bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The VA Million Veteran Program, Alzheimer's disease, and genetics: Important steps forward but many steps still to go on the march to control dementia and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Ashford J Wesson
Published: January 2025

The VA Million Veteran Program (MVP) is a nationwide initiative that seeks to examine how genes influence health and behaviors in military veterans. An article by Merritt et al. analyzing data from the MVP, developing and testing algorithms to query dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnoses from the VA's electronic health record system and examining genetic factors, provides an extraordinarily important contribution to the dementia and AD fields. The analyses presented in the article show how large databases can be used to further understand dementia and AD, pointing the way for many more important advances for this field.
The use of outpatient support services: Differences between people with mild cognitive impairment and people with mild to moderate dementia
Authors: Keefer Anne , Dietzel Nikolas , Kolominsky-Rabas Peter L , Graessel Elmar
Published: January 2025

Background

Little is known about the utilization of outpatient support services by people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the use of support services by people with MCI compared to people with mild to moderate dementia.

Methods

The data basis is the multicenter, prospective register study ‘Digital Dementia Register Bavaria – digiDEM Bayern’. The sample consists of 913 people with cognitive impairment, including 389 with MCI and 524 with mild to moderate dementia. Classification into ‘MCI’ and ‘mild to moderate dementia’ is based on the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The use of support services was surveyed using the Dementia Assessment of Service Needs. Fisher’s exact test and multiple linear regression were conducted to analyze for group differences.

Results

Four out of thirteen support services are used less frequently by people with MCI than by people with mild to moderate dementia: ‘Outpatient care’ ( p < 0.001, φ = −0.199), ‘Acquisition of aids’ ( p = 0.004, φ = −0.096), ‘Adult daycare’ ( p < 0.001, φ = −0.290), and ‘Respite care’ ( p = 0.029, φ = −0.095). Even the overall utilization rate is lower for people with MCI (b = −0.18, p = 0.027), although other factors such as a care level (b = 1.01, p < 0.001) are more strongly related.

Conclusions

There are differences in utilization between people with MCI and people with mild to moderate dementia, but these are small. Therefore, access to support services should be provided at the first signs of cognitive impairment.
Targeting SPI1 to mitigate amyloid-β pathology in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Shao Jie , Youngblood Hannah , Yang Luodan
Published: January 2025

SPI1, a transcription factor implicated in myeloid cell development, has emerged as a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent in vivo studies reveal that Spi1 knockdown in mice exacerbates AD pathology by increasing amyloid-β aggregation and gliosis while Spi1 overexpression ameliorates these features. Transcriptomic analyses suggest that Spi1 regulates microglial immune response, complement activation, and phagocytosis. SPI1 regulation of these processes may explain how SPI1 affects AD risk. Further studies, including human validation, are needed to explore the dynamic influence of SPI1 across AD stages, its applicability to clinical settings, and its potential as a therapeutic target.
Identifying protected health information by transformers-based deep learning approach in Chinese medical text
Authors: Xu Kun , Song Yang , Ma Jingdong
Published: January 2025

Purpose: In the context of Chinese clinical texts, this paper aims to propose a deep learning algorithm based on Bidirectional Encoder Representation from Transformers (BERT) to identify privacy information and to verify the feasibility of our method for privacy protection in the Chinese clinical context. Methods: We collected and double-annotated 33,017 discharge summaries from 151 medical institutions on a municipal regional health information platform, developed a BERT-based Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Model (BiLSTM) and Conditional Random Field (CRF) model, and tested the performance of privacy identification on the dataset. To explore the performance of different substructures of the neural network, we created five additional baseline models and evaluated the impact of different models on performance. Results: Based on the annotated data, the BERT model pre-trained with the medical corpus showed a significant performance improvement to the BiLSTM-CRF model with a micro-recall of 0.979 and an F1 value of 0.976, which indicates that the model has promising performance in identifying private information in Chinese clinical texts. Conclusions: The BERT-based BiLSTM-CRF model excels in identifying privacy information in Chinese clinical texts, and the application of this model is very effective in protecting patient privacy and facilitating data sharing.
Nonlinear bond graph model for investigating the effects of seat belt parameters on injury risk of the passenger
Authors: Khalouei Amirhossein , Jalili Mohammad Mahdi
Published: January 2025

