bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Jealousy as Predicted by Allocation and Reception of Resources in an Economic Game
Authors: Barbato María Teresa , Fernández Ana María , Rodriguez-Sickert Carlos , Muñoz José Antonio , Polo Pablo , Buss David
Published: October 2024

Evidence is abundant that evolution by selection has produced sex differences in the design of adaptations to solve the problems surrounding reproduction. A prime example is the design of human jealousy, which research suggests is triggered by distinct evoking acts that are specific challenges for women and men in their exclusive reproductive bond. It follows that jealousy would be directed toward driving away interlopers who could potentially threaten the bond with the romantic partner or increase mate retention efforts in response to sex-specific threats. To explore this possibility, we use as a methodological innovation an economic game for the evocation of jealousy. With a modified dictator game, we showed men and women in a committed relationship, conditions in which the partner or an intrasexual rival allocates money to (investing condition), or obtains money from (receiving condition), the partner or an opposite sex third party that they recently met. A sample of 56 heterosexual couples ( n = 112) participated in a laboratory setting. Our results show the different scenarios of this dictator game exerted the expected evocation of jealousy (controlling individual differences), with women being more jealous by the partner’s allocation of resources to a rival, and men reporting slightly more jealousy by their partner receiving money from a rival. We discuss the implications of this method to advance the comprehension of the adaptive function of sex differences in jealousy, the use of economic games, and possible modifications to improve the similarity of the game to a real assessment of actual male jealousy.
The Trump Advantage in Policy Recall Among Voters
Authors: Zilinsky Jan , Tucker Joshua A. , Nagler Jonathan
Published: October 2024

Research in political science suggests campaigns have a minimal effect on voters’ attitudes and vote choice. We evaluate the effectiveness of the 2016 Trump and Clinton campaigns at informing voters by giving respondents an opportunity to name policy positions of candidates that they felt would make them better off. The relatively high rates of respondents’ ability to name a Trump policy that would make them better off suggests that the success of his campaign can be partly attributed to its ability to communicate memorable information. Our evidence also suggests that cable television informed voters: respondents exposed to higher levels of liberal news were more likely to be able to name Clinton policies, and voters exposed to higher levels of conservative news were more likely to name Trump policies; these effects hold even conditioning on respondents’ ideology and exposure to mainstream media. Our results demonstrate the advantages of using novel survey questions and provide additional insights into the 2016 campaign that challenge one part of the conventional narrative about the presumed non-importance of operational ideology.
Comparative Evaluation of Dosimetric Quality and Treatment Efficiency for Halcyon, TrueBeam, and TomoTherapy in Cervical-Thoracic Esophageal Cancer Radiotherapy
Authors: Chen Shilin , Wang Jiazhou , Hu Weigang , Xu Yao
Published: October 2024

Introduction

This study primarily aims to investigate the suitability of Halcyon in the context of cervical-thoracic esophageal cancer by exploring the dosimetric quality and delivery efficiency of Halcyon plans with different arc configurations. Additionally, it compares these findings with the dosimetric indices and delivery efficiency of TrueBeam and TomoTherapy accelerators, focusing on their capability to optimize protection for organs at risk (OARs) while maintaining efficient treatment delivery strategies.

Methods

This retrospective study involved 26 patients diagnosed with cervical-thoracic esophageal cancer, and new radiotherapy plans were created using Halcyon, TrueBeam, and TomoTherapy. Dose volume histogram (DVH) metrics and delivery efficiency for plans involving different arc numbers on Halcyon (2, 3, and 4 arcs) were compared with those from TrueBeam and TomoTherapy. T-tests were employed to evaluate differences in organ protection among the accelerators.

Results

The Halcyon plans, especially those with 4 arcs, provided superior protection for organs at risk, including the heart, lungs, and spinal cord, while maintaining excellent delivery efficiency. Compared to TrueBeam 2arc plans and TomoTherapy helical plans, Halcyon plans with 3 arcs also showed slight advantages. Although TomoTherapy offered better uniformity in dose distribution, it did not demonstrate a clear advantage over the other accelerators in terms of OAR protection or treatment efficiency. Furthermore, despite the lack of clear advantages in TrueBeam 2arc plans with flattening filter (FF), TrueBeam with flattening filter free (FFF) plans may hold potential in the treatment.

