bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Betting on Diversity—Occupational Segregation and Gender Stereotypes
Authors: Fischbacher Urs , Kübler Dorothea , Stüber Robert
Published: October 2023

Gender segregation of occupations and entire industries is widespread. The segregation could be the result of perceived job-specific productivity differences between men and women. It could also result from the belief that homogeneous teams perform better or from in-group bias of male or female recruiters. We investigate these explanations in two samples: students and personnel managers. The subjects bet on the productivity of teams that are homogeneous with respect to gender at the outset and then either remain homogeneous or become diverse. The teams work on tasks that differ with respect to gender stereotypes. We obtain similar results in both samples. Women are picked more often for the stereotypically female task, and men are picked more often for the stereotypically male task. Subjects believe that gender-diverse teams perform better, especially in the task with complementarities, and they display an own-gender bias. Elicited expectations about the bets of others reveal that subjects expect the gender stereotypes of tasks but underestimate others’ bets on diversity.

This paper was accepted by Yan Chen, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Funding: The authors acknowledge financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Excellence Cluster EXC 2035/1 “The Politics of Inequality” (to U. Fischbacher), CRC TRR 190 “Rationality and Competition” (to D. Kübler), and the Excellence Cluster EXC 2055 “Contestations of the Liberal Script” (to D. Kübler)] and from Tamkeen [NYU Abu Dhabi Research Institute Award CG005 (to R. Stüber)].

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4943 .
How awareness weeks can help care homes to create fun activities
Authors: Hong Chia Swee
Published: October 2023

In this article, Chia Swee Hong discusses the value of awareness weeks and how these can be used by care homes to create novel and fun activities for residents, using the example of national curry week.
STEAM-Project-Based Learning: A Catalyst for Elementary School Students’ Scientific Literacy Skills
Authors: Suryanti Suryanti , Nursalim Mochamad , Choirunnisa Nadia Lutfi , Yuliana Ivo
Published: October 2023

The need for early comprehension of scientific concepts in elementary school students is crucial. However, studies have indicated that some students lack a fundamental understanding of such concepts, highlighting the importance of effective teaching methods to improve scientific literacy at an early age. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the ability of Project-Based Learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM-PjBL) to improve students' scientific literacy, knowledge, and application of foundational scientific principles. A quasi-experimental methodology was employed, involving 22 female and 26 male fourth-grade elementary school students as participants. The study administered a Scientific Literacy Test (SLT) treatment to the students, followed by unpaired and paired t-tests to examine the impact of the STEAM-PjBL model on their scientific literacy skills. The results showed that STEAM-PjBL improved students' scientific literacy skills significantly more than traditional instruction. The experimental group outperformed the control group in the post-test, indicating the effectiveness of STEAM-PjBL. Therefore, the study recommends the adoption of the STEAM-PjBL model by elementary school teachers to improve students' understanding of fundamental scientific concepts.
Mapping the Circulation and Use of Korean Tea Bowls in Sixteenth-Century Japan
Authors: Jung Sol
Published: October 2023

Abstract: This essay explores a preliminary attempt to map the circulation and use of Korean ceramics, specifically tea bowls, in sixteenth-century Japan, using the integrated application, Palladio, developed at Humanities + Design, Stanford University. I focus on the diaries kept by sixteenth-century Japanese merchants, who were active collectors and participants of Japanese tea practice called chanoyu : a cultural forum where Korean tea bowls became highly valuable items among Japanese elites from 1537 onwards. The four diaries, Matsuya kaiki, Tennōjiya kaiki, Imai Sōkyū chanoyu nikki nukigaki , and Sōtan nikki , which document tea gatherings that took place in sixteenth-century Japan, demonstrate the growing popularity of Korean tea bowls among merchants, warriors, and Buddhist monks. While these historical texts are key sources of information on the appreciation of premodern Korean ceramics in Japan, they have been overlooked by scholars of Korean art history, since their renown has been limited to the specialized field of premodern Japanese tea culture. Moreover, the idiosyncratic format of these diaries requires knowledge of premodern Japanese tea practice to understand, and there have been no formal translations into other languages, making them inaccessible to those who do not read Japanese. Palladio presents the opportunity to digitally visualize and map the author's own English translation of more than 600 diary entries from 1537 to 1591 that mention Korean ceramics. I consider how data visualization can expand our understanding of the transnational impact of premodern Korean ceramics, and facilitate the introduction of unfamiliar primary sources to the field of Korean studies.
The Writing on the Wall: Affective Politicization of the Sewŏl Disaster on Facebook
Authors: Sarfati Liora , Shababo Guy
Published: October 2023

