bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Syncretic Effect of Dual-Source Data on Affective Computing in Online Learning Contexts: A Perspective From Convolutional Neural Network With Attention Mechanism
Authors: Zhai Xuesong , Xu Jiaqi , Chen Nian-Shing , Shen Jun , Li Yan , Wang Yonggu , Chu Xiaoyan , Zhu Yumeng
Published: November 2022

Affective computing (AC) has been regarded as a relevant approach to identifying online learners’ mental states and predicting their learning performance. Previous research mainly used one single-source data set, typically learners’ facial expression, to compute learners’ affection. However, a single facial expression may represent different affections in various head poses. This study proposed a dual-source data approach to solve the problem. Facial expression and head pose are two typical data sources that can be captured from online learning videos. The current study collected a dual-source data set of facial expressions and head poses from an online learning class in a middle school. A deep learning neural network using AlexNet with an attention mechanism was developed to verify the syncretic effect on affective computing of the proposed dual-source fusion strategy. The results show that the dual-source fusion approach significantly outperforms the single-source approach based on the AC recognition accuracy between the two approaches (dual-source approach using Attention-AlexNet model 80.96%; single-source approach, facial expression 76.65% and head pose 64.34%). This study contributes to the theoretical construction of the dual-source data fusion approach, and the empirical validation of the effect of the Attention-AlexNet neural network approach on affective computing in online learning contexts.
The Role of Local Housing Policies in Preventing Displacement: A Literature Review
Authors: Chapple Karen , Loukaitou-Sideris Anastasia , Miller Andrew , Zeger Cody
Published: November 2022

Residential displacement impacts the quality of life, health, and economic outlook for households. Yet, there is little evidence on how housing policy works to prevent displacement. This literature review examines how 12 housing policies, encompassing household/neighborhood stabilization, affordable housing preservation, and housing production, mitigate displacement. We conclude that stabilization strategies have the most direct and immediate effect on mitigating direct displacement, while housing production and preservation strategies can decrease indirect and/or exclusionary displacement. However, production policies typically require strong markets and longer time spans. Though more research is needed, local governments can still leverage housing policies to prevent displacement.
Current state-of-the-art of carbonaceous nanofiller coated carbon fiber in polymeric nanocomposites
Authors: Kausar Ayesha
Published: November 2022

The carbon fibers have been employed to form the high performance composites. The use and compatibility of carbon fibers have gained research interest. Incidentally, the nanocarbon nanostructures such as carbon nanotube, graphene, nanodiamond, and fullerene have been deposited on the carbon fiber surface to increase the interfacial linking with the matrices. Various physical and chemical methods have been used to deposit the nanocarbon on the carbon fiber surface including the chemical vapor deposition, electrospraying, electrophoretic deposition, etc. This review basically highpoints the prospective of the formation of the polymer/fiber composite and polymer/fiber/nanofiller nanocomposite for the advanced structures. The effect of the addition of the nanocarbon on the properties of the polymer/carbon fiber materials have been observed. Specifically, the morphology, strength, toughness, storage modulus, thermal stability, and other physical characteristics have been observed. Moreover, the interfacial adhesion and resulting interfacial features of the polymer/fiber/nanofiller nanocomposite have also been perceived.
“It Felt Like a Little Community”: Supporting Rural Appalachian College Students
Authors: Gibbons Melinda M. , Cain Leia K. , Gantt Henrietta , Riley Kertesha , Hanley Covington , Hardin Erin E. , McCollum Timara
Published: November 2022

Students from rural Appalachian regions often face increased career development barriers within university spaces. As part of an NSF-funded program, we provided diverse, structured supports for a group of STEM majors from rural Appalachian backgrounds. We utilized narrative inquiry to interview 10 Program participants, which allowed us to explore which supports they described as impactful, including graduate student mentors, their fellow program peers, program coordinators, campus supports, and other various campus faculty. Participants further described being impacted in a variety of ways: as an individual person, in their research pursuits, in their future plans, academically, and financially through the program’s scholarship. Specifically, they described strategies for success and the importance of belonging as impactful. Implications for future college support programming and for how to best support the career development of rural Appalachian college students, along with suggestions for future research needs and limitations to the research, are provided.
Online Mindfulness with Care Partnerships Experiencing Anxiety and Depression Symptoms after Stroke: Mixed Methods Case Study Research
Authors: Parkinson Ben , Lawrence Maggie , McElhinney Evelyn , Booth Jo
Published: November 2022

