bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gaze Sharing, a Double-Edged Sword: Examining the Effect of Real-Time Gaze Sharing Visualizations on Team Performance and Situation Awareness
Authors: Atweh Jad A. , Riggs Sara L.
Published: August 2024

Objective

The goal of this study was to assess how different real-time gaze sharing visualization techniques affect eye tracking metrics, workload, team situation awareness (TSA), and team performance.

Background

Gaze sharing is a real-time visualization technique that allows teams to know where their team members are looking on a shared display. Gaze sharing visualization techniques are a promising means to improve collaborative performance on simple tasks; however, there needs to be validation of gaze sharing with more complex and dynamic tasks.

Methods

This study evaluated the effect of gaze sharing on eye tracking metrics, workload, team SA, and team performance in a simulated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command-and-control task. Thirty-five teams of two performed UAV tasks under three conditions: one with no gaze sharing and two with gaze sharing. Gaze sharing was presented using a fixation dot (i.e., a translucent colored dot) and a fixation trail (i.e., a trail of the most recent fixations).

Results

The results showed that the fixation trail significantly reduced saccadic activity, lowered workload, supported team SA at all levels, and improved performance compared to no gaze sharing; however, the fixation dot had the opposite effect on performance and SA. In fact, having no gaze sharing outperformed the fixation dot. Participants also preferred the fixation trail for its visibility and ability to track and monitor the history of their partner’s gaze.

Conclusion

The results showed that gaze sharing has the potential to support collaboration, but its effectiveness depends highly on the design and context of use.

Application

The findings suggest that gaze sharing visualization techniques, like the fixation trail, have the potential to improve teamwork in complex UAV tasks and could have broader applicability in a variety of collaborative settings.
Canada in the Long Shadow of America First
Authors: Nossal Kim Richard
Published: August 2024

The America First agenda in the United States poses a major threat to Canada America First is marked by an enthusiasm for protectionism; a retreat from global engagement that echoes the isolationism of the 1930s; a rejection of global governance; an indifference towards a global leadership role for the United States; an embrace of illiberal and authoritarian leaders and a concomitant disdain for America's traditional friends and allies in the West. The America First policy agenda enjoys the support of tens of millions of Americans. If the Democratic Party loses control of the White House and one or both houses of Congress, the consequences for the interests of Canadians will be profoundly negative.
Substance Use Treatment Completion Among Unhoused Young Adults: A Predictive Modeling Approach
Authors: Dell Nathaniel A. , Long Charvonne , Salas-Wright Christopher P. , Vaughn Michael G. , Szlyk Hannah S. , Cavazos-Rehg Patricia
Published: August 2024

Background: Unhoused young adults aged 18–24 years are at increased risk of substance misuse relative to the general population and experience unique barriers to engaging in treatment. This study evaluates predictors of treatment completion for unhoused young adults receiving substance use treatment. Methods: Predictive models were generated on data from the 2020 Treatment Episode Data Set-Discharges. The sample included treatment discharges involving unhoused adults aged 18–24 years ( N = 12,273). Model performance was assessed by inspecting several evaluative metrics. Results: Overall, each model performed relatively well (AUC: 0.7234–0.7753). Classification models trained on balanced data predicted a higher proportion of treatment completers. Models trained on balanced data also achieved higher balanced accuracy and F1 scores relative to models trained on imbalanced data. Conclusions: Findings reveal multiple features important in the accurate classification of treatment completion, which may be useful for developing individualized interventions to support clients’ engagement in treatment services.
Refining urine collection in mice: Development of an innovative urine collection device
Authors: Douté Mélodie , Monzali Céline , Nicoletti Antonino , Caligiuri Giuseppina , Clement Marc
Published: August 2024

Urine collection can be challenging in studies involving small rodents like mice, as the actual methods of collection are anxiogenic and constrain animal welfare while having high variability in the volume of urine collected. To improve the current methods and eventually reduce the impact on the well-being of mice, we developed an innovative 3D-printed urine collection device (UCD). This two-compartment UCD is shaped to fit in classical husbandry cages and allows urine collection by spontaneous urination from two mice housed in their own cage without cross-contamination while enabling potential social interactions. We used our UCD to study the evolution of urinary parameters related to renal functions in a model of antibody-mediated chronic kidney disease. Overall, we report here a time-saving and affordable method for urine collection providing a large amount of uncontaminated urine and which we believe may improve animal welfare in comparison with other methods.
Variability in rat weight gain during development
Authors: Vázquez-Borsetti Pablo
Published: August 2024

