bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family firm exit: A vignette study on selling to an activist versus a steward private equity investor
Authors: Kammerlander Nadine , Khoury Christopher
Published: February 2025

Selling the family firm to financial investors is a financially attractive exit option for family firm owners, especially those lacking a capable and willing family-internal successor. Building on the socio-emotional wealth (SEW) perspective, we investigate the factors that affect a family firm owner’s preference to sell to an activist private equity investor focused on financial goal maximisation, versus a steward private equity investor focused on upholding family firm values and business stability. We also study the potential moderating effect of portfolio ownership as the literature suggests that exit decisions and SEW considerations depend on family firm portfolio status. Based on our vignette scenario study with 200 responses from family firm owner-managers, we find that greater importance of non-financial considerations, such as family prominence and strong firm financial performance, reduces the preference to sell to an activist private equity investor compared to a steward private equity investor. Moreover, we show that portfolio ownership weakens the proposed positive relationship between an innovation focus and the preference to sell to an activist versus a steward private equity investor. Our findings have consequences for both family firm succession research and SEW research.
Mechanical behavior and surface morphology fracture of Al6092/SiCp metal matrix composites
Authors: Tobal Ghadeer Dhurgham Malik , Abdulsada Shaymaa Abbas
Published: February 2025

The influence of anisotropy and the loading circumstances on the deformation and damage behaviour of Al6092/SiC particle composites is examined in this study at 2× 10−4 s−1 strain rate and in three orientations with respect to the rolling directions (0, 45, 90) °. The influence of heat treatment (T6 and O-condition) on the microstructure, deformation, and damage behaviour of metal matrix composites under various loading conditions is investigated to obtain a fundamental understanding of the heat treatment effect on the fracture mechanism, the microstructural changes, and the interface between the Al-matrix and SiC particles, and to establish a correlation between heat treatment and anisotropy effect, it is necessary to examine the influence of heat treatment (T6 and O-condition) on the microstructure, deformation, and damage behaviour of metal matrix composites.
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair for retrograde type a intramural hematoma or aortic dissection with intimal disruption in the descending aorta: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Naito Noritsugu , Takagi Hisato
Published: February 2025

Background

While thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for type B aortic dissection is widely used, its use in cases of type A acute aortic syndrome remains limited. This meta-analysis was conducted to determine the outcomes of TEVAR for retrograde type A intramural hematoma (IMH) and aortic dissection with intimal disruption located in the descending aorta.

Methods

Systematic searches were conducted up to April 2024. Pooled proportions of perioperative and late outcomes were computed. Additionally, standard mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in aortic dimensions following TEVAR were calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves, derived from individual patient data extracted from the studies, were utilized to elucidate long-term all-cause mortality.

Results

A systematic review identified 13 non-randomized studies encompassing 288 patients. Pooled proportions revealed short-term mortality at 1%, with incidences of spinal cord injury, stroke, new intimal tear/dissection in the ascending aorta, aortic rupture, necessity for aortic re-intervention, and late mortality each recorded at 1%, 1%, 3%, 1%, 6%, and 7%, respectively. Substantial reductions in the diameters of the ascending aorta, descending aorta, IMH/false lumen of the ascending aorta, and IMH/false lumen of the descending aorta were observed post-TEVAR (SMD [95% CI] = 1.11 [0.82–1.39], 1.02 [0.58–1.47], 3.06 [2.39–3.74], and 2.77 [2.28–3.26], respectively). The anticipated 5-year survival rate stood at 91.1%.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis suggests TEVAR may offer a viable and safe therapeutic option for retrograde type A acute aortic syndrome. Nevertheless, definitive conclusions are hindered by the scarcity of available data.
Fostering Value Cocreation Using an Agency-Style Client Project in Marketing Education
Authors: Ishida Chiharu , Kaufman Peter , Gibson Mark , Hunter Gary
Published: February 2025

Experiential learning is key to any discipline, and in marketing it is of particular interest to foster mastery and a sense of professionalism through a client project in the classroom. In the marketing education literature, the value of client projects is well documented. Building on the value cocreation (VCC) stream of research and project-based learning, we propose that a multicourse, full-service “agency-style” structure allows classes to realize VCC beyond the traditional client-based project. We define agency-style projects as those in which teams from different courses are assigned unique, interrelated tasks and ultimately offer a comprehensive recommendation for the client’s multidimensional marketing challenges. We teamed four marketing courses to document the process as we facilitated creation of amplified value to all parties. This agency-style approach has seldom been implemented and documented, and our study contributes to the discipline by suggesting unique ways to bring a holistic understanding of marketing to students and provide synergy for meaningful experiential learning. We compare this agency-style approach to the traditional client-based project which we define as a single class working for the same client independently of other marketing courses. The research also builds a theoretical framework illustrating the process by which value can be cocreated.
Should we use NVivo or Excel for qualitative data analysis?
Authors: Moncada Marie
Published: February 2025

