bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Risk Factors and the Establishment of a Predictive Model for Thrombosis in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Liang Hui , Duan Lingxue , Long Manyu , Tie Songyuan , Sun Changyan , Ma Sha , Wang Jing , Wang Shuya
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To explore the risk factors for thrombi occurring in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and establish a risk prediction model to better predict the risk of thrombosis in patients with ITP.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 350 ITP patients who had been hospitalized in the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province between January 2024 and June 2024. For all patients, we recorded demographic characteristics and clinical data, analyzed the risk factors for thrombosis in ITP patients and then developed a risk prediction model.

Results

Stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated that a high D-dimer level, a low PC (platelet count) and a high Padua score were independent risk factors for thrombosis in ITP patients. According to multivariate analysis, a predictive model for thrombus risk showed that the area; the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.673 (95% CI: 0.615-0.730) and the maximum Youden index, sensitivity and specificity were 0.272, 47.0% and 80.2%, respectively.

Conclusion

A high D-dimer level, low PC, and high Padua score were shown to be independent risk factors for thrombosis in ITP patients. Also, the study showed that these three risk factors might be used as a risk predictors for thrombosis in ITP patients to some extent.
Application of response surface methodology in the formulation of spreadable creams from beechnut seeds as sustainable ingredient
Authors: Puşcaş Andreea , Tanislav Anda , Socaciu Maria-Ioana , Mureşan Elena Andruţa , Semeniuc Cristina Anamaria , Pall Emoke , Truță Alina Maria , Mureşan Vlad
Published: January 2025

Plants available in the spontaneous flora are recently studied as ingredients for food formulation in response to the demands for sustainable plant-based foods. The aim of this study was to obtain a new assortment of spreadable creams, free of palm oil, with good textural, rheological and colour attributes, high antioxidant activity and low cytotoxicity, from Fagus Sylvatica L. (European beech) seeds. A Box–Behnken design was used in order to find an optimal formulation based on textural, rheological, colorimetry, total polyphenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity. Analysis of variance demonstrates that (i) the texture and (ii) rheology of the products are influenced by roasting temperature and sugar concentration, texture by the interaction of roasting temperature and duration, while rheological parameters by their interaction and squares, at a confidence level of at least p = 90%, (iii) whiteness index by each numeric factor, (iv) TPC by roasting duration, while antioxidant activity by the sugar content. Cytotoxicity (v) was expressed as a measure of cell viability under the application of 20 yl acidic extract of beechnut spreads and it was influenced by temperature, duration and their interaction. Optimization studies were based on the process sustainability and the product quality parameters achievement. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed some differences due to the sugar addition, but not due to roasting at different temperatures (125–145–165 °C). The spreads with 20% sugar are similar in terms of textural, colour and rheological attributes to those with no sugar. Highest TPC and antioxidant activity are reached at 35 min of roasting, while 125 °C protocol is leading to increased toxicity levels. The forest seeds are a viable sustainable ingredient for novel spreads.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Home Healthcare Workers: Results From The Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes (HERO) Registry
Authors: McKinley Elizabeth , Shrader Peter , Thomas Laine , O’Brien Emily , Webb Laura , Liu Chunyan , Macaluso Maurizio , Daraiseh Nancy M.
Published: January 2025

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted home healthcare (HHC) as a crucial part of the healthcare industry that faced challenges related to staffing, exposure, and limited access to personal protective equipment. It was unknown how these challenges impacted the well-being of these workers. This analysis summarizes data from the Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes (HERO) study participants who reported employment as home healthcare workers (HHCWs): describing their personal health and other self-reported items from May 2020 through December 2021. HERO, an online research registry, was developed to understand the experience of healthcare workers and their communities during the pandemic. Descriptive data analysis included demographics, vaccination status, exposure, hours worked, and medical history. We analyzed the level of reported burnout and depression, and overall physical and mental health wellbeing in three 6-month time frames (May-December 2020; January-June 2021; July-December 2021). About 1139 HHCWs enrolled in the HERO registry as of January 2022. Participants were 91.2% female, with a mean age of 41.8 years (SD = 11.6). More than half of the sample identified as White (58.8%). From May 2020 through December 2021, HHCWs reported an upward trend in the level of burnout; a significant decrease in mental health scores; and a significant change in the percentage reporting depression. Over 25% of open responses indicated HHCWs have concerns about stress, mental health, burnout, and personal protective equipment use. Between May 2020 and December 2021, HHCWs reported increasing levels of burnout, depression, and declining mental health status. Strategies are needed to continually assess level and causes of stress among HHCW in order to mitigate incidence of burnout and depression.
“Triple and Plan” (TriPla) regimen for long lasting new generation intravitreal anti-VEGF
Authors: Beretta Federico , Sacconi Riccardo , Querques Lea , Prascina Francesco , Zucchiatti Ilaria , Bandello Francesco , Querques Giuseppe
Published: January 2025

Intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medications are the primary treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). However, frequent administrations pose significant burdens on patients, healthcare providers, and systems. The treat-and-extend (T&E) regimen, which adjusts treatment intervals based on patient response, aims to reduce injection frequency while maintaining disease control. The “Triple and Plan” (TriPla) regimen, developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, further optimizes treatment by scheduling three consecutive injections, thus minimizing clinic visits while ensuring adequate treatment.