The rat is one of the most employed animal models in biomedicine. Traditionally, weight gain has been utilized to gauge development and compare across species. Numerous studies have conducted longitudinal analyses of rat development, with emphasis on weight gain analysis. Given the high variability in these patterns, experimental data from a single laboratory may not be reliable for generalized estimation. This study aimed to analyze the effect of different factors on the pattern of weight gain during rat development. A literature survey was conducted to compile a database comprising nearly 300 data points of age and weight from 15 longitudinal studies. The database comprised both pre- and postnatal data. Utilizing the Gompertz equation, the data was analyzed to formulate a comprehensive model describing rat development. Differences in growth patterns became increasingly evident at later developmental stages, when significant differences in the maximum asymptote between sexes and strains were reached.
Fin clipping does not increase opercular beat rate in tricaine-treated zebrafish
Authors: Burkhalter Martin D , Philipp Melanie
Published: August 2024

To carry out research with genetically modified animals, their genotype has to be assessed. A standard protocol to obtain required tissue samples from zebrafish is finclipping. However, some studies reported considerable stress induced by this protocol. We therefore assessed ventilation as a read-out for stress in zebrafish that underwent finclipping during routine genotyping in our fish facility. Our analysis could not confirm a strong increase of ventilation as had been previously reported. Instead, handled zebrafish showed ventilation rates in the range of controls that remained in their holding tanks. Additionally, we detected a slight reduction of ventilation rates up to an hour after anaesthesia in zebrafish treated with tricaine only, suggesting a prolonged protecting effect by this anaesthetic.
Linking Creative Self-Efficacy and Emotional Exhaustion: Mediation Through Cognitive Reappraisal
Authors: Kim Na Yoon
Published: August 2024

Drawing from the motivational emotion regulation perspective and self-verification theory, this study demonstrates the mechanism linking creative self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion in which cognitive reappraisal serves as a mediator. Study 1 ( N = 137) conducted in an experimental setting provided evidence for a causal relationship between creative self-efficacy and cognitive reappraisal. Individuals who have higher creative self-efficacy are more likely than those who have lower creative self-efficacy to engage in cognitive reappraisal because they reinterpret potentially emotion-eliciting situations in a way that reduces their emotional impact. Study 2 ( N = 206), a survey study, revealed the indirect effect of creative self-efficacy on emotional exhaustion such that creative self-efficacy drives a mechanism that reduces emotional exhaustion by fostering the use of cognitive reappraisal as an emotion regulation strategy. Finally, Study 3 ( N = 210) verified the mediation mechanism in the experimental setting, suggesting that creative self-efficacy can reduce momentary emotional exhaustion through the mediating effect of cognitive reappraisal. The findings provide implications for the research and practices on emotional exhaustion by highlighting the motivational process underlying emotion regulation.
Analysis of progress in research on technology for the detection and removal of foreign fibers
Authors: Shunqi Mei , Kai Li , Xichun Wu , Jia Chen
Published: August 2024

We focus in this review on the pre-processing devices used, the cotton pipeline, the rejection system, the acquisition and processing of information from images of raw cotton, and measurements of the rate of dynamic flow of the cotton stream. The results show that raw cotton fluffs into a material with a more uniform thickness, and adequately separating the cotton bunch can improve the subsequent detection and removal of foreign fibers in it. Moreover, research that combines the structure of the cotton pipeline with the optimization of the structure of the nozzle plate is important for improving the rejection of foreign fibers in cotton. Furthermore, a combination of multiple light sources and arrays of charge-coupled device cameras can improve the quality of images of raw cotton, but such key parameters as the power and wavelength of the source of light need to be optimized. As any single algorithm for image segmentation and feature extraction struggles to adapt to the identification of different kinds of foreign fibers, it is important to explore a combination of algorithms to this end, and to develop new techniques of foreign fiber detection based on deep learning. Finally, the structure and parameters of processing of the system for the identification and removal of foreign fibers are important, including the relative distance between the sensor and the nozzle, the width of the detection channel, and the rate of flow of the cotton stream.
Influential properties on sound-absorption behavior of textile material-based multi-layer composite
Authors: Prasetiyo Iwan , Nisa Ainil Khairin , Gunawan Gunawan , Adhika Damar Rasti , Sihar Indra
Published: August 2024

Combining the micro-perforated panel, air gap, and porous material under a multi-layer composite absorber framework has been proved to help obtain absorption enhancement. Theoretically and experimentally, the multi-layer system can extend the absorption value and associated bandwidth, although the desired improvements are not always present. For this purpose, theoretical models, experimental validation, and sensitivity analysis are performed where woven fabric, air gap, and nonwoven are considered as micro-perforated panel, air gap, and porous material, respectively. It is expected that this leads to a better understanding, particularly of the most critical parameters affecting associated behaviors. This understanding should be beneficial for a practical design procedure amid many parameters involved in the composite textile material. For the same textile materials, the results show that not all parameters involved are important in determining overall behavior, while influential parameters dictating the resulting behaviors are different for different sequences of elementary textile material in the multi-layer composite. This suggests that selecting optimal design parameters in the multi-layer composite needs great care.
Healthcare Hardship of Adult Children Taking Care of Aging Parents
Authors: Wang Mengya
Published: August 2024

