bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Auditory-Perceptual Assessments of Cough: Characterizing Rater Reliability and the Effects of a Standardized Training Protocol
Authors: Curtis James A. , Borders James C. , Dakin Avery E. , Troche Michelle S.
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Auditory-perceptual assessments of cough are commonly used by speech-language pathologists working with people with swallowing disorders with emerging evidence beginning to demonstrate their validity; however, their reliability among novice clinicians is unknown. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to characterize the reliability of auditory-perceptual assessments of cough among a group of novice clinicians. As a secondary aim, we assessed the effects of a standardized training protocol on the reliability of auditory-perceptual assessments of cough. Methods: Twelve novice clinicians blindly rated ten auditory-perceptual cough descriptors for 120 cough audio clips. Standardized training was then completed by the group of clinicians. The same cough audio clips were then re-randomized and blindly rated. Reliability was analyzed pre- and post-training within each clinician (intra-rater), between each unique pair of raters (dyad-level inter-rater), and for the entire group of raters (group-level inter-rater) using intraclass correlation coefficients and Cohen’s Kappa. Results: Pre-training reliability was greatest for measures of strength, effectiveness, and normality and lowest when judging the type of expiratory maneuver (cough, throat clear, huff, other). The measures that improved the most with training were ratings of perceived crispness, amount of voicing, and type of expiratory maneuver. Intra-rater reliability coefficients ranged from 0.580 to 0.903 pre-training and 0.756–0.904 post-training. Dyad-level inter-rater reliability coefficients ranged from 0.295 to 0.745 pre-training and 0.450–0.804 post-training. Group-level inter-rater reliability coefficients ranged from 0.454 to 0.919 pre-training and 0.558–0.948 post-training. Conclusion: Reliability of auditory-perceptual assessments varied across perceptual cough descriptors, but all appeared within the range of what has been historically reported for auditory-perceptual assessments of voice and visual-perceptual assessments of swallowing and cough airflow. Reliability improved for most cough descriptors following 30–60 min of standardized training. Future research is needed to examine the validity of auditory-perceptual assessments of cough by assessing the relationship between perceptual cough descriptors and instrumental measures of cough effectiveness to better understand the role of perceptual assessments in clinical practice.
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF Aspergillus flavus TOXIGENICITY IN AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES IN INDONESIA
Authors: ANIDAH  , RAHAYU WINIATI P. , NURJANAH SITI , RETNOWATI INA
Published: August 2023

Toxigenic Aspergillus flavus is a primary producer of aflatoxin in Indonesia, and its presence can lead to the contamination of agricultural commodities. This contamination poses a risk to export-targeted commodities, potentially resulting in their rejection. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the molecular profile of nativeA. flavus isolated from several Indonesian agricultural products, with a major focus on its toxigenicity and toxin production. A total of 18 A. flavus collections were isolated from nutmeg, ground peanut, cacao, coffee bean, corn, white pepper, and soil peanut plantation. Species identification was carried out using molecular and morphological approaches. The toxigenicity of isolates was characterized based on the amplification of aflatoxin gene clusters, while toxin production was assessed through growth simulation on a 10% coconut broth media followed by HPLC quantification. The result showed that all isolates were confirmed as A. flavus based on the morphological and sequence analysis of the ITS region. A total of 11 isolates (61%) were confirmed as toxigenic and produced 1-2 types of aflatoxin, in varying concentrations of high, moderate, or low levels of AFB1. High levels of AFB1 produced by seven isolates namely BIO3313, BIO33212, BIO3361, BIO33404, BIO3338, BIO3352, and BIO3344, had concentration levels ranging from 76.78 to 2241.06 µg/kg, while three isolates (BIO3314, BIO3312, and BIO3381) produced AFB1 below 1 µg/kg. Twenty-nine pairs of aflatoxin gene-specific sequences were successfully amplified as a single band, while some produced non-specific patterns in several low toxigenic and non-toxigenic isolates. Based on the results, it was concluded that completed gene clusters and variations of gene deletion were observed in both toxigenic and non-toxigenic isolates. However, no specific target gene could effectively distinguish the two groups. Two non-toxigenic isolates namely BIO3393 and BIO33403 exhibited a large deletion and could be potential candidates for biocontrol agents.
Periodontal Evaluation of Subgingival Open Sandwich Restorations: 2-Year Results of a Randomized Double-Blind Trial
Authors: Ismail Hoda S. , Ali Ashraf I. , El Mehesen Rabab , Garcia-Godoy Franklin , Mahmoud Salah H.
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the periodontal responses of subgingival proximal margins elevated using different restorative materials. A total of 120 proximal cavities with dentin/cementum gingival margins were elevated using one of four materials (resin-modified glass ionomer, glass hybrid, flowable bulk-fill resin composite, or bioactive ionic resin) and completed with the same overlaying resin composite. At 2 weeks (baseline), 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postrestoration, periodontal parameters and the radiographic distance between the restoration margin and bone crest were evaluated. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed. The values of all periodontal parameters increased with time, although only the increases in Plaque Index and probing depth within each material group were statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the periodontal parameters between the different materials within the same evaluation period, nor between different time points or material groups in the radiographic distances. Both glass ionomer–based and resin-based materials were periodontally safe as subgingival open sandwich restorations.
Commentary on: dominance and subordination in the smooth dogfish, Mustelus canis (Allee & Dickenson, 1954)
Authors: Porcher Ila France
Published: August 2023