Abstract: In 2014, the South Korean ferry, Sewŏl, sank. In sinking, it took with it 304 lives, as well as initiated broad public dissent that lasted several years. In this study, we investigate how online social media users employed and manipulated the emotions toward this disaster for political purposes. By the utilization of digital humanities methodologies (i.e., topic modeling and frequencies) on the data collected from selected Facebook accounts, we compared different strategies of online engagement with the intersection between mass death commemoration and political activism. In particular, we explored the delegitimization of President Pak Kŭn-hye, her impeachment, and the resultant elections in 2017. Quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed that different social actors manipulated their audience's emotions through posts on their Facebook walls in a manner that politicized the more personal mournful discourse. These social actors associated the disaster with the president's ineptness, especially after her corruption was revealed in the November 2016 scandal. From that point onward, the online memorialization of the Sewŏl's victims became a weapon in the broader efforts to oust the president and to change the political system.
Student Preferences for Reference Services at a Remote Biological Station Library
Authors: Gerrish Thomas , Martin Scott
Published: October 2023

abstract: During the 2020 and 2021 summer semesters, the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) transitioned to hybrid classes that were primarily distance learning with two-week inperson sections. The library offered both synchronous and asynchronous reference assistance over the summer term. An analysis showed that students favored using the UMBS LibGuide over synchronous virtual reference help via Zoom. Students further preferred face-to-face interactions over virtual formats, and their preference for LibGuide assistance may carry into the post- COVID-19 classroom. This finding suggests that students prioritize convenience and immediacy over personalized assistance in the Zoom platform. Thus, in providing reference assistance to student populations in the field sciences, balancing face-to-face interactions with convenience and immediacy should be a priority. Recommendations based on the success of the 2020 and 2021 field seasons were suggested for reference interactions in future field courses.
Functionalized optical fiber ball-shaped biosensor for label-free, low-limit detection of IL-8 protein
Authors: Rashidova Gyunel , Tilegen Meruyert , Pham Tri T. , Bekmurzayeva Aliya , Tosi Daniele
Published: October 2023

Detection of biomarkers for tracking disease progression is becoming increasingly important in biomedicine. Using saliva as a diagnostic sample appears to be a safe, cost-effective, and non-invasive approach. Salivary interleukin-8 levels demonstrate specific changes associated with diseases such as obstructive pulmonary disease, squamous cell carcinoma, oral cancer, and breast cancer. Traditional protein detection methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), mass spectrometry, and Western blot are often expensive, complex, and time-consuming. In this study, an optical fiber-based biosensor was developed to detect salivary IL-8 protein in a label-free manner. The biosensor was able to achieve an ultra-low limit detection of 0.91 fM. Moreover, the tested concentration range was wide: from 273 aM to 59 fM. As a proof-of-concept for detecting the protein in real clinical samples, the detection was carried out in artificial saliva. It was possible to achieve high sensitivity for the target protein and minimal signal alterations for the control proteins.
Single-shot, phase-diversity phase retrieval for high-energy beam focal-spot diagnostics
Authors: Bahk Seung-Whan , Sampat Siddharth , Heimbueger Matthew , Weiner David , Kwiatkowski Joseph , Bauer Katelynn A. , Waxer Leon J.
Published: October 2023

A single-shot, phase-diversity phase-retrieval method is demonstrated for directly characterizing the on-target focal spot at kilojoule energy in the OMEGA 60-beam laser. A 2D holographic grating that introduces diversity focal spots is installed in an existing on-target focal-spot diagnostic to obtain a single-shot diversity focal-spot image. A nonlinear optimization phase-retrieval algorithm with four diversity focal spots is employed to determine modal coefficients for the incident wavefront. The agreement between the measured and calculated focal spots is excellent. This approach can be easily adapted for other high-energy focal-spot diagnostics.
Seroprevalence of Brucella spp. and Rift Valley fever virus among slaughterhouse workers in Isiolo County, northern Kenya
Authors: Nyamota Richard , Maina Josphat , Akoko James , Nthiwa Daniel , Mwatondo Athman , Muturi Mathew , Wambua Lillian , Middlebrook Earl A. , Bartlow Andrew W. , Fair Jeanne M. , Bett Bernard
Published: October 2023

Brucella spp. and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) are classified as priority zoonotic agents in Kenya, based on their public health and socioeconomic impact on the country. Data on the pathogen-specific and co-exposure levels is scarce due to limited active surveillance. This study investigated seroprevalence and co-exposure of Brucella spp. and RVFV and associated risk factors among slaughterhouse workers in Isiolo County, northern Kenya. A cross-sectional serosurvey was done in all 19 slaughterhouses in Isiolo County, enrolling 378 participants into the study. The overall seroprevalences for Brucella spp. and RVFV were 40.2% (95% CI: 35.2–45.4) and 18.3% (95% CI: 14.5–22.5), respectively while 10.3% (95% CI 7.4%-13.8%) of individuals were positive for antibodies against both Brucella spp. and RVFV. Virus neutralisation tests (VNT) confirmed anti-RVFV antibodies in 85% of ELISA-positive samples. Our seroprevalence results were comparable to community-level seroprevalences previously reported in the area. Since most of the study participants were not from livestock-keeping households, our findings attribute most of the detected infections to occupational exposure. The high exposure levels indicate slaughterhouse workers are the most at-risk population and there is need for infection, prevention, and control programs among this high-risk group. This is the first VNT confirmation of virus-neutralising antibodies among slaughterhouse workers in Isiolo County and corroborates reports of the area being a high-risk RVFV area as occasioned by previously reported outbreaks. This necessitates sensitization campaigns to enhance awareness of the risks involved and appropriate mitigation measures.
Determinants of podoconiosis among residents of Machakle District East Gojjam Zone Amhara Region Ethiopia
Authors: Tefera Teshome , Bogale Kassawmar Angaw , Tegegn Yiteka , Azene Abebaw Gedef , Mulatu Kebadnew , Wassie Gizachew Tadesse
Published: October 2023

