bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study of learners’ interactive preference on multimedia microlearning
Authors: Sung Anna , Leong Kelvin , Lee Ching
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore how learners prefer to interact with microlearning videos. Microlearning is an emerging topic in work-based learning, and the benefits of using video in supporting learning have been widely discussed. However, only very few of previous works were conducted on discussing how learners prefer to interact with microlearning video. This paper aims to fill this knowledge gap.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was used in this study for data collection purposes. In total, the invitation had been sent to 236 enrolled learners from the three targeted modules through emails. A total of 77 participants completed the survey with the response rate of 32.6%. The chi-square test is used in this study in order to conclude whether the findings from the sample related to hypotheses are statistically significant.

Findings

By analysing primary data collected from a United Kingdom (UK) university, the findings suggest that 1) the perceived usefulness of the control functions and the expression functions of multimedia microlearning videos are generally high and 2) more participants, on the one hand, prefer to have more control in their multiple-choice questions’ arrangement and open-ended questions’ arrangement; on the other hand, there was no significant difference on the preference of when to attempt assessment.

Originality/value

This is the first time that a study like this had been conducted to review and discuss the interactive preferences between learners and multimedia microlearning. This study could shed some lights on future research in the field of microlearning and work-based learning.
Investigation of cinematic genre diversity based on social network analysis: the lost ring of the Iranian cinema industry
Authors: Noroozian Ali , Amiri Babak , Agha Mohammad Ali Kermani Mehrdad
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Movies critics believe that the diversity of Iranian cinematic genres has decreased over time. The paper aims to answer the following questions: What is the impact of the continuous cooperation between the key nodes on the audience's taste, uniformity of the cinematic genres and the box office? Is there any relationship between the importance of actors in the actors' network and their popularity?

Design/methodology/approach

In the artistic world, artists' relationships lead to a network that affects individuals' commercial or artistic success and defines the artwork's value. To study the issue that the diversity of Iranian cinematic genres has decreased over time, the authors utilized social network analysis (SNA), in which every actor is considered a node, and its collaboration with others in the same movies is depicted via edges. After preparing the desired dataset, networks were generated, and metrics were calculated. First, the authors compared the structure of the network with the box office. The results illustrated that the network density growth negatively affects box office. Second, network key nodes were identified, their relationships with other actors were inspected using the Apriori algorithm to examine the density cause and the cinematic genre of key nodes, and their followers were investigated. Finally, the relationship between the actors' Instagram follower count and their importance in the network structure was analyzed to answer whether the generated network is acceptable in society.

Findings

The social problem genre has stabilized due to continuous cooperation between the core nodes because network density negatively impacts the box office. As well as, the generated network in the cinema is acceptable by the audience because there is a positive correlation between the importance of actors in the network and their popularity.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is investigating the issue raised in the cinema industry and trying to inspect its aspects by utilizing the SNA to deepen the cinematic research and fill the gaps. This study demonstrates a positive correlation between the actors' Instagram follower count and their importance in the network structure, indicating that people follow those central in the actors' network. As well as investigating the network key nodes with a heuristic algorithm using coreness centrality and analyzing their relationships with others through the Apriori algorithm. The authors situated the analysis using a novel and original dataset from the Iranian actors who participated in the Fajr Film Festival from 1998 to 2020.
Environmental regulation, innovation capability, and green total factor productivity of the logistics industry
Authors: Wang Dongfang , Tarasov Arthur , Zhang Huarong
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between environmental regulations and green total factor productivity (GTFP) of China's logistics industry. The high-factor input, high-energy consumption, and high-pollution emissions model of the logistics industry developed within China faces challenges from severe resource and environmental constraints. It is generally believed that environmental regulations effectively restrain pollution emissions and help protect the environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ the undesirable slack-based Malmquist Luenberger model to calculate the GTFP across the provincial logistics industry and use the mediation effect model and threshold effect model to explore the effects and mechanics of environmental transmission regulations on the GTFP.

Findings

The main results show significant regional differences in the GTFP of logistics industry across China. In the transmission path of the impact of environmental regulations on the GTFP, regional innovation capabilities have mediation effects. Regional innovation capacities have a masking effect on the transmission path of environmental regulations on accumulated technical efficiency changes (AEC) and accumulated technical changes (ATC). The threshold effect test results show a dual-threshold effect between environmental regulations and the GTFP, with environmental regulations as threshold variable. Furthermore, the impact of regional innovation capability on the GTFP has a dual-threshold effect, with environmental regulation as threshold variable.

Practical implications

First, it is advisable to plan the environmental regulation policy system thoroughly and add supporting measures to ensure the efficiency and smooth implementation of the nation's environmental policies. Second, it is important to further understand the critical role of innovation capability in improving the GTFP. Third, there is an urgent need to standardize the operating behavior and market order of the leading players in the logistics market and to improve the operational efficiency of logistics enterprises.

