bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review of Intervention Strategies for Areca Nut Use Cessation
Authors: Dhingra Kriti , Jhanjee Sonali
Published: January 2023

Background:

Areca nut (AN) is one of the world’s most widely used drugs, especially in Asia-Pacific, causing dependence and multiple adverse health impacts. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified it as a type-1 carcinogen. Despite evidence of harms, its use is culturally ingrained in many regions worldwide; harm perception is low; and the availability of intervention strategies is limited.

Methods:

To identify the range and efficacy of interventional studies on AN use cessation, a narrative review of studies published between 1990 and 2021 was undertaken using selected electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Scopus).

Results:

Three types of interventions were identified: educational, psychological, and pharmacological. Overall, educational interventions significantly enhanced knowledge regarding harms related to AN use. Some psychological interventions reported enhancement of motivation to quit as well as helped in reduction/cessation of AN use. Two pharmacological studies on psychiatric patients with depressive disorders and AN use found that antidepressants helped in reducing/cessation of AN use.

Conclusion:

Overall, the number of interventional studies on AN cessation is limited, and most studies have measured the short-term effects of the intervention. The role of pharmacotherapeutic interventions needs to be evaluated for AN cessation, and evidence-based psychosocial interventions need to be developed for AN cessation. Furthermore, longitudinal research using adequate sample sizes and longer follow-up durations are needed to establish interventions in this important area.
Comfort in chaos: A sensory account of climate change denial
Authors: Bosca Hannah Della
Published: January 2023

This paper argues that sensory practices that insulate individual bodies from the effects of climate disruption may enable and perpetuate a distinct form of climate change denial. Existing scholarship has established the ways in which climate-modifying technologies, such as air conditioning, reconfigure socio-ecological relationships through sensory norms. This paper extends this analysis by relating these sensory norms to contemporary discourses on climate denial. Drawing on a heatwave case study in Western Sydney, Australia, the paper explores how practices of thermal comfort for particular, often privileged, bodies may be understood as sensory enablers of climate change denial. This work encourages theoretical movement beyond the scientific and political disembodiment that often characterises contemporary climate change denial discourse, and urges greater attention to the sensory drivers of climate-related behaviours, experiences, and perceptions. This sensory approach may allow theoretical and strategic engagement with otherwise hidden social barriers to sustainable climate interventions and action.
Migrant labour, debt and the branding of a ‘multicultural’ Israel
Authors: Brown Rachel
Published: January 2023

The author examines the way in which the example of Filipina caregiver Rose Fostanes, winner of X-Factor Israel, was used to reframe Israel as multicultural and economically empowering for migrants. Such representations of Israeli magnanimity obscure the ‘incommensurable’ debts owed to Palestinians for dispossession of their land, while obscuring past and ongoing labour and resource extraction that shape global labour markets and drive migration. Such representations of non-white (im)migrant inclusion are common within liberal settler economies, and have long been deployed to shore up global influence in states embroiled in colonial violence. Through the lens of debt, the author highlights the comparative racialisations of migrants.
Strategic Multi-Echelon and Cross-Modal CO2 Emissions Calculation in Parcel Distribution Networks: First Step Toward a Common Language
Authors: Rafael Arevalo-Ascanio , Roel Gevaers , Wouter Dewulf
Published: January 2023

Sustainability in distribution networks is currently the focus of study at institutional, academic, and commercial levels. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is on all the programmatic agendas, and the goals are clear for years toward carbon neutrality. As one of the main polluting sectors and growing trends with e-commerce, transport must align its efforts to contribute to the cause. In this paper, a strategic model is proposed for the calculation of CO2 emissions in the distribution of parcels. Novel in this research is that it integrates both line-haul transport and last-mile distribution at a strategic level and includes key elements such as time windows and population density in the calculation. Through an applied case in parcel distribution in Belgium, the calculation of CO2 emissions with the proposed model is illustrated. The model is enhanced by analyzing the time windows effect and the electrification of the last-mile fleet. The results concerning CO2 emissions in parcel distribution in Belgium show that it is possible to reduce emissions not only through the electrification of the fleet but also with an efficient distribution network. The effect of the network structure will be more evident with international shipments that include more polluting modes of transport. However, the results for Belgium show that the last mile is currently the most polluting segment. The proposed model could further be complemented by including reverse logistics, in-house calculation, and packaging emissions.
Conceptual aero-structural design of a fan stage under distorted flow
Authors: Pokhrel Manish , Sarojini Darshan , Mavris Dimitri N
Published: January 2023

Rotor blades experience unsteady forces and aerodynamic losses when operating in a distorted inflow. The structural analysis of rotors under these conditions, therefore, is of prime importance during the early design phase. This work introduces a computationally efficient design framework that links the aerodynamic design and structural analysis of the rotor. Rotor structural analysis comprises computing dynamic stresses, the excitation frequencies, and resonance margins at various modes of vibration. A design space encapsulating fan stage design variables, aerodynamic performance, and rotor structural constraints is explored and optimized for maximum fan stage efficiency subject to aerodynamic and structural constraints.
Treatment options for severe or refractory mpox virus infection in patients with advanced HIV
Authors: Pettit Natasha N , Imam Sabrina , Sherer Renslow , Hazra Aniruddha
Published: January 2023