Background

Podoconiosis (endemic non-filarial elephantiasis) is a chronic disease characterized by the development of persistent swelling of plantar foot initially; which progresses to the dorsal foot and lower leg slowly or in a number of acute episodes to reach the knee. About 4 million people are said to be affected by the disease worldwide and it is deemed a serious public health problem in at least 10 African countries including Ethiopia. Therefore this study aimed to identify the determinants of podoconiosis among residence in Machakel district.

Method

Unmatched case control study design was conducted at Machakel district from August 30 to September 30, 2022. The sample size calculated using Epi-info software yielded 211 controls and 106 cases (317 study participants). Simple random sampling technique was used to select the cases using registration books of the district. Data were entered to Epi info version 7 and exported to SPSS version 22 for statistical analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to identify explanatory variables.

Result

A total of 312 study participants (104 cases and 208 controls) were included giving a response rate of 98.42%. Bare foot (AOR, 5.83 [95% CI: 2.34–14.50]), female sex (AOR, 4.25 [95% CI: 2.22–8.14]), family history of podoconiosis (AOR: 3.01(95% CI: 1.41–6.42) and age group 41–60 (AOR: 5.05(95% CI: 2.35–10.83), and 61–80 AOR 15.74 95% CI: (5.56–44.55) were determinants of Podoconiosis.

Conclusion and recommendation

Barefoot, sex, family history of podoconiosis and age were determinants of Podoconiosis. District health office should encourage at risk populations especially older people and individuals with family history of podoconiosis about shoe wearing practice all the time and not to expose their skin and feet.
Glycemic control and its associated factors among diabetic heart failure outpatients at two major hospitals in Jordan
Authors: S. Jarab Anan , Al-Qerem Walid A. , Hamam Hanan , Abu Heshmeh Shrouq , Al-Azzam Sayer , L. Mukattash Tareq , Alefishat Eman A.
Published: October 2023

Patients with heart failure (HF) are generally at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and having uncontrolled blood glucose. Furthermore, the prevalence of uncontrolled blood glucose in patients with HF is largely unknown. Identifying the factors associated with poor blood glucose control is a preliminary step in the development of effective intervention programs. The current cross-sectional study was conducted at two major hospitals to explore the factors associated with blood glucose control among patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes. In addition to sociodemographic, medical records were used to collect medical information and a validated questionnaire was used to evaluate medication adherence. Regression analysis showed that poor medication adherence (OR = 0.432; 95%CI 0.204–0.912; P<0.05) and increased white blood cells count (OR = 1.12; 95%CI 1.033–1.213; P<0.01) were associated with poor glycemic control. For enhancing blood glucose control among patients with HF and diabetes, future intervention programs should specifically target patients who have high WBC counts and poor medication.
Measuring multi-dimensional disparity index: A case of Nepal
Authors: Bhattarai Prakash C. , Shrestha Milan , Paudel Prakash Kumar
Published: October 2023

This study introduces Multi-dimensional Disparity Index (MDI) to measure multi-form of disparity in different level of governments referencing Nepal. The measurement scale of MDI was developed by adopting Santos and Alkire’s (2011) approaches. A wide range of thematic experts was consulted, employing the Semi-Delphi approach to determine its dimensions and indicators. The MDI in this study includes six dimensions and 34 indicators composited with dimension-wise indices like Economy Disparity Index [ECODI], Educational Disparity Index [EDUDI], Health Disparity Index [HDI], Geography and Climatic Vulnerability Index [GCVI], Living Standard Disparity Index [LSDI], and Demography Disparity Index [DDI]. Overall, the study revealed the extent of multi-dimensional disparity across three tiers of government in Nepal. More specifically, Nepal scored 0.388 MDI value. Karnali and Bagmati provinces are accounted as the highest and least deprived. This study contributes essential knowledge, particularly in exploring the dimensions and their indicators and develops an approach to measure multi-dimensional disparities. Most existing approaches for assessing disparities are mono-dimensional and measure the disparities in a single aspect. In this context, MDI provides a broader approach to consider multiple dimensions and measures multiple aspects in a country like Nepal, where disparity manifests at multiple levels.
Clinical assessment of a new wearable tool for continuous and objective recording of motor fluctuations and ON/OFF states in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Battista Luigi , Casali Miriam , Brusa Livia , Radicati Fabiana Giada , Stocchi Fabrizio
Published: October 2023

