bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Young Adults’ Online and In-Person Sexual Harassment Experiences in Romantic Relationships: Exploring the Role of Relationship Type and Dark Triad Personality Traits
Authors: Schokkenbroek Janneke M. , Ponnet Koen , Hardyns Wim
Published: November 2023

As romantic relationships in young adulthood (18–25 years) are frequently characterized by experimentation and risk-taking, this could make young adults particularly vulnerable to experience sexual harassment by a dating or committed partner. This study examines young adults’ victimization and perpetration experiences of online and in-person sexual harassment with their dating or committed partner, and explores the role of the Dark Triad personality traits. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 458 young adults, 371 of whom were in a romantic relationship ( Mage = 20.80, SDage = 1.51, 25.6% men). Our findings revealed that all measured sexual harassment experiences were significantly more prevalent among young adults in dating relationships compared to those in committed relationships. Furthermore, in both relationship types, all online and in-person experiences of sexual harassment were significantly linked, indicating that these harmful experiences occur across contexts. Additionally, all victimization and perpetration experiences were significantly linked in both relationship types, meaning that some young adults were both victims and perpetrators of these behaviors. Lastly, we found that sexual harassment was linked to narcissism in dating relationships, but to Machiavellianism in committed relationships, indicating that different strategies may explain these behaviors.
I’m Sick of This: Prioritise A Sustainable Return-to-Work for Employees on Sick Leave
Authors: Beekman Elizabeth M.
Published: November 2023

A focus on sustainable employability has recently become more prevalent in research and practice. The working population ages, and employers’ demand for work exceeds its supply, making the need for continued labour at later ages greater. Accordingly, the urgency of reducing sick leave is increasing. In this article the need for sustainable return-to-work trajectories is emphasised, as returning to work after sick leave can be challenging and often unsuccessful on the long term. I demonstrate the need for sustainable return-to-work trajectories by sketching the global issue of workplace absence and comparing how organisations in different countries respond to short-term and long-term sick leave. This comparison lays bare large gaps between theory and practice in recovery and return-to-work. Using insights from management science, industrial and organisational psychology, and occupational medicine, I reflect on ways to support a more sustainable (long-term) return-to-work, in which the emphasis is placed on sufficient time to recover and a contextualised, holistic approach to return-to-work. This approach is illustrated to be beneficial to both the employer and the employee.
Midterm Clinical Outcomes, Radiographic Outcomes, and Survivorship of the Infinity Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Shaffrey Isabel , O’Malley Emmett , Henry Jensen K. , Rajan Lavan , Deland Jonathan T. , O’Malley Martin , Ellis Scott J. , Demetracopoulos Constantine A.
Published: November 2023

Background:

The Infinity Total Ankle Arthroplasty (Stryker, Mahwah, NJ) is a low-profile fixed-bearing implant first introduced in 2014. Although the short-term survivorship (2-4 years follow-up) and complication rates of the Infinity TAA have been reported, there are limited midterm outcome reports. The aim of this study was to describe the survivorship and clinical outcomes of a single-center experience with the Infinity implant at minimum 5-year follow-up.

Methods:

Retrospective review of 65 ankles that underwent primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) with the Infinity implant was conducted. Mean clinical follow-up was 6.5 years (range, 5.0-8.0). Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were measured to assess tibiotalar alignment, periprosthetic lucencies, and cysts. Preoperative, 2-year, and 5-year postoperative Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) subscores were compared to assess midterm clinical outcomes. Survivorship assessment was determined by removal of 1 or both metallic implant components.

Results:

Survivorship of the implant was 93.8% at final follow-up. There were 4 revisions: 2 for tibial implant loosening, 1 for talar loosening, and 1 for loosening of both components. Three of the 4 revisions occurred within the first 2 years following implantation, and the last failure occurred at 7 years postoperatively. There were 11 reoperations in 10 (15%) ankles and 3 wound complications. There were 17 ankles (26.2%) with radiographic abnormalities around the implants, including 14 cases with tibial component lucencies and 4 cases of periimplant cysts. FAOS outcome measurement showed general stability between 2 and 5 years and substantial improvement from preoperative status.

Conclusion:

To date this study is the largest midterm report on the Infinity total ankle prosthesis, with 65 implants at a mean follow-up of 6.5 years. We found good midterm implant survivorship, and patients experienced significant improvements in FAOS outcome scores and radiographic alignment at final follow-up.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Numerical and experimental study on the damping performance of the fluid viscous damper considering the gap effect
Authors: Hu Shangtao , Hu Renkang , Yang Menggang , Meng Dongliang , Igarashi Akira
Published: November 2023

