bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crafting Effective Research Papers: A Step-by-step Approach
Authors: Toring Eugene E , Toring Kimberly N , Legaspi Nonita P
Published: November 2024

"Research is the cornerstone of academic and professional endeavors. It is a systematic inquiry into the unknown, seeking to discover new knowledge, test existing theories, and solve real-world problems. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to research, equipping readers with the essential tools and knowledge to conduct effective and ethical research. The book is organized according to the IMRAD format, which stands for Introduction, Methods, Results, Analysis, and Discussion. This structure provides a clear and logical framework for presenting research findings. In the first part of the book, we explore the foundations of research. We define research, discuss different types of research, and delve into the ethical principles that guide research practices. Understanding these foundational concepts is essential for conducting responsible and meaningful research. The second part of the book focuses on research design and methodology. We discuss how to formulate research questions and hypotheses, conduct literature reviews, and select appropriate sampling and data collection methods. We also explore both quantitative and qualitative research methods, providing practical guidance on their use. The third part of the book covers the process of writing and presenting research. We discuss the IMRAD format for writing research reports, provide tips on writing style and clarity, and offer guidance on effective oral presentations and the like. Finally, the book includes two case studies to illustrate the application of research principles in real-world contexts. These case studies demonstrate how to conduct research from start to finish, providing practical examples and insights. By the end of this book, readers will have a solid understanding of the research process, the ability to conduct their research, and the skills to effectively communicate their findings. This book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, and professionals who seek to enhance their research capabilities. "
O viver em colônia cultura e sociedade no Brasil colonial
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas, Furtado Joaci Pereira , Lara Cecília de ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas, Silveira Marco Antônio ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas, Polito Ronald ,   Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto
Published: November 2024

A reflexão sobre aspectos da vida, da cultura e da apropriação poética e historiográfica do passado colonial do Brasil motivou o curso de difusão cultural " O viver em colônia: cultura e sociedade no Brasil colonial "realizado pelo Instituto de Estudos Brasileiros em maio de 1995. Da música à historiografia da literatura, passando pela questão indígena e por conflitos de paradigmas culturais, esta publicação espera contribuir, com estudos inovadores e polêmicos, para o debate acerca de um passado talvez nem tão distante de nós. Esta obra integra a série Cadernos do IEB.
Response of Blood Pressure to Renal Denervation Is Not Associated With Genetic Variants
Authors: Delles Christian , Schmieder Roland E. , Daly Rónán , Kannenkeril Dennis , Bosch Agnes , Lauder Lucas , Kunz Michael , Böhm Michael , Hamilton Graham , Schmieder Raphael S. , Schmid Axel , Herzyk Pawel , Mahfoud Felix
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND:

Renal denervation lowers blood pressure (BP) in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. We conducted an unbiased genomic screen to identify genetic variants that may associate with BP response to renal denervation (RDN).

METHODS:

Patients (n=268) with uncontrolled resistant hypertension (baseline BP, 166±21/90±15 mm Hg) who underwent endovascular RDN using the Symplicity catheter (Medtronic, Inc, Santa Rosa, CA) were included. Reduction in 24-hour ambulatory systolic BP was assessed at 6 months and divided into 2 groups: above and below the median response of 6.0 mm Hg, taking preintervention 24-hour ambulatory BP and regression to the mean into account. Whole exome sequencing assessing 249 669 variants, was conducted using Illumina NovaSeq technology read on a NovaSeq S4 Flow Cell device.

RESULTS:

We did not identify individual gene variants associated with BP response following RDN. These findings were confirmed after adjustment for sex and in a sensitivity analysis looking at tertiles of BP response. We also explored specific variants in
AGT
,
ADD1
, ADRB1,
ADRB2
, and
SCNN1A
that have been proposed as potential candidate genes for response and found no association (all
P
>0.13). Gene ontology analysis of variants across the 2 responder groups highlighted differences in biologic processes such as cell adhesion and molecular function such as protein tyrosine kinase activity.

CONCLUSIONS:

The response to RDN, in terms of 24-hour BP reduction, was not associated with the genetic profile of patients with resistant hypertension. These data do not support the use of a genetic score to identify potential responders to RDN.
Natural Evolution of Incomplete Reperfusion in Patients Following Endovascular Therapy After Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Mujanovic Adnan , Windecker Daniel , Cimflova Petra , Meinel Thomas R. , Seiffge David J. , Auer Elias , Boulouis Grégoire , Arnold Marcel , Serrallach Bettina L. , Rohner Roman , Janot Kevin , Dobrocky Tomas , Hill Michael D. , Goyal Mayank , Piechowiak Eike I. , Gralla Jan , Fischer Urs , Kaesmacher Johannes
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND:

A third of endovascularly treated patients with stroke experience incomplete reperfusion (expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [eTICI] <3), and the natural evolution of this incomplete reperfusion remains unknown. We systematically reviewed the literature and performed a meta-analysis on the natural evolution of incomplete reperfusion after endovascular therapy.