Severe braking is one of the major causes of damage to the vehicle occupant. In this article, the effect of seat belt on injury risk of the passenger during severe braking is investigated and optimized seat belt parameters based on different injury criteria is determined. A nonlinear bond graph model representing the dynamic behaviors of the vehicle, occupant and seat belt is developed. Considering the developed bond graph model, the state differential equations of the system are derived. Solving the governing equation, effect of initial velocities and braking torques of the vehicle and stiffness and damping of the seat belt on the system responses is obtained. Head injury criterion, neck injury criterion, and thorax injury criterion are used to evaluate the effects of seat belt parameters on injury risk of the vehicle passenger. According to these criteria and weighted injury criterion developed in this article, the seat belt optimized stiffness and damping are determined to minimize the occupant injury risk. The optimization results show that minimum injury for all criteria indexes is happened in the same stiffness and damping amount has crucial role on decreasing the risk of injury.
Action research at the BBC: Interrogating artificial intelligence with journalists to generate actionable insights for the newsroom
Authors: Jones Bronwyn , Jones Rhianne
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we provide reflections from an embedded action research project undertaken at the UK’s largest public service broadcaster, the BBC, over a three-year period. It was aimed at eliciting research insights about the role and understanding of AI in news production and also intervening to engender change in the newsroom. We surface the messy realities of conducting this work, including the challenges to funding such long-term and resource-intensive research and the difficulties of measuring impacts. We include practical guidance to demystify the process of action-oriented research that strives for targeted change in news contexts, highlighting the need for researchers to cost in time for translational work and the importance of having ‘critical friends’ to hold them to account. Ultimately, we emphasise the value of action research in journalism studies and particularly at the nexus of news and technology. We argue for approaches that retain a critical perspective whilst closing the gap between theory, critique, and practice.
Reporting client-initiated threats and violence in home care services
Authors: Shanks Emelie
Published: January 2025

Home care workers often work alone and are geographically distant from colleagues, managers, and security services, placing them at a high risk for client-initiated violence. Studies have shown that home care workers are subjected to significant degrees of such violence, yet there is an indication of underreporting. Based on 25 individual and group interviews with 79 staff from various types of home care services in Sweden this study aims to enhance our understanding of why home care workers choose to report or not report violence.

Findings

Using a theoretical lens of emotional labor, the findings reveal that, in the face of violence, workers manage their emotions in accordance with organizational and professional norms. This contributes to and perpetuates a view of client-initiated violence as something that workers should endure, manage, and prevent, rather than acknowledge and report. In the long run, this idea shifts the focus away from the organization and its responsibilities, redirecting it toward the individual worker.

Applications

As the findings suggest that violence is often minimized and normalized, finding a common definition of client-initiated violence in the organization could relieve workers from having to define and, at worst, reinterpret violent incidents. Furthermore, norms contributing to an understanding of violence as a professional failure should be addressed. Organizations and cultures that facilitate swift reporting, provide organizational support and work against the stigmatization of those who report are likely to create safer and better work situations for their home care workers.
Setting the scene in Europe: Emerging national and transnational social policy responses to climate change
Authors: Waltrup Robin Schulze , Gengnagel Vincent , Zimmermann Katharina , Kaasch Alexandra
Published: January 2025

This editorial argues for the importance of examining European social policy-making in relation to climate change from a global social policy perspective. It highlights that climate change significantly impacts social policy, both in cushioning its negative effects and in recognising how traditional welfare state models have contributed to ecological crises with severe inequalities between countries. The European Union, with its relatively advanced social policy integration and its historical responsibility in the transgression of planetary boundaries, plays a crucial role in responding to climate change and has the potential to position its eco-social policy model as a global exemplar, which is critically examined in this issue. The special issue covers a range of topics, from conceptual advancements to both qualitative and quantitative analyses, across national and supranational levels of European social policy-making with respect to climate change. The articles suggest that social policy primarily functions adaptively as a mechanism to lessen the adverse social effects of climate change (mitigation), including industrial transitions, rather than being applied in a transformative way that would mitigate climate change escalation in the first place.
Analysing gender fluidity representation in perfume bottles with heterosexual matrix theory
Authors: Zhu Wentao , Bao Xinyin
Published: January 2025

Perfume bottles represent the gender identity associated with perfume, reflecting the transition in gender construction from binary to fluid in contemporary society. From the perspective of Butler’s heterosexual matrix theory ( Gender Trouble, 1990), this study examines the representation of the binary gender system and gender fluidity in perfume bottles by combining quantitative and qualitative analyses. The findings indicate that, generally, the visual representation of perfume bottles fundamentally follows the binary gender system. The bottles of women’s and men’s fragrances differ significantly in colour and shape, reflecting heterosexual relationships in metaphor/metonymy and text. Unisex fragrances basically adopt a masculine visual style. In addition, a small yet increasing number of perfume bottles represent gender fluidity in two aspects. On the one hand, perfume bottles have emerged as vehicles of female subjectivity, objectification of men and gender diversity. By changing the representation of sex, gender and desire, perfume bottles transcend traditional gender construction. On the other hand, the gender representation of perfume bottles has gradually become more diverse and fluid over time.
An analysis of trends, challenges, and opportunities in retail analytics
Authors: Velásquez Juan D
Published: January 2025

