bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE DEVELOPMENT OF GRAPHIC: A SERIOUS GAME FOR DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION
Authors: Sipiyaruk K. , Hatzipanagos S. , Reynolds P.A. , Gallagher J.E.
Published: February 2025

GRAPHIC, a serious game for dental public health (DPH) education, stands for Games Research Applied to Public Health with Innovative Collaboration. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the development and refinement of GRAPHIC. According to the game concept, students firstly are provided with information of a population (a learning scenario), and then they are required to select the best five options of oral health promotion programme using contemporary evidence to improve the oral health of their population. This game has been used since academic year 2011/12. Feedback on the use of GRAPHIC was provided by staff and students annually, such that four versions of the game have been developed.

Methods: GRAPHIC was evaluated using data from pre- and post-knowledge tests, direct observation, indirect observation using log data of game activities, and feedback provided by students and tutors from feedback questionnaires, personal interviews, and focus group interviews.

Results: The first version [GRAPHIC-I] was developed and used for final year dental students at Kings College London in academic year 2011/12 and 2012/13. Students, tutors, and a game developer were interviewed in academic year 2012/13, demonstrating that the game was useful although improvements of the usability and entertainment were required. This led to the development of GRAPHIC-II, in which the usability was significantly improved; however, the entertainment aspect was not much improved although the game was more colourful. Since GRAPHIC-II seemed very helpful, it was considered to be used as an international learning tool, so the game was piloted in Mahidol University, Thailand. Using feedback from Mahidol students, GRAPHIC-III was developed in English and Thai versions to be used in academic year 2014/15. After game completion, as part of their DPH education, students from both institutions were assessed by pre- and post-knowledge tests, without any major problem of the usability, but they reported that the game could be more engaging. Log data showed the variation in attempts. Therefore, GRAPHIC-IV included an interactive feature to the learning scenario part, using Adobe Flash, where students could control a cartoon character walking around a town to find relevant information. Also, in this version students had limited attempts to submit answers (n=20). Together they enhanced the visual experience of the programme and encouraged students to provide considered responses. DPH knowledge was improved in both institutions, and this version rated as more engaging.

Conclusion: Serious games seem to be practical learning tool for DPH education, as they engage students to address the oral health needs of a population.
INVESTIGATION OF SALIVATION AND ORAL HEALTH STATUS IN HUNGARIAN SMOKING PATIENTS
Authors: Demeter T. , kovÁcs A. , KÁrolyhÁzy K. , MÁrton K.
Published: February 2025

Our objective was to assess the minor and major salivary flow rates, the prevalence of xerostomia and related oral and extraoral dryness symptoms, and the oral health status of smoking compared to the non-smoking patients from different age groups in Hungary.

Methods: 901 patients (age: 18-92 years, 376 male (41.7%), 525 female (58.3%), selected according to the current official Hungarian age and residence distribution scheme) were involved. A questionnaire was designed to determine the subjective presence or absence of the sicca symptoms. Unstimulated whole saliva flow rate (UWS) was measured by the spitting method, while palatal (PS) and labial (LS) minor salivary gland flow rates were collected by the Periotron method. An oral examination was carried out, including dental (DMF-T), periodontal (periodontal probing depth, PPD and the maximum CPI-score) status, plaque-index (Löe- Silness, PI), calculus-index (CI) and gingival bleeding index (Ainamo-Bay, GBI). Data were statistically analysed using χ2 and the Students t-test at a significance level of p<0.05. This study was approved by the Semmelweis University Regional and Institutional Committee of Science and Research Ethics (No 55/2013).

Results: Smokers were 35.9% (43.4% of the men and 30.5% of the women) of the sample (323 out of 901). Questionnaire data showed 42.7% (156) of the non-smoking women and 28.2% (60) of the nonsmoking men, and 41.9% (67) of the smoking women and 35.6% (58) of the smoking men felt xerostomia. A significantly higher number (13 out of 29; 44.8%) of smoking men between the age of 30-40 reported xerostomia compared to the non-smoking men (2 out of 31; 6.5%), respectively. However, no significant difference was shown in either the UWS, or in the minor salivary gland secretions (PS, LS) between smokers and non-smokers in both genders in different age groups. Increased plaque retention (PI non-smoking women: 0.7±0.7, smoking women: 1.0±0.8; p<0.05; non- smoking men: 0.9±0.8, smoking men: 1.2±0.9; p<0.05) could be detected in smokers of both genders, and a significantly higher average probing depth (PPD non-smoking men: 2.3±0.8, smoking men: 2.6±1.0; p< 0.05) was measured in smoking men. More calculus (CI) was seen among smokers in the 40-60 and the 60-70 age groups in both genders. There was no significant difference in the DMF-T in the same age groups between smokers and non-smokers.

