bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptome differential expression analysis of defoliation in different lemon varieties under drought treatment
Authors: Dong Meichao , Yin Tuo , Zhou Dongguo , Zhang Hanyao , Yang Fan , Wang Shaohua , Long Chunrui , Fu Xiaomeng , Liu Hongming , Guo Lina , Gao Junyan
Published: April 2024

’Allen Eureka’ is a bud variety of Eureka lemon with excellent fruiting traits, but severe winter defoliation affects the following year’s yield, and the response mechanism of lemon defoliation is currently unknown. Two lemon cultivars (’Allen Eureka’ and ’Yunning No. 1’) with different defoliation traits were used as materials to investigate the molecular regulatory mechanisms of different leaf abscission periods in lemons. The petiole abscission zone was collected at three different defoliation stages, namely, the predefoliation stage (k15), the middefoliation stage (k30), and the postdefoliation stage (k45). Transcriptome sequencing was performed to analyze the gene expression differences between these two cultivars. A total of 1141, 2695, and 1433 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained in k15, k30, and k45, respectively, and the number of DEGs in k30 was the largest. GO analysis revealed that the DEGs between the two cultivars were mainly enriched in processes related to hydrolase activity, chitinase activity, oxidoreductase activity, and transcription regulator activity in the defoliation stages. KEGG analysis showed that the DEGs were concentrated in k30, which involved plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of amino acids. The expression trends of some DEGs suggested their roles in regulating defoliation in Lemon. Seven genes were obtained by WGCNA, including sorbitol dehydrogenase (CL9G068822012_alt, CL9G068820012_alt, CL9G068818012_alt), abscisic acid 8’-hydroxylase (CL8G064053012_alt, CL8G064054012_alt), and asparagine synthetase (CL8G065162012_alt, CL8G065151012_alt), suggesting that these genes may be involved in the regulation of lemon leaf abscission.
Time spent at health facility is a key driver of patient satisfaction, but did not influence retention to HIV care: A serial cross-sectional study in Mozambique
Authors: De Schacht Caroline , Amorim Gustavo , Calvo Lázaro , Ntasis Efthymios , Van Rompaey Sara , Matsimbe Julieta , Martinho Samuel , Graves Erin , Sardella Alvim Maria Fernanda , Green Ann , Kassim Hidayat , Carlos Inoque Carlos , Wester C. William , Audet Carolyn M.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Patient satisfaction with clinical services can have an effect on retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. This study assessed patient satisfaction and its association with retention and viral suppression in Zambézia Province, Mozambique.

Methods

Monthly exit interviews with persons living with HIV were completed from August 2017-January 2019 in 20 health facilities; clinical data were extracted from medical records. Regression analyses assessed the effect of satisfaction scores on retention and viral suppression, adjusting for age, sex, education, civil status, time on treatment, and site. Satisfaction scores were correlated with time spent at health facilities using generalized linear regression models.

Results

Data from 4388 patients were analyzed. Overall median satisfaction score was 75% (IQR 53%-84%); median time spent at facilities (from arrival until completion of clinical services) was 2h54min (IQR 1h48min-4h). Overall satisfaction score was not associated with higher odds of retention or viral suppression, but association was seen between satisfaction regarding attention given to patient and respect and higher odds of viral suppression. Patient satisfaction was negatively associated with time spent in facility (Spearman’s correlation -0.63). Increased time spent at facility (from 1 to 3 hours) was not associated with lower retention in care (OR 0.72 [95%CI:0.52–1.01] and 0.83 [95%CI: 0.63–1.09] at 6- and 12-months, respectively), nor with a lower odds of viral suppression (OR 0.96 [95%CI: 0.71–1.32]).

Conclusions

Strategies to reduce patient wait times at the health facility warrant continued prioritization. Differentiated models of care have helped considerably, but novel approaches are still needed to further decongest crowded health facilities. In addition, a good client-provider communication and positive attitude can improve patient satisfaction with health services, with an overall improved retention.
Protocol for a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nivolumab as a postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients with esophageal cancer treated with preoperative docetaxel, cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil treatment (PENTAGON trial)
Authors: Goto Hironobu , Oshikiri Taro , Kato Takashi , Nagatani Yoshiaki , Funakoshi Yohei , Koterazawa Yasufumi , Sawada Ryuichiro , Harada Hitoshi , Urakawa Naoki , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Kanaji Shingo , Yamashita Kimihiro , Matsuda Takeru , Minami Hironobu , Kakeji Yoshihiro
Published: April 2024

Background

In Japan, preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical resection is the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, the risk of recurrence after surgical resection remains high. Although a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of nivolumab, a fully human monoclonal anti-programmed death 1 antibody, as postoperative adjuvant therapy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery established its superior efficacy as adjuvant therapy, the efficacy for patients who received preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy has not been demonstrated. This study aims to elucidate the efficacy and safety of nivolumab as postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil followed by surgical resection.