Originality/value

So far, a systematical study researched on effect of environmental regulation on the GTFP in logistics industry was not published. This study can provide experience for the high-quality development of the logistics industry.
Investigation of photochemical machining characteristics of stainless steel AISI 304 via novel PCM equipment design
Authors: Tunç Murat , Gökkaya Hasan , Sur Gökhan , Motorcu Ali Riza
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to investigate photochemical machining characteristics of stainless steel (AISI 304-SS304) parts with a novel design are investigated experimentally from the aspect of process parameters. The effects of phototool pattern geometry, ultraviole (UV) exposure time and etching time on of AISI 304 were evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

The designed semi-automated photochemical manufacturing (PCM) equipment consists of 4 units, which include UV exposure, etching, developing and surface cleaning units. Experimental procedure has been designed via Taguchi method. Results were evaluated via Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) method.

Findings

Etching time is the most effective factor in PCM quality of AISI 304 stainless steel. Surface roughness is sensitive to geometrical pattern of the phototool for PCM of AISI 304 UV exposure time is less influential on the PCM quality for stainless steel.

Research limitations/implications

The designed PCM equipment prototype is not fully automated, which requires automation for part replacements into units. The effects of the temperature inside chemical processing units on process characteristics cannot be evaluated due to equipment limitations. The effects of surface cleaning time inside surface cleaning unit are not analyzed.

Originality/value

The utilized PCM equipment is semi-automated equipment, with which the process parameters such as etching time, surface cleaning time, UV exposure time and developing time can be controlled. Different from literature, the effects of phototool pattern geometries on the photochemical machining quality parameters are evaluated for the processing of AISI 304. The effects of processing parameters on dimensional accuracy, which is not common in the literature for AISI 304 stainless steel, are also evaluated.
Approaching place and space as craftsperson: on the dialogue between theory and practice
Authors: Giovanardi Massimo
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to this Special Issue about alternative and critical marketing theory on space and place by discussing its link with practice. More generally, this paper intends to suggest that more effective links between theory and practice can result into more meaningful conceptual research in business administration and marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a reflexive introspective essay that relates the author’s personal experience to the recent literature on the dialogue between theory and practice within general marketing research and marketing scholarship on place and space.

Findings

After recognising that different modes of knowledge creation exist, some gateways between theory and practice are identified, as part of a future agenda that could accompany scholars in improving their engagement with society. These gateways include dissemination strategies; teaching and public engagement; and formats of “engaged” research that comprise action research and collaboration with non-academic actors.

Research limitations/implications

The alternative and critical marketing theory on space and place comprises different specific domains, some of which appear to be closer to practice than others. Because of the author’s background, place branding and destination marketing are granted preferential attention.

Originality/value

The figure of the craftsman depicted by Sennet (2008) is identified as a source of inspiration for marketing scholars interested in space and place. The metaphor of the craftsperson could be useful for business and marketing scholar alike while reflecting on their roles and positionalities.
Retirement experience, retirement satisfaction and life satisfaction of baby boomers
Authors: Ang Amberyce , Chen Cynthia , Mehta Kalyani
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The practice of mandatory retirement age implies that some retirees may be forced to retire or are compelled to continue working. Retirement would then be determined by age and not by their personal choices. Against this backdrop, this study aims to understand the associations retirement transition types (voluntary or involuntary retirement) with retirement satisfaction and life satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This mixed research study seeks to understand how the retirement transition type in the form of voluntary or involuntary retirement is associated with retirement satisfaction and life satisfaction. In this study, 103 Singapore baby boomer retirees were interviewed and a questionnaire was administered.

Findings

Results showed that voluntary retirement and high social–emotional resources had significant positive associations with retirement satisfaction, and that financial resources and retirement satisfaction had significant associations with life satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Based on this study’s findings, a synthesized conceptual model was designed to illustrate the different roles and associations of resources with retirement satisfaction and life satisfaction. A retirement trajectory model was also created to cater for policy design at various stages of the retirement experience.

Practical implications

The retirement experience is multi-dimensional. It is highly relevant to almost every older adult. The relevance of this topic also meant that the findings in this study carry a potentially higher impact. Using the life span and multi-level perspectives to examine retirement, the findings in this study invite several timely human resources (HR) and national policy reviews. This paper proposed HR policy practices at three main points – late-career, retirement and bridge employment.

