bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discrepancies in Gleason score between needle core biopsy and radical prostatectomy specimens with correlation between clinical and pathological staging
Authors: Singh Vikram , Sharma Kartik , Singh Mahendra , Tripathi Shashank Shekhar , Bhirud Deepak Prakash , Jena Rahul , Navriya Shiv Charan , Choudhary Gautam Ram , Sandhu Arjun Singh
Published: April 2024

Background:

The studies have shown that GS given after assessment of the entire prostate gland on the radical prostatectomy specimen may differ from GS given after examination of a small sample from needle core biopsy. We conducted this study to assess discrepancies in the Gleason score between NCB and RP specimens and to find out the correlation between the clinical stage and pathological stage.

Methods:

The study included 174 patients with carcinoma prostate which underwent robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Pre-operative Gleason score was determined on 12-core biopsy samples under trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance. The Gleason score obtained from the radical prostatectomy specimen was compared with that of the NCB Gleason score to find out differences.

Results:

The preoperative Gleason score (GS) ranges from 6 to 9 with a mean GS of 6.97 ± 1.02. The post-operative GS ranges between 6 and 10 with mean and GS of 7.5 ± 1.10. On the pre-operative assessment of biopsy specimens, 70 (43.2%) patients had a GS of 6, while 44 patients had a GS of 7 (27.1%) and 48 (29.8%) patients had a GS of more than 7. On the postoperative assessment of specimens, 31 (19.1%) patients had post-operative GS of 6, while 66 (41%) patients had GS of 7 and 74 (41.1%) patients had GS of more than 7. When pre-operative GS and post-operative GS were compared, no changes were observed in the GS of 79 patients, whereas 83 patients showed the difference in GS, with 75 patients showing up-gradation and eight patients marked as down-graded

Conclusion:

concordance between biopsy and the pathology results directly affects the prognosis of the patient. The results of our study demonstrated the rate of discordance between Gleason scores obtained from transrectal prostate biopsy and RP surgical specimens. This rate brings into question the accuracy of the chosen treatment.
Continuously extruded wrapped tow reinforced truss beams
Authors: Morabito Francescogiuseppe , Macquart Terence , Schenk Mark , Woods Benjamin KS
Published: April 2024

Recent advancements in composite truss structures have achieved high structural efficiency by combining truss geometries and composite materials within scalable manufacturing processes. Filament winding-based approaches, such as the Wrapped Tow Reinforced (WrapToR) truss process, allow for simpler machine design compared to braiding or pultrusion but face limitations as production rates and truss beam lengths increase. We herein introduce WrapToR Trusstrusion, a manufacturing concept using coaxial winding heads to wrap multiple pre-wetted tows around continuously fed chord members, forming a complete wound truss structure in one pass. This eliminates the need for reciprocating motion and fixed mandrel lengths of conventional winding machines. We present the WrapToR Trusstrusion concept, the first prototype machine setup, and the numerical analysis and mechanical characterisation of produced specimens, aiming to assess the quality of the produced trusses. This innovative machine concept progresses towards high-throughput, continuous production of mechanically superior WrapToR truss beams while trading off process and geometry versatility for standardisation and production rate.
How does plastic compare with alternative materials in the packaging sector? A systematic review of LCA studies
Authors: Dolci Giovanni , Puricelli Stefano , Cecere Giuseppe , Tua Camilla , Fava Floriana , Rigamonti Lucia , Grosso Mario
Published: April 2024

In the recent years, packaging made of conventional plastics has been increasingly replaced by materials believed to be more sustainable. However, perceived sustainability must align with scientific assessments, such as life cycle assessments (LCAs). This review analysed 53 peer-reviewed studies published in the time range 2019–2023, aiming at understanding the state of the art in LCA about the environmental impacts of packaging by focusing on the comparison between plastics and alternative materials. The literature showed that consumer perceptions often differ from LCA findings and revealed that, frequently, conventional plastics are not the least environmentally friendly choice. Bioplastics typically show benefits only in the climate change and the fossil resource depletion impact categories. The heavy weight of glass turns out to affect its environmental performances with respect to the light plastics, with reuse being an essential strategy to lower the burdens. The comparison between plastics and metals is more balanced, leaning more towards plastics for food packaging. Similarly, paper resulted often preferable than plastics. Finally, for the other materials (i.e. wood and textiles), the picture is variable. To be competitive with plastics, the alternative materials require improvements like the optimisation of their production processes, their reuse and enhanced end-of-life options. At the same time, recycled polymers could boost the eco-performance of virgin plastics.
Psychological Well-Being Among Adolescents: The Role of Parenting Styles, Causal Attributions of Academic Success/Failure, and Perceived School Performance
Authors: Madalena Alane Pereira , Loureto Gleidson Diego Lopes , Santos José Anderson Galdino , Santos Layrtthon Carlos de Oliveira , Fortes Gabriel , Freires Leogildo Alves
Published: April 2024