As a typical passive energy dissipation device, the fluid viscous damper (FVD) is widely utilized for structural vibration control. However, performance degradation in FVDs has been highlighted, particularly concerning the gap effect resulting from the imperfect installation and insufficient fluid. This study proposes three analytical models to characterize the gap property in the hysteresis behavior of FVDs, including the Gap model (G. model), the Equivalence model (E. model), and the Stiffness Degradation model (S. model). The purpose of the G. model is to reproduce the zero-force platform in the hysteresis curve. The E. model and S. model are both simplified models, aiming to consider the gap effect by altering the damping coefficient, velocity exponent, and stiffness based on the energy and maximum force equivalence principles. Shake table tests of a single-degree-of-freedom system are carried out to validate and assess the effectiveness and accuracy of these three methods. The results indicate that the gap effect will significantly degrade the vibration mitigation performance of FVDs, and hence it needs to be considered in simulations. The displacement and force obtained using the G. model under distinct loads highly correspond to the experimental results. By adopting the simplified models, satisfactory results can be derived with a lower implementation cost. Among them, the E. model is more appropriate when subjected to harmonic loads, while the S. model is suggested for cases under seismic excitations.
Linking Media Instruction, Media Literacy, and Digital Skills to Fake News Beliefs and Censorship Support
Authors: Curnalia Rebecca M. L.
Published: November 2023

This study explores the link between knowledge and skills related to online information consumption and implications for fake news beliefs and support for censorship. The goal of this project was to explore the link between media instruction and students’ news beliefs and attitudes. In particular, survey participants were asked about fake news beliefs, completed digital skill and media literacy assessments, and then completed a measure of their support for government censorship of media. Results indicate that more literate and more skilled users are more skeptical of news media reporting and are more supportive of censorship.
Examining the Impact of Sponsored Search Results on Choice: An Anchoring Perspective
Authors: Bhattacharya Abhi , Robinson Stacey , Mookherjee Satadruta , Blöte Herman
Published: November 2023

Online sponsored search advertising has emerged as a dominant form of advertising. While prior research has investigated the impact of such advertising as a signal for the advertiser, it has largely neglected the impact of sponsored ads on subsequent choice and evaluations. Using a mixed-method approach combining secondary data from a large hotel aggregator and experimental studies, the present work investigates the effect of anchoring, a commonly used heuristic in the context of online search. This research indicates that a sponsored (i.e., paid) search result acts as an anchor influencing subsequent consumer choice when it is shown as the first-ranked result. The strength of the anchoring effect varies across multiple factors, including the similarity of other search results and the size of the search device screen.
Ultrathin DSAEK versus DMEK – Review of systematic reviews
Authors: Moura-Coelho Nuno , Papa-Vettorazzi Renato , Reyes Alonso , Cunha João Paulo , Güell José Luis
Published: November 2023

The efficacy and safety of Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) have been recently compared in several systematic reviews (SRs). The aim of this study was to assess the evidence quality of such SRs, in order to obtain a scientifically rigorous comparison between the two techniques. We performed a systematic review of SRs and meta-analyses comparing the efficacy and safety between UT-DSAEK and DMEK up to 24th March 2023, using 3 electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) plus manual reference search. Specific outcomes analyzed included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), rebubbling rate, and other postoperative complications. Of 90 titles/abstracts screened, four SRs met the inclusion criteria. All SRs adequately analyzed potential bias of the included studies. One SR raised concern for potential literature search bias and two SRs have heterogeneity in some outcomes analyzed. All SRs found higher BCVA after DMEK, but one SR reported significant heterogeneity. All SRs found significant heterogeneity in ECD analysis, with one SR providing inconsistent analysis of this outcome. Three SRs analyzed rebubbling rates, favoring UT-DSAEK over DMEK. Three SRs concluded a higher overall complication rate after DMEK, although rebubbling may be a confounding factor. This systematic review clarifies the strengths and weaknesses of published SRs and reinforces the conclusion that DMEK leads to superior visual outcomes compared to UT-DSAEK, with the trade-off of higher rebubbling rates and possibly other postoperative complications. Studies with longer follow-up are needed to ascertain these differences between procedures.
Molecular Mechanisms of the miR396b-GRF1 Module Underlying Rooting Regulation in Acer rubrum L.
Authors: Zhang Manyu , Li Huiju , Zhu Huiyu , Zhao Hewen , Zhang Kezhong , Ge Wei
Published: November 2023

Rooting and root development in Acer rubrum have important effects on overall growth. A. rubrum does not take root easily in natural conditions. In this study, the mechanisms of the miR396b- GRF1 module underlying rooting regulation in A. rubrum were studied. The subcellular localization and transcriptional activation of miR396b and its target gene growth regulating factor 1 ( GRF1) were investigated. These experiments showed that GRF1 was localized in the nucleus and had transcriptional activation activity. Functional validation experiments in transgenic plants demonstrated that overexpression of Ar-miR396b inhibited adventitious root growth, whereas overexpression of ArGRF1 increased adventitious root growth. These results help clarify the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying adventitious root growth in A. rubrum and provide some new insights into the rooting rate in this species.
Utilizing In Silico Approaches to Investigate the Signaling Pathway’s Crucial Function in Pennisetum glaucum Under Thermal Stress
Authors: Dhawi Faten
Published: November 2023