Originality/value

A unique feature of this study was to differentiate and compare “retirement satisfaction” with “life satisfaction”, and the differentiation of “retirement transition”, “retirement adjustment” and the “retirement trajectory”. The differentiation of these concepts can better shape policies targeted at different phases of the retirement experience. In addition, the resource-based dynamic perspective was used to identify and understand the types of resources that have significant associations with retirement and life satisfaction. For example, social–emotional resources were found to be significantly associated with retirement satisfaction, and financial resources were found to be significantly associated with life satisfaction.
Impact of seborrheic dermatitis on osteoporosis risk: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Lu Ying‐Yi , Lu Chun‐Ching , Tsai Cheng‐Yu , Liu Yao‐Ju , Huang Chao‐Lan , Wang Wei‐Ting , Wu Chieh‐Hsin
Published: September 2022

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone‐resorbing disease that easily causes subsequent risk of fracture. Hence, the substantial physical burden of osteoporosis makes it an important public health issue. Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease. Despite the advances in medication for treating osteoporosis, identifying undiagnosed osteoporosis patients is still challenging. Since osteoporosis and SD share a similar pathobiology, e.g. inflammation and hormonal imbalance, we aimed to investigate whether the existence of SD increases osteoporosis risk by using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 7831 patients aged 18–50 years with SD and a control group of 31 324 patients without SD matched by age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and index date at a ratio of 1:4 during 1996–2010 were recruited in the study. To measure the cumulative incidence and compare the hazard ratios of osteoporosis between each group, the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression models were utilized. It was found that 0.98% of SD patients had osteoporosis. Compared to the non‐SD group, the SD group had a 5.95‐fold higher osteoporosis risk after adjustment for variables. The impact of SD on osteoporosis risk was largest in the female and young age groups. In addition, the presence of hyperlipidemia, hyperthyroidism, and epilepsy synergistically increased osteoporosis incidence in the SD group. This first large cohort study demonstrated an association between SD and osteoporosis. Since the effect on bone health in SD patients with concomitant diseases is largest in early life, diet or lifestyle recommendations as well as regular bone examinations are advised during follow‐up of SD.
Dynamic generalised additive models (DGAMs) for forecasting discrete ecological time series
Authors: Clark Nicholas J. , Wells Konstans
Published: September 2022

Generalised additive models (GAMs) are increasingly popular tools for estimating smooth nonlinear relationships between predictors and response variables. GAMs are particularly relevant in ecology for representing hierarchical functions for discrete responses that encompass complex features including zero inflation, truncation and uneven sampling. However, GAMs are less useful for producing forecasts as their smooth functions provide unstable predictions outside the range of training data.

We introduce dynamic generalised additive models (DGAMs), where the GAM linear predictor is jointly estimated with unobserved dynamic components to model time series that evolve as a function of nonlinear predictor associations and latent temporal processes. These models are especially useful for analysing multiple series, as they can estimate hierarchical smooth functions while learning complex temporal associations via dimension‐reduced latent factor processes. We implement our models in the mvgam R package, which estimates unobserved parameters for smoothing splines and latent temporal processes in a probabilistic framework.

Using simulations, we illustrate how our models outperform competing formulations in realistic ecological forecasting tasks while identifying important smooth predictor functions. We use a real‐world case study to highlight some of mvgam's key features, which include functions for calculating correlations among series' latent trends, performing model selection using rolling window forecasts and posterior predictive checks, online data augmentation via a recursive particle filter and visualising probabilistic uncertainties for smooth functions and predictions.

Dynamic GAMs (DGAMs) offer a solution to the challenge of forecasting discrete time series while estimating ecologically relevant nonlinear predictor associations. Our Bayesian latent factor approach will be particularly useful for exploring competing dynamic ecological models that encompass hierarchical smoothing structures while providing forecasts with robust uncertainties, tasks that are becoming increasingly important in applied ecology.
Does the Prohibition of Long‐lived Asset Impairment Reversals Affect Corporate Innovation? Evidence from a Quasi‐experiment in China
Authors: Liu Huilong , Liu Jianqiu , Wang Hong , Yang Dan
Published: September 2022

China modified the asset impairment standard in 2007, prohibiting long‐lived asset impairment reversal, which it had previously allowed. Using this setting as a quasi‐experiment, we investigate how the prohibition of long‐lived asset impairment reversal affects corporate technological innovation. Our empirical results demonstrate that the prohibition of impairment reversal has negative impacts on corporate innovation outputs. Further analyses reveal that the negative effect of this prohibition on corporate innovation is more prominent in companies with high discretionary accruals, high shareholding ratios for the largest shareholders, and companies in highly competitive markets.
Prevalence and commonality of non‐technical skills and human factors in airway management guidelines: a narrative review of the last 5 years
Authors: Edelman D. A. , Duggan L. V. , Lockhart S. L. , Marshall S. D. , Turner M. C. , Brewster D. J.
Published: September 2022

