bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility and acceptability of the Guided Self-Determination intervention for adolescents with co-existing ADHD and medical disorder and their parents
Authors: Enggaard Helle , Laugesen Britt , DeJonckheere Melissa , Fetters Michael Derwin , Lauritsen Marlene Briciet , Zoffmann Vibeke , Jørgensen Rikke
Published: December 2024

Adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a co-existing medical disorder face challenges because the two disorders interfere with each other in everyday life. To support adolescents’ management of co-existing ADHD and medical disorder, the Guided Self-Determination intervention was adapted to this group of adolescents. The aim was to evaluate the implementation outcomes (feasibility and acceptability) of the Guided Self-Determination intervention by investigating how adolescents and their parents used and perceived the intervention. The intervention consisted of five sessions with a nurse, and the participants completed reflection sheets prior to the sessions. Ten adolescents and 14 parents participated. Feasibility was evaluated based on registrations of the participants’ engagement in the intervention. Acceptability was evaluated through semi-structured interviews. The reporting of this study follows COREQ (i.e., Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research). The results showed that the parent session and adolescent sessions 1 and 2 were more feasible than adolescent sessions 3 and 4. Acceptability was described in three themes: (1) personal preferences for attending sessions; (2) reflection sheets as a turning point in conversations; and (3) being supported or challenged by the completion and content of the sheets. In conclusion, feasibility and acceptability is complex and depend on the participants’ use of the intervention.
Burnout among Expatriate and Local Instructors in Oman
Authors: Mukundan Jayakaran , Geng Hui , Nimehchisalem Vahid , Al-Busaidi Saleh
Published: December 2024

Burnout, recognized as a psychological syndrome, stems from enduring reactions to emotional and interpersonal obstacles at work. It highlights the tension experienced by individuals within the broader framework of their interactions with their jobs. This phenomenon has attracted considerable attention across diverse professional sectors. With the Middle East’s rapid expansion of tertiary education and reliance on both local and expatriate educators, a thorough understanding of burnout becomes essential. This study aims to investigate the burnout levels experienced by university instructors in Oman and to explore the relationship between their profiles and the three burnout components: Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP), and Personal Achievement (PA). Using the adapted Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire consisting of 22 items, a survey was conducted on a sample of 149 instructors with individual characteristics from public universities in Oman. Regarding burnout, the results showed a moderate level of DP (6.7) and PA (34.8), and a low level of EE (21.5) based on the overall scores. Through bootstrap multiple regression analysis, the results showed that instructors who have lower educational qualifications, lack training support, or are native to the region typically experience higher EE than their counterparts. Male instructors with lower educational qualifications, lower incomes, and local citizenship generally exhibit higher levels of DP compared to their counterparts. Female instructors tend to display higher levels of PA than their male counterparts. These findings highlight burnout in Omani university instructors, guiding future studies to pinpoint causes and tailor interventions in an evolving educational landscape.
An Evolutionary View on China’s Markets for Technology: Evidence from Patent Trades
Authors: Hu Ruifeng , Cai Teng , Xu Weiqiao
Published: December 2024

Markets for technology have undergone remarkable changes and received considerable attention, but few studies focus on the markets of a developing country from an evolutionary perspective. Using a unique dataset of patent trades from the National Intellectual Property Administration, PRC (CNIPA), this study seeks to uncover the landscape of China’s markets for technology (CMFT) from an evolutionary view. The research findings show that (1) patent trades in the CMFT have experienced a notable increase, with an average growth rate of 22.3%; (2) the average age and geographical distance of traded patents are 6.3 years and 71.97 km; (3) spatial autocorrelation analysis shows that patent trades in the western region present increasingly stronger correlation; (4) social network analysis indicates that the patent trading network has gotten growing dense over time. We expect this descriptive study to present some basic evidence for theoretical development and consequent research about the markets for technology.
Genre-specific Writing Motivation in Late Elementary-age Children: Psychometric Properties of the Situated Writing Activity and Motivation Scale
Authors: Troia Gary A. , Lawrence Frank R. , Wang Heqiao
Published: December 2024