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)) is a remarkable cereal crop known for its ability to thrive in challenging environmental conditions. Despite its resilience, the intricate molecular mechanisms behind its toughness remain a mystery. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted advanced next-generation RNA sequencing. This approach allowed us to compare the gene expression profiles of pearl millet seedlings exposed to heat stress with those grown under standard conditions. Our main focus was on the shoots of 13-day-old pearl millet plants, which we subjected to a brief heat stress episode at 50°C for 60 seconds. Within the vast genomic landscape comprising 36 041 genes, we successfully identified a set of 10 genes that exhibited significant fold changes, ranging from 11 to 14-fold compared to the control conditions. These 10 genes were previously unknown to have such substantial changes in expression compared to the control. To uncover the functional significance hidden within these transcriptomic findings, we utilized computational tools such as MEME, String, and phylogenetic tree analysis. These efforts collectively revealed conserved domains within the transcriptomic landscape, hinting at potential functions associated with these genetic sequences. Of particular note, the distinct transcriptomic patterns specific to pearl millet leaves under thermal stress shed light on intricate connections to fundamental biological processes. These processes included the Ethylene-activated signaling pathway, Regulation of intracellular signal transduction, Negative regulation of signal transduction, Protein autophosphorylation, and Intracellular signal transduction. Together, these processes provide insight into the molecular strategies employed by pearl millet to overcome thermal stress challenges. By integrating cutting-edge RNA sequencing techniques and computational analyses, we have embarked on unraveling the genetic components and pathways that empower pearl millet’s resilience in the face of adversity. This newfound understanding has the potential to not only advance our knowledge of plant stress responses but also contribute to enhancing crop resilience in challenging environmental conditions.
The politics of evasion: The missing statehood debate in Puerto Rico
Authors: Wagner Kevin M , Gainous Jason , Vélez-Serrano Mayra
Published: November 2023

In this research, we explored how foundational issues can become subtext in political discourse by studying how statehood was debated in social media prior to two plebiscites in Puerto Rico. Historically in Puerto Rico, local parties are divided on this issue instead of along the more common conservative versus liberal division that is found in most parts of the United States. We collected the corpus of Twitter communication by members of Puerto Rico’s Legislature for the term of 2017-2021. Using latent topic modeling techniques, we classified the political discussion along party lines. Surprisingly, statehood was not a major topic in our model when using the full corpus of data. However, when we filtered the data to include only those tweets discussing statehood and sub-sampled them by major party, the sub-topics within statehood communication became clear and coherent, as was the partisan divide. Ultimately, while there is a clear division about statehood between the parties, the issue has become so intrinsic to the political sphere in Puerto Rico that it no longer commanded significant attention in the political discourse during this period.
The therapeutic relationship in music therapy in a Flexible Assertive Community Treatment team: A joint interview study of service users and their Music Therapist
Authors: Skånland Marie Strand , Trondalen Gro
Published: November 2023

Flexible Assertive Community Treatment provides integrated and community-based support to clients with mental illness and challenges in social functioning. Music therapy has been incorporated into several Norwegian Flexible Assertive Community Treatment teams, but there is limited published research on its outcomes. The Flexible Assertive Community Treatment model is recovery oriented, and the significance of robust relationships with staff members is emphasised. To understand the processes and critical factors in the relationships between service users and their Music Therapist in Flexible Assertive Community Treatment, we addressed the following research question: What characterises the relationship and interaction between the Music Therapist and the service user in the context of Flexible Assertive Community Treatment? Six joint interviews with service users and their Music Therapist were conducted using a dyadic approach. Using reflexive thematic analysis, the characteristics of the music therapy relationship were categorised in three themes; (1) the humanistic, therapeutic relationship, (2) the friendship-like relationship and (3) the musical relationship. The relationship between the service user and the Music Therapist is essential to therapeutic outcome, and links to common factors in therapy. Building relationships with the Music Therapist and the Flexible Assertive Community Treatment team may be a vital step towards social participation for the service user and may be understood as a critical factor towards recovery.
House-sharing as a staged and mediated practice: Representing self and home in Melbourne share-houses
Authors: Podkalicka Aneta , Mundell Meg
Published: November 2023

This article considers how house-sharing – sharing a home with other, usually unrelated people – is mediated by digital technologies. Drawing on academic literature on house-sharing and self-(re)presentation in digital cultures, interviews with share-house residents in Melbourne, Australia, and user posts in house-sharing groups on Facebook, we identify a sequence of steps and stages integral to the process of (re)forming a share-house in the competitive private rental market. These include advertising, screening, vetting, digital interactions, interviews and house tours. Considering this multi-stage process from the dual perspective of ‘home-seekers’ (applicants) and ‘housemate-seekers’ (existing household), we analyse how both parties deploy representational and communicative strategies, explore the conventions and complexities underpinning these interactions, and present a conceptual framework that explicates the process. The article contributes to scholarly debates about mediated practices of self-(re)presentations, and about house-sharing as a significant practice in a housing market that renders home ownership increasingly unaffordable.
Unruly magic: Global resource extraction, witchcraft and resistance in Yaba Badoe's The Witches of Gambaga (2011) and Wolf Light (2019)
Authors: De Loughry Treasa
Published: November 2023