The primary aim of this review was to identify, analyse and codify the prominence and nature of human factors and ergonomics within difficult airway management algorithms. A directed search across OVID Medline and PubMed databases was performed. All articles were screened for relevance to the research aims and according to predetermined exclusion criteria. We identified 26 published airway management algorithms. A coding framework was iteratively developed identifying human factors and ergonomic specific words and phrases based on the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model. This framework was applied to the papers to delineate qualitative and quantitative results. Our results show that human factors are well represented within recent airway management guidelines. Human factors associated with work systems and processes featured more prominently than user and patient outcome measurement and adaption. Human factors are an evolving area in airway management and our results highlight that further considerations are necessary in further guideline development.
Emergencies in obstetric anaesthesia: a narrative review
Authors: Prior C. H. , Burlinson C. E. G. , Chau A.
Published: September 2022

We conducted a narrative review in six areas of obstetric emergencies: category‐1 caesarean section; difficult and failed airway; massive obstetric haemorrhage; hypertensive crisis; emergencies related to neuraxial anaesthesia; and maternal cardiac arrest. These areas represent significant research published within the last five years, with emphasis on large multicentre randomised trials, national or international practice guidelines and recommendations from major professional societies. Key topics discussed: prevention and management of failed neuraxial technique; role of high‐flow nasal oxygenation and choice of neuromuscular drug in obstetric patients; prevention of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia; management of the difficult and failed obstetric airway; current perspectives on the use of tranexamic acid, fibrinogen concentrate and cell salvage; guidance on neuraxial placement in a thrombocytopenic obstetric patient; management of neuraxial drug errors, local anaesthetic systemic toxicity and unusually prolonged neuraxial block regression; and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use in maternal cardiac arrest.
The social tensions felt within: Explaining felt ambivalence about polarized societal debates through perceived opinion discrepancies in the social environment
Authors: Ton Gonneke Marina , Stroebe Katherine , van Zomeren Martijn
Published: September 2022

Within the context of polarized societal debates (e.g. abortion, racism, climate change), scholars often assume that individuals have clear‐cut positions, either in favour of or against the debated issue. However, recent work suggests that such debates can also be breeding grounds for felt ambivalence. Moving beyond previous work that mainly focused on ambivalence as internal cognitive conflict, we propose and test a social discrepancy hypothesis, which suggests that the discrepancies ambivalents perceive between and within their own opinion and the opinion of actors in their social network and society (e.g. friends, family, opinion‐based groups) positively explain their levels of felt ambivalence. In doing so, we quantitatively extend recent qualitative work by examining whether these social tensions are indeed felt within. To this end, we employed a multi‐survey research project (Ns = 184, 181, 187) in the context of different societal debates in the Netherlands. Supporting our hypothesis across different debates, results showed that ambivalents' perceived opinion differences in the social environment explained their felt ambivalence. This suggests that polarized societal debates offer social discrepancies that, for ambivalents at least, can facilitate an internalization of social tensions.
Incidence and association of seizures in stroke patients following endovascular treatment: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Fangzhou , Chen Deng , Fu Yaoqi , Wang Haijiao , Liu Ling
Published: September 2022

Background and purpose

Post‐stroke seizures (PSSs) are some of the most common complications of stroke and are associated with poor outcomes in patients. Endovascular treatment (EVT) is the standard of care for patients with acute ischaemic stroke related large‐vessel occlusion. However, whether EVT increases the risk of PSSs remains controversial; the association between PSSs and EVT is poorly understood.

Methods

PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies published from 1995 to 6 December 2021. The overall incidence of PSSs in patients treated with EVT and the separate incidence for all included studies in each subgroup, stratified by the type of treatment or time of onset, were calculated. The pooled odds ratio and confidence interval were calculated to quantify the effects of EVT on PSS occurrence.

Results

In all, 946 studies were screened and 16 articles were included, with a total sample size of 12,664 patients; 7836 patients received EVT, of whom 460 had PSS. The pooled incidence of PSS after EVT was 5.8%, which was similar to patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (5.3%), intra‐arterial thrombolysis (6.8%) or bridging therapy (5.4%). The cumulative incidence of post‐stroke epilepsy (6.0%) was almost twice that of acute symptomatic seizures (3.6%). The pooled odds ratio for the relationship between EVT and PSS was 1.91 (95% confidence interval 0.98–3.73).