Newer agents such as Faricimab, Aflibercept 8 mg, and Brolucizumab offer longer-lasting effects, potentially extending treatment intervals. Faricimab, targeting both Ang-2 and VEGF-A, requires fewer injections and visits under the TriPla regimen compared to traditional T&E. Aflibercept 8 mg, with its higher concentration, promises extended intervals up to 16 weeks, reducing the injection frequency. Brolucizumab, notable for its small size and effective tissue penetration, also offers prolonged therapeutic effects but requires careful monitoring due to potential adverse events.

In the first two years of treatment, patients using the TriPla regimen with these new drugs would undergo a slightly higher number of injections but with fewer clinic visits compared to the T&E regimen. The TriPla approach optimizes scheduling and reduces the workload on specialists, potentially improving patient care and healthcare system efficiency. These advancements in treatment regimens and drug formulations present significant benefits in managing nAMD, balancing effective disease control with reduced healthcare burdens.
Detection of microplastics in pterygium tissue: Implications for environmental hazards
Authors: Choi Yun-Hee , Park Nayoon , Park Seul-Ah , Kim Juyang , Jung Jaehak , Choi Yoon-Hyeong , Kim Dong Hyun
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aimed to report a case of microplastics (MPs) detection in a pterygium patient's tissue.

Case report

A pterygium specimen was obtained from the right eye of a 43-year-old woman by surgical removal of a recurred pterygium. The number, morphology, and material type of the MPs in pterygium were identified using Raman microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Ten MPs were detected in the pterygium, which corresponded to polyethylene (PE) (n = 7), polystyrene (PS) (n = 2), and polypropylene (PP) (n = 1). The size of MPs ranged from 5–9 µm (n = 5, PE or PS), 10–19 µm (n = 4, PE), and 50–99 µm (n = 1, PP). All MPs were transparent and irregular fragments.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the detection of MPs in the pterygium tissue. Our findings suggest that environmental hazards, such as MP, may be commonly exposed to the ocular surface.
Murphy's Law in cataract surgeries: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Singh Bhangu Jaskaran , Stewart Christopher , Bakhiet Tamsin , Ho Derek Kwun-hong , Parmar Tina , Tolley Suzanne , Williams Gwyn Samuel
Published: January 2025

Objective

Around 400,000 cataract operations are performed annually in the UK, with a complication rate of 1.95% and the associated financial costs at over £13 million. Cataract operations are occasionally cancelled when patients cannot attend. To fully utilize theatre time, agreeable patients may be directly sent for surgery from assessment clinics. This study investigates the validity of “Murphy's Law” in ophthalmology, namely, whether there is an increase in complication rates amongst these ‘add-on’ cases.

Design & Participants

Retrospective study to compare data of add-on phacoemulsification operations against the departmental baseline.

Methods

Chi-square test was used to determine whether the complication rates differed significantly. 1-sided p-value of <0.05 was considered to be significant.

Results

227 ‘add-on’ cases were identified, of which 3 complications occurred. Departmental baseline of 4289 operations resulted in 44 complications. These represented complication rates of 1.32% and 1.03%, respectively. The level of surgical difficulty between the two groups were comparable. Statistical comparison of these complication rates demonstrated a p-value of 0.67, indicating that Murphy's Law is not significant.

Conclusions

This is the first study of its kind to examine the rates of adverse outcomes in unscheduled ‘add-on’ cataract surgeries, a commonly deployed method to maximize eye theatre time usage. Our data suggested no significant difference in complication rates between the add-on operations and local baseline. Thus, we demonstrated that the practice of same day proceeding from pre-operative assessment clinic to the operating table is a safe option to optimize theatre time use, should a surgery cancellation arise.
The “renaissance” of auditory medium in China: a study on the motives of Chinese podcasting users and corresponding development strategies of Chinese podcasting
Authors: Zhu Ying , Yang Yali
Published: January 2025