Conclusion

Halcyon, particularly with 4 arcs, offers an optimal balance between reducing toxicity to organs at risk and maintaining treatment efficiency, making it a preferred choice in cervical thoracic esophageal cancer radiotherapy. The findings highlight the need for careful selection of radiotherapy accelerators based on specific clinical goals, with Halcyon showing potential advantages in scenarios where both treatment efficiency and OAR protection are paramount.
Evaluation of the Efficacy, Safety, and Clinical Outcomes of Ginsenosides as Adjuvant Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Renjie , Liao Yiling , Gao Yuan , Tian Hengyu , Wu Shenfeng , Zeng Qingteng , He Qinghua , Zhang Ruikun , Wei Chunshan , Liu Jialin
Published: October 2024

Background: Ginsenosides (GS), including total GS, Rh2, Rg3 and compound K (CK), have been utilized as adjuvants in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), surgery, and chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. However, the safety and efficacy of such combination treatments have been contradictory across different studies. This study aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of GS as adjuvant therapy for HCC. Methods: A literature search of PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang Data, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted up to May 2024 for clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on GS-based adjuvant treatments for HCC. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted relevant data, and assessed study quality. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4. Results: Nineteen articles involving 1448 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that GS as an adjuvant therapy for HCC improved disease control rate (risk ratio (RR) = 1.42, 95% CI [1.26, 1.60]), objective response rate (RR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.09, 1.32]), life quality (RR = 1.49, 95% CI [1.23, 1.79]), 1-year overall survival rate (RR = 1.27, 95% CI [1.06, 1.52]), 2-year overall survival rate (RR = 1.43, 95% CI [1.06, 1.95]), ehanced Child-Pugh in A level (RR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.08, 2.34]), Child-Pugh in B level (RR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.08, 1.52]); increased CD3+ (MD = 8.81, 95% CI [3.91, 13.71]), NKC (MD = 8.00, 95% CI [6.76, 9.24]) and CD4+ (MD = 9.38, 95% CI [8.04, 10.72]), and reduced incidence of adverse reactions including nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.66, 95% CI [0.57, 0.77]), anorexia (RR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.21, 0.50]), leukopenia (RR = 0.55, 95% CI [0.46, 0.67]) and myelosuppression (RR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.40, 0.74]); decreased Child-Pugh in C level (RR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.27, 0.68]) and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (MD = 0.50, 95% CI [0.47, 0.57]). Conclusions: In summary, GS combined with Western medical approaches (TACE, surgery, chemotherapy) for the treatment of HCC can improve clinical efficacy, increase overall survival rates, enhance patient life quality, and reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions. However, due to the generally low quality of the included studies, more large-sample, multi-center, high-quality, RCTs are warranted to further consolidate these findings.
“You Didn’t Have to Pay Me”: The Meanings of Monetary Incentives in Interview Research
Authors: Masoumi Azar
Published: October 2024

This paper explores the social meanings of monetary research incentives and the ramifications of their use in interview research. I argue that monetary incentives produce complex social meanings that significantly and diversly shape the relationship between interview researchers and participants and, as such, impact the types and volume of data that interviews produce. I discuss three distinct social meanings that emerged in my qualitative research interviews with forty-four low-wage freelance refugee interpreters in Canada. First, I show that in research with low-income workers, incentives can be interpreted as symbols of cross-class allyship that place the researcher in trusting and highly cooperative relationships of solidarity with participants. Second, the use of research incentives may also, and somewhat paradoxically, deepen socio-economic hierarchies by placing researchers and participants in relations resembling those between employers and employees. Third, research incentives may also be used by participants to resist social hierarchies and establish relations of benevolent and charitable equivalence in the interview encounter. Thus, the various social meanings of monetary incentives are productive of distinct interpersonal dynamics that shape the process of data collection as well as recruitment.
Deep reinforcement learning based online lifting path planning for tower cranes in unknown dynamic environments
Authors: Wang Kai , Li Jing , Yin Zhiyuan , Zhang Jiankang , Ma Xin
Published: October 2024

Lifting path planning is critical for the safety and efficiency of tower cranes operating in dynamic construction environments. This paper proposes a lifting path planner to efficiently generate safe and smooth lifting paths for tower cranes in an unknown construction environment through a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) method. Based on the Twin-Delayed DDPG (TD3) framework, the planner effectively plans a lifting path within constraints of collision avoidance and operational limitations using the local environmental information measured by lidar. A Long Short-Term Memory network is applied in the planner to handle the dynamic characteristics of the obstacles in the construction sites to ensure that the lifting path is collision-free with dynamic obstacles. A discrete-continuous hybrid action space for tower cranes is proposed to optimize planned lifting paths more suitable for practical engineering operations. Moreover, a novel reward function is introduced to optimize the smoothness of the lifting path, which improves the success rate and optimizes the energy and time cost. A new Hindsight Experience Replay algorithm is proposed to address the reward sparsity problem in lifting path planning, which improves the training speed. Simulation results in Webots platform show the presented method effectively reduces the planning time and achieves better performance on online path planning compared with the existing DRL path planning methods.
Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care lung ultrasound for community-acquired pneumonia in children in ambulatory settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hughes-Davies Helena , Ukwatte Umasha , Fanshawe Thomas R , Roberts Nia , Turner Philip J , Hayward Gail N , Bird Chris
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

To perform a systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care lung ultrasound, compared to chest radiography, in children and young people (0–21 years) who present to ambulatory settings with suspected community-acquired pneumonia.