Conclusions

The cumulative incidence of stroke patients treated with EVT who developed seizures was 5.8%, and EVT was non‐significantly associated with the occurrence of seizures after stroke.
Photoperiodic control of protogyny in the lawn ground cricket, Polionemobius mikado (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae)
Authors: Tanaka Kazuhiro
Published: September 2022

Sexual dimorphism in timing of adult emergence is common in insects. In most insects, males emerge before female (protandry), however, some insects show earlier female emergence (protogyny). Here, I report the effects of photoperiod on protogyny in the lawn ground cricket (Polionemobius mikado). Upon exposure to different photoperiods at 26 °C, P. mikado females were found to emerge earlier than the males in the short‐day photoperiod. However, no difference in the nymphal development duration was observed between the sexes in the long‐day photoperiod. Protogynous development is expected to be more pronounced in the crickets that eclosed later in the year than those that eclosed earlier; therefore, its adaptive significance is closely associated with environmental seasonality that is encountered by the eclosed females.
Effects of low temperature on distribution and metabolism enzyme activity of carbon and nitrogen of Medicago ruthenica (L.)
Authors: Yang Yanting , Dong Jiaqi , Gu Rui , Shi Ruru , Shi Fengling
Published: September 2022

Low temperature is one of the abiotic factors that limit the biomass of Medicago ruthenica (L.), and carbon and nitrogen have important roles in the plant's growth and development. However, the information on the distribution of carbon and nitrogen under low temperature conditions is limited. In this study, we investigated the influence of carbon and nitrogen distribution on M. ruthenica (L.) Trautv. cv. ‘Zhilixing’ based on 13C and 15N isotope tracers in two temperature‐controlled chambers (4–10°C and 25°C, respectively) for 30 days. Results showed that under low temperature, plant height significantly decreased by 22.74%, whereas the ratio of underground to aboveground biomass considerably increased by 146.31% compared to the control plants at 30 days. Moreover, low temperature stress significantly increased the activities of sucrose synthase and glutamine synthase in leaves, shoots and roots. The total carbon content and the abundance of 15N increased in leaves, shoots and roots under low temperature, with a greater level of increase in shoots than in leaves and roots. The weight of leaves, shoots and roots was correlated with δ15N. Hence, low temperature inhibited growth and promoted the transport of carbon and nitrogen.
Global diversity and adaptations of avian eggshell thickness indices
Authors: Attard Marie R. G. , Portugal Steven J.
Published: September 2022

The amniote eggshell is a fundamental aspect of the embryo life‐support system, protecting it from UV light, microbes and mechanical damage, while regulating gas exchange and providing calcium for growth. The thickness of eggshells is highly diverse across modern birds and influences multiple eggshell functions, yet the selective pressures driving eggshell thickness have not been clearly identified. Here, we use a global dataset of avian eggshell thickness indices for 4260 (> 41%) avian species to assess trends in eggshell thickness across the phylogeny, as these indices are strongly correlated with direct measures of eggshell thickness and are non‐destructive to the sample. We analysed the dataset within a phylogenetic framework to assess the relative importance of climatic and ecological explanations for variation in eggshell thickness indices. The distribution of avian eggshell thickness indices across species was found to be primarily driven by phylogenetic relatedness, in addition to evolutionary processes that do not match a Brownian model of evolution. Across modern birds, thicker eggshells were more prevalent in species (1) with precocial young, (2) which exhibit a scavenger‐based diet, (3) which primarily feed on vertebrates or plants (excluding nectivores, seed and fruit specialists) and (4) which breed in open habitats. Thicker eggshells found in species with precocial young probably enable higher rates of calcium removal for the more advanced embryo development. Excessive light transmission through the shell damages developing embryos, while too little light transmission can impede development. Eggs in shaded habitats experience low light exposure, and thus thinner shells are more prevalent in these environments potentially to increase light transmission through the shell. Overall, variation in eggshell thickness indices appears to be driven largely by phylogeny, with certain life‐history traits linked to embryo growth rate, calcium content of their food, and the need to mitigate excessive light transmission through the shell.
Dental environment and practitioner preferences of southeast Asian youths with dental fear/anxiety
Authors: Yap Adrian Ujin , Kwan Yi Yan , Kok Li , Lee Xin Fang , Lee Darren Zong Ru
Published: September 2022

Objectives

This study estimated the prevalence of dental fear/anxiety (DFA) in Southeast Asian youths and established their dental environment and practitioner preferences.

Methods

A convenience sample of youths were enrolled from a local polytechnic. The Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF‐4C) was used to ascertain the presence and severity of DFA. Socio‐demographic and IDAF‐4C data, along with participants' dental environment and practitioner partialities were gathered electronically. Statistical evaluations were performed with Kruskal‐Wallis and Chi‐square tests (α = 0.05).

