bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reading Rhetorically: Discussing the Ethics of Narrative Form
Authors: LeBlanc Robert Jean , Stornaiuolo Amy
Published: November 2023

In this study, we explore discussions of literature in a high school English Language Arts (ELA) classroom, examining how students read rhetorically. Reading rhetorically considers the ethical effects of narrative content as it is mediated through character dialogue and action, narrator discourse, and the author's organization: a narrative as a story told to someone for some rhetorical purpose. Drawing from rhetorical narratology, we analyzed data collected in a 12th-Grade ELA classroom during student-driven Socratic seminars to ask: how did students address the ethics of various narrative situations as they talked about literature? We found that youth engaged in interpretive discussions that grappled with the complexities of ethical positioning in narrative. We argue that ELA classrooms are key spaces to help students examine how narratives act on readers, how readers act on narratives, and the ethical dimensions of such interpretive work.
Lined Up? Examining a “Waiting Line” Effect in Technology-Enabled Restaurant Menu Ordering
Authors: Lee Wangoo , Lu Lu
Published: November 2023

This research examines the impact of a waiting line on menu ordering behavior when interacting with self-service technology (SST), along with the underlying mechanisms and an intervention strategy drawing on attribution theory. We conducted three experimental studies to simulate a real-life event of menu ordering in a quick-service or fast-casual restaurant. According to the results, the presence of a waiting line can lead to time-pressured menu ordering behavior, especially when interacting with SSTs (vs. human staff). Further, we verified that customers’ perceptions of responsibility for service outcomes explain this SST-conditioned effect. Our findings also suggest a line design strategy that can mitigate the negative consequences of the “waiting line” effect in SST-enabled menu ordering. This research provides valuable insights into the unintended consequences of waiting lines and offers practical strategies for minimizing negative outcomes associated with SST-mediated services.
Enhancing Customer Experience Design Through Hotel Innovativeness
Authors: Lee Seonjeong (Ally)
Published: November 2023

Responding to constant market changes, hotels incorporate innovativeness into their operations. Focusing on the customer-centric perspective, this study explores the effects of different types of hotel innovativeness on customers’ self-pleasing and relaxing experiences, which in turn affect customers’ wellbeing and behavioral intentions. Using a self-administered, online survey among a sample of 375 U.S. residents, this study finds that perceived product-related, service-related, and experience-related innovativeness positively affect customers’ self-pleasing and relaxing experiences while perceived promotion-related innovativeness negatively affects customers’ self-pleasing and relaxing experiences. Both self-pleasing and relaxing experiences positively affect customers’ wellbeing and behavioral intentions. Results of this study expand theoretical contributions of innovativeness into experience design and provide an effective innovativeness strategy in the hotel context.
Knowledge and Preventive Measures of COVID-19 Among Prison and Detention Center Staffs in Bench-Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Shifera Nigusie , Aydiko Alemseged , Yosef Tewodros
Published: November 2023

Background:

The coronavirus has developed into a global public emergency. Different preventive measures like handwashing stations, isolation chambers, and personal protective equipment are frequently insufficient in prisons and detention facilities. Furthermore, there were significant dangers of infection from close contact with incarcerated people and prison and detention center staff. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the awareness of COVID-19 prevention strategies among correctional facility staff in the Bench-Sheko Zone, southwest Ethiopia.

Methods:

Between May and June 2020, an institutional-based cross-sectional study was carried out among selected individuals who were correctional facility staff located in the Bench-Sheko zone at the time the data were collected. The study participants were chosen using a stratified systematic random sampling technique. Epi-data 3.1 was used to enter the data, and SPSS version 22 was used to analyze it. To find a candidate and an independent factor, respectively, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were utilized.

Results:

The levels of knowledge and practice toward COVID-19 were 41.5% and 39.5% respectively. Working in detention [AOR: 4.7, 95% CI: 2.1-10.5)] was also a risk factor for poor knowledge, and among the population working in detention, rural residence [AOR: 5.6, 95% CI: 2.2-14.3)], and lower educational level [AOR: 9.4, 95% CI: 3.3-26.9)] were additional risk factors for poor knowledge. Furthermore, for people working in detention, lower education levels [AOR: 4.3, 95% CI: 1.3-14)], poor knowledge [AOR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.6-6.8)], and poor attitude [AOR: 9.1, 95% CI: 1.9-43.7)], were associated with poor preventive practice.