Coding is now a pervasive technique in qualitative data analysis, whether descriptive or theoretical, done manually by highlighting or rearranging text, or digitally using word processors or other software. However, coding relies on the researcher’s reflection and does not think for itself. I compare two types of software here: one built for coding qualitative data and another originally developed for numerical calculations. Which offers more scientific freedom, and what biases come with each? NVivo excels at organising and visualising data within a single file, enabling researchers to view coded sections in context. Its flexibility supports various inferences – inductive, abductive, and deductive – and allows for critical research evaluations. It also makes it easy to create samples. In contrast, Excel is lightweight, easily transferable, compatible with other software, and better at maintaining data anonymity. Its lack of data import reduces hardware demands and errors, while filtering enhances triangulation and quantification. Excel’s cell-based data reformulation aids narrative analysis. Lastly, neither tool proved clearly superior for data immersion (‘Coding Fetishism’) or transitioning to writing.
Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Acute Thoracic Imaging
Authors: Briody Hayley , Hanneman Kate , Patlas Michael N.
Published: February 2025

The applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology are rapidly advancing with AI algorithms being used in a wide range of disease pathologies and clinical settings. Acute thoracic pathologies including rib fractures, pneumothoraces, and acute PE are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and their identification is crucial for prompt treatment. AI models which increase diagnostic accuracy, improve radiologist efficiency and reduce time to diagnosis of acute abnormalities in the thorax have the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current applications of AI in acute thoracic imaging, highlighting their strengths, limitations, and future research opportunities.
Contemporary Chinese arts on ageing and the poetics of accumulation
Authors: Laikwan Pang
Published: February 2025

This article explores two pieces of contemporary Chinese artworks, Waste Not (物尽其用, 2005) by mainland artist Song Dong and his mother Zhao Xiangyuan, and the stuffed animals as well as their outfits made by the famous Hong Kong writer Xi Xi. The article focuses on the theme of accumulation that these two works imply. The act of accumulation is essential to the neoliberalist subject, who is constantly accumulating, whether it be knowledge, experiences or networks, all of which are treated as instruments for capital accumulation. The passage of human life is easily dichotomized into two distinct processes: growing up is an accumulating process while growing old is one of deprivation and deterioration that are cast in the private and dark sphere. The two works of art discussed here complicate this ageism, and they also offer us new insights into the relations between things and humans. The candid presentation and making of things in these two works allow us to see more intimately what ageing means to the artists. The article explores how the arts, broadly defined, produced by and about the elderly can be incessantly growing, spreading, and proliferating. In this ageing society, these artworks inspire us to embrace a sense of becoming that is implied, but also often effaced, by ageing.
Long Term Improvement of Episodic Memory in Stroke Patients Following a Short Treatment with Prism Adaptation and Serious Games
Authors: Oliveri Massimiliano , Stanzione Agostino , Caruso Giulia , Di Garbo Agnese , Turriziani Patrizia , Carlesimo Giovanni Augusto
Published: February 2025

Episodic memory deficits are frequently encountered following stroke. Rehabilitation of these deficits is often associated with short term effects that do not persist at follow up times. Neuromodulation tools acting on alterations of excitation/inhibition dynamics could be useful for rehabilitation of episodic memory. Prism adaptation with visual field deviation ipsilateral to the affected hemisphere can specifically modulate brain excitability and lead to improvement of cognitive deficits in post-stroke patients. Here we investigated whether prism adaptation followed by digital cognitive training could induce long term improvement of episodic memory deficits in stroke patients as compared with traditional rehabilitation.

Sixty stroke patients were recruited for the study. Thirty patients were treated with prism adaptation combined with serious games targeting executive processes, with a ten days protocol (experimental group); thirty patients were treated with conventional rehabilitation (control group). Patients were tested with a battery of neuropsychological tests, including verbal and visual episodic memory tasks at four times: at baseline (T0); immediately after the end of the rehab protocol (T1); after 3 months (T2); after six months (T3).

The main results showed a significant long term effect of the experimental treatment on both immediate and delayed recall phases of the visual episodic memory task. The effects were not linked to the affected hemisphere (right vs. left), nor to the hemorrhagic or ischemic type of stroke nor to the cortical or subcortical site of lesion.