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a health advisory on the occurrence of severe cases of mpox in immunocompromised patients, namely those with advanced HIV. Treatment options are limited, and very little is known about how to optimally treat patients with severe disease. Herein we describe two cases of severe mpox in Chicago in the setting of advanced HIV and provide suggested guidance for managing cases of severe disease in immunocompromised patients based available data, CDC recommendations, and our experience managing these patients.
Event-driven adaptive intermittent control applied to a rotational pendulum
Authors: Álvarez-Martín J Alberto , Gollee Henrik , Gawthrop Peter J
Published: January 2023

Intermittent control combines open-loop trajectories with feedback at discrete time instances determined by events. Among other applications, it has recently been used to model quiet standing in humans where the system was assumed to be time-invariant. This article expands this work to the time-variant case by introducing an adaptive intermittent controller that exploits the well-known self-tuning architecture of adaptive control with a Kalman filter to perform online state and parameter estimation. Simulation and experimental results using a rotational inverted pendulum show advantages of the intermittent controllers compared to continuous feedback control since the former can provide persistent excitation due to their internal triggering mechanism, even when no external reference changes or disturbances are applied. Moreover, the results show that the event thresholds of intermittent control can be used to adjust the degree of responsiveness of the adaptation in the system, becoming a tool to balance the trade-off between steady-state performance and flexibility against parametric changes, addressing the stability–plasticity dilemma of adaptation and learning in control.
Moral distress and patients who forego care due to cost
Authors: Keilman Linda , Jolaei Soudabeh , Olsen Douglas P
Published: January 2023

Background

In the US, many patients forgo recommended care due to cost. The ANA Code of Ethics requires nurses to give care based on need. Therefore, US nurses are compelled to practice in a context which breaches their professional ethical code.

Research Objectives

This study sought to determine if nurses do care for patients who forgo treatment due to cost (PFTDC) and if so, does this result in an experience of moral distress (MD).

Research Design

Semi-structured interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis.

Participants and Research Context

A convenience sample of 20 nurses in practice for at least one year from a variety of health care setting participated.

Ethical Considerations

This project was approved by the Michigan State University Biomedical Institutional Review Board.

Results

There were 19 female and one male nurse-participants, averaging 47 years old with an average of 10 years in practice. 18 reported caring for PFTDC. These 17 nurse-participants experienced a moderate degree of MD as a result, averaging 5.4 of 10 on the Moral Distress Thermometer. In the interviews, the following themes were identified, strategies to help PFTDC, and the broken US health care system which had the subthemes of preference for business over patient-oriented benefit, PFTDC using the emergency department, and limited support for treatment/management of PFTDC.

Conclusions

The existence of this phenomenon places the profession of nursing in the US in a position of moral compromise and threatens to corrupt the institution of nursing in the US.
Worker voice and algorithmic management in post-Brexit Britain
Authors: Collins Philippa , Atkinson Joe
Published: January 2023

In this article, we consider the legal frameworks that enable workers to influence the deployment of new workplace technologies in the United Kingdom and the future of worker voice and algorithmic management in a post-Brexit Britain. The article demonstrates how the legal mechanisms that facilitate voice at work, primarily collective bargaining via trade unions, can be leveraged to influence employers’ choices regarding algorithmic management. However, it also identifies both familiar and novel challenges regarding using these routes to ‘negotiate the algorithm’. The article then outlines major regulatory proposals emerging from the EU that would establish greater co-determination in this context and assesses their relevance to the UK labour market. It concludes by considering whether specific regulatory measures are necessary in the UK context to enhance the exercise of worker voice regarding the deployment of algorithmic management and close the widening gap between the position of UK and EU workers.
Addiction experts: The discrepancy between expectations and reality of generalist psychiatry training
Authors: Lundin Robert M , Hill Harry , Rao Ranjini , Maud Catherine
Published: January 2023

Objective

The generalist psychiatrist is recognised in Australia as a specialist in the management of addiction. However, generalist training does not adequately prepare psychiatrists to take on this expert role. This problem is exacerbated by the lack of consensus around core competencies and training pathways. This article conceptualises the status of addiction training in generalist psychiatry training, outlines current gaps and worrying trends and provides suggestions for how these can be addressed.