Conclusion and recommendation:

Prison and detention center staff had poor knowledge and preventive measures toward COVID-19. An upcoming educational intervention is recommended to raise awareness of the diseases. Moreover, the decarcerating strategy also needs to be considered to mitigate COVID.
The different worlds of Google – A comparison of search results on conspiracy theories in 12 countries
Authors: von Nordheim Gerret , Bettels-Schwabbauer Tina , Kleinen-von Königslöw Katharina , Barczyszyn-Madziarz Paulina , Budivska Halyna , Di Salvo Philip , Dingerkus Filip , Guazina Liziane Soares , Krobea Asante Kwaku , Kuś Michał , Lábová Sandra , Matei Antonia , Merkovity Norbert , Paulino Fernando Oliveira , Petrovszki-Oláh László , Serwornoo Michael Yao Wodui , Valente Jonas , Wake Alexandra , Zakinszky Toma Viktória
Published: November 2023

Search engines play an important role in the spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories, accentuating the power of global platform companies such as Google to contribute to the digital (information) divide by providing search results of lesser quality in certain countries. We investigated this phenomenon by asking what kind of results users see when they search for information on eleven popular conspiracy theories (CTs) via Google. We analysed links from Google search results ( N = 1259) in 12 Western and non-Western countries and 10 languages. Overall, users are more likely to encounter neutral or debunking content when using Google to search for prominent CTs. However, for some CTs, strong country differences in the quality of search results emerge, showing clear correlations between categorical inequalities and unequal access to reliable information. In countries where journalists enjoy less freedom, people enjoy fewer democratic rights and are less able to rely on social elites, Google also provides less enlightening content on CTs than in developed and prosperous democracies. The countries thus disadvantaged are precisely those countries where there is a high propensity to believe in CTs according to comparative survey research. However, in countries where a global language is spoken, for example, English or Portuguese, there is no correlation between structural, country-specific factors and the quality of search results. In this sense, structurally disadvantaged countries seem to benefit from belonging to a larger language community.
The platformisation of software development: Connective coding and platform vernaculars on GitHub
Authors: Bounegru Liliana
Published: November 2023

This article contributes to recent scholarship on platform, software and media studies by critically engaging with the ‘social coding’ platform GitHub, one of the most prominent actors in the online proprietary and F/OSS (free and/or open-source software) code hosting space. It examines the platformisation of software and project development on GitHub by combining institutional and cultural analysis. The institutional analysis focuses on critically examining the platform from a material-economic perspective to understand how it configures contemporary software and project development work. It proposes the concept of ‘connective coding’ to characterise how software intermediaries such as GitHub configure, valorise and capitalise on public repositories, developer and organisation profiles. This institutional perspective is complemented by a case study analysing cultural practices mediated by the platform. The case study examines the platform vernaculars of news media and journalism initiatives highlighted by Source, a key publication in the newsroom software development space, and how GitHub modulates visibility in this space. It finds that the high-visibility platform vernacular of this news media and journalism space is dominated by a mix of established actors such as the New York Times, the Guardian and Bloomberg, as well as more recent actors and initiatives such as ProPublica and Document Cloud. This high-visibility news media and journalism platform vernacular is characterised by multiple F/OSS and F/OSS-inspired practices and styles. Finally, by contrast, low-visibility public repositories in this space may be seen as indicative of GitHub’s role in facilitating various kinds of ‘post-F/OSS’ software development cultures.
Item-Level Psychometrics of the Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment in Orally Feeding Infants
Authors: Mulrenin Brooke , Pineda Roberta , Dodds Cynthia , Velozo Craig A.
Published: November 2023

Background:

The Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment determines feeding performance based on the infant’s postmenstrual age (PMA).

Objective:

To examine item-level measurement properties of this assessment’s rating scale.

Methodology:

In this retrospective study, Rasch analysis was completed on clinical data from the Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment for 100 infants (52 preterm and 48 full-term) using Winsteps version 3.93.1. Instead of PMA-based scores, ordered letters converted to numerical scores were analyzed.

Results:

Analysis demonstrated that Section I (Pre-Feeding Skills) represents a separate construct from Sections II and III (Oral Feeding and End of Feeding, respectively). Sections II and III were adequately unidimensional to complete Rasch analysis. These sections fit the Rasch model overall, but rating scale category underuse was common, which may be attributed to sample characteristics.

Implications:

This analysis supports using validated ordered letter scoring of Sections II and III to measure oral feeding performance in preterm and full-term newborns.
High Fantasy RPGs and the Materiality of the Medieval Book
Authors: Swallow Bard
Published: November 2023

This article describes the use of the materiality of the medieval book as a trope of medievalism in neomedieval games. It argues that the materiality of the hybrid writing/printing book culture evoked in these games does not correspond with any given historical period, not even the late 15th-century technical transition from writing to print culture; instead, the games synthesize a variety of details from separate historical periods into a coherent neomedieval book culture that supports player immersion. The player's relationship with this neomedieval book culture is fostered through representations of the materiality of the medieval book, though this materiality can be represented in images or in text, in the game environment or in the user interface. Handling manuscripts and deciphering texts is an important component of the fantasy sought by the audience of neomedieval role-playing games.
A Prospective Pilot Study of Vascular Assessment of the Upper Extremity With Laser Angiography
Authors: Hui-Chou Helen G. , Thakkar Madhuli Y. , Means Kenneth R. , Higgins James P.
Published: November 2023

