bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differentiating Origins of Outflow Tract Ventricular Arrhythmias: The Correction of Transitional Zone Index Is Not Superior to the Original One
Authors: Liu Ming , He Zhuoqiao , Ying Pengxiang , Lin Dong , Yu Min , Tan Xuerui
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Our team once proposed a correction of transitional zone index (CTZI) based on the transitional zone index (TZI) in view of achieving a more precise prediction of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmia (OTVA). The predictive accuracy of these two electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithms has not been validated and compared. The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive accuracy of TZI and CTZI in a much larger population with idiopathic OTVA. Methods: The predictive accuracy of TZI and CTZI was compared in 695 individuals with idiopathic premature ventricular complex or ventricular tachycardia which exhibited a left bundle branch block pattern and inferior axis QRS morphology. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, decision curve analysis, and calibration curve were used to compare the predictive accuracy of TZI and CTZI. Results: TZI and CTZI manifested the similar area under the curve. While a TZI of <0 predicted a left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) origin with a high specificity of 88.2% but a low sensitivity of 67.1%, a CTZI of <0 yielded a high sensitivity of 84.3% but a low specificity of 59.5% in the overall analysis. Similar results were yielded in the sub-analysis of participants with a precordial transition occurring at lead V3. In the sub-analysis of participants with a TZI = 0, CTZI demonstrated a bit higher but not satisfactory predictive accuracy than TZI. Conclusion: Based on the scientific spirit of self-criticism and seeking truth from facts, our team disproves the correction of TZI proposed previously.
Escala de Vulnerabilidade Familiar: evidências de validade na atenção primária à saúde
Authors: Souza Evelyn Lima de , Rebustini Flávio , Eshriqui Ilana , Paiva Neto Francisco Timbó de , Masuda Eliana Tiemi , Lima Ricardo Macedo , Bonfim Daiana
Published: December 2023

OBJETIVO: Investigar evidências de validade da Escala de Vulnerabilidade Familiar (EVFAM-BR) como instrumento de apoio à gestão de base populacional na atenção primária à saúde (APS) no escopo da Planificação da Atenção à Saúde (PAS). MÉTODOS: Estudo de natureza psicométrica de evidências adicionais da estrutura interna da EVFAM-BR por meio da análise fatorial confirmatória (AFC) e análise de redes (network analysis, NA). Versão preliminar da escala com 38 itens foi submetida a usuários de unidades de APS que executam a metodologia da PAS, distribuídas nas cinco regiões brasileiras. Para os dados primários da AFC utilizou-se as cargas fatoriais e o poder preditivo do item (R2). Foram adotados sete índices de ajustamento do modelo e a confiabilidade foi aferida por 3 indicadores, por meio de estimação bayesiana. RESULTADOS: A versão preliminar da escala foi aplicada a 1.255 usuários. Pela AFC, as cargas fatoriais variaram de 0,66 a 0,90 e R2 de 0,44 a 0,81. Tanto os indicadores primários como os índices de adequação do modelo estabeleceram-se em níveis satisfatórios e consistentes. A NA apontou que os itens se associaram de forma adequada com seus pares respeitando as dimensões estabelecidas, o que indica, novamente, a sustentabilidade e estabilidade do modelo proposto. CONCLUSÕES: As evidências de validade apresentadas pela EVFAM-BR enunciam, de forma inédita no Brasil, um instrumento conciso capaz de mensurar assertivamente a vulnerabilidade familiar, potencialmente apoiando a gestão de base populacional.
Causal Association of Iron Status With Functional Outcome After Ischemic Stroke
Authors: He Qiang , Wang Wenjing , Xu Dingkang , Xiong Yang , You Chao , Tao Chuanyuan , Ma Lu
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Iron status has been associated with functional outcomes after ischemic stroke (IS). Nonetheless, this association may be affected by confounders. We perform Mendelian randomization to clarify the causal association between iron status and functional outcome after IS.

METHODS:

We obtained summary-level statistics related to iron status biomarkers from a meta-analysis of a gene-wide association study conducted by the Genetics of Iron Status Consortium, which included 11 discovery cohorts and 8 replication cohorts. We also took genetic variants related to 4 biomarkers of iron status from combining gene-wide association study results of Iceland, the United Kingdom, and Denmark to perform a replicate Mendelian randomization analysis. This data set included 4 iron status biomarkers, namely, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, iron, and transferrin saturation (TSAT). The confounders in these data sets have been adjusted to mitigate the collider bias. We acquired summary statistics data sets for functional outcomes following IS from the gene-wide association study meta-analysis conducted by the Genetics of Ischemic Stroke Functional Outcome Consortium. The genetic estimates for functional outcomes at 90 days after IS were evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale score, including 3741 cases with good functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) and 2280 subjects with poor functional outcomes poststroke (modified Rankin Scale score, 3–6). Inverse variance weighting was used as the primary method, complemented by sensitivity analyses for pleiotropy and increasing robustness.