METHODS:

A systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed up until March 1, 2024, using a predefined strategy. Only full-text English-written articles reporting rates of either favorable (ie, delayed reperfusion (DR) or no new infarct) or unfavorable progression (ie, persistent perfusion deficit or new infarct) of incompletely reperfused tissue were included. The primary outcome was the rate of DR and its association with functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) at 90 days postintervention. Pooled odds ratios with 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effects model.

RESULTS:

Six studies involving 950 patients (50.7% female; median age, 71 years; interquartile range, 60–79) were included. Four studies assessed the evolution of incomplete reperfusion on magnetic resonance imaging perfusion imaging, while 2 studies used diffusion-weighted imaging and noncontrast computed tomography imaging, where new infarct was used to denote unfavorable progression. Five studies defined incomplete reperfusion as eTICI 2b50 or 2c. DR occurred in 41% (interquartile range, 33%–51%) of cases 24 hours postintervention. Achieving DR was associated with a higher likelihood of functional independence at 90 days (odds ratio, 2.5 [95% CI, 1.9–3.4]).

CONCLUSIONS:

Nearly half of eTICI <3 patients achieve DR, leading to favorable clinical outcomes. This subgroup may derive limited or potentially harmful effects from pursuing additional reperfusion strategies (eg, intra-arterial lytics or secondary thrombectomy). Accurately predicting the evolution of incomplete reperfusion could optimize patient selection for adjunctive reperfusion strategies at the end of an intervention.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifiers: NCT05499832.
Conformalizing Machine Translation Evaluation
Authors: Zerva Chrysoula , Martins André F. T.
Published: November 2024

Several uncertainty estimation methods have been recently proposed for machine translation evaluation. While these methods can provide a useful indication of when not to trust model predictions, we show in this paper that the majority of them tend to underestimate model uncertainty, and as a result, they often produce misleading confidence intervals that do not cover the ground truth. We propose as an alternative the use of conformal prediction, a distribution-free method to obtain confidence intervals with a theoretically established guarantee on coverage. First, we demonstrate that split conformal prediction can “correct” the confidence intervals of previous methods to yield a desired coverage level, and we demonstrate these findings across multiple machine translation evaluation metrics and uncertainty quantification methods. Further, we highlight biases in estimated confidence intervals, reflected in imbalanced coverage for different attributes, such as the language and the quality of translations. We address this by applying conditional conformal prediction techniques to obtain calibration subsets for each data subgroup, leading to equalized coverage. Overall, we show that, provided access to a calibration set, conformal prediction can help identify the most suitable uncertainty quantification methods and adapt the predicted confidence intervals to ensure fairness with respect to different attributes.1
Distribution of the soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, in green soybean cultivation areas of Japan and its control measures
Authors: Toyota Koki , Kato Risako , Takeda Ai , Perry Roland N.
Published: November 2024

Green soybean (edamame), an early-harvested soybean, is a popular vegetable in Asia and is recognised as a healthy vegetable in the other parts of the world. In Japan, edamame yield has gradually decreased over the last 30 years, despite similar cultivation areas. Damage caused by the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is one of the main causes. We surveyed the distribution of SCN in different locations and found a wide distribution of SCN across Japan. Different control measures are available, such as chemical control using fumigants or a granular type of nematicide, solarisation, and rotation with non-host crops. We are developing a new type of biological control method, which comprises short-term field cultivation and soil incorporation of mung bean. This method not only decreases the SCN density in soil but also mitigates soil erosion and nitrate leaching. For future SCN control it is essential to establish an environmentally friendly management strategy.
On the ability of the LR method to detect bias when there is pedigree misspecification and lack of connectedness
Authors: Pardo Alan M. , Legarra Andres , Vitezica Zulma G. , Forneris Natalia S. , Maizon Daniel O. , Munilla Sebastián
Published: November 2024

Background

Cross-validation techniques in genetic evaluations encounter limitations due to the unobservable nature of breeding values and the challenge of validating estimated breeding values (EBVs) against pre-corrected phenotypes, challenges which the Linear Regression (LR) method addresses as an alternative. Furthermore, beef cattle genetic evaluation programs confront challenges with connectedness among herds and pedigree errors. The objective of this work was to evaluate the LR method's performance under pedigree errors and weak connectedness typical in beef cattle genetic evaluations, through simulation.

Methods

We simulated a beef cattle population resembling the Argentinean Brangus, including a quantitative trait selected over six pseudo-generations with a heritability of 0.4. This study considered various scenarios, including: 25% and 40% pedigree errors (PE-25 and PE-40), weak and strong connectedness among herds (WCO and SCO, respectively), and a benchmark scenario (BEN) with complete pedigree and optimal herd connections.