Retail analytics has become a cornerstone of modern retail strategy, fueled by rapid technological innovations and the digital transformation of traditional retail environments. This paper reviews 563 documents indexed in Scopus, critically evaluating current trends and emerging challenges in retail analytics. The analysis is structured around four key dimensions: artificial intelligence and machine learning, big data and data analytics, data-driven retail, and data-driven decision-making. By synthesizing the literature, this study identifies strategic opportunities and future research directions essential for leveraging retail analytics to enhance customer experience, optimize operations, and sustain competitive advantage in physical and digital retail landscapes. The findings aim to guide researchers, data scientists, and industry professionals in addressing practical and theoretical challenges in this evolving field.
Graph-structured variable selection with Gaussian Markov random field horseshoe prior
Authors: Denis Marie , Tadesse Mahlet G.
Published: January 2025

A graph structure is commonly used to characterize the dependence between variables, which may be induced by time, space, biological networks or other factors. Incorporating this dependence structure into the variable selection procedure can improve the identification of relevant variables, especially those with subtle effects. The Bayesian approach provides a natural framework to integrate this information through the prior distributions. In this work, we propose combining two priors that have been well studied separately-the Gaussian Markov random field prior and the horseshoe prior-to perform selection on graph-structured variables. Local shrinkage parameters that capture the dependence between connected covariates are specified to encourage similar amount of shrinkage for their regression coefficients, while a standard horseshoe prior is used for non-connected variables. After evaluating the performance of the method on different simulated scenarios, we present three applications: one in quantitative trait loci mapping with block sequential structure, one in near-infrared spectroscopy with sequential non-disjoint dependence and another in gene expression study with a general dependence structure.
Access to higher education during COVID-19: First-generation students in Austria
Authors: Mandl Sylvia , Haag Nora
Published: January 2025

In Austria, educational upward mobility remains particularly low compared to other European countries, partly due to the prevalence of early tracking. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe economic crisis, and numerous measures were applied on the national labour market and in the higher education sector to counteract the negative consequences. In this paper we analyse how existing inequalities in access to higher education for first-generation students (i.e. students with parents without a tertiary degree) have developed in course of the pandemic, drawing on the unique pool of longitudinal register data collected for all Austrian students. We find that in the first year of the pandemic (2020/21), there is a clear peak in the number of students entering higher education in Austria. However, as this increase is mainly due to students with a tertiary family background, the share of first-generation students continued to decrease during this period. It shows that despite the disruptive effects of the pandemic and new labour market and higher education policies, the enduring downward trend in both the total number and the proportion of first-generation students has not been reversed.
Transparent politics: Political ideology, lobbying and firm performance
Authors: Ingram Amy E , Ridge Jason W , Abdurakhmonov Mirzokhidjon
Published: January 2025

This study juxtaposes agency theoretic concepts with the stakeholder management and political marketplace perspectives to explore how corporate political transparency alters the targeting of corporate political activity expenditures and the performance benefits of corporate political activity to the firm. We examine the alignment of CEO political ideology and political action campaign expenditures, showcasing they are a potential agency cost to the firm and stakeholders. Next, we hypothesize that corporate political transparency reduces this alignment. We then explore how corporate political transparency helps firms accrue value from lobbying expenditures by showcasing that firms elicit greater firm performance from lobbying expenditures at higher levels of corporate political transparency. As such, we demonstrate that agency costs at least partially influence the relationship between corporate political activity and firm performance and that corporate political transparency is critical to reducing it. Thus, corporate political transparency provides some benefits and has practical applications for firm performance.
Effect of post-heat treatments on the corrosion behaviour of additive manufactured M300 maraging steel
Authors: Anoop Sasidharan , Dineshraj Subburaj , Yerrinaidu Lagudu , Venugopal Arjunan
Published: January 2025

M300 maraging steel, with its exceptionally high strength, toughness and weldability, is widely employed in critical applications of space industry. In the present study, M300 alloy has been fabricated using laser powder bed fusion method and the effect of different post-heat treatments and build orientation on the corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance have been examined using electrochemical polarisation and slow strain rate test methods. The results in general indicate that the fabricated alloy in the as-received condition exhibits fibrous texture in the 〈001〉 direction when compared to XY orientation. The microstructural heterogeneities have been partially improved after solution treatment and aging (STA) and significantly improved after hot isostatic processing (HIP) treatment at high temperature and pressure. As a result of this, the corrosion and SCC resistance of the alloy greatly improved wherein the SCC index value of the alloy was found to be 0.88 when compared to STA condition (0.52). With respect to the build orientation, corrosion resistance of XZ plane is high when compared to XY plane, which can be attributed to microstructural variations. In spite of the high SCC index of the alloy in the HIP condition, the alloy exhibits predominantly intergranular cracking morphology revealing that SCC problem could not be eliminated completely in M300 alloy. However, the high KISCC values of the alloy in HIP condition clearly reveal the improved SCC resistance, which was shown to be due to reduction in pores, texture and improved austenite content of the alloy.
MR-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy in Localized Prostate Cancer
Authors: Allegra Andrea Gaetano , Nicosia Luca , Rigo Michele , Bianchi Nicola , Borgese Riccardo Filippo , De Simone Antonio , Giaj-Levra Niccolò , Gurrera Davide , Naccarato Stefania , Pastorello Edoardo , Ricchetti Francesco , Sicignano Gianluisa , Ruggieri Ruggero , Alongi Filippo
Published: January 2025

