bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Baseline Predictors of Response to Repetitive Task Practice in Chronic Stroke
Authors: Dimyan Michael A. , Harcum Stacey , Ermer Elsa , Boos Amy F. , Conroy Susan S. , Liu Fang , Horn Linda B. , Xu Huichun , Zhan Min , Chen Hegang , Whitall Jill , Wittenberg George F.
Published: May 2022

Background

Repetitive task practice reduces mean upper extremity motor impairment in populations of patients with chronic stroke, but individual response is highly variable. A method to predict meaningful reduction in impairment in response to training based on biomarkers and other data collected prior to an intervention is needed to establish realistic rehabilitation goals and to effectively allocate resources.

Objectives

To identify prognostic factors and better understand the biological substrate for reductions in arm impairment in response to repetitive task practice among patients with chronic (≥6 months) post-stroke hemiparesis.

Methods

The intervention is a form of repetitive task practice using a combination of robot-assisted therapy and functional arm use in real-world tasks. Baseline measures include the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Wolf Motor Function Test, Action Research Arm Test, Stroke Impact Scale, questionnaires on pain and expectancy, MRI, transcranial magnetic stimulation, kinematics, accelerometry, and genomic testing.

Results

Mean increase in FM-UE was 4.6 ± 1.0 SE, median 2.5. Approximately one-third of participants had a clinically meaningful response to the intervention, defined as an increase in FM ≥ 5. The selected logistic regression model had a receiver operating curve with AUC = .988 (Std Error = .011, 95% Wald confidence limits: .967–1) showed little evidence of overfitting. Six variables that predicted response represented impairment, functional, and genomic measures.

Conclusion

A simple weighted sum of 6 baseline factors can accurately predict clinically meaningful impairment reduction after outpatient intensive practice intervention in chronic stroke. Reduction of impairment may be a critical first step to functional improvement. Further validation and generalization of this model will increase its utility in clinical decision-making.
Six Applications of Plant Based Diets for Health Promotion
Authors: Stancic Saray , Cullimore Josh , Barnard Neal
Published: May 2022

The field of medicine, despite its prominent influence in society, has invested little to promote healthy lifestyle choices. The consequence of this is reflected in our ever-rising chronic disease statistics, most notably obesity and diabetes rates. This is especially regrettable considering overwhelming evidence confirms most non-communicable disease is preventable by modifying our diets. In light of this critical knowledge that optimizing our nutrition could save innumerable lives, one would naturally assume physicians would be readily practicing its promotion with their patients. Yet, that is far from true. By no fault of their own. Medical schools, entrusted with the responsibility of educating our future healthcare leaders, have managed to largely bypass the topic of nutrition, arguably the most powerful healthcare intervention known to mankind. In fact, on average, medical schools offer an anemic number of hours of nutrition education over 4 years. 1 What little is offered is focused on biochemistry and nutrient deficiencies, none of which prepares a physician in training for meaningful application in clinical care. This lapse in nutrition education continues throughout post-graduate training; in a recent survey of more than 600 cardiologists, 90% reported they had not received needed nutrition education during training. 2 Although we agree that not all physicians must be experts in nutrition, in the very least all should have knowledge of rudimentary and essential facts. We offer this commentary on six vital clinical topics, to increase awareness amongst physicians as to the importance of diet and its role in human health.
Closed-form camera pose and plane parameters estimation for moments-based visual servoing of planar objects
Authors: Chen Yuhan , Luo Xiao , Han Baoling , Jiang Jianfeng , Liu Yang
Published: May 2022

Image moments are global descriptors of an image and can be used to achieve control-decoupling properties in visual servoing. However, only a few methods completely decouple the control. This study introduces a novel camera pose estimation method, which is a closed-form solution, based on the image moments of planar objects. Traditional position-based visual servoing estimates the pose of a camera relative to an object, but the pose estimation method directly estimates the pose of an initial camera relative to a desired camera. Because the estimation method is based on plane parameters, a plane parameters estimation method based on the 2D rotation, 2D translation, and scale invariant moments is also proposed. A completely decoupled position-based visual servoing control scheme from the two estimation methods above was adopted. The new scheme exhibited asymptotic stability when the object plane was in the camera field of view. Simulation results demonstrated the effectiveness of the two estimation methods and the advantages of the visual servo control scheme compared with the classical method.
An Exploratory Study of Gender Role Stress and Psychological Distress of Women in Kosovo
Authors: Kelmendi Kaltrina , Jemini-Gashi Liridona
Published: May 2022

Introduction:

Although investigations of changing gender roles have been performed globally, most studies have been conducted in high-income countries, and studies from emerging and developing countries are lacking. This study aims to examine the factor structure of the feminine gender role stress scale among women (FGRS) and explore its relationship with psychological distress (PD).

