bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A co-designed intervention to support people living with achalasia to eat in a social setting: a feasibility study
Authors: Kalantari Melika , Hollywood Amelia , Lim Rosemary , Hashemi Majid
Published: December 2024

Background

Achalasia is a rare oesophageal condition that can affect eating behaviours. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of recruitment and assess the acceptability of a co-designed, workbook-based intervention targeting one of the most challenging eating behaviours, which was eating in a social setting.

Methods

A mixed-method approach was employed, which involved pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The Achalasia Action group, a UK-based support group, facilitated participant recruitment. The intervention was a workbook designed collaboratively by the researchers and people living with achalasia, with strategies built on the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour). Outcome measures were based on recruitment and retention rates, the APEASE criteria for usability and acceptability, self-reported changes in eating behaviours, and qualitative feedback from participant interviews.

Results

The study aimed to recruit 20 participants, and this target was achieved, resulting in a 100% recruitment rate. However, the post-intervention questionnaires were completed by only 10 participants, indicating a 50% retention rate from baseline. No issues were raised with completing the pre- and post-questionnaires, from completers. The quantitative feedback from participants indicated that they found the workbook activities clear, easy to understand, and complete, with the majority reporting positive experiences. Qualitative feedback on the intervention described enhanced social support and improved symptom management of achalasia in a social setting. Furthermore, the intervention met the APEASE criteria, indicating its usability and acceptability.

Conclusions

This study explored the feasibility of recruiting and retaining people living with achalasia in intervention research, highlighting the acceptability of the co-designed intervention to improve social eating experiences. However, with a retention rate of only 50% at follow-up, it is evident that future studies should explore the reason behind this and also consider recruiting a larger baseline sample to ensure the target is achieved. The positive outcomes of the co-designed intervention underscore the importance of user involvement in developing interventions. The intervention demonstrated the potential to support people living with achalasia in eating in a social setting. The co-designed intervention has significant practical implications by providing healthcare professionals and support groups with a feasible, potentially effective method to enhance the social eating experience of people living with achalasia, potentially improving their overall quality of life.
Utility of platelet indices as a diagnostic indicator of hemodynamically significant PDA in preterm infants: a comparative cross-sectional study
Authors: Elbahy Samar Mahmoud , Ali Ola Galal , Ali Sara Soliman , Ali Ali Galal , Abdelrahman Eman Gamal
Published: December 2024

Background

Among preterm babies, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a prevalent condition, and hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) constitutes an important problem that impacts their outcome. There has previously been a connection between platelet dysfunction and the hemodynamic significance of PDA. However, the results are conflicting, and more research is warranted. In this study, we investigated the relation of hsPDA with different platelet indices. In addition, we assessed the impact of hsPDA on patient outcomes, including hospital admission and survival rate.

Methods

This comparative cross-sectional study involved 150 preterm neonates (≤ 34 weeks gestational age) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Following evaluation using the clinical Kindler score, echocardiography was used to confirm the diagnosis of hsPDA. A complete blood count comprising all platelet parameters and C-reactive protein was performed on the first day of life, and the association with the hsPDA was examined. Information was gathered about hospital stay duration, survival rates, and comorbidities.

Results

Platelet distribution width (PDW) was significantly higher in the hsPDA group than in the non-hsPDA group, p = 0.001. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a significant correlation of hsPDA with high PDW (p < 0.000) and clinical Kindler score (p < 0.001). High PDW and clinical Kindler score were found to be independent predictors of hsPDA by multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio = 1.289, p = 0.004) for PDW, and (odds ratio = 3.452; p = 0.001) for clinical Kindler score. Regarding patient outcome, the hsPDA group demonstrated significantly longer hospitalization duration and higher respiratory complications and mortality rates.

Conclusions

PDW and clinical Kindler score were found to be significantly correlated with hsPDA, and both were independent predictors of hsPDA. The hsPDA has dramatically impacted patient outcomes, including higher incidence of respiratory complications, and subsequently longer hospitalization, and higher mortality.
Long-term effectiveness of physical activity interventions for adults across income contexts: a systematic review of strategies and outcome
Authors: Ominyi Jude , Clifton Andrew , Cushen-Brewster Noreen
Published: December 2024

Background

Physical activity (PA) interventions play a critical role in addressing obesity and its associated health risks. Understanding their long-term effectiveness, particularly across diverse economic contexts, is essential for designing sustainable and scalable strategies. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of PA interventions implemented in low, middle, and high income countries (LMICs and HICs), identify key components contributing to their success.

Methods

Studies were included if they assessed PA interventions with follow-up periods of at least 12 months. A total of 27 studies from diverse countries met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 33 distinct strategies. Data were extracted on intervention components, follow-up duration, PA outcomes, and obesity-related measures. The studies were categorised by economic context, with a focus on comparing effectiveness across income groups.

