bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Trends and Factors Associated with the Availment of Optional Retirement among PNP Personnel
Authors: Ambata Maria May M. , Bautista Kyle Gabriel E. , Enoc Noel B. , Hizon Irine B. , Pamaos Kevin E. , Villa Elizabeth B. , Mobo Froilan D. , Golla Nathaniel S.
Published: February 2025

This research study aimed to analyze the emerging trends of option-al retirement among PNP personnel and present the trends in the NHQwhich was the highest number of applicants for early retire-ment. It focused on ascertaining the various contributory factors that lead to the vast increase in PNP personnel acquiring early re-tirement. This study also determined the major or common causes why PNP personnel opted to avail of the optional retirement rather than rendering the full length of service.It led to the specification of causal factors including personal reasons, workplace conditions, broader organizational issues, and others. This reflected the com-plex relationship of personal and organizational dynamics that in-fluence retirement decisions within the PNP organization.This study employed a descriptive method of investigation, utilizing stratified random sampling to select the thirty-six (36) respondents. The in-formation gathered from the group of participants from the records at the PRBS conducted at the National Headquarters (NHQ) of the Philippine National Police situated in Camp Rafael T. Crame, Quezon City. From 2019 to 2024 applicants submitted requests for optional retirement benefits. The findings led the PNP organization to pro-pose recommendedpolicy enhancementby the respondents which may be forwarded to the Administrative and Resource Management Division to retain the remaining personnel and maintain morale, such as providing incentives or professional growth opportunities. The management may also strategize on the effective promotion of the organization to encourage more qualified candidates to apply and sustain the ideal workforce balance within the police organiza-tion.
Knowledge and Practices of Elementary Teachers on Thematic Approach Towards Inclusive Science Education
Authors: Padre Edna M. , Rostrata Abby Lyn A. , Anular Bergin E. , Soriano Iya G. , Santos Lovise-Ann O.
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the relationship between the level of knowledge and practice of the thematic approach towards inclusive education among elementary teachers in Iba District, Philippines. A descriptive correlational design was employed, utilizing a survey questionnaire administered to 75 elementary teachers from three selected schools. The findings revealed that the teacher-respondents demonstrated a high level of knowledge and consistently practiced the thematic approach in their teaching strategies, learning activities, instructional materials, and assessment. Furthermore, there is a strong association (r=0.886, p=<0.01) between teachers' knowledge of the thematic approach and their reported use of it in their teaching practices in ensuring inclusive science education. Thus, professional development that enhances teachers' understanding of the thematic approach is recommended, as this is directly associated with improved classroom implementation and more effective inclusive education practices. Additionally, further research could explore the specific impacts of thematic teaching methods on student learning outcomes and inclusivity in diverse classroom settings.
Sweet Heritage: Preserving Meranaw Identity Through Mamis Delicacies
Authors: Minodar Wedad U. Ramos , Bangcola Hidaya B.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of the study is to help the Meranaw people to verify the veracity that behind their colorful, rich and beautiful culture, there is Mamis which symbolizes the royalty and hospitability of every Meranaw. In which every Meranaw occasions, engagements, merrymaking, and homecoming of people who had gone to Hajj, and during the two religious feasts, Eid’l Adha and Eid'l Fitr there should be a serving of sweet desserts together with the main course or dish. This study is anchored by various theories to strengthen the analysis. First is the Foodways Theory (Douglas, 1984) which analyzes food's role in shaping cultural identity and community, and the second one is the Culinary Cultural Heritage (Henderson, 2009) which highlights food's significance in preserv-ing cultural traditions. In determining the nature and the purpose of the study, the researchers used two ways of gathering data, Random Sampling method and Purposive Sampling method through the medium of self - made validated survey questionnaire and in – depth interview with the self-made guide questions. The study came up to conclude that the level of awareness among the respondents were on positive side result since majority of the re-spondents have tasted or seen these identified delicacies of the Meranaw despite the influences of the multi diversified colonial cuisine which indicates the preservation still remains today to some extent. Moreover, this study concludes that Mamis delicacy makes it more unique from other culture especially the ceremoni-als and rituals that are associated with it. These delicacies are commonly served during Meranao festivities in authentic Pagana. The method of preparation involved in making mamis has been transmitted from generation to generation which shape the char-acters and identity of Meranaws.
The March 2023 MJO and Its Impacts on the Subsequent Coastal El Niño
Authors: Wei Yuntao , Mu Mu , Lian Tao , Hsu Huang-Hsiung , Ren Hong-Li , Wang Jie , Ji Chaopeng , Tao Lingjiang
Published: February 2025