Clinical rating scales typically includes subjective evaluations, and their time-limited duration may fail to capture daily fluctuations in motor symptoms resulting from Parkinson’s disease (PD). Recently, a new tool (i.e. the PD-Watch) has been proposed for the objective and continuous assessment of PD motor manifestations based on evaluating frequency data from a wrist-worn tri-axial accelerometer and identifying specific movement patterns typically associated with disorders. This reduces the probability of confusing physiological or pathological movements occurring at the same frequency. In this work, we present a new method for assessing motor fluctuations through a wrist-worn accelerometer. We also explore the agreement between the continuous data generated by the proposed method and data reported in the patient diaries. In this study, twelve PD patients were recruited with an overall recording duration of 528 hours. Results of this preliminary study show that the proposed tool has suitable and adequate performances for analysing the motor signs of PD patients, and the estimated sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the tool are 85%, 94%, and 91%, respectively.
Unveiling the obstacles encountered by women doctors in the Pakistani healthcare system: A qualitative investigation
Authors: Raza Ali , Jauhar Junaimah , Abdul Rahim Noor Fareen , Memon Ubedullah , Matloob Sheema
Published: October 2023

In Pakistan, women outnumber men in medical colleges with 80 percent enrollment, yet many fail to practice medicine following graduation. Pakistan Medical Council (PMC) states 50 percent of graduated women doctors either did not practice or left employment in a short period. Thus, the non-servicing women doctors are assumed as the one of the major causes for the overall doctors’ shortage in the country. Addressing this enduring matter, this study aims to explore and understand the factors that discourage women doctors from practicing medicine in Pakistani hospitals. The study employed qualitative exploratory inquiry with an interpretive paradigm to attain a deeper understanding of the problem. 59-semi structured interviews were conducted by non-working women doctors across the entirety of Pakistan. The narratives were then analyzed by thematic analysis using ATLAS.ti 22. The findings have resulted in the three major themes, i.e., workplace challenges, socio-cultural obstructions, and familial restrictions that possibly obstruct women from practicing medicine in hospitals. The findings suggested that accepting traditional cultural values, including entrenched gender roles in society, deters women from practicing medicine. The prevailing patriarchal societal system includes stereotypes against working women; early marriages hinder women from practicing medicine. The prevailing societal system upholds the influence of in-laws and a husband for women doctor professional employment. As a result, severe work-life conflict was reported where most women doctors ended up in their profession in the middle of struggling between socially rooted gender roles as homemakers and their professional careers—furthermore, the study found various workplace issues that posit an additional burden on already struggling women doctors. Issues include poor recruitment and selection process, transfer constraints, excessive workload with inadequate salary, harassment, gender discrimination, unsafe work environment, and little support from the administration highly contribute to the shortage of women doctors in Pakistan.
Nanoencapsulation of crocin in double-layer emulsions for improved stability and enhanced efficacy against depression
Authors: Nazari Zahra , Asili Javad
Published: October 2023

On average, depression affects 7.7% of the population aged 15 and older. One of the types of medicinal plants used to treat depression is saffron, which is uplifting and relieves sadness. Crocin as a bioactive compound is effective against depression, but it is sensitive to temperature, pH, and oxygen, and its efficiency decreases. Nanoencapsulation of crocin using double-layer emulsions is a method to increase the stability of this compound. Surfactant ratio (50% to 200%), stirrer speed (500 and 1000 rpm), and stirring time (45, 90, and 135 min) were used as variables of primary emulsion production. The optimum ratio of surfactant to aqueous phase was 100%, and in all microemulsions, viscosity increased with increasing surfactant ratio. A high-pressure homogenization method was used to make the secondary emulsion (double-layer emulsions), and soy protein concentrate (SPC), Gum Arabic (GA), and Pectin (P) at two levels of 5 and 10% were used to increase the stability. All treatments evaluated using Duncan’s test at a significance level of 5%. Double-layer emulsions stabilized with pectin showed the highest viscosity and the lowest release of crocin in simulated stomach and intestine conditions. The use of the cellular automata model to investigate the release of crocin showed that this model could simulate the effects of crocin concentration, polymer concentration, and the droplet size of double-layer emulsions with 93–99% confidence to predict the release in double-layer emulsions. Then the double-layer emulsions added to the chocolate, and the chocolate containing the double-layer emulsions compared with the control sample in terms of sensory properties and had a higher score than the control sample.
Longitudinal assessment of COVID-19 vaccine uptake: A two-wave survey of a nationally representative U.S. sample
Authors: Katzman Caroline , Morgan Tucker , de Roche Ariel , Harris Julen , Mauro Christine , Zimet Gregory , Rosenthal Susan
Published: October 2023

