bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A checklist of fish and shellfishes of the Poonthura estuary, southwestern coast of India
Authors: Bella Kiranya , Sahadevan Pramila , Giri Bhavan Sreekanth  , Raghavan Rajeev
Published: July 2022

A systematic checklist of fish and shellfishes of the Poonthura estuary, Kerala, India is provided including notes on their conservation status. This checklist includes 66 finfish and five shellfish, belonging to 17 orders, 35 families, and 60 genera. Carangiformes is the richest order (11 species, eight genera, and three families), representing 15.4% of the total fish diversity. Carangidae, is the most diverse family with nine representatives, contributing to 12.6% of the total fish diversity. Following the IUCN Red List Categories, of the total 69 species (excluding both exotic and transplanted fish species), 59 belong to the ‘Least Concern’, while one species Pampus argenteus is listed as ‘Vulnerable’, four are ‘Data Deficient’ (Megalops cyprinoides, Arius maculatus, Cynoglossus semifasciatus, and Epinephelus tauvina) and five are ‘Not Evaluated’ (Nuchequula blochii, Channa pseudomarulius, Penaeus indicus, P. monodon, and Scylla serrata). Around 94% of the recorded fish fauna have commercial value and contribute to subsistence fisheries throughout the year. Taxonomy and diversity of fish fauna of least studied or isolated estuarine ecosystems should be updated with proper documentation of their conservation status, in order to design and implement pragmatic management and conservation programs.
A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae) from Western Ghats, India
Authors: Kalesh Sadasivan  , Vinayan P. Nair  , K. Abraham Samuel
Published: July 2022

A new species of Protosticta Selys, 1885 is described from Anamalai Hills of southern Western Ghats in peninsular India. The new species is distinguished from its regional congeners by the posterior lobe of the prothorax being devoid of spines; anterior 1/3rd of S8 pale yellow, the marking not connected dorsally; S9 completely black; caudal appendages short, sinuous, and only twice the length of S10, cerci with a small blunt basal tooth; the tip of the superior lobe of cerci not bilobed but straight, paraprocts beveled at the tip, not clubbed; pterostigma of both wings trapezoidal with maximum length less than twice the breadth, forewing with nine & hindwing with eight postnodals, and the structure of male genital ligula. The new species is described from Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary on the northwestern flanks of the Anamalai hills. A key to the identification of Protosticta of the Western Ghats is provided based on mature males.
A survey of ethno-medicinally important tree species in Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, central India
Authors: Kumar Tinku , Kumar Akash , Bishwas Amit Jugnu , Pramod Kumar Khare
Published: July 2022

The study was carried out in Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, central India. The forest is classified as a tropical dry deciduous type, with teak Tectona grandis as the predominant species. Extensive field trips were carried out during 2018–2020 to document the medicinally important tree species. The medicinal importance of these plants was recorded through interviews, group discussions with local tribal communities and on the basis of the literature available. Enumeration of tree species in this area showed occurrence of 50 tree species belonging to 37 genera and 21 families. The study further observed that several species were being used as traditional medicine by the local tribal folks, traditional healers in the study area, and also by pharmaceutical industries.  The study observed that some species in the sanctuary were rare due to several developmental projects, forest destruction, and over-exploitation. The study provides details about the botanical identity, family, local name, plant parts utilised and uses for treatment of diseases. The present paper identified the tree species for their conservation status and accordingly recommends the priority for their conservation in the study area. We recommend that tree species documentation might be helpful for drug formulation and the preservation of traditional knowledge.
Salsola oppositifolia Desf. in Great Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat – a new record for India
Authors: Gujar Rakesh , Gamit Vinesh , Tatu Ketan , R.K. Sugoor
Published: July 2022

A biodiversity survey of Great Rann of Kachchh  was carried out  from August 2021 to January 2022. During this survey,  Salsola oppositifolia Desf was recorded as a new record for the India. It was recorded from various localities of Great Rann of Kachchh. It included hilly outcrops, muddy saline, bunds on the fringes of the rann, etc.
Effects of a Bengal Slow Loris Nycticebus bengalensis (Primates: Lorisidae) bite: a case study from Murlen National Park, Mizoram, India
Authors: Bal Amit Kumar , Giordano Anthony J. , Gouda Sushanto
Published: July 2022

Lorisids are the only known venomous primates. Threatened by habitat loss and pet trade, lorises and the effects of their bite, have received little attention to date. Given the growing number of accounts of bites by lorises on humans and paucity of information on their venom, here we present a case study on the context and results of a Bengal Slow Loris bite that occurred in the vicinity of Murlen National Park, Mizoram, India.
First Asian record of Light-mantled Albatross Phoebetria palpebrata (Foster, 1785) from Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Byju H. , N. Raveendran
Published: July 2022

This document is a first sighting record of the Light-mantled Albatross Pheobetria palpebrate from Rameswaram island in Southern India. This is an unusual record from the region as it has not previously been recorded from either South Asia or the Oriental region.
Association of Sleep Duration, Napping, and Sleep Patterns With Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Nationwide Twin Study
Authors: Wang Zhiyu , Yang Wenzhe , Li Xuerui , Qi Xiuying , Pan Kuan‐Yu , Xu Weili
Published: July 2022

Background

Although sleep disorders have been linked to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the association between sleep characteristics and CVDs remains inconclusive. We aimed to examine the association of nighttime sleep duration, daytime napping, and sleep patterns with CVDs and explore whether genetic and early‐life environmental factors account for this association.