The year 2023 has witnessed sequential geneses of a record-breaking Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and an unprecedented coastal El Niño in March–April, thus offering another opportunity to further understand the dynamics of MJO–El Niño interactions. Here, we show that the March 2023 MJO is quite unusual as it starts from the South China Sea due to the dry intrusion of extratropical cold northerly winds and moist preconditioning effects of equatorial Rossby waves, propagates eastward fast as a double Kelvin wave system, and expands over the entire tropical Pacific largely as a Kelvin wave response to its strong suppressed convection over the Maritime Continent. Because of these unusual features, the MJO exerts widespread westerly wind forcing to the ocean surface, with two maxima over the western and far eastern tropical Pacific. Due mainly to the depressed local Ekman upwelling under MJO westerly, the upper ocean gets warmer than normal near the coast of South America, thereby helping trigger the 2023 coastal El Niño. Using an El Niño ensemble forecasting system, we quantify that the MJO westerly over the far eastern Pacific explains approximately 30% of coastal warming signals off Peru. Although only marginally increasing the end-of-year Niño-3.4 index, the March MJO can induce small-scale oceanic westward-propagating disturbances, which significantly decrease the intermember spread of the forecasted basin-scale 2023/24 El Niño. These results highlight the pivotal importance of tropical–extratropical interactions in initiating those MJOs from outside the Indian Ocean and also point out the potential roles of MJOs in dynamical El Niño evolution and prediction.

Significance Statement

By examining a record-breaking Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and an unprecedented coastal El Niño occurring sequentially in March–April 2023 using observations and climate model ensemble forecasting experiments, the authors have indicated a chain of upscale feedbacks: extratropical cold surges and equatorial waves jointly initiate the MJO, which then helps (∼30%) trigger coastal warming signals off Peru through dynamical ocean responses. Moreover, small-scale westward-propagating disturbances are generated in the model with MJO perturbations added in March, which considerably reduce the end-of-year intermember spread of the forecasted basin-scale 2023/24 El Niño. These findings significantly advance our basic understanding of the MJO initiation from outside the Indian Ocean and the dynamical El Niño evolution and prediction.
Comparison of Numerical Characteristics in the Regional Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Models Using Low-Level Wind Analysis During Heavy Snowfall Episodes Over Complex Terrain
Authors: Shin Uju , Park Sang-Hun , Skamarock William , Lee GyuWon , Lim Kyo-Sun , Joh Minsu
Published: February 2025

We present a comprehensive evaluation of the regional Model for Prediction Across Scales (rMPAS) in simulating heavy snowfall events during the International Collaborative Experiment for Pyeongchang Olympics and Paralympics field campaign in the Korean Peninsula. We compared rMPAS simulations with those of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and observational data for three significant snowfall events, emphasizing on their performances in capturing precipitation patterns and synoptic environments. Both the rMPAS and WRF models effectively replicated the complex meteorological conditions of heavy snowfall events, although they overestimated precipitation. We included sensitivity experiments to compare the dynamical cores in rMPAS and WRF, which use the same physics packages. Kinetic energy spectral analysis showed remarkable similarities between rMPAS and WRF despite differences in their numerical approaches, especially at smaller spatial scales. Analysis of horizontal and vertical wind speeds revealed a consistent overestimation in both models, particularly pronounced at the surface and in the lower troposphere and gradually diminished with altitude. This trend was prominent over complex terrains, where both models simulate stronger vertical velocities compared to those of the observational data. The rMPAS model demonstrated reliable performance in winter weather prediction, comparable to that of the WRF model, especially in the eastern coastal region of the Korean Peninsula. Further investigation is necessary to address the overestimation of low-level wind speeds for enhancing numerical weather prediction in complex topographical regions.
Inequities in Surgical Access for Women With Endometrial Cancer in the United States: Opportunities for Surgical Justice
Authors: Leonis Regina , Chavez Thomas , Caldwell Alex , Del Priore Giuseppe , Matthews Roland , Franklin Cheryl
Published: February 2025

Significant disparities exist in women with endometrial cancer. Disparate incidence and mortality rates affect many populations including racial/ethnic minority women and women who live in rural communities. These populations are more likely to experience delays in care due to multi-dimensional factors ranging from lack of awareness between the women and their non-gynecologic providers to lack of access to health care and/or to gynecologic oncologists. Multiple layers of intervention will be needed to mitigate the inequities, including policy changes, advocacy to change insurance coverage, and network inclusion of gynecologic oncologists. There are opportunities for non-gynecological surgical specialists who take care of women at risk of endometrial cancer to facilitate multidisciplinary care and to refer as appropriately to gynecologic specialty care.
Reliability and Validity of a Pediatric Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy Grading System (PedDISE-8)
Authors: Jaffal Hussein , Coutras Steven W. , Dewey John , McArdle Erica , Cui Ruifeng
Published: February 2025

Objectives:

Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is increasingly being used in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to identify specific sites of upper airway obstruction and plan surgical interventions. This study aims to test the reliability and validity of a new grading system for pediatric DISE procedures (PedDISE-8).

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective chart review of children 0 to 18 years old with OSA who underwent DISE. Four independent raters reviewed and graded each video recording twice using the PedDISE-8. Eight upper airway sites were evaluated: inferior turbinates, adenoid, velum, tonsils/lateral pharyngeal walls, lingual tonsils, tongue base, epiglottis, and supra-arytenoid tissue. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to determine inter-rater and intra-rater rating reliability for each site. External validity was assessed by analyzing the correlation between the number of sites with severe obstruction and polysomnographic data.