These findings show for the first time an improvement of long term memory in stroke patients following the use of a medical device combining prism adaptation and digital cognitive training, paving the way to novel rehabilitation techniques for cognitive deficits in stroke.
Continued struggle: The growth of Scopus-indexed journals in Africa over the last decade
Authors: Kanyika Martin Elihaki , Kim Eungi
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to assess journals indexed in Scopus from African countries, drawing on data spanning 2003 to 2023 but focusing on the most recent decade (2013–2023) to examine geographic distribution, rankings, publishers, and disciplines. Data on journals indexed in Scopus were collected and analyzed using the SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) portal. The findings revealed a significant under-representation of African journals in Scopus compared to other global regions. Among African countries, Egypt and South Africa had the highest journal coverage in Scopus, with South Africa exhibiting consistent growth across disciplines and journal types. While there was a growing preference for open access (OA) journals in Africa, the growth rates of both OA and non-OA journals indexed in Scopus remained lower compared to other regions of the world. However, South Africa showed a notable increase in both OA and non-OA journal coverage during this period, distinguishing it from other African countries. This study also revealed a prevalence of journals ranked in Q3, with relatively few ranked in Q1, presenting a challenge for African researchers in accessing and contributing to high-impact journals within Scopus. The representation of disciplines among African journals indexed in Scopus highlights a concentration in Medicine across all three major countries, with South Africa showing particular strength in Social Sciences. The study concludes that African scholarly publishing faces complex challenges in achieving Scopus indexing. It recommends adjusting Scopus indexing criteria to better align with African contexts, which could enhance the representation of African journals.
Acute stress exposure in healthy oil and gas field workers and early post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms: A lesson from the COVID-19 crisis
Authors: Fitriani Dewi Y , Mansyur Muchtaruddin , Raharjanti Natalia W , Adi Nuri P , Isbayuputra Marsen , Ramadianto Adhitya S , Nugrahadi Nadia R , Yo Edward C , Pujo Jean M , Kallel Hatem
Published: February 2025

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the oil and gas industry had to adopt coping strategies. These changes might contribute to early increased mental health issues among workers. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors to early post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among healthy Indonesian oil and gas field workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to January 2021. We investigated healthy field employees working during the pandemic. Data on the subjects’ PTSD symptoms were collected using the PTSD Checklist–Civilian (PCL-C) Version.

Results

A total of 1542 completed forms were analyzed. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 44.8%, with 9.1% of very severe forms. Independent factors associated with PTSD symptoms were female gender ( p = .013, OR 1.72 [95% CI 1.12–2.63]), change in work system ( p = .006, OR 1.37 [95% CI 1.09–1.71]), increased workload ( p < .001, OR 2.10 [95% CI 1.63–2.71]), and decreased income ( p = .041, OR 1.44 [95% CI 1.02–2.05]).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 crisis and its impact on working conditions were significant stressors that contributed to a high prevalence of PTSD symptoms among oil and gas company workers. Therefore, implementing well-being programs is essential during acute challenges that lead to changes in work systems.
Does mild COVID-19 in healthcare workers affect functional capacity and work performance in short term?
Authors: Oke Deniz , Gulec Meryem Guneser , Yalcinkaya Ebru Yilmaz , Taskiran Ozden Ozyemisci
Published: February 2025

Background

Disproportionately increased workload is one of the main reasons affecting work performance. Healthcare workers who got infected by COVID-19 were further affected mentally and physically which had an impact on their work performance.

Objective

In this study, we aimed to show whether work performance is affected even in people with mild Covid 19 disease or whether it is a part of Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS).

Methods

Thirty healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital had COVID-19 one month ago and gender and age matched 30 healthy workers without a history of COVID-19 (control group) was enrolled between January 2021 and March 2021. Work performance was assessed on a 7-point Likert scale. Participants performed 1-min sit-to-stand test (1MSTS), 5 times sit-to-stand test (5TSTS), and 6-min walk test (6MWT).

Results

All participants in the COVID-19 group had a mild (non-hospitalized) form of the disease. 23 patients had ongoing symptoms 4–7 weeks after the initial symptoms of COVID-19 (fatigue/malaise (n = 9), myalgia/arthralgia (n = 7), cough (n = 7), loss of smell/taste (n = 5), headache (n = 5), dyspnea (n = 4), and diarrhea (n = 1). The increase in systolic blood pressure after 6MWT was higher in the COVID group (p = 0.018).

Conclusion

The functional status and work performance in healthcare workers with COVID-19 infection were negatively affected in the first month even if the disease severity was mild. It is important to prevent both acute and long-term physical and mental complications of the disease and to ensure that these strategies improve the functional status and work performance of healthcare professionals.
Effectiveness of Aerobic Treadmill Training on Walking Distance in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis with Moderate Disability: A Randomised Controlled Multicentre Trial
Authors: Massot C , Guyot MA , Blanchard A , Norberciak L , Donze C
Published: February 2025

Background

Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) have gait disorders. The efficiency of treadmill training on walking distance is debatable.

Objective

This study evaluated the efficacy of a 6-week treadmill training program at heart rate at the first ventilatory threshold (HRVT1) on walking distance compared with a control group in PwMS.