Results

PA interventions demonstrated significant long-term effectiveness across all economic settings. In HICs, multicomponent interventions, such as those involving physician-led counselling, tailored exercise regimens, and fitness testing, were highly effective, showing improvements in weekly energy expenditure and physical fitness of up to 15%. Studies from MICs, like Mexico, highlighted the effectiveness of culturally tailored approaches, such as integrated care for older adults, in enhancing PA adherence despite resource constraints. LMICs, particularly China, leveraged culturally embedded and community-driven practices, such as tai chi and baduanjin, achieving comparable outcomes to HIC interventions in terms of PA adherence and fitness improvements.

However, sustainability of intervention effects varied. Robust maintenance strategies, including booster sessions and ongoing support, contributed to stable long-term outcomes in studies from HICs. Conversely, LMIC interventions often lacked extended follow-up, limiting their ability to evaluate sustained effectiveness. The interventions were consistently associated with reductions in obesity-related risk factors, including BMI and metabolic health improvements.

Conclusion

This review highlights the effectiveness of culturally sensitive and resource-adapted PA interventions in sustaining long-term behaviour change and reducing obesity-related risks across economic contexts. Future research should prioritise consistent monitoring, extended follow-up, and the inclusion of underrepresented LMIC regions to enhance the global applicability and scalability of PA interventions. Addressing these gaps is crucial for combating obesity and promoting public health worldwide.
Challenges and strategies in Nigerian agribusiness entrepreneurship for sustainable development
Authors: Ikuemonisan Edamisan Stephen
Published: December 2024

This study examines the challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector using qualitative methods, including 28 in-depth interviews, 4 focus group discussions, and 36 key informant interviews across four states. A SWOT analysis highlights strengths like abundant land, a young population, and government support, alongside weaknesses such as low technology use, poor infrastructure, and educational gaps. Opportunities include commercial farming, agrotourism, and foreign investment, while threats involve insecurity, climate change, and skill deficiencies. The study emphasizes public–private collaboration and proposes strategies like improving policy environments, enhancing food safety, boosting human capacity, and increasing financial access to drive productivity and sustainability in the sector. These strategies collectively contribute to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by promoting sustainable practices in agriculture, which are vital for long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
Direct inversion of multimode Rayleigh-wave spatial autocorrelation coefficients from high-frequency ambient noise
Authors: Qin Qianqian , Wang Limin , Luo Yinhe , Chen Chao , Bian Aifei , Song Xianhai
Published: December 2024

In general, the traditional spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) method uses the fundamental-mode surface-wave dispersion curve for inversion. Ignoring the higher-mode surface-wave dispersion curves affects the accuracy of the SPAC method in detecting the S-wave velocity structures, especially for the inversion of deeper structures. To fully and accurately use the multimode nature of surface waves, we investigate a direct inversion method of subsurface S-wave velocity structures from the SPAC coefficients of multimode surface waves extracted from the seismic ambient noise. In this new method, the SPAC coefficient is directly inverted to obtain the S-wave velocity. The key step is to obtain the theoretical SPAC coefficients of a layered model by taking into account the energy ratio of each mode of surface waves in the studied frequency band and the influence of the finite station pairs and by weighting the Bessel functions corresponding to the phase velocities of each mode with the energy ratio as the weighting factor. The direct inversion method for the SPAC coefficient significantly improves the efficiency of data processing by omitting the extraction of the dispersion curves. Meanwhile, joint inversion of the fundamental and higher-mode SPAC coefficients of surface waves ensures the reliability of inversion results, increases the exploration depth, strengthens the stability of inversion, and significantly reduces the inversion misfit.
Investigation of the tilted transverse isotropy of P-wave velocity in dunes in eastern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Makki Khalid Yassin , Edigbue Paul , Al-Shuhail Abdullatif , Hanafy Sherif
Published: December 2024

Seismic exploration in desert environments with extensive dunes presents significant challenges due to the complex topography and internal laminations within the dunes. This study addresses the challenges facing seismic data acquisition in dune environments by modeling a dune as a tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) medium. We test our dune model using a circular receiver array with a source at its center over a flat-topped dune with observable dipping laminations to study how the P-wave velocity changes with azimuth. Because velocity increases sharply with depth in dunes, we use the traveltimes of the diving direct arrival at each receiver to estimate the azimuthal variations in instantaneous P-wave velocity at the maximum depth of the diving ray. The results revealed weak TTI anisotropy in the dune, with Thomsen parameters of [Formula: see text] = 0.098 and [Formula: see text] = 0.087. These findings have important implications for subsurface exploration involving azimuthal studies in arid regions with extensive dune coverage, such as the Rub’ Al-Khali desert in Saudi Arabia. Accurately estimating Thomsen parameters in these environments helps improve seismic interpretation, which supports more effective resource exploration and geophysical assessments in difficult desert terrains.
The SLaM Brain Health Clinic: remote biomarker enhanced memory clinic for people with mild cognitive impairment within a National Health Service mental health trust
Authors: Venkataraman Ashwin V. , Kandangwa Pooja , Lemmen Roos , Savla Rutvi , Beigi Mazda , Hammond Devon , Harwood Daniel , Sauer Justin , Velayudhan Latha , Ballard Clive , Brem Anna-Katharine , Kalafatis Chris , Aarsland Dag
Published: December 2024

Background

The novel South London and Maudsley Brain Health Clinic (SLaM BHC) leverages advances in remote consultations and biomarkers to provide a timely, cost-efficient and accurate diagnosis in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Aims

To describe the organisation, patient cohort and acceptability of the remote diagnostic and interventional procedures.