MR-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) is novel treatment modality in Radiation Oncology that could allow a higher precision and tolerability of Radiation Treatments. This modality is possible due to dedicated systems consisting of a MR scanner mounted on a conventional linac and software that permit daily online treatment plan adaptation. Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignancies in RO clinical practice and currently under investigation with this new technology. The focus of this review is to describe the current state of the art and clinical results of MRgRT in the treatment of PC. The available technology are briefly described, as well as the published literature and possible future applications
Shedding Light on the Prognostic and Predictive Value of Circulating Tumor DNA for Management of Patients with Early-Stage Colon Cancer
Authors: Yanes Rami , Saridogan Turcin , Gorantla Vikram , Overacre Abigail , Hsieh Ronan W. , Celebrezze James , Magge Tara , Singhi Meghana , Saeed Anwaar , Zureikat Amer H. , Dasari Arvind N. , Sahin Ibrahim Halil
Published: January 2025

The management of early-stage colon cancer involves surgical resection of the primary tumor with or without chemotherapy, depending on pathological staging. The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II and III colon cancer is approximately 5% and 15%, indicating the need for optimization for risk stratification and patient selection. Several studies have revealed that current clinicopathological factors lack precision. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is cell-free DNA originating from cancer cells and can be detected even in the absence of radiologically detectable disease among patients with colon cancer. Recent cohort studies revealed that ctDNA is one of the most significant prognostic factors for patients with early-stage colon cancer, surpassing pathological and clinical risk factors. Prospective cohort studies also suggest there may be a predictive role for ctDNA on the decision for consideration of adjuvant therapy. Currently, randomized clinical trials are enrolling to better define this role. In this review article, we review recent literature on ctDNA and its role in patients with colon cancer. We also elaborate on the future clinical utility of ctDNA in clinical practice and the unmet need for research to optimize currently available ctDNA assays.
“Muslim–Muslim Ticket,” Christian–Muslim Relations and Peacebuilding and Development in Nigeria: A Reflection on Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential Elections
Authors: Owonikoko Saheed Babajide
Published: January 2025

This study examines the reactions of the Christian community in Nigeria to the “Muslim–Muslim ticket” of the ruling All Progressive Congress in the 2023 general elections, the context of their reactions, and their implications for interreligious relations, as well as peacebuilding and development in Nigeria. Using both primary and secondary data, it was found that the Christian community perceived the “Muslim–Muslim ticket” of the All Progressives Congress as a strategy to Islamise Nigeria and exclude them from the governance of Nigeria. This deepened a religious voting pattern during the elections and deteriorated the fragile Christian–Muslim relations in Nigeria. The voting pattern also prevented thorough engagement between the electorate and politicians seeking votes. Thus, the article argues that the “Muslim–Muslim ticket” and the reaction of the Christian community will not only affect peacebuilding but also the development of the Nigerian State. It recommends programmatic response to rebuilding the Christian–Muslim relationship in Nigeria.
When Banned Books and Critical Race Come to Town
Authors: Love Ebony , Lindo Endia J.
Published: January 2025

School and district leaders often face a politically charged environment. The past few years have heightened the unusual community sentiment on social media, newsletters, board meetings, and other public venues, especially around issues such as “Critical Race Theory.” Superintendents in Texas have been charged with considering book banning which led to the closing of classroom libraries and massive book removals in several independent school districts. In this case study, we examine how educational leadership, parental authority, professional standards for teachers, and accountability relate to social justice and the complex choices superintendents face when trying to do best by their students and their communities.
Exploring Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Personal and Environmental Factors With the Use of a Campus Fitness Center
Authors: Engel Alex Reese , Rathwell Scott , Paige Pope Jacquelyn
Published: January 2025