Methods and Results

In the Swedish Twin Registry, 12 268 CVD‐free twin individuals (mean age=70.3 years) at baseline were followed up to 18 years to detect incident CVDs. Sleep duration, napping, and sleep patterns (assessed by sleep duration, chronotype, insomnia, snoring, and daytime sleepiness) were self‐reported at baseline. CVDs were ascertained through the Swedish National Patient Registry and the Cause of Death Register. Data were analyzed using a Cox model. In the multiadjusted Cox model, compared with 7 to 9 hours/night, the hazard ratios (HRs) of CVDs were 1.14 (95% CI, 1.01–1.28) for <7 hours/night and 1.10 (95% CI, 1.00–1.21) for ≥10 hours/night, respectively. Compared with no napping, napping 1 to 30 minutes (HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.03–1.18]) and >30 minutes (HR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.14–1.33]) were related to CVDs. Furthermore, a poor sleep pattern was associated with CVDs (HR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.05–1.41]). The co‐twin matched control analyses showed similar results as the unmatched analyses, and there was no significant interaction between sleep characteristics and zygosity (
P
values >0.05).

Conclusions

Short or long sleep (<7 or ≥10 hours/night), napping, and poor sleep patterns are associated with an increased CVD risk. Genetic and early‐life environmental factors may not account for the sleep–CVD association.
Association of Retinal Age Gap With Arterial Stiffness and Incident Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Zhu Zhuoting , Chen Yifan , Wang Wei , Wang Yueye , Hu Wenyi , Shang Xianwen , Liao Huan , Shi Danli , Huang Yu , Ha Jason , Tan Zachary , Kiburg Katerina V. , Zhang Xueli , Tang Shulin , Yu Honghua , Yang Xiaohong , He Mingguang
Published: July 2022

Background:

Retinal parameters could reflect systemic vascular changes. With the advances of deep learning technology, we have recently developed an algorithm to predict retinal age based on fundus images, which could be a novel biomarker for aging and mortality. Therefore, we aim to investigate associations of retinal age gap with arterial stiffness index and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods:

A deep learning model was trained based on 19 200 fundus images of 11 052 participants without any medical history at baseline to predict the retinal age. Retinal age gap (retinal age predicted minus chronological age) was generated for the remaining 35 917 participants. Regression models were used to assess the association between retinal age gap and arterial stiffness index. Cox proportional hazards regression models and restricted cubic splines were used to explore the association between retinal age gap and incident CVD.

Results:

We found each 1-year increase in retinal age gap was associated with increased arterial stiffness index (β=0.002 [95% CI, 0.001–0.003];
P
<0.001). After a median follow-up of 5.83 years (interquartile range: 5.73–5.97), 675 (2.00%) developed CVD. In the fully adjusted model, each 1-year increase in retinal age gap was associated with a 3% increase in the risk of incident CVD (hazard ratio=1.03 [95% CI, 1.01–1.06];
P
=0.014). In the restricted cubic splines analysis, the risk of incident CVD increased significantly when retinal age gap reached 1.21 (hazard ratio=1.05 [95% CI, 1.00–1.10];
P
-overall <0.0001;
P
-nonlinear=0.0681).

Conclusions:

We found that retinal age gap was significantly associated with arterial stiffness index and incident CVD events, supporting the potential of this novel biomarker in identifying individuals at high risk of future CVD events.
An Embodied Intelligence-Based Biologically Inspired Strategy for Searching a Moving Target
Authors: Tan Julian K. P. , Tan Chee Pin , Nurzaman Surya G.
Published: July 2022

Bacterial chemotaxis in unicellular Escherichia coli, the simplest biological creature, enables it to perform effective searching behaviour even with a single sensor, achieved via a sequence of “tumbling” and “swimming” behaviours guided by gradient information. Recent studies show that suitable random walk strategies may guide the behaviour in the absence of gradient information. This article presents a novel and minimalistic biologically inspired search strategy inspired by bacterial chemotaxis and embodied intelligence concept: a concept stating that intelligent behaviour is a result of the interaction among the “brain,” body morphology including the sensory sensitivity tuned by the morphology, and the environment. Specifically, we present bacterial chemotaxis inspired searching behaviour with and without gradient information based on biological fluctuation framework: a mathematical framework that explains how biological creatures utilize noises in their behaviour. Via extensive simulation of a single sensor mobile robot that searches for a moving target, we will demonstrate how the effectiveness of the search depends on the sensory sensitivity and the inherent random walk strategies produced by the brain of the robot, comprising Ballistic, Levy, Brownian, and Stationary search. The result demonstrates the importance of embodied intelligence even in a behaviour inspired by the simplest creature.
Braitenberg Vehicles as Developmental Neurosimulation
Authors: Dvoretskii Stefan , Gong Ziyi , Gupta Ankit , Parent Jesse , Alicea Bradly
Published: July 2022