Results:

DISE recordings were reviewed for 86 pediatric patients, 59.5% of whom were male and 26.7% were obese. The median age was 3.5 (IQR 2.4-5.3) years, and the median obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) was 5.5 (IQR 3.1-10.4). Moderate to good inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were found for all eight sites (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.67 to 0.88 and 0.71 to 0.87, respectively). The number of sites with severe obstruction correlated positively with the oAHI (τ = 0.119, P = .004).

Conclusions:

The PedDISE-8 grading system demonstrated good inter-rater and intra-rater reliability and external validity. It can be used in children undergoing DISE for OSA.
‘Regrets become a lasting source of pain’: A qualitative study on family caregivers’ experiences leading up to a relative’s death
Authors: Liang Hui-Ju , Xiong Qian , Lin Peng-Chan , Tsai Jui-Hung , Preston Nancy
Published: February 2025

Background:

Death preparations can benefit families both before and during bereavement. While these preparations are culturally influenced, evidence from non-Western cultures, like Eastern Asia, is limited.

Aim:

To explore how family caregivers prepare for a relative’s death in Taiwan.

Design:

A qualitative interview study analysed with reflexive thematic analysis.

Setting/participants:

Twenty-two primary family caregivers following a death involving specialist palliative care were interviewed.

Results:

An overarching theme was ‘getting everything right to have no regrets between the dead and the living’. Within this, two themes focussed upon improving the dying relative’s outcomes and the families’ subsequent bereavement: (1) ‘making the right end-of-life decisions is crucial but complex’, exploring preparations to involve (or not) the dying relative in making choices to minimise regrets. Participants often felt they understood the dying relative’s wishes so respected their preferences while maintaining family harmony through consensus-building and professional guidance. (2) ‘becoming a competent caregiver is the priority’, addressing preparations for fulfilling responsibilities, making sacrifices and developing caregiving competence to ensure the dying relative’s comfort. This would help reduce feelings of regret about not having done enough.

Conclusion:

Preparing for end-of-life decisions and caregiving is important for participants to reduce regret, benefiting subsequent bereavement. Of particular importance is family involvement and consensus-building in end-of-life decisions, reflecting Taiwan’s family-led culture. These findings can inform clinical practices in family-centric decision-making cultures where healthcare workers should be aware of the need to build consensus, sometimes without involving the dying person. Future research should include patients’ and healthcare professionals’ perspectives.
Fluctuating gold standards and the processes of inclusion and exclusion in group analytic training institutions
Authors: Dalal Farhad
Published: February 2025

This paper takes a critical look at the rationales that drive the processes of inclusion and exclusion that operate in the European Group Analytic Training Network (EGATIN) and the training institutions that constitute it. It is claimed that these processes are akin to the processes of racialization which utilize two strategies, lineage and typology. It is argued that ‘standards’ are generated by contingency, and post-hoc rationalized by theory. Further, that these standards serve the interests of the more powerful, the already Established.
Swallowing Therapy Effects on Oral Muscle Mass, Tongue Function, Swallowing, and Nutrition in Stroke Patients with Dysphagia
Authors: Li Guan-Yi , Huang Yu-Chi , Wu Jia-Ying , Leong Chau-Peng , Cheng Chung-Hui
Published: February 2025

Background

Dysphagia, common post-stroke, elevates clinical risks. Muscle atrophy and compromised function correlate with malnutrition and secondary sarcopenia.

Objective

We studied oral muscle thickness, tongue strength/endurance in post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) using sonography and Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI), and assessed swallowing therapy's impact.

Methods

17 healthy and 15 PSD participants were analyzed. Healthy subjects underwent baseline sonography and IOPI. PSD patients received a 3-week swallowing therapy including traditional methods, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and IOPI-guided oral exercises. Pre/post-swallowing therapy sonography and swallowing-related evaluations were conducted.

Resutls

PSD group exhibited significant differences in affected masseter muscle thickness (P = 0.001), tongue strength (P ≤ 0.001), but not posterior tongue endurance (P = 0.066). After swallowing therapy, PSD patients showed notable improvement in masseter muscle thickness (P = 0.011) and tongue strength (P = 0.005–0.009). Clinical metrics like Functional Oral Intake Scale (P = 0.004), Mini Nutritional Assessment (P = 0.007), and gait speed (P = 0.018) also improved.

