bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical outcome of cats with suppurative otitis media and intact tympanum submitted to myringotomy: retrospective findings from 26 cases
Authors: Deleporte Sébastien , Briand Amaury , Prelaud Pascal
Published: September 2024

Case series summary

The efficacy of medical treatment associated with single myringotomy in cats with suppurative otitis media (OM) and intact tympanum was retrospectively evaluated. Patients’ records were retrieved from cats with suppurative OM. Cats were included in this retrospective study based on fluid content within the tympanic cavity on imaging, intact tympanum on otoendoscopic examination and neutrophils on ear bulla exudate cytological examination. A total of 26 cats with middle ear suppurative otitis were included. Just over half of the cats (54%) presented bilateral involvement. Clinical signs included head tilt (13/26), otalgia (9/26), Horner’s syndrome (7/26), external ear discharge (5/26), and nystagmus and facial paralysis (1/26). Cocci were identified on cytological examination in 18/40 samples and rods in 2/40. Bacterial culture results were positive in 15/40 samples, with Pseudomonas species (4/15), Pasteurella multocida (3/15), Staphylococcus felis (3/15), Staphylococcus schleiferi (2/15), Staphylococcus canis (2/15), Escherichia coli (2/15), Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (1/15) and Serratia marcesens (1/15) isolation. After myringotomy and gentle flushing of middle ear bullae (0.5–2 ml saline per ear), all cats were treated with oral corticosteroids and a 1-month course of systemic antibiotics according to sensitivity testing. In total, 19 (73%) cats were clinically healed 60–240 days after treatment. One cat was euthanased because of failure to eradicate a Pseudomonas species infection. Another cat died a few hours after the procedure. The five remaining cats were cured after ventral bulla osteotomy.

Relevance and novel information

OM without an aural polyp is a frequent diagnosis in cats, but data on medical treatment are scarce. This simple therapeutic technique, single myringotomy procedure and mild ear flushing, offers a practical, safe and efficient first-line treatment of suppurative OM with an intact tympanum in cats with or without neurological signs.
Analyses of bending performance of innovative paper-based sandwich beams with cup-box core
Authors: Tavares da Costa Marcus Vinícius , Perstorper Mikael , Vessby Johan
Published: September 2024

Paper-based materials are being alternative candidates to build load-bearing components for the high demanding building sector to be committed to the green transition, but more knowledge of structural mechanics of such components is needed. In this work, three categories of innovative load-bearing sandwich beams with cup-box core fully made of different paper materials were produced, tested and analyzed in four-point bending. The first failure mode was observed at the top facesheets due to the low compressive strength of paper materials; Beams with thin facesheets had premature buckling failure, whereas those with thicker facesheets exhibited ductility reaching higher deflection before the compressive failure. The developed finite element model, calibrated with the experiments for the equivalent bending and shear rigidities, provided figures of the modulus of the facesheet as well as the properties of the core. Furthermore, the compressive plasticity behavior of the facesheets was assessed by fitting the model with load-deflection curves from the tests. Using the model for the structural optimization of the thickness and height of the core, the work suggests optimal values 3 times higher than the original ones.
Reduction of hemodialysis catheter-related blood stream infections in intensive care units after systematic use of taurolidine-citrate-heparin locking solution
Authors: del Risco Zevallos Jimena , Molina Andújar Alícia , Piñeiro Gastón , Morata Laura , Casals Joaquim , Jimenez Mario , Fontseré Néstor , Maduell Francesc , Soriano Alex , Poch Esteban
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

Dialysis catheter-associated bacteremia in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) increases morbidity and mortality, prolongs hospital admission and increases admission costs. Taurolidine-Citrate-Heparin Locking Solution (TCHLS) is a catheter-locking solution with a broad antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of systematic sealing of hemodialysis catheters in the ICUs of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona on the incidence of hemodialysis catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSI).

Material and methods:

CRBSI episodes of patients who underwent intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) during ICU admission were reviewed. TCHLS was established as a routine dialysis catheter sealing solution in the hospital ICUs in 2015. As a control group an historic pre-TCHLS group from 2010 to 2014 was used. The post-TCHLS period comprised from 2015 to 2018.

Results:

A total of 243 and 266 patients required IHD in the pre- and post TCHLS periods, respectively. The number of CRBSI in the pre-TCHLS period was 18 (7.43%) as compared to 9 (3.38%) in the post-TCHLS period ( p = 0.043). All infections were from percutaneous catheters except for three catheters that were tunneled. There was no association between the location of the catheter and the incidence of CRBSI. The most frequent isolated microorganisms were Gram positive bacteria (48.38%), with a global predominance of Staphylococcus epidermidis (32.25%). There were no significant differences in the median days from the start of hemodialysis to the onset of bacteremia (23.5 days in pre-TCHLS group vs 21 days in the post-TCHLS). There were also no significant differences between the days of ICU stay in the CRBSI in both groups or in mortality, being the overall mortality of 65.9%.