Caring for aging parents is fulfilling for adult children but comes at the cost of impacting their health and finances. Employing Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model, this study examines the mediating role of healthcare hardship in the association between caregiving and health, while also investigating the sources of support that could mitigate the adverse effects of caregiving. Using the Survey of Health Retirement in Europe, the study reveals that while there is no sufficient evidence for a direct impact of caregiving on health through healthcare hardship, there is a significant link between caregiving and healthcare hardship. Additionally, having a support system is associated with reduced healthcare hardship. Notably, men seem to benefit more from social support compared to women. The study indicates that adult children make sacrifices, risking their own well-being to care for their parents. It emphasizes the importance of a strong support network to mitigate these negative caregiving effects.
“Life Is Losing its Meaning”: The Experiences of Fishing Communities During the Oil Disaster and COVID-19 Pandemic in Pernambuco, Brazil
Authors: Ramalho Cristiano Wellington Noberto , dos Santos Andreia Patrícia
Published: August 2024

The goal of this article is to examine how the confluence of the oil disaster and the new coronavirus pandemic had a negative impact on the work and livelihood of artisanal fishing communities in Pernambuco within a short span of time. Eighty people were interviewed (60 of them fishers) along the entire coastline of Pernambuco from October 2019 to February 2020, and through remote surveys from March to April 2020. The category “work culture” and its idea of experience as defined by E.P Thompson forms the basis of our analysis. Our results show that these two tragedies (the oil crisis – felt most strongly from October 2019 to January 2020 – and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that began in March 2020) presented formidable challenges towards the reproduction of the work culture that is produced by artisanal fishers in Pernambuco. This is seen in the experiences that were lived and told by the same Brazilians who currently reside in these fishing communities.
Close to Home: Suburbanization, Residential Segregation, and Jewish-Black Relations in St. Louis Park and North Minneapolis, MN
Authors: Star-Lack Russell Jacob
Published: August 2024

This study examines the suburbanization of Minneapolis’ Jewish community during the postwar period, focusing on the ethnic enclave of North Minneapolis and the Jewish ethnoburb of St. Louis Park. It argues that as part of this process, Jewish leaders adopted a strategy of self-discipline, in which they would go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that instances of Jewish racism and other actions that threatened the community’s White, middle-class, and liberal image did not become public knowledge. Minneapolis Jews’ liberal ideology and self-disciplinary practices clashed with the increasingly public and confrontational tactics of the city’s Black liberation movement, facilitating a series of conflicts between Blacks and Jews in the neighborhood during the late 1960s. Jews, conditioned by postwar liberalism not to see how institutional racism affected their Black neighbors, interpreted these conflicts through the same lens they had applied to their experiences with prewar anti-semitism.
Adaptive hierarchical interval type-2 fuzzy control for trajectory tracking of an underactuated AUV with uncertain dynamics
Authors: Wang Yuxuan , Hou Yaochun , Ye Mengjia , Lai Zhounian , Cao Linlin , Wu Dazhuan
Published: August 2024

In this study, an adaptive hierarchical interval type-2 fuzzy control (AHIT2FC) scheme is presented for three-dimensional (3D) trajectory tracking control of an underactuated autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), which has only three independent control inputs and is subject to partially parametric uncertainty and unknown external disturbances. To decrease reliance on hydrodynamic parameters, an interval type-2 fuzzy logic system (IT2FLS) is utilized, which exhibits superior capabilities in handling high levels of uncertainties prevalent in the underwater environment as compared to a type-1 fuzzy logic system. However, the traditional fuzzy system structure encounters the “curse of dimensionality” issue, which results in high computational complexity and imposes a significant burden on the limited computing resources underwater. The proposed AHIT2FC framework, based on a hierarchical structure, can substantially enhance computational speed while ensuring excellent control performance. Subsequently, Lyapunov’s theory is adopted to guarantee that all the tracking errors in the closed-loop system are semiglobally uniformly bounded (SGUB). Finally, comparative simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed AHIT2FC scheme.
Balancing boundaries: Mapping parents’ perceived concerns and opportunities of LGBTQ storylines in children’s television
Authors: Van Wichelen Thalia , Dhoest Alexander , De Ridder Sander
Published: August 2024

In today’s global media landscape, the integration of LGBTQ characters and storylines in children’s television has transformed media representations for young audiences. However, little is known about the way parents evaluate this on-screen presence. By means of interview with 53 Flemish parents, this study uncovered a complex interplay of considerations related to children, media, gender, and sexuality. In terms of possible opportunities associated with LGBTQ characters, parents referred to possibilities of information, socialization, promoting prosocial behavior, and aiding identification. However, parents also harbored some concerns regarding characteristics of the viewers (children’s young age and gender differences) as well as characteristics of these media representations (as to quantity, quality, and physicality between characters). Parents mentioned they were worried about the perceived maturity needed to comprehend what these LGBTQ characters represent, and they showed more discomfort with gender diversity (trans and non-binary characters) than sexual diversity (non-heterosexual characters). They also feared that an overabundance of LGBTQ references might prioritize “political correctness” over authentic representation, which moreover could confuse children.
Influences on Father Intentions to Engage in Caregiving
Authors: Rivera Ashley
Published: August 2024