Methods:

Registration: Prospero June 2021 CRD42021260552. Electronic searching performed on Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Science Citation Index from inception to 20 June 2023. Two researchers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts for study selection. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. Meta-analysis of included studies.

Results:

The six studies included in this systematic review described point-of-care lung ultrasound performed primarily by paediatric emergency medicine clinicians on a total of 1099 paediatric patients, with a reference standard of chest radiography or chest radiography with clinical findings. The majority of included studies lacked clarity on training for the index test with potential bias around flow and timing of testing. Meta-analysis of the combined results of the included six studies calculated a pooled sensitivity of 90.9% (95% CI [85.5%, 94.4%]) and pooled specificity of 80.7% (95% CI [63.6%, 91.0%]).

Conclusions:

Point-of-care lung ultrasound has high sensitivity but lower specificity to diagnose acute pneumonia in children. Further research is needed which overcomes issues around training in point-of-care lung ultrasound, study design and reliability of the reference test (chest radiography) to better evidence the role of point-of-care lung ultrasound in diagnosing pneumonia in children in ambulatory and resource-limited settings.
An outreach strategy to increase uptake of vaginal self-sampling for cervical cancer screening in older French women: The RIDECA interventional research protocol
Authors: Lareyre Olivier , Mollevi Caroline , Broc Guillaume , Caspar Marie-Nina , Pehlivanska Gergana , Boyer Hélène , Groc Soraya , Corradi Giulia , Loy-Morel Silvia , Guy Marine , Tricheux Nathalie , Cousson-Gélie Florence , Boulle Nathalie
Published: October 2024

Background:

In France, approximately 40% of women, including menopausal women, do not participate in cervical cancer screening. Many studies and meta-analyses have shown that self-sampling devices for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) testing are valuable tools to increase participation. The success of self-sampling screening strategies depends on several factors, including the manner and circumstances in which the women are invited to participate. The acceptability and effectiveness of these strategies should be evaluated before further implementation.

Objectives:

The primary objective is to evaluate the uptake of cervical cancer screening in under-screened women, based on a direct offer of a vaginal self-sampling device by a midwife.

Design:

RIDECA is an interventional research project located in the South of France.

Methods and Analysis:

Six hundred women aged 50–65 with no cervical smear or HR-HPV test for 3 years or more will be recruited at two sites. The device will be offered to enrolled women to utilize at home and return to the Montpellier Hospital laboratory for HR-HPV testing. Completion of self-sampling by women who have accepted the device and follow-up of those with positive HR-HPV DNA tests will be monitored. During recruitment, participants will complete questionnaires on their socio-economic environment and motivational factors based on the psychosocial I-Change model. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a sub-group to identify barriers and levers to participation. Statistical analyses will be conducted for the full research sample and for each recruitment site.

Ethics:

The project was approved by the Ethical Research Committee Ile de France VI and by the French Data Protection Authority.

Discussion:

The results will provide useful information on the effectiveness (acceptability, efficiency) of this outreach strategy and identify barriers and levers that facilitate its implementation.

Registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04716127), January 20, 2021.
Pedagogy as care: Love, loss, and learning in the world politics classroom
Authors: Barthwal-Datta Monika , Krystalli Roxani , Shepherd Laura J.
Published: October 2024

In this article, we elaborate pedagogies of care, contemplating what it means to teach with and about care in the world politics classroom, situated within the neoliberal, colonial, heteropatriarchal, white western academy. Further, we actively reflect on what it means to work caringly and carefully in practice, exploring pedagogy as care. What are the dilemmas that arise for scholars and teachers, differently positioned in the academy, who seek to teach with and about care in the context of a world politics education? How can we teach with care in often uncaring educational institutions that are hostile to staff and students, particularly those from racialized and other oppressed and marginalized communities? How are our practices and methods of teaching also acts of care? Building on interdisciplinary feminist literature on care, we argue that caring pedagogies can disrupt academic hierarchies and foster intergenerational connection. We also position pedagogy as care, acknowledging that as we teach, we mourn and honor/care for antecedents (both human and more-than-human), nourish our present selves and those with whom we interact, and build community/care for (visions/versions of) the future. Our intervention contributes to ongoing conversations about opening our classrooms as spaces of radical possibility in contemporary higher education.
The role of early orthotic intervention in the management of post-traumatic elbow contractures: Study protocol for phase II double-blinded randomised controlled trial
Authors: Sim Germaine , Fleming Jennifer , Glasgow Celeste
Published: October 2024

Background

Restoration of full elbow extension following trauma is difficult and influenced by the injury profile, surgeon preference, patient and environmental factors. The literature suggests that orthotic interventions are effective in improving contractures when movement plateaus despite normal therapeutic interventions. It is not known if extension orthotic intervention is more superior to standard treatment regardless of when it is commenced. The literature lacks patient-reported considerations to contracture management using elbow orthoses.