We investigated the effects of perceived parenting styles, causal attributions for academic success/failure, and perceived school performance (PSP) on adolescents’ psychological well-being (PWB). Participants were 200 Brazilian adolescents who answered the Parenting Styles & Dimensions Questionnaire, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the Rating Scale of Causal Attributions for Academic Success/Failure (RSCA). The results showed that adolescents’ PWB was predicted by authoritative parenting style (APS), internal and controllable attributions (appropriate motivations to cope with academic success/failure; ICASF), and PSP. In addition, we tested a mediation model showing that the ICASF mediated the relationship between APS and PSP, which in turn led to better PWB. These results highlighted the relevance of parenting styles and school-based causal attributions for the understanding of adolescents’ mental health. Our findings can support interventions that enable more effective teaching–learning processes, which are associated with higher levels of mental health for the adolescent population.
The Educational Journey of Students With Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: From Isolation to Inclusive Education
Authors: Alsolami Abdulaziz
Published: April 2024

In recent years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has put considerable effort toward improving justice and equity for people with disabilities in education. One of the three main dimensions of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program is to support all citizens, especially those with disabilities. However, more efforts are still needed to achieve meaningful inclusive education. This analysis sheds light on the challenges, successes, and important factors that have affected the educational landscape for individuals with disabilities in Saudi Arabia and offers recommendations for improving and sustaining inclusive educational practice. In particular, technology solutions need to be implemented to provide effective training for special education professionals, and the current curriculum should be reevaluated to suit special education standards. Preparing special education teachers and other personnel to adapt the curriculum to suit students with disabilities is an important step toward full inclusion in Saudi Arabia.
La reconnexion du consommateur : investigation à travers la pratique de l’alimentation en pleine conscience
Authors: Dupont Le Priol Marion , Schmitt Julien
Published: April 2024

La société de consommation a progressivement déconnecté les consommateurs de l’origine de leur consommation, des besoins qu’elle assouvit réellement, et de son impact social et écologique. La présente recherche vise à étudier le phénomène de « reconnexion » par lequel les consommateurs essaient de retrouver du sens à travers la conscientisation de leurs expériences de consommation. Dans ce but, nous nous focalisons sur la pratique de l’alimentation en pleine conscience. En utilisant une approche interprétative, nous montrons comment le processus de reconnexion se déploie autour de trois dimensions : soi-même, la nature et la société. Nous mettons en lumière les tensions liées à l’intégration de la reconnexion dans la vie quotidienne, et nous étudions les stratégies d’adaptation qui émergent pour réduire ces tensions. Enfin, nous discutons les implications en termes d’éducation, de santé et de pratiques marketing.
Biocompatible sodium alginate–silk fibroin antibacterial microspheres from a microfluidic platform for infected wound repair
Authors: Liu Jinglong , Zhou Wei , Yang Shuo , Chu Ruixue , Zhen Yuqi , Ding Rui , Xu Juan , Qian Zhiyong , Wen Ning
Published: April 2024

Micro/nano drug delivery systems can provide ideal controlled drug release. Microfluidic chip technology plays an important role in the preparation of microspheres. Sodium alginate (SA) has been used to prepare microspheres as drug carriers owing to its good biosafety and easy preparation. However, these microspheres lack antimicrobial activity and drug loading efficiency, which prevent their application for infected wound repair. Although silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess broad-spectrum antibiotic activity, liquid mixtures of AgNPs and SA are too unstable to fabricate drug-loaded microspheres using microfluidic chip technology. In this study, AgNPs were coated with silk fibroin (SF) and then dispersed in SA solution to fabricate antibacterial microspheres (denoted SA-SF-Ag) using microfluidic chip technology. SA-SF-Ag effectively inhibited the growth of microorganisms and gradually released AgNPs. Moreover, in vivo results showed that SA-SF-Ag promoted infected wound healing and angiogenesis by killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the surface of infected skin wounds of mouse models. This study offers a new method to integrate AgNPs into organic polymeric microspheres for the treatment of infected wounds.
The LGBTQ+ Employee Mental Load Dilemma: Captive Identity and Adaptive Responses
Authors: Minei Elizabeth M. , Hastings Sally O. , Warren Simone
Published: April 2024

Conceptualizations of mental load argue that marginalized employees may experience heightened mental load demands in the workplace (Sanders, 1979). Using the theories of facework, frontstage, and backstage performance (Goffman, 1978), we examine how workplace interactions may constrain or enable the performance of an LGBTQ+ identity in the workplace. We interviewed 35 U.S.-based LGBTQ+ employees to understand how mental load pressures shape identity presentation choices. Data were thematically analyzed using an iterative process based on principles of grounded theory. Two themes emerged: the Captive, or negative face threats, that LGBTQ+ employees described (including subthemes of professionalism and feelings of inescapability) and Adaptive strategies promoting negative face (including subthemes of making choices where possible, identity artifacts selections, and use of strategic ambiguity). Both captive and adaptive aspects of facework are considered for potential impact on increasing employee mental load.
Unpacking State Production of Temporal Dispossession: The Intersections of Labour, Asylum and Informalization in Sweden
Authors: Philipson Isaac Sarah
Published: April 2024

