bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connecting the Health Care Workforce with the Patient Experience
Authors: Warshawsky Nora E. , Assi Mary Jo
Published: May 2024

This article is one in a series from Press Ganey—a health care performance improvement organization—that will discuss the many facets of the human experience in health care. Using the latest national data, the series will explore the intersections of safety, reliability, experience, and service, and their impact on engagement, work culture, and nurse-sensitive outcomes. Each installment will be designed as a “deep dive” into the most recent thinking and evidence-based approaches to improvement of the patient experience with a particular focus on practical and implementable tactics in each of the above subject areas.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Is Associated with Lower Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Rosenberg Karen
Published: May 2024

According to this study:

In adults with type 1 diabetes, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was associated with lower odds of developing diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

No associations were found between CGM use, insulin pump use, or the use of both CGM and an insulin pump with progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Nurse-Led Intervention Lowers Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People with HIV
Authors: Rosenberg Karen
Published: May 2024

According to this study:

A nurse-led, multicomponent intervention significantly reduced systolic blood pressure and non–high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in people with HIV.

At 12 months, participants in the intervention group had a significant 4.2-mmHg lower systolic blood pressure and a 16.9-mg/dL lower non–HDL cholesterol level than those in the control group.
Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Stage I Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Song Bonnie B. , Anderson Zachary S. , Masjedi Aaron D. , Lee Matthew W. , Mandelbaum Rachel S. , Klar Maximilian , Roman Lynda D. , Wright Jason D. , Matsuo Koji
Published: May 2024

OBJECTIVE:

To describe population-level utilization of fertility-sparing surgery and outcome of reproductive-aged patients with early epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent fertility-sparing surgery in the United States.

METHODS:

This retrospective study queried the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result Program. The study included 3,027 patients younger than age 50 years with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer receiving primary surgical therapy from 2007 to 2020.Fertility-sparing surgerywas defined as preservation of one ovary and the uterus for unilateral lesion and preservation of the uterus for bilateral lesions. Temporal trend of fertility-sparing surgery was assessed with linear segmented regression with log-transformation. Overall survival associated with fertility-sparing surgery was assessed with Cox proportional hazard regression model.

RESULTS:

A total of 534 patients (17.6%) underwent fertility-sparing surgery. At the cohort level, the utilization of fertility-sparing surgery was 13.4% in 2007 and 21.8% in 2020 (Pfor trend=.009). Non-Hispanic White individuals (2.8-fold), those with high-grade serous histology (2.2-fold), and individuals with stage IC disease (2.3-fold) had a more than twofold increase in fertility-sparing surgery utilization during the study period (allPfor trend<.05). After controlling for the measured clinicopathologic characteristics, patients who received fertility-sparing surgery had overall survival comparable with that of patients who had nonsparing surgery (5-year rates 93.6% vs 92.1%, adjusted hazard ratio 0.87, 95% CI, 0.57–1.35). This survival association was consistent in high-grade serous (5-year rates 92.9% vs 92.4%), low-grade serous (100% vs 92.2%), clear cell (97.5% vs 86.1%), mucinous (92.1% vs 86.6%), low-grade endometrioid (95.7% vs 97.7%), and mixed (93.3% vs 83.7%) histology (allP>.05). In high-grade endometrioid tumor, fertility-sparing surgery was associated with decreased overall survival (5-year rates 71.9% vs 93.8%, adjusted hazard ratio 2.90, 95% CI, 1.09–7.67). Among bilateral ovarian lesions, fertility-sparing surgery was not associated with overall survival (5-year rates 95.8% vs 92.5%,P=.364). Among 41,914 patients who had epithelial ovarian cancer with any age and stage, those younger than age 50 years with stage I disease increased from 8.6% to 10.9% during the study period (Pfor trend=.002).

CONCLUSION:

Nearly one in five reproductive-aged patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer underwent fertility-sparing surgery in recent years in the United States. More than 90% of reproductive-aged patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent fertility-sparing surgery were alive at the 5-year timepoint, except for those with high-grade endometrioid tumors.
Freeform robotic optical coherence tomography beyond the optical field-of-view limit
Authors: Fang Raymond , Zhang Pengpeng , Zhang Tingwei , Kim Daniel , Sun Edison , Kuranov Roman , Kweon Junghun , Huang Alex , Zhang Hao F.
Published: May 2024

