bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global value and wealth chains in contemporary capitalism: Editorial introduction
Authors: Wigan Duncan , Seabrooke Leonard , Ponte Stefano , Bair Jennifer
Published: October 2024

This introduction to a special section on global value chains and global wealth chains elaborates on the concept of entanglement as a way to understand dynamics of value capture, accumulation and inequality in contemporary capitalism. The authors first review the analytical framework they have proposed for analyzing entangled chains based on two dimensions: 1) the relative importance of intangible versus tangible assets; and (2) the primary strategy of lead firms – specifically, whether that strategy is oriented towards value creation or wealth accumulation activities. They then briefly discuss the four papers comprising this special section which collectively advance our knowledge of how production and finance are imbricated in the global political economy.
Effect of porous defects on mechanical behavior of functionally graded materials
Authors: Nadiia Dergachova , Jia Qu
Published: October 2024

Porous defects in functionally graded materials (FGMs) significantly change their mechanical behavior, in particular, affecting the displacement of the neutral plane and stress distribution. Defects such as porosity reduce material bending strength while enhancing compression strength and can lead to significant transverse effects. The purpose of this study is to clarify the influence of porosity on transverse effects based on new kinematic model. This research consider in detail a particular case of this model, that allows take into account two Poisson`s effects separately. This study examines the influence of porosity on FGM, highlighting the critical role of changes in Poisson’s ratio through thickness. The theory used for analytical solution satisfies the nullity of the shear stresses at the upper and lower surfaces of the plate without using the shear correction factor. The network of pores proposed to be empty or filled with low-pressure air and material properties graded by thickness according to power-law and exponential models. Navier solution method is used to solve the governing differential equations of equilibrium. The concentration of porosity at the center of the plate or in separate layers results in a reduction in normal tensile stresses along the longitudinal coordinate, suggesting that strategic placement of porosity can be used to reduce stress concentrations, potentially enhancing the structural integrity and performance of functionally graded materials under mechanical loading.
Objective and subjective measurement in applied business settings: Improving research in organizations
Authors: Jordan Peter J , Troth Ashlea C , Yan Hongmin
Published: October 2024

The inclusion of rigorous measures and methods by researchers often influence a reviewer’s and editor’s decision about whether an article is accepted. In positivist research, studies that include objective measures (i.e. avoiding respondent bias) are often considered superior. We argue that the methodological quality of a study is not merely achieved by including an objective measure, but instead by understanding the strengths and limitations of the measure (whether objective or subjective) and its appropriateness for addressing the research question. We consider the suitability of using objective and subjective measures in research at both macro and micro levels and emphasize the strengths and weaknesses of both, using criteria of bias, validity, reliability, sensitivity, and feasibility. As an underexamined topic in applied business research, we overview some types of objective measurement that have been adopted in the applied management discipline and consider their utility.

JEL Classification: C90, D23
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections Do Not Improve the Recovery After Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Lo Presti Mirco , Costa Giuseppe Gianluca , Agrò Giuseppe , Vasco Cosimo , Boffa Angelo , Di Martino Alessandro , Andriolo Luca , Cenacchi Annarita , Zaffagnini Stefano , Filardo Giuseppe
Published: October 2024

Background:

Arthroscopic meniscectomy is one of the most performed surgical procedures in orthopaedics. Different approaches have been proposed to improve patient recovery but with unsatisfactory results. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) augmentation has been proposed as a strategy to improve the recovery after meniscectomy.

Purpose:

To investigate the clinical benefits of an intra-articular PRP injection after meniscectomy, in terms of faster and better patient recovery.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

Ninety patients were randomized into a treatment group, with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy immediately followed by a 5-mL injection of autologous conditioned plasma, and a control group with partial meniscectomy alone. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 15, 30, 60, and 180 days of follow-up with the visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain (primary outcome), as well as with International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscales, Tegner score, and EuroQol-Visual Analog Scale score. Objective evaluation was performed analyzing knee range of motion and circumference and the International Knee Documentation Committee objective score. Complications, patient judgment, and satisfaction were documented as well.

Results:

No major complications and an overall significant improvement in the clinical scores were observed in both groups. Overall, the comparative analysis did not demonstrate significant between-group differences in absolute values or improvements of both subjective and objective scores, as well as activity level. The improvement in terms of VAS pain score for the treatment group was significant already at 15 days (from 4.3 ± 2.5 to 2.5 ± 2.5; P = .014), while in the control group it became significant at 30 days (from 3.7 ± 2.3 to 2.0 ± 2.4; P = .004). No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of judgment of treatment results and satisfaction.