Purpose: To investigate the experience and outcomes for care partnerships (e.g., spouses, caregivers) who have post-stroke anxiety and/or depression symptoms and used an online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) together. Design: Explanatory sequential mixed methods case study research. Methods: 5 care partnerships (10 participants) received online MBI, and data was collected in weeks 0, 4, and 8. Data collection involved the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, the Mutuality Scale, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and post-intervention interviews. Clinical effectiveness was evaluated using minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Findings: Participants improved mindfulness (80%) and mutuality (30%). MCID was achieved for anxiety symptoms (50%) and depression symptoms (20%). IPA found evidence of conflicting and contradictory experiences so dialectical tension was used to articulate the continuum of perspectives and themes produced in the analysis. Conclusion: Care partnerships using online MBIs can experience improvements in mindfulness, mutuality, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms. The findings are complex but show the potential value of online MBI for some care partnerships living with stroke.
Atomistic study of nano-cutting bicrystal cubic silicon carbide
Authors: Hu Guanglan , Wu Weilong , Dai Houfu
Published: November 2022

To solve problems of low machining efficiency and surface/subsurface damage of silicon carbide (SiC), mechanisms of material dislodging and subsurface destruction of bicrystal SiC under nano-cutting were studied by using three-dimensional molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method. Effects of grain boundary (GB) tilt angle and cutting speed on stress, hydrostatic pressure, cutting force, temperature, and subsurface damage depth were analyzed. Results show that GB slope angle has important influence on the spread of strain, hydrostatic stress, and temperature, especially on subsurface damage depth. Specifically, with the increase in GB slope angle, subsurface damage layer decreases, and machined surface morphology improves. The machinability of small GB angle is better than the large GB angle, and the model with grain boundary angle of 4.24° has the best machinability. It is also found that with the increase in cutting velocity, the temperature increases, whereas cutting force and friction coefficient are reduced, which indicates that the increase in cutting velocity can effectively improve surface machined morphology. The research results provide a theoretical reference for future experimental research.
Degradation mechanisms associated with metal pipes and the effective impact of LDMs and LLMs in water transport and distribution
Authors: Agala Alaa , Khan Muhammad , Starr Andrew
Published: November 2022

The effective operation of water management systems is contingent upon leak localization and detection – a common problem that is more acute in large networks. This paper reviews the salient literature in this context and demonstrates the effectiveness of leakage location methods (LLMs) and leakage detection methods (LDMs). Although there is a significant amount of literature that discusses leakage localization and detection technologies, an academic lacuna still exists concerning the linkage between degradation mechanisms and LDMs and do not cover or connect past efforts from the start of a degradation mechanism that leads to changes in the mechanical strength (such as a reduction in fracture toughness) of pipes and results in crack propagation and leakage. This review focuses on these issues in the context of degradation mechanisms and common detection methods.
Evaluation of delamination in drilling of SiCp/sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composites by the analysis of acoustic emission and cutting force: Influence of tool condition
Authors: Kamaraj Muthusamy , Prakash Muniyandi , Lakshmankumar Abburi , Manimaran Raja
Published: November 2022

The presence of SiC particulate in the newly developed SiCp/sisal fiber/epoxy composites on drilling, influence the wear in the drill bit. This article presents the experimental investigations of the effect of tool condition on delamination during drilling of composite by the time, frequency domain, and discrete wavelet packet transformation (DWPT) of acoustic emission and cutting force measured in process. It may further be helpful for determining and assessing the root cause of the induced delamination damage. The drill bits are made of high-speed steel (HSS), the condition is categorized into three different types namely as received, cryogenically treated (−80°C for 24 h), and cryogenically treated and tempered (−80°C for 24 h and 200°C for 2 h). Study of the frequency domain reveals that the dominant frequency of the acoustic emission (AE) signals falls between 100 and 300 kHz. The AE-specific energies of the decomposed signals are calculated based on DWPT analysis. It is noted from the AE specific energy that shearing occurs during drilling process. The cryogenically treated and tempered HSS drill contributes significantly to the reduction in delamination compared to other tools employed in this investigation.
Use of clinical tolerance limits for assessing agreement
Authors: Taffé Patrick
Published: November 2022

In this study, we have further extended the methodology proposed, first, by Lin et al. (2002) and, later, extended by Stevens et al. (2017, 2018), on the coverage probability/probability of agreement, by relaxing the strong parametric assumptions regarding the distribution of the latent trait and developing inference methods allowing to compute both pointwise and simultaneous confidence bands. The methodology requires repeated measurements by at least one of the two measurement methods and accommodates heteroscedastic measurement errors. It performs often very well even when one has only one measurement by one of the two measurement methods and at least five repeated measurements from the other. It circumvents some of the deficiencies of the Bland & Altman limits of agreement method and provides a more direct assessment of the agreement level.
Applicability of magnetic force models for multi-stable energy harvesters
Authors: Zhang Ying , Liao Wei-Hsin , Bowen Chris , Wang Wei , Cao Junyi
Published: November 2022