Imaging complex, non-planar anatomies with optical coherence tomography (OCT) is limited by the optical field of view (FOV) in a single volumetric acquisition. Combining linear mechanical translation with OCT extends the FOV but suffers from inflexibility in imaging non-planar anatomies. We report the freeform robotic OCT to fill this gap. To address challenges in volumetric reconstruction associated with the robotic movement accuracy being two orders of magnitudes worse than OCT imaging resolution, we developed a volumetric registration algorithm based on simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) to overcome this limitation. We imaged the entire aqueous humor outflow pathway, whose imaging has the potential to customize glaucoma surgeries but is typically constrained by the FOV, circumferentially in mice as a test. We acquired volumetric OCT data at different robotic poses and reconstructed the entire anterior segment of the eye. The reconstructed volumes showed heterogeneous Schlemm’s canal (SC) morphology in the reconstructed anterior segment and revealed a segmental nature in the circumferential distribution of collector channels (CC) with spatial features as small as a few micrometers.
MELD-Adapt: On-the-Fly Belief Updating in Integrative Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Singh Bhumika , Mondal Arup , Gaalswyk Kari , MacCallum Justin , Perez Alberto
Published: May 2024

Integrative structural biology synergizes experimental data with computational methods to elucidate the structures and interactions within biomolecules, a task that becomes critical in the absence of high-resolution structural data. A critical step in integrating the data, is knowing the expected accuracy or belief in the dataset. We previously showed that the Modeling Employing Limited Data (MELD) approach succeeds at predicting structures and finding the best interpretation of the data when the initial belief is equal or slightly lower than the real value. But, this initial belief is not known for many data sources. Here we introduce MELD-Adapt, designed to dynamically evaluate and infer the reliability of input data, thereby enhancing the accuracy of structure predictions. We demonstrate the utility of this method across different systems, particularly emphasizing its capability to correct initial assumptions and identify the correct fraction of data to produce reliable structural models. The approach is tested with two benchmark sets: the folding of twelve proteins with coarse physical insights and the binding of peptides with varying affinities to the Extrateterminal (ET) domain. Our findings also show the importance of how data is distributed in the system (locally clustered or globally distributed) and the subtle balance between data, beliefs, and force fields.
Chemigenetic far-red labels and Ca2+indicators optimized for photoacoustic imaging
Authors: Cook Alexander , Kaydanov Nikita , Ugarte-Uribe Begoña , Boffi Juan Carlos , Kamm Gretel B. , Prevedel Robert , Deo Claire
Published: May 2024

Photoacoustic imaging is an emerging modality with significant promise for biomedical applications such as neuroimaging, owing to its capability to capture large fields of view, deep inside complex scattering tissue. However, the widespread adoption of this technique has been hindered by a lack of suitable molecular reporters for this modality. In this work, we introduce chemigenetic labels and calcium sensors specifically tailored for photoacoustic imaging, using a combination of synthetic dyes and HaloTag-based self-labelling proteins. We rationally design and engineer far-red “acoustogenic” dyes, showing high photoacoustic turn-ons upon binding to HaloTag, and develop a suite of tunable calcium indicators based on these scaffolds. These first-generation photoacoustic reporters show excellent performance in tissue-mimicking phantoms, with the best variants outperforming existing sensors in terms of signal intensity, sensitivity and photostability. We demonstrate the application of these ligands for labelling HaloTag-expressing neurons in mouse brain tissue, producing strong, specifically targeted photoacoustic signal, and provide a first example ofin vivolabelling with these chemigenetic photoacoustic probes. Together, this work establishes a new approach for the design of photoacoustic reporters, paving the way towards deep tissue functional imaging.
Multiaxial fatigue life prediction based on modular neural network pretrained with uniaxial fatigue data
Authors: Gan Lei , Wang Anbin , Zhong Zheng , Wu Hao
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Data-driven models are increasingly being used to predict the fatigue life of many engineering components exposed to multiaxial loading. However, owing to their high data requirements, they are cost-prohibitive and underperforming for application scenarios with limited data. Therefore, it is essential to develop an advanced model with good applicability to small-sample problems for multiaxial fatigue life assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing inspiration from the modeling strategy of empirical multiaxial fatigue models, a modular neural network-based model is proposed with assembly of three sub-networks in series: the first two sub-networks undergo pretraining using uniaxial fatigue data and are then connected to a third sub-network trained on a few multiaxial fatigue data. Moreover, general material properties and necessary loading parameters are used as inputs in place of explicit damage parameters, ensuring the universality of the proposed model.

Findings

Based on extensive experimental evaluations, it is demonstrated that the proposed model outperforms empirical models and conventional data-driven models in terms of prediction accuracy and data demand. It also holds good transferability across various multiaxial loading cases.

Originality/value

The proposed model explores a new avenue to incorporate uniaxial fatigue data into the data-driven modeling of multiaxial fatigue life, which can reduce the data requirement under the promise of maintaining good prediction accuracy.
Improving professional development through building contract administration (BCA) framework of housing projects for graduate architects
Authors: Tiew Si Yee
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The administration of a contract by the architect is necessary to ensure the contract is performed according to the conditions of the contract, compliance with related laws and the practices of the construction industry. With the increasing number of housing projects and the limited number of registered architects in the nation, the architect is unable to be hands-on with every project. Hence, the involvement of graduate architects to reduce the workload in building contract administration (BCA) is required. The purpose of this paper is to develop a BCA framework for graduate architects to enhance their work performance in BCA work and to assist them in moving a step closer to acquiring their professional qualifications.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative method where seven housing projects in Malaysia were selected as case studies to conduct documentation reviews and semistructured interviews. The data collected was analyzed using content analysis to develop the BCA framework. Focus groups were used to validate the framework.