Understanding factors that influence those who are initially COVID-19 vaccine hesitant to accept vaccination is valuable for the development of vaccine promotion strategies. Using Ipsos KnowledgePanel®, we conducted a national survey of adults aged 18 and older in the United States. We created a questionnaire to examine factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake over a longitudinal period (“Wave 1” in April 2021 and “Wave 2” in February 2022), and utilized weighted data provided by Ipsos to make the data nationally representative. Overall, 1189 individuals participated in the Wave 1 survey, and 843 participants completed the Wave 2 survey (71.6% retention rate). Those who intended to be vaccinated as soon as possible (“ASAP”) were overwhelmingly vaccinated by Wave 2 (96%, 95% CI: 92% to 100%). Of those who initially wished to delay vaccination until there was more experience with it (“Wait and See”), 57% (95% CI: 47% to 67%) were vaccinated at Wave 2. Within the “Wait and See” cohort, those with income <$50,000 and those who had never received the influenza vaccine were significantly less likely to be vaccinated at Wave 2. Among those who initially indicated that they would not receive a COVID-19 vaccine (“Non-Acceptors”), 28% (95% CI: 21% to 36%) were vaccinated at Wave 2. Those who believed COVID-19 was not a major problem in their community were significantly less likely to be vaccinated, while those with more favorable attitudes toward vaccines in general and public health strategies to decrease the impact of COVID-19 were significantly more likely to be vaccinated. Overall, barriers to vaccine uptake for the “Wait and See” cohort appear to be more practical, whereas barriers for the “Non-Acceptor” cohort seem to be more ideological. These findings will help target interventions to improve uptake of COVID-19 boosters and future novel vaccines.
High-speed and energy-efficient asynchronous carry look-ahead adder
Authors: Balasubramanian Padmanabhan , Liu Weichen
Published: October 2023

Addition is a fundamental computer arithmetic operation that is widely performed in microprocessors, digital signal processors, and application-specific processors. The design of a high-speed and energy-efficient adder is thus useful and important for practical applications. In this context, this paper presents the designs of novel asynchronous carry look-ahead adders (CLAs) viz. a standard CLA (SCLA) and a block CLA (BCLA). The proposed CLAs are monotonic, dual-rail encoded, and are realized according to return-to-zero handshake (RZH) and return-to-one handshake (ROH) protocols using a 28-nm CMOS process technology. The proposed BCLA has a slight edge over the proposed SCLA, and the proposed BCLA reports the following optimizations in design metrics such as cycle time (delay), area, and power compared to a recently presented state-of-the-art asynchronous CLA for a 32-bit addition: (i) 32.6% reduction in cycle time, 29% reduction in area, 4.3% reduction in power, and 35.5% reduction in energy for RZH, and (ii) 31.4% reduction in cycle time, 28.9% reduction in area, 4.4% reduction in power, and 34.4% reduction in energy for ROH. Also, the proposed BCLA reports reductions in cycle time and power/energy compared to many other asynchronous adders.
Characterisation and localisation of plant metabolites involved in pharmacophagy in the turnip sawfly
Authors: Brueggemann Leon , Tewes Lisa Johanna , Müller Caroline
Published: October 2023

Several herbivorous insects consume certain metabolites from plants for other purposes than nutrition, such as defence. Adults of the turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae take up specific terpenoids, called clerodanoids, from Ajuga reptans. These metabolites are slightly modified by the sawflies and influence their mating behaviour and defence against predators. We characterised these metabolites and investigated their localisation in the insect and the specificity of the uptake and metabolite modification. Therefore, we performed feeding assays with adults and larvae of A. rosae as well as larvae of Spodoptera exigua, followed by chemical analyses. Two main clerodanoid-derived metabolites were detected in the abdomen and thorax but also on the surface of the adults. Small amounts were also found in larvae of the sawfly, while they were not detectable in S. exigua. Our findings provide new insights into the peculiarities of pharmacophagy and specialised metabolism in A. rosae.
The impacts of COVID-19 on seafood prices in Japan: A comparison between cheap and luxury products
Authors: Aruga Kentaka , Islam Md. Monirul , Jannat Arifa
Published: October 2023

Like many other countries, the economy and society of Japan have been severely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, and the fishery sector particularly seafood is no exception. Among seafood, since luxury seafood is more commonly consumed at restaurants it has a higher possibility of getting affected by the pandemic compared with cheap popular seafood for the masses. Considering this motivation, this study investigates the variations in the COVID-19 impact on luxury and cheap seafood prices in the Tokyo Toyosu wholesale market. Using the non-linear autoregressive distributed lag model (NARDL), the study identifies that an increase in the hours of stay-at-home during the initial stage of the pandemic is causing a negative influence on both cheap and luxury seafood prices and that this negative impact was severer in the luxury seafood prices. The study also finds a positive influence from the hours of stay-at-home on some cheap popular seafood like horse mackerel and sardine during the third state of emergency (SOE) where at least most of the elderly people have received their first vaccine dose but the negative impact from the SOE measure remained on luxury seafood. It is evident from the findings that the luxury seafood market is heavily dependent on the restaurant sector, which will likely suffer adverse effects when human mobility is restricted. In the event of a pandemic like COVID-19, policymakers should stabilize the price and provide subsidies to the luxury seafood stakeholders.
HbA1c and height loss among Japanese workers: A retrospective study
Authors: Shimizu Yuji , Hayakawa Hidenobu , Honda Eiko , Sasaki Nagisa , Takada Midori , Okada Takeo , Ohira Tetsuya , Kiyama Masahiko
Published: October 2023