In, 1954, Warder C. Allee and Joshua C. Dickinson decided to establish that “dominance-subordination” hierarchies are present in the Chondrichthyan phylogenetic line. To do so, they confined sixteen fished smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis) in tanks and observed their behaviour. They found neither competition over food, in spite of starving the animals for up to six days at times, nor any clear example of aggression, though it is through aggressive actions that such hierarchies are, by definition, established. They therefore used collision avoidance to support their hypothesis that the sharks had established a rigid size-dependent dominance-subordinate hierarchy, and claimed to have established that such hierarchies are present in Chondrichthyans. However, ethological studies since then have not identified the hierarchies in elasmobranchs that this study claims to be present, but they have found that smaller sharks tend to avoid colliding with larger individuals, which is the simplest explanation for their observations.
What Have We Learned From COVID-19 in Business and Management and What Are the Future Challenges?
Authors: Escamilla-Solano Sandra , Diez-Martin Francisco , Blanco-González Alicia , Fernández de las Peñas César
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a number of business challenges that have highlighted latent business problems. In the search for solutions, academics have produced over 3,000 research articles in the field of business and management research. This research focuses on what we have learned from COVID-19 in business and management and on the future challenges for researchers. To outline the research that has been generated on the impact of COVID-19 on companies, we developed a bibliometric analysis to describe the intellectual structure of the field, identifying the main challenges for companies (Supply Chain, Consumer Behavior, SMEs, Stock Market, Tourism, ICTs, Work Stress, Cyberchondria, Education, Social Challenge, Teleworking); the ways in which scholars are developing solutions to these challenges; the main sources of knowledge in the area; and the future research challenges.
How Pediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing Impacts Parental Fatigue
Authors: DiNardo Lauren A. , Reese Alyssa D. , Raghavan Maya , Ma Alison C. , Behar Philomena , Hassinger Amanda B. , Carr Michele M.
Published: August 2023

Objective:

Previous research has indicated that sleep disordered breathing (SDB) can lead to a decreased quality of life in children and their families as compared to children who do not have SDB. The purpose of this study was to examine fatigue levels in parents who had young children who were impacted by sleep symptoms as determined by the OSA-18 scale.

Study Design:

Survey.

Setting:

Three pediatric otolaryngology clinics associated with a tertiary care children’s hospital in Buffalo, NY.

Methods:

Fatigue levels for parents of children with OSA-18 ≥ 60 were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Chalder Fatigue Scale. Consecutive parents with at least one child between the ages of 1 and 10 were recruited. Parents scored their youngest child on the OSA-18 scale.

Results:

Of the 261 respondents included, 37 parents had a child with an OSA-18 score ≥60. The majority, 211 (82.1%), of participants reported 2 caregivers in the household while 30 (11.7%) had 1 caregiver in the household. Parents of children with OSA-18 ≥60 had a significantly higher mean fatigue score, 16.5 ± 5.8, compared to their counterparts, 11.9 ± 5.2, on the Chalder Fatigue Scale ( P < .001). Similar results were reported for the total score on the Fatigue Severity Scale, 34.7 ± 10.8 compared to 28.9 ± 12.0 ( P = .004).

Conclusion:

Parents of children with OSA-18 score ≥60 are significantly more fatigued than parents of children with lower scores. Recognition of this is important for the health care community as it impacts not just the child with OSA but also their family.
Use of the G8 Geriatric Screening Tool in Surgical Head and Neck Cancer Patients Requiring Rehabilitation: A Multisite Investigation
Authors: Palmer Andrew D. , Starmer Heather , Sathe Nishad , Yao Theresa Jingyun , Bolognone Rachel K. , Edwards Jeffrey , Crino Carrie , Kizner Jennifer , Graville Donna J.
Published: August 2023

Objectives:

The G8 is a well-validated screening test for older cancer patients. The current study was undertaken to determine whether the G8 is predictive of short-term post-operative outcomes after head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery.

Methods:

Consecutive patients aged 65 years or more and referred for a preoperative assessment by a speech-language pathologist were consecutively screened by clinicians at 2 academic medical centers using the G8. The G8 was used to screen for vulnerability prior to surgery. Patients were deemed vulnerable if they had a total G8 score ≤14 according to published guidelines. Data were also collected on demographic characteristics, tumor staging, post-operative course, and tracheostomy and feeding tube (FT) status.