Writing motivation is a multidimensional construct that has been demonstrated to be of great importance in writing performance and growth. Yet, much of the extant research has failed to examine the nuances of the various dimensions of writing motivation—in particular, task competency beliefs—and has neglected to investigate how the various dimensions are related to writing performance across different genres of writing. Our goals in this study were to (a) evaluate the latent structure, reliability, and criterion validity (using essay writing quality as the criterion measure) of the Situated Writing Activity and Motivation Scale (SWAMS), an instrument developed to include more nuanced items related to genre-specific task-related versus skill-related writing motivational beliefs and outcome versus efficacy expectations; (b) determine if writing motivation measured by the SWAMS was different across narrative, informative, and persuasive genres; and (c) to identify potential differences in writing motivation attributable to sample sociodemographic characteristics. The SWAMS was pilot tested with a sample of 397 students in grades 4 and 5 classrooms to gather data used to address our research goals. Overall, our results indicated that the narrative, informative, and persuasive subscales of the SWAMS exhibited acceptable psychometric properties, though there were issues related to unidimensional model fit and item bias. A significant amount of unique variance in narrative, informative, and persuasive writing quality was explained by motivation for writing in each genre, suggesting predictive criterion validity. Although we did not observe genre-based differences in overall motivation to write using summative scores for each subscale, there were small but significant differences between narrative and informative writing for the discrete motivational constructs of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and task interest and value. Consistent differences favoring girls and students without special needs were observed on SWAMS scores, apparently linked with observed differences in writing performance. Further refinement of this instrument is recommended to strengthen its psychometric properties, but in its current form, the SWAMS may be useful to researchers and practitioners interested in examining late elementary-aged students’ genre-specific writing motivation.
The Impact of Perceived Interactivity of Virtual Brand Communities on Consumer Purchases of Domestic Electric Vehicles in China
Authors: Wang Zi-Xu , Jiang Zheng , Bin Jantan Amer Hamzah , Weng Wong Philip Pong , Wang Lei
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between consumer ethnocentrism (CE), perceived interactivity (PI), perceived value (PV), attitude, subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intention to adopt energy-saving vehicles (EVs) in virtual brand communities among Chinese consumers. A total of 411 completed questionnaires were collected through purposive sampling to empirically test the proposed hypotheses using SPSS and AMOS-SEM. The results suggest that in the backdrop of China EVs market, CE and PI positively influence PV respectively, where CE positively influences intention and PI positively influences attitude simultaneously in virtual brand communities. PV further positively influences consumer attitude in such brand communities. Furthermore, attitude, SN, and PBC positively influence intention to purchase EVs, while SN directly influences PBC. In addition, PBC and attitude fully mediate the relationship between SN and intention. This study provides a more comprehensive explanation on the purchase of EVs among Chinese consumers in the virtual brand communities circumstance, by utilizing the theory of planned behavior in green marketing literature. Findings of this study would greatly benefit EVs business operators and other key stakeholders in the emerging markets.
Trends in Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Costs and Utilization in the Privately Insured Population
Authors: Johnstone Thomas , Schonfeld Ethan , Sadeghzadeh Sina , Marianayagam Neelan J. , Yoo Kelly H. , Ratliff John K. , Veeravagu Anand
Published: December 2024

Study Design

Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective

Despite innovations in minimally invasive (MI) techniques for sacroiliac joint fusion (SIJF), trends in utilization and associated costs remain unclear. In this study, we assessed these trends and costs in a database of privately insured patients.

Methods

Records of open and MI SIJFs were queried from the 2007-2021 MarketScan Databases with CPT codes. Net payments made by insurance carriers were identified, as were out-of-pocket payments made by patients for each encounter. Regression was used to model utilization, payments, and costs.

Results

4124 SIJFs were identified, 1626 (39.4%) of which were MI SIJF. SIJF utilization increased by 1176.2% throughout the study period ( P < .001). However, open SIJF utilization peaked in 2012. Open SIJF utilization was not significantly associated with time ( P = .18). By contrast, the peak utilization for MI procedures occurred in 2021. Spine surgeons’ volume of MI SIJF increased by 258% over the study period ( P < .001), while nonsurgeon volume of MI SIJF increased by 990.9% ( P < .001).

Conclusion

Privately insured patients have increasingly utilized SIJF over the past several years. This is predominantly due to the adoption of MI techniques by spine surgeons and nonsurgeons.
Integrating Innovation and Virtue: Strategic Responses of Private Organizations Amidst Environmental Shocks
Authors: Shroff Arvind
Published: December 2024

Environmental shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic force private service sector organizations to innovate while upholding virtuous practices. How do these organizations balance innovating their service with maintaining their core values during crises? Through an inductive, longitudinal case study of Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital (SSSSH), a private healthcare organization offering free paediatric cardiac care in India, we explore how it responded to the pandemic. Drawing from archival data and field observations, we develop a process model demonstrating how SSSSH navigated the crisis by combining external innovation pressures with an internal culture of resilience, empathy and integrity. The model reveals an iterative process where external shocks catalyze internal virtuous responses, leading to adaptive innovations such as telemedicine and strategic resource utilization in resource-constrained environments. This dynamic interplay between external pressures and internal virtues challenges the traditional linear views of crisis management. It suggests that virtuousness embedded in an organization’s culture enables sustained innovation during extreme challenges. Our findings contribute to research on organizational responses to crises and the role of internal virtues in shaping adaptive strategies. This study advances the understanding of how private healthcare institutions can transform external challenges into opportunities while maintaining high standards of care and ethical responsibility.
Rare Pulmonary MALT Lymphomas and Its Differential Diagnosis On Chest CT
Authors: Xu Tongzhen , Zhang Shulan , Liu Fang
Published: December 2024