Following Giovanna Di Chiro's argument for a ‘coalitional’ approach to social reproduction as environmental issue, this article examines representations of magic and witchcraft in Yaba Badoe's young adult novel Wolf Light as registering the impact of neoliberal ‘extractivist heteropatriarchal capitalism’. Accusations of witchcraft were, and still are, associated with grabs for resources, wealth and class positions occupied by women. To this we could add the notion of the environment as a further realm under threat by increasingly toxic strategies of extraction and disposal. This article extends these conceptual frameworks to consider how Yaba Badoe's speculative text, set in Ghana, Cornwall and Mongolia, depicts feminised magic and transformative supernatural powers as ways of combatting global extractivism. Significantly, ecological destruction has yet to be adequately theorised in relation to social reproduction theory. So too its cultural registration in fictions from peripheral areas long associated with extraction. Through focusing on Wolf Light, this article will theorise how the book's formal mode, alongside its figuration of witches as eco-utopian earth defenders and transformative shape-shifters, offers forms of cultural resistance. Critically, the novel builds consciously on global histories of women's oppression – including the resurgence of witchcraft accusations in Ghana, as discussed in Badoe's research for her film The Witches of Gambaga, and early modern British witch hunts. These narratives are reinvested with a focus on local struggle and resistance as imagined through the text's three main protagonists, whose shape-shifting abilities and trans-border magical connections provide a way of protesting neoliberalism's compound crises of reproduction.
Effects of ammonia energy fractions, diesel injection timings, and loads on combustion and emission characteristics of PFI-DI ammonia-diesel engines
Authors: Yang Can , Wang Zhongxuan , Li Jianwei , Cheng Xiaobei
Published: November 2023

Partially replacing diesel with carbon-free ammonia fuel is gaining more interest in tackling the issue of greenhouse gas emissions in freight transportation applications. But in ammonia-diesel dual-fuel engines, the combustion and emissions are of particular complexity, with complicated trade-offs among the rough combustion, the thermal efficiency, and the CO2/N2O/NO+NO2/NH3 emissions. To this end, this paper conducts systematical experimental tests on a modified PFI-DI single-cylinder heavy-duty diesel engine with ammonia injected in the intake manifold and diesel directly injected into the cylinder, containing ammonia energy fraction ranging from 0% to 50%, engine loads from IMEP 0.5 to 1.3 MPa, and sweeping diesel injection timing. Results show that the heat release of ammonia-diesel dual-fuel combustion (ADDC) possesses two exothermic stages, and as the ammonia energy fraction increases, the heat release process of ADDC in the first stage is intensified and that in the second stage is just the opposite, which causes rougher combustion but lower indicated thermal efficiency (ITE). Increasing the ammonia energy fraction also makes NO+NO2 and CO2 emissions reduced but NH3 and N2O emissions increased. N2O emissions with stronger greenhouse gas impact usually offset the reduction of CO2. Advancing diesel injection timing can improve ITE, but the cost is the rapidly increasing PPRR and NO+NO2 emissions. Besides, as the engine load increases, the ignition delay gets shortened and the combustion process becomes concentrated and efficient, the resistance to ammonia in ADDC gets better, and NH3 emissions are reduced at the cost of more NO+NO2 emissions.
F-SAFT based on laser-induced directional multimode ultrasound for defect imaging
Authors: Dai Lu-Nan , NI Chen-Yin , Ying Kai-Ning , Kan Wei-Wei , Shen Zhong-Hua
Published: November 2023

In conventional laser ultrasonic (LU) single-mode frequency domain synthetic aperture focusing technique (F-SAFT) imaging, the precision of the imaged defect profile is limited due to the influence of the directionality of laser-induced ultrasound and the directionality of detection. To solve this problem, LU-based F-SAFT imaging with the shear wave, longitudinal wave, and mode-converted wave is proposed in this article. In the experiment, multimode bulk waves are excited by a pulsed laser, and a laser Doppler vibrometer is employed to detect ultrasound waves. The F-SAFT imaging is performed with single-mode and multimode ultrasound wave signals, respectively. The results show that F-SAFT imaging fusing three mode signals (shear, longitudinal, and mode-converted waves) improves the range of the upper surface of the imaged defect by nearly two times. In addition, the profile of the imaged defect is more complete than that of using a combination of both longitudinal and shear waves. By analyzing the influence of the directionality of laser-induced ultrasound and the detection directionality caused by the out-of-plane ultrasound component on the imaging results, a theoretical approach is used to select a reasonable excitation–detection distance for the use of multimode-fused F-SAFT algorithm. Furthermore, the feasibility of the theoretical approach is verified by the experimental results.
A novel spectral coherence-based weighted envelope spectrum analysis method for bearing fault diagnosis
Authors: Cui Lingli , Zhao Xinyuan , Liu Dongdong , Wang Huaqing
Published: November 2023

