bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curcumin-Polyethylene Glycol Loaded on Chitosan-Gelatin Nanoparticles Enhances Infected Wound Healing
Authors: Kardan Tara , Mohammadi Rahim , Tukmechi Amir , Mohammadi Vahid
Published: May 2024

The aim of the present study was to evaluate effects of curcumin-polyethylene glycol loaded on chitosan-gelatin nanoparticles (C-PEG-CGNPs) on healing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected wounds in rat as a model study. Forty male Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups of 8 animals each. In CNTRL group, no infected/no treated wounds were covered with sterile saline 0.9% solution (0.1 mL). In MRSA group, MRSA-infected wounds were only treated with sterile saline 0.9% solution (0.1 mL). In MRSA/CP group, 0.1 mL curcumin nanoparticles (1 mg/mL) was applied topically to treat MRSA-infected wounds. In MRSA/CG group, 0.1 mL CG (1 mg/mL) was applied topically to treat MRSA-infected wounds. In MRSA/CP-CG group, 0.1 mL CP-CG (1 mg/mL) was applied topically to treat MRSA-infected wounds. Microbiological examination; planimetric, biochemical, histological, morphometric studies, angiogenesis, hydroxyproline levels, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for caspase 3, Bcl-2, and p53 showed significant difference between rats in MRSA/CP-CG group in comparison with other groups ( P < .05). Accelerated and improved healing in wounds infected with MRSA were observed in animals treated with C-PEG-CGNPs. Via increasing solubility of curcumin in C-PEG-CGNP, this harmless and easily available composition could be considered to be topically applied in infected wounds.
Development of Biomarkers Potentially Sensitive to Early Psychosis Using Mismatch Negativity (MMN) to Complex Pattern Deviations
Authors: Salisbury Dean F. , López Caballero Fran , Coffman Brian A.
Published: May 2024

Infrequent stimulus deviations from repetitive sequences elicit mismatch negativity (MMN) even passively, making MMN practical for clinical applications. Auditory MMN is typically elicited by a change in one (or more) physical stimulus parameters (eg, pitch, duration). This lower-order simple MMN (sMMN) is impaired in long-term schizophrenia. However, sMMN contains activity from release from stimulus adaptation, clouding its face validity as purely deviance-related. More importantly, it is unreliably reduced in samples of first-episode psychosis, limiting its utility as a biomarker. Complex pattern-deviant MMN (cMMN) tasks, which elicit early and late responses, are based on higher-order abstractions and better isolate deviance detection. Their abstract nature may increase the sensitivity to processing deficits in early psychosis. However, both the early and late cMMNs are small, limiting separation between healthy and psychotic samples. In 29 healthy individuals, we tested a new dual-rule cMMN paradigm to assess additivity of deviance. Sounds alternated lateralization between left and right, and low and high pitches, creating a left-low, right-high alternating pattern. Deviants were a repeated left-low, violating lateralization and pitch patterns. Early and late cMMNs on the dual-rule task were significantly larger than those on the one-rule extra tone cMMN task ( P < .05). Further, the dual-rule early cMMN was not significantly smaller than pitch or duration sMMNs ( P > .48, .28, respectively). These results demonstrate additivity for cMMN pattern-violating rules. This increase in cMMN amplitude should increase group difference effect size, making it a prime candidate for a biomarker of disease presence at first psychotic episode, and perhaps even prior to the emergence of psychosis.
“My Coping Doesn’t Really Matter:” How Military Lawyers Navigate Vicarious Trauma Through Emotional Labor and Emotion Work
Authors: Bonnes Stephanie , McCarthy Kylie E. , Tosto Samantha A.
Published: May 2024

Rampant sexual assault within the United States military contributes to an environment where military lawyers are exposed to vicarious trauma while handling sexual violence cases. Through in-depth interviews, we argue that military lawyers, trained to suppress emotions during military training, often negate their own trauma. Further, prosecutors are encouraged to take victim-centric approaches, that require emotional labor and minimizing their own emotional expressions. Therefore, they professionalize, minimize, and abstract the impact of vicarious trauma on their lives. Findings underscore how societal and professional expectations constrain the emotional expressions of military lawyers, highlighting the need to address mental well-being in the military.
Systemic Modeling of Care Pathways by Identifying Invariant Determinants: A Qualitative Study Protocol
Authors: Vigneulles Benjamin du Sartz de , Lan Romain , Carrouel Florence , Dussart Claude , Mick Gérard
Published: May 2024