Conclusion:

A single postoperative injection of PRP was not able to significantly improve patient recovery after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. PRP augmentation did not provide overall benefits at a short-term follow-up (6 months) in terms of pain relief, function, objective parameters, and return-to-sport activities.

Registration:

NCT02872753 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
Good Thoughts Lead to Good Deeds: How Frontline Public Employee’s Social Mindfulness Affects Service-Oriented Organizational Citizenship Behavior
Authors: Qin Xiaotong , Zhang Shuwei , Dou Kai
Published: October 2024

In the context of rising pressures on services without linked resources, service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (SOCB) has been recognized as a contributor to public sector success. Using the theory of empathy-induced altruistic motivation, we investigated how frontline public employees’ social mindfulness affects SOCB through PSM, as well as the moderating effects of perceptions of citizen mistreatment (PCM) and perceptions of gratitude on the relationship between PSM and SOCB. Online survey data from 409 Chinese frontline public employees from diverse sectors were analyzed. The results showed a positive and significant association between social mindfulness and SOCB, mediated through PSM. This link between PSM and SOCB remains non-significantly affected by PCM but is significantly strengthened by perception of gratitude, as consistently observed across the entire moderated mediator model. The public sector should consider social mindfulness when allocating and training frontline employees and create conditions for healthy interactions between them and citizens.
Welcoming Cities/Unwelcoming States: Integration, Segregation and Suburban Sprawl in the U.S. South
Authors: Kim AJ
Published: October 2024

This paper examines the spread of the new immigrant “ethnoburb” across Georgia. Gwinnett County is one of the most diverse counties due to immigration in the American South, and a top destination for immigrants, nationally. The emergence of immigrant-majority towns in suburban areas with low levels of resources for non-English speaking residents has created challenges at competing scales of local and state governance. Suburbs near Atlanta’s Buford Highway, where many immigrants live and work, experienced greater intensity of ICE enforcement due to policy shifts in the post-2016 Presidential Administration, as well as mixed forms of “welcome” from differently sized municipalities.
When do we put things off? A volitional-task attractiveness framework of personality and task-related factors in predicting procrastinatory behavior
Authors: van Hooft Edwin A. J.
Published: October 2024

Although some people procrastinate more than others, most of us occasionally postpone tasks until tomorrow that we could or should have done today. The present study proposes a volitional-task attractiveness framework including both personality and task-related predictors of actual procrastinatory behavior. Data were collected in a three-wave design around the Christmas break. Using a representative sample of the Dutch population, qualitative data were collected on tasks/situations that induce procrastination ( N = 1835) and the validity of the volitional-task attractiveness framework was explored regarding procrastination on a Christmas break task ( n = 712). Most respondents (95.6%) reported to at least occasionally procrastinate (e.g., on housekeeping, social, and administrative tasks; when busy/stressed, tasks conflict, and being tired). While personality (i.e., trait procrastination) positively predicted procrastinatory behavior, task-related factors (i.e., task importance and task motivation) explained 12% unique additional variance. Whereas intrinsic task motivation negatively and amotivation positively predicted procrastinatory behavior, extrinsic task motivation showed a more complex pattern. Lastly, low intrinsic motivation was less harmful for those higher on trait self-control. The findings align with the proposed volitional-task attractiveness framework, suggesting that both personality and task-related factors as well as their interaction explain actual procrastinatory behavior.
“For the first time someone understood”: A study of noncoherence and heterogeneity in a Swedish autism support and advocacy association
Authors: Holmqvist Peter
Published: October 2024

Autism has come to be portrayed as something complex, ambiguous, and heterogeneous. I therefore contend that what is now needed are analytical tools to further explicate the modalities of this heterogeneity and ambiguity. I propose that one way forward is to draw on analytical vocabularies intended for analyses of the (non)coherence of phenomena, more specifically Law et al.’s concept modes of syncretism. I employ this concept to stage a theoretical intervention in the historiography of autism through a close reading of a booklet published by the Swedish Autism and Asperger Association to commemorate its founding 40 years earlier. The analysis shows that the booklet contained several discursive enactments of autism, and that different syncretic practices were used to handle and balance these. I also discuss how modes of syncretism can be useful as an analytical vocabulary for studying other contested and heterogeneous topics, diagnoses, and issues in psychology.
Distal blocking screw augmentation in ulnar intramedullary nail fixation of adult forearm diaphyseal fractures
Authors: Kim Yong Woo , Lee Sang Ki , An Young Sun
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of distal blocking screws on the stability and healing of ulnar diaphyseal fractures treated with intramedullary (IM) nails. The primary research question was whether the addition of distal blocking screws enhanced fracture stabilization and promoted faster healing than the standard IM nailing techniques.