In 2025, China witnessed its own “Year of the Podcast.” Podcast, an auditory medium that dominates the Western market, is once again enjoying a “renaissance” in China after years of silence. This article begins by tracing the development trajectory of Chinese podcasting and examining the reasons behind its “renaissance.” Then, based on Grounded Theory Methodology, this article utilizes user reviews from Little Universe, the first Chinese RSS podcast application on the App Store, as research samples. Assisted by qualitative research software Nvivo12, it analyzes the motives of Chinese podcasting users and the corresponding development strategies of Chinese podcasting. The research reveals that emotional needs, platform needs, and cognitive needs are the three prominent categories of needs, accounting for 45%, 34%, and 22%, respectively. Chinese podcasting users are particularly concerned about the adaptability of podcasting platforms to various devices in changing usage scenarios, the future direction of commercialization, and the usefulness and diversity of podcast programs. Unlike Western podcasting, social needs play a crucial role in Chinese podcasting, but there are divergent opinions among Chinese users regarding them. Therefore, the development of social functions needs to be carefully controlled within certain limits.
Neural network based prediction of lemon bore journal bearing performance with micropolar lubricants
Authors: Soni Sandeep , Mathur Puneet
Published: January 2025

The research paper aims to predict the static characteristics of lemon bore journal bearings lubricated with micropolar lubricant using an artificial neural network (ANN) and compare the results using traditional numerical methods. It commences by employing the Finite Difference Method (FDM) to solve the Reynolds equation for micropolar lubricants. Swift-Stieber boundary conditions were functional to evaluate pressure distribution, which enables the examination of the static characteristics by varying the eccentricity ratio (ε) = 0.25, 0.3, and 0.35, length of micropolar (lm) = 1 to 50, and coupling number (N2) = 0.1 to 0.9. Thereafter, the results from the FDM approach are used to train artificial neural network models. The study utilizes a dataset comprised of over 1560 data points with corresponding inputs and outputs. Three distinct feed-forward ANN architectures were considered: Levenberg-Marquardt optimization technique, Bayesian regularization technique, and Scaled Conjugate Gradient, and their performance was compared with results obtained through FDM. Results indicate a substantial reduction in computational effort and time when employing the trained ANN models compared to the FDM approach. Furthermore, it is found that the difference between the results given by the ANN models and the FDM results is not above 5%; the agreement between these two approaches thus appears good. This study reveals the effectiveness of ANNs in reducing computational time and effort while maintaining accuracy in evaluating the performance of lemon bore journal bearings lubricated with micropolar lubricant, and provides a new approach to predict the performance of fluid film bearings.
Supporting access to comprehensive services: A scoping review of national policies related to autism in mainland China
Authors: Zou Mingyang , Han Yujiao , Jin Meiyu , Xie Wei , Shang Chuang , Li Tiantian , Feng Liwen , Sun Caihong , Zhang Saisai , Wu Lijie
Published: January 2025

The study was designed to review autism-associated policies, describe policy characteristics, and determine potential policy gaps compared with the recommendations set by the World Health Organization. Autism-associated policies in 15 government agencies and public institutions were thoroughly searched on ministry websites up to December 2022, where 81 of 2504 were retained. And 42 of the 81 policies were issued in 2021 and 2022. Twelve of the 15 included ministries were involved in policymaking, yet fewer than one third of the policy documents were jointly issued by multiple ministries, which are crucial for the effective implementation of autism-associated policies. Compared with the World Health Organization recommendations (the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 and the Six Building Blocks of Health System), several areas showed a strong policy commitment, including leadership and governance, service delivery, and access to medicines and facility. Several potential gaps remained, including a relative lack of emphasis on health information and the health workforce, and insufficient attention to the community. Despite these potential gaps, encouragingly, the nation has increasingly focused on autism groups. This study can provide a basis for future policymaking to provide more comprehensive and better services for individuals with autism.

Lay abstract

Policies have been found to play a crucial role in supporting the health and well-being of individuals with autism. Yet, relatively few policy reviews are related to autism, and the current level of autism-associated policies and potential gaps in comparison with the World Health Organization recommendations remain unclear. Our study reviewed autism-associated policies, described policy characteristics, and determined potential policy gaps in mainland China. We conducted a comprehensive search of autism-associated policies from 15 websites of government agencies and public institutions up to December 2022, where 81 of 2504 were retained. We found that 42 of the 81 policies were issued in 2021 and 2022. Twelve of the 15 included ministries were involved in policymaking and fewer than one third of the policy documents were issued by two or more ministries. With respect to recommendations proposed by the World Health Organization (the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 and the Six Building Blocks of Health System), several areas received extensive national attention, including leadership and governance, service delivery, and access to medicines and facility, while there was limited policy attention on the other components. Despite these potential gaps, encouragingly, the nation has increasingly focused on autism groups. This study can provide a basis for future policymaking to provide more comprehensive and better services for individuals with autism.
Comprehension and production of (non-)reflexive possessive constructions in Abui by Alor Malay–Abui bilingual children
Authors: Shin Gyu-Ho , Saad George , Kratochvíl František
Published: January 2025

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions:

We investigate how Alor Malay–Abui child bilinguals, a non-WEIRD and underrepresented population in the field, comprehend and produce reflexive and non-reflexive possessive constructions in Abui. Their profiles of language development are explored through functionalist accounts that highlight the close connection between language and domain-general learning capacities, with special emphasis on three models: Competition Model, usage-based approach, and processing determinism.