Background: Care pathways are useful for optimizing patient or disease management. However, in practice, the implementation of this concept remains below its potential. Probably because it is a complex intervention in complex systems. In such cases, modeling is beneficial. Thus, facilitating the representation of care pathways can go through the formalization of a standardizable part. Indeed, certain structural elements of care pathways are systematically present, whatever the area of healthcare. The objective of the present study will be to identify and develop a list of these key factors, called “invariant determinants of care pathways”. Methods: This qualitative study will adopt a descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with different types of health experts: practitioners, academics, and institutional representatives. An interview guide was designed in 3 research sections: identifying the main key elements of the care pathway concept, defining the main determinants considered as pathway invariants, projecting the interviewee into a broader perspective of systemic pathway description. Once collected, data will be anonymized, transcribed and analyzed according to a thematic approach. The analysis report will follow the COREQ checklist. This research project has been validated by the ethics committee of Lyon (n°2022-05-19-003). Discussion: The results of our research will enable us to use a systems approach to gain a better understanding of the concept of care pathways and, in the longer term, to model these pathways. This study will make it possible to identify and characterize the invariant determinants of care pathways. However, although these factors are systematically present, their influence on the care pathway varies. Methods for calculating the power of impact will be used to assess this variability. Then, for a more exhaustive approach, specific factors known as variant determinants will be identified. Determining the invariant and variant determinants will enable each care pathway to be modelled.
Analysis of the valve positioner pilot valve hole plugging
Authors: Wang Rijun , Yang Haodong
Published: May 2024

The valve positioner is an important supporting component of the regulating valve. The pilot valve is a crucial component of the valve positioner, and its major job is to reverse the gas route. The current lack of efficient solutions for internal pilot valve blockage is due to the unavoidable oil loss inside the positioner and the simple entry of external dust and other contaminants into the valve, resulting in oil blockage inside the pilot valve. The fault tree theory is utilized in this study to evaluate the reason of the pilot valve blockage problem, and it is coupled with 39 engineering factors in TRIZ theory to innovate the internal structure of the pilot valve using a contradiction matrix and 40 invention principles. The product’s dependability was then confirmed by fluid analysis using Ansys fluent.
Integrated design of insertions-extractions performance and contact reliability of spring-wire socket electrical connector
Authors: Qian Ping , Chen Qiqi , Chen Chi , Pan Jun , Han Kunkun
Published: May 2024

With the improvement of the reliability and lifespan of electrical connectors, the traditional single objective design focusing solely on performance or reliability has become inadequate to meet the requirements. This paper analyzes the failure mechanism of a specific electrical connector under the conditions of insertions-extractions. It establishes a contact degradation model and an integrated design model that considers mechanical properties and reliability. By analyzing the integrated design model, the optimization variables have been defined as the radius of the spring wire, the radius of the pin, the inner radius of the inner sleeve, the length of the inner sleeve, and the inclination of the spring wire. Additionally, the objective function of optimization has been determined. The optimal solutions that satisfy the constraints were calculated using the global optimization algorithm. The optimization results not only achieve the goal of high reliability but also the goal of extended mechanical life.
Thermal transport exploration of ternary hybrid nanofluid flow in a non-Newtonian model with homogeneous-heterogeneous chemical reactions induced by vertical cylinder
Authors: Hussain Shah Syed Zahir , Ayub Assad , Khan Umair , Darvesh Adil , Sherif El-Sayed M , Pop Ioan
Published: May 2024

Studying the combination of convection and chemical processes in blood flow can have significant applications like understanding physiological processes, drug delivery, biomedical devices, and cardiovascular diseases, and implications for various fields can lead to developing new treatments, devices, and models. This research paper investigates the combined effect of convection, heterogeneous-homogeneous chemical processes, and shear rate on the flow behavior of a ternary hybrid Carreau bio-nanofluid passing through a stenosed artery. The ternary hybrid Carreau bio-nanofluid consists of three different types of nanoparticles dispersed in a Carreau fluid model, miming the non-Newtonian behavior of blood. This assumed study generates a system of PDEs that are processed with similarity transformation and converted into ODEs. Furthermore, these ODEs are solved with bvp4c. The results show that the convection, heterogeneous-homogeneous chemical processes, and shear rate significantly impact the bio-nano fluid’s flow behavior and the stenosed artery’s heat transfer characteristics.
Wear mechanisms of diamond segmenta in cutting of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composite and optimizing in parameters
Authors: Wang Wenhua , Zhang Heng , Zhang Jinsheng , Wu Jian , Li Longcai
Published: May 2024

Carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composite material (CFRC) is a novel type of composite material that involves the incorporation of carbon fibers into ordinary concrete. This addition effectively enhances the tensile strength, deformation performance, and dynamic load resistance of reinforced concrete structures. Consequently, CFRC has found increasing applications in the construction industry. The objective of this research is to investigate the wear mechanisms of diamond tools during the sawing process of CFRC and offer guidance on cost reduction through the optimization of processing parameters. The wear analysis of diamond segments can be divided into two categories: matrix wear and diamond particle wear. The diamond particles can exist in different states, and the formation of voids resulting from the detachment of diamond particles is considered as a reference point. The analysis reveals that abrasive wear is the main mechanisms of matrix wear in CFRC sawing. The wear resistance is strongly influenced by the proportion of diamond particles in favorable states, which is determined by the applied loads and operating parameters. The proportion of diamond particles exhibits a clear variation with adjustments made to the feeding speed. Notably, an increase in feeding rate results in a significant decrease in the percentage of blunt particles, reducing it from 28% to 6%. To achieve a lower wear rate, a predictive model was established using Design Expert software based on the experimental results. The model demonstrated that a wear rate as low as 268.5 mm/m2 can be achieved with a flywheel speed of 78 r/min and a feeding speed of 90 mm/h. The optimization process, aimed at minimizing wear rate, was successfully carried out without compromising productivity.
Examining workplace behaviors in adult women with urinary incontinence: A pilot study
Authors: Brock Catherine , Elliott Samantha , Miller Sarah , Polomsky Riley , Shoemaker Brooke , Sullivan Megan
Published: May 2024

Background:

Urinary incontinence is a growing issue among adult women globally. Limited data exist examining the impact of occupational, environmental, and behavioral factors on urinary incontinence.

Objective:

This quantitative, cross-sectional pilot study examined the workplace behaviors of adult women experiencing urinary incontinence. It was hypothesized that specific jobs and work environments would be associated with increased urinary incontinence and urgency based on identified behaviors and work-related conditions.

Design:

This study is a quantitative, cross-sectional survey.

Methods:

Adult women (18 years and older) with a history of urinary incontinence were recruited from August 2022 to February 2023 to complete a one-time survey consisting of multiple-choice and short answer questions identifying specific workplace behaviors and symptoms of urinary incontinence. Descriptive statistics and data categorization were used to observe outcomes and examine relationships between urinary incontinence and particular professions.

Results:

Urinary incontinence and urgency-related symptoms affected healthcare and business professionals at a higher prevalence. The most commonly reported behaviors across all professions consisted of withholding urine and utilizing absorbance products.

Conclusion:

The results of this study will help guide women’s health practitioners in exploring current workplace behaviors that may contribute to urinary incontinence in adult women. With this knowledge, practitioners can provide meaningful education to employers and employees to prioritize toileting behaviors in the workplace.
Research ethics preparedness during outbreaks and public health emergencies: Focus on community engagement
Authors: Ravinetto Raffaella , Adhiambo Joyce , Kimani Joshua
Published: May 2024

Research represents an essential component of the response to infectious disease outbreaks and to other public health emergencies, whether they are localised, of international concern, or global. Research conducted in such contexts also comes with particular ethics challenges, the awareness of which has significantly grown following the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the Zika outbreak in Latin America and the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges include the need for implementing meaningful community engagement with the researched communities, not just to build unidirectional trust towards the research team, but to achieve a genuine and mutually respectful partnership before, during and after the research. Here, we describe the real-life experience of 10 well-established research clinics in Nairobi, where a successful experience of community engagement linking prevention and care to research was interrupted during the COVID19 pandemic. We contrast this experience with the concept and processes of community engagement as described in selected scientific manuscripts and guidelines, to formulate some conclusions and recommendations. We contend that more action is needed, from research ethics committees and other key-research stakeholders, to align policies and practices with ethics guidance and with evidence-based recommendations from the academic literature, to achieve meaningful community engagement during emergency research, irrespective of the scale and location of an outbreak or public health crisis. Failure to do so, will aggravate the (postcolonial) asymmetries of power in global health and local systems.
Mission reliability evaluation and selective maintenance approach for manufacturing systems considering epistemic uncertainty
Authors: Cai Yuqi , Guo Hanjun , He Yihai , Shi Rui , Xing Yihua , Qi Yuxin
Published: May 2024

For manufacturing systems, the states of operational performance and functional output are essential indicators of their reliability evaluation, operational health state monitoring, and maintenance decision. However, due to the instability of the 5M1E factors, that is, Man, Machine, Method, Material, Measurement, and Environment, in the manufacturing process, certain components within these systems could introduce epistemic uncertainty factors and thus interfere with the results of evaluation and decision. Consequently, a novel integrated mission reliability evaluation and selective maintenance approach considering epistemic uncertainty is proposed. First, an uncertain–random operational model for manufacturing systems, in which the uncertain operational mechanisms are specified, is established as the foundation. Second, a mission reliability evaluation method for uncertain–random manufacturing systems that fuses the conformity and fitness quality data is proposed to cope with the challenge of epistemic uncertainty. Third, a selective maintenance decision model that maximizes the system’s mission reliability is developed in consideration of the uncertain factors within the operation process. Finally, a case study of a ferrite phase shifting unit manufacturing system is conducted to validate the proposed approach.
Temporary hemi-epiphysiodesis with tension band plates in skeletally immature patients with genu valgum: Faster correction in patients with more than 2 years of expected time of growth remaining
Authors: Salvato Damiano , Chipman Danielle E. , Cirrincione Peter , Hawes Joseph , Lijesen Emilie , Green Daniel W.
Published: May 2024

Purpose:

Hemi-epiphysiodesis procedures in skeletally immature patients are commonly done to correct genu valgum over time. This study seeks to demonstrate the average rate of deformity correction for genu valgum using hinged tension band plates, while examining different age groups and sex-related differences.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent hemi-epiphysiodesis with hinged tension band plates for valgus knee deformity from 2012 to 2022 by one pediatric orthopaedic surgeon was performed. Expected time of growth remaining was calculated as the difference between age of skeletal maturity and bone age at time of surgery. The mechanical lateral distal femoral angle, mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, mechanical femoral tibia angle, screw divergence angle, and hinge angle were measured immediately after implant placement and prior to implant removal.