Pulmonary nodules caused by mucosa-associated lymphomas (MALT lymphomas) are uncommon, comprising for less than 0.5% of all primary lung tumors. While biopsy is the main method for diagnosing the disease, the significance of differential pulmonary diagnosis based on imaging is often overlooked. In this report, we present a case of a patient with multiple disseminated nodules in the lungs, as well as severe anemia and incidental involvement of multiple lymph nodes. We discuss the differential diagnosis of pulmonary MALT lymphomas on computed tomography (CT) images and emphasize the significance of considering this uncommon entity in the evaluation of pulmonary nodules.
Light-Chain Myeloma Presented as Osseus Tumors: A Case Report
Authors: Huang Shengmin , Wasifuddin Mustafa , Bellamkonda Amulya , Lee Po-Shing , Chaudhry M. Rashid , Wang Jen C.
Published: December 2024

Light-chain multiple myeloma (LCMM) is a rare subtype of plasma cell neoplasm, usually linked to kidney involvement and lytic bone lesions. However, case presents as osseus tumors are very uncommon. A 63-year-old male patient complained of persistent rib pain. Computed tomographic imaging showed an isolated bone tumor in the eighth rib. Further positron emission tomography–computed tomographic scan revealed multiple lytic bone lesions in other areas. Biopsy of the rib lesion confirmed the presence of plasma cells producing kappa light chains. The patient received 4 cycles of daratumumab, bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone treatments, resulting in significant improvement. Reviewing literatures, osseus tumor with osteosclerotic lesions has been rarely described in LCMM, underlining the challenge in diagnosis and stressing the importance of considering LCMM in the differential diagnosis of bone tumors.
Which Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions Will Heal Nonoperatively? An Application of Machine Learning to the ROCK Prospective Cohort
Authors: Johnstone Thomas , Espiritu Joseph , Tompkins Marc , Milewski Matthew D. , Nissen Carl , Shea Kevin G. ,   the ROCK Group:, Nelson Bradley , Egger Anthony , Anderson Christian , Lee Pace James , Polousky John , Ellemann Jutta , Meenen Norbert , Edmonds Eric , Ellis Henry , Fabricant Peter , Krych Aaron , Myer Greg , Kocher Mininder , Carey James
Published: December 2024

Background:

There are limited evidence-based guidelines to predict which osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions will heal with nonoperative treatment.

Purpose:

To train a set of classification algorithms to predict nonoperative OCD healing while identifying new clinically meaningful predictors.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Patients with OCD of the knee with open physes undergoing nonoperative management were prospectively queried from the Research on OCD of the Knee (ROCK) cohort ( https://kneeocd.org ) in April 2022. Patients were included if they met the study criteria for nonoperative treatment success or failure. Nonoperative treatment success was defined as complete healing on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and total return to sports participation. Failure was defined as the crossover from nonoperative management to surgery at any point at or beyond the 3-month follow-up. If a patient did not meet one of these criteria, they were not included. Normalized lesion size, lesion location, patient characteristics, and symptoms were used as clinically relevant predictors.

Results:

A total of 64 patients were included, of whom 24 (37.5%) patients successfully healed with nonoperative management. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a 1% increase in normalized lesion width was associated with an increase in the likelihood of nonoperative failure (odds ratio [OR], 1.41 [95% CI, 1.17-1.81]; P < .01). By contrast, lesions in the posterior sagittal zone (OR, 0.08 [95% CI, 0.009-0.43]; P < .01) or the medial-most coronal zone (for lesions of the medial femoral) and lateral-most coronal zone (for lesions of the lateral femoral condyle) on MRI (OR, 0.05 [95% CI, 0.004-0.44]; P < .01) were associated with a decrease in the likelihood of nonoperative treatment failure. Support vector machines had a cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.89 and a classification accuracy of 83.3%.

Conclusion:

Lesion location in the posterior aspect of the condyle on sagittal MRI and lesion location in the medial-most or lateral-most locations on coronal MRI were identified as statistically significant predictors of increased nonoperative treatment success on multivariate analysis. Machine learning models can predict which OCD lesions will heal with nonoperative management with superior accuracy compared with previously published models.
Assessing Femoral Anteversion in Patients With Bilateral Recurrent Patellar Dislocations
Authors: Honkonen Essi E. , Sillanpää Petri J. , Reito Aleksi , Kiekara Tommi , Mäenpää Heikki , Mattila Prof Ville M.
Published: December 2024

Background:

After first-time lateral patellar dislocation, 44% to 70% of patients sustain redislocations. Increased femoral anteversion (FA) is considered to result in increased lateralizing forces on the patella, which might predispose one to patellar instability. When recurrent patellar dislocations (RPDs) are bilateral, it is unclear if the FA is even more increased.