Methods

This study is a multi-institutional, single-arm, Phase II trial. We plan to recruit 130 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients, who have undergone preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil followed by surgical resection. If the patient did not have a pathological complete response, nivolumab is started as a postoperative adjuvant therapy within 4–16 weeks after surgery. The nivolumab dose is 480 mg/day every four weeks. Nivolumab is administered for up to 12 months. The primary endpoint is disease-free survival; the secondary endpoints are overall survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and incidence of adverse events.

Discussion

To our knowledge this study is the first trial establishing the efficacy of nivolumab as postoperative adjuvant therapy for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil followed by surgical resection. In Japan, preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery is a well-established standard treatment for resectable, locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, developing an effective postoperative adjuvant therapy has been essential for improving oncological outcomes.
Language distance and labor market integration of migrants: Gendered perspective
Authors: Bar-Haim Eyal , Birgier Debora Pricila
Published: April 2024

This paper examines the distinct effects of linguistics distance and language literacy on the labor market integration of migrant men and women. Using data from the Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) 2018 in 16 countries of destination mainly from Europe and more than 110 languages of origin, we assess migrant labor force participation, employment, working hours, and occupational prestige. The study finds that linguistics distance of the first language studied has a significant negative association with labor force participation, employment, and working hours of migrant women, even after controlling for their abilities in their destination language, education, and cultural distance between the country of origin and destination. In contrast, linguistics distance is only negatively associated with migrant men’s working hours. This suggests that linguistic distance serves as a proxy for cultural aspects, which are not captured by cultural distance and hence shape the labor market integration of migrant women due to cultural factors rather than human capital. We suggest that the gender aspect of the effect of language proximity is essential in understanding the intersectional position of migrant women in the labor force.
White-crested elaenias (Elaenia albiceps chilensis) breeding across Patagonia exhibit similar spatial and temporal movement patterns throughout the year
Authors: Jara Rocío Fernanda , Jiménez Jaime Enrique , Rozzi Ricardo
Published: April 2024

For migratory birds, events happening during any period of their annual cycle can have strong carry-over effects on the subsequent periods. The strength of carry-over effects between non-breeding and breeding grounds can be shaped by the degree of migratory connectivity: whether or not individuals that breed together also migrate and/or spend the non-breeding season together. We assessed the annual cycle of the White-crested Elaenia (Elaenia albiceps chilensis), the longest-distance migrant flycatcher within South America, which breeds in Patagonia and spends the non-breeding season as far north as Amazonia. Using light-level geolocators, we tracked the annual movements of elaenias breeding on southern Patagonia and compared it with movements of elaenias breeding in northern Patagonia (1,365 km north) using Movebank Repository data. We found that elaenias breeding in southern Patagonia successively used two separate non-breeding regions while in their Brazilian non-breeding grounds, as already found for elaenias breeding in the northern Patagonia site. Elaenias breeding in both northern and southern Patagonia also showed high spread in their non-breeding grounds, high non-breeding overlap among individuals from both breeding sites, and similar migration phenology, all of which suggests weak migratory connectivity for this species. Elucidating the annual cycle of this species, with particular emphasis on females and juveniles, still requires further research across a wide expanse of South America. This information will be critical to understanding and possibly predicting this species’ response to climate change and rapid land-use changes.
Influence of intergenerational support on the mental health of older people in China
Authors: Jiang Zicheng , Liu Huan , Deng Jing , Ye Yizhong , Li Dexun
Published: April 2024

Today, population aging is the main trend of population development. Home-based care is mainly adopted in Chinese society, and scholars have paid ample attention to the effect of intergenerational support on the mental health of older people. However, research conclusions differ. This study uses data from the 2018 China Health and Pension Tracking Survey (CHARLS), which we analyzed with STATA software to construct least squares regression and two-stage least squares regression models. The regression model included 6,647 respondents to investigate the mental health status of older people based on depression status. Intergenerational support was defined as economic support, emotional support, and daily care provided by the children of older people. We studied the impact of three aspects of intergenerational support on the mental health of the elderly. We performed a robustness test using the variable replacement and propensity score matching methods, and analyzed age, gender, and urban-rural heterogeneity. The results showed that economic support had no significant impact on the mental health of older people, while emotional support and daily care had a positive effect. The heterogeneity results indicated that the relationship between intergenerational support and mental health of older people differed significantly based on age, gender, and urban and rural areas. Therefore, children should raise their awareness of supporting their parents, pay attention to their parents’ mental health, and provide emotional support and daily care. Furthermore, community work improves family relations, creates a good social environment, and encourages young people to respect and be filial to older people. The government should improve the medical security system and old-age service system, and provide policy support to help the mental health of older people.
Cervical cancer screening knowledge and associated factors among Eswatini women: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Khumalo Phinda G. , Carey Mariko , Mackenzie Lisa , Sanson-Fisher Rob
Published: April 2024

Background

Over recent years, cervical cancer incidence and related mortality have steadily increased in Eswatini. Low cervical cancer screening uptake partly explains the situation. Cervical cancer screening-related knowledge is positively associated with screening uptake. Little is known about women’s cervical cancer screening-related knowledge in Eswatini.