Conclusions: As in other populations, smoking might cause a significant destruction in the periodontal status of the Hungarian population, but we could not show any influence of smoking on caries. Smoking may also have an effect on the subjective sensation of dry mouth or any other sicca symptoms, however, according to our findings, it does not influence salivary gland function significantly.
ORAL CANCER AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE AMONG PATIENTS AT NSU DENTAL CLINIC
Authors: Mejia L.M. , Garcia A. , Garcia-Godoy C. , Perez A.M.
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to assess the level of the public awareness and knowledge about early signs, symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer among dental patients visiting Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Dental Clinic in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. And second, to correlate the awareness and knowledge levels according to age, gender, ethnicity, education levels and marital status.

Methods: This study used dental patients presenting for routine scheduled appointments at the NSU Dental Clinic (Davie Campus). The data collection was from April through July 2015 and participation was confidential. Inclusion criteria were: patients 18 years and above, consent for questionnaire/survey participation, and ability to read English. Pregnant women and adult patients as a guardian, were excluded. A self-administered modified questionnaire of 26 questions was used to assess awareness and knowledge about Oral Cancer and sociodemographic information. Data entry was done following survey completion. The results of the survey were coded and enter into a database for statistical analysis using crosstabs, and Chi-square test in Jump software.

Results: The number of patients in the study was 338, 50.3% were males and 49.7% females. The ages ranges from 18 to 70+, with the mean age 55.3 years. Of the respondents, 47.3% were white, 29.2% Hispanic and 17% African-American. The majority of the subjects had a College/University education 180 (55%). Participants marital status, 42.2% married, 30% single and 19.5% divorced. A total of 253 (76%) patients stated that they had heard of oral cancer. Family member (p=0.04) and TV advertisement (p=0.01) were statistically significant for where the patients heard about the subject. Of the respondents, 48.8% did not knew anything about the disease; 45.2% knew a little, and only 6% considered that they know a lot. The risk factors linked with oral cancer identified by males were: smoking (n=118), smokeless tobacco (n=81), and family history (n=68). Females identified smoking (n=116), followed by family history of oral cancer (n=82), and smokeless tobacco (n=52). The early signs of oral cancer identified were sore and bleeding lesions (n=123), ulcer (n=116), and no idea / don’t know (n=115) respectively.

Conclusions: Based on this information for this Cohort there is a significant lack of awareness and knowledge about signs, symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer in the general population.
Epidemiology and clinical features of occipital neuralgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Melchior Anna G. , Al-Khazali Sarra , Christensen Rune H. , Al-Khazali Haidar M. , Ashina Håkan
Published: February 2025

Background

Occipital neuralgia (ON) describes severe, paroxysmal occipital nerve pain. This review synthesizes data on the epidemiology and clinical features of ON.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed and Embase databases was conducted from 1988 to 2024. Two investigators independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles, and conducted a risk of bias assessment. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic.

Results

Fifteen clinic-based studies, comprising 579 patients with ON, were eligible. No population-based studies were identified. Of these, three clinic-based studies examined the relative frequency of ON among adults evaluated for headache or facial pain, with reported rates ranging from 0.6 to 24.4%. Pooled estimates revealed that ON presents in the fifth decade of life and afflicts females (73%). Common clinical features were unilateral pain (81%), a stabbing quality (59%) and severe intensity (54%). Pain affected the greater occipital nerve (98%) with accompanying hypoesthesia (73%). A history of co-existing migraine was common (46%) and a proportion had a history of neck trauma (30%). The between-study heterogeneity was considerable for most clinical features assessed.

Conclusions

ON shows female predominance and links with migraine and neck trauma. Identified features can aid diagnosis and management, but high heterogeneity calls for population-based research to clarify the epidemiology of ON. Trial Registration: PROSPERO (identifier: CRD42024539063).
Embedding-Based Representation Learning for Forecasting Flight Characteristics
Authors: Biswal Aniket , Rambhatla Sirisha , Gzara Fatma
Published: February 2025