Results:

Ninety patients were consecutively screened during the study period. Using the G8, 64% of the patients were deemed vulnerable. Vulnerable patients differed significantly from non-vulnerable patients with regard to age, health, tumor stage, and baseline dysphagia, and underwent more extensive surgery. Postoperatively, vulnerable patients had a significantly longer hospital length of stay (LOS; 10.17 vs 5.50 days, respectively, P < .001), were less likely to discharge home (76% vs 94%, P = .044), and were more likely to be FT dependent for over a month (54% vs 21%, P = .006) compared to non-vulnerable patients. In regression models, controlling for T-stage and surgical variables, the G8 independently predicted 2 post-operative outcomes of interest, namely LOS and FT dependency.

Conclusions:

The G8 may be a useful screening tool for identifying older adults at risk of a protracted postoperative medical course after HNC surgery. Future research should aim to identify the optimal screening protocol and how this information can be incorporated into clinical pathways to enhance the post-operative outcomes of older HNC patients.
Recent Events and the Coding of Cross-National Indicators
Authors: Weidmann Nils B.
Published: August 2023

Much research in political science relies on datasets produced by human coders. Many variables included in these datasets are not based on observable facts but rather require a considerable level of human judgment. This project studies the extent to which this judgment is affected by availability bias and how it influences the retrospective coding of historic cases. The analysis uses coder-level data from the V-Dem project, one of the few datasets collecting and releasing codings tagged with timestamps when they were produced. The results show that recent dramatic events in a country just prior to the coding have a small, but visible impact on coder ratings, but primarily for those variables that are directly related to the observed events. The magnitude of this effect, however, is small. This alleviates concerns that prominent events in world politics around the time of coding significantly affect the reliability of cross-national indicators.
Who are the Cosmopolitans? How Perceived Social Sorting and Social Identities Relate to European and National Identities
Authors: Sczepanski Ronja
Published: August 2023

Transnational European identities influence public debates and electoral dynamics across Europe, with sociodemographic factors strongly associated with these identities. Meanwhile, little attention has been paid to how people’s perceptions of a political group’s sociodemographic profile relate to their identification with Europe. I argue that such perceptions, in combination with social identities, are significantly associated with the strength of individuals’ identification with political groups. An individual is more likely to have a robust European identity if they perceive that social groups they like share the same pro-European opinion. In contrast, if they perceive that groups they like align with the anti-European camp, they are likely to have a weaker European identity. By employing novel survey data from Italy and Austria, I find empirical support for my argument. This paper contributes to the debate on the mechanisms that connect social and political identities and explains how cleavages emerge in the mass public.
Supportive leadership and job satisfaction at the European Court of Auditors
Authors: Uman Timur , Argento Daniela , Grossi Giuseppe , Mattei Giorgia
Published: August 2023

This article draws on theories of person–organisation fit and leadership behaviour to explore how supportive leadership is related to communication practices, collaborative working practices and performance management practices and how these three practices, in turn, relate to public servants’ job satisfaction. A model of supportive leadership's direct and indirect effects on employees’ job satisfaction is empirically tested using responses to a survey administered to the European Court of Auditors (ECA) staff. The findings show that communication and collaborative working practices mediate the relationship between supportive leadership and job satisfaction. Supportive leadership positively relates to performance management practices, but these practices have no significant association with job satisfaction. While addressing a theoretical void in the field, this study also makes an empirical contribution by unveiling how a professional European public audit institution manages its human resources and the means it uses.

Points for practitioners

Elaborating on the relationship between leadership behaviour and person–organisation fit in the context of a supranational public entity helps to explain what motivates public servants. The relationship between supportive leadership and public servants’ job satisfaction is mediated by two organisational practices: communication and collaborative working practices. Transparent performance management practices do not mediate the relationship between supportive leadership and job satisfaction. Public sector organisations with professional staff can centre their human resource management around effective communication and collaborative working practices to ensure greater employee satisfaction in the workplace.
Geometric model of tufts based on the internal fiber configurations
Authors: Qian Xixi , Zhou Yuyang , Shen Yuanying , Ruan Jun , Yu Chongwen
Published: August 2023

Fiber tufts were modeled as random fibrous materials based on the statistical orientations of the observed fibers. The tufts with different fiber properties were analyzed experimentally and simulated well. It was found that the distribution of fiber orientation angles is not uniform. The simulations of tufts have confirmed that the sizes of tufts could also be affected by the orientation angle distribution of the constituted fibers. The model was verified by the simulated tufts and the tested ones. Good agreement was achieved between the sizes of simulations and the observed ones. The above model can further explore the underlying principles of carding in yarn manufacture. Furthermore, the modeling method can also be widely used to simulate other fibrous materials where fibers are highly tangled.
Global injustice and animals: towards a multispecies social connection model
Authors: Meijer Eva
Published: August 2023