Spectral coherence (SCoh) consists of spectral and cyclic frequencies and exhibits unique merits in simultaneously revealing the resonance frequency band and the fault characteristic frequency (FCF) of bearing signals. Most SCoh-based methods only consider the spectral frequency information, while the cyclic frequency information is ignored. However, the fault information and interference components are difficult to distinguish when only the spectral frequency is considered. To address this challenge, a novel bidirectional weighted enhanced envelope spectrum (BWEES) analysis method is proposed in this paper. First, an improved spectral weighting method is developed, which is conducted in the spectral frequency direction to enhance the resonance frequency band that carries the fault information. An autocorrelation function is exploited to reveal the cyclic information hidden in noises and appropriate weights are assigned to the spectral frequencies according to the magnitudes of autocorrelation values. Second, a cyclic weighting function is designed, which is operated in the cyclic frequency direction to enhance the FCF and suppress noise interference. The cyclic frequency components with the highest magnitudes are selected as a basis to reconstruct the one-dimensional cyclic frequency map for assigning different weights. Finally, the two-dimensional weighted bivariable map is constructed and then converted into spectral coherence to reveal the fault features. The BWEES is tested by simulation signals and experimental data, and compared with four state-of-art methods. In particular, the kurtosis values of BWEES in four different cases are 7.637, 12.831, 15.269, and 80.269, which are higher than other methods. The Gini index values of BWEES in four different cases are 0.866, 0.812, 0.424, and 0.306, which are also the largest. The above numerical results show that BWEES can achieve better performance.
Students’ Voices: Self-Talk and Motivation to Complete Nursing School
Authors: Fagan Julie M.
Published: November 2023

Despite known challenges in nursing education and existing supports for students, the dropout rate remains high, exacerbating a continuing shortage of nurses that imperils safety and quality of healthcare systems. Scant data exists on how nursing students remain motivated to complete their education or what they tell themselves to overcome the challenges they encounter. For this study, 26 graduates from three cohorts at a small public university described the self-talk they used to stay motivated and graduate from nursing school. Using a grounded theory approach to identify themes from written narrative responses, the findings show that nursing students use self-talk to persist beyond adversities. Additionally, their self-talk themes are consistent with concepts of an existing student persistence model and a theory on self-determination. These findings represent students’ own voices to address a gap in the literature, and they may guide nurse educators to design more effective strategies to support persistence.
Global Media Streams: Netflix and the Changing Ecosystem of Anime Production
Authors: Noh Susan
Published: November 2023

Streaming services have become a primary intermediary between international content producers and global audiences, and their palpable influence as gatekeepers, tastemakers, and disruptors of media industries abroad have significant ramifications for the way television is produced and distributed. Using the case study of how Netflix is influencing the Japanese anime industry, this research outlines the contradictory ways that the streaming service engages with international media and how local creators are grappling with the specter of globalism that Netflix represents in their own work. Utilizing textual analysis, discursive analysis, and interviews with industry insiders, this article identifies some of the shifts that are occurring in the anime industry due to the advent of Netflix on the level of production and text.
High Intensive Exposure and Response Prevention in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder for a 72-year-Old Man
Authors: Gabriella Guineau Melissa , Oude Voshaar Richard , Hendriks Gert-Jan
Published: November 2023

The prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among older adults varies between .5% and 4.5%. OCD typically develops at a young age, and many clinicians consider the chances of successful treatment in older adults to be minimal based on the chronicity of their symptoms. To date, no randomized controlled trial have been conducted on the effectiveness of treatments for OCD in older adults. This case study describes a high intensive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) provided to a 72-year-old man with OCD. This CBT program includes psychoeducation, exposure and response prevention, and cognitive therapy. The treatment was provided by a team of 5 therapists over one week. The patient’s score on the Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale decreased from 31 at the start of the treatment to 2 by the end of treatment, which is below the recommended cut-off for a clinical diagnosis. Secondary depressive symptoms, as assessed with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report, decreased from 57 at the start of treatment, to 1 by the end of treatment, which indicates the absence of depressive symptoms. The treatment gains were maintained with persistent remission until the 18-month follow-up. This study highlights an effective high intensive CBT program for older adults with OCD and challenges the false assumptions that (a) psychological interventions are ineffective for older adults and (b) existing treatments are unsuited for older adults. Future research should investigate the effects of this program in large sample with sufficient power.
Long Term Effects of a Social Capital-Based Exercise Adherence Intervention for Breast Cancer Survivors With Moderate Fatigue: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Han Jeehee , Jang Min Kyeong , Lee Hyojin , Kim Soo Yeon , Kim Sung Hae , Hee Ko Yun , Song Yoonkyung , Kang Min Jae , Jeon Justin Y. , Cho Young Up , Yi Gihong , Kim Sue
Published: November 2023

Objectives:

This study reports on the long-term effects of the Better Life After Cancer: Energy, Strength, and Support (BLESS) program, a 12-week social capital-based exercise adherence program for breast cancer survivors (BCS), implemented using a randomized controlled trial design. The study investigated outcomes related to cancer-related fatigue (CRF), quality of life (QOL), physical activity, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and social capital.