Design/methodology/approach:

A total of 17 children (experimental group) and 17 adults (comparison group) complete a forced-choice sentence comprehension task (where they listen to two sentences following a short video prompt and verbally select the sentence that best describes the clip) and an elicited production task (where they watch a series of video clips and describe what is happening in each clip in a semi-spontaneous way).

Data and analysis:

This study employs mixed-effects modelling for data analysis. The global model per experiment includes Condition (reflexive; non-reflexive) and Group (child; adult) as fixed effects and Participant and Item as random effects, with the maximal random-effects structure allowed by the model.

Findings/conclusions:

Results show asymmetric performance by bilingual children on the two construction types across both experiments. Our findings provide insight into the developing processor in bilingual children, influenced by various factors such as usage frequency, cognitive skills, and task effects, within the functionalist framework.

Originality and significance/implications:

The findings of this study align with functionalist accounts for language development, illuminating the intricate deployment of linguistic knowledge in the minds of bilingual children interfacing with language-usage experience and domain-general factors. By combining the three models of functionalism, our findings are more properly understood, highlighting their complementary nature in addressing developmental trajectories of linguistic knowledge for child bilinguals. Importantly, our study shifts our attention to a unique bilingual context that has not been explored – lesser-studied languages and learning environments, contributing to offsetting the sampling bias persistent in the field.
Virtually inclusive: The promises and experiences of women and gender diverse people in virtual production workplaces
Authors: Barnett Tully , Erhart Julia , Dooley Kath
Published: January 2025

The virtual production industry has grown recently, driven by advancements in software capabilities, new mechanisms for special effects, editing and production in the screen sector, as well as the need to adapt to pandemic conditions. Although these changes are seen as an opportunity to promote inclusion for women, the industry still faces challenges in gender equity and career pathways. While there is much research about the screen sector more broadly, limited research exists on gender equality in the virtual production sector, particularly in Australia. This article presents findings on the experiences of female and gender diverse workers in the Australian virtual production sector, to understand how the sector might perpetuate or challenge these patterns. We interviewed 13 people in virtual production or screen education, exploring the influence of gender on workplace experiences and whether these experiences in virtual production environments align with or deviate from those in traditional screen industries. We found that the industry faces continued challenges in terms of women's inclusion and career pathways in this sector
Mathematical prediction model for ground vibrations of nearby territories induced by high dam flood discharge
Authors: Zhang Wenjiao , Lian Jijian , Liu Fang , Zhao Xing , Liang Chao
Published: January 2025

Ground vibration induced by high dam flood discharge is a relatively easily ignored but quite considerable environmental problem for the nearby territories. In this paper, Xiangjiaba hydro project was utilized as an instance to study the vibration impact of water releases on the ground of the near-dam zone. Based on in situ observation and hydroelastic model designed specially, the mathematical prediction models of ground vibration by means of the regression analysis and neural network had been established and verified. It was concluded that the prediction accuracy of the neural network was better than that of the regression analysis, and among the neural network models, the Elman neural network was an optimal method to complete the simulation of the nonlinear prediction system of ground vibration with the high prediction accuracy. Finally, the flood discharge operation regime for vibration reduction which could be applied in practical engineering was put forward through the prediction model of Elman neural network. The main achievements of this paper are of great use to predict ground vibration magnitude and manage practical operation regime during the flood discharge period for avoiding excessive vibration intensity of ground.
Storying teaching together and with preschool practitioners: Renegotiating shapes of teaching in preschool education
Authors: Frid Moa
Published: January 2025

This paper explores and renegotiates the shapes of teaching in preschool education. Therefore, I engage in storytelling drawing from Haraway and create encounters together and with preschool practices and practitioners in connection to a policy change that introduced teaching into the Swedish preschool curriculum. This multiple inquiry complexifies teaching, starting with the preschool practitioners’ questions and concerns about teaching in preschool. Through stories, teaching takes both place and space in preschool education, challenging and confirming ideas and traditions on how to do preschool. Teaching takes multiple shapes and becomes a practice that extends beyond a specific event, encompassing both preparatory planning and subsequent reflections, as well as the continued process, intertwined with global trends of formalising early childhood education. Resisting a simplified story of the purpose of preschool education, I propose storytelling as a way to acknowledge teaching in preschool practices.
String figuring toy pedagogy in kindergartens through sticky photos
Authors: Lafton Tove , Moxnes Anna Rigmor
Published: January 2025