Using the analytical frame of ‘temporal dispossession’, in the present article, I examine lived experiences of navigating the state production of informalization. This is connected to the increasingly blurred lines between migration regimes and labour market politics in Sweden. With temporary residence permits having become the new norm for asylum policies in Sweden, time and labour market productivity are central to the distribution of vulnerability and life chances, as labour market participation functions as the only means of qualifying for permanent residence. Theoretically engaging with ‘temporal dispossession’ and racial capitalism, I highlight how dispossession operates in and through the border regime, specifically through temporal governance, and how the latter is weaponized to dispossess people of their life chances. Empirically, I focus on how the interlocutors inhabit, negotiate, and defy the precarization of asylum through their labour market participation. Their work, however, is marked by super-exploitation, as they are pushed to the margins of the labour market, often in informalized, underpaid, or unpaid positions with the promise of future employment and stability. The analysis focuses on the strategies of defiance enacted by the interlocutors and their different ways of interrogating contemporary capitalist formation through their experiences of devaluation at the intersection of asylum and labour.
Predictors of Job Retention After Onset of Visual Impairment in Late Middle Age
Authors: Cmar Jennifer L. , McDonnall Michele C. , Mitchell G. Lynn
Published: April 2024

Objectives: We investigated factors associated with job retention after developing a visual impairment in late middle adulthood. Methods: Using longitudinal survey data from the Health and Retirement Study, we identified respondents who first reported poor eyesight or legal blindness at age 44–64 years in Waves 3–14 and who were employed in the previous wave. We conducted a multiple logistic regression analysis with job retention as the dependent variable and health and socioeconomic characteristics as independent variables. Results: Women, people who were married or partnered, and people with fair or better self-reported health were more likely to retain employment after vision loss, whereas people with more chronic health conditions were less likely to retain employment. Discussion: Poor health and chronic health conditions may prompt late middle-aged adults to leave the labor force after developing vision loss. Timely vocational rehabilitation services can help employed people with vision loss retain employment.
Under my umbrella: LGBTQIA+ rights, LGBTQIA+ researchers and ‘internal allyship’
Authors: Ricciardo Aidan , Elphick Liam
Published: April 2024

In this article, we consider the ethical obligations that LGBTQIA+ researchers have in researching LGBTQIA+ rights. First, we consider the potential impact of identity and positionality. Although people of all LGBTQIA+ identities share common experiences of marginalisation and persecution, there is much diversity among LGBTQIA+ people and their many intersections. We then propose that LGBTQIA+ researchers should act as ‘internal allies’ when undertaking work related to LGBTQIA+ communities. The familiar concept of allyship imposes obligations which are dynamic, appropriate for the research context and align with community expectations. These obligations include self-education, consultation and platforming marginalised voices.
Fostering Collaborative School Improvement in Estonian Schools
Authors: Eisenschmidt Eve , Kumpas-Lenk Kaija , Vanari Kätlin , Arus Helen , Ivanova Karina
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to identify the factors that foster a collaborative culture in the school improvement process. Estonian schools are characterized by a high degree of autonomy in developing the school curriculum and choosing the appropriate methods for its implementation. As a result, some schools are more successful, while others face difficulties in improving their pedagogical processes. Six Estonian schools with lower performance indicators participated in the School Improvement Program in 2021–2022. In each school, leaders and teachers formed a team together with two mentors. Supported by university experts, the school teams began working on a topic they chose to improve their students’ learning while simultaneously increasing the school’s leadership capacity by strengthening a collaborative school culture. The results of this qualitative research demonstrate that the arrangement of teamwork and the creation of shared values and goals constitute the key factors in creating a collaborative culture. Collaborative culture can be fostered by composing a stable team, developing routines for collaboration, ensuring open communication among all parties, focusing consistently on the goal, and building trust among participants. The obstacles are resistance to change, an unstable team, no routines for collaboration, a lack of communication, and no commitment to the goal. External support is important for both successful school teams and those facing challenges in the improvement process.
Timing of Alveolar Bone Graft and Barriers to Care
Authors: Bushong Elizabeth E. , Patmon Darin , Pfershy Hanna , Huffman Cuyler , Carlson Anna , Girotto John
Published: April 2024

Objective

The current standard timing for alveolar bone grafting (ABG) occurs during mixed dentition, typically between the ages of six and twelve. A delay in receiving this operation is associated with an increase in graft loss and an overall thinner maxilla. This study aims to determine whether socioeconomic barriers are associated with a delay in timely ABG.