Methods:

Participants who had moderate or greater CRF were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 24), consisting of supervised and home-based exercise, or the control (n = 26), who received exercise leaflets. Generalized estimating equations models were fitted for the outcome variables. The assessment points were baseline (M1), immediately after completing the intervention at 12 weeks (M2), 1 month (M3), and 6 months post-intervention (M4).

Results:

A significant reduction in the total CRF score was found for both groups. We observed a significant time by group effect at M2, indicating a reduction of behavioral/severity CRF scores and a higher increase of physical activity. Also, there was an increase in the QOL score of both groups at M2, M3, and M4, compared to M1. Both groups had reduced anxiety at M3 and M4 compared to M1. The time by group effect for depression, sleep quality and social capital was not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

This 12-week exercise adherence program improved behavioral/severity CRF and physical activity post-intervention. Both the experimental group and control group showed significant improvements in CRF, QOL, and anxiety domains compared to the baseline, which extended to 6 months post-intervention.

Trial registration:

Korean Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0005763)
In Brief
Authors: Zhang Rose Xueqing , Muzzerall Parker , Liu Sophie X. , Uscola Colter , van Stee Elena G.
Published: November 2023

Sexual racism, parental happiness, and smoking ‘em (if you can get ‘em): A snapshot of new research.
Owning Color: The Visual as Property
Authors: Fine Gary Alan , Greenland Fiona
Published: November 2023

Who has the right to claim color? Through three chromatic cases—International Klein Blue, Vantablack, and Pullman, or UPS Brown—the authors explore the social significance of and commercial demands upon the vividly colorful world we all share.
21st-Century Gender Games
Authors: Maclean Kate , Green David X
Published: November 2023

Chess-boxing brings brains, brawn, and bawdy good times.
Re-presenting Red-Light Districts
Authors: Weitzer Ronald
Published: November 2023

Seeing the social side of the sex trade.
Yes, I Refuse to Stand Up to Cancer!
Authors: Burley David
Published: November 2023

David Burley on prioritizing cures over causes.
Is College in Decline?
Authors: Beaver William
Published: November 2023

William Beaver on four factors depressing higher ed enrollments.
Reverse or Ulnar-Sided, Greater Arc Perilunate Injury: Case Report and Systematic Review of Literature
Authors: Zampeli Frantzeska , Marín Fermín Theodorakys , Hagert Elisabet , Arnaiz Javier , Andersson Jonny K.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Perilunate injuries of carpal bones are uncommon, high-energy injuries that necessitate early diagnosis and appropriate management to prevent progressive carpal instability and posttraumatic osteoarthritis. A much more uncommon mechanism that starts from the lunotriquetral ligament and proceeds radially in an opposite direction than the classic mechanism may cause a reverse or ulnar-sided perilunate dislocation (PLD). The purposes were: (1) to present an uncommon case of greater arc reverse (ulnar-sided) perilunate fracture-dislocation (REPLFD); and (2) to conduct a systematic review (SR) to evaluate the current evidence on reverse perilunate injuries (REPLIs).

Methods:

A novel pattern of injury of REPLFD with fractures of the ulnar styloid, triquetrum, and capitate is presented. A SR was conducted with primary outcome measures of the type of injury (pathoanatomy of lesions) and pathomechanics. Secondary outcome measures were choice of surgery and outcome on follow-up.

Results:

The Murad’s tool and modified Coleman Methodology Score revealed poor methodological quality of the available literature on REPLI. Evidence is lacking in the mechanism of injury and treatment of REPLI, especially regarding REPLFD.

Conclusions:

The SR revealed poor methodological quality of the available literature and exposes that not all PLDs can be explained by the current existing pathomechanical injury classifications. However, following the management principles of perilunate injuries, REPLI tends to have good functional results with no major complications.

Level of Evidence:

Level V.
Content and Face Validation of the Lifestyle Medicine Assessment
Authors: Bonnet Jonathan P.
Published: November 2023

Introduction: There are no validated global lifestyle medicine brief screening tools that measure health behaviors in all six lifestyle domains. The Lifestyle Medicine Assessment (LMA) tool was initially developed and revised based on feedback elicited from colleagues, experts, and patients. During the developmental process, every item underwent language changes. Three of the original 24 items were removed. However, there have not been any formal validation efforts. This study aims to formally evaluate the face and content validity of the LMA. Methods: A survey was emailed to 12 board-certified lifestyle medicine experts asking them to rank items in the LMA on a 1-4 scale for content relevance and clarity. Content and face validity were quantitatively determined using the item-level content validity index (I-CVI), scale-level content validity index (S-CVI), and item-level face validity index (I-FVI), scale-level face validity index (S-FVI), respectively. Literature accepted thresholds of I-CVI/I-FVI ≥.79 and S-CVI/S-FVI average ≥ .80 were used. Results: Eleven experts returned evaluations of the 21-item LMA. All 21 items had I-CVI for relevance ≥.91 and I-FVI ≥.81 with excellent kappa values. The S-CVI/I-FVI average for relevance and clarity were .99 and .95, respectively. Conclusion: The 21-item LMA is a brief global lifestyle medicine tool that has demonstrated excellent content and face validity.
Differences in performance parameters between winning and losing pairs in men's and women's professional padel
Authors: Martín-Miguel Iván , Muñoz Diego , Escudero-Tena Adrián , Toro-Román Víctor , Sánchez-Alcaraz Bernardino J.
Published: November 2023