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was carried out with 656 women from Kosovo using a convenience sampling technique during October 2017 and March 2018. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21 and Mplus 7.3. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and path analysis were used to understand the goodness-of-fit of the FGRS scale in the Kosovo context and explore the relationship between the FGRS scale and PD when treated as latent variables. Multivariance analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to understand the differences between groups of women based on employment and FGRS. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the prediction of different domains of FGRS for PD separately for each category while controlling for age.

Results:

After demonstrating that the five-factor model of the FGRS showed a good fit to the data in this sample of Kosovo women, analyses revealed that the FGRS domains (fear of victimization and behaving with assertiveness) were positively associated with psychological distress.

Conclusion:

The findings validate the usefulness of the FGRS scale in a sample of Kosovar women. The intersectionality perspective was used to interpret the importance of multiple layers of vulnerabilities and their coexistence, including education, socioeconomic status, and their implications for health inequalities.
Investigating the impact of physical activity interventions on delirium outcomes in intensive care unit patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jarman Annika , Chapman Keeleigh , Vollam Sarah , Stiger Robyn , Williams Mark , Gustafson Owen
Published: May 2022

Background

To investigate the impact of physical activity interventions, including early mobilisation, on delirium outcomes in critically ill patients.

Methods

Electronic database literature searches were conducted, and studies were selected based on pre-specified eligibility criteria. Cochrane Risk of Bias-2 and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies-of Interventions quality assessment tools were utilised. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations was used to assess levels of evidence for delirium outcomes. The study was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020210872).

Results

Twelve studies were included; ten randomised controlled trials one observational case-matched study and one before-after quality improvement study. Only five of the included randomised controlled trial studies were judged to be at low risk of bias, with all others, including both non-randomised controlled trials deemed to be at high or moderate risk. The pooled relative risk for incidence was 0.85 (0.62–1.17) which was not statistically significant in favour of physical activity interventions. Narrative synthesis for effect on duration of delirium found favour towards physical activity interventions reducing delirium duration with median differences ranging from 0 to 2 days in three comparative studies. Studies comparing varying intervention intensities showed positive outcomes in favour of greater intensity. Overall levels of evidence were low quality.

Conclusions

Currently there is insufficient evidence to recommend physical activity as a stand-alone intervention to reduce delirium in Intensive Care Units. Physical activity intervention intensity may impact on delirium outcomes, but a lack of high-quality studies limits the current evidence base.
The incidence and shape of the digital pulleys: a study of 192 fingers in 48 cadaveric hands
Authors: De las Heras Julio , Sanudo José Ramón , Simón de Blas Clara , Krompas Ioannis , SalaBerri Guillermo José , Aragonés Paloma
Published: May 2022

We dissected 192 fingers in 48 fresh cadaveric hands (23 right and 25 left hands from 26 female and 22 male donors) and analysed the incidence, location, length and structure of the five annular and three cruciform pulleys. No statistically significant differences were found between left and right or between male and female hands. The A1, A2 and A4 pulleys were present in all fingers, while the incidence of other pulleys varied. We found 32 different patterns of pulley combinations. The structure of the pulleys also varied. Most important was the variation of A1, which consisted of one to four separate rings. In 18% there was no gap between the A1 and A2 pulleys. A greater understanding of the anatomical variation of the pulley system is beneficial for hand surgeons performing open or percutaneous trigger finger releases and for radiologists examining the area sonographically.
Effects of a competitive half-season on the aerobic capacity and match running performance of Turkish elite professional soccer players
Authors: Akyildiz Zeki , Güler Aytek Hikmet , Çene Erhan , Palucci Vieira Luiz H , Aquino Rodrigo , Clemente Filipe Manuel
Published: May 2022

This study examines how exertion during matches affects participants’ physical capacity and match performance. The study included 13 elite football league players (21 ± 0.7 years old; height, 181.1 ± 8.98 cm; body mass, 74.7 ± 8.1 kg) and used global positioning system (GPS) data collected during 12 official matches. Four matches after the first Yo-Yo IR1 test, four matches before the second Yo-Yo IR1 test, and four matches after the second Yo-Yo IR1 test are examined. Sprint count per minute (SC) (N/min), (>19 km/h), p < 0.030; distance covered at zone 4–6 per minute DCZ4 (km/h/min), (18–24 km/h), p < 0.00; distance covered at zone 4–6 per minute DCZ5 (km/h/min), (24–30 km/h), p < 0.001; and distance covered at zone 4–6 per minute DCZ6 (km/h/min), (30–39 km/h), p < 0.001 were recorded. According to the values obtained before the tests, the match data show a decreasing trend in the following weeks. Furthermore, the relationship between physical performance values and tests is determined (average speed (AS) (km/h), r = 0.64; maximum speed (MS) (km/h), r = 0.50; DCZ4 (km/h/min), r = 0.89; DCZ5 (km/h), r = 0.81). As a result, time-dependent changes in intermittent endurance capacity during matches validated in-game running kinematics. This indicates the Yo-Yo IR1’s robustness as a fitness marker, and its capacity to help practitioners preview longitudinal variations in locomotor behavior during matches. Athletes who show a high degree of asymmetry in official matches seem to exhibit a strong ability to resist fatigue during testing.
Inflammatory bowel disease and thromboembolic events: a c’lot to learn
Authors: Carvalho Ana Catarina , Pinho Juliana , Cancela Eugénia , Vieira Hugo Marcelo , Silva Américo , Ministro Paula
Published: May 2022