Objective

This study aimed to assess cervical cancer screening knowledge and associated factors among Eswatini women eligible for screening.

Methods

A cross-sectional study involving three hundred and seventy-seven women aged 25 to 59 selected from four primary healthcare clinics in Eswatini was conducted. A paper and pen survey assessed knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors, benefits of screening, the meaning of screening results, recommended screening intervals, and socio-demographics. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess participants’ sociodemographic characteristics. Linear regression was applied to examine associations between cervical cancer screening-related knowledge and participants’ sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

Two hundred and twenty-nine (61%) participants answered 80% or more knowledge questions correctly. Compared to HIV-positive participants, HIV-negative participants had 0.61 times lower cervical cancer screening knowledge scores (β = -0.39, 95% CI: -0.56, -0.19, p = 0.03). Participants who travelled more than 30 minutes to the clinic had 0.3 times lower cervical cancer screening knowledge scores (β = -0.70, 95% CI: -1.15, -0.25, p < 0.01) compared to participants who travelled less than 30 minutes to the clinic.

Conclusions

Relatively high overall cervical cancer screening knowledge levels were observed among the study participants. Findings from the current study may inform future educational programs to create and sustain an accurate understanding of cervical cancer screening in Eswatini communities.
Assessment of coastal river water quality in Bangladesh: Implications for drinking and irrigation purposes
Authors: Uddin Md. Ripaj , Khandaker Mayeen Uddin , Ahmed Shamim , Abedin Md Jainal , Hossain Syed Md. Minhaz , Al Mansur Muhammad Abdullah , Akter Shakila , Akbor Md. Ahedul , Jamal AHM Shofiul Islam Molla , Rahman Mohammed M. , Kazi Mohsin , Siddique Md. Abu Bakar , Idris Abubakr M.
Published: April 2024

Saltwater intrusion in the coastal areas of Bangladesh is a prevalent phenomenon. However, it is not conducive to activities such as irrigation, navigation, fish spawning and shelter, and industrial usage. The present study analyzed 45 water samples collected from 15 locations in coastal areas during three seasons: monsoon, pre-monsoon, and post-monsoon. The aim was to comprehend the seasonal variation in physicochemical parameters, including water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, and concentrations of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, HCO3-, PO43-, SO42-, and Cl-. Additionally, parameters essential for agriculture, such as soluble sodium percentage (SSP), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), magnesium absorption ratio (MAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelly’s ratio (KR), and permeability index (PI), were examined. Their respective values were found to be 63%, 16.83 mg/L, 34.92 mg/L, 145.44 mg/L, 1.28 mg/L, and 89.29%. The integrated water quality index was determined using entropy theory and principal component analysis (PCA). The resulting entropy water quality index (EWQI) and SAR of 49.56% and 63%, respectively, indicated that the samples are suitable for drinking but unsuitable for irrigation. These findings can assist policymakers in implementing the Bangladesh Deltaplan-2100, focusing on sustainable land management, fish cultivation, agricultural production, environmental preservation, water resource management, and environmental protection in the deltaic areas of Bangladesh. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of seasonal variations in the hydrochemistry and water quality of coastal rivers, aiding in the comprehension of salinity intrusion origins, mechanisms, and causes.
Estimates of the incidence, prevalence, and factors associated with common sexually transmitted infections among Lebanese women
Authors: Chemaitelly Hiam , Finan Ramzi R. , Racoubian Eddie , Aimagambetova Gulzhanat , Almawi Wassim Y.
Published: April 2024

Background

We analyzed the prevalence of active infection with common curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) includingN.gonorrhea,C.trachomatis,T.vaginalis, andT.pallidum, as well as active infection with HPV, herpes simplex virus types I (HSV-1) and II (HSV-2),M.hominis,M.genitalium,C.albicans, and Ureaplasma in 351 Lebanese women.

Methods

A cross-sectional study, involving 351 sexually active women, 40 years or younger, who were recruited from outpatient Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic attendees between September 2016 and November 2017.