Conclusions:

In our population, the systematic application of TCHLS in the sealing of dialysis catheters in critically ill patients reduces the incidence of CRBSI in ICUs.
Acute lower limb ischemia caused by repeat deployment of vascular closure device
Authors: Topcu Ahmet Can , Buz Mesut , Geyik Fatih Dogu
Published: September 2024

Vascular closure devices are used to facilitate faster hemostasis and earlier ambulation, improve patient comfort, and reduce length of hospital stay after percutaneous endovascular procedures. However, their use may rarely be associated with limb ischemia due to endothelial damage and arterial thrombosis. This report illustrates the case of a patient who experienced acute lower limb ischemia due to superficial femoral artery occlusion caused by repeat closure with Angio-Seal vascular closure device within 30 days in a small-caliber superficial femoral artery. The patient was surgically treated by vascular repair with a synthetic graft, and remains symptom-free in 3-year follow-up. Repeat deployment of vascular closure devices in the same access site within a period of 30 days may cause acute limb ischemia due to arterial thrombosis, especially in patients with small-caliber arteries, even in the absence of evident risk factors.
Innovations in Artificial Intelligence-Driven Breast Cancer Survival Prediction: A Narrative Review
Authors: Mooghal Mehwish , Nasir Saad , Arif Aiman , Khan Wajiha , Rashid Yasmin Abdul , Vohra Lubna M
Published: September 2024

This narrative review explores the burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Breast Cancer (BC) survival prediction, emphasizing the transformative impact on patient care. From machine learning to deep neural networks, diverse models demonstrate the potential to refine prognosis accuracy and tailor treatment strategies. The literature underscores the need for clinician integration and addresses challenges of model generalizability and ethical considerations. Crucially, AI’s promise extends to Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), presenting an opportunity to bridge healthcare disparities. Collaborative efforts in research, technology transfer, and education are essential to empower healthcare professionals in LMICs. As we navigate this frontier, AI emerges not only as a technological advancement but as a guiding light toward personalized, accessible BC care, marking a significant stride in the global fight against this formidable disease.
Topical review: Lactation and use of DMTs in women with MS
Authors: Hsu Stephanie , Balan Ayushi , Bove Riley
Published: September 2024

One in three females with multiple sclerosis (MS) becomes pregnant after diagnosis. In the postpartum period, there is a risk of rebound inflammatory activity. This risk can likely be reduced with breastfeeding, as well as with early initiation of effective therapies that have low therapeutic lag. To guide patients in their choices surrounding breastfeeding and MS therapies, clinicians must be familiar with how best to protect against relapses, to ensure infant safety, and to support breastfeeding choices. This topical review provides a broad framework on lactation in women with MS. It seeks to reframe guidelines around caring for the maternal–infant dyad, and for diverse populations living with MS. It also provides updated data on the effects of lactation in women with MS and the limited data on transfer of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) into breastmilk. The ultimate goal is to support informed shared decision-making between clinicians and patients regarding breastfeeding during the high-risk postpartum period.
Dialectics of training: A critique of recommendation engines’ aesthetic judgment
Authors: Musih Norma , Fisher Eran
Published: September 2024

In this article, we evaluate the politics of recommendation engines by focusing on an indispensible feature of their operation: training. We use the notion of training as a key word which helps us link three bodies of knowledge: data science, the history of automation, and aesthetic and political theory. Training is a staple in the operation of algorithmic systems, and artificial intelligence more generally; it is a practical methodology by which these systems become intelligent. Training is also a key feature of how workers throughout history came to perform their labor, and how, during the 20thcentury, machines came to acquire this human ability, that is, automation. And lastly, drawing on Immanuel Kant’s theory of aesthetic judgment, Hannah Arendt offers a political theory where training is key to political judgment. We trace the meaning and significance of ‘training’ in these three fields in order to draw conclusions from one field to another.
The healthy habits questionnaire (HHQ): Validation of a measure designed to assess problematic influential behaviours amongst families of children living with obesity or a risk of developing obesity
Authors: Davis Bríd Áine , O’Dwyer Claire , Keating Adele , Sharry John , Murphy Eddie , Doran Alan , Nearchou Finiki , Carr Alan
Published: September 2024