Background: Our goal was to investigate patients’ upper extremity tissue perfusion changes using an indocyanine green laser angiography imaging system for various pathologic states and interventions. Methods: This prospective observational study used Spy Elite/LUNA laser angiography to evaluate perfusion in patients with upper extremity vascular compromise. All patients had Spy Elite/LUNA imaging as well as clinical and handheld Doppler examinations preintervention, intraoperatively, if applicable, and at 1 week, 2 weeks, and 2 months postintervention. For each laser angiography scan, we used an unaffected control area with uninjured skin to quantitatively compare with the dysvascular tissues. Results: Twelve patients, 7 men and 5 women, had a total of 16 upper extremities evaluated. The mean age was 53 years, and half of the patients entering the study were smokers. Etiologies of vascular compromise were trauma, primary and secondary vasospastic disease, scleroderma, and intravascular drug injection. Interventions included surgical repair/reconstruction, botulinum toxin injections, and/or systemic medications. Improvement in perfusion following intervention was statistically significant, demonstrated by an increase in Spy Elite/LUNA quantitative score postintervention compared with preintervention scans. Adjusting for other variables, such as smoking and handheld Doppler signal status, demonstrated an independent statistically significant increase in Spy Elite/LUNA scores at all postintervention time points compared with preintervention scores. Laser angiography was able to confirm adequate vascular status, with ultimate tissue survival, in some cases when Doppler signals were not initially present. Conclusions: Laser angiography provided objective data to document improved upper extremity tissue perfusion following various interventions.
Gastric residual volume monitoring practices in UK intensive care units: A web-based survey
Authors: Jenkins Bethan , Calder Philip C , Marino Luise V
Published: November 2023

Background and aim:

Monitoring of gastric residual volume (GRV) to assess for enteral feeding intolerance is common practice in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting; however, evidence to support the practice is lacking. The aim of this study was: (i) to gain a perspective of current practice in adult ICUs in the UK around enteral feeding and monitoring of GRV, (ii) to characterise the threshold value used for a high GRV in clinical practice, (iii) to describe the impact of GRV monitoring on enteral feeding provision and (iv) to inform future research into the clinical value of GRV measurement in the adult ICU population.

Methods:

A web-based survey was sent to all UK adult ICUs. The survey consisted of questions pertaining to (i) nutritional assessment and enteral feeding practices, (ii) enteral feeding intolerance and GRV monitoring and (iii) management of raised GRV.

Results:

Responses were received from 101 units. Ninety-eight percent of units reported routinely measuring GRV, with 86% of ICUs using GRV to define enteral feeding intolerance. Threshold values for a high GRV varied from 200 to 1000 ml with frequency of measurement also differing greatly from 2 to 12 hourly. Initiation of pro-kinetic medication was the most common treatment for a high GRV. Fifty-two percent of respondents stated that volume of GRV would influence their decision to stop enteral feeds a lot or very much. Only 28% of units stated that they had guidelines for the technique for monitoring GRV.

Conclusions:

Measurement of GRV is the most common method of determining enteral feeding intolerance in adult ICUs in the UK. The practice continues despite evidence of poor validity and reproducibility of this measurement. Further research should be undertaken into the benefit of ongoing GRV measurements in the adult ICU population and alternative markers of enteral feeding intolerance.
The Intuitive and Counterintuitive Effects of Supportive and Abusive Supervision on Hotel Employees
Authors: Chan Elisa K. , Li Shenbufan , Way Sean A. , Donahue Ross
Published: November 2023

When studied independently subordinate perceived supervisor support and abusive supervision have unequivocally contrary effects on subordinate outcomes that are critical to the performance of hospitality organizations. Although both supportive and abusive supervisor behaviors occur in the subordinate–direct supervisor exchange relationship, the simultaneous effects of these two constructs have yet to be illuminated. Drawing on the within-domain exacerbation hypothesis and the whiplash effect, we propose a conceptual framework that captures both the independent and interactive effects of subordinate perceived supervisor support and abusive supervision on hotel employees. Using a sample composed of 194 direct subordinate-supervisor pairings from 119 hotel property departments and 18 Chinese hotel properties, we illuminate the contrary, relative, and interactive effects of perceived supervisor support and abusive supervision on subordinate hotel employees’ job stress as well as their (supervisor-rated) individual-oriented organizational citizenship behavior. Implications and limitations of the current study and avenues for future research are discussed.
The youngest infant with COVID-19-associated necrotizing encephalitis in Asia: A case report
Authors: Liang Xing-Zhen , Tang Yu-Peng , Wang Ji-Gan
Published: November 2023