Methods

This prospective, multicenter study included 46 PwMS with moderate disability which randomized into training group (TG) and control group (CG). Patients performed cardiopulmonary exercise test to determine HRVT1. TG realized walking treadmill training program at HRVT1: 18 sessions (3 sessions/week) over 6 weeks. The distance on the six-minute walk test (6MWT), Timed 25 foot walk, patient-reported walking ability, berg balance scale, fatigue scale, the HR at the end of the 6MWT (HR6MWT) were collected at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks.

Results

The 6MWT distance showed a significant overall group effect (30.6 m; 95%CI = (6.6; 54.6); p = 0.017). The perceived impact of walking was significantly decreased in the TG (−6.1; 95% CI = (−9.2; −2.9); p = 0.0006). No correlation was found between HRVT1 and HR6MWT.

Conclusion

Aerobic treadmill training significantly enhanced walking distance and reduced perceived walking difficulties in PwMS.
Abdominal Abscess as a Rare Manifestation of Gout
Authors: Siatecka Hanna , Faiz Sara
Published: February 2025

Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis in adults. Elevated levels of uric acid lead to the formation of monosodium urate crystals and their deposition in joints, and rarely, other parts of the body. The tissues most frequently involved are synovium, bone, cartilage, skin, tendon, ligament, and kidney. Here, we report an unusual presentation of gout manifesting as an abdominal abscess. A 60-year-old man with a history of opioid abuse, hypertension, and knee gouty arthritis presented to the emergency department with severe right knee pain. During hospitalization, he complained of pain in the left lower abdominal quadrant and developed coffee-ground emesis. Computed tomography showed pneumoperitoneum. The patient underwent laparotomy and was found to have gastric perforation and a large abdominal abscess. Drainage of the abscess revealed necrotic and hemorrhagic fragments of omentum. Microscopic examination showed adipose tissue with fat necrosis, acute inflammation, and fungal hyphae. Eosinophilic, amorphous deposits of polarizable needle-shaped crystals were observed in all sections, indicating the presence of monosodium urate crystals. The combined characteristics suggested intra-abdominal gout with concurrent fungal infection resulting from gastric perforation. This presentation is very rare. Only one occurrence of intra-abdominal gout mimicking a pelvic abscess has been reported in the literature.
The power of the leader: Party approval and institutional trust
Authors: Shino Enrijeta , Wagner Regina Lea , Binder Michael , Lerner Adrienne
Published: February 2025

Unprecedented in American politics, several Republican US Representatives, supported by former President Trump, led a motion in the House to remove the Speaker, providing an ideal case for understanding a strong leader’s control over the party base, conflation with the party brand, and ramifications for the health of the US party system. Leveraging this unique event, we conducted an original survey experiment of registered Republican voters to analyze how awareness of the leader’s approval influences their assessment of the ouster, approval of their party, and trust in the House. We argue that if a leader’s hold over the base and association between him and the party brand remains strong, his endorsement should boost Republican voters’ approval of the ouster, their party, and trust in the US House. We find consistent empirical support for these expectations, with significant implications for the leader -- party -- constituent relationship and the health of the American party system.
Post-beginner L2-learner knowledge of ultra-frequent English words
Authors: Brown Dale , Stoeckel Tim
Published: February 2025

It is often assumed that the most frequent English words are known by post-beginner second language learners. Yet the sheer frequency of these words and the important roles they play in discourse mean that confirmation of whether they are indeed known would be valuable for understanding second language vocabulary development and reading comprehension. This article reports on a study in which university learners with Japanese as their first language (L1) ( N = 200) were tested on their written receptive knowledge of 63 senses/functions of the first 44 words in the New JACET8000 word list. The study found that for 13 senses/functions item facility was < 0.9. That is, some gaps in receptive knowledge were uncovered which qualitative item analysis suggested may stem from relative frequency of exposure, instructional experiences, knowledge of one sense/function blocking the acquisition of another, as well as abstractness and lack of a direct L1 equivalent. Nevertheless, overall receptive knowledge of the tested senses/functions of these ultra-frequent words was extremely good. Hence, although miscomprehension may arise from occasional gaps in knowledge of these words, the assumption that ultra-frequent words are receptively known by post-beginner second language (L2) learners does seem reasonable.
What is in a bag? Doing and becoming subjectivity
Authors: Özcan Şerife Zeynep , Tonuk Damla
Published: February 2025

This article explores the ways in which material objects relate to selfhood, by focusing on school bags – a personal item that is close to bodies, expressive but also used. We review scholar work on self with a specific focus that conceptualises self in relation to material objects. This review portrays the self as a unique, dynamic, experiencing subjectivity in terms of either self-awareness or as an agent of social order. Building on this framework we propose a new understanding of self as a doing and therefore becoming subjectivity in order to understand self-order – self towards itself and other selves. We build our argumentation through a field study consisting of exploration of online social media platforms, observation of students’ daily routines, and interviews with 23 high school students. We show that material objects like bags are companions of selfhood; necessary for the accomplishment of daily lives, so arguably enabling the self to live the life it desires, where this companionship extends to constructing self, establishing and maintaining life goals and relationships to other selves, thereby accomplishment of selfhood. It turns out, as we carry bags, bags carry out our very selves.
Innovation of dynamic management model for teaching resources of business administration in cloud computing environment
Authors: Li Wenle , Li Wenjun
Published: February 2025