Results:

54 skeletally immature patients were treated for pathologic genu valgum. The mean age at time of surgery was 12.5 ± 1.9 years. The radiographic measurement of the valgus deformity between the beginning and end of treatment showed significant correction ( p = 0.002). The lower limb axis of the younger cohort corrected significantly faster (7.5 ± 4.6°/year) than the older cohort (5.3 ± 2.8°/year) ( p = 0.030). The mechanical lateral distal femoral angle correction rate was also significantly different between the two cohorts (7.0 ± 4.7°/year vs. 4.8 ± 2.8°/year, respectively ( p = 0.002)). The group with greater expected time of growth remaining demonstrated a significantly faster rate of correction than the group with less than 2 years of growth remaining ( p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

This study reaffirms the finding that timing is essential when performing temporary hemi-epiphysiodesis for valgus knee deformity in skeletally immature patients.
Quality of Life After Head and Neck Cancer Surgery and Free Flap Reconstruction: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gosselin Laura-Elisabeth , Villemure-Poliquin Noémie , Audet Nathalie
Published: May 2024

Background

Different factors can affect the quality of life of patients treated for head and neck cancer undergoing major surgical intervention. However, it remains unclear which specific factors and what possible interventions could have the greatest influence on quality of life postoperatively for patients undergoing surgical resection with free flap reconstruction. The objective of our systematic review was to identify which factors, at the time of surgical treatment, are associated with a worse postoperative quality of life for patients undergoing surgical resection with free flap reconstruction for head and neck cancer.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), from their inception through November 2021. We included peer reviewed studies that evaluated the impact of specific factors on quality of life for adult patients who underwent surgery with free flap reconstruction for head and neck cancer. Two reviewers independently screened citations for eligibility and extracted data. Risk of bias of each study was evaluated using the New-Castle Ottawa Scale. Vote counting and qualitative review were used to synthesize results. All relevant findings were reported.

Results

We initially identified 1971 articles. We included 22 articles in our systematic review, totaling 1398 patients. There was a high level of variability for factors evaluated throughout studies and many studies presented small sample sizes. However, some factors were associated with worse long-term quality of life, including older age, radiotherapy, higher tumor stage, dysphagia, anxiety as well as depressive symptoms. Very few articles analyzed their data for specific tumor subsites and the impact of psychosocial factors was rarely evaluated throughout studies.

Conclusions

For patients with head and neck cancer requiring free flap reconstruction, some specific factors may correlate with changes in quality of life. However, these findings are based on very few and mostly underpowered studies. A better understanding of factors affecting quality of life could allow a more personalized and overall better quality of care for patients.
Mechanistic Evaluation of Antiarthritic Effects of Eupatilin in CFA-Induced Arthritic Rats: An in Vivo and in Silico Study
Authors: Wang Lichun , Liu Jie , Zhang HongLi , Cheng Guangyu
Published: May 2024

Objectives

In the present study, we explored the antiarthritic potential of Eupatilin on complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis rats.

Materials and Methods

In order to induce arthritis in the Sprague-Dawley rats, CFA vaccination was used, and Eupatilin was given to the rats at dose of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg. Various biochemical and other parameters were studied to define the pharmacological benefit of Eupatilin.

Results

The study's findings revealed that Eupatilin increases rats’ body weight and significantly reduces hind paw volume. It also improves the antioxidant status of CFA rats by lowering malondialdehyde levels and increasing the concentration of endogenous antioxidants superoxide dismutase and GPx. Eupatilin also improved hematological markers, which were demonstrated to be altered in CFA rats as compared to the control. In the Eupatilin-treated group, the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines was found to be reduced as compared to CFA rats. In a molecular docking analysis, it showed favorable interaction with the active site of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by the formation of numerous nonbonded interactions by interacting with Cys32, Leu138, Pro 139, Val141, Ala142, and Cys145. It also showed a Vina score of −9.4 and interacts with the cavity volume of 4435 Å3.

Conclusion

Eupatilin showed favorable antiarthritic benefits in the CFA-induced arthritis model, as evidenced by reductions in paw volume, significant weight loss prevention, and maintenance of the healthy hematological and biochemical profile may be through inhibiting COX-2.
Feasibility of a Hospital-Based Kitchen Garden
Authors: Carroll Chloe , McCray Sally , Utter Jennifer
Published: May 2024

Aim:

To explore the chef’s experience with a newly implemented indoor hospital-based kitchen garden designed to supplement herbs ordered for patient meals and improve staff engagement.