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed medical records of 30 patients with ulnar diaphyseal fractures treated from February 2018 to September 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: those treated using IM nails alone ( n = 17) and those treated with using IM nails with distal blocking screws ( n = 13). The surgical time, medullary canal space, fracture healing time, and complications were assessed. Functional outcomes were evaluated using the Grace and Eversmann rating system, the DASH scores, and the VAS scores.

Results

The addition of distal blocking screws resulted in a slightly longer surgical time (56 min vs 47 min). However, the group with distal blocking screws had smaller medullary canal space and showed significantly faster fracture healing times (2.3 months vs 3.9 months; p = .036). There were no reported complications of nonunion, nerve injury, or infection in the distal blocking screw group, whereas the IM nail-only group had one case of nonunion (5.7%).

Conclusion

The use of distal blocking screws in conjunction with IM nails for ulnar diaphyseal fractures improves fracture stability and promotes faster healing.
From Policy to Practice: Socio-Ecological Challenges in Implementing the Home and Community Based Settings Rule
Authors: Gould James B.
Published: October 2024

The 2014 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services “Settings Rule,” which took effect in 2023, restricts Home and Community Based Services funding for adults with intellectual disabilities to small integrated settings and person-centered supports. The Settings Rule responds to the fact that community services, mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Supreme Court Olmstead ruling, while integrated physically, often operate as institutions. The Settings Rule is meant to create integration and individualization. I argue that the regulation cannot, on its own, accomplish these goals. The deinstitutionalization movement has had mixed outcomes—and without change across multiple socio-ecological systems, the Settings Rule will also deliver mixed results.
Defining Disability in Policy and in Practice in México
Authors: Mendoza Melissa E.
Published: October 2024

In the interest of providing inclusive education for students with disabilities within higher education and vocational formation, it is imperative that we examine how disability is understood by the actors involved. This research examines the definition of disability as it moves from an inclusive policy in México into practice at the macro, meso, and micro levels of implementation. Two key policy documents, one from the United Nations and one from México, were examined for how they define disability. Interviews, in which participants were asked to define disability, were conducted with government workers in key entities, program directors, and students with disabilities. The definitions from both documents and the interviews were categorized by specific constructs used in disability research including the social model, the medical model, the adaptability approach, and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. A salient finding is that the construct of disability used within policies does not permeate to the actors involved in practice. To develop a clear understanding of this construct and in the interest of cohesion across implementation, a conversation between all actors would be beneficial.
Dielectric elastomer sensor integrated in a jaw coupling: Modeling and simulation of mechanical and electrical behavior
Authors: Menning Johannes Dieter Martin , Prokopchuk Artem , Ewert Arthur , Schlecht Berthold , Markus Henke Ernst-Friedrich , Wallmersperger Thomas
Published: October 2024

In recent years, the demand for compact and inexpensive sensor systems for the digitalization of production processes has risen. One solution to meet this demand are sensor-integrating machine elements. These are machine elements with integrated sensors, whose geometry is not altered and thus allows an uncomplicated exchange of the conventional machine elements with the sensor-integrating machine elements. In the current work, a numerical model for a sensor-integrating jaw coupling is presented. The aim of the sensor-integration is to determine the deformation of the teeth of the gear rim with dielectric elastomer sensors (DES) and thus draw conclusions about the applied torque. In the following, a model for the DES is presented which is validated with experimental results. It was shown that the experimental and simulation results for the capacitance agree well, if only 50% of the change in area of the electrodes is taken into account. After that, a finite element model for the sensor-integrating jaw coupling itself is presented, which is created with the commercial software ABAQUS. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages for different positions of the sensor inside the gear rim of the jaw coupling are evaluated.
Team-Supervisor Time Pressure (In)congruence and Team Creativity
Authors: Sohn Wonbin , Harvey Jean-François
Published: October 2024

Supervisors may experience time differently from their subordinates, and little is known about the interplay between the time pressures experienced by supervisors and their teams. Focusing on team creativity as the outcome of interest, we explore how teams with varying time pressures function alongside the distinct time pressures experienced by their supervisors. In a polynomial regression and response surface analytical framework, team creativity was enhanced when there was a greater divergence between the time pressures of supervisors and team members. Conversely, creativity suffered when the time pressures of both parties were more aligned, whether at low or high levels.
Latino Tú Latino Yo: Group Threat and Group Consciousness in California
Authors: Gutierrez Angela
Published: October 2024