Promoting father engagement in caregiving behaviors is a global health priority to improve individual, child, family, and community health. The purpose of this study was to explore barriers and passages to caregiving as experienced by engaged fathers as additional findings of a constructivist grounded theory study on the social process of caregiving in fathers. Through convenience and snowball sampling, 35 participants participated in the study. Data analysis occurred through coding for positive and negative influences utilizing an iterative categorization matrix. Negative influences, or barriers, included preoccupation, exhaustion, controlling forces, and social culture. Positive influences, or passages, included love, expectations, lifestyle, and support. The results of this study are discussed in perspective of the Theory of Caregiving in Fathers, which was created from the original constructivist grounded theory study. The findings of this study can inform targeted tools and interventions to support ongoing challenges to caregiving by fathers.
Mild hypothermia therapy attenuates early BBB leakage in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Xu Yi , Duan Yunxia , Xu Shuaili , He Xiaoduo , Guo Jiaqi , Shi Jingfei , Zhang Yang , Jia Milan , Li Ming , Wu Chuanjie , Wu Longfei , Jiang Miaowen , Chen Xiaonong , Ji Xunming , Wu Di
Published: August 2024

Reperfusion therapy inevitably leads to brain–blood barrier (BBB) disruption and promotes damage despite its benefits for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). An effective brain cytoprotective treatment is still needed as an adjunct to reperfusion therapy. Here, we explore the potential benefits of therapeutic hypothermia (HT) in attenuating early BBB leakage and improving neurological outcomes. Mild HT was induced during the early and peri-recanalization stages in a mouse model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (tMCAO/R). The results showed that mild HT attenuated early BBB leakage in AIS, decreased the infarction volume, and improved functional outcomes. RNA sequencing data of the microvessels indicated that HT decreased the transcription of the actin polymerization-related pathway. We further discovered that HT attenuated the ROCK1/MLC pathway, leading to a decrease in the polymerization of G-actin to F-actin. Arachidonic acid (AA), a known structural ROCK agonist, partially counteracted the protective effects of HT in the tMCAO/R model. Our study highlights the importance of early vascular protection during reperfusion and provides a new strategy for attenuating early BBB leakage by HT treatment for ischaemic stroke.
Occupational therapist’s involvement in social prescribing: A qualitative interview study
Authors: Bradley Gemma , Atkin Beth , Atkin Helen , Scott Jason
Published: August 2024

Introduction:

Social prescribing is a process of helping people to access non-medical activities to promote well-being. For occupational therapists, this is not new, although the social prescribing agenda is creating new roles around these approaches. This study aimed to explore how occupational therapists were involved in social prescribing in the United Kingdom and how they would like to contribute to future developments.

Method:

Semistructured interviews were carried out with 19 occupational therapists who identified they were involved in social prescribing activities.

Findings:

Thematic analysis led to two over-arching themes: (1) position and identity; and (2) making it work.

Conclusion:

Participants perceived similarity with social prescribing, leading to difficulty in positioning occupational therapy alongside this role, emotional responses and identity challenge. Points of distinction between the roles were articulated, including occupational therapy being more medical, having oversight of more complex needs and having more senior roles within teams. To manage workflow, occupational therapists delegate to social prescribing workers, although there is a lack of clarity about competence and varying involvement in supervision. Part of desired future involvement included clearer workflow, occupational therapy involvement in supervision and service development and creating legitimacy for both roles to address social determinants of health.
Influence of fiber surface treatments and hybridization on interply and intraply Kevlar reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Ramasamy Nallamuthu , Arumugam Vellayaraj , Sambath Srinivasan , Arunkumar Thirugnanasambandam , Prakash Muniyandi
Published: August 2024

The research study has focused on the influence of Kevlar fiber surface positions of fibers. The phosphoric acid (PA) pretreated epichlorohydrin (ECH) treatment was used for surface modification of Kevlar fiber. Flexural after indentation (FAI) evaluations were carried out on inter-intraply treated and untreated Kevlar hybrid composites. The surface characterizations of treated and untreated Kevlar samples were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), XRD, and FESEM analysis. The results revealed that the load-bearing capacity and flexural strength of intraply hybrid composites increased by 45.1% and 36.5%, respectively, compared to interply hybrid composites. Also, the indentation strength of the treated Kevlar intraply hybrid composites was 26.4% higher than that of the untreated intraply hybrid composites. Further, it was analyzed by damage progression and fractography analysis by field emission scanning electron microscopy.
Blurred Ideas: How Perpetrator Behavior, Target Response, and Observer Gender Can Influence Perceptions of Workplace Sexual Harassment
Authors: Keenan Charlotte , von Hippel Courtney , Neall Annabelle , Barlow Fiona Kate
Published: August 2024