The 48-item Healthy Habits Questionnaire (HHQ-48) was developed to (1) monitor positive changes in family lifestyles following engagement in the Parents Plus Healthy Families (PP-HF) parent training programme and (2) be utilised as a standalone measure in clinical settings to identify and track problematic influential behaviours amongst families of children in weight-management services. This study aimed to develop and validate a brief version of the HHQ-48. The scale was administered to a cross-sectional community sample ( n = 480), and on two occasions to a control sample ( n = 50) and an experimental sample ( n = 40) from a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the PP-HF programme to assess test-retest reliability and sensitivity to change respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed that a 23-item, 4-factor version of the HHQ (i.e., the HHQ-23) best fit the data. The scale and factor subscales had good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. They also had good concurrent and construct validity shown by significant correlations with another scale that assessed lifestyle issues, and scales that assessed parenting satisfaction, family functioning, and children’s strengths and difficulties. The HHQ-23 was sensitive to change following parents completing the PP-HF programme. The HHQ-23 may, therefore, be used to monitor positive changes in family lifestyles following engagement in the PP-HF parent training programme. The HHQ-23 also shows promising potential as a standalone screening measure or as part of a larger battery of screening assessments in paediatric weight-management services.
The factors associated with paediatric medical post-traumatic stress: A systematic review
Authors: Marcev Ilia , Lannon-Boran Colm , Hyland Philip , McHugh Power Joanna
Published: September 2024

We examined and synthesised existing literature on factors associated with paediatric medical-related posttraumatic stress among children and their parents. Children experiencing a broad spectrum of medical conditions, diseases and injuries were of interest. A search of relevant literature concerning PMTS in children and their parents, as well as factors associated with PMTS, was conducted using Medline, PubMed and Scopus. Only studies published in English between January 2018 and November 2023 were included. Twelve articles met inclusion criteria. A broad range of correlates of PMTS were identified for children and parents, which were thematically organised into six key areas: hospital practices and environments; the parent-child relationship; parental mental wellbeing; psychological factors; sociodemographic factors; and the physical consequences of the condition. Bearing in mind constraints on causal inference due to the design of the included studies, knowledge of the factors associated with PMTS may enable clinicians to identify at-risk children and parents, with a view to intervention.
Coping in crisis: The role of sense of coherence, life satisfaction, and resilience in the relationship between depression, social support, fear of COVID-19, and perceived vulnerability to disease among nurses in South Africa
Authors: Coetzee Bronwyne , Haine Phillipa , Kidd Martin , Shongwe Lindokuhle , Janse Van Vuuren Marnus , Kagee Ashraf
Published: September 2024

In the context of the formidable challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals coped in various ways. This cross-sectional survey study sought to examine the protective role of satisfaction with life, sense of coherence, and resilience in the relationship between depression, social support, fear of COVID-19, and perceived vulnerability to disease among nurses in South Africa. Participants were a convenience sample of nurses ( n = 264) working at four South African hospitals in the Western Cape. Data were collected by means of an electronic survey and analysed using structural equation modelling. Participants completed a comprehensive battery of psychological measures. We found that while higher levels of fear of COVID-19 robustly predicted depressive symptomology among nurses, factors such as sense of coherence, and social support emerged as protective resources. These protective factors have the potential to alleviate the mental health impacts of pandemic-related stressors among nurses.
Turkish validity and reliability study of the Attitudes Toward Face Mask Use Scale
Authors: Erdoğan Özcan , Kuday Ahmet Doğan
Published: September 2024

This study validates the Turkish version of the Attitudes Toward Face Mask Use Scale (ATFMUS). This scale is crucial for understanding public attitudes toward mask usage in preventing the transmission of infectious diseases. The research was conducted between September 2023 and February 2024 with 530 students from a foundation university’s health sciences faculty. The study assessed the scale’s language equivalence, content validity, and factor structure through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Reliability was examined via item-total correlations, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and test-retest reliability, indicating satisfactory internal consistency and stability over time. The results confirm the Turkish ATFMUS’s validity and reliability in measuring attitudes toward mask usage. This offers essential insights for formulating preventive initiatives within Turkish communities.
Examining support marshalling within an asynchronous online peer support forum for individuals affected by dementia
Authors: Coulson Neil S , Talbot Catherine V
Published: September 2024

Online support communities may provide individuals affected by dementia opportunities for reciprocal peer support, however, the support marshalling strategies employed and their success remain unclear. Analysis of 100 randomly selected conversation threads from the Dementia Support Forum indicated that 29% (29/100) of opening posts included a direct support marshalling strategy (i.e. explicit support request) compared with 54% (54/100) labelled as indirect, with the remainder not seeking support. Within the direct marshalling posts, informational support was the most frequently requested ( n = 23), followed by network support ( n = 7), emotional support ( n = 5) and esteem support ( n = 1) with analysis of subsequent posts confirming that the types of support requested were present within responses. Regardless of whether a direct or indirect strategy was used, most posts received a response, typically on the same day. Other response facets were comparable, apart from thread duration with conversations elicited through a direct strategy being longer ( M = 39.71 vs 14.62 days).
High variability phonetic training facilitates categorical perception of Mandarin lexical tones in L2 older adults: A link to auditory processing
Authors: Zhang Wei , Liao Yi , Truong Hoang Trung
Published: September 2024