Connecting brain and behavior is a longstanding issue in the areas of behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and neurobiology. As is standard among models of artificial and biological neural networks, an analogue of the fully mature brain is presented as a blank slate. However, this does not consider the realities of biological development and developmental learning. Our purpose is to model the development of an artificial organism that exhibits complex behaviors. We introduce three alternate approaches to demonstrate how developmental embodied agents can be implemented. The resulting developmental Braitenberg vehicles (dBVs) will generate behaviors ranging from stimulus responses to group behavior that resembles collective motion. We will situate this work in the domain of artificial brain networks along with broader themes such as embodied cognition, feedback, and emergence. Our perspective is exemplified by three software instantiations that demonstrate how a BV-genetic algorithm hybrid model, a multisensory Hebbian learning model, and multi-agent approaches can be used to approach BV development. We introduce use cases such as optimized spatial cognition (vehicle-genetic algorithm hybrid model), hinges connecting behavioral and neural models (multisensory Hebbian learning model), and cumulative classification (multi-agent approaches). In conclusion, we consider future applications of the developmental neurosimulation approach.
Problematizing Contemporaneity
Authors: Gladston Paul
Published: July 2022

In an attempt to go beyond persistent East-West colonialist/imperialist relations of dominance as part of globalization, emerging discourses relating to the concept of contemporaneity have sought to extend critical legitimacy to both an internationally dominant deconstructivist postcolonialism and to localized anti-imperialist assertions of national-cultural identity. Emerging discourses relating to the concept of contemporaneity can thus be understood to have entered into a problematic theoretical double-bind involving mutually resistant essentialist and anti-essentialist perspectives on the critical significance of cultural identity. In this essay I shall argue, with specific reference to the theorization of contemporary Chinese art, that one possible way beyond this problematic theoretical double-bind is to develop a polylogue, exploring in close analytical detail potential areas of remotivational interaction as well as resistance between international deconstructivist postcolonialist and localized essentialist anti-imperialist theoretical perspectives; a strategy akin to Jacques Derrida’s radical collage-text Glas (1974), which has the potential to open up differing discursive positions to one another while internally dividing and questioning their individual authority.
Dialogical Anthropology of Art
Authors: Huovinen Erkki
Published: July 2022

This essay develops an account of artistic creativity based on Martin Buber’s theory of dialogue. Crucially, Buber distinguishes between the It that is objectified in experience and use and the You whom we meet as a whole person in dialogical relationships. Buber’s emphasis on dialogue as the core of what it means to be human suggests that the human significance of art might also be in its dialogical potential.

The problem, however, is that artists, psychologists, critics, and philosophers often treat artistic creativity in objective terms and thus make any dialogical ontology of art implausible. To address this issue, the essay proposes a dialogical anthropology of art that acknowledges the objective conditions of art-making and locates the human significance of art in the non-objective interfaces it opens between the artist and his or her world. Such an account brings to light the ways in which art may invite people into “unfinalizable” dialogical relationships with the world they inhabit.
Fusarium citri-sinensis sp. nov. (Ascomycota: Nectriaceae) isolated from fruit of Citrus sinensis in China
Authors: ZHAO LIN , WEI XIN , HUANG CHENG-XIN , YI JI-PING , DENG JIAN-XIN , CUI MENG-JIAO
Published: July 2022

During an investigation of fungal pathogens associated with Citrus sinensis in Zigui county of Yichang city, China, a new species, Fusarium citri-sinensis sp. nov. was isolated from fruit of C. sinensis. The species is described using morphology and molecular multi-locus analyses based on a combined data of internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA (ITS), translation-elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1α), and RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2) genes. It is one of the species in Fusarium lateritium species complex (FLSC).
Turbulence Kinetic Energy Dissipation Rate Estimate for a Low-Level Jet with Doppler Lidar Data: A Case Study
Authors: Beu Cassia M. L. , Landulfo Eduardo
Published: July 2022

Low-level jets are a recurrent feature of our study area in Ipero municipality of southeastern Brazil. They grow very near the surface as shown by this case study. These two aspects increase the needs for a realistic modeling of the low-level jet to simulate the atmospheric dispersion of industrial emissions. In this concern, we applied a recently proposed technique to estimate the turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate of a low-level jet case with Doppler lidar data. This low-level jet remained for its entire lifetime (around 12 h) within a shallow layer (under 300 m); beyond this, we did not notice a remarkable directional shear as in other studies. Even for a shallow layer as for this study case, we observed strong spatiotemporal variability of the turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate. We also detected a channel connecting the layers above and below the low-level jet that may be an exchange channel of their properties.
Making Impact Investing More Than Just Well-Meaning Capital
Authors: Casalini Francesca , Vecchi Veronica
Published: July 2022