RESULTS:

Reported with odds ratios (ORs) of stroke outcome with per SD unit increase in genetically determined iron status biomarker, TSAT and iron were associated with poor functional outcome after IS (TSAT: OR, 1.36 [95% CI, 1.23–1.50];
P
=2.27×10
−
9
; iron: OR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.13–1.85];
P
=0.0033). In replicate Mendelian randomization analysis, the detrimental effects of iron on poor functional outcome after IS remained stable (OR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.24–2.08];
P
=0.0003). In the meta-analysis, iron and TSAT were associated with poor functional outcomes after IS (TSAT: OR
meta
, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.23–1.48]; iron: OR
meta
, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.27–1.81]). Through sensitivity analyses and reverse Mendelian randomization analyses, we confirmed the robustness of the results.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study provides evidence suggesting a potential causal relationship between iron status and poor functional outcomes after IS. Future studies are required to illuminate the underlying mechanism.
In vivo parcellation of the human spinal cord functional architecture
Authors: Kinany Nawal , Landelle Caroline , De Leener Benjamin , Lungu Ovidiu , Doyon Julien , Van De Ville Dimitri
Published: December 2023

The spinal cord is a critical component of the central nervous system, transmitting and integrating signals between the brain and the periphery via topographically organized functional levels. Despite its central role in sensorimotor processes and several neuromotor disorders, mapping the functional organization of the spinal cord in vivo in humans has been a long-standing challenge. Here, we test the efficacy of two data-driven connectivity approaches to produce a reliable and temporally stable functional parcellation of the cervical spinal cord through resting-state networks in two different functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) datasets. Our results demonstrate robust and replicable patterns across methods and datasets, effectively capturing the spinal functional levels. Furthermore, we present the first evidence of spinal resting-state networks organized in functional levels in individual participants, unveiling personalized maps of the spinal functional organization. These findings underscore the potential of non-invasive, data-driven approaches to reliably outline the spinal cord’s functional architecture. The implications are far-reaching, from spinal cord fMRI processing to personalized investigations of healthy and impaired spinal cord function.
Euro-American Esoteric Readings of East Asia: Introductory Remarks
Authors: Pokorny Lukas K. , Winter Franz
Published: December 2023

This article introduces the special issue “Euro-American Esoteric Readings of East Asia.” First, the genesis of the special issue is explained, after which working definitions of the key terminology are given, namely, “East Asia,” “Euro-American,” “Western,” and “esotericism.” Next, the rationale of the special issue as well as short synopses of its five contributions are presented. The article argues that esoteric readings of things East Asia have saliently coshaped their Western reception history.
Chen Di’s Investigations of the Ancient Pronunciations of the Mao Odes (Mao Shi guyin kao) and Textual Research in the Late Ming
Authors: Jenco Leigh
Published: December 2023

Chen Di’s 1606 masterwork of historical phonology, Investigations of the Ancient Pronunciations of the Mao Odes, has been identified as foundational for Qing dynasty text-critical scholarship, providing systematic evidence for historical sound change via comparative analysis of the Odes’ rhyme schemes. I argue, however, that this research was motivated and shaped by Neo-Confucian xinxue commitments to embodied moral knowledge, typically seen at odds with later Qing approaches. Both Chen and his Taizhou school collaborator Jiao Hong located the moral substance of a text not in the intention of its sagely authors, but rather in the authentic emotional experiences prompted by its historically specific phonological and narrative features. Although recent scholarship has begun to reveal how xinxue fostered philological enquiry to reveal universal sagely truths, less well recognized is how xinxue could also motivate investigation of historical contexts—unsettling the division of moral concerns from the production of textual and historical knowledge.
Safety assessment of Rhodobacter azotoformans SY5 for potential application in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis
Authors: Cao H. , Zhang S. , Zheng X. , Xu L. , Diao J. , Wang Y. , Gai C. , Ye H.
Published: December 2023