This article analyzes the characteristics of security redundancy structure and cloud computing in the dynamic management system of business management teaching resources. Taking the ZC system as an example, based on the integration of blockchain decentralization technology, the overall scheme of a cluster-based ZC service system based on cloud computing is proposed. Develop and design custom consensus algorithms and smart contracts that align with the foundational principles of decentralized blockchain technology. By implementing a reputation-based evaluation system for nodes within the network, the influence of malicious nodes on the consensus procedure can be effectively mitigated. This paper investigates the potential risk of single-point failures in the security redundancy architecture of the dynamic management system for business administration teaching resources, particularly within the ZC subsystem, which is critical to ensuring system integrity. Create a blockchain-based program and propose a deployment method for a minimal system using containerization, while also introducing an attack tree analysis consensus algorithm to address potential information security risks. Assess the impact of factors such as block size and the number of nodes in the cluster on the throughput, consensus latency, and cycle stability of the consensus algorithm, providing a comprehensive evaluation of system performance. The proposed ZC cluster in this study complies with the SIL4 security standard, offering superior reliability compared to traditional ZC systems in terms of security and fault tolerance. Regarding system availability, the PoTH consensus algorithm, as proposed, exhibits an average delay of 4.33 ms with a standard deviation of 0.173 ms across multiple trials. The algorithm’s cycle stability ensures smooth operation of up to 40 trains while remaining within the maximum delay threshold of 100 ms.
Multimodal feature fusion for detecting debonding in FRP-reinforced concrete interfaces using dual-branch CNN
Authors: Yuan Cheng , Kong Qingzhao , Chen Wensu , Fan Gao , Hao Hong
Published: February 2025

The percussion method offers a viable solution for detecting debonding damage in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-reinforced concrete interfaces. Leveraging the percussion method, a nondestructive technique, acoustic signals generated by light tapping on the FRP surface are analyzed to detect debonding. Traditional inspection methods often fail to identify internal structural defects, while our method introduces a dual-branch neural network that combines the strengths of gated recurrent units for temporal feature extraction and convolutional neural networks for spectral feature extraction. The innovation of this study lies in the integration of multimodal feature fusion and multi-head attention mechanisms, which allow the model to capture both temporal and spectral characteristics of the acoustic signals with greater precision. This dual-branch architecture, enhanced by attention mechanisms, significantly improves the accuracy and robustness of debonding detection compared to conventional techniques. Experimental results demonstrate the method’s potential in providing a scalable solution for real-time, noninvasive structural health monitoring of FRP-reinforced concrete structures.
Postoperative Outcomes Following Metacarpal Neck Fractures Treated With Intramedullary Screws Versus Closed Reduction Percutaneous Pinning
Authors: Bridges Tiffany N. , Lazaro Johnlevi S. , Kwan Stephanie A. , Jones Christopher M. , Matzon Jonas L. , Rivlin Michael
Published: February 2025

Background:

Metacarpal neck fractures are frequently encountered by hand surgeons. Certain operative metacarpal neck fractures are amenable to both retrograde intramedullary screw (IMS) fixation and closed reduction percutaneous pinning (CRPP). The purpose of this study was to compare functional outcomes and complications following these two techniques.

Methods:

All patients with metacarpal neck fractures treated with either IMS or CRPP from 2015 to 2021 at a large private academic institution were retrospectively identified. Electronic medical records were reviewed for demographics, Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (qDASH) scores, metacarpophalangeal joint range of motion (ROM), and complications.

Results:

A total of 113 patients, consisting of 57 in the IMS cohort and 56 in the CRPP cohort, were included. The CRPP cohort was significantly younger, otherwise demographics were similar between both groups. Both cohorts had similar preoperative (47.5 IMS vs 43.9 CRPP), postoperative (17.6 IMS vs 9.9 CRPP), and delta (35.5 IMS vs 34.0 CRPP) qDASH scores. Retrograde IMS allowed for greater flexion at 4 to 6 weeks (81° vs 65°) postoperatively. The overall incidence of complications was similar among IMS and CRPP (21.1% vs 17.9%), although IMS had significantly more major complications (8.8% vs 0%).

