bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Retrospective Assessment of the Effectiveness and Risk Factors of Fluoroquinolones, Cephalosporines, and Selective Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Transrectal Prostate Biopsy
Authors: Haack Maximilian , Ruckes Christian , Dotzauer Robert , Thomas Anita , Sparwasser Maximilian P. , Fischer Nikita D. , Frey Lisa J. , Duwe Gregor , Haferkamp Axel , Tsaur Igor , Brandt Maximilian P.
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Despite increasing resistance of enterobacteria against fluoroquinolones (FLU), they are still widely used during transrectal prostate biopsy (TRPB). This study was designed to analyse infectious complications and risk factors between FLU, cephalosporines (CEPH) and selective other antibiotics (O-AB) used during TRPB. Methods: 664 patients were included retrospectively (152 FLU, 452 CEPH and 60 O-AB). Infectious complications were defined as fever >38.0°C, the in-house definition of complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) (if all applied: fever >38.0°C, leucocytosis >11.000/µL and positive urine dipstick) or postinterventional bacteriuria. Hospitalisation rate, duration and comorbidities were also assessed. χ2 and Fisher’s exact test were used for group comparison. Multivariate regression analysis assessed the association of comorbidities with infectious complications. Results: FLU and CEPH were indifferent regarding infectious complications, however in the O-AB group significantly more common compared to FLU and CEPH (11.6, 13.3, 25%, p < 0.05). Duration of hospital stay in CEPH was significantly shorter compared to FLU and O-AB (4.1 vs. 6.3 vs. 8.2 days, p < 0.05). Arterial hypertension showed increased association with fever (OR 6.002 (1.178; 30.597) p = 0.031) and cUTI (OR 6.006 (1.207; 29.891) p = 0.029). Conclusion: Infectious complications were low and indifferent between FLU and CEPH but significantly more frequent in O-AB. Arterial hypertension was significantly associated with postinterventional fever and cUTI.
A démarche de orientação psicanalítica na formação de professores, educadores e formadores: cenários de pesquisa e intervenção
Authors: Voltolini Rinaldo , Kupfer Maria Cristina
Published: May 2024

Editorial
Por uma implicação da família na clínica dos “desvios/transtornos fonológicos”
Authors: Dias Carlos Eduardo Borges , Cardoso Irene Nepomuceno , Vieira Sammia Klann , Maron Willian Mac-Cormick , Berberian Ana Paula , Freire Regina Maria Ayres de Camargo
Published: May 2024

In the literature on the “phonological disorders”, two approaches involve the family in their reflections: in the first, based on the behaviorism, parents take the role of co-therapists, and their task is to provide feedback; in the second, based mainly on personality theories, their attitudes and representations are linked to the etiology of these symptoms. The development of a third conception is proposed here, based on the articulation between speech therapy and psychoanalysis, aiming primarily at welcoming the discourse and interrogating the parental desire, which often keeps the child in an infantilized position. Then, a demand on a change in the child's position in relation to his/her own speech is formulated. It is concluded that this articulation can favor the identification of the child with a new speech ideal.
Sobre uma política de acolhimento de professores em situação de inclusão
Authors: Voltolini Rinaldo
Published: May 2024

Starting from a critique of the so-called “rationalist utopia” dominant in the field of teacher training, we intend, in this article, to demonstrate the presence of unconscious factors in the relationship between the teacher and his student, making a hole in the articulated referential knowledge that the teacher built in his training. We also seek to demonstrate, based on fragments of sessions from the teacher listening group device, how it is possible to mobilize this unconscious factors, with formative and not just therapeutic effects. This work approach allowed us to reflect on a policy of welcoming teachers, inspired by psychoanalysis, as well as situating its main concept, that of an inclusion clinic.
Reflexões sobre sexualidade e gênero na perspectiva de D. W. Winnicott
Authors: Almeida Alexandre Patricio de
Published: May 2024

This article aims to discuss sexuality and gender in contemporary times, drawing on the theoretical contributions of the British psychoanalyst D. W. Winnicott. His research on spontaneous gestures, the exercise of creativity, and being as an essential condition for action are pivotal here. Thus, we broaden the scope of the research, illustrating that, according to Winnicott, we are the product of the union of the masculine and the feminine, without resorting to stereotypes or binarisms. These elements are embodied in being and doing, key features for our survival and enabling a genuine psychosomatic integration into our existence. Ultimately, we hope this essay contributes to dismantling a reductive view and expanding the understanding of the complex dimension that runs through human essence.
Coronary Embolism Among Patients With ST‐Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Atrial Fibrillation: An Underrecognized But Deadly Association
Authors: Popovic Batric , Varlot Jeanne , Humbertjean Lisa , Sellal Jean Marc , Pace Nathalie , Hammache Nefissa , Fay Renaud , Eggenspieler Florian , Metzdorf Pierre Adrien , Camenzind Edoardo
Published: May 2024

Background

The prevalence and impact of coronary emboli (CE) in patients with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and atrial fibrillation (AF) have not been specifically studied. The objective was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF and CE in a large series of patients with STEMI.