Impact investing is progressively losing focus in ensuring investments really do make a difference; therefore, the growth of the market may not make real social and environmental change. We propose three ways to put the “impact” back into the heart of impact investment.
Psychotherapy Within Occupational Therapy Literature: A Scoping Review
Authors: Marshall Carrie Anne , Murphy Michelle , Marchiori Kristina , Aryobi Suliman , Wener Pam , White Catherine , Larivière Nadine , Isard Roxanne , Chohan Avneet , Forhan Mary , Kiepek Niki , Barbic Skye , Sarunsky Victoria , Moll Sandra
Published: July 2022

Background. Recent changes in the Canadian regulatory landscape have prompted reflections on the role and scope of occupational therapy in the provision of psychotherapy. Purpose. To document how psychotherapy has been explored in occupational therapy literature. Method. We conducted a scoping review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines by searching eight databases (e.g., Medline, AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Sociological Abstracts, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses). Articles included at the full-text stage were subjected to a narrative synthesis. Findings. A total of 207 articles met the criteria for inclusion, spanning 93 years. 47.3% of these articles represented non-empirical literature, with only 14% representing effectiveness studies, suggesting that this body of literature remains in an early stage of development. Implications. Occupational therapists have been writing about and practicing psychotherapy for nearly a century, yet there remains an important opportunity to develop and evaluate occupation-based psychotherapy approaches. Effectiveness studies are needed.
Animals in world society: Constitutional and legislative incorporation, 1972–2020
Authors: Zapp Mike , Frank David John , Marques Marcelo
Published: July 2022

This article analyzes cross-national and longitudinal variations in the incorporation of nonhuman animals into country constitutions and legislation. We argue that incorporation follows from the scientific rationalization and human rights-based ontological elaboration of nonhuman animals in world society, carried by a growing number of intergovernmental agreements and international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs). To test our ideas, we use event-history analyses on original data from 195 countries for the period 1972–2020. The models of constitutional incorporation show mixed results, with positive effects from human rights and INGOs but negative effects from science and intergovernmental agreements. The models of legislative incorporation show consistent positive effects from world factors, even when controlling for a range of domestic factors. Legal incorporation suggests an extension of the boundaries of “society,” driven by the rising prominence of highly rationalized and elaborated models of nonhuman animals, replete with dignity, sentience, and even tentative forms of rights and personhood.
Examining the Efficacy of Time Scarcity Marketing Promotions in Online Retail
Authors: Hmurovic Jillian , Lamberton Cait , Goldsmith Kelly
Published: July 2022

Time scarcity promotions (e.g., “40% off for a limited time”) are mainstays of online retail marketing. Although positive effects of time scarcity promotions on consumer interest have been evidenced in the brick-and-mortar world, should retailers expect similarly robust effects online? The present research suggests the answer may be no. First, the authors report meta-analytic and experimental results suggesting that previously identified positive effects of time scarcity promotions observed offline may not emerge in online shopping contexts. Then, consistent with the prediction that online time scarcity promotions activate more persuasion knowledge than identical control promotions, the authors detail findings suggesting that providing retailer-exogeneous justifications for online time scarcity promotions’ time restriction (e.g., consumers’ birthdays, seasonal changes) can increase the potential of observing positive effects on consumer interest online. Further, results suggest that the positive effects of including exogenous time justification may be more likely when less time remains until the online promotion’s expiration. However, results stop short of suggesting that online time scarcity promotions will consistently yield superior outcomes compared with identical online control promotions. Therefore, the authors highlight the continued need for careful managerial use as well as further research examining the optimal translation of offline tactics to online retail.
Coercive Control or Self-Defense? Examining Firearm use in Male- and Female-Perpetrated Intimate Partner Homicide
Authors: Fridel Emma E. , Zimmerman Gregory M.
Published: July 2022

Objectives: Bridge the gap between feminist scholarship and sociological literature on gun utility by examining the correlates of gun usage in heterosexual intimate partner homicide by offender gender. Methods: Using data on 7,588 incidents from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) from 2003 to 2018, logistic regression models examined the odds of using a firearm during intimate partner homicide for both male and female offenders. Results: Men disproportionately employed guns to regain control when their dominance and/or masculinity was threatened, whereas women used firearms in self-defense against an armed partner. Conclusions: The results suggest that gender-based motivations distinguish whether or not a firearm is used in intimate partner homicide.
A 30-Year Systematic Review of Self-Monitoring as a Strategy to Improve Teacher Performance
Authors: Layden Selena J. , Crowson Teresa G. , Hayden Kera E.
Published: July 2022