Rhodobacter species are promising beneficial microbes that can improve growth performance, immunity and antioxidant capability in aquatic crustaceans. Yet the safety of Rhodobacter azotoformans for potential application in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis is still unclear. In the present study, R. azotoformans SY5, a potential probiotic additive that can significantly improve the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant capability, and disease resistance in E. sinensis, was evaluated for safety through whole genome sequencing, antibiotic resistance, toxic metabolites, virulence, and crab tolerance assays. The results indicated that R. azotoformans SY5 only harboured the acyl carrier protein-encoding gene (acpP) that was universal in probiotic bacteria with the function of bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis, exhibited high susceptibility to aminoglycosides, penicillins, polymyxins, polyphosphates, quinolones, and tetracyclines antimicrobials, and possessed inability to produce hemolysin, hydrogen sulphide, nitrite, ammonia, and phenylpyruvate. In addition, R. azotoformans SY5 showed no pathogenicity for E. sinensis with the seven-day acute intraperitoneal LD50 value of above 6.0 × 109 cfu/ml and 30-day chronic oral LD50 of above 6.0 × 109 cfu/g diet. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the safety of R. azotoformans for potential application in Chinese mitten crabs.
Improving Science Conceptual Understanding and Attitudes in Elementary Science Classes through the Development and Application of a Rule-Based AI Chatbot
Authors: Lee Juyeon , An Taesoo , Chu Hye-Eun , Hong Hun-Gi , Martin Sonya N.
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to develop a specialized rule-based AI chatbot tailored for a sixth-grade optics unit and to evaluate the impact of the implementation of the chatbot on students’ cognitive and affective outcomes related to science within the classroom setting. Specifically, this study explored how factors such as gender and achievement levels have an impact on student attitudes. The development of the rule-based chatbot adhered to the network-based instructional systems design framework, which involves the application of the analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate model to the e-learning design and development process. The participants were 192 sixth-grade students, with 81 in the experimental group and 111 in the control group. The results revealed a positive effect on students’ science achievement and interest, with a particularly significant impact on those with lower achievement levels. Notably, the chatbot played a crucial role in elevating the interest of female students in science. These findings highlight the need for continued research into the integration of rule-based AI chatbots in science education.
Cloud-Resolving ICON Simulations of Secondary Ice Production in Arctic Mixed-Phase Stratocumuli Observed during M-PACE
Authors: Possner A. , Pfannkuch K. , Ramadoss V.
Published: December 2023

Field measurements and modeling studies suggest that secondary ice production (SIP) may close the gap between observed Arctic ice nucleating particle (INP) concentrations and ice crystal number concentrations ni. Here, we explore sensitivities with respect to the complexity of different INP parameterizations under the premise that ni is governed by SIP. Idealized, cloud-resolving simulations are performed for the marine cold air outbreak cloud deck sampled during the Mixed-Phase Arctic Cloud Experiment (M-PACE) with the Icosahedral Nonhydrostatic (ICON) model. The impact of the droplet shattering (DS) of raindrops and collisional breakup (BR) in addition to the existing Hallet–Mossop rime splintering mechanism were investigated. Overall, 12 different model experiments (12-h runs) were performed and analyzed. Despite the considerable amount of uncertainty remaining with regard to SIP mechanisms and their process representation in numerical models, we conclude from these experiments that (i) only simulations where DS dominates the SIP signal (potentially amplified by BR) capture observed ice-phase and liquid-phase cloud properties, and (ii) SIP events cluster around the convective outflow region and are structurally linked to mesoscale cloud organization. In addition, interactions with primary nucleation parameterizations of varied complexity were investigated. Here, our simulations show that (i) a stable long-lived mixed-phase cloud (MPC) can be maintained in the absence of primary nucleation once SIP is established, (ii) experiments using a computationally more efficient relaxation-based parameterization of primary nucleation are statistically invariant from simulations considering prognostic INP, and (iii) primary nucleation at cloud-top controls the areal extent of the mixed-phase cloud region, and reduces SIP efficacy via DS due to increased depletion of cloud liquid throughout the entire cloud column.

Significance Statement

Secondary ice production (SIP) remains a key challenge in our understanding of boundary layer mixed-phase clouds. Here, we use sensitivity experiments performed with the ICON model at the cloud-resolving scale to explore potential interactions between primary nucleation, SIP, and mesoscale cloud organization. We simulate an Arctic single-layer cold air outbreak stratocumulus deck that was sampled during the M-PACE campaign. We find that once established, SIP alone is sufficient to maintain the mixed-phase cloud state until the end of the simulation. Our sensitivity analysis also shows that numerically more efficient treatments of immersion freezing are statistically invariant from simulations with a full prognostic INP budget.
Are general skills important for vocationally educated?
Authors: van der Velden Rolf , Bijlsma Ineke , Fregin Marie-Christine , Levels Mark
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we examine the effect of general skills on wages for vocationally educated workers with a qualification at upper secondary level. While general skills are considered crucial for labour market success of workers in general, it is not clear whether this also holds for the vocationally educated workers. We use the recently developed concept of effective skills to identify the relationship between general skills and wages for this group. Using data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) in 25 countries with advanced economies, we show that general skills strongly affect wages of vocationally educated workers and are just as important a factor as they are for generally educated workers. For vocationally educated males, the effect is especially salient for older workers (aged 45 and above). For vocationally educated females, general skills are most important in the beginning of their career (aged 20 to 35) and at prime age (aged 36 to 45).
Evaluating the Feasibility of a Novel Firearm Injury Prevention Program for Pre-adolescent Children Through Health Care and Community-Based Partnerships: The Future Healers Program Pilot Study
Authors: Udoh Karen , Wessel Caitlin , Branch Rheyana , Mahler Jessica , Holland Joseph , Coleman Briana , Alluri Satya , Jordan Symone , Ahmed Anam , Polzin Baylee , Dye Crystal , Smith Kiara , Brown Alyssa , Gully Zahara , Sawning Susan , Ziegler Craig , Ruther Matthew ,   Christopher 2X, Jones Christopher , Miller Keith
Published: December 2023