Methods and analysis

This protocol describes a Phase II double blinded randomised controlled feasibility trial (RCT) and mixed methods study, aimed to examine outcome with extension in an orthotic intervention group (OG) versus control (CG). All participants will undergo six weekly therapy sessions, which include a standardised therapeutic program. OG participants will be provided with an additional extension orthosis and the outcome is assessed according to the change in elbow extension motion after 6 weeks of intervention. Data will be collected via questionnaires, logbooks, feedback forms, and semi-structured interviews at baseline and final assessments for descriptive statistical analysis. Under the guidance of a statistician, all quantitative data will be evaluated using the appropriate parametric or non-parametric analyses to evaluate for systematic differences between groups. Preliminary extension gains are used to determine the final sample size required to achieve adequate power for a full-scaled RCT. Interview data on OG participants will be qualitatively analysed using the “five-factorial dimensions of adherence” framework to identify key differences in the influencers between adherent or non-adherent groups.

Trial registration number

ANZCTR ACTRN12619001402134p.
Transnational Citizen Journalism for Resistance and Solidarity: The Case of a Sinophone Community on Instagram
Authors: Luo Yin , Fang Kecheng
Published: October 2024

This study focuses on a new trend in journalism, which we conceptualize as transnational citizen journalism. We argue that the diasporic and transnational production and consumption of alternative and counter-hegemonic information by nonprofessional individuals have sparked fresh imaginations and opened up new spaces for journalism, particularly in authoritarian contexts. We specifically examine several prominent transnational citizen journalism projects that played a significant role in the large-scale protests against China’s stringent Covid-zero policy in late 2022. Through a content analysis of the multimodal content posted on these projects’ Instagram accounts, and semistructured interviews with account creators, we argue that these transnational citizen journalism projects have built a solidarity infrastructure, connecting individuals and communities who share the value of challenging authoritarianism but come from different localities and backgrounds. Its foundation rests on the passion of diasporic creators for their native country, the engagement of a largely youthful audience with public affairs, and a global platform enabling transnational information flow. This network also extends to international communities opposing oppression in nations such as Iran and Russia.
TRIB3 as a biomarker of gastric cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents running title: A protective role of TRIB3 on chemotherapy
Authors: Yuan Tein-Ming , Liu Bang-Hung , Huang Chih-Jou , Huang Yi-Ching , Chuang Show-Mei
Published: October 2024

Objectives:

Understanding the role of TRIB3 in cellular chemotherapy responsiveness and survival could facilitate its development as a prognostic marker that could be used to improve chemotherapeutic efﬁciency against specific tumors. Therefore, the role of TRIB3 to reflect the cytotoxic abilities of chemotherapeutic agents was clarified in the tested gastric cancer cell lines.

Methods:

We have comprehensively investigated the protein expression of TRIB3 in three gastric cancer cell lines AGS, TMK-1, and MKN-45 cells treated with the anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and docetaxel. The Cell Count kit-8 was used to evaluate cell viability. Immunoblotting was performed to assay protein levels after drug treatment. Flow cytometry was carried out to evaluate the levels of sub-G1 cell population.

Results:

Treatment of the tested gastric cancer cell lines dose-dependently decreased cell viability and protein levels of TRIB3 while increasing apoptosis. Overexpression of TRIB3 protects MKN-45 cells from endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis but does not influence the induction of autophagy by anticancer drugs. In addition, overexpression of TRIB3 also rescued paroxetine-induced apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Conclusions:

Our previous and present results indicate that TRIB3 can protect gastric cancer cells against anticancer drug treatment and that downregulating TRIB3 may increase these cells’ sensitivity to anticancer drugs. We thus suggest that the capability of anticancer drugs to downregulate TRIB3 can indicate tumors’ potential susceptibility to these drugs.
Body Awareness of the Orofacial Area in Wind and Brass Instrumentalists: An Observational Study
Authors: Lesjak Sarah , Ostlangenberg Lena , von Piekartz Harry , Zalpour Christoff
Published: October 2024

Background

Woodwind and brass instrumentalists have a high sensomotoric demand of their orofacial region while playing their instrument. Orofacial problems (OFP) have an influence on the body perception in this area.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the body awareness of the orofacial area in musicians (woodwind/brass) and non-musicians and investigate to what extent OFP may affect the instrumentalists’ body awareness.

Methods

Primary outcome parameters include Two Point Discrimination, Facial Emotion Recognition, Lateralization, and the Tongue and Mouth Imagery Questionnaire (TMIQ). Secondary outcome parameters are colored body drawings and the Central Sensitization Inventory. Musicians additionally filled in the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians – German version. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to assess group differences among the assessments. Body drawings were analyzed qualitatively.