In this article, we introduce a relational approach to toy pedagogy. A narrative and three photographs from field studies in kindergartens function as sticky knots. By following Haraway and her philosophical explorations of string figures, we discuss the stickiness of the photos and how they contribute to understanding a concept like toy pedagogy. By interrupting the traditional understanding of toys in pedagogical practice, we suggest that toy pedagogy evolves between children, toys and the environment. Multiple connections appear when examining the photographs in light of kinship, which leads to creations of the environment as a place where companion species engage in processes of becoming-with the world. Finally, we discuss how toys affect networks of meaning and worlding, take part in producing dreams and give hope to the lives of children.
The effect of notches on the mechanical properties and damage failures of fibre-metal laminates: An experimental and numerical study
Authors: Dalfi Hussein K. , AL-Obaidi Anwer , Rafiee Roham , Abdulridha Nazar
Published: January 2025

This study aims to investigate the effect of aluminum layers on the tensile strength of glass laminates having different types of notches. Glass fabrics laminates and hybrid glass fabrics and aluminum layers laminates have been manufactured through vacuum bagging process. Tensile strength tests were carried out for laminates without and with double V- and C-notches to investigate their residual tensile strength. An analytical model has been suggested to investigate the behavior of these laminates accommodating these notches. Moreover, the finite element analysis (FEA) with commercial software, has been used to predict the damage failure modes for notched laminates under tensile strength tests. Experimental results showed that the tensile strength decreased 33% and 48% after having C- and V-notches in glass/epoxy laminates, meanwhile the reductions were only (13% and 17%) and (8% and 10%) for glass/epoxy laminates that have one and two aluminum layers with C- and V- notches respectively. The comparison of the analytical model and experimental results of residual tensile strength was matching well. Further, numerical simulation results for damage failure modes are in accordance with experimental results both qualitatively and quantitatively for notched laminates under tensile load.
How user comments affect news readers’ outgroup prejudice: Vicarious intergroup contact and the moderating role of direct intergroup contact
Authors: Jia Wufan , Fu Lunrui , Dai Yue , Zuo Zhiya
Published: January 2025

The digitalization of media creates an environment for users to engage in indirect contact with outgroup members whom they would otherwise not make contact with in real life. This research investigated how vicarious contact (observing intergroup interactions) via user comments on news articles reduced readers’ prejudice against outgroups and the moderating roles of direct contact in such effects. An online experiment ( N = 700) demonstrated that for participants with limited positive direct contact with HIV-positive individuals, positive vicarious contact with HIV-positive individuals via user comments increased their intentions to interact with HIV-positive individuals. In contrast, for those with more positive direct contact, positive attitudes toward HIV-positive individuals decreased with positive vicarious contact. For participants with abundant negative direct contact with Asians, positive vicarious contact with Asians via user comments decreased their intentions to interact with Asians. The findings advance the understanding of the effects of user-generated comments on news readers’ interpretation and understanding of news content and provide practical guidance for reducing intergroup prejudice.
The archaeology of gamonalismo and postcolonial contradictions in the Southern Peruvian Andes
Authors: Menaker Alexander
Published: January 2025

In the 19th–20th centuries, following Peruvian independence, the postcolonial nation-state saw the formation of the gamonal, a local landlord who exploited indigenous people to perpetuate a servile labor force and appropriate land. While the community of Andagua in the Southern Peruvian Andes was subject to Spanish colonial state violence, residents identify their greatest forms of subjugation as occurring under the Peruvian nation-state. Drawing from ethnographic, archaeological, and historical evidence, this article bridges historical archaeology and archaeologies of the contemporary to write inclusive histories that incorporate residents’ perspectives to frame past experiences. Beyond the history of the gamonal, this article discusses how families organized to rehabilitate pre-Contact agricultural infrastructure from the 1960s to the present. Some people subject to the harsh hand of the gamonal have reclaimed their lands, while for others there is a lingering sense that justice will never be served.
From exchange value to social value of real estate development: A Planner’s perspective
Authors: Kim Minjee
Published: January 2025