Methods and Results

We investigated 2292 consecutive patients with STEMI and among them 225 patients with AF: 46 patients with a STEMI related to CE (group A) and 179 patients with a STEMI related to an atherosclerotic cause (group B). Compared with the 2067 patients without AF and CE (group C), patients with AF and CE were older (73 versus 59 years,
P
<0.05), more likely to be female (43% versus 22%,
P
<0.05), and presented more frequently with cardiogenic shock at admission (26% versus 9%,
P
<0.05). The baseline characteristics of patients with AF (group A versus B) did not differ significantly according to STEMI pathogenesis. In the unadjusted analysis, the 45‐day mortality was higher in patients with CE and AF (group A versus group C: 20% versus 4%;
P
<0.05 and group A versus group B: 20% versus 8%,
P
=not significant); this trend persisted at 2‐year follow‐up (group A versus group C: 24% versus 6%;
P
<0.05 and group A versus group B: 24% versus 17%,
P
=not significant). After stabilized inverse exposure probability weighting adjustment, a higher 45‐day mortality rate was confirmed in patients with CE and AF (group A versus group C: 18% versus 5%,
P
<0.05).

Conclusions

In patients presenting with STEMI and AF, CE was associated with excess early mortality.

Registration

URL:
clinicaltrials.gov
. Identifier: NCT05679843.
In the Beginning Was a To-Phrase
Authors: Ormazabal Javier , Romero Juan
Published: May 2024

In this article, we reply to the objections raised against a connection between double object constructions (DOCs) and to-constructions and present new arguments showing the empirical and theoretical advantages of derivational analyses over nonderivational ones. We argue that to-constructions and DOCs share a common substructure—where the theme is higher than the goal—that construction-based analyses fail to capture, both crosslinguistically and English-internally. We also argue that variation in the lexical properties of verbs and adpositions is the right tool to account for the alternation.
Egypt: Recent Developments in Arbitration Law
Authors: Abdel Wahab Mohamed S. , Khaled Noha
Published: May 2024

There are ongoing arbitration-related developments and updates that are worthy of mentioning in Egypt. In 2022, Egypt has adopted a recent model BIT, wherein it included provisions related to third-party funding and has significantly amended the dispute resolution mechanism of the preceding BIT models, and reintroduced the reference to ICSID arbitration under more stringent conditions. Also, by mid-2023, the CRCICA revealed its new draft arbitration rules which introduced new provisions that are not included in the 2011 arbitration rules such as consolidation, multiparty and multiple contracts arbitrations, third-party funding, emergency arbitrator and expedited procedures. On the judicial level, there are significant decisions rendered by the Cairo Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation addressing various issues including the following: (i) the allocation of costs is based on a legal provision and does not amount to a compensation for special damages; (ii) supplementary compensation can be awarded in the form of an interest at a set rate provided that it fulfills the legally prescribed conditions; (iii) the nationality of the arbitrator is not a fundamental requirement to be included in the award, as long as it can be revealed from the case file and unless the parties excluded a specific nationality; (iv) a judge is disqualified to hear a petition filed to reverse his/her own order refusing enforcement of an arbitral award (v) a party who does not challenge an arbitrator, who failed to disclose that he was sentenced a one-year prison for a charge involving moral turpitude, within the timeframe for challenging him/her, is considered having waived its right to object and consequently such undisclosed circumstance will not affect the validity of the award; and (vi) the interest rate set by the Central Bank of Egypt is applied to commercial loans between non-banking commercial parties and does not violate the principles of Islamic Shari’a.
Molecular phylogeny and morphology reveal two new wood-inhabiting fungal species (Basidiomycota) from China
Authors: WANG LU , KANG ZHENGLI , ZHOU HONGMIN , ZHAO CHANGLIN
Published: May 2024

Wood-inhabiting fungi are found in living trees, decorticated wood of dead tree branches and trunks as well as manufactured wood products, and play an important role in forest ecosystems as an important group of decomposers. In this present study, two new wood-inhabiting fungal taxa, Candelabrochaete yunnanensis and Hyphodermella sinensis are proposed based on a combination of the morphological features and molecular evidence. Candelabrochaete yunnanensis is characterized by the farinaceous basidiomata with the flesh-pinkish to brownish vinaceous hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septate generative hyphae, presence of the cylindrical septocystidia and ellipsoid basidiospores (4–5 × 2.5–3 µm). Hyphodermella sinensis is characterized by the membranaceous basidiomata having the white to slightly greyish hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamp generative hyphae, presence of the clavate cystidia and ellipsoid basidiospores (4–6 × 3–4 µm). The phylogenetic tree inferred from ITS+nLSU sequences revealed that Candelabrochaete yunnanensis was nested into the family Irpicaceae within the order Polyporales, in which it was closely related to the species C. africana; Hyphodermella sinensis grouped into the genus Hyphodermella and clustered into the family Phanerochaetaceae, in which it grouped with H. aurantiaca and H. zixishanensis.
Revision of Sapindus sect. Sapindus (Sapindeae, Sapindoideae, Sapindaceae), including the description of three new species
Authors: FRANCK ALAN R.
Published: May 2024