Multi-stable piezoelectric energy harvesters have been exploited to enhance performance for extracting ambient vibrational energy from a broadband energy source. Since magnetic force plays a significant role in enhancing the dynamic behavior of harvesters, it is necessary to model and understand the significant influencing of structural parameters on magnetic force. Recently, several theoretical modeling methods, including magnetic dipole, improved dipole, magnetic current, and magnetic charge models, have been developed to calculate the magnetic force in multi-stable energy harvesters. However, the influence of structural parameters and magnet dimensions on the accuracy of magnetic force calculation for these methods has not been analyzed. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the applicability of these methods under a range of operating conditions. New insights into the accuracy and application constraints of these methods are presented in this paper to calculate the impact of magnetic force on multi-stable energy harvesters. From the theoretical derivation of models and numerical results obtained, a quantitative assessment of errors under different structural parameters and magnet sizes is presented and compared to evaluate the application constraints. Moreover, experimental measurements are performed to verify the applicability of these modeling methods for bi-stable and tri-stable energy harvesters with different structural parameters.
The tourism area life cycle hypothesis: A micro-foundation
Authors: Marsiglio Simone , Tolotti Marco
Published: November 2022

We provide a simple micro-foundation of the tourism area life cycle hypothesis, based on tourists’ utility maximization. As a result of social interactions among tourists which determine destinations popularity, the market share of visitors which decides to visit a specific destination follows a logistic dynamics, consistent with what predicted by the tourism area life cycle hypothesis. We show that different preference drivers explain the duration of the different tourism area life cycle stages: the net benefit from visiting the destination characterizes the exploration, involvement, and development phases, while social effects associated with destination popularity characterize the phases of consolidation and stagnation Different from previous studies our results hold true independently of whether we focus on the repeating or non-repeating segment of the tourism market. We also provide a calibration of our model to the case of the city of Venice (Italy) showing that it performs well in capturing the evolution of tourism in the historical center of the city over the last 60 years, suggesting that TALC-like dynamics may occur even in the context of cultural and heritage destinations.
Why motivated learners might not engage in language learning: An exploratory interview study of language learners and teachers
Authors: Teravainen-Goff Anne
Published: November 2022

Learner engagement has been the focus of a growing amount of research in recent years both in general educational psychology and the field of second language acquisition (SLA). However, while recent contributions on learner engagement in language classrooms have provided valuable insights, the field is still only at the early stages of understanding the complexity of the concept and creating a strong empirical evidence base. This study is intended to contribute to our current understanding by investigating both learners’ and teachers’ perceptions on what might prevent motivated second language (L2) learners from engaging with language learning in and out of classrooms. A total of 39 learners and teachers were interviewed in two countries, England and Finland, and the results indicate a variety of potential reasons for motivated learners’ disengagement, including disengaging classroom tasks and activities, the challenge of language learning, as well as competing priorities in learners’ lives. These findings point to potential practical ways of ensuring that learners’ motivation translates into engagement.
The Slalom Method: How to zig-zag between digital methods and traditional methods in ethnography
Authors: Jensen Torben Elgaard
Published: November 2022

The increasing availability of digital resources is an opportunity as well as a challenge for ethnographers who seek to incorporate ‘the digital’ into their field studies. This article is an attempt to reflect on the peculiar nature of new digital resources, their relation to conventional method integration problems, and the practical opportunities for making the digital relevant to ethnographic field studies. These reflections are grounded in the authors’ trials and tribulations during an ethnographic project, in which a deliberate attempt was made to combine digital methods with traditional ethnographic methods. This involved wrestling with a series of methodological issues, which were eventually managed by developing an approach called the slalom method. The slalom method consists of a series of rules and heuristics that together constitutes a pragmatic strategy for facilitating the integration of digital resources into the iterative and reflexive process of an ethnographic field study.
Generational differences in viewing behaviors: an eye-tracking study
Authors: Brumberger Eva
Published: November 2022

Many scholars over the past two decades have contended that constant exposure to visually-oriented technologies makes younger individuals inherently more visually skilled than previous generations. The study presented here investigates this claim by using eye tracking to examine patterns in the ways in which individuals interact with visual stimuli, specifically journalistic photographs. Study participants included 29 college students aged 18–22 (mean = 19), and 20 non-student members of the university and surrounding community, aged 40–63 (mean = 50). Eye movements were recorded using a TobiiPro x2-60 eye tracker connected to a 17-inch gaming laptop. If younger individuals and older individuals have different levels of visual ability, there should be observable differences between the eye movements of the two groups. However, the differences observed between the two groups of participants were very limited and did not point to any consistent patterns that would suggest differing levels of skill at reading images.
Matter, meaning and semiotics
Authors: O’Halloran Kay L
Published: November 2022