Self-monitoring encompasses observation of one’s own behavior that can be used by teachers to improve their performance in the classroom. In this systematic review, we searched three databases to discover published research using teachers as participants implementing self-monitoring procedures in a school setting from January 1990 through October 2021. We identified 24 studies that met the criteria. These studies were analyzed with a focus on participants, dependent and independent variables, type of self-monitoring used, and outcomes. The studies were further analyzed using the Council for Exceptional Children’s Quality Indicators for Research in Special Education (Cook et al., 2014). We found 23 of 24 studies indicated positive results, with some including self-monitoring as part of an intervention package. However, only eight of the 24 studies met all the quality indicators. Future research should focus on providing quality studies to continue to evaluate the effectiveness of self-monitoring for improving teacher performance.
Which Public Attraction Gets (and Gets More) Government Funding? The Effects of Internal and External Factors
Authors: Liu Junya , Zou Suiwen (Sharon) , Chen Jamie M.
Published: July 2022

Public attractions’ financial viability heavily depends upon sufficient government funding. However, research on government allocations has historically been rare. Drawn on the public administration and finance literature, this study addresses this gap by using a panel dataset of 262 public attractions in China from 2015 to 2018. Double-hurdle models, Heckman two-stage approach, multiple-hurdle approach, and quantile regressions are employed to examine the relationship between government funding, attraction characteristics, and local economic conditions. The findings suggest that attraction characteristics are associated with the amount of government appropriations, but they are less impactful on the attractions’ likelihood of receiving funding. The effects of attraction characteristics on government funding are asymmetric—as attractions’ government funding level increases, attraction type and quality exert stronger impacts while other characteristics influence less. The local economic condition is a significant factor in the amount of government funding. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
A rare case of secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Singh Harpreet , Suri Vikas , Gupta Nalini
Published: July 2022

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis occurs due to an uncontrolled inflammatory state and can be life threatening. Common triggers are infections, autoimmune diseases, malignancy or can be familial. Early treatment is life-saving especially in cases due to secondary infections. Here we present a rare case of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in visceral Leishmaniasis, where complete response resulted following treatment of the primary disease.
Worker Resistance in the Formation of the Maquiladora Enclave in Honduras
Authors: Crossa Niell Mateo
Published: July 2022

In contrast to the triumphalist corporate view that regularly champions the maquiladora industry as a lever of economic progress for Honduras, the maquila has caused fragmentation of production and widespread pauperization of social life, epitomizing an enclave economy aimed at international markets and threatening the very lives of workers. Substantial worker resistance has been characteristic of the maquila throughout its history.

Contra la visión empresarial y triunfalista de la industria maquiladora como una palanca de progreso económico para Honduras, la maquila ha provocado la fragmentación productiva y una pauperización extendida de la vida social, representando de esta manera el galardón de una economía de enclave volcada a los mercados internacionales que pone en entredicho la vida misma de los trabajadores. Importantes experiencias de resistencia obrera se han desarrollado en la maquila a lo largo de su historia.
Treatment vs Prevention of Head and Neck Cancer: Are We Doing Our Best for Patients?
Authors: Haugen Thorsen , Senter Joshua , Pichardo Priscilla
Published: July 2022

Along with the relief of suffering, caring for the ill, and avoiding premature death, one of the goals of medicine is disease prevention. The majority of head and neck cancer is preventable. Every head and neck surgeon should ask whether or not our resources and efforts are being used in a manner that will provide maximum benefit to patients. In this commentary, we assess what the outcome might be if all head and neck surgeons focused solely on prevention.
Trip Destination Prediction Based on Hidden Markov Model for Multi-Day Global Positioning System Travel Surveys
Authors: Jin Zeqian , Chen Yanyan , Li Chen , Jin Zexin
Published: July 2022

Different individuals may move to different regions over time, but every individual has several fixed travel positions or unique travel patterns. Predicting destinations of each individual facilitates traffic demand management, which has great research value. Based on the data of multi-day GPS and passengers’ travel survey, a hidden Markov model (HMM) is employed in this paper to predict trip destination for weekdays and weekends. Firstly, the habit of destination choice among consecutive days and weeks can be discovered by identifying frequently visited destinations. Then, on the basis of Viterbi algorithm, this paper takes frequently visited destinations as one of the factors of the predicting process and constructs a travel destination prediction model based on HMM. Then, the HMM is calibrated with Baum-Welch algorithm and passengers’ travel destination characteristics are effectively analyzed. Finally, the HMM was compared with several classical algorithms. The results show that the place of residence and work are the most probable activities to occur and workplace dominates the activities when duration is longer than 8 h. Moreover, the results of frequently visited destinations identification indicate that the patterns of destination choice on weekdays and weekends are different from each other. In addition, the results show that the prediction accuracy on weekdays is higher than that on weekends and HMM outperforms other prevailing algorithms. The method proposed in this paper can be applied to real-time travel navigation applications, as well as supporting health and safety fields, such as epidemic prevention and control.
Impact of the suspension of neurogenic detrusor overactivity treatment with botulinum toxin due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Freitas Ferreira Eduardo , Silva Rui , Ferreira Anabela , Paz Carvalho Maria , Vale Paulo , Faria Filipa
Published: July 2022

Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an additional pressure on health systems worldwide. Patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) were especially vulnerable to inadequate care. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the suspension of NDO treatment with Botulinum Toxin (BONT-A) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study of patients with spinal cord injury and NDO, who underwent BONT-A treatment in 2018 or 2019 and, whose administration programed for 2020 or 2021 was suspended. The study protocol was divided into two parts. Phase 1 consisted of data collection from the clinical processes and in phase 2 a standardized telephone questionnaire was applied. Information was collected at 3 time points: (1) before the last BONT-A treatment, (2) after the last BONT-A treatment and (3) at the time of the telephone call. Statistical analysis used the McNemar and the Wilcoxon test with a p-value ⩽ 0.05 as level of significance.

Results:

21 patients with mean age of 42.0 years and disease duration of 16.9 years were included. On average patients were undergoing treatment with BONT-A for 7.6 years and mean inter-treatment frequency was 2.3 years. Mean time since the last BONT-A administration was 2.3 years and mean reported BONT-A effect duration was 11.9 months. A significant increase in the percentage of patients with involuntary urinary loss ( p = 0.004) and urgency ( p = 0.031) was found. A significant decrease in mean catheterization interval from 4.5 to 3.6 h ( p = 0.002) and an increase in daily oxybutynin dosage from 8.5 to 12.1 mg ( p = 0.002) was also found.

Discussion:

The COVID-19 pandemic originated clinical worsening of patients undergoing regular BONT-A treatment for NDO. These patients presented a significant increase in involuntary urinary loss, urgency and medication dosage and a decrease in catheterization interval. Thus, interruption of intravesical BONT-A treatment severely affected these patients and needs to be avoided.
The Shifting Context of Special Education Teachers’ Work
Authors: Gilmour Allison F. , Nguyen Tuan D. , Redding Christopher , Bettini Elizabeth
Published: July 2022

We used five waves of nationally representative data over 16 years from the Schools and Staffing Survey, National Teacher Principal Survey, and Teacher Follow-up Survey to descriptively examine how the roles, responsibilities, preparation, and supports for special educators have changed over time. We then used regression to investigate how these variables were associated with special educator attrition. This information is essential to ensure teacher education adequately prepares special educators for the contexts in which they work. We identified some changes in special educators’ work environment, including substantially increased use of team teaching. Our results indicated special educator attrition declined from 2000 to 2012, and this decline was primarily driven by reductions in movement between schools. Regression analysis provided little insight into the variables associated with this decline, suggesting a need for future research.
Evolution of relaxation properties of callus tissue during bone transport
Authors: Calvo-Gallego Jose L , Mora-Macías Juan , Reina-Romo Esther , Domínguez Jaime , Martínez-Reina Javier
Published: July 2022

Callus tissue exhibits a viscoelastic behavior that has a strong influence on the distribution of stresses and their evolution with time and, thus, it can affect tissue differentiation during distraction procedures. For this reason, a deep knowledge of that viscoelastic behavior can be very useful to improve current protocols of bone distraction and bone transport. Monitoring stress relaxation of the callus during distraction osteogenesis allows characterizing its viscoelastic behavior. Different procedures have been used in the literature to fit the response of a given viscoelastic model to the force relaxation curve. However, these procedures do not ensure the uniqueness of that fit, which is of the utmost importance for statistical purposes. This work uses a fitting procedure already validated for other tissues that ensures that uniqueness. Very importantly too, the procedure presented here allows obtaining more information from the stress relaxation tests, distinguishing relaxation in different time scales, which provides a deeper insight into the viscoelastic behavior and its evolution over time. As it was observed in the results, relaxation is faster at the first days after osteotomy and becomes slower and more gradual with time. This fact can be directly linked to the temporal evolution of the callus composition (water, organic phase, and mineral content) and also to the progression of tissue differentiation, with a prevalence of hard tissues as time passes.
Mind-wandering during contemporary live music: An exploratory study
Authors: Deil Juliane , Markert Nina , Normand Philip , Kammen Philipp , Küssner Mats B. , Taruffi Liila
Published: July 2022