Conclusions

Stroke-induced dysphagia correlates with reduced masseter muscle thickness, tongue strength, and endurance. Swallowing therapy enhanced masseter muscle thickness and tongue strength, potentially improving swallowing function, nutrition, and gait speed.
TOPSIS method for ability evaluation of industrial internet platform energizing digital transformation of manufacturing with DHHFLTSs
Authors: Liu Hailong , Wang Yan
Published: February 2025

China's Industrial Internet has progressed to a phase of deep implementation, finding extensive application across numerous vital sectors of the national economy. The Industrial Internet is proving to be an effective catalyst for high-quality economic and social development, increasingly serving as a pivotal force in the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. At the heart of this transformation is the Industrial Internet platform, which acts as a transformative tool for enabling digital enhancements in manufacturing. The evaluation of the capability of these platforms to energize digital transformation is approached as a multi-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problem. In this context, the use of double hierarchy hesitant fuzzy linguistic term sets (DHHFLTSs) provides a precise representation of the significance in real MAGDM scenarios. Consequently, this paper introduces the double hierarchy hesitant fuzzy linguistic TOPSIS (DHHFL-TOPSIS) method, tailored specifically for MAGDM within a DHHFLTSs environment, and applies it to evaluate the capability of Industrial Internet platforms. Additionally, information entropy is utilized to determine the weights of the targets. A practical case study is also included to showcase the application of our method, and a comparative analysis is conducted to affirm its feasibility and effectiveness. The main contributions of this research are outlined as follows: (1) TOPSIS method is adapted based on DHHFLTSs; (2) PDHL-TOPSIS approach is utilized to address the MAGDM problem under DHHFLTSs; (3) A practical case study demonstrates the operational steps of our method; (4) A comparative analysis confirms the feasibility and effectiveness of the approach.
Relationship between calf muscle pump function and severity of chronic venous disease
Authors: Ghorbanzadeh Atefeh , Liedl David , Elbenawi Hossam , Rooke Thom , Wennberg Paul , McBane Robert D , Houghton Damon E
Published: February 2025

Background:

The calf muscle pump is an understudied contributor to venous return from the lower extremity. This study aimed to determine if calf pump function (CPF) is independently associated with the severity of chronic venous disease classified by CEAP (Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology).

Methods:

The Mayo Clinic Vascular Laboratory database was analyzed from January 2015 through September 2023. Ambulatory adults who underwent venous air plethysmography were included. Venous plethysmography assessed the severity of venous incompetence, and CPF was measured as ejection fraction (EF) per leg. The clinical component (C0 through C6) of the CEAP score was evaluated for each extremity at the time of the study.

Results:

A total of 7760 limbs from 3733 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 62 years, with 62% women. Venous obstruction was detected in 3.2% of limbs. Venous incompetence severity was categorized as normal (44%), mild (26%), moderate (19%), and severe (10%). A significant trend of reduced CPF was observed with higher CEAP scores ( p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, degree of venous incompetence, and obstruction showed reduced CPF was a significant predictor (odds ratio 1.84, CI: 1.5–2.2) of active/prior ulcer (C5 or C6). In contrast to more severely reduced CPF, mildly reduced CPF (EF 40–49%) was not associated with active/prior ulcers.

Conclusion:

This large contemporary study demonstrates that decreased CPF is associated with worse chronic venous disease. Importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that CPF is independently associated with active/prior venous ulcers after accounting for other venous physiologic parameters and demographics.
Effect of mandrel position on bending quality in the rotary draw bending process
Authors: Ozcan Bahadır , Evis Zafer , Ozturk Fahrettin
Published: February 2025

The mandrel plays a critical role in supporting tubes within the bending region during tube bending operations. This research explores the impact of varying mandrel positions on bending quality. Therefore, both experimental and finite element analyses were conducted for five different mandrel positions. The study focuses on bending of AA6061-W (water condition) tubes with an outer diameter of 50.8 mm and a wall thickness of 0.889 mm, bent to a radius of 101.6 mm. Conducted experiments revealed ovality values ranging from a minimum of 0.83% to a maximum of 1.81%, depending on the mandrel position. Furthermore, minimum wall thickness measured on the outer side of the tube was 0.686 mm. Additionally, wrinkle and bump formations of varying densities were observed on the tube material, corresponding to different mandrel positions. Results indicate that the mandrel position has a direct effect on the severity of thinning, ovality, bump, and wrinkle formation. The ovality increased as the mandrel was pulled backwards. Finally, the same defect types were detected at similar regions for both finite element and experimental studies which they are in accord.
Gaining ultra-nationalists trust in post-conflict research: The case of divided Cyprus
Authors: Efthymiou Stratis Andreas
Published: February 2025

This article addresses issues arising while conducting interviews that cross risky social and political boundaries. Drawing on the author's experiences interviewing representatives of the two major ultra-nationalist political parties in Cyprus for a case study, I discuss this type of research's intended and unintended implications and consequences by focusing on rapport, trust and risk. The case study illustrates how these factors became the most critical elements in conducting interviews with these radical groups. Lessons learned from this case study can serve as valuable methodological guides for future research in similar contexts.
Personalized sleep aid audio strategy model based on self-attention and time-domain analysis
Authors: Zhou Yafeng , Chen Fan , Li Fangfang
Published: February 2025