We inhabit two worlds – the world of matter and the world of meaning (see Halliday, ‘On matter and meaning: The two realms of human experience, 2005). In this article, these two worlds and the physical, biological, social and semiotic systems that connect them are investigated. In this respect, semiotic systems are the most complex because they involve physical systems (the material sign), biological systems (human beings), social systems (society and culture) and meaning itself. Semiotic frameworks need to take into account these various dimensions as changes in one system reverberate across the meta-system as a whole. With this in mind, the interplay between material and semiotic worlds from a social semiotic perspective, are explored with a focus on meaning and its significance in relation to human existence. Using examples from various industrial ages, the article explores how semiotic resources (in this case, in mathematics, science and computer programming languages) are organized to structure reality in specific ways, and how semiotic combinations and the technologies arising from those constructions have changed the course of human history. In this discussion, attention is paid to the role of visual communication, both in terms of visual semiotic resources (e.g. graphs, digital images) and visual aspects of multimodal texts. It thus becomes evident that the functionalities of any one semiotic resource (including language) must be viewed in relation to its collective co-deployment with other semiotic resources. Lastly, the author examines semiosis in the digital age and considers the social implications of the current digital ecosystem. In doing so, she conceptualizes digital technologies as a one-way mirror where members of society use digital media for every facet of their lives while being watched, analysed and manipulated by those who have designed and own the digital platforms. It is apparent that semiotics has a major role to play in terms of design, policymaking and activism around future digital technologies.
Phenomenology and Human Resource Development: Philosophical Foundations and Implication for Research
Authors: Kuchinke K. Peter
Published: November 2022

This article discusses the philosophical foundations of phenomenology and their relevance for research. A return to the foundations is warranted because of the popularity of phenomenology as a methodological choice in Human Resource Development (HRD). At the same time, there is concern that the groundbreaking philosophical premises of phenomenology are being lost in favor of functionalist misapplications of the method. Phenomenology offers a powerful critique of positivism and provides a way of inquiring into central qualities of human beings and of being human in this world. It focuses on core dimensions of lived experience beneath the surface of everyday life and proposes an approach to deeper understanding and insight. As a research method, phenomenology is grounded in profound and complex philosophical thought. Researchers adopting phenomenology are well advised to move beyond method-focused textbooks and engage with the movement’s primary literature, especially the writing of its founders, Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger.
Let’s Talk About Sex and Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
Authors: Cervenka Mackenzie C.
Published: November 2022

[Box: see text]
Making Connections in Challenging Times-The Transformative Potential of Poetry for Critical Global Education
Authors: Dillon Eilish
Published: November 2022

The transformative role of global education (GE) has come to the fore in recent years in the face of increasingly complex and challenging global development realities. At the heart of this is a call for learning which enables people to make connections beyond simplifications but which address divisions and inequalities. Despite the rhetoric, GE is not always as critical or transformative as it aspires to be. Here, I focus on how poetry can support educators to make connections with complexity, diversity and alternatives that, I argue, are needed to address contemporary global challenges. Inspired, in part, by the proliferation of interest in poetry since the COVID-19 pandemic, I draw on research conducted with global education facilitators in Ireland in 2016. Through the discussion of a few examples, I invite educators to reflect on how they might engage with poetry to enhance the transformative potential of GE in their own contexts.
CARL-YOLOF: A well-efficient model for digital printing fabric defect detection
Authors: Wu Jingwei , Li Pengfei , Zhang Huanhuan , Su Zebin
Published: November 2022

Deep-learning models have been successfully applied to fabric defect detection fields. However, due to the lack of available dataset for the digital printing fabric defect detection field, the study is still under-explored. Besides, there are two tough challenges that currently existing deep-learning models cannot resolve well. On the one hand, the actual production requires the models to improve its detection accuracy as much as possible while ensuring real-time detection. On the other hand, the objectives of classification and localization are correlated, so the link between classification and localization should be established for an excellent object detection model. To solve these problems, such Classification-Aware Regression Loss (CARL) is embedded into the YOLOF to correlate the classification and localization tasks so that the model is named CARL-YOLOF. The performance of the proposed model has been trained and evaluated by the self-built digital printing fabric defect detection dataset (DPFD-DET). Experimental results demonstrate that CARL-YOLOF achieves 0.54 AP on COCO metrics, which achieves a gain of 0.04 compared with YOLOF. Besides, CARL-YOLOF maintains the speed advantage of YOLOF, which reaches 42 FPS. Therefore, the proposed model is suitable for the real-time digital printing fabric defect detection.
Overall cerebral small vessel disease burden is associated with outcome of acute ischemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy
Authors: Fan Rumeng , Gan Jiehua , Chen Feng , Le Chensheng , Chen Yong
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To investigate the association between the overall cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) burden and the therapeutic outcome of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion stroke.