Results

Data from a total of 215 participants were appraised. The mean age of the study sample was 18.9 ± 2.0 years (87.4% women). Of these, 12.6% had moderate‐to‐high DFA and 6.0% had high‐to‐extreme DFA. As a group, Southeast Asian youths generally liked dental clinics with adorned walls, cooler temperatures, magazines/books, background music and audio‐visual devices. In addition, they favoured female practitioners who are younger (≤45 years old), friendly, talkative and maintain a professional relationship. However, those with high‐to‐extreme DFA preferred a warmer clinic environment and to have an informal relationship with their dental practitioners (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The prevalence of moderate‐to‐extreme DFA in Southeast Asian youths was 18.6%. Individuals with high‐to‐extreme DFA may have disparate dental environment and practitioner preferences compared to those with no‐to‐moderate DFA.
Cases of dental clinic visits by COVID‐19‐confirmed patients
Authors: Sim Eun Bi , Kim Hye wook , Noh Hiejin
Published: September 2022

Objectives

This study aims to review cases of dental visits by patients who had confirmed COVID‐19 infection in Seoul and Gyeonggi‐do. It analyses the patterns of infection transmission among dental healthcare professionals and dental clinic visitors.

Methods

This study obtained data from reports on disease trends and press releases published by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on its COVID‐19 website.

Results

After examining cases of patients with a confirmed COVID‐19 infection, 24 people (10 in Seoul and 14 in Gyeonggi‐do) visited the dental office 1–13 days prior to their case confirmation; however, the spread of the virus in the dental office was not confirmed.

Conclusion

The WHO and KCDC guidelines must be followed to curb transmission of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus among dental patients and professionals.
Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the incontinence‐associated dermatitis questionnaire (C‐KAP‐IAD‐Q) used with Chinese nurses
Authors: Zhang Qi , Li Xintong , Zhang Ke , Lv Lijun , Jin Yi
Published: September 2022

Background

It has been reported that the knowledge, attitudes and practices of nurses play a significant role in preventing incontinence‐associated dermatitis (IAD), and these three factors influence and interact with each other.

This study aimed to translate the English version of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Incontinence‐Associated Dermatitis Questionnaire (KAP‐IAD‐Q) into Chinese and assess the validity and reliability of the Chinese KAP‐IAD‐Q (C‐ KAP‐IAD‐Q) used with Chinese nurses.

Methods

The KAP‐IAD‐Q was translated into Chinese strictly in accordance with the Brislin translation model, and a Chinese version of IAD was formed after discussion by experts. From October to November 2021, a total of 259 Chinese nurses were recruited through a convenience sampling method and investigated using the Chinese version of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the incontinence‐associated dermatitis questionnaire (C‐KAP‐IAD‐Q) and the general self‐efficacy scale to assess its reliability and validity.

Results

Three factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis comprised of 22 items. The Cronbach's α coefficients were 0.961, 0.929 and 0.833, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.98 totally. The scale‐level content validity index (S‐CVI) was 0.95, and the item‐level content validity (I‐CVI) was 0.83–1.00. The correlation coefficient between the general self‐efficacy scale and the C‐KAP‐IAD‐Q was 0.561 (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The 22‐item C‐KAP‐IAD‐Q seems to be culturally well adapted and has good psychometric properties used by Chinese nurses.
Of Signs: Matter and Revelation in the Liturgies of William Durand and John Calvin
Authors: Wandel Lee Palmer
Published: September 2022

This article seeks to set aside what we might call Cartesian physics to revisit William Durand's conception of sign as set forth in the Rationale divinorum officiorum and John Calvin's as set forth in the Institutio christianae religionis. Reading the two works through the lens of medieval physics reveals commonalities – both held signs to be ever‐present modes of divine communication – and enables us to delineate more precisely their differences. For both, creation was a locus of divine communication. For Durand, the position of a faithful person was observation informed by Scripture, an attentiveness to the redundantia of divine communication in which Scripture and creation were in dialectic. For Calvin, divine communication was simultaneously visible and, to fallen humankind, imperceptible: even as creation held forth divine signs, human beings could not comprehend them. These differing conceptions of the human observer (Durand) or spectator (Calvin), precede and ground their differing approaches to eucharistic signs.
Transperineal bulbovesical anastomosis for extensive posterior urethral stenoses after treatment of prostatic disease
Authors: Ojima Kenichiro , Horiguchi Akio , Shinchi Masayuki , Tabei Tadashi , Hirano Yusuke , Ito Keiichi , Azuma Ryuichi
Published: September 2022

Objectives

We report our surgical experience of transperineal bulbovesical anastomosis (BVA) for extensive posterior urethral stenosis (PUS).

Methods

Six male patients who had extensive PUS extending from the bulbomembranous urethra to the bladder neck due to prostatic disease treatment and underwent transperineal BVA between 2014 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. BVA was performed according to the elaborate perineal approach for pelvic fracture urethral repair with minor modifications. After confirming the absence of recurrent stenosis 6 months postoperatively, the patients were offered artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) placement for subsequent urinary incontinence (UI).