This paper examines the rise of group consciousness in California during the 1990s. Many scholars have studied the increase in political participation in California and have alluded to an increase in group consciousness, but studies have not captured whether or not this actually exists. In this paper, I use seven surveys conducted between 1989 and 2004 and leverage the timing of these surveys to examine the role of perceived discrimination on Latino group consciousness in California. I hypothesize that the impact of political threat motivated an increase in group consciousness, which is driven by Latinos who perceived the discriminatory nature of California’s proposition politics in the 1990s. I find support for the hypothesis that perceived discrimination is positively associated with group consciousness during this time. However, the relationship between perceived group discrimination and group consciousness weakens after the threatening time period, even though reported levels of group consciousness continued to increase. This finding suggests that group threat may activate group consciousness even after feelings of threat have subsided.
Sex and Age Differences in Virtual Reality (VR) Sickness Susceptibility in Forklift Driving Simulation
Authors: Islam Md Shafiqul , Lim Sol
Published: October 2024

Traditional forklift training methods are limited by their time-consuming nature and high costs. Virtual reality (VR) simulators have emerged as a cost-effective and safe alternative for forklift driving training. However, previous research revealed a substantial challenge associated with VR experiences, specifically concerning motion sickness during forklift training. Motion sickness poses a significant challenge to the effectiveness and user experience in VR forklift simulations. The primary objective of this research is to examine the influence of sex and age on motion sickness susceptibility within a virtual reality forklift simulation. Twenty individuals (nine females, eleven males) participated in the study and completed several driving tasks in a VR forklift simulator. Survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier) and Cox Proportional Hazards models examined sex and age differences in VR sickness. Age was the only significant predictor. The effects of age on motion sickness susceptibility highlight the need for tailored approaches in VR development and training.
Study of Graphic Armatures, Multimodal Cues, and Numeric Measures in Virtual Reality on Learners’ Performance and Workload
Authors: Cheng Fangyuan , Harper-Gampp Tyler , Planchart Rebecca , Dunning Mitchell , Peterson Matthew , Delgado Cesar , Chen Karen B.
Published: October 2024

Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly utilized in education, yet its effectiveness can vary due to potential distractions and excessive workload. Prior research suggests that virtual signaling elements can enhance learning in VR environments. However, the effectiveness of different design elements for specific learning content and their impact on learner workload remain understudied. This study examines the influence of graphic armatures, multimodal cues, and numeric measures on scale learning in Scale Worlds, a VR learning environment for exploring scientific entities across multiple scales. Preliminary results indicate that numeric measures notably enhance learning outcomes by providing direct scale representations. It shows that different virtual elements can variably affect learners’ scale learning outcomes and behaviors and can lead to varying levels of workload. This study underscores the importance of aligning the design of virtual elements with educational objectives and ensuring they induce an appropriate level of workload for learning in VR learning environment.
The Microneedle Revolution: Transforming Vitiligo Treatment Landscapes—A Comprehensive Review of the Literature
Authors: Alshiyab Diala , Ba-Shammakh Saleh A. , Haj-Freej Hasn M. , Al-Fakih Abdulqudos , Alsayadi Abdullah S. , Qeyam Hanadi , Alqudah Huda
Published: October 2024

Background:

Vitiligo is characterized by the emergence of depigmented patches on the skin, posing significant therapeutic challenges. Microneedling, a novel treatment strategy, capitalizes on its potential to invigorate skin regeneration and facilitate melanocyte migration.

Objective:

This review critically evaluates the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction associated with microneedling for vitiligo treatment, juxtaposing it with traditional therapies to elucidate its viability as either a standalone or complementary treatment modality.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature review was conducted across major databases, including PubMed and Cochrane Library, using keywords like “microneedling” and “vitiligo,” encompassing studies up to January 2024. This review focused on microneedling’s effectiveness, safety, and patient satisfaction, including both solo and combined treatments. Data synthesis emphasized repigmentation rates, side effects, and patient feedback.

Review:

An exhaustive review of studies pertaining to microneedling for vitiligo, especially focusing on outcomes when administered alone or in conjunction with agents such as tacrolimus and 5-fluorouracil, was undertaken. Key evaluation metrics included repigmentation success rates, adverse effects, and patient-reported outcomes.

Safety and Side Effects:

Microneedling demonstrates a favourable safety profile, with mild and manageable side effects such as pain, erythema, and temporary hyperpigmentation. Severe adverse events are rare, further supporting its safety as a treatment option for vitiligo.

Discussion:

The evidence amassed suggests that microneedling significantly augments repigmentation rates, particularly in synergy with topical treatments. It is generally well-tolerated, manifests minimal adverse effects, and has garnered high patient satisfaction levels. Nonetheless, the absence of standardized treatment protocols and paucity of long-term efficacy data underscore the imperative for further empirical inquiry.