Background

Firearm violence is an American public health crisis that negatively impacts children and disproportionately affects Black youth. Few firearm injury prevention programs have been described in pre-adolescent children. The Future Healers Program is a novel collaboration constructed via partnership between the medical school, trauma center, academic surgery department, and local non-profit community organization. Our study sought to evaluate if (1) partnering with community organizations facilitated recruitment of children with prior exposure to firearm violence and (2) the health care community was a potential trusted partner appropriate for program delivery.

Methods

Children aged 4-13 were recruited to join the program via news outlets and social media and in partnership with a local non-profit organization. Of the children and parents participating in the program, 48% (44/92) and 59% (38/64), respectively, completed an IRB-approved survey study. Pearson’s chi-square, percentages, and 95% confidence intervals evaluated differences between children and caregivers on sociodemographic characteristics, firearm exposure (FE), firearm violence exposure (FVE), and perception of health care. Participant’s residence was geocoded in relationship to incidents of firearm injury (2008-2021) in the same region.

Results

Caregivers (95%) and children (84%) reported substantial exposure to firearm violence and resided in areas with frequent firearm injury incidents. Notably, 82% of caregivers and 66% of children reported having a family member injured by gunfire. A high percentage of caregivers (79%) and children (91%) self-reported trust in the health care system.

Conclusion

Partnerships between community organizations and health care systems can develop prevention programs that effectively recruit and engage pre-adolescent children impacted by firearm violence.
Symptomatic Upper Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease is Associated With Poor Outcomes and a Broad Spectrum of Etiologies
Authors: Armengol Guillaume , Goudot Guillaume , Miranda Sébastien , Benhamou Ygal , Tafflet Muriel , Guillet Henri , Mortelette Hélène , Levesque Hervé , Messas Emmanuel , Mirault Tristan
Published: December 2023

The symptomatic upper extremity peripheral artery disease (sUE-PAD) is poorly studied compared with the lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LE-PAD). We aimed to describe sUE-PAD etiologies and outcomes at 2 years. From an observational survey conducted in two French tertiary hospitals, demographic characteristics, etiology, treatment, and outcomes during follow-up were collected on patients with ICD-10 I74.2 code (arterial thrombosis of the upper limbs). We identified 181 patients (53% male, 55 ± 17 years) with hypothenar hammer syndrome (13.8%), cardioembolism (13.3%), atheroma (12.7%), or connective tissue disease (10.5%). No etiology could be found for 16.0% of them. The amputation rate was 13.3%, and lasting symptoms remained at 21.3%. During follow-up, atrial fibrillation occurred in 1 patient and cancer in 4. At 2 years, 59 patients were lost to follow-up, 110 patients were alive, and 12 patients had died. Age and cancer were associated with death. sUE-PAD is not benign, with 20% impaired upper extremity outcome and 10% overall mortality at 2 years. Less frequent than LE-PAD, sUE-PAD presents different characteristics: more women, younger age, and a broad spectrum of etiologies. sUE-PAD requires thorough etiological assessment and is considered to be associated with a severe overall prognosis.
Administering Discipline: An Examination of the Factors Shaping School Discipline Practices
Authors: Welsh Richard O.
Published: December 2023

School discipline is a significant educational policy and equity issue in K-12 education due to well-documented racial inequality in exclusionary discipline and the deleterious effects of exclusionary discipline on academic and adult outcomes. Drawing on interviews with district and school administrators and teachers in an “urban-emergent” district, this exploratory qualitative case study identifies and explicates the key factors that shape disciplinary practices within schools. Two major factors emerge as critical to school discipline practices in K-12 schools: (a) teacher preparation and (b) modeling of effective school discipline practices (how school leaders support teachers and how mentors support school leaders in the disciplinary process). Four key themes regarding teacher preparation emerge (a) relationship building, (b) classroom management, (c) cultural responsiveness and proficiency, and (d) experiential learning. The race and gender of educators permeate these factors. Implications for education policy and practice are discussed.
A public sector financial management maturity model for developing countries: the case of Iran
Authors: Rahmani Ali , Behbahaninia Parisa Saadat , Parsaei Mona , Mahmoudkhani Mahnaz
Published: December 2023