Airlines face significant challenges when building flight schedules, particularly because of unpredictable operations caused by factors such as adverse weather, airport congestion, mechanical problems, and so forth. One of the major components of flight scheduling is block time; accurately estimating block time is crucial for optimizing resource utilization and effective planning (on the scale of minutes). Given that flight scheduling takes place months in advance, accurately predicting block time is a challenging task. This is largely a result of the limited availability of features affecting operations on a specific day, such as the weather, at the time of planning. Consequently, current literature suggests that popular machine learning models are not suitable and recommends the use of statistical historical metrics. However, these methods (a) do not capture the complex latent relationships between factors affecting block time, (b) do not effectively handle high-cardinality categorical data and temporal variations, and (c) only consider a very small number of flights in their conclusions. We conduct, to the best of our knowledge, the first large-scale study of the airline on-time performance database for 2018 from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a public dataset. Specifically, our work introduces an entity-embedding-based representation learning model to efficiently incorporate high-cardinality categorical features and improve the long-term predictive capabilities of the model. These entity embeddings also encapsulate richer feature representations and their interactions. Complementary to these, we conduct rigorous experimental evaluations across 10 baselines and significance tests to demonstrate the advantages of using our entity-embedding-based model to increase long-term forecast accuracy for planning. For reproducibility, the code has been made available at https://github.com/criticalml-uw/Embeddings-for-Block-Time-Prediction .
Culturally and Contextually Relevant Definitions of the Five Cs
Authors: Mercier Jayne , Sanders Jackie , Munford Robyn
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to investigate if and how the Five Cs were related to the perception of program outcomes in different PYD programs in Aotearoa/New Zealand. A qualitative, exploratory methodology was employed within a critical realist epistemology, including semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 110 youth, aged 12 – 25 years, and 17 staff in 14 different local PYD programs. Data were analyzed using framework analysis. Inductive analysis identified nine key program outcomes which were then assessed against the Five Cs, plus Contribution and Creativity, noting areas of similarity and local difference. The study concludes that although youth and staff perception of program outcomes broadly align with the Five Cs, belonging and positive identity, key themes in the data, are not well captured in current Five Cs definitions. Local definitions which highlight these contextual and cultural nuances are proposed. The findings provide a basis to further understand localized PYD in a global field and may be a valuable comparison point for others to explore the Five Cs in their contexts.
Evaluating Adherence to Canadian Radiology Guidelines for Incidental Hepatobiliary Findings Using RAG-Enabled LLMs
Authors: Dietrich Nicholas , Stubbert Brett
Published: February 2025

Purpose: Large language models (LLMs) have the potential to support clinical decision-making but often lack training on the latest clinical guidelines. Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) may enhance guideline adherence by dynamically integrating external information. This study evaluates the performance of two LLMs, GPT-4o and o1-mini, with and without RAG, in adhering to Canadian radiology guidelines for incidental hepatobiliary findings. Methods: A customized RAG architecture was developed to integrate guideline-based recommendations into LLM prompts. Clinical cases were curated and used to prompt models with and without RAG. Primary analyses assessed the rate of guideline adherence with comparisons made between LLMs with and without RAG. Secondary analyses evaluated reading ease, grade level, and response times for generated outputs. Results: A total of 319 clinical cases were evaluated. Adherence rates were 81.7% for GPT-4o without RAG, 97.2% for GPT-4o with RAG, 79.3% for o1-mini without RAG, and 95.1% for o1-mini with RAG. Model performance differed significantly across groups, with RAG-enabled configurations outperforming their non-RAG counterparts ( P < .05). RAG-enabled models demonstrated improved reading ease and lower grade level scores; however, all model outputs remained at advanced comprehension levels. Response times for RAG-enabled models increased slightly due to additional retrieval processing but remained clinically acceptable. Conclusions: RAG-enabled LLMs significantly improved adherence to Canadian radiology guidelines for incidental hepatobiliary findings without compromising readability or response times. This approach holds promise for advancing evidence-based care and warrants further validation across broader clinical settings.
Dexamethasone loaded blend poly hydroxybutyrate-stearic acid nanoparticles for ocular inflammation
Authors: Erdal Ebru , Uğurlu Nagihan , Akbay Çetin Esin , Laçin Türkoğlu Nelisa , Çakal Cafer , Demirbilek Murat
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study is to develop and analyze dexamethasone-loaded poly hydroxybutyrate-stearic acid blend nanoparticles for the treatment of non-bacterial uveitis. Uveitis is a chronic inflammatory eye disease responsible for 10–15% of global blindness. While repeated intravitreal steroid injection is a successful treatment strategy, it has drawbacks such as cataracts and retinal detachment. Serious side effects and high costs caused by recurrent infections are important limiting factors. Controlled release systems are preferred to maintain therapeutic drug concentrations in the vitreous humor while minimizing the frequency of injections. In this study, PHB-stearic acid blend nanoparticles with varying ratios of dexamethasone suitable for intravitreal injection were fabricated. It was assessed the effects of the stearic acid ratio on loading efficiency, release profiles, size distribution, and thermal properties. The results indicated that an increase in the stearic acid ratio led to a reduction in nanoparticle diameter and an enhancement in the dexamethasone loading capacity. Additionally, higher stearic acid ratios resulted in a decrease in the melting enthalpy of the nanoparticles, which expedited dexamethasone release. Importantly, the nanoparticle formulations exhibited no toxicity to eye endothelial cells or THP-1 cells.
Uncertainty-based fatigue life of vehicle subframe via improved bootstrap method under load extrapolation
Authors: Li Wenke , Liu Xintian , Su Weihao
Published: February 2025