The current study investigated the facilitatory effects of High Variability Phonetic Training (HVPT) in second language (L2) categorical perception (CP) of Mandarin lexical tones. It also explored whether and how individual differences in auditory processing predicted gains from such training. The participants were 32 native English-speaking adults aged over 60 years who were learning Mandarin Chinese as their L2. They were randomly divided into the HVPT group (HG) ( n = 16) and the control group (CG) ( n = 16). Their L2 CP performance was assessed through an identification task and discrimination task before training, immediately after training, and two months later. Auditory processing tests were also conducted to measure the participants’ ability to encode spectral and temporal details of sounds. Linear mixed-effects (LME) models showed that, compared to the CG, the HG exhibited a more pronounced improvement in tonal categorization. Furthermore, regression analysis confirmed that individual differences in perceptual acuity significantly predicted gains from training in L2 CP of Mandarin lexical tones.
Clinician–caregiver informant discrepancy is associated with sex, diagnosis age, and intervention use among autistic children
Authors: Azu Margaret A. , Han Gloria T. , Wolf Julie M. , Naples Adam J. , Chawarska Katarzyna , Dawson Geraldine , Bernier Raphael A. , Jeste Shafali S. , Dziura James D. , Webb Sara J. , Sugar Catherine A. , Shic Frederick , McPartland James C.
Published: September 2024

Clinician and caregiver reports of autism features are both integral to receiving an autism diagnosis and appropriate intervention, yet informant discrepancies are present in clinical practice and may differ by demographic characteristics of the child and family. The present study examined how clinician–caregiver discrepancies in ratings of a child’s autism-related behaviors relate to a child’s sex at birth, age at first diagnosis, and amount of intervention received. Participants were 280 children (76.8% male, 67.9% White), 6–11 years old ( M = 8.5 ± 1.6), with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Variable-centered and person-centered approaches were used to examine relationships between standardized clinician–caregiver discrepancy and participant characteristics. Both analytic approaches indicated that clinicians rated autism-related behaviors lower than caregivers for females and higher than caregivers for males. In addition, lower clinician ratings of autism features, relative to caregiver ratings, were associated with older age at diagnosis and fewer hours of intervention. Findings underscore the importance of incorporating multiple informants, especially caregivers, in the diagnostic process and developing diagnostic procedures sensitive to the female autism phenotype to facilitate diagnosis, intervention, and subsequent development.

Lay abstract

In some cases, a clinician’s perceptions of a child’s autism-related behaviors are not the same as the child’s caregiver’s perceptions. Identifying how these discrepancies relate to the characteristics of the child is critical for ensuring that diagnosis procedures are unbiased and suitable for all children. This study examined whether discrepancies between clinician and caregiver reports of autism features related to the child’s sex at birth. We also explored how the discrepancies related to the age at which the child received their autism diagnosis and how much intervention they received. We found that clinicians rated autism features higher than caregivers for boys and rated autism features lower than caregivers for girls. In addition, lower clinician relative to parent ratings was related to being diagnosed at an older age and receiving less intervention. These findings suggest that there is more to learn about the presentation of autism-related behaviors in girls. When caregiver and clinician ratings of autism features do not align, it may be important to consider caregivers’ ratings to obtain a more accurate picture of the child’s autism features and the support they may need.
‘I think my body knew what it was before I did’: Affirming women’s embodied experiences as a conduit to knowing
Authors: Navon Lior Beserman
Published: September 2024

This paper focuses on ignorance within the phenomenon of women who experience female ejaculation. Based on ethnographic research, I show how the experience of the phenomenon in the absence of propositional knowledge about it results in what I term ‘experiential ignorance.’ This type of ignorance is caused by the cultural positioning of propositional knowledge as the most valid and reliable form of knowledge about the body. Experiential ignorance can be manifested in many different ways, such as an inability to categorize and validate subjective bodily experiences, resulting in feelings of doubt, shame, and can even lead to somatic effects. Nevertheless, some women challenge this knowledge hierarchy by valuing their bodily sensations as legitimate sources of information. The paper concludes that reconceptualizing ignorance to include experiential dimensions reveals the power dynamics inherent in knowledge production and provides opportunities for women to reclaim authority over their bodies and pleasurable experiences. This framework has broader implications for understanding embodied knowledge and ignorance across diverse sociocultural contexts.
Co-designing of a prototype mobile application for fetal radiation dose monitoring among pregnant radiographers using a design thinking approach
Authors: Essop Hafsa , Kekana Ramadimetja , Smuts Hanlie
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to develop a prototype mobile application to enhance fetal dosimetry among pregnant radiographers in #### through a design thinking approach. Eleven participants were recruited to engage in a participatory design workshop, which encompassed five stages: Empathise, Ideate, Define, Prototype and Test. The participants were divided into two teams. Qualitative datasets from the workshop included field notes and FIGMA screens. The data were analysed through thematic analysis, from which three major themes emerged: (1) Unsafe working environments for pregnant radiographers, (2) The need for enhanced fetal radiation dose monitoring by pregnant radiographers as an occupational health and safety requirement, and (3) Co-designing of the prototype mobile application, PregiDose. The participants contributed towards a prototype mobile application which addressed challenges experienced in the real-life setting. Hence, the prototype can be used as an effective framework by which to guide the development of the final artefact.
Psychological capital and safety in Global North-South cooperation: A field analysis of collaborative investigative journalism across the U.S.-Mexico border
Authors: Cheas Kirsi
Published: September 2024