Sapindus (Sapindaceae) consists of 13–20 species of trees that are well known for their soap-making properties and the utility of their hard, spheroidal seeds for ornament or games. Section Sapindus has the most wide-ranging distribution within the genus, native to the Americas, Asia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. The number of species recognized in sect. Sapindus has ranged from only one species (S. saponaria) in several treatments to as many as seven species in Radlkofer’s monograph of the family. Undertaking a revision of Sapindus sect. Sapindus, over 1000 herbarium specimens were studied (physically or digitally) and four species were studied in in the field and/or in cultivation. Within sect. Sapindus, 12 species are here recognized, including three newly described species (S. marikuru, S. motu-koita, and S. standleyi), one new combination (S. tricarpus), one new subspecies (S. saponaria subsp. jardinianus), and one new variety (S. drummondii var. glabratus). Oceanic and animal-mediated dispersal are likely responsible for the wide distribution of sect. Sapindus, and human-aided dispersal is probably much more limited than has been suggested by prior authors. The native distribution of S. saponaria subsp. saponaria is emended to include only southern Florida (USA), Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, Central America, South America, and the Galápagos. Another two species of Sapindus from Vietnam that cannot confidently be assigned to any one section of Sapindus are briefly discussed.
Multiple Mucosal Ulcers Induced by Ixekizumab: A Case Report
Authors: Zheng Cheng , He Xiao , Tang Xuxia
Published: May 2024

Objectives:

Ixekizumab, an interleukin (IL)-17A inhibitor, exerts its therapeutic effects in psoriasis by inhibiting the interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway. Common adverse reactions to ixekizumab include injection site reactions and upper respiratory tract infections (URIs), while occurrences of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and multiple mucosal ulcers are infrequent. We present a case of a 51-year-old man who developed multiple mucosal ulcers after ixekizumab treatment.

Methods:

A 51-year-old man presented to our hospital with a 1-month history of pharyngalgia. The flexible laryngoscope displayed mild hyperemia in the pharyngeal mucosa and tonsils, redness and swelling of the epiglottis, as well as multiple ulcers in the oral cavity, uvula, and epiglottis. These ulcers did not improve with conventional treatment.

Results:

Upon evaluation, the ulcers were an immune-related adverse event induced by ixekizumab. Consequently, a decision was made to discontinue the drug and initiate a therapeutic regimen including corticosteroids and thalidomide. Eventually, the patient’s symptoms abated.

Conclusions:

Biologics are now becoming increasingly popular in psoriasis. It is vital for clinicians to be aware of this potential adverse event and to identify and intervene early to alleviate patients’ suffering.
Screening and Follow-Up Treatment Practices for Suicide Risk in Adolescent Primary Care: A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Butler William , Lewis Kristina L. , Benheim Talia S. , Arauz Boudreau Alexy , Brigham Kathryn S. , Feldman Mitchell , Jellinek Michael , Murphy J. Michael
Published: May 2024

Universal depression screening in adolescent primary care often encompasses questions about suicide risk. We conducted a retrospective chart review of well-child visits where adolescents (ages 13-17.9) had endorsed self-injurious thoughts and behaviors or suicidal ideation. The goal was to investigate primary care providers’ follow-up actions, including documentation, further assessment, and referrals. Over 3-quarters of the progress notes showed evidence of further assessment, and two-thirds documented same-day actions, including mental health referrals, emergency department referrals, safety plans, medication changes, primary-care follow-up, and talking to parents. Actions varied by depression severity. Cases without interventions often had justifications. Owing to the variety of possible meanings and severity underlying positive screens, providers implemented an array of interventions, using clinical judgment to tailor actions to patients’ individual needs and preferences. From these observations, we propose that standardized guidelines for suicide risk screening and follow-up should involve a clinical assessment and individualized treatment planning.
Promotion of Physical Activity Among University Students With Social Media Or Text Messaging: A Systematic Review
Authors: Buja Alessandra , Lo Bue Roberta , Mariotti Federico , Miatton Andrea , Zampieri Chiara , Leone Giovanni
Published: May 2024