In this article I argue for and sketch the outlines of a multispecies social connection model, based on the work of Iris Marion Young. This multispecies social connection model responds to shortcomings in existing approaches to multispecies global justice in animal philosophy and IR. Because the model focuses on concrete structures of injustice, it allows for taking into account relations without categorizing other animals beforehand and for being attentive to nonhuman animal agency, and it recognizes the entanglement of political and economic forces in perpetuating injustice towards animals. The multispecies model also brings to light problems with anthropocentrism in theorizing structural injustice and responsibility. Analyzing multispecies structures of injustice shows how different forms of oppression are connected globally, which offers a better view of animal and human oppression than anthropocentric theorizing. This is important for determining the responsibilities of different kinds of social, political, and economic actors in working toward social change, and for knowing what to work toward. This model can either complement existing political models, or function as the starting point for new multispecies politics.
The Global Animal Advocacy Movement in International Relations: toward an animal-inclusive IR
Authors: Tauber Steven
Published: August 2023

International Relations (IR) scholarship on Global Social Movements (GSMs) has helped usher in post-realist theories, such as constructivism and critical IR. Despite its innovativeness, extant GSM research is limited because it ignores the relevance of the Global Animal Advocacy Movement (GAAM), which seeks to end animal exploitation. The omission of GAAM is emblematic of IR’s anthropocentric disregard of the relevance of animals in global politics. An emergent literature recognizes the importance of animals in IR, and this paper contributes to the establishment of this animal-inclusive IR by examining the significance of GAAM. First, it demonstrates that GAAM fits the criteria of a GSM; therefore, it is worthy of study in IR. Additionally, this paper argues that IR should recognize that nonhuman animals also participate in GAAM. Both arguments not only demonstrate GAAM’s relevance, but they should also contribute to the development of an animal-inclusive IR. The paper closes by advocating for a methodologically diverse research agenda on GAAM.
Training civil servants in promoting the reputation of the country in the settings of crisis communication
Authors: Kyrychok Andrii , Harbuza Tetiana , Teslenko Natalia , Okhrimenko Olena , Zalizniuk Viktoriia
Published: August 2023

The purpose of the study was to identify how the updated refresher course influences the civil servants’ readiness to promote or restore the reputation of Ukraine in the setting of crisis communication. The study used qualitative methods and tools for baseline analysis of the currently delivered refresher courses for civil servants and quantitative methods for quasi-experimental research. It was found that there was a need for updating the curriculum to concentrate more on training civil servants in promoting the reputation of the country in the context of crisis communication. The main outcome of the intervention was the student-designed and presented projects. These were as follows: “Consolidation of the world through the “soft power” of the state,” “Transparency: See, Invest, Gain,” “Handwriting of Consolidation: Books and Journals,” “Welcome to Our Club,” “Great Citizens: Footprints in History,” “Fight Fakes: Learn how,” “From Heart to Heart via Facebook,” and “Did you ever know that …? You’ll be surprised!.” Using the researcher-designed awareness and readiness for promoting the nation’s reputation scale (ARPNRS), it was found that the updated refresher course for the civil servants improved the attendees’ brand management awareness and skills, crisis communication awareness, and skills, awareness, and skills in measuring a nation’s image and reputation, and motivational components. The ANCOVA test identified that there was a shift from knowledge readiness level (71.23%) to readiness-to-perform level (62.50%) in the participants of the updated course (EG). Further research is needed to identify the effectiveness of student-designed projects in real-life settings.
Psychological Factors Associated With Visual Impairment
Authors: Boadi-Kusi Samuel Bert , Asamoah Shadrack , Zaabaar Ebenezer , Hammond Francisca , Ackom Christian Kobina
Published: August 2023

Introduction: In this study, the authors investigated visual impairment and its associated psychological factors, with emphasis on depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and perceived social support. Methods: A mixed-method approach was used by integrating a focus group discussion and a cross-sectional survey. The study was conducted with 444 students comprising 218 students who are visually impaired and 226 sighted peers. Validated inventories for measuring the various psychological factors were used among students who are visually impaired and their sighted peers after which comparison of scores between visually impaired students and their sighted peers were made. Results: The findings of the study showed significantly lower depression and anxiety scores among students who are visually impaired. Students who are visually impaired also scored higher on total perceived social support than their sighted peers. Independent of age, visual impairment significantly predicted anxiety and perceived social support. Despite the results of the quantitative analysis, the focus group discussion revealed that students who are visually impaired face several challenges which make them depressed, anxious, and stressed. Discussion: Visual impairment was associated with and significantly predicted anxiety and perceived social support. Implication for Practitioners: The results of this study give a justification for eye care practitioners to consider referring people who are visually impaired for psychological assessment and possible management after addressing their visual needs.
Criteria for Treatment of Intranasal Supernumerary Teeth: A Comprehensive Literature Analysis
Authors: Kanbe Tomoyuki , Musha Atsushi , Ogawa Masaru , Yokoo Satoshi
Published: August 2023