Sleep disorders have become a prevalent health concern in today’s society, significantly impacting the daily lives and work efficiency of a vast number of individuals. Traditional sleep aid methods, such as pharmacological treatments and standard sleep aid music, offer some relief but come with inherent limitations, including potential side effects and variations due to individual differences. To address this more effectively, this study introduces a strategy model that integrates self-attention with time-domain features, aiming to produce more personalized sleep aid music. Utilizing deep learning techniques, the model can adjust the audio strategy in real-time based on the physiological responses of the participants, thereby generating sleep aid music tailored to individual needs. Through a series of experimental validations, we found that compared to traditional strategy models, our proposed model demonstrates significant advantages in promoting relaxation and sleep for participants, especially in the scores across various dimensions of the PSQI. This research offers new theoretical insights and practical considerations for the study and application of sleep aid music.
Data-driven modelling of pressurized corridor ventilation system performance in a multi-unit residential building
Authors: Stopps Helen , Lozinsky Cara H , Touchie Marianne F
Published: February 2025

Pressurized corridor (PC) ventilation systems are a common method used in existing multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) to deliver make-up air to individual units, and as a means of controlling inter-zonal odour/contaminant transfer. In PC systems, ventilation air is supplied directly to the common corridor and enters the units via intentional undercuts at the unit entry doors. In practice, the amount of ventilation air supplied to each unit is dependent on the air pressure differential between the two zones, which can be affected by occupant behaviours, such as window and unit exhaust fan operation; wind; or large indoor-outdoor temperature differentials. Accurately characterizing the impact of these variables on building pressure differentials is critical to not only identifying conditions when depressurization events may occur (which would result in a lack of ventilation to dwelling unit and the potential for contaminant movement from units to the corridor), but also understanding how operational changes can improve system operation. This paper will describe the development of an XGBoost regression model for predicting inter-zonal pressure differentials in a contemporary MURB with a PC system. The model was trained and validated using measurements collected as part of a 6-month field study in a 17-storey MURB located in Toronto, Canada, including corridor-to-unit and exterior-to-unit differential pressures, window/door operation, corridor supply air flow rates and interior/exterior temperature and relative humidity. Unit exhaust fan operation was inferred from the unit differential pressure data. This paper addresses feature selection, hyperparameter tuning and accuracy assessment, with a specific emphasis on evaluating the potential for the use of the model as a diagnostic tool and testing environment to evaluate ventilation system performance in multi-unit residential buildings.
Iron and folic acid supplementation compliance during pregnancy and its effect on post-pregnancy anaemia among reproductive-age women in East Africa
Authors: Engidaw Melaku Tadege , Lee Patricia , Ahmed Faruk
Published: February 2025

Background:

Despite the government’s effort to reduce the prevalence of anaemia among reproductive-age women globally, it continues as a significant public health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Iron–folic acid (IFA) supplementation is a widely used intervention to prevent anaemia, but compliance remains a major challenge. There is a lack of literature examining IFA supplementation compliance during pregnancy and its impact on preventing and controlling anaemia during post-pregnancy in the East Africa region.

Objective:

This study aims to investigate compliance with IFA supplementation during pregnancy and its impact on post-pregnancy anaemia among reproductive-age women in East Africa.

Design:

This study was designed as a cross-sectional survey.

Methods:

This study used data from 43,200 reproductive-age women from 2015 to 2022 demographic and health survey datasets. We used multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis to identify associated factors with IFA supplementation compliance during pregnancy. Furthermore, a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to determine the effect of IFA supplementation compliance on anaemia after pregnancy among women.

Results:

The level of compliance with IFA supplementation during pregnancy was 31.33% (95% confidence interval (CI): 30.89, 31.77), whereas the prevalence of anaemia among reproductive-age women was 32.08% (95% CI: 31.64, 32.52). Maternal education, the timing of antenatal care (ANC) visits, wanted index pregnancy (last pregnancy), wealth status, healthcare access, mass media exposure and ANC services from skilled healthcare providers were significantly associated with compliance with IFA supplementation among pregnant women. The PSM analysis indicated a significant positive association between IFA supplementation compliance during pregnancy and prevention of post-pregnancy anaemia among reproductive-age women, with an average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) of 25.55% (ATT = −0.2555, 95% CI: −0.3440, −0.1669, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Despite universal IFA supplementation, anaemia remains prevalent in East African countries due to low level of compliance with IFA supplementation. Targeting individual and socio-economic factors during IFA supplementation promotion helps to prevent anaemia after pregnancy. Further research is recommended to gain deeper insights.
Activity transitions and persuasion: Using growth charts in pediatric consultations
Authors: Miao Grace Qiyuan , Stivers Tanya
Published: February 2025