Fatigue failures in vehicle subframes are a critical challenge due to complex and unpredictable loads. Traditional methods often fail to capture the uncertainty in load conditions, resulting in unreliable fatigue life predictions. This study introduces an improved bootstrap method to address these uncertainties. Real-world vehicle testing data were used to construct load spectra with the Generalized Pareto Distribution model, enabling accurate prediction of rare but impactful load events. The rain-flow counting method was used to perform frequency statistics on the load signals. The obtained S-N curve was corrected based on the Haibach theory. This process provided the distribution parameters of the mean and amplitude. Fatigue life was then estimated using a modified S-N curve and Miner’s theory, which achieved significant improvements in prediction accuracy and reliability. This study improves prediction accuracy and can be applied to product design and improvement in mechanical engineering and related fields.
A generic design method of transforming linear elements into memory elements with the diamond-shaped structures
Authors: Zhang Lin-Lin , Huang Zhen-Xing , Zhang Xiao-Liang , Liu Ju-Chao , Cheng Xian-Bin , Liu Xiang-Bo , Zeng Fa-Lin
Published: February 2025

The existing physical realization devices of mechanical memory elements including the fluid mem-inerter and tapered dashpot have totally different working mechanism. Inertance of the fluid mem-inerter is nonlinear and dependent on the fluid mass in the length-variable helical path of the device, however, while damping of the tapered dashpot is also nonlinear, it is dependent on varied area of circumferential seam. Obviously, it is impossible to design the fluid mem-inerter with the help of the working mechanism of the tapered dashpot and vice versa. In other words, the design method for the physical realization device of one memory element fails to offer guidance for the design of other memory elements in the current situation. This study proposes a new and generic methodology for designing memory elements. It utilizes a diamond-shaped structure’s geometric nonlinearity to transform linear inerter, spring, and dashpot into their corresponding memory elements (mem-inerter, mem-spring, and mem-dashpot). Mathematical models are created for these memory devices, and their memory properties are investigated. The theoretical analysis demonstrates that all of these devices are displacement-dependent memory elements. Furthermore, the diamond-shaped memory element devices are prototyped and the bench tests are conducted to verify the feasibility of the proposed design method with the diamond-shaped structure. Additionally, the load adaptivity and performance benefits are verified through the bench tests of each suspension system equipped with the memory element prototypes. This work provides a generic design method of transforming linear elements into memory elements, and the proposed diamond-shaped memory elements can be as candidates to improve adaptivity of passive vibration isolation systems, such as the seat suspension and the vehicle suspension with double diamond bionic structure.
Visualization study on characteristics of hydrogen jet injected through gas admission valve in marine engine
Authors: Yin Shuo , Xing Wenjing , Miyuki Kentaro , Raut Sushil , Sato Kazunori , Nishida Keiya , Ogata Yoichi , Tian Jiangping , Miyazaki Shinnosuke
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the morphological behavior of a hydrogen jet via visualization. First, hydrogen is injected into a crossflow field emulating the intake of marine hydrogen engines. Both conventional and background-oriented schlieren methods are employed for visualization in an observation chamber. Assessment of the crossflow condition reveals velocity distributions at various cross-sections in the observation chamber. A low-velocity zone emerges in the wake of the nozzle protruding from the ceiling of the chamber. Momentum flux ratio analysis show significant variations (from 16 to 1164) in the effect of the hydrogen jet on the crossflow, particularly at lower crossflow velocities. Visualizations from different perspectives highlight the correlation between hydrogen and the crossflow, showcasing the distinctive phenomenon of hydrogen crawling up along the outer surface of the nozzle. The time-dependent evolution of the penetration and jet width after impingement shows similar characteristic trends: their increasing rates amplify when the jet impinges on the bottom surface of the observation chamber. The velocity of the hydrogen jet after impingement is approximately 1.5 times that before the impingement, around 150 m/s. These findings facilitate the understanding of the characteristics of hydrogen jets used in marine engine applications.
Finite time energy-saving control of active suspension based on force random walk PSO
Authors: Ji Chaoyang , Gong Mingde , Zhao Dingxuan , Liu Wenbin
Published: February 2025

To reduce energy consumption in the active suspension, this paper proposes a new method for vehicle active suspension control. The energy consumption characteristics of the coupling system is analyzed. On this basis, a finite time controller based on unknown state estimation is proposed, and its global finite time convergence is proved, the upper limit of time convergence is given. Secondly, based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the force random walk PSO algorithm (FRWPSO), a multi-objective optimization function is constructed to determine the control parameters under different driving modes. Finally, simulation experiments show that under random road surfaces and triangular obstacles, the proposed control method can effectively improve suspension comfort and operational stability compared to nonsingular terminal sliding mode control (TSMC), The RMS values of energy consumption decreased by 55.34% and 20.55% respectively, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Illness experience and authorship of life in a “transplanted person” with Lupus: A DIPEx perspective
Authors: Victor Luna Juliano , Assis Pinheiro Marina , Navarro Dias de Souza Alícia
Published: February 2025