Conclusion

Limited international leadership in the field provides an opportunity for psychiatry training in Australia and New Zealand to set a gold standard for training general psychiatrists to hold core competencies in addiction psychiatry. Key strategies will include: the identification and monitoring of addiction rotations; providing a formal training module in addiction; specifying a set proportion of addiction exam questions; and obtain consensus on core competencies.
Disability Prevalence and Community-Level Allocation of Hurricane Harvey Federal Disaster Recovery Assistance in Texas
Authors: Malmin Natasha P. , Eisenman David
Published: January 2023

Disasters have severe implications for life and property, often requiring large-scale collective action to facilitate recovery. In the U.S., one key determinant of recovery is access to resources that mitigate damage losses and shorten disaster recovery trajectories. However, communities with the disabled present may be excluded from such services despite federal mandates for equal access and reasonable accommodations. We examined Hurricane Harvey federal recovery assistance distributions based on underlying community disability profiles. Through cross-sectional quantile regression, we used Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) direct-to-household administrative data at the zip code level regressed onto American Community Survey estimates of disability. We found that as the prevalence of disability increased in communities, the total dollar amount of FEMA direct-to-household assistance decreased, controlling for factors such as storm damage, poverty, population density, and race/ethnicity. Moreover, disability-related funding disparities were driven primarily by hearing-related disabilities, with disparities in funding widening as total assistance increased in communities. Such inequities in community-level funding have implications on how well communities may recover from disasters.
A Pilot Study of the Serious Illness Conversation Guide in a Dialysis Clinic
Authors: Mandel Ernest I. , Maloney Francine L. , Pertsch Nathan J. , Gass Jonathon D. , Sanders Justin J. , Bernacki Rachelle E. , Block Susan D.
Published: January 2023

Clinician-led conversations about future care priorities occur infrequently with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis. This was a pilot study of structured serious illness conversations using the Serious Illness Conversation Guide (SICG) in a single dialysis clinic to assess acceptability of the approach and explore conversation themes and potential outcomes among patients with ESRD. Twelve individuals with ESRD on dialysis from a single outpatient dialysis clinic participated in this study. Participants completed a baseline demographics survey, engaged in a clinician-led structured serious illness conversation, and completed an acceptability questionnaire. Conversations were recorded, transcribed and thematically analyzed. The average age of participants was 68.8 years. The conversations averaged 20:53 in length. Ten participants (83%) felt that the conversation was held at the right time in their clinical course and eleven participants (91%) felt that it was worthwhile. Most participants (73%) reported neutral feelings about clinician use of a printed guide. Eleven participants (91%) reported no change in anxiety about their illness following the conversation, and five participants (42%) reported that the conversation increased their hopefulness about future quality of life. Thematic analysis revealed common perspectives on dialysis including that participants view in-center hemodialysis as temporary, compartmentalize their kidney disease, perceive narrowed life experiences and opportunities, and believe dialysis is their only option. This pilot study suggests that clinician-led structured serious illness conversations may be acceptable to patients with ESRD on dialysis. The themes identified can inform future serious illness conversations with dialysis patients.
The incidence and characteristics of giant cell arteritis in Hispanics and the associated outcomes of ischemic ocular events and stroke
Authors: Smith Lisa M , Alvarado Luis A , Dihowm Fatma
Published: January 2023

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large vessel vasculitis whereby up to half of all patients show ocular involvement, highlighting the importance of treating GCA before it leads to irreversible blindness. Most of the research published for GCA and associated adverse ocular events are based on majority Caucasian populations establishing the current belief that Hispanics have a much lower incident of GCA. We sought to investigate the incidence of GCA in Hispanics and characterize associated ocular events, stroke rates, and comorbid diseases. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of GCA-coded medical records in self-identified Hispanics assessed at the University Medical Center Hospital in El Paso, Texas. From 2000 to 2019, there were 68 new cases of GCA in the Hispanics which represents an average incidence of 0.062% with a 95% confidence interval of [0.05, 0.09] of Hispanics over the age of 50 admitted to University Medical Center hospital. Of the subjects diagnosed with GCA, the majority had ocular involvement such as blurry vision (47.06%), ocular pain (26.47%), and blindness (14.71%). We did not observe a history of stroke had a statistically significant difference associated with GCA with ophthalmic disease compared to GCA without ophthalmic disease. Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) was identified in only 2.94% of the Hispanic subjects with GCA. Major conclusions in our study advocate Hispanics with GCA are prevalent and unique in its associations with other comorbid diseases. Unlike non-Hispanic White populations, Hispanic subjects with GCA do not show an association with PMR nor an increased association with stroke.
The effects of quinoa and okra incorporation on the quality of diet cake
Authors: Shobeiri Mahdi , Elhami Rad Amir Hosein , Sheikholeslami Zahra , Zenozian Masoud Shafafi , Saeedi Asl Mohammad Reza
Published: January 2023