Acute necrotic encephalopathy in children is a very rare complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and has rarely been reported worldwide. A 45-day-old girl was admitted to our hospital with fever and listlessness. A nose swab tested positive for the novel coronavirus nucleic acid, and her cerebrospinal fluid was positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. An early head magnetic resonance imaging scan indicated multiple abnormal signals in her bilateral cerebral hemispheres, and encephalitis was diagnosed. Twenty-three days after hospitalization, bilateral cerebral atrophy-like changes were observed on magnetic resonance imaging, with multiple softening lesions in the bilateral cerebral hemispheres, accompanied by convulsions. She was admitted to the hospital for mechanically assisted ventilation, and her condition improved after treatment of her symptoms with antiepileptic medication, anti-infection drugs, glucocorticoids, and immunoglobulins. Acute necrotic encephalopathy associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in children should be detected and treated as early as possible. Satisfactory short-term efficacy can be obtained, but long-term neurological sequelae often linger.
Fracture of the two forearm bones and congenital radioulnar synostosis: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Saadi Yassine , Neqrachi Alae , Berrada Mohamed Saleh
Published: November 2023

Congenital proximal radioulnar synostosis limits prono-supination and is often well tolerated. Only one publication in the literature describes a fracture associated with this malformation. We report a case of radius and ulna shaft fractures in a 35-year-old patient with well-tolerated bilateral proximal congenital proximal radioulnar synostosis.
Decrypting the cryptomarkets: Trends over a decade of the Dark Web drug trade
Authors: Sudan Harjeev Kour , Tai Andy Man Yeung , Kim Jane , Krausz Reinhard Michael
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The Dark Web is a subsection of the Internet only accessible through specific search engines, making it impossible to trace users. Due to extensive anonymity, the drug trade on the Dark Web makes regulation complicated. We sought to uncover the scope of the online drug trade on the Dark Web and the impact it may have on the dynamics of global drug trafficking.

Methods

We conducted a literature review to elucidate the availability and distribution of drugs on the Dark Web based on data reported in existing literature ( n = 14) between September 2012 and June 2019. We simultaneously collected data about substances and listings from Dark Web cryptomarkets ( n = 13) active between August 2022 and January 2023. Data from the literature review and the Dark Web scrape were combined to draw trends in the chronological availability and distribution of drugs between 2012 and 2023.

Results

The data collected from 13 cryptomarkets between late 2022 and early 2023 showed a relative change in substance distribution compared to 2012–2019, with a decrease in prescription drugs (from >20% to <5%) and a doubling of opioid listings (from 5.5% to 9.25%), while no major changes were observed on average during 2012–2019 according to literature.

Conclusions

The Dark Web warrants more attention in the analysis of the global drug trade. Understanding Dark Web drug markets can inform targeted interventions and strategies to reduce drug-related harms, while ongoing research is necessary to anticipate and respond to future changes in the landscape of the illicit drug trade.
Labor market dualization or cultural divide?: A comparative analysis of the declining support for center-left parties in Western Europe and Japan
Authors: Tanaka Takuji
Published: November 2023

Center-left parties in Western Europe and Japan have experienced a persistent decline in voter turnout. This study examines the factors contributing to this weakening support. Using data from the 2016 European Social Survey across 13 countries and the 2017–2018 Japanese General Social Surveys, we tested three hypotheses: labor market dualization between insiders and outsiders; divergence in policy preferences between social investment and social compensation; and a cultural divide between liberalism and authoritarianism. Our findings provide little support for the labor market dualization and policy preference divergence hypotheses in both Western Europe and Japan. The third hypothesis, concerning a cultural divide in attitudes toward immigration, is supported only in Western Europe. Conversely, Japan is an anomaly because of the absence of a substantial left-liberal constituency. The scarcity of liberal values among Japan's sociocultural professionals suggests that center-left parties have underdeveloped core constituencies.
‘Challenging’ doesn’t sum it up: Exploring probation practitioners’ experiences managing high-risk individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Blinkhorn Victoria , Petalas Michael , O’Siochru Cathal , McGuirk Lisa-Jo
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has been, and still is, a worldwide health crisis. Despite the surge of literature on this phenomenon, little research has been conducted with the Probation Service during this time. The aim of this research was to explore Probation Practitioners’ (PPs’) experiences of the COVID-19 restrictions with a specific focus on those who access the Psychologically Informed Consultation Service (PICS). Further, to explore the experiences of key aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of the Community Offender Personality Disorder Service. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 PPs who represented a broad cross-section in terms of age and years of experience in the role. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to explore the experiences of PPs and revealed 5 main themes: unmet support needs, problematic working environments, an emotionally distressing time, the use of PICS, and a silver lining. These findings are discussed with implications for further research.
Kawarabi: Administrative Structuring of a Multicenter Research Collaborative to Study Kawasaki Disease in the Arab Countries
Authors: Arab Yousra , Harahsheh Ashraf S. , Dahdah Nagib , El-Kholy Nermeen , Abed Maysam Y. , Abu Al-Saoud Sima Y. , Agha Hala M. , Alahmadi Fahad , Alamer Suad R. , Awadhi Zainab Al , Ali Sulafa , Ali Mohamed T. , Alrabte Hanifa , Al-Saloos Hesham , Al-Senaidi Khalfan S. , Alzyoud Raed , Awidat Najat , Bouayed Kenza , Bouaziz Asma , Boukari Rachida , El Ganzoury Mona M. , Elmarsafawy Hala M. , Elrugige Najat , Fitouri Zohra , Kotby Alyaa , Ladj Mohamed S. , Bekkar Mokhtar , Mouawad Pierre , Salih Aso F. , Suleiman Mohamed , Choueiter Nadine F.
Published: November 2023