Conclusion:

Microneedling emerges as a propitious treatment alternative for vitiligo, demonstrating both safety and efficacy, notably when used in tandem with topical agents. Future investigations should aim at protocol standardization and long-term efficacy evaluation to firmly establish its therapeutic stature within vitiligo management paradigms.
Interpretable subgroup learning-based modeling framework: Study of diabetic kidney disease prediction
Authors: Liu Bo , Zhang Xiangzhou , Liu Kang , Hu Xinhou , Ngai Eric W. T. , Chen Weiqi , Chan Ho Yin , Hu Yong , Liu Mei
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Complex diseases, like diabetic kidney disease (DKD), often exhibit heterogeneity, challenging accurate risk prediction with machine learning. Traditional global models ignore patient differences, and subgroup learning lacks interpretability and predictive efficiency. This study introduces the Interpretable Subgroup Learning-based Modeling (iSLIM) framework to address these issues.

Methods

iSLIM integrates expert knowledge with a tree-based recursive partitioning approach to identify DKD subgroups within an EHR dataset of 11,559 patients. It then constructs separate models for each subgroup, enhancing predictive accuracy while preserving interpretability.

Results

Five clinically relevant subgroups are identified, achieving an average sensitivity of 0.8074, outperforming a single global model by 0.1104. Post hoc analyses provide pathological and biological evidence supporting subgroup validity and potential DKD risk factors.

Conclusion

The iSLIM surpasses traditional global model in predictive performance and subgroup-specific risk factor interpretation, enhancing the understanding of DKD’s heterogeneous mechanisms and potentially increasing the adoption of machine learning models in clinical decision-making.
Burnt out and still single: Susceptibility to dating app burnout over time
Authors: Sharabi Liesel L. , Von Feldt Paige A. , Ha Thao
Published: October 2024

Despite the ubiquity of dating apps, there is little longitudinal research examining the mental health and well-being of dating app users. To fill this void, this study takes a social compensation approach to exploring dating app users’ burnout experiences (i.e., emotional exhaustion, inefficacy, and depersonalization) over time. Four hundred ninety-three active single dating app users were surveyed over four waves across 12 weeks, with a final sample of 190. Multilevel growth curve models showed that dating app users experienced increased emotional exhaustion and inefficacy over time. Furthermore, depression, anxiety, and loneliness predicted more emotional exhaustion and inefficacy, while problematic dating app use predicted more emotional exhaustion and less inefficacy. The results suggest that dating apps may exacerbate existing difficulties with relationship initiation among vulnerable users by increasing their risk of burnout. Dating app burnout is a potential intervention target to improve users’ dating success.
Muslim Women’s Experiences of Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Meta-Ethnography of Global Evidence
Authors: Sharifnia Amir Masoud , Bulut Hatice , Ali Parveen , Rogers Michaela
Published: October 2024

Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a form of interpersonal violence perpetrated by intimate partners or family members. It includes physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and economic abuse, as well as coercive and controlling behaviors. DVA is associated with severe physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences for the victims. Muslim women, like women from all communities, experience DVA in its various forms, however, they may experience additional barriers when seeking support. This review was conducted using a meta-ethnography approach to synthesize published qualitative evidence on Muslim women’s perspectives and experiences of DVA. A systematic search of global evidence in six electronic English databases including Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and ASSIA identified a total of 33 qualitative studies that met the inclusion criteria. The synthesis of these studies revealed four major themes: the experience and impacts of abuse; risk factors contributing to abuse; help-seeking; and the coping strategies of Muslim women. These findings emphasize the importance of religion not only as a risk factor for violence and a barrier to help-seeking but also as a coping strategy for dealing with violence. The findings offer important insights for policymaking and in supporting these women more effectively.
Why young adults consume media content about serial killers: Evidence from Russia
Authors: Gulina Ekaterina , Osokina Daria , Lubich Lev , Mikhaylova Oxana
Published: October 2024

This article explores Russian young adults’s motives for consuming media content related to serial killers. Based on a sociological perspective of consumption, the research integrates concepts such as consumerism and “new hedonism” postulated by Campbell with Giddens’s structuration theory and Goffman’s stigma theory. We argue that consumerists’ motivations and images of serial killers are products of modernity. A total of 26 semi-structured online interviews were conducted with young adults aged 18–35 years from 14 cities in Russia. We then performed a thematic qualitative analysis using the AtlasTI software. Our findings show that consumers of media content about serial killers have two main categories of motives: cognitive and emotional. Cognitive motives could be viewed through the lens of the need for ontological security, an attempt to study a potential threat. Emotional motives were associated with satisfying the consumerist need for constant emotional stimulation and pleasure. Future studies may focus on classifying audiences based on their motives for consuming serial-killer media content and examining correlations with consumption practices as well as the supply-side motives of producing this type of content.
‘I never knew it was so prevalent’: Experiences and perceptions of student health visitors recognising and responding to domestic abuse in practice placement settings
Authors: Perryman Susan M
Published: October 2024

Background:

Health visitors have a key role in supporting and protecting adults and children affected by domestic abuse.