Producing quality products in baking industry has been facing several challenges including meeting the needs of the growing population, lack of sufficient water resources for producing enough wheat, lack of quality products made from wheat flour and high amount of waste. Recently, the quality of baking products has been improved by mixing different types of flour, which increases the nutritional value and improves the quality of the final product. This study evaluates the possibility of making a cake by incorporating wheat flour with quinoa and okra flour. Moreover, basil gum is used to improve the gluten network. The cake samples were prepared with quinoa flour at two levels (15 and 30%), okra flour at two levels (0.8 and 0.16%) and basil gum at a level of 0.4%; finally, their physicochemical, rheological, SEM, and sensory properties were evaluated. Based on the results, adding quinoa and okra flour and basil gum increases the density and consistency of the batter. Hardness, springiness, chewiness, cohesiveness, and adhesiveness of the blend Q2B1R was improved. The granule structure of the quinoa flour cakes were affected, and the gluten network was not well formed as shown in the electron microscopy images. However, the gluten network was improved in the samples with 0.4% basil gum and 0.8% okra flour. By adding okra and quinoa, better specific volume, porosity, and moisture content was obtained. Sensory evaluation of the cakes indicated that the blend Q2B1R was scored close to the control sample.
Implanted blood vessel external support device for the treatment of distal hypoperfusion ischemic syndrome in arteriovenous fistulas and high-frame-rate Vector Flow quality assessment
Authors: Franchin Marco , Goddi Alfredo , Muscato Paola , Cervarolo Maria Cristina , Piffaretti Gabriele , Tozzi Matteo
Published: January 2023

Introduction:

Distal hypoperfusion ischemic syndrome (DHIS) is a complication occurring after arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation. Different surgical alternatives haves been proposed in case of severe DHIS. Aim of the present paper is to present a new technique for DHIS treatment.

Material and methods:

Between the 1st of January 2021 and the 31st December 2021 all the patients referred to our center for DHIS grade 2–4 were treated with a new surgical technique. It consists of AVF remodeling using an external nitinol support (VasQ®) to reduce the risk of outflow vein enlargement and DHIS recurrence. To better appreciate the hemodynamic effects of the surgery, a new ultrasound technique called high-frame-rate Vector Flow (HiFR-VF) was used.

Results:

Seven patients (M:F 1:3; mean age 43 ± 12 years, range 29–65) were included in this study. Central line was never necessary, and technical success was 100% at 12 months. The comparison with historical data demonstrated lower recurrence of symptoms in comparison to simple artery-to-vein redo (p 0.50). The HiFR-VF showed flow with limited turbulent characteristics at the anastomosis site.

Discussion and conclusion:

The new technique proposed demonstrated to be safe and effective for treatment of DHIS, preventing symptoms recurrence. Ultrasound examination and HiFR-VF can be considered a valuable method to evaluate complex flows at the levels of vascular anastomosis.
Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Bisphenol A in Polymeric Baby Bottles
Authors: Dehdashti Bahare , Nikaeen Mahnaz , Amin Mohammad Mehdi , Mohammadi Farzaneh
Published: January 2023

In recent decades, paying attention to bisphenol A (BPA), as one of the endocrine disruptor compounds, has increased due to its harmful effects. Although, scattered studies have been conducted in order to measure BPA concentration migrated into polymeric baby bottles in different countries of the world, there are no review studies and evaluation with a global perspective in the field of BPA risk. Some of these studies indicated the potential risks and estrogenic effects associated with BPA in babies’ daily intake. For this purpose, we reviewed the information on the migration levels of BPA into baby bottles has been reported in 10 countries. The potential risks associated with BPA through the daily intake as well as the estrogenic effect on 3 age groups of babies which include 0 to 6, 6 to 12, and 12 to 24 months were analyzed using the Monte Carlo simulation. Also, kinetic models were applied to predict the kinetics of the migration process of BPA. The median daily intake for 3 age groups was obtained as 191.1, 161.37, and 153.76 µg/kg/day, respectively; which indicated Hazard Index (HI) > 1. The median estrogenic effect for the 3 groups was estimated to be 0.021 ngE2/L. The kinetics of contaminant transfer with Polynomial model at 2 temperatures of 24°C and 40°C showed a better fit with R2 = 0.99 and 0.91, respectively. Based on the risk assessment analysis conducted in the present study, the BPA migration in baby bottles appeared to be a health concern for babies. Therefore, it is needed to increase the safety level of bottles for babies as they are sensitive and vulnerable members of every society. Furthermore, in this study, only the investigation of the global situation of BPA in polymeric baby bottles was stated; therefore, more investigation about another potential sources of BPA in food chain is needed.
Autism spectrum disorder and personality disorders: How do clinicians carry out a differential diagnosis?
Authors: Allely Clare S , Woodhouse Emma , Mukherjee Raja AS
Published: January 2023

Although it is recognised that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and personality disorders (PDs) have a variety of factors in common, the exact nature of the relationship between ASD and the PDs remains unclear. The overlapping symptom profiles and complexities in developmental trajectories in ASD and PDs can lead to diagnostic uncertainty and to challenges in determining differential diagnoses. Features of ASD and PD can be misattributed and easily lead to misdiagnosis or missed diagnoses in patients who have a diagnosis of ASD, which may impact therapeutic pathways. Since differentiating between ASD and PD is such a complex task with implications for therapeutic approaches, it has been argued that there is a need for additional understanding and markers for facilitating diagnostic procedures. There is an urgent need to explore how clinicians make diagnostic decisions and the challenges they face in forming diagnostic conclusions. Where overlaps exist, it is important to consider how clinicians interpret and attribute certain characteristics within the context of ASD and/or PD diagnoses.