Conclusions:

Despite earlier return to ROM, operative fixation of unstable metacarpal neck fractures with retrograde IMS may be at higher risk of major hardware complications and extensor lag.
Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation Usage During Ultrasound-Guided Incisionless Thread Carpal Tunnel Release
Authors: Dean Kaylie P. , Smith Brandon J. , Shin Alexander Y. , Brault Jeffrey S.
Published: February 2025

Background:

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome. The thread carpal tunnel release (TCTR) is an incision-less ultrasound-guided approach to divide the transverse carpal ligament. This retrospective case series aims to identify and assess the bleeding risks associated with continuing anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy during TCTR.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review with follow-up questionnaires/surveys. One hundred and fourteen adult patients who were using antiplatelet or anticoagulation medication underwent 164 TCTR procedures during 2018 to 2023 at a single institution (tertiary care hospital) from June 29, 2018, and August 11, 2023. A chart review was performed to identify patients on antiplatelets or anticoagulants at the time of the procedure and to determine if there were any adverse events associated with continuing or holding their antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy.

Results:

There were no significant complications associated with continuing or holding anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy during TCTR.

Conclusions:

Continuing antiplatelet therapy during TCTR appears safe. The decision to continue antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy should be made on a case-by-case basis.
Planning maintenance tasks in airline operating companies: A mathematical programming model applied to a case study
Authors: Agostinho Francisco , Martinho Martim , Alves Tiago , Andrade Antonio R.
Published: February 2025

This paper explores a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) approach to plan the maintenance tasks in an airline. The MILP model finds feasible maintenance plans, by minimizing the costs associated with maintenance activities and costs associated with unavailability. A constructive matheuristic approach is put forward, by solving the maintenance planning problem sequentially. The model and the matheuristic is then applied to a case study from the main Portuguese airline company. The results suggest that the proposed matheuristic approach for maintenance planning in practice, as explored in the case study, finds feasible solutions in a much lower computational time. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to assess the impact of hangar’s capacity and other input parameters in the maintenance plan. Our approach provides an effective way to support decision-making in maintenance planning for a fleet of aircraft, while complying with several operational, technical, and labour constraints.
Affixing state responsibility for harm to Earth’s climate system
Authors: Robinson Nicholas A
Published: February 2025

“Earth” is an integrated whole, a relationship of ecosystems, providing the habitat for life. However, the “world” is composed of disparate nations, each with distinct cultures and economies. The peoples of these nations celebrate nature in their poetry and song, in their parks and protected areas, and share aim to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, forests, combat desertification, and halt biodiversity loss.” 1 Paradoxically, these same nation States also actively degrade Earth's habitat, imperiling human civilization. The paper seeks to examine the scope and broad contours for affixing state responsibility for causing harm to the Earth's climate system that impinges upon our planetary future.
Satisfaction With Teleneurology in Low Resource Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Patients and Healthcare Providers
Authors: Ansari Mohammed Farhan , Menon Deepak , Ittycheria Milu Anna , Govindaraj Sarath , Shahed Rehan , Boopalan Deenadayalan , Parthasarathy Rajani , Rao Girish N , Arshad Faheem , Alladi Suvarna ,   on behalf of the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (KaBHI) Consortium
Published: February 2025

Background and Objectives

Teleneurology has become instrumental in extending neurologic care in remote and underserved areas, enhancing access, and potentially improving patient outcomes while reducing costs. This study evaluates the satisfaction of both patients and healthcare providers with teleneurology services for common neurological disorders.

Methods

In this single-center, prospective observational study, 58 patients suffering from headache, epilepsy, stroke, or dementia were recruited through the “Karnataka Brain Health Initiative.” Teleconsultations were facilitated via Zoom, incorporating brief neurological examinations. Satisfaction levels were gauged using the Telemedicine Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQ) for patients and the Patient and Physician Satisfaction with Monitoring Questionnaire (PPSM) for healthcare providers.

Results

Of the 58 patients enrolled, 18 had headache, 12 epilepsy, 13 stroke, and 15 dementia, with a mean age of 43.7 years. All completed the TSQ, yielding a mean score of 4.47 ± 0.41. The average teleconsultation lasted 21.21 minutes. The PPSM questionnaire, completed by neurologists for all patients, resulted in a mean score of 4.33 ± 0.44. Of these, 36 consultations initiated by primary care physicians had a PPSM mean score of 4.47 ± 0.51. Agreement on quality of care was 60%, time-saving benefit 98%, and willingness for future use 95%.

Discussion

The findings indicate high satisfaction among both patients and providers, underscoring the effectiveness of teleneurology in delivering quality care comparable to in-person consultations. The positive feedback from primary care physicians highlights teleneurology’s potential as an integral component of healthcare delivery in low-resource settings.
Belonging and Social Media: Latinx Teenagers’ Experiences in a YPAR Study
Authors: Kowalkowski Holland P. , Smith Angela D. R.
Published: February 2025