Regular physical exercise lowers the risk of all-cause mortality and various chronic diseases. New technologies, such as smartphones and social media, have been used successfully as health promotion tools in college populations. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of studies examining the effectiveness of interventions that used modern technologies, as with social media or text messaging, to promote physical activity or reducing sedentary behavior in college students. The systematic review was conducted on the PubMed and SCOPUS databases, considering studies published from 2012 to 2022. For a total of 19 articles selected, an evidence table was drawn up, and the quality of the studies was assessed using the PRISMA checklist. The interventions differed enormously in design, from the strategies implemented to the types of outcome considered. Fifteen of the 19 studies demonstrated an improvement in participants’ physical activity levels, 3 studies found no such improvement, and 1 reported a worsening of baseline activity levels. Interventions to improve college students’ physical activity levels through the use of social media and/or text messaging tend to be effective. However, many factors can influence the effectiveness of such interventions. For example, a gender-related difference emerged in student participation, and the interventions proved more effective if they were accompanied by the creation of social groups.
Longitudinal Trends in Insurer Participation in Multisector Population Health Activities
Authors: Hogg-Graham Rachel , Waters Teresa M. , Clear Emily R. , Pearson Kendall , Benitez Joseph A. , Mays Glen P.
Published: May 2024

Healthcare organizations increasingly engage in activities to identify and address social determinants of health (SDOH) among their patients to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. While several studies to date have focused on the evolving role of hospitals and physicians in these types of population health activities, much less is known about the role health insurers may play. We used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Public Health Systems for the period 2006 to 2018 to examine trends in health insurer participation in population health activities and in the multi-sector collaborative networks that support these activities. We also used a difference-in-differences approach to examine the impact of Medicaid expansion on insurer participation in population health networks. Insurer participation increased in our study period both in the delivery of population health activities and in the integration into collaborative networks that support these activities. Insurers were most likely to participate in activities focusing on community health assessment and policy development. Results from our adjusted difference-in-differences models showed variation in association between insurer participation in population health networks and Medicaid expansion (Table 2). Population health networks in expansion states experienced significant increases insurer participation in assessment (4.48 percentage points, P < .05) and policy and planning (7.66 percentage points, P < .05) activities. Encouraging insurance coverage gains through policy mechanisms like Medicaid expansion may not only improve access to healthcare services but can also act as a driver of insurer integration into population health networks.
Rest-in-Peace: Research on the Architectural Types and Design Ideas to Guide Design of Hospice Care Building
Authors: Wang Hongyi , Zhang Ling , Zhou Yifei
Published: May 2024

In the context of an aging population, the concept of peaceful end-of-life care has gained increasing significance as an essential component of individuals’ fundamental well-being. This underscores the importance of researching and developing hospice care facilities and service systems dedicated to providing a tranquil resting environment. This study focuses on selected hospice care buildings, examining their service model evolution and architectural design. Through case analyses, it explores contemporary hospice care architecture, identifying various types and spatial design features that cater to the end-of-life needs of individuals. The findings guide the design of hospice care buildings in China, emphasizing patient-living areas, medical care zones, and auxiliary functional spaces. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance terminally ill patients’ comfort, serenity, and dignity. Moreover, it aims to provide emotional and post-funeral support to terminally ill patients’ families.
Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners: A Content Analysis of Teacher Professional Organizations’ Position Statements
Authors: Leider Christine Montecillo , Tigert Johanna , Norova Nasiba
Published: May 2024

Background or Context:

Teachers are often positioned as the main providers of educational equity and access for culturally and linguistically diverse learners (CLDLs). Teachers’ beliefs regarding this population can play a major role in their instructional and curricular decisions.

Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study:

In this study, we use a lens of professionalization to examine how teacher beliefs might be influenced during the in-service years of a teacher’s career through the role of teacher professional organizations.

Research Design:

We utilized document analysis to examine how CLDLs are discussed in the position statements from four long-standing teacher professional organizations (i.e., National Council for Teachers of English, National Science Teacher Association, National Council for Teachers of Mathematics, and National Council for Social Studies). One hundred and four position statements produced between 2000 and 2022 were analyzed.

Conclusions or Recommendations:

Findings revealed that most position statements employ generic language, rarely referring explicitly to CLDLs, their access to education, the need to consider their languages/cultures in instructional methods and materials, or ways to effectively prepare teachers to meet their needs. Findings suggest that teacher professional organizations should rethink their approach to crafting position statements to be both inclusive and specific in language. Implications for teacher professional development and future research are discussed.
Measuring psychotherapeutic processes in the context of psychedelic experiences: Validation of the General Change Mechanisms Questionnaire (GCMQ)
Authors: Wolff Max , Evens Ricarda , Mertens Lea J , Schmidt Christopher , Beck Jessica , Rutrecht Hans , Cherniak Aaron D , Gründer Gerhard , Jungaberle Henrik
Published: May 2024

Background:

Therapeutic and salutogenic effects of psychedelic drugs have been attributed to psychotherapeutic or psychotherapy-like processes that can unfold during the acute psychedelic experience and beyond. Currently, there are no psychometric instruments available to comprehensively assess psychotherapeutic processes (as conceptualized by empirical psychotherapy research) in the context of psychedelic experiences.