Background:

Hospital-based therapeutic and kitchen gardens have emerged as effective health-promoting tools in hospital healthcare environments. They promote emotional, mental, and physical well-being for patients, visitors, and staff. However, formal evaluations are limited, and studies focusing on indoor hospital kitchen gardens are noticeably absent in the literature.

Methods:

Qualitative evaluation of a hospital-based kitchen garden. Open-ended interviews were conducted approximately 6 months after garden implementation and explored key informants ( n = 6) overall experience, engagement with the garden, perceived benefits, and opportunities for improvement. Interview data was analyzed using a thematic approach.

Results:

The implementation of the kitchen gardens was met with overall acceptance among staff. However, the project’s feasibility faced challenges related to local food service leadership, communication, and certain aspects of the garden setup. Despite these obstacles, the gardens contributed positively to the quality of meals by including fresh herbs and fostering greater staff engagement.

Conclusions:

The chefs viewed the concept of the hospital-based kitchen garden favorably, noting that it closely aligned with their mission of providing nutritious meals to patients. However, consideration of the broader issues facing hospital food services may be required to seamlessly integrate this task into the kitchen staff’s daily routine. Further research is warranted to investigate the effective implementation and feasibility of indoor kitchen gardens in hospitals and their impact on patient menus, food service staff, and the workforce.
Survey of radiologists on work from home: Using the results to plan a hybrid work model
Authors: Lee Emma Choon Hwee , Hou Wenlu , Karande Gita Yashwantrao , Chan Lai Peng , Lai Keefe Yusheng
Published: May 2024

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic saw many radiology departments worldwide adopting work from home (WFH) practices for social distancing and operational resilience. This paper explores the attitudes and perceptions of radiologists on WFH in Singapore.

Methods

A survey was conducted amongst radiologists at a large tertiary hospital in Singapore from 1 August 2022 to 1 September 2022. Topics included whether they met pre-requisites for WFH, the preferred frequency of WFH, equitability, and perceived impact on joy at work, resident training, and talent recruitment and retention. Results were analysed for significant associations with respondent demographics.

Results

There was an 88% response rate (49/56). 78% met pre-requisites for WFH. Most radiologists preferred a hybrid arrangement of WFH up to 2 days a week (70%) with 15-20% of their team WFH at any one time. Majority of radiologists wished to WFH when providing out-of-hours coverage (76%). There was perceived positive impact of WFH on individual joy at work (mean rating: 4.1), team joy at work (mean rating: 3.5) and talent recruitment and retention (mean rating: 4.0). Perceived impact on radiology resident training was negative to neutral (mean rating: 2.8). Free-text responses revealed concerns about equitability, WFH setup, training, and collegial relationships. Statistically significant differences in responses were found between genders and radiologists who met pre-requisites versus those who didn’t.

Conclusion

Our radiologists prefer a hybrid WFH model and anticipate it will increase joy at work and talent recruitment and retention. A hybrid WFH model may help address and mitigate some of the potential negative effects of WFH.
Predictors contributing to the estimation of pulmonary tuberculosis among adults in a resource-limited setting: A systematic review of diagnostic predictions
Authors: Gebregergs Gebremedhin Berhe , Berhe Gebretsadik , Gebrehiwot Kibrom Gebreslasie , Mulugeta Afework
Published: May 2024

Background:

Although tuberculosis is highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, millions of cases remain undetected using current diagnostic methods. To address this problem, researchers have proposed prediction rules.

Objective:

We analyzed existing prediction rules for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and identified factors with a moderate to high strength of association with the disease.

Methods:

We conducted a comprehensive search of relevant databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Global Health for Reports, and Google Scholar) up to 14 November 2022. Studies that developed diagnostic algorithms for pulmonary tuberculosis in adults from low and middle-income countries were included. Two reviewers performed study screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. The study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. We performed a narrative synthesis.

Results:

Of the 26 articles selected, only half included human immune deficiency virus-positive patients. In symptomatic human immune deficiency virus patients, radiographic findings and body mass index were strong predictors of pulmonary tuberculosis, with an odds ratio of >4. However, in human immune deficiency virus-negative individuals, the biomarkers showed a moderate association with the disease. In symptomatic human immune deficiency virus patients, a C-reactive protein level ⩾10 mg/L had a sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 40%, respectively, whereas a trial of antibiotics had a specificity of 86% and a sensitivity of 43%. In smear-negative patients, anti-tuberculosis treatment showed a sensitivity of 52% and a specificity of 63%.