Despite increasing awareness, sexual harassment remains a significant concern in the workplace. The enduring problem of sexual harassment seems to persist due to a lack of clarity regarding what behaviors qualify as harassment. Furthermore, the interpretation of these behaviors is influenced by contextual and relational factors, contributing to the complexity of addressing and preventing such incidents. This study builds on existing research by investigating how the severity of sexually harassing behavior, the response from the target, and the gender of the participant contribute to labeling behavior as sexual harassment. Using an online experimental scenario-based survey, 1,700 (850 female, 850 male) currently employed participants were presented with a single workplace scenario that manipulated the severity of the sexual harassment behavior and the target’s response. Participants were then asked to assess the appropriateness of the behavior, label it as sexual harassment or not, and rate their confidence in their labeling decision. The results revealed that less severe sexual harassment behaviors, targets who displayed interest, and male participants were more likely to perceive the behavior as less inappropriate and were less inclined to label it as sexual harassment. These findings have implications for shaping the definition of sexual harassment and designing training programs for heightened awareness.
Developing Infectious Disease Outbreak Emergency Communications for Populations With Limited English Proficiency: Insights to Sustain Collaborations Between Local Health Departments and Community-Based Organizations
Authors: SteelFisher Gillian K. , Caporello Hannah L. , Stein Rebekah I. , Lubell Keri M. , Lane Lindsay , Moharam Ali Shakila , Briseño Lisa , Dicent Taillepierre Julio , Rodriguez-Lainz Alfonso , Boyea Alyssa , Espino Laura , Aveling Emma-Louise
Published: August 2024

Purpose

State and local public health departments (LHDs) are encouraged to collaborate with community-based organizations (CBOs) to enhance communication and promote protective practices with communities made vulnerable during emergencies, but there is little evidence-based understanding of practical approaches to fostering collaboration in this context. This research focuses on how collaboration enhances LHD capacity for effective communication for people with limited English proficiency (LEP) during infectious disease outbreaks specifically and strategies to facilitate productive LHD-CBO collaboration.

Design

Qualitative, telephone interviews, conducted March-October 2021.

Setting

Rural and urban jurisdictions with Chinese-speaking or Spanish-speaking populations across the United States.

Participants

36 LHD and 31 CBO staff working on outreach to Chinese and Spanish speakers during COVID-19.

Method

Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a team-based, codebook approach to thematic analysis.

Results

During COVID-19, CBOs extended LHD capacity to develop and disseminate effective communication, meaning communication that is rapidly in-language, culturally resonant, locally relevant, and trusted. Practical strategies to enable and sustain effective collaboration were needed to address operational dimensions (eg, material and administrative) and relational dimensions (eg, promoting trust and respect).

Conclusion

Policies and financing to support LHD-CBO collaborations are critical to improving communication with people with LEP and addressing long-standing inequities in outcomes during outbreaks.
Computational study of pulse current and thermal stress on thermoelectric cooler
Authors: Vijay Krishna N , Manikandan S
Published: August 2024

The thermal performance of a Peltier thermoelectric cooler (TEC) can be enhanced by multi-staging, modifying the geometry of the thermoelement, and using new material with improved thermoelectric properties. This study utilizes COMSOL multiphysics to simulate thermomechanical analyses of various geometries of thermoelectric coolers under pulse current conditions. This investigation explores the influence of pulse current parameters, such as pulse width, pulse ratio, and hot-side convective heat transfer coefficient, on a thermoelectric cooler with different leg geometries. Additionally, the impact of the TEC cold-side temperature, hot-side temperature, and thermal stress on both sides is discussed. The results indicate that TEC leg shapes, such as pin and trapezoid, exhibit the minimum cold-side temperature. Increasing the pulse ratio leads to a decrease in the cold-side temperature and an increase in the hot-side temperature. A notable improvement in the cold-side temperature is also observed with higher pulse ratios, with the pin geometry achieving a minimum cold-side temperature of 276 K. Furthermore, the cooling load affects the temperature on both sides of the TEC. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing thermoelectric coolers for electronic cooling applications using pulse current methods.
Money talks: Analysing the PGA Tour-LIV Golf jurisdictional contest via Western media narratives
Authors: Jephson Nicholas , Grix Jonathan , Cook Hugh
Published: August 2024