Findings

This study summarized there are 5 themes (claims and legal matters management, project management, communication and relationship management, quality assessment and management, and design management) and 11 sub-themes (authority matters, building certification, meetings, coordination checklist, letter-writing, contract documentation, building material, design brief, building sustainability and workmanship quality standard, contractor’s submission and building details) that need to be improved by graduate architects in BCA work.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study to the existing knowledge is the development of a BCA framework that enables graduate architects to get a glimpse of architectural professional practice in reality and better prepare them to confront and resolve problems. Besides, the proposed framework could be incorporated into a pedagogy focusing on methods to support construction contract administrators.
Role of e-HRM strength and job stress on turnover intention among employees: mediating effect of concern for information privacy
Authors: Yadav Rama Shankar , Balasubramanian Girish , Dash Sanket Sunand
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of concern for information privacy between e-HRM and job stress that eventually develops a turnover intention among employees.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was used on working professionals employed in the service and manufacturing sectors. A total of 178 usable responses were collected adopting a convenient snowball sampling technique. PLS-SEM was used to analyze and investigate the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The study found that higher perceptions of e-HRM strength led to less concern for information privacy breaches. Further, concern for information privacy was positively associated with employee job stress and turnover intention. A positive relationship between job stress and turnover intention among employees was also established. Moreover, perceived concern for information privacy fully mediated the relationship between e-HRM and job stress and, eventually, turnover intention among employees.

Practical implications

Organizations should focus on ensuring considerable e-HRM strength while adopting and implementing e-HRM practices; failing may lead to concerns for employee privacy, job stress and eventually turnover intention among employees.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study is among the first few studies to identify perceived concern for information privacy as a consequence of e-HRM reflecting the dark side of e-HRM.
Muslims’ reluctance to social media campaigns about organ donation: an exploratory study
Authors: Nouira Olfa , Ayari Salma
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Despite the intense social media (SoMe) campaigns promoting organ donation, the direct impact on registration and transplantation rates remains unclear among Sunni Muslims who constitute a significant portion of Muslim population. Given the observed tendency to avoid engaging with SoMe content focused on organ donation promotion, this study aims to comprehend the reasons for reluctance among Sunni Muslims.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach comprising focus group and individual interviews was conducted among community manager of SoMe campaigns interested in promoting organ donation, Sunni Muslims subscribed on those SoMe platforms and certain members of the medical staff involved in transplant operations.

Findings

The results indicate that reluctance toward SoMe campaigns about organ donation is justified because of the creation of irrelevant content that does not align with the sociocultural characteristics of the majority Sunni Muslims who are the intended audience. Additional discussions are required concerning religious beliefs, the culture of altruism and the credibility of SoMe appeals.

Practical implications

This research could serve as a foundation upon which social organizations and associations, focused on public health promotion through SoMe, can build specific content designs tailored for Sunni Muslims.

Originality/value

The distinctive aspect of this research is founded upon the diverse perspectives of various stakeholders, which have the potential to impact the registration of Muslim users on SoMe as organ donors.
Tourism digital transformation and future supply chain competition: an integrated perspective on real options theory and digital competencies
Authors: Ku Edward C.S.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study analyzes how digital technologies collaboration, and technological capabilities affect tourism products' advantage and supply chain resilience via virtual integration and customer service capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the goals of this study, a digital transformation model was formulated based on the real option theory (ROT) and digital competencies perspective. Data were collected from travel agencies in Taiwan. This study uses the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique to analyze the research model, and 384 samples were collected from travel agencies for analysis.

Findings

The research results point out that digital technology collaboration and technical capabilities affect virtual integration and customer service capabilities; customer service capabilities should also be regarded as key influencing variables to improve tourism product advantages and supply chain flexibility.

Originality/value

This study shares a unique perspective on the digital transformation model, which includes antecedents, mediators and moderators, to construct the critical effects for analyzing the tourism products' advantage and supply chain resilience.
On the (In)efficiency of gold and bitcoin: impact of COVID-19
Authors: Kumar Satish
Published: May 2024

Purpose

We aim to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the efficiency of Gold and Bitcoin returns. In particular, our efficiency tests are based on the popular calendar anomaly, the turn-of-the-month (TOM) effect in these markets.

Design/methodology/approach

We define the TOM days as the final trading day of a month and initial three trading days of the immediate next month. To understand the TOM effect, we estimate the typical Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model using the Heteroskedasticity and Autocorrelation Consistent (HAC) standard errors and covariances.

Findings

Though in the full sample, a positive and significant TOM effect is observed only for Bitcoin, during COVID period, the TOM effect appears in Gold returns and becomes stronger for Bitcoin, implying that the considered securities become inefficient during COVID period.