Aims:

We report the initial validation of the General Change Mechanisms Questionnaire (GCMQ), a self-report instrument designed to measure five empirically established general change mechanisms (GCMs) of psychotherapy—(1) resource activation, (2) therapeutic relationship, (3) problem actuation, (4) clarification, and (5) mastery—in the context of psychedelic experiences.

Methods:

An online survey in a sample of 1153 English-speaking and 714 German-speaking psychedelic users was conducted to evaluate simultaneously developed English- and German-language versions of the GCMQ.

Results:

The theory-based factor structure was confirmed. The five GCMQ scales showed good internal consistency. Evidence for convergent validity with external measures was obtained. Significant associations with different settings and with therapeutic, hedonic, and escapist use motives confirmed the hypothesized context dependence of GCM-related psychedelic experiences. Indicating potential therapeutic effects, the association between cumulative stressful life events and well-being was significantly moderated by resource activation, clarification, and mastery. Factor mixture modeling revealed five distinct profiles of GCM-related psychedelic experiences.

Conclusion:

Initial testing indicates that the GCMQ is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used in future clinical and nonclinical psychedelic research. The five identified profiles of GCM-related experiences may be relevant to clinical uses of psychedelics and psychedelic harm reduction.
Factors Associated With Incident and Recurrent Falls Among Men Enrolled in Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Programs: An Examination of Race and Ethnicity
Authors: Olokunlade Temitope , Benden Mark E. , Han Gang , Sherman Ledric D. , Smith Matthew Lee
Published: May 2024

We examined factors associated with incident (one) and recurrent (2+) falls among 7207 non-Hispanic White (NHW) (89.7%), non-Hispanic Black (NHB) (5.0%), and Hispanic (5.3%) men ages ≥60 years with ≥1 chronic conditions, enrolled in an evidence-based fall program. Multinomial and binary regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with incident and recurrent falls. Relative to zero falls, NHB and Hispanic men were less likely to report incident (OR = 0.55, p < .001 and OR = 0.70, p = .015, respectively) and recurrent (OR = 0.41, p < .001 and OR = 0.58, p < .001, respectively) falls. Men who reported fear of falling and restricting activities were more likely to report incident (OR = 1.16, p < .001 and OR = 1.32, p < .001, respectively) recurrent and (OR = 1.46, p < .001 and OR = 1.71, p < .001, respectively) falls. Men with more comorbidities were more likely to report recurrent falls (OR = 1.10, p < .001). Compared to those who experienced one fall, men who reported fear of falling (OR = 1.28, p < .001) and restricting activities (OR = 1.31, p < .001) were more likely to report recurrent falls. Findings highlight the importance of multi-component interventions to prevent falls.
Dementia Risk Awareness, Health Behaviors and Motivation for Dementia Prevention in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Türkiye
Authors: Güney Seda , Çiçek Doğan Özlem , Bakır Aylin , Öztürk Ayça , Oldaç Tuğçe
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to investigate factors influencing motivation for dementia preventive behaviors in a population aged 40 and over. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study between December 2022 and May 2023, involving 483 participants in an online survey. We collected data on dementia risk awareness, healthy lifestyle choices, and motivation for dementia risk reduction. The majority of respondents, comprising 41.6%, demonstrated a moderate level of risk awareness, with 50.5% believing that prevention is beyond anyone’s control. Motivations for lifestyle change were significantly higher in women ( p < .001) and `participants with university degree education ( p < .05). Regression analysis identified gender (female), education level (higher education), and dementia risk awareness, emerged as significant predictors of motivation to change lifestyle (beta: .138, beta: .136, beta: .114, p < .001, respectively). This study underscores the importance of risk awareness in motivating dementia prevention, suggesting avenues for future research to explore specific determinants of motivation to reduce dementia risks.
Exploring the Association Between Loneliness, Subjective Cognitive Decline, and Quality of Life Among Older Thai Adults: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Sanprakhon Panawat , Suriyawong Wachira , Chusri Orranuch , Rattanaselanon Peerayut
Published: May 2024