Objectives: Among oral surgical conditions, supernumerary teeth of the dental arch is quite common. However, supernumerary teeth in the nasal cavity is a rarity and their diagnosis and treatment have not yet been systematized. We therefore examined the literature on intranasal supernumerary teeth to establish systematic methods for their diagnosis and treatment. Methods: Using the PubMed database, we searched for literature on intranasal supernumerary teeth, published from 1990 to 2019. We combined 131 cases identified in the literature with 1 case that we experienced and summarized the characteristics of 132 cases. We recorded data on sex, age, reason for consultation (chief complaint), reporting department, impact classification, surgical approach, and anesthesia. Results: Males outnumbered females in all decades evaluated. The median age of patients was 10 years. The characteristics of these cases resembled those of maxillary anterior supernumerary teeth. The most common reason for consultation in earlier years was nasal symptoms; however, over time, an increasing number of patients sought consultation due to indications in diagnostic imaging. The most common reporting department in all decades was Otolaryngology. However, reports from Departments of Oral Surgery became increasingly common over time. General anesthesia was applicable for all impaction positions and surgical methods used. Local anesthesia was performed only with the nasal method. Of the 132 patients, 4 experienced no effect from local anesthesia, which was then changed to general anesthesia. Intranasal supernumerary teeth were found to possess the same characteristics as impacted maxillary central supernumerary teeth. Conclusions: The increased use of computed tomography has enabled early detection in asymptomatic cases. Classifying intranasal supernumerary teeth by their vertical and horizontal impaction positions provides an accurate grasp of supernumerary tooth impact classification and the selection of suitable methods of surgery and anesthesia, thus enabling systematic diagnosis and treatment of intranasal supernumerary teeth.
Iodide-Induced Severe Encephalopathy: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Razuan Nur Aida , Mun Ooi Kar , Ghauth Sakina , Toong Liew Yew
Published: August 2023

A physically independent and mentally competent 61-year-old gentleman was diagnosed with left upper alveolar spindle cell carcinoma. He underwent left infrastructure maxillectomy with reconstruction and had bismuth iodoform paraffin paste packed in the post-operative cavities. The patient subsequently exhibited labile emotions and acute delirium. Further investigation showed that his urine iodine level was highly elevated. He eventually made a full recovery and returned home.
Psychosocial Consequences of Disclosing Misattributed Paternity: A Narrative Review
Authors: Cerfontyne Alyona , D’Souza Levita , Patlamazoglou Lefteris
Published: August 2023

Unlike adoption and donor-assisted reproduction, misattributed paternity occurring within the context of spontaneous conception and outside of formally recognised practices of having a child remains largely an understudied phenomenon. Despite being an age-old phenomenon affecting a substantial population, the psychosocial consequences of disclosing and discovering misattributed paternity continue to lack empirical understanding. The current paper delineates misattributed paternity from other paternal discrepancies and reviews the limited body of scholarly arguments regarding the potential psychosocial consequences of disclosure/non-disclosure for individuals with paternal discrepancy. Four major categories of pro- and anti-disclosure arguments have been identified and reviewed: arguments concerned with potential disclosure/non-disclosure consequences for the child; for the parents; for the child-parent relationship and for the family unit. The review highlights the dearth of empirical knowledge on the psychosocial consequences of misattributed paternity and advocates a more nuanced exploration of this phenomenon and the need for specialist support.
Mobile learning as deep learning: Content analysis of in-service primary school music teachers’ lesson plans in mobile music creation
Authors: Chen Jason Chi Wai
Published: August 2023

This study analysed the content of 30 in-service primary school music teachers’ lesson plans for mobile music creation during a 5-week professional development course from 2019 to 2022 in Hong Kong. During the course, the teachers were taught by the researcher on how to use the mobile application GarageBand in their instructional design for classroom music teaching. Various mobile learning pedagogies were discussed during the course to facilitate listening, performing and creating in music teaching and learning. As a learning outcome of this course, the teachers were asked to upload their lesson plans to the Knowledge Transfer website to exchange ideas for further discussion and professional sharing with other in-service teachers from their respective schools. The purpose of this study was to provide an analysis of their teaching plans based on previously published research on mobile learning and motivation. This study aimed to a) deepen the understanding of music lessons in mobile music creation, and b) analysing the lesson plans and suggesting how different teaching strategies and approaches can be used in classroom teaching. Based on the results of the study, a pedagogical model is proposed as a reference point for knowledge exchange in the research and practice of music education.
Assessing the content quality of essays in content and language integrated learning: Exploring the construct from subject specialists’ perspectives
Authors: Sato Takanori
Published: August 2023