Evaluating the risk of height loss could be an efficient way to evaluate endothelial health, which might be associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Diabetes is an established risk factor both for intervertebral disk degeneration and osteoporosis-related fractures, which are major risk factors for height loss among adults. Therefore, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), as an indicator of the presence of diabetes, could be positively associated with height loss. A retrospective study of 10,333 workers aged 40 to 74 years was conducted. Height loss was defined as being in the highest quintile of height decrease per year. HbA1c in the normal range was positively associated with height loss. The known cardiovascular risk factors-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for height loss with a 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in HbA1c (0.38% for both men and women) was 1.06 (1.02, 1.10) for men and 1.15 (1.07, 1.23) for women, respectively. When limit those analysis among those without diabetes, the magnitude was slightly higher; the fully adjusted OR and 95% CI for height loss with a 1-SD increase in HbA1c was 1.19 (1.11, 1.28) for men and 1.32 (1.20, 1.44) for women, respectively. Even when HbA1c is within the normal range, higher HbA1c is a significant risk factor for height loss among workers.
Needs assessment study of postgraduate surgical education in Sudan: Trainees perspective
Authors: Kheirelseid Elrasheid A. H. , Magzoub Reem , Ahmed Muhannad , Rudwan Abdulrahman A. , Awoda Mohamed S. M. , Cullen Walter
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Global interest has increased in improving the quality and increasing the number of graduates from surgical training programmes in countries with limited resources. Needs assessment of stakeholders in the training programmes represent the backbone of such process. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical training in Sudan from trainees’ perspective in order to inform training delivery.

Methods

We adopted mixed methods design using focus group discussion for qualitative data collection and questionnaire survey for quantitative data. NVivo 20 Pro was used to organize qualitative data and SPSS 24.0 was used for quantitative data analysis.

Results

Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified three themes. Trainees were overall satisfied that they will make good surgeons after completion of the programme. They identified case volume and collaborations with colleagues as the main strengths of the programme and lacking clear objectives for each year of training and academic activities as the main weaknesses. They suggested motivation of trainers and utilization of online resources and meeting platforms as solutions to improve supervision and academic activities during training.

Conclusion

The gaps in training and their suggested solutions highlighted by trainees in this study should form the base for reforming the surgical training in Sudan and countries with similar circumstances.
Investigating the monetary policy risk channel based on the dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model: Empirical evidence from Iran
Authors: Peykani Pejman , Sargolzaei Mostafa , Takaloo Amir , Sanadgol Negin
Published: October 2023

Investigating the credit channel and monetary policy risk channel in Iran’s economy is the aim of this article. According to empirical studies, expansionary monetary policy increases the risk of banks, and on the other hand, the risk of banks affects economic activities and price levels. In order to investigate the mechanism of the credit channel and the risk channel (as a new channel), the effect of monetary policy on real variables and price levels in Iran’s economy, the Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model has been used by entering the information of the banking system and considering moral hazard and adverse choices. The obtained results show that there is a credit channel and a monetary policy risk channel for Iran’s economy, and the expansionary monetary policy shock causes output, inflation, private sector consumption, investment, net worth in the economy and lending to increase. Also, when a credit shock occurs, with the increase in banks’ lending power, production, private sector consumption, investment, net worth and total lending increase and the inflation level decreases. Also, by applying the risk shock caused by the increase in inflation and the decrease in consumption and investment, the volume of lending increases and the level of production does not change much.
A modified method to analyse cell proliferation using EdU labelling in large insect brains
Authors: Anton Amaia Alcalde , Farnworth Max S. , Hebberecht Laura , Harrison C. Jill , Montgomery Stephen H.
Published: October 2023

The study of neurogenesis is critical to understanding of the evolution of nervous systems. Within invertebrates, this process has been extensively studied in Drosophila melanogaster, which is the predominant model thanks to the availability of advanced genetic tools. However, insect nervous systems are extremely diverse, and by studying a range of taxa we can gain additional information about how nervous systems and their development evolve. One example of the high diversity of insect nervous system diversity is provided by the mushroom bodies. Mushroom bodies have critical roles in learning and memory and vary dramatically across species in relative size and the type(s) of sensory information they process. Heliconiini butterflies provide a useful snapshot of this diversity within a closely related clade. Within Heliconiini, the genus Heliconius contains species where mushroom bodies are 3–4 times larger than other closely related genera, relative to the rest of the brain. This variation in size is largely explained by increases in the number of Kenyon cells, the intrinsic neurons which form the mushroom body. Hence, variation in mushroom body size is the product of changes in cell proliferation during Kenyon cell neurogenesis. Studying this variation requires adapting labelling techniques for use in less commonly studied organisms, as methods developed for common laboratory insects often do not work. Here, we present a modified protocol for EdU staining to examine neurogenesis in large-brained insects, using Heliconiini butterflies as our primary case, but also demonstrating applicability to cockroaches, another large-brained insect.
The moderating effect of attitudes in the relationship between knowledge and self-efficacy in palliative care among nurses: A cross-sectional, correlational study
Authors: Kim JinShil , Heo Seongkum , Yang Jisun , Kim Miyeong , Park SeongHu , Cho KyungAh , Kang JungHee , Yi Hani , An Minjeong
Published: October 2023