This paper analyses Western media narratives of the jurisdictional contest between LIV Golf, a novel upstart professional golf tour, and the long-established PGA Tour, generally understood to be the pinnacle of men's professional golf. In doing so, the paper seeks to answer two research questions: How do dominant incumbent sporting professions utilise the court of public opinion to defend their territory from encroachment by new rivals? What are the potential implications of such professions’ failure to successfully do so? Viewed through the lens of Abbott’s concept of ‘bump-chains’, this paper shines critical light on how the long-established and dominant PGA Tour and its partisan (but not full contingent of) members initially sought to defend their territory against encroachment by a new entrant to the profession of competitive golf, before capitulating and proposing a ‘merger’ with LIV Golf in June 2023, which as of July 2024, has still not materialised, nor the finer details even made public. Utilising a critical qualitative analysis of popular Western-centric news media sources, the paper argues that the PGA Tour adopted a three-fold set of defensive rhetorical manoeuvres to seek to de-professionalise LIV Golf and discredit it in the court of public opinion as a convincing rival to the incumbent profession. It concludes that the PGA Tour's rhetorical defence attempts and thus its position as a dominant superordinate were untenable in the face of the new entrant's reach and power. In doing so, the paper adds theoretical depth to our understanding of bump-chain attacks within the sporting arena, and also acts to highlight sporting jurisdictions’ vulnerabilities to encroachment by previously unconsidered entities. These findings bring implications for governing bodies and institutions in the sporting arena concerning the strength of their jurisdictional positions, extending beyond professional boundaries.
The Traces of Cancer: A Metaphorical Understanding of the Experiences of Women Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Authors: Guité-Verret Alexandra , Vachon Mélanie
Published: August 2024

This study feeds into ongoing discussions on the metaphors used by cancer patients. Its aim is to explore how women living with a history of breast cancer use metaphors to express and interpret the experience of cancer remission. Data were collected in interviews designed to capture a rich and metaphorical description of participants’ experiences with breast cancer and what these experiences mean to them. Ten participants were recruited. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the participants’ narratives highlighted a central metaphor: the cancer trace in one’s life. The participants had to adapt to four specific traces of cancer: (1) the identity trace, (2) the existential trace, (3) the bodily trace, and (4) the narrative trace. We discuss how cancer challenges one’s sense of biographical continuity and initiates a search for a new way of being. We also discuss how the metaphor of the trace differs from the metaphor of the cancer hero living without any trace of cancer.
An App Platform-Facilitated Collaborative Palliative Care Intervention for Outpatients With Interstitial Lung Disease: A Pilot Randomized Trial
Authors: Gu Jessie , Wang Peijin , Chow Shein-Chung , Dempsey Katelyn , Bermejo Santos , Swaminathan Aparna , Soskis Alyssa , Fried Julie , Kloefkorn Chad , Jones Christopher , Cox Christopher E.
Published: August 2024

Rationale: Outpatients with interstitial lung disease often experience serious symptoms, yet infrequently receive palliative care. Objective: To determine the feasibility and clinical impact of a mobile application (PCplanner) in an outpatient setting. Methods: We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial among adults with interstitial lung disease in a single-center academic clinic. Clinical outcomes included change in Needs at the End-of-Life Screening Tool (NEST) scale between baseline and 3 months as well as frequency of advance care planning discussions and referrals to palliative care services. Results: Observed feasibility outcomes were similar to targeted benchmarks including randomization rates (82.1% vs 80%) and retention (84.8% vs 80%). Mean NEST scores between the intervention and control group were 38.9 (SD, 18.9) vs 41.5 (SD, 20.5) at baseline, 34.6 (SD, 18.9) vs 33.6 (SD, 19.4) at 1 month after clinic visit, 40.5 (SD, 21.6) vs 35.3 (SD, 25.0) at 3 months after clinic visit. Changes in NEST scores between baseline and 3 months showed no difference in the primary outcome ( P = 0.481, 95% CI [-8.45, 17.62]). Conclusion: Among patients with interstitial lung disease, a mobile app designed to focus patients and clinicians on palliative care principles demonstrated evidence of feasibility. Although changes in self-reported needs were similar between intervention and control groups, more patients in the intervention group updated their advance directives and code status compared to the control group. Clinical Trial Registration: Palliative Care Planner (PCplanner) NCT05095363. https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05095363 .
It's Time to Break Up: Dynamics Surrounding Young-Established Firm Alliance Duration
Authors: Asgari Navid , Lévesque Moren , Soh Pek-Hooi , Subramanian Annapoornima M
Published: August 2024