Background:

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a variety of extraintestinal manifestations including arterial and venous thromboembolism. Research evidences that IBD patients have about a 2- to 3-fold increase in the risk of venous thromboembolism when compared with the general population.

Objectives:

We intended to evaluate the coagulation parameters and the prevalence of thromboembolic events (TE) in IBD patients. It was also our aim to investigate the correlation between coagulation parameters and disease phenotype and activity in this population.

Methods:

This single center prospective observational study was performed between November 2016 and April 2020. The cohort included patients with 18 years of age or older, diagnosed with IBD and followed at a gastroenterology consultation, during a follow-up period of 36 months. Patients were evaluated in terms of IBD type, extent and disease behavior, clinical scores of IBD activity, medication, smoking history, family and personal history of TE, coagulation parameters, fecal calprotectin levels, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hospitalization due to TE, IBD-related hospitalization or surgery, pregnancy, or diagnosis of malignancy.

Results:

The study included 149 IBD patients (67 males and 82 females). Coagulation parameters were similar in CD and UC patients and only plasminogen was increased in CD patients [97.4 (17.0) versus 91.6 (13.3), p = 0.035], when comparing with UC patients. The determined values were in the range of the reference values described in literature for the standard population. During the follow-up period, none of the patients experienced a TE that demanded hospitalization.

Conclusion:

In our study, acquired and inherited risk factors for TE and changes in coagulation parameters did not show to influence prothrombotic predisposition in IBD patients. As such, the clinical relevance of measuring coagulation parameters in this population is questionable.

Trial Registry:

NCT05162339 (ClinicalTrials.gov ID).
The utility of cfDNA in TGCT patient management: a systematic review
Authors: Krasic Jure , Skara Lucija , Bojanac Ana Katusic , Ulamec Monika , Jezek Davor , Kulis Tomislav , Sincic Nino
Published: May 2022

Background:

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the most common young male malignancy with a steadily rising incidence. Standard clinical practice is radical orchidectomy of suspicious lumps followed by histopathological diagnosis and tumor subtyping. This practice can lead to complications and quality of life issues for the patients. Liquid biopsies, especially cell-free DNA (cfDNA), promised to be true surrogates for tissue biopsies, which are considered dangerous to perform in cases of testicular tumors. In this study, we have performed a systematic review on the potential of cfDNA in TGCT patient management, its potential challenges in translation to clinical application and possible approaches in further research.

Materials & Methods:

The review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines on EuropePMC and PUBMED electronic databases, with the last update being on October 21, 2021. Due to the high heterogeneity in identified research articles, we have performed an overview of their efficacy.

Results:

Eight original articles have been identified on cfDNA in TGCT patients published from 2004 to 2021, of which six had more than one TGCT patient enrolled and were included in the final analysis. Three studies investigated cfDNA methylation, one has investigated mutations in cfDNA, two have investigated cfDNA amount, and one has investigated cfDNA integrity in TGCT. The sensitivity of cfDNA for TGCT was found to be higher than in serum tumor markers and lower than miR-371a-3p, with comparable specificity. cfDNA methylation analysis has managed to accurately detect teratoma in TGCT patients.

Conclusion:

Potential challenges in cfDNA application to TGCT patient management were identified. The challenges relating to the biology of TGCT with its low mutational burden and low cfDNA amounts in blood plasma make next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods especially challenging. We have also proposed possible approaches to help find clinical application, including a focus on cfDNA methylation analysis, and potentially solving the challenge of teratoma detection.
Recording our genes: Stakeholder views on genetic test results in networked electronic medical records
Authors: Prictor Megan , Rychkova Maria
Published: May 2022