Design

A retrospective analysis of patients who received ABG at our institution since 2012. Patient demographics, cleft classifications, operative details, and surgical dates were examined. A logistic regression model was created using socioeconomic variables to predict patients receiving delayed ABG. Significant variables were then included in a backwards selection logistic regression, followed by a final analysis of maximum likelihood estimates.

Setting

Single-institution, primary cleft care center.

Patients

202 patients with cleft palates who underwent ABG.

Interventions

ABG.

Main Outcome Measures

Timing in which patients received ABG: standard (6-12 years) and delayed (>12 years).

Results

Female sex was a protective factor in the timing of ABG in our initial univariate analysis (OR = 0.44; p  =  .015). Socioeconomic factors resulting in delayed presentation for ABG include median income (OR = 1.0; p  =  .018) and public insurance status (OR = 3.75; p < .001). Median income, sex, and driving distance to the cleft clinic were not significant following backward elimination, however, private insurance status remained significant (OR = 3.71; p  =  .0001).

Conclusion

Patients with public insurance are approximately 3.75 times more likely to receive ABG during permanent dentition. Multidisciplinary teams should work closely with patients on public insurance to ensure timely delivery of ABG. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective
Unraveling the Spatial Dimensions of Disease Outbreaks: Implications for the Future of Third Places—A Scoping Review
Authors: Alfowzan Nurah , Valipoor Shabboo , Portillo Margaret
Published: April 2024

Third places are vital social spaces, outside the typical workplace and living environment, that facilitate meaningful interactions and contribute to an individual’s sense of community and well-being. Nevertheless, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, safety requirements led to the closure of many third places, disrupting socialization, and limiting the positive impact these spaces typically have on people’s lives. This recent global experience highlighted the need for interior design approaches to create more adaptable third places. Through this review, we aimed to explore the evolving influence of different disease outbreaks on the design of interior spaces, focusing on third places and similar communal environments. Emphasis was on exploring interior design approaches employed to reduce transmission risks, ultimately enhancing the resilience and sustainability of these spaces. A scoping review of the literature was conducted, adhering to the framework established by Arksey and O’Malley. Using content identifiers and a detailed flowchart, we found five themes: (a) flexibility through scalability and reconfiguration; (b) fluid circulation and optimized wayfinding; (c) natural ventilation and indoor–outdoor connection; (d) infection control by material selection and design; and (e) integration of technology. By highlighting these approaches, strategies for creating sustainable, resilient, and unobstructed third places are reviewed post-pandemic to ensure social and overall well-being continuity.
New Possibilities for Spatial Research: Re-Animating the Built Environment Through Speculative Maps and Models
Authors: Trafí-Prats Laura , de Freitas Elizabeth
Published: April 2024

This article presents creative methodologies for studying the emotionally charged environment of school buildings, with particular attention to situated movements and modes of engagement after the Covid pandemic. Drawing on digital-sensory methods and futuring practices, developed in collaboration with staff and students in a UK secondary school, we present a series of speculative architectural models and living maps. Our approach is informed by Bruno Latour’s concept of the Terrestrial as a metamorphic zone that includes the built environment, with connections to contemporary architecture and design practices. We use techniques in speculative cartography and cosmography, creating maps and models that show how students negotiate the affective atmosphere and social-material ecology associated with school buildings.
Administration of teclistamab in four patients with multiple myeloma requiring hemodialysis
Authors: Khouderchah Christy J , Ochs Madeleine , Pianko Matthew , Mahmoudjafari Zahra , Snyder Jordan , Ahmed Iman , Campagnaro Erica , Nachar Victoria R
Published: April 2024

Objective

Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) has poor outcomes, especially in heavily pretreated patients. Limited data exists on the use of novel therapies in MM patients with renal dysfunction. This case series describes the successful initiation of teclistamab in four patients with heavily pre-treated MM on hemodialysis (HD).

Data Sources

The medical records of four adult MM patients on HD who received teclistamab were retrospectively reviewed.

Data Summary

All patients completed teclistamab step-up dosing and received at least one full dose. HD runs were administered irrespective of teclistamab initiation. Patients tolerated therapy well, with only one patient experiencing grade 1 CRS, which was managed with supportive care.

Conclusions

Due to the complexity of this patient population, close monitoring and multidisciplinary care are crucial. This approach is essential for effectively managing MM patients with renal dysfunction and for exploring novel treatment options.
Acute pancreatitis associated with pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia
Authors: Inayat Faisal , Afzal Arslan , Anwar Muhammad Sajeel , Saeed Aamir , Chaudhry Ahtshamullah , Haider Marjan , Zulfiqar Laraib , Afzal Muhammad Sohaib , Arslan Hafiz Muhammad , Saif Muhammad Wasif
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Acute pancreatitis (AP) following drug-induced hypertriglyceridemia is a rare clinical phenomenon. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized treatment for a variety of solid organ and hematological malignancies. Pembrolizumab is a programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor that has shown promising responses in many advanced cancers. However, a constellation of immune-related adverse events has also been described. There are reports of pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia, but AP as a result of this side effect remains an exceedingly rare clinical sequela.