Materials and Methods

Data of patients who achieved successful revascularization after MT for acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion stroke in the Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital between April 2017 and January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The overall CSVD burden was evaluated by total CSVD score based on MRI images. According to the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, the participants were divided into the Good outcome group (mRS score 0–2) and Poor outcome group (mRS score 3–6). Multivariate Logistic regression was applied to assess the relationship between the overal CSVD burdern and 90-day outcome.

Results

In total, 145 eligible patients were included and classified into the Good outcome group (n = 77, 62.3% males, mean age: 64.92 ± 13.67 years) and Poor outcome group (n = 68, 50% males, mean age: 69.76 ± 10.88 years). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR = 2.788, 95%CI: 1.143–8.745, P = 0.048), poor preoperative collateral status (OR = 3.619, 95%CI: 1.670–7.844, P = 0.001), and high total CSVD score (score 2: OR = 3.800, 95%CI: 1.173 = 12.311, P = 0.026; score 3: OR = 7.529, 95%CI: 1.555–36.460, P = 0.012) were independently prognostic for poor 90-day outcome in patients receiving MT.

Conclusion

This study identified that the overall CSVD burden was independently associated with the prognosis of patients receiving MT for acute anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion stroke.
Anti-inflammatory properties of pigment epithelium-derived factor
Authors: He Ting , Liu Wei , Shen Chuan-an
Published: November 2022

Inflammation is part of the complex biological response to harmful stimuli, such as cell damage, pathogens, or irritants. An excessive inflammatory response can lead to a variety of diseases. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is an endogenous glycoprotein that belongs to the superfamily of serine protease inhibitors and has multiple biological activities. Accumulating evidence suggests that PEDF participates in various inflammatory-related diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, atherosclerosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and retinal diseases. However, the mechanism is still incompletely understood. In this paper, we review the anti-inflammatory properties of PEDF and discuss the underlying mechanisms. PEDF can exert its anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating the expression of inflammatory factors, promoting the synthesis of anti-inflammatory factors, inhibiting the activation of proinflammatory pathways and activating anti-inflammatory pathways. Examining the function of PEDF in inflammation addresses the need for further investigation and subsequent target-specific strategies for inflammatory disorders.
Improving Scale Equivalence by Increasing Access to Scale-Specific Information
Authors: Clifton Alicia B. W. , Stahlmann Alexander G. , Hofmann Jennifer , Chirico Alice , Cadwallader Rive , Clifton Jeremy D. W.
Published: November 2022

Measures of the same phenomenon should produce the same results; this principle is fundamental because it allows for replication—the basis of science. Unfortunately, measures of a psychological construct in one language can often measure something a bit different in another language (i.e., low “scale equivalence”). Historically, the problem was thought to stem from insufficient knowledge of best-practice translation procedures. Yet solutions based on this diagnosis and their widespread adoption have not resolved the issue. In this article, we suggest that an additional problem might be insufficient information about the measure being translated. If so, low scale equivalence is a problem that translators and cross-cultural psychologists cannot solve on their own. We explore the possibility that measure-specific translation guides be created by original scale builders for the most widely used measures of important psychological constructs. We describe why such guides are needed, when they are needed, what they might look like, their feasibility, and next steps, providing a complete example guide and test case in a supplement concerning the Primals Inventory. In this article, we seek to spark discussion on translation practices happening behind the scenes and how greater transparency can improve scale equivalence, in the spirit of open science.
The Myth of Normal Reading
Authors: Huettig Falk , Ferreira Fernanda
Published: November 2022

We argue that the educational and psychological sciences must embrace the diversity of reading rather than chase the phantom of normal reading behavior. We critically discuss the research practice of asking participants in experiments to read “normally.” We then draw attention to the large cross-cultural and linguistic diversity around the world and consider the enormous diversity of reading situations and goals. Finally, we observe that people bring a huge diversity of brains and experiences to the reading task. This leads to four implications: First, there are important lessons for how to conduct psycholinguistic experiments; second, we need to move beyond Anglocentric reading research and produce models of reading that reflect the large cross-cultural diversity of languages and types of writing systems; third, we must acknowledge that there are multiple ways of reading and reasons for reading, and none of them is normal or better or a “gold standard”; and fourth, we must stop stigmatizing individuals who read differently and for different reasons, and there should be increased focus on teaching the ability to extract information relevant to the person’s goals. What is important is not how well people decode written language and how fast people read but what people comprehend given their own stated goals.
Association between high-mobility group box 2 and subclinical hypertension-mediated organ damage in young adults
Authors: Wan Jindong , Liu Gang , Xia Siwei , Liu Sen , Yang Yi , Wang Dan , Hou Jixin , Dai Xiaozhen , Zhou Peng , Wang Peijian
Published: November 2022