Results

Over six pseudo-generations of selection, genetic gain was simulated to be under- and over-estimated in PE-40 and WCO, respectively, contrary to the BEN scenario which was unbiased. In genetic evaluations with PE-25 and PE-40, true biases of − 0.13 and − 0.18 genetic standard deviations were simulated, respectively. In the BEN scenario, the LR method accurately estimated bias, however, in PE-25 and PE-40 scenarios, it overestimated biases by 0.17 and 0.25 genetic standard deviations, respectively. In herds facing WCO, significant true bias due to confounding environmental and genetic effects was simulated, and the corresponding LR statistic failed to accurately estimate the magnitude and direction of this bias. On average, true dispersion values were close to one for BEN, PE-40, SCO and WCO, showing no significant inflation or deflation, and the values were accurately estimated by LR. However, PE-25 exhibited inflation of EBVs and was slightly underestimated by LR. Accuracies and reliabilities showed good agreement between true and LR estimated values for the scenarios evaluated.

Conclusions

The LR method demonstrated limitations in identifying biases induced by incomplete pedigrees, including scenarios with as much as 40% pedigree errors, or lack of connectedness, but it was effective in assessing dispersion, and population accuracies and reliabilities even in the challenging scenarios addressed.
A novel computational approach for the mining of signature pathways using species co-occurrence networks in gut microbiomes
Authors: Kim Suyeon , Thapa Ishwor , Ali Hesham
Published: November 2024

Background

Advances in metagenome sequencing data continue to enable new methods for analyzing biological systems. When handling microbial profile data, metagenome sequencing has proven to be far more comprehensive than traditional methods such as 16s rRNA data, which rely on partial sequences. Microbial community profiling can be used to obtain key biological insights that pave the way for more accurate understanding of complex systems that are critical for advancing biomedical research and healthcare. However, such attempts have mostly used partial or incomplete data to accurately capture those associations.

Methods

This study introduces a novel computational approach for the identification of co-occurring microbial communities using the abundance and functional roles of species-level microbiome data. The proposed approach is then used to identify signature pathways associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Furthermore, we developed a computational pipeline to identify microbial species co-occurrences from metagenome data at various granularity levels.

Results

When comparing the IBD group to a control group, we show that certain co-occurring communities of species are enriched for potential pathways. We also show that the identified co-occurring microbial species operate as a community to facilitate pathway enrichment.

Conclusions

The obtained findings suggest that the proposed network model, along with the computational pipeline, provide a valuable analytical tool to analyze complex biological systems and extract pathway signatures that can be used to diagnose certain health conditions.
Comparison between ultrasound guided erector spinae plane block and paravertebral block on acute and chronic post mastectomy pain after modified radical mastectomy: randomized controlled trial
Authors: Amr Samy Abdelrahman , Othman Ahmed Hassan , Ahmed Eman Hassan , Naeem Romany Gergis , Kamal Shereen Mamdouh
Published: November 2024

Background

Inadequate acute postoperative pain management is linked to the effect on the stress response and development of chronic pain. A unique regional anaesthetic method that is becoming more important for postoperative pain management is erector spinea plane block (ESP). Since its initial description, physicians have questioned weather this novel easy method can take the place of paravertebral block (PVB). Our goal was to evaluate, in contrast to control group, the effects of ESP & PVB on acute and chronic post-mastectomy pain.

Methods

One hundred and five female patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy participated in this study, randomly allocated into three equal groups: erector spinae plane block (ESP), thoracic paravertebral (TPV), and control groups. Both blocks were ultrasound-guided with 20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine according to patients’ group, control group was administered standard general anaesthesia without intervention. Total morphine consumption in the first 24 h postoperative was the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were time to the first analgesia, (Visual Analogue Scale)VAS score, serum level of cortisol and prolactin, sedation score, side effects, and LANSS scores in the first, third, and sixth postoperative months were among the variables compared between groups.

Results

Total morphine consumption in the first 24 h was significantly higher in control than ESP and TPV groups (10.74 ± 1.37, 8.17 ± 1.69, 5.70 ± 1.95 respectively p < 0.001). Time to first analgesic request was the shortest in control versus ESP and TPV groups as (4.37 ± 3.06, 8.13 ± 1.75, 10.64 ± 1.83 h respectively p ˂0.001). ESP and TPV had significantly lower cortisol and prolactin levels compared to control (p < 0.001). The highest LANSS scores were in the control group in the first, third, and sixth months compared with ESP and TPV, with no significant difference between ESP and TPV.

Conclusion

ESP and TPV blocks provided superior early postoperative analgesia and reduced stress response compared to the control group in female patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy. PVB is better than ESB in acute postoperative pain management (the total morphine consumption VAS score and time of first analgesic request). Both techniques showed better long-term outcomes compared to the control group regarding LANSS score in the 6-month follow-up.