Property values offer a lens through which to explain urban phenomena. It is therefore important to understand the theories and practices of property valuation as planners. This article brings together and advances planning and real estate fields by probing the meaning of value underlying a common valuation technique, the discounted cash flow analysis. When using this technique, income-generating properties are largely valued for their exchange value, while much of their use values are overlooked. Learning from the field of social entrepreneurship, I propose a framework for capturing the use values of a property, more specifically, its impact on existing socioeconomic inequalities.
Natal protest: The politics of the birth strike
Authors: Davidson Joe PL
Published: January 2025

A birth strike is a collective refusal to have children for political ends. It has been deployed by a wide array of political movements, from the resistance of Black people to plantation slavery to contemporary campaigns around climate change. Despite this, the tactic has received little attention from political theorists. Drawing on a range of perspectives – including empirical accounts of the birth strike, broader scholarship on the politics of strikes and Black feminist work on reproductive justice – this article addresses the challenges and potentialities of the birth strike as a mode of political resistance. To this end, I delineate three different forms of the birth strike: the Malthusian, which focuses on directly addressing overpopulation; the sacrificial, which emphasises the self-directed suffering of the strike to force a change in policy; and, the defiant, which involves refusing pronatalist demands to maintain or increase the population rate. The Malthusian and sacrificial forms should be avoided since the former undermines reproductive justice and the latter reinforces the patriarchal association between womanhood and motherhood. By contrast, I defend the defiant form because it forges a space where people can make autonomous decisions about childbirth.
A geometrical morphology-enhanced computer vision approach for structural health assessment
Authors: Li Yixian , Zhao Zhipeng , Sun Limin , Guo Tong , Yang Bin
Published: January 2025

Images contain abundant valuable information about the health state of the photographed infrastructures. However, local defects are mostly detected in vision-based structural health monitoring (SHM), while global safety and risk at a larger scale are rarely assessed. To fill up this gap, a geometrical morphology-based image analysis framework is developed for structural global health assessment. A structured random forest edge detector is adopted to extract the edges in an image, and the morphological operations are subsequently used to highlight the edge skeleton, from which the continuous line segments are estimated by the Hough transform. Via these operations, the intrinsic geometrical features of different structures can be extracted and highlighted in an unsupervised manner and at a real-time speed. A global health indicator, line-to-edge ratio, is finally calculated to assess the structural state according to the fact that the deterioration of material will introduce abundant irregular edges in an image and break the lines at the structure boundaries. A destructive beam loading test video and a set of images from different bridge piers are analyzed for verification. The images are taken from arbitrary, uncontrolled, and backlighting views. The results show that the proposed framework can correctly quantify the health condition and detect the occurrence of damage for the in-field infrastructures.
Proposal for revised criteria for daylight provision in the European daylight standard based on calculations for Swedish multifamily residential buildings
Authors: Jin Z , Chen X , Rogers P , Perez Morata A , Rasmussen HF , Gentile N
Published: January 2025

The European Standard EN 17037 was first introduced in 2018 with the aim of encouraging building designers to ensure adequate daylight in buildings. Experience has shown that the standard’s criteria for daylight provision are generally perceived to be too challenging, and this in turn has hindered its implementation in national legislations. This paper proposes a revised illuminance-based criteria for daylight provision using the specific case of regularly occupied rooms in multifamily Swedish residential buildings as an example. In total, 3562 rooms representing typical Swedish residential design are assessed. Two sets of criteria for dwellings are proposed; one based on a fixed illuminance, another based on a fixed area fraction. Both have three levels of ambition, in which the lowest would result in approximately two-thirds of the investigated Swedish dwellings reaching compliance. This is the same compliance rate as for the current national legislation. The implications of three proposed criteria on residential design are also discussed. While results are given for the Swedish context, the proposed criteria could be generalized for use in other European countries. The intention of this proposal is to allow for a wider application of the daylight standard within residential construction across Europe.
Exploring Associations Between Substance Use, Self-Regulated Learning Practices, and Academic Challenges at Five Canadian Universities
Authors: Cieslik Violet V. , Sukhawathanakul Paweena , Rostampour Ramin , Wu Meng Qi , Hadwin Allyson F. , Stewart Sherry H. , Thompson Kara , Keough Matthew T. , Krank Marvin , Conrod Patricia J. , Castellanos-Ryan Natalie , Winne Phil
Published: January 2025