Method

We describe the recruitment, consultation set-up, the clinical and biomarker programme, and the two online group interventions for cognitive wellbeing and lifestyle change. We evaluate the acceptability of the remote consultations, lumbar puncture, saliva genotyping, and remote cognitive and functional assessments.

Results

We present the results of the first 68 (mean age 73, 55% female, 43% minoritised ethnicity) of 146 people who enrolled for full remote clinical, cognitive, genetic, cerebrospinal fluid and neuroimaging phenotyping. A total of 86% were very satisfied/satisfied with the remote service. In all, 67% consented to lumbar puncture, and 95% of those were very satisfied, all having no significant complications. A total of 93% found taking saliva genotyping very easy/easy, and 93% found the cognitive assessments instructions clear. In all, 98% were satisfied with the Cognitive Wellbeing Group, and 90% of goals were achieved in the Lifestyle Intervention Group.

Conclusions

The SLaM BHC provides a highly acceptable and safe clinical model for remote assessments and lumbar punctures in a representative, ethnically diverse population. This allows early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, differentiation from other MCI causes and targets modifiable risk factors. This is crucial for future disease modification, ensuring equitable access to research, and provides precise, timely and cost-efficient diagnoses in UK mental health services.
Approach to the Patient: From Endocrinopathy to the Diagnosis of a Histiocytic Disorder
Authors: Makras Polyzois , Erickson Dana , Davidge-Pitts Caroline J , Diamond Eli L , Allen Carl E , McClain Kenneth L , Abeykoon Jithma P , Go Ronald S , Siwakoti Krishmita , Sotoudeh Houman , Ravindran Aishwarya , Gruber Lucinda M , Goyal Gaurav
Published: December 2024

Endocrinopathies are frequently the initial presentation of histiocytic neoplasms, which are rare hematologic disorders affecting multiple organ systems. Langerhans cell histiocytosis and Erdheim–Chester disease are 2 such disorders known to infiltrate the hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland, leading to arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D) and anterior pituitary dysfunction (APD) in 20% to 30% of cases, often as the first manifestation. Conversely, histiocytic disorders account for a notable proportion (10-15%) of all pituitary stalk lesions. The diagnosis of histiocytoses is often delayed in such cases due to the nonspecific presentation of endocrinopathies and pituitary involvement. Consequently, endocrinologists are at the frontline and uniquely positioned to achieve early diagnosis by recognizing the varied nonendocrine features of these disorders. This article provides an overview of the endocrine manifestations of histiocytic disorders and presents a simplified algorithm to guide the diagnostic workup in cases presenting with “idiopathic” AVP-D or APD. Such cases should be evaluated for histiocytic neoplasms with additional imaging studies and biopsies of suspected disease sites. If no disease site beyond the pituitary is identified, the risks and benefits of a pituitary stalk lesion biopsy must be carefully considered. While treatments of histiocytic neoplasms are highly efficacious, endocrinopathies are considered permanent and require long-term hormone replacement. It remains unclear whether early diagnosis and novel targeted therapies can reverse these endocrine disorders. Therefore, the role of the endocrinologist role is critical in the diagnosis and management of these rare diseases.
Western Expansionism via Subject-Dispersing Technologies
Authors: Walker Alroy James Manahi , Schott Gareth
Published: December 2024

Lived relationships with the past together with active practices of memorialization and remembering pervade the values of Te Ao Māori (Māori World). As Te Awekotuku teaches us with the example of traditional tattoo practices for the kiri tuhi (body) and tā moko (face), for Māori “wearing ink” is about memory, as it “claims dominion and understanding across generations, across time, across space. Across lives.” As visual representations of life, life journey, kinship, and death, moko has been described as a “technology of memory” and taonga tuku iho (a gift from the ancestors). From a technological standpoint, Indigenous scholars reinforce the distinctive and innovative “use of technologies and engineering principles that transcended contemporaneous European technology” that was a strong feature of pre-encounter Māori culture. Māori innovations in science, technology, and forms of expression possess mātauranga (knowledge), ahua (appearance), and tukanga (process) that are applied to understanding processes of life and death. This article considers how the subsequent “appropriation of non-Indigenous technologies” such as social media agitates the interface between the worlds of Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Whānui (the global context). It does this by considering how digitally located post-selves pose a threat to tikanga (customs and beliefs) and, as some argue, “rangatiratanga [self-determination] of the physical body and thoughts after death.”
Jimmy and Beauford
Authors: Leeming David
Published: December 2024