Assessing the content of learners’ compositions is a common practice in second language (L2) writing assessment. However, the construct definition of content in L2 writing assessment potentially underrepresents the target competence in content and language integrated learning (CLIL), which aims to foster not only L2 proficiency but also critical thinking skills and subject knowledge. This study aims to conceptualize the construct of content in CLIL by exploring subject specialists’ perspectives on essays’ content quality in a CLIL context. Eleven researchers of English as a lingua franca (ELF) rated the content quality of research-based argumentative essays on ELF submitted in a CLIL course and produced think-aloud protocols. This study explored some essay features that have not been considered relevant in language assessment but are essential in the CLIL context, including the accuracy of the content, presence and quality of research, and presence of elements required in academic essays. Furthermore, the findings of this study confirmed that the components of content often addressed in language assessment (e.g., elaboration and logicality) are pertinent to writing assessment in CLIL. The manner in which subject specialists construe the content quality of essays on their specialized discipline can deepen the current understanding of content in CLIL.
Outcomes comparison between percutaneous decannulation with perclose ProGlide and surgical decannulation of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Sun Guangfeng , Huang Shan , Zhang Guoming , Zhang Zhixiang , Wang Bin
Published: August 2023

Objective

Our study aimed to compare the decannulation-related outcomes of two different decannulation methods in patients who underwent veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support, namely percutaneous decannulation with Perclose ProGlide device and conventional surgical repair.

Background

Surgical vascular repair is a standard strategy when ECMO is to be terminated and sometimes associated with severe complications. Percutaneous decannulation using Perclose ProGlide has been reported to be feasible and safe in selected patients, but there is a paucity of literature to make systematic comparisons between the two decannulation methods.

Methods

41 patients who were supported with VA-ECMO for refractory cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, or escort of complex interventions from December 2018 to December 2021 were enrolled. Of these, 30 underwent percutaneous Perclose ProGlide decannulation and 11 underwent surgical repair. The clinical characteristics and complication rates were analyzed.

Results

Patients in the two groups showed a similar incidence of vascular-related complications, such as acute lower limb ischemia, major bleeding, severe hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, and arteriovenous fistula [20% versus 18.2%, p=.896]. The incidence of groin infection and delayed healing was significantly higher in the surgical removal group [3.3% versus 36.4%, p=.014].

Conclusions

Percutaneous decannulation of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with the Perclose ProGlide device is a feasible and safe technique that simplifies the decannulation process, shortens the hospitalization duration, and lowers the potential risk of groin infection and delayed wound healing.
“Don’t You Understand That We Are Punishing You for Your Own Good?”: Attitudes of Women With Substance Use Disorder to Punitive and Therapeutic Methods in Closed Communities
Authors: Einat Tomer , Shoshan Oshrat Ben
Published: August 2023

The growing numbers of women with substance use disorder (SUD) and the resulting establishment of dedicated treatment and rehabilitation services have spawned a rich literature on the etiology of addiction among women, their therapy needs and the effectiveness of the treatments they receive. Nevertheless, very few studies have examined the punitive methods applied to women with SUD as part of their treatment. This study examines the positions of thirteen Israeli women with SUD regarding punishments meted out in closed therapeutic communities (TCs), and their experienced short- and long-term implications. The findings suggest ambivalence toward the harsh treatment and punishment in the communities, and to their negative repercussions for the clients’ mental condition after their release. We conclude that the methods of treatment and punishment in these settings must be changed and based on the clients’ strengths and empowerment. Punishments should be meted out in a proportional way, and as a last resource.
Multiorgan Point-of-Care Ultrasound Assessment in Critically Ill Adults
Authors: Hobbs Hailey , Millington Scott , Wiskar Katie
Published: August 2023

Traditional point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training highlights discrete techniques, single-organ assessment, and focused protocols. More recent developments argue for a whole-body approach, where the experienced clinician-ultrasonographer crafts a personalized POCUS protocol depending on specific clinical circumstances. This article describes this problem-based approach, focusing on common acute care scenarios while highlighting practical considerations and performance characteristics.
Aspects of Program Engagement in an Online Physical Activity Intervention and Baseline Predictors of Engagement
Authors: Moffit Reagan , McTigue Kathleen , Conroy Molly B , Kriska Andrea , Fischer Gary , Ricci Edmund , Dunstan David , Deperrior Sarah , Rao Neel , Burke Lora E , Rockette-Wagner Bonny
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Participant engagement in an online physical activity (PA) intervention is described and baseline factors related to engagement are identified.

Design

Longitudinal Study Within Randomized Controlled Trial.

Setting

Online/Internet.

Sample

Primary care patients (21-70 years).

Intervention

ActiveGOALS was a 3-month, self-directed online PA intervention (15 total lessons, remote coaching support, and a body-worn step-counter).

Measures

Engagement was measured across six outcomes related to lesson completion (total number and time to complete), coach contact, and behavior tracking (PA, sedentary). Self-reported baseline factors were examined from seven domains (confidence, environment, health, health care, demographic, lifestyle, and quality of life).