Hypothesis:

Patients with bilateral RPD would have greater FA than patients with unilateral RPD.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 52 skeletally mature patients with RPD and a clinical suspicion of rotational malalignment underwent rotational computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The uni- or bilaterality of the RPD was determined. A control group comprising 54 adult patients with trauma underwent computed tomography of both lower extremities as part of a multitrauma protocol. The FA values of both lower extremities were evaluated separately.

Results:

In total, 20 of 52 (38.5%) patients in the study group had a history of unilateral RPD and 32 of 52 (61.5%) patients had a bilateral RPD diagnosis. The mean FA of the asymptomatic limb in unilaterally symptomatic patients was 18.0° (SD, 11.2°; range, 0.5°-40.0°; median, 16.5°). In the symptomatic limb, the mean FA was 19.2° (SD, 9.1°; range, 2.0°-33.0°; median, 19.0°) (mean difference, 1.2°; 95% CI −1.3° to 3.8°). In bilaterally symptomatic patients, the mean FA on the right side was 23.2°, and 22.5° on the left. The mean differences between the symptomatic limbs in the unilateral RPD group and the right or left limbs in the bilateral RPD group were 4.0° ( P = .263) and 3.3° ( P = .326), respectively. In the control group without RPD, the mean FA was 12.5° (SD, 8.5°; range, 0.8°-33.0°; median, 10.9°). The mean difference between right limbs of the patients with bilateral RPD and right limbs of controls was 10.8° ( P = .001).

Conclusion:

Patients with bilateral RPD have bilaterally greater FA than patients without a history of RPD. Patients with unilateral RPD have greater FA on both sides compared with the control group without a history of lateral patellar dislocation. No statistically significant difference of FA can be seen between patients with bilateral or unilateral RPD.
Exploring the Link Between Students’ Sense of School Belonging and Shared Leadership in U.S. High Schools
Authors: Jang Sung Tae , Lee Moosung
Published: December 2024

This study investigated whether and to what extent shared leadership in school was associated with a positive and equitable sense of school belonging among students from diverse backgrounds in the United States. We denoted shared leadership as collective practices that take place in schools in which principals enact inclusive practices in the decision-making process and teachers collaborate with their colleagues to support all students’ learning. We used linear mixed-effects modeling to analyze a nationally representative sample from the base-year data of the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09) provided by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Our exploratory analyses revealed that shared leadership practices in school were positively associated with all students’ school belonging. We also found that shared leadership practices in school contributed to American Indian/Alaska Native students’ positive sense of school belonging through a cross-level interaction effect.
Cultivating Civic Competencies Through Immersive Inquiry: A Digital-age Approach to Fourth Grader’s Disciplinary Thinking and Argumentation
Authors: Park Haeun , Fulton Kevin , Martinez Calvit Adriana I. , Wen Ziye , Sheng Yue , Kim Saetbyul , Lin Tzu-Jung , Glassman Michael , Anderman Eric M.
Published: December 2024

This mixed-methods study examined Grade 4 students’ growth in two types of civic competencies—argumentation skills and disciplinary thinking, and how civic competencies interweave and co-develop over an academic year in the context of an interdisciplinary social studies curriculum called Digital Civic Learning (DCL). A total of 106 fourth-grade students (38.7% girls) and 6 social studies teachers participated in the study. Quantitative evidence indicates that students in the DCL curriculum significantly improved in their argumentation skills (argument-counterargument integration, claim-evidence integration) and disciplinary thinking. These civic competencies became more strongly associated with each other by the end of the curriculum. Multiple case studies revealed how two students synergistically applied their evolving argumentation skills and disciplinary thinking through distinct learning pathways. These results paint a complex picture of the development of students’ disciplinary thinking and integrating of argumentation skills, and the role of the curriculum in fostering the concurrent development of these civic competencies. Findings align with our overarching assumption that, through collaborative discourse and immersive learning about complex social issues, students can leverage their disciplinary thinking during argumentative social interactions, grappling with solutions and seeking common ground; continuous discourse among peers further enhances argumentation skills while honing disciplinary thinking. This study bridges the research-practice gap by providing evidence for the co-development of argumentation and disciplinary thinking within social studies classrooms. Our findings underscore the importance of inquiry-based learning, aligning with the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework, fostering critical civic competencies, and empowering students to actively participate in democratic processes. Particularly in this digitalized society, DCL emerges as a promising approach to integrate disciplinary thinking and argumentation skills across both physical and digital environments, fostering informed and active citizenship among students.
Why Do People Avoid Discussing Science and Religion on Social Media? Findings from a National Sample
Authors: Hargittai Eszter , Gasser Esther , Magó Laura , Smith Becca
Published: December 2024