While young firms often benefit from their relationships with established firms, these relationships can be risky. Hence, during their relationship with established firms, young firms must constantly monitor signs of a failing partnership and terminate it before being in a disadvantageous position. However, discontinuing the alliance with an established firm can also be risky, especially if the young firm has limited alternative collaborative opportunities. Our study adopts the young firm's perspective and dynamically weighs the tradeoffs between the risks of continuing and discontinuing its relationship with established firms, thereby deciding on its termination. We first develop an analytical model to understand how the alliance duration (time from alliance formation to termination) between young and established firms is affected by alliance, firm, and industry characteristics. We then test the resulting hypotheses on a sample of 1,111 alliances with licensing deals formed between 159 established pharmaceutical firms and 448 young biotechnology firms during the 1986 to 2000 period, which straddles the technological discontinuity of combinatorial chemistry. Our empirical results provide partial support for the hypotheses derived from the analytical model, informing us of firms’ rational alliance duration decisions as well as their deviations from rationality. In presenting both optimal alliance duration decisions and suboptimal alliance duration practices, our mixed-method approach offers important implications for theory and practice.
Monetizing Showrooming
Authors: Zhang Ziying , Liu Lin , Yang Yi
Published: August 2024

This paper explores how a strategic B&M retailer monetizes its showrooming service and how this affects a brand's incentive to use the service, consumer surplus, and social welfare. We build a stylized model in which the retailer decides the showrooming fee, and the brand decides whether to pay the fee to showcase its product in the retailer's offline channel in addition to its own online channel and separately sets the optimal prices for both channels. Consumers who face the uncertainty of the product value are assumed to have different levels of hassle costs of buying from the online channel and choosing which channel to visit. Our equilibrium analyses show that the brand has an incentive to use the retailer's offline channel to achieve an intended market segmentation based on hassle cost levels. Interestingly, the retailer's optimal profit and the brand's optimal prices both increase in search cost. Showrooming decreases consumer surplus when the value of a good match is relatively low or high, and a “Win–Win–Win–Win” situation in which all stakeholders (the retailer, the brand, consumers, and the social planner) benefit from monetizing the showrooming service may exist. Our paper also explores the role of a price-matching policy and service costs incurred by the retailer. Relevant managerial implications are discussed.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Paternal Parenting Experience: A Scoping Review
Authors: Dol Justine , Dennis Cindy-Lee , Naraine Sarah , Goyal Deepika
Published: August 2024

The objective of this scoping review was to map the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the paternal parenting experience. Studies published between January 2020 and October 2021 reporting on paternal mental health, interparental relations, and child interactions were eligible. Forty studies from 17 different countries were included. Most studies included data from both mothers and fathers (83%); five studies reported data from fathers only, and three examined same-sex partners. Most commonly reported outcomes included division of childcare activities ( n = 14), delegation of household tasks ( n = 10), depression ( n = 12), and stress ( n = 9). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fathers varied globally with no clear trends except for the division of childcare and household tasks, in which fathers increased their contribution to childcare and household tasks yet mothers continued to experience a higher domestic burden. Further research is recommended to advance our understanding of how fathers coped during the COVID-19 pandemic and document the long-term impact of the pandemic on families.
Pacritinib and concurrent azole antifungal therapy is deliverable in patients with hematologic malignancies
Authors: Trang Dina , Ngo Dat , Ali Haris , Tinajero Jose
Published: August 2024

Objective

Pacritinib is a novel kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of adults with intermediate or high-risk primary or secondary myelofibrosis. Strong and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as some azole antifungals, are contraindicated or recommended to be avoided in combination with pacritinib, respectively. We aim to report our experience in patients who received pacritinib with concurrent azole antifungal therapy.

Data Sources

We queried for patients with hematologic malignancies in the electronic medical record who received concurrent pacritinib and azole antifungal therapy.

Data Summary

There were five cases of concurrent pacritinib and azole antifungal therapy in which none of the patients experienced grade 3 or higher non-hematologic toxicities. Some patients required dose modifications and/or interruptions in pacritinib therapy.

Conclusion

This is the first clinical experience describing concurrent pacritinib and azole antifungals. Our experience shows that in the setting where this interaction cannot be avoided, concurrent administration is feasible with close monitoring and possible empiric dose reductions in select patients.
Predictors of fluid overload in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant patients receiving post-transplant cyclophosphamide
Authors: Tsao Megan , Hoeg Rasmus , Pecoraro Joshua , Kuehner Megan , Deen Brittany , Guglielmo Julie
Published: August 2024

Background

Fluid overload (FO) commonly occurs during hospitalization for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Grade 2–4 FO is associated with day +100 non-relapse mortality.1 Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY) for graft-versus-host disease prevention requires aggressive IV hydration to prevent hemorrhagic cystitis.

Materials and Methods

This is a single-center, retrospective, observational study conducted at an academic medical center via electronic chart review. Included patients received allogeneic HCT followed by PTCY on days +3 and +4. Patients were excluded for age < 18 years or incarceration. Primary endpoints are incidence of Grade 2–4 FO and associated risk factors. Descriptive and inferential statistics (i.e., Fisher's exact test, multivariable regression analysis) were used.