Results

A total of 75 participants were recruited for the study and divided into three groups (control group: CG; musicians without OFP: M − OFP; musicians with OFP: M + OFP). Statistically significant between-group differences were found for both music groups in the TMIQ total-score (M + OFP vs. M − OFP : −6.577, p = .028) and the kinesthetic subscale (M + OFP vs. M − OFP : −3.971, p = .034). Other primary outcome parameters did not show significant differences. For the secondary parameters, statistically significant differences in the CSI were found between affected and non-affected musicians (M + OFP vs. M − OFP : 9.258, p = .004) as well as between the affected musicians and the control group (M + OFP vs. CG: 7.133, p = .043). The qualitative analysis of the body drawings did not show clear group-specific differences.

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, body awareness of the orofacial region does not significantly differ between musicians and non-musicians. Differences between musicians with and without OFP are small. This project is a valuable contribution to the development of numerous further research projects in the area.
The offender between penal policies and local practices: A history of individualised punishment
Authors: Johansen Louise Victoria
Published: October 2024

Like many other jurisdictions, the Danish criminal justice system has used pre-sentence reports for almost a century to be able to impose individualised sanctions. During this period, suspended sentences and a range of alternative sanctions have been developed, and the number of pre-sentence reports issued has increased dramatically accordingly. These changes are often explained in terms of shifting ideologies about the relation between crime, person and society during the 20th century. However, this article argues that the larger, paradigmatic changes within penal decision-making may be articulated quite differently in everyday institutional practices. Both current and former perceptions of ‘the criminal’ thus appear as hybrid forms in judges’, probation officers’ and other professionals’ contemporary practices feeding into sentencing. The penal history of pre-sentence reports as phenomenon thus enables us to raise awareness about contemporary, heterogeneous and anachronistic constructions of the defendant that influence their punishment.
Unveiling ‘Eyi Çocukluk’ (Ideal Childhood) in Late Ottoman Turkish Children’s Literature: A Discourse Analysis of Angeliaforos Çocuklar İçün (The Messenger for Children)
Authors: Kahya Hayrullah
Published: October 2024

Numerous studies have been conducted on Turkish children’s magazines during the late Ottoman period, covering a wide range of disciplines such as history, language, literature, sociology, and education. However, a majority of these studies have focused on magazines written in Arabic script, with limited attention paid to those written in other scripts. Despite their significance in Turkish children’s literature and culture, periodicals written in non-Arabic scripts have received relatively little scholarly attention to date. This study aims to address this gap by focusing on Angeliaforos Çocuklar İçün (AÇİ), a children’s magazine published in Istanbul in 1872 in Turkish using the Greek alphabet by the American Board Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). Using a discourse-historical approach, the study employs critical discourse analysis to reveal the qualities of the idealized child presented in AÇİ. The results indicate that AÇİ, which was published as a part of the missionaries’ inculturation efforts, portrays an ideal child as virtuous, well-educated, white, European, and devoutly Christian to its readers. The article contends that AÇİ can be regarded as a unique and historical instance of “inculturation” that instructs the Karamanli children, who are Turkish-speaking Orthodox Christians, on what constitutes an ideal child.
The Path Towards Personal Growth in Spousal Caregiving
Authors: Autio Tiina , Rissanen Sari , Hämäläinen Juha
Published: October 2024

Caregiver support is necessary for many long-term ill or disabled people to enable them to live at home. However, the impact of this care relationship on the caregiver is still partly unknown. This article focuses on the process of achieving personal growth in spousal caregiving. The aim of our study was to conduct an integrative literature review to describe the aspects associated with achieving personal growth as well as to analyze the relationship between the aspects involved. The thematic analysis method was used with inductive content classification to modify the themes. The analysis highlighted three main aspect categories connected with achieving personal growth: the means, coping styles, and personal or caregiving resources. In addition, the path from adversities and challenges towards personal growth and positive experiences in spousal caregiving was revealed by analyzing the relationship between the identified aspects. We found that the means, based on social support and self-care, help caregivers to adopt positive coping strategies, reframing, and resilience, which are associated with achieving personal growth. Also, personal or caregiving resources, such as meaningful caring experiences, religiosity, and spirituality, hope, positive personality characteristics, family functioning, and disease severity of the care recipient, were associated with achieving growth. Finally, our findings suggest that it is important to further study the path towards personal growth in spousal caregiving and to find the best possible ways to support caregivers in difficult moments and periods of caregiving.
Intramedullary nailing of tibial shaft fractures in the semi-extended position using suprapatellar approach: A case series in Hong Kong
Authors: Lo Sze Fai Jackie , Lau Janice Chi Kay , Ip Ka Chun , Shen Wan Yiu
Published: October 2024

Introduction

The objective of this case series is to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients with tibial shaft fractures treated by suprapatellar nailing at a 2-year follow-up and to review available literature concerning this approach.