Background: In Australia, national policy prioritises the integration of clinical genetic data with networked electronic medical records (EMRs) for enhanced coordination of care and clinical decision-making. Objective: To examine the needs, privacy expectations and concerns of patients, family members, patient advocates and clinicians in relation to the use of networked EMRs for clinical genetic information. Method: Purposive sampling was used to recruit 27 participants for a semi-structured qualitative interview, primarily over Zoom. The interviews were audio and video-recorded and externally transcribed. Interview transcripts were then coded and analysed in NVivo, using an inductive thematic approach. Results: Thematic analysis revealed diverse preferences regarding genetic information access and handling across participants, with five core themes being identified: degree of access and control; central role of genetic professionals as information gatekeepers; complexities of familial implications; external risks; and law, governance and policy; all strong themes that emerged across numerous participants. Conclusion: This project yielded unprecedented and significant insights into the views, needs and concerns of key stakeholders in Australia regarding the inclusion of health-related genetic test results in networked EMRs. Implications: These findings provide a critical reference point for much-needed law reform and policy-making around genetic test results in Australia.
The European anti-money laundering framework – At a turning point? The role of financial intelligence units
Authors: Siena Fabio A
Published: May 2022

Last July, 2021, the European Commission presented a package of legislative proposals that aspires to radically change the EU anti-money laundering legal framework. This paper focuses on Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) role and functions, and critically analyses the impact of on-going developments, taking into account international standards and the most recent studies and research. The overall conclusions show that many shortcomings remain and, in particular, how the accelerator is pushed excessively in the direction of increasing powers and too little in that of guarantees of FIUs independence and autonomy and of protection of individual rights.
Toward a digital decision- and workflow-support system for initiation and control of long-term non-invasive ventilation in stable hypercapnic COPD patients
Authors: Cornelissen Christian Gabriel , Winter Stefan , Keuchel Daniel , Spicher Nicolai , Boeckmann Britta , Stephan Christian , Saygi Tan , Windisch Wolfram , Vollmer Thomas , Dreher Michael
Published: May 2022

Introduction:

Due to an increasing demand for the initiation and control of non-invasive ventilation (NIV), digital algorithms are suggested to support therapeutic decisions and workflows in an ambulatory setting. The DIGIVENT project established and implemented such algorithms for patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by a predefined process.

Methods:

Based on long-term clinical experience and guideline recommendations as provided by the German Respiratory Society, detailed graphical descriptions of how to perform NIV in stable COPD patients were created. Subsequently, these clinical workflows were implemented in the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) as one tool to formalize these workflows serving as input for an executable digital implementation.

Results:

We succeeded in creating an executable digital implementation that reflects clinical decision-making and workflows in digital algorithms. Furthermore, we built a user-friendly graphical interface that allows easy interaction with the DIGIVENT support algorithms.

Conclusion:

The DIGIVENT project established digital treatment algorithms and implemented a decision- and workflow-support system for NIV whose validation in a clinical cohort is planned.
The burden of malnutrition & frailty in patients with coronary artery disease: An under-recognized problem
Authors: Arshad Samiullah , Khan Samina , Karim Adham , Gupta Vedant A.
Published: May 2022

Elderly patients with coronary artery disease have a high prevalence of frailty and malnutrition. Frailty syndrome is associated with poor outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction. There is a known overlap between frailty and malnutrition, yet these are two different entities. Fried Frailty Phenotype, Frail Scale, timed up and go test, and gait speed are rapid screening tests that may identify patients with frailty in everyday clinical setting. Short Form MNA is a sensitive tool to screen for malnutrition. Despite the availability of several tools for screening for both these conditions, the screening rates remain low. We aim to create awareness about the impacts of frailty and malnutrition, provide a brief overview of tools available and highlight the importance of screening in this high-risk population.
Detection of Lophomonas in pericardial effusion sample in a COVID-19 patient with systemic sclerosis: An unusual case report
Authors: Zakariaei Zakaria , Sharifpour Ali , Fakhar Mahdi , Soleymani Mostafa , Banimostafavi Elham Sadat , Taheri Amirmasoud
Published: May 2022

Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disorder that involves the skin and many other organs, such as the heart, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. Cardiac involvement is in the form of pericarditis, pericardial effusion, and pulmonary hypertension. Several complications and super infections post-COVID-19 have been reported, such as fungal, bacterial infections, and Lophomonas blattarum. Lophomoniasis is an emerging pulmonary infection that mainly involves the lower respiratory tract. Herein, we present an ectopic Lophomonas infection in an unusual location (pericardial effusion) in a COVID-19 patient who had systemic sclerosis.
Successful management of colistin- and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae-associated ecthyma gangrenosum in acute myeloid leukemia: A rare complication
Authors: Jamal Aisha , Saleem Ali , Rezwan Faiza , Sheikh Affaf , Shamsi Tahir
Published: May 2022