This article builds on a field theoretical analysis of collaborative investigative journalism across the U.S-Mexico (Global North-South) border. The article examines contents produced in investigative collaboration between Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Mexican, and U.S. journalists, exposing human rights violations, crime, and corruption. The article elaborates on the concept of psychological capital and argues for its relevance in the study of cross-border collaborative investigative journalism. A key finding resulting from this research is that in most collaborative projects, psychological and other capital of the Central American and Mexican journalists was outweighed by the capital of the U.S. journalists. The psychological, social, and cultural capital of the Southern journalistic fields were highly relevant for the successful implementation of the examined projects, but not explicitly recognized in most reporting. The article also suggests the Southern journalists did not feel safe enough to suggest critical perspectives challenging the position of their Northern partners, who funded and supervised the collaborations. However, three projects, in which Northern and Southern journalists worked in Central America and Mexico side by side, manifested exemplary solidarity and recognition of the psychological and other capital of the Southern fields. Hence, it seems that witnessing the dangers affecting the region’s journalists firsthand can enable Northern journalists to better understand and appreciate the circumstances in which their Southern partners are living and working, reflected in more genuine appreciation of their psychological, cultural, and social capital.
Sell your soul for a pot of gold: Privacy paradox in surveillance capitalism
Authors: Boyol Ngan Henrique Fátima , Lei Chong Fo
Published: September 2024

The current study aims to examine the underlying psychological processes involved in privacy protection behaviors among tourists in retail environments using surveillance technologies. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and Privacy Calculus Theory (PCT) were employed to understand threat and coping appraisals, benefits (control vs monetary), and their relationships with protective behavioral intentions and actual behaviors. Data was collected from 554 respondents who had visited a retail store while traveling in the past 6 months using an online questionnaire. Three structural equation models, full mediation, partial mediation, and moderated mediation were tested and compared. The partial mediation model exhibited the best fit. Perceived severity and susceptibility increased protective behavioral intentions, while self-efficacy decreased intentions. Control compensation positively influenced intentions only. Behavioral intentions partially mediated relationships between independent variables and actual protective behaviors. No significant moderation effects were found. Integrating PMT and PCT addresses a significant gap in examining tourists’ privacy-protective behaviors in retail surveillance contexts. Additionally, it clarifies the effectiveness of control and monetary benefits in mitigating privacy concerns.
The experimental investigation of performance behaviors of a beta-type Stirling engine with bell-crank motion mechanism
Authors: Erol Derviş
Published: September 2024

The current study aims to develop a novel power generation system that is capable of working with a Stirling engine. Within this context, a β-type Stirling engine design has been created with a bell-crank motion mechanism and a 365 cm3 swept volume. The engine has been manufactured, and then a detailed assessment has been conducted to determine the impact of the motion mechanism on engine performance characteristics. The designed and manufactured engine has been tested using a range of working fluids, such as air, argon, carbon dioxide, helium, and nitrogen gases. The performance tests of this engine have been carried out at 1000 K (±10) heater and 300 K (±5) coolant temperatures. Based on the outcomes of the experimental studies, the highest engine power and torque values have been obtained at a charge pressure of 4 bar using helium gas, with 143.5 W at 267 rpm and 7.75 Nm at 100 rpm, respectively. Moreover, the maximum engine power values obtained from other tests with nitrogen, air, carbon dioxide and argon gases have been compared with helium gas. Helium gas has been found to outperform nitrogen, air, carbon dioxide, and argon gases in tests by 67.3%, 73.9%, 197.1%, and 200.2%, respectively. Finally, the highest thermal efficiency value has been obtained with helium gas as 48.7% at a charge pressure of 4 bar.
Predicting the degree of rubber rupture damage using a GAN-enhanced Bayesian-optimized 1DCNN network
Authors: Zeng Yi , Deng Chubing , Xiong Feng , Liu Hong , Li Xiongfei , Liu Ye
Published: September 2024