We present a case of a 37 yo woman who underwent a heart and kidney transplantation due to Lupus and has had a 10-year follow-up without significant complications or Lupus recurrence. Her case was part of a DIPEx International project with heart transplant patients, and we discussed, from a DIPEx perspective, the importance of narrative and illness experience to her recovery. She made a video of various stages of her illness period and was able to regain her sense of life purpose through the narrative resources she developed in her rehabilitation period. We also consider the concept of authorship of life and how the integration of her senses of life purpose and authorship of life have significantly reinforced her resilience and coping mechanisms and may be responsible for her successful outcome in the 10-year milestone of a heart and kidney transplantation.
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 pre-delta/delta and omicron variants on clinical outcomes in a systemic lupus erythematosus cohort from Puerto Rico
Authors: Serrano-Arroyo Lilliana , González-Meléndez Ariana , Ríos-Rivera Rafael , Rodríguez-González Valeria , Vilá Luis M.
Published: February 2025

Objective

To examine the clinical outcomes of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with COVID-19 during the Pre-Delta/Delta and Omicron periods.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted in a cohort of adult Puerto Ricans with SLE. Demographic parameters, SLE and COVID-19 manifestations, comorbidities, pharmacologic treatment, SLE exacerbations, hospitalizations, and mortality were determined. SARS CoV-2 infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction or antigen tests. Variables were compared between the Pre-delta/Delta and Omicron periods. Also, the proportion of COVID-19 cases and mortality of SLE patients was compared to the general population of Puerto Rico.

Results

Of the entire SLE cohort ( n = 347), 169 patients (48.7%) had COVID-19. Twenty-two patients had COVID-19 during the Pre-delta/Delta period and 147 during the Omicron period. The proportion of COVID-19 cases in the SLE cohort was significantly higher when compared to the adult general population of Puerto Rico (25.7%), but no difference in mortality was found. Overall, the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in the SLE cohort were favorable, with low rates of lupus flares (3.0%), hospitalizations (3.6%), and mortality (0.6%). Patients with COVID-19 during the Pre-delta/Delta period were more likely to have oral ulcers, anti-Smith antibodies, and chronic kidney disease, whereas those during the Omicron period were more likely to have COVID-19 symptoms (rhinorrhea, sore throat, and cough).

Conclusion

In summary, is this group of Puerto Ricans with SLE, a high proportion had COVID-19, but disease exacerbation, hospitalization, and mortality rates were low. Few clinical differences were noted in SLE patients when comparing the Pre-delta/Delta and Omicron periods.
Factors affecting young women's participation in organized cervical cancer screening and non-organized testing – A population-based survey study
Authors: Lättilä Johannes , Siegfrids Filip , Heinävaara Sirpa , Sarkeala Tytti , Makkonen Petra , Leivonen Aku , Partanen Veli-Matti , Vahteristo Maija
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Organized cervical cancer screening reduces cervical cancer incidence and mortality and is widely implemented across Europe. However, non-organized cervical cancer testing remains common. Frequent testing may lead to overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment, especially among young women. This study aims to identify factors influencing young women's participation in organized cervical cancer screening and non-organized cervical cancer testing.

Methods

We surveyed 1411 women aged 15–35 living in Finland, assessing their knowledge and attitudes toward cervical cancer testing. Survey responses were linked to sociodemographic registry data and cervical cancer testing records. Descriptive statistics of survey responses and logistic regression were used to identify factors influencing participation in both organized screening and non-organized testing.

Results

Human papillomavirus vaccination status, medical contraception use, and gynecologist visit frequency were key predictors of non-organized testing. Human papillomavirus-vaccinated women were 50% less likely to undergo non-organized testing compared to those unvaccinated. Medical contraception users were 5.3 times more likely compared to non-users, and frequent gynecologist visitors were 1.5 times more likely to undergo non-organized testing compared to infrequent visitors. For organized screening, women with tertiary education were 4.1 times more likely to participate than those with primary education. Women appreciated the flexibility in screening times and locations. Human papillomavirus awareness was high with 91.3% of respondents having heard of the virus.

Conclusions

To address non-organized testing among young women, comprehensive education about human papillomavirus and cervical cancer screening is essential, both for screened women and healthcare professionals. Aligning screening practices with women's preferences may improve adherence to organized screening, ultimately benefiting public health outcomes.
Chinese Stock Market Performance and Natural Disasters
Authors: Boungou Whelsy , Djatche Melchisedek Ngambou , Biekpe Nicholas
Published: February 2025

In this article, we investigate the impact of natural disasters on Chinese stock market performance over the period from 2017 to 2023. Using monthly financial data from 2,117 Chinese companies and climate data relating to floods and storms, our results highlight a negative association between stock market returns and natural disasters. We observe that the recurrence of natural disasters reduces the stock market returns of Chinese companies. We also find that, whatever the intensity of the natural disaster (number of deaths and people affected) and the company’s sector of activity, the observed effect is verified. Our results also show that firms’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance influences their exposure to natural disasters. We find that firms with higher ESG scores perform better despite natural disasters than other firms. This article thus provides the first detailed evidence of Chinese firms’ exposure to natural disasters.