Kawasaki disease (KD), the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries, merits conducting detailed studies in Arab countries. We introduce Kawarabi, as a multicenter research collaborative effort dedicated to improving diagnosis, care, and outcome of children and adults with KD in the Arab world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there emerged a new multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children; a disease similar to KD. This highlighted the challenges that Arab physicians face in diagnosing and managing children with KD and KD-like illnesses. Kawarabi brings together experts in North America and Arab nations to study this family of diseases in a not-for-profit, voluntary scientific collaborative setting. Bylaws addressing the vision, objectives, structure, and governance of Kawarabi were established, and vetted by the 45 organizing members in 2021. An initial scientific publication showed evidence of a decreased level of awareness of the disease in the general population, as well as the lack of access to resources available for physicians caring for children with KD in Arab countries. Kawarabi has since held several educational webinars and an inaugural yearly meeting. The groundwork for future initiatives targeted at increasing awareness and understanding of the management and the long-term outcomes of children with KD in the region was established. Data on KD in the Arab world are lacking. Kawarabi is a multicenter research collaborative organization that has the unique resources, diversified ethnic makeup, and energy, to accomplish significant advances in our understanding and management of KD and its variants.
Can Transformational Leadership Affect the Two Dimensional Creativity of Middle Managers in Retail Enterprises? The Mediating Role of Psychological Security
Authors: Zheng Manhua , Tang Decong , Wei Chenwen , Xu Anxin
Published: November 2023

In the context of the retail business, rarely studied the impact of top transformation leaders on middle management personnel creativity. In this study, the middle management personnel of 258 retail enterprises were discussed, explored the impact of top transformation leaders on the double-dimensional creativity of middle management personnel, and analyzed individual psychological security. Results show that transformational leadership (morale modeling, visionary motivation, individualized consideration, and charisma) has a significant positive impact on the progressive creativity and breakthrough creativity of middle managers. Transformational leadership (Same as the above four dimensions) has a significant positive impact on the psychological security of middle managers. Psychological security has a significant positive impact on the progressive creativity and breakthrough creativity of middle managers. Psychological security plays a partially mediating role between transformational leadership and the creativity of middle managers. Among which, it plays a partially mediating role between morale modeling and progressive creativity, visionary motivation and progressive creativity, individualized consideration and progressive creativity, charisma and progressive creativity, morale modeling and breakthrough creativity, and charisma and breakthrough creativity, while it plays a fully mediating role between visionary motivation and breakthrough creativity, individualized consideration and breakthrough creativity. This study expanded the study of psychological security as an intermediary variable and deepened the study of dual-dimensional creativity. Based on the above conclusions, this paper puts forward relevant suggestions to promote the development of progressive creativity and breakthrough creativity of middle-level managers, to provide a reference for enterprises to maintain talent advantages and for managers to enhance development potential.
Flipped Learning for Promoting Self-regulation, Social Competence, and Decision-making in Pandemic Conditions
Authors: López-Belmonte Jesús , Marín-Marín José-Antonio , Segura-Robles Adrián , Moreno-Guerrero Antonio-José
Published: November 2023

Flipped learning has emerged as a method that can facilitate practical learning supported by technology. This study analyzes the impact of the flipped approach on students’ learning of prevention guidelines and socio-health regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 585 Spanish secondary education students participated, and three validated instruments were used to obtain information about their self-regulation, social competence, and decision-making. The results showed that the average scores achieved by all groups, both in the pre-test and the post-test measures, were similar, except those achieved by the experimental post-test group, where the average scores were higher than the rest. The study concludes that both traditional and flipped learning pedagogical applications for training students in the measures to prevent COVID-19 generate knowledge and improved skills. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, including the insight that active teaching methods promote greater improvement in student learning than traditional, expository methods.
Learning from accented virtual humans: Can quality of voice and globalization overcome accent familiarity?
Authors: Siegle Robert F. , Puchalski Jodi L. , Craig Scotty D.
Published: November 2023