Social media is increasingly important for discussing a myriad of topics, including the sometimes contentious topics of science and religion. Although existing work on why people avoid conversations on social media has put forth some specific reasons, little such research has focused on these important topical domains, domains that sociologists have identified as having a complex relationship. Additionally, rarely have such questions been investigated on representative samples that make generalizations possible. This article fills a gap in the literature by analyzing survey responses from a national sample of 2,505 American adults collected in 2023 to explore what reasons people give for avoiding discussions about science and religion on social media. In addition to presenting the relative importance of various reasons for people staying away from such discussions, analyses also consider how sociodemographic characteristics, religiosity, and science literacy relate to whether people avoid such conversations in online environments.
Centralising a loss of consciousness to the central medial thalamus
Authors: Rawlings-Mortimer Florence , Dalley Jeffrey W.
Published: December 2024

Although a role of the thalamus in different arousal and awareness states is well established, there is a surprising lack of knowledge on subregional specificity within this complex, multinucleated structure of the diencephalon. In their recent paper ‘Extrasynaptic GABA-A receptors in central medial thalamus mediate anaesthesia in rats’, Muheyati et al. evaluated whether GABAA receptors expressed in the central medial (CM), paraventricular (PV) or lateral mediodorsal (MD) nuclei of the thalamus contribute to the loss of the righting reflex (LORR) in rats. Deficits in this reflex have previously been interpreted as a surrogate marker of altered levels of consciousness. Using a range of convergent techniques, the authors report the novel finding that delta subunit-expressing GABAA receptors in the CM contribute to distinct awareness states. This important discovery implicates a tonic GABAA-mediated conductance in the CM that may be relevant for minimally conscious states and other conditions of altered awareness.
Beyond green: Unveiling the impact of urban park quality and greenery on children’s physical activity
Authors: Gao Ming , Cheng Xinting , Bao Yu , Zhou Xudan
Published: December 2024

Urban green spaces facilitate children’s physical activities by providing opportunities for engagement with natural settings. However, there is a lack of empirical research examining the nexus between the greenery features and spatial quality in urban parks and park-based physical activities among children. Moreover, the influence of children’s perceptions of their environment has been overlooked. Through the application of remote sensing and field surveys, we evaluated the greening and quality of 34 play spaces within 20 urban parks, employing on-site measurements and unmanned aerial vehicle observations to identify and quantify the intensity and density of children’s physical activities. Utilizing Hierarchical Linear Modeling and Simple Mediating Modeling, we investigated the mediating effects of green spaces on physical activity and perceived environmental qualities. Our findings indicate a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) relationship between urban park greening metrics, such as vegetation diversity and green view index, and the dosage of children’s physical activity. The interplay between the quality of space and greening level in shaping physical activity demonstrates complex dynamics of synergy and competition. The greening level of play spaces positively impacts the intensity and density of children’s physical activities and is partly moderated by perceived environmental factors, notably safety and attractiveness. These insights contribute empirical evidence and decision-making guidance for urban greening and the development of child-friendly urban spaces.
Modern Treatment of Hallux Rigidus by Cheilectomy: A Systematic Review of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Minimally Invasive Techniques
Authors: Semelsberger Scott D. , Lee Michael S. , Dobson Cale B. , Miller Christopher P. , Gianakos Arianna L.
Published: December 2024

Background:

Minimally invasive cheilectomy is becoming a more prominent surgical approach in the management of mild to moderate hallux rigidus. This systematic review aims to analyze and present the current literature on patient-reported outcomes following minimally invasive (MIS) cheilectomy for mild to moderate hallux rigidus.

Methods:

PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus databases were searched in April 2024. Inclusion criteria consisted of articles evaluating patients undergoing cheilectomy through an MIS approach either using fluoroscopy or arthroscopy, studies that reported patient-reported outcomes, and studies written in English. The primary outcome measure was scored patient-reported outcomes. The secondary outcome measures included complications, secondary surgeries, surgical techniques, return to activity, patient satisfaction, and grades of hallux rigidus.

Results:

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, and a total of 296 patients were evaluated. Overall, 36 of 296 (12.2%) underwent arthroscopy with a shaver, 130 of 296 (43.9%) underwent an MIS percutaneous approach with burr, and 130 of 296 (43.9%) had a combination of both techniques. The mean reported range of motion (dorsiflexion) improved from 32.4 degrees (range, 6.3-50.0 degrees) to 61.2 degrees (range, 47.6-89.6 degrees). All studies that reported patient outcomes scores demonstrated improved outcomes regardless of surgical technique. Overall combined reported complication rate was 18 of 296 (6.1%), with the most common complication being dorsomedial cutaneous nerve problems, affecting 6 of 296 patients (2.0%).

Conclusion:

Minimally invasive cheilectomy results in positive patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, preserves range of motion, and has low complication rates for the treatment of mild to moderate hallux rigidus.
Positional trigger of epicrania fugax may suggest a secondary headache: Report of four cases
Authors: Gutti Nagendra Babu , Mahajan Roopali , Singh Vivek , Paliwal Vimal Kumar
Published: December 2024

Background

Epicrania fugax is a brief paroxysmal severe stabbing pain that travels on scalp in a straight/zig-zag line. There are no known red-flags against primary epicrania fugax.