This paper relies on 327 video recordings of well-baby visits in U.S. community practice clinics to explore when and how pediatricians transition to assessing children’s growth. Using conversation analysis supplemented by descriptive frequencies, we examine the primary ways in which participants transition into the activity of assessing the child’s growth. We argue that physicians most commonly orient to the discussion of physical growth as disjunctive with the prior activity. However, when physicians wind up at odds with a parent over whether or not there is a cause for concern with the child, they more often rely on conjunctive activity transitions. Surprisingly, the activity transition into growth assessment becomes a resource that physicians rely on to persuade parents of their view.
Outcomes of Patients Treated for Open Pilon Fractures at a County Hospital
Authors: Tye Cooper , Alkhabbaz Omar , Miaw Wesley , Park Kyung , Newman Samuel , Barcak Eric
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Open pilon fractures represent a challenging injury for both patients and physicians. Patients must contend with prolonged non-weightbearing, wound complications, and the possibility of post-traumatic arthritis. Surgeons also deal with a fracture which is difficult to treat and that is prone to poor outcomes. To better understand these challenging injuries and identify details that may portend better patient outcomes, we performed a retrospective review of open pilon fractures treated at a level 1 trauma county hospital by orthopedic trauma-trained surgeons.

Materials and Methods

A search was performed for patients treated for open pilon fractures at our institution. Demographics and fracture information for each patient, as well as pre and postoperative details for each patient, were collected. We also identified complications such as infection, nonunion, and the need for additional surgeries in patients. Patients were then compared to one another, and they were also stratified according to their Gustilo-Anderson classification of open fracture to identify differences.

Results

Patients in our study who sustained type 3 open injuries were older, more often required additional surgeries, sustained nonunion of their fracture, became infected or underwent amputation than patients with type 1 and 2 injuries. 20% of all patients with type 3 open injuries underwent 4 or more additional procedures, while only 13% did not require additional surgery. In contrast, over half of all patients with type 1 and 2 open injuries did not require any additional surgeries.

Conclusions

Despite following currently recommended guidelines for the treatment of open pilon fractures, these injuries are still prone to complications. Elderly patients and those with type 3 injuries are especially at high risk for negative postoperative outcomes due to the increased severity of soft-tissue damage. Further research is necessary to identify optimal protocols for these devastating injuries, especially in vulnerable populations.

Levels of Evidence:

Level III
Impact of Augmented Feedback and Music During the Bench Press Resistance Exercise: Does Their Combination Compromise Mechanical Performance?
Authors: Miras-Moreno Sergio , Weakley Jonathon , Martínez-Zafra Luis M. , Pérez-Castilla Alejandro
Published: February 2025

Background:

Verbal feedback (knowledge of results [KR]) and listening to music are common ergogenic strategies used to boost athlete performance during resistance exercise. No previous research has explored their effects when both strategies are combined in the same exercise session (KR+music). This study aimed to examine the impact of providing KR, listening to music, and their combined effects on: (1) mechanical responses (number of repetitions, fastest velocity, and average velocity in a set), and (2) perceptual responses (feeling scale [FS], rating of perceived exertion [RPE], and rate of perceived discomfort [RPD]) when a determined percentage of velocity loss (%VL) is prescribed.

Hypothesis:

Providing KR or listening to music would provide an ergogenic effect on these outcomes whereas KR+music can compromise mechanical performance.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Methods:

Fifteen recreational resistance-trained men were tested on 5 occasions separated by a 48 to 72 hour washout period. The first session was used to determine the bench press 1-repetition maximum (1RM) strength. The 4 experimental sessions were identical (4 sets at 70% 1RM with a 20%VL during bench press exercise) except for the intervention (ie, control, KR, music, and KR+music) used randomly on each session.

Results:

The findings revealed that: (1) mechanical performance was significantly greater for the music condition (from 5.7% to 20.4%), followed by the KR+music (from 4.9% to 15.4%) and KR (from −0.4% to 8.1%) condition, and (2) greater FS values were found for music compared with control condition, while no significant differences were reported for RPE or RPD.

Conclusion:

Listening to music enhances bench press performance and mood; adding KR does not compromise these benefits.

Clinical Relevance:

Recreational athlete performance may benefit from listening to music, and KR+music does not compromise this effect. However, athlete preference should take priority when implementing these ergogenic strategies.
A study looking at how missed somatropin injections affect growth in children with growth hormone deficiency: a plain language summary of publication
Authors: Loftus Jane , Miller Bradley S. , Parzynski Craig S. , Alvir Jose , Chen Yong , Jhingran Priti , Gupta Anu , DeKoven Mitch , Divino Victoria , Tse Jenny , He Jing , Wajnrajch Michael
Published: February 2025

• Children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) are often prescribed a growth hormone called somatropin to help them grow.

• As prescribed, somatropin needs to be injected once a day under the skin. Some children may miss many of their somatropin injections, and this is known as having “low adherence” to treatment. Adherence in this study refers to whether the children had enough somatropin to have daily injections as prescribed.

• In this study, researchers found that children with GHD who had high adherence to daily somatropin injections grew more than children who had low adherence to daily somatropin injections.

• Researchers, doctors, and nurses need to look at how they can help children with GHD follow their prescribed injection schedule and reduce the number of missed injections.