Lay Abstract

It is now recognised that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and personality disorders (PDs) have a variety of factors in common. However, the exact nature of the relationship between ASD and the PDs remains unclear. The overlapping symptom profiles of ASD and PDs can lead to diagnostic uncertainty – features of ASD and PD can be misattributed and easily lead to misdiagnosis of ASD patients. Since differentiating between ASD and PD is such a complex task, it has been argued that there is a need for additional understanding and markers for facilitating diagnostic procedures. There is an urgent need to explore, first, how clinicians make diagnostic decisions and, second, how to effectively deal with the challenges and difficulties they face when making decisions. Also, where there are clear overlaps, how do clinicians choose how to attribute labels in order to understand the person.
Netflix and cringe – affectively watching ‘uncomfortable’ TV
Authors: Pradhan Anuja , Drake Carly
Published: January 2023

In this study, we conceptualise the phenomenon of cringe watching in order to understand why and how consumers engage with media that make them uncomfortable. We mobilise de-Western feminist thought to analyse our reactions to the Netflix series Indian Matchmaking. We find that ‘cringe’ is a bundle of consumers’ ‘ugly feelings’ belying complicated affect and biases that are often rooted in Western values. By leveraging collaborative autoethnography as our method, we allow space for both ‘visceral’ and ‘rational’ experiences, challenging the role of researchers as subjects by positioning ourselves, additionally, as objects. Our findings reveal that engaging with media artefacts is a recursive process wherein consumers may encounter ‘cringe’, which when subject to introspection reveals unexpected socio-affective states like self-compassion, empathy for others, and understanding their own limitations as well as their place in the world. These findings have implications for marketing and consumer research on media, representation, and affect.
Temporal trends in minor and major lower extremity amputation in people with type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study
Authors: Hamilton Emma J , Davis Wendy A , Baba Mendel , Davis Timothy ME
Published: January 2023

Aims

To determine whether incident minor and major lower extremity amputations (LEAs) have declined in recent decades in type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Participants with type 2 diabetes from the community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study Phases I (FDS1; n = 1,296, mean age 64.0 years, recruited 1993–1996) and II (FDS2; n = 1,509, mean age 65.4 years, recruited 2008–2011) were followed from entry to incident minor/major LEA, death or five years. Cox regression determined hazard ratios (HRs) for each outcome for FDS2 versus FDS1 and independent predictors of incident minor and major LEA in the combined cohort.

Results

Age- and sex-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) in FDS2 versus FDS1 for incident minor and major LEA were, respectively, 0.60 (0.27, 1.35) and 0.59 (0.22, 1.59). Higher glycated haemoglobin, urine albumin: creatinine (uACR) ratio and peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) were independent predictors of incident minor LEA. Higher fasting serum glucose, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), end-stage kidney disease and prior diabetes-related minor LEA were associated with incident major LEA.

Conclusions

There were non-significant reductions of approximately 40% in incident minor and major LEA in community-based people with type 2 diabetes during the 15 years between FDS Phases. Predictors of minor/major LEA confirm distinct high-risk patient groups with implications for clinical management.
Hydromethanolic Root Extract of Gnidia Kraussiana Demonstrates Anti-Inflammatory Effect Through Anti-Oxidant Activity Enhancement in a Rodent Model of Gout
Authors: Dadaya Elizé , Koubala Benoit , Ndjonka Dieudonné , Zingué Stéphane , Laya Alphonse , Atsang Gisèle
Published: January 2023

Gout is a metabolic arthritis that originates from increased accumulation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in joints. This work aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the hydromethanolic extract of Gnidia kraussiana (HEGK) using model of Gouty arthritis on mice. The total polyphenol, flavonoid, tannin content and the antioxidant activity of HEGK were also evaluated. MSU-injected mice were treated daily for 3 days with HEGK (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). Indomethacin and colchicin were used as reference drugs. Paw oedema and body temperature were measured at different time intervals post-injection. Malondialdehyde, acid phosphatase, β-Galactosidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels were evaluated. HEGK is rich in polyphenol (129.93 mg/100 g), flavonoid (67.78 mg/100 g) and tannin conferring it a high antioxidant activity. Acute oral toxicity of HEGK resulted in LD50 greater than 2000 mg/kg. Oral administration of HEGK induced a significant decrease in the oedema of legs injected with urate crystals and reduced the release of acid phosphatase and β-Galactosidase. A model of oxidative damage was successfully established, revealing a significant increase in malondialdehyde and inhibition of antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione activity. Thus, HEGK can actively inhibit the effect of inflammatory mediators in gouty arthritis.
‘Our Stories...’: Co-Constructing Digital Storytelling Methodologies for Supporting the Transitions of Autistic Children - Study Protocol
Authors: Parsons Sarah , Kovshoff Hanna , Yuill Nicola , Glass Devyn , Holt Samantha , Ward Asha , Barron Cleo , Ward Rebecca
Published: January 2023