Trial registration

https://www.ClinicalTrials.gov trial registry (identifier NCT04498234 on 04/08/2020).
The complexity of needs and roles of family members during breast cancer rehabilitation: a qualitative study
Authors: Malmström Marlene , Holst-Hansson Annette , Olsson Möller Ulrika
Published: November 2024

Background

Family members play a crucial role in supporting women with breast cancer during their recovery. In the complex situation of being an informal caregiver, their own health and ability to support the patient needs to be acknowledged. The aim was to explore the experiences, needs and roles of family members throughout the rehabilitation process of women with breast cancer.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted, involving semi-structured individual telephone interviews with 20 purposefully selected family members of women with breast cancer (13 men aged 24–79 years, 7 women aged 19–76 years). Data analysis utilized conventional content analysis and used “casing” as the analysis technique. The study is part of the ReScreen randomized controlled trial and all participants gave informed consent.

Results

The interviews revealed significant variation among family members, leading to the emergence of different typologies based on their reactions and specific preconditions. These typologies included: 1) The case of the assertive and confident team leader, 2) The case of the frustrated but persistent guardian, 3) The case of the reassured bystander, and 4) The case of the neglected outsider. While not mutually exclusive, the cases demonstrated clear similarities and differences in whether individuals felt secure or insecure in the rehabilitation process and their level of involvement in this process. Some described feelings of being involved and active in the process while others experienced not being involved and described feelings of abandonment. However, regardless of their role, family members reported that their own health was seldom considered by healthcare professionals.

Conclusions

This study sheds light on the concept of “we-disease,” where the role of a family member is interrelated with factors such as their health literacy, supporting role, level of involvement, relationship, and identity during the patient's rehabilitation process. This highlights significant divergence in whether family members perceive the rehabilitation process as a collaborative effort or an individual challenge. These perceptions greatly impact their own well-being and ability to support women with breast cancer, underscoring the importance of recognizing family members as informal caregivers and offering tailored support from healthcare professionals when needed.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03434717. Registered February 15, 2018.
Cervical cancer screening uptake in Arab countries: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Ahmed Hebatalla Abdelmaksoud Abdelmonsef , Abbas Mohammed Hamdi , Hussein Hussein Awad , Nasr Rehab Salah Fathy , Lashen Amira Ahmed , Khaled Heba , Azzam Ahmed
Published: November 2024

Background

Cervical cancer, though one of the most common cancers affecting women globally, holds immense potential for prevention through screening. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to assess the rate of cervical cancer screening in Arab countries and identify barriers among those who did not participate.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted from January 1st to June 1st,2024, including all observational studies that reported cervical cancer screening uptake in any Arab country. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the findings. The study followed PRISMA guidelines.

Results

This meta-analysis, covering 55 studies and 204,940 Arab women, found an overall cervical cancer screening uptake rate of 18.2% (95% CI: 13.9–23.6), with sensitivity analysis confirming the reliability of this estimate. Country disparities were evident, with Bahrain having the highest uptake at 44.1%, while Somalia had the lowest at 8.9%. Among women who underwent screening, the majority were ever-married (94.7%) and held positive attitudes towards screening (91.0%). Barriers to screening were common among women who did not participate, with the most frequent reasons being a lack of information (25.1%), the misconception of feeling healthy (24.5%), fear of the procedure (19.3%), and feelings of embarrassment (13.2%). Additionally, women who were screened had lower perceived barrier scores (SMD = -0.466) and higher perceived benefits scores (SMD = 0.379) than those who were not (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis reveals a low overall cervical cancer screening uptake (18.2%) among Arab women. Key barriers such as lack of information, fear, the misconception of feeling healthy, and embarrassment hinder uptake. This alarmingly low rate underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these barriers and promote awareness of early detection’s life-saving potential.
Association between parents’ perceived social support and children’s psychological adjustment: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Hosokawa Rikuya , Katsura Toshiki
Published: November 2024

Background

This study examined the relationship between parents’ perceived social support and their children’s psychological adjustment.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey study was conducted in 52 kindergartens and 78 preschools in Nagoya, Aichi, a major metropolitan area in Japan. Parents of eighth-grade children aged 13–14 years (N = 1,195) completed a questionnaire. A total of 602 valid responses were received. To accurately assess the relationship between parents’ perceived social support and behavioral characteristics, respondents diagnosed with a developmental disability or who failed to answer the required questionnaire items were excluded from the analysis. Consequently, 536 (89.0%) of the 602 participants met the eligibility criteria.

Results

The results indicated that the stronger the social support for parents, the lower the scores for externalizing and internalizing problems, and the higher the scores for prosociality. Conversely, insufficient social support may pose a risk to parental mental health and lead to suboptimal parenting practices. Issues in parental mental health adversely affect parenting, leading to fewer positive interactions with young children, increased rates of negative interactions and hostility, diminished communication, and delayed responses to children’s behaviors.