Drawing on figured worlds and geographies of selves frameworks, we use critical ethnographic methods to explore three Latina teenagers’ experiences and ideas about social media and identity that were expressed throughout a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) project. While their discussions show a clear awareness that these sites are often inaccurate and biased, teenagers still admit to comparing themselves with others online and feeling disconnected. By sharing stories about racial and linguistic discrimination in virtual spaces, participants highlight how many social inequities are being reproduced online. However, they also express optimism that social media has potential to offer new ways to connect with their communities and express multifaceted identities. Their experiences highlight a need for intentional opportunities in our schools and communities to critically reflect on ways that technology positions us and explore our power to redefine these roles.
A Study of Cesarean Deliveries From a Single Midwestern Residency Program: Total Surgical Time, Incision-to-Delivery Time, and Neonatal Apgar Scores
Authors: King Jeremy , Geske Jenenne , Sricharoen Chanont , Khandalavala Birgit
Published: February 2025

Background:

Cesarean delivery surgical quality indicators and outcomes support the surgical skills of family medicine physicians. These data have educational and clinical implications yet are largely unexplored. Our study updated cesarean surgical times, incision-to-delivery time, and neonatal Apgar scores from a midwestern family medicine residency program.

Methods:

All cesarean deliveries performed by family medicine faculty from January 2012 to March 2021 were reviewed. Total surgical time, incision-to-delivery time, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, and maternal demographic information were recorded.

Results:

320 cesarean deliveries were reviewed. The average total surgical procedure time was 64.3 min (SD = 17.9) and incision-to-delivery time was 9.5 min (SD = 4.9). The average 1-min Apgar score was 7.5 (SD = 1.8) and the average 5-min Apgar score was 8.7 (SD = 1.0). There were no significant correlations between 1- and 5-min Apgar scores and procedure times.

Conclusion:

Cesarean delivery quality indicators from family medicine faculty are updated and appear similar to those reported previously in studies that did not include the presence of learners. This EMR-based study provides baseline information for future surgical cesarean delivery quality improvement and outcomes research.
Prevalence of Spin in Reviews on Intrawound Application of Vancomycin for Surgical Site Prophylaxis in Spine Surgery
Authors: Telang Sahil S. , Podosin Mallory A. , Fathi Amir , Kotlier Jacob L. , Feingold Cailan L. , Alluri Ram K. , Liu Joseph N.
Published: February 2025

Study Design

Systematic Review.

Objectives

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that aggregate data on the intrawound application of vancomycin for surgical site infection (SSI) prophylaxis in spine surgeries are at an increased risk of spin, the overstating of beneficial effects of an intervention. The purpose of this study was to identify studies that coalesce outcomes of intrawound vancomycin SSI prophylaxis in spine surgeries and define the prevalence and types of spin in the identified literature. Secondarily, this study aimed to identify patterns within study characteristics that were associated with certain spin types.

Methods

This study was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A search was performed in 4 databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Medline and Cochrane) for systematic reviews and meta-analyses on intrawound vancomycin use for SSI prophylaxis in spine surgeries. Two authors independently assessed studies for inclusion criteria and then aggregated study characteristics: titles, publication journal and year, authors, level of evidence, etc. Each study was subsequently evaluated for the presence of 15 different spin types. Statistical analysis was performed for patterns between spin prevalence and study characteristics.

Results

From the database search, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. In total, 13 studies (72%) were found to have spin. The most common types of spin identified were spin type 9 (“Conclusion claims the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment despite reporting bias”), found in 9 (50.00%) studies and type 3 (“Selective reporting of or overemphasis on efficacy outcomes or analysis favoring the beneficial effect of the experimental intervention”), found in 7 (38.89%) studies.

Conclusions

There is a high prevalence of spin in systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the intrawound application of vancomycin for SSI prophylaxis in spine surgery. Our analysis demonstrated that studies tended to selectively report positive findings while minimizing negative outcomes within abstracts.
The Association Between Clival Axial Angle and Distal Junctional Failure After Craniocervical Fusion
Authors: Schneider Daniel , Gandhi Shashank V. , Ward Max , White Timothy G. , Brown Ethan D. L. , Pennington Zach , Zimering Jeffrey , Latefi Ahmad , Rekate Harold , Sciubba Daniel M. , Lo Sheng-fu Larry
Published: February 2025

Study Design

Retrospective Cohort.

Objectives

Craniovertebral instability can arise from various congenital or acquired conditions, but definitive management often requires craniocervical fusion. This study evaluates whether postoperative clivo-axial angle (CXA) can predict distal junctional failure in patients undergoing craniocervical fusion. While postoperative alignment of the head and cervical spine can be quantified via the CXA, it is unclear whether the CXA can predict distal junctional failure.

Methods

All patients undergoing craniocervical decompression and fusion (CCF) for craniovertebral instability between 2012 and 2023 at a single institution were identified. Patients experiencing adjacent segment disease (ASD) were identified and compared to those without said pathology based on CXA, Grabb-Oakes line (pBC2), and the presence of cervical kyphosis, cervical disc degeneration, or subluxation on pre- and postoperative imaging. Statistical analysis included Shapiro-Wilk tests for normality, followed by independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests with FDR adjusted P values as appropriate, and univariable logistic regression.