Case report

We delineate a case of a patient with stage IVB non-small-cell lung cancer who developed progressive abdominal pain and nausea following administration of pembrolizumab for four months. Laboratory studies revealed increased serum lipase and triglyceride levels at 12,562 IU/L and 16,901 mg/dL, respectively. The diagnosis of AP was made based on the revised Atlanta classification criteria. After ruling out alternative causes, pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia was considered the likely etiology of AP.

Management and outcome

The patient was transferred to the medical intensive care unit for close monitoring. Treatment was initiated with intravenous fluids, pain medications, and an insulin infusion. However, her hypertriglyceridemia levels remained persistently elevated, necessitating therapeutic apheresis. She recovered well with no complications after triglyceride apheresis.

Discussion

AP following pembrolizumab-associated hypertriglyceridemia remains a rare clinicopathologic entity. Given the widespread clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, knowledge of such rare adverse events is crucial. Evaluation of serum triglyceride levels before and after initiating pembrolizumab therapy may be mandated, especially in patients with metabolic comorbidities.
Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Frostbite: 2024 Update
Authors: McIntosh Scott E. , Freer Luanne , Grissom Colin K. , Rodway George W. , Giesbrecht Gordon G. , McDevitt Marion , Imray Christopher H. , Johnson Eric L. , Pandey Prativa , Dow Jennifer , Hackett Peter H.
Published: April 2024

The Wilderness Medical Society convened an expert panel to develop a set of evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and treatment of frostbite. We present a review of pertinent pathophysiology. We then discuss primary and secondary prevention measures and therapeutic management. Recommendations are made regarding each treatment and its role in management. These recommendations are graded on the basis of the quality of supporting evidence and balance between the beneﬁts and risks or burdens for each modality according to methodology stipulated by the American College of Chest Physicians. This is an updated version of the guidelines published in 2019.
A Paradigm Shift in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Diagnostics: From Single Gene Tests to Comprehensive Genomic Profiling
Authors: Zameer Ushna , Shaikh Wajiha , Khan Abdul Moiz
Published: April 2024

Lung cancer imposes a burden on the health care system worldwide affecting 2 million people and causing 1.8 million deaths in 2021.More than 85% of all lung cancer cases are reported under Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is critical to discover gene alterations to treat non-small cell lung cancer successfully. The CAP/IASLC/AMP recommendations supported use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutations and ALK (Anaplastic lymphoma kinase) rearrangements, respectively. A study presented in the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago emphasized the need for comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) before single gene tests (SGTs) since it demonstrated that SGT can result in the depletion of precious biopsy samples. As a result, the efficacy of thorough genetic Profiling (CGP) is reduced, preventing patients from receiving valuable genetic information about their tumors.
Beginning, rise, fall, and comeback: Exploring the journey of a physical education teacher community in South Korea
Authors: Lee Yongjin , Lee Wonhee , Min Hyungsik , Kim Youngjoon
Published: April 2024

Physical education teacher communities have been studied and implemented as a successful approach to teacher professional development. Despite a wealth of literature, less is known about three aspects: sustained nature of a community over time, power relations among community members, and a comprehensive case study. This study aimed to address these gaps in the literature by investigating the journey of a physical education community of practice (CoP) in South Korea. In this intrinsic case study, seven core members were interviewed using a timeline drawing method to elicit the stories behind the community's history. In addition, field notes from observations and documents from the official community website were used to corroborate the interview data. Inductive and collaborative data analysis organised the community's history into four phases: Beginning, Rise, Fall, and Comeback. Detailed explanations of each phase represent what happened and how the community evolved over time. Discussions suggested, first, that changing power relations facilitate different types of learning in CoPs. Initially, a strong leader drove learning as experiencing and doing, but as power shifted to members, the community changed to learning as belonging and becoming. Second, conflict can be a natural process to revisit the shared vision. Since the shared vision is not static but rather reflects contextual values, community members should revisit and discuss it as conflicts arise. Third, community engagement can be understood as an opportunity to gain recognition. This research underscores the significance of understanding long-term teacher motivation and the collective factors that drive it through community engagement.
From virtual assistant to writing mentor: Exploring the impact of a ChatGPT-based writing instruction protocol on EFL teachers’ self-efficacy and learners’ writing skill
Authors: Ghafouri Mohammad , Hassaskhah Jaleh , Mahdavi-Zafarghandi Amir
Published: April 2024