Aims:

The study aimed to examine the experiences and perceptions of student health visitors recognising and responding to domestic abuse in practice placement settings.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five student health visitors in the United Kingdom. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.

Results:

Four superordinate themes were identified: ‘part and parcel of health visiting practice’; ‘challenges in identifying domestic abuse’; ‘uncertainty and apprehension’; ‘strengthening knowledge and confidence’. All participants had engaged in practice activities related to domestic abuse within SCPHN placements, commonly expressing a sense of disbelief at the scale of the issue in practice. Difficulties and unease regarding identification and management of domestic abuse were reported. Access to support and opportunities to reflect and ‘talk things through’ were found to be important for students regarding this sphere of practice.

Conclusions:

The findings contribute to the body of knowledge about domestic abuse-related practice within nursing. Recommendations made may contribute to practice development and help inform future teaching and educational strategies within SCPHN programmes.
Effect of the Stretch-Shortening Cycle on the Relationship Between Maximum Number of Repetitions and Lifting Velocity During the Prone Bench Pull
Authors: Miras-Moreno Sergio , García-Ramos Amador , Weakley Jonathon , Rojas-Ruiz Francisco J. , Pérez-Castilla Alejandro
Published: October 2024

Background:

The fastest mean (MVfastest) and peak (PVfastest) velocity in a set are used to predict the maximum number of repetitions (RTF), but stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) effects on these relationships are unknown.

Hypothesis:

Velocity values associated with each RTF would show higher values for eccentric-concentric and multiple-point methods compared with concentric-only and 2-point methods.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Methods:

After determining the prone bench pull (PBP) 1-repetition maximum (1RM), 23 resistance-trained male participants randomly performed 2 sessions (1 for each PBP exercise), consisting of single sets of RTFs against 3 relative loads (60%-80%-70%1RM). Individualized RTF-velocity relationships were constructed using the multiple-point (60%-80%-70%1RM) and 2-point (60%-80%1RM) methods.

Results:

Goodness-of-fit was very high and comparable for concentric-only (RTF-MVfastest, r2 = 0.97; RTF-PVfastest, r2 = 0.98) and eccentric-concentric (RTF-MVfastest, r2 = 0.98; RTF-PVfastest, r2 = 0.99) PBP exercises. Velocity values associated with different RTFs were generally higher for eccentric-concentric compared with concentric-only PBP exercise, but these differences showed heteroscedasticity ( R2 ≥ 0.143). However, velocity values associated with different RTFs were comparable for the multiple- and 2-point methods ( F ≤ 2.4; P ≥ 0.13).

Conclusion:

These results suggest that the inclusion of the SSC does not impair the goodness-of-fit of RTF-velocity relationships, but these relationships should be determined specifically for each PBP exercise (ie, concentric-only and eccentric-concentric). In addition, the 2-point method serves as a quick and less strenuous procedure to estimate RTF.

Clinical Relevance:

Practitioners only need to monitor the MVfastest or PVfastest and the RTF from 2 (2-point method) or 3 (multiple-point method) sets performed to failure to construct an RTF-velocity relationship. Once these relationships have been established, coaches need only monitor the MVfastest or PVfastest of the set to estimate RTF against a given absolute load.
Lipid Management in Primary Care for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Populations in Northern England: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Fu Yu , Sowden Sarah , Newton Julia L.
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

People in low socioeconomic circumstances are more susceptible to dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease than those living in more affluent populations. Limited healthcare access and low preventive care uptake widen health inequalities. Understanding how primary care can better serve socioeconomically disadvantaged communities is urgently needed.

Aim:

To explore lipid management delivery in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas and identify barriers and enablers for lipid optimization for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.

Method:

Individual semi-structured remote interviews with clinicians, purposively recruited from primary care practices serving extremely socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in Northern England, UK, who were involved in the delivery and organization of lipid management. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically following framework analysis.