Maturity models (MMs) are used as a reference framework in various fields. In the public sector (PS), the principles of good governance have necessitated an evolution in financial reporting. This study aimed to design a model of accounting and financial maturity for PS reporting units. This study has a mixed-methods design. The initial MM was designed using a systematic review and expert panel discussions. Then, five focus group interviews were held over seven sessions. Next, a questionnaire was distributed among Iranian PS experts to validate the components of the MM. Thirty-two people filled out the questionnaire. A binomial test was used to validate the dimensions of the model. The outcome of this study was the design of a MM for accounting and financial reporting in PS units. The model was designed in five levels and includes eight dimensions, namely leadership, budgeting and financial planning, financial leadership and supervision, efficiency and effectiveness, rules and regulations, financial reporting, human capital and information technology. This model can be used as a basis for assessing the performance of PS units and to implement good governance in organizations. This model is applicable to all developing countries that utilize the revised International PS Accounting Standards and seek to establish a new PS management approach and performance-based budgeting.
Dress Policing at Higher Learning Institutions in Zimbabwe: Discourses on the Bulawayo Polytechnic College Dress Code Declaration
Authors: Ndlovu Mphathisi , Ndlovu Nonhlanhla , Tshuma Lungile A. , Mloyi Kwenyukwa , Shava George
Published: December 2023

In November 2022, the administrators at Bulawayo Polytechnic College instituted a new dress code at its campus, sparking public outrage. This college dress code reinvigorated debates on the age-old questions of morality and rights. On one hand, there is a strong belief that the implementation of dress codes may lead to the violation of students’ rights and self-expression. On the other hand, others contend that ‘revealing’ dresses may disrupt teaching and learning. This article uses this Bulawayo Polytechnic ‘moment’ to explore the discourses and debates surrounding dress codes in higher education institutions. Drawing upon Foucault’s theorisation on discourse, discipline and governmentality, we consider school dress codes as technologies of power. Data were collected from college students. At the core of these debates on choices of clothes are issues of policing and disciplining female bodies, rape culture, body shaming, victim-blaming and surveillance.
The Unpronounced Support: Wives’ Engagement in Sustaining Fishers’ Households Enterprises in the Fishery Challenging Space in Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania
Authors: Ishengoma Nelson Mwesiga
Published: December 2023

In contrast to convenient and easily accessible productive domains such as agriculture, where women’s participation is deemed indispensable and visible, their engagement in households’ fishing enterprises has been grossly undervalued. However, the 2021 Kilwa Kisiwani study found that fishermen’s wives were vital to their families’ fishing businesses in the face of declining fish stocks and government moratoriums. This cross-sectional study that involved 221 respondents targeted fishing-dependent households where both husbands and wives were involved, with the latter making a substantial amount. Data gathering, analysis, interpretation and discussion employed qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings indicate that most households’ fishing enterprises survived because spouses provided labour, worked outside the home or supported the enterprise from home. The paper cautions against the notion that male dominance invariably determines the socioeconomic trajectory of households while women are relegated to subordinate roles. This perspective is deemed an oversimplification and a distortion of reality.
Polymicrobial Infection Induces Adipose Tissue Dysfunction via Gingival Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Liu Y. , Cui B. , Zhang P. , Xiao S. , Duan D. , Ding Y.
Published: December 2023

Recent studies have indicated that periodontitis promotes metabolic dysregulation and insulin resistance by affecting the function of white adipose tissue (WAT). However, the mechanisms linking periodontitis to adipose tissue dysfunction still need to be explored. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) deliver messages to distal sites and regulate their function. Also, recent studies have shown that periodontitis changes the composition of EVs in body fluids and that EVs might be one of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between periodontitis and insulin resistance. Herein, we explored the impact of polymicrobial oral infection with periodontal pathogens on the function of WAT and the role of gingival EVs (gEVs) in the process. Mice were subjected to oral inoculation with 109 Porphyromonas gingivalis and 108 Fusobacterium nucleatum every other day for 14 wk. This prolonged bacterial infection induced WAT dysfunction, characterized by reduced levels of AKT phosphorylation, adiponectin, leptin, and genes associated with adipogenesis and lipogenesis. We successfully isolated gEVs with satisfactory yield and purity. The RNA sequencing results showed that the differentially expressed microRNAs in the gEVs of mice with polymicrobial oral infection were involved in insulin signaling and adipose tissue function. Notably, our in vitro experiments and RNA sequencing results revealed the functional similarities between gEVs and plasma-derived EVs. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injection with gEVs derived from mice with oral infection induced the dysfunction of WAT in healthy mice. Overall, our findings provide evidence for the influence of polymicrobial oral infection on WAT function and propose gEVs as a novel pathway through which periodontal infection may exert its effects on WAT.
What Domains of Belgian Euthanasia Practice are Governed and by Which Sources of Regulation: A Scoping Review
Authors: Archer Madeleine , Willmott Lindy , Chambaere Kenneth , Deliens Luc , White Ben P.
Published: December 2023