Language teaching is a highly emotional profession that can affect the teachers’ well-being and learners’ achievement. However, studies have yet to explore the potential of positive psychology interventions and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to promote the psycho-emotional aspects of second language (L2) teachers and learners. Further, studies regarding the effectiveness of AI in promoting the learners’ language skills could have been expansive. Responding to these gaps, researchers chose ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot capable of generating natural and coherent texts, as a potential tool to foster positive emotions and interactions between Iranian English language teachers ( n = 12) and learners ( n = 48) in the L2 writing context. We operationalized ChatGPT in a three-phased writing instruction protocol (CGWIP): (1) a planning phase, where teachers used ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas and generate outlines for each session; (2) an instruction phase, where teachers used ChatGPT to engage the learners in writing process, analyse and reflect on their drafts, and (3) an assessment phase, where teachers used ChatGPT to simulate IELTS writing exam and provided detailed and constructive feedback to the learners. We further tested the effectiveness of CGWIP on teachers’ self-efficacy and learners’ writing skills before and after a 10-week instruction program. The Independent Samples t-test results showed that CGWIP significantly enhanced teachers’ self-efficacy compared to the control group. Also, the results of One Way ANCOVA revealed that CGWIP significantly improved learners’ writing skills and that these effects persisted over time. The study implied that the protocol can nurture teachers’ efficiency by helping them in various aspects of L2 writing instruction, including brainstorming, revising, providing feedback, and assessment, which in turn, improves learners’ writing skills.
Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Implement Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into Marketing Materials: The ‘CONSIDER’ Framework
Authors: van Esch Patrick , Cui Yuanyuan (Gina) , Heilgenberg Kerstin
Published: April 2024

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in marketing– defined as the composition of an organisation’s marketing reflects diverse, equitable representation of its consumer base, especially with respect to the use of inclusive, bias-free imagery, language and messaging among underrepresented, underserved and marginalised consumer segments – has led to the advancement of AI-enabled technologies to aid marketers improve the DEI of their marketing materials. To ensure DEI marketing strategies are fully considered and that the use of AI is implemented effectively, we suggest marketers to utilise our CONSIDER framework (comprehend current state, operationalise with openness, nurture dynamic relevance, set standards, involve stakeholders, diversify data, elevate literacy and regular monitoring). We then highlight the pros and cons for using AI to implement DEI into marketing materials and provide several AI-enabled metrics (accessibility, allyship, cultural sensitivity, diversity, gender parity, inclusivity intersectionality and representation) that offer a more objective and quantitative approach for marketers to assess how well they are meeting their DEI goals and identifying gaps in representation to make changes to improve the DEI of their marketing materials.
Prioritization of noise abatement methods for controlling hospital noise pollution
Authors: Abbasi Milad , Tokhi Mohammad Osman , Eyvazzadeh Nazila , Falahati Mohsen , Zokaei Mojtaba
Published: April 2024

Noise pollution in hospitals has increased over the last few years to a level that can threaten the health and productivity of staff and patient safety. There are many control measures to reduce hospital noise. However, there is still no consensus on the best measures. This study aims to prioritize the control measures for reducing hospital noise. The work is divided into three phases. The first phase identifies and categorizes noise sources in hospitals through a review of the state-of-the art literature using Scopus®, ProQuest, PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase,™ and Web of Science™. The second phase identifies possible strategies for reduction of hospital noise and the best criteria for their adoption using findings from the literature review and interviews with corresponding experts. The third phase uses Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (fuzzy TOPSIS) method to weigh the criteria and to prioritize the control measures. Based on the results, hospital noise sources were classified into four groups: outdoor noise sources (29.7%), noise produced by domestic facilities (20.8%), indoor noise from human activities (27.5%), and noise produced by diagnostic and treatment equipment (22%). The study further arrives at a set of 9 criteria and 22 alternatives ranked using FAHP and fuzzy TOPSIS. The criteria’s weights were determined using the FAHP method, with feasibility (0.175), effectiveness (0.143), and interference with staff activities (0.140) being the most important criteria. It was found that engineering controls such as substitution of noisy equipment (rank = 1), using acoustic enclosures (rank = 2), using double-glazed windows (rank = 2), and soundproofing walls, doors, and windows (rank = 3) have priority for reducing hospital noise.
Participation in everyday activities among young adult relatives of parents with dementia – A qualitative study
Authors: Nielsen Marianne Lyngmose , Bjørnskov Stina , Gregersen Rikke , Nielsen Louise Møldrup
Published: April 2024