Authored by David Leeming, a biographer of both Baldwin and Delaney who also served as Baldwin’s secretary-assistant from 1964 to 1967, this chapter recounts key episodes in the relationship between Baldwin and Delaney.
Choosing Both
Authors: Gehlawat Monika
Published: December 2024

In this chapter, Monika Gehlawat examines Beauford Delaney’s proclivity for choosing both abstraction and figuration to achieve formal and political ends and how this links his painting to James Baldwin’s nonfiction. Baldwin uses pronoun play as a rhetorical strategy to enact a vision of democracy he finds lacking in America; considering his linguistic methods alongside Delaney’s experiments with abstraction and figuration clarifies how Baldwin refuses to surrender the authenticity of his own personhood even as he demands that the value of human life in American be equally and interchangeably valued. In language, Baldwin lays claim both to the resources of personhood (as figuration) and to the symbolic status of citizenship (as abstraction). As Black American artists, Delaney and Baldwin balanced the historical pressure to represent the particularities of Black life with the artistic freedom to transcend limitations on identity.
Salinity does not affect late-stage in-egg embryonic or immediate post-hatch development in an ecologically important land crab species
Authors: Turner Lucy M. , Clayton Katharine A. , Wiberg Linn , Wilson Charlotte H. , Ibbini Ziad , Tills Oliver , Spicer John I.
Published: December 2024

Environmental drivers such as salinity can impact the timing and duration of developmental events in aquatic early life stages of crustaceans, including terrestrial crabs of the family Gecarcinidae. Low salinity delays larval development in land crabs, but nothing is known about its influence on the crucial late-stage encapsulated embryonic or immediate post-hatch development. Therefore, we exposed fertilised late-stage embryos of the Christmas Island red crab (Gecarcoidea natalis) to differing salinities (100%, 75%, 50% or 25% sea water) for 24 h during their spawning period and measured some key developmental and physiological traits. We found no effect of salinity on time of first heartbeat, time of hatching, first in-egg embryonic and post-hatch heart rate, or post-hatch activity duration. These results highlight the importance of considering all early life stages when fully characterising the effects of environmental drivers on crustacean development, including under climate change.
Up for Debate: Does Regular Physical Activity Really Improve Mental Health?
Authors: Bustamante Eduardo E. , Brellenthin Angelique G. , Brown David R. , O’Connor Patrick J.
Published: December 2024

Physical activity is frequently touted as beneficial for mental health. This paper, based on a 2023 ACSM colloquium, highlights key strengths and limitations of the evidence regarding physical activity and mental health from three perspectives: epidemiological studies, randomized controlled trial experiments, and investigations that explicitly consider the potential role that contextual factors, such as the social climate in which physical activity is completed, can play in physical activity-mental health interactions. A large body of epidemiological evidence supports that regular leisure time physical activity is associated with less depression and anxiety. Higher amounts of physical activity are often associated with fewer depressive symptoms, but there may be a dose-response point where for some people more is not better but can plateau or even worsen. Epidemiological evidence is emerging but currently inadequate to support associations between mental health and occupational, transportation/active commuting or domestic/household physical activity types. A large body of randomized controlled trials, typically small, short duration and conducted with samples biased toward middle-to-higher socioeconomic status Whites, supports that the adoption of regular exercise improves aspects of mental health; however, the mechanisms are unclear and for those without mental disorders the mean effects are small. Mental health benefits of exercise may be partially a placebo response or result from contextual factors surrounding exercise. A small body of evidence supports that contextual elements, such as the program implementation quality and social environment, can influence the mental health outcomes associated with physical activity programs, but the evidence is currently inadequate to identify which contextual variables have consistent moderate or larger effects. Greater progress will be made in this area when research designs are expanded to include consideration of the potential influence of contextual factors on relationships between physical activity and mental health.
Risk factors for mortality due to neonatal sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Miranda Stefani , Harahap Aminuddin , Husada Dominicus , Reza Muhammad
Published: December 2024

Background Certain risk factors have been shown to increase the mortality of patients with neonatal sepsis. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for neonatal sepsis-related mortality. Methods Google Scholar, MEDLINE, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases were searched to identify relevant literature from 2014 to 2023. Observational analytical studies in English that reported the risk factors for neonatal sepsis mortality were chosen. We assessed the risk of bias by using the checklists of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Fixed-effect models were used when the number of included studies was <5; otherwise, random-effects models were employed. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 statistic. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot, and a sensitivity analysis was performed. Statistical significance was set at P <0.05. Analyses were conducted using the RevMan 5.4.1. Results Twelve out of 40,587 articles included a total of 2232 patients. The majority of patients were male (50.4%–70%). The I2 statistics showed no heterogeneity across studies for sex, gestational age, birth weight, or requirement for inotropic support. History of invasive ventilation (OR = 35.06 [16.84–72.99]), requirement for inotropic support (OR = 18.04 [8.38–38.81]), low 1st minute Apgar score (OR = 4.93 [2.1–11.58]), convulsive (OR = 4.69 [2.03–10.82]), poor feeding (OR = 3.95 [2.12–7.33]) episodes, preterm birth (OR = 3.63 [2.78–4.74]), low birth weight (OR = 3.02 [1.58–5.75]), early onset sepsis (OR = 2.52 [1.74–3.64]), and lethargy (OR = 2.14 [1.5–3.04]) were associated with neonatal sepsis mortality. Conclusions A history of invasive ventilation use, requirement for inotropic support, low 1st minute Apgar score, convulsions, poor feeding episodes, preterm birth, low birth weight, early onset sepsis, and lethargy were identified as significant risk factors for neonatal sepsis mortality. Clinicians must be vigilant to improve outcomes and prevent death.
Advances in Leukemia detection and classification: A Systematic review of AI and image processing techniques
Authors: Achir Aya , Debbarh Ikram , Zoubir Nadia , Battas Ilham , Medromi Hicham , Moutaouakkil Fouad
Published: December 2024