University is a crucial period for developing lasting physical activity (PA) behaviors. The purpose of this study was to (a) explore differences in the strength and direction of the relationship between personal and environmental factors with one's use of a campus recreational facility (CRF) and the seven zones within it, and (b) test whether these relationships were influenced by gender. To test this, 648 university students provided responses to an online survey including CRF use, personal factors, and environmental factors. Eight path analyses were run with use of the CRF and the seven zones assigned as the eight dependent variables (one DV/analysis), gender as the moderator, and personal and environmental factors as the independent variables. An individuals’ task self-efficacy was the strongest factor ( β = .16–.43; p < .05) related to use within each corresponding zone. Additionally, gender moderated several relationships between personal and environmental factors with use of the CRF and the distinct zones.
Provider Lifestyle Counseling Among Adults With Cardiometabolic Disease Diagnosis Differs by Sociodemographic Characteristics and Lifestyle Modification: NHANES 2017-2020
Authors: Agbonlahor Osayande , Gamble Abigail , Compretta Caroline , Mann Joshua R. , Bidwell Josie , Williams Brian D.
Published: January 2025

Background

Provider lifestyle counseling is important for improving lifestyles and cardiometabolic disease (CMD) prognosis. However, an examination of the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle modification and provider lifestyle counseling receipt among adults with CMD is scarce. The study examined the prevalence and associations of lifestyle modification and sociodemographic characteristics with provider lifestyle counseling among adults with CMD diagnosis.

Methods

We used cross-sectional data from 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 4847). Provider lifestyle counseling (i.e., advice to control/lose weight, exercise, reduce salt, and reduce fat/calories), and lifestyle modification (yes or no) were assessed. Adjusted odds ratios were evaluated using logistic regression models.

Results

Among the sample of adults with CMD, 44.6% received advice to lose weight, 56.1% to exercise, 36.1% to reduce salt, and 43.9% to reduce fat/calories. Adults who made lifestyle modifications had higher odds of receiving advice to lose weight (OR: 1.81), exercise (OR: 1.95), reduce salt (OR: 2.23) and reduce calories (OR: 2.66). Age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and insurance were associated with provider lifestyle counseling.

Conclusion

Provider lifestyle counseling is generally suboptimal among U.S. adults with lifetime diagnosis of CMD, and the odds of counseling receipt differ by sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle modification. CMD control should involve training providers to increase lifestyle counseling.
Development of Interactional Competence in a Virtual Exchange Setting: Focus on Diversification of Participatory Actions
Authors: Ekin Semih
Published: January 2025

Virtual exchange (VE) projects create environments providing VE participants with L2 development opportunities. This study examines the affordances of VEs with a particular emphasis on how participants find opportunities for developing their interactional competences in video-mediated environments. The data comes from a VE Project organized among three universities based in Germany, Türkiye and Sweden. During the project timeline, the participants worked in teams through weekly meetings. The data comprises screen-recordings of video-mediated team exchange meetings and written final reflection papers. The screen-recorded data was analyzed via longitudinal Conversation Analysis (CA), while the reflection papers were examined to identify potential developmental phenomena. That is, one student claiming to have improved her interactional competence in the final reflection paper was identified as the focal participant. Retrospective tracking of this student’s entire video-mediated interactional history with her team-members during the VE project (8 hours across 3 months) revealed a diversification of her participatory actions over time manifested through changes in her involvement (i.e., becoming increasingly active) in the team interaction. Initially, she participated minimally with embodied or short responses solicited by the others, and remained mostly silent. However, in subsequent team exchanges, she not only displayed unsolicited contributions by elaborating and topic-shifting but also took an active role in the VE team meetings by opening tasks/conversations, sharing her stance towards various task-related proposals, and using mitigated disagreement practices for problem-solving about the collaborative team-product. Using longitudinal CA, this study brings evidence for a VE participant’s interactional competence development in terms of participatory actions during turn-entry moments in video-mediated interaction, through which she became a more active participant in the teamwork. By providing instances to document this change in her participatory actions, the study discusses to what extent VE settings can contribute to a participant’s L2 interactional competence.
Reporting on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of pharmacists regarding the active offer of French language health services in Ontario: A quantitative survey study
Authors: Timony Patrick , Leone Arielle , Caron Carolanne , Giguère Pierre , Thabet Pierre , Gauthier Alain , Waite Nancy M. , Landry Christine
Published: January 2025

Background:

Patient–provider language discordances can negatively affect the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality (AAAQ) of pharmacy services as described by the AAAQ framework. With nearly 600,000 residents of Ontario identifying French as their mother tongue, the active offer (AO) of French language pharmacy services should be provided, yet little is known about pharmacists’ familiarity and use of AO.

Methods:

Ontario pharmacists completed an online survey measuring their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours (KAB) regarding the AO for French language services (FLS). Demographics, including ability to converse in French, were collected. KAB AO scores were calculated and compared using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results:

A total of 360 pharmacists completed the survey. The majority (65.1%) practiced in a primary care setting, 21.1% spoke French, and 71.8% lived in an area where less than 10% of the population were Francophone. Overall, AO scores were highest for attitude (3.8/5) and lowest for behaviours (2/5) and knowledge (1.8/5). Most pharmacists (62.8%) indicated an interest in AO training.