Results

The prevalence of active infection was low at 0.3% forN.gonorrhea, 0.6% for HSV-2, 2.8% forC.trachomatis, and 2.9% for any curable STIs. Prevalence of active HPV infection was high assessed at 15.7% for high-risk and 12.2% for low-risk genotypes. Furthermore, the prevalence was 2.0% forM.genitalium, 6.8% for ureaplasma, 13.7% forCandida albicans, and 20.5% forM.hominis. No active infections withT.vaginalis,T.pallidum, or HSV-1 were observed. Significant age differences were noted in the prevalence of high-risk and low-risk HPV genotypes, but no such differences were noted in the prevalence of other infections. No appreciable variations were identified in the prevalence of key STIs based on smoking, marital status, or the number of sexual partners.

Conclusions

The study documented active infection with substantial prevalence for multiple STIs among women attending outpatient gynecology and obstetrics clinics in Lebanon. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening STI surveillance, linkage to care, and prevention interventions in reducing STI incidence among women.
Pistacia lentiscus L. revealed in vitro anti-proliferative activity on MCF-7 breast cancer cells and in vivo anti-mammary cancer effect on C57BL/6 mice through necrosis, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant enhancements
Authors: Abidi Omayma , Abdelkafi-Koubaa Zaineb , Bettaieb-Dridi Ilhem , Toumi Lamjed , Marzouki Lamjed , Souilem Ouajdi
Published: April 2024

Inflammation and oxidative stress are two interconnected processes that play a role in cancer development and progression. In the present research, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer effect of Pistacia lentiscus L. (PL) essential oil (EO) in vitro against MCF-7 breast cancer cells and in vivo in DMBA-mammary cancer induction on female C57BL/6 mice model as well as to investigate its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential as implicated mechanism. Our results revealed a new chemotypes-profile of 39 bio-compounds of PL EO. The main chemotypes were terpenoid and ketone compounds. In vitro, PL EO had a potent anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 cells. In vivo, PL reduced the tumor number, volume, weight and burden values as compared to the DMBA-positive control group (p<0.05). Histopathology data confirmed the protective effect of PL traduced by the presence of necrosis area. PL EO revealed improvement on inflammatory perturbation in the C-RP levels and the complete blood cell count. Finally, PL improved oxidative disorders of lipid peroxidation, thiol groups, hydrogen peroxide and antioxidant enzymes depletion in plasma and mammary tissues. Also, a potent plasma scavenging capacity has been detected. Our data suggested that PL chemotypes inhibited cell proliferation, exerting a potential protective effect against DMBA-mammary cancer through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant enhancements. Targeting inflammation and oxidative stress may represent a promising strategy for breast cancer prevention and treatment.
Application of factor analytic and spatial mixed models for the analysis of multi-environment trials in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Ethiopia
Authors: Argaw Tarekegn , Fenta Brehanu Amsalu , Assefa Ermias
Published: April 2024

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important grain legumes consumed globally, especially in Ethiopia, for its edible seeds, cash crops, and supply of protein for farmers. Efficient statistical methods must be employed for the evaluation of common bean varieties to accurately select superior varieties that contribute to agricultural productivity. The objective of this study was to identify promising large mottled bean varieties through analysis of multi-environment trials (MET) data using multiplicative spatial mixed models. In this study, 16–18 large mottled common bean varieties, including one check, were sown across nine growing environments in Ethiopia using lattice and alpha lattice designs, with three replications laid out in a square or rectangular (row by column) array of plots, respectively during the main cropping season from 2015 to 2018. We present a linear mixed model analysis that integrates spatial and factor analytic (FA) models, and the heritability measure was used to evaluate the efficiency of these models with the conventional analysis. The analysis of the spatial model, and more significantly, the spatial+FA model, revealed a notable enhancement in heritability. With the exception of a trial conducted at Kobo, a genotype DAP 292, found to be good performing for days to flowering and maturity, but for yield only across four clusters of trials, C2, C3, C5 and C7, formed with trials of relatively high genetic variance. Across these clusters, the yield advantage of this variety over the check ranged from 10–32%. This genotype also has a yield that is somewhat comparable to the check across the remaining clusters. Overall, both the spatial and factor analytic models proved to be effective approaches for analyzing the data in this study. The analysis of multi-environment trial data through the use of more efficient statistical models can provide a more robust platform for evaluating common bean varieties with greater confidence in selecting superior varieties across a range of environments. Hence, scaling up the use of this efficient analysis method is indispensable for enhancing the selection of superior varieties.
Effect of table tennis balls with different materials and structures on the hardness and elasticity
Authors: Lu Yunfei , Ren Jie , Wang Jun , Wang Yan
Published: April 2024