Provision of palliative care to patients with advanced chronic diseases or old populations is suboptimal, which results in unnecessary suffering of and burden to patients, caregivers, and society. Low self-efficacy in palliative care among nurses is a factor affecting suboptimal utilization of palliative care. Poor knowledge is a factor affecting low self-efficacy in palliative care of nurses. Attitudes may contribute to the relationship between knowledge and self-efficacy in palliative care, but these relationships have been rarely examined in nurses. This study aimed to determine whether nurses’ attitudes moderate the relationship between knowledge and self-efficacy in palliative care. In a cross-sectional, correlational study, online or offline survey on self-efficacy, knowledge, attitudes, and covariates was conducted from 282 nurses in South Korea. PROCESS v4.1 for SPSS was used to address the study aim. Higher levels of knowledge (p = .048) and attitudes (p < .001), and the interaction term of knowledge and attitudes (p = .025) were significantly associated with higher levels of self-efficacy (F = 6.12, p < .001, R2 = .152), indicating the moderating effects of attitudes. The relationships between higher levels of knowledge and self-efficacy were significant only in nurses with highly and moderately positive attitudes (R2 change = .016, F = 5.11, p = .025), but not nurses with lack of positive attitudes. Our results supported the moderating role of nurses’ attitudes in the relationship between knowledge and self-efficacy. To improve self-efficacy in palliative care in nurses, improvement in knowledge and facilitation of positive attitudes are needed.
An exploratory survey about using ChatGPT in education, healthcare, and research
Authors: Hosseini Mohammad , Gao Catherine A. , Liebovitz David M. , Carvalho Alexandre M. , Ahmad Faraz S. , Luo Yuan , MacDonald Ngan , Holmes Kristi L. , Kho Abel
Published: October 2023

Objective

ChatGPT is the first large language model (LLM) to reach a large, mainstream audience. Its rapid adoption and exploration by the population at large has sparked a wide range of discussions regarding its acceptable and optimal integration in different areas. In a hybrid (virtual and in-person) panel discussion event, we examined various perspectives regarding the use of ChatGPT in education, research, and healthcare.

Materials and methods

We surveyed in-person and online attendees using an audience interaction platform (Slido). We quantitatively analyzed received responses on questions about the use of ChatGPT in various contexts. We compared pairwise categorical groups with a Fisher’s Exact. Furthermore, we used qualitative methods to analyze and code discussions.

Results

We received 420 responses from an estimated 844 participants (response rate 49.7%). Only 40% of the audience had tried ChatGPT. More trainees had tried ChatGPT compared with faculty. Those who had used ChatGPT were more interested in using it in a wider range of contexts going forwards. Of the three discussed contexts, the greatest uncertainty was shown about using ChatGPT in education. Pros and cons were raised during discussion for the use of this technology in education, research, and healthcare.

Discussion

There was a range of perspectives around the uses of ChatGPT in education, research, and healthcare, with still much uncertainty around its acceptability and optimal uses. There were different perspectives from respondents of different roles (trainee vs faculty vs staff). More discussion is needed to explore perceptions around the use of LLMs such as ChatGPT in vital sectors such as education, healthcare and research. Given involved risks and unforeseen challenges, taking a thoughtful and measured approach in adoption would reduce the likelihood of harm.
Comparative analysis of disease modelling for health economic evaluations of systemic therapies in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zou Huimin , Xue Yan , Chen Xianwen , Lai Yunfeng , Yao Dongning , Ung Carolina Oi Lam , Hu Hao
Published: October 2023

Background

The objective of this study was to systematically analyse methodological and structural assumptions utilised in model-based health economic evaluations of systemic advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapies, discuss the existing challenges, and develop methodological recommendations for future models in advanced HCC.

Methods

We performed literature searches using five databases (Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Econlit, and CNKI) up to December 4, 2022. Technology appraisals from Canada, England, Australia, and the United States were also considered. Model-based full economic evaluations of systemic advanced HCC therapies in English or Chinese met the eligibility criteria. The reporting quality was assessed by using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards 2022 checklist.

Results

Of 12,863 records retrieved, 55 were eligible for inclusion. Markov model (n = 29, 53%) and partitioned survival model (n = 27, 49%) were the most commonly used modelling techniques. Most studies were based on health-state-driven structure (n = 51, 93%), followed by treatment-line-driven structure (n = 2, 4%) and combination structure (n = 1, 2%). Only three studies (5%) adopted external real-world data to extrapolate the overall survival or calibrate the extrapolation. Few studies reported the assumptions of transition probabilities. Utility modelling approaches were state-based (n = 51, 93%) and time-to-death (n = 1, 2%). Only 13 studies (24%) reported five types of model validation. Economic evaluation results of specific treatment strategies varied among studies.