Pseudomonal ecthyma gangrenosum is a well-known condition in immunosuppressed patients. However, ecthyma gangrenosum associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae is a rare entity that requires early recognition and optimal antibiotic and surgical management. We herein report the first case of colistin & carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ecthyma gangrenosum in an acute myeloid leukemia patient. A 30-year-old female with acute myeloid leukemia received induction chemotherapy at the National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation hospital. Post-chemotherapy, she developed fever and a necrotic erythematous papule on right forearm. Colistin-susceptible carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated in cultures. Susceptibility testing was performed by microbroth dilution method. Worsening necrotic lesion prompted surgical debridement. Histopathology of debrided tissue revealed necrotic inflammation, and tissue cultures grew colistin-resistant carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (colistin minimum inhibitory concentration >4 µg/mL). We speculate that colistin resistance was acquired due to impaired antibiotic penetration in necrotic nidus. A higher incidence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae-associated ecthyma gangrenosum is anticipated in hem-oncology patients, and timely diagnosis, appropriate antibiotics, and surgical debridement remain the only potential cure.
Exploring the experiences of people and family carers from under-represented groups in self-managing Parkinson's disease and their use of digital health to do this
Authors: Nimmons Danielle , Armstrong Megan , Pigott Jennifer , Walters Kate , Schrag Anette , Ogunleye Della , Dowridge Wesley , Read Joy , Davies Nathan
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Digital health is thought to enable people to better manage chronic conditions, such as Parkinson's. However, little is known about how people from under-represented groups with chronic conditions use digital health to self-manage.

Objective

The objective of our study was to explore the experiences of people and family carers from under-represented groups in self-managing Parkinson's, including their use of digital health to do this.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews (n = 18, including four dyadic) were conducted remotely, with 16 people with Parkinson's and six family carers in 2020–2021. Participants were purposively sampled from under-represented groups: belong to an ethnic minority, or having significant physical or sensory impairment. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Three main themes of importance were developed: ‘self-management support’, ‘digital health use to support self-management’ and ‘identity, attitudes and characteristics’. Participants received medical, psychological, social and practical self-management support. Some participants used digital health resources, e.g., Parkinson's UK website. Digital literacy was the biggest barrier to using digital health, regardless of background, often dependant on previous occupation and confidence. Few ethnic minority participants thought race or culture alters self-management ability and most believed there was no need for digital health interventions to be tailored to an individual's race or culture. Some felt inclusivity was important in terms of diverse images of people. A range of considerations were identified to optimise digital health, such as assistive equipment for people with sensory impairment.

Conclusions

Barriers to using digital health for self-management were primarily dependent on personal factors including digital literacy and attitudes but rarely race or culture. We recommend the optimisation of digital health interventions by providing assistive technology at low cost, and visual inclusiveness should be promoted by including images of people from diverse backgrounds.
Classification of cardiac arrhythmia using a convolutional neural network and bi-directional long short-term memory
Authors: Hassan Shahab Ul , Mohd Zahid Mohd S , Abdullah Talal AA , Husain Khaleel
Published: May 2022

Cardiac arrhythmia is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, with a high fatality rate worldwide. The timely diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias, determined by irregular and fast heart rate, may help lower the risk of strokes. Electrocardiogram signals have been widely used to identify arrhythmias due to their non-invasive approach. However, the manual process is error-prone and time-consuming. A better alternative is to utilize deep learning models for early automatic identification of cardiac arrhythmia, thereby enhancing diagnosis and treatment. In this article, a novel deep learning model, combining convolutional neural network and bi-directional long short-term memory, is proposed for arrhythmia classification. Specifically, the classification comprises five different classes: non-ectopic (N), supraventricular ectopic (S), ventricular ectopic (V), fusion (F), and unknown (Q) beats. The proposed model is trained, validated, and tested using MIT-BIH and St-Petersburg data sets separately. Also, the performance was measured in terms of precision, accuracy, recall, specificity, and f1-score. The results show that the proposed model achieves training, validation, and testing accuracies of 100%, 98%, and 98%, respectively with the MIT-BIH data set. Lower accuracies were shown for the St-Petersburg data set. The performance of the proposed model based on the MIT-BIH data set is also compared with the performance of existing models based on the MIT-BIH data set.
Towards a multi-user experience approach to exploring key requirements to design smart habilitation devices for children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Bonello Matthew , Farrugia Philip , Buhagiar Nathalie , Mercieca Joseph
Published: May 2022

Introduction

This paper takes a multi-stakeholder approach to generate key requirements to design smart habilitation devices for children with Cerebral Palsy. Four groups of different relevant stakeholders of smart-habilitation devices were approached to participate in this study, including children with Cerebral Palsy, their parents, occupational therapists, as well as technical specialists.

Methods

Profiles of children with Cerebral Palsy were generated to have a concrete idea of their needs and desires. Meanwhile, for the three stakeholders, focus groups were used to gather their insights and requirements on a prospective smart habilitation device for children. Successively, a thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the qualitative data obtained during the focus groups.