Self-regulated learning (SRL) practices and academic challenges are crucial factors in student success and academic performance. Frequent cannabis and alcohol use can negatively affect emerging adults’ cognitive abilities which in turn diminishes their academic performance. Research has not yet fully explored how substance use effects university student engagement with SRL practices (e.g., task understanding) and academic challenges (e.g., motivational challenges). Participants ( N = 1,247) were first- and second-year undergraduate students at five Canadian Universities ( Mage = 19.1 years). Cannabis use negatively associated with reports of task understanding and metacognitive monitoring and positively associated with five academic challenges: goal and time management, cognitive, social-emotional, metacognitive, and motivational challenges. Alcohol use negatively associated with reports of goal and time management, and task understanding, and positively associated with academic social engagement practices, social-emotional and initiating-sustaining engagement challenges. Findings enhance understanding about how specific substances affect emerging adults on academic success precursors early in their transition to university.
Spike Ripples: Hidden Clues to the Mystery of the Epileptogenic Zone
Authors: Quraishi Imran H.
Published: January 2025

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Verbal Memory is Higher After Aerobic Exercise When Compared to Muscle Stretching
Authors: Doku Abigail , Roupe Gavin T. , Rankine Emma , Flemming Isabel , Provost Jacob A. , Zuhl Micah , Otani Hajime
Published: January 2025

Acute exercise is linked to memory improvement. Several mediators may influence the effect of exercise such as the type of exercise (aerobic exercise, muscle stretching). Purpose: The primary aim was to analyze memory outcomes after a 20-min bout of aerobic exercise or muscle stretching. Methods: 42 healthy participants ages 18-35 were randomized to perform 20 min of either moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (AE) on a treadmill or muscle stretching exercise (SE). After exercise, memory was assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). The relationship between exercise heart rate and memory outcomes were evaluated within each group. Results: Immediate learning as well as delayed recall was higher after AE compared to SE. Heart rate during exercise correlated with immediate learning in the AE group only. Conclusion: Acute exercise that elicits a heart rate response may be important for improving memory.
Navigating Inclusive Research in PhD Studies: A Model for Limited Resource Environments
Authors: Ryan Laura , Ellem Kathy , Le Brocque Robyne , Mitchell Claire , Langdon Luka
Published: January 2025

Inclusive research, which emphasises the active involvement of people with disabilities in the research process, is increasingly recognised as vital for enhancing research quality. Despite its importance, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding implementing inclusive research within doctoral studies in health and wellbeing. This paper has addressed this gap by providing a practical model of how the first author conducted PhD research with two health service consumer advisors with Down syndrome. The consumer advisors participated in eleven meetings lasting up to 2 hours, with a tailored involvement plan that considered their specific needs. The paper has drawn on reflections and feedback from both the PhD student and the advisors, using sources from reflective journals, email exchanges, and meeting notes. The consumer advisors remained engaged throughout the project, offering valuable insights relating to the design, data collection, interpretation and dissemination of the findings. The study highlighted that inclusion can be adapted to fit specific circumstances, even within the constraints of higher degree research and limited resources. It has underscored the importance of consumer advisor involvement for the success of doctoral research. The paper concludes by stressing the need for universities to support PhD students in fostering inclusive research practices.
An Exploration of Serious Falls After Stroke Using a Large International Stroke Rehabilitation Database
Authors: Wang Julian , Bernhardt Julie , Johns Hannah , Churilov Leonid , Said Catherine M , Fini Natalie Ann , Batchelor Frances , Collier Janice , Ellery Fiona , Bower Kelly
Published: January 2025

Background:

Falls are common after stroke and can have serious consequences such as hip fracture. Prior research shows around half of individuals will fall within the 12 months post stroke and these falls are more likely to cause serious injury compared to people without stroke. However, there is limited research on risk factors collected in the immediate post-stroke period that may relate to falls risk. Furthermore, the circumstances and consequences surrounding falls resulting in serious adverse events (serious falls) is underexplored.

Aims:

Using longitudinal cohort data from A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial (AVERT), we aimed to describe the occurrence, consequences, and circumstances of serious falls over 12 months post stroke and examine potential risk factors associated with these serious falls.

Methods:

Data from participants included in the AVERT trial (n = 2104; recruited from 56 stroke units across five countries) were analysed. Serious falls were defined as those resulting in death, were life threatening, or required/prolonged hospitalisation. Baseline variables included: demographics, pre-morbid function, stroke severity, hemi-neglect, functional independence and mobility. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests, Fisher’s tests, and Firth’s logistic regressions (adjusting for age, stroke severity and AVERT intervention group).

Results:

Of the 2104 participants, 85 (4%) experienced at least one serious fall (mean age 78.1 years, 45 male), with 91 individual falls. Fifty-five (60%) serious falls resulted in fracture, with 23 (42%) being hip fractures. Two (2%) falls resulted in death. Serious falls were most common during the day (26 of 38 reported), at home (30 of 63 reported) and while ambulating (22 of 42 reported). More serious falls were experienced by participants who were older, had worse premorbid mobility, were unable to walk 10m independently in the first 24 hours post-stroke, or required longer than 14 days to walk 50m unassisted.