Methods

We identified four patients with secondary epicrania fugax characteristically triggered by head/neck movement.

Results

Four patients (age range 25–65 years, 2 females) with epicrania fugax were secondary to (a) acute subdural hematoma, (b) C1, C2 vertebral expansile metastasis (adenocarcinoma of prostrate), (c) type 1 Chiari malformation with cervical syrinx, and (d) pontine/cerebellar tuberculoma. All patients had severe pain (visual analog score 8–9/10) triggered by head/neck movement or on assuming upright posture. Patients with subdural hematoma and tuberculoma improved with dexamethasone. One with Chiari malformation showed partial response to gabapentin and patient with metastatic disease did not improve despite local radiotherapy, hormone treatment, gabapentin, dexamethasone and tapentadol.

Conclusions

Epicrania fugax triggered by head/neck movement should be evaluated for an underlying structural etiology.
Migraine-inducing effects of sildenafil in men with migraine without aura: Protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial
Authors: Alnajjar Mira , Iversen Ditte Bork , Rausgaard Nete Lundager Klokker , Stage Tore Bjerregaard , Pellesi Lanfranco
Published: December 2024

Background

This study aims to assess the migraine-inducing effects of sildenafil in men with migraine without aura. While sildenafil has been shown to provoke migraine in women, its effect on men remains unknown.

Methods

The trial will enroll 12 men and 15 women, all diagnosed with migraine without aura. The men will participate in a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial and the women in an open-label study. Participants will be monitored for migraine attacks and associated symptoms for 12 h post-administration. The primary endpoints include the incidence of migraine attacks in sildenafil-treated men compared to placebo and between sildenafil-treated men and women. Secondary endpoints are headache incidence, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and adverse events.

Conclusion

The findings will contribute to a better understanding of sex-related differences in migraine mechanisms, potentially leading to more tailored treatment approaches. Trial registration: The trial is registered in the Clinical Trial Information System (CTIS) of the European Union under the number 2024-512014-17-02.
Comparative performance analysis of PVD-coated tools in orthogonal turning of duplex stainless steel
Authors: Patil Deepakkumar , Kadam Shirish , Mahala Haresh , Chavan Divya , Takle Abhijit , Sadaiah Mudigonda
Published: December 2024

Duplex stainless steel (DSS) presents a machining challenge due to its balanced Austenite-Ferrite composition, necessitating substantial coolant usage, elevating machining costs. Research focuses on evaluating the efficacy of PVD coating in dry cutting conditions when conducting orthogonal turning operations on DSS, utilizing WC-Co (uncoated), TiAlN, and TiAlSiN-coated Carbide tools. The assessment encompasses chemical composition analysis, microstructural examination, and characterization through SEM, EDS, XRD, Calo testing, and white light interferometry (Veeco Wyko NT 1900). Findings reveal that the TiAlN-coated tool outperforms others, demonstrating superior performance. While the TiAlSiN coating also displays a notable impact, the presence of oxygen traces compromises its tool performance. In addition to the mentioned analysis, this study simultaneously investigated surface roughness, cutting forces and chip compression ratios. These parameters were comprehensively examined to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the machining processes on DSS using various PVD-coated tools in a dry-cutting environment. This study underscores the significant advantage of employing TiAlN(sputter) coatings for enhancing machining efficiency in dry-cutting environments when dealing with DSS.
Role of MR-proADM and Monocyte CD169 in Predicting In-Hospital and 60-Day Mortality in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Venturini Sergio , Orso Daniele , Cugini Francesco , Del Fabro Giovanni , Callegari Astrid , Reffo Ingrid , Villalta Danilo , Santi Laura de , Pontoni Elisa , Giordani Dina , Doretto Paolo , Pratesi Chiara , Tonizzo Maurizio , Colussi Gian Luca , Crapis Massimo
Published: December 2024

Objectives:

Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and monocyte CD169 (CD169) are valuable prognostic indicators of severe COVID-19.

Methods:

We assessed the predictive ability of a single measurement of MR-proADM and CD169 at emergency department (ED) admission to forecast in-hospital and 60-day mortality in adult COVID-19 patients. We analyzed clinical and laboratory data, with in-hospital mortality as the primary endpoint and 60-day mortality as the secondary endpoint. We examined associations with clinical and laboratory variables through univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results:

Data from 382 patients over 14 months were analyzed. Significant predictors of in-hospital mortality included age ⩾ 70 years (hazard ratio [HR] 8.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-29.5), CD169 ratio ⩾ 20 (HR: 2.4; 95%CI: 1.6-5.6), MR-proADM ⩾ 1.1 mmol/L (HR: 5.1; 95%CI: 1.7-15.6), the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (HR: 6.8; 95%CI: 2.4-19.1), and active cancer (HR: 5.2; 95%CI: 1.8-15.2). For 60-day mortality, only elevated MR-proADM levels showed predictive value (HR: 6.7; 95%CI: 1.7-25.0), while high serologic titer was protective (HR: 0.4; 95%CI: 0.1-0.9).