Conclusions:

The performance of predictors and diagnostic algorithms differs among patient subgroups, such as in human immune deficiency virus-positive patients, radiographic findings, and body mass index were strong predictors of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, in human immune deficiency virus-negative individuals, the biomarkers showed a moderate association with the disease. A few models have reached the World Health Organization’s recommendation. Therefore, more work should be done to strengthen the predictive models for tuberculosis screening in the future, and they should be developed rigorously, considering the heterogeneity of the population in clinical work.
Exercise-induced venous thrombosis of the upper extremity: A case report
Authors: Trinh Kathleen , Pessegueiro Antonio M.
Published: May 2024

Paget-Schroetter syndrome, the venous variant of thoracic outlet syndrome, is an uncommon presentation of deep vein thrombosis. In patients with Paget-Schroetter syndrome, the subclavian vein is compressed within the thoracic outlet as a result of repetitive and vigorous arm motions. Repeated endothelial injury leads to stasis in flow and eventual thrombus formation in the subclavian vein and its tributaries. This report highlights the case of an active and otherwise healthy 46-year-old patient who presented with swelling and pain of his right upper extremity after a run and was found to have multiple, effort-induced thrombi involving the right subclavian, axillary, brachial, and basilic veins. The unusual clinical picture of Paget-Schroetter syndrome and its presentation commonly in the demographic of young, healthy individuals make it a diagnosis likely overlooked and unfamiliar to many in the clinical setting.
Atypical choroid plexus papilloma: Diagnosis and differentials: A case report
Authors: Andour H. , Ben El Hend S. , Mandour C. , Allaoui M. , Fikri A.
Published: May 2024

Atypical choroid plexus papilloma is a rare World Health Organization grade 2 intraventricular tumor arising from the epithelium of the plexus choroid with intermediate clinical-pathological features between the benign choroid plexus papilloma and the malignant choroid plexus carcinoma. The main criteria for differentiation are histopathologic, with difficulties in distinguishing it from choroid plexus papilloma based on imaging features. We report the case of a 4-year-old female presenting with headaches and altered mental status. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right lateral ventricular mass with some atypical characteristics, which were confirmed on pathological examination as an atypical choroid plexus papilloma.
Russian adventurism and Central Asian leaders’ foreign policy rhetoric: Evidence from the UN General Debate corpus
Authors: Adhikari Bimal , Kato Gento
Published: May 2024

How do smaller states position themselves in the biggest diplomatic forum when a regional power with which they share deep economic and political ties is engaged in foreign adventurism with its neighbors? We answer this question by examining how the five Central Asian countries (the “-stans”) have crafted their United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speeches in the aftermath of three recent instances of Russian foreign adventurism: Russo-Georgian War in 2008, Crimea Annexation in 2014, and the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022. Our quantitative assessment of the appearance of sovereignty frames in the UN General Debate corpus from 1992 to 2022 suggests that while historically the Central Asian states have refrained from invoking themes related to sovereignty, the recent full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shifted these countries’ position, whereby they no longer keep themselves away from discussions related to state sovereignty. The fact that Central Asian countries are willing to engage in discussions that are not liked by Russia suggests that these countries are attempting to make their concerns about an aggressive regional power known to the global community.
Thai postmenopausal woman’s view in genitourinary syndrome of menopause
Authors: Wongapai Pattra , Jirasawas Titima , Vichinsartvichai Patsama
Published: May 2024

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and their awareness, attitudes, and perception of this issue.

Study design

Using a specifically designed questionnaire, interviews were performed on 500 Thai postmenopausal women who attended at Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, from August 2021 to April 2022.

Results

The mean age of the 500 participants was 60.39 ± 8.12 years. The prevalence of GSM was 47.2%. The common symptoms affected by GSM were vaginal dryness (38.5%), urinary urgency (24.6%), dyspareunia (13.6%), vaginal irritation (10.2%), vaginal burning (7.2%), and dysuria (5.9%). One-half of the women were uncomfortable talking about GSM. Three-quarters who did not reveal GSM symptoms believed that the problem was a part of aging. Only 20.3% of women who suffer from symptoms consulted a health care provider (HCP). Of the women who had been prescribed treatment, 84.6% of these women reported better quality of life.

Conclusions

GSM is a meaningful decrement in quality of life. Most Thai postmenopausal women who had symptoms believed that the problem was the aging process. Awareness of GSM and available treatment would be a further benefit.
Process mining and customer journey mapping in healthcare: Enhancing patient-centred care in stroke rehabilitation
Authors: Shafei Ingy , Karnon Jonathan , Crotty Maria
Published: May 2024

Background

Patient-centred care and enhancing patient experience is a priority across Australia. Stroke rehabilitation has multiple consumer touchpoints that would benefit from a better understanding of customer journeys, subsequently impacting better patient-centred care, and contributing to process improvements and better patient outcomes. Customer journey mapping through process mining extracts process data from event logs in existing information systems discovering patient journeys, which can be utilized to monitor guideline compliance and uncover nonconformance.