JEL Codes: G12, G32, Q40
When a Celebrity Shares a Health Story: Role of Parasocial Relationship and Narrative Involvement on Influencing Living Organ Donation-Related Outcomes
Authors: Wong Norman C. H. , Nisbett Gwendelyn , Lookadoo Kathryn
Published: February 2025

This study examined the role parasocial relationships with a celebrity figure (Selena Gomez) plays in influencing people’s perceptions and willingness to become living organ donors following the sharing of a celebrity health narrative involving living organ donation. Researchers recruited participants from a large university and an online research panel (i.e., Qualtrics panel) for an online experiment. In the experiment, participants viewed one of two treatment messages (i.e., an Instagram post or TV interview) featuring Gomez talking about her living organ donation experience or a control message (informational video about organ donation). Researchers measured participants’ parasocial relationship with Gomez and the level of narrative transportation experienced after viewing the messages. The primary outcome variables were attitudes towards and willingness to be a living organ donor. Several predictions were made based on the entertainment overcoming resistance model and narrative engagement research. Results show that people with a strong parasocial relationship with Gomez reported higher levels of narrative transportation, which positively predicted the willingness to become a living organ donor. The results of this study offer evidence to show the potential power celebrity health narratives have for promoting health activism among audiences.
Prevalence of Culture-Confirmed Pulmonary Tuberculosis Requiring ICU Admission and the Trend in Prevalence Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Academic Medical Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A 7-Year Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Atiya Nadia , Hasan M. Shahnaz , Wong Chee Kuan , Abdullah Azwani , Lau Khai Siang , Cheah Eu Gene , Zikry Yady , Ngu Ying Xi , Teo Yik Pheng , Lim Koo Koon
Published: February 2025

There are limited data on pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission despite its high mortality rate. The objectives of our study were to determine the prevalence of culture-confirmed PTB requiring ICU admission and the trend in prevalence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all patients aged ≥18 years with culture-confirmed PTB requiring ICU admission in a Malaysian tertiary academic medical center from 2015 to 2021. The linear-by-linear association test was performed to determine if the trend in prevalence was significant. The overall prevalence of culture-confirmed PTB requiring ICU admission was 8.0% (139/1736). Between 2015 and 2021, the prevalence increased by 5.8% from 1.6% (5/312) to 7.4% (16/215) ( P < .001). This study demonstrated an overall low but increasing trend in the prevalence of culture-confirmed PTB requiring ICU admission. Disruption in TB services during the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the prevalence trend.
Yoga practice through the prism of the quest for excitement: Emotional renewal and transcending the physical realities of the body
Authors: Fraysse Mélie , Garcia Marie-Carmen , Bataille Pierre , Lefevre Brice
Published: February 2025

Drawing on a survey conducted in France between 2019 and 2023, which used a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods, this article seeks to examine the practice of yoga through the prism of the quest for excitement by focusing on emotional dimensions. Results show that practitioners who are strongly committed to yoga and belong to the privileged classes or the upper strata of the middle classes engage in a practice focused on self-control/emotional renewal with the aim of reaching spiritual dimensions that are themselves a source of intense emotions.
The influence of perceived high-performance work systems on innovative work behavior: Mediating role of work engagement
Authors: Hassanah Husin Noor , Abu Mansor Nur Naha , Javaid Muhammad Umair , Widarman Beni
Published: February 2025

Background

The principle of HRM requires employees to come up with novelty and creative ideas in work organizations. Prior research viewed high-performance work systems (HPWS) as an essential factor that promotes innovation and performance outcomes as it encourages employee creativity, risk-taking, and experimentation.

Objective

The current study investigated the influence of HPWS on innovative work behavior in medium-sized manufacturing enterprises through work engagement. Although much has been done to analyze various outcomes of high-performance work systems in large-scale manufacturing industries, little is known about its implementation amongst medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in Malaysia.

Methods

This study employed a group of 170 middle-management employees from medium-sized manufacturing businesses in Klang Valley, Malaysia. To perform the analysis, the researchers used SmartPLS 3.0 software. The list of medium-sized enterprises in the Klang Valley area was obtained from SME Corporation Malaysia. G*Power version 3.1.9.2 statistical program was used to perform power analysis in determining the minimum sample size for this study. The theory of job demands-resources (JD-R) model underpins the linkages between HPWS and IWB of employees in medium-sized manufacturing enterprises.

Results

The outcome indicated a noteworthy relationship between innovative work behavior and selective staffing, mentoring, and employee participation. Additionally, the study demonstrated that work engagement is crucial in promoting innovative work behavior with a medium effect size. Moreover, the connection between selective staffing, mentoring, and employee participation is mediated by work engagement.