The current study’s data is from a select portion of a larger study, which investigated the impact accents have on learning outcomes and perceptions of the instructor. A 2 x 2 between-subjects factorial design was conducted on the type of voice (human, synthetic) and the accent of the voice (English, Russian), and their impacts when being spoken by a virtual human. Previous research has consistently shown that instructor accents can impact learning outcomes, perceptions of the instructor, and perceptions of the learning materials. However, the current study’s results conflict with these past findings, with no effects found for the accent condition and accent familiarity having no significant impact. This study’s focus will be on the accent familiarity findings, which will demonstrate the need for further research on the impact accents have on learning, perceptions, and how increasing globalization and quality of voice may influence these outcomes.
“They were quick, insipid, and stuck to the typical medical checkups”: A Narrative Study on Women's Expectations and Experiences of Maternity Care in Bangladesh
Authors: Kabir Md Ruhul , Chan Kara
Published: November 2023

The quality of healthcare service delivery is generally determined by how patients’ expectations were met successfully. This narrative study explores how women perceive and experience healthcare during childbirth in the context of Bangladesh. This study is inspired by Clandinin and Connelly's three-dimensional paradigm of narrativity that combines temporality, social interaction, and place. To unearth patient-driven narratives, the researcher purposely picked 12 women who gave birth in different private and public health facilities in Bangladesh. Four themes standout from the women's narratives. Excerpts of women's stories have been included in discussing the themes as well as author's conviction on this phenomenon. Most of the participants experienced a shared level of difficulty in choosing the health facilities (private vs public), motivated primarily by delivery costs and social background. Women with a higher level of education and financial means often opted to give birth in private facilities due to their negative perception and experience of the public facility. There was evident discontent when doctors decided for cesarean deliveries. Women were dissatisfied by providers’ general lack of empathy and vicarious emotion. However, those women who gave birth in public hospitals expressed some degree of satisfaction which might be attributed to their low expectations and moderate social standing. Women's stories also delved into how societal norms, taboos, and elderly relatives put them in uncomfortable situations. To improve patient–provider interactions, healthcare practitioners should prioritize patient-centered care and collaborative decision-making. Reducing healthcare disparity and resolving superannuated pregnancy norms are also critical challenges.
Nurses Experience and Perceived Challenges of Using Nonpharmacological Pain Interventions for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Abuijlan Israa A. M. , Muthu Priyalatha , Avinash Manju Nair
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Current musculoskeletal pain management guidelines encourage utilizing nonpharmacological pain measures. Despite their positive effect in alleviating musculoskeletal pain, nurses reported negative attitudes toward utilizing nonpharmacological pain measures. Therefore, assessing nurses’ perception of nonpharmacological pain measures is essential to promote patient comfort.

Objective

The aim of the study was to explore the nurses’ experience and perceived challenges in using nonpharmacological pain measures in caring for patients with musculoskeletal pain.

Materials & Methods

A descriptive qualitative design was carried out. Face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted among 11 nurses. Colaizzi's method was employed in analyzing the data.

Results

Four themes emerged, namely, constant monitoring and observation, selection of nonpharmacological pain measures, and various barriers related to patients and nurses. One of the ways to overcome these barriers or challenges, we should promote interprofessional teams in planning patient-centered pain management care. Also, defining the role of the pain management nurse would be pivotal to ensuring effective pain management measures.

Conclusion

The nursing workforce needs to initiate and utilize these measures as a common practice in managing musculoskeletal pain and in turn create a culture that strongly supports the utilization of nonpharmacological pain measures.
Workers and Their Foes: Customer Scapegoats in the Service Triad
Authors: Laemmli Taylor
Published: November 2023

The author reconceptualizes the service triangle as a Simmelian triad and draws on 16 months of fieldwork to analyze restaurant servers’ experiences of income and interactional precarity. Precarious work frustrates servers. However, triadic dynamics position customer scapegoats as responsible for servers’ frustrations. Employers passively benefit from this dynamic, which continually minimizes opposition to the structure of employment. This is a new mechanism for the reproduction of precarious service work that can explain why service workers consent to exploitation. These findings apply to workplaces in which workers experience low levels of autonomy and encounter customers who are interactionally salient and can control workers’ behavior. In such workplaces, the triadic dynamics identified in this article could weaken the potential for worker-customer alliances and complicate the promise of anti-tipping campaigns.
Does the Teaching Modality and Exam Proctoring Setting Influence Pre-Clinical Medical Students’ Performance? A Retrospective Cohort Study of Student Performance in Remote Versus Face-to-Face Setting, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Authors: Kaddoura Rachid , Alkabbani Sarah , Inuwa Ibrahim Muhammad
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVES

The intent of this study is to compare the academic performance of pre-clinical medical students in online teaching with online proctoring settings versus face-to-face (F2F) teaching with traditional F2F exam proctoring settings.