Influenced by factors such as temperature, aging, and overloading, rubber bearings may undergo rupture during prolonged usage, leading to severe consequences such as bearing failure and structural damage. To accurately assess the degree of rubber rupture damage, this study proposed a novel generative adversarial network (GAN)-enhanced Bayesian-optimized one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1DCNN) framework (GAN-BCNN). In the GAN-BCNN framework, GAN is used to enhance the proportion of damaged data in the database, while Bayesian optimization is utilized to optimize crucial hyperparameters in the 1DCNN network. The predictive results indicate that the proposed GAN-BCNN model accurately predicts the degree of rubber rupture damage, achieving high classification accuracies of 99.1, 95.5, 92.9, and 98.0% for the categories of no damage, slight damage, moderate damage, and severe damage, respectively. When compared to the linear discriminant analysis model and the BCNN model without GAN enhancement, the proposed GAN-BCNN model exhibits a significant improvement in predictive accuracy, with an increase in Accuracy values of 52.4 and 6.0%, respectively. These results indicate that the GAN-BCNN model holds promising practical applications, and the GAN algorithm contributes to improving the prediction accuracy of the model.
A framework of generative impact-driven research: An introduction to the special issue
Authors: Williams Amanda , Harley Bill , Walls Judith , Whiteman Gail , Dowell Glen
Published: September 2024

Management scholars are increasingly expressing a desire to conduct research that aims to solve social and environmental issues. Expectations from universities and funding bodies for research with societal impact are also growing. Yet, there are many unanswered questions about what impact-driven research looks like and how it can be conducted rigorously. This special issue seeks to address this problem. In this introduction, we propose a guiding framework for generative impact-driven research.
Policy responses to extreme heat and its impact on education: The Philippine experience
Authors: Preña Emmanuel M , Labayo Cherrylyn P
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates the experiences and impacts of extreme heat on the Philippine education system during the “summer” seasons of 2023 and 2024, drawing on publicly available data and news reports. It critically examines government responses to the unprecedented challenges posed by emerging extreme heat conditions as part of the new climate normal. Various policy measures were implemented by government agencies to mitigate the adverse effects on students and teachers, including face-to-face class suspensions, shifts to alternative instructional methods, adjusted class schedules, and discussions on returning to the traditional school calendar. However, significant gaps and challenges persist in these responses, underscoring the need for time-consistent policies focused on creating conducive learning environments. The establishment of heat response plans for educational institutions and the development of improved location-specific heat indices are essential to adapt to this new climate reality and minimize the disruption of educational activities.
Who Counts as Child? Using Child as Method and Fanon to Challenge Figurations of Childhood
Authors: Carpes Barros Cassal Luan , Christinaki Artemis , Burman Erica
Published: September 2024

Child as method is a critical and interdisciplinary approach interrogating figurations of childhood that engage, organize, justify (and perhaps even resist) sociopolitical processes. In this article, we start by presenting Child as method as a conceptual and methodological tool for critical research in childhood, education, and psychological studies and then show how it informed discussions of and about childhood in two different projects. The first concerns Legal Gender Recognition in the United Kingdom where a Child as method perspective highlights how the idea of developmentalism is embedded in figurations of childhood. This aligns with age conformities of “being more like adults than children,” while also showing how gender recognition and childhood have been built in opposition to each other. The second project mobilizes Child as method as a conceptual and methodological orientation to critically reflect on the role-played by age assessment practices in migration control in Greece. This highlights how “the child” becomes a trope within forced migration policies and practices, and how “childhood” performs a social condition in which children are represented as victims in state and humanitarian discourse. In doing so, this not only creates a “universalised” notion of childhood but also enacts epistemic violence. Indeed, these discourses mobilize action in the form of age assessment for those young people who do not look or perform like “real children,” establishing, in essence, who is and is not welcomed in the Western territory. The article ends by discussing Frantz Fanon as a critical childhood theorist. It depicts how Fanon’s contribution informs, conceptually and methodologically, the research analytic of Child as method. Together with Child as method, we put forward Fanon’s contribution to critical childhood studies while highlighting Fanon’s call for action from everyone, including children.
Endovascular thrombectomy for severe cerebral venous thrombosis: A comprehensive meta-analysis assessing safety and efficacy
Authors: Ghozy Sherief , Orscelik Atakan , Tolba Hatem , Abdelghaffar Mariam , Kobeissi Hassan , Ghaith Hazem S. , Abbas Alzhraa S. , Kadirvel Ramanathan , Brinjikji Waleed , Kallmes David F.
Published: September 2024

Background

Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) has traditionally been treated medically with systemic anticoagulation. Recent advances in endovascular therapy (EVT) may represent an alternative treatment to medical therapy for CSVT. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the use of EVT for CSVT.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. We included studies that reported outcomes following EVT for CSVT. The primary outcome of interest was rate of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2. Secondary outcomes of interest were rates of complete, partial, and failed recanalization, mortality, and new or expansion of hematoma. We calculated pooled rates (%) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Thirty-eight studies with 682 patients were included. Rate of mRS 0–2 was 82.6% (95% CI, 75.3%–88.0%). Rate of complete recanalization was 60.9% (95% CI, 49.1%–71.5%), rate of partial recanalization was 34.2% (95% CI, 24.1%–45.9%), and rate of failed recanalization was 5.4% (95% CI, 3.1%–9.2%). Rate of mortality was 6.7% (95% CI, 4.1%–10.8%), and rate of new hematoma or expansion of hematoma was 5.1% (2.9%–8.8%).