The new material introduced by the ITTF in 2014 for table tennis balls has attracted significant attention from players and coaches. Changes in both material selection and production procedures are likely to have affected the static performance of the ball. However, the raw data regarding the elasticity and hardness of these new material balls, encompassing various brands and structures, often lacks practical information crucial for players’ rapid adaptation and daily training. The static properties tested in this study were provided by the ITTF, covering both hardness and elasticity. Based on computed variables, this study revealed that the hardness of seam balls at the equator was not consistently higher than that at the pole. Additionally, the study confirmed that the hardness and bounce height of new material balls exceeded those of celluloid. Furthermore, correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between these two properties, revealing a significant correlation between the hardness of seamless balls and their elasticity. This study provides an analysis of the static performance of various types of new material balls, aiding players and coaches in better understanding official event balls and offering a theoretical foundation for the formulation of diverse training and game strategies.
Research on the "multi-agent co-governance" system of unfair competition on internet platforms: Based on the perspective of evolutionary game
Authors: Xu Zhen , Zheng Shudan
Published: April 2024

Unfair competition on internet platforms (UCIP) has become a critical issue restricting the platform economy’s healthy development. This paper applies evolutionary game theory to study how to utilize multiple subjects’ synergy to supervise UCIP effectively. First, the "multi-agent co-governance" mode of UCIP is constructed based on the traditional "unitary supervision" mode. Second, the government and internet platform evolutionary game models are built under two supervision modes. Finally, MATLAB is used to simulate and analyze the evolutionary stage and parameter sensitivity. In addition, we match the model’s evolutionary stage with China’s supervisory process. The results show that (1) the Chinese government’s supervision of UCIP is in the transitional stage from "campaign-style" to "normalization." (2) Moderate government supervision intensity is essential to guide the game system to evolve toward the ideal state. If the supervision intensity is too high, it will inhibit the enthusiasm for supervision. If the supervision intensity is too low, it cannot form an effective deterrent to the internet platforms. (3) When the participation of industry associations and platform users is low, it can only slow down the evolutionary speed of the game system’s convergence to the unfavorable state. Nevertheless, it cannot reverse the evolutionary result. (4) Maintaining the participation level of industry associations and platform users above a specific threshold value while increasing punishment intensity will promote the transition of government supervision from the "campaign-style" to the "normalization" stage. This paper provides ideas and references for the Chinese government to design a supervision mechanism for UCIP.
Gender health gaps in guideline-based inpatient cardiovascular medical and nursing care and implementation strategies to reduce the gap (HeartGap): A mixed methods study protocol
Authors: Sgraja Sophia , Mollenhauer Judith , Kloepfer Martina , Seeland Ute , Kurscheid Clarissa , Amelung Volker
Published: April 2024

Background

A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that a gender-sensitive approach to healthcare is needed in all areas of medicine. Although medical and nursing guidelines include gender-sensitive care (GSC+) recommendations, the level of implementation in health care practice is unknown. This study aims to examine the current level of implementation and acceptance of GSC+ among physicians and nurses and to identify potential gaps between guidelines and practice and barriers and facilitators of GSC+ implementation, taking the perceptions of all relevant stakeholders into account. The overarching aim is to develop holistic recommended actions to strengthen GSC+.

Methods

This study has a mixed methods triangulation design. The preparation phase consisting of a literature review and a two-part (qualitative and quantitative) data analysis will be conducted in the cardiology department of 9 pilot hospitals in Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. 18 focus groups with clinicians and nurses as well as interviews with experts in other relevant fields will be performed. In the national roll-out phase, a questionnaire survey will be conducted with hospital clinicians (n = 382), nurses (n = 386) and patients (n = 388).

Discussion

This study will provide comprehensive insights into the implementation and acceptance of GSC+ in cardiology from the perspective of doctors, nurses, patients, stakeholders and experts in relevant fields, such as policy and education. A focus will also be on the extent to which age or gender of health professionals, region and hospital type influence the implementation of GSC+. The identification of GSC+ implementation barriers and facilitators should help to improve the standard of care for cardiology patients of all genders. The outcomes from this study can be used to develop measures and recommended actions for the successful and sustainable implementation of gender-sensitive care.

Trial registration

The study is registered in the German Register of Clinical Studies (DRKS) under study number DRKS00031317.
Parental rights or parental wrongs: Parents’ metacognitive knowledge of the factors that influence their school choice decisions
Authors: Cash Trent N. , Oppenheimer Daniel M.
Published: April 2024