INTRODUCTION

In 2019, the world was faced with a rapidly progressive pandemic of COVID-19. Consequently, numerous institutions have opted to transform from the traditional F2F teaching method to an online modality, ensuring the safety of their students and maintaining the effectiveness of their educational programs. In particular, medical universities faced a unique challenge in creating a new learning system due to their atypical curriculum, which often involves hands-on training and is not easily adaptable to remote teaching.

METHODS

The core of this study is based on the scores of first-year undergraduate medical students across three academic years from the Mohamed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dubai (MBRU), United Arab Emirates (UAE). Course and semester grades were collected and compared in both F2F and online teaching modalities as well as exam settings.

RESULTS

Our results show that major courses with high-credit courses had no difference in students’ performance regardless of the teaching modality, and in low-credit courses, students generally did better in the online teaching modality. Regarding exam settings, no significant difference was observed in students’ performance.

CONCLUSION

With few studies examining the variations between F2F and online teaching, the current study in the UAE is the first study comparing academic performance during the COVID-19 era. Our findings illustrate no significant difference between both online and traditional F2F learning. Therefore, given the considerable potential of alternative teaching modalities, future studies are encouraged to explore the efficacy of online learning and proctoring methods.
The Fall of an Elephant: A Case Study of Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Gautam Richa
Published: November 2023

The result of the 2022 Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh offers important lessons for Indian electoral politics. This election saw the defeat of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), a party called ‘the Elephant’ that claims to represent about 20% of state’s population including Dalits. In this background, this article attempts to explain how the BSP’s transition from a ‘Bahujan’ party to a ‘Sarvajan Party’ and neglect for Dalit issues led to its defeat in the Vidhan Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh in 2022. It also shows that the BSP’s ‘Sarvajan Politics’ model could not sustain its success indefinitely. The shift in the BSP’s voting percentage in Uttar Pradesh suggests that a ‘atomized Party’ with a charismatic leader may struggle to remain viable if it falls short of the expectations of its main voter base. The fundamental question here is whether the social justice goal is still relevant in a state like Uttar Pradesh.
Sexualized Objects and the Embodiment of Caste Honour: Rape in Dalit Women-centric Movies
Authors: Kamble Chandrakant
Published: November 2023

Several popular Hindi movies feature attempted rapes and gang rapes, reinforcing the rape culture, which must be problematized. The study analyses selected movies and demonstrates that the caste and gendered form of sexual violence carries multiple levels, the nature of gang rape, rape as erotic entertainment, and an embodiment of caste honour with rape as an element of revenge. These elements are unique to Indian movies as they incite caste honours, and normalize sexual assaults, supporting and glorifying Indian rape culture. The study illustrates the awareness of the culture of caste and gendered honour-based dominant caste ideologies in selected movies and demonstrates how these can legitimize and encourage rape. This could lead to a better-integrated understanding of this rural rape culture. The study argues that the Indian mainstream ﬁlm industry has mainly portrayed Dalit women’s rape and suggests Savarna ﬁlmmakers’ obedience to such portrayals has consequently intensified the hype and reproduction of rape culture in Indian society. Significantly, the last decade has witnessed noticeable accumulations in sexual violence against the subaltern Dalit women aggregated.
End-to-End Joint Multi-Object Detection and Tracking for Intelligent Transportation Systems
Authors: Xu Qing , Lin Xuewu , Cai Mengchi , Guo Yu-ang , Zhang Chuang , Li Kai , Li Keqiang , Wang Jianqiang , Cao Dongpu
Published: November 2023

Environment perception is one of the most critical technology of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Motion interaction between multiple vehicles in ITS makes it important to perform multi-object tracking (MOT). However, most existing MOT algorithms follow the tracking-by-detection framework, which separates detection and tracking into two independent segments and limit the global efficiency. Recently, a few algorithms have combined feature extraction into one network; however, the tracking portion continues to rely on data association, and requires complex post-processing for life cycle management. Those methods do not combine detection and tracking efficiently. This paper presents a novel network to realize joint multi-object detection and tracking in an end-to-end manner for ITS, named as global correlation network (GCNet). Unlike most object detection methods, GCNet introduces a global correlation layer for regression of absolute size and coordinates of bounding boxes, instead of offsetting predictions. The pipeline of detection and tracking in GCNet is conceptually simple, and does not require complicated tracking strategies such as non-maximum suppression and data association. GCNet was evaluated on a multi-vehicle tracking dataset, UA-DETRAC, demonstrating promising performance compared to state-of-the-art detectors and trackers.
Genomic analysis of the marine yeast Rhodotorula sphaerocarpa ETNP2018 reveals adaptation to the open ocean
Authors: Lane Dylan M. , Valentine David L. , Peng Xuefeng
Published: November 2023

Background

Despite a rising interest in the diversity and ecology of fungi in marine environments, there are few published genomes of fungi isolated from the ocean. The basidiomycetous yeast (unicellular fungus) genus Rhodotorula are prevalent and abundant in the open ocean, and they have been isolated from a wide range of other environments. Many of these environments are nutrient poor, such as the Antarctica and the Atacama deserts, raising the question as to how Rhodotorula yeasts may have adapted their metabolic strategies to optimize survival under low nutrient conditions. In order to understand their adaptive strategies in the ocean, the genome of R. sphaerocarpa ETNP2018 was compared to that of fourteen representative Rhodotorula yeasts, isolated from a variety of environments.