Previous research has shown that young adult relatives of parents with dementia experience strain through increased responsibility and changed relationships in the family with potential consequences for their emotional, mental and physical well-being. Less is known about how young adult relatives experience their participation in everyday activities typically associated with young adulthood and how their participation is affected by the parent´s dementia. This study explores young adult relatives’ experiences of participation in everyday activities and how their participation was affected by having a parent with dementia. The study followed a qualitative, descriptive approach. Semi-structured individual interviews with 11 young adult relatives (aged 21 – 31) of parents with dementia were conducted. The interviews were analysed using Kirsti Malterud’s iterative cross case analysis method ‘Systematic text condensation’. The analysis identified three categories: Dilemmas of choosing, Not having a choice and Reversal of roles. The young adult relatives experienced dilemmas and constraints regarding participation in everyday activities usually related to young adulthood. They navigated situations where they were to choose between the parent with dementia and their own everyday activities and they often downgraded or cancelled participation in own activities related to leisure time, school, job and career. Moreover, their participation seemed affected by chores and responsibilities resulting in a lack of energy leading them to forego social activities in particular or change their choice of activities. The young adult relatives need help and support in their everyday lives. Health care professionals are encouraged to focus on relieving them from some of the responsibilities and practical tasks enabling them to live their own lives as young adults, while being part of the family and contributing towards the responsibilities and tasks with which they can cope.
The change of intimate relationship between people with Alzheimer’s disease and their adult child caregivers: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Authors: Lyu Jihui , Jiang Wenjing , Xiong Qian , Li Wenjie , Li Mo , Hu Yueqing , Jia Dongmei , Gao Wenchao , Mu Haiyan , Ma Zongjuan
Published: April 2024

This study aims to explore the change of intimate relationship between people with Alzheimer’s disease and their adult child caregivers as the disease progresses. Twelve adult child caregivers were recruited through purposive sampling. Explanatory phenomenological analysis was conducted to analyse data collected by semi-structured in-depth interviews. This study found a dynamically changing relationship between adult child caregivers and their parents with Alzheimer’s disease during care giving that evolved with the progress of the disease. The relationship was the most intimate in the middle stage of the disease for most caregivers and a new reciprocal relationship developed due to caregiving. Caregivers experienced different degrees of self-growth when providing care, though caregiver burdens were common. The positive experience and perception of caregivers were important for improving the quality of life for adult child caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Self-Practice Program for Beating-Heart Minimally Invasive Coronary Anastomosis Using a Homemade Low-Fidelity Simulator: A Proof of Concept
Authors: Azmi Muhammad Ibrahim , Nair Ashvin Krishna , Hashim Shahrul Amry
Published: April 2024

Objective:

We evaluated the effectiveness of a consistent and structured self-practice coronary anastomosis program using a homemade low-fidelity beating-heart simulator.

Methods:

An intermediary trainee was subjected to an 8-week structured self-practice program. The program was divided into 2 parts of nonbeating and beating practices with a minimum number of timed anastomoses. Each part was followed by an assessment using an objective skills assessment tool score. The beating-heart simulator was built using motorized toy blocks connected wirelessly to a smartphone application. This was coded to enable rate selection. A junior consultant was compared to the subject at the end of the program. Both were tasked to perform 1 coronary anastomosis for both off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) and minimally invasive CAB (MICS) setup. The primary outcomes were anastomotic time and score compared with the junior consultant. Secondary outcomes were progression of anastomotic time and score throughout the program.

Results:

Overall performance of the studied subject approached the performance of the junior consultant in terms of time (OPCAB, 489 vs 605 s; MICS, 712 vs 652 s) and scores (OPCAB, 21 vs 20.7; MICS, 19 vs 20.6). There were inverse correlations between anastomosis time and number of practices for both nonbeating and beating anastomoses. Overall improvement was observed in terms of assessment scoring by 26.6%.

Conclusions:

A structured self-practice program using an affordable and accessible simulator was able to help trainees overcome the MICS anastomosis learning curve quicker when introduced earlier. This may encourage earlier adoption of MICS among surgeons.
Disability day programs for people with intellectual disability: Characteristics and long-term perspectives
Authors: Luthra Renee , Tideman Magnus , Staland-Nyman Carin
Published: April 2024

There is limited knowledge regarding people with intellectual disability and their occupations in Sweden. The aim of the study was to examine young adults with intellectual disability who after secondary school participate in disability day programs (daily activity), with a focus on characteristics and longitudinal analyses of movements between occupations. The study used a national register of 26,908 people with intellectual disability, of which 13,128 individuals (48.8%) participated in daily activity. The group had slightly more men than women, many had attended individual programs in school, and significant associations were found between background factors and participating in daily activity. Proportions in daily activity remained stable over time; however, some individuals transitioned to employment or no known occupation. The study presents national and longitudinal understanding, highlighting the dominance of daily activity as an occupation. Further research is needed to increase knowledge on meaningful occupations for people with intellectual disability.
Using a community engaged research approach to develop the social skills training program for adults with Williams syndrome
Authors: Fisher Marisa H , Black Rhonda S , Kammes Rebecca R
Published: April 2024