Results

Median patient age was 68, and the etiology of PUS was radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer in four patients, brachytherapy for prostate cancer in one, and transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia in one. All patients had been previously treated with multiple transurethral procedures such as urethrotomy and dilation. Median operative time and blood loss were 211 min and 154 ml, respectively. Five cases (83.3%) had no recurrent stenosis with a median follow‐up of 45 months, but a single direct vision internal urethrotomy was performed in one (16.7%) due to restenosis. Four (66.7%) patients underwent AUS placement via transcorporal approach for subsequent UI, but two had it removed due to urethral erosion.

Conclusion

Transperineal BVA could effectively manage extensive PUS after prostatic disease treatment. Staged AUS placement could be a viable option for subsequent UI, but the risk of urethral erosion seemed high.
Précarisation, gestion algorithmique et mobilisation: les effets de la pandémie de COVID‐19 sur les livreurs des plateformes numériques en Argentine et au Chili
Authors: GUTIÉRREZ CROCCO Francisca , ATZENI Maurizio
Published: September 2022

Les auteurs analysent les effets de la pandémie sur le processus de travail au sein de deux plateformes de livraison alimentaire opérant en Argentine et au Chili, Rappi et PedidosYa. En s'appuyant sur des entretiens semi‐directifs et une analyse du discours de la presse et des sites Internet, ils montrent que les plateformes ont transféré les coûts induits par la crise sur les travailleurs en instru‐mentalisant le statut de travailleur indépendant et en renforçant leur contrôle. En réaction, les livreurs ont eu recours à de multiples stratégies de résistance, qui vont de la location ou du prêt de comptes à l'organisation de grèves internationales.
Association between visit‐to‐visit blood pressure variability and adverse events in coronary artery disease patients after coronary intervention
Authors: Tsai Tsung‐Ying , Leu Hsin‐Bang , Hsu Pai‐Feng , Yang Ya‐Ling , Chen Su‐Chan , Huang Shao‐Sung , Chan Wan Leong , Lin Shing‐Jong , Chen Jaw‐Wen , Pan Ju‐Pin , Charng Min‐Ji , Chen Ying‐Hwa , Wu Tao‐Cheng , Lu Tse‐Min , Huang Po‐Hsun , Cheng Hao‐Min , Huang Chin‐Chou , Sung Shih‐Hsien , Lin Yenn‐Jiang , Wu Cheng‐Hsueh
Published: September 2022

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is independently associated with higher cardiovascular risks. However, whether BPV is associated with poor outcomes for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remained undetermined. We aimed to investigate the relationship between BPV and the outcomes of CAD patients undergoing PCI. Two thousand seven hundred and sixty‐two CAD patients (1938 males, mean age 69.6 ± 12.9) who received PCI at Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2006 to 2015 with multiple blood pressure measurements before and after the index PCI were enrolled. We calculated the standard deviation of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure as parameters of BPV. The primary endpoint was the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events [MACE comprising of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and non‐fatal stroke] and heart failure hospitalization (HHF). The key secondary endpoint was MACE. Both pre‐PCI and post‐PCI BPV were associated with CV events even after adjusting for co‐morbidities and mean blood pressure. In Cox analysis, for every 1 mmHg increase in systolic BPV, the hazard ratio for the MACE + HHF, MACE, HHF, and cardiovascular death was 1.04 (95%CI: 1.03–1.05), 1.04 (95%CI: 1.02–1.05), 1.05 (95%CI: 1.04–1.06), and 1.06 (95%CI: 1.03–1.09), respectively. The association between BPV and cardiovascular risk is independent of blood pressure control status. The prognostic value of BPV was superior to mean blood pressure in both pre‐PCI and post‐PCI period. BPV is independently associated with cardiovascular events after PCI and has a better prognostic value than mean blood pressure suggesting the importance of maintaining stable blood pressure for CAD patients.
Home oral hygiene is associated with blood pressure profiles: Results of a nationwide survey in Italian pharmacies
Authors: Del Pinto Rita , Pietropaoli Davide , Grassi Guido , Muiesan Maria Lorenza , Monaco Annalisa , Cossolo Marco , Procaccini Alfredo , Ferri Claudio
Published: September 2022

Aim

Periodontal diseases are associated with cardiovascular risk factors/diseases, and whether home oral hygiene practices are inversely related to the same conditions could carry relevant practical implications. We investigated the association of home oral hygiene habits with hypertension.

Materials and Methods

During World Hypertension Day 2020, a nationwide cross‐sectional survey was conducted on volunteers ≥18 years at 733 Italian pharmacies. Participants underwent standardized blood pressure (BP) measurement and answered a questionnaire on cardiovascular risk factors, oral health status, and home oral hygiene habits (toothbrushing daily frequency and manual/electric toothbrush). The association between home oral care habits and BP was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Interactions between exposures and outcome were formally tested.