Conclusion:

A single MR-proADM and CD169 measurement upon ED admission has prognostic value for in-hospital mortality, with MR-proADM also predicting 60-day mortality.
The influence of family cultural capital on higher vocational school admission opportunities: A case study in China
Authors: Jin Minglei , Zhao Hangfei , Gootjes Dirk Christiaan
Published: December 2024

In the face of the great influence of family background on educational opportunities and educational achievements, an in-depth analysis of the characteristics of vocational college students’ family cultural capital can offer a clearer understanding of this group and help society, families, schools, and individuals to establish a scientific concept of growth and talent. Using the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) database, through a regression analysis of the adult and children’s self-answers to 840 follow-up questionnaires, it was found that the concern for children’s education and the achievement outcomes of educational expectations in the dimension of educational involvement show significant effects in most models. The value cognition in family cultural capital has a reproduction effect. A person’s self-inflicted efforts can significantly reduce individual vocational college admission opportunities. In the context of the globalization of educational equity, China should break the extant human capital evaluation model that links academic performance with identity at the social level. At the family level, the formation of reasonable educational ideas and expectations is recommended. More importantly, individuals must clearly recognize the mechanism of cultural reproduction, reshape their self-perception and worldview, and transcend habitus.
DLBclass: A Probabilistic Molecular Classifier to Guide Clinical Investigation and Practice in DLBCL
Authors: Chapuy Björn , Wood Timothy R. , Stewart Chip , Dunford Andrew J. , Wienand Kirsty , Khan Sumbul J. , Serin Nazli , Wang Meng , Calabretta Eleonora , Shimono Joji , Van Seters Samantha , Wiseman Sam , Belkin Saveliy , Heiman David Isaac , Redd Robert A , Shipp Margaret A. , Getz Gad
Published: December 2024

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous disease. The increasing recognition and targeting of genetically defined DLBCLs highlights the need for robust classification algorithms. We previously characterized recurrent genetic alterations in DLBCL and identified five discrete subtypes, Clusters 1-5 (C1-C5), with unique mechanisms of transformation, immune evasion, candidate treatment targets and different outcomes following standard first-line therapy. Herein, we validate the C1-C5 DLBCL taxonomy in an independent dataset and use the expanded series of 699 primary DLBCLs to develop a probabilistic molecular classifier and confirm its performance in an independent test set. Using our previously assigned cluster labels as a reference, we systematically compared multiple machine learning models and strategies for input feature dimensionality reduction with a newly developed performance metric that captured the relationship between accuracy and confidence of class assignments. The winning neural network model, DLBclass, assigned all cases in the training/validation and independent test sets with 91% and 89% accuracies, respectively. In the 75% of cases with confidence >0.7, DLBclass assignments were accurate in 97% of the training/validation set and 98% of the test set. DLBclass enables robust prospective classification of single cases for inclusion in genetically guided clinical trials or practice and represents a framework for the development of genomic-based classification methods in other cancers.
Design and Analysis of a Novel Schönflies Motion Parallel Robot with Full Cycle Rotation
Authors: Li Luquan , Fang Yuefa , Wang Lin , Yao Jiaqiang
Published: December 2024

Due to the complex structures of multi-limbed parallel robots, conventional parallel robots generally have limited workspace, complex kinematics, and complex dynamics, which increases the application difficulty of parallel robot in industrial engineering. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes a single-loop Schönflies motion parallel robot with full cycle rotation, the robot can generate Schönflies motion by the most simplified structure. The novel Schönflies motion parallel robot is a two-limb parallel mechanism with least links and joints, and each limb is driven by a 2-degree of freedom (DOF) cylindrical driver (C-driver). The full cycle rotation of the output link is achieved by “…R-H…” structure, where the revolute (R) and helical (H) joints are coaxial. Mobility, kinematics, workspace and singularity analysis of the novel Schönflies motion parallel robot are analyzed. Then, dynamic model is formulated based on the principle of virtual work. Moreover, a pick-and-place task is implemented by the proposed Schönflies motion parallel robot and a serial SCARA robot, respectively. The simulation results verify the correctness of the theoretical model. Furthermore, dynamics performances of the proposed Schönflies motion parallel robot and a serial SCARA robot are compared, which reveal the performance merits of the proposed Schönflies motion parallel robot.
Management of a ciprofloxacin as a contaminant of emerging concern in water using microalgaebioremediation: mechanism, modeling, and kinetic studies
Authors: Salah Heba , Shehata Nabila , Khedr Noha , Elsayed Khaled N. M.
Published: December 2024