Results

Eight design requirements were developed to generate designs which stimulate high quality user experiences in children and other users of smart habilitation devices. In addition, an initial framework of the process that design engineers would follow to design such devices for children was proposed.

Conclusion

Adopting this framework, and the respective requirements, will help design engineers to implement a multi-user approach and amend the design according to stakeholders' goals and desires. The resulted design should ensure a high quality user experience for both the active and potential passive users of smart habilitation devices.
Influenced or to be influenced: Engaging social media influencers in nation branding through the lens of authenticity
Authors: Li Xiufang (Leah) , Feng Juan
Published: May 2022

Social media influencers are emerging as a new force in shaping public discourse and raising public awareness of socio-political agendas in the digital space. This paper explores the role of influencers as part of the citizens group in nation branding by looking into their interactions with followers through the lens of authenticity. It analyzes the networked narratives generated by the influencers and followers, using the mixed methods of blending content analysis with social network analysis. The findings identify the potential of influencers evolving as a crucial force in contributing to a representative national brand informed through imbuing authenticity with engagement, featuring valued-based content, interactivity, creativity and intrinsic motivations within an ethical communication mechanism. It advances influencer studies in nation branding by underpinning the two-way construct of authenticity in generating influence; and informs the development of strategies for engaging citizens in nation branding through influencers using authenticity. Considering the central role of China in international economics, politics and culture, this article has significant domestic and regional implications.
Examining the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Financial Performance of Indian Companies
Authors: Deb Dipanita , Gillet Philippe , Bernard Philippe , De Anupam
Published: May 2022

Corporates play a vital role in the economy and are subject to growing expectations from stakeholders. Therefore, it is essential to understand the financial impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on corporates’ activities. This article examines the impact of CSR on 30 Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)-listed corporate efficiencies by using multi-criteria decision-making models. The article emphasized the technical efficiency of 30 BSE-listed corporates and explored high-efficiency drivers. This study applies multiple methods, that is, data envelopment analysis and free disposal hull, to observe the efficiency rankings of the 30 BSE Index-listed companies for 6 years, that is, 2014–2020. In the second stage, we perform truncated regression analysis to validate our results on the association between CSR and the financial performance of the corporate. The findings suggest that 6 out of 30 corporates are technically efficient (TE = 1) in all frontier approaches.

Furthermore, the outcomes portray those three pillars of CSR (i.e., environment, social and governance) are positively correlated with efficiency. Furthermore, it has also been observed that environment and social scores are positively related to return on assets. The findings can be helpful for the stakeholders, policymakers and management of the corporate as a guideline to implement CSR practices.
Assessment of Characteristics and Methodological Quality of the Top 50 Most Cited Articles on Platelet-Rich Plasma in Musculoskeletal Medicine
Authors: Bugarin Amador , Schroeder Grant , Shi Brendan Y. , Jones Kristofer J. , Kremen Thomas J.
Published: May 2022

Background:

The wide range of clinical applications and controversial scientific evidence associated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in musculoskeletal medicine requires an examination of the most commonly cited studies within this field.

Purpose:

To identify the 50 most cited articles on PRP, assess their study design, and determine any correlations between the number of citations and level of evidence (LoE) or methodological quality.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

The Web of Science database was queried to identify the top 50 most cited articles on PRP in orthopaedic surgery. Bibliometric characteristics, number of citations, and LoE were recorded. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS), Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS), and Minimum Information for Studies Evaluating Biologics in Orthopaedics (MIBO). The Pearson correlation coefficient and Spearman correlation coefficient ( r S) were used to determine the degree of correlation between the number of citations or citation density and LoE, MCMS, MINORS score, and MIBO score. Student t tests were performed for 2-group comparisons.

Results:

The top 50 articles were published between 2005 and 2016 in 21 journals. The mean number of citations and citation density were 241 ± 94 (range, 151-625) and 23 ± 8, respectively, and the mean LoE was 2.44 ± 1.67, with 15 studies classified as LoE 1. The mean MCMS, MINORS score, and MIBO score were 66.9 ± 12.6, 16 ± 4.7, and 12.4 ± 3.7, respectively. No correlation was observed between the number of citations or citation density and LoE, MCMS, MINORS score, and MIBO score. A significant difference ( P = .02) was noted in LoE in articles from the United States (3.56 ± 1.7) versus outside the United States (2 ± 1.5). Seven of the 8 in vivo studies were published between 2005 and 2010, whereas 19 of the 25 clinical outcome investigations were published between 2011 and 2016. Studies that were published more recently were found to significantly correlate with number of citations ( r S = –0.38; P = .01), citation density ( r S = 0.36; P = .01), and higher LoE ( r S = 0.47; P = .01).