Background:

Hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) is an emerging problem among young adults. The potential role of chronic immune-mediated inflammation in the pathogenesis of HMOD is increasingly being recognized. High-mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) is known for its role in the modulation of innate immunity and exerts signaling functions that affect various inflammatory diseases. However, the association between HMGB2 and HMOD in young adults remains unclear.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to explore the association between HMGB2 and subclinical HMOD in young adults.

Design:

This is a cross-sectional study.

Methods:

Body composition, carotid ultrasound, carotid-femoral PWV (cf-PWV) measures, echocardiography, serum HMGB2 levels, and serum classic cardiometabolic risk factors were measured in 988 untreated young adults. We estimated the risk related to serum HMGB2 using multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression models. Then, we conducted a pathway overrepresentation analysis to examine which key biological pathways may be linked to serum HMGB2 in young adults with HMOD.

Results:

Among the 988 untreated young adults, we identified four distinct hypertension phenotypes: normotension (40.0%), white-coat hypertension (16.0%), masked hypertension (20.9%), and sustained hypertension (23.1%). High levels of serum HMGB2 were related to increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI), higher cf-PWV and blood pressure, and a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Linear regression analysis showed that serum HMGB2 was positively associated with cf-PWV and negatively associated with eGFR in all patients. Multivariate analysis showed that high levels of serum HMGB2 were associated with high odds of subclinical HMOD (damage in at least one organ). Biological pathway analysis indicated that patients with high serum HMGB2 levels had increased activity of pathways, related to endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory processes, and atherosclerosis.

Conclusion:

High serum concentrations of HMGB2 are associated with an increased risk of subclinical HMOD in untreated young adults.
Moderating Effects of Consumers’ Personal Innovativeness on the Adoption and Purchase Intention of Wearable Devices
Authors: Jeong Seok Chan , Choi Beom-Jin
Published: November 2022

A wearable device integrates portable computers and electronics into gadgets and other accessories that are worn on the human body. It presents challenges for designers and developers to create products that will be functional, attractive, and socially acceptable on bodies. In this paper, we identify factors that influence the purchase intention of wearable devices drawing from a variety of disciplines. Also, we conduct an empirical investigation of the moderating role of consumers’ personal innovativeness (CPI) on purchase intention. We use structural equation modeling techniques to test our hypothesis using data gathered from 512 consumers. Results show that social image, novelty, esthetics, and relative advantage increase purchase intention of consumers of high personal innovativeness; however, purchase intention of consumers of low personal innovativeness is only affected by social image, esthetics, and relative advantage. Novelty shows a significant impact only with consumers of high personal innovativeness. Interestingly, wearability shows no significant effect on purchase intention in both cases. The managerial implications of the study are discussed.
Hypertrophic Ligamentum Flavum in Lumbar Spine Stenosis Is Associated With the Increased Expression of Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine
Authors: Lee Ching-Yu , Wu Meng-Huang , Huang Tsung-Jen , Wang Po-Yao , Wu Alexander T. H
Published: November 2022

Study Design

Basic research

Objectives

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a critical pro-fibrotic mediator. This study aims to characterize the role of SPARC in hypertrophic ligamentum flavum (LF) and fibrosis.

Methods

Hypertrophic LF samples were obtained from 8 patients with L4/5 lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) during the decompressive laminectomy. Non-hypertrophic LF from age- and sex-matched 8 patients with L4/5 lumbar disc herniation was selected as control. An in vitro model of fibrosis in human LF cells was established by interleukin 6 (IL-6) to assess SPARC expression.

Results

Hypertrophic LF samples had higher fibrosis scores than control samples by Masson's trichrome staining (3.6 vs. 1.3, P < .001). Hypertrophic LF samples had significantly more positive staining for collagen and SPARC. Collagen III (Col3), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and SPARC mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in hypertrophic LF samples than in control samples by qPCR. SPARC expression and fibrotic and inflammatory makers (collagen I, Col3, IL-6, interleukin 1β) were significantly upregulated in IL-6 stimulation of normal LF in vitro.