Background Leukemia, a heterogeneous group of blood cancers, poses significant challenges to global health due to its complexity, diverse risk factors, and variable outcomes. Accurate and early diagnosis is critical but remains a significant hurdle, particularly in low-resource settings. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and image processing offer transformative solutions to improve leukemia detection and classification, addressing limitations in traditional diagnostic methods. Methods This study systematically reviewed over 25,000 scientific articles sourced from Scopus, employing a PRISMA-guided methodology to ensure a comprehensive and rigorous analysis. The analysis focused on the application of AI, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), in diagnosing four primary leukemia types: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It also examined global epidemiological trends, risk factors, and disparities in healthcare access. Results Key risk factors for leukemia include genetic syndromes like Down syndrome, environmental exposures to toxins such as benzene, ionizing radiation, and viral infections. Socio-economic disparities and geographical differences significantly impact leukemia incidence and outcomes. AI-based models, especially CNNs, demonstrated enhanced accuracy, speed, and reliability in diagnosing leukemia compared to traditional methods. However, challenges such as data variability, model scalability, and unequal access to AI technologies continue to hinder widespread adoption. Conclusion AI and image processing technologies hold immense potential to revolutionize leukemia diagnostics by enabling early detection, precise classification, and personalized treatment planning. Addressing critical challenges, including data standardization and equitable access to these technologies, will be vital for global application. This review highlights the transformative role of AI in improving leukemia outcomes and advancing precision medicine worldwide.
The Human Behaviour-Change Project Phase 2: Advancing behavioural and social sciences through ontology tools
Authors: Michie Susan , West Robert , Hastings Janna , Hogan William , Marques Marta M. , Johnston Marie , Schenk Paulina , Rothman Alexander J.
Published: December 2024

Changing behaviour at scale is needed to address the major challenges facing humanity: from preventing and treating disease to tackling the climate crisis. Developing effective interventions to achieve this requires efficient generation and use of scientific evidence. The Human Behaviour-Change Project developed an extensive ontology of behaviour change interventions, their contexts and mechanisms of action to organise global evidence about behaviour change and predict intervention outcomes in novel behaviour change scenarios. The APRICOT (Advancing Prevention Research In Cancer through Ontology Tools) project extends this work by developing (i) ontologies covering health-related behaviours, (ii) a Community of Practice for ontologies in the social and behavioural sciences, and (iii) tools and resources to make ontologies more useable and useful. It will also develop methods to apply and integrate ontologies with real-world data related to the social and environmental determinants of health and inequalities, and to facilitate their uptake in behavioural science practice.
The Psychological Effects of Social Media Use: Insights from Combined Research on Adolescents’ Mental Health
Authors: Bednarek Szymon , Górski Mateusz , Załęska Adrianna , Bychowski Mateusz , Kwaśna Julia , Kaźmierczyk Izabela , Lenart Kacper , Homza Michał , Zakrzewska Natalia , Kulicka Joanna
Published: December 2024

This study delves into the intricate connection between social media usage and mental health outcomes in adolescents. It aims to amalgamate results from various research studies to unveil trends and establish causal relationships concerning social media engagement, sleep quality, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
 
A meta-analytic approach was utilized, consolidating information from 21 articles across diverse fields of psychology, public health, and adolescent behavior research. These studies investigated quantitative and qualitative facets of social media influence, emphasizing factors like general usage trends, nighttime-specific usage, and emotional engagement with social platforms. Standardized assessments of mental well-being, such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), were scrutinized to maintain uniformity in the analysis.
 
The primary outcomes suggest that extensive engagement with social media, especially at night, is closely tied to diminished sleep quality, heightened anxiety and depression, and reduced self-esteem. Emotional engagement on social platforms plays a crucial role in predicting adverse mental health effects, influenced by levels of anxiety and depression. Notably, using social media at night is consistently associated with disturbed sleep cycles, intensifying psychological anguish.
 
