ARMS2 (rs10490924) and NR3C2 (rs2070951 and rs5522) genes polymorphisms and CSCR development in a well defined Greek cohort for the first time in literature. We enrolled, in our case-control study, 48 CSCR patients and 137 controls. The ARMS2 (rs10490924) and NR3C2 (rs2070951 and rs5522) genes polymorphisms were analyzed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assays.

Results

In our study, we found significant associations between ARMS2rs10490924 and NR3C2rs2070951 single nucleotide polymorphisms and CSCR development. Specifically, the GTrs10490924 genotype frequency of the ARMS2 gene was found to be significantly associated with risk of CSCR and T allele of rs10490924 ARMS2 gene was also found to increase risk for CSCR. The genotype frequency GC and CC of rs2070951 NR3C2 gene were observed more frequently in CSCR patients than controls and C allele of rs2070951 NR3C2 gene was also observed more frequently in CSCR patients than controls. Rs5522 of NR3C2 gene polymorphism was not found to be significantly associated with CSCR.

Conclusion

Our findings showed, for the first time in a Greek population, that SNPs in the ARMS2 and NR3C2 genes are significantly associated with risk of CSCR. The results of this study support the involvement of extracellular matrix ( ARMS2 gene) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the pathogenesis of CSCR.
Ocular surface and in vivo confocal microscopic findings in patients with active tyhroid eye disease treated with glucocorticoids
Authors: Acar Mutlu , Sabur Huri , Arslan Neşe
Published: February 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids (HDG) on ocular surface parameters and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) findings in patients with active thyroid eye disease (TED).

Methods

This study included 15 active TED patients treated with a cumulative HDG dose of 4.5g (500 mg and then 250 mg for 6 weeks each). Disease activity was assessed by the clinical activity score (CAS), Graves’ Orbitopathy-specific Quality of Life (GO-QoL) questionnaire, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear break-up time(T-BUT), ocular surface staining and IVCM.

Results

The mean follow-up time was 48.6 months. The treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the T-BUT, ocular surface staining values. In comparison to the baseline, a notable reduction in CAS, OSDI and an increase in GO-QoL were seen after one year. IVCM showed a significant decrease in the number of dendritic cells, activated keratocytes, the degree of tortuosity, there was also a significant increase in the number of basal epithelial cells and total nerves over one-year period. All of those changes remained stable during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

HDG treatment results in a sustained decrease in corneal inflammatory cells, an increase in tear film stability, and an improvement in disease symptoms and QoL scores for up to 4 years.
Selecting independent variables in the hedonic analysis of hotel rooms
Authors: Mitsis Pandelis
Published: February 2023

The hedonic pricing method has been applied in the analysis of hotel room rates since the early 1990s and ever since has become the norm in the investigation of hotel room price determinants. A usual problem in the specific literature is that there are no theoretical guidelines in selecting the explanatory variables in hedonic pricing models. Therefore, scholars employed in such kind of research face the challenge of which of the numerous price determinants proposed in the literature should they include in their own analysis, with the hazard of multicollinearity complicating the issue even further. The current article proposes a strategy where both the variable selection problem and the potential multicollinearity are faced by utilizing a combination of stepwise regression techniques with a proper categorization of the candidate regressors. This procedure is used in analysing the determining factors of the hotel accommodation prices in Cyprus, a country whose economy is highly dependent on tourism, for 12 consecutive months, in order to account for the inherent seasonality. The main findings suggest that adding some attributes to the advertisements of the hotels significantly increase hoteliers’ remunerations, but advertising certain other features may be actually sending negative signals, therefore hoteliers should consider excluding them from their brochures.
Age of victimization and moderating role of social support for the relationship between school-age bullying and life satisfaction in middle-age
Authors: Iwanaga Mai , Nishi Daisuke , Obikane Erika , Kawakami Norito
Published: February 2023

Aims:

This study aimed to examine whether the moderating role of social support on the negative association between school-age bullying victimization and life satisfaction in middle-age was different by age of victimization.

Methods:

A longitudinal study was conducted using data collected at the ages of 7, 11 and 50 years in the 1958 British birth cohort ( N = 18,558). Frequency of bullying victimization (never, sometimes, or frequently) was assessed by parental interviews at ages seven and 11. A self-reported questionnaire assessed life satisfaction and perceived social support (instrumental and emotional) at age 50. To determine the moderating effect of social support on the association between bullying victimization and life satisfaction, hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted in which two interaction terms, victimization at age seven by social support and victimization at age 11 by social support, were simultaneously entered into the models.

Results:

Among 5304 respondents subjected to the statistical analysis, 34% had bullying victimization at age 7 years; 23% had bullying victimization at age 11 years. Instrumental support significantly buffered the effect of frequent victimization at age 11 (β = 0.03, p = 0.03) and significantly deteriorated the effect of frequent victimization at age 7 years (β = −0.04, p = 0.01), after adjusting for childhood confounders. No significant moderating effect was observed for emotional support.