Conclusions

These results underscore the significant influence of parents’ perceptions of social support on their parenting beliefs and behaviors, which may, in turn, affect the development of their children’s mental health. Therefore, parents’ perceptions of social support are likely positively associated with children’s mental health.
Occupational risks of COVID-19: a case-cohort study using health insurance claims data in Germany
Authors: Romero Starke Karla , Mauer René , Hegewald Janice , Bolm-Audorff Ulrich , Brückner Gabriela , Schüssel Katrin , Schröder Helmut , Seidler Andreas
Published: November 2024

Background

Studies on occupation and COVID-19 infection that cover a range of occupational groups and adjust for important confounders are lacking. This study aimed to estimate occupational risks of hospitalization with COVID-19 by taking into account sociodemographic factors and previous comorbidities.

Methods

We applied a case-cohort design using workers insured with one of Germany’s largest statutory health insurers as a data source for occupational and demographical information as well as for information on comorbidities. Cox regression models with denominator weights for cases and controls assessed relative risks of hospitalization with COVID-19 in 2020.

Results

The study consisted of 11,202 COVID-19 cases and 249,707 non-cases. After adjusting for age, sex, number of pre-existing comorbidities, and socioeconomic status, we found at least doubled risks for occupations in theology and church work (HR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.93–4.82), occupations in healthcare (HR = 2.74; 95% CI 2.46–3.05), for bus and tram divers (HR = 2.46; 95% CI 2.04–2.97), occupations in meat processing (HR = 2.16; 95% CI 1.57–2.98), and professional drivers in passenger transport (e.g. taxi drivers) (HR = 2.00; 95% CI 1.59–2.51). In addition, occupations in property marketing and management, social workers, laboratory workers, occupations in personal care (e.g. hairdressers), occupations in housekeeping and occupations in gastronomy all had statistically significantly increased risks compared to the reference population (administrative workers).

Conclusions

We identified occupations with increased risks for hospitalization with COVID-19. For those having a doubled risk it can be assumed that COVID-19 diseases are predominantly occupationally related. By identifying high-risk occupations in non-healthcare professions, effective measures to prevent infections in the workplace can be developed, also in case of a future pandemic.
Swimmer arm-to-shoulder test for early differentiation between shoulder and cervical spine pathology in patients with shoulder pain
Authors: Hamoud Hesham , Aly Hany , Elmotaleb Yasser A. , Ghit Mohamad M. , Mosalam Ahmad , Nasrallah Tarek M. , El Zokm Saad M. , Fawzy Ibrahim , Bayoumy Abdelwahab N. , Mohamed Maha S. , Elazab Seham A. , Elmesiry Amal M. , Rageh Eman A. , Moussa Mai A. , Elyasaki Ahmed , Refaat Sherif , Elhilasy Ahmed M. , El deeb Ahmed M. , Elshaitany Walid , Eltabiey Ashraf
Published: November 2024

Background

Several tests have been suggested for screening and diagnosis of cervical spine and shoulder girdle conditions underlying shoulder pain with variable degrees of clinical accuracy. The present study aimed to test the reliability, clinical benefit and screening value of the Swimmer Arm-to-Shoulder (SAS) test; a new clinical test developed to differentiate shoulder impingement from cervical radiculopathy in patients with shoulder pain of ≤ 12 weeks.

Methods

The study included 718 patients aged 40–65 years, with unilateral and localized shoulder girdle pain lasting for ≤ 12 weeks. Diagnosis based on clinical, electromyography and radiological findings was considered as the reference gold standard for test assessment.

Results

Clinical diagnosis identified shoulder pathology in 288 patients (40.1%) and cervical spine pathology in 430 patients (59.9%). SAS test was positive in 274 patients (38.2%). The SAS test proved to be effective in distinguishing shoulder from cervical spine pathology with a sensitivity of 89.2% (95% CI: 85.0-92.6%), specificity of 96.1% (95% CI: 93.8–97.7%), PPV of 93.8% (95% CI: 90.5–96.0%), NPV of 93.0% (95% CI: 90.5–94.9%), LR + of 22.6% (95% CI: 14.1–36.0%), LR- of 0.11 (95% CI: 0.08–0.16) and accuracy of 93.3% (95% CI: 91.2–95.0%).

Conclusions

SAS test is an easy to perform, patient dependent and reliable as a screening test and diagnosis confirmatory test.
Adapting and testing an eLearning resource for professionals to support families when a significant caregiver for children is dying with cancer
Authors: O’Neill Carla , Hanna Jeffrey R. , Sheehan Sarah , McCance Tanya , Drury Amanda , Semple Cherith J.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Health and social care professionals (professionals) often lack knowledge, skills and confidence to support adults at end of life with significant caregiving responsibilities for children, < 18. A recent systematic review highlighted a dearth of educational interventions (n = 2) to equip professionals to provide supportive care to families when a parent has cancer. Addressing an evident gap in education, this paper details the adaption and optimisation of a face-to-face educational intervention to an accessible eLearning resource.

Methods

Guided by the ‘Person-based Approach’, a theory-driven and evidence-based face-to-face educational intervention was adapted and optimised as an eLearning resource. This incorporated current evidence, alongside insights from an expert group, learning technologists and research team, leading to the design of an eLearning prototype. This was optimised for acceptability and usability using think-aloud interviews with end-users (n = 13) and patient and public involvement (n = 4).