Method and material

This is a retrospective single-centre case series to evaluate patients' post-operative status at 2-year intervals. Fifteen (15) patients underwent intramedullary nailing with a supra-patella approach during the year 2019–2020 and consented to participate in this case series. Patients were regularly followed up in the outpatient clinic and evaluated in terms of range of movement, walking status and radiologically with RUST score and tibia alignment. Their functional outcome was assessed by a questionnaire including OKS, VAS, and Kujula scores.

Results

At post-op 2 years intervals, all patients had radiologically healed fractures as evidenced by RUST score and tibia alignment within five degrees in the coronal and sagittal plane, the functional outcome of the suprapatellar approach was satisfactory in the visual analogue scale and various knee scores. All patients achieved a full range of movement and could walk unaided.

Discussion

Technical tricks and tips for the suprapatellar approach are discussed. Literature review showed satisfactory outcomes for intramedullary nailing for tibial shaft fracture in different parts of the world. Compared with the infra-patellar approach, the suprapatellar approach is superior in fracture alignment but has no significant difference in terms of pain, disability and range of movement. Potential risk of suprapatellar approach is discussed including possible cartilage damage and intra-articular sepsis.

Conclusion

There is a good clinical outcome of the suprapatellar approach to tibial nail radiologically and functionally. Results are in line with the literature review, which also showed that compared with the infra-patellar approach, the suprapatellar approach is associated with better alignment and less knee pain but no significant difference in range of movement and disability.
Bone Mineral Density in the Scaphoid
Authors: Yildiran Gokce , Koplay Tugba Gun , Akdeniz Hande , Tosun Zekeriya , Karabulut Ahmet Kagan
Published: October 2024

Introduction: The scaphoid bone is essential for wrist stability and movement. While fractures commonly occur at the scaphoid's waist, those at the proximal pole, though rarer, tend to result in nonunion, potentially linked to variations in bone mineral density (BMD). Previous studies have shown an increase in BMD at the proximal pole in fractured scaphoids, but BMD distribution in intact scaphoids has not been well studied. This study aims to map the BMD distribution of the intact scaphoid to better understand the etiology of fractures and optimize treatment approaches. Methods: Conducted under ethical approval, this study included 100 individuals, using computed tomography to assess the BMD in distal, middle, and proximal thirds of the scaphoid. Measurements were performed in the defined regions and analyzed using SPSS software, with significance accepted at P < .05. Results: The study comprised 34 females and 66 males, with no significant BMD difference between the right and left wrists. The proximal third exhibited significantly higher BMD (542.2 HU) compared to the middle (293.1 HU) and distal thirds (298.4 HU). A statistically significant higher BMD was observed in males, particularly in the proximal and distal thirds. A weak negative correlation between age and BMD was noted across all sections. Conclusion: The proximal scaphoid shows significantly higher BMD, potentially explaining its lower fracture incidence but higher nonunion rate. This insight into the BMD distribution within an intact scaphoid may guide the clinical management of scaphoid fractures, highlighting the need for targeted treatment strategies based on BMD variations.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Macular Neovascularization Secondary to Focal Choroidal Excavation
Authors: Duke Riley C.T. , Anshumali Shambhavi , Crosson Jason N.
Published: October 2024

Purpose: To highlight the use of multimodal imaging for detecting and monitoring macular neovascularization (MNV) in the presence of focal choroidal excavation. Methods: A case and its findings were analyzed. Results: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) were performed in a 30-year-old Asian woman with metamorphopsia in the left eye. Imaging showed striking MNV secondary to focal choroidal excavation, and an impressive response to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy was seen throughout the follow-up. Conclusions: OCTA is a noninvasive, useful imaging modality for diagnosing and monitoring patients with MNV secondary to focal choroidal excavation.
Are we accepting enough? Examining the association between homophobia and acceptance of diversity
Authors: Chowdhury Farhin , Erdogan Yasemin , Konishi Chiaki
Published: October 2024

Peer victimization is a serious public health problem and Dan Olweus, pioneer in bullying research, has long recognized school safety as a fundamental human right. The purpose of this study was to assess and address a facet of a larger and more complex critique on issues related to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in schools. As such, the present study examined how peer and adult acceptance of sexual diversity is associated with homophobic perpetration and peer victimization among high-school students. Two hundred nineteen participants (61.3% boys, Mage = 14.82, SD = 1.31) across high schools in Southern Quebec, Canada, completed questionnaires assessing adult acceptance of sexual orientation and reports of homophobic perpetration and victimization among students. Results from path analyses revealed that adult acceptance of sexual diversity significantly predicted homophobic perpetration, β = −0.221, t (9) = −2.68, p = .002, and victimization, β = −0.193, t (9) = −3.05, p = .007, while peers’ acceptance of sexual diversity did not. The findings highlight the importance of adult acceptance of sexual diversity in reducing peer victimization, emphasizing the need for a discrimination-free school climate.
Investigating the Agricultural Finance Sources, Access and the Factors Affecting its Demand
Authors: Kapoor Samridhi , H Shushma
Published: October 2024