Background: Multiple sources of regulation seek to shape euthanasia practice in Belgium, including legislation and training. This study comprehensively mapped which of these sources govern which domains of euthanasia practice, such health professionals’ obligations, or managing patient requests. Method: Scoping review methodology was used to search for scholarly records which discussed Belgian euthanasia regulation. Template analysis was used to generate themes describing the domains of euthanasia practice governed by sources of regulation. Results: Of 1364 records screened, 107 records were included. Multiple sources of regulation govern each domain, which are: the permissible scope of euthanasia; the legal status of a euthanasia death; the euthanasia process; the rights, obligations, and roles of those involved; system workings; and support for health professionals who provide euthanasia. Conclusions: Domains with significant yet fragmented regulation may lead to inconsistent care provision. Policymakers should develop coherent guidance to support health professionals to navigate this regulatory landscape.
Discretionary Accrual Earnings Management in a Sub-Saharan African Economy
Authors: Ndu Ikechukwu , Sims Julian
Published: December 2023

This paper investigates the existence of discretionary total accrual earnings management and working capital accrual earnings management in Nigeria which is Sub-Saharan Africa's largest economy. Unlike previous studies that use the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique that does not control for endogeneity that can invalidate results, our empirical methodology implements the maximum likelihood estimation that controls for endogeneity to estimate economically plausible levels of discretionary accrual earnings management. Our results find that discretionary accrual earnings management in Nigeria is characterized by statistically significant, tax-induced income-reducing discretionary accruals. This study contributes to the literature as it is the first emerging market, African and Sub-Saharan African economy study to the best of the researchers’ knowledge that estimates discretionary accrual earnings management for listed non-financial firms using various models based on the maximum likelihood estimation technique to control for endogeneity. The findings inform the political economy of economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly as it relates to how firms, especially multinationals, are motivated to extract rents from African economies. The results have policy implications for accounting regulatory interventions by policy and standard setting bodies that mitigate and/or eliminate capital flight, tax evasion, aggressive tax avoidance and financial corruption practices in Sub-Saharan African economies.
Abdominal wall calcification in a peritoneal dialysis patient
Authors: Gurupriya M. , Anuhya G. , Sundarmurthy Mathini , Lakshmi Aishwarya P , Ram R. , Siva Kumar V
Published: December 2023

Abdominal wall calcification in a peritoneal dialysis patient has not previously been reported. We describe a 40-year-old lady, a type 2 diabetic and hypertensive for the past 14 years, who did not have any history, clinical features or laboratory results suggesting autoimmune disease, and had not suffered from tuberculosis in the past, but who had been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2016. She had initiated peritoneal dialysis in December 2018.
“Coming Together Educationally Creates a Bond Like No Other”: Exploring How Families Engage in Black History Home Learning
Authors: Mims Lauren , Bocknek Erika , Duane Addison , Hill LaKenya , McGoron Lucy , Stokes Kimberly
Published: December 2023

Black home learning environments during the COVID-19 pandemic may have played a significant role in children’s learning. We piloted Brilliant Joy in a Box, caregiver-child Black history home learning boxes, with a sample of 100 families in a predominantly Black, midwestern city. Families received boxes for six months and completed whole family activities during virtual “unboxings.” In the current study, we explored caregivers’ ( n = 57) open-ended responses to a mid-program survey about their experiences utilizing the boxes. Eighty eight percent of families endorsed using the family activity sheets ( n = 51) and eighty four percent endorsed that they read and received the text messages ( n = 49). Using the rapid and rigorous qualitative data analysis technique, we found three main themes: (a) eliciting children’s joy, (b) cultivating Black history home learning, and (c) promoting family cohesion. The Brilliant Joy in a Box project seemed to positively contribute to family joy, serve as a catalyst for celebrating Black history, and provide an opportunity for families to continue or increase their role in their children’s learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Free Black Children…That Means Everything”: Black Mother’s Visions of Freedom Within a Radical Healing Framework
Authors: Leath Seanna , Williams Yolanda , Quiles Taina , Parker Bianka-Charity , Mims Lauren , Ross Raven
Published: December 2023

In the present qualitative study, we draw from a psychological framework of radical healing in communities of color to explore Black mother’s perspectives on what it means to raise free, Black children in the anti-Black racial context of the United States of America. Specifically, we consider the extent to which Black mother’s descriptions about supporting their children’s freedom involve new cultural and social norms that integrate personal wellness with collective social justice practices. We used consensual qualitative research methods to analyze semi-structured interview data from 31 Black mothers (28–50 years, M = 35, SD = 6.03) with children ranging from 6 months to 21 years old. We identified the following themes: promoting pro-Black critical consciousness, encouraging self-authentic expression through socioemotional support, and building strength and resistance through community care. Overall, we found that mothers viewed raising free, Black children as an inherent act of social justice, since they hoped to help their children learn to identify oppressive forces and engage in community-level efforts to promote social change and build a life-affirming future for themselves.
Are Members of Political Out-Groups More Morally or Physically Disgusting?
Authors: Moran Tal , Eyal Tal
Published: December 2023