Conclusions:

This large international prospective study found 1 in 25 stroke survivors experienced serious falls in the first year after stroke. Fractures were a common outcome of these falls, but the true post-stroke fracture rate is likely to be underestimated due to our study methods, such as the exclusion of individuals with poor premorbid mobility and the absence of data on fractures not relating to falls or leading to an inpatient hospital admission. Clear associations between older age, impaired pre- and early post-stroke mobility and heightened risk of serious falls were found. Integrating these factors into post-stroke screening tools could improve identification of individuals at greater risk of serious falls and lead to more focused rehabilitation and injury prevention.
Socially networked endorsements: Exploring the relationship between social identification and online marketing in multicultural societies
Authors: Rasul Azmat , Asim Mian Muhammad , Shin Donghee
Published: January 2025

This study examines the trends and effectiveness of online social networks to target youth for precision marketing under the varied mediating role of cultural dispositions, innovative aptitude, and perceived medium credibility in emerging yet distinctive marketplaces. We conducted an online survey ( N = 577) in three countries representing different social, economic, and cultural values to investigate the relationships between the variables. The social identity framework was used as a theoretical framework. The results revealed that external factors like recommendations, product offers, and appearance are more relevant than an individual's traits and dispositions when evaluating products on social networks. These findings clarify the existing work and offer methodological and practical implications.
Investigation of tibia and fibula fracture risk during football impacts using finite element human body models
Authors: Shakib Aryen , Lazar Eden , Cohen Tom , Quenneville Cheryl E
Published: January 2025

Injuries in football are prevalent, and while shin guards reduce these, current test standards are primarily intended to evaluate contusion risk rather than more serious outcomes such as fractures. In this study, a finite element human body model was used to assess fracture risk in the lower leg subjected to conditions representative of football impacts. Various impactor shapes, impact locations and orientations were explored to identify conditions where fractures may be more likely to occur (based on element strain) and the associated force and bending moment. The lower leg was most susceptible to fractures at the 35% tibial height. Fractures occurred most frequently from the anterolateral direction, resulting in fibula injuries. In terms of geometry, the stud impactors were the most effective at inducing fractures and fracture was highly sensitive to bone alignment. Force to fracture ranged from 1595 to 2612 N. Susceptibility to fractures was influenced by the cross-sectional area of the bone, as well as the soft tissue thickness, with increased force attenuation associated with greater tissue thicknesses. This study showed various parameters affect the fracture tolerance of the lower leg, and identified the impact energies required to induce fractures, to better inform test standards for protective equipment.
Stress shielding in reverse shoulder arthroplasty using a proximally coated stem for proximal humeral fractures: Does it have clinical relevance?
Authors: Goñalons-Giol Francesc , Ventura-Parellada Cristina , Alonso-Rodríguez-Piedra Javier , Llorens-Martínez Xavier , Gàmez-Baños Ferran , Mora-Guix José-María
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical significance of stress shielding in patients who have undergone an uncemented reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) with a proximally coated stem for complex proximal humeral fractures (PHF) comprising 3 or 4 parts, assessed at 2 years postoperatively. Additionally, this study aims to examine the correlation between tuberosity healing and clinical outcomes.

Methods

Setting: Single Centre. Patient Selection Criteria: 43 patients underwent surgery involving a cementless RSA with an anatomical stem (Mini Stem of Zimmer Biomet ® Comprehensive System) following an acute 3- or 4-part or 4-part with luxation PHF within 4 weeks of injury. Patients who were excluded from the study included those who passed away, did not have a minimum 2-year follow-up, or had undergone cemented RSAs or alternative humeral components, as well as those who required RSA due to fracture sequelae. Outcome Measures and Comparisons: Stress shielding, tuberosity healing and its positioning were evaluated. Clinical-functional assessments were made using the Constant and ASES scores. Furthermore, quality of life assessments, including QuickDASH score, SF-12, satisfaction test (SANE) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were performed.

Results

Of the total shoulders, 6 (13.9%) were excluded, leaving 37 PHFs that met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at the time of surgery was 72 years (range, 61–85). Stress shielding was observed in 31 shoulders (83.8%). There was no observed correlation between stress shielding and clinical-functional or quality of life assessments. The greater tuberosity in patients without stress shielding was found to be above the tray (66.7%) ( P < 0.05). Tuberosity healing was observed in 94.6% (35/37) of the shoulders.

Conclusions

No significant clinical difference was observed between patients with and without stress shielding in terms of short-term functional outcomes. Successful consolidation of the tuberosities can be attained even in cases with notable stress shielding.

Level of Evidence

Level IV; Case Series; Treatment study.