Practical implications

Based on these results, we create a trading strategy which is found to surpass the buy-and-hold strategy for both the full sample as well as the COVID period for Bitcoin while only during the COVID period for Gold. Our results provide useful implications for investors and policymakers as the Gold and Bitcoin markets can be timed by taking positions especially based on the behavior of the TOM effect.

Originality/value

We examine the TOM effect in the two important securities – Gold and Bitcoin. Though, a few studies have examined this anomaly in currency, equity and cryptocurrency markets, however, they have not considered the Gold market. Additionally, no study has examined the impact of COVID-19 on the TOM effect in these markets, and hence, market efficiency. We believe that our study is the first to examine the TOM effect in these markets simultaneously.
Does internal audit function outsourcing policy matter for environmental, social and governance performance score? Evidence from Bursa Malaysia
Authors: Kolsi Mohamed Chakib , Al-Hiyari Ahmad
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Anecdotal evidence indicates the internal audit function may be crucial in supporting the implementation of ESG practices and reporting. However, thus far, no study has been empirically conducted to check how and why internal audit function might affect ESG performance. This study aims to address this gap by examining whether the internal audit budget is positively related to the ESG performance of Malaysian listed firms. It also explores whether the sourcing arrangement of the internal audit function can moderate the internal audit budget – ESG nexus.

Design/methodology/approach

The secondary data for the paper is extracted from two main sources, namely, the Thomson Reuters Eikon database and firms’ annual reports that were downloaded from the Bursa Malaysia website. The final sample consists of public firms listed on Bursa Malaysia over the period 2010 to 2019. Multivariate tests are used to examine the linkage between the variables.

Findings

The results show that the relationship between the annual internal audit budget and ESG performance is contingent on the sourcing arrangement of the internal audit function. Specifically, the results show that the annual internal audit budget has a positive impact on ESG performance for firms with an in-house internal audit function but not for firms outsourcing an internal audit function to external providers. Overall, the results suggest that the annual internal audit budget promotes ESG performance for firms performing their internal audit activities internally.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper provide a strong motivation for authorities in Malaysia to develop new policies and rules aiming at ensuring that internal audit departments are adequately resourced to function effectively, thereby promoting corporate ESG performance. Moreover, the findings may be useful in informing the board of directors and other policymakers that establishing an in-house internal audit department assists in advancing corporate sustainability performance.

Social implications

The findings of this paper suggest that investors, creditors and other stakeholders should link ESG reporting with the attributes of the internal audit function and outsourcing arrangement when evaluating firm performance. The total annual costs allocated to the internal audit function coupled with the outsourcing arrangement by an external provider should be considered for the overall assessment of the ESG performance and provide additional warranty towards corporate goals’ achievement and sustainability for the society.

Originality/value

This study extends previous studies on the determinants of ESG performance by focusing on two crucial aspects of the internal audit function: the annual budget and the outsourcing arrangement, a hitherto largely unexplored mechanism by the existing literature.
Marching towards bioeconomy: Larvicidal effect of three indigenous plant extracts from Sri Lanka—Garcinia quaesita,Garcinia zeylanica, andColeus hadiensison dengue vectorAedes aegypti
Authors: Ranasinghe H.A.K. , Perera E.H.L. , Perera G.C.A. , Jayakodi J.D.A.S.M. , Madhumika J.A.H. , Ishara M.S. , Hettihewa M.
Published: May 2024

Bioeconomy would be a beneficial solution for funding through the rational use of finances and human resources in order to achieve better productivity and fruitfulness of mosquito control programs. Synthetic insecticides are widely used to repress mosquitoes. However, it instigates problems such as insecticide resistance among mosquitoes such as developing resistance, bio‐accumulation, and ecosystem destabilization. Natural plant‐based products are a healthy alternative to use as mosquito larvicides. The country has to spend a considerable cost for buying synthetic insecticides too. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate larvicidal efficacy ofGarcinia zeylanica,Garcinia quaesita, andColeus hadiensisagainstAedes aegyptimosquito larvae. Fresh leaves of plants were collected, and the aqueous crude extract was prepared. Phytochemicals were extracted using refluxing technique. A concentration series of crude extract of leaves were prepared separately from 20 to 100 mg/L. Batches of each containing 100 third instar larvae ofAe. aegyptiwere used for larval bioassays.Ae. aegyptimosquito larvae were evaluated in accordance with the guidelines of World Health Organization. The experimental setup was repeated four times at each concentration. Probit analysis was used to evaluate the relationship of mortality with the concentration of aqueous crude extract. TheG. zeylanicaandG. quaesitaleaf extracts showed a dose‐dependent effect againstAe. aegyptilarvae after the 24 and 48 h exposure period. Interestingly,C. hadiensisdid not show any dose‐dependent effect againstA. aegyptimosquito larvae. The percentage mortality rates have shown a significant variance among different concentrations (P = 0.000). The recorded LC50and LC90for aqueous crude extract ofG. zeylanicawere 27.167 and 52.861 g/L, respectively, and LC50and LC90for aqueous crude extract ofG. quaesitawere 36.841 and 76.036 g/L, respectively, after 24 h of exposure period. TheG. zeylanicaandG. quaesitaplant's high larvicidal activity is supported by the presence of phytochemicals such as saponins, steroids, flavonoids, and phenol, which showed combination effects in terms of larvicidal action to mosquito larvae. Hence, there is a potential ofG. zeylanicaandG. quaesitaaqueous leaf extracts as a key source for the development of an environment‐friendly plant‐based larvicide againstAe. aegypti. Hence, this warrants vector control entities to re‐think “biological wealth for economic prosperity” with environmentally friendly country‐wide control approaches for medically important disease vectors.
From developing country to superpower? China, power shifts and the United Nations development pillar
Authors: Baumann Max‐Otto , Haug Sebastian , Weinlich Silke
Published: May 2024