Conclusions

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, EVT for CSVT was associated with favorable rates of mRS 0–2 and recanalization. Furthermore, EVT was associated with a promising safety profile. Future prospective, comparative studies are warranted to assess EVT for CSVT.
Intersecting Methodologies to Support the Telling of Stories in Education Research: Appreciative Inquiry Within Narrative Inquiry
Authors: Tucker Allison
Published: September 2024

Narrative inquiry has often been merged with other methodologies to conduct research in schools. Its interweaving with appreciative inquiry as a methodology to research within education, however, is newly emerging. In this study, which interweaves the two methodologies, narrative inquiry and appreciative inquiry are used to examine stories of teaching and explore teacher identity—an evolution of narrative inquiry that facilitates the telling of participant school stories in a focused and intentional way through an appreciative inquiry framework. This paper explores the interweaving of the methodologies and provides an example of its use. It draws on a doctoral study titled Identity as pedagogy: Locating the shadows in the sacred space between, which examined the stories of teacher identities and the ways such stories manifest in pedagogy, with a group of teachers from a common educational jurisdiction in eastern Canada. The data that emerged through the appreciative inquiry process were narratively analyzed and understood through the common themes they presented.
The virus and an enemy within: Construction of an invidious news discourse by the mainstream press in India
Authors: Kaliyarakath Rahoof
Published: September 2024

Human rights organizations and media watchdogs have expressed concerns about COVID-19 news coverage in the Global South, particularly by the Indian mainstream media, due to the Islamophobic discourse it generated. This study critically examines the first wave of COVID-19 coverage by four major Indian media outlets and argues that the press perpetuates an ideologically driven discriminatory discourse developed over a century. Drawing on past scholarship in Discourse Historical Analysis (DHA), the study finds that the media employs various discursive strategies – nomination, predication, argumentation, perspectivization, mitigation, and intensification – to construct a malevolent identity for Indian Muslims. This represents them as the ‘enemy within the nation’, attributing blame for the virus’s spread in the country. Conforming to Hindutva, a dominant ideology that has been shaping Indian national politics for decades, these strategies collectively contribute to an invidious news discourse, contradicting the press’s purported fairness and neutrality.
Reported speech and gender in the news: Who is quoted, how are they quoted, and why it matters
Authors: Taboada Maite
Published: September 2024

News stories have a well-defined generic structure, consisting of components such as headline, lede, and body, with reported speech a prominent feature, especially in hard news stories. Reported speech serves multiple purposes, from providing evidentiality and intertextuality to contributing to the construction of newsworthiness and to the context creation of news. It is also a site of potential bias in who is cited and how, including with respect to the gender of sources. Using a large corpus of English-language news stories for all of 2023 from the main five mainstream news outlets in Canada (over 370,000 articles from news websites), I examine the gender distribution of those quoted, the syntactic variation in the structure of quotes, and the types of reporting verbs. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the extend of gender bias in contemporary Canadian news, at the same time offering insights into the nature of reported speech in modern news and how it endures and evolves, including in news meant for digital-only publication.
Engaging visual diaries in early childhood nature play as pedagogical arousal
Authors: Lasczik Alexandra , Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles Amy , Osborn Maia , Malone Karen , Knight Linda
Published: September 2024

This paper explores one element of a multi-faceted project that sought to investigate nature play in early childhood, namely the creation and co-creation of visual diaries by educators, children and academics. The methodology was participatory cartography, which involved the creation of visual and verbal mappings of nature play pedagogies by early childhood educators and academics, as well as visual mappings of nature play experiences by 4-5-year-old children. The visual diary supported, articulated, portrayed and documented the implementation of nature play pedagogies (by the educators), the experiences of nature play (by the children) and the analysis of data (by the academics). This paper explores this methodological slice of the project. It asserts that the visual diary is a useful, arousing and potentially aesthetic inquiry, documentary and resource apparatus for educators, enabling collaborative artmaking moments with children.
Building Trust to Study Trust: Paving the Way for Applied Trust Research in Social and Resocializing Institutions
Authors: Nielsen Mie Femø , Nielsen Ann Merrit Rikke
Published: September 2024