Methodology

Utilizing process mining and variant analysis, customer journey maps were developed for 130 stroke rehabilitation patients from referral to discharge. In total, 168 cases from the Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre dataset were matched with 6291 cases from inpatient stroke data. Variants were explored for age, gender, outcome measures, length of stay and functional independence measure (FIM) change.

Results

The study illustrated the process, process variants and patient journey map in stroke rehabilitation. Process characteristics of stroke rehabilitation patients were extracted and represented utilizing process mining and results highlighted process variation, attributes, touchpoints and timestamps across stroke rehabilitation patient journeys categorized by patient demographics and outcome variables. Patients demonstrated a mean and median duration of 49.5 days and 44 days, respectively, across the patient journeys. Nine variants were discovered, with 78.46% ( n = 102) of patients following the expected sequence of activities in their stroke rehabilitation patient journey. Relationships involving age, gender, length of stay and FIM change along the patient journeys were evident, with four cases experiencing stroke rehabilitation journeys of more than 100 days, warranting further investigation.

Conclusion

Process mining can be utilized to visualize and analyse patient journeys and identify gaps in service quality, thus contributing to better patient-centred care and improved patient outcomes and experiences in stroke rehabilitation.
Physical activity and sedentary behaviour of Bahraini people with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Rajab Ebrahim , Wasif Pearl , Doherty Sally , Gaynor Declan , Malik Hani , Fredericks Salim , Al-Qallaf Amal , Almuqahwi Rabab , Alsharbati Wafa , Rashid-Doubell Fiza
Published: May 2024

Objective

Study patterns of physical activity and sedentary behaviour and the influence of demographics and body mass index (BMI) on these behaviours amongst Bahraini adults with type 2 diabetes over 10 weeks using an activity tracker.

Method

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a Bahrain government health centre. Thirty-three Bahraini Arab adults, 30–60 years old, with controlled type 2 diabetes, wore a Fitbit Flex 2TM activity tracker for 10 weeks. Data on age, sex, marital and employment status, education and BMI were collected at the start of the study.

Results

A total of N = 32 participants completed the study. The average steps per day were 7859 ± 4131, and there were no differences between baseline, week 5 and 10. A third of participants were sedentary, based on a threshold of 5000 steps/day. Females accumulated fewer average daily steps than males (6728 ± 2936 vs. 10,281 ± 4623, p = 0.018). Daily averages for physical activity intensity were as follows: sedentary (786 ± 109 min), light (250 ± 76 min), moderate (9 ± 10 min) and vigorous (12 ± 18 min). Males had higher daily averages versus females for moderate (13 ± 9 vs. 5 ± 9 min, p = 0.018) and vigorous physical activity (21 ± 23 vs. 5 ± 7 min, p = 0.034). 91% of participants wore the device ≥10 h/day. The adherence rate was 79% based on percentage of days the device was worn continuously over 10 weeks.

Conclusion

Future physical activity interventions should target sedentary and female participants with type 2 diabetes. In addition, we need to understand the facilitators and barriers to physical activity and the physical activity preferences of these two subgroups.
Why Is One Social Media Platform Not Enough? A Typology of Platform-Swinging Behavior and Associated Affordance Preferences
Authors: Wang Xueying , Chen Meng , Jiang Wei
Published: May 2024

This study seeks to advance the scholarship on the phenomenon of social media platform-swinging in the context of the polymedia environment in China. Specifically, drawing on the theoretical frameworks of uses and gratifications and channel complementarity theory, we propose that the platform-swinging behavior is driven by users’ various complementary and supplementary needs. Drawing on 32 semi-structured interviews, we identify four distinct types of platform-swinging behavior: social connecting, impression managing, information seeking, and aimless swinging. We further reveal that, depending on various complementary and supplementary needs, each type of platform-swinging behavior has distinct media affordance preferences. By profiling the distinct platform-swinging behaviors and examining their preferred affordances, the study advances our theoretical understanding of the dynamics between the polymedia ecology and users’ gratifications.
Early Hip Fracture Surgery Within 24 hours did not Reduce the Mortality Rate but Resulted in Less Postoperative Opioid use and a Shorter Length of Stay: A Retrospective Study of 276 Patients From a Tertiary Private Hospital in Thailand
Authors: Unnanuntana Aasis , Anusitviwat Chirathit , Lertsiripatarajit Vasu , Riawraengsattha Peerapol , Raksakietisak Manee
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The comparative results of early hip fracture surgery including mortality and postoperative complications in Thailand were not reported. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare the outcomes between patients who received hip surgery within and after 24 hours.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted at a single center, a tertiary private hospital in Thailand. The medical records of patients who were admitted from 2018 to 2020 were reviewed. Patients aged <50 years, high-energy fracture, pathological fractures, or multiple traumas were excluded. The patients were categorized into two groups for comparison: surgery within and surgery after 24 hours groups. The outcome measures were in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality rates, length of stay, and the incidences and severities of postoperative complications.