This research emphasizes the crucial necessity for implementing specific interventions to regulate teenagers' social media engagement, especially at night. The results emphasize the significance of emotional involvement and habitual usage trends as pivotal subjects for future investigation and actionable measures to improve the well-being of adolescents. These observations are vital for guiding policy decisions, educational campaigns, and clinical approaches aimed at enhancing mental health outcomes in the era of digital technologies.
Pemetaan Tutupan Lahan pada Area Sempadan Sungai menggunakan Teknologi Fotogrametri (Studi Kasus: Sebagian Sempadan Sungai Kelay, Kecamatan Tanjung Redeb, Kabupaten Berau)
Authors: Karondia Loryena Ayu , Anwar Datu Fachrie Ihza
Published: December 2024

Tutupan lahan merupakan wujud fisik yang dapat dilihat secara visual di permukaan bumi. Beragam contoh jenis tutupan lahan seperti area terbangun, area permukiman, badan air, dan lain sebagainya dapat diidentifikasi secara langsung maupun tidak langsung. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi dan memetakan tutupan lahan yang ada pada area Sempadan Sungai Kelay, Kabupaten Berau. Pemetaan dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode fotogrametri untuk mendapatkan gambaran tutupan lahan secara real time tanpa terhambat oleh awan. Proses pemetaan foto udara dilakukan menggunakan Drone Phantom 4 yang termasuk dalam jenis close range UAVs. Hasil dari pemotretan udara diproses menjadi peta yang melalui proses georeferencing menggunakan metode projective transformation dan pemeriksaan ketelitian GCP dan ICP yang telah disesuaikan dengan Perka BIG nomor 15 tahun 2014 untuk memastikan ketelitian dari foto udara yang dihasilkan. Hasil dari pemetaan tutupan lahan dapat digunakan sebagai bahan evaluasi rujukan untuk Pemerintah di Kabupaten Berau dalam melakukan pemeliharaan area Sempadan Sungai Kelay. Mengingat, menurut Peraturan Pemerintah RI No. 38 tahun 2011, Area Sempadan pada tiap Sungai paling sedikit berjarak 5 meter dari tepi luar kaki tanggul untuk menjaga ekosistem daratan dan Sungai yang tidak saling mengganggu. Sementara area sempadan Sungai Kelay masih didominasi oleh lahan terbangun. Dari penelitian ini, didapatkan hasil bahwa pada area penelitian, terdapat 0,366 hektar Permukiman yang seharusnya tidak diperbolehkan berdiri di atas Sempadan Sungai.
Studi Perubahan Indeks Kerapatan Vegetasi terhadap Suhu Permukaan Tanah dan Indeks Kualitas Udara dengan Pemanfaatan Citra Satelit Landsat 8 di Kabupaten Gresik
Authors: Mahardianti Melisa Amalia , Prabawa Septa Erik , Effendi Anita Fatmawaty
Published: December 2024

Peningkatan kepadatan penduduk dialami Kabupaten Gresik pada tahun 2021, yang berdampak pada lingkungan, seperti berkurangnya pasokan air bersih, menurunnya kualitas udara, serta perubahan penggunaan lahan untuk pemukiman. Pada tahun tersebut, hanya 13% dari luas wilayah Kabupaten Gresik yang dijadikan Ruang Terbuka Hijau (RTH). Suhu rerata permukaan tanah tahunan Kabupaten Gresik mencapai 28,17°C. Dari tahun 2018 hingga 2022, Indeks Kualitas Udara di wilayah ini menunjukkan perbaikan yang signifikan. Dengan menggunakan citra satelit Landsat 8, perubahan kepadatan vegetasi, suhu permukaan tanah, dan kualitas udara dapat diukur dengan algoritma pada penginderaan jauh, seperti algoritma indeks kerapatan vegetasi (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index/NDVI), suhu permukaan tanah (Land Surface Temperature/LST), dan indeks kualitas air (Air Quality Index/AQI) yang memanfaatkan band thermal. Penelitian memiliki tujuan untuk mengidentifikasi perubahan dan dampak kepadatan vegetasi dan suhu permukaan tanah serta kualitas udara pada Kabupaten Gresik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa rata-rata kepadatan vegetasi di KabupatenGresik adalah 0,31 pada tahun 2018, 0,32 pada tahun 2019, 0,37 pada tahun 2020, 0,32 pada tahun 2021, dan 0,38 pada tahun 2022. Sementara itu, nilai rerata suhu permukaan tanah tercatat pada tahun 2018 sampai 2022 secara berurutan adalah 26,20°C, 26,24°C, 24,55°C, 26,52°C, dan 22,92°C. Nilai rerata Indeks Kualitas Udara tercatat sebagai berikut: 45,04 pada tahun 2018, 44,52 pada tahun 2019, 61,14 pada tahun 2020, 42,11 pada tahun 2021, dan 76,86 pada tahun 2022. Dari analisis perubahan kepadatan vegetasi rata-rata dan suhu permukaan tanah pada penelitian ini dihasilkan persamaan regresi : y = -44,89x + 40,63, dengan tingkat korelasi yang negatif sebesar 87%. Ini menunjukkan bahwa peningkatan kepadatan vegetasi berkaitan dengan penurunan suhu permukaan tanah. Sebaliknya, persamaan regresi antara perubahan kepadatan vegetasi rata-rata dan indeks kualitas udara adalah: y = 435,76x - 95,04, dengan korelasi positif sebesar 87%, yang menunjukkan bahwa semakin tinggi kepadatan vegetasi, semakin baik nilai indeks kualitas udara.
What about the donor site morbidity – how invasive is the free latissimus dorsi flap?
Authors: Wachtel Nikolaus , Giunta Riccardo E. , Hellweg Marc , Hirschmann Maximilian , Kuhlmann Constanze , Moellhoff Nicholas , Ehrl Denis
Published: December 2024