Results

Among the 4506 participants (44.8% males, 66.1 ± 37.8 years), 47.6% reported brushing ≥3 times/day and 23.4% declared using the electric toothbrush. Brushing ≥3 versus <3 times/day and use of electric versus manual toothbrush were associated with 19% (odds ratio [OR]: 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70–0.94) and 28% (OR: 0.72, 95% CI 0.61–0.85) lower odds of hypertension, respectively. No significant additive interaction was observed in the association of exposures with the outcome.

Conclusions

Regular daily brushing and electric toothbrushing are associated with a better BP profile in a real‐world context. Future interdisciplinary research is warranted to test these findings.
Influence of far‐infrared vacuum drying on drying kinetics and quality characteristics of Cistanche slices
Authors: Jiang Chunhui , Wan Fangxin , Zang Zepeng , Zhang Qian , Xu Yanrui , Huang Xiaopeng
Published: September 2022

In order to improve the drying efficiency and quality of Cistanche, the effects of far‐infrared vacuum drying on drying rate, active component content and microstructure of Cistanche slices were studied with drying temperature, slice thickness and irradiation height as experimental indexes. The results showed that the drying process of Cistanche was mainly concentrated in the deceleration stage. When the drying temperature was 55°C, the slice thickness was 4 mm, the irradiation height was 150 mm, and the time to reach the safe water content (10% w.b.) of Cistanche was the shortest. With the increase in drying temperature, slice thickness and irradiation height, the contents of phenylethanoid glycosides, iridoids, polysaccharides, total phenols and total flavonoids in dried products increased first and then decreased. Compared with natural drying, the samples dried by far‐infrared vacuum have more pores and better structural integrity. Phenylethanol glycosides and iridoid compounds, such as echinacoside and verbascoside, in Cistanche have significant effects in anti‐inflammatory and analgesic, tonifying kidney yang, anti‐Alzheimer's disease and protecting various organs and systems of the body. In this study, the slices of Cistanche were processed by far infrared vacuum drying, and the effects of different drying conditions on drying rate, effective moisture diffusion coefficient, active ingredient content, antioxidant activity, color and microstructure of dried Cistanche were studied. The drying process was fitted by a drying model, in order to obtain dried Cistanche products with better quality, and provide theoretical basis and technical support for the actual production of Cistanche.

Novelty impact statement

Midilli model could better describe the variation law of water content in the drying process of Cistanche.

Compared with natural drying, the surface samples dried by far‐infrared vacuum have no cracks and good boundary integrity.

The optimal process parameters (55°C, 4 mm, 310 mm) for far‐infrared vacuum drying of Cistanche slices were determined by the entropy value method.
Efficacy of Withania coagulans fruit extract as a coagulant for Mozzarella cheese at different coagulation temperatures from curd formation to pizza top
Authors: Nazish Hafiz Adeel , Gulzar Nabila , Nadeem Muhammad , Rafiq Saima , Sameen Aysha , Ajmal Muhammad , Murtaza Shamas , Saleem Iqra Muqaddas
Published: September 2022

Withania coagulans is a shrub that has milk‐clotting activity. Its coagulation efficiency at different concentrations and incubation temperatures was measured for Mozzarella cheese from curd formation to its application on the pizza top. Curd made at higher W. coagulans concentration (1%) has less coagulation time (1272.99 ± 96.68 s), viscosity (148.58 ± 9.25 Pa s), pH (5.89 ± 0.05), and yield (7.87 ± 0.53%) as compared to rest of samples. Increasing temperature (39°C) also decreased coagulation time (1599.19 ± 380.06 s), viscosity (146.56 ± 15.51 Pa s), pH (6.01 ± 0.17), and yield (8.87 ± 0.48%) of curd. W. coagulans at 0.2% concentration showed caseinolytic activity (78.83 ± 1.97%) very close to rennet (84.12 ± 2.3%). High W. coagulans and temperature conditions lead to the grainy texture that results in the loss of proteins, fats, and moisture from the cheese. Highest protein (21.89 ± 0.8%; 23.39 ± 2.15%), fat (17.64 ± 0.62%; 18.50 ± 0.32%), and moisture (43.55 ± 8.01%; 50.00 ± 6.13%) were observed in Mozzarella cheese at 0.2% W. coagulans concentration and 33°C temperature, respectively. This study showed that 0.2% extract of W. coagulans can be used to clot the milk for cheese production at 33°C.

Novelty impact statement

The interest in plant‐based coagulant consumption has been growing because of the rennet shortage and religious matters of some vegetarian people. A plant‐based coagulant from Withania coagulans has been reported for its milk‐clotting activity, but its behavior for Mozzarella cheese production from curd formation to its application on pizza topping needs detailed study for its use on an industrial scale. In this study, W. coagulans behavior was studied during curd formation. Its caseinolytic and proteolytic activities in comparison to rennet were studied. Mozzarella cheese physicochemical and functional characteristics on pizza topping were also described in this research.