Conclusion:

The top 50 most cited articles on PRP consisted of high LoE and fair methodological quality. There was a temporal shift in research from in vivo animal studies toward investigations focused on clinical outcomes.
Perceived Unmet Need and Need-Related Distress of People Living With Dementia
Authors: Minyo Morgan J. , Judge Katherine S.
Published: May 2022

The unmet needs of people living with dementia have been shown to be multidimensional and impact well-being. However, there are a lack of studies examining variability of unmet needs and need-related distress from the person living with dementia’s perspective. The current study ( n = 12) examined the self-reported unmet needs and need-related distress of people with mild to moderate dementia. Seventy-five percent of participants ( n = 9) identified at least one unmet need and 50% ( n = 6) reported 10 or more unmet needs. “Finding and Arranging Services” and “Health Information” subscales had the highest reported average unmet needs. The most frequently reported unmet need-item was “ getting information about your memory problems?” Participants reported variability in distress for both unmet and met needs. Continued research can provide beneficial information on the relationship between unmet needs, need-related distress, and outcomes of well-being for future interventions.
Analysing Nepal’s Foreign Policy: A Hedging Perspective
Authors: Mainali Raunak
Published: May 2022

Wary of their significant dependence on India, Nepal has pursued a policy of hedging in order to mitigate potential harm. The harmful consequences of this dependence were on display in 2015 when a blockade along the southern border with India resulted in massive economic losses for Nepal at a time when the nation was recovering from an earthquake. To insure themselves against a similar fate in the future, Nepal has chosen to hedge by pursuing closer relations with China. This article analyses and outlines how Nepal has deployed this hedging strategy. It argues that Nepal’s relations with China, albeit improved, is not enough as India still retains a monopoly on Nepal’s economy. The increasingly hostile and polarised nature of Sino-Indian relations also means that hedging is not a sustainable policy, and if the rivalry between the regional powers worsen, Nepal may be forced to pick a side.
Dwaipayan Banerjee, Enduring Cancer: LIFE, DEATH and Diagnosis in Delhi
Authors: Dua Hardik
Published: May 2022

Dwaipayan Banerjee, Enduring Cancer: LIFE, DEATH and Diagnosis in Delhi (Durham: Duke University Press, 2020), 240 pp. US$25.95, ISBN: 9781478012214 (eBook).
Modelling the interdependence of spatial scales in urban systems
Authors: Lengyel Janka , Alvanides Seraphim , Friedrich Jan
Published: May 2022

The multitude of interwoven spatial scales and their relevance for urban systems has been of interest to the complexity science of cities since its conception. Today, we are well aware that urban environments are being simultaneously shaped and organised through actions at all levels. However, the fundamental question of how to reveal and quantify the interdependence of processes in between various spatial and temporal scales is less often addressed. Deepening our theoretical understanding of the multiscale spatiotemporal complexity of urban systems demands a transdisciplinary framework and the deployment of novel and advanced mathematical models. This article performs a multiscale analysis of urban structures using a large dataset of rent price values in the Ruhr area, Germany. We argue that, due to their many interacting degrees of freedom, urban systems exhibit similar features as other strongly correlated systems, for example, turbulent flows, notably the occurrence of extreme small-scale fluctuations. This analogy between urban and turbulent systems, which we support by empirical evidence, allows for the modelling of spatial structures on the basis of concepts and methods from turbulence theory. We demonstrate how by identifying the main turbulence-borrowed characteristics of an arbitrary two-dimensional urban field, it can be fully reproduced with a small number of prescribed points. Our findings have theoretical implications in the way we quantify and analyse scales in urban systems, model small-scale urban structures as well as potential policy relevance on understanding the evolution and spatial organisation of cities.
Time, the other dimension of urban form: Measuring the relationship between urban density and accessibility to grocery shops in the 10-minute city
Authors: Kesarovski Todor , Hernández-Palacio Fabio
Published: May 2022

Compact settlements take advantage of economies of scale by sustaining a system of high-quality socio-economic services at close proximities. Urban density with a balanced mix of uses also benefits walking and cycling as mobility modes that provide sufficient access to urban amenities, especially when combined with effective public transport. Indeed, walking and cycling can decrease the use of cars for short-distance trips. From this perspective, urban density can help to reduce pollution, optimise energy consumption and decrease infrastructural expenditures while contributing to more attractive urban environments. These ideas have induced a new wave of time geography planning concepts, such as the ‘10-minute city’, to enhance urban sustainability. For these concepts to move beyond visionary narratives, they must be expressed in specific empirical frameworks. Thus, the current research focuses on accessibility to grocery shops, as an essential urban service, in the Stavanger metropolitan area (Norway) using 10 minutes isochrones for walking and cycling. The study integrates open data, GIS network analyses, statistical regressions and bivariate representations of the results. The research estimates the level of serviceability by quantifying the number of shops that are accessible for each location and interrelates this estimation with spatial and population densities. The paper also presents a method to detect spatial inequalities by visualising over/under-serviced areas. This visualisation can become a tool to support strategies to rebalance such imbalances. Moreover, this study offers a practical approach towards the ‘10-minute city’ concept, as it can be adjusted to different isochrones at different spatial scales. In general, this approach can serve both to analyse existing contexts and to model strategies to support sustainability policies, such as urban densification and the promotion of environmental-friendly transport.
Russian dolls and epistemic crypts: A lived experience reflection on epistemic injustice and psychiatric confinement
Authors: Daya Indigo
Published: May 2022