The current study examined key factors influencing farmers’ demand for agricultural finance. It followed a mixed-method approach, with men and women making up an equal half of the sample. The data was gathered using focus groups, structured interviews, open-ended/close-ended and key informant interviews (KIIs). Descriptive statistics, along with logit and multinomial logit models (MNLM), were employed to analyse the data to determine the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, the sources, availability, and access to credit, and the pertinent factors that influence credit demand. The findings showed that about 49% of the respondents obtained credit, with males availing more. The respondents mainly preferred formal and semi-formal sources, however, the males preferred formal sources while the females preferred non-formal sources. The variables with a substantial impact on credit demand were identified as being education, financial literacy, family size, and group participation. Further, according to the credit sources, the following factors have a significant impact: (a) formal sources: education level, financial literacy, deposits, knowledge of credit sources, marital status, and household size; (b) informal sources: education level, deposits, household size, and group membership; and (c) non-formal providers: education, gender, and group membership.
Simulation Exercise: Learning Entrepreneurship Through Local Market Business Opportunity Identification
Authors: Acharya Satya Ranjan , Chandra Yamini
Published: October 2024

This simulation exercise offers transformative experiential learning in entrepreneurship. Integrated with the knowledge, skills and attitudes framework, this exercise immerses students in real-world scenarios of local livelihood businesses. Through hands-on engagement, students propose solutions, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving aligned with Bloom’s Taxonomy. The exercise yields profound experiential learning outcomes, empowering students with insights, skills and attitudes vital for entrepreneurial success.
Plumes from the heterogeneous Earth’s mantle
Authors: Farnetani Cinzia G.
Published: October 2024

The spectrum of geochemical compositions of Oceanic Island Basalts (OIBs) and their systematic differences from Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalts (MORBs) reveal that the Earth’s mantle is chemically and isotopically heterogeneous. Two main processes, both related to plate tectonics, contribute to the creation of mantle heterogeneities: (1) partial melting generates melts enriched in incompatible elements and leaves a depleted residual rock; and (2) subduction of the oceanic lithosphere injects heterogeneous material at depth, in particular, altered oceanic crust and continental/oceanic sediments. Moreover, delamination and foundering of metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle might have been important in the early Earth history, when plate tectonics did not operate as today. The fate of the subducted plate is still a matter of debate; presumably some of it is stirred by convection and some may segregate at the base of the mantle, in particular the oceanic crust, which is compositionally denser than the pyrolitic mantle. The view of the lower mantle as a “graveyard” of subducted crust prevailed for decades and was supported by the Hofmann and White (1982) observation that the geochemical fingerprint of most OIB reveals the presence of ancient recycled crust. However, recent geochemical data on short-lived systems (e.g.182Hf→182W has a half-life of 8.9 My) showed that some hotspots, namely Hawaii, Samoa, Iceland and Galápagos, have a negative µ182W anomaly. This discovery prompted a change in our view of the deep mantle because anomalies in short-lived systems require additional processes, which include, but are not limited to, the preservation of ‘pockets’ of melt from a primordial magma ocean, and/or chemical reactions between the metallic core and the silicate mantle. Exchanges at the core-mantle boundary would cause a negative µ182W anomaly, and might also add 3He to mantle material later entrained by plumes. It is now clear that some plumes probe the deepest mantle and are highly heterogeneous, as revealed by isotope ratios from long-lived radiogenic systems, noble gases and short-lived isotope systems. Here I will focus on the dynamics of plumes carrying compositional and rheological heterogeneities. This contribution attempts to be pedagogic and multi-disciplinary, spanning from seismology to geochemistry and geodynamics.
Breathing techniques to reduce symptoms in people with serious respiratory illness: a systematic review
Authors: Burge Angela T. , Gadowski Adelle M. , Jones Alice , Romero Lorena , Smallwood Natasha E. , Ekström Magnus , Reinke Lynn F. , Saggu Ravijyot , Wijsenbeek Marlies , Holland Anne E.
Published: October 2024

Background

In adults with serious respiratory illness, breathlessness is prevalent and associated with reduced health-related quality of life. The aim of this review was to assess the impact of breathing techniques on breathlessness in adults with serious respiratory illness.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched to identify randomised controlled trials testing breathing techniques (techniques that aim to alter the respiratory pattern, excluding respiratory muscle training) in people with serious respiratory illness. The primary outcome was breathlessness and secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life and adverse events. Two authors independently screened for inclusion, evaluated risk of bias and extracted data.