The study aims to analyze the differences between winning and losing pairs depending on the sex and the round of the tournament in professional padel. A total of 814 matches (438 men and 376 women) from the draw rounds of eight World Padel Tour Open and Master tournaments played during the 2022 season were analyzed by systematic observation. The results indicate that the winning pair obtains more points won ( p < 0.001), more break balls ( p < 0.001), breaks ( p < 0.001), golden points won ( p < 0.001), and golden points won to the return ( p < 0.001) compared to the losing pair, regardless of sex ( p < 0.05) and round. Regarding the differences in both sexes, men players obtained more points won ( p = 0.025) and golden points won on serve ( p = 0.032), while women players obtained more breaks ( p = 0.004), with differences in the winning pairs ( p < 0.001). Concerning the round, it only influences the golden points won to the return in men's padel ( p = 0.037), with a greater difference in the final than in the other rounds. In conclusion, these differences show key game variables that affect the final score, differentiating between sex and establishing game tactics in competition to optimize the players’ performance.
Role of Nrf2 and exercise in alleviating COPD-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction
Authors: Jiang Meiling , Li Peijun , Wang Yingqi , Cao Yuanyuan , Han Xiaoyu , Jiang Linhong , Liu Xiaodan , Wu Weibing
Published: November 2023

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex chronic respiratory disease with cumulative impacts on multiple systems, exhibiting significant extrapulmonary impacts, and posing a serious public health problem. Skeletal muscle dysfunction is one of the most pronounced extrapulmonary effects in patients with COPD, which severely affects patient prognosis and mortality primarily through reduced productivity resulting from muscle structural and functional alterations. Although the detailed pathogenesis of COPD has not been fully determined, some researchers agree that oxidative stress plays a significant role. Oxidative stress not only catalyzes the progression of pulmonary symptoms but also drives the development of skeletal muscle dysfunction. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), is a key transcription factor that regulates the antioxidant response and plays an enormous role in combating oxidative stress. In this review, we have summarized current research on oxidative stress damage to COPD skeletal muscle and analyzed the role of Nrf2 in improving skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD through exercise. The results suggest that oxidative stress drives the occurrence and development of skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD. Exercise may improve skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with COPD by promoting the dissociation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and Nrf2, inducing sequestosome1(p62) phosphorylation to bind with Keap1 competitively leading to Nrf2 stabilization and improving dynamin-related protein 1-dependent mitochondrial fission. Nrf2 may be a key target for exercise anti-oxidative stress to alleviate skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD.
Integration of a Safety Module to Prevent Rebound Hypoglycemia in Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas Systems
Authors: Villa-Tamayo María F. , Colmegna Patricio , Breton Marc D.
Published: November 2023

Background:

With automated insulin delivery (AID) systems becoming widely adopted in the management of type 1 diabetes, we have seen an increase in occurrences of rebound hypoglycemia or generated hypoglycemia induced by the controller’s response to rapid glucose rises following rescue carbohydrates. Furthermore, as AID systems aim to enable complete automation of prandial control, algorithms are designed to react even more strongly to glycemic rises. This work introduces a rebound hypoglycemia prevention layer (HypoSafe) that can be easily integrated into any AID system.

Methods:

HypoSafe constrains the maximum permissible insulin delivery dose based on the minimum glucose reading from the previous hour and the current glucose level. To demonstrate its efficacy, we integrated HypoSafe into the latest University of Virginia (UVA) AID system and simulated two scenarios using the 100-adult cohort of the UVA/Padova T1D simulator: a nominal case including three unannounced meals, and another case where hypoglycemia was purposely induced by an overestimated manual bolus.

Results:

In both simulation scenarios, rebound hypoglycemia events were reduced with HypoSafe (nominal: from 39 to 0, hypo-induced: from 55 to 7) by attenuating the commanded basal (nominal: 0.27U vs. 0.04U, hypo-induced: 0.27U vs. 0.03U) and bolus (nominal: 1.02U vs. 0.05U, hypo-induced: 0.43U vs. 0.02U) within the 30-minute interval after treating a hypoglycemia event. No clinically significant changes resulted for time in the range of 70 to 180 mg/dL or above 180 mg/dL.