Seclusion and restraint are the psychiatric practices most often considered in the context of ‘confinement’. This paper argues that confinement goes beyond just locked places, describing experiences of epistemic confinement, where people's personal truth can be locked up inside the dominance of biogenetic psychiatric narratives which frame contextual distress as ‘mental illness’. The author draws on her lived experience and perspective as a survivor academic, first to reflect on the University of Melbourne workshop ‘Confinement: Spaces and practices of care and control’, and then to consider personal experiences and implications of confinement. Both bodily and epistemic confinement are explored, including how these were experienced in the midst of emotional crises, the ways in which confinement worsened and reinforced distress, and its enduring impacts. It is proposed that bodily and epistemic confinement can cause serious, lasting trauma. The validity of confinement is questioned, in a sector which purportedly seeks therapeutic outcomes. Resistance is briefly examined as a reasonable, predictable and perhaps therapeutically beneficial response to these injustices. It is proposed that tackling epistemic injustice in confinement necessitates academic partnering with survivors, to coproduce new ways of knowing.
Female black, indigenous, and students of color demonstrate greater resilience than other students during a global pandemic
Authors: Burt Kate G , Eubank Jacob M. , Orazem John
Published: May 2022

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education institutions was particularly severe for those serving low-income students and/or students of color (BIPOC). Due to systemic inequities and intersectionality, the pandemic likely had a different impact on students depending on their identity. Purpose: This longitudinal study measured the stress of college students at a Hispanic-serving institution during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic to understand how their racial/ethnic and gender identities shaped their experience. Research Design: A survey, including a refined and validated Perceived Stress Scale, was used to measure participants’ stress, academic concerns, and pandemic concerns. Study Sample: Undergraduate students enrolled at Lehman College: n=849 in April 2020, n=701 in October 2020, and n = 686 in April 2021. Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics and ANVOA were used to analyze the data, group participants, and compare stress and concerns across groups. Results: Results indicate that female-identifying BIPOC students exhibited greater resilience than other students (by race/ethnicity and gender). Conclusion: These findings support prior research highlighting the resilience of BIPOC undergraduate students.
Allergen immunotherapy effectively reduces the risk of exacerbations and lower respiratory tract infections in both seasonal and perennial allergic asthma: a nationwide epidemiological study
Authors: Woehlk Christian , Von Bülow Anna , Ghanizada Muzhda , Søndergaard Marianne Baastrup , Hansen Susanne , Porsbjerg Celeste
Published: May 2022

Background

Allergic asthma is associated with increased risk of respiratory tract infections and exacerbations. It remains unclear whether this susceptibility is conditioned by seasonal or by perennial allergy.

Aim

To investigate perennial allergy compared with seasonal allergy as a risk factor for lower respiratory tract infections and exacerbations in asthma and whether this risk can be reduced by allergen immunotherapy (AIT).

Methodology

This is a prospective register-based nationwide study of 18–44-year-olds treated with AIT during 1995–2014. Based on the type of AIT and use of anti-asthmatic drugs, patients were subdivided into two groups: perennial allergic asthma (PAA)versusseasonal allergic asthma (SAA). Data on antibiotics against lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and oral corticosteroids for exacerbations were analysed before starting AIT (baseline) and 3 years after completing AIT (follow-up).

Results

We identified 2688 patients with asthma treated with AIT, of whom 1249 had PAA and 1439 had SAA. At baseline, patients with SAA had more exacerbations (23.8%versus16.5%, p≤0.001), but there were no differences in LRTI. During the 3-year follow-up, we observed a highly significant reduction of exacerbations with an average decrease of 57% in PAA and 74% in SAA. In addition, we observed a significant reduction of LRTI in both PAA and SAA: 17% and 20% decrease, respectively.

Conclusion

AIT effectively reduced the risk of exacerbations and lower respiratory tract infections in both seasonal and perennial allergic asthma. Perennial allergy is seemingly not a stronger risk factor for respiratory infections and exacerbations than seasonal allergy.