School choice initiatives–which empower parents to choose which schools their children attend–are built on the assumptions that parents know what features of a school are most important to their family and that they are capable of focusing on the most important features when they make their decisions. However, decades of psychological research suggest that decision makers lack metacognitive knowledge of the factors that influence their decisions. We sought to reconcile this discrepancy between the policy assumptions and the psychological research. To do so, we asked participants to complete Choice-Based Conjoint surveys in which they made series of choices between different hypothetical schools. We then asked participants to self-report the weight they placed on each attribute when making their choices. Across four studies, we found that participants did not know how much weight they had placed on various school attributes. Average correlations between stated and revealed weights ranged fromr= .34–.54. Stated weights predicted different choices than revealed weights in 16.41–20.63% of decisions. These metacognitive limitations persisted regardless of whether the participants were parents or non-parents (Study 1a/1b), the nature of the attributes that participants used to evaluate alternatives (Study 2), and whether or not decision makers had access to school ratings that could be used as metacognitive aids (Study 3). In line with prior psychological research–and in contract to policy assumptions–these findings demonstrate that decision makers do not have particularly strong metacognitive knowledge of the factors that influence their school choice decisions. As a result, parents making school choice decisions are likely to seek out and use the wrong information, thus leading to suboptimal school choices. Future research should replicate these results in more ecologically valid samples and test new approaches to school choice that account for these metacognitive limitations.
Utility of Kolmogorov complexity measures: Analysis of L2 groups and L1 backgrounds
Authors: Alzahrani Alaa
Published: April 2024

The proliferation of automated syntactic complexity tools allowed the analysis of larger amounts of learner writing. However, existing tools tend to be language-specific or depend on segmenting learner production into native-based units of analysis. This study examined the utility of a language-general and unsupervised linguistic complexity metric: Kolmogorov complexity in discriminating between L2 proficiency levels within several languages (Czech, German, Italian, English) and across various L1 backgrounds (N = 10) using two large CEFR-rater learner corpora. Kolmogorov complexity was measured at three levels: syntax, morphology, and overall linguistic complexity. Pairwise comparisons indicated that all Kolmogorov complexity measures discriminated among the proficiency levels within the L2s. L1-based variation in complexity was also observed. Distinct syntactic and morphological complexity patterns were found when L2 English writings were analyzed across versus within L1 backgrounds. These results indicate that Kolmogorov complexity could serve as a valuable metric in L2 writing research due to its cross-linguistic flexibility and holistic nature.
Through the big top: An exploratory study of circus-based artistic knowledge translation in rural healthcare services, Québec, Canada
Authors: Théberge Julie , Smithman Mélanie Ann , Turgeon-Pelchat Catherine , Tounkara Fatoumata Korika , Richard Véronique , Aubertin Patrice , Léonard Patrick , Alami Hassane , Singhroy Diane , Fleet Richard
Published: April 2024

Background

The conventional methods and strategies used for knowledge translation (KT) in academic research often fall short in effectively reaching stakeholders, such as citizens, practitioners, and decision makers, especially concerning complex healthcare issues. In response, a growing number of scholars have been embracing arts-based knowledge translation (ABKT) to target a more diverse audience with varying backgrounds and expectations. Despite the increased interest, utilization, and literature on arts-based knowledge translation over the past three decades, no studies have directly compared traditional knowledge translation with arts-based knowledge translation methods. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate and compare the impact of an arts-based knowledge translation intervention–a circus show–with two traditional knowledge translation interventions (webinar and research report) in terms of awareness, accessibility, engagement, advocacy/policy influence, and enjoyment.

Methods

To conduct this exploratory convergent mixed method study, we randomly assigned 162 participants to one of the three interventions. All three knowledge translation methods were used to translate the same research project: "Rural Emergency 360: Mobilization of decision-makers, healthcare professionals, patients, and citizens to improve healthcare and services in Quebec’s rural emergency departments (UR360)."

Results

The findings revealed that the circus show outperformed the webinar and research report in terms of accessibility and enjoyment, while being equally effective in raising awareness, increasing engagement, and influencing advocacy/policy. Each intervention strategy demonstrates its unique array of strengths and weaknesses, with the circus show catering to a diverse audience, while the webinar and research report target more informed participants. These outcomes underscore the innovative and inclusive attributes of Arts-Based Knowledge translation, showcasing its capacity to facilitate researchers’ engagement with a wider array of stakeholders across diverse contexts.

Conclusion

As a relevant first step and a complementary asset, arts-based knowledge translation holds immense potential in increasing awareness and mobilization around crucial health issues.
Birth preparedness and complication readiness among recently delivered women in Hargeisa town, Somaliland: A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Ahmed Abdeta Muktar , Ahmed Mohamed Abdilahi , Ahmed Mohammed Hassen
Published: April 2024

Background

About 287,000 mothers lost their lives due to pregnancy and delivery in 2020 worldwide. Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is an approach used to utilize the timely use of skilled maternal and neonatal services. Preparing mothers for childbirth and against its dangers has great importance in reducing maternal mortality. Little is known about BPCR and influencing factors in Hargeisa town, Somaliland.