Pharmaceutical residues, now recognized as a new category of environmental pollutants, have potentially risks to both ecosystems and human health effects. Recently, biosorption has emerged as one of the most promising strategies for managing these pharmaceutical wastes in water. Nevertheless, the environmental impact of the adsorbents presents a challenge to the advancement of this process. Therefore, the present study proposed two biosorbent: Chlorella vulgaris and Synechocystis sp. microalgae to manage Ciprofloxacin (CIP) in water. The experimental findings revealed that the optimal conditions for adsorption conditions are CIP initial concentration 4.0 mg/L and pH 5 and 3 for Synechocystissp. and C. vulgaris, respectively. The adsorption process followed the Pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The main mechanism of biosorption is the complexation of CIP with carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl, and amido groups which was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) analyses. These analyses confirmed the presence of CIP on the surface of tested microalgal cells. These results indicated that the adsorption mechanism of CIP by Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and C. vulgaris offers theoretical insights into the biosorption mechanisms of pharmaceutical residues.
Brain endothelial permeability, transport, and flow assessed over 10 orders of magnitude using the in situ brain perfusion technique
Authors: Smith Quentin R. , Mandula Haritha , Parepally Jagan Mohan R. , Oki Jun , Thomas Fancy , Thorsheim Helen R. , Al-Ahmad Abraham J. , Abbruscato Thomas J. , Ask Per , Hage David S. , Robinson Peter J.
Published: December 2024

Background

Cerebral blood flow normally places a limit on the magnitude of brain vascular permeability (P) that can be measured in vivo. At normal cerebral blood flow, this limit falls at the lower end of lipophilicity for most FDA-approved CNS drugs. In this study, we report on two methods that can be used to overcome this limitation and measure brain vascular permeability values that are up to ~1000 times higher using the in situ brain perfusion technique.

Methods

Rat brain was perfused with physiological saline at increased flow rate and in the presence of various concentrations of plasma protein, serum albumin or alpha-acid glycoprotein. Plasma protein was added to the saline perfusion fluid to lower extraction into the measurable range using the Crone Renkin “diffusion-flow” equation to calculate brain PoS.

Results

Cerebrovascular Po was determined for 125 solutes, of which 78 showed little or no evidence of active efflux transport. Fifty of the solutes were in the lipophilicity zone (Log Poct 1–5) of most FDA-approved CNS drugs. Care was taken to ensure the integrity of the brain vasculature during perfusion and to measure flow accurately using markers that had been verified for the flow rates. The results showed a linear relationship between Log Po and Log Poct over ~10 orders of magnitude with values for diazepam, estradiol, testosterone, and other agents that exceed prior published values by fivefold to 200-fold.

Conclusions

The results show that brain vascular permeability can be measured directly in vivo for highly lipophilic solutes and the PS values obtained match reasonably with that predicted by the Crone-Renkin flow diffusion equation with care taken to validate the accuracy for the component measurements and with no need to invoke “enhanced” or “induced” dissociation.
Stereotactic body radiotherapy as metastasis-directed therapy in oligometastatic prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Persson Astrid E. , Hallqvist Andreas , Bjørn Larsen Louise , Rasmussen Mette , Scherman Jonas , Nilsson Per , Tønnesen Hanne , Gunnlaugsson Adalsteinn
Published: December 2024

Background

The use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to definitively treat oligometastases in prostate cancer has drawn large clinical and research interests within radiation oncology. However, the evidence is considered in its early stages and there is currently no systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in this field. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SBRT as metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) in oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPC) compared to no MDT reported in RCTs.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Complete, and Cochrane Library were searched on October 28, 2023. Eligible studies were RCTs comparing SBRT as MDT with no MDT in extracranial OMPC, without restrictions on follow-up time, publication status, language, or year. Participant subsets fulfilling the eligibility criteria were included. Critical outcomes were overall survival and grade ≥ 3 toxicity, and additional important outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS), local control, grade 5 toxicity, health-related quality of life, and systemic therapy-free survival. Meta-analyses were planned. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool version 2, and the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.

Results

In total, 1825 unique study reports were identified and seven phase II RCTs with 559 eligible participants were included. Four trials included multiple types of primary cancer. Outcome definitions were heterogeneous except for overall survival and toxicity. For overall survival, only one study reported events in both arms. Meta-analysis of the grade ≥ 3 toxicity results from two trials showed no difference (pooled risk ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.37–1.65, p = 0.52). Four trials reported significantly longer PFS, with a pooled hazard ratio of 0.31 (95% confidence interval 0.21–0.45, p < 0.00001). Risk of bias was of some concerns or high. Quality of evidence was low or moderate.

Conclusions

Phase II trials have shown promising improvements in PFS for several OMPC states without excess toxicity. Overall survival comparisons are immature. In future confirmatory phase III trials, adequately large sample sizes, blinding of outcome assessors, and/or increased adherence to assigned intervention could improve the quality of evidence.

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021230131.