Recent research has found that Americans are disgusted by anonymous members of their political out-group. Determining whether the disgust elicited by political out-group members is more physical or moral may contribute to the understating of what enables its elicitation and regulation. Building on research showing the experience of moral disgust involves relatively abstract construal and the experience of physical disgust involves relatively concrete construal, we predicted that disgust experienced toward political out-group members is more moral than physical. Two preregistered experiments (total N=854) found that (a) the effect of level of construal on the intensity of disgust from political out-group members is more similar to the effect of level of construal on moral disgust than on physical disgust, and (b) the appraisal underlying disgust from political out-group members involves more abstract than concrete construal, similar to moral disgust. We discuss implications of these findings for intergroup relations and emotion regulation.
The Aspiration to Stay: A Global Analysis
Authors: Debray Alix , Ruyssen Ilse , Schewel Kerilyn
Published: December 2023

There is growing interest from both policy and academic communities in understanding why people do not migrate. This article offers the first global analysis of the aspiration to stay, defined here as the preference to stay in one's country of residence. We make use of the unique Gallup World Polls which provide information on aspirations to stay (as opposed to migrating abroad) as well as on individual characteristics and opinions for 130 countries worldwide between 2010 and 2016. We find staying aspirations are far more common than migration aspirations across the globe and uncover important “retain factors” often overlooked in research on migration drivers — related to social ties, local amenities, trust in community institutions, and life satisfaction. Overall, those who aspire to stay tend to be more content, socially supported and live in communities with stronger institutions and better local amenities. We further explore differences in the relative importance of retain factors for countries at different levels of urbanization, and for different population groups, based on gender, education, rural/urban location, migration history, religiosity, and perceived thriving. Our findings contribute to a more holistic understanding of migration decision-making, illuminating the personal, social, economic, and institutional retain factors countering those that push and pull.
Effect of Baduanjin exercise on executive function in older adults with cognitive frailty: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Xiaoqian , Wu Jiawei , Zhang Haoran , Zheng Guohua
Published: December 2023

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise on executive function in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty.

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Community residential centers.

Subjects

120 eligible older adults.

Interventions

Baduanjin training group received supervised Baduanjin training, 60 min sessions three times per week for 24 weeks. The control group did not receive any exercise intervention.

Main measures

Primary outcome was executive function, assessed using Clock Drawing Test. Secondary outcomes included the subcomponents of executive function (working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility), attention and cognitive frailty (global cognitive function, physical frailty) assessed using Verbal Fluency Test, Trail Making Test-A/B, Stroop Test, Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Edmonton Frailty Scale, respectively, at baseline and 24 weeks after intervention.

Results

After the 24-week intervention, the scores of Clock Drawing Test and Verbal Fluency Test, the Trail Making Test-B time and the Card correct numbers of Stroop Test in Baduanjin training group showed significant improvement compared with control group (all P < 0.05) with small to moderate effect sizes and the significant interaction effect of group by time in the Clock Drawing Test and Trail Making Test-B test ( P = 0.003 and P = 0.043); cognitive frailty variables, including Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Edmonton Frail Scale scores, also showed significant improvement ( P = 0.002 and P = 0.004) with a moderate effect sizes and a significant interaction effect ( P < 0.001, P = 0.013). No adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

Regular Baduanjin training may be an effective and safe intervention to improve cognitive frailty and executive function in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100050857. Data of registration: 8/5/2020, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj = 133037 .
Integrated Emergency Vehicle Scheduling Model in Urban Emergency Rescue within a Time-Limited Period
Authors: Li Xiao , Wang Xiulai , Xu Jun , Chen Wei , Lyu Bei
Published: December 2023

Considering the uncertainty of urban emergency rescue time, it is difficult for emergency vehicles to maintain a 100% service level continuously. The biggest challenge is to minimize driving distance and costs when the number of vehicles available for deployment is uncertain. In this study, considering the limitation of emergency vehicles, a new integrated emergency vehicle scheduling model for large-scale urban emergency rescue was developed, which is able to tackle multiple emergency tasks at the same time, achieving the shortest path and the lowest cost. Then, the emergency scheduling was simulated in seven urban areas of H City in China to verify the applicability of the proposed model, during which a fast non-dominated sorting multi-objective genetic algorithm with elite strategy was used to solve this model. Moreover, the corresponding algorithm test was conducted to verify the feasibility of the Pareto solution and demonstrate its effectiveness. Moreover, the simulation results show that the used algorithm can reduce computing time by 14.27%, compared with the genetic algorithm. Finally, the optimal scheduling scheme was selected according to the decision-makers’ preferences. This study solved various emergency vehicle scheduling problems under uncertain emergency times, which was beneficial for multilateral cooperation emergency scheduling and provided decision support for emergency command departments for choosing the best emergency scheme.
Prediction and evolution of core-shell morphology and their effect on mechanical properties of PP blends
Authors: Chen Xunwei , Li Zhi , Qiu Biwei , Shi Jiangao
Published: December 2023