Conclusion

SPARC was detected in human LF and significantly upregulated in the clinical samples of hypertrophic LF compared to their normal counterparts. We also demonstrated an increased level of SPARC in an in vitro fibrosis model of LF. Thus, SPARC could be a crucial biomarker for the pathogenesis of hypertrophic LF and a therapeutic target for LSS.
Jayadeva’s Gita-Govinda Against a Backdrop of Shri Radha-Shri Krishna Cults of Vrindavan
Authors: Jafri Nazim Husain , Nasreen Farhat
Published: November 2022

This article seeks to establish the importance of Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda in the growth of mystical ideas surrounding the worship of Shri Radha and Shri Krishna in the medieval Braj region, with Vrindavan as the bull’s eye. It also highlights the importance that the Bhakti Movement gave to the emotion Preeti, love for the divine.
Platelet-Rich Plasma in Acute Achilles Tendon Ruptures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Abdolrazaghi Sina , Akram Nimra , Boksh Khalis , Elbashir Mohamed , Thomas Owain , Divall Pip , Mangwani Jitendra
Published: November 2022

Category:

Trauma; Sports

Introduction/Purpose:

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is known to exert multi-directional biological effects favouring tendon healing. However, conclusions drawn by numerous studies on its clinical efficacy for acute Achilles tendon rupture are limited. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate this and to compare to those without PRP treatment.

Methods:

The Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, Pubmed, Medline and Embase were used and assessed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria with the following search terms: ('plasma' OR 'platelet-rich' OR 'platelet-rich plasma' or 'PRP') AND ('Achilles tendon rupture/tear' OR' calcaneal tendon rupture/tear' OR 'tendo calcaneus rupture/tear'). Data pertaining to biomechanical outcomes (heel endurance test, isokinetic strength, calf- circumference and range of motion), patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and incidence of re-ruptures were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed for same outcomes measured in at least three studies. Pooled outcome data were analysed by random and fixed-effects models.

Results:

After abstract and full-text screening, 6 studies were included. In total there were 510 patients of which 256 had local PRP injection and 254 without. The average age was41.6 years, mean time from injury to treatment 5.9 days and mean follow-up at 61 weeks. Biomechanically, there was similar heel endurance, isokinetic strength, calf circumference and range of motion between both groups. In general, there were no differences in patient reported outcomes from all scoring systems used in the studies. Both groups returned to their pre-injured level at a similar time and there were no differences on the incidence of re- rupture (OR 1.13, 95% CI, 0.46 to 2.80, p = 0.79).

Conclusion:

PRP injections for acute Achilles tendon ruptures do not improve medium to long-term biomechanical and clinical outcomes. However, future studies incorporating the ideal application and biological composition of PRP are required to investigate its true clinical efficacy.
Anterior and Posterior Ankle Arthroscopy in Prone Position: Description of Technique
Authors: Ambrosio Gustavo Henrique Carillo Ambro G. , Mansur Nacime SB , Nery Caio A. , Raduan Fernando C.
Published: November 2022

Category:

Arthroscopy; Ankle

Introduction/Purpose:

The ankle arthroscopy has many advantages compared to open surgery and it is possible to access the ankle anteriorly and posteriorly. The pathologies localized in the anterior and posterior aspects of the ankle may coexist and demand the combination of these approaches. The objective is to describe the anterior and posterior ankle arthroscopic access, keeping the patient in prone position, reducing the risks of contamination, surgical time and favoring the operative strategy.

Methods:

Patients diagnosed with chronic ankle instability and posterior ankle impingement, who failed conservative treatment for 3 months were selected. These patients were positioned in ventral decubitus and performed arthroscopic resection of posterior impingement followed by a Brostrom-Gould procedure, without decubitus change.

Results:

Patients were positioned in prone position, with spinal block performed and application of pneumatic tourniquet on the thigh. The posterior arthroscopic approach was first stablished through the posterolateral and posteromedial portals. The Os Trigonum could be identified and then removed. Maintaining the decubitus, the anterior approach was performed through 90° knee flexion, enabling the creation of the anteromedial and anterolateral portals. At this time, the lateral ankle instability could be treated by a Broström-Gould procedure in a upside down manner.

Conclusion:

The anterior and posterior approach by arthroscopy may provide a faster rehabilitation associated with lesser soft tissue trauma and lesser post-operative comorbities compared to open techniques. Also the combination of these approaches without decubitus change may reduce the surgery time and contamination risks. Disadvantages should also be considered and these includes the risk of compartimental syndrome and its severe complications. In addition, the arthroscopic images can be difficult to understand at first and the Broström-Gould procedure performed in a upside down manner will require a experienced staff in the surgery.
Clinical Outcomes of Anatomical Reconstruction of the Lateral Ankle Ligament Complex: A Systematic Review
Authors: Azam Mohammad T. , Mulvin Conor , Mercer Nathaniel P. , Toale James P. , Hurley Eoghan T. , Weiss Matthew B. , Ubillus Hugo A. , Kennedy John G.
Published: November 2022

Category:

Ankle; Hindfoot; Sports; Trauma

Introduction/Purpose:

While surgery is often indicated in the treatment of chronic ankle instability (CAI), there lacks consensus on which procedure is preferable in light of the multiple different procedures available. In this systematic review, we evaluate the recent literature on the anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ligaments in the treatment of CAI in an effort to identify differences in clinical and radiological outcomes between allograft and autograft reconstruction techniques.