Discussion:

Gaps in KAB regarding AO for FLS by Ontario pharmacists resemble those observed throughout the health care system. Further training is suggested to address the lack of knowledge regarding AO, particularly its proactive nature, as well as strategies for its implementation.

Conclusion:

Although most participating pharmacists demonstrated gaps in AO knowledge and behaviour, many had favourable attitudes toward the importance of AO in the pharmacy setting and agreed that further training would be needed to improve their KAB. Further, the AO can address all 4 elements of the AAAQ framework.
The effects of increased thermal insulation in timbre-framed external walls with a thin gypsum board as a wind barrier
Authors: Hietikko Jaakko , Tuominen Eero , Valovirta Ilkka , Vinha Juha
Published: January 2025

Climate change and the need for energy savings challenge the hygrothermal performance of timbre-framed wall structures in cold climates. The future climate conditions will be more suitable for mould growth than the present, and the attempts to save heating energy involve the use of very effective thermal insulation. Hence, the hygrothermal performance of the outer parts of exterior walls must be studied and effective measures must be introduced to prevent mould growth. In this study, four timbre-framed exterior wall constructions were studied. All the walls were equipped with a gypsum board wind barrier having a minimal thermal resistance. Insulation thicknesses of 150 and 300 mm, demonstrating a moderate and a very effective levels of thermal insulation, were compared. Wooden cladding and brick veneer were compared as façade materials. Thickness of thermal insulation was the dominant parameter in this study. Although even the walls with 300 mm thermal insulation performed decently in the study, they might become problematic in the future. A wind barrier with a noticeable thermal resistance or the use of a thermal insulation layer outside the gypsum board wind barrier would obviously improve the performance of the studied walls.
Interventions and measures of social inclusion for students with extensive support needs in K-12 schools: A scoping review
Authors: Sundar Savitha , Bowyer Patricia , Vas Asha , Laverdure Patricia , Cox Elaine
Published: January 2025

This scoping review explores (a) how k-12 schools facilitate social inclusion, specifically for students with extensive support needs (ESN) and (b) how those intervention approaches are measured. Given the cross-disciplinary nature of the topic, the search entailed ten different databases that identified 540 articles. Eight articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The approaches used to facilitate social inclusion for students with ESN are summarized as those that involve (a) comprehensive multi-level interventions, (b) peer-mediated interventions, and (c) collaborative consultation and planning with teachers. The scoping review identified three primary constructs that assess social inclusion, namely, social interactions, participation (academic and social), and social validity of the interventions used. The scoping review underscores the complexity of the concept of social inclusion and poses a challenge to identify a unifying measure of social inclusion for students with ESN.
Interest in digital health tools for miscarriage support: A qualitative assessment of Canadian women facing early pregnancy loss
Authors: Flynn Breanna , Sergeant Anjali , Tam Genevieve , Gomes Megan , Gill Roopan
Published: January 2025

Background:

Early pregnancy loss (EPL) occurs in 10%–15% of all pregnancies but remains an underrecognized and undertreated condition. In Canada, resources to support individuals and their partners facing EPL remain scarce despite a high burden of psychosocial sequelae. Digital health tools hold the potential to fill important gaps in reproductive healthcare.

Objectives:

We sought to better understand the perspectives of individuals who experienced pregnancy loss and explore how digital health tools could offer support.

Design:

We conducted a qualitative study with grounded theory methodology to address our objectives.

Methods:

The study was conducted between September 2021 and April 2022 in Ottawa, Canada. Participants between 18 and 45 years of age who resided in Canada and experienced EPL up to 12 + 6 week gestation within the last 2 years were included. Enrolled participants who provided informed consent completed a single in-depth interview. Data were analyzed iteratively by two trained research team members with thematic techniques supported by NVivo software.

Results:

Interviews were conducted with 14 participants who had experienced EPL. All participants identified as female and resided in Canada, with 28.6% ( n = 4) between 26 and 30 years of age, and the remaining 71.4% ( n = 10) between 31 and 40. Qualitative analysis identified three primary themes centered around participants’ experiences of miscarriage, access to information and support for EPL in Canada, and desires and preferences for a digital miscarriage tool.