Results

An iterative adaption and optimisation process enabled implementation of navigational improvements, changes to enhance clarity on language and appropriateness of images and interactive components. During optimisation, positive feedback was reported; especially regarding the ‘look and feel’ and on the educational videos and reflective exercises embedded throughout the eLearning resource.

Conclusion

The systematic adaption and optimisation of this novel eLearning resource has aimed to promote relevance, appropriateness, and applicability of an accessible evidence-based and theory-driven training resource for professionals. It has the potential to promote family-centred supportive end of life cancer care, which ultimately can promote better bereavement outcomes. An evaluation of the intervention is required to explore impact on practice.
Wolbachia incompatible insect technique program optimization over large spatial scales using a process-based model of mosquito metapopulation dynamics
Authors: Lim Preston LJ , Cook Alex R , Bansal Somya , Chow Jo Yi , Lim Jue Tao
Published: November 2024

Background

Wolbachia incompatible insect technique (IIT) programs have been shown in field trials to be highly effective in suppressing populations of mosquitoes that carry diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. However, the frequent and repeated release of Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes makes such programs resource-intensive. While the need for optimization is recognized, potential strategies to optimize releases and reduce resource utilization have not been fully explored.

Results

We developed a process-based model to study the spatio-temporal metapopulation dynamics of mosquitoes in a Wolbachia IIT program, which explicitly incorporates climatic influence in mosquito life-history traits. We then used the model to simulate various scale-down and redistribution strategies to optimize the existing program in Singapore. Specifically, the model was used to study the trade-offs between the intervention efficacy outcomes and resource requirements of various release program strategies, such as the total number of release events and the number of mosquitoes released. We found that scaling down releases in existing sites from twice a week to only once a week yielded small changes in suppression efficacy (from 87 to 80%), while requiring 44% fewer mosquitoes and release events. Additionally, redistributing mosquitoes from already suppressed areas and releasing them in new areas once a week led to a greater total suppressive efficacy (83% compared to 61%) while also yielding a 16% and 14% reduction in the number of mosquitoes and release events required, respectively.

Conclusions

Both scale-down and redistribution strategies can be implemented to significantly reduce program resource requirements without compromising the suppressive efficacy of IIT. These findings will inform planners on ways to optimize existing and future IIT programs, potentially allowing for the wider adoption of this method for mosquito-borne disease control.
Combined impact of prediabetes and hepatic steatosis on cardiometabolic outcomes in young adults
Authors: Choi Wonsuk , Park Minae , Park Sojeong , Park Ji Yong , Hong A Ram , Yoon Jee Hee , Ha Kyoung Hwa , Kim Dae Jung , Kim Hee Kyung , Kang Ho-Cheol
Published: November 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the impact of hepatic steatosis on cardiometabolic outcomes in young adults with prediabetes.

Methods

A nationwide cohort study was conducted with 896,585 young adults under 40 years old without diabetes or previous history of cardiovascular disease. Hepatic steatosis was identified using a fatty liver index of ≥ 60. The outcomes of this study were incident diabetes (DM) and composite major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death.

Results

During a median follow-up of 11.8 years, 27,437 (3.1%) incident DM cases and 6,584 (0.7%) MACE cases were recorded. Young adults with prediabetes had a significantly higher risk of incident DM (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.74–2.88; P-value: <0.001) and composite MACE risk (HR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03–1.17; P-value: 0.003) compared to individuals with normoglycemia, after adjusting for relevant covariates. Stratification based on hepatic steatosis showed that the combination of prediabetes and hepatic steatosis posed the highest risk for these outcomes, after adjusting for relevant covariates. For incident DM, the HRs (95% CI; P-value) were: 3.15 (3.05–3.26; <0.001) for prediabetes without hepatic steatosis, 2.89 (2.78–3.01; <0.001) for normoglycemia with hepatic steatosis, and 6.60 (6.33–6.87; <0.001) for prediabetes with hepatic steatosis. For composite MACE, the HRs (95% CI; P-value) were 1.05 (0.97–1.13; 0.235) for prediabetes without hepatic steatosis, 1.39 (1.27–1.51; <0.001) for normoglycemia with hepatic steatosis, and 1.60 (1.44–1.78; <0.001) for prediabetes with hepatic steatosis.