Conclusions

This research expands the existing information on ways to implement HPWS in medium-sized manufacturing companies. Moreover, it offers practical guidance to decision-makers, especially in promoting innovation among staff through effective high-performance work practices.
Multicriteria decision model for ranking the performance of remote work activities: Case study in a call center company in Brazil
Authors: da Silva Aleson Belo , Marques Amanda Braga , da Costa Junior João Florêncio , de Souza Ricardo Pires
Published: February 2025

Background: The world has rapidly experienced a shift in the work environment due to a global need brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recognition of the advantages that remote work presents for companies engaged in processes and customer service. However, not all employees exhibit the same level of adaptation and performance while carrying out their tasks outside the organization's premises. In this scenario, multicriteria decision analysis emerges as a tool to support the decision-making process in prioritizing employees with the best profile for carrying out telecommuting activities. Objective: To create a multicriteria decision model for ranking in the selection of employees for a call center company based in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, for remote work from home. Methods: A case study was conducted, incorporating the application of Value-Focused Thinking (VFT), a questionnaire, and the development of the decision model using the FITradeoff method. The choice is based on the concepts of flexible elicitation from the FITradeoff method (Flexible and Interactive Tradeoff). FITradeoff is a method for eliciting scale constants created in accordance with the scope of the Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT). Results: The model was able to provide support information for ranking employees with the best profiles for transitioning from on-site work to remote work, based on consistent prioritization criteria, aiding decision-makers in justifying the chosen selection. Conclusions: It was possible to rank the best profiles for transitioning work arrangements and gain an understanding of how employees perceive remote work.
Development of a Core Outcome Set for the Audit of Cleft Care in Malaysia
Authors: Shahrul Al Imran , Nik Mustapha Nik Mukhriz , Ahmad Mas Suryalis , Kharbanda O. P. , Abd Rahman Aida Nur Ashikin
Published: February 2025

Objective

To develop a core outcome set for the audit of cleft care in Malaysia.

Design

To generate a core outcome set for patients dealing with cleft lip and/or palate within Malaysia, a combination of scholarly research reviews and consensus-driven methodologies, such as questionnaires and collaborative discussions, were utilized to guide the development process.

Setting

Multicenter study. Feedback obtains via face-to-face and online interaction.

Participants

Cleft Clinicians, Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Malaysia members, hospitals, and government bodies personal.

Main Outcome Measure

Participants provide their feedback and suggestions of each outcome measure.

Results

Through a deliberative process, agreement was established on a uniform set of outcome measures selected from an initial list of 108 potential outcomes. These agreed-upon measures were classified into 12 primary domains: demographic, cleft detail, pregnancy, general pediatric, otolaryngology/audiology, speech, surgical, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, radiology, photographs, and study models.

Conclusion

A specialized core outcome set has been successfully developed for patients with cleft lip and/or palate, aiming to facilitate its implementation within the Malaysian healthcare system.
Performing Music and Performing Teaching: A Pilot Study on the Experiences and Anxieties of Preservice Music Teachers
Authors: Ryan Charlene , Ryan Gina , McKay Eslin
Published: February 2025

Anxiety related to music performance and to teaching in non-music fields has been studied extensively; however, anxiety pertaining to the performative roles specific to music teachers, both preservice and inservice, has yet to be considered. This pilot study was designed to take the first steps in examining music education students’ anxieties in the context of preservice teaching. Twenty-seven music education students completed a questionnaire about their preservice teaching experience that included the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory, modified and divided into two sections. Participants responded to the first section (general life questions) once and the second (performance contexts) three times in direct succession, based on their experiences when performing, teaching, and conducting. No significant differences in anxiety scores were noted across the three contexts, indicating a similar degree of anxiety when performing as a musician and as a teacher. Implications for teacher educators and researchers are discussed.
Psychometric Properties of the ITQ for Measuring ICD-11 Complex PTSD in a Spanish Sample of Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Fernández-Fillol Carmen , Perez-Garcia Miguel , Hidalgo-Ruzzante Natalia
Published: February 2025

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is related to prolonged, multiple, and interpersonal exposure to traumas. Several studies in different populations have focused on implementing the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) to assess PTSD and CPTSD, though not in women survivors of intimate partner violence. The aim was to assess the psychometric properties of this measure in this population. The results obtained for this sample ( N = 340) indicated excellent internal ITQ reliability. Moreover, a six-factor CPTSD first-order correlated model was considered, and concurrent validity supported ITQ administration to this population.
Irinotecan-induced dysarthria and management
Authors: Marjoncu Dennis , Jones Kerri
Published: February 2025

Background

Irinotecan is chemotherapeutic agent often used in abdominal cancers such as colorectal and pancreatic cancers. While often associated with non-central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects, in rare cases it may present with paresthesias and dysarthrias. In one case, a patient received an irinotecan-containing regimen (fluorouracil, irinotecan, oxaliplatin) and experienced several neurotoxic effects, which was successfully managed.