This article contributes to the expanding literature on China's position in international organisations by examining the extent to which, and how, China's exercise of power in the United Nations (UN) development pillar has evolved over the last decade. Building on a four‐legged power framework, we contrast the status quo of power configurations in UN development work with China's evolving attempts to exercise compulsory, institutional, structural and productive power. We identify a heterogeneous set of engagement patterns and find that China's standing as a developing country is an integral part of how its global power ambitions unfold at the UN. While shifts in China's power in and through UN development work have remained limited, taken together insights from the power type analysis suggest that China is in the process of challenging and/or redefining some of the central contours of the UN development pillar.
Chinese power in the World Heritage Committee: From learning the game to shaping the rules
Authors: Langendonk Steven , Drieskens Edith
Published: May 2024

Despite growing interest in China's use of heritage in its domestic and foreign policies, little is known about how its evolving power affects the multilateral core of the heritage regime. To tackle this gap, we apply Barnett and Duvall's four‐power framework to China's role in the World Heritage Committee (WHC) and heritage issues in UNESCO since the early 2000s. To parse power shifts across the four ideal types of compulsory, institutional, structural, and productive power, we analyse the domestic and international developments that shaped China's relationship with the regime and highlight two episodes of Chinese power at work: the WHC's Suzhou (2004) and Fuzhou (2021) sessions. We argue that China's power potential rose across all four power types and that its potential for exercising structural and productive power is buoyed by the Belt and Road Initiative and the integration of heritage into its foreign policy. We note that China's exercise of power rarely transgresses organisational norms and that it has followed, rather than spurred, the shift to a culture of thinly veiled power politics in the WHC. Nevertheless, we argue that, as an ambitious power in heritage, China shares the responsibility for this outcome and the future of the heritage regime.
Reining in a liberal UN: China, power shifts, and the UN's peace and security pillar
Authors: Foot Rosemary
Published: May 2024

Has the deepening of China's involvement with the United Nations (UN) actually led to significant China‐related shifts in power at the UN over the last three decades? This article explores this question in relation to the UN's move in the post Cold War era into a period of greater normative ambition that made the protection of the individual central to its efforts to maintain international peace and security. Conceptually, the article utilizes and adapts the four power types put forward by Barnett and Duvall (2005). Empirically, it draws on some core elements of the UN's expanded liberal normative agenda relating to the security of the individual. The article explores Beijing's attempts to revise or reverse the UN's liberal turn, assessing the extent to which China has been able, in the process, to effect a power shift. It concludes that China has had some, but as yet limited, successes. However, Beijing seems set to continue to be associated with the various types of power discussed here to press its case.
Personnel power shift? Unpacking China's attempts to enter theUNcivil service
Authors: Lam Shing‐hon , Fung Courtney J.
Published: May 2024

The People's Republic of China views dispatching Chinese talent to international organisations as a key global governance contribution and a means to shape these institutions from within. International posts are competitive to secure, requiring China's concerted effort to place candidates for entry‐level professional staff positions. However, less is known about how China is preparing to compete for these international civil service positions. This article examines United Nations (UN) staffing data, as well as Chinese‐language academic, policy and media reports to address this research gap and thereby understand better how China is attempting to facilitate an increase in its staffing levels within UN entities. We find China's efforts emphasise preparation of ‘patriots’ who can bring ‘Chinese wisdom’ into the UN, but that efforts to increase staff numbers are still in development. We also note that deploying patriots in the UN civil service is potentially to the detriment of securing posts: patriotism may not translate into bureaucratic skill or expertise and also attracts the attention of other states willing to counter China's staffing efforts. It remains to be seen whether staffing power shifts will be successful and, if so, the extent to which increased representation will benefit China's interests.
Determinants of pharmacists' confidence to participate in antimicrobial stewardship: A confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Weier Naomi , Patel Rahul , Fazal‐E‐Hasan Syed , Zaidi Syed Tabish R.
Published: May 2024

Aim

Pharmacists are essential members of hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) teams. A lack of self‐perceived confidence can limit pharmacists' involvement and contributions. Pharmacists working in AMS have reported a lack of confidence. There is currently a lack of validated measures to assess pharmacists' self‐perceived confidence when working in AMS and contributors to this confidence. This study aimed to identify variables contributing to pharmacist self‐perceived confidence and validate an AMS hospital pharmacist survey tool using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

Methods

Responses from a survey of Australian and French hospital pharmacists were used to undertake CFA and path analysis on factors related to pharmacists' self‐perceived confidence. It was hypothesized that pharmacists' self‐perceived confidence would be impacted by time working in AMS, perceived importance of AMS programmes, perceived barriers to participating in AMS and current participation.