Objective

To assess the level of BPCR and its associated factors among recently delivered women in Hargeisa.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in September 2022 among 300 women who delivered in the one-year time interval before the study period. A census was done to identify the women, and then they were selected by simple random sampling. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a pre-structured questionnaire. A woman was considered prepared for birth if she made preparations for at least three of the BPCR components. Data were cleaned, entered, and analyzed using SPSS V.25. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with a cut-point of 0.05 significance level.

Results

From a total of 300 women, 38.3% had good knowledge of BPCR, and only one-fourth (25%) were prepared for birth and its complications. Access and media usage (AOR = 9.64, CI 1.09–82.248), receiving health education about BPCR (AOR = 3.75, CI 1.01–13.87), giving birth at health institutions (AOR = 6.02, CI 1.39–25.95), and good knowledge of key danger signs of pregnancy (AOR = 0.017, CI 0.004–0.069) were factors significantly associated with BPCR practice.

Conclusion

The study identified that the BPCR level was very low compared to many other studies. Such a low BPCR level may have a negative impact on maternal health and lives, hindering interventions conducted to reduce maternal mortality rates. All concerned bodies should consider the importance of awareness creation regarding BPCR in their core interventions.
Research on collaborative innovation optimization strategies for digitally enabled higher education ecosystems
Authors: Zhao Yan , Yang Zheng
Published: April 2024

Digitally enabled higher education involves the in-depth use of new-generation digital technology, which has subverted and innovated the traditional teaching mode, driven the development of high-quality teaching and learning, and improved teachers’ teaching experience, and increased efficiency. Based on ecosystem theory, this paper constructs a higher education ecosystem with the government, enterprises, and universities as the core participating subjects. It considers the participating subjects’ effort level and the ecosystem’s overall benefits under the three scenarios of noncooperative research and development (R&D), cost sharing, and cooperative R&D. The results show that (1) the service innovation effort level of the three parties increases with increasing human resource level and technology maturity, and the government’s benefit decreases with increasing cost of fulfilling social responsibility. (2) The government’s cost subsidies to universities and enterprises can enhance the service innovation level of both parties and increase the optimal returns of the three parties and the ecosystem as a whole. (3) In the cooperative R&D game scenario, the effort level of the three parties and the total ecosystem returns are greater than those in the noncollaborative R&D scenario, and after determining the subsidy coefficients of the government, Pareto optimality of the three parties and the ecosystem as a whole can be achieved. The conclusions of this study can aid in understanding the dynamic evolution mechanism of digitally enabled higher education and provide a realistic decision-making reference for higher education ecosystem managers.
Activated rate-response is associated with increased mortality risk in cardiac device carriers with acute heart failure
Authors: Huttelmaier Moritz T. , Münsterer Sascha , Morbach Caroline , Sahiti Floran , Scholz Nina , Albert Judith , Gabel Alexander , Angermann Christiane , Ertl Georg , Frantz Stefan , Störk Stefan , Fischer Thomas H.
Published: April 2024

Aims

This study investigated whether an activated R-mode in patients carrying a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) is associated with worse prognosis during and after an episode of acutely decompensated heart failure (AHF).

Methods

Six hundred and twenty-three patients participating in an ongoing prospective cohort study that phenotypes and follows patients admitted for AHF were studied. We compared CIED carriers with activated R-mode stimulation (CIED-R) to CIED carriers not in R-mode (CIED-0) and patients without CIEDs (no-CIED). The independent impact of R-mode activation on 12-month all-cause death was examined using uni- and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression taking into account potential confounders, and hazard ratios (HR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.

Results

Mean heart rate on admission was lower in CIED-R (n = 37, 16% women) vs. CIED-0 (n = 64, 23% women) or no-CIED (n = 511, 43% women): 70 bpm vs. 80 bpm or 82 bpm; both p<0.001. In-hospital mortality was similar across groups, but age- and sex-adjusted all-cause 12-month mortality risk was differentially affected by R-mode activation; CIED-R vs. CIED-0: HR 2.44, 95%CI 1.25–4.74; CIED-R vs. no-CIED: HR 2.61, 95%CI 1.59–4.29. These effects persisted after multivariable adjustment for potential confounders. Within CIED-R, mortality risk was similar in patients with pacemakers vs. ICDs and in subgroups with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% vs. ≥50%.