Case Report

A female patient with newly-diagnosed pancreatic cancer was started on fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (modified FOLFIRINOX). She developed dysarthrias early on in the course. Causality assessment was conducted via the Naranjo criteria, yielding a score of 6, indicating a probable adverse reaction.

Management & Outcome

Initially managed with steroids and lorazepam, she was eventually given a prophylactic strategy of atropine 0.4 mg and a longer infusion time of 3 h instead of 90 min with as needed lorazepam. This strategy alleviated the dysarthrias and the patient was able to complete 12 cycles of therapy, resulting in a partial response at the end of treatment.

Discussion

Prolonging the infusion and giving prophylactic atropine may help to prevent these rare adverse effects of irinotecan.
Effect of diabetes medications on the risk of developing dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or cognitive decline: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hui Esther K. , Mukadam Naaheed , Kohl Gianna , Livingston Gill
Published: February 2025

Background: Diabetes is a risk factor for dementia, but we do not know whether specific diabetes medications ameliorate this risk. Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyze such medication's effect on the risk of developing dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or cognitive decline. Methods: We searched three databases until 21 November 2023. We included randomized controlled trials (RCT), cohort, and case-control studies assessing association between antidiabetic medication and future dementia, MCI, or cognitive decline. We meta-analyzed studies separately for individual drug classes and their comparators (no medication, placebo, or another drug). We appraised study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale. Results: 42 studies fulfilled inclusion criteria. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) versus placebo reduced dementia risk by 53% in three RCTs (n = 15,820, RR = 0.47[0.25, 0.86]) and 27% in three case-control studies (n = 312,856, RR = 0.73[0.54, 0.99], I2 = 96%). Repaglinide was superior to glibenclamide by 0.8 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination scale in another RCT. Meta-analysis of seven longitudinal studies showed glitazones (n = 1,081,519, RR = 0.78[0.76, 0.81], I2 = 0%) were associated with reduced dementia risk. Metformin (n = 999,349, RR = 0.94[0.79, 1.13], I2 = 98.4%), sulfonylureas (RR = 0.98[0.78, 1.22], I2 = 83.3%), dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors (DPP-1V) (n = 192,802, RR = 0.86[0.65, 1.15], I2 = 92.9%) and insulin (n = 571,274, RR = 1.09[0.95, 1.25], I2 = 94.8%) were not. Most studies were observational and limited by confounding by indication. Conclusions: In people with diabetes, RCTs consistently showed GLP-RAs reduce future dementia risk. Glitazones consistently showed protective effects, without heterogeneity, suggesting potential generalizability of these results. Metformin, sulfonylureas, insulin, and DPP-1V studies had inconsistent findings. If information is available future studies should consider dosage, severity, and duration.
‘My debts haunt me like furies’: Mary Wollstonecraft and the feminism of her personal letters
Authors: Brace Laura
Published: February 2025

By analysing Mary Wollstonecraft's personal letters to her friends, her siblings and her lover, this article finds new ways of exploring how property informs her ideas about freedom and independence, and of connecting her ideas to our present. Her personal letters allow us to start a new conversation with Wollstonecraft, and to rethink the intimate connections between ideas and lives which have been so contested in past interpretations of her political thought. Drawing on vulnerable feminist methods, the article focuses on three moments of disruption, ambivalence and failure, namely her experiences of losing her inheritance; of trying to extricate her sister from her marriage; and of being abandoned by her lover. In these moments, as well as in her experience of a life ‘involved with debts’, we can trace how property functioned as a system of power in Wollstonecraft's life and in the lives of those around her. By reading her very personal letters with compassion, the article opens up a dialogue about mental health, grief, care, indebtedness and dependence that enriches our present feminism and speaks very directly to current concerns. Wollstonecraft's letters offer a rich resource for exploring her political theory. Through close reading of the collected letters written between 1773 and 1797, this article argues for a novel understanding of Wollstonecraft's conceptions of freedom and independence, drawing on her ideas of composure and waywardness, and the notion of being settled. The preoccupations and concerns of her letters, the traumas and the vulnerabilities that they expose, forcefully illustrate the gendered-ness of property, and of freedom, both in her times and in ours. They contribute to the feminist project of expanding the meaning of politics, helping us to think about property, power and the homing desire in the space between the public and private.
The smart home: a visual analysis
Authors: Sadati Far Sara , Leszczynski Agnieszka
Published: February 2025

In this article, the authors engage with visual representations of smart homes, examining whether and how these media constitute emergent narratives of Western meanings of home. They do so by reporting on the findings of visual content and semiotic analysis of smart home images published in architectural media. They identify two modalities of smart home images published in these media – images in which smart home technologies are visible and those in which they are implicitly hidden. They read these images as constituting two semiotic myths of home: as familiar places of belonging for both people and smart objects, and as exceptional spaces of luxury associated with freedom from domestic labor delivered by smart technologies. They argue that these myths are central to securing social acceptance of the smart home by signifying it to be both trustworthy and aspirational.