Aims

The free latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) flap represents a workhorse procedure in the field of trauma and plastic surgery. However, only a small number of studies have examined this large group of patients with regard to the morbidity of flap harvest. The aim of this prospective study was therefore to objectively investigate the morbidity of a free LDM flap.

Methods

A control group (n = 100) without surgery was recruited to assess the differences in strength and range of motion (ROM) in the shoulder joint with regard to handedness of patients. Additionally, in 40 patients with free LDM flap surgery, these parameters were assessed in an identical manner.

Results

We measured higher values for all parameters assessing force in the shoulder joint on the dominant side of patients in the control group. Moreover, LDM flap harvest caused a significant reduction in strength in the glenohumeral joint in all functions of the LDM that were assessed, ranging from 9.0% to 13.8%. Equally, we found a significantly reduced ROM in the shoulder at the side of the flap harvest. For both parameters, this effect was diminished, when the flap harvest took place on the dominant side of the patient.

Conclusion

LDM flap surgery leads to a significant impairment of the strength and ROM in the shoulder joint. Moreover, the donor morbidity must be differentiated with regard to handedness: harvest on the non-dominant side potentiates the already existing difference in strength and ROM. Conversely, if the harvest takes place on the dominant side of the patient, this difference is diminished.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(12):1114–1119.
Care planning in older adult care homes: a qualitative study of care staff experiences and views
Authors: Smith Nick , Damant Jackie , Hamashima Yuri , Jasim Sarah , McLeod Hugh , Prato Laura , Taylor Jonathan , Ferguson Montague Anna , Fitzpatrick Ray , Forder Julien , Giebel Clarissa , Knapp Martin , Toma Madalina , Towers Ann-Marie , Wright Lynne
Published: December 2024

This study aims to understand how care planning is conducted in English older adult care homes and explore the views of staff involved in care planning. Drawing on 22 semi-structured interviews, the findings of the study are organised around five themes: the aims of care planning; conducting care planning; support and resources for care planning; the use of care planning information; and improving care planning. Our discussion notes the ways in which care staff would like to improve how care planning is conducted but highlights that a lack of resources may make improvement difficult.
The representation of abstract goals in working memory is supported by task-congruent neural geometry
Authors: Zhang Mengya , Yu Qing
Published: December 2024

Successful goal-directed behavior requires the maintenance and implementation of abstract task goals on concrete stimulus information in working memory. Previous working memory research has revealed distributed neural representations of task information across cortex. However, how the distributed task representations emerge and communicate with stimulus-specific information to implement flexible goal-directed computations is still unclear. Here, leveraging electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in human participants along with state space analyses, we provided converging evidence in support of a low-dimensional neural geometry of goal information congruent with a designed task space, which first emerged in frontal cortex during goal maintenance and then transferred to posterior cortex through frontomedial-to-posterior theta coherence for implementation on stimulus-specific representations. Importantly, the fidelity of the goal geometry was associated with memory performance. Collectively, our findings suggest that abstract goals in working memory are represented in an organized, task-congruent neural geometry for communications from frontal to posterior cortex to enable computations necessary for goal-directed behaviors.
Predicting lung aging using scRNA-Seq data
Authors: Song Qi , Singh Alex , McDonough John E. , Adams Taylor S. , Vos Robin , De Man Ruben , Myers Greg , Ceulemans Laurens J. , Vanaudenaerde Bart M. , Wuyts Wim A. , Yan Xiting , Schupp Jonas , Hagood James S. , Kaminski Naftali , Bar-Joseph Ziv
Published: December 2024

Age prediction based on single cell RNA-Sequencing data (scRNA-Seq) can provide information for patients’ susceptibility to various diseases and conditions. In addition, such analysis can be used to identify aging related genes and pathways. To enable age prediction based on scRNA-Seq data, we developed PolyEN, a new regression model which learns continuous representation for expression over time. These representations are then used by PolyEN to integrate genes to predict an age. Existing and new lung aging data we profiled demonstrated PolyEN’s improved performance over existing methods for age prediction. Our results identified lung epithelial cells as the most significant predictors for non-smokers while lung endothelial cells led to the best chronological age prediction results for smokers.
Novel approach to advance directive training: Hospice and palliative care fellow led workshop feasible and effective in increasing confidence in end of life conversations
Authors: Chang Chelsea , Cano Jose , Lopez-Alvarenga Juan , Rodriguez-Paez Josenny , Montes Sonya , White Rosa , Rao Meghana
Published: December 2024