Results

CFA demonstrated a good model fit between the factors. Items included in the model loaded well to their respective factors with acceptable reliability. Path analysis demonstrated that time working in AMS had a significant impact on pharmacists' self‐perceived confidence, while perceived barriers had a negatively significant relationship. Pharmacy participation in AMS and perceived importance of AMS programmes had a non‐significant impact.

Conclusion

Findings demonstrated that the survey tool showed good validity and identified factors that can impact pharmacists' self‐perceived confidence when working in hospital AMS programmes. Having a validated survey tool can identify factors that can reduce pharmacists' self‐perceived confidence. Strategies can then be developed to address these factors and subsequently improve pharmacists' self‐perceived confidence.
Associations between tobacco smoking status and patch test results—A cross‐sectional pilot study from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK)
Authors: Molin Sonja , Brans Richard , Bauer Andrea , Becker Detlef , Kreft Burkhard , Mahler Vera , Skudlik Christoph , Stadler Rudolf , Szliska Christiane , Weisshaar Elke , Geier Johannes
Published: May 2024

Background

Earlier studies suggested a potential association between tobacco smoking and nickel sensitization, but little is known about other contact allergens.

Objectives

To investigate the association of smoking status and contact sensitizations as well as subtypes of dermatitis, and to analyse the sensitization profiles of tobacco smokers.

Patients and Methods

Within the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), we performed a cross‐sectional multicentre pilot study comprising 1091 patch‐tested patients from 9 departments, comparing 541 patients with a history of cigarette smoking (281 current and 260 former smokers) with 550 never‐smokers.

Results

We could not confirm the previously reported association between nickel sensitization and tobacco smoking. Moreover, sensitizations to other allergens, including colophony, fragrance mix I, Myroxylon pereirae and formaldehyde, were not increased in cigarette smokers compared with never smokers. Hand dermatitis (50.6% vs. 33.6%) and occupational cause (36.2% vs. 22.5%) were significantly more frequent among cigarette smokers compared with never‐smokers as shown by non‐overlapping 95% confidence intervals.

Conclusions

Although our study does not allow a firm conclusion on whether smoking status contributes to certain contact sensitizations, it confirms an association of smoking with hand dermatitis and occupational cause.
Attenuated psychosis symptoms are related to working alliance between therapist and service user
Authors: Cowan T. , Millar C. , O'Donovan K. , Chibani D. , Reeves G. , Redman S. , Fitzgerald J. , Jay S. , Schiffman J. , Rakhshan Rouhakhtar P.
Published: May 2024

Aim

Many trials have demonstrated the efficacy of specific therapy modalities for individuals with attenuated psychosis symptoms (APS). Less is known regarding mechanisms behind positive outcomes, including the role of nonspecific therapeutic factors. This study explored working alliance (WA) in a clinic serving individuals with APS to see how WA changed across the course of treatment and its relation to APS.

Methods

Session level APS and WA data was available for 12 individuals of diverse racial and gender identity, (M = 48 sessions each). Multilevel models with random intercepts tested change in WA and APS over time, and cross‐sectional and prospective relations.

Results

WA increased and APS decreased over time. Cross sectionally, WA and APS were inversely related. Prospective relations were non‐significant.

Conclusion

When symptoms increase, therapists for individuals with APS should be attentive to potential disruptions in WA, though strong WA may be a cross‐sectional protective factor.
“I will attend to college to give my family a better life”: Indebtedness with the family and the challenges of building occupational plans for Peruvian adolescents
Authors: Pease Dreibelbis María Angélica , Urbano Flores Estefanía , De la Puente Ronceros Rafaella Andrea
Published: May 2024