Conclusions

Prediabetes and hepatic steatosis additively increased the risk of cardiometabolic outcomes in young adults. These findings hold significance for physicians as they provide insights into assessing high-risk individuals among young adults with prediabetes.
Fostering college students’ mental well-being: the impact of social networking site utilization on emotion management and regulation
Authors: Han Yuehua , Xu Zhifen
Published: November 2024

With the widespread proliferation of the Internet, social networking sites have increasingly become integrated into the daily lives of university students, leading to a growing reliance on these platforms. Several studies have suggested that this emotional dependence on social networking sites stems from unmet psychological needs. Meanwhile, social rejection has been identified as a prevalent phenomenon that exacerbates the deficiency of individual psychological needs. However, existing research on aspect-level sentiment analysis among college students within social networking sites faces challenges such as inadequate feature extraction, ineffective handling of data noise, and the neglect of complex interactions in multimodal data. To address these issues, this paper introduces a novel approach, the Multi-Granular View Dynamic Fusion Model (MVDFM), developed from both coarse-grained and fine-grained perspectives. MVDFM extracts multi-granular view features from textual and visual content, incorporating a dynamic gating self-attention mechanism. Additionally, it proposes a three-view decomposition higher-order pooling mechanism for a two-stage dynamic fusion of these features. Experimental results demonstrate the model’s effectiveness, achieving accuracy and F1 values of 78.78% and 74.48% on the Twitter-2015 dataset, and 73.89% and 72.47% on the Twitter-2017 dataset, respectively. This efficient supervision enables the extraction of deep semantic information from multimodal data generated by college students on social networking sites. The model adeptly mines pertinent information related to target aspect-based words, enhancing the efficacy of aspect-level emotion prediction. Furthermore, it facilitates an effective exploration of the intricate interplay between social rejection, monitoring on social networking sites, the fear of missing out, and dependence on social networking sites, ultimately aiding university students in regulating their emotional management.
Big data processing using hybrid Gaussian mixture model with salp swarm algorithm
Authors: Saravanakumar R. , TamilSelvi T. , Pandey Digvijay , Pandey Binay Kumar , Mahajan Darshan A. , Lelisho Mesfin Esayas
Published: November 2024

The traditional methods used in big data, like cluster creation and query-based data extraction, fail to yield accurate results on massive networks. To address such issues, the proposed approach involves using the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) for data processing, the map-reduce programming paradigm for data processing, and query optimization techniques to quickly and effectively extract accurate outcomes from a variety of options with a high processing capacity. The methodology proposed in this work makes use of Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) for data clustering and the Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA) for optimization. The security of preprocessed data stored on networked clusters with interconnections has been ensured by SHA algorithms. Finally, incorporating into consideration the important parameters, evaluation findings for the experimental performance of the model in the indicated methodology are produced. For this work, the estimated range of input file sizes is 60–100 MB. The processing of 100 MB of input files yielded an accuracy of 96% and results for specificity and sensitivity of 90% and 93%, respectively. The outcomes have been compared with well-known methods like fuzzy C-means and K-means approaches, and the results show that the proposed method effectively distributes accurate data processing to cluster nodes with low latency. Moreover, it uses the least amount of memory resources possible when operating on functional CPUs. As a result, the proposed approach outperforms existing techniques.
Modern Russian Original Rock poetry: transformation of the Subjective paradigm
Authors: Loktevich Ekaterina
Published: November 2024

For the first time in Russian literary studies, the monograph examines the transformation of the subjective organization of a lyrical text based on the material of modern Russian rock poetry. Verification of scientific observations is carried out not only in the focus of literary theory and history, but also with the involvement of analytical techniques and techniques of journalism, advertising discourse and other marketing communications.
For scientists, humanities, as well as a wide range of readers who are not indifferent to Russian rock culture.
Fundamentals of hydraulics and thermal engineering
Authors: Vol'vak Sergey , Ul'yancev Yuriy , Baharev Dmitriy , Dobrickiy Aleksandr
Published: November 2024

The textbook contains material on the study of the basics of hydrostatics and hydrodynamics, technical thermodynamics, the theory of heat transfer and heat transfer, heating, air conditioning and ventilation of premises, the device and principle of operation of hydraulic machines, heat engines, heat exchangers and thermal power plants.
It is intended for students in the specialty 02/35/16 "Operation and repair of agricultural machinery and equipment" and other technical areas of training and specialties of higher and secondary vocational education, as well as teachers and engineering and technical workers of the agro-industrial complex.
Political participation of citizens in the affairs of the local community and the evolution of the institution of local self-government
Authors: Martynov Mihail
Published: November 2024

The purpose of the study is to clarify the factors determining the political participation of citizens in the affairs of the local community, including their electoral activity. It was supposed to establish the relationship between the evolution of the institute and the political participation of citizens in them based on the materials of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Yugra. The objectives of the study were to establish the relationship between the dynamics of political participation in municipal elections and the evolution of the status of the institution of local government, as well as to clarify the current socio-demographic structure of citizens' participation in local community affairs. The research methods used data from a sociological survey, as well as an analysis of electoral statistics on municipal elections in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug during the 1994-2023 election cycles. Information from the State Archive of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug and publications of regional mass media were also used as sources. It has been established that low electoral activity at the municipal level is a consequence of the broader problem of reducing the level of political participation of citizens in the affairs of the local community. The objective reasons for this lie in the institutional sphere – in the process of gradual integration of local self-government into the system of public administration. The actual potential of citizens' participation in local government has been identified. The recommendations of the study can be used to implement institutional changes that will create an opportunity to solve the problem of political participation of citizens in the affairs of the local community.
Polish Books Printed Anonymously in Eary Modern Toruń
Authors: Franczyk-Cegła Agnieszka
Published: November 2024