Despite the benefits of Advance directives, approximately only 1 in 3 U.S adults have documented advance directives. In medical school and residency, learners are often not taught or given very brief information on conducting end-of-life planning conversations with patients. Due to this deficiency, some institutions have conducted advance directive workshops but not many have been both palliative fellow and resident led, though some have been led by a geriatric fellow. Therefore, we approached advance directives with a resident and palliative fellow-led workshop. We aimed to develop and conduct a workshop on advance directives to assess feasibility and effectiveness in raising resident confidence in discussing advance directives. We sent a survey to 52 residents prior to two one-hour didactic sessions. For the first session, a small group of residents discussed common terminology and the tools available to help patients complete advanced directives in the outpatient setting. A hospice and palliative care fellow led the second session and focused on patient communication and approach. Our results showed that the workshop was well-received and improved resident confidence in discussing advance directives with patients. In conclusion, a resident and palliative fellow-led advance directive workshop for internal medicine residents was feasible and effective in increasing resident confidence.
Effects of cardiac contractility modulation on autophagy and apoptosis of cardiac myocytes in rabbits with chronic heart failure
Authors: Hao Qingqing , Lv Shilin , Zhang Jing , Liu Huiliang
Published: December 2024

Background

Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) is non-excitatory electrical stimulation for improving cardiac function. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of CCM on autophagy and apoptosis of cardiac myocytes in a rabbit model of chronic heart failure (CHF) and explore its possible mechanism.

Methods

Thirty rabbits were randomised into the Sham, heart failure (HF) and CCM groups, and animals in all three groups were sacrificed after 16 weeks of ascending aortic constriction or sham surgery. The expression of autophagy associated protein LC3 was observed by immunofluorescence staining. With Western-blot measured the expression of Beclin1, P62, LC3B (II/I) and Bcl-2, ALDH2, Bax and Caspase-3 protein in myocardial tissue. The apoptosis rate and the apoptosis of myocardial cells was observed by flow cytometry and TUNEL method.

Results

1) In comparison to the Sham group, the expression of LC3 and Beclin1 was significantly increased, and the expression of p62 protein was decreased in the heart tissues of rabbits in the HF group. Compared with HF group, after CCM intervention, the expression of Beclin1 and LC3B proteins decreased, while the P62 protein increased, and the LC3B(II/I) ratio decreased (P<0.05). 2) The expression of Bcl-2, ALDH2 protein and Bcl-2 mRNA decreased compared with the Sham group (P<0.05), while the expression of Bax, Caspase-3 protein and mRNA was significantly increased (P<0.05). However, the expression of ALDH2 mRNA in the CCM group was not statistically significant. The expression of Bcl-2, ALDH2 protein and mRNA increased after CCM intervention, and the expression of Bax, Caspase-3 protein and mRNA decreased (P<0.05). 3) The apoptosis situation in the Sham group was similar to that of normal myocardium, compared with the Sham group, the number of apoptotic bodies increased, and the apoptosis percentage of cardiomyocytes increased significantly (P<0.05). After CCM intervention, the number of apoptotic bodies and the percentage of apoptosis decreased compared with the HF group (P<0.05).

Conclusions

The intervention of CCM has been shown to enhance both myocardial systolic and diastolic function in rabbits with CHF. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of cardiomyocyte autophagy by regulating the expression levels of Beclin1, P62, and LC3B(II/I) in cardiomyocytes, as well as the reversal of cardiomyocyte apoptosis by regulating the expression levels of Bcl-2, ALDH2, Bax, and Caspase-3 in cardiomyocytes.
Rock Steady Boxing: A qualitative evaluation of a community exercise program for people with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Regan Elizabeth W. , Burnitz Olivia , Hightower Jessica , Dobner Lauren , Flach Alicia
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Regular exercise can reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, a common neurodegenerative disorder. The Rock Steady Boxing organization created an exercise program for people with Parkinson’s Disease (pwPD) modelled after traditional boxing. The purpose of this study was to better understand the physical function, exercise beliefs, contextual factors, class experiences and outcome perceptions of pwPD participating in Rock Steady Boxing.

Materials and methods

A pragmatic qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews and class observations was supplemented by cross-sectional physical function measures.

Results

Ten study participants were community dwelling adults with Parkinson’s Disease, participating in Rock Steady Boxing two to three times a week for an average of 10.6 (6.2) months. Most participants (7/10) had good mobility with Timed Up and Go scores below the 14.8 second average for community dwelling pwPD (7/10) and Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 Mobility Scores < 50% (8/10). Participants (9/10) had good exercise self-efficacy, with average scores on the Short Self-efficacy for Exercise Scale > 3/5. Thematic analysis revealed a history of exercise and strong exercise beliefs positively influenced participation. Rock Steady Boxing provided valued social interactions and offered individualized attention through personalized modifications.

Conclusions

Instructor enthusiasm, program modifiability and social support drive participation and provide a challenge for differing abilities. RSB is a valued community offering for pwPD.