Results

A total of 276 hip fracture patients were analyzed, with the majority (77.9%) undergoing surgery within 24 hours. Patients who underwent earlier surgery had a significantly shorter hospital stay [6 (4, 9) vs 8 (7, 13) days, P < .001]. The cumulative mortality rates at in-hospital, 30 days, and 1 year were 0%, 1.1%, and 2.5%, respectively. The most common postoperative complications observed were anemia (43.1%) and acute kidney injury (32.6%). However, there were no statistically significant differences in mortality rates ( P > .05) or postoperative complications ( P = .410) between the two groups.

Conclusion

While surgery within 24 hours showed some benefits, such as a shorter hospital stay and reduced pain rescue, it did not reduce mortality or major complications in hip fracture patients.
Digital Technologies 4.0 in Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Industries: Cases of the Central Region of Argentina and the Biobio Region of Chile
Authors: Gatica-Neira Francisco , Ramos-Maldonado Mario , Andrés Ascua Rubén , Revale Hernán , Fernández Valentina
Published: May 2024

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has built upon the lessons learned from Covid-19 and has emphasized the urgent need for digital transformation in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Latin America. This study aims to identify the factors that can explain the varying degrees of adoption of digital technologies 4.0 (DT 4.0). The research analyzes the results of surveys conducted among 35 companies located in the Central Region of Argentina and the Biobio Region of Chile. By utilizing the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) model of adoption and employing data science tools, such as cluster analysis (K-means) and decision trees (J48), the study parameterizes the different responses and generates valuable insights. Our work provides a complementary view to existing studies, analyzing the key factors in the adoption of DT 4.0 in a group of SMEs located in regions, not national capitals, of two Latin American countries with different growth models. The results highlight the significance of business leaders possessing knowledge of DT 4.0, the importance of having specialized human capital, and the need for an organizational culture that embraces innovation. Public policy should focus on transforming business leadership and organizational dynamics to stimulate digital transformation.

JEL Classification: O330, O140, O570
The Influence of ESG Performance on Corporate Value: An Empirical Analysis of Chinese A-Share Listed Sports Companies
Authors: Yi Wenyu , Yang Qian
Published: May 2024

This study uses a two-way fixed-effect model to analyze the impact of ESG performance on corporate value based on the quarterly data of Chinese A-share listed sports companies from 2018 to 2022. The results prove that (1) The ESG performance of sports enterprises positively affects corporate value: the higher the ESG score is, the higher the corporate value is. (2) Mechanism analysis shows that financing constraints play a partially mediating role in the relationship between ESG performance and corporate value. (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that corporate political relations will weaken the facilitating effect of ESG performance on corporate value. The stronger the political relations are, the weaker the facilitating effect of ESG performance on corporate value. Compared with that during the bear market, the performance of ESG in the bull market has a greater facilitating effect on corporate value. Compared with sports service enterprises, sports goods enterprises’ ESG performance has a stronger facilitating effect on corporate value.
“There is No Time” to be a Good Biocitizen: Lived Experiences of Stress and Physical Activity Among Mexican Immigrants in New York City
Authors: Hernández María , Gálvez Alyshia , Verdaguer Sandra , Torres-González Joseph Anthony , Derose Kathryn P. , Flórez Karen R.
Published: May 2024

This paper explores the ways in which Mexican immigrants experience, narrate, and describe stress and the extent to which it impacts their efforts at engaging in physical activity using a biocitizenship framework. Data were derived from a mixed-method study among Mexicans living in New York City recruited from a large Catholic church. The qualitative sample of 25 participated in quantitative and qualitative components of the study and as such we include some of these quantitative indicators as descriptors. Our main qualitative findings reveal that study participants experience stress and time constraint as factors that contribute to the waning of their physical and mental well-being. As such, time constraints for many of our participants were among the factors that contributed to high perceived levels of stress. They attributed this to their difficulty maintaining a physically active lifestyle due to factors like the fast-paced lifestyle in New York, working long hours, and not having enough time to exercise, though some important differences in narratives were noted across gender. Findings have implications for interventions aimed at improving the health of immigrants in general and Mexican immigrants in New York City specifically.
Modalities of the Sacred in the Lumad Struggle for Sustainabilities and Futures
Authors: Raymundo Sarah
Published: May 2024

Indigenous peoples enact and cultivate local knowledge based on their own developed practices of resource use, which are entwined with their struggle for self-determination. This article seeks to demonstrate how these actions are configured in multiple ways, as in the case of the Lumad of Mindanao, who, like other indigenous groups worldwide, are engaged in the struggle for national liberation. An elaboration of the Lumad-Manobo’s notions of sacred spaces and myths is presented. This includes the production and reproduction of sustenance, resource use, and political mobilization. This article also seeks to trace the movements and modalities of value as an aspiration among displaced Lumad children and the more concrete forms of labor involved in producing these values in indigenous knowledge of sacred spaces.