Examining the rising prevalence of subjective cognitive decline as an early indicator of dementia in adults, this study investigates its complex interaction with loneliness and quality of life in individuals with preclinical dementia. Using a convergent parallel mixed-method approach, we employed Structural Equation Modeling on a cohort of 149 older adults. Qualitative insights were derived from focused group discussions and in-depth semi-structured interviews with a cohort of 23 older adults. Loneliness emerges as a pivotal contributor, exerting a discernible partial indirect effect on quality of life through subjective cognitive decline (indirect effect = −0.145, p = .006). Noteworthy differentials surfaced, with the impact of subjective cognitive decline on quality of life heightened in those with chronic diseases (△ χ2 = 6.139, p = .013). Loneliness, wielding a palpable impact, intricately interlaces with quality of life, the nexus of which is intricately mediated by subjective cognitive decline.
Nigerians’ perception of newspaper framing of COVID-19 stories and adherence to government’s containment policy (2020–2021)
Authors: Ajakaiye Olanrewaju O. P. , Oloyede I. B. , Adelabu Omowale , Talabi Felix Olajide , Sanusi Bernice O. , Ojeka-John Rachael O. , Ayantunji Kehinde Abdul-Afees
Published: May 2024

There is a known fact that the public depends largely on the media for information. However, such information might not have been perceived rightly as sent by the media. Hence, the objective of this study is to examine the extent to which information on the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic containment policy flows from the government to the public through the pages of newspapers. Aside from examining how these policies were framed, it seeks to also find out if Nigerians perceived the coverage by newspapers as relevant for them to comply with them. Adopting a descriptive methodological approach which systematically differs from most previous studies because substantial studies on the subject matter use qualitative methods. Findings reveal that Newspapers’ framing of COVID-19 stories does not correlate with public adherence to the government’s containment policy and the volume of newspaper coverage of COVID-19 stories does not correlate with public perception of the importance of the government containment policy on the disease. The study concluded that even though advancement in technology has given rise to the use of other media such as social media, the efficacy/potency and relevance of the newspaper cannot be brushed aside despite this advancement. It is, however, recommended that further studies should be conducted to examine the challenges faced by press through Key Informant Interview (KII) in the carrying coverage on the COVID-19 pandemic in other to strike balance.
Autistic Traits Modulate Social Synchronizations Between School-Aged Children: Insights From Three fNIRS Hyperscanning Experiments
Authors: Zhou Xin , Hong Xuancu , Wong Patrick C. M.
Published: May 2024

The current study investigated how autistic traits modulate peer interactions using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning. Across three experiments, we tested the effect of copresence, joint activity, and a tangible goal during cooperative interactions on interbrain coherence (IBC) in school-aged children between 9 and 11 years old. Twenty-three dyads of children watched a video alone or together in Experiment 1, engaged in joint or self-paced book reading in Experiment 2, and pretended to play a Jenga game or played for real in Experiment 3. We found that all three formats of social interactions increased IBC in the frontotemporoparietal networks, which have been reported to support social interaction. Further, our results revealed the shared and unique interbrain connections that were predictive of the lower and higher parent-reported autism-spectrum quotient scores, which indicated child autistic traits. Results from a convergence of three experiments provide the first evidence to date that IBC is modulated by child autistic traits.
A Descriptive Study to Determine Anxiety and Depression Among Hospitalized Elderly Undergoing Abdominal Surgery Admitted in Nehru Hospital, PGIMER, Chandigarh
Authors: Tandon Ritika , Sharma Sunita , Thakur Mukta , Gupta Rajesh
Published: May 2024

Background

Hospitalized elderly people suffer from psychological distress due to negative changes in their lives. Hospitalization is stressful for elderly people, as they undergo various surgical and medical procedures. Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety can be seen as major risk factors among the hospitalized geriatric population. Hence, the need was felt to undertake a study to determine anxiety and depression among hospitalized elderly.

Objective

To determine anxiety and depression among hospitalized elderly undergoing abdominal surgery at the Nehru Hospital, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Material and Methods

A descriptive study was conducted on 60 hospitalized elderly patients. The sample was determined using the purposive sampling technique. The data was collected by interviewing patients as per the interview schedule comprising socio-demographic variables, clinical profile, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Geriatric Anxiety Scale.

Results

The study found that 31.7% of participants had mild anxiety, 46.7% had moderate anxiety, and 21.7% had severe anxiety. All study participants had mild depression. The present study found a significant relationship between anxiety and depression ( r = 0.348, p = .01).

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among hospitalized elderly undergoing abdominal surgery. The presence of psychiatric distress can worsen physical illness and lead to slow recovery. So appropriate mental health interventions must be planned for their management.
Development and Validation of a Comprehensive Nursing Competence Assessment Questionnaire (CNCAQ) to Determine the Perceived Clinical Competence of Nursing Graduates
Authors: Srivastava Sunita , Pandurangan Hariprasath , Kumar Anil
Published: May 2024

Background: An assessment of the clinical competency of nurses at the time of their graduation is essential to get a fair estimate of their level of competence. It helps to lessen the burden on the healthcare system. A “Comprehensive Nursing Competence Assessment Questionnaire (CNCAQ)” has been constructed to fulfil this purpose.

Aim: This study aims to develop and validate a CNCAQ to determine the perceived clinical competence of final-year nursing graduates who are about to graduate within three months from selected private and government nursing colleges in India.