The prediction of phase morphology is highly valuable in designing and regulating the properties of multiphase composites, particularly polymer blends. In this study, we prepared two types of ternary blends, PP/HDPE/EPR and PP/HDPE/EPDM composites and compared and analyzed the predicted and observed phase morphology of blends with different elastomers. Using Palierne and Bousmina equations, we calculated the interfacial tensions between two components in PP blends and then predicted the relationship between the spreading coefficient, interfacial tension, and phase morphology according to the spreading coefficient theory. Based on our findings, it was observed that the core-shell structure of EPR and EPDM rubber phase encapsulated HDPE core tends to form in PP ternary blends, which aligns with our experimental results. Additionally, SEM morphology observation results revealed a less number of dispersed phases in PP/HDPE/EPR composites with the same composition ratio. It was observed that the shell had a greater thickness due to the difficulty in dispersing EPR with higher viscosity. Mechanical tests indicated that composites with thin-shell and small-core dispersed phases had better toughness. These composites also displayed less yield strength loss under the same impact conditions compared to those with single rubber phases.
Purpose in Life Links Positive Aging Views to Life Satisfaction: A Within-Person Analysis Spanning 13 Years
Authors: Joshanloo Mohsen
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to examine the relationship between positive perceptions of aging, purpose in life, and life satisfaction in older adults. It was hypothesized that purpose in life mediates the relationship between positive perceptions of one’s aging and life satisfaction. This hypothesis was tested in a sample of older American adults from four waves of the Health and Retirement Study collected at 4-year intervals between 2008 and 2020 ( N = 11,546, mean age in 2008 = 62.772). The random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to separate within-person and between-person sources of variance. Mediation was tested at the longitudinal within-person level and was supported. Results suggest that an increase in positive perceptions of aging is associated with a future increase in purpose in life, which in turn is associated with higher future levels of life satisfaction. The findings inform interventions promoting positive aging, purpose, and life satisfaction in older adults.
A plasmid containing the human metallothionein-II gene selectively distinguishes trivalent lanthanum from several divalent heavy metal cations during monoclonal antibody-assisted agarose gel electrophoresis
Authors: Wooten Dennis C
Published: December 2023

Trivalent lanthanide ions are known for their ability to interact with calcium-binding sites in various proteins. There is a need to assess the bioavailability of lanthanides and other heavy metals introduced into the body as components of implants or as contrast agents. This study aimed to develop a method to address bioavailability and/or presence of trivalent lanthanide ions by examining electrophoretic mobility in an agarose gel of a plasmid harboring the human metallothionein-II gene ( hMT-II). Mobility of the plasmid was specifically altered by a monoclonal antibody raised against the zinc-binding transcription factor that controls the activity of the hMT-II gene. This study showed that the plasmid acquired a lanthanide-specific mobility pattern that allowed the presence of lanthanide ions to be readily determined in a 0.8% agarose gel. These findings suggest that this plasmid/monoclonal antibody combination under selected conditions may be useful in industrial, environmental, and biomedical settings to identify, separate, or capture lanthanide ions in complex mixtures that contain an array of metal ions.
Exploring Clients’ Experiences of Transitioning Mental Health Nursing Care from an In-Person to a Virtual Format due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Domingue Jean-Laurent , Murata Lisa , Ukagwu Chijindu , Pryer Billie , Patel Shruti , Neves Jennifer , Iqbal Tariq
Published: December 2023

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led mental health professionals to change the way they engaged with clients, often replacing in-person consultations with virtual ones via telephone or videoconferencing. While studies have investigated the delivery of virtual physical health care, only a handful have investigated the delivery of virtual mental health. These specifically focussed on the outcomes of virtual care whether experiential, practical, or empirical. The transition from in-person to virtual care delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been unexplored. Accordingly, the purpose of the study was to: (1) Explore the experiences of clients who had to transition from an in-person to a virtual provision of mental health care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and; (2) Explore the nurses’ experiences of this technological transition. Using an interpretive phenomenology methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses and clients who have experienced the in-person to virtual transition of service delivery at a tertiary mental health hospital in Ontario, Canada. In this article, we focus on the results stemming from our interviews with clients. The themes generated from the analysis of client experiences are 1) the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clients, (2) mixed feelings of clients towards nursing care delivered via technological means and (3) the role of nurses regarding transitioning of in-person care to technology-mediated care. These findings are relevant as mental health care hospitals are considering how they will deliver services once concerns with the transmission of the COVID-19 virus are resolved.