Analysis

General linear and nonlinear mixed models were used to examine relationships between baseline factors and engagement outcomes within and across all domains.

Results

Seventy-nine participants were included in the sample (77.2% female; 74.7% white non-Hispanic). Program engagement was high (58.2% completed all lessons; PA was tracked ≥3 times/week for 11.3 ± 4.0 weeks on average). Average time between completed lessons (days) was longer than expected and participants only contacted their coach about 1 of every 3 weeks. Individual predictors related to health, health care, demographics, lifestyle, and quality of life were significantly related to engagement.

Conclusion

Examining multiple aspects of engagement and a large number of potential predictors of engagement is likely needed to determine facilitators and barriers for high engagement in multi-faceted online intervention programs.
Caregiver Burden in Parkinson Disease: A Scoping Review of the Literature from 2017-2022
Authors: Aamodt Whitley W. , Kluger Benzi M. , Mirham Miray , Job Anna , Lettenberger Samantha E. , Mosley Philip E. , Seshadri Sandhya
Published: August 2023

Caregiver burden is a term that refers to the adverse effect of caregiving on the physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial well-being of the caregiver. Caregiver burden is associated with providing care to an individual with a chronic illness or disability, and the unique symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) can amplify a patient’s needs and reliance on others, leading to adverse outcomes for patients and their caregivers. In this scoping review of the literature from January 2017 through April 2022 that included 114 studies, we provide an updated, evidence-based summary of patient and caregiver-related factors that contribute to caregiver burden in PD. We also describe the impact of caregiver stress and burden on caregivers based on qualitative research studies and review recent interventions to mitigate burden. By providing clinical updates for practitioners, this review is designed to improve recognition of caregiver burden in the post-pandemic era and foster the development of targeted interventions to reduce caregiver burden in PD.
Implementing a Stepwise Shivering Protocol During Targeted Temperature Management
Authors: Bock Czarina A. , Medford Whitney G. , Coughlin Emily , Mhaskar Rahul , Sunjic Katlynd M.
Published: August 2023

Background: Shivering is often encountered in patients undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM) after cardiac arrest. The most efficient, safe way to prevent shivering during TTM is not clearly defined. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of shivering management using a stepwise shivering protocol on time to target temperature (TT), medication utilization and nursing confidence. Methods: Single-center, retrospective chart review of all post-cardiac arrest patients who underwent TTM between 2016 and 2021. The primary outcome is a comparison of time to TT pre- and post-protocol implementation. Secondary objectives compared nursing confidence and medication utilization pre- and post-shivering protocol implementation. Results: Fifty-seven patients were included in the pre-protocol group and thirty-seven were in the post-protocol group. The median (IQR) time to TT was 195 (250) minutes and 165 (170), respectively (p = 0.190). The average doses of acetaminophen was 285 mg pre- vs 1994 mg post- (p <0.001, buspirone 47 mg pre- vs 127 mg post- (p < 0.001), magnesium 0.9 g pre-vs 2.8 g post- (p < 0.001), and fentanyl 1564 mcg pre- vs 2286 mcg post- (p=0.023). No difference was seen for midazolam and cisatracurium. Nurses reported feeling confident with his/her ability to manage shivering during TTM 38.5% of the time pre-protocol compared to 60% post-protocol (p = 0.306). Conclusion: Implementation of a stepwise approach to prevent and treat shivering improved time to TT in our institution, although this finding was not statistically significant. The stepwise protocol supported a reduced amount of high-risk medication use and increased nursing confidence in shivering management.
The shifting political-administrative interface under Westminster: Australia’s prime ministerial views from Fraser to Morrison
Authors: Brown Prudence R
Published: August 2023

Effective administrative-political relationships are vital for the quality of public administration, both within Westminster-style systems and beyond. However, changes in political practice can put pressure on Westminster administrative conventions. More broadly, recent research interest in the changes in accountability relationships between bureaucrats and political principals and associated challenges to the neutrality of the public service have highlighted the need for further work to explore the changing operation of administrative-political relationships. This article analyses 15 key speeches of eight Australian Prime Ministers to explore whether there has been a significant shift in expectations of the public service, and whether these shifts represent a fracturing of Westminster conventions, or are a result of ongoing trends such as higher expectations of public sector responsiveness and the shift to market mechanisms consistent with New Public Management. The article makes two contributions: it analyses the approaches of Prime Ministers in Australia from different political parties over nearly 50 years and it contributes to understanding shifts in the relationship between governments and the public sector. The analysis also has implications for underlying concerns about how public institutions cope with changes in political leadership, and about how democratic institutions manage under increasingly right-wing governments.
‘Italians locked at home, illegal migrants free to disembark’: How populist parties re-contextualized the anti-immigration discourse at the time of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lucchesi Dario , Romania Vincenzo
Published: August 2023