Results

Of 97 patients screened, 95 were included and 2 were excluded due to absence of weight measurements needed to grade FO. Median age was 60 years, 66.3% were male, 91.6% received reduced-intensity conditioning, 72.6% received haploidentical HCT, 44.2% were ECOG 0, and 11.6% had diastolic dysfunction. Incidence of grade 2–4 FO was 33.7% (n = 32). Univariate analyses found age (continuous; p = 0.04) and BSA < 1.7 m2 (p = 0.006) as independent factors associated with grade 2–4 FO. Multivariable regression analysis found 3.3% higher risk with every 1-year increase in age ranging from f 20 to 78 years (OR 1.033, 95% CI 1.001, 1.006; p = 0.0453) and 82.8% lower risk with BSA ≥ 1.7 m2 (OR 0.172, 95% CI 0.051, 0.588; p = 0.005) after adjusting for co-variates.

Conclusion(s)

Increasing age and BSA < 1.7 m2 are risk factors associated with grade 2–4 FO during hospitalization for allogeneic HCT with PTCY.
Modelling the Wage Bill and Budget Space for Health Workforce in Ghana: Implications for Sustainable Health Professions Education Policy
Authors: Ismaila Hamza , Nabyonga-Orem Juliet , Heymans Yolande , Christmals Christmal Dela
Published: August 2024

Global discussions on health systems strengthening have lately tilted towards increasing investments in human resources for health to address health workforce challenges, especially shortages and employment. Countries have, as a result, increased investments in the health workforce by expanding the production and recruitment of the needed health workforce, with the resultant effects of increasing health workforce budget space and the unending clamour by health policy actors for further increases. Despite these calls, there has been no wage bill affordability and budget space analysis to rationalise the sustainable production of and demand for health workers, which is the thrust of Ghana’s current health workforce policy and strategy. Using an adapted approach (the Asamani approach), the study modelled the supply of some essential health workers and their associated cost of employment, compared it with the modelled budget space for health workforce employment and then drew conclusions on the wage bill sustainability for policy consideration. Of the seven cadres considered in the study (doctors, professional nurses, midwives, enrolled nurses, community health nurses, pharmacists and biomedical scientists), who constitute about 97% of the wage bill, the study found the baseline stock to be 129 378 in 2022, which was estimated to increase to 199 715 by 2027 and 254 466 by 2032 with corresponding wage bills of US$869.4 million and US$ 1.1 billion, respectively, holding routine salary increases constant. The budget space for health was, meanwhile, projected to be US$899.3 million and US$1.1 billion in 2022 and 2032 respectively, out of a projected overall government fiscal space of US$7 billion per year. This study concludes that, given current levels and mix of production, Ghana was estimated to expend an average of 88% of its health budget space as wage bill cost. This was 54.4% over the global median and 95.6% over the African Region’s median, making the current regime unsustainable.
Dysregulation of tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome by pentose phosphate pathway
Authors: Bulbule Sarojini , Gottschalk Carl Gunnar , Drosen Molly E. , Peterson Daniel , Arnold Leggy A. , Roy Avik
Published: August 2024

Background

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and its oxidized derivative dihydrobiopterin (BH2) were found to be strongly elevated in ME/CFS patients with orthostatic intolerance (ME + OI).

Objective

However, the molecular mechanism of biopterin biogenesis is poorly understood in ME + OI subjects. Here, we report that the activation of the non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) plays a critical role in the biogenesis of biopterins (BH4 and BH2) in ME + OI subjects.

Research Design and Results

Microarray-based gene screening followed by real-time PCR-based validation, ELISA assay, and finally enzyme kinetic studies of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), transaldolase (TALDO1), and transketolase (TK) enzymes revealed that the augmentation of anaerobic PPP is critical in the regulations of biopterins. To further investigate, we devised a novel cell culture strategy to induce non-oxidative PPP by treating human microglial cells with ribose-5-phosphate (R5P) under a hypoxic condition of 85%N2/10%CO2/5%O2 followed by the analysis of biopterin metabolism via ELISA, immunoblot, and dual immunocytochemical analyses. Moreover, the siRNA knocking down of the taldo1 gene strongly inhibited the bioavailability of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP), reduced the expressions of purine biosynthetic enzymes, attenuated GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GTPCH1), and suppressed subsequent production of BH4 and its metabolic conversion to BH2 in R5P-treated and hypoxia-induced C20 human microglia cells. These results confirmed that the activation of non-oxidative PPP is indeed required for the upregulation of both BH4 and BH2 via the purine biosynthetic pathway. To test the functional role of ME + OI plasma-derived biopterins, exogenously added plasma samples of ME + OI plasma with high BH4 upregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) in human microglial cells indicating that the non-oxidative PPP-induced-biopterins could stimulate inflammatory response in ME + OI patients.

Conclusion

Taken together, our current research highlights that the induction of non-oxidative PPP regulates the biogenesis of biopterins contributing to ME/CFS pathogenesis.