Results

73 randomised controlled trials were included with 5479 participants, most with COPD or asthma. Breathing exercises (pursed lip and/or diaphragmatic breathing) reduced breathlessness measured by the modified Medical Research Council scale compared to usual care (mean difference (MD) −0.40 points, 95% CI −0.70– −0.11, eight studies, n=323), although the effect did not exceed the minimal important difference. Yoga breathing also improved modified Medical Research Council score compared to usual care (MD −1.05 points, 95% CI −2.45–0.35, three studies, n=175). Breathing techniques consistently improved health-related quality of life in people with COPD and asthma on multiple health-related quality of life measures in comparison to usual care, with effects that generally exceeded the minimal important difference. No adverse events related to breathing techniques were reported.

Conclusion

Breathing techniques may improve breathlessness, and consistently improve health-related quality of life, in people with serious respiratory illness. These findings support the use of breathing exercises in the care of people with serious respiratory illness.
Regional distribution of unbound eletriptan and sumatriptan in the CNS and PNS in rats: implications for a potential central action
Authors: Svane Nana , Bällgren Frida , Ginosyan Aghavni , Kristensen Mie , Brodin Birger , Loryan Irena
Published: October 2024

Background

Triptans are potent 5-HT1B/1D/1F receptor agonists used in migraine therapy, thought to act through peripheral mechanisms. It remains unclear whether triptans cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) sufficiently to stimulate central 5-HT1B/1D/1F receptors. This study investigates the disposition of eletriptan and sumatriptan in central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) regions and predicts regional 5-HT1B/1D/1F receptor occupancies at clinically relevant concentrations.

Methods

Using the Combinatory Mapping Approach (CMA) for regions of interest (ROI), we assessed the unbound tissue-to-plasma concentration ratio (Kp, uu, ROI) in rats at steady state across CNS (hypothalamus, brain stem, cerebellum, frontal cortex, parietal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, whole brain, and spinal cord) and PNS (trigeminal ganglion and sciatic nerve) regions. We used Kp, uu, ROI values to estimate unbound target-site concentrations and 5-HT1B/1D/1F receptor occupancies in humans.

Results

We observed heterogenous triptan transport across CNS and PNS regions with the highest extent of unbound drug transport across the blood-nerve barrier in the trigeminal ganglion (Kp, uu, TG: eletriptan: 0.519, and sumatriptan: 0.923). Both drugs displayed restricted entry across the BBB (Kp, uu, whole brain: eletriptan: 0.058, and sumatriptan: 0.045) combined with high inter-regional variability. We estimated near-complete receptor occupancy in the trigeminal ganglion, while lower occupancies were observed in the whole brain, irrespective of the drug or receptor subtype. For instance, eletriptan was predicted to achieve 84% 5-HT1B receptor occupancy in the trigeminal ganglion and 37% in the whole brain at clinically relevant concentrations.

Conclusions

This study suggests that despite low BBB transport, both eletriptan and sumatriptan achieve unbound concentrations sufficient to stimulate 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, and 5-HT1F receptors not only in the trigeminal ganglion, but also in the CNS. Further research is needed to determine whether central mechanisms contribute to triptan’s antimigraine effect and/or side effects.

Graphical Abstract
Towards realist-informed ripple effects mapping (RREM): positioning the approach
Authors: Harris Kevin , Nobles James , Ryan Louis , Szedlak Christoph , Taylor Hannah , Hawkins Rowena , Cline Alice , Smith Elizabeth , Hall Amelia
Published: October 2024

Background

Evaluation approaches such as ripple effects mapping (REM) and realist evaluation have emerged as popular methodologies to evidence impact, and the processes of change within public health as part of whole systems approaches. Despite the various examples of their implementation across different evaluation settings, there has been little or no evidence of how they might be effective when combined.

Methods

With REM’s potential to pragmatically illustrate impact, and realist evaluation’s strength to identify how and why impacts emerge, this paper develops a rationale and process for their amalgamation. Following this, we outline a realist-informed ripple effects mapping (RREM) protocol drawing upon a physical activity based case study in Essex that may be suitable for application within evaluation settings in a range of public health, whole system and physical activity settings.

Discussion

Combining these two approaches has the potential to more effectively illuminate the impacts that we see within public health and whole system approaches and initiatives. What is more, given the complexity often imbued within these approaches and initiatives, they hold capability for also capturing the causal mechanisms that explain these impacts.

Conclusions

It is our conclusion that when combined, this novel approach may help to inspire future research as well as more effective evaluation of public health and whole system approaches. This is crucial if we are to foster a culture for learning, refinement and reflection.