Methods: A mixed methodology was used and completed in two phases. In phase 1, along with an extensive literature review, focus group discussions, expert evaluation, and pretesting were done, in which 10 nursing experts participated. In phase 2, data were collected from 649 nursing graduates to establish the validity of the construct. The study period was from August to October 2022.

Results: The developed CNCAQ has 36 items, comprising four sections: (a) conceptual knowledge and skill in routine nursing care; (b) skill in basic nursing procedures; (c) skill in advanced nursing procedures; and (d) assessment of infusion/transfusion-related nursing procedures. The overall reliability of the tool was 0.963, indicating its high reliability. Overall, there was no difference in clinical competency skills between female and male upcoming nursing graduates. However, statistically significant differences in basic nursing skills and advanced and analytical nursing skills were observed.

Conclusions: Assessing nursing students’ competencies is crucial to ensure that they possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to provide safe and effective patient care. The development and validation of a valid and reliable instrument for assessing nursing competencies are essential to evaluate nursing students’ clinical performance accurately. In the present research, a tool with a total of 36 items was used. It demonstrates high reliability; however, it needs to be applied to a larger population of nursing graduates with diverse backgrounds. Nurse educators and administrators can use it to assess the level of competence and, accordingly, a tailor-made induction program based on identified weak areas in theoretical and practical knowledge or skill can be developed. No patient’s were involved in the study. It involved developing a CNCAQ and validating it on a selected group of upcoming nursing graduates.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Play, Personae, Writer
Authors: Badley Graham Francis
Published: May 2024

Albee’s play has a campus setting and features two members of faculty and their wives as its only characters. I review the play to pick out themes in their lives and then connect these to Virginia Woolf herself as bipolar personality and as woman and writer. Much of the text is then a discussion of illusion and reality.
‘We have so much to offer’: Community members’ perspectives on autism research
Authors: Haar Tori , Brownlow Charlotte , Hall Gabrielle , Heyworth Melanie , Lawson Wenn , Poulsen Rebecca , Reinisch Tamara , Pellicano Elizabeth
Published: May 2024

Autism research is on the cusp of significant change. There are mounting calls from Autistic self-advocates, researchers, and other scientists for a paradigm shift in autism research. Yet little is known about what non-academic members of the Autistic and autism communities think about autism research. We – a team of Autistic and non-autistic researchers – addressed this gap by conducting a secondary analysis of data collected as part of an in-depth research priority-setting exercise in Australia. Specifically, we asked: what are community members’ views and experiences of autism research? In immersive online text-based focus-group discussions held over 10 days, 55 community members, including Autistic people, family members, and professionals, shared their perspectives and experiences of autism research. We analysed the data using reflexive thematic analysis, adopting an inductive approach. Respondents resoundingly agreed that autism research could play a powerful role in helping to shape good Autistic lives, yet they felt that to do that effectively, major changes were needed. These included a shift away from overly narrow, deficits-based views of Autistic people to a greater focus on contextual factors, and more community-led decisions in what is researched and how. These findings highlight new possibilities for research processes, findings, and translation.

Lay Abstract

Autism research is changing. Autistic activists and researchers want Autistic people in the community to have more of a say about what is researched and how. But we haven’t asked people in the community what they think. This study used the information obtained from 55 community members, including Autistic people, their families, and professionals working with Autistic people, from an existing study on their priorities for autism research. We re-looked at what was said to see if we could understand community members’ views and experiences of autism research. People agreed strongly that research can play a powerful role in shaping good Autistic lives. They also felt that big changes were needed for research to do this. Some of these changes were that researchers should stop thinking about autism narrowly and in a negative way, where Autistic people are seen as the problem. Researchers need to think more about how to improve systems, experiences and how other people respond to Autistic people. They also want the autism community to be more involved in what is researched and how it is researched. The findings from our study here highlight the potential for research to be positive when Autistic people and their families are listened to, approached with understanding, and are respected and valued as individuals in the research process.
Recommendations for light-dosimetry field studies based on a meta-analysis of personal light levels of office workers
Authors: de Vries SW , Gkaintatzi-Masouti M , van Duijnhoven J , Mardaljevic J , Aarts MPJ
Published: May 2024