The purpose of this plain language summary is to help you to understand the findings from recent research.

• Somatropin is approved to treat the condition under study that is discussed in this summary.

• This summary reports the results of a single study. The results of this study may differ from those of other studies. Health professionals should make treatment decisions based on all available evidence, not on the results of a single study.

Glossary of commonly used terms

Adherence – in this study, adherence refers to whether the children had enough medication (somatropin) to have daily injections as prescribed by their doctor.

Growth hormone - a protein made in the pituitary gland that helps the body grow properly.

Growth hormone deficiency – children with this condition do not have enough growth hormone in their bodies so they grow more slowly than children with normal levels of growth hormone.

Somatropin - a type of human growth hormone that can be made in a laboratory and used to treat growth hormone deficiency.
Affordances-in-Practice: How Social Norm Dynamics in Climate Change Publics Are Shaped on Instagram and Twitter
Authors: Van Raemdonck Nathalie , Picone Ike , Pierson Jo
Published: February 2025

Social norms are flexible regulating forces of human behavior. They are shaped by humans, whose actions in turn are shaped by their environment, including the online social spaces they venture into. The objective of this research is to create an understanding of how the affordances of social media platforms shape social norm dynamics in online publics, particularly in climate change publics. For this purpose, we make a comparative analysis of the practices of users on Instagram and Twitter that engage with climate change content. We conducted 22 in-depth interviews with a purposively selected sample of worldwide Twitter and Instagram users. We investigated how each platform’s specific affordances shape the participants’ sense of community and how they participate in social norm enforcement and contestation, also called “callouts.” This “affordances-in-practice” perspective brings observations on the differences in how users can actualize the novel affordances of “interventionability” and “external visibility” on both platforms. This research provides a deeper insight into the socio-technical processes underlying the (self-)organization of social movements and provides a pathway to investigating discursive practices of online publics on other platforms. The study avoids debating which norms should prevail over others in the online climate discussion, but does reflect on the negative impact that certain outcomes of norm enforcement and contestation might have on democratic deliberation on climate change. The main findings are that actualizing these affordances on Twitter anno 2023 makes climate discourse sensitive to group-loyalties, whereas on Instagram it makes it dependent on norm leaders in the form of content creators.
Protective effect of chlorogenic acid on cognitive impairment in rats with early Alzheimer's disease via Wnt signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Lei , Wang Xuehua , Hou Liang , Liu Yingxue , Liu Jiangsheng , Zhang Deqiang , Yao Suyan , Zheng Deyu
Published: February 2025

Background:

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) has neuroprotective properties associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the exact mechanism by which CGA prevents cognitive impairment in AD remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of CGA on cognitive impairment in rats with early AD via the Wnt signaling pathway.

Objective:

To investigate the protective effect of CGA on cognitive impairment in an early AD rat model via the Wnt signaling pathway.

Methods:

Forty male rats were randomly divided into the control group (CON), AD group (AD), CGA 100 groups and CGA 150 groups with 10 rats in each group. In addition to CON group, the other three groups of rats were injected with 10 μL Aβ25-35 in the unilateral ventricle to create the model. After 3 days of molding, CGA100 group (gavage of CGA at a dose of 150 mg/kg/d) and CGA150 group (gavage of CGA at a dose of 150 mg/kg/d) were given CGA for 6 weeks. Morris water maze test, Nissl staining test, and western blot test were used.

Results:

CGA reduced the escape latency of Aβ25-35-induced early AD rats, shortened the swimming distance, and extended the activity time of the target quadrant. CGA increased the number of Nissl, decreased the expression of inflammatory factors, decreased the expression levels of GSK-3β, GFAP, and tau, and increased the expression levels of DVL2 and β-catenin.

Conclusions:

CGA can protect the cognitive impairment of early AD rats via Wnt signaling pathway.
Epidermal growth factor dampens pro-inflammatory gene expression induced by interferon-gamma in global transcriptome analysis of keratinocytes
Authors: Gibbs David C. , McCrary Myles R. , Moreno Carlos S. , Seldin Lindsey , Li Chaoran , Kamili Nourine A. H. , Pollack Brian P.
Published: February 2025

Background

Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) are used to treat certain cancers but frequently cause cutaneous inflammation that can hinder treatment. This is due in part to the effects of EGFRIs on pro-inflammatory signaling by interferon-γ (IFN-γ). However, the impact of EGFR ligands (i.e. EGF) on interferon signaling is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of EGF on IFN-γ transcriptional responses on a genome-wide scale in keratinocytes.

Methods

RNA-seq was performed in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells treated with IFN-γ, EGF, both, or neither (control). Differentially expressed genes in each treatment group, relative to control, were identified using DESeq2 with a false discovery rate (FDR) threshold of 0.01. Associated biologic processes and gene pathways were examined in gene-set enrichment analyses. Correlations between gene expression were investigated in vivo using RNA-seq data from biopsies of psoriatic and matched normal skin, which were collected from 116 individuals with psoriasis enrolled in the AMAGINE randomized clinical trials.