The voices of autistic children and their families are routinely underestimated and overlooked in research and practice. Research is challenged methodologically in accessing the views of autistic people who, by definition, are characterised by social and communication difficulties. Consequently, many voices remain unheard and experiences undocumented. This has important implications for the validity of research that is interested in improving the life experiences of marginalised groups since the representation of those experiences is partial and dominated by research perspectives that prioritise particular kinds of evidence. This situation matters because there remains a substantial gap between research and practice such that the longer-term outcomes for autistic people across social, educational and economic indices remain poor. We argue that research can only make an impact on practice if there is a genuine commitment to gathering and understanding these different sources of evidence in ways that connect research and practice from the start. This protocol describes a methodological project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council in the UK. The ‘Our Stories’ project applies and extends a participatory Digital Stories methodology to explore the research challenge of gathering a range of views from autistic children, families, and practice in authentic ways and at points of transition. Digital Stories is an accessible and inclusive methodology that supports the sharing of views and experiences in visual, video form. We describe the rationale for, and design, of the project across four pilot studies in different contexts as well as our approach to analysis and ethics. While our project focuses on autism, the knowledge we gain is applicable to research and practice much more widely and to any voices or groups who are marginalised from the traditional ways of doing research and to any contexts of practice.
Panel composition and disparities in the topics of presentation in vascular surgery conferences
Authors: Soni Utsav , Phair John , Zekelman Leo , Mascharak Smita , Choinski Krystina , Lipsitz Evan , Koleilat Issam
Published: January 2023

Background

Previous studies identified gender disparities in surgical conference presenters and moderators. We sought to assess disparities in the representation of women in terms of speakers and moderators, but with particular emphasis on panels and topics of discussion at vascular surgery conferences.

Methods

Data regarding presenters and moderators from the Southern Association of Vascular Surgery, Western Vascular Society, Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, and Society for Vascular Surgery conferences was obtained from online meeting archives and via email correspondence. Scientific session speakers, moderators, and panelists were identified by sex. Specific vascular topics for each discussion were also identified. Keynote speakers or special guests were excluded.

Results

Compared to men, women were less often presenters (18% versus 82%, p < .002) and moderators (16% versus 84%, p < .001) of conference sessions. Women were most likely to present on dialysis access and least likely to present on venous disease overall. Women were more likely to present on aortic (24% vs 19%; p < .013) and cerebrovascular disease (33% vs 27%; p < .021) at regional compared to national conferences. Of panels assessed, 68% were all-male. Subgroup analysis suggests that some improvements have been made over time.

Conclusions

Significant disparities persist in the topics presented and in panel composition suggesting potential areas for improvement in equity. Further study should focus on evaluating trends in the training level of the presenter and the topics presented, and assessing parity in structural factors that impact research presentation opportunities.
Finding words: Aesthetic criticism and television
Authors: Walters James
Published: January 2023

Those endorsing or opposing the development of television aesthetics scholarship have exhibited an admirable willingness to reflect upon the rationales and motivations for formulating value judgements. However, very little equivalent attention has been afforded to processes that occur within this area: how scholars conduct analysis and develop claims for achievement in television. In addressing this lack, the following article surveys some of the meanings that ‘criticism’ has encompassed in Television Studies, offering ‘aesthetic criticism’ as a useful term to describe the work of analysis and evaluation, before moving to a series of close readings of aesthetic criticism in practice.
‘Herding cats’: A mixed methods investigation into the educational value of debriefing in operating theatres
Authors: Rego Anitha , Spowart Lucy , Smith Susanne
Published: January 2023

Aim:

The aim of the study was to explore the value of debriefing to enhance learning within operating theatres.

Methods:

A sequential mixed method study was undertaken at a local District General Hospital Trust in 2020. A total of 106 surveys were distributed to all multidisciplinary team members based in the trauma and orthopaedic theatres. Following the survey stage, 11 in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with volunteers from the survey stage which included a range of health care professionals.

Findings:

Participants identified debriefing as a valuable tool for learning and reflection. However, significant barriers were identified, including lack of time and conflicting priorities. Some interviewees referred to the current debriefing process as a ‘tick box’ and a ‘herding cats’ exercise, attributing it to a lack of structure, leadership and organisational buy-in.