Results:

Fifteen interviews were undertaken. Five themes emerged: complex and multimorbid patients with competing priorities, limited access and follow-up to supporting services, being flexible and working beyond guidelines, high workload with inadequate staff support, and the need for care integrity and sustainable support.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study have been fed back to the delivery of the national program to improve cardiovascular health. Socioeconomically disadvantaged communities have complex health needs posing risks of multimorbidity but living with low health literacy, competing demands upon time, and financial constraints. Clinicians are willing to adapt services but a lack of guidance for care and funded services remains a significant barrier to targeted service delivery. Research is needed to inform the effectiveness and acceptability of interventions for lipid management tailored for those experiencing low socioeconomic disadvantage.
The Many Republics of Hunger
Authors: Patnaik Utsa
Published: October 2024

This article is the Sixth Sam Moyo Memorial Lecture delivered by Professor Utsa Patnaik during the SMAIAS/ASN Summer School on January 16, 2023, in Harare. Professor Patnaik argues that the discourse in development economics is so completely dominated by fallacious ideas emanating from the conservative economics departments of universities in advanced industrial countries, and economists in the Global South tend to be so completely hegemonized by these fallacious ideas that they pay little or no attention to long-term trends in their own economies that impact adversely the welfare of the poorest of their own populations. A most important long-term trend—to be precise, the trend over the last four decades of neoliberal policies—has been the declining per capita consumption of food grains in countries of the Global South, associated with their increasing opening up to free trade under the incessant pressure of industrial nations.
Arguing with numbers in social media based COVID-19 debates: A study of the argumentative functions of visual graphs
Authors: Zhao Sumin , Cummins Chris
Published: October 2024

This study engages with a growing body of literature on numerical communication in COVID-19, which suggests that numbers and numerical measurements can be manipulated to shape governmental policy and public health measures. It uniquely focuses on numerical graphs generated through professional open-resource visualization tools but used by laypersons in social media debates. By combining theories of multimodality and linguistic theories of argumentativity, we analyzed Twitter interactions on COVID-19 policy that occurred on the Twitter account of a leading public health figure in Scotland. Our fine-grained qualitative analysis shows that while language choices are essential for establishing the argumentative context for graphs, choices about how to encode visual information, such as the placement of elements in the composition, can also provide information about the communicator’s intention. To understand the argumentative purpose of the graphs, the interlocutor needs to grasp not only how information is packaged in the multimodal message but also the argumentative agenda of the speaker/writer, which is encoded in their multimodal message and other contextual information.
The comprehensive large-scale redevelopment of Pazhou Village in Guangzhou, China: The interaction of state, market and local community
Authors: Ye Yumin , Hamnett Chris , Qin Bo , Zhang Lizheng
Published: October 2024

Urban villages are an important element of the urban environment in China. Often characterized by high densities, illegal construction and poor quality, the key issue of urban villages for city planners and officials is whether to try to comprehensively redevelop them or opt for gradual upgrading. This paper provides an evaluation of the comprehensive redevelopment of Pazhou Village in Guangzhou, China, after a decade and shows that under certain important conditions including good co-operation between governments, developers and village collectives, land use intensification and participatory planning, it is possible for comprehensive redevelopment to benefit the original villagers. The redevelopment was initiated by the local state, and the case study examines the dynamic interactions between the key actors and their respective roles in ensuring the success of the development. Using the theory of state entrepreneurialism, the findings highlight the leading yet subtle role of the state in Chinese cities.
The “Weight” for a New Agent Is Almost Over: A Commentary on the Novel Triagonist Retatrutide for Obesity
Authors: Deravi Maryam , Piszczatoski Chris , Phillips Bradley , Huston Jessica , Vascimini Angelina
Published: October 2024

Retatrutide, a hormone receptor agonist targeting glucagon, glucagon-like peptide 1, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, is being developed to treat obesity. A literature review from April 2019 to April 2024 included such terms as “retatrutide,” “LY3437943,” “overweight,” and “obesity.” Phase I proof-of-concept studies led to phase II trials showing up to 24% body weight reduction and nearly 20 cm waist circumference reduction. The most common adverse effects were gastrointestinal. Ongoing phase II and III studies aim to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of retatrutide as a novel triagonist for obesity treatment.
Reliable measures of rest-activity rhythm fragmentation: how many days are needed?
Authors: Danilevicz Ian Meneghel , Vidil Sam , Landré Benjamin , Dugravot Aline , van Hees Vincent Theodor , Sabia Séverine
Published: October 2024

Background

A more fragmented, less stable rest-activity rhythm (RAR) is emerging as a risk factor for health. Accelerometer devices are increasingly used to measure RAR fragmentation using metrics such as inter-daily stability (IS), intradaily variability (IV), transition probabilities (TP), self-similarity parameter (α), and activity balance index (ABI). These metrics were proposed in the context of long period of wear but, in real life, non-wear might introduce measurement bias. This study aims to determine the minimum number of valid days to obtain reliable fragmentation metrics.

Methods

Wrist-worn accelerometer data were drawn from the Whitehall accelerometer sub-study (age: 60 to 83 years) to simulate different non-wear patterns. Pseudo-simulated data with different numbers of valid days (one to seven), defined as < 1/3 of non-wear during both day and night periods, and with omission or imputation of non-wear periods were compared against complete data using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and mean absolute percent error (MAPE).