Conclusions

Disease modelling for health economic evaluations of systemic therapies in advanced HCC has adopted various modelling approaches and assumptions, leading to marked uncertainties in results. By proposing methodological recommendations, we suggest that future model-based studies for health economic evaluation of HCC therapies should follow good modelling practice guidelines and improve modelling methods to generate reliable health and economic evidence.
Assessment of simulations of a polar low with the Canadian Regional Climate Model
Authors: Moreno-Ibáñez Marta , Laprise René , Gachon Philippe
Published: October 2023

Polar lows (PLs), which are intense maritime polar mesoscale cyclones, are associated with severe weather conditions. Due to their small size and rapid development, PL forecasting remains a challenge. Convection-permitting models are adequate to forecast PLs since, compared to coarser models, they provide a better representation of convection as well as surface and near-surface processes. A PL that formed over the Norwegian Sea on 25 March 2019 was simulated using the convection-permitting Canadian Regional Climate Model version 6 (CRCM6/GEM4, using a grid mesh of 2.5 km) driven by the reanalysis ERA5. The objectives of this study were to quantify the impact of the initial conditions on the simulation of the PL, and to assess the skill of the CRCM6/GEM4 at reproducing the PL. The results show that the skill of the CRCM6/GEM4 at reproducing the PL strongly depends on the initial conditions. Although in all simulations the synoptic environment is favourable for PL development, with a strong low-level temperature gradient and an upper-level through, only the low-level atmospheric fields of three of the simulations lead to PL development through baroclinic instability. The two simulations that best captured the PL represent a PL deeper than the observed one, and they show higher temperature mean bias compared to the other simulations, indicating that the ocean surface fluxes may be too strong. In general, ERA5 has more skill than the simulations at reproducing the observed PL, but the CRCM6/GEM4 simulation with initialisation time closer to the genesis time of the PL reproduces quite well small scale features as low-level baroclinic instability during the PL development phase.
Time-course changes in mental distress and their predictors in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A longitudinal multi-site study of hospital staff
Authors: Kameno Yosuke , Nishimura Tomoko , Naito Yumi , Asai Daisuke , Inoue Jun , Mochizuki Yosuke , Isobe Tomoyo , Hanada Atsuko , Enomoto Noriyuki , Yamasue Hidenori
Published: October 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provides a unique opportunity studying individual differences in the trajectory of mental distress to relatively homogeneous stressors by longitudinally examining time-course changes between pandemic waves. For 21 months, we tested the effects of COVID-19 waves on mental health among 545 staffs at 18 hospitals treating COVID-19 patients in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Contrary to increasing new infected cases as waves progressed, initially elevated psychological distress (K6) and fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S) were decreased among waves (K6: B = -.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -.03 to -.01; FCV-19S: B = -.10, 95% CI = -.16 to -.04). This initial increase and subsequent decrease in K6 and FCV-19S were more prominent in individuals with high trait anxiety (K6: B = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.18 to 1.91; FCV-19S: B = 4.27, 95% CI = 2.50 to 6.04) and in occupations other than physicians or nurses. The current study revealed time-course changes in psychological distress and fear regarding COVID-19 in each pandemic wave and across waves, and indicated the usefulness of trait anxiety and occupation as predictors of mental health outcomes.
Performance evaluation of Biofire Film Array Respiratory Panel 2.1 for SARS-CoV-2 detection in a pediatric hospital setting
Authors: Ramirez Mirta Mesquita , Zarate Miria Noemi , Rodriguez Leonidas Adelaida , Aquino Victor Hugo
Published: October 2023

The highly contagious nature of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), requires rapid diagnostic tests to prevent the virus from spreading within hospitals and communities. Reverse transcription followed by the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is the gold standard for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections but is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and restricted to centralized laboratories. There is a growing need to develop and implement point-of-care and rapid tests for SARS-CoV-2 detection to address these limitations. We aimed to evaluate the performance of BioFire Film Array Respiratory Panel 2.1 (BioFire FA-RP2.1) for SARS-CoV-2 detection in a pediatric hospital setting. The BioFire FA-RP2.1 test provides rapid results and can identify several viral and bacterial infections in a single test. This prospective, cross-sectional, diagnostic accuracy study enrolled participants ranging from 0 to 18 years of age, seeking medical consultation for any reason, who had been in contact with individuals confirmed to have COVID-19 or managed at the hospital for medical or surgical reasons. We employed a systematic sampling technique to ensure a representative sample. The study included 339 participants with a median age of 5 years. The BioFire FA-RP2.1 test detected SARS-CoV-2 in 18.6% of cases, while the reference RT-PCR test in 14% of cases. The BioFire FA-RP2.1 sensitivity and specificity for SARS CoV-2 detection were 98% and 94%, respectively. The positive probability coefficient (LR+) was 18. The agreement between the two tests was 0.80. In addition, the BioFire FA-RP2.1 test detected coinfection with two viruses in 7,6% of cases. The BioFire FA-RP2.1 is a reliable solution to meet pediatric healthcare needs and improve prognosis in the post-pandemic era thanks to its friendly interface and rapid testing process.