Conclusion:

Miscarriage is an emotionally difficult experience for women and their loved ones, who often do not receive timely and compassionate care within the healthcare system. Participants were highly motivated to co-develop a digital intervention for EPL that is designed to fill gaps in care. The digital companion would assist individuals through their miscarriage journey by providing evidence-based and locally relevant medical information as well as avenues to access both professional and informal forms of psychosocial support.
Potent in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity of novel ciprofloxacin–silver complex
Authors: Khan Mausin , Saleem Shakir , Khan Ruqaiyah , Altwaijry Najla , Sultan Ahlam Mansour
Published: January 2025

The development of novel antimicrobial agents is crucial in addressing antibiotic resistance. Combining ciprofloxacin with silver could potentially enhance antibacterial and antifungal properties, addressing current limitations in antimicrobial therapies. The study aimed to synthesize a ciprofloxacin–silver complex and subsequently evaluate its antibacterial and antifungal properties through in vitro assessments. The Schiff base of ciprofloxacin was synthesized by reacting methanolic ciprofloxacin (0.03 mol; 9.9 g) with o-toluidine (0.03 mol; 3.2 mL) in glacial acetic acid. The new compound was characterized using 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy and in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity was studied. IR spectra of metal complexes revealed a significant shift in C=O absorption (1708–1692 cm−1), indicating complex molecular interactions. 1H NMR analysis of the Schiff base and its silver complex in DMSO-d6 showed the absence of the ligand’s –OH proton peak at 15.08 δ, suggesting oxygen atom involvement in complex formation. In vitro antimicrobial assessments demonstrated L1A’s enhanced antibacterial and antifungal efficacy compared to the ligand (L1) and ciprofloxacin, which may be attributed to synergistic metal complexation and increased lipophilicity. These findings suggest that the ciprofloxacin–silver complex represents a promising candidate for developing next-generation antimicrobial agents, potentially offering a new strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.
The cardiovascular response to international Olympic class windsurfing competition
Authors: Anastasiou Alex , Jones Thomas , Mullan Paul , Ross Emma , Howatson Glyn
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to quantify the cardiovascular demands of the two predominant techniques within international Olympic windsurf competition. Three male (23 ± 3 y, 73.0 ± 1.4 kg, 181.3 ± 5.3 cm) and 3 female (26 ± 9, 60.1 ± 1.7 kg, 169.8 ± 3.2 cm) elite windsurfers competing at two international regattas were recruited. Windsurfers wore a heart rate (HR) monitor, whilst global positioning system data was gathered from an online website (SAP® Analytics). Races were categorised as either pumping or planing. Both average (88 ± 3 vs. 83 ± 4%) and peak (95 ± 2 vs. 91 ± 4%) HR was higher ( P < 0.001) in pumping. Furthermore, the time spent in zone 5 was greater (44 ± 27 vs. 9 ± 11%, P < 0.001) in pumping. Furthermore, planing covered more distance (+ 4875 m, P < 0.001) at greater speeds (+ 9.3 knots, P < 0.001). Whilst pumping resulted in longer race times (+ 07:56 mm:ss, P < 0.001). These findings support the optimisation of training prescription and development of performance testing for Olympic windsurfers. Furthermore, the study design has demonstrated a practical approach to understanding the cardiovascular demands across different Olympic sailing classes.
Taming the Tomboy: Girl Actresses as Prince Arthur in King John (1842–52)
Authors: LaGrand Alexandra E.
Published: January 2025

This essay considers Miss Newcombe's and Kate Terry's genderfluid performances as Prince Arthur in William Shakespeare's King John in 1842 and 1852 as manifestations of staged tomboyism, or childhood female masculinity performed theatrically onstage. Employing Jack Halberstam's study of tomboyism and Judith Butler's theories of gender performativity and social construction of sex, I argue that child actresses Newcombe and Terry performed genderfluid tomboyism in their respective productions, but that such tomboyism was ultimately tamed through the editing of their character's speech. This is revealed through a reading of Charles Kean's production prompt book that shows Arthur's speech was edited to diminish masculine language and augment feminine language. Such editing suggests larger efforts to characterise the role of Arthur as feminine in order to prohibit unrestrained tomboyism onstage and preserve the ideals of gender politics and Victorian girlhood offstage.
Pulmonary embolism following bilateral quadriceps tendon repair with unilateral tourniquet use: A case report
Authors: Cedeño-Rodriguez Francis X , Hess Arcelay Hans W , Acosta Julbe José I , Varas-Rodríguez Emil , Cruz Jerry , Otero Francisco , Cintron Kenneth , Girod Julian
Published: January 2025

Case:

An active healthy 68-year-old male sustained a bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture while running. He underwent a simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon repair in a dual-surgeon approach. The right quadriceps tendon was repaired with a tourniquet, while the left quadriceps tendon tear was repaired without one. Postoperatively, the patient developed deep vein thrombosis in the right leg, which led to a bilateral pulmonary embolism. This case illustrates a potential complication of tourniquet use in patients undergoing quadriceps tendon repairs.