Results

Five days with valid data (97.8% of participants) and omission of non-wear periods allowed an ICC ≥ 0.75 and MAPE ≤ 15%, acceptable cut points for reliability, for IS and ABI; this number was lower for TPs (two-three days), α and IV (four days). Overall, imputation of data did not provide better estimates. Findings were consistent across age and sex groups.

Conclusions

The number of days of wrist accelerometer data with at least 2/3 of wear time for both day and night periods varies from two (TPs) to five (IS, ABI) days for reliable RAR measures among older adults.
Subjectivity of visual assessments in FOCUS kinetics and acceptability of first-order fits for regulatory modelling
Authors: Rödig Edna , Ford Simon , Bailey Andrew D. , Bird Michael , Patel Mitesh
Published: October 2024

The degradation half-life (DegT50) of a substance in soil plays an important role in the approval process of a plant protection product and is a sensitive input parameter for regulatory models. It is usually derived through least squares optimizations of mathematical models to measured degradation data according to EU FOCUS degradation kinetics guidance. A strong consensus on degradation parameters provides a solid foundation for parts of the environmental risk assessment. The DegT50 of a substance for regulatory modeling is preferably derived from a single first-order (SFO) model as this is currently the only kinetic model implemented in EU regulatory models of the environmental fate of pesticides. However, kinetic optimisation tools do not always provide a regulatory acceptable SFO fit even though a visual inspection of the data suggests it may be possible. It was therefore hypothesized that more acceptable SFO fits might be achieved by adapting the objective function that is minimized during the optimization.

Eight objective functions with varying weightings were tested on 29 laboratory soil degradation datasets. A web-based app was developed to allow experts in environmental safety of plant protection products to visually assess the goodness of fits resulting from different objective functions. The visual assessments and a quantitative metric, newly introduced in the proposed update of the FOCUS guidance, show that the acceptability of SFO fits can be increased, but no single objective function exclusively improves all fits. The assessment reveals that expert judgment is very subjective. Participants tended to change their mind when judging the acceptance of a fit, assumingly caused by a learning curve or a period of calibration.

It is concluded that different objective functions could be considered in the kinetic assessment as it can improve the acceptability of SFO fits and hence endpoints for regulatory modeling. This study reveals that various qualitative factors influence the visual judgment of experts when performing a kinetic modeling assessment. The proposed quantitative metric seems to be in alignment with the visual assessment of fits to derive modeling endpoints and a promising step toward less subjective kinetic modeling assessments.
Improved chickpea growth, physiology, nutrient assimilation and rhizoremediation of hydrocarbons by bacterial consortia
Authors: Ali Muhammad Hayder , Khan Muhammad Imran , Amjad Fiza , Khan Naeem , Seleiman Mahmoud F.
Published: October 2024

Background

Soil pollution by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) reduces yield by changing the physico-chemical properties of soil and plants due to PHCs’ biotoxicity and persistence. Thus, removing PHCs from the soil is crucial for ecological sustainability. Microbes-assisted phytoremediation is an economical and eco-friendly solution. The current work aimed to develop and use bacterial consortia (BC) for PHCs degradation and plant growth enhancement in hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Initially, the enriched microbial cultures (that were prepared from PHCs-contaminated soils from five distinct regions) were obtained via screening through microcosm experiments. Afterward, two best microbial cultures were tested for PHCs degradation under various temperature and pH ranges. After culture optimization, isolation and characterization of bacterial strains were done to construct two BC. These constructed BC were tested in a pot experiment for hydrocarbons degradation and chickpea growth in PHCs contaminated soil.

Results

Findings revealed that PHCs exerted significant phytotoxic effects on chickpea growth and physiology when cultivated in PHCs contaminated soil, reducing agronomic and physiological traits by 13–29% and 12–43%, respectively. However, in the presence of BC, the phytotoxic impacts of PHCs on chickpea plants were reduced, resulting in up to 24 − 35% improvement in agronomic and physiological characteristics as compared to un-inoculated contaminated controls. Furthermore, the bacterial consortia boosted chickpea’s nutritional absorption and antioxidant mechanism. Most importantly, chickpea plants phytoremediated 52% of the initial PHCs concentration; however, adding BC1 and BC2 with chickpea plants further increased this removal and remediated 74% and 80% of the initial PHCs concentration, respectively.

Conclusion

In general, BC2 outperformed BC1 (with few exceptions) in promoting plant growth and PHCs elimination. Therefore, using multi-trait BC for PHCs degradation and plant growth improvement under PHCs stress may be an efficient and environmentally friendly strategy to deal with PHCs pollution and toxicity.