During a live concert, the mind can wander to unrelated thoughts such as personal concerns or past memories or to vivid images that are inspired by the music. This is an omnipresent phenomenon commonly referred to as mind-wandering. Psychological research on mind-wandering has explored its main characteristics, such as frequency, phenomenology, and impact on mood, both in the laboratory and in daily life contexts. This study aimed to harness the ecological setting of a live music concert to examine the occurrence and content of mind-wandering, as well as visual mental imagery as a mode through which mind-wandering occurs, and its relationship with the concertgoers’ moods before and after the music event. A self-report questionnaire ( n = 43) was used to collect data at two concerts of ambient music given as part of the CTM Festival. Findings suggest that mind-wandering occurs extensively in a concert environment. While mind-wandering episodes feature negative themes and moods—in the form of dark content of the visual mental imagery associated with the program’s musical tone—the concert environment still contributes to participants feeling more inspired afterward. Overall, this study points to the potential of live music contexts to stimulate a beneficial style of mind-wandering (i.e., one that leads to a positive impact on mood and imagery), and its findings are in line with those of previous research showing that live concerts lead to increased well-being of concertgoers. Implications for well-being and a call for more systematic research on this subject are discussed.
Effects of an Eight-Week Wilderness Adventure Program on Body Composition and Mental Health of Adolescents
Authors: Widmer Matthew A. , LeCheminant James D. , Widmer Mark A. , Christensen William
Published: July 2022

Background: Little is known about the effects of outdoor behavioral healthcare on participants’ body composition or about the relationship between body changes and indicators of mental health. Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to compare body and mental health changes in adolescents in an 8-week adventure therapy program. Methodology/Approach: In this observational study, we analyzed pre- and posttest weight, body composition, and psychological dysfunction in male and female adolescent participants ( N = 112) in an adventure therapy program. Body composition variables were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Psychological dysfunction was measured using the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (YOQ). We also analyzed the relationship between body changes and changes in YOQ scores. Findings/Conclusions: Overall, from entry into the program (pre) to time of discharge (post), body weight, BMI, and body fat percentage significantly decreased ( ps ≤ .0014). Likewise, all YOQ variables significantly improved (scores reduced) over the course of the study ( ps ≤ .0003). Changes in body composition and YOQ score were not associated. Implications: Adolescent participation in adventure therapy is significantly associated with improvements in BMI, body weight and composition, and psychological dysfunction. However, changes in body composition and psychological dysfunction do not appear to be associated.
Asthma Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Management Among Rural Adolescents with Poorly Controlled Asthma
Authors: Leonard Sarah I. , Turi Eleanor R. , Céspedes Amarilis , Liu Jianfang , Powell Jennifer S. , Bruzzese Jean-Marie
Published: July 2022

Rural adolescents with asthma are a disparate group. Self-management is essential to asthma control. We describe asthma knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-management behaviors among 198 rural adolescents with poorly controlled asthma, exploring demographic differences; we also test the application of Social Cognitive Theory to asthma self-management examining if self-efficacy mediates associations between knowledge and self-management. Asthma knowledge and self-management were relatively poor in our sample, particularly among male and White adolescents; greater knowledge was significantly associated with better symptom prevention and management. Self-efficacy partially mediated the association between knowledge and symptom prevention, but not acute symptom management, suggesting that knowledge may not improve symptom prevention behaviors without confidence to implement such behaviors and that factors beyond knowledge and self-efficacy likely play a role in asthma self-management in this population. Addressing asthma knowledge and self-efficacy could improve self-management and, ultimately, enhance asthma control among rural adolescents with poorly controlled asthma.
A Comparison of Telemedicine and Office Visit Payments in a Commercially Insured Population
Authors: Carey Kathleen
Published: July 2022

In recent years, commercial insurers have been slowly advancing coverage for telemedicine, raising questions regarding payment. Many states now have laws that address telemedicine reimbursement and as of 2019, 10 required full payment parity. Using a large commercial insurance claims database, this study conducted two natural experiments to better understand whether payment parity is effective in driving more telemedicine provision. Payments for common outpatient procedures provided by telemedicine and in offices during 2018–2019 were examined according to whether the service was subject to payment parity. For medical visits, evidence of payment incentives in promoting telemedicine was limited, and for psychotherapy telemedicine payments were comparable or greater than office visit payments. As telemedicine escalated during the COVID-19 peak and continues to grow beyond the pandemic, a valuable message is that payment parity laws may be a less effective strategy for encouraging telemedicine use than presumed by many state policymakers.
Homecoming With Culturally Situated Philosophies of Being in Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Bhattacharya Kakali
Published: July 2022

In this article, I enact moves of homecoming in which I reclaim knowledge that I had forgotten or never known. Drawing on wisdom traditions from my heritage, I discuss how I inform my philosophies of inquiry that are de/colonial, Par/Des(i), and transnational. I move between dreamspaces built by utopian desires and the materiality of our existence, connecting absurdity and nonsense as modes of inquiry and as critiques of and relief from multiply interconnected structures of oppression. Tracing back to a children’s literature author in British-occupied India, I use the notions of absurdity and nonsense to reimagine qualitative research from a justice-oriented perspective. I conclude with my chosen exile from the postqualitative labeling of qualitative research to focus on ways of being that are culturally situated, relational, and justice informed.
Stability and Reliability of Enhanced External-Internal Motion Correlation via Dynamic Phase-Shift Corrections Over 30-min Timeframe for Respiratory-Gated Radiotherapy
Authors: Milewski Andrew , Li Guang
Published: July 2022