Methods:

A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was performed in October 2019 resulting in 13 studies ranging from the years 1991 to 2017. The studies included were carefully evaluated with regards to the level of evidence (LOE) and quality of evidence (QOE), clinical and radiological outcomes, complications, revision rates and return to sport.

Results:

Thirteen studies including a total of 296 ankles were included; Within the autograft group, the weighted mean AOFAS improved from 66.9 to 95.9 at a weighted mean follow-up of 29.6 months, KPSSAF scores improved from 48 to 92.2 at a weighted mean follow-up of 37 months, VAS scores improved from 6.8 to 0.2 at a weighted mean follow up of 33.5 months, and the complication rate was 7.7% at a follow up of 31.2 months. Within the allograft group the AOFAS improved from 53.7 to 89.3 at a follow-up of 35.5 months, KPSSAF scores improved from 42.8 to 90.4 at a follow up of 34 months, VAS scores improved from 7.3 to 1.9 at a follow up of 38 months, and the complication rate was 7% at a follow up of 34.9 months.

Conclusion:

The current systematic review demonstrated that anatomical reconstruction of CAI resulted in favorable clinical and radiological outcomes, low complication and revision rates and excellent return to sport rates in the short-term follow-up. Comparison of autograft and allograft reconstruction techniques for chronic lateral ankle instability showed minor differences both clinically and radiologically but none which would suggest superiority of one technique over another.
Incidence of Acute Achilles Repair Surgeries in the Peri-Pandemic COVID Era: And Parallels to the Current 2021-22 NFL Season
Authors: Azam Mohammad T. , Bi Andrew S. , Alaia Michael J. , Jazrawi Laith M. , Gonzalez-Lomas Guillem , Kennedy John G.
Published: November 2022

Category:

Sports; Ankle

Introduction/Purpose:

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, leading to lockdowns, quarantines, and increased sedentary behaviors. As the general population as well as athletes returned to their normal physical activities or sport in 2021, the risk for musculoskeletal injury increases after inactivity. Thus, the purpose of this study was (1) to investigate the rates of AATR requiring repair in a single academic center in NYC, and (2) see if a corollary exists in the NFL. Our hypothesis is that after a decrease in AATRs in 2020 from decreased physical activity due to a combination of lockdown sanctions and COVID pandemic-induced fears, there is a rebound increase in AATRs in 2021, possibly even to greater than pre-pandemic levels.

Methods:

All study protocols were approved by the Institutional Review Board at the senior author's institution. A retrospective search was conducted using current procedural terminology to identify the total number of Achilles acute primary repair surgeries performed from years 2017 to 2021 at a sincle academic center. NFL data was obtained from publicly available sites according to previously validated studies. Chi-square analysis was conducted between proportion of Achilles surgeries performed in 2021 and 2017-2020 at a single academic center. Additional Chi-square analysis was performed in a similar manner, however between each year and 2021.

Results:

A total of 588 patients who sustained AATRs and underwent primary surgical repair were identified, primarily men (75.7%, n = 445), with an average age of 43.22+-14.4 years. The incidence of the total number of AATR repairs per year was: 2017: 21.1% (n = 124), 2018: 18.7% (n = 110), 2019: 22.1% (n = 130), 2020: 14.6% (n = 86), 2021: 23.5% (n = 138), indicating a 7.5% decrease in rate of AATRs from 2019 to 2020, followed by an 8.9% increase in incidence from 2020 to 2021. Within the NFL, the number of AATRs resulting in an IR stint increased every regular season from 2019-2020: 21.2% (n = 11), to 2020-2021: 32.7% (n = 17), to this past 2021-2022 season: 46.2% (n = 24).

Conclusion:

The main finding of our study is a decrease in the incidence of AATRs during the height of the COVID pandemic quarantine in 2020, with a 8.9% increase in 'post-COVID' 2021 at a single academic institution. There was also a 2.9% higher incidence of AATR in 2021 compared to 'pre-COVID' normal levels when averaged between 2017 to 2019, findings that are mirrored in the NFL. This information provides important information for providers when counseling patients and athletes on return to sport in this current pandemic, especially with possible future lockdowns or quarantines due to new variants such as Omicron.