Identifying a future occupation is an important achievement during adolescence, a process particularly complex for Peruvian adolescents. Perú is a postcolonial country with many forms of inequality, and one of them is the opportunity gap to attend a college. However, most adolescents aspire to go to university as a way out of poverty, and, since Perú is a collectivist society, this is a family task: it is adolescents' responsibility to go to college in order to give a better life to their families. Theories developed for WEIRD societies (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic) do not provide an accurate explanation of Peruvian adolescents' occupational projects because they envision a person with autonomy and resources to choose a career. Thus, our goal is to analyze adolescents' occupational plans considering the role adolescent–caregivers relationships play in this configuration. This study is part of the project “Being an adolescent in Perú” (PUCP‐UNICEF) which characterized Peruvian adolescence by studying 14 variables through a qualitative study with 66 participants. In depth interviews were conducted and the data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results of the thematic analysis are organized in three topics that explain the relationship between occupational plans and adolescent–caregiver relationship (1) adolescents have occupational aspirations rather than achievable projects that are that are built alone, without adult support; (2) attending college as an occupational aspiration belongs to the family, not to the individual operating also a kind of “debt” to pay to their caregivers for being financially supported to be able to study in high school; and (3) caregivers do not have the possibility or resources of being able to accompany their adolescent's occupational plans. We conclude that Peruvian adolescents think about their future within the framework of their family's needs, rather than linked to personal and occupational goals, impeding adolescents from exploring and selecting a realistic occupational goal consistent with their interests. The results allow us to discuss the relevance of studying adolescent development taking into account the particularities of the adolescents' cultural and socioeconomic contexts as well as the core role that relationship with caregivers plays in this process in Perú.
Clinical efficacy and tolerability of zonisamide monotherapy in dogs with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy: Prospective open‐label uncontrolled multicenter trial
Authors: Saito Miyoko , Nomura Akinori , Hasegawa Daisuke , Watanabe Naoyuki , Uchida Keiko , Okuno Seiichi , Nakai Masahiro , Orito Kensuke
Published: May 2024

Background

Zonisamide (ZNS) is a newer generation antiseizure medication (ASM) used to treat epilepsy in dogs and cats. However, scientific and clinical information, particularly regarding monotherapy, is limited.

Objectives

To evaluate the antiseizure efficacy and tolerability of ZNS monotherapy in dogs with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy (IE).

Animals

Study included 56 client‐owned dogs newly diagnosed with IE.

Methods

This was a prospective multicenter, open‐label, uncontrolled study. All dogs were ASM‐naïve and had ≥2 seizures within 12 weeks. Dogs were administered 2.7‐14.4 mg/kg ZNS PO q12h and followed up for ≥12 weeks. Data from the 12‐week maintenance treatment period were compared with those from the 4‐ to 12‐week pretreatment period for efficacy evaluation. Data from the entire ZNS administration period were used to assess tolerability.

Results

Fifty‐six dogs were included in our study. Of the dogs, 53 were assessed for efficacy; 40 (76%) had a ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency, and 29 (55%) achieved seizure freedom. For 90% of the dogs with ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency, the mean ZNS dose was 4.8 (range, 2.7‐8.6) mg/kg q12h and the mean trough plasma ZNS concentration was 18.9 (range, 8.0‐48.0) μg/mL. In 7 of the 56 dogs (13%), reduced activity, decreased appetite, vomiting, hindlimb weakness, soft stools, or constipation was observed, albeit mild and temporary. Laboratory tests revealed no relevant changes.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Our study suggests that ZNS monotherapy is effective and well‐tolerated in dogs with newly diagnosed IE.
Bilateral bronchoalveolar lavage cytology profiles in a warmblood horse population during a 1‐year period
Authors: Rasmussen Nanna , Karlsen Pernille , Otten Nina D. , Fjeldborg Julie , Hansen Sanni
Published: May 2024

Background

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology results from 1 lung might not be representative of both lungs.

Objectives

To determine whether the lung site sampled would influence the horse's BAL cytology profile, and if a pooled BAL sample would be superior with regard to BAL cytology diagnosis in a cohort of healthy and subclinical asthmatic warmblood horses.

Animals

Fifty‐nine horses in 2021 and 70 horses in 2022, the follow‐up included 53 of the same in each year.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study with follow‐up included BAL cytology samples from individual lungs and from pooled BAL samples. The BAL samples were enumerated and differential cell count were applied to categorize the horses as control or with airway inflammation (AI).

Results

Bronchoalveolar lavage mast cell count was higher in left lung compared to right lung (2021; median 1.6 [range, 0.6‐3.3] vs 1.2 [0.7‐1.5] P = .009, 2022; median 3.1 [2.1‐4.2] vs 2.4 [1.7‐3.4], P < .001) and compared to pooled samples (2022; median 2.6 [1.7‐3.7], P < .001). Between year 2021 and 2022, 17 of the horses had changes in BAL cytology from control to AI or vice versa.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Pooled BAL sample was the least reliable for detecting AI, and was not representative of the overall lung condition.
African American heritage space: The plight to build a home for history
Authors: Winn Alisha R.
Published: May 2024

With one African American museum in the county, many heritage organizations have attempted to build a museum to house artifacts and present community narratives for years. This commentary describes heritage organizations' efforts to establish a museum in a South Florida city.
Molecular and cellular neurocardiology in heart disease
Authors: Habecker Beth A. , Bers Donald M. , Birren Susan J. , Chang Rui , Herring Neil , Kay Matthew W. , Li Dan , Mendelowitz David , Mongillo Marco , Montgomery Johanna M. , Ripplinger Crystal M. , Tampakakis Emmanouil , Winbo Annika , Zaglia Tania , Zeltner Nadja , Paterson David J.
Published: May 2024