Conclusions:

Debriefing in the operating theatre is a valuable tool for individual and team learning. However, formalising the structure of the debriefing, along with joint team and organisational commitment, was deemed vital in optimising the value of debriefings in the future.
Media framing of the Intifada of the Knives
Authors: Attar Dalia , King Gretchen
Published: January 2023

Research examining coverage of Western media on the Palestinian–Israeli conflict shows an imbalance in reporting the news and favoritism towards an Israeli government interpretation of the story. This article aims to examine how the so-called Intifada of the Knives (IK) was framed in Western print newspapers. The research also examines the representation of Palestinians and Israelis during that period. Media Framing Analysis (MFA) is deployed to present a detailed examination of 16 articles that appeared in prominent British, American, Canadian, and Australian print newspapers during that period. Findings show that negative frames were more dominant than positive frames. Overall, the articles framed the Intifada as a religious dispute and empathized more with Israelis who were described as victims while Palestinians were framed as terrorists or anti-Semitic. Little or no background was given as to why Palestinians opted for such actions against Israelis.
Finding peace journalism: An analysis of Pakistani media discourse on Afghan refugees and their forced repatriation from Pakistan
Authors: Jehangir Ayesha
Published: January 2023

This study investigates media coverage of Afghan refugees by English-language media in Pakistan and explores how coverage is shaped by a shift in the political stance of the Pakistani state and establishment towards Afghanistan. The author examines how Afghan refugees, their forced repatriation from Pakistan, and the subsequent conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan were framed in both long-form and short-form media coverage over three years. Using Galtung’s Peace and War Journalism Model to inform the Critical Discourse Analysis, this study finds that conflict-escalatory frames dominated media coverage, and media stance changed over time to reflect state policy on the forced repatriation of over three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Findings reveal that the coverage in all four publications was highly politicized and inflammatory, the voice of Afghan refugees was significantly missing from coverage, while the Pakistani government and military elite were predominantly used as news sources. Based on the findings, the author argues that pressures from the Pakistani state and military establishment are key reasons why media coverage of Afghan refugees frequently contained negative frames of terrorism and ethnonationalism. Sporadic employment of limited peace-oriented framing was, however, observed in some of the coverage.
Comparison of surgical treatments for distal ulna fracture when combined with anterior locking plate fixation of distal radius in the over 70 age group
Authors: Shibata Ryutaro , Tokutake Katsuhiro , Takegami Yasuhiko , Natsume Tadahiro , Matsubara Yuji , Imagama Shiro
Published: January 2023

We conducted a retrospective multicentre study to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes, and complications of three surgical treatments of distal ulna fracture (DUF) when combined with anterior locking plate fixation for distal radial fracture (DRF) in patients over 70 years of age. We identified 1521 patients over 70 years of age who were diagnosed as having DRF and who underwent anterior locking plate fixation between 2015 and 2020, among which 122 cases of DUF were analysed. Three surgical treatment options for DUF were identified in this cohort: K-wire fixation (Group K), locking plate fixation (Group L) and Darrach procedure (Group D). The results of the analysis showed the total immobilization period in Group D to be the shortest among the three treatments. Functional outcomes were superior, and the rate of complications were smaller in Group D than in Group L. In addition, rotational range of motion was larger in Group D and Group L compared with Group K. In patients who are 70 years of age or older with combined unstable DRF and highly comminuted or displaced DUF, the Darrach procedure for DUF seems to be the most useful and reasonable treatment option once the fracture of the distal radius has been rigidly fixed.

Level of evidence: IV.
The efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii in addition to antofloxacin-based bismuth quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a single-center, prospective randomized-control study
Authors: He Xiao-Jian , Wang Xiao-Ling , Sun Dong-Jie , Huang Xiao-Yan , Liu Gang , Li Da-Zhou , Lin Hai-Lan , Zeng Xiang-Peng , Li Dong-Liang , Wang Wen
Published: January 2023

Background:

We previously reported that antofloxacin-based bismuth quadruple therapy was safe and effective for Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) eradication. It is not clear whether the addition of Saccharomyces boulardii ( S. boulardii) to antofloxacin-based quadruple therapy can improve the eradication rate of H. pylori and reduce adverse events.

Objective:

To investigate the effect of adding S. boulardii to antofloxacin-based quadruple therapy on the eradication rate of H. pylori and the adverse events.

Design:

Single-center, prospective randomized controlled study.

Methods:

A total of 172 patients with H. pylori infection were randomly assigned to the test and control groups. Patients in the control group ( n = 86) received antofloxacin-based bismuth quadruple therapy for 14 days. On this basis, cases in the test group ( n = 86) received S. boulardii 500 mg b.i.d. The eradication rate of H. pylori and adverse events were observed 4 weeks after the treatment.

Results:

There were no statistically significant differences in the eradication rates of H. pylori and frequency of diarrhea between the test group and control group ( p > 0.05). The duration of diarrhea in the test group was significantly shorter than in the control group ( p < 0.001). In addition, the two groups exhibited similar adverse event rates for epigastric pain, abdominal distention, dizzy, vomiting, and rash ( p > 0.05). The severity of adverse reactions was similar between the two groups ( p > 0.05), and most of them had mild adverse events.