Results

71 patients were included, of whom ten (14.3%) developed distal junctional kyphosis and 3 (4.3%) developed cervical spondylolisthesis. The median postoperative CXA was significantly lower in non-ASD patients (144° [IQR: 140-148°] vs 158° [IQR: 153-162°]; P < .001) and logistic regression showed that each 10° degree increase in CXA was associated with a 6.7-fold higher odds of ASD.

Conclusions

We found craniocervical alignment, as assessed by CXA, independently predicted distal junctional disease in patients undergoing craniocervical fusion, possibly due to low preoperative CXA in these patients. Large increases in CXA may contribute to postoperative instrumentation failure.
Data-driven modeling and optimization for recast layer in electric discharge drilling of Inconel-718 material
Authors: Dhaker Kedari Lal , Modi Yashwant Kumar
Published: February 2025

Electric discharge drilling (EDD) is crucial in aerospace manufacturing due to its ability to create intricate geometries with high precision. Nonetheless, optimizing metallurgical features, such as minimizing the recast layer, remains challenging. This study addresses this issue by proposing a data-driven model to predict recast layer thickness during EDD of aerospace components. The study investigates the effects of discharge current, pulse on-time, pulse off-time, and flushing pressure on recast layer thickness in the EDD of Inconel-718 sheets. A total of 29 experiments were conducted based on response surface methodology. A quadratic regression model was developed to predict the recast layer thickness, revealing complex interactions between the EDD process parameters and the recast layer. The statistical model’s reliability is confirmed by satisfactory R 2 (88.2%) and adjusted R 2 (76.4%) values. Contour plots illustrate the interactive effects of process parameters, indicating optimal values for process parameters: discharge current: 7–7.5 A, pulse on-time: 7–8 µs, pulse off-time: 2–2.25 µs, and flushing pressure: 78–80 bar. The developed model aids in evaluating and optimizing recast layer thickness in EDD of Inconel-718, leading to improved performance and productivity in aerospace manufacturing.
From hate to action: School shooters and jihadists
Authors: Breton David Le
Published: February 2025

For some young people, violence is the only means of recognition they have to escape a feeling of emptiness or indifference. Violence is a vertigo that seeks a limit to stop it. The self-destructive aspects highlighted in these behaviors call for a search for identity that involves both the ultimate limit, that is, death (falling to someone stronger than oneself, being shot by the police, etc.), and social limits, that is, confrontation with others and the law, in order to find one’s bearings. Sometimes, the act of violence corresponds to a period of crisis in the young person’s life. By exposing himself to a dangerous or conflictual situation, he tries to regain control of the situation, while paradoxically abandoning himself to it at the risk of being arrested by the police or endangering his own life. The art of delinquency is knowing how far to go too far. Two major forms of violence have emerged in recent decades, first school killings, then jihadism, both of which raise specific questions since they involve the premeditated and deliberate killing of others. Killing is undoubtedly the last prohibition of our ultraliberal societies, the ultimate possibility of a grandiose transgression likely to secure power and inscribe one’s name in the media of celebrity. There’s the pleasure of holding someone else’s life in your hands, an unlimited freedom driven by omnipotence.
Spirometry at different Latin-American altitudes: A Global Lung Function Initiative project
Authors: Gochicoa-Rangel Laura , Martínez-Briseño David , Bowerman Cole , Stanojevic Sanja , Enrique Busi Luciano , Arce Santiago C. , Gutiérrez-Clavería Mónica , Rodríguez-Martínez Carlos E , Aguirre-Franco Carlos , Moya-Olivares Ana , Vernazza Vanessa , Luz Nilda , Chambilla Palma , Villca-Alá Nelson , Fernández-Plata Rosario , Pérez-Padilla Rogelio , Guzmán-Valderrábano Carlos , Solange-Caussade Marie , Torre-Bouscoulet Luis
Published: February 2025

Approximately 20% of people in Latin American live above 2500 meters above sea level. In this ethnically and socioeconomically diverse population, it is challenging to differentiate the effects of altitude from population differences in lung function.

Aim

To quantify the contribution of altitude on the variability in lung function measured by spirometry in Latin America.

Methods

Data from healthy individuals living in nine cities across Latin American, (from sea level to >2500 meters above sea level) were collated. Z-scores for FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC were calculated using available reference equations. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to quantify the variance in spirometry explained by altitude. The percentage of individuals that were below the lower limit of normal (LLN; 5th percentile) were summarized.

Results

A total 4480 subjects (3 to 94 years) were included. Average FEV1and FVC z-scores differed between the altitude groups, whereas FEV1/FVC did not. After adjusting for sex, height and age, altitude explained up to ∼18% of the variability in lung function measured by spirometry.

Conclusion

For people living at altitude existing approaches to interpret spirometry measures may mis-classify individuals.