Trust plays a pivotal role when aiding individuals in vulnerable positions. However, understanding the practical dynamics of trust remains limited. Empirical research on trust, particularly in collaborative and applied settings, is scarce. Trust in communications training is often treated as a nebulous concept, complicating its operationalization. This article delineates the initial stages of an applied research project on trust building in encounters between practitioners and citizens in vulnerable positions, outlines our project’s design, and details our experiences with cultivating trust with our participants. Employing an applied conversation analytic approach, we use video- and audio-ethnography to capture everyday interactions between employees and residents in social and re-socializing institutions. Combining a trust-building approach to get access to the field with rigorous analysis, we eventually aim to identify indicators of trust and distrust. Our distinctive approach, combining design, execution, and collaboration with inspiration from participant-oriented research, ensures relevance, accessibility, quality, and feasibility of our research will contribute to the conceptualization of trust as a social interactional phenomenon. It fosters co-ownership with practitioners, enhancing the impact of our findings, and allows us to rewrite the teaching material for future generations of social workers.
Commercial Insurance Coverage Criteria for Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Poorly Reflect Current Research
Authors: Kotlier Jacob L. , Lin Eric H. , Fathi Amir , Iyer Avinash S. , Telang Sahil S. , Bolia Ioanna K. , Ahmad Aamir , Petrigliano Frank A. , Liu Joseph N.
Published: September 2024

Objective

The aim of this study is to both quantify and qualify the way insurance companies justify their coverage policies for autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and determine whether these policies align with recent research on the subject.

Design

The top 11 national commercial health insurance payers for ACI were identified. Coverage policy documents were recovered for 8 payers. These documents were examined, and the type of reference and the level of evidence (LOE) were recorded for each applicable reference. Specific coverage criteria for each individual payer were then extracted and assessed for similarities among commercial payers. Finally, all references cited by each payer were examined to determine whether they mentioned the specific payer criteria.

Results

This study found that the majority of cited references were primary journal articles (86, 58.1%) and that only 30 (20.2%) references were level I or level II evidence. This study also found significant homogeneity among payer coverage criteria. Cited sources inconsistently mentioned specific payer coverage criteria. In addition, payer criteria tended to be poorly supported by current evidence on ACI.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that commercial insurance payers’ coverage policies for ACI poorly cite references, cite a majority of references with low LOE, and cite references which infrequently mention their specific coverage criteria. In addition, payer coverage policies have a high degree of homogeneity and many of their specific criteria are poorly supported by current research on ACI.
Negative effect of treatment with mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator AFQ056 on blood biomarkers in young individuals with Fragile X syndrome
Authors: Protic Dragana , Breeze Elizabeth , Mendoza Guadalupe , Zafarullah Marwa , Abbeduto Leonard , Hagerman Randi , Coffey Christopher , Cudkowicz Merit , Durbin-Johnson Blythe , Ashwood Paul , Berry-Kravis Elizabeth , Erickson Craig A , Filipink Robin , Gropman Andrea , Lehwald Lenora , Maxwell-Horn Angela , Morris Stephanie , Bennett Amanda Palladino , Prock Lisa , Talboy Amy , Tartaglia Nicole , Veenstra-VanderWeele Jeremy , Tassone Flora
Published: September 2024

Background:

Fragile X syndrome, with an approximate incidence rate of 1 in 4000 males to 1 in 8000 females, is the most prevalent genetic cause of heritable intellectual disability and the most common monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder. The full mutation of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein-1 gene, characterized by an expansion of CGG trinucleotide repeats (>200 CGG repeats), leads to fragile X syndrome. Currently, there are no targeted treatments available for fragile X syndrome. In a recent large multi-site trial, FXLEARN, the effects of the mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator, AFQ056 (mavoglurant), were investigated, but did not show a significant impact of AFQ056 on language development in children with fragile X syndrome aged 3–6 years.

Objectives:

The current analyses from biospecimens collected in the FXLEARN study aimed to determine whether AFQ056 affects the level of potential biomarkers associated with Akt/mTOR and matrix metalloproteinase 9 signaling in young individuals with fragile X syndrome. Previous research has indicated that these biomarkers play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of fragile X syndrome.

Design:

A double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group flexible-dose forced titration design.

Methods:

Blood samples for biomarkers were collected during the FXLEARN at baseline and subsequent visits (1- and 8-month visits). Biomarker analyses included fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein-1 genotyping by Southern blot and PCR approaches, fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein-1 mRNA levels determined by PCR, matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels’ detection using a magnetic bead panel, and targets of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway with their phosphorylation levels detected.

Results:

This research revealed that administering AFQ056 does not affect the expression levels of the investigated blood biomarkers in young children with fragile X syndrome.

Conclusion:

Our findings of the lack of association between clinical improvement and biomarkers’ levels in the treatment group are in line with the lack of benefit observed in the FXLEARN study. These findings indicate that AFQ056 does not provide benefits as assessed by primary or secondary endpoints.

Registration:

ClincalTrials.gov NCT02920892.