In 1581, the first publication in Polish was issued in Toruń by the publishing house Melchior Nering. Unlike the majority of Polish book production in other parts of the Kingdom of Poland at that time, Polish books in Toruń were regularly printed from that point onwards, and during the initial phase, they constituted approximately 25% of all books published there. A small proportion of them were published as typographic anonyms, i.e. without mentioning the printer's name in the publication. The article aims to analyse anonymous printing production in Polish in Toruń until 1607 and to present it in the context of Toruń typography at that time.
Relationship between undergraduate students search skills and usage of electronic information resources in Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Nigerian
Authors: Ikenwe Iguehi Joy , Solomon Anthony Oboite
Published: November 2024

This research work investigated the relationship between undergraduate search skills and usage of electronic information resources (EIRs) in Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Edo State, Nigeria. The population of the study was 1,798 final year undergraduate students of AAU for the 2023/2024 academic session, with a sample of 113 from three Faculties. Accidental sampling and throwing of a dice were the adopted sampling techniques.  The research instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentages, mean scores (x̄), and standard deviation (SD) for the research questions while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient statistical method was used to test the hypothesis; and the data were presented in Tables. Findings showed that AAU undergraduate students can define their information needs and select articles with ease (x̄ = 3.46). They can use basic ICTs and possess basic search skills (x̄ = 3.08). While they mainly use OPAC (x̄ = 3.8), e-books (x̄ = 3.8), e-journals (x̄ = 3.6), online databases (x̄ = 3.8), e-thesis (x̄ = 3.0), and e-magazines (x̄ = 3.0), they use them for leisure (x̄ = 3.1), searching for internship opportunities (x̄ = 3.6), and class assignment (x̄ = 3.3). They encounter challenges like unavailability of relevant EIRs (x̄ = 3.3), lack of awareness of EIRs (x̄ = 3.4), inadequate searching skills (x̄ = 3.3), and high cost of internet access in their quest to use EIRs (x̄ = 3.1). Thus, the paper concluded that the undergraduate students of AAU possess the search skills and showed that here is a significant relationship between the search skills and the use of electronic information resources. The study recommended updates on the search skills and use, as well as provision of facilities to ensure equitable quality learning of the students.
On the Origin of Entrepreneurial Theories: How Entrepreneurs Craft Complex Causal Models with Theorizing and Data
Authors: Ott Timothy E. , Hannah Douglas P.
Published: November 2024

The emerging theory-based view depicts entrepreneurs as sophisticated thinkers who form, update, and act on rich causal theories. In support of this view, recent empirical work has demonstrated both (a) the value of theories as well as (b) the importance of experimentation for testing and refining theories. Yet, the process by which entrepreneurs initially form these theories remains largely unobserved. To address this gap, we conduct a longitudinal study of nine consumer platform ventures over five years. Our primary contribution is to illuminate how entrepreneurs move from the spark of an initial idea to an actionable theory. This process begins with a thesis, which is an initial, poorly formed idea that guides subsequent learning and theorizing. To elaborate this thesis, entrepreneurs then knit together multiple distinct mental theorizing practices, as well as different approaches to generating new data. Extending prior work, we articulate the distinct roles these practices play in terms of adding novelty, identifying new subproblems, and explicating beliefs. We also add insight into the role of data generation in spurring further theorizing. Overall, we contribute empirical evidence and a rich processual understanding of how entrepreneurs articulate complex causal theories.

Funding: We appreciate the generous support of the Strategy Research Foundation Dissertation Research Grant Program.
ECG of the month
Authors: Bloe Charles
Published: November 2024

In this issue's ECG of the month, Charles Bloe presents the case of an 89-year-old woman whose electrocardiogram on a mobile device indicated complete heart block with a ventricular escape rhythm.
Transplantation care in the UK
Authors: Palmer Nick
Published: November 2024

Kidney Care UK's recent report is a telling reminder of the success of transplantation and the transformation of health it can bring—celebrating the fact 44900 people are alive because of kidney transplants
Research roundup
Authors: Welyczko Nikki
Published: November 2024

In this section, Nikki Welyczko presents a brief synopsis of a range of recently published articles that may be of interest to nurses working in the renal setting. The aim of this roundup is to provide an overview, rather than a detailed summary and critique, of the research papers selected. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided.
Mee Onn Chai obituary
Authors: Kariyawasam Deepa
Published: November 2024

The Journal of Kidney Care was saddened to learn of the death of editorial board member Mee Onn Chai. Deepa Kariyawasam, reflects on a great pharmacist who significantly enhanced support for patients with kidney disease across South London and Kent