This paper updates and builds on a previous White Paper in this journal that some of us contributed to concerning the molecular and cellular basis of cardiac neurobiology of heart disease. Here we focus on recent findings that underpin cardiac autonomic development, novel intracellular pathways and neuroplasticity. Throughout we highlight unanswered questions and areas of controversy. Whilst some neurochemical pathways are already demonstrating prognostic viability in patients with heart failure, we also discuss the opportunity to better understand sympathetic impairment by using patient specific stem cells that provides pathophysiological contextualization to study ‘disease in a dish’. Novel imaging techniques and spatial transcriptomics are also facilitating a road map for target discovery of molecular pathways that may form a therapeutic opportunity to treat cardiac dysautonomia.

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Chopin a la silla eléctrica”: notas estridentes y tecnologías sonoras en el arte mexicano del veinte
Authors: Espinosa Orozco Iván Andrés
Published: May 2024

En este artículo analizo la inserción de medios tecnológicos sonoros en las producciones artísticas realizadas por los estridentistas mexicanos. Mediante el análisis de poemas y manifiestos de Manuel Maples Arce, pinturas y grabados de Fermín Revueltas, Ramón Alva de la Canal y Fernando Bolaños Cacho, así como de la fotografía de Tina Modotti, planteo una reconstrucción histórica de las tensiones entre el registro visual y el registro aural en el arte estridentista. Propongo que esta tensión entre lo visual y lo sonoro corresponde al encuentro de la influencia futurista del arte europeo con las tendencias modernizadoras del México posrevolucionario. Asimismo, sostengo que este diálogo entre sonidos e imágenes traza una reconfiguración de la ciudad mexicana moderna, ya no a partir de cómo luce ante los ojos, sino de cómo suena y se comunica con el resto del mundo, principalmente por medio de las ondas hertzianas.
Los desiertos del sur: la poética del sur global en el poema Canto a su amor desaparecido (1985) de Raúl Zurita
Authors: Velásquez Juan Pablo
Published: May 2024

El presente artículo construye una “poética del sur global”, es decir, un ensamblaje crítico que es fruto de mi lectura personal y a través del cual analizo los recursos técnicos y las sensibilidades afectivas que componen la materialidad de la lengua estética del poema Canto a su amor desaparecido (1985), escrito por el artista visual y poeta chileno Raúl Zurita. Todo ello con el fin de examinar cómo la cartografía de un territorio pesadillesco (la necrópolis del sur) reconfigura las concepciones del cuerpo desaparecido, el testimonio, los soportes estéticos y, especialmente, las representaciones del “sur” en la poesía latinoamericana del siglo XX.
Fitotopías: lugares de agenciamiento político
Authors: González Navarro Adriana
Published: May 2024

Fitotopías: lugares de agenciamiento político es un texto híbrido investigativo-creativo cuyo punto de partida es la autoficción de una editora que se imagina como curadora de una exposición en la que confluyen literatura y artes visuales. A partir de esta idea, los guiones curatoriales y museográficos hacen de las plantas, las poéticas vegetales y el agenciamiento político los temas centrales. Entre las obras de tres escritoras y cuatro artistas latinoamericanas se abordan y problematizan cuestiones como los cautiverios de las mujeres, las voces de los sobrevivientes de la violencia en Colombia y las legiones de marginados que se encuentran en toda Latinoamérica. Este ensayo curatorial y autoficcional es una propuesta de crítica comparada de literatura y artes visuales, en la que filosofía, botánica y escritura creativa entran a darle forma a la reflexión.
El hosco y arbitrario León de Greiff
Authors: Robledo Juan Felipe , Álvaro Robledo
Published: May 2024

Este artículo desarrolla la concepción de cómo la poesía de León de Greiff, entre muchas otras características, en ocasiones contradictorias, se define por su disonancia y oscuridad. Heredero del simbolismo y del modernismo, su poesía no se distingue siempre por el rumor de cierta veta eufónica de la poesía modernista, y su mundo fragmentado se resolverá en la creación de un lenguaje que se basta a sí mismo para suplantar a la realidad, huyendo de la vulgaridad de un tiempo que le es incómodo. De Greiff buscó siempre huir del plañidero mundo del sentimentalismo pseudo-romántico, tan común en los finales del siglo XIX y el inicio del siglo XX en Colombia, y desarrolló motivos “contrapuestos”, a la manera de una fuga musical. La poesía que pretende ser música es una constante en la poesía de León de Greiff. El capricho o el humor serán el camino que lo lleva a escribir una poesía original, disonante en su penetración en un mundo de tensiones nunca resueltas, y que definirán su lenguaje y su visión de la realidad.