To assess the stability of patient-specific phase shifts between external- and internal-respiratory motion waveforms, the reliability of enhanced external–internal correlation with phase-shift correction, and the feasibility of guiding respiratory-gated radiotherapy (RGRT) over 30 min. In this clinical feasibility investigation, external bellows and internal-navigator waveforms were simultaneously and prospectively acquired along with two four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (4DMRI) scans (6–15 m each) with 15–20 m intervals in 10 volunteers. A bellows was placed 5 cm inferior to the xiphoid to monitor abdominal motion, and an MR navigator was used to track the diaphragmatic motion. The mean phase-domain (MPD) method was applied, which combines three individual phase-calculating methods: phase-space oval fitting, principal component analysis, and analytic signal analysis, weighted by the reciprocal of their residual errors (RE) excluding outliers (RE >2σ). The time-domain cross-correlation (TCC) analysis was applied for comparison. Dynamic phase-shift correction was performed based on the phase shift detected on the fly within two 10 s moving datasets. Simulating bellows-triggered gating, the median and 95% confidence interval for the navigator's position at beam-on/beam-off and %harm (percentage of beam-on time outside the safety margin) were calculated. Averaged across all subjects, the mean phase shifts are found indistinguishable ( p > .05) between scan 1 (55˚ ± 9˚) and scan 2 (59˚ ± 11˚). Using the MPD method the averaged correlation increases from 0.56 ± 0.22 to 0.85 ± 0.11 for scan 1 and from 0.47 ± 0.30 to 0.84 ± 0.08 for scan 2. The TCC correction results in similar results. After phase-shift correction, the number of cases that were suitable for amplitude gating (with <10%harm) increased from 2 to 17 out of 20 cases. A patient-specific, stable phase-shift between the external and internal motions was observed and corrected using the MPD and TCC methods, producing long-lasting enhanced motion correlation over 30m. Phase-shift correction offers a feasible strategy for improving the accuracy of tumor-motion prediction during RGRT.
Use of Chamomile Infusion to Mitigate Radiotherapy-Induced Dry Desquamation in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Authors: Menêses Amanda Gomes de , Ferreira Elaine Barros , Bontempo Priscila de Souza Maggi , Guerra Eliete Neves Silva , Reis Paula Elaine Diniz dos
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

To evaluate the effect of using a compress with Chamomilla recutita infusion in the regression of dry desquamation and in the prevention of moist desquamation in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Methods:

A prospective intervention study was carried out from May 2019 to May 2021. In total, 43 participants were included, who were instructed to apply the compress with the infusion 3 times a day, after occurrence of dry desquamation. Skin evaluation took place daily from initiation of the intervention up to the end of radiotherapy.

Results:

All the participants presented dry desquamation regression, where 65.1% (95% CI 50.1-78.1) had total regression until the end of radiotherapy, with a mean of 9 days of regression. Only 34.9% (95% CI 21.8-49.9) of the participants developed moist desquamation by the end of the radiotherapy sessions, with a mean accumulated dose of ionizing radiation of 50.9 Gy.

Conclusion:

This study highlighted the potential clinical benefits of using Chamomilla recutita in the regression of dry desquamation and in the prevention of moist desquamation.
Efficacy of Prospective Memory Rehabilitation Plus Metacognitive Skills Training for Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Fleming Jennifer , Ownsworth Tamara , Doig Emmah , Hogan Christy , Hamilton Caitlin , Swan Sarah , Griffin Janelle , Kendall Melissa , Shum David
Published: July 2022

Background

Prospective memory (PM) failure can limit independence and productivity following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Compensatory strategy use may ameliorate the effect of PM impairment on daily life but requires sufficient self-awareness. Metacognitive skills training (MST) can facilitate self-awareness and strategy use and may improve the efficacy of PM rehabilitation.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of compensatory strategy training (COMP) with an MST component (COMP-MST) for reducing everyday PM failure and improving psychosocial integration in adults with moderate–severe TBI, compared to COMP alone and a control condition. Secondary aims were to evaluate the effect of training on psychometric PM test scores, strategy use, self-awareness, and level of care.

Methods

Assessor and participant-blinded randomized controlled trial with 52 participants (77% male, mean age = 39.0. SD = 13.6) allocated to 3 groups: COMP-MST, COMP, and waitlist control. Interventions were delivered over 6 weekly sessions. Measures were collected pre- and post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using unstructured linear mixed-effects modeling for repeated measures and planned contrasts between time-points for each group.

Results

The models showed no significant differences between the groups on primary or secondary outcome measures. Significant pre–post intervention improvements were found for significant other’s ratings of everyday PM failure for both intervention groups but not the control group, with medium to large effect sizes. Clinically relevant improvements on primary outcomes were found for participants across all 3 groups.

Conclusions

This study found no significant benefits of combining MST with COMP for improving everyday PM and psychosocial integration.

Clinical Trial Registration:

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry https://www.anzctr.org.au/ ACTRN12615000996561