Results

Rhodotorula sphaerocarpa ETNP2018, a strain isolated from the oligotrophic part of the eastern tropical North Pacific (ETNP) oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), hosts the smallest of the fifteen genomes and yet the number of protein-coding genes it possesses is on par with the other strains. Its genome exhibits a distinct reduction in genes dedicated to Major Facilitator Superfamily transporters as well as biosynthetic enzymes. However, its core metabolic pathways are fully conserved. Our research indicates that the selective pressures of the ETNP OMZ favor a streamlined genome with reduced overall biosynthetic potential balanced by a stable set of core metabolisms and an expansion of mechanisms for nutrient acquisition.

Conclusions

In summary, this study offers insights into the adaptation of fungi to the oligotrophic ocean and provides valuable information for understanding the ecological roles of fungi in the ocean.
Specific functions of single pistil S-RNases in S-gene homozygous Pyrus germplasm
Authors: Qi Yongjie , Gao Zhenghui , Ma Na , Lu Liqing , Ke Fanjun , Zhang Shaoling , Xu Yiliu
Published: November 2023

Gametophytic self-incompatibility (SI) is regulated by S-allele recognition; that is, pollen in a style with the same S-genotype will undergo programmed cell death and stop growing so that it is unable to complete double fertilization, ultimately resulting in the SI response. S-RNase is the female determinant of SI in pear (Pyrus). In the Pyrus genome, there are two different S-RNase alleles at the S-locus, which generate two different S-RNase products in the pistil. The extracted S-glycoprotein is actually a protein complex. In this study, artificial self-pollination was conducted at the bud stage to overcome SI in ‘Huanghua’ (S1S2) pear. Seven plants homozygous for S1-RNase and four homozygous for S2-RNase were selected from the selfed progeny of ‘Huanghua’ by S-gene molecular identification biotechnology. We investigated the function of single S-RNases isolated from the pistils of S-gene homozygous Pyrus germplasm. The pollen of ‘Huanghua’ could smoothly pass through the style of the S-gene homozygous germplasm and complete fertilization. S-RNases were extracted from flower styles of different genotypes and used to treat different types of pollen. The S-RNase from ‘Huanghua’ completely inhibited the growth of S1S2, S1S1, and S2S2 pollen, while the S-RNase from homozygous germplasm allowed some S1S2 pollen and different single genotypes of pollen to continue growing. These results further validate the core events of SI including cytoskeleton depolymerization and programmed cell death. By iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis of style proteins, a total of 13 S-RNase-related proteins were identified. In summary, we have created reliable S-RNase gene homozygous germplasm, which will play a crucial role in further research on SI in pear and in the development of the pear industry.
The cost of primary care consultations associated with long COVID in non-hospitalised adults: a retrospective cohort study using UK primary care data
Authors: Tufts Jake , Guan Naijie , Zemedikun Dawit T , Subramanian Anuradhaa , Gokhale Krishna , Myles Puja , Williams Tim , Marshall Tom , Calvert Melanie , Matthews Karen , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah , Jackson Louise J , Haroon Shamil
Published: November 2023

Background

The economic impact of managing long COVID in primary care is unknown. We estimated the costs of primary care consultations associated with long COVID and explored the relationship between risk factors and costs.

Methods

Data were obtained on non-hospitalised adults from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum primary care database. We used propensity score matching with an incremental cost method to estimate additional primary care consultation costs associated with long COVID (12 weeks after COVID-19) at an individual and UK national level. We applied multivariable regression models to estimate the association between risk factors and consultations costs beyond 12 weeks from acute COVID-19.

Results

Based on an analysis of 472,173 patients with COVID-19 and 472,173 unexposed individuals, the annual incremental cost of primary care consultations associated with long COVID was £2.44 per patient and £23,382,452 at the national level. Among patients with COVID-19, a long COVID diagnosis and reporting of longer-term symptoms were associated with a 43% and 44% increase in primary care consultation costs respectively, compared to patients without long COVID symptoms. Older age, female sex, obesity, being from a white ethnic group, comorbidities and prior consultation frequency were all associated with increased primary care consultation costs.

Conclusions

The costs of primary care consultations associated with long COVID in non-hospitalised adults are substantial. Costs are significantly higher among those diagnosed with long COVID, those with long COVID symptoms, older adults, females, and those with obesity and comorbidities.