Conclusions:

Instrumental support in middle-age may more effectively buffer the effect of late school-age victimization than of early school-age victimization, while both effect sizes were small and additional research is needed.
Prospective effects of work–time control on overtime, work–life interference and exhaustion in female and male knowledge workers
Authors: Albrecht Sophie C. , Leineweber Constanze , Kecklund Göran , Tucker Philip
Published: February 2023

Aims:

Employee-based flexible working hours are increasing, particularly among knowledge workers. Research indicates that women and men use work–time control (WTC; control over time off and daily hours) differently: while men work longer paid hours, women use WTC to counteract work–life interference. In a knowledge-worker sample, we examined associations between WTC and overtime, work–life interference and exhaustion and tested whether gender moderates the mediating role of overtime.

Methods:

The sample contained 2248 Swedish knowledge workers. Employing hierarchical regression modelling, we examined effects of control over time off/daily hours on subsequent overtime hours, work–life interference and exhaustion in general and in gender-stratified samples. Using conditional process analysis, we tested moderated mediation models.

Results:

Control over time off was related to less work–life interference (βmen= −0.117; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.237 to 0.003; βwomen= −0.253; 95% CI: −0.386 to −0.120) and lower exhaustion (βmen= −0.199; 95% CI: −0.347 to −0.051; βwomen= −0.271; 95% CI: −0.443 to −0.100). For control over daily hours, estimates were close to zero. While men worked more overtime (42 min/week), we could not confirm gender moderating the indirect effect of control over time off/daily hours on work–life interference/exhaustion via overtime. Independent of gender, effects of control over time off on work–life interference were partly explained by working fewer overtime hours.

Conclusions:

Control over time off was related to lower exhaustion and better work–life balance (in particular for women). We found no evidence for men’s work–life interference increasing with higher WTC owing to working more overtime. Knowledge workers’ control over time off may help prevent work–life interference and burnout.
Radical infrastructure: Building beyond the failures of past imaginaries for networked communication
Authors: Paris Britt S , Cath Corinne , West Sarah Myers
Published: February 2023

Ongoing political, environmental, and economic crises require infrastructures that can respond to crises in ways that do not replicate and reinforce inequality. To this end, we use a case study method of analysis that compares the authors’ previous work on Internet infrastructure at the levels of development, governance, and use to explore how these imaginaries promote or impede people-centered change in the development and maintenance of Internet infrastructure. This theoretical work puts the three existing cases in conversation to better understand how Internet infrastructure alternatives presented as radical, new, or non-hierarchical present shortcomings and opportunities, so that it might be more possible to imagine better, more truly radical, people-centered alternatives. From this comparison, we close our discussion with three heuristics for radical infrastructure: the need for pushing for alternative ensembles of support, busting the myth of technosolutionism, re-politicizing Internet infrastructure, and encouraging technical communities to build around cooperativity, not connectivity.
An Exploratory Study of a Health and Wellness Intervention on STEM College Students During COVID-19
Authors: Bocarro Jason N. , Casper Jonathan M. , Bush Kimberly A. , Steptoe Alexis , DuPree Shannon , Blake Virginia , Kanters Michael A.
Published: February 2023

To address the growing health challenges faced by college students, campus recreation departments have evolved from a primary university intramural sport setting to organizations that have an increased emphasis on student recruitment, retention, and overall wellness. Among the strategies used to attract and engage students in campus recreation programs and services, health coaching shows some promise as a potentially effective intervention strategy. This study examined the efficacy of a university campus recreation health coaching program. Students from Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines (n = 34) were provided with individual, group, and virtual support to assist in developing effective strategies for academic success. Fitbit data measuring participants’ sleep and physical activity were collected along with self-reported measures of stress and perceived happiness and focus group qualitative data focused on participants’ perceptions of the program. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the program to adapt, findings suggest that health coaching may be an effective intervention strategy to help university students cope with the heightened anxiety and stress levels associated with campus life.
Cutaneous Paraneoplastic Syndrome Affecting the Hand in a Case of Underlying Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
Authors: Laperche Jacob , Bernstein Richard A.
Published: February 2023

Paraneoplastic syndromes represent the body’s immune response to an underlying malignancy. The autoimmune response to cancer can manifest itself in multiple ways, including swelling, thickening, and changes in the hand. We report the case of a 65-year-old man who presented with hand swelling that was initially attributed to a work-related finger laceration. The patient developed edema and stiffness in the hand, which was subsequently diagnosed as Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Hand surgeons should be aware that atypical hand and wrist symptoms should raise the suspicion for the potential of a paraneoplastic syndrome and an underlying malignancy.
Magnesium Sulfate Reduces Carrageenan-Induced Rat Paw Inflammatory Edema Via Nitric Oxide Production
Authors: Srebro Dragana , Dožić Branko , Savić Vujović Katarina , Medić Brkić Branislava , Vučković Sonja
Published: February 2023

Background

Magnesium is an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor. This study aimed to investigate the anti-edematous effect of magnesium sulfate (MS) in different protocols of use and the possible mechanism of its action.