Conclusion:

Although the addition of S. boulardii to antofloxacin-based quadruple therapy could not improve the eradication rate of H. pylori, it could shorten the time of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and reduce the incidence of diarrhea.

Trial registration number:

ChiCTR2200056931.
Androgen receptor pathway inhibitors, prostate cancer, and older adults: a global Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology drug review
Authors: Mir Nabiel , Burke Olivia , Yates Samuel , Rajasekaran Tanujaa , Chan Johan , Szmulewitz Russell , Kanesvaran Ravindran
Published: January 2023

Prostate cancer is a disease of older adults that has undergone a significant therapeutic paradigm shift in the last decade with the emergence of novel androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPis). One of the more commonly used ARPis is enzalutamide. This drug, along with darolutamide and apalutamide, initially received approvals in the metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer setting but is now utilized frequently in the metastatic castrate-sensitive and non-metastatic castration-resistant settings. Landmark phase III data illustrating ARPi efficacy in older adults are limited to those with excellent performance status. However, its role in unfit older prostate cancer patients remains to be explored in the context of a narrative review. This first-of-its-kind drug review aims to shed light on the most up-to-date evidence behind the unique toxicity profile of ARPis in the context of geriatric vulnerabilities such as cognitive and functional impairment, along with potential solutions and supporting evidence that exists to circumvent these issues in the vulnerable older adult.
Improved Glycemic Control Using a Bluetooth®-Connected Blood Glucose Meter and a Mobile Diabetes App: Real-World Evidence From Over 144 000 People With Diabetes
Authors: Grady Mike , Cameron Hilary , Holt Elizabeth
Published: January 2023

Background:

The OneTouch Verio Flex® (OTVF) blood glucose (BG) meter features a ColorSure® Range Indicator. Diabetes management is enhanced by connecting the meter to the OneTouch Reveal® (OTR) mobile app. We sought to provide real-world evidence (RWE) that combining both devices improves glycemic control.

Methods:

Anonymized glucose and app analytics were extracted from a server from over 144 000 people with diabetes (PWDs). Data from their first 14 days using OTVF and OTR were compared with 14 days prior to 90- and 180-day timepoints using paired within-subject differences.

Results:

In people with type 1 diabetes (PwT1D) or people with type 2 diabetes (PwT2D), readings in-range (RIR) improved by +6.1 (54.5% to 60.6%) and +11.9 percentage points (68.2% to 80.1%), respectively, over 180 days, and hyperglycemia was reduced by −6.6 (40.5% to 33.9%) and −12.0 (30.3% to 18.3%). In total, 35% of PwT1D and 40% of PwT2D improved RIR by >10 percentage points. People with type 1 diabetes spending two to four sessions or 10 to 20 minutes per week on the app improved RIR by +5.1 and 7.0, respectively. People with type 2 diabetes spending two to four sessions or 10 to 20 minutes per week on the app improved RIR by +11.6 and 12.0, respectively. In PwT1D or PwT2D, mean BG reduced by −11.4 and −19.5 mg/dL, respectively, from baseline to 180 days, with no clinically meaningful changes in percentage of hypoglycemic readings. All glycemic changes were statistically significant ( P < .0005 level).

Conclusion:

Real-world data from over 144 000 PWDs demonstrated improved percentage readings in-range and reduced hyperglycemia in PWDs using the OneTouch Verio Flex blood glucose meter and OneTouch Reveal app.
MAFLD: a multisystem disease
Authors: Pipitone Rosaria Maria , Ciccioli Carlo , Infantino Giuseppe , La Mantia Claudia , Parisi Stefanie , Tulone Adele , Pennisi Grazia , Grimaudo Stefania , Petta Salvatore
Published: January 2023

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affecting about 25% of general population and more than 50% of dysmetabolic patients, is an emerging cause of chronic liver disease and its complications. Recently, an international consensus of experts proposed to rename this disease as ‘Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease’ (MAFLD) to focus on the bidirectional interplay between fatty liver and metabolic alterations and to stress the need of assessing fatty liver independently from alcohol consumption and other coexisting causes of liver disease. The peculiarity of NAFLD/MAFLD lies in the presence of a higher risk of not only – as expected – liver-related events but also of extrahepatic events, mostly cardiovascular and cancers. Available evidence suggests that these associations are not only the expression of sharing the same risk factors but shed light about the ability of NAFLD/MAFLD and particularly of its progressive form – nonalcoholic/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis – to act as an independent risk factor via promotion of atherogenic dyslipidemia and a proinflammatory, profibrogenic, and procoagulant systemic environment. The present review summarizes available epidemiological and clinical evidence supporting the concept of NAFLD/MAFLD as a multisystemic disease, and highlights potential explanatory mechanisms underlying the association between NAFLD/MAFLD and extrahepatic disorders.