Conclusion:

HypoSafe was shown to be effective in reducing rebound hypoglycemia events without affecting achieved time in range when combined with an advanced AID system.
Polyphenol Content, Antioxidant, and Antibiotic Activities of Pinus Caribaea Morelet Forestry Coproducts
Authors: Sinyeue Cynthia , Maerker Louisa , Guentas Linda , Medevielle Valérie , Bregier Frédérique , Chaleix Vincent , Sol Vincent , Lebouvier Nicolas
Published: November 2023

Context and objective

In the context of valorization of wood waste from the timber industry, this work aims to study the chemical composition and to evaluate the biological capacities of coproducts from Pinus caribaea Morelet.

Methods

With this mind, sawdust, bark, and knot-wood from P caribaea were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activities of extracts and reference compounds were assessed in vitro using 2 methods: 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2.2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid). For antimicrobial evaluation, coproduct extracts were assayed against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans.

Results

Despite the variable composition of sawdust, bark, and knot-wood, the composition of P caribaea is typical of the Pinus genus, with the presence of flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans. Seven compounds were elucidated: 2 lignans (nortrachelogenin and matairesinol), 3 flavonoids (pinocembrin, pinobanksin, pinobanksin 3-acetate), 2 stilbenes (pinosylvin, pinosylvin monomethyl ether), and 1 phenolic acid (caffeic acid).

Conclusion

The ethanolic extracts of bark and knots showed significant antioxidant activity. The knots showed significant antibacterial properties against S epidermidis.
Green Synthesis of Copper-Iron Nanoparticles Using the Peel of Momordica charantia and its Cytotoxicity and Apoptotic Effect on Human Liver and Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Alamri Reham KH , Ali Daoud , Alharthi Wed A. , Yaseen Khadijah N. , Almutairi Bader O , Alkahtani Saad , Alarifi Saud
Published: November 2023

Nanoparticles’ size-dependent features make them exceptional and necessary in a wide range of human activities. We examined the toxicity and apoptotic activities of Cu/Fe nanocomposite (green Cu/Fe nanoparticles [g-Cu-FeNPs]) on human liver (HuH-7) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells for 24 h. Prior to the treatment of g-Cu-FeNPs, the size of the nanoparticles (NPs) was determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The shape of g-Cu-FeNPs was polygonal, with a size of 24 ± 2 nm. The cytotoxicity of g-Cu-FeNPs on both cells was determined by using MTT and NRU assays, and the cytotoxicity of NPs was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. On the basis of the MTT result, the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 24 h was determined to be 324 and 368 μg/mL for HuH-7 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. The generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and catalase levels in HuH-7 cells was higher than in MCF-7 cells at 216 µg/mL of g-Cu-FeNPs. The cell death mechanism was assessed using Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide staining. Maximum apoptotic and necrotic cells were observed at a higher concentration of NPs in HuH-7 cells than in MCF-7 calls. This study warrants the application of g-Cu-FeNPs in daily life and provides vital information about the toxicity of g-Cu-FeNPs.
Smilagenin Transformation Products Under Lewis Acid Catalysis in Acetic Anhydride and Synthesis of 23-Acetyl-Spirostanols
Authors: García-Merinos Juan-Pablo , Yépez Rebeca , Ramírez-Lozano Claudia M. , Rincón Susana , Ochoa Ma. Eugenia , López Yliana , Farfán Norberto , Santillan Rosa
Published: November 2023

Objective: The present contribution describes a novel approach for obtaining steroid derivatives of the iso-type from sapogenins for drug discovery. Methodology: Diastereomeric 23-acetyl-spirostanols were prepared by acetolysis of smilagenin (4) (25 R) using boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in acetic anhydride followed by treatment of the epimeric epoxycholestene obtained (6 or 9) under basic hydrolysis. Higher regioselectivity was attained in the presence of ZnCl2 in acetic anhydride. Results: Acetolysis of smilagenin (4) (25 R) using boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in acetic anhydride afforded 20-α-methyl epoxycholestene 6 as the major product, two furostene derivatives ( 7 and 8), as well as the new 20-β-methyl epoxycholestene 9. Increased regioselectivity for the acetolysis of smilagenin (4) was observed using ZnCl2 in acetic anhydride affording 6 in 90% yield. Subsequent treatment of the epimeric epoxycholestene (6 or 9) under basic hydrolysis afforded two new diastereomeric 23-acetyl-spirostanols 14 and 15. The structures of all compounds were established using 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Conclusions: Formation of the two diastereomeric 23-acetyl-spirostanols (14 and 15) from epimeric epoxycholestenes 6 and 9 with KOH/EtOH proceeds with high stereospecificity. The configuration at C-20, C-22, C-23, and C-25 for the new iso-type 23-acetyl-spirostanol 15 was established by X-ray crystal analysis as 20 R, 22 R, 23 S, and 25 R. In addition to the above, the X-ray of 15 was analyzed and compared with the crystallographic data of sarsasapogenin acetate (16), smilagenin (4) and 23-acetyl- sarsasapogenin (17).