Conclusion:

The use of tourniquets in orthopaedic surgeries may be associated with potential risks, such as development of venous thromboembolism including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This case highlights the importance of carefully considering tourniquet use for quadriceps tendon repairs and close postoperative monitoring, early mobility, and thromboprophylaxis to prevent severe complications.
Effect of different doses of oral olanzapine to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic surgery in high-risk patients: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Abdel-Wahab Amani H , Abo Elfad Ghada M , Aboelfadl Ahmed Mohamed , Bahloul Mustafa , Abdel Rady Marwa Mahmoud
Published: January 2025

Background:

We conducted this study to compare the efficacy of oral 10 and 5 mg olanzapine for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Methods:

Notably, 135 female patients between the ages of 18 and 50 years, classed as American Society of Anaesthesiologists I and II, who underwent elective laparoscopic gynaecological surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly assigned to one of three groups (45 each) to receive perioperative 5 or 10 mg oral olanzapine (OL5 and OL10 groups), or a placebo (in the control group). Postoperation, we recorded the occurrence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting within 24 h, the number of patients who received antiemetics and any associated side effects.

Results:

Postoperative nausea was more prevalent in the control group (23 patients) than in OL5 and OL10 groups (13 and three patients, respectively); Group OL10 had the lowest severity of nausea. There was no incidence of vomiting in the OL10 group, and only one patient required antiemetics; in the OL5 group, three patients required antiemetics and eight patients in the control group needed antiemetics.

Conclusion:

Olanzapine 10 mg had a higher effect than the lower concentration of 5 mg or control in reducing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the first postoperative 24 h.
Association between albumin corrected anion gap and in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Giri Mohan , Puri Anju , Huang Lan , Guo Shuliang
Published: January 2025

Background:

The relationship between albumin-corrected anion gap (ACAG) and in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with COPD remains unclear.

Objective:

This study investigated the association between ACAG levels and the risk of in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with COPD.

Design:

A retrospective cohort study.

Methods:

This study uses data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal threshold for ACAG, and participants were divided into two categories based on this threshold. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. We employed univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses and Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival curves to assess the relationship between ACAG and the risk of in-hospital mortality. Moreover, subgroup analyses were conducted.

Results:

A total of 2121 patients (54.7% male) were enrolled in the study. The in-hospital mortality rate was 18.9%. In patients with elevated ACAG levels, the in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher than in those with lower ACAG levels (27.7% vs 11.3%, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that even after mitigating for potential confounders, patients in the high ACAG group had significantly greater odds of in-hospital mortality across all models (Model I: OR = 3.000, 95% CI: 2.383–3.777, p < 0.001; Model II: OR = 3.021, 95% CI: 2.397–3.808, p < 0.001; Model III: OR = 1.916, 95% CI: 1.458–2.519, p < 0.001). Patients with elevated ACAG levels have more than twice the risk of in-hospital mortality compared to those with lower levels (hazard ratio (HR): 2.1277, 95% CI: 1.7490–2.5884).

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates that elevated ACAG levels are strongly associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality in critically ill COPD patients, suggesting that ACAG could serve as a potential predictor of adverse outcomes in this patient population.
The association between level IV/V metastasis and the recurrence, distant metastasis, and survival outcomes in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Li Ruichen , Wang Qi , Ma Siyuan , Li Ji , Zhao Yang , Wang Xiaoshen
Published: January 2025

Background:

The presence of level IV/V metastasis is a significant prognostic factor for patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer, while level IV lymphadenopathy defines the N3 stage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, the current staging system for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) does not consider the location of involved nodes.

Objectives:

To evaluate the risk factors and prognostic impact of level IV/V metastasis in patients with HPSCC.

Methods:

The analysis included 2740 HPSCC patients from the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database, followed by a validated study on 232 patients with pathologically positive nodes (pN+) at our center.

Results:

Of the 2740 patients, 1961 presented with metastatic lymph nodes (LNs), 20.8% and 14.1% had nodal involvement in level IV and level V, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that N3 and M1 stages were independently associated with level IV/V metastasis. Level IV metastasis was the sole independent adverse factor for overall survival (OS) among all LN regions ( p < 0.05). Regarding cancer-specific survival (CSS), only level IV and V involvement were independent predictors of prognosis ( p < 0.05). The rate of pN+ at levels IV and V in our center was 35.8% and 16.4%, respectively. The advanced pN stage was independently associated with metastasis to level IV or V. Patients with level IV/V metastasis had significantly higher rates of regional recurrence and distant metastases ( p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant association regarding OS, CSS, locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS), or distant metastasis-free survival between patients with and without level IV metastasis ( p < 0.05). Patients with level IV/V disease exhibited decreased survival rates across stages pN1 to pN3. Postoperative chemoradiotherapy improved LRFS in patients with level IV lymphadenopathy and OS/CSS in patients with level V metastasis.

Conclusion:

Metastasis to level IV/V was associated with a worse prognosis in HPSCC patients. The level IV/V should be considered for future improvements to the staging system.

Design:

A retrospective study.