Methods

In a rat model of carrageenan-induced paw inflammation, the anti-edematous activity of MS was assessed with a plethysmometer. The effects of the nonselective inhibitor (L-NAME), selective inhibitor of neuronal (L-NPA) and inducible (SMT) nitric oxide synthase on the effects of MS were evaluated.

Results

MS administered systemically before or after inflammation reduced edema by 30% (5 mg/kg, P < .05) and 55% (30 mg/kg, P < .05). MS administered locally (.5 mg/paw, P < .05) significantly prevented the development of inflammatory edema by 60%. L-NAME, intraperitoneally administered before MS, potentiated (5 mg/kg, P < .05) or reduced (3 mg/kg, P < .05), while in the highest tested dose L-NPA (2 mg/kg, P < .01) and SMT (.015 mg/kg, P < .01) reduced the anti-edematous effect of MS.

Conclusions

Magnesium is a more effective anti-edematous drug in therapy than for preventing inflammatory edema. The effect of MS is achieved after systemic and local peripheral administration and when MS is administered as a single drug in a single dose. This effect is mediated at least in part via the production of nitric oxide.
Heterogeneous model to evaluate CFD in intracranial bifurcation aneurysms treated with the WEB device to predict angiographic outcome
Authors: Mantilla Daniel , Berod Alain , Ortiz Andrés F , Vera Daniela D , Nicoud Franck , Costalat Vincent
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The Woven EndoBridge device (WEB) was developed as an alternative to treat Wide-Necked bifurcation aneurysms. It has proven to be effective and safe, however, cases of recanalization have been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and quantify hemodynamic parameters and indexes with CFD of the intracranial aneurysms before and after WEB simulation and to establish their relationship to complete occlusion.

Materials and methods

Using the heterogeneous model based on the marching cubes algorithm, we created 3D representations of 27 bifurcated intracranial aneurysms treated with the single-layer WEB device to evaluate hemodynamics parameters with CFD, calculated with and without the WEB.

Results

We observed a lower treatment entry concentration indices (ICI) (2.12 ± 1.31 versus 3.14 ± 0.93, p-value: 0.029) previous to placement of WEB and higher pre-treatment FN (7.56 ± 5.92 versus 3.35 ± 1.51, p-value: 0.018) and post-treatment FN (5.34 ± 5.89 versus 1.99 ± 0.83, p-value: 0.021) for cases with successful occlusions. Lower post-treatment SRa (197.81 ± 221.29 versus 80.02 ± 45.25, p-value: 0.044) and higher pre (0.11 ± 0.07 versus 0.25 ± 0.19, p-value: 0.011) and post-treatment MATT (0.69 ± 1.23 versus 1.02 ± 0.46, p-value: 0.006) were observed in non-occluded cases.

Conclusions

In our CFD analysis of the hemodynamic parameters of IA, we found lower ICI before the placement of the WEB device and higher FN pre- and post-treatment for cases with successful occlusions. Non-occluded cases had lower post-treatment SRa and higher pre-treatment and post-treatment MATT.
Giant dissecting aneurysm of basilar artery in a child – treated by flow reversal: A case report
Authors: Kant Surya , Goel Vinay , Garg Ajay , Sebastian Leve Joseph Devarajan
Published: February 2023

Although intracranial aneurysms are rare in the paediatric population, the proportion of those involving posterior circulation is higher than that of adults (approximately 25% vs. 8%, respectively). Moreover, posterior circulation aneurysms in kids tend to be larger in size, many of them being giant dissecting types, and treatment of them is often challenging. Treatment of giant dissecting aneurysms, especially involving the Basilar artery is difficult due to strategic location and haemodynamic factors. Use of reconstructive techniques viz. flow-diverters and braided stents is difficult in children because of the lack of standard protocol for use of antiplatelet therapy and the need for prolonged use of the same. Continuous growth of parent vessel is also suggested as a pitfall for the use of a flow diverter/ braided stent which has a fixed caliber. Carefully planned endovascular parent or feeder branch artery occlusion (FAO) is a time-tested method to achieve flow reversal or favourable flow modifications in an arterial segment harbouring dissecting aneurysm. Here, in this case report, we describe a case of a ruptured distal giant basilar artery dissecting aneurysm in a 10-year-old boy treated with flow diversion by FAO. The dominant left vertebral artery was occluded, thereby diverting flow from the right vertebral artery towards the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery and decreasing flow through the aneurysm. On 1-year follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and on check angiography, there was complete involution of the aneurysm with increased flow through bilateral posterior communicating arteries to distal posterior circulation which proved our hypothesis correct.