Results

Of the 2,792 differentially expressed genes following IFN-γ treatment, 2,083 (75%) were no longer differentially expressed when EGF was added. IFN-γ-induced genes with significantly lower expression in the presence of EGF included CXCL10, IL-6, IL-1 A, HLA-DMA, and GBP5 (activator of the NLRP3 inflammasome); the top enriched biologic processes and pathways were related to MHC-class II antigen presentation (GO:0019886) and cytokine signaling (KEGG:04060). Consistent with our in vitro findings, the expression of CXCL10 and GBP5, as well as the combined expression z-scores of genes in the enriched MHC-class II and cytokine signaling pathways, were significantly lower in skin biopsies with higher EGF expression compared to those with lower EGF expression among individuals with psoriasis.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the pro-inflammatory IFN-γ-induced transcriptome may be globally attenuated by EGF in keratinocytes, supporting an immunomodulatory role of EGF in the skin. These studies provide insights for the non-canonical immunomodulatory role of EGF signaling and why blocking EGFR signaling (e.g., with EGFRIs) can cause cutaneous inflammation.
Optimization of citrulline production from a Bacillus subtilis BH-01 isolated from raw buffalo milk
Authors: Mansour Marwa A. K. , Ali Salah G. , Hassan Manal A. M. , Gabra Fify A. , Mawad Asmaa M. M.
Published: February 2025

The main purpose of this study was to optimize the L-citrulline production process using Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken designs. L-citrulline-producing bacterium BH-01 was isolated from raw buffalo milk. The isolate was tested for probiotic activities such as tolerance to simulated gastric and intestinal juices, antagonistic activity against six antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and temperature tolerance. L-citrulline production and arginine deiminase (ADI) activity were optimized using statistical designs. The bacterial isolate was molecularly identified as Bacillus subtilis strain AUMC B-498 (accession number PP574248.1). The strain exhibited resistance at pH 2.0 and bile salt 0.5% for a two-hour exposure period. It could inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Serratia sp., Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Streptococcus pneumoniae. From the results of statistical optimization, the Plackett-Burman design identified temperature, L-arginine, incubation period, and peptone as the most effective factors among the eight selected variables. Based on these, the Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the factors required to maximize citrulline production. The maximum L-citrulline was 632.5 µg/L, and ADI activity was 1.42 U/mL. Therefore, BH-01 isolated from Buffalo milk might be a promising candidate in food, biotechnological, and pharmaceutical applications due to its dual functionality for citrulline production and probiotic characteristics.
Radiotherapy plus a self-gelation powder encapsulating tRF5-GlyGCC inhibitor potentiates natural kill cell immunity to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence
Authors: Gong Yihang , Zeng Fanxin , Zhang Feng , Liu Xiaoquan , Li Zhongheng , Chen Wenjie , Liu Haipeng , Li Xin , Cheng Yusheng , Zhang Jian , Feng Yeqian , Wu Tiangen , Zhou Wence , Zhang Tong
Published: February 2025

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence postresection represents a thorny problem in clinical practice, of which impaired natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity represents one of crucial causes. Apart from recurrence, hepatectomy-induced abdominal adhesion also poses huge clinical challenges such as abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and perforation. Evidence demonstrates that radiotherapy can upregulate NK group 2D ligand expression on tumor cells to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity, indicating its great potential of curbing HCC recurrence. Nevertheless, radiotherapy has also been disclosed to incur suppression on NK antitumor cell immunity. Herein, we reveal that glycocholic acid (GCA)/tRNA-derived fragment 5 (tRF5)-GlyGCC signaling axis is activated in mouse HCC model after radiotherapy, which dampens NK cell antitumor immunity to limit therapeutic efficacy. Mechanistically, tRF5-GlyGCC can interact with KDM6B to epigenetically upregulate Runx2 and then transcriptionally activate ITGBL1 and S100A9 expression in HCC cells, which further reduces NK cell cytotoxicity directly and attracts myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) to inhibit NK cell function indirectly, respectively. Therefore, radiotherapy plus targeting tRF5-GlyGCC may be an optimized postoperative adjuvant therapy against HCC recurrence. Then, a nanocomposite powder is designed for liver-localized delivery of tRF5-GlyGCC inhibitor. After sprayed to liver resection margin of mouse HCC model, this powder can rapidly form an in-situ Janus-adhesive hydrogel, which allows for sustained delivery of tRF5-GlyGCC inhibitor. Importantly, it can synergize with radiotherapy to potentiate NK cell antitumor immunity and prevent HCC recurrence postresection. Moreover, its application to surgical bed also effectively mitigates abdominal adhesion in a rat hepatectomy model. Altogether, our work develops a tRF5-GlyGCC-targeting nanocomposite power for sensitizing radiotherapy to thwart HCC recurrence and preventing abdominal adhesion.

Graphical Abstract