Daytime light levels are important for human physiology. Office workers spend most of their daytime inside buildings where it is unclear whether they receive healthy light levels. A recent publication presented recommendations for the minimum daytime light level for optimal human health, expressed in melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance (EDI). The current paper assesses whether this recommended daytime light level is achieved by office workers through a meta-analysis of personal light levels of office workers, obtained from light-dosimetry field studies. From our literature search, we identified nine eligible papers. These papers comprised data from studies in one or multiple office buildings, over one or more seasons, from 1 to 62 participants, and for 19 to 564 workdays. After analysing the data, we found that in none of the offices the recommended minimum light level of 250 melanopic EDI was met for the entire day. Only 1 out of 6 median and 6 out of 13 mean reported personal light levels were above this recommended value. Unfortunately, these conclusions are less groundbreaking than we hoped for, due to large differences between study protocols. This resulted in a large variety of (unreported) study characteristics (i.e. light data, light-dosimeter, participant, building and environment) which complicated a fair comparison between the different studies. To facilitate meta-analyses of light-dosimetry field studies, we introduce recommendations for data collection and reporting in light-dosimetry field studies. We based these recommendations on the gaps identified from our meta-analysis, supplemented by recommendations from other papers.
Augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality: A pragmatic view from diffusion of innovation
Authors: Thi Vo Khanh Hoa
Published: May 2024

This research offers a pragmatic view on the adoption of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) in designing the built environment. Participants from 20 U.S. states and beyond formed a non-probability sample representing small to mid-sized Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms. The author engaged 59 professional participants through a 26-question online questionnaire, informed by existing literature and reviewed by two industry experts. Three additional expert participants provided comprehensive insights via semi-structured interviews. Results highlight design visualization and client presentations as top AR, VR, and MR applications. Key benefits include improved design assessment, early error detection, and heightened client satisfaction. Design collaboration was less prominent than suggested by the literature. Notable challenges persist in first-time user adoption and cost factors of equipment and training. Thus, the cost-benefit balance drives the dominance of older, lower-end devices found in this study despite the availability of advanced, high-fidelity infrastructure.
Decolonizing Relationality: Reflections From the Summer Institute in Anti-Racist and Decolonizing Research Methods
Authors: Call-Cummings Meagan , Hassell-Goodman Sharrell , Best Amy L. , Castillo Marissa , Espinoza-Villejo Samiee , Moore Keira , Moore Alliyah , Revell Maya , Romero Ariana
Published: May 2024

We are members of the Summer Institute in Anti-Racist and Decolonizing Research Methods, which attempts to shift social science research to be more inclusive and more explicitly connected to anti-racist and decolonizing principles. We tell a complicated, messy, often difficult story of what relationality could be in the context of work like ours. We hope that readers will consider the complications of relationality beyond the interpersonal questions of methods, as those conversations remain too narrowly focused on the interpersonal in the research encounter, with insufficient attention to the institutional and system-level assaults that inflict both material suffering and symbolic violence.
Considering Contextual Influences on Fatherhood Program Participants’ Experiences
Authors: Adler-Baeder Francesca , McGill Julianne , Landers Ami , Chan Alexander , Lawlor Jenna , Pinkney Raequon
Published: May 2024

The current study assessed multiple changes over 1 year for fatherhood program participants and explored variations in challenges at program start, retention, and improvements in outcomes based on geographic setting, race, and sequencing of services. In a sample of 630 racially diverse fathers, we found enhanced economic vulnerability of urban fathers and Black/other minority fathers, and greater individual and work-related challenges for White fathers at program start. Results from growth modeling indicated fathers reported sustained growth over 1 year in nearly all measures assessed including relationship skills and functioning, hope for ensuring a positive future, father involvement and parent-child relationship quality, child academic adjustment, and commitments and ability to meet financial obligations. Evidence of enhanced benefit of programs in multiple areas over time for rural and White participants, compared with Black/other minority and urban fathers is presented. Results also indicate receiving case management first enhances fathers’ attendance and retention in program classes.
A Structured Literature Review on the Research and Design of Rehabilitation Environments
Authors: Pasha Samira , Shepley Mardelle McCuskey
Published: May 2024

Aim:

This literature review is conducted to identify knowledge gaps and shape a framework for the development of guidelines and future research on programming and design of rehabilitation environments.

Background:

Patients suffering from trauma, stroke, neurological or cardiopulmonary conditions, or recovering from surgery or cancer treatment require rehabilitation services. A comprehensive rehabilitation program can support continuum of care for inpatient and outpatient groups. However, within most facilities, rehabilitation environments are found to be outdated and undersized compared to other programs or lack the correct adjacencies within the facility. Unfortunately, this deficiency is echoed by limited guidelines on programming, planning, and design of these environments. General guidelines derived from healthcare environments research is not adaptable to rehabilitation environments, because the paradigm used in most healthcare environment research does not address specific needs of rehabilitation patients in regaining confidence or relearning daily life skills.

Method:

We conducted a structured literature review, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses as a basis for reporting the available body of work on evidence-based research in rehabilitation environments.

Result and Conclusion:

Through analysis of the limited literature, specific mediators such as patient confidence and motivation were identified. An environment that creates a balance between privacy and social interaction can promote these mediators. Creating enriched environments through elements that engage the senses and encourage more social and physical interaction is essential for recovery. Finally, accessibility and wayfinding are of great importance in these environments due to potential limited mobility or cognitive impairments of patients.