This article describes the development of a distance-delivered social skills training program for adults with Williams syndrome (SSTP-WS) through a community engaged approach. Throughout six phases of development, the research team received input from adults with Williams syndrome, caregivers, service providers, educators, and researchers on (a) the need for a training program and topics to be addressed (Phase 1), (b) an initial draft of the SSTP-WS (Phase 3), (c) the intervention pilot study (Phase 5), and (d) feedback to provide context for the results of the study (Phase 6). The development of the SSTP-WS resulted in an intervention aligned with the Williams syndrome community’s values and needs that supports the unique cognitive and behavioral phenotypes and social characteristics of this low incidence disability population.
Australian women’s experiences of post-partum rectus diastasis: A qualitative study
Authors: Fitzpatrick Siobhan Elizabeth , Foley Kristen , Crittenden Tamara , Watson David , Dean Nicola R
Published: April 2024

Background:

Post-partum rectus diastasis, or the separation of the abdominal muscles after pregnancy, occurs in conjunction with physical symptoms and impaired quality of life. In Australia, health funding for surgery to treat diastasis was ceased in 2016, but reinstated in mid-2022, providing a unique context from which women’s experiences of this condition can be analysed.

Objectives:

The objective is to examine the experiences of Australian women with post-partum rectus diastasis.

Design:

This is an interview-style study with qualitative content analysis.

Methods:

Women diagnosed with rectus diastasis were recruited to complete a baseline questionnaire (n = 45). Twenty-three responded to invitation for one-on-one interview via Zoom® between November 2021 and May 2022. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using qualitative content analysis to identify key themes.

Results:

Eighteen women had undergone caesarean section and eight had twins. Thirteen had private health insurance. Women were most often diagnosed by a physiotherapist (n = 10). Key themes identified included changed physical appearance and function; issues with self-esteem and intimacy; barriers to treatment; lack of recognition as a medical condition; and overall frustration. The impact of rectus diastasis extended beyond physical and psychological symptoms to affect women’s social functioning, child rearing, and return to work. There was a complex interaction between healthcare providers’ knowledge of rectus the removal of funding for surgical treatment, and limitations of conservative therapy, with women’s lived experiences and symptoms. The lack of an established medical definition also influenced the experiences of these women and their engagement with treatment.

Conclusion:

This study contextualizes women’s experience of post-partum rectus diastasis with respect to the unique landscape of Australia’s healthcare economy and provides evidence of women’s absorption of health policy surrounding this condition. Our qualitative analysis provides critical knowledge for future quantitative studies, the results of which in combination could advance the definition of rectus diastasis and inform healthcare policy surrounding treatment.
Urinary and reproductive tract infection symptoms and menstrual hygiene practices in refugee camps in Jordan: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Al Karmi Joud , Alshrouf Mohammad Ali , Haddad Tala A , Alhanbali Abdulrahman E , Raiq Neven Amer , Ghanem Hadeel , Ibrahim Omar Bassam , Khamis Tala , Muhaidat Nadia
Published: April 2024

Background:

Urinary tract infections and reproductive tract infections pose significant health risks, particularly among women living in challenging conditions. Unhygienic menstrual practices can exacerbate these risks, impacting physical and psychological well-being.

Objectives:

This study assessed the association between unhygienic menstrual care and self-reported urinary tract infection/reproductive tract infection symptoms among refugee women. In addition, it explored the association between these symptoms and mental health, specifically depressive symptoms.

Design:

This study adopted a cross-sectional observational design.

Methods:

This study was conducted between January and March 2023, involving 387 reproductive-age refugee women. Data collected included sociodemographic information and urinary tract infection/reproductive tract infection symptoms. In addition, we used the Menstrual Practice Needs Scale to evaluate menstrual hygiene practices and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depressive symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using Python version 3.9.12.

Results:

Of 387 refugee women, 92.25% reported having urinary or reproductive tract infection symptoms in the previous 3 months. Factors like older age (odds ratio = 1.764, 95% confidence interval = 1.083–2.873, p-value = 0.023), lower family income (odds ratio = 0.327, 95% confidence interval = 0.138–0.775, p-value = 0.011), lower educational level (odds ratio = 0.222, 95% confidence interval = 0.068–0.718, p-value = 0.012), and being married (odds ratio = 0.328, 95% confidence interval = 0.188–0.574, p-value < 0.001) were significantly associated with urinary or reproductive tract infection risk. Difficulties obtaining menstrual products and thus reusing them increased the odds of urinary or reproductive tract infection diagnosis (odds ratio = 2.452, 95% confidence interval = 1.497–4.015, p-value < 0.001). Women with urinary or reproductive tract infection symptoms exhibited higher Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores than those without (12.14 ± 5.87 vs 9.99 ± 5.86, p-value < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion:

This study highlights a high prevalence of urinary or reproductive tract infection symptoms among refugee women residing in camps in Jordan, which was associated with poor menstrual hygiene practices and depressive symptoms. To reduce the urinary tract infection/reproductive tract infection burden in marginalized communities, public health initiatives should enhance healthcare accessibility, provide reproductive education, and promote holistic well-being practices for refugee women.