By drawing on a Critical Discourse Studies perspective, we analyze language and discursive strategies used by 36 Italian populist right-wing politicians in constructing the narration of immigration during the covid-19 period on their Facebook pages, combining Corpus Linguistics and the analysis of the discursive argumentation. The main aim is to verify a potential discursive construction between immigration and the spread of the virus also considering the change of the government and the role assumed by different parties. Results suggest that the connection between migration and pandemic has not been traduced in a discourse able to systematically blame migrants as vehicles for the virus, rather politicians operated a re-contextualization of past discursive strategies based on the ‘us’ versus ‘them’ dichotomy. Moreover, lexicon and argumentative analysis identified interesting differences between parties especially with the change of government and the new conformation of the alliance. The article shows elements of continuity concerning the political discourse on immigration, but it also stressed important outputs concerning the politicization process showing that pandemic constitutes a critical ‘politicizing moment’ that operated as a mechanism of further normalization of anti-immigration discourse.
Acrylamide-induced meiotic arrest of spermatocytes in adolescent mice by triggering excessive DNA strand breaks: Potential therapeutic effects of resveratrol
Authors: Gao Y , Zhang D , Wang P , Qu X , Xu J , Yu Y , Zhou X
Published: August 2023

Background: Baked carbohydrate-rich foods are the main source of acrylamide (AA) in the general population and are widely consumed by teenagers. Considering the crucial development of the reproductive system during puberty, the health risks posed by AA in adolescent males have raised public concern.

Methods: In this study, we exposed 3-week-old male pubertal mice to AA for 4 weeks to evaluate its effect on spermatogenesis using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and historical analysis. Flow cytometric analysis and meiocyte spreading assay were conducted to assess meiosis in mice. The expression of meiosis-related proteins and double-strand break (DSB) proteins were evaluated by immunoblot analyses. Additionally, isolated spermatocytes were used to explore the role of resveratrol in AA-induced damages of meiosis.

Results: Our results showed that AA decreased the testicular and epididymal indexes, reduced sperm count and motility, and induced morphological disruption of the testes in pubertal mice. Subsequent meiotic analysis revealed that AA increased the proportion of 4C spermatocytes and decreased the proportion of 1C spermatids. The expression levels of meiosis-related proteins (SYCP3, Cyclin A1 and CDK2) were downregulated, and signaling proteins (γH2AX, p-CHK2 and p-ATM) expression levels were upregulated in AA-treated mice testes. Similar expression patterns were observed in primary spermatocytes treated with AA and these effects were reversed significantly by resveratrol.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that AA induces meiotic arrest via persistent activation of DSBs, which may contribute to AA-compromised spermatogenesis. Resveratrol could serve as a potential therapeutic agent against AA-induced meiotic toxicity. These data highlight the importance of natural product supplementation for treating AA-related reproductive toxicity.
N-Acetyl-l-Cysteine Ameliorations Renal Function Early After Renal Ischemia and Reperfusion; it is not Protective over a Long Term under a High-Sodium Diet in Rats
Authors: Pereira Rafael Canavel , Romão Carolina Martinez , Corrêa Beatriz Santos Geoffroy , Dominguez Wagner Vasques , Furukawa Luzia Naôko Shinohara
Published: August 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the early and late effects of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) treatment on renal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) insult in adult Wistar rats influenced by chronic high sodium (HS) intake.

Materials and Methods

Adult male Wistar rats (8 weeks of age) received an HS (8.0% NaCl) or normal sodium (NS; 1.3% NaCl) diet and NAC (600 mg/L) in drinking water or normal water. At 11 weeks of age, the rats underwent a renal I/R procedure. They followed for 10 weeks after I/R, at the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 10th weeks, in which tail blood pressure (tBP) and renal function were evaluated. And renal renin gene expression was evaluated in the 10th week after I/R.

Results

During the study, it was observed that the tBP remained consistently higher in the HS-I/R+water group compared to the NS-I/R+water group. However, in the early weeks following I/R (1st, 2nd, and 4th weeks), the tBP was lower in the HS-I/R+NAC group than in the HS-I/R+water group. In the 10th week after I/R, the serum creatinine levels were higher in both the HS-I/R+NAC and NS-I/R+NAC groups compared to the HS-I/R+water and NS-I/R+water groups. Conversely, the creatinine clearance was higher in the HS-I/R+NAC group than in the HS-I/R+ group in the 2nd week following I/R. Additionally, the urinary protein levels were higher in the HS-I/R+NAC group than in the NS-I/R+NAC group in the 10th week after I/R. It was also observed that NAC treatment resulted in increased renal renin gene expression in the 10th week following I/R.

Conclusion

After renal I/R in animals given HS, NAC treatment was initially effective in lowering blood pressure or increasing creatinine clearance. However, these positive effects did not persist over the long term, resulting in decreased kidney function and increased blood pressure. Furthermore, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system was increased by HS intake, and the benefits of the NS diet were less effective than those of the HS diet. Thus, NAC provides temporary protection only in the early stages following an insult.