Conclusion

In patients admitted with AHF, R-mode stimulation was associated with a significantly increased 12-month mortality risk. Our findings shed new light on “admission heart rate” as a potentially treatable target in AHF. Our data are compatible with the concept that chronotropic incompetence contributes to an adverse outcome in these patients and may not be adequately treated through accelerometer-based R-mode stimulation.
Fashion and costumes in the work of Italian filmmaker Robert Vignola in silent Hollywood
Authors: Muscio Giuliana
Published: April 2024

While the influence of dive fashion on the cross-class audience of Italian silent cinema has been established, the relationship between fashion and silent Hollywood stresses the class-composition of the audience. The work of director Robert G. Vignola, born in Italy but active in the United States, clarifies the passage from a cinema addressed to the popular audience of the nickelodeon to the middle class, and specifically women, in the narrative and through stars, within the suggestions of fashion. There is a general consensus about Italian American culture being an extension of Italianness. In the press, Vignola was always identified as an Italian and his artistic sensibility was credited to his Italian origins, at a time where Italian silent cinema was incredibly popular on American screens. From a transnational perspective, the role of fashion in his work both within a historical perspective and in the theoretical debate on female silent film spectatorship also points to the underestimated relations between American media and Italian culture.
Fashion, migration and identity in Italian cinema: The case of Billo il grand dakhaar and Bangla
Authors: Po DeLisle Giulia
Published: April 2024

This article analyses the insightful role that fabric, fashion and clothing shops have in Laura Muscardin’s Billo il grand dakhaar (Billo the Grand Dakhaar) (2008) and Phaim Bhuiyan’s first feature film Bangla (2019). Billo portrays the story of a young tailor from Senegal who dreams of becoming a fashion designer in Rome; Bangla fictionalizes the life of its director, Phaim Bhuiyan, a second-generation Italian of Bangladeshi descent. By analysing flashbacks and dream sequences as signifiers of cultural ties and by examining the role of the shops as emblematic spaces where the local and the transnational forge a new intersecting reality, the article aims to investigate how both protagonists become active agents of change and how fashion contributes to the reshaping of the landscape of the city of Rome.
The New Made in Italy for the 21st Century: Fashion, Film, Art and Design, Eugenia Paulicelli, Claudio Napoli and Massimo Mascolo (dirs) (2022), USA: Okozoko
Authors: Tulante Meriel
Published: April 2024

Review of: The New Made in Italy for the 21st Century: Fashion, Film, Art and Design, Eugenia Paulicelli, Claudio Napoli and Massimo Mascolo (dirs) (2022), USA: Okozoko
Dialogue with St. K(aterina): An attempt at a prayer – a (not the) divine comedy
Authors: Ludwig Katharina
Published: April 2024

This contribution takes the form of a transcript of a prayer/interview. A prayer is a speech act directed into a void, towards an absence (a hole, so to speak). It ‘lays claim to an immediate connection with the Being whose absence fills the world’ as Anne Carson writes in reference to the mystics Simone Weil and Marguerite Porete (2005: 177). The aspiration of a prayer, not unlike a spell or curse, is to directly affect something or someone in the real and physical world through an act of speech (Carson 2005: 177). The following text is developed in reference to the three existing books of the writings and teachings of the mystic St. Catherine of Siena. Parts of the text are fictionalized, reassembled and borrow direct and attributed quotes of these books. The script features characters called K, an amalgam of the researcher and the persons, figures and subjects I converse with in my research. K blurs the authorial voice by mingling it with others, in an attempt to flatten the authority of the narrating voice towards polyvocality. Combining the forms of prayer, interview, dialogue, written conversation and play serves to explore and apply different registers of writing that correspond with St. Catherine’s chosen forms of communication and to (playfully with a nod to common academic methodologies) investigate the holeyness/brokenness of dialogical speaking voices, the wounded text and a textual approach towards the unsayable/unthinkable.
III. György és Lord Bute szerepe a Pitt–Newcastle koalíciós kormány felbomlásában
Authors: Borus György
Published: April 2024

The resignation of William Pitt the Elder in October 1761 and that of the Duke of Newcastle in May 1762 had serious consequences: Britain became diplomatically isolated after losing its only ally, Prussia, while in domestic affairs a period of utter instability started, which did not come to an end until 1770. The inexperienced new ruler, George III (1760-1820) had a lot to do with all this. He detested the ministers he inherited and he adored his former tutor, Lord Bute. The study describes the process that led to the breakup of the Pitt-Newcastle coalition government, one of the most successful administrations of the early modern period, which won the Seven Years’ War (1756-63) for Britain. It explains why the young king was unable to trust the politicians he inherited, why he insisted on making Lord Bute Secretary of State, and what other factors resulted in the serious political and social instability of the 1760s. George III did not act unconstitutionally when he dismissed some of the members of the Whig oligarchy and chose new ministers. Nevertheless, he had to face the serious consequences of his decisions. The ministerial appointment of Lord Bute – who was Scottish, a personal confidant of the king and by no means a prominent politician – was an affront to the political class. The disgruntled Whig politicians were determined to discredit the new government and they were able to take advantage of the difficulties that emerged at the end and after the Seven Years’ War.